The 2020 California wildfire season may go down as one of the most destructive in history and while nearly 70% of Americans say they are concerned about weather-related disasters, less than half have a disaster plan, and 44% say they’re not sure how to prepare for wildfires.[1]
Preparing for wildfires is especially relevant for California residents as the state is listed as number one on the top 10 “Most Wildfire-Prone States” list, according to the Insurance Information Institute’s, with over 2 million properties at risk.
“Although it might be the last thing on your mind, a disaster could occur in any community at any time in California,” said Allstate community relations manager, Kyla O’Brien. “Allstate is here to help California communities prepare and be less vulnerable in the event of a sudden disaster. Creating an emergency kit for you and your family is step one.”
From Oct. 5 – 9, 2020, Allstate agents throughout California will provide 10,000 free disaster preparedness kits, first come, first served, while supplies last, to residents who wish to take that first step in preparing for wildfires. Residents can visit one of the participating Allstate agents and must adhere to social distancing guidelines, ie. wear a mask, when picking up a kit.
In recognition of their volunteerism, The Allstate Foundation will donate a $100,000 grant to the California Fire Foundation, on behalf of the participating agents. The grant will fund their wildfire disaster relief program, providing funding to smaller nonprofits to help with local community wildfire disaster relief efforts across the state. You can learn more about the California Fire Foundation and their programs here.
“We are extremely thankful for Allstate’s generous donation to our Foundation,” said Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation. “As the need for the California Fire Foundation’s programs continues to grow, especially given the recent unprecedented wildfires, their support and generosity make a tremendous difference to California firefighters, their families, and the communities they protect.”
To help protect people from wildfire danger, Allstate is also sharing simple preparation tips you can put in place immediately.
Allstate Wildfire Disaster Planning Tips:
- Build a Disaster Kit: It should contain basic supplies to last a few days without water or electricity. Essentials include water bottles, first-aid kits, flashlights, emergency blankets, hand sanitizer, and rain ponchos.
- Take a Home Inventory: Make a detailed list of your assets in case you need to file an insurance claim. Using a mobile app can be an easy and effective way to keep the list and take photos. Allstate offers its Digital Locker for customers to take a home inventory and securely store their information.
- Create a Household Emergency Evacuation Plan: It should include a family meeting place in your neighborhood that’s safe during and after the pandemic.
- Protect Your Home from a Wildfire: Keep flammable materials away from your home and create buffers using landscaping.
About the California Fire Foundation
The California Fire Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect. Formed in 1987 by California Professional Firefighters, the California Fire Foundation’s mission includes survivor and victim assistance programs and a range of community initiatives. cafirefoundation.org.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
Source:
[1]This poll was conducted July 9-11, 2019, on behalf of Allstate by Morning Consult among a national sample of 2,200 adults. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, education, gender, race and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/- 2.
This article was released by The Allstate Foundation.