2024 Texas Wildfires – Insurance Claim and Recovery Help
United Policyholders is a non-profit organization that has three-plus decades of expertise in wildfire recovery, insurance, repairs and rebuilding. We offer reliable strategies, information and pearls of wisdom and support. We’re rooting for you and here to help. No strings attached. We don’t sell our services or provide one-on-one professional claim or legal help, but we offer honest, free and experienced guidance and links to reliable professional and government resources.
If your property is damaged or was destroyed, through our Roadmap to Recovery® program, you can access free, trustworthy help navigating the process of returning to a wildfire damaged area, repairing and replacing damaged and destroyed property, and collecting all available insurance funds.
Below you will find shortcuts to items in our extensive library of resources that should be most useful and relevant to your current situation.
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Taking it in and Getting Started
Resources General
- First Steps After a Wildfire
- Primeros Pasos Despues de un Incendio Forestal
- Top 10 Insurance Claim Tips
- Speak UP: How to communicate with your insurance company
- Sample Letter Requesting Complete Copy of Homeowners Policy
- Avoiding Frauds and Scams After a Disaster
- Simplified Guide to Your Homeowners Policy
- Insurance Lingo en Español
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Arranging Temporary Housing
TIP: If you lost your home in the wildfire, when you file your insurance claim, be sure to ask for a cash advance to help you get situated. Ask for it in writing (email counts).
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Getting Organized, Informed and Empowered
Resources General
- Organizing Carrier-Specific Disaster Survivor Groups
- Insurance Accounting Spreadsheet
- Insurance Consumer Rights in Texas (2022)
- Frequently Asked Questions About Homeowners Insurance Claims in Texas
- Insurance Consumer Rights in Oklahoma (2022)
- Speak UP: How to communicate with your insurance company
- Survivors Speak: Forced Choice Matrix for Decision-making
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Getting Debris Removed
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Being Proactive in Documenting and Valuing Your Losses
Total Losses
If you lost your home, please read through the steps and publications on this page and sign up to receive updates from us that will help you in your recovery.
Partial Losses/Standing Homes:
If your home was spared but was exposed to extreme heat and smoke, we offer specialized guidance on partial loss insurance claim issues related to proper cleaning, inspecting for damage, restoring healthy indoor air quality and repairing obvious as well as hidden damage.
FEATURED VIDEOS FROM PREVIOUS DISASTERS:
Resources General- Insurance Recovery Tips for the Dwelling Part of Your Claim
- The Scoop on “Scope” (of loss)
- Guidelines For Reviewing Adjusters’ And Contractors’ Estimates
- Xactimate Demystified
- Sample Letters and Claim Documents
- Reimbursement for Claim Preparation Expenses
- Survivors Speak: Estimating Your Loss
- Insurance Coverage for Damaged or Destroyed Septic Systems
- Mobile/Manufactured Home Insurance Claim Tips
- Guest Blog: Mobile Inspections for Property Claims
- Answer for Does Cost for Certified Professional Estimate Qualify as a Covered Additional Living Expense?
Resources Partial Loss- Insurance Claim Tips For Partial Loss Fires
- Smoke Restoration Guide
- Smoke and ash damage from a wildfire
- Thermal (“extreme heat”) damage from a nearby wildfire
- Sample Letter Requesting Re-inspection and Re-testing of a Partially-Damaged Home
- Sample Letter Requesting Inspection, Scoping and Remediation Plan for Wildfire Damaged Structure
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Creating Your Home Inventory and Navigating Your Contents Claim
Resources GeneralResources Total LossResources Partial Loss
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Making Housing and Financial Decisions
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Choosing a Contractor
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Working with Your Mortgage Company
Your mortgage company cannot require you pay off your loan with your insurance proceeds, but they will typically be listed on the insurance payments along with you. Fannie Mae’s Here2Help program can help eligible homeowners navigate the broader financial impacts of disaster and the challenging recovery process with a team of HUD-approved housing counselors offering:
- A personalized recovery assessment and action plan
- Help with claims and denials from FEMA, insurance, mortgage servicers, and other sources
- Web resources and ongoing guidance and check-ins from experienced disaster relief advisors
Homeowners can call 877-437-3243 to access this program or other available resources.
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Getting help if/when you need it
If you suffer a major loss involving a large sum of money, you may need to hire professional help to get a full and fair settlement.
If you need assistance beyond insurance claim help, check with your local government and nonprofit organizations to see if disaster case management is available to help you develop a realistic long-term recovery plan (please note this should not replace professional help). The disaster case manager can help identify and facilitate access to appropriate community resources that will support the plan. This typically will be set up during the long-term recovery phase.
Resources General - Taking Care of Yourself Along the Way
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Government Bulletins & Announcements
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