SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Heidi Lange was among the first to rebuild after the deadliest wildfire in California history destroyed her home in 2018 along with much of the town of Paradise.
Residents have received annual premiums that near or exceed $10,000 — leaving many to wonder how they're supposed to rebuild their hard-hit community when insurance is so shockingly high for houses in an area that is supposed to be among the most affordable in California.
Seven of the 12 top home-insurers in California — including Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate — have paused or restricted new business in California, saying they can’t afford to take on new clients.
Carl Johnsen, a retired drywall contractor, has lived in the same house since 1979, when he moved to Paradise.
The Robinsons are paying $4,500 through the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan, and $750 with another insurer for supplemental liability coverage.
Persons:
— Heidi Lange, “, ”, Ricardo Lara, Michael Soller, Rex Frazier, Carl Johnsen, Johnsen doesn’t, Gene Robinson, Robinson, Lara, Soller, Kathy Ehrhart, ” Lange
Organizations:
FRANCISCO, Fire, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, California’s, Insurance Department, Paradise . Farmers Insurance, Farmers, “, Personal Insurance Federation of, Robinsons, FAIR
Locations:
California, Paradise, Personal Insurance Federation of California, Louisiana , Texas, Florida, Chicago