INSURANCE AFLAME: COVERAGE INEQUITIES RAGE AS POPULATION GROWS IN WILDFIRE REGIONS
INSURANCE AFLAME: COVERAGE INEQUITIES RAGE AS POPULATION GROWS IN WILDFIRE REGIONS

Northern California is currently ablaze with numerous wildfires, including the deadly McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County that burned more than 60,000 acres and killed four people. As of August 15, the National Interagency Fire Center cites more than 5.9 million acres burned in over 42,000…
More homeowners report insurance claims being denied, MN Department of Commerce says
More homeowners report insurance claims being denied, MN Department of Commerce says

The state is reporting a spike in complaints from homeowners whose insurance claims were denied following recent storms, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The department is issuing an alert, asking Minnesotans to review their insurance policies, particularly in the areas of hail and…
A Flagstaff family’s insurance came up short after their home was destroyed by a wildfire
A Flagstaff family’s insurance came up short after their home was destroyed by a wildfire

The Leazier family has lived at the same Flagstaff property more than three decades. This past April, theirs was one of 30 homes that burned down in the Tunnel Fire. The fire took nearly everything they had, including sentimental items that reminded them of the…
Why didn’t Marshall fire homeowners have enough insurance? Watchdogs blame industry software.
Why didn’t Marshall fire homeowners have enough insurance? Watchdogs blame industry software.

In 2021, a Louisville couple bought $419,000 worth of insurance coverage for their home, based on their agent’s recommendation. Now, that policy payout is only providing about half of what they need to rebuild the house they lost in the Marshall fire. In a lawsuit…
Survivors of East Troublesome Fire sue insurance company
Survivors of East Troublesome Fire sue insurance company

Fire survivors said State Farm low-balled them on rebuilding costs and took too long to pay their insurance claims after the East Troublesome Fire. GRAND COUNTY, Colo. — There are survivors of the East Troublesome Fire in October 2020 who are suing their insurance company…
Home inventory: What is it and why do you need one?
Home inventory: What is it and why do you need one?

You never know when your home might get damaged in a flood, fire or other disaster. And you can’t rule out the possibility of a home break-in, either. Ideally, you’ll have homeowners or renters insurance in place to cover your damaged or stolen items. But…
Study Finds Wildfires Disproportionately Impact Lower-Income Families
Study Finds Wildfires Disproportionately Impact Lower-Income Families

Non-renewals, higher premiums, and costly property improvements make wildfires even worse for already marginalized homeowners Climate change and California’s historic drought are stretching fire season beyond its traditional boundaries, causing worse and more costly wildfires, and according to a new study, they’re disproportionately impacting the…
Oak Fire: Owners of destroyed homes face tens of thousands of dollars in rebuilding costs
Oak Fire: Owners of destroyed homes face tens of thousands of dollars in rebuilding costs

’50-60% of people walking through the door who have been impacted by the fire didn’t have insurance.’ MARIPOSA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — “Rebuilding is the plan. Rebuilding is the goal. We just have to figure out how to do it… because we got married on…
Cal OES Awards $25 Million in Grants to Local Organizations to Protect Vulnerable Communities from Disasters
Cal OES Awards $25 Million in Grants to Local Organizations to Protect Vulnerable Communities from Disasters

Funding Designed to Increase Disaster Preparedness and Resiliency in Socially Vulnerable Communities Statewide SACRAMENTO, CA – As part of California’s nation-leading effort to build resilience among vulnerable populations living in areas of the state most susceptible to natural disasters, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal…
Inflation Means Replacing Your Home After a Disaster Will Likely Cost More
Inflation Means Replacing Your Home After a Disaster Will Likely Cost More

Why your homeowner’s policy might not Cover the true cost of replacing your home Prices are up basically everywhere thanks to inflation, from gas, to food, to clothing. That’s a signal for homeowners to do something unexpected: call your insurance agent. Why? To protect yourself…
Is The FAIR Plan unfair at it’s core?
Is The FAIR Plan unfair at it’s core?

Oakland, California – In the wake of increasing non-renewals and outright cancellations, the Insurance Commissioner ordered an independent study of California’s home and business insurer of last resort; the so-called Fair Plan. California’s FAIR Plan, was created by the state legislature more than a half-century…
Sonoma County homeowners jolted with insurance hikes as a result of wildfire risk
Sonoma County homeowners jolted with insurance hikes as a result of wildfire risk

Lesley Muller said her jaw dropped when she got her renewal notice from the carrier that insures her Cloverdale home. The bill increased by $700 annually to $2,200. “When I got it, it shocked me,” said Muller, a retiree whose insurer also covers her family’s…
Smoke Damage Claims – Are insurers properly handling smoke claims and trying to reduce smoke coverage with new policy language? | Property Insurance Law Blog
Smoke Damage Claims – Are insurers properly handling smoke claims and trying to reduce smoke coverage with new policy language? | Property Insurance Law Blog

Smoke damage claims are unique. Proper and safe regulation of smoke losses requires special training. Most policyholders are completely unaware of the dangers posed by smoke. These statements are often forgotten and not reported due to ignorance. United Insurers and his executive director defended policyholders on a special hearing…
If you lost everything, would you remember all of your items? How to make a home inventory.
If you lost everything, would you remember all of your items? How to make a home inventory.

Don’t wait. It sounds overwhelming, but here are some easy ways to do it. Imagine that all your belongings are destroyed in a house fire. Thankfully, you have insurance. But to file a claim and get reimbursed, you have to make a list of everything…
FAIR Plan insurance criticized for expense, lack of coverage in insurance commissioner hearing
FAIR Plan insurance criticized for expense, lack of coverage in insurance commissioner hearing

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) — In California, if no insurance company will sell you a homeowner’s policy, you can get coverage though the California FAIR Plan. This insurer of last resort is a state mandated association run by insurance companies. Plagued with problems, an investigative hearing…
How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim
How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim

Filing a home insurance claim in a timely fashion can put money in your pocket faster. Maybe it’s a loud crash overhead. Maybe it’s shattering glass. Maybe it’s a steady drip of water from your kitchen ceiling. Any of these sounds could mean that you…
Can AI Predict If Your House Is Going To Burn To The Ground?
Can AI Predict If Your House Is Going To Burn To The Ground?

As summer fire season looms in California, Zesty.ai is using machine learning to help insurers and homeowners to make realistic risk assessments—and reduce damage to homes and property. Standing on the outskirts of Oakland, California, Attila Toth takes in the nearby forested hills. The CEO…
Marshall Fire Survivors Tell Coloradans What They Need to Know to Protect Themselves
Marshall Fire Survivors Tell Coloradans What They Need to Know to Protect Themselves

Six months after the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history ripped through the Boulder suburbs, we checked in with those who experienced the tragedy. They told us what they’ve learned—and what they think other Centennial Staters should know. It Really Could Happen To You My…