Tag: california wildfires

Last November’s California wildfires caused $11.4 billion in insured damage

Logan B.
California Wildfires - Damage from Fire

Residents of the state have filed many thousands of insurance claims from the Camp Fire. Last year’s record-breaking California wildfires have now generated $11.4 billion in insurance claims. This has made the fires in that month, which ripped their way through Butte County and Southern California, some of the most expensive the state has ever experienced. The Camp Fire killed 86 people and essentially burned the town of Paradise right off the map. Three quarters of the losses from California wildfires in November 2018 were the result of the Camp…

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Allstate wildfire losses from November in California reached $685 million

H. Cutner
Allstate Wildfire Losses - Fire in forest

The insurance company has announced its November 2018 catastrophe loss estimate including fires. Allstate wildfire losses were recently announced for the month of November 2018. The insurance company estimated its catastrophe losses to be $685 million, at 679 million pre-tax, or $541 million after tax. The Allstate catastrophe losses included another $6 million in unfavorable reserve reestimtates. Initially, the Allstate wildfire losses were estimated to have been $202 million pre-tax, or $160 million after-tax for the month of October 2018. That said, the ongoing fires brought the October and November…

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Bankrupt California insurance company may face state takeover

Marc
Bankrupt California insurance company

Regulators move to take over an insurer unable to pay its wildfire claims following massive destruction. A California insurance company bankrupted by the Camp Fire and other wildfires may be taken over by the state. Regulators have made their first moves toward a takeover after wildfires raged through the state, destroying over 13,000 homes. Merced Property & Casualty Company was unable to keep up with the cost of its policyholder claims. The California insurance company was pushed into insolvency by the wildfire sparked on November 8, 2018. That same fire…

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Renters and Homeowners insurance coverage helps evacuated residents

Logan B.
Homeowners insurance coverage - Evacuation Route - Sign

Regardless of whether or not the California wildfires have caused damage, policies are still helpful. People affected by emergency evacuation orders may benefit from their homeowners insurance coverage regardless of whether their homes are damaged. Home and renters insurance policies cover more than just damage caused by wildfires in the area. “With sometimes only minutes to evacuate, residents often escape with only the clothes on their backs,” said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Hundreds of thousands of people in California have been affected by evacuation orders as a result of…

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California Legislature enacts homeowners insurance reforms regarding wildfires

Julie Campbell
california wildfire insurance - Homeowners insurance reforms

Victims of the fires that destroyed thousands of homes in 2017 will not benefit from the changes. The California Legislature has approved homeowners insurance reforms designed to boost consumer protections. This is particularly important as Californians battle with wildfire risks for yet another year. Devastating wildfires have become the new normal throughout the second half of every year. Wildfires are occurring statewide and the Legislature decided it was time to come to terms with these new trends. This was reflected in the new homeowners insurance reforms that have received approval.…

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