GIC Collects Post-Disaster Imagery Following Several Mid-April Tornadoes

PR Newswire

DES PLAINES, Ill., April 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After tornadoes struck multiple states throughout the Southeast this past Easter weekend, the Geospatial Intelligence Center (GIC) began flying aircraft over the hardest hit areas on Monday, collecting high-resolution aerial images of the damaged structures. These areas include portions of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Monroe, Louisiana, and Seneca, South Carolina.

Imagery from many of the damaged areas is now available to GIC members, giving insurers the ability to search an address and view before and after aerials images of properties within the impacted area. High-resolution aerial imagery provides insurers with vital information to better serve policyholders, speed up the claims resolution process, and aid in improved fraud detection. Additionally, GIC imagery is provided at no cost to emergency personnel, first responders, and law enforcement to assist in their response to the damage.

"Post-catastrophe damage assessment is crucial to recovery efforts following devastating tornadoes and other events like these. Impacted areas need to be assessed to ascertain how many structures have been damaged or completely destroyed," said Richard Butgereit, director of catastrophe response, GIC. "It is our hope that by getting in quickly and assessing these efforts utilizing high-resolution aerial imagery, we can help speed up the recovery process for those effected by these events."

Several years ago, the NICB started searching for solutions to help their members and law enforcement advance technology post-disaster, that lead to the creation of the Geospatial Intelligence Center Program that licenses high resolution aerial images from Vexcel Imaging US, Inc.

"Technological advances have improved in recent years, providing insurers the opportunity to leverage cutting edge technologies like the high-resolution imagery provided by the GIC to enhance fraud detection and expedite fraud investigations. The GIC program is just another example of how the industry is leveraging innovation to help fight fraud in the wake of a disaster," said NICB chief operating officer Jim Schweitzer.

REPORT FRAUD: Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422)or submitting a form on our website.

ABOUT GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER:

The Geospatial Intelligence Center's mission is to provide the most comprehensive, precise, and up-to-date geospatial information to insurers. This insurance industry consortium delivers geospatial imagery and analytics, leading to more informed underwriting, better claims decisions, reducing fraud and delivering faster catastrophe response. GIC's growing member base includes Travelers, Metlife, MunichRe, USAA, Allstate, Citizens, and Brit. To learn more visit www.geointel.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU: Headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, learning and development, government affairs and public affairs. The NICB is supported by more than 1,300 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $496 billion in insurance premiums in 2018, or more than 81 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 92 percent ($254 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

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