March 26, 2018 Insurance shortfalls hamper Sonoma County fire victims’ ability to rebuild Josh Nix thought he was doing everything right in August when he renewed the insurance policy for his Mark West area home just east of Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. Nix answered the questions posed by his carrier, USAA, in an online form used…
March 12, 2018 2017 North Bay Wildfire Recovery Survey is underway ATTENTION HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY THE 2017 WILDFIRES IN THE NORTH BAY, CALIFORNIA: Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey. The purpose is to gather information about insurance and recovery, progress and problems. The information we collect through this survey will help our…
February 20, 2018 February Roadmap to Recovery Workshop Schedule This month, United Policyholders is hosting the following Roadmap to Recovery workshops for wildfire-impacted households: NAPA Tuesday, February 20th from 6-8pm Topic: Financial Decision-Making The Hall at St. John the Baptist Church 960 Caymus St., Napa SANTA ROSA Wednesday, February 21st from 6-8pm Topic: Scoping and Valuing Your Dwelling Loss Santa Rosa High…
January 30, 2018 Insurers should be on the hook for Montecito mudslide damage, commissioner says Montecito residents who are hoping that insurance will cover damage to their homes from recent mudslides received a word of support from an important ally on Monday. California insurance commissioner Dave Jones issued a notice to insurers outlining his office’s position that they should be…
January 25, 2018 Advocates guide Napa Valley fire survivors seeking insurance payouts YOUNTVILLE — The North Bay wildfires obliterated homes, belongings and keepsakes within hours or even minutes. But for many survivors, the journey toward repayment for their losses is still in its early days – and advocates for policyholders are hoping to guide some of them…
January 24, 2018 Conversations Around the Fire’ Turns to Insurance Strategies for Resilient Rebuilding Yesterday, we heard a presentation from “Conversations Around the Fire” – an initiative hoping to guide local residents to greener, safer and more just ideas about rebuilding our community. One speaker at the conversation Monday night represented a group that helps answer questions about insurance,…
January 23, 2018 UP to the challenge: 4 simultaneous Roadmap to Recovery operations Last night in Ventura, California, UP oriented and empowered a room full of 200 people whose homes were destroyed in the Thomas wildfire. Bringing the combination of seasoned empathy and technical/legal expertise that makes UP’s Roadmap to Recovery program a unique and valuable source of disaster recovery…
January 22, 2018 Ventura Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/22/18 United Policyholders hosted a Roadmap to Recovery Insurance Orientation workshop for Thomas Fire Survivors in Ventura on Monday, January 22nd from 6-8pm. The workshop was led by 1991 Oakland/Berkeley firestorm survivor and UP Board Chair Sue Piper at the Board of Supervisors’ Hearing Room at…
January 17, 2018 Roadmap to Recovery Workshop for Partial Loss Survivors – Santa Rosa: Wednesday, 1/17/18 Workshop for Partial Loss Survivors United Policyholders is hosting its next Roadmap to Recovery workshop in Santa Rosa for North Bay partial loss wildfire survivors on Wednesday, January 17th. The workshop will start at 6PM at 547 Mendocino Ave. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Santa Rosa.…
January 17, 2018 California lawmakers propose bills to beef up disaster insurance coverage State legislators have introduced a package of bills that would beef up or extend insurance coverage to policyholders following declared disasters, but only one would be retroactive and apply to victims of the recent wildfires. Critics say the bills could drive up insurance premiums and…
January 17, 2018 Safe Houses – Rebuilding in fire zones requires new thinking Tragic losses from the October firestorms are still very fresh in our hearts and minds. Discussions about how to rebuild are difficult and sensitive. Dan Wade of United Policyholders says, “Rebuilding in a fire ecology can present unique challenges in the insurance process. Knowing how…
January 8, 2018 Now that’s coverage — Insurers sent private fire crews to homes threatened by the Thomas Fire Debra Salem-Drake was packing to evacuate as a wildfire moved within a half-mile of her Ventura home when she got a surprising call. Her insurance company was offering to come spray her home with fire-blocking gel…for free. It was Dec. 5, the second day of…
January 7, 2018 Insurance Companies Require Written Inventory From Fire Victims’ Burned Homes When the overnight firestorm raged through Santa Rosa in October, nothing in the three-bedroom house at 1445 Starview Court survived. “Nothing,” said homeowner Holly Webb. “It’s all gone.” And so, Webb was stunned when State Farm told her that getting the full $237,000 listed on…
January 2, 2018 Some homeowners lose insurance coverage as wildfire risks rise Two days before Christmas, Oakland hills resident Anil Prasad got a letter in the mail saying his longtime home insurance wouldn’t be renewed, citing his property’s location “in an ineligible brush area.” The company offered to reinstate his policy but said it wouldn’t cover damage…
January 1, 2018 January Roadmap to Recovery Workshop Schedule – Northern California We look forward to continuing to help wildfire survivors on the road to recovery in the new year. Please save the dates for the following Roadmap to Recovery workshops scheduled in January. Santa Rosa – Workshop for Partial Loss Survivors: Wednesday, January 17th from 6pm-8pm…
December 14, 2017 Napa Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Thursday, 12/14/17 Workshop Topic: Information and guidance on navigating your insurance claim, communicating with your insurance company going up the chain of command, and asserting your rights United Policyholders is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop on Thursday, December 14th in Napa for North Bay wildfire survivors from 6-8pm The…
December 12, 2017 Hundreds of fire victims finding themselves vastly underinsured Hundreds of Sonoma County residents who lost their homes in the October wildfires say they are finding themselves underinsured and many are pressing their cases with their homeowners’ insurance carriers. Many displaced homeowners are discovering that they will likely have to pay tens to hundreds…
December 7, 2017 Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Santa Rosa: Thursday, 12/7/17 Workshop Topic: Communicating with your insurance company, going up the chain of command and your rights in California United Policyholders is hosting its fourth Roadmap to Recovery workshop in Santa Rosa for North Bay wildfire survivors at 547 Mendocino Ave. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in…