Everyone in the country knows the name Procter & Gamble, especially since their recent acquisition of Gillette propelled them into the spotlight as the largest consumer-products supplier in the world.
They were in the news again a couple of weeks ago, as a result of the "KatRita" deluges. The company's Folgers coffee production plant, the largest coffee plant in the world, sits on the Industrial Canal on the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, not far from the New Orleans city center. Within days of the double-whammy dumps of Katrina and Rita, P&G's chairman, A.G. Lafley, visited the plant, affectionately dubbed "Gentilly" in honor of its surrounding neighborhood, and took steps to ensure that the plant would be operational again ASAP. These steps included speedy flood cleanup, roof repairs, and alternative water-supply service — all necessary steps to bring the plant back up to speed. As of this writing, all the necessary steps were taken and the plant is now almost fully operational.
But now, as radio commentator Paul Harvey might say, "Here's the rest of the story!" Gentilly is highly automated regarding its production lines, etc., to achieve its mind-boggling output. But those production lines still rely on people, employees who've lost their homes; shipped off their families to safer areas, either with relatives in other cities or into temporary shelters; people under unfathomable stress.
Recognizing the value of aiding his P&G family, his rank-and-file New Orleans-based employees, Lafley gave his Gentilly plant manager, Emory Zimmer, virtual carte blanche to do whatever was necessary to bring the P&G families back together. This was in addition to the company's contribution of more than $9 million in cash and products to relief organizations, and supplemented by more than $800,000 of internal contributions designated for employee and community relief funds.
In addition, Emory Zimmer was effective in securing temp housing for employees and their families. When FEMA arrived on the scene with a load of empty trailers, he said, "I'll take 115 of them." This, in an effort to reunite P&G families. And we know those trailers weren't free, and suspect they didn't come "cheap."
The P&G story of a soon-to-be-totally-successful recovery effort in the Gulf Coast area is just one of many. But it's indicative of the support system put in place by caring corporate entities that, ultimately, aids the insurance industry in our efforts during this monumental recovery process. Does any of this alleviate us of the pressure adjusters are dealing with now and in the foreseeable future? No. Does it help us accomplish successful resolution of claims? Yes! When you deal with claimants who now have a ray of hope, who can now see a dim light at the end of that tunnel of devastation, it makes your job a little more manageable. Desperate souls can resort to desperate measures, increasing the likelihood of fraud, for instance.
But when insureds have the additional support of corporate entities like P&G, the leveled-headed involvement from the likes of A.G. Lafley and Emory Zimmer and so many other concerned, influential leaders who can help your claimants and their extended community of families, how can we lose?
We owe these selfless souls our sincere thanks, not only for their generosity of spirit, but also for their repeated lessons of how well the Golden Rule pays back when it's applied without mere bottom-line motivation.
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