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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2018)
A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 NEWS When wildfire strikes home, preparation can help By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER Homeowners who lose their homes to wildfire are often covered by insurance, but it helps to know how that insurance works before disaster hits. The NW Insurance Council, a trade associa- tion of insurance companies in the Pacific Northwest, is recommending that people take a moment this fire sea- son to review their insur- ance policy and discuss it with their insurance com- pany or agent to make sure they have the right coverage for what they want to cover — particularly if they have recently added on to their home, remodeled or made other changes that could affect their policy. The same applies to busi- ness owners, and even rent- ers can be reimbursed for the loss of their belong- ings if they have renters insurance. LuAnne Davison, a State Farm insurance agent in Hermiston, said for stick- built homes, the typical pol- icy is a replacement cost policy that would replace “like kind and quality” that had been previously dis- closed to the insurance company. If someone adds HH FILE PHOTO A brush fire burns near neighborhoods on Joy Lane and Alpine Drive, northeast of Hermiston, earlier this year. a room onto their house and doesn’t update their policy, they could find themselves under-covered if something happens. After policy holders are clear on what their pol- icy covers, NW Insur- ance Council suggests they create a complete “home inventory” documenting their possessions through receipts, photos, videos, contracts and other items stored somewhere that will be accessible after a fire. Adjusters can settle claims more quickly with that documentation. Davison said people used to fill out inventory booklets listing everything in their home, but these days most people snap photos with their smartphones and store them in the cloud to help substantiate their claims. It also helps jog peoples’ memories about exactly how many shoes, DVDs or plates they own. “We tell people to open their cupboard doors, open their closets, open their dresser drawers and take pictures,” she said. “A pic- ture is worth $1,000.” If the worst happens and your home does burn down or get damaged by fire, the sooner you start the claims process the sooner you can get the funds you need. The NW Insurance Coun- cil suggests contacting an insurance representative as soon as possible to pro- vide an initial description of the damage and a phone number where you can be reached. Having insurance policy documents on hand is helpful but not required to start a claim. Most insurance agencies will offer immediate cash to help cover basic living expenses in the aftermath. When it is safe to do so, take pictures or videos of the damaged property. “Don’t discard anything that is damaged until it has been examined by your adjuster,” the tips suggest. “You could miss out on cov- erage for that item.” The NW Insurance Council warns against pay- ing a significant amount for temporary repairs without first being authorized by the insurance adjuster, because the insurance company might deem the bill “exces- sive” and not reimburse it. Davison noted, how- ever, that people do have a responsibility to mitigate damage. If there is a hole in their roof, for example, they’re expected to get that covered as soon as possible to prevent rain from coming in and further damaging the home. Contractors and subcon- tractors are extremely busy in the Hermiston area and rates are getting higher, but Davison said if the insur- ance company’s claims rep- resentative and the contrac- tor have different estimates of the cost for repairs, the company will review the reason for the discrepancy. The best thing people can do is prevent their home from burning down in the first place, she said. People should follow recommenda- tions from fire departments that include things like safe storage of flammable items, clearing brush and tree branches from around homes and properly screen- ing chimneys. WORSHIP COMMUNITY Fire closed Hat Rock State Park Friday HERMISTON HERALD Hat Rock Road was closed Friday afternoon as fire crews battled a blaze that started at the intersec- tion of Highway 730 and Highway 207, then moved toward Hat Rock State Park. “Right now the winds are favorable, but if they shift, we’ve talked about it going into the trailer park,” Uma- tilla County Fire District Battalion Chief Corey Gor- ham said, adding that peo- ple there have been told to be ready to evacuate. Luck- ily, crews were able to get the fire contained with- out any evacuations. But the park’s only road being blocked caused some anxi- ety for residents. Hat Rock resident John Rodriguez arrived from work and discovered he couldn’t get to his house. “Nobody’s home, but I have pets,” he said. “I’m STAFF PHOTO BY JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN Flames devour brush near Hat Rock State Park on Friday afternoon. worried about them.” Highway 730 was blocked intermittently after the fire began about 11:30 a.m. Crews from Umatilla County Fire District, Uma- tilla, Echo, Boardman and Imagine The Difference You Can Make Irrigon were among those responding. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Area firefighters also responded to a number of other brush fires in the area last week, including pro- viding mutual aid to North Gilliam Rural Fire Protec- tion District for a fire out- side of Arlington sparked by a burning wind turbine, according to Chief Joe Claughton. Claughton said he’s seen about “half a dozen” wind turbine fires over the years, but this is the first one he saw that sparked a grass fire. “They’re usually elec- trical fires,” he said. “Usu- ally they go out after closing the door and letting them smother out.” He said usually fire departments from Sherman and Wasco counties to the west would help instead of those from Umatilla and Morrow counties, but they were busy with multiple fires of their own, including the South Valley fire near Dufur. “With all they have going on, I didn’t even ask that direction,” he said. MOFE HD CHANNELS, FASTEF INTEFNET AND UNLIMITED VOICE. 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Our Roots Roots Run Run Deep of Our Deep “We’re Having Bushels in Morrow Morrow County” in County FUN in Morrow County” County August 2017 August 16-20, 2018 2017 August 16-20, 15-19, Wednesday 15th 6 6 Reptile Man & Houses Z 6 OMSI - Bounce Reptile Man & Z Z Scarecrow Contest Reptile Man & - Arcades Scarecrow Contest Scarecrow Contest Lindy Gravelle 4-H Food Contest 4-H/FFA Small Animal Showmanship 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging 4-H Fashion Revue RDO Tractor Pull Trevor Tagle Dinner by Paradise Ice Cream Social Rose Archery Chuckwagon Shoot Fair: co.morrow.or.us www.co.morrow.or.us/fair co.morrow.or.us co.morrow.or.us 8 Thursday 16th Friday 17th Saturday 18th 8 8 Reptile Man & Zone Reptile Man & OMSI - Bounce Houses OMSI - Bounce Houses OMSI - Bounce Houses Reptile Man & Zone Zone Reptile Reptile Man Man & & - Reptile Arcades Man & - Arcades 4-H/FFA - Arcades 4-H/FFA Talent Show Ballet Performance 4-7 yrs. Parade 4-H/FFA Showmanship 4-H/FFA 4-H/FFA Conformation Ballet Performance yrs. FFA Awards Tillamook Ice Cream Ballet Performance 4-7 4-7 yrs. Pee~Wee Showmanship 4-H/FFA 4-H/FFA Conformation Conformation Master Adult Showmanship Showmanship Greased Pig Luncheon Buyers Social Contest Livestock Adult Showmanship Greased Pig FFA Floral Design Adult Showmanship Greased Auction Pig Frappes & Flowers w/ OTPR/Ranch Rodeo Contest 4-H/FFA Conformation Murray’s Country Rose Contest Music by: Dan Burns 3D Productions Judging Murray’s Wine Tasting Featuring: Joe Lindsay Nate Botsford Ice Ice Cream Cream Social Social Cory Archery Peterson Band Archery Shoot Shoot Lindy Gravelle Music after rodeo by: 19th Greased Pig Contest Dan Productions Burns 3D Productions Music by: Dan Burns Reptile Man & Music by: Dan Burns 3D 3D Productions Chili Cook-Off Contest 19th 19th OTPR/Ranch Rodeo Sunday 19th Reptile Man & & Man by: Music Reptile after rodeo All Exhibits Released Dan Burns Productions Morrow County Rodeo Music by: 3D Dan Burns 3D Productions 0th Dan Burns 3D Music by: Productions Music by: Dan Dan Burns Burns 3D 3D Productions Productions th 0 0 th Cory Cory Peterson Peterson Band Band Fair Admission: Ages 8 & Up $4 daily or $10 week 7 & under FREE (must be with Adult) Fair Admission: Rodeo Admission: 13 & up $10 Ages 8 & Up $4 Daily or 7-12 yrs. $6 Fair daily or $10 Week 7 & Under FREE 6 & under Ages FREE Fair Admission: Admission: Ages 8 8 & & Up Up $4 $4 daily or $10 $10 • week week Trevor Tagle THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS! be with 7 7 & & under FREE be with under (must FREE (must (must be Adult) with Adult) Adult) Rodeo Rodeo Admission: Admission: 13 13 & & up up $10 $10 Rodeo Admission: 7-12 $6 7-12 yrs. yrs. $6 13 & Up $10 • 7-12 Yrs. $6 Paradise Rose 6 6 & & under Nate Botsford under FREE FREE Chuckwagon DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday .......................................... English 7:00 am Thursday ....................................................Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY: .............................................. English 5:00 pm ....................................................................Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY:................................................... English 9:00 am ................................................................Bilingual 11:00 am ....................................................................Spanish 1:00 pm Offi ce ..................................................................... 567-5812 First Christian Church “Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love” 6 & Under FREE www.facebook.com/oregontrailprorodeo www.facebook.com/morrowcountyfairheppneroregon LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232 Pastor David Dever 567-3013 Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston www.hermistonlmbc.com Worship Gathering 10:00 am Children’s Church 10:00 am CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP SPECTFUM INTEFNET™ $ 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. NEW BEGINNINGS • Speeds up to 60Mbps • Unlimited data – no data caps 1-844-533-9173 Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children’s Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 541-567-8441 Seventh-day Adventist Church Saturdays Sabbath School........9:30 a.m. Worship Service......11:00 a.m. English & Spanish Services 567-8241 Hermiston Jr. Academy 1300 NW Academy Lane, • Hermiston The Full Gospel Home Church 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 First United Methodist Church Hermiston 191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002 Nursery available Check us out on Face Book Worship Livestream at herfumc.com Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 PM Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston t. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. 1520 W ORCHARD AVE Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE, SERVING PEOPLE www.hermistonnazarene.org To share your worship times call 541-278-2678
