As summer rounds into full swing and the traditional catastrophe season heats up with massive storms in the DC area, it’s a good time to reflect on why CAT adjusters do what they do and, just as importantly, why they LOVE what they do.
Eric Gilkey wrote a great article in Claims Management Magazine that asks 5 CAT adjusters why they love their job. The following is one of the profiles I enjoyed so I wanted to share it. (The full article is no longer available.)
Jasper Seale
Years of Experience: 26
Worst Disaster Worked: Northridge Earthquake
“The reason I enjoy CAT adjusting is simple: I like helping people resolve problems, which in my job usually takes the form of settling claims related to their homes,” says Seale. “I find it very rewarding to assist people in a time of need.
“Here’s one example from my career: The Northridge Earthquake fractured a crude oil pipeline running through a neighborhood in San Fernando, Calif. The crude caught fire, seriously burned a man, charred 17 cars, and burned one house and its garage apartment to the ground. A number of homes also received fire and smoke damage.
“The next morning, I arrived to a neighborhood that had blackened cars and trees lining the street,” continues Seale. “I remained for weeks to do intake, make advance payments, settle automobile and property damage claims, and work on homeowners’ earthquake claims. At one point, while I was inspecting a home, we had a 5.3-magnitude aftershock that lasted about 30 seconds in the area. The noise made by the aftershock was deafening. The people in the neighborhood stood outside huddled together, terrified and crying from the ordeal.
“Catastrophes traumatize people—there’s no other way to put it. You only have to work one bad disaster to understand the positive impact that a claims adjuster can have on people.”
