Wildfires: Be Prepared and Be Protected

Posted on May 29, 2013 Updated on May 29, 2013

With the unofficial beginning of summer last weekend, many of us are making vacation plans and heading outdoors to enjoy the weather. But for those living in the western part of the United States, this time of year marks the beginning of wildfire season.

As I write this blog, firefighters near Santa Barbara, California are fighting a wildfire that broke out Monday near the Los Padres National Forest. Santa Barbara County Fire Captain David Sadecki was quoted in USA Today saying Its still spring its not even summer and its burning like its August or September.

The Weather Channel lists the current national drought footprint at 19%, and a new federal drought outlook released last week shows the southwestern quadrant of the United States has drought conditions that will persist or intensify over the next couple months.

Escalated drought conditions mean wildfires are more likely than ever to occur, and in places not previously affected by wildfires. If you live in an area with the potential for a wildfire, its important to be prepared and protected.

Be Prepared:

The Wildfire Page at Ready.gov offers preparation and safety tips for before, during, and after a wildfire.

WildfireAre You Prepared? from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the US Fire Administration is a comprehensive booklet full of helpful information for you to prepare for, protect yourself during, and recover from a wildfire.

The Wildfire page on the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety website contains a wealth of information including the Wildfire Home Assessment & Checklist to help you develop an assessment of your homes risks and learn how to better protect it from wildfires.

The Wildfire Ready webpage hosted by the State of Colorado, insurance partners, CBS4, and fire officials provides information on how to be Wildfire Ready.

Be Protected:

Review your homeowners or renters policy with your agent to make sure your limits are adequate and your coverage is up to date.

If you are forced to evacuate, your insurance policy may provide coverage for your living expenses. The basic HO-3 policy provides loss of use coverage for up to 14 days when a civil authority prohibits you from using your home. This covers your expense to stay at a hotel and the extra cost of eating out for your meals.

If your home is actually burned in the wildfire and is not fit to live in, most standard homeowners policies provide coverage for any necessary increase in living expenses incurred by you so that your household can maintain its normal standard of living.

Should your home and belongings be lost to fire, having a household inventory can speed up your claim settlement. Its easy to do check out Centrals how-to video.

For additional resources, check out the Tips and Tool webpage on our website at www.central-insurance.com.

Has your home ever been in the path of a wildfire? Share your experience with us.

This entry was posted in Central, Claims, Home, Household Inventory, Personal, Prevention, Risk Management, Safety Tips, Weather and tagged civil authority, drought, firefighters, home inventory, household inventory, living expense, wildfire, Wildfire Ready, wildland.

Be Prepared | Home. Home > Be Informed > Natural Disasters > Wildfires > Protect Yourself and Others. Wildfires: Assistance Information: Public Health Officials ,To be prepared for a wildfire be assured that you have all your stuff in a Wildfires are dangerous for all people By the end of the next ,While residents in these areas enjoy the beauty of the environment around them, they also face the very real danger of wildfires. prepare food, wash hands, , Be Prepared for Wildfires and what to look for in a home to ensure it is protected as possible from a Court Reaffirms West End Beach , Be Prepared Wildfires Abound. (b) Don't lock up your leave and go to the nearest protected location as you are instructed to do.,The causes and effects of wildfires and how people prepare for The fires occurred at the end of a dry Why should areas at risk from wildfires be protected?,Those that survive almost always do so because their owners had prepared for the eventuality of fire, Wildfires often begin unnoticed. End of footer links.,The causes and effects of wildfires and how people prepare for and at the end of a dry summer and were in which wildfires occur should be protected.,demand that individuals prepare, and that communities invest in resilience. Resilient Wildfires Be prepared! Protect yourself and your home. May 2004 .,One Response to Wildfires: Be Prepared and Be Protected. Wildfire risks insurance coverage says: June 4, 2013 at 12:21 pm []

Wildfires: Be Prepared and Be Protected | Central ...
One Response to Wildfires: Be Prepared and Be Protected. Wildfire risks insurance coverage says: June 4, 2013 at 12:21 pm []

Wildfires - Be prepared! Protect yourself and your home.
demand that individuals prepare, and that communities invest in resilience. Resilient Wildfires Be prepared! Protect yourself and your home. May 2004 .

The causes and effects of wildfires and how people prepare ...
The causes and effects of wildfires and how people prepare for and at the end of a dry summer and were in which wildfires occur should be protected.

Wildfires | Ready.gov
Those that survive almost always do so because their owners had prepared for the eventuality of fire, Wildfires often begin unnoticed. End of footer links.

The causes and effects of wildfires and how people prepare ...
The causes and effects of wildfires and how people prepare for The fires occurred at the end of a dry Why should areas at risk from wildfires be protected?

Wildfires in Southern California: Be Prepared - Yahoo ...
Be Prepared Wildfires Abound. (b) Don't lock up your leave and go to the nearest protected location as you are instructed to do.

Price of Business 9-8-11: Be Prepared for Wildfires
Be Prepared for Wildfires and what to look for in a home to ensure it is protected as possible from a Court Reaffirms West End Beach

Wildfire Preparedness | How to Prepare for Wildfires | Red ...
While residents in these areas enjoy the beauty of the environment around them, they also face the very real danger of wildfires. prepare food, wash hands,

How can you be prepared for a wildfire - Answers.com
To be prepared for a wildfire be assured that you have all your stuff in a Wildfires are dangerous for all people By the end of the next

Protect Yourself and Others
Be Prepared | Home. Home > Be Informed > Natural Disasters > Wildfires > Protect Yourself and Others. Wildfires: Assistance Information: Public Health Officials

Wildfires: Be Prepared and Be Protected