Insurers leave Maui wildfire survivors in unsafe homes, families say

Maui residents whose homes survived last year's wildfires are grappling with toxic contamination and insufficient insurance coverage to restore their homes, leaving many unable to return.

Brianna Sacks reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

Many Maui homeowners are battling insurers over inadequate payouts for smoke damage after the 2023 wildfires, which left homes filled with toxic residue.
Independent experts estimate restoration costs up to four times higher than what insurers, like State Farm, are covering, leaving families displaced.
Hawaii lacks industry standards for assessing wildfire smoke damage, leaving insurers to determine what is safe.

Key quote:

“We are not trying to make money or profit off of disaster. We just want our houses cleaned. We want to know we are safe in our homes, and we don’t know that.”

— Maria Linz, Lahaina resident

Why this matters:

As wildfires increase due to climate change, more homeowners face costly battles with insurers over smoke contamination. Without standards or regulation, families are left at risk, both financially and health-wise.

www.washingtonpost.com

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