January 8th, 3:30 PM EST
Tim Bauer from Allied Restoration and Disaster Defense gave us a glimpse into the challenging conditions restoration crews and California residents are currently facing.
“Our crews worked as late as they could last night before the wildfire made it dangerous for them to continue, and we picked up,” said Bauer. “We’re getting calls from frantic homeowners who’ve been evacuated, begging us to see if we can serve their home.”
One alarming trend Bauer has encountered is the number of homeowners insured under the California Fair Plan, a last-resort insurance option. “They’re tremendously underinsured or not even insured at all for some of the potential wildfire risk they’re going to face,” Bauer explained. “It’s heartbreaking to talk to them because they’re begging us to save their home because they don’t have insurance to protect it.”
Bauer noted the overwhelming demand for wildfire services. “I turned on a link for people to join our waitlist, and we have 10-20 per minute signing up for Retardant Application. People are offering insane amounts of money, trying to beg us to put them at the top of the list,” he said.
While California may seem affluent, Bauer highlighted the deeper struggles many families face. “I’ve talked to mothers and fathers who don’t know where they’re going to house their children if their homes are affected because of the insurance crisis we’re facing,” he said.
The California Fair Plan, which has $6 billion in exposure in Pacific Palisades alone, poses a unique challenge for restoration professionals. “They’ve made multiple statements that they’re one major disaster away from potentially being insolvent,” Bauer warned.
Restorers must be prepared for the difficulties of working with the California Fair Plan. “If you’ve never dealt with the California Fair Plan or reviewed one of their policies before, it’s going to be important to have a conversation with the client about what is going to be paid for and covered—and what will not,” Bauer advised.
He also flagged concerns about fraud in soot and ash cleanup claims, a recurring issue in wildfire-prone areas. “Carriers and adjusters will likely be skeptical about soot and ash claims as a result, in a way that may impact even well-meaning insureds who are just looking to come home,” he said.
“Some of us got into this industry because we love humanity and want so badly to serve and care for them,” Bauer said. “This is our moment to move into action because people are heartbroken and crestfallen to lose the homes of their dreams.”
Bauer emphasized the importance of being a reassuring presence for affected homeowners. “In addition to being ‘Second Responders,’ we are often the first people that get to say, ‘I’ve got you. Everything is going to be okay.’
