美国国家公共电台 NPR--Hurricane damage in Florida is estimated to be tens of billions of dollars

Hurricane damage in Florida is estimated to be tens of billions of dollars

Transcript¹

Florida residents are assessing hurricane damage and insurance providers are expecting to see a rush of claims. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Rich Gibson of the American Academy of Actuaries.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The images of devastation² from Hurricane Ian include many boats that floated inland and smashed into houses. Think of those images for a moment. Think of the value of the boats, and then think of the value of the houses. And now consider the scale of the insurance claims. How do companies pay out, and what can uninsured people do? We've called an actuary who analyzes³ and measures financial risk. Rich Gibson, senior casualty fellow at the American Academy of Actuaries, welcome.

RICH GIBSON: Thank you, Steve. Appreciate you having me on.

INSKEEP: I guess when we look at those images, should we assume that insurance covers all that stuff?

GIBSON: So, Steve, can I take just a second to say on behalf of the American Academy that our thoughts are certainly with those on the ground in Florida and South Carolina, dealing⁴ with the aftermath of Ian? And so there's - these are going to be complex claims. First of all, homeowner's insurance - the standard homeowner's insurance policy would not cover flood. But the National Flood Insurance Program, administered by FEMA, does provide flood insurance, if you've chosen to purchase that.

INSKEEP: Would people be able to make insurance claims - I don't know - for wind damage? If the roof comes off the house, is that covered?

GIBSON: Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely. Wind damage would be covered. It's just the flood and the wind would have to be handled separately.

INSKEEP: That immediately in my mind creates a complexity⁵ about how much people would be paid and how quickly. I think Florida law insists that people get paid relatively⁶ quickly, doesn't it?

GIBSON: Most states have claims settlement provisions in their laws. I would think in terms of a catastrophe⁷ like this, there's going to be a longer time period that it takes because you've got the process of providing notice and, you know, working through the claim and that sort of thing. And there's so many claims. But insurance companies are ready to deal with catastrophes⁸ like this. And it's typical that they're going to have catastrophe teams on site in the state. In fact, I think I'm hearing from the Florida financial office that they're setting up what they call insurance islands so that the insurers are available and easily found by the...

INSKEEP: What is an insurance island? That is an office in some accessible place - someplace that's still accessible?

GIBSON: So, yeah, and I think it's in, as you say, an accessible place. And I think they're trying to get all of the insurers into one place so that the insurance customers and claimants have a place to go that they can speak to their insurers. And certainly all of the people who have damage should reach out to their insurance agent, and if not their agent, their carrier, as soon as they can. They don't have to wait to go to the islands, you know, to visit directly with the insurers. But they can certainly put in the phone calls. And I would recommend they do that.

INSKEEP: In a few seconds that we have, I just want to mention, some people get cynical⁹ about insurance companies. They will presume that the way that the industry makes money is by denying claims. Is it in the interest of the industry to pay a lot of claims in this situation?

GIBSON: So the claims are paid based on the insurance policy and the contract that is laid out there. And it's certainly in the interest to pay claims in accordance with that policy.

INSKEEP: OK. Mr. Gibson, thanks so much for your time, really appreciate it.

GIBSON: Yes, thank you.

INSKEEP: Rich Gibson is a senior casualty fellow at the American Academy of Actuaries.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 analyzes   

v.分析( analyze的第三人称单数 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• This approach analyzes management by studying experience usually through cases. 这个学派通常从实例获得经验，用以分析管理。 来自辞典例句
• The econometrician analyzes statistical data. 经济计量学者要分析统计材料。 来自辞典例句

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

8 catastrophes   

n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难

参考例句：

• Two of history's worst natural catastrophes occurred in 1970. 1970年发生了历史上最严重两次自然灾害。 来自辞典例句
• The Swiss deposits contain evidence of such catastrophes. 瑞士的遗址里还有这种灾难的证据。 来自辞典例句

9 cynical   

adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的

参考例句：

• The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大，他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
• He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。