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(Reuters) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday imposed emergency regulations on insurers to speed the processing of claims from hundreds of thousands of state residents whose properties were damaged or destroyed when Superstorm Sandy struck a month ago.
Among the measures Gov. Cuomo unveiled was a requirement reducing the time limit for insurance company claims adjusters to respond to a claim to six days from 15 days.
He also said the state's insurance regulator would begin posting to the agency's website report cards on the performance of insurers, with the aim of making the companies more accountable for their response to customers needing assistance following the storm, which struck the Northeast on Oct. 29.
The storm knocked out power to millions and damaged or destroyed at least 305,000 houses in New York, according to state estimates.
Homeowners have complained that they have struggled to get insurance adjusters to come their properties to begin critical repair work, Gov. Cuomo told a New York City press conference.
Insurance companies have received 360,000 claims so far, he said, adding that the emergency regulations, which are effective immediately, will make a "major, major difference."
Slow claims adjustment is a common problem after major natural disasters like Sandy.
In 2009, a Louisiana court ordered the state's insurer of last resort to pay policyholders civil penalties because it took too long to start adjusting claims following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. With interest, those penalties now exceed $105 million.