GEICO Associates Bring Relief to Victims of Hurricane Charley

LAKELAND, Fla., Aug. 19, 2004 -- The damage and destruction caused by Hurricane Charley didn't stop associates at GEICO's Lakeland office from bringing some much needed relief to Punta Gorda residents. Despite personal hardships, Florida associates as well as GEICO catastrophe claims teams worked long hours to handle claims and provide assistance.

"It's likely that Charley will be one of the largest catastrophes we have seen," said George Rogers, GEICO regional vice president in Lakeland, "but our policyholders are getting great service from dedicated associates."

GEICO sales supervisors and counselors traveled to Punta Gorda the morning after the hurricane with supplies of water, battery-operated fans and cell phones for Florida residents trying to pick up the pieces that were left from Hurricane Charley.

The GEICO Geckomobile has been on duty ever since, carrying provisions back and forth between Punta Gorda, Lakeland and other stricken areas.

"The pride and selfless spirit of our GEICO associates can never be matched," said Rogers. "We are making a difference, one person at a time."

Other associates are volunteering their time to help clean up debris left by the storm. Associates reported to duty after Hurricane Charley left down trees around the company's Orlando office. Bottled water and generator power helped keep the GEICO operations going there.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fifth largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 5.6 million policyholders and insures more than 9.5 million vehicles. GEICO uses television, radio, print media and direct mail to attract customers to call its 1-800-841-3000 number and to visit its www.geico.com Web site, and keeps its rates low by dealing directly with the customer. GEICO offers sales and claim services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com/.