Is Fire Damage Covered by Your Insurance?
Madison, WI—Fire Prevention Week is October 5-11 this year and Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel asks everyone to take time to review their insurance policies.
"We know the impact of fire is devastating and Fire Prevention Week is a reminder to look at your home and business fire escape plans so that everyone stays safe," said Nickel. "The best way to prepare for the potential impact of a fire is to plan ahead."
"I urge everyone to take the time to review their insurance policies," said Nickel. "Check with your insurance company or agent to determine if you have coverage for fire and other perils in addition to your basic dwelling and personal property coverage."
Commissioner Nickel offers these tips:
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Keep everyone safe. In the case of a fire in your home or business, make sure everyone knows how to exit the building safely and what to do if those exits are blocked.
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Make sure to do a home inventory. Use OCI's home inventory worksheet to help or contact your insurer to see if they have an app for your phone or computer that can make the process easier. It may help for you to keep pictures of your house or business and scan copies of receipts for more valuable items.
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Take pictures of your valuable items. Taking pictures of your property can help you remember the property you have lost.
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Keep all important information in a safe place. In the case of a fire, you will want to have insurance information readily available along with information on your lost property. Some options for storage could include a fireproof safe, a safe deposit box, or storage online.
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Do an insurance check-up. Make sure that the value of your insurance has kept up with the value of your property. You should also check your deductibles. Can you afford them in the case of a loss? Are you paying too much for your insurance because your deductible is too low? Contact your insurance agent or company for more information about property, dwelling and fire insurance.
Commissioner Nickel specifically noted that the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance Web site has a
Consumers Guide To Homeowner's Insurance and
Personal Property Home Inventory worksheet for consumers to utilize for their personal insurance needs. He also noted that there are specific insurance publications for small business owners, mobile home insurance, condominium insurance and information on how to settle property insurance claims. All of these publications can be found on the OCI Web site at
http://oci.wi.gov/pub_list.htmConsumerPublications.aspx or ordered from the agency by writing to OCI Publications, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873, or by calling 800-236-8517.
Created by the Legislature in 1871, Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) was vested with broad powers to ensure that the insurance industry responsibly and adequately met the insurance needs of Wisconsin citizens. Today, OCI's mission is to lead the way in informing and protecting the public and responding to its insurance needs.