Flood insurance program could be under water without Florida policies
Flood insurance program could be under water without Florida policies

The National Flood Insurance Program was in debt. Lots-of-zeroes kind of debt. So someone came up with the bright idea to raise flood insurance rates to more profitable levels. How were those levels determined? Well, explanations were kinda vague. All we knew was that some…
8 Ways to Help after a House Fire
8 Ways to Help after a House Fire

Here are the top items survivors may need for health, safety and comfort A family whose home goes up in flames may lose everything — but simple items from friends, neighbors and relatives can help them make it safely and comfortably through the next days,…
Thousands of homes damaged by Sandy remain uninsured
Thousands of homes damaged by Sandy remain uninsured

Thousands of Long Island homes damaged by superstorm Sandy are still not covered by flood insurance, leaving much of the region dependent on government aid if another catastrophe hits, a Newsday analysis of federal data has found. Since the 2012 storm, the number of properties…
Don’t Make These Mistakes When Filing an Insurance Claim
Don’t Make These Mistakes When Filing an Insurance Claim

The biggest insurance mistake you can make is not having insurance. That sounds like an advertisement for an insurance company, but generally, it’s true. If you’re driving without car insurance, you’re breaking the law. If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll likely pay a fee…
Unscrupulous Insurers Are Stalling Sandy Recovery
Unscrupulous Insurers Are Stalling Sandy Recovery

Three years ago, New York City was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. While we are making progress in the post-Sandy rebuild and recovery, too many New Yorkers are still fighting with their insurance companies about what type of damage is covered. And many have simply given…
If you don’t have to buy flood insurance, should you?
If you don’t have to buy flood insurance, should you?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging Californians to buy flood insurance before El Niño hits, even if they live in low- to moderate-risk areas where it’s not required by lenders. “If there was ever a time to buy flood insurance, this is the time,”…
Treasury Names 12 to Federal Insurance Advisory Committee
Treasury Names 12 to Federal Insurance Advisory Committee

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has named 12 individuals including several insurance industry executives, a professor, a consumer advocate and six state regulators to serve on the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance FACI). The FACI was established to provide a source for consumers and…
Host of factors contributed to Hurricane Sandy claims fallout
Host of factors contributed to Hurricane Sandy claims fallout

The lawsuit and judge’s remarks made the headlines, but a deeper investigation into the issues involved in many Hurricane Sandy claims finds that while there may have been underpaid claims, a host of factors contributed to the underpayments. “Many homes were damaged by Sandy and…
Insurance expert offers tips to Butte Fire survivors
Insurance expert offers tips to Butte Fire survivors

Property owners should keep daily journals Property owners who lost homes in the Butte Fire should keep their own records and not rely solely on insurance company claim adjustors to determine the value of their losses, an expert on the industry said Wednesday in Mountain…
With Flood Insurance Rare, Homeowners Have Little Recourse
With Flood Insurance Rare, Homeowners Have Little Recourse

New York Times – Many people in areas deluged by rains and flooding tides fed by Hurricane Joaquin are likely to be surprised to find that standard homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damage from floodwater. Property owners seeking that kind of protection need to…
Wildfires may spark higher premiums, non-renewals for homeowners
Wildfires may spark higher premiums, non-renewals for homeowners

San Francisco Chronicle – Some Californians could pay more for homeowners insurance or have their policies not renewed as a result of wildfires that swept the state this summer, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said last week. “I would anticipate that we will see an…
How Hurricane Sandy created ‘the perfect storm’
How Hurricane Sandy created ‘the perfect storm’

Three years after Hurricane Sandy swept up the East Coast, homeowners are still working to collect money for the damage they sustained. It has been a long and frustrating fight for many. Media reports highlighted their efforts and some accused insurers and engineers of colluding…
South county community members hear about Valley fire recovery process at Thursday meeting
South county community members hear about Valley fire recovery process at Thursday meeting

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Hundreds of south county community members came out to Middletown High School on Thursday evening to learn about services and assistance available to help them through the process of recovering from the Valley fire. The fire, which began Sept. 12, is the…
Lake County Office of Emergency Services to host Valley fire community meeting Sept. 24
Lake County Office of Emergency Services to host Valley fire community meeting Sept. 24

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Emergency Services OES) is hosting a community meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. at the Middletown High School football field. Residents, homeowners and contractors are invited to attend the community meeting. Federal, state…
Why Did My Car Insurance Rates Go Up?
Why Did My Car Insurance Rates Go Up?

It’s that time of year again. Your car insurance policy is up for renewal and your fingers are crossed in hopes of a reduction. Even though you have been a safe driver, your insurance company raises your rates. “Why are my rates going up?” The…
Insuring your car for storm damage
Insuring your car for storm damage

Category 5 coverage: Is your policy hurricane-proof? No one expects to have their car float away in 12 feet of floodwater and end up perched atop a tree, or pinned under a house. But there were a lot of those kinds of insurance claims filed…
Understanding Insurance Policies for Homes in Wildfire-Prone Areas
Understanding Insurance Policies for Homes in Wildfire-Prone Areas

The worst wildfire season in years is forcing many Californians from their homes and has caused the destruction of hundreds of houses, cars and other property. Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit group that assists consumers with insurance issues, urges homeowners who…
California reforms should ease fire victims’ insurance claims
California reforms should ease fire victims’ insurance claims

The hundreds of people whose homes were lost or damaged in devastating wildfires now ravaging California should have an easier time dealing with insurers, thanks to the Oakland hills fire of 24 years ago. Survivors of that fire and subsequent ones in Los Angeles and…