CA investor buys an OOS investment from a turnkey provider who then assumes PM duties.2. 

Re state law, you as landlord have a duty to provide a habitable space, but it depends on the facts whether you've done that or not.

(Statement of service if Veteran is still on active duty) 4) DD-1747 (Unavailability of base housing)Entitlement: If a Veteran has remaining entitlement, Veteran can obtain another VA loan while retaining ownership of his or her present original property or with the original VA loan still in effect. 

I'm active duty in the Navy, and as such, spend a lot of time on deployment (like I am now), I've been listening to the podcast for the last few months as I downloaded them all before I left. 

My husband is active duty military so we won't likely live in San Diego forever, therefore also considering MidWest and DFW to invest in as well.

Is it my civic duty to rebuild?

For most active duty military members using your BAH while living in a property with multiple units is the way to go. 

Luckily the active duty commander ordered a mandatory evac even before the storm changed directions.

I recently listened to a podcast wherein an out of state investor referenced google maps in order to judge the vitality of a given neighborhood, but I have qualms with putting my (and my partner's) money behind a virtual litmus test of a neighborhood.

Service charge if property is located in building with multiple owners (150-350 € p.a.)Also, depending of the nature of your contract you eventually are liable for stamp duty (10 % of one month rent, upon signature of the contract).In overall very dry deal.