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Imagery and AI data aids insurers in hurricane recovery


Sep 2023

Nearmap captured high-resolution imagery of damage from Hurricane Idalia to help responders quickly identify severely affected zones and mobilize support.

Sep 2023

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As communities in Florida’s Big Bend Region wade through the chaos left by Category 3 Hurricane Idalia, Nearmap has captured high-resolution imagery of truth-on-the-ground damage. Utilizing cutting-edge aerial imagery and AI, insurers receive critical, real-time data, helping them quickly identify severely affected zones and mobilize immediate support for their impacted policyholders. Here’s how post-catastrophe solutions from Nearmap turn post-disaster confusion into actionable intelligence.

Nearmap ImpactResponse: eyes from the sky

Imagine getting an instant bird’s-eye view of how a record-breaking storm surge has transformed the serene gulf-side docks into a floating debris field. By offering post-catastrophe aerial imagery and data with ImpactResponse, you see a crystal-clear snapshot of the storm’s damage so you can better serve your customers in their time of need with sharper, faster property intelligence and insights. When these post-event shots are compared with our library of historical imagery, the contrast is staggering.

Zeroing in on the ground

Last Thursday, within hours of Idalia passing through, Nearmap ImpactTriage AI was already analyzing imagery from Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee, two of the most impacted communities in Florida. The results were sobering. In Keaton Beach alone, our technology identified over 400 buildings—each larger than 500 sq. ft.—that had suffered some form of damage. Of these, 37 were reduced to rubble, and 237 were severely damaged.
As you scroll through the imagery, you'll see homes stripped of their roofs and massive trees sprawled across structures, both large and small. Providing insurers with these insights allows them to improve the experience of their impacted customers—facilitating quick responses with the resources needed to get them back on their feet faster.
In Steinhatchee, which was fortunate to be somewhat outside the storm’s direct path, our ImpactTriage AI still recorded significant damage—identifying more than 120 buildings, each over 500 sq. ft., that were damaged; 9 were destroyed, and 73 sustained major damage. The town of Perry looks to be one of the most impacted areas of the storm with Nearmap identifying 396 destroyed buildings, 3,361 with major damage, 967 buildings with minor damage, and 2,852 affected buildings.

ImpactAssessment AI: get the details at scale

While understanding the scale of structural damage is critical, Nearmap ImpactAssessment AI goes a step further, helping process claims more efficiently by improving decisions and streamlining workflows. This technology sifts through the rubble to reveal additional details to insurers: fallen trees, debris in streets and waterways, and roof structures that bore the brunt of the storm’s power.
For Nearmap, our post-catastrophe solutions aren’t just about providing a technology solution—it’s about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers and their policyholders when they need it the most. Our aerial intelligence allows insurers to streamline their claims and loss estimation processes and, most importantly, extend a helping hand to their policyholders when they are most in need.
We believe that the combination of accurate imagery and industry-leading intelligence represents the best form of truth on the ground for insurers nationwide. As we face an alarming uptick in natural disasters this hurricane season, we’re proud to provide solutions that make recovery faster and more compassionate for those dealing with post-disaster loss.
If you’re ready to see these transformative technologies in action, our team of experts is standing by to walk you through a personalized demo. Dive deeper into the post-catastrophe solutions from Nearmap and discover how we can be your partner in navigating the challenging waters of disaster recovery.
Welcome to the future of compassionate, effective disaster response.