Drones/sUAS to Assist Residential, Commercial Property Damage Inspection Caused by Hurricane Matthew

A group of claim professionals have been deployed by the Travelers Companies, Inc. to use drones or small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) that can help to inspect commercial and residential property damages caused by the Hurricane Matthew.

These drone operators from the Travelers are certified by the FAA as sUAS operators and have been trained to satisfy the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) drone regulations.

Hurricane Matthew’s strong winds and heavy rain caused property damage in a number of communities. Our use of drones will help customers recover from losses more quickly because it expedites inspections, payments and repairs. The drones also help protect our claim professionals by eliminating the need to climb ladders to inspect roofs and other elevated structures.

Patrick Gee, Senior Vice President, Claim at Travelers

The Travelers’ drone training program was introduced last spring, when the FAA’s commercial drone regulations were expected. The FAA commercial drone regulations came into effect only in August, 2016. Until today, a total of 60 FAA-certified claim professionals who can operate drones have been trained by Travelers. Hundreds more are expected to be trained by them in the future.

Members of the company’s Catastrophe Response Team were dispatched to help the local claim professionals in acknowledging customer queries in the affected areas. Customers whose belongings were destroyed by Hurricane Matthew can get in touch with Travelers.