Our challenges are human
REDI is a crowdsourcing platform and community process designed to preserve insurance access while reducing the risk for insurers
Step 1:
Crowdsourced observations
The Human Challenge
Fire officials and other community leaders have limited resources to address overwhelming needs in preparing their communities for wildfire. The result is that communities remain vulnerable and insurance companies are increasingly exposed while opportunities to protect communities are either delayed or overlooked.
The Solution
Built to accelerate a constructive, dynamic collaboration between insurers, property owners, fire officials and other municipal leaders, the REDI platform engages citizens in finding and tracking opportunities to prepare. The platform continues to live as the community takes action — and monitors progress — over time.
A crowdsourced study in Big Bear Lake, California, revealed an emphasis on protecting the ridges on each side of the valley (and fighting fires) but a tendency to overlook high fuel areas adjacent to valuable, wooden homes (a situation that resembles the Palisades). FAIR Plan, California’s insurance of last resort, estimates that they have a 14 billion-dollar exposure in this valley, and all models point to a high probably of fire.
Why start the process with crowdsourced observations?
Observational studies open eyes, focusing attention on progress and needs rather than plans
Citizen input can scale and grow exponentially, tapping into the collective energy and talent of concerned property owners
The ongoing process engages a broader and larger group, building awareness throughout the community
Photographic observations provide emotionally-evocative visuals designed to motivate leaders to take needed action
This cabin, a potential source of embers in a fast-moving, wind-driven fire, stands about 200 yards from City Hall, where community leaders regularly meet to prepare for a wildfire
Step 2:
Homeowner tracking with real-time updates
The Human Challenge
Communities are deeply interdependent when it comes to wildfire risk — one thoughtless homeowner can generate the embers to ignite whole neighborhoods. Risks need to be addressed in residential areas where insurance companies can influence preparation, as well as around the perimeter of the community, in areas typically managed by municipal governments, large land owners, and the forest service.
The problem is complex and immense, given the number of homes, various governing bodies and diverse insurance companies, each with its own process and set of expectations for homeowners.
The Solution
REDI is a community-wide data service that helps insurance companies communicate expectations, monitor compliance and drive behavior change while also tracking progress in preparing open spaces and the perimeter of the community. Live updates are provided to a variety of databases, keeping fire officials, other community leaders and insurance companies informed.
REDI allows homeowners to claim their property, choose a prevention model, such as the one advocated by FAIR Plan, then document changes in compliance with the model. Updates are communicated to their insurance agent as well as various databases maintained by interested stakeholders, such as insurance companies and fire officials.
Step 3:
Collaboration
The Human Challenge
Diverse stakeholders, such as fire officials and insurance leaders, share a common interest, responsibility and authority to address the risk in a community. They need to collaborate.
But people tend to work in silos, focused on their own jobs and organizations. And reaching beyond our organizational boundaries can be difficult.
The Solution
Working with our non-profit partner, Innovera, we run a series of virtual interactive stakeholder meetings. We recruit, prepare and convene influential leaders, including insurers. Meetings are online and regular, focused on objective progress and opportunities. Because all stakeholders are at the table, problems can be solved.
Why Virtual Interactive Stakeholder Meetings?
Easier to recruit and retain stakeholders with busy schedules
Less expensive for all to attend
Professionally-facilitated to generate constructive dialogue and build relationships
Easier to maintain over time, resulting in true progress
“The format was the first I’ve experienced that actually made a virtual setting more effective than an in-person setting”