Wildfire Evacuations and Additional Living Expense Coverage
In June 2015, the Sleepy Hollow Fire pushed into Wenatchee’s northern neighborhoods and destroyed homes and businesses within hours. For many families, the hardest part wasn’t only the damage. It was figuring out where to stay and how to manage daily life away from home. That’s where additional living expense coverage comes in, and planning ahead makes it far easier to use.
Planning Around Washington’s Evacuation Levels
Washington uses a three-level evacuation system. Each level is a good reminder to take a specific insurance step.
Level 1: Be Ready
- Save your policy number and your insurer’s claim contact in your phone
- Record a quick video walk-through of each room for a home inventory
- Store copies of important documents in the cloud
Level 2: Be Set
- Pack medications, chargers, and essentials so you can leave quickly
- Keep receipts from this point on, since extra costs may matter later
Level 3: Go Now
- Leave immediately; nothing in the house is worth the risk
- Contact your insurer once you’re safe to start the claim process
How Additional Living Expense Coverage Works
If a covered loss like fire makes your home unlivable, additional living expense coverage, often called loss of use, can help pay the extra costs of living elsewhere. That can include a hotel or rental, higher food costs, and added mileage, usually limited to costs above your normal spending.
What About Evacuations Without Damage?
Many homeowners and renters policies include civil authority coverage, which can apply when officials order you out because of covered damage to nearby property. Precautionary evacuations without nearby damage may be treated differently, and time limits often apply, so it’s worth checking your policy’s wording.
Reviewing Before Next Fire Season
Winter is a calm time to confirm your loss of use limits and whether your dwelling coverage reflects today’s rebuilding costs. Blue Horizon Insurance & Financial Services in Wenatchee, WA can walk through your home insurance with you. Our post on umbrella coverage covers another layer of protection. Families in Wenatchee, WA and East Wenatchee can reach out to Blue Horizon Insurance & Financial Services anytime.
Related guides: Wildfire and home insurance in Chelan and Douglas County, does homeowners insurance cover wildfire smoke damage?, and for renters, renters insurance in Wenatchee.
Talk it through with a local independent agent
Blue Horizon Insurance is an independent agency at 12 S Wenatchee Ave in Wenatchee. We are not an insurance company. Our licensed insurance agents shop many insurance companies for you and explain the trade-offs in plain English. We have also been Ramsey Trusted / Dave Ramsey endorsed for 10+ years. See our Washington home insurance page for how we shop coverage.
- Call us: 509-293-7500 (Mon–Fri, 9–5)
- Text us (text only, not for calls): 509-300-3515
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