NEW BERLIN – Preferred Mutual Insurance Company in conjunction with the American Red Cross of the Southern Tier have teamed up to institute a program dubbed "Preparing for the Unexpected" that is providing a means for residents of Broome, Chenango and Delaware counties to be better prepared for floods, fires and other disasters.

Administered by the American Red Cross, the program is using Disaster Preparedness volunteers trained by the Red Cross to provide one-on-one preparedness information to at least 1,300 residents from throughout the three counties.

The program is seeking out residents most vulnerable to experiencing a catastrophe, and includes collaborative relationships with other nonprofit agencies and community partners that will enable Disaster Preparedness education to continue beyond these introductory presentations.

Headquartered in New Berlin, Preferred Mutual has donated $5,000 to the Red Cross to support the training for the Disaster Preparedness volunteers who are offering the "Preparing for the Unexpected" presentations.

"As a mutual insurance company, we are in the business of helping our policyholders put their lives and their businesses back together after a disaster," said Christopher P. Taft, President and CEO of Preferred Mutual. "We've seen firsthand that those people and organizations that are best able to deal with a disaster are the ones who have planned and prepared in advance."

"Not only have they planned for their insurance needs with their agent, but they've planned for their family and workplace needs, have the supplies they need available to survive, practiced what to do if an emergency should arise, and have an awareness of the types of disasters or emergencies that might occur where they live and work," Taft said. "The American Red Cross' 'Preparing for the Unexpected' program will help community members in the Southern Tier be better prepared in the event of an emergency. That's a win-win for everyone."