As President Trump visited Los Angeles and met victims who lost their homes in the area's historic wildfires, he suggested that the future of FEMA is uncertain. The damage caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires is now estimated at up to $275 billion.

Pacific Palisades

More than a thousand structures have been destroyed and lives lost as wildfires sweep across parts of Los Angeles.

LA Wildfires

During a recent visit to Los Angeles, President Donald Trump made remarks indicating potential changes in the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In response to the historic wildfires in the area, which have displaced over 150,000 people and resulted in extensive damage estimated at up to $275 billion, the President suggested that state governments should take on a more significant role in disaster response, stating, "You don't need FEMA. You need a good state government." 

The wildfires, specifically the Palisades and Eaton fires, have destroyed nearly 12,000 homes. Among those affected is Jens Lindemann, a professional musician who lost his Pacific Palisades home. Lindemann, currently residing in Kansas, described the overwhelming challenge of recovery and praised FEMA for its prompt response despite being overwhelmed by the number of applicants seeking temporary housing and financial assistance for repairs. 

Experts in the insurance industry, including Carl Sussman, have cautioned about the economic implications of the fires, noting an expected increase in homeowners' insurance premiums due to the elevated risk. Despite the scale of the destruction, Sussman emphasized confidence in the ability of insurance companies to meet their financial commitments and cover claims. As cleanup efforts continue, fire victims face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives, despite light rain forecasted that could further complicate the situation. 



Trump declares US doesn't 'need FEMA' during LA visit

Nancy. Good evening to you. More than 150,000 people have been displaced by the L. A. Fires. Many of them are now in the process of trying to get help from FEMA. It is a sliver of a difference between crying between happiness and sheer anger. Jens Lindemann's Pacific Palisades home is one of nearly 12,000 destroyed in the L. A. Fires. A professional musician in the days following the fire, Lindemann returned to the ruins of his home to take some time to reflect. We spoke with him today from Kansas, where he was preparing for a concert tonight. He and his wife have just started the long road to recovery. We registered for FEMA immediately, and it has been as quick as one could imagine. But the system, it's overwhelmed right now. Thousands are turning to FEMA for help with temporary housing and repair and replacement cost. The agency's website states that applicants may have to undergo an inspection. Yesterday in Pacific Palisades, President Trump suggested the future of FEMA is uncertain. You don't need FEMA. You need a good state government. You have your own essentially FEMA. You fix it yourself. The president toward the damage now estimated at up to $275 billion. What does that mean for the average homeowners premium? We're going to see an increase in what people are paying based on their risk profile. Industry expert Carl Sussman. What kind of strain does this put on the insurance company? The insurance agencies? Well, there's no question that these dollars are huge, right? I'm not at this point seeing any indication that an insurance company will not be able to fulfill their obligations and pay their claims. Getting back to normal is years away for fire victims like Lindeman. This is not the time to talk about the fact that this could be too expensive. It's not too expensive. It's fixable now. Rain this weekend is expected to be light, but it could cause additional damage to these burned out areas as cleanup is underway. Nancy Police. Thank you.

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Gilimanuk

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LA Wildfires