"Westfield came together and pulled all its resources to ensure everypolicyholder experienced the excellent claims service they deserve duringthese desperate times," says Senior Executive of Claims Mike Prandi. "Weset up regional storm operations in several remote areas in Ohio andKentucky to ensure we met the demands of all our policyholders."

On Monday, Sept. 15, following one of Ohio's largest natural disasterssince the Xenia tornado of 1974, Westfield began the contact process. Andby Wednesday, most of the offices were fully staffed with more than 200employees throughout the organization to support its largest response inhistory.

Westfield received more than 10,000 insuranceclaims of storm-related losses. To date, more than 88 percent have beenclosed and Westfield has paid out losses totaling $40 million, including $4million in farminsurance claims. According to the Ohio Insurance Institute, anestimated $553 million in insured losses across Ohio were caused by thewindstorms.

Testimonial

September 19:

"We have been a Westfield policyholder for quite a few years and have hadlittle reason to test just how responsive you would be in the event of aclaim. That changed this week when 75mph winds came through our southernOhio area and uprooted several of our trees and damaged our roof.

"We called [Westfield Insurance] in Milford, Ohio, on Monday... On Thursdaymorning, Westfield called and would be here before 9 a.m. that day. Wow!

"My wife and I are very pleased with the service you have given us and theway [Westfield Insurance] responded. Our neighbors are all still waitingfor their insurance companies to respond."

Donald Scholl, Milford, Ohio

About Westfield Insurance

In business for 160 years, Westfield Insurance, a member of WestfieldGroup, provides commercial and personal insurance in 18 states and suretyservices to customers in 28 states. Westfield is one of the nation's 50largest property and casualty insurance groups, represented by a network ofmore than 1,200 independent insurance agencies. Westfield is also one ofthe top writers of farm insurance in the country and the largest writer ofcontract performance bonds in Ohio. Westfield Group provides bankingthrough Westfield Bank(SM) and agency support through Westfield Services,Inc. Learn more about Westfield Insurance athttp://www.westfieldinsurance.com.

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Media Contact:Terri GrimmMarketing Communications Manager800.243.0210, extension 6055Email Contact