Progressive Catastrophe Team Aiding Frances Recovery

Unleashing the largest catastrophe response effort in the company’s 67-year history, the Progressive group of insurance companies is deploying about 500 claims representatives throughout Florida to assist customers with cars, RVs, boats and motorcycles damaged by Hurricane Frances.

The week before the storm hit land, Progressive set plans in motion to place a Catastrophe Command Center in Tampa and stage 15 remote sites throughout the state in addition to its 26 existing claims offices in the hurricane’s path.

Progressive customers with a damaged vehicle or boat should call 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737) as soon as they can. Progressive claims representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to direct customers to conveniently located sites in and around storm-stricken areas. Some 300 Progressive claims representatives from 48 states are currently in Florida and 200 more are expected in the next 48 hours.

Progressive’s claims organization was just tying up Hurricane Charley claims when Frances struck. According to Scott Snapp, Progressive’s Florida catastrophe coordinator, the company settled 90 percent of all Charley-related claims within two weeks.

“Frances still poses a significant danger,” Snapp said. “Storm debris, downed power lines, flood waters and traffic signals that were blow down or blown out can make driving extremely hazardous.”