New Florida law increases support for firefighters who are battling cancer
According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general population in the United States.
Arrest warrant issued for Jacksonville funeral home director accused of theft, mishandling remains
A Northside funeral home director is wanted on multiple charges after the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) opened an investigation following complaints over the โmishandling of cremated remainsโ and allegedly โabandoningโ the business.
โThis is free moneyโ: Officials trying to get My Safe Florida Home program running again following severe storms
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis urged Floridians to enroll in the My Safe Home Program to help save homeowners on insurance. The program has practically run out of money and state officials are trying to get it back running again.
Gov. DeSantis signs law aimed at blocking โESGโ standards in government investments
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Tuesday thatโs designed to eliminate the consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards from government investment strategies, procurements, bond issuances and use of banks.
Ready to cash in? You could have money, property waiting to be claimed in time for holidays
Itโs time for Florida's Holiday Money Hunt! News4JAX is officially launching the yearly campaign with Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to help you put extra cash in your pocket -- at a time when all of us could really use the extra money.
Mayor Lenny Curry tells Elon Musk that Jacksonville would make perfect headquarters for Twitter
A day after it was announced that Elon Musk had purchased Twitter for $44 billion, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry joined a chorus of elected officials looking to convince Musk to move Twitter headquarters to their state.
Jacksonville insurance agent accused of writing 98 fraudulent life policies
An insurance agent was arrested and charged with fraud after state investigators said he submitted fraudulent life insurance policy applications without the knowledge or consent of the named policyholders in order to obtain commissions.
Floridaโs DeSantis signs COVID-19 lawsuit protection bill
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida businesses, governments and healthcare providers will be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a bill signed by Republican Gov. The legislation was the first bill to go to the governor during the 60-day legislative session that began March 2. In order for a lawsuit to move ahead, a plaintiff would have to show that the defendant deliberately ignored guidelines. DeSantis had a live band playing a cover version of The Beatles โWith a Little Help from My Friendsโ in the Cabinet meeting room before he signed the bill. They said the language in the bill and need to prove gross negligence will make it difficult to bring a case forward.
Insurance, K9s and weed among Cabinet legislative priorities
The Associated Press interviewed each of the Cabinet members to discuss their 2021 legislative priorities:CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JIMMY PATRONISOne of Patronis's top priorities reflects an issue supported by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders: Passing a bill to shield businesses from lawsuits related to COVID-19. He said he was inspired by a California law that went into affect last year in that state. A wide ranging food insecurity bill would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 for farmers who donate food to charities. โIt makes sure that we can go after those folks like guardians and other fiduciaries that are exceeding their scope and taking advantage and exploiting seniors,โ Moody said.
Floridaโs 2021 legislative session; governorโs State of the State address; UNF research polls
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ On this edition of โThis Week in Jacksonville,โ Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis weighs in on what can be accomplished during Floridaโs 2021 legislative session. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried shares her thoughts on Gov. Ron DeSantisโ State of the State address. And University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab Director Dr. Michael Binder explains recent poll results.
COVID-19 protections sought for Florida workers
Members of House and Senate panels have expressed concerns that workers who allege they contracted COVID-19 on the job arenโt getting workersโ compensation benefits. A state report shows that 29,400 coronavirus-related workersโ compensation claims were filed as of Dec. 31, including 13,409 claims filed by health care workers and educators. Claims related to COVID-19 accounted for 31 percent of the 93,228 workersโ compensation claims filed in 2020. Bill Herrle, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business Florida, said itโs insurers, not employers, that determine whether workersโ compensation claims lead to payments. โInsurers licensed to provide workersโ compensation coverage in Florida are reminded of this statutory requirement, which must be applied on a non-discriminatory basis,โ Altmaierโs memo said.
Olympic dream? CFO urges Summer Games to move from Tokyo to Florida
Floridaโs Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee on Monday encouraging them to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo to the United States and, more specifically, to Florida. โThe state of Florida has successfully allowed sports to take place during the pandemic,โ Patronis wrote to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee. Additionally, our international tourist destinations, like Disney parks have been open and operating safely in Florida for some time. Japan was awarded the 2020 Summer Games in 2013 and has spent at least $25 billion preparing for the Olympics. Publicly, the International Olympic Committee and organizers in Japan are adamant that the games will happen and are planning for the four-month torch relay across Japan to begin March 25.
COVID-19 business protections clear first hurdle
Bill sponsor Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, said โfewer than 10โ lawsuits have been filed against business owners related to COVID-19. The other proposed amendments were offered by Rep. Ben Diamond, a St. Petersburg Democrat who is an attorney. โI think that idea, candidly, jeopardizes the bill,โ Diamond said. The committee shot down the two amendments by Diamond, including one that would have deleted the provision from the bill. Diamond called the withdrawn amendment โa first attempt at this issueโ of providing greater protections to employees.
New fireworks law helps ring in new year
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whose job includes the role of state fire marshal, cautioned Floridians to follow fire-safety guidelines ahead of the first New Yearโs holiday with a law bolstering the availability of fireworks. Ron DeSantis signed a measure (SB 140) that allows people 18 and older to buy fireworks to use on New Yearโs Eve, New Yearโs Day and Independence Day. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, called the stateโs prior fireworks rules โone of the craziest laws we have on the books.โ The old fireworks law prohibited explosives, such as firecrackers, torpedoes and roman candles, while allowing relatively innocuous devices such as sparklers. โYouโre basically perjuring yourself every time you purchase fireworks, because youโre signing a paper that most people, I would say everyone, doesnโt use for that purpose,โ Rodriguez said in February. The new law eliminated the need for people to declare why they are buying fireworks if they use the fireworks during the three holidays listed in the bill.
Democrats attack DeSantis as first-time unemployment claims tick up
Ron DeSantisโ handling of the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, as first-time unemployment claims in Florida were up last week from the holiday-shortened previous week. The U.S. Department of Labor estimated 25,012 initial jobless claims were submitted in Florida during the week that ended Dec. 5, up from 23,063 claims during the previous week, which included Thanksgiving. Last weekโs Florida total was among the lowest for a seven-day period since pandemic-related unemployment exploded across the state and nation in March. Since the start of November, the state has averaged just over 26,000 new claims a week. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has paid out nearly $19.1 billion, mostly in federal money, to almost 2.13 million unemployment claimants since March 15.
Push for Jacksonville firefighters to be among first to receive COVID-19 vaccine
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ As Florida prepares for the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed, thereโs a push to get firefighters who deal with medical calls to the front of the line. Right now firefighters who are also EMTs are not in Phase 1 of the vaccine plan like hospital workers are. All weโre saying is treat them the same way you treat our doctors and nurses.โNews4Jax also reached out to Randy Wyse with the Jacksonville Firefighterโs Union. He said all Jacksonville firefighters who are on the street are trained EMTs. A CDC spokeswoman issued an emailed statement:โACIP, CDCโs independent vaccine advisory committee, traditionally develops vaccine recommendations that go to the CDC director for approval before becoming official CDC policy.
Florida AG backs Texas challenge to election results in 4 states
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday joined 16 other states in backing a last-chance effort by Texas to get the U.S. Supreme Court to block election results in four swing states where the vote went in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. โThe integrity and resolution of the 2020 election is of paramount importance,โ Moody wrote in a statement as Florida joined a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to allow Texas to move forward with the case. The other states are Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined, without comment, to hear a challenge to Pennsylvaniaโs election results. Also, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis backed Trumpโs efforts in an interview Wednesday with The News Service of Florida.
Lauren Verno answers your questions about the Holiday Money Hunt
News4Jax teamed up with the Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronisโ office to find people that money. Twenty-four hours after the Holiday Money Hunt began, 3,441 people in Jacksonville had claimed $610,587.92. In News4Jaxโs original story on the Holiday Money Hunt, we broke down how much money was available in more than 100 ZIP codes across Northeast Florida. The message says โNotification of Required Maintenace.โ The CFOโs office says the website performs routine maintenance at different times of the day. Finally, if you donโt find any money for yourself, make sure to check for friends, family and neighbors.
How to protect yourself from Black Friday scams
As more Floridians than ever turn to online shopping, itโs more important than ever to protect yourself from fraud and scams. 4 Tips to Protect Yourself from Black Friday ScamsIf it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Be careful of unfamiliar merchants and be extra wary of items listed at prices well below those of other shops. Credit cards offer consumer protection if things go wrong with a purchase. To report fraud or learn about ways to protect yourself from scams, visit FraudFreeFlorida.com.
Florida election results certified
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ As legal battles and vote counts continue in other states, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday quickly certified the results of Floridaโs Nov. 3 general election. DeSantis and the two Cabinet members, acting as the state Elections Canvassing Commission, did not comment before agreeing in a conference call to certify the results. More than 11.14 million Floridians cast ballots in the election.
Youโre not the only one trying to cash in on Prime Day deals
Amazonโs Prime Day is a two-day long event that promising some of the best deals of the year. Never ones to pass on an opportunity to deceive, scammers are trying to cash in, too. โDo not click links in emails,โ Freedman said. How do you know the email that looks like it came from Amazon is from an imposter instead? The Better Business Bureau warns of scammers calling people to day thereโs an issue with their Amazon account.
Republicans cry foul over Bloomberg donations for felon voters
The controversy comes after former Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Bloomberg pledged to donate at least $16 million to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. โIt doesnโt smell good, it doesnโt look good,โ said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican. Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Deputy Director Neil Volz said the organization doesnโt ask about the race or political leanings of the felons whose fines they pay. The coalition told us it has so far spent $5 million to pay the fines and fees of 5,000 felons. There are estimated to be about 750,000 felons in Florida currently blocked from voting because of outstanding costs related to their sentence.
Leader of felons' voting rights says resolve strengthened after pardon decision
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ After his bid for a pardon was blocked Wednesday, Florida felons' voting-rights leader Desmond Meade said the decision made him even more committed to continuing his work. The decision to defer Meadeโs pardon request came the same day he announced that he was receiving a $100,000 grant from an unidentified foundation for his advocacy. The 2019 law requiring felons to pay outstanding fines and fees could prevent hundreds of thousands of felons from registering to vote. Thereโs a backlog of 24,000 felons seeking rights restoration with or without hearings. โIf restoring and protecting Floridians' constitutional rights were a priority for this governor, it would happen โ but itโs not, so it wonโt.
Florida seeks investigation on Bloomberg donation on voting
Attorney General Ashley Moody sent letters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI saying that further investigation is warranted. Ron DeSantis had asked Moody to review allegations that Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had violated the law by offering incentives for voting. The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers. Neil Volz, the group's executive director, has also had his voting rights restored and the clemency board restored his other civil rights Wednesday. โIt just seems like, then what is enough?โThe question of satisfying financial obligations before voting rights are restored continues to be battled in court.
Pardon blocked for leader of felons' voting rights
DeSantis and Patronis on Wednesday blocked Meadeโs request for a pardon, with DeSantis saying the panel should take the issue โunder advisementโ until it can gather more information. The stateโs labyrinthine and years-long clemency process prompted Meade and other advocates to initiate the constitutional amendment, which enabled Meade to cast a ballot in last monthโs primary elections. Meade said his focus is on getting his rights restored in Florida, as a pardon would restore rights such as being able to serve on juries and have firearms. Critics have condemned the stateโs clemency process as a remnant of Jim Crow-era laws designed to keep Black people from voting. The number is a stark contrast to more than 155,000 felons who had their rights restored under an โautomaticโ process initiated by Scottโs predecessor, former Gov.
DeSantis defends agenciesโ response to coronavirus
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ With Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried calling for a coordinated response by statewide elected officials to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday defended the actions of agencies under his control. DeSantis and the Cabinet also held a conference call on May 28. Fried, the lone statewide elected Democrat, has repeatedly called for Cabinet meetings and more coordination amid the pandemic. โWhen you talk to like a hospital or all these places, itโs not only that weโre there to help, theyโll say that, but weโre there very quickly when someone needs something,โ DeSantis told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
Florida CFO: More than $39M returned to rightful owners in August
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ More than $39 million was returned to the rightful owners in August, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced Thursday. It was the second-highest monthly amount of unclaimed property recovered and returned to Floridians in the Division of Unclaimed Propertyโs 59-year history. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds. Unclaimed property assets are held by business or government entities for a set period of time, usually five years. RELATED: How to find out if forgotten treasure is waiting for youAugust 2020 unclaimed property returns by region
Many Florida COVID-19 workers comp claims rejected
Not surprisingly, first responders and health care workers have filed the most workers compensation indemnity claims related to COVID-19. Meanwhile private self-insured funds and government self-insured funds denied or partially denied 30 percent and 31 percent of claims, respectively. Miami-Dade County leads the state in the number of COVID-19 infections and in workers compensation claims. In addition to having claims information, the report also contains data on indemnity claims paid. Workers compensation indemnity claims had been filed in every county, with the exception of DeSoto County, according to the data.
Florida sending search-and-rescue team to Louisiana
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ A Florida emergency management search-and-rescue team is heading to Louisiana in anticipation of the landfall of Hurricane Laura. The team is expected to spend about two weeks, or however long it is needed, working after the storm, Division of Emergency Management spokesman Jason Mahon said Wednesday. The Florida Division of Emergency Management on Tuesday sent three staff members to help Mississippi set up shelters that comply with coronavirus health regulations. Florida utilities also have sent crews to help restore electricity in the region. Also, the Florida Municipal Electric Association said Wednesday that crews from public utilities in various parts of the state will help with restoration in Louisiana.
How to find out if forgotten treasure is waiting for you
Itโs called Floridaโs unclaimed property. On FLTreasureHunt.gov, you can do a free search in about 30 seconds to see if you have any unclaimed property. RELATED: Treasure hunt: Unclaimed property may be waiting for you | There could be money waiting for you to claim itAccording to a private startup out of Gainesville called ClaimFound, there are hundreds of thousands of dollars unclaimed in Jacksonville alone. The only difference is they charge a percentage fee or a commission to help people find that money,โ Prompovitch said. Say your name doesnโt show that you have any unclaimed property, that doesnโt mean thereโs not something there.
There could be money waiting for you to claim it
You or your business may be struggling financially because of COVID-19, but there could be money just waiting for you to claim it. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis says an estimated one in five Floridians have unclaimed property just waiting, and it doesnโt cost you a dime to get it back. โThis is another amazing milestone for our Unclaimed Property Team, especially since our staff has been teleworking since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds. Unclaimed property assets are held by business or government entities (holders) for a set period of time, usually five years.
Florida CFO wants FDLE to look into risks of social media hacks
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis asked law-enforcement officials Monday to determine potential economic risks to Florida from hacks of social-media accounts after a high-profile Twitter hack last week. Twitter rightfully called the breach embarrassing, but I would also characterize it as dangerous; Twitter has clearly been culpably negligent in allowing this infiltration to occur, Patronis wrote. The attack represents a threat beyond that to all users privacy and data security, though those are credible threats given that Florida is experiencing an ongoing fraud epidemic, Patronis wrote. This coordinated attack threatens the underpinnings of how the State of Florida shares important information about elections, disasters and other emergencies, and consumer services. One tweet could cause conflicts or send our states economy into a tailspin.Questions linger about who was responsible for last weeks attack.
Florida CFO: Android users need to know signs of ID theft, fraud, scams
Patronis says Floridians who use Android devices need to know the signs of identity theft, fraud and scams. The Federal Trade Commission ranks Florida second in the nation for fraud and ID theft reports and estimates that Florida fraud losses totaled nearly $90 million in 2019. Identity theft and imposter scams are the top two forms of fraud reported. Monitor credit reports. Credit reports are available free of charge from each of the three national credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) every 12 months.
Gov. DeSantis signs 15 bills, budget awaits action
Ron DeSantis on Saturday signed 15 bills from this yearโs legislative session, including a measure aimed at helping protect firefighters from cancer-causing chemicals. The bill sets up a program that will provide grants to local fire departments to buy equipment and provide training to help shield firefighters from exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. DeSantis, who has line-item veto power, will need to act on the spending plan before Wednesday. He also issued a veto Saturday, nixing a public-records bill (SB 1292). He said the bill was a โnullityโ because it was tied to a juvenile-justice bill that did not pass during the session.
Florida companies who work with state asked if they are owned by Chinese government
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. More than 100,000 Florida companies who do business with the state are getting a letter asking about their ownership. The letter seeks to determine if the companies are owned by the Chinese government, and at least one viewer isnt happy with the letters tone. Those vendors are being contacted by CFO Jimmy Patronis, asking if they are owned by the Chinese government. The state of Florida has seen loss of life. So there is a huge debt to be paid back to the state of Florida.
Coronavirus: New website offers Floridians financial advice
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Three in four Floridians say theyโre feeling more financial strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent survey found. Now credit unions, banks and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis have teamed up to launch a new resource to help residents navigate these turbulent times. While most Floridians are feeling more financial strain from the pandemic, nearly half say theyโre feeling significantly more. The site offers financial resources and advice, much of which is geared towards pandemic relief. Suncoast Credit Union CEO Kevin Johnson said learning how to create a six-month emergency fund is key in these times.
U.S. Navy warns sailors to watch for respiratory symptoms as coronavirus spreads
RELATED | Tracking coronavirus: Johns Hopkins maps outbreakThe U.S. Navy sent a reminder to service members and their families who have recently traveled to China to pay attention to possible respiratory symptoms. Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said health officials in the state have formed an Incident Management Team to monitor and respond to coronavirus cases. โWe donโt see a threat now, but you have to be prepared because you watch whatโs happening. Rivkees and the Florida Department of Health hope to establish the stateโs own lab for testing. Rivkees is expected to brief a state legislative committee on the virus next week.
Patronis offers 3 tips to avoid smart device activation scams
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - There's a consumer alert for anyone who just bought a smart device like Roku, Alexa or Google Home. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is warning about what he calls "tech device activation scams." He said schemers are charging activation fees for devices that are free to set up. Heres how it works: When people are setting up these devices, they start by searching for customer support's phone number. Once they call the number listed, a person will say there is a new policy in place that requires an activation fee.
Destruction & rebuilding in the Panhandle one year after Michael
It's been one year since Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle. WATCH: Panama City 1 year after Hurricane Michael |Mexico Beach 1 year after Michael |Tyndall Air Force Base 1 year after hurricanePanama CityIt took 12 months, but homeowner Barry Lawley has finally reached an important milestone in moving forward after Hurricane Michael. Patronis says there have been roughly 147,000 insurance claims related to Hurricane Michael, totaling nearly $7 billion in insured losses. Mexico BeachImages taken from the ground and from the air showed Mexico Beach was absolutely devastated by Hurricane Michael. Tyndall Air Force BaseThe eye of Hurricane Michael went right through Tyndall Air Force Base, causing billions of dollars in damage.
Fried seeks meeting on rules for restoring rights
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the lone Democrat on the state Executive Board of Clemency, called Friday for Gov. Ron DeSantis to schedule a meeting next month to discuss changing rules that govern the state's process of restoring felons' civil rights. Fried said the backlog of cases could be remedied by amending clemency rules, which have changed over the years under different state leaders. Fried said Wednesday she would like to have the rules changed to mirror 2007 rules under former Gov. Fried called on the governor to schedule a clemency board meeting following an Oct. 8 Cabinet meeting.
Patronis: Beware of Social Security robocall scams
"You're Social Security number would immediate effect. "In order to connect with a Social Security Administration officer, press 1 now." 3 tips to avoid Social Security scamsAs Patronis warns of the robocalls, his office is offering three tips to avoid Social Security scams:1. The Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits. Scam calls may show up on caller ID as the Social Security Administration and look like the agency's real number.
Beware of Hurricane Dorian donation scams
CNN VideoIn the wake of Hurricane Dorian, many people want to help those impacted worse by the storm. "I'm warning all Floridians to stay on guard and watch out for post-hurricane fraud and scams. Bad actors are always looking to make a quick buck off the generosity of others after a disaster and it is important to know how to donate wisely and identify the warning signs of online donation scams," Patronis said. Don't donate to campaigns that don't provide information about the relief the money will provide. Some online scammers try to pressure you into donating immediately.
Florida breathes easier after escaping brunt of Hurricane Dorian
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Emergency operations slowly started to wind down Wednesday as Hurricane Dorian remained offshore, inching its way north and away from Florida. In Florida, Dorian caused at least 150,000 power outages as it continued to drop rain and cause some storm surges in the northeast part of the state. Jared Moskowitz, director of the state Division of Emergency Management, said Wednesday afternoon that this "was the best-case scenario for the state of Florida." Meanwhile, Duke Energy Florida announced it no longer needed the 4,300 workers from other states that were staged in Florida to provide assistance. Duke said its 2,200 crew members and contractors were adequate for Dorian outages that may still occur.
I-TEAM: 18 new grand theft charges filed against contractor
Green was originally arrested in April by insurance fraud investigators with Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis' office on three felony charges: organized fraud, forgery and grand theft. Because of that, they have filed additional grand theft charges. While he said nearly $5,000 was paid to Storm RS, no work has been done. After hiring Storm RS, Walsh said he learned later that the business merged with Rogero Roofing and Construction. At Friday's bond hearing for the 18 additional felony charges added against Green earlier this week, prosecutors wanted an additional $25,000 bond for each new victim named in their case.
Beware of scammers during Hurricane Dorian
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Hurricanes bring out the best in people, but they also bring out the worst and scammers are prepping to prey on vulnerable people after the storm. While fueling up your car and purchasing supplies, keep an eye out for price gouging. Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated the price gouging hotline. Price gouging can be reported by calling 1-866-966-7226. Floridians can also download the NO SCAM app to report price gouging.
Insurance claims: What to do before, after storm
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - While it might be too late to make changes to your insurance policy ahead of Hurricane Dorian, there are some steps to consider taking after the storm to make the process of reporting damage seamless, should that be necessary. Being ready to make a claim with your insurance as soon as the storm passes is what will make a difference. As soon as a storm passes, damage can be assessed. You will have individuals the day after the storm hits knocking on your door, asking you to sign documents or pleading to have cash to do services. If you have homeowners insurance, make sure they are your first call to make a claim, as you pay them every month in preparation for a disaster.