Farmers goes into action for hurricane response

Before Hurricane Gustav struck last week, Farmers Insurance catastrophe response personnel including claims adjusters and volunteers were scattered among cities in the Gulf Coast ready to assist residents.

And the decision to send them originated from Olathe.

Jerry Davies, a Farmers spokesman at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters said employees located at the company’s national claims facility in Olathe monitor weather using state-of-the-art satellite equipment to deploy resources when disasters strike “at a moment’s notice.”

Weather forecasters predicted the storm headed for the Gulf Coast would be a category 5 hurricane, and could cause damage similar to to what was inflicted when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

Gustav lost steam and was a category 2 when it made shore, but agents must be prepared for the worst.

With the advance notice, Farmers was able to send resources to set up staging areas, outside of the danger area, but close enough so claims adjusters and catastrophe personnel can get to the area quickly.

Shawn Kitts, a field support manager for Farmers, led a caravan a week ago Sunday morning of catastrophe response team members the more than 500 mile trek from Olathe to Tyler, Texas in preparation for Gustav.

The caravan included Kitts and his seven-person team, two mobile claims centers – 45-foot buses equipped with satellite communications equipment, supplies and built in bbq grills – three customer care vehicles – smaller versions of the buses – and two more trailers filled with supplies.

Davies said the buses provide resources for more to just the 3,000 or so Farmers customers affected by the hurricane, but to anyone who needs it.

He said Greensburg residents waited in line in the rain to use the bus’ satellite telephones to contact family members when the tornado struck last summer. And, Davies said, the built-in grills fed 1,500 people a day at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego last fall when when wildfires displaced southern California residents.

Kitts and his team set up their staging area in Tyler, about 350 miles from Baton Rouge, La. He said others were located in Dallas, Shreveport, La., and Jackson, Miss.

Kitts, who’s responsible for organizing and coordinating on-ground support for events, sent two members of his team to Baton Rouge last Tuesday after Gustav came ashore the day before. The buses and other vehicles from the caravan followed Wednesday.

Kitts set up a point of contact for the community, which allowed people to file claims, use the phone or get something to eat and drink.

Fortunately Gustav was lost steam. Kitts said the damage wasn’t severe, but it was significant.

Insured losses from Gustav were estimated between $4 million and $10 million, according to Risk Management Solutions. That paled in comparison to the $41 million in damage inflicted by Katrina.

“We’re at a good place with this event,” Kitts said. “We spend a week preparing for all issues and when it actually occurs we’re ready. It’s always a good feeling two or three days in when everything is working as it was intended.”

Kitts said about 130 Farmers employees assisted with Gustav relief, but more than 375 were available.

“Olathe is the hub and the center for the logistics, all the coordination, planning and response, but one thing important to us is the entire company steps up,” he said. “People from all departments and all areas of the company make themselves available in these times.”

Kitts said they stick around as long as they’re needed after a storm. They usually return home after power is fully restored, but with Tropical Storm Hannah and Hurricane Ike looming, they’re now staging for the next wave of relief wherever those may strike.