Video: FAA Approves State Farm Insurance Drone Testing

[syndicaster id=’5666606′]

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi is no stranger to natural disasters. From Hurricane Katrina to deadly tornadoes, the state has been battered over the past decade.

Now, an insurance company will soon have a bird’s-eye view to look at the damage and help customers.

It’s the first time the government has given permission for a company to use a drone. State Farm is the first insurer in the U.S. to receive FAA permission to test and then use drones.

“This is the most exciting thing that I’ve heard in a long time because the technology is so new and to be able to use it in a way that would benefit our policy holders is absolutely exciting to me,” said long-time State Farm Agent, Denise Good.

Good has been a State Farm agent for nearly 30 years. She says drones will allow for a faster, more efficient response from claim adjusters. State Farm plans to use drones in natural disaster areas to quickly assess the what needs to be done.

“Anytime we have a natural disaster, time is of the essence. To have someway that they can fly over and assess the damage quickly to see who has a total loss would just speed up the whole process and just help our policy holders,” added Good.

She also believes the new technology could save the company money and in return, do the same for customers.

“State Farm is a mutual company, so if this saves money, if this is a way we can save money in a claim process then we’re going to save policy holders money,” said Good.

The company will soon begin test flights at its Illinois headquarters.State Farm says it will follow FAA guidelines while the drones are in use.