UNITED POLICYHOLDERS: California Home Insurance UPdate
The PowerPoint slide deck below shared by Amy Bach, our 2024 Annual Meeting guest speaker, from United Policyholders provides more information and resources about the homeowner insurance crisis and what can be done to address it. Click on this link to view the document (PDF) in Google Drive.
It was inspiring to address a room full of engaged, pro-active neighbors / volunteers working together to preserve and strengthen their community, and see so many people who also support United Policyholders. - Amy Bach
MAKE OAKLAND WILDFIRE SAFE: The goal of the Make Oakland Wildfire Safe Committee is to do everything possible to pass the Wildfire Prevention Zone ballot measure on the November 5th ballot. The Claremont Canyon Conservancy board, along with the North Hills Community Association, Oakland Firesafe Council, and the Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association, have endorsed the measure because it will help the city of Oakland improve wildfire prevention on its property; other endorsements are pending. Click on this link to view the document on Google Drive.
EVACUATION PREPARATION: The basic facts supporting quick evacuation during fires are simple. Staying behind in a major wildfire is serious business and must not be attempted when the order to evacuate is given. Evacuation guide and go-bag checklist (PDF).
DEFENSIBLE SPACE: Creating and maintaining defensible space is one of the most important ways to protect your home from wildfire. Defensible space will improve the chance that an ember resistant house will survive on its own, and greatly improve the odds that firefighters will attempt to defend your home. Defensible space can be a designed landscape of well-maintained plants and hardscape surrounding your home, with fuel management of up to 100 feet as required by state law or by city code. Click on the video above or go to the Oakland Firesafe Council. For Oakland’s brochure click here →
HARDENING YOUR HOME (ember resistant homes): Preparing your home to resist burning embers is the next most important thing you can do. Current building codes are creating more fire-safe homes but all structures are vulnerable to wildfire and many older structures are especially vulnerable. A summary guide for hardening your home is found here. For a complete guide of preparing your home, see Bob Sieben's The Homeowners Guide to Wildfire Protection here→
ALERTS: Best summation of what you can do to prepare for wildfire: get Cal Fire's Ready, Set, Go app for your phone. For Alameda County’s alert system for the East Bay Hills, go to AC Alert.
