State Farm responds to Maui wildfires to assist Hawaii residents with recovery
State Farm Agent Mark Zion brings message of hope and faith to Lahaina
“I am so thankful,” said Lahaina State Farm Agent Mark Zion, fighting back tears seeing his office for the first time since the fires broke out. Mark’s office is one of hundreds of structures destroyed by the wildfires that ripped through Lahaina last week. Three of his office team members also suffered with the loss of their homes. “This is the first time I’ve really had to take in the impact this fire has had on me, personally.”
In addition to being a State Farm agent in historic Lahaina town, Mark Zion also is a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard. He’s an O1 2LT (Second Lieutenant) and provides chaplain services, religious support, and counseling to military personnel. While he wasn’t in the office that fateful day of August 8 due to his service with the Guard, he returned as soon as possible to provide his community support.
His faith is inspiring to those in need. In the face of the devastation and tragedy that has happened in this tropical paradise, Mark leads with hope and faith. Hope for the survivors, families, community and for the entire town of Lahaina and the State of Hawaii.
Mark has been busy both serving his State Farm customers and fulfilling his commitment with the Hawaii Army National Guard as a chaplain. He is on his phone non-stop as he texts with customers and community members to make sure they are safe. Throughout the day, he visits the restricted areas housing the Guard and other first responders, including FEMA, DEA, firefighters, police officers, and others.
“I need to keep doing what I can. Life is a blessing.” He’s a breath of fresh air, the kindest of souls, deeply vested in the well-being of those on the front lines. In addition to his Guard shift, he’s fulfilling the State Farm promise – checking in with policyholders, helping them file a claim, and assuring them he’ll be there every step of the way as they recover from this tragedy.
See more photos on Flickr: 2023 Maui Wildfires
State Farm mourns the loss of life and property alongside the residents of Maui and State of Hawaii. Our hearts and thoughts go out to those who have been affected by this devastating fire, and we urge all those impacted to make safety their priority. In preparation for the time residents safely return and are ready to begin the rebuilding and recovery process, we have mobilized teams of claim adjusters trained for disaster response across the affected area. Our top priority is taking care of our customers' needs, and we are on the ground and reaching out to help. We also have thousands of employees ready to handle claims virtually across the country in our centralized operations.
Catastrophe Customer Care site now open
A State Farm Catastrophe Customer Care site is now open for walk-up questions and help with claims. The Catastrophe Customer Care site is located at 424 Dairy Road in Kahului (the U-Haul parking lot and former K-mart building) and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. HT. Customers impacted by the fires can file a claim in various ways: in person at the Catastrophe Customer Care site, through the mobile app, online, or calling 1-800-SF-CLAIM. Customers are encouraged to file their claims as soon as possible and safe to begin the recovery process. As of Aug 18, State Farm has received approximately 1,300 claims from the HI wildfire, with 1,020 of those from Lahaina area.
Local agents join Customer Response Unit to support residents
Our State Farm Customer Response Unit (CRU) has been traveling throughout the areas impacted by the fire as accessible to meet and support residents. Our CRU team and local State Farm Agents Chad Santiago, Kit Okazaki and Wayde Omura have joined the CRU to distribute needed items such as water, work gloves, first aid kits, and other essential items to help residents as they begin recovery from the devastating wildfires. Claims representatives also joined the CRU to offer neighbors helpful information about filing their claim and insurance tips and answer questions. State Farm is there to help residents during this first and critical step on the road to recovery. Agent Chad Santiago shares his personal experience in this video as he talks about going through the fire and efforts to protect his home, family and office, and his return to the area to support his community.
Helping communities with recovery
In keeping with the Good Neighbor spirit, State Farm is sending $1 million in grants to Hawaii non-profit organizations to help with immediate and long-term wildfire recovery efforts. The following local organizations will receive financial support to continue their critical recovery work:
- Habitat for Humanity Maui
- American Red Cross Hawaii Region
- Maui Food Bank
- Convoy of Hope
- Hawaiian Salvation Army
Using technology to assist with claims
State Farm is making the most of technology to reach customers in more ways and make the process of resolving claims even faster and easier:
- Use of aerial imagery is allowing State Farm to quickly assess damage and accessibility of impacted areas in a way that is safe and efficient.
- Digital pay options allow for claim settlements to be direct-deposited into customers’ bank accounts, getting funds to customers more quickly, whether or not banks are open.
- Customers are encouraged to use the State Farm Mobile App and online account access for many self-service options such as filing and tracking claims, uploading documents during the claim process, requesting emergency roadside service, setting up a rental car reservation, and setting up digital pay.
For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 44 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.
