With the approach of Hurricane Gert yesterday, local insurers were turning away unlucky residents looking to get last minute coverage for their businesses, homes and boats.

Argus Insurance Co. Ltd. property and claims vice president Larry Osborne said the company's claims department had been swamped yesterday with people looking for last minute coverage.

Argus, BF&M Ltd. and Colonial Insurance had all stopped writing new business as the storm approached. The companies were all waiting for word from the Emergency Measures Organisation and putting Hurricane claims coverage plans in place.

Mr. Osborne said people who had not paid their premiums were also rushing into the office to ensure they were up to date. He said the company had insured a selected few depending on location for contents damage. Boat owners were turned away completely.

In case claims representatives can't get into the office, those with claims will still be able to get a message from the switchboard giving them the relevant home numbers.

Staff have volunteered to come in and the company plans on keeping them at the office as long as possible. Property and boat owners will also be able to contact staff through the company's Internet site at www.argus.bm and Mr.

Osborne at losborne /yargus.bm.

The company has also contacted garages giving them permission to go ahead with fixing damaged vehicles with a minimum of verification. Small construction companies have also been contacted to get them to a damaged property as soon as possible.

Vehicles are covered for hurricane damage only under comprehensive policies.

BF&M Insurance Group has also taken similar tactics. Glen Gibbons, vice president of customer relations, said the company opened for four hours Saturday to deal with clients.

The company stopped writing new policies on Saturday at noon and was busy, he said. The policies were written for contents at selected businesses. The company had also put its hurricane plan into action.

"Many people were making sure wind storm coverage was in their policies,'' he said. "It's business as usual. That's what we are in business for, to get out there and pay claims should they happen.'' The company plans on having all its staff available doing various jobs today.

A team of claims surveyors are ready to go into action. The company holds a "large'' percentage of the residential property and casualty insurance market, he said.

Alan Peacock, president and group chief executive of Colonial, said the company was going about normal business in dealing with claims when they arise. Colonial is dealing with the damage from Hurricane Floyd in the Bahamas.

Colonial owns 51 percent of Bahamas-based insurer Security & General Ltd. and had a team of adjusters fly into that Island chain to assess damage.