PLRB Expands Catastrophe Services Department With Newly Hired Expert

The newest member of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau’s Catastrophe Services Department knows a few things about coal mining and earthquakes. He also knows about mapping out the possible trajectories and effects of potential disasters and locating the paths of past calamities.

While working for the Illinois State Geological Survey, geologist Andrew Louchios specialized in managing and formatting geospatial data relative to coal mining. During his 10 years with the ISGS in Champaign, Ill., Louchios assisted with the development of a geographic information system (GIS) emergency response plan for Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky miners in the event of an earthquake.

GIS technology is based on the same principles used by catastrophe managers to plot storm tracks and evaluate adjuster responses to catastrophes. Louchios’ expertise will enhance PLRB’s Catastrophe Services Department and will complement the skills of Peter Balingit, catastrophe services manager, who is a meteorologist.

Louchios, who joined the staff July 1, will maintain and operate PLRB Map, which is housed on a server in PLRB’s Downers Grove office.

The development of PLRB Map brings data in a spatial format to everyday company claim operations. Louchios will assist Balingit with this evolving project to quickly tie data resources of value to member company claims departments into address-specific information in real time. The PLRB Map’s recent upgrade permits Catastrophe Services to provide geo-registered (address-specific) data of severe weather events in real time.

Louchios also will assist Hugh Strawn and Balingit with the production of the department’s popular Severe Storm and Occurrence Summary, a daily digital publication and he will assist Balingit with specialized research for member companies on a variety of loss scenarios.

Louchios is available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at alouchios@plrb.org or 630-724-2233.

Source: PLRB