Recently, the California Department of Insurance extended its one-year moratorium on insurance cancellation or non-renewals to people impacted by the recent chain of California fires. Among the fires included are the McKinney Fire, the Mill Fire, the Fairview Fire, and the Mosquito Fire.
To my horse friends in the north bay, this will not be new.
For others, I hope this is helpful… Having been through the 2017 fires, 2019 Kincade Fire, and now Walbridge, as a horse owner, I felt compelled to share some knowledge and observations. Prepping for a disaster/emergency starts well ahead of when that moment actually arrives. You start months or even years ahead. When time is of the essence sometimes you only have six or seven minutes to load up and get out of the fire zone.
- Train your horses to get in and out of the trailer without issue.
- Take them for short drives so they’re not ...
Fire-Safe Communities Rise From Towns Recovering From a Fire
In recent years, we have seen an unprecedented amount of fires raging through California communities. Completely decimated, these towns are left to start from scratch with just the rubble of the past beneath their feet.
These fires have not only transformed landscapes, but they have transformed people as well. As these communities begin to rebuild, they have been doing so with the future in mind. Towns across California have been finding the silver lining in this devastation by rebuilding more sustainable, fire safe ...
Shoopman was a long-time Klamath National Forest Lookout at various posts — she started her career as a wildfire lookout at Baldy Mountain Lookout, west of Happy Camp, in 1974. She also staffed Lake Mountain Lookout and, most recently, Buckhorn Lookout — since 1993.
INSURANCE NOTICE: "Your property does not meet our wildfire eligibility guidelines... We will not renew this policy when it expires."
Have you received a notice like the one above? Insurance companies are increasingly dropping policies of California customers with notices of non-renewal like these. However, your non-renewal notice may be a mistake. And depending on the circumstances, your policy may still be protected by California law.
California Senate Bill 824 prevents insurers from canceling or not renewing a policy during the year after a state of emergency declaration ...
1. Animal Injuries
Dog bites, as most people know, make up the majority of injuries caused by animals. In fact, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has estimated that more than 4 million people are bitten by dogs in a year.[1] And of these cases, more than 350,000 require medical attention each year.[2] Children are the most common victims of dog bites, according to the CDC.[3]
Other kinds of animals, however, injure and kill thousands of people ever year in the United States. Injuries caused by horses and cattle are the top of the list of animals that most commonly injure and kill ...
The California Court of Appeal once explained:
Keeping a pet dog is undoubtedly one of the most cherished forms in which the constitutionally protected right to own personal property is exercised. To most people it is more than ownership of mere personal property. More than once courts have recognized that the keeping of such pets is such an important part of our way of life, and have recognized the perhaps sentimental but nonetheless universally strong affection of [hu]mankind for the dog.[1]
With that sentiment in mind, it is no surprise there are dogs in more than 48 million ...
1. What is FEMA?
The federal government has a long history of providing disaster relief to Americans. This history dates back to at least 1803, when a devastating fire in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, threatened commerce in the newly founded United States.[1]
Today, FEMA–which stands for the “Federal Emergency Management Agency”–leads the federal government’s response to disasters. President Carter established FEMA by executive order in 1979.
In 1988, Congress refined FEMA’s role with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ...
1. What is a dangerous condition on public property?
When most people consider “dangerous conditions on public property,” they typically think of outdoor hazards. From uneven sidewalks to potholes in the road, hazardous situations on public property frequently cause injuries to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
Hazards indoors, however, can also give rise to dangerous conditions. Faulty flooring or broken railings can also create hazards that injure members of the public who are using public buildings and facilities.
Practically, any condition on public property ...
1. Does California have motorcycle helmet laws?
Yes, California has laws that apply to riders and passengers of motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and motorized bicycles.
California’s motorcycle helmet laws are some of the most stringent in the nation, applying to all motorcycle riders and passengers regardless of age. Such helmet laws are known as “universal” helmet laws.
Other states, like Michigan and Florida, require helmets for motorcycle riders and passengers under 21 years old. Still others, like Arizona and Hawaii, require helmets for motorcycle riders and ...