Taylor outlines ways government could help with insurance claims
By Joshua Cogswell
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D'IBERVILLE — U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-4th District) today outlined two scenarios for how the government might help with insurance claims as he met with local residents to discuss federal efforts to rebuild the coast.
More than 100 people filled the City Council meeting room, where the carpets had been taken out and drywall had been cut where the room had flooded. With the overflow crowd, some people were sitting on boxes of supplies.
If the insurance companies ask for bailout from the federal government, Taylor said he would ask as a condition of that bailout that damage caused by the storm surge be classified as wind-driven water damage.
The other option would be allowing homeowners, whose homes were destroyed by water, to retroactively buy into the national flood insurance program.
"We all know that 8 inches of rain isn't going to cause that kind of damage," Taylor said.
Taylor has asked for federal assitance in rebuilding infrastructure.
"I'm only asking for the people of Mississippi exactly what we're doing for the people of Iraq," he said.
Taylor said Congress would likely decided on the matter before the end of this session, which he expects to last until Thanksgiving.
Taylor also announced that two large New Orleans-based businesses would be relocating to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, bringing hundreds of jobs with them.
The companies are U.S. Marine and Trinity Yachts.
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