Home Customers Can Get Debit Card for Expenses from Mobile Unit at Houston Office; Drive-In Center Also Established for Auto Claims

"Hurricane Ike was here." This is the indelible signature he is leaving for hundreds of thousands of car and homeowners in Houston, along the Texas coast, and throughout the region. To
help customers promptly and safely recover from the storm, Liberty Mutual
Insurance has sent several hundred catastrophe claims specialists to the
hardest-hit areas and has set up special home and auto claims locations in
Houston.


Liberty Mutual home and car insurance customers are encouraged to first
report their claims 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-2-CLAIMS (1-800-225-2467).
Liberty Mutual claims representatives also will report flood claims to the
National Flood Insurance Program on customers' behalf.


For homeowners requiring urgent assistance, a mobile claims unit at
Liberty Mutual's Houston office, 13201 Northwest Freeway, is staffed daily
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. Homeowners can meet with Liberty Mutual
catastrophe specialists to discuss their claims, obtain policy information,
and even receive debit cards to pay for anticipated out-of-pocket costs such
as food, clothing, housing and personal items.


Additionally, Liberty Mutual customers who sustained auto damage from
Hurricane Ike can use the 1-800-2-CLAIMS number to schedule an appointment at
a dedicated drive-in claims location at 1109 S. Loop West in Houston (Russell
& Smith Collision Center) beginning Thursday.


The aftermath of a hurricane can be equally dangerous, with severe
flooding likely. Liberty Mutual offers the following tips to help homeowners
protect their property from further damage after Ike. A complete checklist is
available in the Claims section at www.libertymutual.com.

1. Wait for an OK from an official agency, either police or local
emergency management, before re-entering your home or leaving the
reinforced room in which you have been waiting out the storm.
2. Boil tap water before drinking or cooking, or use bottled water.
3. Keep circuit breakers turned off until the power is back on. Then
investigate for electrical system damage for frayed wires or burning
smells. Turn the electricity off if you detect these or other
problems.
4. Stay away from power lines.
5. Check for gas leaks. If you detect a leak, get away from the house
immediately and notify the gas company at once from a safe location.
6. Pump out flooded basements gradually -- about one-half of the
floodwater per day -- to avoid further structural damage.
7. Be alert for animals that may have entered your house with the
floodwater. Snakes -- including poisonous ones -- are a relatively
common sight after a flood.
8. Throw out any medicines or food -- even canned goods -- touched by
floodwater.
9. Let your car dry out before trying to start it.
10. Take an inventory of any damaged property or possessions. Other than
food or medicine, do not dispose of any items without the prior
approval of your insurance claims adjuster.

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