Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety will present on the
importance of maintenance and building material choices in reducing
wildfire risk
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers
Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV),
will host a symposium, “Mitigating
Wildfire Risk,” today in Lone Tree, Colorado. Held in partnership
with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and the
Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado, the event will
explore the science of wildfires and the latest research on prevention
and mitigation.
“Seconds, not minutes, can make all the difference in saving your
property, and your life, when a wildfire is approaching,” said Joan
Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute and Executive Vice
President of Public Policy at Travelers. “In 2018, Colorado experienced
some of the largest wildfires in its history. We hope this event helps
to raise awareness about the importance of early preparation and
provides practical steps for staying safe and protecting property.”
Today’s event will begin at noon Mountain time and will feature a
presentation, “Wildfire Today: Inside the Science that Drives
Resilience,” from Roy Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of
IBHS. Woodward will then moderate a panel discussion with the following
experts:
- Daniel Gorham, Research Engineer, IBHS.
- Eric Nelson, Senior Vice President, Catastrophe Risk Management,
Travelers.
- Carole Walker, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Insurance
Information Association.
- Thomas Welle, Manager, Denver Field Office, National Fire Protection
Association.
IBHS will be presenting findings from its extensive research on wildfire
risks and effective protection techniques and will also be sharing a
video that contrasts how two homes — one built and landscaped to be
wildfire resistant and the other built and maintained to common
standards — fared in a simulated wildfire ember storm.
“Education is essential to help reduce the risks posed by these deadly
fires,” said Wright. “Many people are unaware that 90 percent of homes
and buildings damaged or destroyed during a wildfire were first ignited
by windborne embers or other fires that were set by embers, and not by
the wall of flames we imagine. With that in mind, it’s important to take
precautions, such as maintaining a defensible space — including a 5-foot
noncombustible zone — to help keep your home safe in the event a
wildfire breaks out in your area.”
Travelers recommends the following precautions to help keep families,
employees and property safe:
-
Regularly clean gutters of materials that could ignite due to
windborne embers and trim tree limbs that may be too close to
buildings.
-
Use shrubs and trees that are more resistant to fire when landscaping
property. Rock, stone, crushed concrete, flower beds and gardens can
provide ground cover for bare spaces and may act as fire breakers.
-
Prepare a survival kit, map out an evacuation plan and create a home
inventory of all belongings. Review emergency plans and be sure to
designate a meeting place in case of separation during evacuation.
For more information on how to prepare for a wildfire, click here.
About the Travelers Institute
The Travelers
Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies,
Inc., engages in discussion and analysis of public policy topics of
importance to the insurance marketplace and to the financial services
industry more broadly. The Travelers Institute draws upon the industry
expertise of Travelers’ senior management, as well as the technical
expertise of many of Travelers’ underwriters, risk managers and other
experts to provide information, analysis and solutions to public
policymakers and regulators. Travelers is a leading provider of property
casualty insurance for auto,
home
and business.
For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190409005615/en/
Media:
Stephanie Arpin, 860.277.8876
sarpin@travelers.com
Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.