Anyone threatened by an encroaching wildfire should heed the warnings of local and state officials and head to safety when asked to evacuate, according to the Association of California Insurance Companies.
Once evacuated to a safe location, residents should save receipts for expenses and contact their insurance companies through their toll free claims numbers as soon as possible to begin receiving assistance if their home is damaged, according to the
“Being evacuated from your home because of a wildfire is very stressful and raises a lot questions,” Armand Feliciano, ACIC vice president, said in a statement. “The first step is to always listen to authorities and move to safer ground when asked to evacuate. The second step is to contact your insurance company or agent through their toll free telephone number. This action will begin the recovery process if your home is damaged by the wildfire. Residents under evacuation orders should remember to save their receipts for hotels and meals, as these expenses may be eligible for reimbursement.”
Wildfires in western states continue to start anew and spread. In California, more than 1,400 fire fighters were working to control the Ponderosa wildfire. The fire is only 5 percent contained and 3,500 homes in Shasta and Tehama Counties were threatened. Seven structures have been damaged so far.
“Residents not impacted by the Ponderosa Fire should use this major fire as a wake-up call and remember to take some easy steps to financially prepare for catastrophic events,” Feliciano said. “Now is a good time to update your policy with any remodeling or upgrades completed, review your policy with your agent or company, compile a home inventory detailing your personal possessions and mitigate your property to reduce fire risk.”
Key insurance elements for evacuees to remember:
• Follow the family evacuation plan and have all family members meet at one previously agreed upon location or call one relative or friend out of the area to communicate and plan next steps.
• Remember to bring eyeglasses, medicines or other important items and prepare for a pet’s needs, bring leashes, food etc.
• If possible, prior to evacuating, policyholders should bring their important paperwork with them including a copy of their insurance policy. Policyholders should contact their insurance company immediately once they are evacuated.
• Policyholders who have lost their homes to the fires are immediately eligible for Additional Living Expense coverage which may reimburse you for increased living expenses such as, lodging, clothing, toiletries and other necessities. Policyholders who are evacuated for a period of time by state or local officials, and do NOT lose their home, may also be eligible for ALE reimbursement if the home next door is damaged by fire, and civil authorities prevent you from returning to your home. Remember to keep your receipts so it will make the claims process easier.
Wildfire preparedness tips:
• Review an insurance policy regularly with the insurance company or agent. Anyone who has recently remodeled or built a new addition should increase the amount of protection to cover the changes to the property. If a home is paid off, be sure to maintain coverage.
• Keep an inventory to speed claims processing. Include all possessions and photograph or videotape them for documentation purposes. After a fire, list the items that were destroyed or damaged along with a brief description that includes receipts, appraisals and the age, current value, make, model and serial number of items.
• Create a defensive space in high fire hazard areas, the best protection is defensive space. Clear the land around dwellings of all vegetation. Experts recommend that the cleared area extend at least 100 feet from the dwelling in all directions.
