Here’s what California’s fire season can teach the rest of us.

Earlier this year, a series of devastating wildfires swept through the state of California. With lives and countless properties lost to the flames, these disasters left many California homeowners at a loss. Here are some of the things homeowners across the state and country can learn from the experiences of those who were affected by wildfire.

  • Review and Update Your Home Insurance

Unfortunately, many Californians learned that their homeowners insurance coverage was inadequate to deal with their fire damages. This insufficient coverage was largely due to the homeowner’s failure to consistently review and update their policy’s coverage limits. Every year, your homeowners policy should be updated to account for inflation, changing property values, shifting construction costs, and so on. By keeping your insurance up to date, you can ensure you have the comprehensive coverage you need if you are faced with a major disaster.

  • Be Ready to Evacuate

California’s wildfires moved extremely rapidly, and many homeowners had only a moment’s notice to gather their valuables and evacuate their properties. Because an evacuation situation may arise with very little warning, it’s important that homeowners across the country are ready to jump into action. One way you can be ready for the worst is by having an evacuation kit ready at all times. This kit should include things like important documents, food and water rations, spare clothes, first aid supplies, basic tools, and extra cash. If you and your family are forced to evacuate your home, you should be able to scoop up your evacuation kit and any valuables and be ready to go.

  • Make an Emergency Response Plan

Sadly, the damage caused by California’s widespread fires left many homeless and without a place to turn to for support. If you would like to avoid this feeling of uncertainty, make a plan for what you and your loved ones will do if you are ever faced with a serious natural disaster. Your plan should detail where your family will stay if your home is destroyed, how you will contact loved ones, and what steps you will take to get your home ready to live in again. When you have a solid plan in place, you will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have concrete steps to take, even after your life has been turned upside down.

Here are some of the things that homeowners across the state and country can learn from the California wildfires. If you have questions regarding your home’s insurance coverage, contact us at Randy Jones Insurance Services in Pleasanton, California. We are ready to assist you with all your coverage needs today.