Triple-I to Join May 20 Media Event on Wildfire Season Preparedness

For immediate release
Lorraine Carli, NFPA (617) 984-7275 publicaffairs@nfpa.org
Connie Bryant Breedlove, IBHS (404) 786-5275 cbreedlove@ibhs.org
Janet Ruiz, Triple-I (707) 490-9365 janetr@iii.org
Nicole Ganley, APCIA (916) 616-5855 nicole.ganley@apci.org
 

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif., May 19, 2021—Janet Ruiz, the Insurance Information Institute’s (Triple-I) California-based Director, Strategic Communications, will address the media about preparing financially for the upcoming wildfire season on Thursday, May 20, at 10 a.m., PT.

“Millions of Americans reside in wildfire-prone communities and everyone meeting this criterion should review and update their insurance policies every year while also taking steps to build their home’s resilience to wildfire,” Ruiz stated.

Five of the six largest wildfires in California’s history, as measured by acres burned, occurred in 2020, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The Triple-I’s Resilience Blog offered additional insights on the issue in a story posted yesterday.

Pre-registration for the webinar press conference—Wildfire Ready: How Do You Prepare Your Home & Finances for Wildfires?—can be done online at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association’s (APCIA) website.   

Besides Ruiz, three other subject matter experts are speaking to media representatives on Thursday morning, May 20.

Ruiz’s remarks will focus on financial preparedness for wildfire season, stressing the importance of having the right types, and amounts, of homeowners, renters, and business insurance. Nicole Ganley, Senior Director, Public Affairs, APCIA, will discuss How to Create a Home Inventory while Michele Steinberg, Wildfire Division Director, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), will offer a Wildfire Season Outlook for the U.S.’s Western States. The NFPA and Verisk announced jointly this week that more than 4.5 million U.S. properties are at a high-to-extreme risk of wildfire, with more than two million of those in California alone. Daniel Gorham, P.E., Research Engineer, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), who is also a former firefighter, will brief the media on IBHS’s Wildfire Ready initiative.

The Triple-I has a full library of educational videos on its YouTube Channel. Information about Triple-I mobile apps can be found here.