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When Scotts Valley City Manager Mali LaGoe suggested holding a community meeting to address the current threat of wildfires and the insurance crisis that comes with it, there was hesitation over whether people would would attend or not.

Well, that question was answered last Tuesday evening when hundreds of people gathered at the Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center to hear fire and insurance professionals address their many concerns. Although the CZU Fire literally exploded on the scene nearly four years ago, it became clear to those present that this horrific event persists and haunts much of the county’s population.

As the audience filtered in, I felt a note of collective anxiety and unease, as if the presentation was something they needed to hear, but the message and words weren’t getting through. ease their discomfort. They hoped, however, that the session could provide at least some clarity on the future of the wildfire threat and relief from the very real exposure to the financial pit they face from insurance premiums. I think the meeting achieved these goals for many in attendance.

Scotts Valley Deputy Mayor Derek Timm was the moderator and introduced fire professionals who guided the audience on the importance of “hardening” your residence by eliminating combustible materials around the perimeter of the home and preserving safety margins in the corridors of 5 feet and 30 feet which surround the residence.

Non-combustible roofs play one of the most important roles in the safety of a home and, as we’ll hear later, one of the most important factors for insurers to consider. My heart sank a little when the Cal Fire representative let me know that trees too close to the perimeter of a home pose a viable threat and need to be addressed. Thinking about my own garden, I wondered if our flowering plum, crepe myrtle, and beloved Japanese maple were really a true enemy of fire safety and a hotbed of evil. Apparently, if they grow too close to you.

I was pleased that Scotts Valley Battalion Chief Chris Stubendorff emphasized the importance of preparing families for impending catastrophic circumstances. Simply knowing evacuation routes, communication protocol, and survival kit items has proven to be very informative in dealing with fire threats and disasters. Perhaps its most disappointing, but most important, message was that everything is replaceable, except life. Survival is the most important priority, with possessions coming a distant second.

Next, a representative from a group called Firewise USA introduced a collective that works together, neighbor to neighbor, to reduce the risk of wildfires in their community. It was comforting to know that individuals are taking their safety responsibilities personally and to new levels and adding another level of protection for themselves and their families.

The second part of the program focused on home insurance. Fire safety and home hardening are important topics, but I believe the uncertainty surrounding insurance availability and premiums is the source of much of the unease people feel about this issue. Edan Cassidy of Cassidy Insurance gave a very good summary of the challenges people face when experiencing cancellations and premium increases.

A representative from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner said that with 7 of the 12 largest insurance companies restricting their activities, this is indeed a crisis. He offered a glimmer of hope that the California FAIR plan becomes more effective and that if some of the commissioner’s reforms are approved, at least one company will re-enter the market to provide much-needed coverage.

Perhaps the most dramatic moment came when Deputy Mayor Timm asked by a show of hands how many people had had their insurance coverage canceled. Almost everyone raised their hands. Sobering.

I’m not sure everyone left that meeting with a certain level of comfort. There are still a lot of unknowns, but I was impressed by the maturity of the participants. Although they probably didn’t like everything they heard, they seemed to accept the answers to questions that had lingered for too long.

If you would like to watch this event on YouTube, go to tinyurl.com/3bwr4rp2.

Randy Johnson is Mayor of the City of Scotts Valley. To reach Johnson, send an email (email protected) or call 831-438-0633.