With the LA fires contained, it is now time to pick up the pieces. LA County, the EPA and Army Corp of Engineers are providing a debris removal program for anyone affected by the fires. This is a FREE program and to qualify for it, you need to OPT IN before March 31. In my opinion, if you or anyone you know, who lost their home in the fires, they should opt in to this program. While there is debris removal coverage inside your homeowners policy (typically 5% of your dwelling coverage), this program seems to be much more robust and at no cost to you. In addition, the rough estimate of the debris removal, if you lost your home in these fires, could be as much as $175,000.
Here are the links to learn more about the program and to opt in.
In other insurance news, there has been an increase in tow truck driver scams in Southern CA. The way the scam works is, you are in an accident, but unbeknownst to you, you were possibly hit on purpose. Next, a tow truck shows up, pretty quickly, and offers to help. They offer to tow you to a local body shop. Then the body shop forces the driver to pay a large amount of money that is not covered by your car insurance to get your vehicle back.
Here is a direct excerpt from the Department of Insurance Warning:
"There are a few red flags drivers should be aware of to make sure they are not a victim of this type of scam:
Tow truck shows up within minutes of accident, you may not even have had time to call anyone yet.
Tow truck driver tells you which body shop your car is going to instead of working with you to identify where you want your vehicle to go.
Tow truck driver tells you someone will contact you by phone or asks you to sign documents.
Tow truck driver requests a rideshare for you.
The Department urges drivers if they believe they may be in a situation like this to verify the tow truck with your insurance company or wait for CHP to verify the tow truck was dispatched by CHP. Also, do not sign any documents until you have talked to their insurance company."
We know sometimes things that may seem too good to be true are. In this situation, the debris removal program is a good program and the tow truck situation is not on the up and up. Be safe out there and we are here if you need us.
Elizabeth's Corner
My wife, Elizabeth, is a Mom, an amazing wife and an incredible chef. She trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. She shares a helpful tip below.
Sometimes it is nice to have a little seafood. This months recipe is for Amazing Spicy Grilled Shrimp. The recipe is courtesy of Pat Rota.
Amazing Spicy Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients:
⅓ cup olive oil
¼ cup sesame oil
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons hot sauce
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon Asian chile paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
12 wooden skewers, soaked in water
Directions:
Whisk together the olive oil, sesame oil, parsley, hot sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, chile sauce, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Set aside about 1/3 of this marinade to use while grilling.
Place the shrimp in a large, resealable plastic bag. Pour in the remaining marinade and seal the bag. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp for 2 minutes per side until opaque, basting frequently with reserved marinade.
Enjoy!
Until next time, if you have questions, concerns, or need some advice, please call our office 949-484-7500.
