Posted By olderthendirt on 19 Aug 2012 11:08 AM
Staying weak (sahara dust) and this allows it to continue moving west. Still worth watching.

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OTD, Isaac or what will soon become Isaac seems strangely ominous.

Posted By olderthendirt on 23 Aug 2012 09:16 AM
Time to go out oln a limb and suggest landfall somewhere between Jacksonville Fl and Sabine Pass Texas. But Pensacola to Mobile should be watching closely. Strength will be the question after it crosses Hispanola and part of Cuba. Again I will go out on a limb and predict somewhere between a Cat 1 and cat 4. I think the Republicans are going to get wet.

I think you must live in the Redwoods. Only place I know of with limbs that big and sturdy.

Posted By Tex Walker on 22 Aug 2012 11:39 AM
I'm on 14 standby lists as of this morning... I keep adding my name to them for no apparent reason. It's funny how none of them never seem to call but just want your name in case of a CAT 6 one day

20 years ago Andrew was the first storm of the year and became my first Cat. assignment. (but long ways from my first claim).

Now Isaac.  I will narrow my landfall guess to between Hollywood Beach Fl and Morgan City La. This is a big storm but is still trying to get its act together strength wise. 18  to 24 hours before it hits or brushs SW Hati, then Cuba. NHC does not think it will strengthen much before reaching the Keys then the gulf coast. Time will tell, but a good day to check out you equipment, never hurts to be ready.

Woo, it just dropped beneath the 1000mb marker. Now we are cooking with fire! 

Posted By ChuckDeaton on 24 Aug 2012 10:18 PM
Actually it is doubtful that this storm will reach hurricane strength!

Initially, I would have agreed with you, but the steady drop in pressure (from 1003mb yesterday at 4pm EST to 992mb today at 6am EST) does indicate a strengthening storm. Pressure will likely increase over Cuba, but it looks like it might skirt the NE coast of Cuba instead of a direct hit. If it does that, it would not be unreasonable to speculate that the pressure will continue to drop. 980mb is the magic number, and anything lower is a bonus, for us at least. If the drop continues at anything close to the rate it began dropping yesterday, we should easily achieve that number.

Then again, maybe I am just being led on by the weather people already leaning sideways in a light gust, while sitting in canoes in a half inch of water. If nothing else, it will make the weather channel interesting again :)

HMMM about 4 more hours to cross Cuba (60 miles or so) and mountains up to 2400 feet. Expect this will have time to make hurricane1 and most like 2 before landfall on the gulf coast, as for the Keys, they may not see a hurricane. Expect the phones to get busy. Some where from the big bend to NOLA. If this stalls out after land fall could be some major inland flooding.

Update I was looking at old data and Isaac is now of the north coast of Cuba and is expected to turn more to the west north west hitting the Keys rather then Miami.

Latest update pushes the track ever more westward and is now calling for a CAT 2 with a landfall close to the Florida Alabama border.

It appears that Isaac may have a few suprises for us yet...

Posted By Dinosaur on 01 Sep 2012 10:22 AM
It looks like Isaac might be a dude. The estimated damage to the Superdome is $100,000. That is like a shingle being blown off your house. There may be some flood work but it will be 2 or 3 weeks before the water is pumped out enough for the people to return and then turn in a claim. I'll bet the adjusters called in to be in New Orleans yesterday are just thrilled. "here's two files, have a nice day".

Could what was once Isaac become another storm again?   Perhaps... Isaac JUNIOR?    Either way, what was originally Isaac has caused the old deploy/go home situation for hundreds of adjusters.  

How many people packed up and headed to the Gulf Coast to handle Isaac claims, spent the money for fuel, lodging, etc to set up shop... then get told that the claim volume is not sufficient to support that level of staffing.

How many quit the jobs that they were working to chase the dream again, only to be disappointed... again?

Just wondering.....

Posted By SteveZ on 06 Sep 2012 06:38 PM

Could what was once Isaac become another storm again?   Perhaps... Isaac JUNIOR?    Either way, what was originally Isaac has caused the old deploy/go home situation for hundreds of adjusters.  

How many people packed up and headed to the Gulf Coast to handle Isaac claims, spent the money for fuel, lodging, etc to set up shop... then get told that the claim volume is not sufficient to support that level of staffing.

How many quit the jobs that they were working to chase the dream again, only to be disappointed... again?

Just wondering.....

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Hi Steve,

I am troubled that what happened prior to Irene last year was repeated yet again with Isaac, firms deploying adjusters PRIOR to landfall and in BOTH cases vast amounts of IA's were told sorry not enough claims see ya!!! With Irene, I saw this with a few low rent IA firms. However this year with Isaac, I saw a few well respected IA firms do the same thing. With Isaac, I saw Mariposa deploying adjusters ahead of Isaac in Alabama. Now in defense of Mariposa, I don't know the end result of whether those adjusters saw any work or any day rate to sit and wait.

Nevertheless, I have always felt Allcat to be a well respected IA firm and those deployed through Allcat handling USAA claims to be very good adjusters.

To hear that Allcat was deploying adjusters to somewhere in Texas for orientation at first glance seems SOP. To hear that those adjusters some who flew in were told by USAA that they never took Allcat of off standby and have no idea why these adjusters were there, blows my mind. Apparently Allcat rolled the dice and pulled the trigger with deploying IA's prior to USAA go ahead. Seems like Allcat was worried about numbers promised to USAA. Mistakes happen, yet these guys were stiffed, no compensation. Again, I can understand this type of crap from low rent IA firms, but Allcat?  

There does appear to be an increasing demand (obsession) from the IA firms that one attend any number of 'orientations'.  It's more of a trickle-down requirement originating from the carriers who send reps to the orientations just to see how many adjusters a particular firm can have onsite. 

I'm not exactly sure what the answer is;  orientations can be a good place to network, share information and get some expectation material. But seriously, who hasn't received a packet of info at an orientation only to have requirement changes sent out the next day via email?  In in the case of Irene or Isaac, it's a waste of resources costing adjusters a bunch of money.  Especially the newbies who are anxious to get work. The experienced folks are usually already working and I rarely get called into an orientation anymore.

My advise for newbies and those unsure that if there is the slightest question as to the potential of the storm, just sit tight and wait it out.

Posted By K ung Fu tzu on 08 Sep 2012 06:18 PM

There does appear to be an increasing demand (obsession) from the IA firms that one attend any number of 'orientations'.  It's more of a trickle-down requirement originating from the carriers who send reps to the orientations just to see how many adjusters a particular firm can have onsite. 

I'm not exactly sure what the answer is;  orientations can be a good place to network, share information and get some expectation material. But seriously, who hasn't received a packet of info at an orientation only to have requirement changes sent out the next day via email?  In in the case of Irene or Isaac, it's a waste of resources costing adjusters a bunch of money.  Especially the newbies who are anxious to get work. The experienced folks are usually already working and I rarely get called into an orientation anymore.

My advise for newbies and those unsure that if there is the slightest question as to the potential of the storm, just sit tight and wait it out.

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Well said,

as it relates to our newly licensed brethren, as you stated they are very excited at the notion they are getting deployed. That excitement whilst warranted does cloud their judgement and they ignore most attempts to utilize discretion and sit and wait. Unfortunately , most rookies will roll the dice. So with that being said, at the very least I think that the new folks when asked to deploy should inquire as to will there be a day rate to "predeploy?" Will I be compensated to offset any costs should there be not enough claims for those who deployed?

Simply put, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO folks!! As we with a bit of experience are aware, most expenses are borne unto us regardless of work or no work. I have had a few deployments where we were given anywhere from $500.00 to $1,500.00 to get to the storm site or offered an advance. Nevertheless, I wouldn't think those costs or an advance would be offered to untested adjusters, but it doesn't hurt to ask