The Human Cost of Inaction
Consider the hundreds of people who lost their homes in the LA-area wildfires. Many of them had homeowners’ policies dropped, leaving them scrambling to find new coverage—or simply going uninsured. They faced a nightmare scenario: losing not just the roof over their heads but also any financial safety net to rebuild. For these residents, the moratorium may feel like too little, too late.
I spoke with a family in Topanga Canyon whose policy was canceled in the fall of 2024. They tried shopping around, but every insurer they contacted either refused to cover them or offered sky-high rates. The family, strapped for cash, opted to go without insurance. Then the Palisades Fire struck, razing their hillside property. Now, they’re left with no resources to recover.
The blame game is in full swing, and many are directing frustration at both the insurance industry and Commissioner Lara. Yes, the insurers bear significant responsibility for aggressively cutting off homeowners in high-risk zones. But the Commissioner’s office is also supposed to serve as a watchdog, stepping in when companies profit from the state’s safer markets while abandoning communities in crisis.
