Insurance helps fire recovery

12/1/2003 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- When a fire destroyed the home of Airman 1st Class Brandon Voges and his family at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., the flames, smoke and water damaged everything they owned -- furniture, clothes and electronics.

Despite this tragedy, the Voges family said they are not worried. An investment of $9 a month has guaranteed the replacement of nearly all their belongings. Voges invested in a renters insurance policy a few years ago that provided coverage for his personal property.

Renters insurance is like car insurance, but (covers) your personal assets, said Voges, a firefighter with the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron at Minot. Everyone has car insurance.

When tragedies like this or natural disasters like floods hit, there are few alternatives for uninsured people living on base or renting housing off base, said Brig. Gen. Charles Dunlap Jr., Air Combat Commands staff judge advocate.

One of their options is to file damage claims with the local staff judge advocates claims office, but not all claims are approved.

I dont think enough of our people understand the importance of renters insurance, Dunlap said. Im especially concerned that people living on base dont think they need it.

Voges said he recommends that people not only purchase renters insurance, but also maintain an inventory of personal property, from large items to clothes and shoes. The insurance company uses the inventory to help determine the payout amount. An inventory also gives the renter a good estimate of the value of his or her personal property so that an adequate amount of insurance can be purchased.

Voges experience may help other military-housing residents understand the value of renters insurance.

Well be fine, he said. Renters insurance helped for sure. (Courtesy of ACC News Service)