NOVEMBER 2022

down to your people -
your community? You
make hard choices, and
you hope you made the
right ones. These people
have to eat. They have to
live. What am I supposed
to do? Fire people so
we’re covered from wind
damage, or make sure
these hard working people
have jobs so they can look
after their families? This
is a terrible situation to
be in, and I can only do
what I think is right. And
looking after my people is
what I believe is right.”
Currently there’s just over
$120 million in federal
funding earmarked for
Grand Isle. But earmarked
doesn’t mean cash in
hand. Camardelle has
spent countless hours
on the phone, meeting with lobbying groups, sending
emails, and there are still no federal dollars in the
town’s account.
“I understand there’s a process for these things,” said
Camardelle. “But when do you say enough is enough?
The projects we need to protect us from hurricanes
aren’t small projects, and they’re going to take a lot of
time to complete. We need that money here and now
so we can start. Just send it and do the paperwork
later, because there’s no one who knows how to spend
it better than we do.”
With hurricane season coming to a close, you may
think that Grand Isle can rest a bit easy now, but no
wind insurance is an albatross hanging around the
town’s neck, because it’s not just hurricanes that cause
wind damage. Any storm can do that, and when you’re
situated along an unprotected coastline, there is no
end to storm season for you.
Recently LMA President Jennifer Vidrine stepped up
to the plate for Mayor Camardelle and the people of
Grand Isle herself. She placed a call directly to Louisiana
Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon, because
who’s to say other Louisiana cities, towns, or villages
may not find themselves with the same forced hand?
Who’s to say that they won’t have to make hard
choices when it comes to overextended budgets due
to things that are out of their control? Who’s to say it
won’t happen to you?
“What Grand Isle is going through pulls at my heartstrings.”
said Vidrine. “As a mayor, I know what Mayor
Camardelle continues to struggle with, so I immediately
felt it was my duty and responsibility to try and help
in any way possible. Calling on Commissioner Donelon
to plead for assistance for Grand Isle’s insurance situation
was just the right thing to do. The Commissioner
was very understanding and compassionate of the
situation. He said that his office and his staff will do
everything they can to provide assistance and contact
Mayor Camardelle.”
Risk Management Inc. (RMI) General Manager Patrick
Cronin has also become involved. On a recent visit to
Mayor Camardelle, he spoke at length with him about
looking for ways to assist.
“I met with Mayor Camardelle and his clerk, Bonnie,
and I’ve made a promise to do the best that I can,”
said Cronin. “I’m gathering loss runs, accord forms,
and statements of value, and my plan is to present
that information to the market. I’ve been very honest
that I may not be able to find them something better,
but I’m definitely going to try.”
Cronin also brought up a feasibility study for a property
program to benefit Louisiana municipalities that
RMI has been working on.
“I receive calls on a weekly basis from current LMA
Fund members, telling me that their property coverage
has been canceled and that their agent is having
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LMR | NOVEMBER 2022