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Quote:
"Where will California get the money to pay for the cost of fighting these fires and to rebuild?"

To be honest? I haven't a clue. But we will. Most of the rebuilding will be done by individuals or housing associations. FEMA is apparently in the southland now, probably debating with Gray Davis... I'd wager that they'd help with the situation. Other than that? Well, rebuilding takes a while; this is not going to be a fast process. Especially in the Scripps fire region down in San Diego, where block after block of homes was destroyed... or in San Bernardino, where a huge canyon area of homes was destroyed. Those won't be rebuilt immediately.

Took approximately nine years to get Malibu rebuilt after the big fire there. Of course, those were multi-million dollar homes. The areas that're burnt in the current batch of firestorms range from mobile homes to mansions, with everything in between.

The biggest loss, besides the tragic loss of life, will actually be in the lost equity the homeowners will suffer. That's an irony that will not sink in until several months down the road.

The insurance will pay for the replacement cost of the physical structures in most cases. But if a home was once worth $1 million and burned, it will probably only sell for something like $700,000 after it is rebuilt, now that the area is less desirable.

Took approximately nine years to get Malibu rebuilt after the big fire there. Of course, those were multi-million dollar homes.

I have heard that the houses in Scripps region started at $one million price.

During the recent election Arnold said that he would not raise taxes except in the case of an emergency. Do you think this is that ememergency? I'd hate for him to have to start his term having to raise taxes.