Insurance is the critical back-up plan that allows you to financially recover from a wildfire—federal catastrophe grants are typically not enough to rebuild a home. As wildfires become more commonplace, it's more important than ever to make sure your family’s financial safety net is in place before disaster strikes.

Prepare Your Insurance for Wildfire

• Conduct an annual insurance checkup. Speak with your agent or insurance company at least once a year to discuss your policy limits and coverage. Make sure that your policy reflects the correct square footage and features of your home.
• Know what your policy covers. It's important to understand if your policy covers wildfire damage. You should also know if your policy will replace items at current market price or an actual cash value policy that takes depreciation into account and pays less for aged items.
• Update your policy to cover home improvements. Before you make any large home renovations, check with your insurance company to understand how it might affect your policy.
• Maintain your insurance. If your mortgage is paid off, it's a good idea to maintain your homeowner's insurance. This will help you be financially ready for unexpected disasters.
• Get renters insurance. It's important to protect the contents of your home, even if you are renting. Renters can still lose everything in a fire and be left to start over.

Make A Home Inventory

Recovery is easier if you have an accurate home inventory. Document the contents of your home before disaster strikes:

• Video or photograph each room of your home. Don't forget your garage, drawers and closets. 
• Describe your home’s contents in your video. Mention the price you paid, where and when you bought the item.
• Remember to note important or expensive items. Video your electronics, appliances, TVs, computers, tablets, etc.
• Save receipts for major purchases. Keep a home inventory offsite, in the cloud, or in a fireproof case.

Filing a wildfire claim

If your property has been damaged by a wildfire, follow these steps:

• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. An insurance adjuster may visit your home to assess the damage. You may be asked to provide a “proof of loss" form, which asks for a description of each damaged item, date of purchase, and what it would cost to replace or repair the item.
• Don't throw anything away. If you can do so safely, keep damaged items until an insurance company representative has had a chance to assess the damage and make a claim report.
• Understand what's expected of you. Ask your insurance company about the claim filing requirements, like acquiring repair estimates.
• Know the claim time limits. Check with your insurance company to see what time limits they have in place so you don't miss your window of opportunity to file your claim.