Saving lives is the priority in any natural disaster, and oftentimes evacuation is the only way to help local residents avoid a pending disaster. The wildfires burning in the Boulder, CO foothills underscore the effectiveness of Colorado’s emergency response personnel in alerting residents and getting them to safety, but it also begs the question, what to do if you’re evacuated?
While homeowners insurance will help re-coup property losses sustained by fire, there’s also the cost of living expenses during an evacuation. Whether your home is burned or spared, it costs money to put yourself up in a hotel and break your normal routine because of an evacuation, and having appropriate Colorado home insurance can make a stressful situation much more tolerable.
Policies can differ depending on the level of coverage, but if you live is a flood or wildfire prone area, it’s a smart idea to review what would be best with a local insurance agent who understands the local risks and advise on the best supplemental policies, if necessary. In general, a Colorado homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the following items:
- The structure of your home
- Replacement costs
- Personal possessions (up to a set limit)
- Living expenses in case of a disaster
- Liability
We wish our best to those affected by the Colorado wildfires. We’re thankful there have been no reported deaths, but the evacuation of over 1,000 homes shows the seriousness of these fires. We applaud the American Red Cross for opening temporary relief shelters (at the Coors Event Center and University of Colorado) and our thoughts and prayers will be with the firefighters doing their best tpo get things under control.
Update on the currently evacuated Colorado areas, according to the Denver Post:
“Homes in a 3-square mile area around Gold Hill, the Mountain Meadows and Sierra Antigua subdivisions and Salina were first evacuated… subdivisions in the foothills above Boulder including Pine Brook Hills, Boulder Heights and Whispering Pines were evacuated. Additionally, anyone from mile marker 3 in Sugarloaf to Boulder Canyon; and Lickskillet west to Sawmill was ordered to leave. Sugarloaf Road from Colorado 119 to Colorado 72, also known as the Peak to Peak Highway, was evacuated.”