What the Best ALE Partners Can Offer—and How Accomsure Delivers
When a CAT event (catastrophe event) strikes—whether it’s a wildfire, flood, or major storm—responding effectively is not just about speed. It’s about structure. It’s about planning. And above all, it’s about ensuring the people on the front lines—adjusters, insurers, and restoration crews—have the support they need to move quickly, make sound decisions, and deliver for the families counting on them.
That’s where ALE (Additional Living Expense) providers like Accomsure play a vital role behind the scenes.
While many people think of ALE providers as helping displaced families find temporary housing—and yes, that is a core piece—we’re built for much more than that. Our team is mobilized during catastrophe (CAT) events to act as an operational partner for insurers, streamlining field logistics, relieving pressure points, and bringing clarity to chaos.
Here are three ways we reduce stress and support the full CAT ecosystem:
1. Enable Fast Action with Pre-Authorizations and Reserved Resources
During the first 24 to 72 hours of a CAT event, delays can quickly snowball—resulting in missed opportunities, frustrated policyholders, and increased pressure on already overwhelmed teams. Given the surge in claim volume and complexity during these events, it’s not unrealistic for even the most experienced adjusters and insurers to encounter operational bottlenecks.
That’s why leading ALE providers—like Accomsure—help their partners prepare in advance, setting the stage for immediate, confident decision-making when disaster strikes.
Proactive planning can include:
- Establishing pre-authorization thresholds, so placements aren’t delayed by case-by-case approvals
- Securing reserved housing inventory and building trusted vendor relationships in high-risk regions
- Mobilizing a dedicated CAT team that activates the moment a weather system or mass displacement event is forecasted
Accomsure’s “Working with Accomsure – CAT Terms” agreement is specifically designed to remove guesswork in those crucial first days. It allows insurers to set clear expectations—such as nightly rate limits, billing preferences, and extended authorization windows—before the first claim even hits the inbox.
Having this structure in place doesn’t just streamline placements. It significantly reduces the mental load on adjusters, who are often managing dozens of claims, responding to urgent policyholder concerns, and coordinating with other teams under pressure.
And let’s face it—stress compounds. When adjusters are overwhelmed and policyholders are distressed, every minute and decision matters. A prepared ALE partner helps shoulder that burden, ensuring frontline teams can operate at their best when it matters most.
2. Support Field Teams with Nearby, Hassle-Free Housing
CAT events don’t just impact homeowners. They also trigger large-scale mobilizations of adjusters, estimators, and restoration professionals—teams who need to be deployed on-site for extended periods, often in challenging conditions.
Strong ALE providers can significantly reduce the pressure by arranging accommodations that are:
- Close to the impact zone, minimizing downtime and travel costs
- Designed for special requirements—from extended stays to group housing, or even entire sites dedicated to restoration crews
- Fully managed, with centralized billing, communication, and ongoing logistical support
A powerful example of this came during the 2024 Jasper wildfires, when access was limited, housing was scarce, and infrastructure damage was widespread. In response, Accomsure worked with local vendors and Parks Canada to secure an entire cabin site just outside the affected zone, specifically for use by restoration professionals.
This ensured crews were:
- Housed together (and appropriately) for operational efficiency
- Located within quick reach of the worksite
- Removed from the stress of sourcing their own accommodations amid a regional housing shortage
By taking on the planning and logistics, ALE providers like Accomsure free field teams to focus on what they do best: stabilizing claims, restoring properties, and supporting communities through recovery.
Because many CAT events happen in remote or logistically complex areas, having local insight is essential. Accomsure maintains a strong local presence, with team members on the ground in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. That proximity allows us to collaborate faster, navigate local systems more efficiently, and ensure placements are made with a true understanding of the area’s infrastructure and realities.
When crews are well-housed, they’re better equipped to work—and that has a direct impact on the speed and quality of every CAT response.
3. Provide Data That Drives Better Decisions
In the chaos of a CAT event, insurers and CAT managers don’t just need placements—they need clarity. The best ALE providers offer real-time data and regional intelligence that help adjusters and decision-makers understand the full picture, anticipate challenges, and make informed choices on the fly.
This kind of support can include:
- Geographic accommodation availability
- Travel and access advisories
- Placement radius mapping
- Local partnership status
For example, here’s a snapshot of Accomsure’s pack from the Jasper wildfire response:
Accomsure Jasper Wild Fire 2024 Data Pack
This type of insight allows insurers to understand and foresee issues that may arise, rather than reactively troubleshooting.
What ALE Should Be
A high-performing ALE partner doesn’t just handle placements. They create stability. They reduce noise. They lift weight off the shoulders of adjusters, insurers, and every team member responding under pressure.
This is what ALE should look like. And at Accomsure, it’s how we approach every event.
We were founded in the aftermath of a CAT event, with firsthand insight into just how complex and emotional disaster recovery can be. That’s why today, we’re built for CAT, prepared to act, and local enough to respond the right way, wherever and whenever disaster strikes.
Need support now? If you’re responding to a CAT event or helping a displaced family, we’re ready to assist. Submit a claim here and let Accomsure take it from there.
