Mississippi Agents Pick Up the Pieces

In Meridian, Miss. the power is only on in the downtown area and electricity to the rest of the community is expected to be out for one to two weeks, Scott Gray, owner of Insurance Solutions of Mississippi Inc. and a director of the Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi told Insurance Journal.

“Generators and gasoline are extremely hot commodities right now, but I feel ice, water and food will soon replace these items as the most sought after,” Gray said. “As far as claims, some of the direct writers are advertising 800 numbers on the radio, but I hear people can not get through.

“As a large/medium agency, as of Wed. Aug. 31, we had electricity, phone and Internet and it really helped.”

When Gray only had phone and electricity, he was directing customers that he could recognize to their respective 800 numbers of the companies.

“I talked with two of our main personal lines carriers and they have CAT teams on the way,” Gray said. “We are north of the Gulf Coast about 150 to 180 miles. I can only imagine what those agents are going through.

“Many customers in our area, depending on their cell phone companies, had service and this helped as did local radio stations for news and concerns.”

Before Hurricane Katrina hit the coast, Gray had printed out a list of recommended tree removal, repair contractors and electricians to give customers.

“I have also been out watching crews doing good, safe and reasonably-priced work, asked for their cards, and added them to our list,” Gray explained.

“One thing I have learned, prior to another hurricane, I would print out a full list of all customers, their policy number and company,” Gray said. “That way, if the Internet or our phones are down, we would have that information readily available and be able to be more help to our customers.”

Gray said that when Katrina came through Meridian it was either still a low Category Two hurricane or a high Category One.

“At home I has more than 35 trees down, a couple of them leaning toward the house,” Gray reported. “My fence is down in at least four to six places and there is no power, the water just came on, but it may not last.”

Terral Insurance damaged

Richard W. Davis of Terral Insurance LLC said his office in Quitman, Miss. was heavily damaged. The parking garage roof from behind his building, blew on top of the main building, creating unsafe working conditions.

“We are operating with two phones lines and four are out,” Davis explained. “These are not easy working conditions, however we have power and people are lined up outside our building and backed up on Main Street waiting to file their claims.”

Davis said that most of the homes in Quitman and Clarke counties have either minor or major damage.

“We have minor damages, compared to our friends to the south,” Davis said.

Topics Agencies Mississippi