July 20, 2026 These are the two ‘deadliest rooms’ for your documents in a disaster; Here’s how to protect them If a wildfire or flood pushed you out of your home tonight, could you put your hands on the things that matter most in less than 10 minutes? Precious family photos, birth certificates, the deed to your house. If those things are in your attic…
July 14, 2026 Governor Polis Tours Disaster Assistance Center, Thanks Volunteers, Highlights Resources for Coloradans Impacted by Wildfires PUEBLO, Colo. – Today, Governor Polis met with Coloradans impacted by the Aspen Acres Fire and the volunteers stepping up to help at the Pueblo Disaster Assistance Center. Governor Polis toured the DAC on his recent trip to Pueblo on July 2, the day after…
July 13, 2026 Can a Bernie-Backed Populist Fix California’s Home Insurance Crisis? In the spring of 2023, insurance giants State Farm and Allstate announced they would no longer write new home insurance policies in California, citing intolerable exposure to the devastating wildfires that have become routine in the state. Farmers, USAA, and several smaller insurers quickly followed…
July 8, 2026 More California Communities Adopting Zone 0 Policy for Fire Safety Insurance companies pushing homeowners to adopt Zone 0 policy for wildfire safety Catastrophic wildfires have devastated California in recent years. In the aftermath, we often ask ourselves – how do we make sure this doesn’t happen again? State officials are slowly phasing in one of…
July 2, 2026 SBA extends Los Angeles wildfire loan deadlines a third time The Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a final extension of loan disbursement deadlines for Los Angeles wildfire survivors. The agency cited ongoing insurance claim disputes and permitting delays as reasons borrowers have been unable to access approved funds. The extension gives approved borrowers 24…
July 1, 2026 Worried about insurance rates? Your loyalty might be costing you Insurance rates have skyrocketed since the pandemic, and jaw-dropping renewal notices have left many consumers stretched thin when it comes to protecting their assets. Nearly half of Americans with auto insurance (49%) and homeowners insurance (46%) say they’re stressed about their premiums, according to a…
June 22, 2026 Garden Grove Evacuation Highlights Insurance Claim Challenges Following Chemical Tank Emergency Residents evacuated during last month’s chemical tank crisis in Garden Grove, California, are reporting difficulties recovering evacuation-related expenses, with some insurance claims denied despite mandatory evacuation orders. On May 22, authorities ordered evacuations in parts of Orange County after firefighters warned that a tank containing…
June 22, 2026 You probably undervalue your stuff. Proper documentation could save you money. It’s Oklahoma. Severe weather is a given. But after those storms, a staggering number of homeowners find out too late they are underinsured — leaving thousands of dollars on the table because they forgot to account for what’s hidden in their drawers and closets. Around…
June 20, 2026 Chase Bank withheld $100K from Florida couple for an entire year, forcing them to take $250K from their 401(k). Now they owe the IRS tens of thousands Chris and Analia DeHayes lost their Ruskin, Florida home to flooding during Hurricane Helene two years ago. What followed was a nightmare that had nothing to do with the storm, but everything to do with their bank. The couple had flood insurance through FEMA’s National…
June 19, 2026 Evacuees face hurdles with insurance claims following Garden Grove chemical tank crisis Residents forced to evacuate parts of Orange County last month after a chemical tank crisis in Garden Grove say they are struggling to recover out-of-pocket costs, with some insurance claims quickly denied. A fund created to support about 50,000 affected residents has stopped accepting applications…
June 19, 2026 Inside California’s Home Insurance Squeeze: Higher Bills, Fewer Choices After the LA fires, a $1 billion bill landed on providers and their customers; costs jumped 84% over 6 years, Stanford data shows. In A Nutshell Average monthly home insurance premiums for California single-family homes rose 84% between 2020 and 2026 (45% after inflation), about…
June 17, 2026 Is Your Home Underinsured? Here’s How to Tell. Your house isn’t just a place to hang your hat — it’s also one of your most valuable financial assets. That’s why homeowners without enough insurance can face financial ruin when disaster strikes and they find themselves suddenly homeless and unable to rebuild. The problem…
June 15, 2026 Community Advocacy and Impact Initiative Finalist: Reed Smith Reed Smith is one of the finalists of The Recorder’s Community Advocacy and Impact Initiative award. Read a Q&A below. Read more.
June 10, 2026 Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? When Hurricane Helene inundated and wiped out large swaths of North Carolina and Tennessee in 2024, in some counties fewer than 2% of residents had flood insurance. Today, many still have not recovered. Climate disasters are getting worse. It’s not just floods. The 2018 Camp…
June 5, 2026 California Homeowners Face New Wildfire Deductibles Some California homeowners are now facing new wildfire deductibles in their insurance policies, causing concern among residents and officials. Attorney Shant Karnikian, who represents Los Angeles residents affected by last year’s fires, discovered a $621,000 wildfire deductible in a client’s AIG insurance policy. This is…
June 5, 2026 Some California homeowners now face ‘wildfire deductibles.’ Why that’s a problem. After a Washington Post inquiry, Michael Soller, deputy commissioner of communications for the California Department of Insurance, indicated Commissioner Ricardo Lara will launch a review of these insurance policies. Read more.
June 4, 2026 Homeowners face crushing insurance cost increases Homeowners insurance premiums climbed 24% nationwide between 2021 and 2024, with the steepest increases hitting inland states like Utah and Illinois rather than the hurricane-prone coasts. Communities that were once considered low risk for insurance pricing are now facing double-digit rate increases. Higher construction costs…
June 4, 2026 Homeowners face crushing insurance cost increases Homeowners insurance premiums climbed 24% nationwide between 2021 and 2024, with the steepest increases hitting inland states like Utah and Illinois rather than the hurricane-prone coasts. Communities that were once considered low risk for insurance pricing are now facing double-digit rate increases. Higher construction costs…
