From Almost Home, by David Kirp:
Many homeowners discovered after the fire that they carried woefully inadequate coverage -- one policyholders' group named itself the Unexpectedly Underinsured Allstate Policyholders -- but by drawing on the force of their unified, well-connected voice, as well as on the support of the state's populist insurance commissioner, they wrung an astonishing concession from their insurers. Policies were upgraded retroactively, boosting the amount a homeowner could recover by an average of $200,000.These paragraphs describe one aspect of the dynamics of post Oakland-Berkeley firestorm of 1991.As Deirdre English learned, the lessons of the disembodied spirit taught by the old Japanese Zen masters translated with remarkable ease into the Zen of insurance settlements. "Just when the fire experience is encouraging you to detach from worldly possessions, purify your intentions, and all that," she wrote, "the realpolitik of your insurance policy rises up to inflame pride, greed, guilt, and every other unenlightened emotion you can think of.
"Experience the guilt," she counseled her fellow refugees -- but still "fight for your price."
Great catch...