Riverlands Insurance Services - Darin Helm Jr.

09/12/2024

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Some of this material was developed an...

09/11/2024

Please share!

As Francine makes landfall, we first want to say we hope you and your family are safe and secure. If you have a claim, we want to remind you the best and fastest way to make a claim:

Again, the quickest way to report your claim is directly to the company. As our client, you should have received an email with your policy number, carrier, and agents’ information. Even if you are not a customer of Riverlands Insurance you can still use the below link to find your companies claim phone number.
www.riverlandsinsurance.com/companies-we-represent

Below are some tips in the event of damage to your home or business:
o Make sure all family, friends, and animals are safe
o Take as many pictures and videos as you can
o Immediately report the claim to your insurance company
o Secure the property from further damage by any reasonable means
o Do NOT throw anything away, repair, replace, or make changes until the company adjuster inspects the property
o Keep proof of all damage and repairs until the claim is closed

As always, Riverlands Insurance Services remains on call and fully operational to guide or customers through Francine and any potential damage to your home or business. All customers are welcome to call your individual agent or office for assistance.
Stay Safe!

09/10/2024

As we continue to monitor Tropical Storm Francine’s latest track, please make final preparations to your home and/or business before Francine makes landfall. The Riverlands Team is prepared to serve our customers before, during and after the storm.

As our client, you should have received an email with your policy number, carrier and agents’ information. We will continue to be proactive in our approach of keeping you updated through the process. Please continue to monitor your email for constant communication and updates.

We Don’t Wait for Disasters We Prepare for Them

09/09/2024

Please read below. Customers should have received an email with your policy number and a link to you companies claim phone number. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me directly at 985-210-9131.

11/03/2023

Thank you, Adrienne LaBauve and Exp Realty for the invitation to speak and sponsor the 2023 regional rally. First class.

04/25/2023

St. Charles Parish Sues FEMA
The Parish takes legal action after being denied a public record request for Risk Rating 2.0

This afternoon, President Matthew Jewell, on behalf of St. Charles Parish, filed suit in federal court against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after being denied public record requests for information on Risk Rating 2.0. The Parish was forced to file suit after exhausting all available administrative remedies and seeks to require FEMA to comply with federal law.

“The residents of St. Charles Parish are seeing huge spikes in flood insurance rates, and we deserve to know why. We deserve transparency on the data being used to determine these astronomical rate increases,” said President Matthew Jewell.

In November 2022, St. Charles Parish made a Freedom of Information Act request to FEMA for information used in the model to determine rates affecting its residents. The Parish planned to use this information to assess its own risk and make any necessary improvements to its flood protection to ensure the lowest rate possible for its residents. To date, FEMA has failed to provide any data or documents it relied upon in formulating Risk Rating 2.0.

“Through millions of dollars of investment in the construction of new levees, pumps and storage area, St.Charles Parish is better protected than ever, yet residents are going to be priced out of living in the community they live and work in,” Jewell continued. “FEMA should be working with us to ensure the model accurately reflects our community’s real risk so that we can direct resources to mitigate, protect and achieve affordable flood insurance rates.”

Recently, FEMA released data showing that Louisiana will see a rate increase of 134%, with St. Charles Parish seeing an increase of 239% with some areas as high as 752%.

Risk Rating 2.0 was implemented administratively in October 2021.

https://www.stcharlesparish.gov/Home/Components/News/News/14383/26

10/22/2021

Supplemental claims and how to proceed!

Call me at (985) 210-9131 if you have any questions.

10/08/2021

I know this has been a long process for many customers but please continue to help us help you work through the claim process. Each day we get a little closer and we are working to make sure every customers claim is fully processed and that you are satisfied. Remember it will take possibly 30 days from when your field adjuster came to your home until you will receive communication on your claim. Please stay as patient as possible as we are all in this together.

If you are a customer of mine please reach out if you have any questions at 985-210-9131 and I will be happy to help you.

Legal Disclaimer: This communication is not intended to provide legal advice but merely to provide general information to assist you in any claim process. The information provided is general information. Claims and the claim process could vary from claim to claim and carrier to carrier, depending upon certain policy language. Directives from the Louisiana Department of Insurance change on a regular basis so some information could change.

10/05/2021

Dear my customers with Riverlands Insurance Services,

As we move through the claims process following Hurricane Ida, your family at Riverlands Insurance wants you to know that we are here with you through these difficult times. Although the claims process, especially after a catastrophic storm like IDA, is never easy, we ask for your continued patience. Rest assured that your claim is being handled with the utmost importance. In an effort to help you better understand the process, we offer you the following information:

Claim Process Breakdown
1. Making a claim – If you have not already started your claim process, there are many avenues to do so. You can call our office, your agent or the insurance company directly. Remember that you still have time to make your claim.

2. Field Adjuster – Once a claim is made, a field adjuster will contact you to set up an appointment. The company has 60 days from the receipt of your claim to visit your property. (Per LDI Directive 218 Rule 47 Section 4743(Sixty Day “Period to Initiate Adjustment of Property Claims”) Due to the widespread catastrophic event, adjusters are taking longer than usual. We respectfully ask for your patience while these adjusters work tirelessly to get to every customer. Your insurance company may have hired a 3rd party adjusting firm to assist, so please be aware that this is very normal. The field adjuster will review all your damage and prepare a detailed report that will be turned in to the desk adjuster.
What to do if you have not heard from the field adjuster in 60 days? Please contact your Riverlands Insurance agent and we will review and escalate the claim for you.

3. Desk Adjuster – Your desk adjuster will contact you once they receive the claim report, calculate the specific item costs, review coverage and write up the report. Upon approval, they will submit the claim to you with the possible funds. Again we ask that you remain patient due to the thousands of claims being processed. Please note this process can take up to 30 days from when your field adjuster came to your home.

What to do if you have not heard from the desk adjuster after the 30 day window? If you do not hear back from your desk adjuster after the 30 day window, and have their contact information, please contact them for an update. If you are unsuccessful, please contact your Riverlands Insurance agent and we will review and escalate the claim for you.

4. Claim Report/Breakdown and Possible Funds – After you receive your detailed report, please be sure to read it carefully. Keep in mind that this may not be the final step. If there is anything missing, additional damage found or you think there is an under payment, rest assured there is an avenue for this. You should work with your desk adjuster on how to submit a supplement to the claim for additional review. This supplement will need to be prepared by you and/or your contractor explaining the additional issue along with proof for the desk adjuster/company to review. It is very normal to communicate back and forth with the desk adjuster, until your claim is settled.

Although this process can be frustrating, we promise that Riverlands Insurance and our partnered companies want to finalize your claim as soon as possible. Hurricane Ida was one of the biggest disasters to hit Louisiana and we want our family of policy holders to know we are here to fulfill every claim as quickly as possible. Stay safe as we move ahead together.

Thank you, Your Agent,
Darin Helm Jr.
[email protected]
Cell: 985-210-9131

Legal Disclaimer: This communication is not intended to provide legal advice but merely to provide general information to assist you in any claim process. The information provided is general information. Claims and the claim process could vary from claim to claim and carrier to carrier, depending upon certain policy language. Directives from the Louisiana Department of Insurance change on a regular basis so some information could change.