The out of state insurance man

NEWS 9

State Farm has brought in adjusters from "out" of state, by the hundreds to cover December's ice storm aftermath.

They bring in people like Kevin Kroells, who came here from New Ulm, Minn. the day after Christmas.

Wednesday was day 27 for Kroells. He made another trip up the ladder, on another roof, on somewhere between 65 or 70 claims; he's forgotten the exact count.

But while he's far from home, the office is at least convenient.

"I have a mobile office here, Kroells said. "I have an air-card on a laptop computer so I'm able to perform a lot of the estimates on site."

Kroells said he's away from home as much as seven to eight months out of the year. He said it's not an easy schedule, but it's one he enjoys.

"Well it has its challenges but it's kind of exciting at the same time," Kroells said.  "We get to deal with all kinds of different situations and meet all kinds of unique individuals."

Kroells will get to go home at the end of this month. In all, State Farm has to check out 15,000 claims across the state with a total price tag of $27 million.