TDI Staff Available in Houston to Assist Victims of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

The Texas Department of Insurance announced that beginning Sept. 26, staff members are being deployed to its Houston Insurance Assistance Center (IAC) to assist Hurricane Rita victims with their insurance questions and claims, including workers’ compensation claims. The IAC is located at 6059 South Loop East in Houston, the same location as the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. The IAC will open at 12 noon.

TDI staff will help consumers obtain prompt responses from the insurance industry regarding their insurance claims and questions. The faster homeowners and automobile policyholders can talk with their carriers, the sooner the claims process can commence. For homeowners policyholders, this means the possibility of payment for additional living expenses.

Workers’ Comp Assistance Available

If a Hurricane Rita or Hurricane Katrina evacuee is an injured worker and was being paid workers’ compensation benefits on the date the day evacuations were ordered, TDI can assist those injured workers with their workers’ compensation claims. Injured workers should call TDI’s Division of Workers’ Compensation at (800) 372-7713. Division staff will forward information to the appropriate authorities of the State or insurance carrier for further handling and communication with the injured worker.

TDI will open additional Insurance Assistance Centers in other counties affected by the storm as soon as authorities permit entry. TDI’s Division of Workers’ Compensation field offices will be reopen as soon as possible, as well.

Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina insurance information is also available at the Department’s Web site at www.tdi.state.tx.us or by calling Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line: (800) 252-3439.