Letter: Why bother with insurance?

I’m sure all of you are aware that the insurance companies that you thought were going to protect you from storms are overrated. The high rates you have been paying are just a waste of money. The wind and hail policies are a joke.

They are talking $20,000 to $60,000 deductibles on damage that never came close to that. So guess who pays?

Notice how our fearless leaders in Columbia are too busy to come here. I got a few phone calls from them hoping to get my vote, but I was on the roof of my home fixing a leak.

These so-called arborists said a long time ago our trees were safe. I’ve been cutting up those safe trees on the ground now for a few weeks.

When you build something on Hilton Head Island, the wind rating has to be 150 mph. Wonder what the rule is for trees? There are trees with roots that go directly into the ground, unlike the shallow-rooted pine trees, which I call lightning rods, that fell like toothpicks. In a few months, more tress will fall and branches will die.

I’m very happy with the first responders and FEMA, who came to our rescue. I’m also happy that no one got hurt or died. Storms bring out the best and worst in people. I just want you all to reevaluate your insurance and ask why our rates were raised after Katrina hit New Orleans. The “just in case” answer doesn’t work anymore.

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Letter: Why bother with insurance?."