Following a disaster in Texas, the Governor´s Office - Division of Emergency Management (DEM) coordinates the state´s disaster response and recovery efforts. DEM, the Texas Department of Insurance, and the Institute for Business & Home Safety (a non-profit educational organization sponsored by the property and casualty insurance industry), emergency management organizations, property and casualty (P&C) carriers, and trade groups formed the Texas State Disaster Coalition (TSDC) to formalize communication among these groups in the event of a major disaster in Texas. The TSDC adopted the Texas State Disaster Coalition Catastrophe Plan in February 2003. You may view the Plan on TDI´s Web page via this link: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/commish/storms/index.html.
The Plan calls for an annual survey of all insurers licensed in Texas. The purpose of the annual survey is to ask companies to certify that they have a catastrophe plan and verify that the plan includes certain key components. In addition, companies are asked if they have a business continuity plan in place should they experience a significant business interruption that would affect claims processing or other activities. The survey is on TDI´s Web page at this link https://wwwapps.tdi.state.tx.us/inter/asproot/consumer/disastsur/survey.asp
A person who is familiar with your company´s catastrophe plan can complete the survey in ten minutes or less. TDI is not requesting a copy of your company´s catastrophe plan.
Pursuant to Section 38.001 of the Texas Insurance Code, please complete the survey on TDI´s Web site within ten days after receipt of this letter. Should you have questions about the survey, please contact Melissa Hield at Melissa.Hield@tdi.state.tx.us or 512-322-4349.