St. Clair County residents who have insurance-related questions or pending needs following the April 27 storms are encouraged to take part in a Customer Call Night on Tuesday.

Organized by the Alabama Insurance Information Service, leading insurers in the state will dedicate the Tuesday evening to answering questions and identifying the particular needs of individual claims for policyholders. 

Six companies may be contacted at the toll-free numbers and times listed below.

Alfa                                    1-888-964-2532                        6-9 p.m.

Allstate                        1-800-54-STORM                        6-9 p.m.

Cotton States                        1- 800-220-2740                        6-9 p.m.

Farmers                        1-800-HELPPOINT                        6-9 p.m.

Foremost                        1-800-527-3907                        6-9 p.m.

State Farm                        1- 888-596-2260                          5-8 p.m.

“As a supplement to the regular call center services that insurers have operated 24 hours per day since the storms struck Alabama, each participating company has added claims personnel for the Customer Call Night devoted to attending the specific needs of those affected by the April 27 events,” said Renee Carter, the AIIS’ state director.  “Because insurers immediately mobilized catastrophe teams dedicated exclusively to servicing their customers affected by the catastrophes, they significantly reduced the response time in locating policyholders and beginning the settlement process. Insurance companies reported bringing in catastrophe specialists from as many as 23 other states.  Their expanded and targeted service on Tuesday is focused on answering questions and addressing issues that have left a minority of claims outstanding.”

The Alabama Department of Insurance received very few complaints relative to the unprecedented number of claims filed, she added. Policyholders registering dissatisfaction with the way their claims have been handled amount to one-half of one percent of the nearly 100,000 claims filed, according to the AIIS.

The multiple storms and tornadoes that struck several Alabama communities in April set records for size, severity, loss of life, and property damage. According to the Alabama Department of Insurance, nearly 100,000 insurance claims were filed as a consequence of the storms. The number of claims received by some insurance companies as a result of these storms is equal to 75 percent of their average total claims for an entire year.

“The property and casualty insurers in Alabama want to do even more for Alabama customers affected by the April 27 storms,” Carter said.   “Leading insurers in the state met with representatives of the Alabama Department of Insurance to discuss common concerns and enhanced methods of reaching policyholders still in need of help. As a result, a number of insurers have committed to a coordinated effort to assist policyholders with outstanding claims. These people are their customers.  Insurers want all their customers satisfied, which is why they are taking steps to elevate their customer service efforts. April 27 created an uncommon situation that will require use of all available resources to resolve.”

The AIIS is a non-lobbying, not-for-profit industry association providing information about homeowners, renters, automobile, business and workers compensation insurance to the state’s news media and the public.