Farmers Insurance Advises Residents of South Texas to Prepare for Tropical Storm Hermine

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- As Tropical Storm Hermine makes its way to Northeast Mexico and Southwest Texas and is predicted to hit sometime tonight, Farmers Insurance has already begun its emergency preparedness procedures, including mobilizing special claims personnel and equipment close to those communities expected to be hardest hit.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080605/LATH062 )

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080605/LATH062 )

"We want to make sure everyone remains safe," said John Henle, State Executive Director of Southern Texas for Farmers. "The storm is expected to bring heavy rains and high winds to the targeted areas and residents should prepare immediately."

"Residents in the storm's path," notes Paul Quinn, Assistant Vice President of Claims Communications for Farmers Insurance, "should implement measures to assure safety for themselves and family members if they have to evacuate quickly, including:

• Create an Inventory of Personal Property – This includes items inside the home as well as outdoor items, like gazeboes or tool sheds. The inventory can be prepared on paper or video.
• Be Prepared to Implement a Family Evacuation Plan – Be sure everyone in the family understands where to meet to evacuate safely. Prepare your evacuation route now.
• Pre-Pack Now In Order to Evacuate Quickly – When the announcement to evacuate comes, residents will only have a very short time to leave. Thus, while people should certainly pack enough clothes for several days, remember to also include any prescription medicines, any important papers and personal items like photographs and family mementos. It's also a good idea to have emergency supplies like flashlights, extra batteries, a radio, water and a first aid kit.

Once the storm hits, Farmers Insurance customers with damage should immediately contact their agent or call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline:

HelpPoint (800-435-7764) for immediate assistance.

Spanish-language claims assistance is available to Farmers customers by calling 877-RECLAMO (877-732-5266).

Foremost Insurance customers can call: 800-527-3907.

Bristol West Insurance customers can call: 800-274-7865.

21st Century Insurance customers can call:  888-244-6163.

Farmers customers with a National Flood Policy serviced by Farmers who wish to file a claim can call 800-759-8656 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc. or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be. Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Financial Services Group. The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com or at www.Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance

SOURCE Farmers Insurance