Some under-insured North Bay fire victims in for a shock
Some under-insured North Bay fire victims in for a shock

SANTA ROSA, Calif. KGO) — Fire victims working to start the rebuilding process may be in for a shock. After running the numbers, some homeowners are finding they are under-insured. Residents in hazmat suits are searching through rubble, taking photos of what’s left after the…
Floods: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Floods: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Debris Removal Decisions for 2017 North Bay Wildfire Survivors
Debris Removal Decisions for 2017 North Bay Wildfire Survivors

Clearing wildfire debris is the responsibility of each individual property owner.  Help is available to get the work done safely, completely, and legally.  For your and your neighbor’s protection, wildfire debris must be removed from your property and disposed of properly. Items such as retaining…
Roadmap to Recovery Report
Roadmap to Recovery Report

The scale of the devastation from the recent Northern California wildfires is just as mind-boggling as the number of homes, businesses, and lives that were impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria just a few months ago. All we can do is all we can…
Liz Weston: 4 Steps to Disaster-Proof Your Finances
Liz Weston: 4 Steps to Disaster-Proof Your Finances

Mother Nature could be excused if she wondered, “How much more prompting do you people need?” This year delivered epic wildfires, devastating hurricanes, massive floods and some pretty horrific earthquakes. Yet many people still haven’t taken a few critical steps to protect their financial lives…
Private Client Wildfire Protection
Private Client Wildfire Protection

Recent media coverage has spotlighted the handful of insurance companies that offer “private fire protection” to clients who can afford the cost.  AIG was the first on the block and several others have followed suit.  The recent North Bay wildfires will generate new data on how effective this special protection…
Have questions about fire insurance? Check out the meeting on Weds.
Have questions about fire insurance? Check out the meeting on Weds.

MENDOCINO CO., 11/07/17 — Confused about how to handle questions about insurance and the recent fire? Mendocino County is holding a meeting to provide information on insurance issues for people who are rebuilding their homes in the wake of the recent fires. The meeting will…
Politics and Policyholders
Politics and Policyholders

United Policyholders is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, which means we can’t endorse or oppose candidates for public office.  But without a doubt – the outcomes of elections impact our work in many ways:  Partisan elected officials choose the judges that preside over insurance matters.…
Rebuilding After a Disaster? Don’t Let These Insurance Surprises Slow You Down
Rebuilding After a Disaster? Don’t Let These Insurance Surprises Slow You Down

Prevent payout delays with these smart and simple moves The October wildfires in California wine country destroyed more than 7,200 homes and other buildings, according to the latest estimate by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Now, as wildfire victims begin the long…
Who cleans up wildfire debris: Private contractors or the government?
Who cleans up wildfire debris: Private contractors or the government?

SANTA ROSA, Calif. Debora Villalon/KTVU – Progress is being made in North Bay fire recovery, as thousands of scorched properties have been cleared of household hazardous waste. But the next, more complex step, is debris removal, a much thornier issue for homeowners. “No one knows…
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Santa Rosa: 11/1/17
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Santa Rosa: 11/1/17

Workshop Topic: Navigating the “Dwelling” portion of your claim United Policyholders is hosting its second Roadmap to Recovery workshop in Santa Rosa for North Bay wildfire survivors in partnership with Jewish Family and Children’s Services.  The workshop will start at 6PM and will be right down the street…
Carbon Monoxide Suits Not Excluded, Nonprofit Tells 9th Circ.
Carbon Monoxide Suits Not Excluded, Nonprofit Tells 9th Circ.

Nonprofit policyholder advocacy group United Policyholders urged the Ninth Circuit on Monday to reverse an Oregon federal court’s decision that a pollution exclusion in a pool contractor’s policy negates coverage for underlying suits over carbon monoxide poisoning, arguing the lower court’s reading of the exclusion…
Holes in your safety net?
Holes in your safety net?

UP has been in the news lately working hard to help Americans focus on the dry but important topic of properly insuring assets. Victims of devastating hurricanes and wildfires in Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and California are getting a second shock of having to scramble…
California’s epic wildfires show rebuilding a ‘daunting’ prospect
California’s epic wildfires show rebuilding a ‘daunting’ prospect

Two years after the 2003 Cedar fire, nearly 4 in 10 households burned out at the upscale Scripps Ranch subdivision in San Diego had yet to complete their rebuilding projects. Two years after the 2007 wildfires destroyed more than 1,600 homes around San Diego County,…
Fire survivors reunite to mark 10th anniversary
Fire survivors reunite to mark 10th anniversary

A “low-key” reunion of more than 130 Witch Creek fire survivors and recovery coalition members was held Sunday to mark the wildfire’s 10th anniversary. “This is a celebration of homecoming and friendship,” Jan Rasmussen told attendees. She was co-chair of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church’s…
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Santa Rosa: 10/25/17
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Santa Rosa: 10/25/17

Free Recovery and Insurance Orientation Workshop  United Policyholders is hosting its first Roadmap to Recovery workshop in Santa Rosa for North Bay wildfire survivors in partnership with Jewish Family and Children’s Services.  The workshop will start at 6PM and will be right down the street from the Local…
How to get help after a fire
How to get help after a fire

Suggestions for getting help in recovering from disaster Getting help from a mess of bureaucracies, insurance companies and nonprofits can be difficult. Here are some of the best tips from Chronicle writers: FEMA The Federal Emergency Management Association has continued to expand the number of…
Upfront: Fair Questions
Upfront: Fair Questions

High-risk fire insurance pool grapples with new normal of urban wildfires Homeowners insurance is not mandated by the state of California, but is a requirement for anyone who wants to get a home mortgage from a bank. As the historic North Bay fires are brought…