COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County is at a “very high risk” for wildfire according to researchers at Headwaters Economics.
The risk is higher than 96% of all counties in the country, which is creating a growing issue with securing, retaining and affording insurance within Coconino County and across the western United States. This growing “Wildfire/Insurance Crisis,” is why the Coconino County Flood Control District and County Board of Supervisors are hosting a series of public work sessions to hear from national and state experts about how community preparedness can help address wildfire risk along with insurance premiums and explore what other communities are already doing that is making a difference.
The first session is scheduled for 1:15-2:45 p.m., Tuesday, June 3, at the Coconino County Administrative Building, 219 E. Cherry Avenue in Flagstaff, which can be attended in person or streamed online at youtube.com/coconinocnty. A recording will be posted online at the Coconino County Flood Control District’s website the following week.
“The rising costs of wildfire recovery and rebuilding are among the reasons home insurers are raising rates, issuing non-renewals and exiting risky locations,” says Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D., Senior Research and Policy Analyst for Headwaters Economics. She notes this problem is escalating as wildfires burn hotter, last longer, and more homes are in harm’s way, causing more damage and costing more money.
“We’ve seen how the skyrocketing cost of homeowners’ insurance is causing many to be underinsured or uninsured. This, of course, is a frightening situation for them, but also is causing a devastating cascading effect for communities throughout the region,” added Barrett. The good news, she says, is that there are ways to be proactive, and they are working for other counties. “We have the opportunity to learn about these together and formulate our own path forward.”
National statistics reveal that since 2005, more than 120,000 structures have burned, damages have exceeded $70 billion, and 46% of costs are incurred at the local level.
“As a County, we have had a front-row seat to, not only the destruction of forests and neighborhoods from wildfire and post-wildfire flooding, but also to the overwhelming expense and effort it takes to recover from these events,” said Patrice Horstman, Chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. “This is an extraordinarily complex issue that will require action and investment from the federal, state and local levels, and most importantly by individual property owners who will need to invest in hardening their homes and creating Firewise communities. Our goal with this series of work sessions is to educate the Board and the public about the issue and begin discussing options for addressing what will be a long-term challenge.”
Dr. Barrett and Doug Green, who manages Headwaters Economics’ Community Assistance for Wildfire, will be presenting at the County’s first public work session about the Wildfire/Insurance Crisis, Tuesday, June 3. Future topics to be discussed include home hardening tips, building codes, wildfire risk reduction at the neighborhood level, state and federal regulatory roles, and lessons from other communities at risk.