Los Angeles Wildfires

Source: NBC

The LA fires have been top of mind for all Californians, and our JEDI moment today brought some of the Osman Lab members’ concerns to light. We acknowledged the significant damage to life, personal property and infrastructure. One of our main concerns from an equity standpoint was the staggering number of insurance policies dropped in fire-prone areas in Pacific Palisades prior to the fire. We also discussed how Proposition 103, which prevents insurers from considering climate change impacts when setting rates, led to insurers not renewing a large number of homeowner policies in California between 2020 and 2022. Our lab’s focus on equity led us to brainstorming ways in which research can help addressing the inequities exposed by the fires, particularly the systemic barriers to insurance and recovery that leave vulnerable communities at greater risk.