Feature News

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid triple-digit heat, strong winds and low humidity, wildfires have broken out in several locations across Southern California.

Mercury Insurance mobile response units are in the field working with customers impacted by the fires, processing claims and providing assistance arranging for temporary housing and living expenses.

Claims can be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week to Mercury's Claims Hotline by calling (800) 503-3724.

"Mercury's claims teams are here to help our customers get back to normal as quickly as possible," says Joanna Moore, chief claims officer for the company. "Wildfires can be devastating events. Our claims team is ready to help customers file and expedite their claims during this difficult time."

To help speed the claims process, Mercury suggests claimants consider the following tips when filing a claim:

When filing a claim

• Contact Mercury immediately to report your loss.
• Do not remove debris or damaged property that may be related to your claim.
  

Steps after filing a claim

• Prepare a detailed inventory of destroyed or damaged property.
• Offer photos or video tapes of your home and possessions to your adjuster, if these are available.
• Keep copies of communications between you and your adjuster.
• Keep records and receipts for additional living expenses that were incurred if you were forced to leave your home, and provide copies to your adjuster.
  

Wildfires are becoming more and more frequent in drought-ridden California. Mercury suggests the following wildfire prevention tips to protect your home.

Wildfire Home Protection Tips: Landscaping

Landscape defensively to protect lives, homes and property from wildfires. California's native plants and shrubs are among the most flammable in the world. These include chemise, buckwheat and sage, which are referred to as "chaparral." Other flammable plants and trees familiar to California's landscape palette include Bougainvillea, Australian flax and Eucalyptus. Follow these tips to help reduce risk.

• Establish and maintain a greenbelt of well-watered, low-growing, fire-resistant plants like lawns and succulent groundcovers around your home and other structures. Well-watered groundcover, such as ivy or iceplant, usually will not burn.
• Well-watered trees spaced in a staggered manner away from the house can act as a barrier to intercept and prevent wind-driven burning material from reaching your home.
• Remove leaves, sticks and other flammable plant materials from your yard.
• Prune branches that are near or overhang the roof. Remove lower tree branches up to 15 feet off the ground and maintain a vegetation-free zone beneath the tree's drip line.
• A fuelbreak should be maintained around all structures. Check with your local fire department for recommendations in your area.
• When possible, use fire-resistant construction materials for your home, such as a concrete roof tiles and stucco.
  

About Mercury Insurance

Founded in 1962, Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization offering predominantly personal automobile and homeowners insurance through a network of independent agents and brokers in California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, New York, Georgia, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

    Contacts:  Coby King                       Melissa Spraul
               MWW Group                       MWW Group
               (213) 486-6560, ext. 319        (213) 486-6560, ext. 313

               Erik Thompson
               Mercury Insurance
               (661) 291-6435