What does rebuilding look like — and should we even continue to build in some of the areas affected by wildfires? Experts share their thoughts.
Key points:
- While local leaders are eager to rebuild, one expert says we can’t simply “do it the same way that we’ve done it before.”
- We need to “bring scientists to the table” to better understand the risks and climate trends, and when rebuilding, “wildfire mitigation measures” should be the top priority.
- Real estate agents should expect clients to be more conscious of climate risks when making homebuying decisions, but agents can also be a resource.
As tens of thousands of residents across the greater Los Angeles area remain displaced by the devastating Eaton and Palisades wildfires — which have now wiped out 40,000 acres and more than 10,000 homes and other structures — discussion is already underway about rebuilding and what that would look like.
How do we rebuild — and should we?
Before discussing how to rebuild, government leaders and the real estate industry may need to consider an uncomfortable question: Should we rebuild in areas that may continue to be at risk of future disasters?
“These communities have to be rebuilt,” said U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, whose district includes the Altadena and Pasadena areas, when asked this very question by Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan last weekend. “People love these areas, and…