Panhandle Wildfire Resources
The public is encouraged to call 2-1-1, visit 211texas.org, and monitor local media outlets for the identification of additional resources.
Texans can report damage to homes, businesses, and agricultural property using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool or iSTAT. The iSTAT survey can be filled out in English and Spanish online at damage.tdem.texas.gov and click on “Ongoing Wildfire Incidents".
Texans are encouraged to follow directions from officials, limit activities that may cause sparks or flames, and keep emergency supplies easily accessible. Texans can visit TexasReady.gov for wildfire tips, tfsweb.tamu.edu for safety information, and tdem.texas.gov to report wildfire damages.
TCEQ has put together an infographic which can be found here. This details the proper ways to manage wildfire waste.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE CENTERS:
Fairlanes Baptist Church
3000 Fairlanes Blvd
Borger, TX 79007
Friday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
RESOURCES:
Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund
Road Closures
USDA Disaster Assistance Programs
Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal
Fire Fact Sheets & Safety Tips (Home Fire)
TCEQ Carcass Removal Guidelines
Texas Animal Health Commission
After a Wildfire|Wildfires (cdc.gov)
After a Wildfire - Ready for Wildfire
Wildfire Safety | American Red Cross
Department of Environmental Quality: Advice for Returning to a Home that Survived a Wildfire
Wildfire and Insurance (rmiia.org)
DONATION LOCATIONS
For donating hay, feed, fencing supplies, or other livestock or ranch supplies:
East Location
Clyde Carruth Pavilion
301 Bull Barn Drive
Pampa, TX 79065
North Location
Canadian AH&N Ranch Supply
100 Hackberry Trail
Canadian, TX 79014
West Location
Hutchinson County Airport
1608 Airport Rd.
Borger, TX 79007
The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and insurers are committed to helping Texas residents prepare for and recover from the wildfires burning in the Panhandle. APCIA provided the information and resources below to help prepare your property for the threat of wildfire and assist with the recovery process if your home is damaged or destroyed.
APCIA encourages residents whose property was damaged or destroyed by the wildfires to contact their insurer through their insurers’ toll-free claims number, app, website, or by text to file their claim. Even if residents are still evacuated, they can reach out to their insurer to begin the claims process. Insurers are committed to serving their policyholders in their time of need by quickly reviewing every claim to pay for covered losses.
Homeowners and renters’ insurance policies generally provide coverage for additional living expenses if a covered loss makes your home uninhabitable. The additional living expense provision of your policy may help pay for things like temporary housing, laundry services, restaurant meals, and more, subject to the policy deductible. Residents should also ask their insurer if their policy has coverage for expenses incurred while they are evacuated.
APCIA offers the following tips for navigating the recovery process after a wildfire:
1. Contact your insurer to get the claims process started. While evacuated, contact your insurer. You do not need to wait until you return home before reaching out to your insurer. Insurers can be contacted via their toll-free number, app, or website.
2. Discuss coverage for temporary housing with your insurer. If you are not able to live in your home, your insurance policy may provide coverage for additional living expenses which can help you obtain temporary housing while you rebuild or repair your home.
3. Work closely with your adjuster. Adjusters will walk you through the claims process, answer questions, estimate damage, and settle your claim.
4. Beware of scammers and unscrupulous contractors. Work with your insurer first and do not get pressured into signing anything from a third-party vendor.
5. Stay up to date on payments. Continue to pay your mortgage and property taxes while you rebuild or repair your home.
6. Keep insurance while rebuilding. This is also a good time to evaluate your flood risk and consider your need for flood
insurance. Rainy seasons can trigger flooding and mudflows after a wildfire, neither of which are covered under a standard homeowners policy.
For those in an area that may be threatened, but have not yet been ordered to leave, there are steps you can take to protect your finances and reduce your risk.
1. Update your insurance policy. Contact your insurance company or agent to make sure your policy is up to date.
2. Create a home inventory. Use your smartphone to take pictures or videos of each room in your house and save it to a place where you can easily retrieve it, like the cloud.
3. Create five feet of defensible space. When there is a wildfire, embers are the number one enemy. Create a five-foot noncombustible zone around your home and deck, keep mulch and plants away from your home, remove dead trees and shrubs. These actions can help prevent embers from igniting vegetation or other items directly adjacent or connected to your home.
Additional APCIA Resources:
How to Make Your Home Ember Resistant
After the Fire Step-by-Step Recovery Guide
Tips for the Insurance Claims Process