McKenzie Intelligence Services Teams Up with CIERA to Revolutionize California’s Disaster Response Efforts

In a significant move to improve insurance coordination during catastrophic events, McKenzie Intelligence Services (MIS) has joined forces with the California Insurance Emergency Response Association (CIERA) for a one-year partnership. This collaboration is essential as California grapples with an increase in billion-dollar disasters, such as wildfires, floods, droughts, and earthquakes, highlighting the urgent need for effective disaster response measures.

Rising Disaster Challenges in California

According to InsurTech Insights, California has experienced over 50 billion-dollar disasters since 1980, with eight significant events in the last five years alone. These disasters account for nearly 21% of the state’s total economic losses, underscoring the necessity for a data-driven approach to disaster recovery.

Identifying Operational Barriers

CIERA has pinpointed several operational challenges and data complexities that hinder effective disaster recovery. With this partnership, the aim is to create a centralized operating model that enhances resource deployment by insurance carriers and loss adjusters. This model will facilitate better coordination with state, federal, and local authorities.

Real-Time Data for Efficient Response

Through this partnership, MIS will supply CIERA members with real-time, verified disaster intelligence, which includes critical updates on:

• Road closures
• Power outages
• Emergency declarations
• Other essential information

This timely data will enable faster and more accurate claims processing, allowing insurers to streamline their responses and enhance service delivery to policyholders.

Enhancing California’s Resilience

The collaboration between MIS and CIERA aims to bolster California’s resilience against catastrophic events and improve post-disaster recovery in the insurance sector. Forbes McKenzie, founder and CEO of MIS, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to build on our partnership with CIERA, which marks a significant step in enhancing the insurance industry’s preparedness and response to California’s unique challenges in disaster recovery.”

Past Collaborations and Future Plans

This isn’t the first time MIS and CIERA have worked together. MIS has supported CIERA at its last two Annual Meetings. The MIS Global Events Observer (GEO) platform, launched in 2021, has been instrumental in the Lloyd’s of London disaster response, providing reliable post-catastrophe data for over 200 global events, including wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, and hurricanes.

Upcoming Exercises and Benefits

At the upcoming CIERA Annual Meeting in February, MIS will lead a practical exercise based on the HayWired scenario created by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), specifically for the insurance sector. GEO will play a pivotal role in this exercise, enabling CIERA members to gain hands-on experience and prepare for real-world disaster response.

Moreover, regardless of CIERA’s activation status during specific events, all CIERA members will gain access to California-focused event assessments within GEO. Members who wish to expand GEO’s capabilities for national or global risk assessments will also receive an exclusive discount.

This partnership between MIS and CIERA represents a crucial step towards improving disaster response and recovery efforts, ultimately benefiting the entire insurance community in California.