This article was originally published in the Lynn Haven Ledger as an insurance article in August, 2015.
Lindsey fought to regain consciousness. It felt like she was swimming through muddy water, and she couldn’t breathe. What was that ear piercing sound?
Suddenly her eyes flew open and she knew. The smoke alarm. She bolted upright in bed as her adrenaline kicked in, coughing, as dense smoke filtered through the air like fingers of death reaching for her throat.
Lindsey was on her feet in an instant, still disoriented, but snatched her robe, purse, keys, phone, and laptop. What else, what else? She couldn’t think. Her brain was frozen, and her panicked mind kept urging her to run. Run as fast as you can to get away from certain asphyxiation.
She couldn’t remember putting on her shoes, but suddenly she was out the door, almost blind with smoke, but still taking the apartment steps two at a time, not stopping until she felt the outside air on her skin. She turned and watched in horror, her eyes wide, smarting and watering, as flames worked their way through her building, creeping remorselessly from room to room, igniting everything in its path.
She heard the sirens as if in a fog, and, on wobbly legs, tried to make her way to her car. Lindsey stumbled, and a Police Officer grabbed her before she fell.
“Are you ok?” he inquired. “Do you live here? Is there anyone else in your apartment?”
All she could do was shake her head as the tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Her face, she knew, was streaked with grime. She began to tremble uncontrollably, so the Officer helped her find a place to sit. He instructed her to wait there and he’d be back shortly to check on her.
The apartment fire was all over both the late night and morning news. The small town’s local news station showed up on the scene with microphone in hand, the burning building as a riveting backdrop. “We’re here on scene as firefighters are doing their best to put out the blaze at the Summerwood Apartment Complex. We’ve already spoken with the Fire Chief, who says he doesn’t yet know what caused the fire, but they haven’t completed their investigation at this point.”
“It could be faulty wiring, or someone smoking in bed, or any number of things,” said Chief Stevens. “We just don’t know yet. Our main job right now is to preserve property and make sure everyone gets out safely. We don’t want any loss of life.”
Lindsey’s cell phone rang, causing her to jump. She looked down at the number. It was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. She almost didn’t answer. In the end she was so glad she did! It turned out to be her insurance agent who had seen the news of the fire on TV, and remembered that that was where Lindsey lived.
Her agent, after making sure Lindsey was physically alright, reminded her of the coverages she had on her renter’s policy. Lindsey would very quickly have money for a temporary place to stay, and to get herself clothes and food for her emergency situation. Within a short time, after the claims adjuster had the chance to complete his report, she would be getting a check to replace her property.
Lindsey’s relief was palpable, and the tears she was now crying were tears of happiness, knowing she was going to be just fine.
Did you know most renter’s policies are very inexpensive? Depending, of course, on how much coverage you need, and other factors, many policies end up costing less than an extra-large pizza. That’s per month. Could you afford one extra-large pizza a month?
Or would you rather end up begging friends and family for a place to stay, clothes to wear, and nasty, used, and discarded furniture to put in your next apartment?
Do yourself, your family, and your friends a huge favor and talk with your insurance agent about renter’s insurance. They will thank you. Really. Then tell your friends to do the same.
