Upfront: Fair Questions
Upfront: Fair Questions

High-risk fire insurance pool grapples with new normal of urban wildfires Homeowners insurance is not mandated by the state of California, but is a requirement for anyone who wants to get a home mortgage from a bank. As the historic North Bay fires are brought…
Public adjusters can help consumers with fire claims, but tread cautiously
Public adjusters can help consumers with fire claims, but tread cautiously

People who lost homes in the Wine Country fires might be approached by public adjusters offering to represent them in their insurance claims. While some disaster victims have had good experiences with public adjusters, consumer advocates and the California Department of Insurance warn against rushing…
Advice for Homeowners After a Wildfire: Keep a Diary
Advice for Homeowners After a Wildfire: Keep a Diary

The last thing on the minds of most people whose homes were devastated by wildfires like those in Northern California may be keeping a journal. But, consumer advocates say, a journal can help in successfully filing an insurance claim. After damage from a wildfire —…
How Much Insurance Do You Need To Rebuild?
How Much Insurance Do You Need To Rebuild?

Transcript: This is KPBS Midday Edition . I’m Maureen Cavanaugh. people returning to their neighborhoods to see what is left after the firestorm. Are reminders of what people experience 10 years ago. The fires that tore through San Diego county destroyed an estimated 1700 homes.…
2007 Wildfires: Losing Their Homes Changed Their Lives
2007 Wildfires: Losing Their Homes Changed Their Lives

The wildfires that tore through San Diego County 10 years ago this week destroyed an estimated 1,600 homes. Two couples who lost everything when their homes burned to the ground talk about how the experience changed them. Bobby Lofton was at home with his wife,…
Napa, Sonoma ‘insurance villages’ help with fire claims
Napa, Sonoma ‘insurance villages’ help with fire claims

For those evacuated during the wildfires, as well as others who discovered that homes and vehicles were destroyed, their first thought after ensuring the safety of family members was how to pay for lodging and out of pocket expenses in the wake of this disaster.…
Wildfire Q&A: 12 Consumer Questions Answered
Wildfire Q&A: 12 Consumer Questions Answered

Q: My home is gone. May I stop making mortgage payments? A: Maybe, but not forever. Definitely contact your lender now — and, ideally, before your next payment is due. You can request a pause. It’s possible you’ll hear the term “forbearance agreement.” That’s bank…
Oakland hills firestorm survivors to North Bay: ‘You’re not alone’
Oakland hills firestorm survivors to North Bay: ‘You’re not alone’

OAKLAND — Except for the mailbox, there was nothing to identify the home Risa Nye had known for the past seven years. Blackened box springs and the skeletal remains of appliances protruded from the still smoldering rubble, even though the fire had been extinguished two…
Fire victims who lost homes face insurance challenges
Fire victims who lost homes face insurance challenges

State Farm insurance agent Miguel Alfaro has taken hundreds of client calls since Monday from those who have lost so much in the region’s massive wildfires. Some are concerned that they may be underinsured. Some have smoke damage in their homes. Some lost their cars.…
What you need to know when filing an insurance claim from the Sonoma County fires
What you need to know when filing an insurance claim from the Sonoma County fires

State Farm insurance agent Miguel Alfaro has taken hundreds of client calls since Monday from those who have lost so much in the region’s massive wildfires. Some are concerned that they may be underinsured. Some have smoke damage in their homes. Some lost their cars.…
A wildfire burned your home; here’s what you do next
A wildfire burned your home; here’s what you do next

5 tips to start rebuilding your home after a wildfire. While thousands of people are still evacuated, hundred have returned to their neighborhoods and found their homes in ruin. For those who lost their homes in the wildfires, there is a long road ahead as…
6 things fire disaster victims should do now
6 things fire disaster victims should do now

If your home was destroyed or damaged in the North Bay fires, here are six things you should do now. Take care of yourself and family. Get a roof over your head, talk to your employer, get your kids back in school when it’s possible…
Amid Wildfire Destruction, Report Reveals Most US Homes Underinsured
Amid Wildfire Destruction, Report Reveals Most US Homes Underinsured

As catastrophic wildfires incinerate homes and prompt evacuations across Northern California, an unsettling report has revealed that a majority of American homes are underinsured. According to data company CoreLogic, roughly 60 percent of homes are underinsured by an average of about 20 percent. In San…
As California burns, here’s what you need to know about fire insurance
As California burns, here’s what you need to know about fire insurance

Most homeowners insurance policies cover fire damage. But heads-up: That’s not the whole story. If you live in a high-risk area, such as near a canyon, you may need to pay more for additional coverage. And if, God forbid, a fire has devastated whole communities,…
California Today: Now Comes the Insurance Challenge
California Today: Now Comes the Insurance Challenge

New York Times – Hundreds of anguished Californians who lost their homes in an outbreak of wildfires this week now get to face another burden: dealing with insurers. Some are almost certain to experience a rude awakening. Roughly 60 percent of American homes are underinsured…
Amy Bach Honored by the Florida Association for Insurance Reform
Amy Bach Honored by the Florida Association for Insurance Reform

Amy Bach of United Policyholders was honored as the Consumer Champion by the Florida Association for Insurance Reform. I was privileged to deliver the introduction for Amy as seen in the above video. Merlin Law Group has been an active and long-time financial and pro…
Why Puerto Rico faces a monumental recovery effort
Why Puerto Rico faces a monumental recovery effort

USA TODAY – Almost a week after Hurricane Maria pounded its way across Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph, the outlook for anything but a long and arduous recovery is bleak. FEMA reported Tuesday that only 11 of…
New York Today: Do I Need Flood Insurance?
New York Today: Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Hurricane Jose weakened to a tropical storm this morning, but it could still bring rain during the morning commute and whip up strong winds during the day. New York City was spared a direct hit by Jose, but the storm flooded areas from New Jersey…