Travelers Launches Wide-Scale Use of Drones to Assess Damage Caused by Hurricane Matthew

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) has deployed a team of claim professionals who will use small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), or drones, to assist with residential and commercial property damage inspection in South Carolina, Georgia and other states affected by Hurricane Matthew. The Travelers drone operators have been trained to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) drone regulations and have been fully certified by the FAA as sUAS operators.

“Hurricane Matthew’s strong winds and heavy rain caused property damage in a number of communities,” said Patrick Gee, Senior Vice President of Claim at Travelers. “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.”

Travelers launched its drone training program last spring in anticipation of the FAA’s commercial drone regulations, which took effect in August. To date, Travelers has trained 60 FAA-certified claim professionals to operate drones, and will train hundreds more during the next several months.

The company also dispatched members of its Catastrophe Response Team to assist local claim professionals in responding to customers in the affected areas. Customers whose properties were damaged by Hurricane Matthew can contact Travelers by visiting www.travelers.com or calling 1-800-CLAIM33.

About TravelersThe Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $27 billion in 2015. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.

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The Travelers Companies, Inc.Judy Senechal, [e-mail]