Okla. Emergency Management, Insurance Dept. Hot Lines Open

Telephone hot lines have been established by both the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and the Oklahoma Department of Insurance in response to the massive ice storms that hit the state this week.

The insurance department has also posted on its Web site, www.oid.state.ok.us/, contact numbers for major property insurers in the state, as well as information for emergency adjusters seeking licenses to help out with the claims generated by the storms.

Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland declared a state of emergency on Dece. 12 following the severe winter weather that has impacted all 77 counties in the state. This declaration allows emergency claims adjusters from other states to be temporarily licensed to provide immediate assistance to Oklahomans who have experienced storm damage this week.

The severe storm brought snow, ice and high winds causing widespread damage to property and even the loss of life.

The Declaration of Emergency allows for emergency adjusters to be licensed for ninety days and to adjust claims related to the severe winter weather that occurred on and around Dec. 9-11, 2007.

The insurance department consumer hotline number is 405-521-2828.

The toll-free Department of Emergency Management’s Oklahoma Damage Assessment Hotline will take calls from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily. The phone number is (866) 560-7584.

The energy management call center is to gather preliminary damage information to be used in the state’s application for federal disaster assistance for individuals and business owners. It will also be used to identify where damage assessment teams need to inspect to help Oklahomans qualify for disaster assistance.

Insurance company contact numbers for Oklahoma:

Allstate Insurance Co. – 800-547-8676
America (Oklahoma) Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Co. – 800-324-7771
Farmers Insurance Co. – 800-435-7764
Foremost Insurance Co. – 800-527-3905
Hartford Casualty Insurance Co. – 800-937-3727
Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. – 800-344-0197
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. – 877-632-2524
Shelter Mutual Insurance Co. – 800-743-5837
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. – 918-621-3000
United Services Auto Association (USAA) – 800-531-8222

Source: Oklahoma Insurance Department, Associated Press