How Hispanic Communities Are Preparing for Wildfires : Insights from Hilda Berganza

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more destructive, especially across California. In this episode, we speak with Hilda Berganza of the Hispanic Access Foundation about how Hispanic communities are building resilience through culturally relevant education, faith-based leadership, and trusted community networks.

We explore:

• How faith leaders help protect and inform communities

• The role of bilingual communication in wildfire preparedness

• Practical steps families can take to protect their homes and health

• How community-driven solutions strengthen disaster resilience

This conversation offers real-world insights, practical guidance, and inspiring examples of how communities are coming together to prepare for wildfire threats—before disaster strikes.

In this episode of All Things Wildfire, OP Almaraz sits down with returning guest Diane Delaney, with Private Risk Management Association (PRMA), to unpack what the insurance industry has learned one year after the Palisades wildfire—and what must change going forward.

Drawing from PRMA's nationwide survey of high-net-worth homeowners, Diane reveals a striking disconnect: while over 95% of respondents say they feel confident in their insurance coverage, nearly 70% fear exclusions and gaps at the time of claim. This gap has become painfully clear in catastrophe-prone regions like California, where wildfires, wind-driven embers, and insurance non-renewals are forcing homeowners and brokers alike to rethink how insurance is used.

The conversation explores why insurance can no longer be treated as a commodity, and why brokers must evolve into true risk management advisors—having ongoing, consultative conversations that address lifestyle changes, life stages, and worst-case scenarios. From wildfire mitigation and water-leak detection systems to rebuilding realities and self-insurance risks, this episode highlights how proactive planning can protect not just property—but livelihoods and peace of mind.

Diane also shares how PRMA is investing in education, learning tracks, and AI-powered role-play tools to help brokers sharpen difficult conversations around rate increases, coverage gaps, and resiliency. Together, OP and Diane emphasize a central message: you either invest in resilience early, or you pay far more later when disaster strikes.

• 95% vs. 70% disconnect: Homeowners feel confident in coverage—yet fear exclusions when claims happen
• Why insurance doesn't protect your lifestyle unless it's designed to
• How wildfires exposed major gaps in homeowner understanding during real-time claims
• Why brokers must shift from transactional sales to ongoing consultative partnerships
• Real wildfire and water-damage stories that show the true cost of being under-prepared
• The growing importance of leak detection devices, mitigation, and prevention tools
• Why insurance should be viewed as catastrophic protection—not home maintenance
• How PRMA is modernizing broker education with learning tracks and AI role-play tools
• Why resilience investments feel expensive—until disaster makes them unavoidable

• What one year after the Palisades wildfire has revealed about insurance gaps
• Insights from PRMA's nationwide survey of high-net-worth homeowners
• Why many insured homeowners still feel unprotected at claim time
• How wildfire, flood, wind, and water risks intersect
• Why prevention and mitigation improve insurability—not just safety
• The emotional and financial toll of rebuilding after catastrophe
• How brokers can deliver real value in a hard insurance market
• PRMA's 2026 initiatives: learning tracks, education, and AI-based coaching

Insurance works best before disaster strikes. When homeowners, brokers, and carriers collaborate proactively—focusing on resilience, communication, and realistic expectations—insurance becomes a powerful tool instead of a painful surprise.

Visit privateriskmanagement.org to explore PRMA members

In this episode of All Things Wildfire, we sit down with Alison Smart, Executive Director of Probable Futures, to explore why climate literacy is one of the most essential skills of the 21st century, and how it directly impacts the way we prepare for and respond to wildfires. Alison explains how, for the past 12,000 years, our climate was remarkably stable, allowing us to use the past to predict the future. But as the climate shifts, those old assumptions no longer hold true. We discuss how understanding climate science helps us make sense of today's instability and why everyone, from homeowners to policymakers, needs to rethink what it means to live safely in a changing climate. Whether you're in wildfire country or simply want to better understand the connection between education, climate change, and environmental resilience, this conversation offers an enlightening look at how climate literacy can shape a safer, more informed future.

Takeaways:

• Everyone needs climate literacy.
• Climate literacy is essential to living in the modern world.
• For 12,000 years, the climate was stable.
• We could expect the past to inform the future.
• Climate science helps us understand stability.
• Assumptions about climate were based on historical patterns.
• The changing climate requires new skills.
• Financial and digital literacy are not enough.
• Understanding climate change is a 21st-century skill.
• Education must adapt to include climate literacy.

From understanding shifting weather patterns to making smarter community and property decisions, this conversation reveals how education, awareness, and science can help us better navigate an unpredictable wildfire landscape.

This episode of All Things Wildfire serves as both a wake-up call and a guidepost for navigating wildfire disasters. Remember, preparation and community effort are key to reducing future risks. For more tips and updates, follow us on social media and visit our website.