Collectible Poster Series Teaches Disaster Preparedness Through PEANUT

WARWICK, R.I., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Severe weather can strike anywhere, and, unfortunately, adults and children alike are often unaware of the steps they can take to protect themselves and their property against natural disasters.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050425/NYFNSE06 )

This lack of understanding is the reason MetLife Auto & Home is offering a free series of PEANUTS-themed disaster preparedness posters called "Play It Smart, Play It Safe!" The posters, which are available through June 15, 2005, can help families get started with planning now, before a disaster strikes. (They can be ordered by calling 1-800-MET-LIFE, 1-800-638-5433, prompt 3).

"The posters are useful in teaching elementary and middle school students the importance of preparedness, and can help teach students good habits that can last a lifetime-and quite possibly save lives," said Mike Neubauer, who leads MetLife Auto & Home's claim catastrophe team. "Also, because of the PEANUTS characters, including Snoopy, they look great on the wall of a bedroom, or in a classroom."

Ten thousand thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and 10 hurricanes impact the United States in the average year, resulting in approximately 500 deaths and $14 billion in damage, according to the National Weather Service.

The six posters in the "Play It Safe, Play It Smart" series are presented in a colorful, easy-to-read format. Each poster addresses a different peril, including Fires and Wildfires, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms, Earthquakes, and Floods. Along with a variety of helpful tips on ways families can plan ahead, the posters provide valuable information about what to do during disasters, how to prepare for an emergency, and informative websites for those seeking even more information.

The MetLife Auto & Home disaster preparedness posters have been endorsed by the American Red Cross and the Institute for Business and Home Safety. "Both organizations recognize the importance of communicating a message of preparedness to as wide an audience as possible," said Neubauer. "Simply put, these posters can benefit everyone."

MetLife Auto & Home, an affiliate of MetLife, Inc. , is one of the nation's leading personal lines property and casualty companies with approximately 2.7 million policies in force. For more information about MetLife Auto & Home, or to obtain additional safety material, visit MetLife's website at http://www.metlife.com/.

MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its Affiliates, Warwick, RI.

Contacts: Ted Mitchell (401) 827-3236 tjmitchell@metlife.com