Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

CloudWatcher

(1,949 posts)
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 02:27 PM Jan 12

California fires are a *national* disaster

Just in case you're having any trouble feeling sympathy for the thousands of people losing their homes and jobs in LA, consider this:

After this disaster, fire insurance rates for everyone in the US will skyrocket.

Think it through. People won't be able to buy homes because they won't be able to afford the fire insurance required by the lenders. People with homes will be evicted because they can't continue to keep fire insurance on the homes they've bought. Many of the lucky few who have paid off their mortgage will drop fire insurance and "self-insure" against damages.

It will be in slow motion and won't be as cool disaster-porn as what's on TV now, but it's coming.

Ofc TFG won't do anything to help, but we should start demanding that the federal govt should provide low-cost fire and flood insurance. They keep talking about mitigation of harm done by climate change, well this is how it's getting real. If we start pounding the tables now, maybe in four years we could get some action.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
California fires are a *national* disaster (Original Post) CloudWatcher Jan 12 OP
The Government Southern_gent Jan 12 #1
It's math. WarGamer Jan 12 #2
Feds CloudWatcher Jan 12 #3
I'm not having any "trouble" at all. Cha Jan 12 #4
Yeah, me neither CloudWatcher Jan 12 #5
Since climate change is man-made... lame54 Jan 12 #6
 

Southern_gent

(97 posts)
1. The Government
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 02:37 PM
Jan 12

Is trying to get out of the insurance business. In all 50 states, the government offer a last resort insurance plan and its a danger to the state economy. Just look at what California and Florida have done to attract private insurers. The reality is the Government is woefully inadequate at managing that type of risk.

WarGamer

(16,142 posts)
2. It's math.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 02:38 PM
Jan 12

Let's say there are 100 houses insured. Each is worth $1M and pay $5000/year for insurance.

If 2% of those homes are destroyed per year...

That's $2M in payouts for the insurance companies who only bring in 100x5000 = $500,000 per year in premiums.

Insurance can't exist without the model of premiums paying for losses plus business expenses and profit.

CloudWatcher

(1,949 posts)
3. Feds
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 02:43 PM
Jan 12

State governments don't have the $ to do this. Neither really do the Feds, but the alternative is a massive wave of people losing their homes.

I'm open to alternatives, but doing nothing is going to destroy the housing market and the economy in general.

CloudWatcher

(1,949 posts)
5. Yeah, me neither
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 03:15 PM
Jan 12

The big divide between dems and the deplorables is empathy. But crazy high insurance rates are going to impact everyone, regardless of their politics.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»California fires are a *n...