Mount Vision fire may be ruled federal disaster
A California -- Department of Forestry Lockheed Hercules bomber dumps the red retardant Phoscheck on Mount Vision Tuesday. Other aircraft used to fight the blaze included Bell Huey helicopters, Grumman trackers, a Cessna 02 observation aircraft, and a C-54 converted cargo plane. (Photo by Joel Reese)
By Don Schinske
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey announced Wednesday afternoon that she and Supervisor Gary Giacomini are trying to get government financial aid for victims of the Mount Vision wildfire.
"We will be pushing to get the governor to declare [the area] a state disaster area," she said at Point Reyes National Seashore headquarters.
Such a designation, if it leads to a declaration of federal disaster by President Bill Clinton, could free up federal money for victims under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Federal aid
FEMA aid could include money for temporary housing, food, and immediate minimal repairs to damaged homes, as well as low-interest loans for rebuilding homes.
"I'm confident all the disaster declarations will be made," Supervisor Giacomini said Wednesday. The supervisor started the process toward federal relief by declaring a county disaster at roughly 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Meanwhile, insurance companies are advising the owners of destroyed or damaged homes to report their losses to their insurance agents as soon as possible -- but only after they're allowed to return to their property.
Kitty Miller, Northern California Manager for Western Insurance Information Service, offered these tips:
Owners of repairable homes should cover holes in windows, walls, and roofs with plastic or wood to prevent further damage. The cost of any material for temporary repairs can be included in the insurance claim. However, permanent repairs shouldn't begin until a claims adjuster visits.
Most homeowner policies cover the cost of temporary housing and living expenses, and companies may advance victims money for immediate needs. Keep all receipts for the claims adjuster.
If your car was ruined or damaged, the loss can be claimed if you have comprehensive coverage.
List and photograph destroyed possessions. A detailed description, including date and cost of purchase, is likely to hasten settlement.
Dave Osborn of Point Reyes Station, an associate with the restoration company Paul Davis Systems, urged residents to be on the lookout for scam artists that tend to flock to disasters.
Lessons from Oakland Hills fire
Following the Oakland Hills fire four years ago, unscrupulous contractors and "public adjusters" approached distraught homeowners, promising to deal with the victims' insurance companies and get better settlements.
Typically, said Osborn, public adjusters promise people "they can get 20 percent to 50 percent more on their claim and will charge them 10 percent for that service."
Some Oakland Hills homeowners who used such a service had to wait two years for a settlement, which was likely no larger than the one they would have got anyway, he said.
"Essentially, you've got a [homeowners] policy that says what [the company] is going to pay," Osborn said.
Above all, he warned, "Don't sign anything. The main thing is to call your insurance agent right away."
Osborn, whose company has set up to offer advice in front of Joe's Diner in Point Reyes Station, noted that any objects exposed to smoke or water damage should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible.
Metal objects too. Window frames, hinges, file cabinets, silverware, etc., should all be wiped down, he explained. Smoke can react with the metal to form an acid, which in time will eat away at the item.
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