New Jersey Betrayed by Insurance Companies

New Jersey residents paid their insurance companies every month. Hard working home owners were good little customers. They did the right thing, they paid on time and in full.

When the shit hit the fan and Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Jersey Shore the Insurance companies betrayed their loyalty and trust. Instead of being the saviors of the shore, they tied up homes in red tape, lost paper work and double talk.

A single mother lived through the terror of carrying her tiny daughter through the rising flood water in Union Beach as the sky was electric with transformers blowing up over head. When the storm was over and she was finally allowed back into town to view the damage of her home, she was horrified. Everything was gone. the home took on over 5 feet of water and sewage. She did what every homeowner on the Jersey shore did; she called her Insurance company. She might as well have phoned Mickey Mouse.

A young homeowner in Port Monmouth returned home after the storm to find flood waters had filled his home with 5 feet of water and debris. He immediately filed a claim with his Insurance company and called FEMA. FEMA refused to help until the Insurance company said what they would pay. In December the homeowner still hasn't received a payment, mold is taking over his home and he's still living with relatives. He lost all appliances, computers, clothing and electronics. Like the slap in the face, his insurance company informs him they lost his claim. Back to square one.

Adding insult to injury, these homeowners discovered that the insurance company and FEMA are making it impossible to rebuild. They are now demanding that all homes in the area be raised, yet offer limited assistance to do so. Taxes and flood insurance rates will now rise making it impossible for a single mother or young homeowner to get back into their homes.

As if we weren't being taxed out of New Jersey as it is, now more people will lose their homes because of a disaster for which they should have been insured. How can the insurance companies get away with this kind of behavior?  I know they must be crazy busy but its been FOUR  MONTHS  and people are still homeless. Hire people, get the job done, do what you were paid to do by all those New Jersey home owners who paid their premiums on time. 

Who regulates the insurance companies? 

These guys: The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. They're the one's you can file a complain to if your insurance company fails you. I'm sure they're overwhelmed but hey! It's their job. It's why they have a job when so many lost their jobs when Hurricane Sandy hit. 

Don't give up, New Jersey. Call your Senators and Congressmen. Let the know your story. Make it real to them, invite them to your homes and hand them pair of work gloves. 

God bless the Jersey Shore for they are Jersey strong.