2008-09-15 04:35:03 -

- The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies(R) has received more than 14,000 claims, as of Sunday evening, resulting from Hurricane Ike. To help customers file on-the-spot claims and receive information, Farmers has set up nine customer care sites. The customer care sites are at the following locations:

Farmers Mobile Catastrophe Claims Buses are located at: -0- Wal-Mart 5200 Fairmont Pkwy Pasadena, TX 77505 Wal-Mart 4145 N Dowlen Rd Beaumont, TX 77706

Farmers' Mobile Catastrophe Claims buses are 45' long and are equipped with state-of-the art satellite communications equipment; seven claims stations; water, supplies; laptop and telephone capability, and a built-in grill to serve meals to Farmers' customers and others in need.

Farmers Customer Care Claims Vehicles are

smaller versions of the buses to assist with claims and supply needs. The CCVs are located at: -0- Wal-Mart 12353 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77085 Wal-Mart 9451 FM 1960 Bypass Humble, TX 77338 Wal-Mart 9460 W Sam Houston Pkwy S Houston, TX 77099 Sam Houston Service Center 10343 Sam Houston Park Drive Houston, TX 77064 Wal-Mart 10505 Broadway Pearland, TX 77584 Wal-Mart 345 HWY 6 Sugarland, TX 77478 District Manager David Choate's office 25802 IH 45 Spring, Texas 77386

"In addition to helping people file claims, we are also handing out flashlights, bottles of water and other necessities at these sites," said Larry Pratt, State Executive Director of Farmers in Texas. "We are committed to Texas, and committed to helping our customers restore their lives back to normal as quickly as possible."

Farmers has more than 1,000 claims people in the Houston, Galveston and Beaumont areas helping customers file claims following Hurricane Ike.

"We've had so many claims, we actually set a new record for call volume to our 24-hour claims handling hotline," said Paul Quinn Assistant Vice President of Claims Communications for Farmers Insurance. "We've had 900 calls an hour and the vast majority of those calls were related to Ike claims."

Farmers Insurance customers with damage should immediately contact their agent or call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline, 800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764) for immediate assistance.

Spanish-speaking customers should call (877) RECLAMO -- (877) 732-5266.

Foremost Insurance customers should file their claim by calling: 800-527-3907.

Bristol West Insurance customers should file their claim by calling: 1-800-274-7865.

Flood victims who have flood insurance should contact the National Flood Program at www.floodsmart.gov

If you have Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) coverage with windstorm damage, contact your agent to report a claim. If your agent can't be reached, you can call (800) 788-8247. For more information, visit www.twia.org.

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers(R) is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

Farmers Insurance Group
Michelle Levy, 512-791-7445
michelle.levy@farmersinsurance.com
Jerry Davies, 213-400-4459
jerry.davies@farmersinsurance.com
David Bishop, 850-228-8997
david.bishop@farmersinsurance.com