We’ve all heard the stories of anguish that followed Hurricane Katrina, but what lessons can an insurance agency apply as a result of that storm? Prepare for the next disaster with insights from a fellow independent agent and Katrina survivor.
This month marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Agility Recovery, the Big “I”-endorsed provider of disaster recovery solutions, asked Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, president of SouthGroup Insurance Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to reflect on her experience surviving that storm.
“I hope my story will inspire other agencies across the country to prepare for disasters,” she says. “Not only for the betterment of the insurance industry, but to ensure they are there for their clients, their employees and their communities."
In her own words:
As a Hurricane Katrina survivor who owns an insurance agency, I am often asked what I would have done differently if I had known how bad it would be.
I wish I had known there is no way to handle everything yourself, despite all the preparations you may have made beforehand. I believed I was very self-sufficient, but I quickly learned that it’s OK to ask for help. You will need to work with buddy agencies to get assistance with all the client needs and claim follow-up that will be required.
I wish I had known how to more effectively deal with the psychological issues that come with a severe catastrophe. Insurance agents should have a counseling degree to deal with the emotional extremes of the clients they are trying to serve. You will need to be able to effectively deal with anger, tears, threats and disappointment.
I wish I had known that recovery takes much longer than anyone anticipates or desires. In fact, this year we will be remembering the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and there are still ongoing problems.
Here are some strategies you can use to protect your clients and the business you have worked so hard to build:
- Agency issues: You must preplan and protect your data and your staff.
- Physical issues: Use the buddy system to secure an alternate operating location if necessary.
- Communication: Use the cloud to protect your data.
- Customers: Be prepared to handle claims and service.
- Staffing: Nurture your staff.
- Adjusters: Don’t over-promise. Assist with communications and appointments.
- Carriers: Know the key contacts in advance.
- Technology: Be highly automated.
- Associations: Establish catastrophe response plans.
For more free tips, checklists, educational resources and best practices for protecting your firm, visit Agility Recovery’s Library & Resources page.
