Leveraging Past Experiences From Katrina and Rita, AXA Art Shares a Few Timely Tips on Preparation Measures to Protect Art and Collectibles NEW YORK, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2008 hurricane season has officially begun. The Department of Atmospheric Science reports forecasts "a well above-average Atlantic basin tropical cyclone season in 2008." While industry predictions continue to be unsettling, preparation is key. Putting a plan in place can help prepare one for the worst and save lives and valued possessions. "At the onset of a storm, preparing your home and ensuring the personal safety of you and your loved ones are paramount," said Christiane Fischer, CEO of AXA Art, "The proper implementation of a few timely precautions can help protect what sometimes translates into millions of dollars in aesthetic and economic investments," Fisher concluded. The mitigation of hurricane damage to art and collectible investments, not unlike general property protection, includes doing everything possible to alleviate total destruction and being prepared to take immediate action should damage occur. Leveraging past experiences from Katrina and Rita and armed with information gathered from conservators and its worldwide team of experts, AXA Art assembled a checklist with key elements in hurricane catastrophe planning to aid collectors: 1. Fine art inventory: maintain a list of valuable artworks with descriptions, values and gallery receipts, prepared well in advance. Include emergency telephone numbers of your insurance agents/brokers, insurance company (note your policy number), conservators, art storage facility and local freeze dry facilities. Keep an extra copy with your insurance agent. 2. Protection of documents: secure important documents in water and fire proof safes or storage boxes. Keep additional copies at a separate secure location. 3. Art storage: plan in advance to make arrangements for art transportation to an arts storage facility or create art storage crates for your home. 4. Reinforced home: protective shutters and roof hurricane clips in place, outside furniture securely bolted, tied down, or stored indoors. 5. Emergency supplies: stock up on flashlights, fans, dehumidifiers, hurricane lamps and oil, matches and coolers. If you have an emergency generator, please make sure it is above possible high water levels. 6. Cameras: such as waterproof instant cameras, to take pictures and document the damage. But what do you do if your Rodin bronze is standing ankle-deep in water or your favorite Rosenquist print got scratched? Damage control is a matter of foresight and more than often swift, smart action. Putting wet art works on paper into a freezer until professional help arrives is only one of many relevant tips provided by AXA's specialists who strongly recommend preparing a list of conservators specializing in the respective collection focus (whether works on paper, Asian sculpture or textiles) with telephone numbers. The expanded checklist with key elements of steps to take as hurricane warnings begin, before disaster strikes and after a storm is posted in the company's hurricane newsletter on http://www.axa-art-usa.com/. About AXA Art Insurance AXA Art is the leading global Art Insurer with international headquarters in Cologne, Germany, and offices in France, the UK, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, North America and Asia. The company insures objects in every active area of collecting which extends from paintings, drawings and sculpture to rare stamps, antique furnishings and vintage vehicles. AXA Art serves a wide range of clients, from first-time purchasers to the world's most respected collectors, as well as artists, museums, galleries, corporations, and exhibition. In North America AXA Art maintains operations in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Boston as well as Toronto and Montreal. For more information visit http://www.axa-art.com/ Global Media Contact: Rosalind Joseph; U.S. Telephone: 718.710.7181 Email: DATASOURCE: AXA Art CONTACT: Global Media, Rosalind Joseph, U.S., +1-718-710-7181, , for AXA Art Web site: http://www.axa-art-usa.com/ http://www.axa-art.com/

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