“They have been instrumental in working to improve laws related to fail claims handling practices.” ...
UP in the News
April 12, 2019
Own a home? No doubt you’ve insured it. Very sensible of you. But if that home were, say, burned to the ground, then your insurance company probably wouldn’t cover the cost of rebuilding it.
Don’t feel too bad, though. It’s only partly your fault.
Two-thirds of California wildfire victims are under-insured, according to Amy Bach, executive director of consumer advocacy...
As posted at: The Washington Post
March 22, 2019
Almost half of the country lives near a levee, and 12 have already failed during spring flooding
Critics blame Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA for broken levees flooding the Midwest
The levees "were set up to fail," says flood insurance expert
The small town of Hamburg, Iowa was submerged this week when its levee – the earthen barrier protecting it from the raging Missouri River...
As posted at: CBS News
March 4, 2019
The county and at least two cities have declared local emergencies. A Local Assistance Center is now open in Guerneville.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Days of heavy rains and flooding along the Russian River have caused an estimated $155 million in damage across Sonoma County, officials said Saturday. Properties affected include 1,900 homes — 1,760 with major damage — and 578 businesses, according to...
As posted at: Patch
March 2, 2019
A local assistance center will open Sunday in Guerneville to provide services to Sonoma County residents affected by recent storms and flooding.
Government agencies and nonprofits will be represented at the center, and all county residents can access services regardless of immigration status, according to a Sonoma County spokeswoman.
County departments at the center will include Permit Sonoma,...
As posted at: SF Gate
March 2, 2019
After reeling from property damage caused by recent wildfires, North Bay residents now are confronting another natural disaster in flooding — a threat that is not covered by property insurance and which could escalate as storms become more volatile in a changing climate.
Unlike fire-related claims, home and business owners have to buy a separate policy to insure structures and contents damaged by...
As posted at: The Press Democrat
February 21, 2019
Community organizations representing consumers, low-income workers and communities of color petitioned Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today to ban the use of occupation and education to set auto insurance premiums. Many California auto insurance companies charge lower-income and less-educated drivers up to 15% more in order to give discounts to doctors, lawyers, other well-paying professions...
As posted at: YubaNet
February 17, 2019
Tom and Tamara Conry were dead set on returning to Paradise after the deadly Camp Fire destroyed the town last November. The couple's home was barely touched by the fire, and most other survivors had a much steeper climb to recovery.
But when their property insurer, American Reliable, notified them in December that it wasn't renewing the couple's homeowner's coverage, they realized that returning...
As posted at: Capital Public Radio
February 1, 2019
A San Diego condo owner says his insurance rate increased by a whopping 45 percent.
He says his insurance agent blamed it on the deadly Camp Fire, 600 miles away.
“I was just kind of dumbfounded,” says condo owner Neal Dunn. That was his reaction when he says his mail arrived with a massive annual premium increase of more than $580 to insure his one bedroom condo.
It’s located in University...
As posted at: ABC 10 San DIego
January 30, 2019
Listen to the radio clip
Transcript ...on that front trying to get various insurance company to do the right thing we've been dragging into mediation and you know ready to go House in one case according to the consumer advocacy group United Policy holders two thirds of the homes lost in wildfires are grossly under insured Jenna laine KCBS held for is...
As posted at: KCBS-AM
January 28, 2019
Not all homes in Paradise were destroyed by November’s deadly Camp Fire.
Approximately 10 percent of buildings in the town of Paradise are still standing, according to a rough estimate from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
But families who still have their houses in the area, and who may be considering returning, could have trouble keeping their home insured, at...
As posted at: Capitol Public Radio