GEICO Puts CAT Teams on Standby Throughout Gulf Coast Region for Tropical Storm Ida

WASHINGTON--GEICO is prepared to help policyholders as Tropical Storm Ida makes landfall in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as projected. GEICO has put Catastrophe Response Teams (CAT) on standby and will dispatch special claims teams to damaged areas, if necessary, to help get customers back on the road.

All GEICO policyholders are urged to log on to www.geico.com or call 1-800-841-3000 as soon as any storm damage affects them. Their claims will be processed immediately.

Shawn Burklin, GEICO’s vice president of Southeast operations, says that catastrophe information is available at www.geico.com with preparedness tips, links to other important hurricane information and weather sites, and immediate claims handling capabilities.

"GEICO urges policyholders to take all necessary steps to protect their families, their homes and their vehicles prior to the storm, and reminds all residents to heed state warnings and to be careful not to drive in deep standing water," Burklin said.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) – as part of Berkshire Hathaway – is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States*. GEICO provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures more than 16 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com.

*A.M. Best 2008 market share data