Commissioner Doak Opens Consumer Assistance Command Center for Tornado Victims

For Immediate Release:

 May 22, 2013

Commissioner Doak Opens Consumer Assistance Command Center for Tornado Victims

 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak announced the opening of the Consumer Assistance Command Center to assist tornado victims. The Command Center is located at 301 NE 27^th St., Moore, Okla.

 

“Our goal is to assist people in any way we can who have witnessed firsthand the devastation that severe weather can cause,” said Doak. “This is a large-scale disaster that will take quite some time to recover from and we are and will continue to be committed to providing support and help to those who need it. We are also working closely with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to provide support to anyone who calls our toll-free Consumer Assistance hotline – 1-800-522-0071.”

 

All major insurance companies are on location with mobile response units to help victims of the tornado with insurance claims. Currently, more than 4,000 home and auto insurance claims have been filed with the number expected to rise. The Oklahoma Banking Department has partnered with the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) to provide onsite ATMs with waived service charges in addition to OID staff on hand to further aid disaster recovery. OID has implemented a new protocol for insurance adjusters and agents requesting they obtain an identification badge from the Command Center in order to enter disaster zones and assist residents impacted from the tornado.

 

OID Anti-Fraud investigators responded to disaster sites in not only Moore, but Shawnee, Edmond, North Oklahoma City, Luther, Carney and Little Axe this week. The investigators are available to help mitigate insurance fraud during the recovery process.

 

“We are sending a strong message that we will not tolerate any type of fraud,” said Doak. “Unfortunately, scams and criminal activity will come up as they always do in disaster situations. We are doing all that we can to provide necessary tools and support to these residents to defend themselves against fraud.”

 

Please visit http://www.ok.gov/oid/Consumers/Prepare_Yourself/Tornadoes_and_Severe_Weather.html for further assistance with severe weather and insurance tips.

 

About the Oklahoma Insurance Department 

The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.

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For more information contact:

Kelly Collins
(405) 522-0683

kelly.collins@oid.ok.gov