It was a highly above average meeting with new information presented by two state insurance representatives.   Sadly, most of the big take aways, were not happy thoughts. 
The state HAS programs in place that coordinate the FAIR PLAN which is California issuing insurance companies forced to take a portion of the state’s “risky business”.   You can contact one of 1,400 California Insurance Commission crew to find out about the Fair Plan, how to appeal rulings and other insurance issues.  

1-800 - 927-4357 or insurance.ca.gov 

THAT’S 1-800 - 927-4357 or insurance.ca.gov. 

Many North State residents are currently underinsured or going without.  How are we going to deal with this when it hits critical mass adding more to our homeless rosters?  

The Federal government owns over 45% of the land in this state!  How can we advocate for more responsibility taken by the feds such as controlled burns, maintaining respectful fire danger zones next to residents and so on?  

Less than 1% of Californians have earthquake insurance? How can we, and the government, Federal on down, prepare for the almost guaranteed worsening of this situation?  Fire, floods, and winds and quaking earth will be our constant companions.  We ALL will have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

RESPECT to Louise Wilkinson and her Lake California crew for successfully creating a “Fire Wise Community” at Lake Shasta.  Truly a model for others to learn from and be inspired by.  

Kudos to Supervisor Candy Carlson and tech wiz Liz Merry and the gent who kept pulling chairs into the room as folks filled in, others behind the scenes, and the well behaved full house audience!

Last night, after the meeting we came up with some ideas and solutions to think on.  Your comments as always are welcome and appreciated.

Insurance 

Creating a sustainable and affordable insurance model for homeowners in disaster-prone areas, especially those on a fixed income, requires a balance between risk management, financial viability, and social responsibility. Here are some innovative ideas for such a model:

1. **Tiered Coverage Options**: Offer different levels of coverage with varying premiums and deductibles. Homeowners can choose a plan that best fits their budget and risk tolerance. Lower-tier options would cover essential repairs to make a home livable, while higher tiers could offer full replacement value.

2. **Disaster Savings Accounts**: Similar to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Disaster Savings Accounts (DSAs) could be a tax-advantaged way for homeowners to save for disaster-related expenses. Contributions could be made by the homeowner, government, or through community pooling.

3. **Community Risk Pooling**: Create community-based insurance pools. Premiums and risks are shared among a group of homeowners in the same area. This can lower individual costs and encourage community-level disaster preparedness.

4. **Income-Based Premiums**: Adjust premiums based on income, ensuring that insurance is affordable for those on fixed incomes. This could be supplemented by a government-backed reinsurance program to offset the increased risk to insurers.

5. **Mitigation Incentives and Discounts**: Offer significant discounts or lower premiums for homes that incorporate disaster-resistant features. Additionally, provide subsidies or grants for homeowners on fixed incomes to upgrade their homes to meet these standards.

6. **Catastrophic Bonds and Insurance-Linked Securities**: Utilize catastrophic bonds or insurance-linked securities to transfer some of the risks to investors. This can provide insurers with additional capital in the event of a disaster, without overly burdening homeowners with high premiums.

7. **Use of Technology for Risk Assessment**: Implement advanced technology (like AI and big data analytics) for more accurate risk assessments. This can help in appropriately pricing the premiums and reducing the cost of operations for insurers.

8. **Government-Backed Reinsurance Layer**: Have a government-backed reinsurance layer that kicks in for catastrophic losses, keeping insurance companies from facing bankruptcy after a major disaster.

9. **Flexible Payment Plans**: Allow homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes, to pay premiums in more flexible ways, like monthly or quarterly payments, to ease the financial burden.

10. **Education and Preparedness Programs**: Partner with local governments and organizations to provide education on disaster preparedness. Well-informed homeowners can reduce the risk and severity of damage, leading to lower claims and more sustainable insurance premiums.

These ideas aim to balance the need for affordable insurance for homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes, with the financial sustainability of insurance companies. They require collaboration between insurers, governments, and communities to be effectively implemented.