what about insurance?

[lo-ka-hi]

Don't insurance companies charge us double to triple their usual premiums because of the lava risk in zone 1 and 2 to offset the risk of bankruptcy?

[Lodestone]

Got a reasonable quote today from www.hawaiiislandinsurance.com on our house in Hawaiian Shores. $1219/year, hurricane and FIRE FROM LAVA AND/OR VOLCANIC ERUPTION included. Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company doesn't have the best reputation, but at all things considered, I'm happy to be offered any coverage at all.

[kalakoa]

Insurance is a rigged game.

[MattKarma]

No, kalakoa, you are wrong, it's just like vegas; nice folks just tripping over themselves to give you free money!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

it's just like vegas

The similarity between insurance and Vegas is, they will both take your money.

The difference is when the lights and sounds on your machine in Vegas indicate you've won, they will pay you. When your insurance policy says you're covered and you file a claim, not so much.
Case in point, my neighbors had some damage during Iselle. When they filed a claim with their homeowners policy it was rejected because the storm had been designated a hurricane within 48 hours of landfall. Meaning it was officially a hurricane. When they then filed with their hurricane carrier, they were told Iselle was a 73 mph wind storm at landfall, and not a hurricane.

They still have not been paid. But both companies continue to accept their premium payments.

[kalakoa]

the storm had been designated a hurricane ... and not a hurricane ... both companies continue to accept their premium payments

Sounds like a scam to me...

[Lodestone]

No doubt, insurance companies make money. Personally, I had two houses obliterated by Hurricane Andrew http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew and insurance paid full value. (Actually, I turned a fair profit as I could then turn around and sell the land). So, while I'm not terribly religious, I can take a hint.

Anyway, not here to debate the merits of insurance. Just saying it appears to be available again.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I've thought about building a dome-shaped ferro-cement structure to live in. The walls would be 100% fireproof, the round shape would be hurricane resistant, and with enough re-bar and chicken wire it could be earthquake resistant as well.

There would be no need to insure any part of the home.
Of course, it would probably be impossible to get the county inspectors to pass it. A fireproof, wind proof, earthquake proof home most likely wouldn't be "up to code."

[kalakoa]

A fireproof, wind proof, earthquake proof home most likely wouldn't be "up to code."

Incorrectly assumes "code" is about those things.

[Tink]

Nothing is " proof" in this world that I have seen as of yet. Furnishings burn, openings create a breach point for hurricane winds and earthquakes can be bad enough to crack concrete beyond repair. I know of one ferrocement home that looks so much like a Flintstone house that as a high school prank we made life size cut outs of Fred, Wilma and the gang and placed them just under the view from the house, but in plain view of all that passed by on the freeway, and it was always prone to water leakage.
The Code is mostly there because someone, or a group of someone's screwed up big time and the Code council decided to do something on the side of caution and created that particular code section. Another reason is the Code council conferred with the wood and concrete specialists/ manufacturers to find out the strength parameters of their products and made Code changes applicable to same.
A lot of people think the Code is too restrictive, but if you can grasp the above, you might have a bit more leniency towards it as there is always "more than one way to skin a cat", as they say in building something that meets Code.

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