Here's what homeowners can learn from the 2018 wildfire season.

This year was one of the worst fire seasons in California's history. With thousands of acres burned and many properties lost, there's no denying that the fires were absolutely devastating. However, there are some things we can learn from this tragedy. Here are some of the takeaways from this fire season. Be Prepared Due to dry conditions and high winds, California's fires moved very rapidly. As a result, many homeowners were forced to evacuate their homes with very little notice. This reminds us of the importance of always being ready for an emergency situation. If a fire or other natural disaster is predicted to hit your area, be prepared even if you do not expect to be directly affected. For instance, create an emergency plan that you can enact at a moment's notice. Additionally, you should have an emergency kit already made. Your kit should include things like important documents, cash, food, water, and other essentials. If you are suddenly forced to evacuate, you can simply grab your emergency kit and follow the steps of your plan to effectively manage the situation. Update Your Homeowners Insurance Sadly, many homeowners affected by the fire attempted to file insurance claims only to learn that they did not have enough coverage to address all their repairs. This meant that the cost of their home repairs came out of their own pockets. To prevent this from happening to you, it's important to review and update your homeowners insurance coverage on a regular basis. Review your policy at least annually, and update your coverage to account for inflation, increasing property values, and changing labor and building costs. By keeping your policy up to date, you can ensure you have the necessary coverage when you need it most. This is what you can take away from California's wildfire season. Interested in securing the right homeowners insurance to protect against fire and all the other risks that your home faces? If so, contact the team at Weeks & Associates Insurance Services in Thousand Oaks, California. We are ready to get you covered today.