The storm of 24 January, 2009: first measures taken by GROUPAMA

Following the exceptionally severe storm that affected the south-west of France on Saturday 24 January, GROUPAMA and its subsidiary GAN Assurances have taken the following measures:

• GROUPAMA and GAN Assurances networks went on the alert on 24 January, immediately after the storm warning,
• The crisis plan was put into operation, immediately mobilizing people in the relevant local French départements,
• On the morning of Sunday the 25, teams of inspectors began their first evaluations,
• Contact centre resources were scaled up to respond to policy holder inquiries and claims under the best possible conditions,
• In local agencies, sales staff will receive policy holders on Monday morning to handle claims,
• Claims inspectors and experts appointed by Groupama and GAN Assurances will pay our advances on the spot for the most serious cases,
• Teams will be brought in from other regions to help local people provide more effective aid to policy holders,
• Exceptionally in view of the seriousness of this situation, GROUPAMA and GAN Assurances will not apply claims excess for rebuilding coverage for storm risks to individuals,
• Non-storm risk cases (especially flooding) will be examined without awaiting the publication of the Natural Disaster decree in the French Government Journal Officiel.