First and foremost, I feel horrible just looking at the pictures out of Florida, it's absolutely awful. Going through a tragedy like that is horrifying.
Just have to
on the anti-insurance stuff, largely unfounded. As many here know, it's how I make my living. Carriers, at least all the ones I know well, work very hard to try to help their insureds after an event such as this.
As for writing risks in Florida or other areas very prone to disaster, it's complicated, but yeah it's a big risk. My company writes in AL, GA, etc..., but doesn't write in Florida. Not just because of catastrophe risks, but also because the state of Florida is a "catastrophe" when it comes to the general insurance environment anyway. But strictly sticking to the risk of a catastrophe, it's definitely a financial gamble. You may collect $3000/yr in premium, but insure a $1M structure sitting right off the beach...pretty scary proposition.