New York Permitting Out-of-State Adjusters to Expedite Snowstorm Claims

The New York Department of Financial Services announced it will issue temporary permits to qualified out-of-state independent insurance adjusters in order to expedite insurance claims in light of the winter storm that hit the state over the weekend.

DFS Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris said temporary adjuster permits will be available to those responding to property losses in Western, Central and Northern New York counties

The department expects the additional permits will help New Yorkers get their insurance claims paid faster.

Insurers can apply for permits on the DFS website.

Residents can also get assistance with insurance information regarding policy coverage for losses and suggestions on how to document their losses and safeguard their property by calling the DFS Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759, daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The most common winter claims include damage from the weight of accumulated snow on a house or other insured structure; wind damage to roofs; damage from fallen tree limbs; ice damage; and damage from frozen or burst pipes.

Over the weekend, total accumulations of more than six feet of snow were reported in Orchard Park, Blasdell, and Hamburg in Erie County, and more than six feet of snow was reported in the Watertown and Fort Drum area, with peak snowfall rates of six inches per hour in Erie County and five inches per hour in Jefferson County.

President Joseph Biden on Sunday night declared ta state of emergency in New York and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts. The federal emergency declaration covers the 11 counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed more than 100 National Guard members to Erie County to assist residents and local officials.

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert reminding consumers and businesses against price gouging. New York law prevents businesses from taking advantage of consumers by selling essential goods or services at an excessively higher price during market disruptions or a declared state of emergency.