October 21, 2019 There’s a quake every three minutes in California – here’s why we still don’t buy quake insurance ORINDA, Calif. KGO) — Scientists tell us earthquakes strike every three minutes in California — though most of them are so weak we can’t feel them, enough are so big we can’t forget them. So, does living through a quake drive us to buy earthquake…
October 13, 2019 First Steps After a Wildfire If you, or someone you know has been affected by the recent fires, please read our First Steps After a Wildfire below. We encourage you to visit our website throughout the recovery process. This checklist will help keep you on track during this stressful time.…
October 11, 2019 Homeowner, renters’ insurance likely won’t cover PG&E power outage losses SAN FRANCISCO KGO) — Although people had a couple of days to plan for the power shutoffs, losses were inevitable. So who’s responsible to pay for that? Unfortunately, it’s the PG&E customers who are stuck with the bill. What makes this situation different than any…
October 10, 2019 6 ways to dramatically lower your home insurance costs The cost of homeowners insurance is one of those unavoidable expenses that comes along with owning a house. How much you’ll pay for insurance varies depending on your location and the age of your home, but the average annual homeowners insurance premium is $1,200. That…
October 7, 2019 On 2nd anniversary of Tubbs Fire, only 10% of homes are rebuilt SANTA ROSA, Calif. KTVU) – With only bout 10% of Santa Rosa homes rebuilt from the 2017 Tubbs fire, the second anniversary of the fire will cause a turn for the worse in many victim’s finances. On Tuesday, many folks waiting to complete or rebuild…
October 7, 2019 Fire recovery in Sonoma County shows mixed results on 2nd anniversary, experts say Two years after the October firestorm that swept the North Bay, recovery efforts are both good and not so great. Houses are being rebuilt, the destroyed northwest Santa Rosa neighborhood of Coffey Park is coming back strong, insurance struggles and construction costs remain, and mental…
October 2, 2019 She’s 82. The cost of her long-term care insurance just went up 80% Joyce Viets’ dad was in the life insurance business, so she knew from an early age that you have to plan ahead. “I heard about actuarials my entire life,” the Temecula resident told me. Viets, 82, purchased long-term care insurance nearly two decades ago, anticipating…
October 1, 2019 Spooky Language Hiding in Your Insurance? Getting a notice from a home insurer that they’re dropping you is scary, and UP works hard to help people in that situation. Read our latest tips on shopping for affordable home insurance when your options are limited. Just as scary is hearing your insurer…
September 30, 2019 Insurance companies to stop paying monthly assistance to victims of Santa Rosa firestorm SANTA ROSA, Calif. KTVU) – With less than two weeks until the second anniversary of the firestorm that devastated Santa Rosa, insured victims are getting some nasty surprises from the insurance companies that promised to protect them. More than 5,000 homes were destroyed by wildfire.…
September 28, 2019 1 big thing: Insurance deploying AI against wildfires To keep up with California’s unrelenting wildfire threat, some insurers are now turning to AI to predict fire risk with unprecedented, structure-by-structure detail. Why it matters: This will allow them to cover homes in areas that they would otherwise have passed over — but potentially…
September 27, 2019 High rates of under-insurance making rebuild difficult The problem emerges after every wildfire in California PARADISE — Nearly 11 months after the Camp Fire razed Amy McFarland’s neighborhood, two of her neighbors’ new homes look ready for move-in. She’d like to be a part of the rebuild of the town. But her…
September 27, 2019 North Bay fire survivors face financial hardship as insurers stop paying their monthly living expenses Since retiring from her law practice, Robin Gabbert feels like she’s had a full-time job trying to rebuild after the devastating 2017 North Bay wildfires. Gabbert and her husband, Con Jager, are like thousands of other fire survivors who will not finish building new homes…
September 26, 2019 2 years after Tubbs: Where does Sonoma County fire recovery stand? October 4 event to give detailed updates Two years after wildfires leveled thousands of homes, areas leaders will stop and assess where area is and where it has yet to go in recovery on Oct. 4. Keynoted by State Senator Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, “Impact Sonoma Two Years On” will draw together government,…
September 24, 2019 As Fire Season Heats Up, Insurance Companies Drop Long-Time Clients Sep. 15–Frances Mann-Craik loves living amid the trees along Highway 35. But her quiet life in the mountains above Silicon Valley is about to get a lot more expensive. Along with more than a dozen of her neighbors, Mann-Craik recently received a letter from Walnut…
September 19, 2019 Deadlines and Decisions: Two-Year Anniversary Bulletin for 2017 North Bay Fire impacted households Home insurance policies typically limit the amount of time you have to collect all available replacement cost and loss of use/ALE benefits and to file a lawsuit. Your insurance company is legally required to provide you with written notice 60 days before any deadline or benefit expiration they want…
September 18, 2019 Roadmap to Recovery Survey Our surveys are one of the ways we keep our fingers on the pulse of the recovery. The data collected helps us serve your community and informs our advocacy work in the courts, legislatures, media and public policy forums. Make sure your voice is heard!…
September 17, 2019 WRAP UP: The Wildfire Risk Reduction and Asset Protection Project Above, R to L: After his insurer threatened to drop him, a Moraga, CA homeowner contacted his local Fire Dept. for help. UP’s Amy Bach rode along with local fire officials as they inspected and prescribed steps to reduce risk and retain his coverage. If…
September 11, 2019 Wildfires breed home insurance woes, even far from flames BERKELEY, Calif. KGO) — With all the wildfires in California these past few years, homeowners have begun dealing with unprecedented difficulties with their insurance companies. And we’re not talking only about areas that burned. When Sue Von Baeyer of Berkeley received the letter from Allstate…
