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I have wildfire damage. What do I need to do?

Put safety first.

Make personal safety your first priority. Listen to the radio for up-to-date information. If you’re in an evacuated area, don’t return to your home or business until local authorities report that it’s safe. When you return to survey your property, remember that there may be broken glass and sharp objects, and air quality may be poor. Wear protective clothing—sturdy shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a handkerchief to protect your face from ashes and soot. Check your roof immediately and put out any sparks or embers with a hose. Also check your property for signs of burning embers.

Call your insurance company to file your claim.

If you have damage from a wildfire, report it to insurance company as soon as possible. During this first call, you should be ready to provide at least a general description of your damage. A representative will talk you through your claim, recording the details. A claims professional will call you after you’ve reported your claim. Most of the time insurance company is able to make contact with you within 72 hours. If you have serious damage, we will make every effort to get to you first.

Make temporary repairs.

If a wildfire has caused damage to your property, it is your responsibility to take action to avoid further damage, once it is safe to do so. If you can, cover holes in the roof or broken windows with heavy-duty tarps or plywood to prevent additional damage. If you’re not sure it’s safe for you to do any of this work, professionals can help. You’ll usually find them listed under “contractors” or “water damage restoration” in your phone directory. Make sure to save receiptsfrom any temporary fixes as part of documenting your damage.

Review your insurance policy, so you know what’s covered.

Check your policy to see what’s covered and the deductible you’ve chosen. Reviewing your policy will help you prepare questions for your claims professional. Your insurance policy typically covers the cost to repair common damage from wildfires—including damage to roofs and walls, cars and your inventory or belongings. However, your deductible does apply.

If you can’t live in your home, your insurance company will pay additional living expenses, as noted in your policy, typically for up to 12 months while damage is assessed and your home
repaired or rebuilt. If, for some reason, your repairs take longer, you may be eligible
for additional assistance from federal emergency programs. Review your policy for
detailed coverage explanations. (payment is subject to specific coverage, which may be lack in your policy. check with your agents to make sure that you have this coverage).
If damage to your business is extreme, review your property policy to determine your business income coverage. This coverage typically covers the costs to replace lost profits, payroll and operating expenses to help you get back in business. However, this coverage is optional and not all business owners choose to buy it.

Document your damage.

As soon as you can, start making a list of items that were damaged by the wildfire. A good, thorough list will help us process your claim faster. Document the damage with photos, video tapes, bills and receipts. In the meantime, don’t throw out damaged items—especially expensive ones. Your claims professional will advise you about any specific information we will need
from you to process your claim so you can get started on permanent repairs.
Schedule permanent repairs.

Your insurance company requires you to wait until your claims professional has assessed your
damage before you begin making permanent repairs. However, we encourage you to schedule permanent repairs as soon as possible because contractors can be tough to schedule after a wildfire. Use a local, licensed, bonded and insured contractor, and check references.

Understand your responsibility for home or business improvements. Insurance company will replace damaged items and materials with the same type and quality of the materials you’re replacing. For example, if you have a fiberglass roof, we will pay to repair or replace damage with fiberglass materials—but we won’t pay to replace it with more expensive slate tile.
If damage is extensive, people sometimes decide to take the opportunity to upgrade their property with better or more expensive materials. Again, insurance company will only pay for replacing materials of like kind and quality. If you want to pay the additional expense to upgrade, you’re certainly welcome to do that out of your personal budget. Any time you make improvements to your property, talk to your agent to make sure you have enough insurance and to find out if you are eligible for discounts.