The Almeda Fire, Beachie Creek Fire, Lionshead Fire, Riverside Fire, Archie Creek Fire, Slater Fire, and Holiday Farm Fire have affected thousands of Oregon residents.  Through our Roadmap to Recovery program, you can access free, trustworthy help navigating the process of returning to a wildfire damaged area, repairing and replacing damaged and destroyed property, and collecting all available insurance funds.  

If your property is damaged or destroyed, our guidance will help you get started on the road to recovery, make good decisions, and keep moving forward.  United Policyholders is non-profit and has expertise based on nearly three decades of assisting in communities hit by wildfires.  Our staff, disaster veteran and professional volunteers and our partnerships with public, private and non-profit partners, will help lighten your load.  We're rooting for you and here to help.  No strings attached.  

We encourage you to take advantage of wildfire recovery help that's available through Oregon Insurance Commissioner Stolfi and his staff. This includes a toll free hotline, 888-877-4894, with insurance advocates available 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., and information on your rights as an insurance consumer.  The Commissioner's most recent Emergency Bulletin requires insurers to expedite claims handling for Oregon insureds affected by wildfires.

Remember to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), wildfire survivors can apply for federal aid even if insured (Disaster assistance may be able to fill insurance gaps or provide help if you've been waiting more than 30 days on a homeowner's claim.  Registration is open for those affected by wildfires in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion Counties. 

The following are selected items from the extensive library of resources we offer.  Through our Roadmap to Recovery program, you can access tips, tools and the straight scoop on insurance, clean up, contractors, lawyers, adjusters, avoiding ripoffs and mistakes, your legal rights, and emotional support from people who geninuely care about helping you navigate successfully. 

 

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Steps on the Road to Recovery

STEP 1: Taking it in and getting started

• First Steps After a Wildfire
• Primeros Pasos Despues de un Incendio Forestal
• Top Ten Insurance Claim Tips
• Sample Letter Requesting Copy of Your Insurance Policy
• Simplified Guide to Your Homeowners Policy
• Insurance Lingo en Español
   

TIP: If you lost your home in the wildfire, when you file your insurance claim, be sure to ask for a cash advance to help you get situated.  Be sure to ask for it in writing (email counts).

STEP 2: Arranging temporary housing

• ALE/Loss of Use: What expenses can you claim on your homeowner's policy?
• Sample Letter Requesting Information About Insurance Benefits for Temporary Living Expenses ("ALE" or "Loss of Use")
• Oregon Additional Living Expenses Fact Sheet

STEP 3: Getting organized 

• Stay in touch with others insured with your same company
• FAQs about Property Damage Insurance Claims
• Speak UP: Tips for Communicating with your Insurance Company

STEP 4: Getting debris removed 

• Debris Removal After a Partial or Total Loss

Partial Losses/Standing Homes: If your home was spared but was exposed to extreme heat and smoke, we offer specialized guidance on partial loss insurance claim issues related to proper cleaning, inspecting for damage, restoring healthy indoor air quality and repairing obvious as well as hidden damage.

 

STEP 5: Being pro-active in documenting and valuing your losses

• Insurance Recovery Tips for the Dwelling Part of Your Claim
• Partial Loss Claim Tips
• The Scoop on "Scope of Loss"
• Tips for Reviewing Adjusters' and Contractors' Estimates
• Xactimate Demystified
• Survivors Speak: Estimating Your Loss
• Samples of Damage and Proof of Loss Documentation
• Mobile / Manufactured Home Insurance Claim Tips

STEP 6: Creating your home inventory and navigating your contents claim

• Home Inventory and Contents Claim Tips
• Sample Letter Requesting Contents Itemization Waiver
• Sample Letter Asking for a Personal Property Claim Settlement
• Sample Inventory/Personal Property Claim Worksheets (Excel doc)
• Depreciation Basics

STEP 7: Making financial decisions

• Underinsurance 101 
• Survivors Speak: Coping With Underinsurance
• Buy or rebuild?
• Tax Tips for Disaster Survivors
• Updating your home insurance after a loss

STEP 8: Choosing a contractor

• Rebuilding 101: A Guide to the Reconstruction Process
• Questions to Ask a Repair/Rebuild Contractor
• What's up with Overhead and Profit?

STEP 9: Working with your mortgage company

• Getting Your Mortgage Company to Release Insurance Proceeds

STEP 10: Getting help if/when you need it

• Oregon State Specific Help
• Oregon Division of Financial Regulation
• Filing a complaint with the Department of Insurance
• Division of Consumer and Business Services bulletins:
  • Amended Wildfire Emergency Order 9-25-20;
  • Bulletin No. DRF 2020-16 (affected areas);
  • Bulletin No. DFR 2020-17 (expectations for health insurers);
  • Bulletin No. DFR 2020-18 (expediting claims handling and other expectations regarding wildfires)
• Resolving Claim Disputes
• Hiring Professional Help

 Taking care of yourself along the way

• Healing and dealing throughout your recovery

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NOTE:  United Policyholders respects and protects the privacy of all who communicate with our organization.  We do not share or sell our mailing lists.

Eyes tired from reading?  Watch our FIRST STEPS AFTER A WILDFIRE video here.

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