CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Live in base housing and don't have renter's insurance? For one base couple, renter's insurance may be their only hope to recover what they've lost.
The home of 1st Lt. Richard and Rachel Kerr caught fire April 20 after lightning struck their base housing unit during a severe thunderstorm. Lieutenant Kerr is a pilot with this 16th Airlift Squadron here and is currently deployed with the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Southwest Asia.
Ms. Kerr had just returned home from the gym when she noticed burn marks near the doorbell but didn't smell smoke or see any flames.
"I didn't even know the house was on fire until the alarms started going off," she said. "My neighbors across the street knew before I did."
While the base fire department was able to contain the flames to home's carport and attic, many of the Kerr's personal belongings were lost due to water damage.
"There is mostly water damage to our entertainment center, couches and tables," Ms. Kerr said.
Luckily the Kerr's have renter's insurance.
The United Services Automobile Association estimates the average renter owns more than $20,000 worth of personal belongings.
It's important to know that renter's insurance has both liability coverage and personal property coverage, said Ms. Kerr..
"My insurance agent recommended having between $30,000 to $50,000 of personal property insurance," she said.
USAA says renter's insurance is there to protect personal belongings in case a landlord won't cover the items lost from natural causes or theft.
Renter's insurance will cover items ranging from furniture and appliances to military uniforms and jewelry.
Since the fire, Rachel has been staying with her friend and neighbor, MaryEllen Crawford, whose husband, 1st Lt. Mark Crawford, is also a pilot with the 16 AS.
"The people here in base housing have been amazing," said Ms. Kerr. "Everyone has taken great care of me."
Once the fire was extinguished and it was cleared for Rachel to go back inside she was able to start the process of moving what wasn't damaged, out of her home.
"As soon as I could get into the house I did," she said.
Fortunately none of the Kerr's important information was destroyed by the fire or water damage.
We have a fire box that is full of our important information, power of attorney, passports, marriage license, stuff like that, she said.
The 437th Civil Engineer Squadron has helped Rachel take the first step in recovering from the fire.
"We've already assigned her to a new unit two houses down," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Todd, 437 CES commander.
Though recovering from the fire will take awhile, Ms. Kerr is trying to keep an optimistic attitude and hopes what has happened to her helps other families be more prepared for an event like this.
"I really encourage people to get the personal property insurance," she said.
Mrs. Crawford echoed those sentiments.
"It's important to check your policy and talk to an agent," she said.
No federal endorsement of USAA intended.