Many rustic regions have become popular home-building areas, placing more Californians in danger of brushfire than ever before. Since 1970, the population of 11 California counties – nine of them forested – has grown by more than 150 percent.

There are more than 200 California communities in urban/wildland areas that are considered high-risk.

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop should be there. With dismay, you discover that your home is filled with damaging water. Will your insurance policy cover this loss? That depends on the type of insurance you chose to purchase and how the water entered your house.

There basically are two insurance policies that deal with a homeowner's damage due to water -- a flood insurance policy and a homeowners insurance policy.

Before you pile your luggage in the car or get your airline tickets ready for that long awaited vacation, make sure that once you leave, you won't return to an empty house. IINC suggests you follow some simple guidelines before your next trip.

Wildfire season isn't limited to summer and fall any more.  Before things really heat up, California homeowners can take simple steps to protect their homes and neighborhoods against wildfires.

Another item to remember is to check and update your homeowner insurance. Unfortunately, some homeowners affected by fires discover that they're underinsured.

What is underinsurance?  Underinsurance describes when an insurance policy has a stated limit that does not adequately cover the replacement cost of the insured item. This could include a home, auto, jewelry or artwork. The process of adequately insuring property is also known as “insuring to value.”

In this article, IINC addresses underinsurance and how to prevent it.