Insurance villages in Charlotte, Lee counties until Wednesday

Insurance villages are coming to help homeowners still battling with insurance companies more than six months after Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida.

Some homeowners have been offered far less than what it will cost to live in their homes again.

Starting Monday, you can meet in person with your insurance company to try to get answers to your questions. There are three insurance villages this week: the first and last in Punta Gorda, the second in Fort Myers Beach.

You should be ready with every email, phone call, text, or letter related to the claim you have filed, and make sure they are dated. That information will be key to resolving any problems you are having with your claim.

Ian damaged so many homes and businesses that people are still struggling to get help rebuilding.
The Florida Division of Consumer Services’ first insurance village will be at the Charlotte County Event Center, located at 75 Taylor St.

Representatives from the National Flood Insurance Program and more than a dozen insurers are expected to be there to give assistance. Many people have told WINK News they were left with nothing after Ian and made countless phone calls to their insurance providers.

Some are still waiting to be made whole over half a year later.

“Everything inside was, you know, pretty much devastated,” said Fort Myers resident Herb Thomas. “It looked like someone put our furniture in a washing machine.”

“Not a dollar has been yet received by us, even though we’ve gone through all the appropriate measures,” said Jim from Rotonda West.

“If you see something’s happened and you know that you haven’t paid enough money, why won’t you honor the policy and give them money out so we can move back into my home?” said Arcadia man James Shaw.

Insurance providers will be at the Charlotte County Event Center on Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s insurance village in Fort Myers Beach will be held at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, located at 2000 Estero Blvd.