In Jim Cook's Archive

FIRE INSURANCE

When I was a young man, I sold fire insurance on homes and businesses. There was no such thing as a homeowner’s policy with its broad coverage. What we sold was called fire and extended coverage. The latter included wind, hail, vandalism, riot and civil commotion. When I delivered the policy to my clients, I would recite this list of coverages. Often we would get a chuckle over the mention of riot and civil commotion. Back then nothing could be farther from the realm of possibilities. That was something that happened in third world countries and not here.

The insurance companies have to be hurting with the losses from fire and vandalism. There was always an exclusion in these policies for military actions. I’m wondering if calling in the National Guard would throw out any of these claims. Hopefully it won’t, because most of the damage was done before the National Guard entered the fray.

 

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