HAPPENINGS IN COMMUNITY HAZARD MITIGATION
From August 1 to August 4, 2012, leaders from the fire service convened in Denver, Colorado, for the International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire-Rescue International (FRI) conference. The event, highly attended by fire chiefs from across the United States and the world, offered an opportunity for Farmers Insurance and ISO to meet and discuss the importance of maintaining an open dialogue between the fire service and insurance carriers. “It’s important for us to attend FRI on behalf of our customers and partner with the Fire Service and ISO to reduce claims and work on identifying risk,” says Jerry Davies, assistant vice president for Farmers Insurance.
During the conference, Davies and other Farmers staff members provided tours of one of their three Mobile Catastrophe Claims (MCC) buses that immediately respond to catastrophes anywhere in the United States. The buses have:
- state-of-the-art satellite communications equipment to monitor weather and trouble spots throughout the United States
- 30 satellite laptops and telephones for use by customers and noncustomers at disasters
- generator capability to run a small hospital or evacuation center
- supplies, water, and a grill capable of preparing three meals a day for up to 1,500 people
- the ability to work on 70 to 80 claims an hour at a disaster scene
- onboard capability to print emergency checks for customers in immediate need
- onboard and outside television to follow coverage of disasters while on the site
After touring the bus, Robert Andrews, vice president, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation, commented, “It’s amazing how much technological capacity the buses have, and it’s truly remarkable that Farmers and its MCC fleet bring this level of assistance to disasters.”
Soon after FRI, Farmers deployed two of the buses for a week and a half during Superstorm Sandy. According to Davies, one bus went to Long Island, New York, and the other went to New Jersey, first to Cherry Hill and then to Toms River.
At the IAFC-FRI conference in Denver, Farmers Insurance gave ISO a tour of its Mobile Catastrophe Claims (MCC) bus. Pictured here outside the bus are Jerry Davies, assistant vice president, Farmers; Bob Andrews, vice president, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation; Dave Ibarra, manager, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation (back to camera); and Verdan Glenn, support specialist, Farmers.
Here's a view inside the MCC bus. Pictured are Jerry Davies, assistant vice president, Farmers; Joe Fratantaro, manager, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation (seated); Bob Andrews, vice president, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation; and Verdan Glenn, support specialist, Farmers.
On September 19, 2012, ISO had the honor of presenting an educational program at the 2012 Wildfire Prevention Regional Conference, in San Diego, California. The conference, presented by the California Fire Safe Council and Farmers Insurance and sponsored by Farmers, featured Skip Gibson, manager, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation, and Jim McIver, district manager for Farmers. They discussed how ISO rates communities for risk.
Here’s a look through the camera lens at our participation.
Pictured at the 2012 Wildfire Prevention Regional Conference are Skip Gibson, manager, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation, and Jim McIver, district manager, Farmers Insurance.
Skip Gibson presents on “ISO Ratings: How Communities Are Rated for Risk.”