Cost estimates are continuing to rise, AccuWeather now puts it at $250B-275B.  That is almost triple Katrina and in the neighborhood of the bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis.  There's no way the insurance companies can cover that kind of loss.  Money printing is going to be necessary.

Despite this, all the officials repeat the usual post-disaster platitudes about it being only property that can be rebuilt and replaced and there will be disaster relief loans etc etc etc.  Meanwhile, FEMA is already denying applications but don't worry it's just because everything isn't filled out correctly on the paperwork so call them up and resubmit and eventually maybe you'll get some help when they figure out where the money will come from because they don't have it now which is why they are rejecting any paperwork that is getting filed now.  Not sure how much money FEMA has in their bank account to dish out, but I guarantee it's not $250B.

Of course the fires are still ongoing and everyone is still in the emergency shelter phase so the complaining hasn't really started yeet.  Wait until a month or so after the fires are out and they still don't have housing or rebuilding money and/or can't find a contractor to even clean up the rubble.  It's going to be just like the aftermath of Katrina, except now it's not poor black folks in NOLA slums it's upper middle class entertainment industry people.  They will not be happy.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/13/la-fires-wildfire-economic-losses

RE