• Cleaning products should be stored in a lockable cupboard or closet.
• If you have open shelves in your kitchen or pantry, store hazardous items up high where your pet can’t jump.
• Auto products be kept in the garage and in a secure storage space.
• Use your phone to research houseplants at the store before buying them. Any houseplants that are toxic to pets should either be disposed of or kept on high shelves.
• Never leave the kitchen while cooking or baking and clean up as you go so pets don’t eat food that is toxic to them.

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Has your pet been poisoned?

Not sure if your pet has ingested a potential toxin? Toxicity signs can vary depending on the poisonous substance, but there are some common signs to watch for.

• Lethargy or sluggishness
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Lack of appetite
• Excessive drooling
• Stumbling or staggering
• Di­fficulty breathing
• Tremors or seizures

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Planning Ahead with Pet Medical Insurance

Pets are unpredictable, and accidents can still happen even when you are taking the best precautions. Over the past two decades, Trupanion has paid over $8 million towards pet poison and toxicity claims so it’s a good idea to take control ahead of time and have an emergency medical plan in place. Along with taking note of the nearest animal hospitals, a good pet insurance policy can help you tackle surprise medical costs. Having this in place will let you focus on what really matters in times of crisis — taking care of your pet.

State Farm is working with Trupanion, a leader in high-quality insurance for cats and dogs, to help protect your pet from new and unexpected illnesses and injuries. Discover how a pet insurance policy can be there for your pet during their lifetime. Talk to a State Farm agent or get a free, no-obligation quote online today.

As of this morning (1/7/2022), State Farm has received over 1,400 home and auto claims, with the vast majority in Boulder County. Temporary housing and advance funds continue to be provided to customers where possible, with nearly $5 Million in advances issued to date. Customers are encouraged to file a claim as soon as possible, and can text the word “CLAIM” to 62789 to receive a link to file a claim.

In addition to State Farm agents, agent’s staff, and local employees, we have mobilized our State Farm catastrophe response teams across the affected areas to help customers with their claims. We also have thousands of employees handling claims virtually across the country in our centralized operations.

State Farm has opened a Catastrophe Customer Care Site located at 61 West FlatIron Crossing Drive in Broomfield (FlatIron Crossing mall, in front of the AMC theater.)

Additionally as part of our overall support for the community, State Farm has committed a $50,000 disaster grant for the American Red Cross of Colorado, with those funds primarily assisting those displaced from their homes.

State Farm There From The Start

As the wildfire spread, State Farm began mobilizing its resources. Our response 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.

State Farm’s Customer Response Unit (CRU) was on the ground Sunday (1/2/2022) assisting the community (beginning in Spanish Hills and Rock Creek) 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.

Wildfire Defense Systems Activated

Wildfire Defense Systems (WDS) arrived on scene early Friday (12/31/2021) morning. The largest wildfire protection service provider, this complimentary Wildfire Response service was added to all non-tenant homeowners policies in Colorado at no cost to State Farm customers in early 2020. During an active wildfire, if WDS determines a home insured by State Farm is at risk, they will deploy a team that will take proactive counter-measures to protect a policyholder’s property.

On January 1, they continued efforts to mop-up isolated pocked of heat and secure the line. Thanks to a thick blanket of snow over the fire area, significant gains were made toward full containment. Enrolled properties are no longer threatened; should the need to re-engaged WDS arise, they are prepared to respond back to the threatened properties.

Virtual Claim Handling

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 this event 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 fire 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 Marshall Wildfire, 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.

“Doesn’t matter if it’s after a fire or a flood or whatever; when I’m talking to somebody, it’s usually because they’re having a pretty bad day,” said Jeff, State Farm^® claims adjuster.

“Pretty bad” turned out to be an understatement during a call last year. Jeff was in the middle of a virtual inspection. A customer’s roof leaked which caused some pretty significant damage to their West Virginia home. Using an app downloaded to the customer’s smart phone, Jeff was looking at pictures of the damaged area.

“We’re doing more and more of these types of inspections,” Jeff said. “It makes it easier for the customers to send in their info so we can process their claim, get them their money and help them recover quicker.”

Jeff was in the middle of the inspection when all of a sudden, he heard a loud crash. The customer had fallen down a flight of stairs, shattering her ankle.

“She’d dropped her phone and couldn’t reach it, but I could hear her yelling and screaming for help.”

Unfortunately, the only help available was Jeff, and he was hundreds of miles away at the other side of the state. “I didn’t really know what to do, but I knew I had to do something.”

“I kept yelling until I finally got her attention,” Jeff said. “I was trying to keep her calm and trying to keep her conscious.”

She couldn’t reach the phone to dial 911, so Jeff grabbed another phone and dialed for help.

After he got them on the line, Jeff acted as a go-between.

“They were asking things like ‘How far did she fall’ and ‘Can she move’ and ‘Is there any blood?” I kept relaying their questions and giving them her answers.”

When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics picked up the phone that was lying next to the customer on the ground, expecting to hear 911 on the other end.

“I told them, “No, I’m with State Farm; I’m her insurance adjustor.”

The customer was rushed to the hospital and once she arrived, one of the first things she did was write Jeff a heart-felt thank-you note:

Thank you so much for your help with calling 911 and staying on the phone. I dislocated my ankle and shattered many bones, I will need surgery. You were my angel 😇😇. You deserve an award for listening to me scream and crying.

“What an incredible Good Neighbor story this is,” said Jeff’s manager, Bill Lingenfelter. “We’re in the relationship and helping others-business, and this is what it’s all about!”

The Webby Awards is the leading international award program for internet excellence. As a People's Voice Award winner, State Farm was highlighted with other Webby winners from around the world in a virtual Internet Celebration.

This year, along with the SF mobile app, statefarm.com and the Steer Clear Safe Driver Program were also awarded top honors in the international Hermes Creative Awards and the American Business Awards. For additional award accomplishments, view the Industry Reviews & Digital Awards site. 

The Marketing Arm (TMA), the creative lead advertising agency for State Farm, submitted its work on (Re)Introducing Jake from State Farm and received a Webby People's Voice award in the Advertising, Media & PR: Brand Strategy category. ​

This recognition reflects customer pride and confidence in digital products at State Farm through the support across the organization and from customers making these achievements possible.​

To learn more about or download the app, click here.

A Grand Junction, Colo., customer was surprised to see strangers parked in her driveway. After all, it wasn’t the best time for visitors. She’d recently been evacuated from her home as a wildfire raged in west-central Colorado. She’d only gotten permission to return to care for the chickens she’d had to leave behind, along with other much-loved possessions.

Luckily, the strangers turned out to be wildfire defense personnel State Farm^® hired to protect her home. They turned on and repaired irrigation lines and stayed close to keep an eye on things. They reduced the spread of the wildfire, saved her home and her chickens.

“The customer was in awe,” said State Farm Agent LaVonne Gorsuch. “She said State Farm saved their home. If those men hadn’t been there, the fire would have destroyed it.”

Services that Save

State Farm introduced Wildfire Protection Service in February 2020 for Homeowners (non-renters) in Colorado and Oregon, where approximately 500,600 State Farm policyholders could benefit from the service. The service is added at no additional charge.

During the initial phase of testing, the wildfire response vendor responded to 29 wildfires and visited 1,792 properties, saving over 70 homes from wildfires. No properties were lost once the vendor visited a home identified as being in harm’s way.

Starting April 1, this service will expand to California, Arizona and Washington and include Farm and Ranch customers. These states have seen a significant increase in wildfires in 2020.

This program can give customers peace of mind and help protect property from wildfire peril, offering a new opportunity to be there for our customers when needed most. “We had some fence damage and some smoke damage, but our home is safe,” the Colorado customer said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you... State Farm was there.”

“People should be able to interact with an app whenever and however they choose,” said Stacy. “A customer first focus is critical.”

Miller is a State Farm^® mobile app (SFma) technology analyst who was part of a recent update to make the online tool even easier for customers. The State Farm mobile app recently won three top honors in the 2020 Webby Awards, the leading international award program for internet excellence.

“Deposit a check, pay an insurance bill, request roadside assistance, file and track claims – you can do it all online – desktop or mobile,” she said.

“My favorite feature is the photo damage estimator. It’s really innovative,” said SFma software developer Andrew Erickson. “If a driver is in an accident, they can use the app to take pictures of their vehicle and submit them to State Farm. Those images are then used to write the customer an estimate. Efficiency and assistance, that’s what we’re about.”

The Secret to Success

From research to user reviews to direct communication tools, State Farm keeps a constant pulse on customer feedback.

“We’re in the business of creating solutions, and we take what people tell us seriously,” said software developer Nick Baker. “We’re constantly adding new features to improve the online experience. When digital tools are efficient, people can be more efficient.”

For first-time users or those with questions, a chatbot guides customers through the claim-filing process and provides proof of insurance cards without logging in. Using the chatbot, people can also get quotes and compare policy options.

“We want people to know we hear them,” Nick said. “During a prior iteration, many informed us the app was hard to navigate. So we personalized the dashboard, making it easier for people to find what they need.”

“We treat the app like raising a child,” Stacy said. “We take care of it, help it grow and thrive, and teach it to help others. Just like parenting, the work never stops.”

“Whether it’s the mobile app, online or a phone call, we’re good neighbors – and we’re there to serve every step of the way,” Nick said.

To learn more about or download the app, click here.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

After being displaced by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and having a lousy holiday, 3-year-old Bridges and his mother, Christie, were due for a positive experience.

And this Christmas had all the signs of being a good one.

Christie had saved and bought Bridges new toys and clothes. She was excited to surprise him on Christmas morning. As part of the holiday spirit, she encouraged him to gather up toys he had outgrown to give to charity.

New and old, everything was locked in Christie’s car overnight to keep Bridges’ curiosity at bay.

Then the unimaginable happened.

Thieves broke into Christie’s car and took everything as part of a burglary spree in her neighborhood. Christie was distraught and heartbroken.

She had renter’s insurance and called State Farm Claims. The record of her call showed up in Agent Lad Drago’s office in Spanish Fort, Ala.

Agent Team Members Rebecca Grizzle and Cat Holladay saw the claim first that morning.

“It immediately pulled at our heart strings,” Cat says. “Because her deductible exceeded the value of the items stolen, we couldn’t help from an insurance standpoint, but we still wanted to do something.”

With Lad’s permission, Cat and Rebecca pooled their money and asked other agent team members if they wanted to donate. The pair went shopping over their lunch hour and that evening, wrapped the gifts at home that night and brought them back to the office the next morning.

The next day, Rebecca called and told her they had a few questions about the break-in and asked her to stop by the office.

“She came to the office that morning and brought Bridges with her,” Cat says. “We sat her down, and Lad told her all the gifts under the tree were for Bridges. She broke down crying right there in the chair. She kept saying over and over about how no one had ever done anything like that for her.”

“It made my holiday season that we could do this for her,” Rebecca says. “Her face was so full of gratitude.”

“I know I have a great team,” Lad says. “But it was a reminder of how much they care about customers and people in general.”

And this Christmas had all the signs of being a good one.

Christie had saved and bought Bridges new toys and clothes. She was excited to surprise him on Christmas morning. As part of the holiday spirit, she encouraged him to gather up toys he had outgrown to give to charity.

New and old, everything was locked in Christie’s car overnight to keep Bridges’ curiosity at bay.

Then the unimaginable happened.

Thieves broke into Christie’s car and took everything as part of a burglary spree in her neighborhood. Christie was distraught and heartbroken.

She had renter’s insurance and called State Farm Claims. The record of her call showed up in Agent Lad Drago’s office in Spanish Fort, Ala.

Agent Team Members Rebecca Grizzle and Cat Holladay saw the claim first that morning.

“It immediately pulled at our heart strings,” Cat says. “Because her deductible exceeded the value of the items stolen, we couldn’t help from an insurance standpoint, but we still wanted to do something.”

With Lad’s permission, Cat and Rebecca pooled their money and asked other agent team members if they wanted to donate. The pair went shopping over their lunch hour and that evening, wrapped the gifts at home that night and brought them back to the office the next morning.

The next day, Rebecca called Christie and invited her and Bridges to stop by the office.

“She came to the office that morning and brought Bridges with her,” Cat says. “We sat her down, and Lad told her all the gifts under the tree were for Bridges. She broke down crying right there in the chair. She kept saying over and over about how no one had ever done anything like that for her.”

“It made my holiday season that we could do this for her,” Rebecca says. “Her face was so full of gratitude.”

“I know I have a great team,” Lad says. “But it was a reminder of how much they care about customers and people in general.”