Farmers first to arrive and help Oklahoma City tornado victims

As rescuers begin combing through the wreckage after tornadoes tore across Oklahoma on Monday, Farmers employees, agents and district managers are already meeting with affected customers in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

"Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas have been hit hard by these tornadoes and we are making contact with our customers as quickly as we can," says John Lucido, state executive director – Oklahoma.

Farmers Oklahoma City district manager Pepper Williams and members of Oklahoma's Agency Catastrophe Team have been touring damaged neighborhoods and talking to customers in the harder hit areas since sunrise.

"We have unbelievable access to damaged areas as a result of the disaster relations we've created with local authorities and the insurance commissioner," says Williams. "As a result Farmers is the first insurance carrier on the scene. Our Agency Catastrophe Team has been meeting customers to fill the gap between the 24 to 48 hours until the Farmers team of catastrophe adjusters arrives."

Williams and the catastrophe team have been making sure customers and non-Farmers customers are OK and letting them know what general Homeowners policies state can and can't be done to fix a damaged home.

"The customers are so impressed with Farmers being here to help right away," Williams said. "But the greatest reaction we are getting is from those who aren't Farmers customers. Their carriers aren't here yet, and the 800-number customers I've talked with said their phone calls haven't been returned yet."

In addition, Oklahoma's Customer Care Vehicle (CCV) is being deployed to help customers. It's located in the Wal-Mart parking lot at 501 SW 19th Street in Moore, Okla. And one of the Mobile Claims Center (MCC) buses is stationed at 7105 S Anderson Rd., in Oklahoma City. At the CCV and MCC, Farmers customers and non-Farmers customers can use the free internet service, make calls on satellite phones, find information about emergency medical services or simply enjoy a cup of coffee.

Customers can also follow Farmers' response to the tornado and the MCC’s whereabouts on Twitter at twitter.com/FARMERSRESPONSE and twitter.com/FARMERSMCC9.

Farmers has also purchased radio and newspaper advertising to inform customers that they can file a claim by calling HelpPoint Claim Services at (800) HelpPoint — 800-435-7764 — or online at farmers.com. The ads will run in English and Spanish through May 15.

They Do Run Run

Recently, I came across a disturbing trend in auto insurance. After reviewing prospective clients policies that they currently had with other insurance companies, I realized that some people were getting auto insurance believing it was “full coverage” although their insurance did not include one of the most important coverage protections. --Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. With auto accidents occurring more frequently, health costs skyrocketing, and auto repair costs…well, being auto repair costs…it is important to know how your just-in-case policy is going to work when the just-in-case happens.

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage protects you, members of your household, and your passengers in an accident with a motorist who has no insurance or is underinsured. Uninsured Motorist protection also covers you if you're injured by a hit-and-run driver. The property damage portion of this coverage even extends to your auto in instances where your car is parked and damaged by a hit- and-run-driver. Also, if you or a passenger are injured by someone with insurance limits insufficient to cover your medical expenses (underinsured) then this can kick in to cover the differences. It even applies to you and the members of your household if you or they are injured as a pedestrian(s). Coverage includes payment of medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Why have liability which protects others in case you’re at fault in an accident, yet not protect yourself and your loved ones against someone else being careless or driving irresponsibly without insurance?