CAT team busy during COVID-19 outbreak

Encova’s CAT team began the storm season with heavy activity in five of our states. After the Nashville tornado in March, May brought wind, hail and tornadoes in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio. Associates traveled to the affected areas and worked seven-day weeks to assist our customers in their time of need. This included Easter weekend, when several associates were away from their families as part of the response.

In the midst of these storms, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way we conduct inspections. Even with these changes, we are able to maintain service levels at pre-outbreak levels. By using virtual inspection tools and focusing field travel on exterior claims and large losses, we can respond in a manner that prioritizes the safety of our policyholders and associates. Some of the measures we're taking include:

• Following all Centers for Disease Control guidelines for social distancing
• Utilizing PPE during our inspections
• Limiting in-person meetings to the insured only and not having extra parties at the loss site
• Utilizing portals and virtual connections to allow the insured to upload relevant claim documents

We are committed to upholding the highest service levels during these challenging times. Our inspection protocols are continuously updated and are guided by the recommendations of the CDC and local governmental orders. We will continue to explain the safety protocols at the onset of the claim so the policyholder has a clear understanding of what to expect. Policyholder and associate safety is our top priority.