WESTFIELD CENTER, OHIO - Westfield Insurance, offering coverage in commercial, farm, auto and homeowners insurance, responded immediately to the record-breaking 10,000 insurance claims following the Hurricane Ike-related windstorms in Ohio and Kentucky on Sept. 14. Five days after the windstorms, Westfield made contact with 95 percent of policyholders reporting damages, and after the initial rush of storm claims, the insurance provider made contact within a day of receipt.

"Westfield came together and pulled all its resources to ensure every policyholder experienced the excellent claims service they deserve during these desperate times," says Senior Executive of Claims Mike Prandi. "We set up regional storm operations in several remote areas in Ohio and Kentucky to ensure we met the demands of all our policyholders."

On Monday, Sept. 15, following one of Ohio?s largest natural disasters since the Xenia tornado of 1974, Westfield began the contact process. And by Wednesday, most of the offices were fully staffed with more than 200 employees throughout the organization to support its largest response in history.

Westfield received more than 10,000 claims of storm-related losses. To date, more than 88 percent have been closed and Westfield has paid out losses totaling $40 million, including $4 million on farm insurance claims. According to the Ohio Insurance Institute, an estimated $553 million in insured losses across Ohio were caused by the windstorms.

Testimonial

September 19:

"We have been a Westfield policyholder for quite a few years and have had little reason to test just how responsive you would be in the event of a claim. That changed this week when 75mph winds came through our southern Ohio area and uprooted several of our trees and damaged our roof.

"We called [Westfield Insurance] in Milford, Ohio, on Monday ... On Thursday morning, Westfield called and would be here before 9 a.m. that day. Wow!

"My wife and I are very pleased with the service you have given us and the way [Westfield Insurance] responded. Our neighbors are all still waiting for their insurance companies to respond."

Donald Scholl
Milford, Ohio

About Westfield Insurance
In business for 160 years, Westfield Insurance, a member of Westfield Group, provides commercial and personal insurance in 18 states and surety services to customers in 28 states. Westfield is one of the nation?s 50 largest property and casualty insurance groups, represented by a network of more than 1,200 independent insurance agencies. Westfield is also one of the top writers of farm insurance in the country and the largest writer of contract performance bonds in Ohio. Westfield Group provides banking through Westfield Bank^SM and agency support through Westfield Services, Inc.

Contact:Terri Grimm, Westfield Insurance, 330.887.6055,TerriGrimm@westfieldgrp.com

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