Evaluating the Public Financing for Florida's Wind Risk

Abstract

To increase residential property insurance options for wind†related disaster events, the State of Florida created the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. These entities play a major role in financing disaster losses for Florida. In this policy article, the authors assert that the State of Florida has emphasized the political objective of insurance affordability rather than managing and controlling risk for the benefit of the citizens of the state. The burden for financing catastrophic hurricane losses has been transferred to the public as most property and casualty insurance policies in Florida are assessable. Florida plays an inherent leadership role in the disaster risk arena, given its high exposure as well as its deep insurance penetration. The authors assert that while Florida has taken a leadership role in disaster risk control, the state's disaster risk financing strategy has failed to employ a long†term focus that recognizes the interconnectedness of all parts of the system. The opportunity for the state going forward is to change its public policy focus to one that emphasizes availability over affordability. Florida's private markets could operate more competitively, and thus not unnecessarily place Florida's citizens and their economy at risk.