Close family just lost their home today in the southern California wildfires. Complete loss, nothing is left. They have two young children so while they focus on immediate family needs for tonight I'm trying to help by getting ahead of their options for rebuilding finances.
They have a policy through Farmers which is very explicit about not covering fire perils. I don't believe any insurance providers will offer fire coverage in their high risk area. They do not have the separate California "FAIR plan" for fire coverage.
My read of the policy is that every benefit listed is dependent on the event being a covered peril, and since fire is not a covered peril we should expect $0 from their policy. But I wanted to check here just in case there are ever benefits that are generalized that I might be overlooking somehow.
They will be calling Farmers' regardless first thing in the morning. I just want to plan ahead as much as possible and turn over every stone.
If anyone has dealt with a similar situation, general advice would be greatly welcomed as well. I am currently looking at aid programs and fundraising as our primary options given the insurance situation.
Family lost house in wildfire. Policy doesn't cover fire. Are there any tangential benefits I can look into or is it the total loss I think it is?
byu/captfitz inInsurance
Posted by captfitz
1 Comment
I’m really sorry to hear about your family’s situation. I went through something similar when I first moved out and faced unexpected expenses. Even if the insurance doesn’t cover fire, there might be emergency assistance programs or community resources available in your area. Look into local non-profits or disaster relief organizations that offer support for families in crisis. Starting a fundraiser online can also help. It’s tough, but there are often resources out there that can offer some relief. Hang in there and keep pushing forward; your family will find the support they need