@#12 ... Is rebuilding at the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars per year a reasonable solution? Eff no! ...
In some respects, I agree. But, "hundreds of billions?" Got a link?[1]
Look at the bail-outs of those who live on the Atlantic coasts, on sandbars, and have to turn to FEMA year after year to rebuild their house.
I have said that FEMA should bail out a property once, and only one.
After that one time, it is the onus of that property owner to deal with what they bought in to.
Now, let's look at California.
So far, this catastrophe seems to be a one-time event. This is the first time such devastation has occurred.
So, help them rebuild, but if it happens again, well, they are on their own.
1 - Here's the link my search engine of choice returned for "California hundreds of billions"
calmatters.org
YMMV.