Life Celebration Center of Punta Gorda - Resiliency Reinforced by Exceptional Claims Service

Hurricane Ian’s monstrous 150 mile-per-hour winds, heavy rain, and 15-foot storm surge had dissipated by the time Owners Eric and Carolyn Johnson arrived at Life Celebration Center of Punta Gorda, formerly Taylor-Johnson Funeral & Cremation Service, to assess the damage to their funeral home. “We had high hopes, and from the outside everything looked okay,” Eric remembered. “Then I opened the front door … and I can’t even describe how it felt. Imagine the biggest horse ever kicking you in the chest. It took my breath away.”

Sunlight poured into the building where the wind had blown the ceiling off and flung it a quarter-mile away. Walls buckled, insulation covered the ground, and water soaked the floors and furniture. “We were doing so well,” Carolyn tearfully recalled. “And in an instant, it was all gone.”

Immediate Response and Recovery

The storm destroyed the Johnsons’ building, but the community needed their services more than ever. “With hurricanes come death,” Eric shared. “I had to tell families we had no way of helping. The calls kept coming and not being able to help just devastated us. As a funeral home, you’re supposed to be there to help. Nothing teaches you how to respond when you can’t.”

Heartbroken, the Johnsons made their first call to Federated Insurance^®. Tony Mosty, a direct claims professional and member of the Federated Insurance Catastrophic Loss Team, responded immediately. He heard the panic in their voices and understood the unique pressure on a funeral home to serve its community, even while lying in ruins. “There are no words for how great he was through the whole process,” Carolyn said. “Tony came in and everything was so quick. We were ahead of the game compared to other businesses in the area.”

Rebuilding From the Ground Up

While many residents struggled to find contractors and building materials after the hurricane hit, Federated’s restoration partner began clearing out Life Celebration Center of Punta Gorda within 48 hours. “After a catastrophe, people are exhausted and looking for help,” Tony explained. “We give the first responders time to work and use good judgment, but we like to be fast, give reassurance, and come up with a game plan. This is our moment to shine.”

The Johnsons soon discovered they were subject to the FEMA 50% Rule. This required them to rebuild their facility to current flood-resistant building codes. Through the challenge, Federated’s support remained steady. “Building ordinance coverage was included in their policy,” Tony noted. “Our tailored programs are designed to address catastrophic events, offering specialized coverage extensions for needs like building ordinance compliance and debris removal.”

A Resilient Future

Today, Eric, Carolyn and their daughter, Lauren, help families honor their loved ones inside a beautifully rebuilt facility. “If we didn’t have a partnership with Federated, I honestly don’t know if we’d be in business today,” Carolyn said. “It is surreal sometimes to look around. With this building, I can’t even imagine what we’ll be able to accomplish for the community.” Paddy McKermitt, their Federated Insurance marketing representative, witnessed their journey firsthand. “The Johnsons are incredibly resilient and have overcome a lot with love and grace for everyone who comes in the door,” Paddy noted. “In an industry that is really about caring for others, they exemplify that.”

“After devastating hurricanes, you see on the news that insurance companies just disappear,” Eric concluded. “They pull out of the state or raise premiums so high no one can pay them. It is great to know Federated was there for us then and is still here for us now.”