PIA Connection Online

After steering agencies through hurricanes Irma’s and María’s devastation in Puerto Rico and hurricane Ian’s punishing winds in Florida, I know in my bones what a catastrophe feels like—and what resilience looks like. Today, as President of PIA National, I’m energized by how our independent-agent family is turning hard-won lessons into actions that protect clients and communities nationwide.

The silent surge. Headlines still track Cat-5 cones, yet loss trends tell another story: hail claims soared 58 percent in one year, non-weather water damage already drives roughly 35 percent of all home losses, and consumer cybercrime jumped 33 percent, stripping $16.6 billion from households. These numbers remind us that everyday risks can be as disruptive as a named storm—and that knowledgeable, tech-savvy agents are the first line of defense.

Technology with purpose. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Coast, power and cell towers vanish when winds hit. That’s why forward-thinking agencies build redundant “storm-stacks”—texting platforms that work when phones don’t, cloud VOIP that reroutes calls, and AI receptionists that capture first notice of loss while teams evacuate. As my good friend from Louisiana, Al Pappalardo,“texting usually does get through when everything else is down.” These tools keep empathy and information flowing, sometimes even in the dark.

Communication starts before the clouds gather. Agents like PIA National’s President-Elect Mark Suhr, who is from Nebraska, calls at-risk clients days ahead, arming them with checklists and contractor warnings—a simple act that “keeps homeowners in control of their coverage.” Some agencies email a Storm Season Prep Guide every June and maintain hot-spots so service never stops when the grid does.

PIA’s working board is amplifying this momentum. Our National Directors and affiliate executives are collaborating on toolkits, training, and advocacy that elevate every member agency. Together we are closing the awareness-to-action gap—showing clients how smart leak sensors, fortified roofs, and layered cyber coverage turn disasters into inconveniences.

Unfortunately, storms will keep coming, but so will our innovation, unity, and heart. As we keep combining cutting-edge technology through our PIA National Technology Council with timeless relationships, PIA members are not just weather-ready; we’re future-ready. Let’s keep lifting one another and the communities we serve—because when the tide rises, all our ships should rise with it.

God bless you all, Ariel.