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.

How you can help

• Convoy of Hope 
• American Red Cross
  • Mayfield, KY
  • Western Kentucky

“Current State Farm driving data and claims experience show a considerable decline in miles driven and fewer accidents,” said Dan Krause, Senior Vice President. “As a result, we’re looking for ways to continue supporting our Kentucky customers while we monitor and adjust to trends.”

In addition to the auto rate reduction, the discount for participating in Drive Safe & Save™ is increasing to 10%, and empowers drivers to save more on their auto premiums through driving behaviors.

Customer rate reductions will vary based on their individual renewals. Customers are encouraged to visit with their State Farm agent about individual policies, coverage and any opportunities for discounts, including Drive Safe & Save.

“The company’s current financial strength is allowing us to pass along a rate reduction to our Kentucky customers," said State Farm Senior Vice President Dan Krause. “We continually evaluate how we can best serve our customers and are very pleased to be able to offer this rate decrease in Kentucky.”

Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary depending on the specific details of an individual customer’s policy and chosen coverages. Kentucky customers with questions can contact their local State Farm agent to discuss their individual situation.

In addition to this rate reduction, State Farm agents are able to review with new and existing customers the many opportunities for additional discounts that may apply to an individual’s unique circumstances. A rate decrease combined with discounts offers an exceptional long-term value to State Farm customers.

Until fate intervened.

The beagle’s name was Jake. And it just so happens that the media and PR coordinator for Kentucky’s largest humane society is a huge fan of the Jake from State Farm^® commercials.

When an employee at the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville sent her Jake’s photo, Megan Decker knew just what to do.

“All he needed was a little extra attention to be noticed. I immediately thought of Jake at State Farm,” Megan says. “So I posted his photo on Twitter and tagged State Farm.”

Her tweet − "Learn more about Jake" − got results.

Jordan Knoup, a Public Affairs specialist, was monitoring the company’s social media posts when she saw Megan’s Tweet about their Jake on the official Jake at State Farm Twitter page.

A rescue dog fan herself, Jordan asked her Public Affairs contacts to see if there was a way to help.

“I thought we may be able to sponsor his adoption fee as a goodwill gesture.”

Public Affairs Specialists Judy McConkey and Heather Paul worked with Jordan to expedite the donation to the humane society. When the request was approved, the humane society was notified that State Farm would indeed sponsor Jake, covering his adoption fee and a few extra blankets and toys for his new family.

Judy wrote on the Humane Society’s Twitter page in response: "Jake from @StateFarm is #heretohelp! We will cover your adoption fees and help you find a forever home. You really are handsome with your red collar and brown markings. It almost looks like you are wearing khakis!"

Jake, now adopted, is settling in to his new home thanks to the efforts of a few animal lovers and a popular commercial.

Megan says corporate sponsorships like this one help them pull dogs from rural shelters that have little or no adoption programs.

“We have a great team in place that works with dogs like Jake from these shelters to get them ready for adoption as soon as possible,” Megan says. “We do lots of grant writing and outreach to save as many animals as we can. I’m so happy this worked out for Jake and his new family.”

Good night, sleep tight. It is time to crawl into your cozy bed. But not for everyone. You would think everyone in America has a bed to call their own, but sadly it is not so.

Many people in this country take things for granted. They have food to eat, clothes to wear and a bed to sleep in each night. There are many poor and even middle-class families across the nation who lack beds.

“Many families have a hard choice to make. Are they going to put food on the dinner table or buy a bed for their children? When this happens, they will choose food," says Mary Claire Williams.

Mary Claire is the Project Director for the Morehead State University AmeriCorps. One of their projects is building beds for children in Eastern Kentucky.

“A bed is not the first item people think of when looking to help a family in need. There isn't as much awareness about this issue as there should be,” shared Mary Claire.

Eastern Kentucky is one of the poorest areas in the United States. There is a high percentage of families living below the poverty level.

People who work in schools and homeless shelters see the need every day. “Build-A-Bed” is a small gesture that has an immeasurable impact on a child and family.

The Kentucky "Build-A-Bed" project began in 2009. Two Kentucky AmeriCorps Programs built 57 beds for children in that first year.

Since 2009, the project has gained a lot of momentum. In 2010, a statewide build resulted in 557 beds for preschool through 12^th grade students across Kentucky. In 2011, various Kentucky AmeriCorps programs hosted regional builds across the state. Morehead State University AmeriCorps is in the sixth year of their regional project.

Mary Claire is proud of the donations the project receives from local communities. She is proud of the group continuing to grow and innovate each year. And she’s proud of the volunteers, like State Farm Agent Steve Baker and his team members, who go above and beyond.

"The volunteers won’t leave until every last screw is in place for each bed."

The most rewarding part for volunteers is seeing the smiles on the children’s faces. Each child gets a brand new bed with a homemade quilt. They also get a pillow, sheets, stuffed animal, book, nightlight and a hygiene kit.

Although they build beds for school-age children, they help the whole family. Oftentimes parents or grandparents are sharing a bed with three children. Nobody is getting a good night sleep. Providing the children with beds affects the well-being of the whole family.

As awareness of the project grows, so does the need. Their goal is to continue to raise enough money each year to provide more and more children with beds. Fortunately, companies like State Farm provide funding, but more is needed.

In 2016, almost 400 children asked for beds, but they were only able to provide 240. The program and volunteers would love to provide a bed to everyone in need. It is heartbreaking to mail letters to families telling them they cannot meet their need.

The Build a Bed group has a wish. To secure enough funding to provide a bed for each child who applies. To learn how you can help, click here.

Across the country, schools are teaching students, not just with a text book, but by getting their hands dirty. Literally. And, with the help of State Farm, they are helping their communities and the environment in the process.

Crellin Elementary teaches students how to keep the body and the planet healthy

Your chicken door needs to be closed each day at a certain time? What do you do? If you are a fifth grader at Crellin Elementary in Maryland, you build an automatic chicken door that runs on solar power.

From working in the greenhouse, cleaning the wool from a sheered sheep, to taking a walk to learn about the hemlocks, Crellin Elementary Students (K-5) are learning in unique ways.

The kids, along with their parents and teachers, learn about healthy, sustainable lifestyles and how to protect the environment. They feed the animals, plant vegetables and compost leftovers from school lunches. And the students don’t mind doing their chores…at school.At the school, they also have a lab the students use to study and collect data.

After spending time in the barn, first graders were curious about which roosting box the hens preferred when laying eggs. For two months, regardless of the weather, these little scientists went to the barn to collect data. Using the results, the second graders prepare the “Sunshine Farm” eggs to sell.

“Using the environment to teach content skills and processes is part of the approach to teaching and learning,” said Principal Dana McCauley. ”(They) strive to be self-sustaining at Crellin by tying agriculture into the curriculum.”

Virginia Chance School “Green Team” creates organic garden and compost system

The Virginia Chance School in Louisville, Kentucky has an eight-member “Green Team”. The chosen fourth and fifth graders annually lead the environmental and energy conservation charge at the independent school for children age two through fifth grade.

The Green Team’s first big undertaking in 2012 was overseeing the building of a 60-foot greenhouse to create an organic garden and compost system.

“The building of the greenhouse really changed our school and our learning environment for the better,” says Ms. Cummins, the lead teacher.

Subsequent Green Teams have introduced an Aquaponics system into the greenhouse, planted a rain garden, and built rain barrels. Next on the horizon is building a chicken coop.

The produce the students grow is used as fresh snacks for the student body, student-run farmers market, cooking classes, monthly taco dinners. Leftovers are donated to a local food bank.

In May of 2015, the National Energy Education Development Project named the Chance School the top elementary school in the country. “I think what made their project stand out is the ability to tie in growing their own food and conserving water into energy conservation,” said Ms. Cummins.

The school was honored by a visit from First Lady Jane Beshear of Kentucky in recognition of all of the great things the Green Team is accomplishing.

Tucker County High School grows 50,000 bedding plants

High school students can get into the action too. At Tucker County HS in Hambleton, West Virginia, students are learning valuable life skills.

Through the Farm to School program, the students sell their produce directly to the high school or other schools. The school’s cafeteria is now serving meals with produce grown in the greenhouse.

The culinary program, part of the career & technical education program, has also expanded with the addition of fresh produce from the greenhouse. Students learn how to can and preserve fresh produce for school meals.

Last year, 50,000 bedding plants were grown in the high school green house and sold to the community and surrounding counties.

With these programs in place, TCHS can make money from the greenhouse facilities and culinary programs to, ultimately, help support the students

The alarm sounded just as Joyce Miller was about to step out the front door. Her first reaction wasn’t panic, but confusion – there was no burning smell, no heat coming from anywhere on the first floor. But when she went to the second floor, she looked into a bedroom and saw flames stretched from floor to ceiling.

She closed the door on the flames and ran downstairs, calling out for her five cats, hoping to get them to safety before the fire reached the rest of the house. As she looked for her pets, the alarm company called to confirm there was a fire, telling her they had dispatched the local Harrods Creek (Ky.) Fire Department.

Knowing she didn’t have much time, Miller quickly put one cat in the car and backed the car out of the garage. She found another cat and put it in the garage with the doors closed. But try as she might, she couldn’t find the other three cats.

“Common sense comes into play and you realize you have to get out,” Miller said. Hoping the cats were safe wherever they were hiding, Miller hurried out the back door.

A Lesson From Her Neighbor

Miller installed a home monitoring system in her Prospect, KY home at the recommendation of her State Farm agent.

“I had always wanted to do that,” Miller said. “But it’s one of those things you put off.”

Miller and her late husband were longtime customers of State Farm. Denny Vogel, the Miller’s State Farm agent, said he often talks to customers about the benefits of a home monitoring system. But the most powerful selling point is the endorsement of a friend or neighbor who had an experience (burglary) like Miller’s.

“I definitely use it as an example, especially in this neighborhood,” Vogel said.

“I don’t think I realized how great a monitored fire alarm system was,” Miller said, “until the morning of December 11, 2013.”

A Matter Of Minutes

The fire department arrived at 8:08 a.m., just six minutes after receiving the call from ADT. They saw smoke coming from the eaves beneath the roof and worried the fire had spread to the attic.

Firefighters proceeded upstairs to the bedroom where they found a mattress engulfed in flames, caused by a malfunctioning electrical outlet. They knocked down the flames and dragged the bed downstairs into the yard to finish putting out the fire. Though it seemed like an eternity to Miller, it took just 90 minutes for firefighters to save her home.

She found two of the missing cats under a bed downstairs. The other emerged from the basement when the ruckus died down. Now, three months later, repairs to the house are almost complete, and Miller and her cats are getting back to normal.

If a home security system had not been present, it is possible Miller would not have heard an alarm at all and would have continued to leave her home that morning. And she might have inadvertently left the fire to grow. She could have come home to nothing but ashes.

“Even if she had battery operated smoke detectors, nobody would have been there to hear them,” said Major Steven Hanson of the Harrods Creek Fire Department. “We could get there in five minutes or less, but if a fire’s been cooking for 45 minutes, there’s not much to save when we get there.”

The alarm sounded just as Joyce Miller was about to step out the front door. Her first reaction wasn’t panic, but confusion – there was no burning smell, no heat coming from anywhere on the first floor. But when she went to the second floor, she looked into a bedroom and saw flames stretched from floor to ceiling.

She closed the door on the flames and ran downstairs, calling out for her five cats, hoping to get them to safety before the fire reached the rest of the house. As she looked for her pets, the alarm company called to confirm there was a fire, telling her they had dispatched the local Harrods Creek (Ky.) Fire Department.

Knowing she didn’t have much time, Miller quickly put one cat in the car and backed the car out of the garage. She found another cat and put it in the garage with the doors closed. But try as she might, she couldn’t find the other three cats.

“Common sense comes into play and you realize you have to get out,” Miller said. Hoping the cats were safe wherever they were hiding, Miller hurried out the back door.

A Lesson From Her Neighbor

Miller installed a home monitoring system in her Prospect, KY home at the recommendation of her State Farm agent.

“I had always wanted to do that,” Miller said. “But it’s one of those things you put off.”

Miller and her late husband were longtime customers of State Farm. Denny Vogel, the Miller’s State Farm agent, said he often talks to customers about the benefits of a home monitoring system. But the most powerful selling point is the endorsement of a friend or neighbor who had an experience (burglary) like Miller’s.

“I definitely use it as an example, especially in this neighborhood,” Vogel said.

“I don’t think I realized how great a monitored fire alarm system was,” Miller said, “until the morning of December 11, 2013.”

A Matter Of Minutes

The fire department arrived at 8:08 a.m., just six minutes after receiving the call from ADT. They saw smoke coming from the eaves beneath the roof and worried the fire had spread to the attic.

Firefighters proceeded upstairs to the bedroom where they found a mattress engulfed in flames, caused by a malfunctioning electrical outlet. They knocked down the flames and dragged the bed downstairs into the yard to finish putting out the fire. Though it seemed like an eternity to Miller, it took just 90 minutes for firefighters to save her home.

She found two of the missing cats under a bed downstairs. The other emerged from the basement when the ruckus died down. Now, three months later, repairs to the house are almost complete, and Miller and her cats are getting back to normal.

If a home security system had not been present, it is possible Miller would not have heard an alarm at all and would have continued to leave her home that morning. And she might have inadvertently left the fire to grow. She could have come home to nothing but ashes.

“Even if she had battery operated smoke detectors, nobody would have been there to hear them,” said Major Steven Hanson of the Harrods Creek Fire Department. “We could get there in five minutes or less, but if a fire’s been cooking for 45 minutes, there’s not much to save when we get there.”