Insurance Information Institute: Knowing Insurance Is Part of Wildfire Preparedness

NEW YORK, May 7 -- The Insurance Information Institute issued the following news release:

The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) co-delivered a presentation on Wildfires and Insurance: Learn How to Prepare Financially during a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firewise USA webinar.

"The increased severity of the nation's wildfires stems in part from too many people residing in harm's way. Builders and residents need to focus on how to be more resilient as a whole community, or reconsider altogether whether to place homes in certain areas," said Janet Ruiz, Director of Strategic Communications, Triple-I, who co-presented with Nicole Marht-Ganley, Senior Director, Public Affairs, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).

Targeted at homeowners in wildfire-prone communities, the webinar offered guidance on how to read a homeowner's insurance policy, understand policy deductibles, and the factors to consider when determining how much insurance coverage to purchase.

In addition, the Triple-I's Ruiz and APCIA's Marht-Ganley discussed how insurers assess a home's risk to wildfires through sophisticated technology and on-site inspections as well as the ways an insurer calculates homeowner's insurance premiums based on the home's loss history, location, age, size, and its construction type and quality.

They also provided tips on how to develop an inventory of a household's personal possessions, steps to take if a homeowner's insurance policy is non-renewed, and how to navigate the insurance claims process.

The NFPA's Firewise USA program provides a framework to help neighbors get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community.

The group's next webinar is being held on Wednesday, May 20, at 1 p.m., EDT. It will feature a presentation by Daniel Gorham and Faraz Hedayati of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) on Wildfires and Insurance: How to Protect Your Property from Wildfire.