Chubb Offers Services to Aid Chicago Area Customers with Storm Damage

In response to the severe thunderstorms that have resulted in flooding in the Chicago area, the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. is offering its homeowners insurance customers two services to help reduce damage to their property.

Upon request, Chubb can refer customers to its network of preferred water damage mitigation and restoration specialists. Certified technicians work to help stabilize the water damage and promptly begin the drying process to help reduce the severity of the loss. To report a claim, customers should contact their agent or broker or call Chubb at 1-800-CLAIMS-0 (1-800-252-4670). Claims also can be reported via fax to 1-800-300-2538 or www.chubb.com.

If a customer is away from home on vacation or for any other reason, Chubb can dispatch a member of its appraisal and loss prevention services unit to inspect the property’s exterior for visible signs of potential loss. The unit will notify the customer of any damage it finds. Customers can obtain this service by calling 1-866-444-0360.

“Early mitigation is crucial when responding to water damage,” said Christoph Ritterson, senior vice president, Chubb &Son, and Northern Zone manager, Chubb Personal Insurance. “When a home sustains damage, it is important to begin cleaning up the affected areas as soon as possible. The longer water remains inside the home, the more severe the damage can be.”

Ritterson said homeowners can begin to minimize the damage by ventilating their homes as soon as possible. They can open doors and use fans to promote evaporation by exhausting humid air outside. He also encouraged homeowners to file a notice of loss as quickly as possible with their insurers and to find out whether the insurers have relationships with water damage mitigation and restoration firms.

Ritterson added that this is a good time for homeowners to check on whether their insurance policies include sewer backup and to consider purchasing coverage for flooding. During the past year and a half, Chubb has introduced flood insurance products in nearly 30 states, including Illinois, Ohio and Minnesota, as part of a nationwide rollout. Chubb’s first-dollar, primary flood insurance policy provides substantially higher limits ($15 million for home and contents combined) and much broader coverage than the National Flood Insurance Program.

The member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. form a multi-billion dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers worldwide through 8,500 independent agents and brokers.

Source: Chubb Group of Insurance Companies