Fireman’s Fund Offering Katrina Recovery Services at No Charge for New Orleans Customers

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company has introduced Katrina Recovery Services for its New Orleans customers and agents needing trauma counseling, identity theft prevention and restoration and personalized assistance in coping with the practical, emotional and psychological effects of the hurricane. The services are free to current customers and Fireman’s Fund agents in the parishes evacuated by civil authority.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 26, policyholders and agents may call the company’s toll-free claims phone numbers (888-FIREHAT or 800-486-6380) and select Katrina Recovery Services. The caller will then be connected with counselors from the following companies commissioned by Fireman’s Fund:

* NEAS, a national provider of mental health counseling and trauma assistance, including a network of 7,900 trained psychological counselors.
* Identity Theft 911, which provides a single point of assistance to help victims of identity theft deal with credit and financial institutions, and obtain documentation for identity verification and reclamation. Identity theft is expected to become a major problem in the New Orleans area following the loss of private paperwork from homes, and the Louisiana Department of Justice has already received complaints of identity fraud associated with Katrina. This service will assist with the protection of financial, credit, employment and personal information including fraud-alert tools. In the event disaster victims should experience identity theft, one-on-one full resolution services will be provided.
* World Access, an international provider in emergency medical assistance, travel and concierge services.

“Katrina’s victims have endured an unprecedented natural catastrophe, and may face even greater personal trials in the months ahead,” said Chuck Kavitsky, CEO of Fireman’s Fund. “Although insurance is designed to protect a customer’s physical property, we recognized a need to help customers and agents cope with the shock and stresses of lost friends and relatives, physical displacement, identity theft and other traumatic events.”

In other services to customers, Fireman’s Fund conducted a multimedia outreach campaign throughout the Gulf Coast immediately after the disaster to locate customers displaced from their homes because of civil authority orders. The messages, in print and radio ads, included an 800-number for customers who might need funds for living expenses and lodging. The company also configured its home page Web site to allow initial storm claims to be filed on line.

On Sept. 2, the company voluntarily declared a moratorium preventing the cancellation or non-renewal of any customers’ policies in the hurricane-affected areas. This moratorium gave customers time to recover from the catastrophe without worrying about paying for their policy renewals.

For more information about Fireman’s Fund, www.firemansfund.com.