On April 18 1906, an early morning earthquake leveled much of San Francisco and started fires that lasted for days, destroying an estimated 500 city blocks and thousands of buildings. Insurance companies responded immediately and by December of 1906, the city’s insurance commissioner estimated $180,000,000 had been paid out to help San Francisco businesses and residents get back on their feet. It was said that very few companies went out of business because of the tragedy.

But… (isn’t there always)

By the summer of 1906, insurance companies were pulling out of San Francisco. According to the July 16, 1906 issue of the San Francisco Call

“Fillmore street and Van Ness avenue are facing an insurance famine. The Insurance companies will not take large risks on the new store buildings nor on stocks of goods on account of the wooden buildings. They have canceled hundreds of policies because of the increased risk along these two streets. Many other adjoining streets are also suffering from scarcity of insurance. On Fillmore street the property values have increased many times…Yet Fillmore Street is not carrying as much insurance today as it was before the fire. The number of new restaurants, the building up of former vacant lots and the hurriedly erected wooden structures have frightened the insurance companies. They have Increased the cost of insurance…. Even at this high rate they will not write the risks.“

You can click HERE for the rest of the story, but you get the idea.

San Francisco addressed this crisis by bolstering their fire department, encouraging the erection of brick/fire proof structures and more.

TODAY…

Today much of California is experiencing an insurance famine. Wildfires (and weirdly, city fires) over the last few years have destroyed thousands of structures and many insurance companies have pulled out of California. Others refuse to write new policies.

Cities like Santa Rosa, which was devastated by the Tubbs and Glass Fires have worked hard to educate the community on fire protection- and online resources abound. If you’re one of the unfortunate facing an insurance famine, here are some tips offered by uphelp.org. They include:

1) TRY AND GET YOUR INSURER TO REVERSE ITS DECISION AND RENEW YOU

2) DON’T PANIC, START SHOPPING

3) SHOP SMART

4) THE FAIR PLAN IS A LAST RESORT

If you strike out in the “normal” marketplace, you can buy home insurance through the California Fair Plan. Call them at (800) 339-4099).  www.cfpnet.com Please review our latest tips on insuring your home through the Fair Plan and supplementing the limited protection they provide by buying a “Difference in Conditions” policy in addition.

The CA FAIR Plan is a state-run home insurance program for people who can’t find a better option. Fair Plan policies provide only basic fire protection (no liability or theft) and cost more than a traditional policy. If you end up having to buy a Fair Plan policy, we recommend two things:  Shop again in 6 months. New options may be available. And, if you can afford to, add supplemental coverage for what a Fair Plan policy excludes.

Not all insurance agents are familiar with these options, so visit http://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/5-residential/carriersDICpolicies.cfm for more info.

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From Lynette: Please click here for more details on the above– and good luck !

About the photo- Source: Calisphere (find other striking photos HERE)