Mercury Insurance Is Ready To Assist As Hurricane Irma Threatens Florida

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercury Insurance claims representatives are ready to assist victims of Hurricane Irma in Florida with vehicle claims. The massive hurricane continues on a path toward Florida and Mercury urges residents to be prepared to leave quickly and follow evacuation orders. Mercury customers can report losses and damages through the claims hotline at (800) 503-3724.

"Hurricanes of this magnitude are extremely dangerous and not to be taken lightly," says Mercury Insurance Chief Claims Officer Randy Petro. "Water surges and strong winds often precede the eye of the storm, so it is extremely important to be prepared. And don't drive through water where you can't see the bottom, as it could be much deeper than you think and could pose a serious risk."

The Mercury claims team is ready to respond quickly to customers' requests for help.

"If your vehicle is damaged in a hurricane, it may be covered by your auto insurance policy if you carry comprehensive coverage, but it's best to make sure," said Petro. "Your local Mercury Insurance agent is able to help verify what is and is not covered in the event you're affected by a hurricane."

Mercury is urging Floridians to prepare for heavy rain, wind and flooding. The company is offering evacuation tips that will help prepare families for the coming hurricane. Disaster preparedness is essential to preventing injuries and property damage from violent and deadly storms. 

1.  Arrange your evacuation ahead of time.  Plan where you will go in the event of an evacuation. Create an Evacuation Kit with a list of phone numbers and addresses. Your Evacuation Kit should include a map and a GPS—in case street signs are blown down.  Remember to include family pets in your plans. 

2.  Plan what to take.  Prepare an Evacuation Kit that includes essentials, such as medicines and comfort items like children's toys or books. Your Evacuation Kit should also include these kinds of items:

• Bottled water
• Clothing and beddings (sleeping bags and pillows)
• Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
• Special items for infants, children, elderly or disabled family members
• Computer hard drive or lap top
• Smartphone chargers
• Photographs
• Pet food, water and other items for pets (litter boxes, leashes, vaccination records, current photo of your pet)
• Properly identify your pet with identification tags or microchips
• Make sure your vehicle's fuel tank is full and park it facing out

3.  Gather important documents. Organize important documents in two groups: essential and basic. Original copies of essential documents should be stored in a safe deposit box, which will preserve them during a disaster. Moreover, a safe deposit box will keep essential documents out of circulation and help prevent identity theft. Basic documents should be added to your Evacuation Kit, which should be brought with you. 

Essential documents (store these in a safe deposit box)

• Birth and marriage certificates
• Passports
• Social Security cards
• Wills, living trusts and grant deeds
• Mortgage papers
• Stocks, bonds and other negotiable certificates
• Credit card numbers

Basic documents (add these to your Evacuation Kit)

• Checklist of what's in your Evacuation Kit; in a container that is waterproof and fireproof
• Drivers license or other personal identification
• Insurance policies
• Employment information and copies of pay stubs for the past two months
• Bank, savings and retirement account numbers
• Mortgage papers (copy)
• Recent tax returns
• Home inventory (copy with photos of expensive items)
• List of important phone numbers and addresses

4.  Be aware of flood zones in your area when leaving. Hurricanes can cause high winds, flying debris and flash flooding. Get out of town and go to higher ground. Leave as soon as possible. 

Visit Mercury's blog to get more tips to help protect you and your family.

Additional hurricane preparedness resources:
NOAA National Weather Service: www.weather.gov/safety.php
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/getprepared
Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.ready.gov

ABOUT MERCURY INSURANCE
Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization predominantly offering personal automobile, homeowners and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia. Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices. For more information visit www.mercuryinsurance.com or Facebook and follow the company on Twitter.

SOURCE Mercury Insurance