Progressive Insurance Company Offers Safety Tips

PENSACOLA, Fla.--July 8, 2005--Hurricane Dennis is expected to hit the Gulf Coast this weekend, bringing with it heavy rain, strong winds and possible storm surge. Progressive , the country's third largest auto insurance company, has deployed its National Catastrophe Response Team to locations likely to be affected by the storm and has activated processes to ensure that customers will experience no delay in reporting or settling their claim. Progressive reminds motorists that the best way to stay safe and reduce property damage is to be aware of the dangers posed by major storms.



"Pay close attention to your area's evacuation orders," said Scott Snapp, catastrophe response director, Progressive. "Many people rely on their car to transport them out of harm's way. But while evacuating, be aware of the dangerous flood waters hurricanes bring."



A significant danger posed by hurricanes is inland flooding. According to the National Hurricane Center, more than half of all hurricane-related deaths in the past 30 years were due to inland flooding and one-quarter of those killed drowned inside their vehicle, or when attempting to abandon it.



Progressive offers the following tips for protecting yourself, your car, recreational vehicle or boat during Hurricane Dennis:



If you are leaving a car or recreational vehicle behind to weather the

storm:



-- Drivers in the hurricane's path who are not going to be

driving their car or recreational vehicle to safety should

park it on high ground, as close as possible to a sturdy

building; don't leave the vehicle in a low-lying area prone to

flooding. If you have to park it outdoors, park it away from

trees, poles or other large objects that may fall onto it.



-- Boats should be moved inland if possible. Make sure you have

everything you need to secure your boat, including extra

lines, chafe protection, fenders, anchors, port plugs, duct

tape and extra batteries.



If you are evacuating the area with your car or recreational vehicle:



-- Avoid driving through standing water. The average automobile

can be swept off the road in 12 inches of moving water, and

roads covered by water are prone to collapse. If you come upon

a flooded street, take an alternate route.



-- If no alternate route exists and you have no other reasonable

alternative but to drive through standing water...



-- Do your best to estimate the depth of the water (if other

cars are driving through, take note of how deep the water

is).



-- Drive SLOWLY and STEADILY through the water.



-- Once you and your vehicle are out of deep water and are in

a safe area, depress your brakes slowly to dry them.



-- If your vehicle stalls in the deep water, you may need to

restart the engine to make it to safety (know, however,

that restarting may cause irreparable damage to the

engine).



-- If you can't restart your vehicle and you become trapped in

rising water, IMMEDIATELY ABANDON FOR HIGHER GROUND. If you

are unable to get out of the vehicle safely, call 911 or

get the attention of a passerby or someone standing on

higher ground.



Progressive reminds its customers to call 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report any claims incurred from Hurricane Dennis.