It was all over the news – massive flooding inVermontdue to Tropical Storm Irene. It was awesome and awful to watch on TV and on YouTube, but a whole different story if you were in the thick of it, experiencing the devastation first hand.
Brattleboro,Vermontwas severely hit, when more than 11 inches of rain caused massive flooding in the downtown area. But it wasn’t the only town affected.Wilmington,Bennington,Waterburyand many other communities around the state experienced similar situations.
Now that the news teams have all gone home, it’s up to the people ofVermontto recover.
The Richards Group Insurance and Financial Services is based inBrattleboro, with additionalVermontoffices inNorwich,Wilmington,LudlowandBellowsFalls. Its response to the disaster is a testament to how insurance and local insurance agencies and their staffs, can be invaluable to clients and communities alike when something like this happens.
The agency anticipated the increase in claims from the storm, so before it hit, it had set up a “command center” to handle the volume, adding needed personnel to its claims staff.
Once the extent of the flooding was realized, they met with the Regional Manager and a General Adjustor with the National Flood Insurance Program to discuss the claims process so they could communicate this to their clients.
Staff members were available around the clock to talk with clients and submitted claims as soon as possible. The insurance companies also were prepared, and responded quickly. Unfortunately, many clients did not have flood insurance. The type of flooding brought on by Irene is very rare inVermontso many people did not consider flood insurance as necessary. In order to help those who were not insured, The Richards Group used its Facebook page to post advice about how to start the process for receiving disaster aid from the Federal Government, as well as resources available through the state and local governments and FEMA.
Above all, The Richards Group staff was personally involved with clients and their communities to help wherever necessary. They visited flooded properties, and made calls to adjustors to find out when they’d be contacting clients. Office hours were extended and extra personnel were on hand to work with clients on a one-on-one basis. In addition, they donated their personal time, money, and energy to help those in need. Employees, as well as the company itself, were active in community organizations such as theUnited Wayand the Red Cross.
Lots of people complain about the cost of insurance, but when a disaster like Irene happens, the real value of it becomes strikingly apparent – not just because of the claims paid, but because of the caring and dedication of the people involved. The Richards Group staff showed how important a local insurance agency can be – literally working day and night to help their clients and community as a whole.
We are sure there are many similar stories of local insurance agencies going above and beyond in times like these. We would like to honor their efforts and offer a heart-felt thank you for what they do.
