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May
May 1-7 is Declared Wildfire Awareness Week in California
If you live in California, you live in an area prone to wildfire. Are you prepared?
Governor Brown has declared May 1st-7th Wildfire Awareness Week. To help promote it, here are some tips to be sure you are adequately covered for a wildfire; as well as suggestions to reduce your potential loss should you become victim to a wildfire.
Know what your insurance covers and how much you need. Your homeowners’ insurance policy will cover repair or rebuilding cost. If you can’t live in your home, it should also pay additional living expenses. Your insurance policy will also pay to replace your personal belongings that were damaged in the fire. Review your policy to verify you have these important coverages.
It is important that you review your insurance policy once a year to make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild based on current construction costs. We recommend you work with an independed appraiser to get a precise estimate, and make sure you talk to your agent about your home’s unique and special features.
You CAN reduce the chance of losing to a wildfire. No building is fireproof, but there are steps you can take to better the chances when wildfire strikes.
- Remove or prune low hanging tree branches.
- Cut grass and weeds regularly and keep your roof and yard clean.
- Define your defensible space: a 30-foot, non-combustible zone around your home.
- Choose fire-resistant plants and trees.
- Stack wood piles or other burnable materials at least 30 feet from your home or other buildings on your property.
- Keep signs and addresses visible so firefighters can easily locate your property.
- Rate your roof – is it fire resistant?
- Recycle yard debris and branches instead of burning.
When a wildfire strikes, protect yourself and your family. If a wildfire starts in your area, monitor local news reports for evacuation procedures. Prepare for evacuation by turning off gas valves and pilot lights, closing all windows and doors and packing your car for quick departure, if there is time and it is safe to do so. Return to a burned area only when local authorities have instructed you to do so.
Want to review your current homeowners’ policy or get a new quote? Call (925) 447-2565 to speak to an agent, or submit your information to us on our website at www.genemorganinsurance.com!
