Bloomington,
13
December
2021
|
12:57 PM
America/Chicago

State Farm responds to tornado damage across several states

On the evening of December 10, severe weather broke out from North East Arkansas, crossing over to Missouri, and then made its way through Tennessee and into Kentucky. Tornadoes touched down in several communities along its path, leaving catastrophic damage in its wake.

Hardest hit were those neighbors in Kentucky where an EF-3 tornado had a historic long track of nearly 200 miles from Cayce to Beaver Dam with a path ¾ of a mile wide. As of Monday morning, State Farm has received nearly 4,800 claims across the impacted states.

State Farm Responds

In the early hours after the storm made its way across the country, State Farm began mobilizing its resources. The State Farm response is both local and national. It includes State Farm agents who live and work in the same neighborhoods as our customers; teams of claim specialists trained in disaster response traveling in to evaluate damage on site; thousands of employees in centralized care centers across the country helping answer customers’ questions and file their claims; remote claim teams conducting virtual inspections with impacted customers; and many other resources, all helping customers in their time of need.

Less than 48 hours after the storm, State Farm’s Customer Response Unit (CRU) was on the ground in Mayfield, KY assisting the community with basic essentials such as fresh water, work gloves, flashlights, first aid kits, and snacks. The CRU also hands out coloring books and teddy bears for children in the community.

Using Technology

We are helping customers in more ways, and right now that means leveraging technology and offering virtual claim handling when appropriate.

  • State Farm encourages customers to take advantage of potential options for virtual inspections or other methods that do not always require a personal inspection with their claims professional (the virtual option is available in most states if legally permitted.)
  • State Farm policyholders who have damage from (catastrophe) 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.

Homeowners with tornado and storm damage can benefit from more virtual ways to file a claim and receive payment to start repairs. State Farm is leveraging technology by providing virtual claim handling options to customers who have damage from the tornado outbreak, allowing customers to file and track their claim from the convenience of their phone or other electronic devices.

Once a claim is underway, customers can electronically submit photos, video and other claim documentation, and participate in video calls with their claim representative as available. When electronic communication is not available or preferred, we provide in-person claim handling as appropriate.

Some of the benefits of virtual claim handling for customers:

  • Offers possibility of faster claim settlement in certain cases as appropriate, with payment being deposited directly to customer’s preferred bank account
  • Helps deliver efficient claims service
  • Provides a claim handling alternative that follows social distancing guidelines and helps keep the community safe

Bringing in-person service where it’s needed most

To provide convenient local service to customers, mobile Customer Care Sites are being set up in multiple locations near the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky and Tennessee. These sites allow customers to receive in-person support with claim handling and disbursement of payments.

Kentucky

  • Mayfield KY: Furniture/strip mall, 1102 Paris Rd Unit 1C, Mayfield, KY 42066.
  • Bowling Green KY: Home Depot, 2233 Gary Farm Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42104.

Tennessee

  • Goodlettsville TN: Rivergate Mall, 1000 Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville,TN 37072

Being Good Neighbors

In addition to assisting customers directly, State Farm is also helping in the overall recovery efforts by working with local nonprofit organizations in the affected communities. The Disaster Relief tab for employees, agents, and retirees to donate and use their Matching Gift is up and running. Organizations such as such as American Red Cross, Midwest Food bank, Donors Choose and Feeding America are some of the nonprofits employees can choose from to assist the impacted communities.

State Farm is issuing two Disaster Recover Grants for a total of $100,000 to help those impacted by the tornadoes. 

  • $50,000 to support the American Red Cross in Western Kentucky
  • $50,000 to support Convoy of Hope for Western Kentucky
     

How you can help

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