State Farm® Prepared for Potential Landfall of Sandy
Homeowners Urged To Plan, Prepare, Protect
October 26, 2012 – State Farm is preparing for the potential landfall of Hurricane Sandy. To provide the best possible service and response to customers in the Northeast who may be impacted by the storm, the following are in place:
- Claims adjusters and all necessary State Farm support members are prepared and ready to mobilize to the affected areas as needed.
- Customers also are encouraged to reach out to their local State Farm agent.
- General information to assist the public in their preparation and recovery is available at statefarm.com: Disaster Recovery.
- Specific information – including auto claim guidelines should there be extensive flooding – about reporting damage is available at statefarm.com: Reporting Your Damage
Families should keep in mind the 3 Ps during a hurricane approach: plan, prepare and protect.
Plan
- It is always important for a family to have a plan for emergencies. It is also important to have a clear understanding what your policy covers and be prepared for what deductibles and exclusions your policy includes. It is always a good idea to chat with your insurance agent.
- When a hurricane threatens, decide if your family will move to a safer place inland, go to a designated shelter or ride out the storm in your home.
- Make sure you stay in touch with local authorities to know the severity of the hurricane. You should also plan an escape route in case your family needs to evacuate.
Prepare
- Your home should have a survival kit prepared for any emergency. It should include:
- non-perishable food items
- first aid kit
- battery-operated radio
- a flashlight
- fresh batteries
- fresh drinking water.
- Also include other items you might need such as medication, prescription glasses and your insurance information including your home inventory (keep in a water proof bag).
- To ensure your home is prepared, cover up windows and doors using hurricane shutters. If you don’t have shutters, cover up your windows and doors with 3/4-inch plywood. Make sure your garage door is closed and anchored. Remember that serious hurricane damage can occur when wind and debris get into your house through a broken door or window.
Protect
If you decide to ride out the hurricane, protect yourself. If you don’t need to evacuate the area, stay indoors away from windows or glass doors. Put as many walls between you and the storm as possible. If you don't have a basement, go to a closet or a bathroom. If you need to leave the area, make sure you go directly to the shelter. A purchase of tarps or plastic sheeting may be advantageous. Take your survival kit and lock all doors and windows before you go. Let your relatives or friends know where you plan to be and give them your insurance agent's information.
Contact
Dave Phillips, State Farm Public Affairs, (610) 358-7667
About State Farm®
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
