January 24, 2019
Partnership With Native Americans Brings Added Support to Tribal Communities with Disaster Preparedness Handbook
RAPID CITY, S.D., Jan. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA), a nonprofit serving immediate needs and supporting long-term solutions for Native Americans living in reservation communities, is collaborating with Preparedness Matters to raise awareness about the realities of disaster aid on the reservations and distributing The Native Family Disaster Preparedness Handbook to reservation partners in the Northern Plains. The handbook provides culturally relevant guidance and tips for reservation-based families and tribes on how to prepare for and respond to disasters.
“While we can’t prevent disasters from happening, knowing what to do beforehand can help individuals avoid some of the physical, financial and psychological distress that results from these events,” said Sean M. Scott, a co-author of The Native Family Disaster Preparedness Handbook. Tribal citizens who will receive the handbook have committed to advance disaster planning on their reservations.
Developed with input from Native groups, this resource offers crucial knowledge that can strengthen tribal family and community resiliency and hopefully prevent Native people from becoming victims. “We are honored and privileged to have played a small role in this important project to prepare Native families,” said Davis, who along with Scott has done extensive work in disaster literacy in underserved communities.
When disaster strikes, PWNA responds quickly with disaster relief for tribal communities in need of supplies for displaced families. With recent grant funding, PWNA is also supporting long-term emergency preparedness in tribal communities, through training, networked collaboration and access to resources such as the handbook.
“Weather extremes and geographic isolation are immediate concerns for Native Americans, especially in recent years,” said Mark Ford, director of major gifts and partnerships for PWNA. “There’s an increased need for tribal citizens to prepare for disasters and educational resources are crucial to recovery in reservation communities.”
PWNA will distribute the handbook to tribal partners this winter, along with additional online resources for emergency preparedness.
About Partnership With Native Americans
PWNA is a nonprofit committed to championing hope for a brighter future for Native Americans living on remote, geographically-isolated and impoverished reservations. Established in 1990, PWNA collaborates with reservation programs to serve immediate needs and support long-term solutions for strong, self-sufficient Native American communities, improving the lives of 250,000 Native Americans annually. Follow PWNA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, or visit www.nativepartnership.org.
Contact:
Helen Oliff / PR Manager
Partnership With Native Americans
O: 540-825-5950 Ext 205
holiff@nativepartnership.org
March 13, 2018
New Book Secrets of the Insurance Game Exposes the Pitfalls of Post-Disaster Property Damage Claims, Helping Homeowners Level the Playing Field
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The book that insurance adjusters don’t want you to know about, Secrets of the Insurance Game: What You Need to Know About Property Damage Claims, by Sean Scott, has been released and is already raising eyebrows.
Author and disaster recovery expert Sean M. Scott is a restoration contractor who has spent nearly four decades in the construction and restoration business. Throughout his career Scott has worked on literally thousands of property damage claims and has witnessed firsthand the trauma people experience when their homes are damaged or destroyed and their most prized possessions are lost.
From wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods, to a burst pipe, overflowing toilet or kitchen fire, disasters come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Once an insurance claim is filed, things often spiral out of control and this is where survivors can evolve into victims.
In Secrets of the Insurance Game, Scott exposes many of the difficulties disaster survivors face when dealing with the insurance claim process and the unique challenges and complexities most people aren’t aware of.
Scott emphasizes that following a disaster, most people assume that their insurance policy will take care of everything. After all, crisis events are the reason why we pay for insurance in the first place — so that our paths to normalcy will be quick and relatively painless. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and all too often, policyholders find themselves unable to rebuild, forcing them to abandon their homes and start over. What people don’t realize is that insurance adjusters have another set of rules they use when settling a claim that is not spelled out in the policy language. Once a claim is filed, the agent passes the baton off to an adjuster and here is where the real trouble can begin. The book also explains the role restoration contractors play and what to be aware of when selecting restoration professionals, public adjusters, or legal representation.
“I wrote Secrets of the Insurance Game to remove the mask of mystery that shrouds the insurance claim and restoration processes,” said Scott. “Almost everyone experiences some form of property damage or loss at some point in their lives. What’s tragic is that the majority of people who go through the claims process don’t get all the benefits their policies afford them, or they find out too late that their policy was inadequate to cover all the damages.”
Secrets of the Insurance Game exposes many of the struggles families face during the claims process – even when they are fully ‘covered’ by insurance. Scott said that very few people know what to do when they’re faced with lowball repair estimates, unfair claims practices, being told “no,” or “we don’t pay for that,” etc. This often leads to legal battles, extended time of displacement, and out-of-pocket expenses to fight back against the companies they trusted to protect them.
Secrets of the Insurance Game is a compelling and serious look at everything from better understanding the role of the insurance adjuster and how to get an accurate repair estimate and inventory of your personal property; to the things your adjuster may not pay for and how to select the right contractor. The book contains a vast array of essential tips that can help make sure one disaster doesn’t turn into another.
Scott is also the author of The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors, a disaster recovery guide endorsed by fire departments, emergency management agencies and relief organizations around the country. For more information on the Secrets of the Insurance Game or The Red Guide to Recovery, visit www.TheRedGuideToRecovery.com
Media: Copies of Secrets of the Insurance Game are now available to media for review. For more information or to arrange interviews with author Sean Scott, contact Paul Williams, at 310/569-0023, paul@medialinecommunications.com.
June 17, 2015
Fire Departments Get “Red Guide to Recovery” — New Tool to Protect Disaster Survivors from Getting Victimized
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– According to the National Fire Protection Association, there is an average of 487,500 structure fires each year – causing an estimated $9.5 billion in damages. That is roughly one structure fire everhttps://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/home-structure-firesy 65 seconds. Plus flooding, tornadoes, hail, wildfires, and other disasters cause additional billions in damages to countless homes, businesses, and communities.
Once the fire is out or the storm passes, people find themselves faced with the daunting task of trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. This is when contractors, public adjusters, cleaning companies, and other “disaster chasers” show up to cash in. With the lure of a big insurance payday, vulnerable disaster survivors become prime targets for those who make a living off of disasters. Although some companies that chase disasters may be legitimate, many are not. All too often, people who have suffered the loss of their homes fall prey to scams, misinformation, or high pressure sales tactics that ultimately devastate them further.
Until recently, when first responders left the scene of a disaster, the survivors were left to figure out their recovery on their own. Now fire departments have a new tool to help people get back on their feet that also raises awareness of the many pitfalls that present themselves in the aftermath of disaster events. It’s called The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors.
Written by Sean Scott, a restoration contractor with over 35 years of experience in construction and disaster restoration, this unique book walks disaster survivors step-by-step through the recovery process in a detailed, but easy-to-read format. It covers a wide range of topics including how to avoid scams, how to handle insurance claims, safety tips, hazardous material precautions, smoke and water damage issues, and much more.
Recently adopted by the City of Los Angeles Fire Department, the City of San Diego Fire – Rescue Department and the City of San Francisco Fire Department, The Red Guide is routinely handed out after structure fires as well as large-scale disaster events.
“When we saw The Red Guide for the first time, we knew we wanted to be able to provide this to the residents of the City and County of San Francisco to give them some direction and to assist them in beginning the recovery process as soon as possible,” said San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes–White.
“After seeing what people went through after wildfires swept through San Diego County in 2003 and again in 2007, which destroyed over 6,000 homes and damaged countless others, I felt compelled to create a resource for first responders so they wouldn’t have to leave people empty handed,” explained Scott. “To this day, there are vacant lots in my community where homes used to be that are stark reminders of the lives that were forever changed by the fires. Most of those families will never return home and were victimized by circumstances that in many cases could have been avoided. The Red Guide provides first responders with a lifeline they can hand out free of charge, so people will have the information they need to rebuild their lives.”
May 28, 2014
Emergency Management Agencies Adopt “The Red Guide to Recovery” as Disaster Recovery Tool
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Emergency management agencies including the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, and the Northeast Colorado Emergency Managers Group, have adopted a new tool that is helping disaster survivors in their communities rebuild their lives. The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors, written by San Diego author Sean Scott, is a recovery road map that walks disaster survivors step-by-step through the days, weeks, and months that follow a disaster event.
Originally created for San Diego County after wildfires devastated Southern California in 2003 and again in 2007, The Red Guide provides valuable insight that raises awareness of the many issues and pitfalls that often transform disaster survivors into disaster victims. In light of recent further wildfires in the San Diego area, the Red Guide to Recovery is more essential than ever.
“When first responders leave the scene of a disaster, the survivors are usually left to figure out their recovery on their own,” said Scott. “For those who have lost their home or become displaced, this can be the beginning of a nightmare. Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, wildfire, flood, or even a kitchen fire, few are prepared for what the recovery process entails.”
“When first responders have this resource on hand,” added Scott, “it allows them to provide disaster survivors with the information they need when they need it most – immediately after a disaster event. It also plays a vital role as a preparedness tool that is helping communities prepare for recovery.“
With an increase in major disasters affecting the U.S. each year, more emergency management agencies and fire departments around the country have adopted The Red Guide as their resource to hand out after disaster events.
“The Red Guide to Recovery is a comprehensive resource that provides up to date information to individuals and families who must begin navigating through the complicated and often confusing process of recovery following a fire or other destructive event,” said San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White. “When we saw The Red Guide for the first time, we knew that we wanted to be able to provide it to the residents of the City and County of San Francisco to give them some direction and to assist them in beginning the recovery process as soon as possible.”
“Los Angeles is susceptible to a large variety of emergencies, both natural and human caused,” said James Featherstone, General Manager of the Los Angeles Emergency Management Department. “Therefore, not only should our residents be prepared for these emergencies, they should also know what to do after the emergency to stay safe and recover as quickly as possible. This guide will help them do that.”
January 24, 2014
“The Red Guide to Recovery” Book Provides Valuable Disaster Recovery Tips For Homeowners
The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors fills a previously unmet need and guides individuals and families through the disaster recovery process.
When first responders leave the scene of a disaster, the survivors are usually left to figure out their recovery on their own. For many, this can be the beginning of a nightmare, especially if they haven’t prepared for recovery in advance. The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors was designed as a road-map to walk disaster survivors step-by-step through the days, weeks, and months that follow a disaster event, while raising awareness of the many pitfalls that often transform disaster survivors into disaster victims. Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, wildfire, flood, or any other type of disaster few people are prepared for what they may face or understand what the recovery process entails – until now.
The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors is a tool now being used by fire departments, emergency management agencies, relief organizations, and others as a go-to resource to build community resiliency and help those affected by disasters rebuild their lives. Recently,the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the City of San Francisco, the County of San Diego, the Northeast Region of Colorado, and other communities have adopted The Red Guide and are providing it to their first responders and recovery stakeholders. This allows those who are affected by a disaster to have the information they need when they need it most – immediately after a disaster event.
“After witnessing first hand the devastation caused by wildfires that swept through Southern California in 2003 and again in 2007, I recognized the need for a comprehensive, yet easy to read guidebook to help people navigate through the recovery process. It’s my hope that people will use the information contained in this book to make sound decisions during one of life’s most difficult trials.” said Author Sean Scott. “
Readers will learn about:
Emergency Repairs and Services
Displacement and Relocation
Disaster Relief and Financial Assistance
Homeowners and Renters Insurance Information
Personal Property and creating inventories
Smoke and Water Damage
Estimating the Cost of Repairs
Selecting a Contractor
Public Insurance Adjusters
Hazardous Materials
Safety After a Disaster
Recovering Valuables
Trauma Intervention and Grief Counseling
Avoiding Disaster Scams
And much, much, more….
October 9, 2013
San Francisco Fire Department Adopts The Red Guide to Recovery Book
This year communities across the United States have endured what seems like a swarm of natural disasters. Whether it was the tornadoes that razed Oklahoma City, the wildfires that swept through Arizona, Idaho and California, or the flooding that devastated Colorado, these and other disasters continually remind us that disasters often occur and cause multitudes of families each year to lose their homes and personal property.
Sean Scott, author of The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors, realized after the wildfires that devastated Southern California in 2003 and 2007 that disaster survivors were unprepared for what awaits them in the days, weeks and months following any type of disaster event. “Whether it is a wide-scale event like a wildfire, hurricane or earthquake, or a small-scale disaster like a pipe burst or kitchen fire, people need to know how to navigate the recovery process,” he says. “What people don’t realize is that when first responders leave the scene of a disaster, the survivors are left to face the daunting task of navigating through the recovery process on their own. For many, this can be the beginning of a nightmare. The state of chaos created by a disaster coupled with the lack of knowledge of what to do in the aftermath is what transforms disaster survivors into disaster victims.”
With the frequency of disasters increasing and the desire to help their communities become more resilient, the San Francisco Fire Department and the Northeast Colorado Emergency Managers Group have now joined the long list of fire departments, emergency management agencies and relief organizations that have adopted Scott’s book. Now first responders across the country have a comprehensive resource they can hand to disaster survivors when they are most vulnerable—immediately after a disaster event. Not only will this information addresses the pertinent issues disaster survivors will face, but it will also walk them step-by-step through the recovery process, Scott says.
Chief Joanne Hayes-White, fire chief of the San Francisco Fire Department, saw the guide after the 2010 San Bruno gas explosion and realized the value it would have for her community. “As a first responding agency, we are focused on the response and mitigation of an incident but know all too well that when we leave the scene, the road to recovery for most will be long and hard. When we saw The Red Guide for the first time, we knew that we wanted to be able to provide this to the residents of the City and County of San Francisco to give them some direction and to assist them in beginning the recovery process as soon as possible.”
The Red Guide includes important topics starting with a “Quick Start” checklist for the first 24 hours of recovery, followed by 14 information-rich chapters that cover displacement and relocation, disaster relief and financial assistance, homeowners and renters insurance claim issues, how to create an inventory of personal property, smoke and water damage, estimating repair costs, selecting a contractor, avoiding disaster scams, hazardous household materials, safety after a disaster, trauma intervention and grief counseling, and much more.
April 1, 2012
AMERIND and the Red Guide Share Vision of Recovery for Indian Country
The Red Guide to Recovery – Native Edition created to assist disaster survivors in tribal communities
(Santa Ana Pueblo—March 30, 2012) AMERIND Risk Management Corporation, in collaboration with Heritage Publishing & Communications, Ltd. (Publisher of The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors), is pleased to announce The Red Guide to Recovery: 2012 Native Edition which is now available as an e-book that can be downloaded from Barnes & Noble.
“We are honored to have been asked to participate in the creation of ‘The Red Guide to Recovery – Native Edition’. Valuable Resources such as the Red Guide are critical in the success of disaster preparedness in Indian Country, every Tribe should have this in their toolbox.” said Rod Crawley, Chief Operating Officer, AMERIND Risk Management. “Would you, and your family, be able to recover quickly if your community suddenly experienced a flood, wildfire, or some other disaster? How would the Native government remain operational? Experiencing a disaster can take a devastating toll and, if recovery assistance like this is available, having access to it makes the process quicker and less stressful” says Alec Grandon on behalf of the Tribal Risk and Emergency Management Advisory (TREMA).
Sean Scott, the author of The Red Guide to Recovery, says the electronic edition was created so that people who need disaster recovery or preparedness information can access it immediately by simply downloading the Guide onto a variety of mobile devices. “In situations where a hard copy of the Guide is not available, people who have an iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Android, BlackBerry, Nook, PC or other types of electronic tablets or smart devices can now get the disaster recovery information they need in minutes. Traditional printing can take weeks to produce and deliver hard copies and in post-disaster scenarios, timing is critical to educate disaster survivors so they clearly understand what course of action to take and what obstacles to avoid so they don’t become disaster victims.”
The Red Guide to Recovery – Native Edition was created to assist disaster survivors in Tribal communities by making available a single source of pertinent, easy to read disaster recovery information that will walk them step-by-step through the recovery process while raising awareness of the many pitfalls that may present themselves in post-disaster scenarios. The Guide can be used for pre-disaster recovery training, business continuity or contingency planning, emergency management, and complement individual’s disaster preparedness kits. If people understand what is involved in the recovery process before a disaster strikes, they will be far more resilient and better prepared. For more information on The Red Guide to Recovery: Native Edition, visit The Red Guide’s website, at www.TheRedGuideToRecovery.com
The Tribal Risk and Emergency Management Advisory’s (TREMA) purpose is to gather resources, distribute information, and provide training. Education is a key ingredient in emergency management and disaster preparedness. The goal is to assist Tribes in developing the tools necessary to ensure Native homelands, communities, and people are prepared, protected and able to recover. (www.tremaonline.org)
About AMERIND Risk Management Corporation
AMERIND is a multi-tribal federal corporation. Tribes united to create AMERIND in 1986 to protect themselves, their treasuries and their enrolled members from unforeseen or catastrophic losses.
AMERIND is owned by a vast majority of federally recognized tribes – Keeping our money working in Indian Country rather than profiting non-Indian organizations, is a great example of Tribal Self-Determination & Self-Governance.
AMERIND identifies, creates and manages affordable and sustainable self-insurance programs, products or services that protect housing, government infrastructure, economic enterprises and people within Indian and Alaska Native communities using financially responsible business practices that are culturally sensitive and flexible in meeting customer needs. AMERIND is headquartered on the Pueblo of Santa Ana while serving nearly 500 federally recognized tribes located in the State of Alaska and 31 other states. To learn more about AMERIND Risk Management Corporation, visit us online at: http://www.AMERINDRisk.org or call: 1-800-352-3496.
See original PDF at TREMA’s website: AMERIND and the Red Guide Share Vision of Recovery for Indian Country (PDF)
For Immediate Release: Contact: Nancy Harjo Serna at: (505) 404-5000 or Patrick Murphy at: (505) 404-5065
September 8, 2011
Red Guide to Recovery Now Available as e-Book on iTunes and Barnes & Noble
Comprehensive Handbook for Disaster Survivors Made More Accessible
San Diego, CA—September 8, 2011— With September decreed “National Preparedness Month” by FEMA, the current wildfire devastation taking place in the state of Texas, and recent hurricane and flooding troubles on the east coast, there could hardly be a better time for Sean Scott, author of the Award-Winning, “The Red Guide to Recovery – Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors,” to announce today that the comprehensive handbook for disaster survivors has now become available in e-book format through Barnes & Noble and iTunes.
The launch of the Guide as an e-book follows on the heels of a corresponding Red Guide to Recovery disaster recovery mobile app designed to help anyone who has or potentially could go through a catastrophic event.
The Red Guide to Recovery covers everything – from raising awareness of disaster scams, safety issues, displacement and relocation, hazardous material concerns, smoke and water damage, handling of personal property inventories, dealing with contractors, interacting with insurance adjusters, finding or contacting loved ones, and much more. The Guide is specifically designed to assist disaster survivors by making available a single source of pertinent user-friendly recovery information that expedites the recovery and rebuilding process.
The e-book edition was created so that people who need disaster recovery information can access it immediately by simply downloading the Guide onto a wide range of mobile and/or electronic devices. In situations where a hard copy is not available, people who have an iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Android, Nook, Blackberry, PC, or other types of electronic tablets or smart devices will be able to get the information they need in minutes.
“We feel we have developed the ultimate disaster preparedness tool,” said Scott. “Too often, in an actual disaster, crucial mistakes are made by survivors that can have serious long term effects. As a preparedness tool, The Red Guide to Recovery gives the reader insight into what the recovery process entails, which makes them far more prepared in the event a disaster should strike. Whether the disaster is a major event like a hurricane, earthquake, or wildfire or a smaller event like a pipe burst that floods your home or a kitchen fire, those who understand the recovery process not only reduce personal stress and enhance their ability to undertake their own recovery, but can also shape the future of their communities by their resilience to an event.”
The project compiles Scott’s 30-plus years of construction and hands-on disaster restoration experience coupled with exhaustive research on resources and information from relief organizations and government agencies such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, FEMA, the SBA, and numerous public safety and post-disaster professionals. Endorsed by the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross, and numerous regional Fire Departments, the original, award-winning printed version of The Red Guide is also available as a bulk-order item to municipalities, fire & police departments, emergency management agencies, and even companies proactively concerned with maintaining business continuity.