The “Cannot Miss” 2025 Hailstorm Education Is at the Windstorm Insurance Conference in Dallas
I studied the topics, agenda, and panelists at this year’s Windstorm Insurance Conference. As a past president of the organization, I am very proud to see its continued vitality and depth of education provided to those attending. I noted one presentation on the agenda: Everything is Bigger in Texas, but Was the Hail Damaging and When Did it Occur? The presenters are as experienced as one can get in hailstorm losses:
The description of this presentation states:
Texas continues to experience significant hailstorms, windstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods each year. From an adjuster and legal standpoint, knowing when hail or wind damage occurred is fundamentally important. Proving what date or dates hail or wind damage from a thunderstorm or tornado occurred is crucial to determining coverage, or even whether a different carrier owes coverage. We will use large loss case studies from Texas to explore how adjusters and engineers use automated reports, or other times weather expert reports, to assist in structural evaluations to determine damage and loss.
If you went to a PLRB, you would hear only one side of the story and view about hailstorm claims and disputes. The Windstorm Insurance Conference is unique because both sides are present. In Jon Held, Steve Badger, and Chip Merlin Discuss the Hottest Appraisal Trends and Controversies At The Windstorm Conference, we noted the historical roots for this philosophy:
It Started With a Simple Idea
The Windstorm Insurance Network, Inc. (WIND) was officially incorporated the same day Hurricane Floyd hit the North Carolina coast: September 16, 1999.
It was a fitting start date for an educational association created for property and windstorm insurance claims industry professionals.
Although many hurricanes have blown since 1999, one thing has remained constant:
WIND is the only member association to bring together both defense and policyholder professionals together to connect, engage, and learn about important topics in the property/windstorm insurance claims industry.
‘The idea for WIND was born out of a casual conversation with our firm’s managing partner, Rick Boehm,’ says Janet L. Brown, partner of Boehm Brown Harwood, P.A, an Orlando-based insurance defense firm.
‘Rick was curious as to why we were constantly sending our attorneys out of state for conferences on property issues and catastrophic losses. He inquired why we didn’t have something similar in Florida,’ recalls Janet.
‘Finally, he asked me to explore the idea for an association focused on training and educating property insurance claims professionals. The goal was to be balanced with participation from both the insurance industry and policyholder sides,’ says Janet.
I have long suggested a hailstorm venue for the Windstorm Insurance Conference because hailstorms always have a wind component. Dallas is a near-perfect venue for this year’s conference. Dallas is a fun town, even with Steve Badger living there.
Talking about Good Ole Steve, we will be going at it for almost two hours in a presentation: Are There Any Solutions to the Issues We Always Argue About in the Property Insurance Arena? If you have ever wanted a chance to stump Badger, the session will emphasize audience participation. I guarantee you this will not be boring, and you will not be looking down at your cell phone while this exchange continues.
Hope to see you in Dallas January 25-28. Here is a link to the registration.
Thought For The Day
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
—Albert Einstein
