Before the fire was completely out the insurance agent had gotten him some clothes to wear, a hotel room and a place for his dog. These things would have been done for him by the insurance company even if the policy had been burned up with the rest of his possessions, but it would have taken much longer. It wasn't the best night of his life, but he didn't spend it shivering in his car with no warm clothes to wear and no place to go, waiting for morning so the agent could check out his coverage in the computer files. That little piece of paper meant safety and comfort for him in an unsafe and uncomfortable situation. If you buy a bagel, you leave with a bagel.
Insurance is an intangible product.
Paper is the only proof of that product. For this reason Gorum advises people to keep insurance policies that cover destruction of a home, such as fire coverage, somewhere other than in that home. He suggested a safe deposit box, a trusted neighbor, an adult child, parents, or even the office of the insurance agent. That way the paper proof of product is still intact even if the rest of the home is destroyed. Gorum said all other policies could be kept safely in the home since the insurance agent can produce another copy as needed.