State Farm’s response to Hurricane Ida began before the storm made landfall. Thousands of State Farm agents and employees began to mobilize and prepare to respond to our customers’ needs prior to the storm’s arrival.

The State Farm response to Ida 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.

Delivering on the promise

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, State Farm began claim inspections in areas safe for entry, focusing on the most severe damage first where possible.

Agents and Customer Care Center employees have responded to thousands of customer calls, helping customers understand their coverage and how the claim process works, including aspects of coverage that come into play when damage is especially severe.

When storms such as Ida cause severe damage to homes, customers may be displaced. Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage under a Homeowners or Renters policy is triggered when a covered loss causes the residence to become uninhabitable. ALE can cover some increased costs such as housing, meals, and mileage.

Some media reports are incorrectly suggesting ALE does not apply without a mandatory evacuation having been ordered. These reports are seemingly focused on one portion of our ALE coverage for affected policyholders: Prohibited Use. We are addressing the needs of displaced customers. State Farm is paying, and will pay, thousands of Prohibited Use and ALE claims to our policyholders following Hurricane Ida

For customers who have a loss covered under ALE due to the extent of damage to their home, that loss adjustment occurs regardless of the type of evacuation order in their neighborhood. Once a State Farm customer reports a claim to us, we will evaluate their damage. The process from there depends on many factors including the extent of damage and accessibility of the property. (We’re working with local authorities for access when it’s safe.)

We are here for all of our customers and are committed to pay what we owe. State Farm’s policies in Louisiana, the Northeast and other states, are filed with and approved by state insurance regulators in each state, respectively. State Farm honors the terms of the contract with our customers. Altering the terms of the contract for one event would be unfair to all those who have experienced loss from previous disasters.

Getting a boost from technology

In addition to on-site physical inspection of claims and the service provided by local agents, 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.

• Virtual claim handling allows customers to conduct real-time inspections of damage with remote claim teams through their smartphone cameras.
• Use of drones and aerial imagery allow State Farm to quickly assess damage and accessibility of storm-impacted areas, and to conduct roof inspections in a way that is safe, efficient and supports social distancing.
• 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. 
   

 
Crews work to assemble the Customer Care Site in Gonzales, LA

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 Louisiana. These sites allow customers to receive in-person support with claim handling and disbursement of payments.

Louisiana Customer Care Sites include:

1. Gonzales: 306 Louisiana 30 W, Gonzales, LA 70737 (map)
2. Houma: 6795 West Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364 (map)
3. New Orleans: 8282 I-10 Service Rd, New Orleans, LA 70126 (map)
4. Covington: 69348 Louisiana State Hwy 21, Covington, LA 70433 (map)

Northeast Customer Care Sites include:

1. Livingston, NJ: 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ 07039 (map)
2. Horsham, PA: 200 Blair Mill Road, Horsham, PA 19044 (map)
3. Queens County, NY: Opening soon

To help agents in impacted areas better serve their customers, agency “command centers” are being set up to provide office space and phone/internet connection to agents who have themselves been impacted by damage from Ida.

Being good neighbors in the community

In addition to assisting our customers directly, State Farm is also helping overall recovery efforts with charitable grants to assist with immediate shelter, food, water, and clothing needs in Louisiana.

State Farm has issued eight Disaster Recovery Grants, for a total of $900,000, to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida:

Louisiana:

• $400,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $150,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
• $100,000 to support Northshore Community Foundation
• $100,000 to support The Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma – Thibodaux

Northeast:

• $50,000 to support American Red Cross New Jersey Region
• $50,000 to support American Red Cross Greater New York Region
• $25,000 to support American Red Cross Southeastern Philadelphia Region
• $25,000 to support the Philabundance organization

Along with these disaster grants, in the days following landfall, State Farm deployed its Customer Response Unit vehicles. These vans drive through impacted neighborhoods and hand out basic essentials to residents such as water, food, work gloves, flashlights, and first-aid kits. During their deployment for Ida, the CRUs have each covered more than 1,300 miles through 18 cities and eight parishes.

The response continues

The impact of Hurricane Ida continued after it moved on from the Gulf Coast, with effects reaching all the way into the northeast U.S., including intense flooding in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

State Farm is the nation’s largest home and auto insurer, with the capacity to serve customers through multiple simultaneous disasters. Already, State Farm has received more than 72,000 claims related to the impact of Ida – more than 42,000 in Louisiana and more than 25,000 in the northeast. This is happening all while the same level of service is being provided to those suffering the effects of wildfires in the western U.S., and everywhere else severe weather is impacting State Farm customers.

The story of any major weather event is a long one. The process of recovering, rebuilding, and re-establishing a sense of “normal” can take weeks, months, or even years. State Farm is here to help our customers get through this difficult time.

State Farm, the nation’s largest auto and home insurer, has been invited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to participate on the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). Membership on the UAS BVLOS ARC is by invitation only and includes a diverse set of leading aviation industry stakeholders from more than 80 organizations. State Farm was the only insurer invited to participate. Todd Binion (P&C Claims) and Maria Hagglund (Law Department) will represent State Farm as primary and alternate ARC members respectively.

“Our participation on this ARC aligns very well with who we are at State Farm,” said Todd Binion, Claim Section Manager in P&C Claims. “We’re the industry leader and we take that role very seriously. We’re laser focused on driving innovation and leveraging technology to serve our policyholders in more ways. Yet, at our core, we’re committed to ensuring that this can be done in a safe, responsible manner. These principles and our experiences as a leading UAS operator will guide our contributions towards shaping these future regulations.”

The UAS BVLOS ARC will provide recommendations to the FAA for a performance-based, technology agnostic regulatory framework to normalize safe, scalable, economically viable and environmentally advantageous BVLOS operations. The FAA took a similar approach to develop recommendations for new rules for Remote ID and UAS operations over people. These rules were released in December 2020 and were implemented earlier this year.

State Farm continues to be an industry leader in the testing and adoption of UAS technology. State Farm was the first insurer approved to conduct commercial UAS operations. When the Small UAS Rule was finalized, the FAA cited numerous comments provided by State Farm during the rule making process. During the 2018 hurricane season, State Farm was granted two operational waivers permitting operations over people (OOP) and flights beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS) for catastrophe response in across multiple states. The following year, State Farm received a first-of-its-kind waiver for BVLOS and OOP on a nationwide basis. State Farm sponsored novel testing at Virginia Tech that resulted in a waiver enabling safe operations that may involve flight over moving vehicles.

The UAS BVLOS ARC began meeting in June and final recommendations will be provided to the FAA by the end of this year.

About State Farm®:

The mission of State Farm is 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 19,300 agents and nearly 55,000 employees serve approximately 86 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

Most safe drone flights aren’t supposed to end in crashes. However, the recorded crash took place in one of Virginia Tech’s impact labs, where controlled collisions have served as testing for safer cars, football helmets, and even toys. Here, collisions illuminate risk and point to ways to reduce it, and, now, are helping lead to new ways to use drones.

Since 2018, State Farm® has been working with Virginia Tech to safely incorporate drones into our claims operations. However, a key provision restricting commercial drone use in urban and suburban areas is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibition against flying over moving vehicles. The concern is that a drone smashing into the windshield of a moving car could obliterate the driver’s view of the road or, worse, barrel into the car injuring occupants.

Safety has always been important to State Farm. However, under current rules, a claims drone operator assigned to inspect two houses across a busy street from each other would have to finish the first inspection and land. Then, the operator would have to walk the drone across the street and start all over just a few feet away.

The results of the Virginia Tech testing showed otherwise. The new data demonstrated that a small parachute-equipped drone won’t actually damage a car traveling at average in-town speed limits. The slim margin between a virtually pristine windshield and a destroyed one drew a clear boundary around low-risk scenarios. The data showed that as long as potential relative impact speeds never exceeded 62 mph, flights over moving vehicles presented minimal risk. The FAA agreed.

As a result, the FAA granted State Farm permission to fly over moving vehicles at the end of 2020.

This not only allows State Farm to increase efficiency while handling homeowners’ claims, but also helps pave the way for the drone industry for drone operation over moving vehicles in certain situations.

Getting this waiver for rapidly evolving technology being used in new ways, means finding ways to define, quantify and categorize risks in new ways.

“State Farm is committed to finding innovative opportunities that support safety and efficiency in our claims handling,” shared State Farm Manager Todd Binion. “If we look for ways to use data to help overcome regulatory challenges, we can move forward in other ways where drones can be used to benefit consumers across multiple industries.”

More than 35,300 insurance claims were filed with State Farm in the week following the Laura’s landfall. Residents across Louisiana and Texas continue reporting damage to their homes and vehicles as impacted areas become more accessible. State Farm catastrophe response drone teams are assessing damage for customers across Lake Charles and other impacted areas.

Please continue to monitor local information. When it is safe to do so, make (or have a contractor make) temporary repairs to prevent further damage to your home or property. Save receipts if you purchase items such as tarps, plywood or other repair supplies. Take photos/videos of damage for claim documentation.

To get the claims process started, you can file your claim online, call 1-800-SFCLAIM (800-732-5246) or contact your State Farm agent.

We're continuing to gear up claims resources in response to #HurricaneLaura. We're balancing health and safety with our commitment to customers, we’re working virtually and in person, practicing social distancing with protective equipment.

The State Farm Weather and Catastrophe Team is being dispatched to the hardest hit areas.

Face-to-Face protocols, adjustments and staffing during COVID-19

• First and foremost, we are committed to the health and safety of our customers, the communities where we live and work, and our claim employees.
• Our claim operations remain open and available to service your claims. We are monitoring this changing health issue and continually evaluating our response.
• Virtual claim inspection options are available in most states if legally permitted.
• Claims can always be submitted and managed by calling or emailing your State Farm agent, calling 1-800-SFCLAIM, submitting a claim through our mobile app or through our website at statefarm.com/claims.
• Continuous innovation and adaptation have positioned State Farm as the insurance industry leader. The pandemic is a rapidly changing situation and the decisions we are making balance health concerns with our obligation to continue to serve you.

More tips and resources:

• Avoid driving if possible. If you have to travel, turn around if the road is flooded or blocked by debris.
• Stay away from downed power lines. Anything touching the power line can carry a charge. Report the downed line and avoid the area.
• Simple Insights: Hurricane disaster cleanup after the storm

In the News:

• KADN-15: State Farm Using Drones to Assess Damage (9/4/20)
• The Times-Picayune: State Farm insurance claims hit 24,800 for Louisiana homeowners after Hurricane Laura (9/1/20)
• CBS-42: Like good neighbors, Alabamians are there (8/27/20)
• WVTM-13: Hurricane Laura relief staging in Birmingham area (8/27/20)
• The Weather Channel: CAT 2 Laura Moving Inland (8/27/20)
• Houston Chronicle: Season's first hurricane gives Texans a taste of how COVID has shaped insurance claims (8/4/20)
• AccuWeather: Now is the time to prepare for hurricane season (6/1/20)

Our hearts go out to all those impacted – especially family and friends of those who lost their lives. Safety is paramount as residents assess damage and begin the recovery process.

Start the claim process as soon as possible.

Take steps to prevent further damage as soon as it is safe to do so. There are four ways to start the claim process:

1. Online at www.statefarm.com/claims
2. Use the State Farm Mobile App
3. Call 1-800-SFCLAIM
4. Contact your State Farm Agent

Hundreds of customers have already filed claims. Our local agents and call center claim specialists are already assisting customers with their most immediate needs, like additional living expenses (ALE). The State Farm Claims Catastrophe Response Team is being deployed to the most heavily impacted areas to assist in the recovery. This additional personnel includes three drone teams.

Customers with damage should:

• Inspect your property. Document damage with pictures to share with your claims specialist.
• Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Take pictures and save receipts for materials purchased.
• Exercise caution when selecting a contractor. Storm recovery can be emotionally and physically draining. Don’t make a quick, emotional decision without recommendations. Obtain detailed written estimates and multiple bids.

Additional insurance considerations and storm recovery tips:

Tree removal can be very expensive right now because resources are spread thin. As a reminder, insurance only pays to remove trees impacting your home, building, fences or other structures. Coverage limits may apply to debris removal coverage.

Be wary of those who might try to capitalize on the storm.

• Ask for recommendations
• Beware of door-to-door solicited repairs
• Get multiple written estimates
• Always have a written, detailed estimate
• Don’t pay up front. Always inspect the completed work before payment.
• If making repairs, consider upgraded roofing materials (upgrades could result in insurance premium discounts).

If you have experienced a power outage:

• Never use candles for emergency lighting, use flashlights.
• Disconnect any appliances, equipment or electronics that were on when the power went out. When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary “surges” or “spikes”. This can damage computers, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. Leave one light on so you know when the power returns.
• Check to see if your homeowners policy covers damages resulting from outages. Subject to the deductible, your policy may cover spoiled food and other damages.
• Use generators safely. If you have a portable generator, only run it outdoors with adequate ventilation. Never use a generator indoors or in attached garages. The exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, which can be deadly if inhaled.

As an industry leader, safety has been at the forefront of our use of drone technology. State Farm was the first insurer to obtain an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver for commercial use. It collaborates with public sector partners like Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP).  Data and research from these types of collaborative efforts is helping to drive innovation in this rapidly changing technology.

National Drone Safety Awareness Week is Nov. 4-10, 2019. It is meant to recognize and advance the public-private partnerships and collaborations with drone technology. Each day, drone successes and accomplishments within different sectors will be highlighted.

• Monday: Public Safety and Security
• Tuesday: Business – Photography, Real Estate, Insurance
• Wednesday: Business – Infrastructure and Agriculture
• Thursday: Business – Commercial and Medical Package Delivery
• Friday: Education and STEM
• Saturday and Sunday: Recreational Flyers

National Drone Safety Awareness Week Tweets 

Learn more about the use of drones in the insurance industry.

• AUVSI (January 8, 2019) – State Farm granted first national FAA waiver to conduct UAS flights over people and BVLOS
• Drone Life (January 8, 2019) - State Farm Granted First National FAA Waiver for Damage Assessment Drone Flights
• Virginia Tech Daily (March 8, 2019) - National waiver lays out a roadmap for drone integration
• Robotics Business Review (March 15, 2019) - How State Farm Earned National Waiver for Drone Flights

“IT” happens here

Instead of soaring to a city far away, the annual conference, called the IT Symposium, takes place within the walls of State Farm. It’s open to more than 50,000 employees, and no one has to travel out of town. Held in October, the event is known for hosting tech experts, award winning keynote speakers, digital workshops, interactive presentations and a multi-day Tech Expo packed with vendors, booths, IT demonstrations and giveaways.

“Technology is changing the economic landscape. This event keeps us ahead of the curve,” said Infrastructure Analyst Casey Biddle.

It's a can’t-miss.

Biddle joined State Farm in 1983. He’s been to every IT Symposium.

“Some may call me a dinosaur,” he smiled. “But, witnessing firsthand how technology has evolved from then to now is amazing.”

When Biddle came on board, email, smartphones and social media didn’t exist.

“We had a basket on our desk where paper memos were dropped – that’s how we got information,” said Biddle. “In those days, my computer didn’t even have a mouse. I used arrow keys.”

Fast Forward to 2019 – a lot has changed.

“There isn’t a symposium that goes by that I don’t learn something,” Biddle said. “This event sheds light on new projects and ways of working. When leaders share their vision for the future, it promotes change adoption. This is a great way to get people on board as we continue to evolve.”

What’s the secret to staying current?

"Get as much exposure as you can,” said Biddle. "I would have never thought technology could change jobs as much as it has. From drones, to cloud-based services, to artificial intelligence. No matter your role, learn about tech, follow it. The IT Symposium makes the task easier.”

It's an investment in talent, teamwork and the future - that Biddle says, is paying off.

“I've been a software developer, worked on apps, supported unified media - needless to say, State Farm is a great place to work. Just look at my track record! Thirty-six years and counting.”

New Hires: Here’s What They’re Saying

“State Farm lives up to its title as a Good Neighbor company. I see it in many ways – including how it develops employees. Events like the IT Symposium foster collaboration among departments.”

-Jacob Schroeder (3 years) Software Developer

“The IT Symposium not only teaches me about current technologies, it also makes me aware of future-state capabilities. It feels good to work for a company dedicated to continuous improvement.”

- Sudha Nandam (2 years) Software Developer

“I’m amazed by the company’s commitment to knowledge. This event is a fun and educational way to learn about technology. It truly promotes understanding.”

- Thomas Emola (9 weeks) Software Developer

Fun Facts:

• The IT Symposium began in 2009.
• It’s open to more than 50,000 employees.
• In 2019 the Tech Expo hosted more than 200 booths.
• Award winning keynote speakers including tech evangelist Guy Kawasaki have presented there.
• In 2019, a 120-pound drivable robot rolled through. It also shot basketballs.

Innovative drone technologies allow the company to adapt to the changing needs of customers and communities. Two new State Farm drone pilots are spearheading the effort. The aerial data they gather will gain new insight into risks and how to mitigate them.

“Our data driven approach to understanding risks will help us evaluate environmental changes that could impact our customers,” says Melissa Seloover, Technology Manager for RED Labs.

Dynamic Duo

Tanya Leahy and Ben Clawson are the drone pilots deployed on this new initiative. Already private airplane pilots, they expanded their passion for aviation to also become FAA-certified drone pilots. They also happen to be siblings.

“We are competitive,” says Tanya. “Growing up, we didn’t share toys very well. Our mom thinks it’s hysterical we share a drone now.”

“I’m happy to be able to put our aviation background to use in a different way,” says Ben. “By being drone pilots for State Farm, we can increase our aviation knowledge and have a positive impact on the industry.”

“Ben and Tanya are unique for State Farm as the first, full-time, deployed drone pilots," says Seloover. “They are part of our greater innovation story, helping State Farm explore new opportunities.”

State Farm Drone History

This new effort extends the company’s use of drones. Internal research, as well as collaborative drone projects have resulted in significant progress.

Previous FAA waivers allowed:

• collaborations with Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) and participation in the FAA Integration Pilot Program (IPP)
• drone operations over people (OOP)
• flights beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS) for catastrophe damage
• flights related to claims (originally limited to geographic areas impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael)

As State Farm launched their new drone program to better assist customers after storm damage, they needed to recruit and train employees to become drone pilots. And they wanted the best of the best.

To the surprise of no one, Jessica Hodge, Joy Hillsman-Caffie and Shelley Cole rose to the top of the list. They are three of the six drone pilots for State Farm who are women.

The news of her selection came as a shock to Jessica, an eight-year State Farm claims specialist.

When I found out, I was excited and up for the challenge,” shared Jessica. “I consider myself an early adopter of the technology. State Farm is one of the first insurance companies to use drones and I’m one of the first drone pilots for State Farm. It’s cool to be on the cutting edge.”

Shelley had worked in Claims for just shy of 30 years when she was tapped on the shoulder to join the elite team. She was enthusiastic about the new adventure.

“It’s been quite the experience. It makes me feel like I’m really leading the way for other women,” Shelley said. “It also gave me a bit of an upper hand. As a female catastrophe claims specialist (which is a male dominated role), working with contractors (which is a male dominated job), being a drone pilot gave me a different level of respect.”

Joy is one of the lucky people in the world whose hobby became a career. After she heard about the drone program, she decided she wanted in. Recently introduced to drones herself, the 13-year employee made a few phone calls and advocated for herself. She officially passed her license test in the fall of 2017.

“Having to fight for something you want makes it sweeter. It’s also very cool being one of the women drone pilots at State Farm,” shared Joy. “We are really at the forefront of the industry and it’s great to be a part of that.”

Even better, her son who loves all things tech, thinks she’s pretty cool, too. “He says I’m one of his super heroes.”

Together they are defying statistics and helping customers recover from the unexpected.

As State Farm launched their new drone program to better assist customers after storm damage, they needed to recruit and train employees to become drone pilots. And they wanted the best of the best.

To the surprise of no one, Jessica Hodge, Joy Hillsman-Caffie and Shelley Cole rose to the top of the list. They are three of the six drone pilots for State Farm who are women.

The news of her selection came as a shock to Jessica, an eight-year State Farm claims specialist.

When I found out, I was excited and up for the challenge,” shared Jessica. “I consider myself an early adopter of the technology. State Farm is one of the first insurance companies to use drones and I’m one of the first drone pilots for State Farm. It’s cool to be on the cutting edge.”

Shelley had worked in Claims for just shy of 30 years when she was tapped on the shoulder to join the elite team. She was enthusiastic about the new adventure.

“It’s been quite the experience. It makes me feel like I’m really leading the way for other women,” Shelley said. “It also gave me a bit of an upper hand. As a female catastrophe claims specialist (which is a male dominated role), working with contractors (which is a male dominated job), being a drone pilot gave me a different level of respect.”

Joy is one of the lucky people in the world whose hobby became a career. After she heard about the drone program, she decided she wanted in. Recently introduced to drones herself, the 13-year employee made a few phone calls and advocated for herself. She officially passed her license test in the fall of 2017.

“Having to fight for something you want makes it sweeter. It’s also very cool being one of the women drone pilots at State Farm,” shared Joy. “We are really at the forefront of the industry and it’s great to be a part of that.”

Even better, her son who loves all things tech, thinks she’s pretty cool, too. “He says I’m one of his super heroes.”

Together they are defying statistics and helping customers recover from the unexpected.

“It’s been a team effort to make drone technology a reality,” says Senior Vice President for P&C Claims Robert Yi. “The waiver will provide our claims specialists with another way to efficiently help customers. We can use drones to assess on-the-ground damage and deploy resources. This is a huge win for our customers and demonstrates we’re recognized as a leader in drone technology.”

Current FAA regulations restrict pilots from flying drones beyond their visual line of sight and over groups of people. In a catastrophe situation, access to the impacted area may be challenged by water, debris and damage to infrastructure. The national waiver will also open up new innovation opportunities for State Farm by allowing longer-distance flights.

“There are many possibilities for the use of drones but FAA regulators need to be assured that operations can be conducted safely” said Mark Blanks, Director for the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech. “State Farm had a compelling proposal for how drones could improve their customer experience and an unwavering commitment to safety. MAAP had the operational expertise and the research experience to help them navigate the approval process and collect supporting data. This success shows how powerful it can be when industry and academia collaborate to break new ground.”

How we got here

For nearly two years, State Farm has been working with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech on drone safety case research. In May 2018, the Commonwealth of Virginia was selected as one of 10 teams selected to be part of the FAA Integration Pilot Program (IPP). As a member of the Virginia IPP team, State Farm has worked with MAAP to assess a wide range of potential risks and strategies for reducing them.

“I’m proud of the teamwork demonstrated in making a nationwide waiver a reality at State Farm,” says Mark Oakley, Senior Vice President for Labs @ State Farm. “The partnership between Claims, Labs and Virginia Tech has been integral in getting us to this point. As the first and only company to secure a nationwide waiver to date, this is a substantial achievement and testament to the skills, knowledge, passion and commitment of these teams. We strongly believe the waivers provide us with the ability to explore new and exciting opportunities for State Farm.”

State Farm and MAAP have conducted numerous tests that evaluated the fixed-wing eBee Classic drone, manufactured by senseFly, for longer-distance damage assessment flights. Based on the strength of the research and resulting safety case documentation, the FAA approved temporary waivers for State Farm to conduct damage-assessment drone flights over people and beyond the operator’s visual line of sight in states impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael. Successful flights in the aftermath of the two hurricanes yielded valuable real-world experience and insights that were incorporated into the national waiver request.

Over the next several years, the members of the Virginia IPP team will continue exploring innovative ways to safely use drone technology, including catastrophe response, emergency management, and infrastructure inspection. The day-to-day operations of the Virginia IPP team is managed by MAAP.

In The News

• Forbes:  FAA OKs Long-Range Drone Flights Over Populated Areas By State Farm To Assess Florence Damage (9/19/18)

• Virginia Tech:  National waiver lays out a roadmap for drone integration (3/8/19)

• Robotics Business Review: How State Farm Earned National Waiver for Drone Flights (3/15/19)

In addition to the operational capabilities granted by these FAA waivers, State Farm will continue to utilize drone technology as a tool for our claim representatives to assist in individual inspections of our customers’ homes and properties related to these hurricanes.

It was less than one month ago when Hurricane Florence struck North and South Carolina. State Farm was the first and only insurance company to receive an FAA waiver allowing Claims pilots to operate drones beyond visual line of sight and over people for damage assessment. Drone flights were coordinated with the FAA and Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech as part of the Integration Pilot Program for large-scale damage assessment in Virginia and South Carolina.

State Farm requires the ability to quickly assess damage after significant weather events in order to serve customers as efficiently as possible. Drone technology is an additional tool providing technical capabilities to quickly deploy over an event site and assess damage from the air. Data obtained from drone flights can be used for determining severity of the event for better resource allocation and quick determination of uninhabitable insured property.

State Farm drone pilots will operate eBee fixed-wing drones for flights approved under the FAA waiver for damage assessment. Claims representatives conducting drone flights for roof inspections will utilize Kespry multi-rotor drones.

The insurance company has been collaborating with the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) on one of ten elite teams selected earlier this year to the FAA Integration Pilot Program (IPP). Their successful application for this unprecedented waiver is a testament to the program’s success in facilitating rapid, research-based advances in drone operations to serve communities’ needs.

“State Farm needs to quickly assess damage after significant weather events,” says Robert Yi, Senior Vice President – State Farm. “Drone technology provides us with the capability to quickly deploy over a catastrophe site and assess damage from the air. The data we obtain from drone flights can be used to help us determine the severity of damage. This also allows us to place our Claims team on-the-ground and evaluate uninhabitable insured property.”

Since May 2018, State Farm has collaborated with MAAP and Virginia Tech’s world-renowned injury biomechanics group to assess a wide range of potential risks and strategies for reducing them; the team collected data on a variety of parameters including the aircraft’s communications performance, navigational precision, and the risk of injury to humans. The strength of the data made a compelling case to the FAA that State Farm could safely conduct sophisticated aerial damage-assessment operations following the devastating impact of Hurricane Florence. That capability gives State Farm additional tools to serve customers and moves the whole drone industry forward.

Current FAA regulations restrict pilots from flying drones beyond their visual line of sight and from flying drones over groups of people. In a catastrophe situation such as Hurricane Florence, access to the area may be challenged by water, debris, and damage to infrastructure. Damage may also extend across a large area, making efficient damage assessment very difficult. The new waiver will make the insurer’s work much easier by allowing longer-distance flights over densely populated areas.

The FAA waiver reflects months of detailed research following a process pioneered by MAAP for identifying, evaluating, and mitigating potential risks presented by drone operations.

“This is a pivotal moment that demonstrates the value of a risk-based safety case development process,” said MAAP director Mark Blanks. “Drone technology has tremendous potential to serve the public, but before we can harness that capability we need to demonstrate conclusively that ambitious operations can be done safely. This waiver, and the volume of research that backs it up, shows that this approach works.”

The disaster-assessment work this waiver will enable exemplifies the purpose of the IPP: to facilitate the next generation of drone applications by working with communities on groundbreaking projects that can improve the public’s quality of life and spur innovation. Through research collaboration with MAAP, State Farm determined that flying the eBee fixed-wing drone reduced the risk of damage to people and property. Manufactured by senseFly, the drone also captures high-resolution imagery.

Earlier this year, the Virginia-based research team was selected for the FAA Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced their selection of teams for the multi-year program following a competitive application process. State Farm is the only insurance company selected to participate in the program. Approximately 150 communities applied for the program. Only 10 teams from across the country were selected.

Over the next three years, the Virginia team will explore applications of drone technology including catastrophe response, emergency management, and infrastructure inspection. The day-to-day operations will be managed by Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech, which has accumulated significant expertise running one of only seven federal test sites for unmanned aircraft systems. The organization has built a reputation for facilitation of ground-breaking testing while upholding the most rigorous standards of safety.

In The News

• Forbes:  FAA OKs Long-Range Drone Flights Over Populated Areas By State Farm To Assess Florence Damage (9/19/18)

• Unmanned Aerial:  State Farm Granted Key Drone Permissions for Florence Damage Assessment (9/19/18)

• The Roanoke Star:  VA Tech / State Farm Collaborate to Secure FAA Waiver for Drone Operations in Areas Impacted by Hurricane Florence (9/19/18)

State Farm is a member of the Virginia team led by the Commonwealth of Virginia through the state’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority and the Center for Innovative Technology. Seven state agencies are part of the Virginia team in addition to eight corporate partners. Approximately 150 communities applied for the program. Only 10 teams from across the country were selected.

Over the next three years, the Virginia team will explore applications of drone technology including catastrophe response, emergency management, and infrastructure inspection. The day-to-day operations will be managed by Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech, which has accumulated significant expertise running one of only seven federal test sites for unmanned aircraft systems. The organization has built a reputation for facilitation of ground-breaking testing while upholding the most rigorous standards of safety.

“State Farm has earned a reputation for providing an industry leading catastrophe response,” says Todd Binion, P&C Claims Staff Consultant at State Farm. “We see drone technology as an additional tool to help us assess damage and serve our customers and communities impacted by catastrophe events. We are excited to work alongside the FAA, MAAP, and other leaders in the drone space to address how drone technology can meet the ever changing needs of the public and private sector.”

In 2015, State Farm became the first insurance company in the U.S. to receive approval to conduct commercial UAS operations.

As the number of drones operating in U.S. airspace increases, the FAA has been working to respond to the growing interest in the commercial use of this technology, while balancing important concerns regarding public safety. The UAS IPP provides the opportunity for state, local, and tribal governments to partner with private sector entities to accelerate safe drone testing for currently restricted operations such as beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights and flights over people.