WACO, Texas — Devastating house fires can leave people without a home, clothes or belongings. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to hear that, for one reason or another, the homeowner doesn't have insurance to step in.
Here's what to do if you find yourself in the same situation.
Texas law does not require home insurance, but banks do require it as a condition of your mortgage.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says even though it can be expensive, not having insurance can be dangerous.
"If there's a big loss, do you have the resources to replace it," Ben Gonzalez with the TDI said. "For some people, they may, but for most of us, insurance is a way to cover those big financial losses."
Before signing, shop and get several quotes.
"Most companies offer discounts if you can reduce your risk of having a loss," Gonzalez added. "Usually it's things like having fire sprinklers or an alarm system."
Make sure you understand what you're signing.
"Usually the front page of your home policy is called the declarations page, that's going to tell you the basic coverages that are included with the policy and also what's excluded," Gonzalez said.
Flood insurance is typically not covered, so for this, you'll need a separate flood policy.
Another thing to remember, the higher you set your deductible, the lower your monthly bill will be.
As far as other options people have if they don't have insurance, organizations like the American Red Cross are just one phone call away.
"Since Jan. 1, we've responded to 120 calls for help," volunteer Richard McAlister said.
A volunteer will typically show up within an hour or two.
"They will come with a debit card that has some financial assistance on it," McAlister said. "They'll also bring other necessary items like a hygiene kit or a Red Cross blanket."
The volunteer will learn more about the family and figure out what resources they need.
"This may be your first time to have a home fire, but we go down this path every single day and we're really good at helping people get started on the road to recovery," McAlister added.
For help, the American Red Cross hotline is 800-733-2767. Their website can be found here.
For questions about insurance, you can contact the Texas Department of Insurance helpline at 800-252-3439.
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