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…
What’s the point? A “use it and lose it” UPdate
What’s the point? A “use it and lose it” UPdate

Most people pay their home, business, and renters insurance premiums for years and years without ever having a loss or using the policy they’re paying for.  Yet even people who’ve had a long claim-free record are finding that after they do suffer a loss 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…
Butte Fire Workshop: October 14th at 6pm
Butte Fire Workshop: October 14th at 6pm

UP is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop for Butte Fire survivors Wednesday, October 14th at 6pm at Mountain Ranch Town Hall. This workshop is an insurance recovery orientation and will provide information on navigating the insurance claim process. There will be a Q&A session after the workshop if…
Valley Fire Workshop: October 8th at 6pm
Valley Fire Workshop: October 8th at 6pm

UP is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop for Valley Fire survivors this Thursday at 6pm at Middletown High School. This workshop is an insurance recovery orientation and will provide information on navigating the insurance claim process. There will be a Q&A session after the workshop if you have…
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…
Reflections from a post-wildfire Local Assistance Center
Reflections from a post-wildfire Local Assistance Center

Over the past month, UP has been engaged with recovery efforts for the Valley and Butte Fires. I and other staff members and volunteers have sat across the table from countless fire survivors who lost everything, trying our best to give them some hope that they will…
A pictorial journey of recovery
A pictorial journey of recovery

Follow UP Outreach Coordinator Karen Reimus’ pictorial journey of recovery from the 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego, California.
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…
A flood insurance fix is imperative – We have to do better
A flood insurance fix is imperative – We have to do better

Superstorm Sandy hit New York City’s many low-lying areas hard and was a wake-up call for residents and public officials.  Flooding is a serious risk in the entire New York Metropolitan area, and most people are not prepared.  Mandating more people to buy flood insurance…
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…
Paying more than just attention
Paying more than just attention

Our recent conversations with wildfire evacuees and people who’ve just lost everything inspired us to restate: Recovering from a loss without (any or enough) insurance is a very bleak prospect. If a disaster is officially declared federal, the average FEMA grant to an individual is…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Car Repairs From Deer Collisions Will Cost More
Car Repairs From Deer Collisions Will Cost More

The latest insurance data show that the risk of hitting a deer with your car has not changed much from a year ago. But the cost of repairing your car if you’re unlucky enough to strike one is on the rise. State Farm reports that…