Insurance Checklist

Checklist for Survivors

1. Get all the insurance settlement money you can on your own before hiring someone to work on your claim for a fee. Most of the time you will receive 100% of the funds you are entitled to if you work with your insurance company, educate yourself on the do's and don't's about filing an insurance claim (insurance seminars will be held so look for announcements on this website), and doing the necessary work. This is a process so stay calm and determined. If you get frustrated and need help, contact us.

2. Stay in a quality hotel, rent an apartment or house, until you find a comfortable place to live as your temporary house. Most policies have adequate funds for living expenses for the next two years. You do not need the aggravation of staying in less than nice living space or moving several times before your home is rebuilt.

3. If living temporarily with friends or relatives, have them charge you a reasonable fee and pay them.  Almost all policies have adequate living expense coverage.

The items listed below are steps people should take in the first month of their recovery. Initiating and completing the interviews and paper work suggested in the checklist are essential to begin the transition to normalcy.

Checklist

___File insurance claim_______________________________________
___Move to a comfortable living location at least equal to your home.
___Photograph, protect, sort and save any debris necessary to
       prove your insurance claim.
___Photograph and measure your EXACT foundation to prove your
       insurance claim. Or have your insurance representative do this
       with you.
___Change address with Insurance Company____________________
___Change address with Post Office____________________________
___Photocopy every insurance check, both sides.
            *Above signature write "Partial Payment, total loss yet to be
             determined"
___Declaration Page
___Insurance Policy
___Policy Endorcements
___FEMA___________________________________________________
___SBA____________________________________________________
___American Red Cross______________________________________
___Salvation Army___________________________________________
___Three-ring notebook
___Receipt and file saver container
___Yellow highliter
___Access to a fax. Number:__________
___Access to email. Number:__________
___Access to telephone: Number__________
___Passport replacement_____________________________________
___Professional license replacement____________________________
___County Tax Assessor's Parcel Description____________________
___Lower property tax assessment_____________________________
___Real Estate sales description of the property__________________
___Mortgage Papers_________________________________________
            *Ask Mortgage Company for "FORBEARANCE" while you
              recover.
            *Obtain written protocol and agreement BEFORE signing over
              insurance checks
___Begin Scope of Loss
___Begin Personal property inventory

* Rim Resource Network * Rebuilding Mountain Hearts & Lives Program

2007 Grass Valley & Slide Wildfires - Disaster Relief and Long Term Recovery Information