Policy Adds $50,000 To Help Spread Word of a Major Crisis.

AIG Excess Casualty, a division of the American International Cos., has introduced an enhancement to its Umbrella Elite policy that advances up to $250,000 for expenses that an insured may become legally liable to pay as damages resulting from a covered major casualty crisis.

CrisisResponse includes Excess Casualty CrisisFund, which provides the insured with up to $50,000 toward the services of a public-relations firm in the event of a major casualty crisis.

CrisisResponse helps insureds immediately address a major casualty crisis by advancing funds to help mitigate damages to victims, their families and communities, while also helping to protect the business reputation of the insured. Covered expenses include medical, funeral, travel, psychological counseling, temporary living expenses and other expenses necessary to immediately secure a crisis scene to prevent further damage or injury.

CrisisResponse and Excess Casualty CrisisFund are triggered when an insured reports a major casualty crisis. A major casualty crisis is a catastrophic occurrence that may result in a claim for damages greater than the limits of underlying insurance and may cause significant adverse regional or national media coverage. Among the covered casualty crises are explosions; major crashes; contamination of food, drink, or pharmaceuticals; and other crises causing multiple deaths, burns, dismemberment, brain injury or permanent paralysis.

AIG Excess Casualty has a selection of public-relations firms specializing in crisis communications available to provide services as well as an international crisis management and investigative consulting firm.

Software Streamlines Hartford Flood Insurance 

Hartford Insurance Group has joined with National Flood Services to provide Hartford's agents with Flood2000 Rating Software, which allows them to correctly rate, quote, print and submit flood insurance applications.

The software provides agents a tool to write policy endorsements and make changes on their policies, as well as the ability to download their entire book of flood insurance business from NFS, submit new applications over the Internet and electronically transmit premium payments using a credit card.

The software is free to agents enrolled in Hartford's Write-Your-Own Flood Insurance program, which is underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program. Updates will be provided via the Web or diskette.

Agencies can access the National Flood Services Web site at www.nfsmt.com. Using this portal, agencies can view their policy database, obtain flood-zone determinations, report claims and transmit flood insurance applications electronically.

National Flood Services, Kalispell, Mont, administers the flood insurance program for both personal lines and commercial lines, so agency staff can work with one company for all flood business placed with Hartford.