1. Wildfire & Insurance
Insurance Communications Challenges & Opportunities
Carole Walker, Executive Director, RMIIA /

2. Wildfire Insurance Challenges
What We Hear From Consumers, Media,
Regulators, Policymakers, Fire Officials
Property Insurance Availability
Fears over non-renewals, insuring new properties
Lack understanding on how insurance works, expectations, mitigation requirements
Anecdotes vs. reality/ “consumer” groups /public adjusters
Property Insurance Affordability
Rising insurance costs for all risk
Confusion over impact of other risks
Discounts/incentives for mitigation

3. Key Insurance Messages
Wildfire is a risk science shows can be reduced
Wildfire is increasingly a shared insurance risk
If homeowners are NOT willing to take proven steps to reduce risk it will be increasingly difficult to get & keep affordable insurance
Insurers increasingly require mitigation steps
Insurability is financial incentive to do mitigation
Insurance is available in WUI, but may need to shop & pay higher premium
Insurers considering all individual risk factors
Wildfire residents must accept responsibility to protect homes & personal finances

4. Insurance Preparedness Messages
Do annual insurance policy "check-ups"
Keep up with local building costs & adjust coverage to include home remodeling & additions
Review auto policy limits & coverage.
Ask about coverage for building code upgrades, debris removal & landscaping
Know what is & is NOT covered: consider separate flood insurance, risk increased in burn areas
Create or update a home inventory that includes lists, photos or videotape of your home or apartment’s contents. Consider extra insurance for expensive items.

5. Wildfire & Insurance Opportunities
Key Stakeholder Partnerships
Federal, state, local government, wildfire/safety organizations, homeowners groups, realtors, planners, regulators, construction
National Fire Protection Association/Firewise
RMIIA, III, IBHS, NWIC, NIC, companies working with Firewise to establish insurance wildfire coalition
Opportunity to leverage Firewise communities with mitigation & insurance preparedness messages
Improve dialogue with fire community
Establish better industry communication & best practices

6. Model Community Mitigation Program
Wildfire Partners
Unique collaborative initiative of 35 partner organizations led by Boulder County—its primary goal: assisting homeowners in reducing the threat of wildfire to their properties
800 homeowner participants
Provides technical expertise, onsite property inspections, follow-up visits, consumer hotline & financial support
Homeowners spend average of 60 hours & $2,400 performing mitigation, receive average of $700 in financial assistance
Funded by FEMA, CO DNR, Boulder County
June Cold Springs Fire success stories

7. Model Community Mitigation Program
Wildfire Partners established & adopted as mitigation model
Approached RMIIA & insurance industry as partners
RMIIA, PCI, Allstate, Farmers, State Farm, USAA on Advisory Committee
Allstate, State Farm, USAA officially accept inspection certification
Don’t make any promises—just making property more insurable
Don’t certify very high-risk, i.e. slope, access, no fire protection
NAIC summer meeting presentation
Support of Governor’s Task Force/Regulators/Partners
Wildfire Partners’ Secret Sauce
Based on IBHS science
Experienced on-site inspectors provide individual homeowners complete mitigation recommendations
Homeowner assistance & ongoing mitigation commitment

8. Hail Preparedness Toolkit Wildfire Ready Campaign
Getting the word out!
#NoRoofScams
Hail Preparedness Toolkit
Wildfire Ready Campaign