The Wirecutter Show: The True Cost of Recovering from the LA Wildfires, Part 3

Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: Christine Cyr Clisset, Caira Blackwell, and Rosie Guerin
Guests: Mike Cohen (Wirecutter deals writer, fire survivor), Gregory Hahn (freelance writer, fire survivor)

Episode Overview

In this final episode of a three-part series, hosts Christine Cyr Clisset and Rosie Guerin revisit the lives of Wirecutter writers Mike Cohen and Gregory Hahn one year after losing their homes in the LA wildfires. This episode dives into the "true cost" of disaster recovery—not just monetary, but also emotional, logistical, and community-focused—while providing practical insights on insurance, financial gaps, advocacy, and the crucial role of neighborhood support.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Hard Numbers and Hidden Costs of Recovery

• Insurance Gaps: Both Mike and Gregory are underinsured—a common problem nationwide. Most insurance only covers the structure, not the land, often leaving survivors with hundreds of thousands in uncovered expenses.

  • Mike Cohen (07:50): “Like most Americans, we are insured, but we are underinsured... the insurance only covers the actual structure, doesn't cover the piece of land.”
  • Stat: Nearly two-thirds of U.S. homeowners are underinsured (08:21).
  • Rebuilding costs spike after disasters due to high demand, labor shortages, and supply chain issues (08:21).

• Financial Squeeze: Survivors face a double burden of paying both rent (temporary housing) and mortgages on uninhabitable homes, with insurance payouts and payment moratoria running out.

  • Mike Cohen (03:28): “Our additional living expenses are only for a couple more months... the moratorium on our mortgage...is also going to expire next month.”

• Other Out-of-Pocket Costs: Lost wages, upgrades, missed work (Gregory’s freelance writing paused as disaster recovery became a full-time job), and uninsurable expenses add up (13:21).

• Limited Emergency Funds: Even prudent savings fall short; the scale of disaster recovery far exceeds typical "rainy day" funds.

  • Mike Cohen (15:10): “There is no proper amount of a rainy day fund. That would be the safety net that we were looking for. That's what insurance is for.”

The Human and Emotional Toll

• Identity Disruption and Survivors' Guilt: Gregory grapples with loss, instability, and guilt at enjoying “good moments” while neighbors suffer.

  • Gregory Hahn (11:49): “I wake up and I don't know where I am, what the day is, and sometimes who I am... survivor's guilt resonates through my life too.”

• Shaken Priorities: The enormity of disaster reframes what matters: “Some things just don't seem that important anymore, but, you know, we're all just trying to get by.” (12:40)

Navigating Insurance and Bureaucracy

• Becoming Your Own Advocate: Recovery is a marathon of phone calls, negotiations, organizing documents, and pushing for fair settlements. Survivors must negotiate even small claims and never accept the first offer (20:59).

  • Mike Cohen (17:59): “It is an Olympic level marathon... unfortunately, you have to be your own advocate to protect your own interests.”
  • Mike Cohen (15:58): “You can afford the extra $42 a month. Somehow you can't afford the six figures of destruction and rebuild costs that insurance won't cover because you saved $42 a month.”

• Tactics and Best Practices:

  • Record calls (with permission)
  • Keep detailed spreadsheets, notes, and summaries
  • Request written follow-ups and leverage AI for summaries (24:25)
  • In-person meetings yield better results when possible (22:55)
  • Gregory Hahn (21:44): “When it came to the home, I became an extrovert... I will fight you tooth and nail to make sure that my wife returns to a safe home.”
  • Practice empathy—adjusters are people too (22:19)

• Dealing with Delays and Lawsuits: Lawsuits against utilities (e.g., Southern California Edison) can take years, leaving families in limbo. Some opt for voluntary compensation programs for quicker, if lower, payouts (16:28).

Community, Generosity, and Support

• Vital Role of Community: Emotional and practical support networks—from immediate neighbors to fire survivor groups—are pivotal for resilience.

  • Mike Cohen (30:01): “We have this scar now...when I connect with other fire survivors...they get the frustration, the grief, the gratitude, the anger, and the loss...with them, I don't have to [explain] because they just get it.”

• Helping Others and Meeting People Where They Are:

  • Not all survivors can afford thorough remediation, testing, or to fight for fuller settlements. Empathy and shared knowledge are essential.
  • Gregory Hahn (26:29): “A lot of them are masking their concerns because they're not able to afford to be careful. Once I digested that, I started being much more caring about how I delivered that message.”

• Meaningful Moments: Small gatherings and neighborly connections provide moments of normalcy and healing amid chaos.

  • Gregory Hahn (31:13): “For that few hours, I forgot we were displaced because we were surrounded by friends and we were just laughing and...the effects of that evening lasted several days.”

Practical Recommendations and Life Hacks

• Annual Insurance Checkups: Don’t assume coverage is enough—review your policy every year, especially after upgrades.
• Digitize Key Documents: In disaster, digital copies of IDs, insurance, and legal paperwork are crucial.
• Assess True Risks and Prepare Accordingly: Accept your climate risks and tailor your coverage and home modifications.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |------------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 07:27 | Mike Cohen | “Get more [insurance] yeah.” | | 11:49 | Gregory Hahn | “I wake up and I don't know where I am, what the day is, and sometimes who I am...” | | 13:42 | Gregory Hahn | “Now I'm feeling completely unstable and feeling really, to be frank, very frightened...” | | 15:10 | Mike Cohen | “There is no proper amount of a rainy day fund... That's what insurance is for.” | | 17:59 | Mike Cohen | “It is an Olympic level marathon... you have to be your own advocate...” | | 21:44 | Gregory Hahn | “When it came to the home, I became an extrovert... I will fight you tooth and nail...” | | 22:19 | Mike Cohen | “Insurance adjusters are people too... lead with compassion...” | | 26:29 | Gregory Hahn | “A lot of them are masking their concerns because they're not able to afford to be careful.” | | 30:01 | Mike Cohen | “We have this scar now. It's invisible, but we walk with it and it's ever present.” | | 31:13 | Gregory Hahn | “For that few hours, I forgot we were displaced because we were surrounded by friends...” | | 33:16 | Mike Cohen | “If the money wasn't the thing that was making the decision for us...we would have started rebuilding already.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:32 – 01:18: Touring disaster relief and temporary housing (ADUs)
• 03:28 – 03:51: Financial bind: expiring rental assistance and mortgage pauses
• 07:10 – 10:03: Reflections on insurance, how coverage works and common gaps
• 11:49 – 14:24: Emotional consequences, survivor’s guilt, shifting priorities
• 20:04 – 25:22: Advocacy, negotiation tactics, paperwork, digital organization, use of AI
• 26:29 – 27:12: Empathy for others’ choices, leading by example amidst resource constraints
• 28:28 – 32:22: Community’s role in recovery, reconnection and healing moments
• 33:16 – 33:42: If money were no object—Would survivors rebuild and return?

Final Takeaways

• Check and Upgrade Insurance: Make sure your policy covers not just the building but also increased reconstruction costs and any upgrades.
• Document and Digitize: Digitally backup essential documents; update inventories regularly.
• Advocate Relentlessly: Prepare for bureaucracy; be organized, persistent, and assertive.
• Lean on—and Invest in—Community: Strong pre-existing connections pay dividends in a crisis, emotionally and practically.
• Plan for the Unimaginable: Disaster can strike anyone—getting prepared now, both financially and emotionally, is critical.
• Support Others, Empathetically: Every survivor's path and resources differ; lead gently and share what you know.

The episode’s closing message:

Disasters reveal not only our vulnerabilities, but our resilience and interdependence. Prepare, connect, and remember: recovery takes a community.