On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston, Texas, and then continued north, wreaking havoc on the coast, Houston and surrounding areas. In the aftermath, many were left with substantial damage to their homes and businesses. One of the companies affected was LyondellBasell, a longstanding client of Kelley Drye & Warren’s Insurance Recovery group with offices and plants in the Houston area.

Having helped with insurance issues arising after Hurricane Katrina, Kelley Drye recognized that many of LyondellBasell’s employees would need assistance dealing with insurance companies, insurance adjusters, and aid organizations. As a result, Kelley Drye instituted the Hurricane Ike Assistance Project to offer free insurance counseling to employees of LyondellBasell. “In disaster areas like Houston, people are often trying to put a roof over their heads and salvage what they can from their homes. At the same time, they’re helping their employer get back on its feet. Dealing with insurance and aid organizations on top of that can seem overwhelming. So, we decided to step in and do what we could to help.”

The principal feature of the Program is a 1-800 “hotline” that is staffed by attorneys in the Insurance Recovery Group. Employees are encouraged to call if they have questions about the coverage afforded by their insurance policies, need assistance filing a claim, disagree with an adjuster’s damage estimates, or need assistance dealing with FEMA or other aid organizations. The firm also created a website for LyondellBasell employees that provides general information on a variety of topics and has a “chatboard” for people to share information and advice. Numerous employees have already taken advantage of the Program, and calls continue to come in daily.

Kelley Drye Creates Hurricane Ike Assistance Project For LyondellBasell Employees