Insurance Department to Activate On-Site Disaster Aid Center for Western New Yorkers Affected by Flooding

NEW YORK, NY (08/21/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Insurance Department personnel are being sent to Western New York to assist residents in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Erie Counties affected by serious flooding that occurred earlier this month, Acting Superintendent James J. Wrynn announced today.

The Insurance Department's Mobile Command Center will be located at Gowanda Village Hall at 27 East Main St. Personnel staffing the command center will be available to answer inquires regarding insurance policies and coverage, as well as to assist with insurance-related complaints.

The command center will open at 2 p.m., Monday. It will continue to be staffed from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. daily as needed.

In addition to the on-site disaster recovery assistance, residents seeking help on insurance questions may also contact the Department's Disaster Hotline 1-800-339-1759 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Flood insurance policies issued through the federal National Flood Insurance Program, rather than homeowners' policies, generally provide coverage for flood damages to property. Owners of damaged vehicles whose automobile insurance policies contain comprehensive coverage, also known as "other than collision," are covered for flood damages.

The disaster recovery efforts follow serious flooding that occurred Aug. 9-10. Governor Paterson and other elected officials have urged the federal government to declare a federal disaster area for the parts of Western New York affected by a string of summer storms and floods.

###