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Community Assisting Recovery, Inc.

“Survivors Helping Survivors” • 888-216-8264 • carehelp.org

This Week’s Meeting Schedule:

Insurance/Recovery Tip:

Insurance Renewals After disaster

CARe recommends you keep your existing homeowners policy and have the dwelling portion of the coverage reduced to accurately reflect the condition of your house (for example, $0 in a total loss). California Insurance Code Section 675 requires insurance companies to do just that. In part, the code reads:

“If reconstruction of the primary insured structure has not been completed by the time of policy renewal, the insurer... shall adjust the limits and coverages... that reflect the change, if any, in the insured's exposure to loss. The insurer shall adjust the premium charged to reflect any change in coverage.”
Insurance Code available at: www.leginfo.ca.gov/.html/ins_table_of_contents.html

But why? Your policy includes other coverages besides dwelling protection. You  have personal property coverage even at your current temporary location. You also have liability coverage on the empty lot. These coverages are worth keeping.

Also, you will be able to continue with your existing coverage instead of finding new coverage when you rebuild your house. If you do not renew your policy, you may not find adequate coverage as some carriers stop writing policies in an area after a disaster and you might end up with lesser coverage from another company.

Pay the current premium. Insurers are required by California Insurance Code to rebate some of the money based on the reduced exposure or risk. If they don’t, then write a letter asking for them to comply with the above noted California Insurance Code.

You can find a sample premium reduction letter at: 

http://www.carehelp.org/downloads/letters/LETTER_PremiumLetter.doc

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Sempra/SCE Update:

Grass Fire lawsuit community meeting

In our last update, I inadvertently said the Slide Fire was involved in the lawsuit, when in fact it was the Grass Fire. I have also received the following message from the coordinator of the Lake Arrowhead Action Group.

...our next [LAAG] meeting with the law firms regarding the SCE lawsuit is confirmed for Friday, October 17th, at noon in the Lake Arrowhead Country Club.

For questions contact John Elliot John.Elliott@pepperdine.edu

SDG&E's fire plan would cut service
October 3, 2008

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. announced yesterday that it will take the unprecedented step of shutting off power in much of the backcountry during conditions of extreme fire danger, a change that might have prevented three of last fall's wildfires. 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081003-9999-1n3sdge.html

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Disaster Recovery News:                   

Modjeska Canyon remembers Santiago Fire with appreciation and advice
September 21, 2008

MODJESKA CANYON – Deborah Hartwick-Schatz channeled Don McLean to honor the volunteers from Modjeska Canyon who fought the Santiago Fire last year, singing, "It was the day, the trees all died."

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fire-modjeska-community-2165244-brown-canyon ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Insurance Industry News:                  

P/C Insurers' Net Income, Profitability Fall Sharply in First-Half 2008
October 1, 2008

The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry's net income after taxes fell 57.4 percent to $13.9 billion in first-half 2008 from $32.7 billion in first-half 2007. The insurance industry's overall profitability as measured by its annualized rate of return on average policyholders' surplus (or statutory net worth) dropped to 5.4 percent in first-half 2008 from 13.1 percent in first-half 2007, as underwriting results and investment results deteriorated.

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/10/01/94232.htm

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Disaster Prepared:

Updated maps show 3 areas at most risk of burning in giant blazes
September 28, 2008

Last year, a fire task force created maps that pinpointed the areas of the county most vulnerable to infernos. Not long after, two of the October firestorm's largest blazes – Witch Creek and Harris – burned in those exact areas.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080928-9999-1n28nextfire.html

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Disaster News:

Defendant admits to accidentally starting Malibu blaze
October 2, 2008

One of five men accused of starting last year's Corral Canyon wildfire in Malibu, has admitted that he and his friends accidentally ignited the blaze that burned 53 homes.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-malibu3-2008oct03,0,6702994.story

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Quote of the Week:                   

“To see a wrong and not expose it is to become a silent partner to its continuance.”

    - Dr John Raymond Baker

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Help CARe provide assistance to disaster survivors and continue our free services:

http://www.carehelp.org/contribute/contribute.htm

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Community Assisting Recovery, Inc.

19360 Rinaldi Street, PMB 220, Northridge CA 91326
www.carehelp.org
888-216-8264