News Room

October 29,2007

CEO Gene Mergelmeyer Pledges Support to California Wildfire Victims

Last weekend I experienced firsthand the devastation wrought by the California wildfires. Although I have been watching the fires from a distance, as have other residents of Southern California, I was unprepared for the impact of actually seeing so many homes destroyed beyond recognition.  I think the strong smell of smoke added to the impact. While the news media has done an excellent job reporting on the destruction, there is nothing like standing next to a homeowner, gazing at their home that has been reduced to rubble.

I was humbled at the composure of our customers as they described their fire experience and what their homes looked like before the fire.  I was honored that I was there to express our company’s sympathy and our pledge to help get them on their way back to their normal life.

Insurance is a promise; the promise that our company will be there to help in the event our customers need us.  We at Assurant Specialty Property will deliver on our promise.

Teams of catastrophe adjusters are already on the ground in California handling claims quickly and effectively and our inside staff is working with our clients over the phone answering questions and putting the claim in process.  Our goal is to handle 90% of the dwelling portion of all these claims in the first 30 days of the claim being reported.  We want to provide exceptional service to our customers and will do everything we can to make this happen.

We have also been working with our clients to get them information that they can use to assess the impact to their loans and customers.  Our loss draft department is gearing up for an increase in calls dealing with the insurance settlement process for our clients and their customers.

Southern California is home to some of the most beautiful country in America. As a proud Californian, I promise to do everything I can to help our citizens rebuild, and restore this area to it’s former beauty. I’m speaking for everyone at Assurant Specialty Property when I say that this is not just our job. It’s personal.

Best Regards,

Gene Mergelmeyer
President and CEO, Assurant Specialty Property