Allstate Catastrophe Response Team hits the ground after disaster

NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- After a disaster strikes, people want to know their insurance company will respond quickly and help them recover.

Allstate has long been a leader in disaster response, creating one of the first dedicated catastrophe teams in the industry in the 1990's. With the addition of the Catastrophe Response Teams (CRT) Allstate will be able to assist customers even quicker in the most impacted areas. The CRTs canvass severely damaged neighborhoods, find customers and help them get the claim process started--on the spot.

The CRTs will be able to address immediate claim needs and, when appropriate provide additional living expenses when people cannot live in their damaged homes.

"The addition of the Catastrophe Response Teams compliments our established claim efforts and allows us to enter heavily damaged areas as soon as local authorities provide the ok," said Mark McGillivray, senior vice president, Allstate Insurance Company. "We will continue deploying claims adjusters and mobile claims centers. The Catastrophe Response Teams get us on the ground faster and sometimes first, so we can help customers begin the clean up and the filing of their claim."

Along with the Catastrophe Response Teams, Allstate also is rolling out special Catastrophe Response Vehicles (CRV). The CRVs are smaller in scale than Allstate's Mobile Claim Centers (MCC) – the fleet of specially equipped motor homes that serve as mobile claim offices.

With the CRVs, catastrophe response teams can drive into neighborhoods and get even closer to the most damaged areas. The CRVs will be stocked with supplies like water and even teddy bears for kids who might be struggling with understanding what has happened.

Allstate policyholders whose homes or automobiles have been damaged or destroyed by the recent storm can also contact Allstate by calling 1-800-54-STORM, visiting the Mobile Claims Center or Catastrophe Response Vehicle, or logging on to Allstate.com.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

SOURCE The Allstate Corporation