Claims Could Reach $30 Billion, According To The Industry

Several insurance companies are preparing their drone fleets to move in and assess damages now that the FAA is beginning to allow drone flights over areas of Texas ravaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Damages from the storm could climb as high as $30 billion, according to insurance analysts. Using drones will allow the companies to assess the damages without sending additional personnel to inspect individual properties.

The drones will be used in situations where it might not be safe, or even possible, for adjusters to see damages first hand. Insurance companies say that using the drones make the process safer, faster and at a lower cost.

Slate Magazine reports that, according to Allstate, that company will get permission from homeowners to use a drone to capture still and video images of their property, which will be send directly to a claims specialist. The plane is intended to expedite a process that often takes weeks or longer, but it also means that the homeowner might not actually meet the person who is assessing the damage to their home. Allstate spokesman Justin Herndon said it will be the widest scale event for which they have ever used UAVs for assessments.

Last year following Hurricane Matthew, telecom companies such as Verizon used drones to check out critical infrastructure such as cellular site locations for connectivity and damage. Using the aircraft was more efficient than using boats to check each site individually, the company said.

But Harvey will be the first time drones will be used to gather information about personal property in the wake of such a storm.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report