Service Partners Key to Catastrophe Planning Success

Executive Vice President of the Claims Support Group

A major catastrophic event can occur at any given moment…are you prepared? A key factor in preparation is identifying the catastrophe management team, including internal members as well as important external service partners. Collaborating with the right independent adjusting firm is an important piece of a carrier or policyholder's catastrophe plan since the adjuster acts as the "eyes and ears" during the catastrophe claim process. Engle Martin & Associates, a national commercial loss adjusting and claims management firm, establishes a partnership with their clients as a dedicated claims resource before a catastrophe occurs.

"Engle Martin recognizes the necessity of expanding service capabilities on a moment's notice to manage the onslaught of claims reported during a catastrophic event. This requires a special infrastructure with experienced personnel in place to handle catastrophe-specific claims, while a separate team maintains daily field assignments to ensure consistent claims service to all clients," says Don Ouzts, Executive Vice President of the Claims Support Group.

During a catastrophic event, Engle Martin's central hub in the corporate Atlanta office oversees the claims triage process. Contact is made with the policyholder before the loss site is inspected, in order to collect pertinent details such as the extent of damage, number of locations, and the ability for the policyholder to return to business. These details allow the Engle Martin catastrophe management team, led by Don Ouzts and Elissa Morgan, Vice President of the Claims Support Group, to pair the appropriate level of adjuster with the claim based on the size and complexity of the loss.

"Our adjusters remain focused on service during a catastrophe," says Morgan. "They work quickly in the field to establish estimates on damages so they can be reported properly to insurance carriers associated with the losses, ultimately expediting claim resolution."

Preparation is the key to catastrophe planning success and preselecting qualified service partners will ensure a smooth process when an event occurs.

To learn more visit www.englemartin.com.

Christie Claud is the Marketing Director for Engle Martin.