More than 1,000 claims are estimated to be filed in the wake of the monster hailstorm that pounded Idaho Falls on Saturday, April 7, putting it on track to be one of the company’s largest claim events. This is according to Rich Burgoyne, Vice President of Claims, who estimates preliminary losses from each claim to be between $4,000 to $10,000, and total losses to be between $4 to $10 million.

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Golf ball-sized hail damaged roofs, siding, fences, cars, and businesses when the storm swept across the city in the early evening. Most of the hail fell in two swaths of the city, one near the intersection of Ammon Road and First Street, and the other near Tautphaus Park. Over 100 dead geese – killed by lightning – also plunged from the sky during the storm.

 

“We were there by 7:30 AM the following Monday,” Rich says. “By Tuesday afternoon, 864 claims had been reported and we had inspected half of them and contacted all but 14. We have 12 adjusters from across the state helping in Idaho Falls, plus four Home Office employees dedicated to auto claims.” To help expedite auto claims, the claims department set up an auto inspection station at the Idaho Falls office. “About 40% of the claims were auto,” Rich says. “Usually, storms only affect property. It’s only when hail falls that cars are affected. We’ve seen cars with more than 20 dents per panel from this storm. Fortunately, it looks like a lot of the damage can be repaired with paintless dent repair.”

 

Rich says additional staff will be on hand in Idaho Falls next week too. “We should have all the claims inspected by next week. Angie Clark and Jon Reid have done a great job heading up and coordinating things, and the entire Idaho Falls office has been outstanding in supporting our claims team.”

 

In the category of an ill wind blowing some good, Rich is optimistic that Farm Bureau’s exceptional response to the storm will help the company in the long run. “The storm gives our representatives a chance to get out in the field and make themselves known around the community. Our unmatched service demonstrates that we’ll be here for our customers in the long run, that we really are a trusted partner in their life’s journey.”

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