As a practical matter how can they rebuild?  Mortgage companies require insurance.  If you can't get insurance you can't get a mortgage.  The cost of construction out there was outrageous before, costs will be even more now.  National insurance companies that did cover homes are taking a major hit.  The rest of us will have to pay more on our policies.  We see a similar dynamic here in hurricane country. The super rich and big money corporations will have the cash to re-develop the burned out areas so I see these areas becoming even more exclusive than before.  I can also see big changes coming in construction materials.  It will be interesting to see what changes have been made 10 years from now.