Meetings/20191102

Saturday November 2 2019 Kings Mountain Community Center Fire Insurance

Presented by David Shew ( [email protected] ) retired after 32 years CalFire

about 30% of current policy holders are losing policies.

over the past 4 years 50K structures damaged or destroyed. this is from CalFire data, which is now informing both the insurance industry and the building industries. expect building codes to tighten up. ( result; some up to code rebuilds in tahoe are around 500+_SQFT

New fire codes came into effect in 2008. given all the fires we know know more about what works.

• NFPA, US Forest Service a d State Fire districts are sharing data. this is good.
• many cities & counties did not adoppt the recommended fire building codes. oops. This may change with the upcoming maps ( 2 years over due, almost done allegedly )
• "you've made the decision to live in a fire prone area, so you have to help yourselves"
• California doesn't hae a wildfire problem. It's a wildfire ecology.
• records show little awareness of big wildfires in early settlemt days / gold rush? why? regular smaller fires everywhere.
• Grants? remember lots of grants are only for public lands and public rights of way.
• communities need non-profits ( 503c ) to receive grants.

Firewise

• paradise had 2 firewise community groups
  • 19K structures burned
  • 11% of pre-2008 fire code buildings survived
  • 54 % post-2008 fire code buildings survived
• embers are the greatest known risk

CalFire's publications don't mention practices which are not code enforceable!

Insurance Q and A

• state farm still writing on Kings Mountain. Not writing down hill in La Honda. State Farm's risk portfolio is too heavy with high risk, so they are not adding new risky policies.
• the California Fair Plan is not a State Plan rather is an Industry plan in response to the State
• insurance plan cancellations is due to all the insurers, and the re-insuring markets, rebalancing their portfolios to reflect increased risk.
• California is one of the few states which has regulations on insurer's rates
• if you lose your insurance go with a Fair plan right away, then start shopping.
• it seems taht State Farm makes decisions on more 'granular' maps than some of the other insurers.
• AIG insurance has it's own firefighters (!) some conflicts in Tahoe w CalFire; CalFire doesn't want to have to be rescuing AIG firefighters.

• review your lost assessment - get an insurance appraiser ( a fee ) to review your home.
  • Fair Plan wants a detailed list of what you have, in their formats.
  • debris removal - it's toxic waste
  • replacement costs are much higher than you anticipate. price gouging, material and labor shortages, etc.
• get insurance 'wrap' coverage a mix of Fair Plan and everthing else. AIG, Loyds, 'Travelers'

Wildfire claims are now equal to hurricane claims, and insurance companies are raising the wildfire rates accordingly

neighborhood activity

Note: the neighborhood up there has organized a mailing to state representatives, asking that the state adopt a set of recommendations from the California Department of Insurance. The neighborhood coordinators had pre-printed letters available for folks to sign, and pre-addressed envelops for people to use for the Governor and various state reps.