In 2024, my family and I were forced to evacuate our home due to an approaching wildfire. After two decades in the insurance industry helping countless clients prepare for disasters and the unexpected, nothing compares to facing down a disaster yourself. When the alert came, I was simply a homeowner trying to keep my family safe.
It was emotional and intense. But it also served as a powerful reminder of just how vital wildfire preparation really is. Fortunately, my family and our home escaped the fire. But what was helpful to us in the moment and what would have gotten us through if we had been impacted was the fact that we had a plan. Our go-bags were ready with our valuables. Our pets had already been relocated. Our important documents were digitized and backed up, and our home inventory, including photos and videos, were safely stored in the cloud.
That preparation gave our family the clarity and confidence to navigate the situation. And as an agent, it proved that clients need more than coverage. They need a plan, and they need someone to guide them long before a disaster strikes.
Before the Fire Starts
Time is the most limited resource the moment an evacuation becomes a reality. Things move quickly once an evacuation order is made, and homeowners must be prepared to act. My family’s experience reminded me of the role we play as agents in equipping people with the tools and knowledge they need when the unthinkable happens.
When a wildfire is not imminent, homeowners can effectively increase their defenses to make the limited time available in an evacuation count. For example, preparing go-bags, creating a home inventory, and upgrading their homes to meet the current recommended wildfire construction standards can help limit concerns in an evacuation scenario.
Agents and brokers should consider recommending the following to their clients:
- Review insurance coverage annually. Make sure clients understand their dwelling limits, personal property coverage, and additional living expenses (ALE) provisions. With rising construction costs and inflation, many homeowners are underinsured without realizing it.
- Consider construction standards. Agents should suggest clients invest in recommended home improvements to increase their wildfire defenses. Homes built before 2010 are not required to have the same fire-resistant features as more modern homes due to changes in construction standards. Installing fire-resistant siding, double-paned for tempered glass windows, ember-resistant venting, and fire-safe landscaping can all lend to creating a more defensible home. Maintenance tasks such as clearing brush from gutters and overgrown foliage from the side of a home should also be prioritized. These small tasks and upgrades can dramatically improve a home’s ability to survive in a wildfire.
- Create and maintain a home inventory. Encourage clients to do a quick video tour of their home once a year. Open drawers, show major appliances, and document anything of value throughout the attic and garage spaces. Store it in the cloud where it’s safe and accessible as these records can be very beneficial to the insurance claims process.
- Prepare a go-bag and evacuation plan. Every household should have a ready-to-go bag for each person with at least a few days’ worth of essential items, valuables, and keepsakes. This is especially important for families with kids, pets, or elderly members. This way, a household can move quickly while keeping the more vulnerable members of the home safe.
- People and pets first. In an evacuation, it is crucial to have a plan for the vulnerable members of a household like children, the elderly, or pets. In some cases, it may make more sense to evacuate them before an evacuation order is officially made. Whatever makes the most sense for a household should be discussed and included in a plan before a wildfire event.
- Digitize and back up important documents. Insurance policies, IDs, banking info, mortgage documents, and other valuable documents should all be stored securely online or on a USB drive in the go-bag. Homeowners should know exactly where to find this information and how to access it quickly.
What Homeowners Often Forget in the Chaos of an Evacuation
Even with a plan, evacuation is overwhelming. I realized firsthand how easy it is to forget what matters most and now emphasize that to clients.
Essentials usually come to mind first, but people often leave behind irreplaceable items that cannot be made whole by insurance like family photos and keepsakes. A simple reminder to think about sentimental items ahead of time can mean everything when seconds count.
Another common problem that arises in an evacuation is confusion about what insurance actually covers. Many clients assume evacuation costs like hotel stays, meals, and supplies are included, but that is not always the case. These typically fall under ALE coverage, and not all homeowners understand the limits or how to access those benefits. Having that conversation with insureds proactively can help avoid surprises later.
Documenting the value of a home inventory cannot be overstated. When evacuating under pressure, the last thing homeowners are thinking about is documenting their belongings. But filing a claim becomes much harder without that documentation. A comprehensive video walk-through of a property that shows open drawers and cabinets, major appliances and electronics, furniture, attic items, and more can make all the difference. Videos should be stored in multiple secure places such as cloud storage or an external hard drive and updated at least once a year or after major purchases or home upgrades.
Three Immediate Steps to Take When Evacuation Becomes a Reality
When an evacuation order comes through, property owners should act immediately. It can be difficult in the chaos to know what to do first, but those property owners who planned effectively will be equipped to handle it. Consider working with your clients to ensure they understand the importance of the following steps in an evacuation:
- Stay connected and communicate. Monitoring local alerts is crucial. Clients should sign up for and pay attention to regional emergency notifications and local fire maps and have a plan to inform family or neighbors of their whereabouts and destination.
- People, pets and go. Homeowners should put their evacuation plan into action immediately and address where their children, elderly family members, and pets will go. Go-bags should already be packed for each person in a household with medications, copies of important documents such as passports, Social Security identification cards, valuables, and at least a few days’ worth of essential items. When the evacuation notice hits, everyone in a household should be prepared to grab their go-bag and head to a pre-determined, safe destination.
- Gather and protect key documents. Ensure clients know that their digitized key documents such as insurance policies, ID cards, banking info, home inventories, and their home walkthrough video should travel with them whether safely secured on the cloud or a USB drive.
Be the Resource Before the Emergency
Evacuating my home changed the way I view my work. While I have always believed in the importance of preparation, I now know just how personal it is. Wildfire threats are growing, and too many homeowners do not realize how underprepared they are until it’s too late.
As agents, we have the opportunity to lead these conversations early and help clients not just recover from disaster but get ahead of it. That’s what makes our role so powerful. Wildfires come with little warning, but with the right plan and a trusted insurance advisor, our clients do not have to face them unprepared.
Topics
Catastrophe
Natural Disasters
Wildfire
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