Covid-versary…Is there cake?
Covid-versary…Is there cake?

COVID-19 has challenged Americans over the past year in ways that are reminiscent of war times past. There has been much stress and suffering. Sunnier skies lie ahead, but the one year anniversary is far from the end of the recovery work that needs to…
Rep. Marsh hosts insurance webinar, legal clinic for fire survivors
Rep. Marsh hosts insurance webinar, legal clinic for fire survivors

Those who lost homes in the Almeda and South Obenchain fires could find advice handling their insurance in a webinar this week and an online clinic next week. Oregon Rep. Pam Marsh of Ashland will host a free online workshop with an insurance focused nonprofit…
Fire Victim Trust to Begin Making First Pro Rata Payments to Fire Victims
Fire Victim Trust to Begin Making First Pro Rata Payments to Fire Victims

March 12, 2021, San Francisco – On Monday, March 15, the Fire Victim Trust (FVT) will begin distributing the first round of pro rata payments toward satisfying the claims of individuals and families who suffered losses in the 2015 Butte Fire, 2017 North Bay Fires…
Why You Should Buy Renters Insurance: 5 Things to Know
Why You Should Buy Renters Insurance: 5 Things to Know

The coverage is affordable and easy to buy, and provides a safety net if something goes wrong When the deep freeze hit Texas in February, Amani Elsawah was among the millions of residents who lost power and suffered water damage from burst frozen pipes. The…
Proposed insurance rules would give property owners access to wildfire risk score
Proposed insurance rules would give property owners access to wildfire risk score

Under new rules proposed by California’s insurance commissioner, home and business owners will have open access to their wildfire risk scores that companies use to determine rates and renew coverage. Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he has heard the frustration and confusion from residents over how…
Commissioner Lara proposes new transparency rules to help consumers better prepare for wildfires
Commissioner Lara proposes new transparency rules to help consumers better prepare for wildfires

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After hearing from many Californians about their frustration and confusion over how insurance companies rate properties for wildfire risk, on Tuesday State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara proposed new rules to give homeowners and businesses open access to their properties’ wildfire risk…
Step away from the blowtorch…
Step away from the blowtorch…

The extreme cold, snow, and ice that swept across the U.S. in February 2021 is proof positive that closing the door on 2020 wasn’t a cure-all. If your home or business suffered damage due to freezing or bursting pipes or the weight of snow and ice on the…
First theft claim in 20 years leads to policy cancellation in what consumer groups call ‘use and lose’
First theft claim in 20 years leads to policy cancellation in what consumer groups call ‘use and lose’

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — An untold number of Californians lost their fire insurance due to increased wild fire risk in recent years. Now there’s yet another reason to lose your insurance, and it has nothing to do with climate change. Layla Dreyer loves to…
Filing an Insurance Claim for Texas Storm Damage? Payouts Hinge on Policy Details
Filing an Insurance Claim for Texas Storm Damage? Payouts Hinge on Policy Details

When the snow and ice melt, many Texans will file insurance claims for the damage. Some will be annoyed that they get nothing for a freezer-full of spoiled meat, while others will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to get money to fix…
“Hardening” Homes Against Wildfires In California Has Been An Uphill Battle
“Hardening” Homes Against Wildfires In California Has Been An Uphill Battle

Hardening your home against wildfires is a necessity if you live in a state like California. Over the past four years, dark clouds of ash and smoke from hundreds of out-of-control blazes have blanketed the Golden State. “Every year we make records in terms of…
California seeks to establish new fire-safe standards for homes, insurers
California seeks to establish new fire-safe standards for homes, insurers

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Monday announced an effort to establish home-hardening standards that could protect participating homeowners from canceled policies and soaring rates while providing a mechanism to encourage fire-safe retrofits that could save lives and property. The effort, which will begin this month with…
Few California court wins for pandemic business-interruption claims
Few California court wins for pandemic business-interruption claims

As North Coast businesses grapple with insurance claims from the 2020 wildfires on top of ongoing issues with coverage for the coronavirus lockdowns of a number of economic activities, a major advocate for policyholders said those types of losses differ but they’re connected by promises…
Why You Should Consider Flood Insurance Even if You Don’t Live in a Flood Zone
Why You Should Consider Flood Insurance Even if You Don’t Live in a Flood Zone

Most homeowners who carry flood insurance have little choice in the matter; they live in a high-risk area where their mortgage lender requires coverage. But flood protection is worth a look even if your bank doesn’t demand you have it. The insurance industry sees the…
Life (insurance) Lessons
Life (insurance) Lessons

Pandemic-related layoffs, furloughs and business closures have forced many Americans to tap retirement accounts and cut non-essential expenses to get by. If you’re experiencing financial hardship but don’t want your auto, home or life insurance to lapse, check the website of the agency that oversees…
Buying homeowners insurance? Ask these 4 questions first
Buying homeowners insurance? Ask these 4 questions first

Purchasing insurance may not be as fun as choosing new furniture and paint colors, but it’s a critical part of the homebuying process. Your homeowners insurance policy is a financial safety net in case of a disaster, so you’ll want to ask a few important…
Guest Blog: Fire resistant structures from the ground up, a technology making inroads in disaster affected areas
Guest Blog: Fire resistant structures from the ground up, a technology making inroads in disaster affected areas

by Charles Brooks, Executive Director, Rebuild Paradise Greetings from Paradise, CA! I must first preface this post, by saying we do not specifically endorse any product, technology, home builder, or any service provider.  It is your responsibility to thoroughly research, vet and understand the products…
Many Californians Being Left Without Homeowners Insurance Due to Wildfire Risk
Many Californians Being Left Without Homeowners Insurance Due to Wildfire Risk

Acquiring home insurance has long been a mundane but necessary chore. In California, for hundreds of thousands of residents, it’s turned into a labyrinthine quest that leaves people with expensive, bare-bones coverage. That’s because an increasing amount of Californians have been dropped by their regular…
Smoke, Maggots, and Mold: Fire Survivors Fight Insurance Company’s Denials
Smoke, Maggots, and Mold: Fire Survivors Fight Insurance Company’s Denials

In the Santa Cruz mountains, the charred scars of the CZU fire stretch in every direction. But every once in a while, the scorched landscape yields to a house that survived. Theresa Brees’ home is one of the lucky ones. “Our house is basically an…