RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The Nevada Division of Insurance Commissioner Ned Gaines suggests that people displaced by the recent fires should call their insurance agent immediately for guidance.
Gaines said agents can help secure “additional living expense” payments for hotels, food and other emergency costs.
“A lot of carriers will allow their agents to issue immediate payments on that, just to be able to get money into the insured hands. That’s going to vary from company to company though,” Gaines said.
Gains said proof of belongings is the most important thing to have prepared for future disasters. The Nevada Division of Insurance has a free home inventory checklist online that he urges every homeowner to fill out.
He recommends keeping a paper and digital copy, as well as video walkthroughs of the property.
Gaines said he had to evacuate during the Hawk Fire and realized he was unprepared himself.
“I was unprepared. Even though I do this for a living, and I tell people to have that home inventory, I thought about it and I don’t have one. So, I rushed around and did the video as best I could, just to show these are the items I have in my home,” Gaines said.
It’s critical to also watch for fraudulent contractors and storm chasers. He warned against signing contracts or donating money without doing thorough research first.
Gains recommend verifying licenses and reading agreements in their full entirety before proceeding forward. He says there are multiple avenues of verification. One is having an attorney review the contracts or looking up the business and license number at https://www.nvsilverflume.gov/home
“Go to the Department of Business and Industry’s website and you can access their webpage, contact them, that is all they do. They are there for consumer protection, they will investigate any potential fraudulent contractors,” Gaines said.
He said to report any suspicious behavior to https://www.business.nv.gov/consumer-help/
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