Army reduces insurance payments for weather, natural disasters

Photo By Senior Airman Jean-Paul Arnaud-Marquez | A tornado uprooted numerous trees around the base proper, and damaged approximately 150 homes at the Properties at Wright-Field near Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, May 27, 2019. Members of the 88th Security Forces, the Wright-Patterson Fire Department and housing office performed safety assessments and assisted those affected. The National Weather Service estimated tornados in the area ranged in strength from EF-0 to EF-3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jean-Paul Arnaud-Marquez)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

06.27.2019

Courtesy Story

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

Effective May 29, the Army will no longer pay claims for personal property loss due to weather and natural disasters.

On May 29, Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper signed Army Directive 2019-21, Restrictions on Personnel Claims Payments, eliminating payments to Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians for damage or destruction of personal property resulting from natural or weather phenomena, such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

On Dec. 31, 2010, an EF3 tornado touched down on Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., destroying or damaging more than 100 homes on post. And in 2018, softball-sized hail damaged thousands of vehicles belonging to service members and civilians at Fort Carson, Colo.

These types of claims, called gratuitous claims, will no longer be covered by the Army. While requests for exceptions and waivers to this policy will be considered, Soldiers and civilians are encouraged to purchase private insurance policies that cover such incidents, such as homeowners, rental, and auto insurance.

“This policy change encourages individual responsibility for personal property,” the directive states.

The new policy is not retroactive and does not apply to gratuitous claims for damage or destruction of personal property incurred prior to May 29.

Questions about gratuitous property loss claims should be addressed to the Center for Personnel Claims Support, at 502-626-300 or [e-mail].

(Article prepared by Maj. Krista F. Carpenter and Mary B. Kaiser with the Fort McCoy Installation Legal Office.)

• Date Taken: 06.27.2019
• Date Posted: 06.27.2019 10:51
• Story ID: 329414
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US