Tag: community resilience

California FAIR Plan Under Fire: Can Emerging Tools and Policies Ease the Pressure?

H. Cutner
California FAIR Plan

California’s Insurance Market Struggles Under Wildfire Pressures: Are We Headed for Another Bailout? California’s insurance market is teetering under the weight of relentless wildfire seasons, leaving consumers, insurers, and regulators to piece together a system that bears increasingly alarming cracks. With wildfires intensifying due to climate change and sprawling development into fire-prone areas, the state faces a financial quagmire deeper than anyone anticipated. Many are asking if another state-backed bailout is inevitable. The Wildfire Tipping Point Wildfires have become a year-round crisis in California, with the latest blazes in Los…

Read More

What Happens to 9,000 Burned Homes? Inside the Massive Cleanup After the Eaton Fire

Tate Ellison
Eaton Fire

Eaton Fire’s Devastating Impact The Eaton Fire, which ignited late on January 7, 2025, under fierce Santa Ana wind conditions, has left an indelible mark on Altadena and its surrounding communities. Covering over 14,000 acres, the wildfire destroyed a staggering 9,418 structures, damaged another 1,073, and claimed 17 civilian lives. Though containment has reached 95%, the scarred landscape and displaced residents paint a grim picture of the fire’s aftermath. The fire’s origins remain under investigation, with recent video footage suggesting potential electrical activity near the ignition point. Meanwhile, local utility…

Read More

Unveiling the Housing Crisis – Where Homeowners Are Losing Insurance at Alarming Rates

Logan B.
home insurance - Non-Renewals and where are the most in the US

Climate Change Sparks Surge in Dropped Home Insurance Policies The United States faces a quiet yet profound crisis as climate-related disasters reshape the home insurance market. According to a recent congressional investigation, more than 1.9 million home insurance contracts nationwide have been dropped by insurers since 2018. The practice of “nonrenewal” has surged, putting countless American homeowners in precarious positions. This shift has far-reaching consequences for mortgages, property values, and entire communities. Rising Non-renewals Expose the Insurance Housing Crisis Once considered a steady and predictable industry, the U.S. home insurance…

Read More

The Push for Stronger Building Codes Before the Next Storm

Live Insurance News
Stronger building codes

The Necessity of Modernizing Building Codes In many storm-prone regions across the United States, outdated building codes continue to leave communities vulnerable to the devastating impacts of natural disasters. As climate change intensifies the severity and frequency of storms, the need for robust building standards becomes increasingly urgent. Recent calls for updating these codes underscore their importance in protecting lives and properties, with particular emphasis on coastal areas regularly battered by hurricanes. Historical Lessons: Hurricane Andrew as a Catalyst for Change The catastrophic damage wrought by Hurricane Andrew in 1992…

Read More