Many residents of the Louisville and Superior areas were stripped of their personal belongings in the wake of the devastating Marshall and Middle Fork fires last week. The flames engulfed nearly 1,000 homes and their contents, leaving some individuals without the important documents such as their driver’s license, birth certificate, insurance information, etc. In response to the wildfires’ destruction, the following information was pulled from various official resources to help individuals down the long path to replace important personal documents.
Insurance
For victims who have insurance:
According to a press release by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), if they have insurance and haven’t done so already, victims of the Boulder County wildfires should contact their insurance company and file a claim for the disaster-caused damage.
According to an article by Boulder Reporting Lab, or BRL, Granby Lawyer Natascha O’Flaherty recommends victims obtain a copy of their insurance policy if they don’t have it in their possession — a task which should be made easy for victims as insurance companies are, by law, required to provide copies of insurance policies for their clients within three business days.
In the meantime, both FEMA and O’Flaherty (per BRL’s reporting) recommend that victims keep copious notes of their disaster-caused damage and, if applicable, displacement experience. This may include photographs or videos of the damage, according to FEMA.
Also, victims should keep receipts for repair work and “all expenses related to the evacuation, such as hotels, meals, pet supplies and clothing,” O’Flaherty said, as cited by BRL. “These necessities are reimbursed under contents coverage and what’s known as additional living expenses, or ALE, coverage,” the lawyer told BRL.
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, or DORA, the Colorado Division of Insurance, or DOI, can help people with their insurance questions, whether that’s getting the contact information for insurance companies and agents or asking how to file a claim. Contact the Consumer Service Team at 303-894-7490 or 800-930-3745 (if you’re located outside of the Denver metro area), email [email protected] or visit the website, doi.colorado.gov.
For victims who do not have insurance:
According to a press release by Governor Jared Polis, individuals who are impacted by the Marshall and Middle Fork fires but don’t have insurance should consult the individual assistance fact sheet from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and apply for FEMA assistance online or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Individuals who are uninsured or have uninsured losses as a result of the fires can also apply for assistance from FEMA by downloading the FEMA app for smartphones or mobile devices or meet with FEMA Application Assistance staff from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Boulder County Disaster Assistance Center at 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette, CO, according to a press release by FEMA.
Prescriptions and other medically necessary devices:
Following the fires in Boulder County, DORA expects health insurance companies to waive any prior authorization for prescription refills or durable medical equipment for consumers any prior authorization, utilization review or medical necessity determination for patients transferred or discharged in the fire-affected areas, the press release stated.
How to get a new driver's license in Colorado
According to the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Colorado Department of Revenue website, if a Colorado resident’s driver’s license, identification card or instruction permit was lost, stolen or destroyed, the resident may qualify for a duplicate license for a fee. To get a duplicate of a lost, stolen or destroyed credential, the individual will need to visit a driver’s license office. For information on how to make an appointment at a local driver’s license office, visit the Colorado DMV appointment scheduling webpage.
How to replace birth or death certificates
According to the Replace Your Vital Records webpage of USA.gov, the official website of the United States government, replacing a birth or death certificate requires contacting the vital records office in the state or territory where one was born or died. According to the website, one should follow the instructions for their state to request a copy of a birth or death certificate and pay fees. To obtain a death certificate of another person, an individual will need to know the date and place of death.
To learn about Colorado’s requirements for obtaining a birth or death certificate, click here.
How to replace U.S. passports
According to the Replace Your Vital Records webpage of USA.gov, the official website of the United States government, replacing a U.S. passport requires reporting a lost, stolen or destroyed passport to the State Department. An individual can follow the steps using the aforementioned link to request a replacement of their U.S. passport online, by mail, over the phone or in person.
How to replace social security cards
United States citizens can replace a social security card by visiting the Social Security Administration website and following the instructions to request a social security card replacement online, by mail or in person.
How to replace credit cards
If your credit card was damaged or lost during the Marshall or Middle Fork fires, contact your credit card company directly or visit their website and follow the instructions to replace the credit card.
How to replace your will
Wills can be created using various methods. If a physical copy of your will was damaged or lost during the Marshall or Middle Fork fires, the means to replace the will depends on how your will was created.
For individuals who hired an attorney in the process of creating their will, they may be able to contact the attorney they used for a physical or digital copy. However, if someone was the single possessor of their will, they may have to create a new will.
For information and advice on creating, changing or other actions related to a will, visit FindLaw.com.
How to replace marriage or divorce documents
According to the Replace Your Vital Records webpage of USA.gov, the official website of the United States government, one should determine whether they need to replace a divorce decree – an official document from the court which grants the termination of a marriage and includes specific details from the divorce — or divorce certificate — a document issued by a state vital records office which shows that a divorce occurred but doesn’t include the same information as a divorce decree — before requesting a copy of either document.
To obtain a copy of a divorce decree, an individual should contact the county clerk’s office or clerk of the court for the county or city where the divorce occurred. To obtain a divorce certificate, use this webpage to locate and contact the vital records office of the state where the divorce occurred.
For information about obtaining a copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree or divorce certificate in Colorado, click here.
How to replace court ordered parenting agreements
In the case that someone needs to replace a parenting agreement — a written document created to outline the responsibilities of each person while caring for a child, usually created after a separation or a divorce between parents — contact the court where the agreement was ordered or the lawyers involved in settling the agreement.
