State Farm Responds to Hurricane Ian

State Farm’s response to Hurricane Ian began before the storm made landfall, as a fleet of catastrophe response team vehicles deployed early this week and staged in Birmingham, Alabama ready to respond. State Farm also is setting up an orientation center for incoming claims support in Birmingham, with over 100 new claims handlers coming in each hour. They are distributing fully equipped laptops, printers and a host of additional technical equipment to prepare claims handlers to respond effectively to affected customers. 

Our Ian response includes State Farm agents who live and work in the same neighborhoods as our customers, and teams of claim specialists trained in disaster response traveling in to evaluate damage on site. They are joined by thousands of employees in centralized care centers across the country helping answer customers’ questions and file their claims.

Additionally, our remote claim teams are able to conduct virtual inspections with impacted customers following the storm, helping customers in their time of need. The use of aerial imagery during the first stage of response helps determine the areas of severe impact. This helps State Farm identify the hardest hit areas and customers, and assess where we need to initially respond and send our first wave of resources to start handling claims for those hardest hit.

Our State Farm Customer Response Units (CRUS) have been traveling throughout communities impacted by Ian. CRU team members and State Farm agents have distributed needed items such as bottled water, packed snacks, work gloves and other useful items for residents. The CRU team responds immediately following a disaster, and navigates throughout impacted areas to provide in-person contact and assistance to those in need. State Farm agents often ride along on the CRU, and can offer neighbors helpful information about filing their claim and insurance tips. State Farm is there to help residents during this first and critical step on the road to recovery.  

After the storm - Don’t sign anything and contact State Farm first

Given the possibility of widespread home damage and claims from Hurricane Ian, we want to make Floridians aware of an important issue called AOB (Assignment of Benefits). State Farm has seen an increase in claims with an Assignment of Benefits throughout the state. 

Once it is safe to do so, check your property for damage. If you have home damage from the storm, please follow these tips to avoid an AOB mistake: If you have a property damage loss in your home, contact State Farm immediately to report the claim. Be careful before signing anything without fully reading the documents. Remember that an AOB transfers the payment and many rights of your claim to the vendor or contractor. This language is often difficult to identify in the documents. Keep your rights! Vendors taking AOBs may be water mitigation companies, roofers or other contractors. Be diligent before signing anything with a vendor/contractor that solicits you directly and advises you to file a homeowner’s claim. Also, preserve all building materials removed by any contractor or vendor until you speak with State Farm.

Customers impacted by Ian urged to report claim as soon as possible

To provide the best possible service and response to customers who may be impacted by Hurricane Ian, the following are in place: 

• The 1-800-SFCLAIM line is activated and available for customers to begin the claim reporting process after the storm hits, should they be unable to reach their local State Farm agent.
• State Farm policyholders who have damage from Hurricane Ian can submit and manage their claim through various channels. This includes calling or emailing their State Farm agent, calling 1-800-SFCLAIM, submitting a claim through our mobile app or through our website at statefarm.com/claims.
• Customers may also text the word “CLAIM” to 62789 to receive a link to file a claim or email SFhelp@statefarm.com to reach our Executive Customer Service team.

For people in need of disaster relief, the American Red Cross has shelters in Florida.  Residents can also contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 to apply for assistance.