Disaster Recovery Community Update set for Wednesday at Lahaina Civic Center
Disaster Recovery Community Update set for Wednesday at Lahaina Civic Center

A status update on wildfire debris cleanup will be provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, during a Maui County Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting at the Lahaina Civic Center. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the social hall.…
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA

If your home was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene, the most daunting challenge may still be ahead: Getting your insurance company, or the federal government, to give you the money you’re entitled to receive. That process can be infuriating and baffling, and it comes…
Homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene face the grim task of rebuilding without flood insurance
Homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene face the grim task of rebuilding without flood insurance

The Category 4 storm that first struck Florida’s Gulf Cost on September 26 has dumped trillions of gallons of water across several states, leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction that spans hundreds of miles inland A week after Hurricane Helene overwhelmed the Southeastern U.S., homeowners…
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA

If your home was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene, the most daunting challenge may still be ahead: Getting your insurance company, or the federal government, to give you the money you’re entitled to receive. That process can be infuriating and baffling, and it comes…
Homeowners face threats to their property even after Hurricane Helene — how this disaster could cause insurance crisis for millions
Homeowners face threats to their property even after Hurricane Helene — how this disaster could cause insurance crisis for millions

“It’s a huge mess for everyone.” Even after it has subsided, Hurricane Helene continues to devastate homeowners throughout the Southeastern U.S. Beyond the billions of dollars in property damage and economic output, the record-breaking storm has further destabilized the insurance market. What’s happening? As The…
Hurricane Helene brought major damage, spotlighting lack of flood insurance
Hurricane Helene brought major damage, spotlighting lack of flood insurance

Kayla Ward was drinking coffee on her porch Friday afternoon when she noticed water from the nearby Nolichucky River rising fast. After nearly a year in the house in the Appalachian Mountains, Ward never thought to worry about flooding. But she and her husband had…
Tips for Consumers to Get Fair Insurance Treatment After Hurricane Helene
Tips for Consumers to Get Fair Insurance Treatment After Hurricane Helene

Insurance Regulators Must Make Sure Consumers Are Fairly Treated, Claims Are Paid Promptly and In Full Washington, D.C. — Today the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and United Policyholders shared resources and tips to help consumers get their wind and flood insurance claims paid quickly,…
Think flood insurance is pricey now? Premium hikes were coming long before Hurricane Helene.
Think flood insurance is pricey now? Premium hikes were coming long before Hurricane Helene.

Homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage – though too many people discover that after the fact, consumer advocates say Hurricane Helene inundated parts of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, and now the estimated billions of dollars in damage are bringing Americans’ receding…
Homeowner says she needs new roof, insurer says no, just one shingle
Homeowner says she needs new roof, insurer says no, just one shingle

It started with Tropical Storm Debby back in August and more homeowners could find themselves in a similar situation after Helene. “My husband went through the house and came back and looked at me and said, ‘We got problems,’” Mary Barnes said. She says her…
New insurance insights from second series forum hosted by Center for California Real Estate
New insurance insights from second series forum hosted by Center for California Real Estate

LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The California Dept. of Insurance and other industry leaders gathered last week to continue statewide conversations around insurance challenges at the forum, “Securing California’s Insurance Market: The Path Forward,” hosted by the Center for California Real Estate.…
State Farm forecasts decline in California policies over the next five years
State Farm forecasts decline in California policies over the next five years

The drop is expected to be around 1 million Insurer State Farm has stated that it was expecting to see the number of policies that it issues in California decline by 2 million by the year 2028, following the financial issues it was encountering, as…
Hurricane Helene brings more losses to struggling insurance market, but no major turmoil expected
Hurricane Helene brings more losses to struggling insurance market, but no major turmoil expected

Hurricane Helene caused the type of widespread destruction that has roiled the U.S. insurance market in recent years, pushing premiums for property insurance in the most vulnerable states, including Louisiana… Read more
Preparing Vulnerable Communities for Natural Disasters
Preparing Vulnerable Communities for Natural Disasters

During September, which is also National Preparedness Month, CWS’ Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery (EPRR) team dedicated its time to equipping vulnerable communities in northern California with the knowledge and tools they need to survive a disaster. September is also a wildfire season, making the…
State Farm projects dropping 1 million policies in California over next five years
State Farm projects dropping 1 million policies in California over next five years

State Farm is projecting that by 2028, the number of policies it issues in California will drop by 1 million, as the insurance giant grapples with financial distress and pulls back from the Golden State. According to a filing submitted to the California Department of…
Homeowners scramble after insurance company hikes rates following major disasters: ‘Doubles down on the bad news’
Homeowners scramble after insurance company hikes rates following major disasters: ‘Doubles down on the bad news’

With prices continually rising, many people cannot afford to pay for insurance, making them vulnerable to financial damage as well as the risk to life that wildfires bring. What’s happening? The Washington Post reported that Allstate has been approved to raise insurance premiums by 34%…
State Farm Expects to Shed 1M Homeowner Policies in California
State Farm Expects to Shed 1M Homeowner Policies in California

State Farm, California’s largest home insurer, expects to cut 1 million policies to stay financially solvent. The Illinois-based firm, whose trademarked jingle is “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there,” expects it won’t be here for a third of its statewide property insurance policyholders…
How Hurricane Helene could have widespread consequences for homeowners
How Hurricane Helene could have widespread consequences for homeowners

When Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida on Thursday night, it made landfall in the state’s sparsely populated Big Bend, far from the glittering cities with expensive waterfront property to the south. But that didn’t stop Helene from becoming another multibillion-dollar superstorm. The hurricane’s massive size…
Home listings now come with their climate risks—and the results are terrifying
Home listings now come with their climate risks—and the results are terrifying