State Insurance Commissioner, Mike Chaney spoke to the Vicksburg Kiwanis Club at their most recent meeting.

He discussed the fact that the State Insurance Department issues over 750,000 licenses each year. These include licenses for Uber and Lyft as well as Bail Agents.

Chaney spends 80% of his time on health insurance and a significant amount of time on property insurance.

He noted that world events, such as the current wars have an impact on our insurance costs.

Chaney also serves as the State Fire Marshall and runs the State Fire Academy which trains about 16,000 individuals each year.

That training includes EMT training as many times firefighters are the first responders.

Chaney was extremely proud of the work that Fire Academy trainees did in aiding the city of Rolling Fork after the devastating tornado in March.

He credits one of the Fire Academy trainees for recognizing that there was a Chlorine leak when the Rolling Fork water tower was blown down.

They shut the valve off before anyone was injured from the escaping gas.

Trainees also worked with Samaritans Purse to provide manufactured homes for Rolling Fork residents who lost their homes to the tornado.