History Happened

Twenty years after Hurricane Andrew battered southern Florida, independent agents are taking on a greater role to help consumers navigate property coverage options in a transformed market, an industry analyst says.

The significance of Andrew, whose 20th anniversary is tomorrow, extends beyond its rank as the second-costliest U.S. hurricane. The storm’s destruction in Florida and Louisiana prompted changes that have redefined the coastal property-casualty market, according to Lynne McChristian, Florida representative for the Insurance Information Institute.

“What Andrew did is let, not only Florida, but the nation know how seriously underestimated the amount of damage could be in a catastrophic storm,” she says.