1. Wildfire Roadmap to Recovery:
Wildfire Roadmap to Recovery:
Meeting #1, November 28, 2007
Meeting #1, November 28, 2007
Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
Networking with Community Leaders,
Networking with Community Leaders,
Fire Survivors and State Dept of Insurance
Fire Survivors and State Dept of Insurance
after the October, 2007 Firestorm
after the October, 2007 Firestorm
Karen Reimus
www.unitedpolicyholders.org

2. Upcoming Educational Events
Dec 12th - Insurance (Scopes of loss, Legal issues)
Dec 17th - FEMA (Registration, resources)
Beginning January 10th 2008
Legal issues (San Diego County Bar Assoc)
Contracts, Prop/Title insurance, Adverse
Possession, Landlord/tenant
City Building Depts/HOA
Construction/Contracts/Loans

3. Deadline:
Dec 10th to file for reduced property taxes
http://www.sdtreastax.com

4. Information:
Your Best Policy
SoCal 2007 Wildfire Recovery
SoCal 2007 Wildfire Recovery
www.unitedpolicyholders.org

5. About UP
United Policyholders is a not-for-profit charity
dedicated to educating you so you get a fair
insurance claim settlement
We’re funded by donations and grants
Our online information is all free of charge
UP’s work gets done by volunteers who’ve
recovered from prior disasters and
knowledgeable, consumer-oriented
professionals

6. Insurance is a vehicle
to get you back home
Think of your insurance policy as a car to
drive you where you need to go – but
remember: it’s not going to drive itself.
You paid for it. You’ve got the most at
stake in making sure it gets you where you
need to go.
You need to drive it.

7. Don’t confuse insurance company
ads with reality
Don’t confuse the ads insurers use to sell
their products with reality. Your next door
neighbor is your neighbor – your insurance
company is in business to make money.

8. Insurance companies are in
business
When it’s time for dollars to flow back from your insurer
to you, loyalty doesn’t matter -- what matters is
documentation, organization and negotiation.
The better you document your losses and stay
organized in dealing with your insurance claim, the
smoother the process will go.
A three ring binder with storage pouches is a good
first step

9. Good news to remember:
You’re not alone
Help is available (including UP’s tips, our mentor
program, our network of volunteers and our
sponsors)
You will get through the recovery process
Some insurers and adjusters pay what they owe
without a fight
Getting up to speed on the basics of a large
insurance claim will really increase your odds of
getting a fair and prompt settlement.

10. Insurance policies are contracts
that give you legal rights
Locate complete and up-to-date copies of all
policies on your property and vehicles
Check the dollar limits on your “Declarations”
pages
Read the "Endorsements" (extras) that apply
to your policy
Do the math yourself -- don’t just take your
adjusters’ word on how much coverage you
have

11. Getting started:
Even if you think damage may not be covered,
notify your agent and insurance company that
your property is damaged or destroyed and you
are filing a claim.
If your home was subjected to extreme heat, tell
your insurer to provide you with a thorough
inspection from a qualified, independent
professional, and write to them that you will file a
future claim if hidden damage becomes
apparent.

12. Be polite to your adjuster but be
educated and assertive
Keep a diary and jot down communications with
insurance company representatives. (Many people refer
to this as a “claim diary”).
It is important to confirm representations and
agreements in writing – even though it seems time-
consuming and yet another hassle
Stay in touch with others who are insured by your same
insurance co. to solve common problems
Go up the chain to your adjusters superiors
If you feel you’re being treated unfairly, take action…

13. Advice from other disaster
survivors:
“Your adjuster may be friendly, but always
remember he’s not your friend”
K.R., home destroyed in 2003 “Cedar Fire”, rebuilt by
summer 2005

14. Advice from other disaster
survivors:
“The information and help I got from
neighbors insured with my same company
made a big difference to my recovery. By
sharing problems and solutions we stayed
strong and all came out better”
D.P., UP Board member who recovered from a
catastrophic loss by working with a group of others
insured by the same insurance company that insured his
home

15. Don’t pad your claim
If you lose credibility with your
adjuster/insurer, it will delay your
settlement
Insurance fraud is a crime

16. State Agency Insurance Help
To locate missing policies or file a
complaint about unfair treatment; contact
the California Department of Insurance
1(800) 927-HELP

17. Resist being rushed or
pressured
Do not be pressured into a quick
settlement
A catastrophic insurance claim can take
two years or more to get fully and fairly
settled

18. Be careful before signing…
Don’t sign claim forms, checks or drafts
that say or imply they are “final” or “full
settlement” until you are sure you
understand your rights, your coverage,
and the full amount of your losses
If your insurer asks you to sign a claim
form before you know how much you’ve
really lost, write in “undetermined”

19. Get independent estimates and
opinions on repairs
If insurance company adjusters or
contractors offer to settle based on
computer-generated or “lowball”
estimates, get independent estimates from
qualified local builders or construction
professionals and read our FAQs.
Aim for estimates that can be compared
side by side with your insurers’ estimates.

20. Repair/Rebuilding tips
Insist on "like kind and quality" repairs (e.g.
redwood vs. pine, custom vs. standard)
Details add up
Don’t accept “lowball” estimates or sub-standard
workmanship
Your repaired home should have a uniform
appearance – don’t accept non-matching items
Check out repair professionals before hiring

21. Contractor overhead and profit
Payment of contractor overhead and profit
are standard items that should not be held
back by your insurer
10% overhead and 10% profit are
standard

22. Contractor scams are very
common after disasters
Before you hire a contractor, check their
customer references and their license
status online with the Contractors State
Licensing Board www.cslb.ca.gov
or call: 1-800-321-CSLB (2752)

23. Save and submit receipts to get
fully reimbursed
Get and save receipts for temporary rent,
and “additional” living expenses and
replaced items.
Get a manila envelope, keep it handy and use
it to store
Be sure you are fully compensated for all
expenses, temporary and permanent
repairs, and replacement purchases.

24. Tips on replacing contents
If your adjuster seems to be unfairly
depreciating items, remember it’s all a
negotiation – even insurers find
depreciation confusing
Submit receipts to get reimbursed for the
full cost of everything you replace
Get help from stores, friends, and the
internet to remember and price lost items

25. Don’t get “snookered”
Do not do any of the following without first
checking with an attorney who has
experience representing insurance
consumers (policyholders):
1) Sign "releases" or waivers
2) Give a recorded statement

26. Resist high pressure sales tactics by
public adjusters and contractors
Do not hire a Public Adjuster (“P.A.”) without carefully checking their license
status and speaking with at least two former clients.
P.A.s work only for policyholders – not insurance companies. They are
regulated by the CA. Dept. of Insurance and there are CA laws that limit
their fees and how they can solicit.
Insurance company adjusters are not required to be licensed.
An overloaded or unethical P.A. can further delay your claim, make matters
worse and/or diminish your settlement;
A diligent P.A. can take the weight off your shoulders by fully documenting
your claim and negotiating a higher settlement than you’d get on your own;

27. You paid for coverage and good claim
service.
The premiums you paid entitle you to coverage for
losses and good service and you should not have to hire
professional help to get a claim paid fairly.
United Policyholders offers free, "road-tested" tips and
information and support to help you be your own best
advocate in getting the full benefits of your insurance
coverage.
However, if you suffer a major loss involving a large sum
of money, you may need to hire professional claim help
to get a full and fair settlement. Insurance companies
have expert lawyers and claim professionals on their
side. You are entitled to the same.

28. Advice from other disaster
survivors…get educated!
“Thanks to what we learned from United Policyholders,
we negotiated a settlement with our insurer and avoided
a lawsuit”
S.R., home destroyed in 2003 Aspen Firestorm outside Tucson, AZ., rebuilt
by spring 2005
“We needed a lawyer. With UP’s tips we hired the right
one. We settled with the insurance company in a
mediation, and now we’re rebuilding and moving on”
P.T., Florida resident recovering from Hurricane Ivan

29. Get the right lawyer if you decide
you need one
If you decide to hire professional help, contact at
least two former clients, ask direct questions and
check the professional’s license and insurance
Insurance is a specialty. Don’t hire a lawyer
unless he or she has hands-on claim experience
Visit UP’s site, read our tips on hiring
professional help
Visit the “Find Help/Our Sponsors” section of our
website to find professional help in your area

30. For More Information:
Get a free copy of the Disaster Recovery
Handbook and Household Inventory Guide
by emailing info@unitedpolicyholders.org,
and put “book request” in the subject line
Visit UP’s website and search for more
claim tips, articles and helpful info at:
www.unitedpolicyholders.org

31. Introduction
Tony Cignarale
Deputy Chief for the California
Department of Insurance

32. Introduction
Adam Richardson
2003 Cedar Fire Survivor and Founder,
North Pomerado Recovery Group

33. Introduction
Jan Rasmussen
2003 Cedar Fire Survivor,
Fired Up Sister
RBCPC Fire Recovery Ministry

34. Importance of Networking
Community networking groups
- Advocacy Groups: Fired up Sisters and United
Policyholders Insurance
Registering as a fire family with RebuildingRB.com
RebuildingRB.com vs RebuildRB.com
Form your own rebuilding email group based on
neighborhood, school, or HOA affiliation, or even the
contractor you rebuild with
RBCPC Liaison program (swoodley@rbcpc.com)

35. Valerie Brown
RB fire recovery website:
RebuildingRB.Com
Nov 28, 2007

36. Renee VanHeel
RVanheel@San.RR.com
Kathryn Homer
TheHomers@SBCGlobal.net
"Fired Up Sisters" founders
Nov 28, 2007