Mo. DOI to Counsel Storm Victims in 7 Towns

Missouri Department of Insurance Director Scott B. Lakin said consumer service representatives will counsel victims of the state’s May tornados in seven communities later this month.

The counselors will visit Camdenton, Canton, DeSoto, Jackson, Kansas City North, Mt. Vernon and Stockton. Lakin said he is deploying counseling staff to the tornado areas after a pilot visit in Battlefield found that many consumers found the personal, one-on-one counseling valuable.

The schedule includes:

— Mt. Vernon, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; MDI representative: Mary Kempker; SEMA Disaster Recovery Center, Old First National Bank Building, 108 S. Hickory St. (Designed to serve Pierce City, Carl Junction, Stockton, Lamar, Liberal, Aurora, Clever and Battlefield residents too.)

— June 9, Canton, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; SEMA Disaster Recovery Center, United Methodist Church, 601 Washington St.

— June 11, Jackson, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; MDI representative: Fred Schumpe; SEMA Disaster Recovery Center, National Guard Armory, 224 W. Park St.

— Stockton, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; MDI representative: Linda Bohrer; SEMA Disaster Recovery Center, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, South 39 Highway. (Designed to serve Bolivar and other Polk County residents too.)

— June 16, DeSoto, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; MDI representative: Fred Schumpe; Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 1620 Boyd St.

Appointments are not necessary. After a major storm, MDI initially tends to help consumers with problems relating to claims filing with agents and companies. After four to six weeks, the state agency begins receiving formal complaints about settlement offers and adjustment practices.

Based on a survey of 30 leading home and auto insurers in Missouri, MDI has projected about $400 million in damage to more than 60,000 state policyholders, not counting damage to public facilities and property covered by county insurance mutuals. The agency shortly will issue revised projections.