catastrophe-event-response.md

Uploaded 8/8/2026, 11:52:58 PM

# Catastrophe (CAT) Event Response Protocol

When a regional catastrophe (hurricane, wildfire, major flood) is declared, the Claims Team activates the Catastrophe Response Protocol, which changes standard claims handling.

First, the Claims Team suspends standard inspection-scheduling timelines. Next, additional Adjusters are temporarily reassigned from other regions to handle claim volume. Then, the Claims Team prioritizes claims by severity instead of order received.

Policy requires catastrophe claims to receive an initial contact from an adjuster within 48 hours, even though standard inspection timelines are suspended. In practice, the Claims Team often exceeds this during the largest events, and communicates delays proactively to policyholders instead.

All catastrophe-related claims are reported to the Reinsurance team regardless of individual claim size, which is an exception to standard reinsurance reporting thresholds.