Alfa Insurance® is mobilizing resources to handle claims in response to the Christmas Day storms that affected Alabama Tuesday evening.

Claims adjusters are already helping customers in the areas most affected by the tornadoes and high winds. If your home or property sustained damages during these storms, contact your local Alfa service center or call 1-800-964-2532. Claims may also be filed on-line at www.AlfaInsurance.com<http://www.alfainsurance.com.> or through the Alfa2Go app for iPhone and Android smartphones.

Policyholders are encouraged to make temporary repairs to their property to prevent additional damage. Retain receipts from purchases related to the temporary repairs to include with any claims.

Governor Robert Bentley on Monday announced that a team from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency is now in New York assisting with the ongoing recovery from Superstorm Sandy.

The nine-person Incident Management Team is beginning a 14-day mission supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Team members were sent because of their experience in disaster response, including hurricane-specific recovery operations.  The team also has experience with the National Incident Management System.

“The Alabama Emergency Management Agency has the skills and experience needed to help communities recover,” Governor Bentley said.  “The team that is now in New York will make a tremendous and lasting impact.  Their work will be a benefit to everyone involved in the long-term recovery.  Alabama stands ready to help other states in any way we can.”

The Alabama EMA team will be initially deployed to the Joint Field Office in Queens, NY.&nbs

Even though Hurricane Sandy is not forecasted to effect Alabama, the American Red Cross encourages Alabama residents to download its Hurricane App, create or update their family disaster plan, and restock their emergency preparedness kits. Also, our staff and volunteers are monitoring the progress of this and other storm systems and if need be, we are on standby to deploy trained Red Cross volunteers to help in other areas of the country.

The American Red Cross Hurricane App puts lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in or who visit hurricane prone areas. This free app—available in English or Spanish—is for use on both iPhone and Android platforms. It gives users instant access to local and real time information on what to do before, during and after hurricanes.