"Based upon the Insurance Code provision and established case law described above, insurance companies should not deny these claims before undertaking a diligent investigation regarding the cause of loss and carefully considering the facts," California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara wrote in a notice to insurers. (Credit: David Paul Morris)

The California Department of Insurance sent a notice to insurers warning them not to act too quickly when denying flood, mudslide and other claims following a series of winter storms that have beleaguered the West Coast.

A weather warning sign beside the freeway during a rain storm in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. A powerful storm with hurricane-force gusts has begun to wind down after ripping across California, leaving behind power outages, flood threats and road closures just hours before another drenching is set to wash over the state. (Credit: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg) A weather warning sign beside the freeway during a rain storm in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. A powerful storm with hurricane-force gusts has begun to wind down after ripping across California, leaving behind power outages, flood threats and road closures just hours before another drenching is set to wash over the state. (Credit: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg)

The past two weeks have brought a series of storms to California that have knocked out power lines, closed roads and raised the risks of flooding and mudslides, according to Bloomberg, which reported the weather pattern could continue through the end of the month.

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Steve Hallo

Steve Hallo is managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. He can be reached at [email protected]

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