Contact Us - Community Services - Awards and Support Community Services 2007 Southern California Wildfire - 2003 Southern California Wildfire ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2007 Southern California Wildfire Project As of June 30, 2008:
Number of Fire Families CARe is Helping:
CARe Meetings/Workshops :
Total Meetings/Workshops:......................104
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2003 Southern California Wildfire Project CARe provides free seminars, information, training and strategies for survivors and professionals throughout the fire stricken areas to successfully and resourcefully complete the disaster recovery process. Following a major disaster, many survivors suffer more stress and adversity during their recovery process than they did during the disaster. Our experience shows many residents, particularly the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged, and the isolated members of the community, experience prolonged and overwhelming distress and anxiety during the difficult readjustment period when dealing with private and public bureaucracies and agencies following an earthquake, fire, hurricane or other natural disaster. Our experience also indicates that without understanding guidance and organized support, disaster survivors fall short of the goal of restoring their lives, their neighborhoods and their community. Instead of the economic security and protection from potential losses through property and casualty insurance, many property owners find themselves with less than adequate funds to rebuild their damaged homes. Community Assisting Recovery informs property owners of their policy rights and duties, and the appropriate steps to inspect losses and document claims to achieve the fair and full settlements necessary to rebuild their homes and, consequently, their lives. Survivors often experience isolation and abandonment from private and public organizations unable to meet additional burdens following a catastrophe. Community Assisting Recovery is a vital, people-oriented source for locating the appropriate resources in the public and private sectors. After the 2003 California Wildfires, CARe:
. Assistance for the elderly A senior citizen, in Sylmar, lost his glasses, hearing aid and false teeth in the Northridge earthquake. When he telephoned emergency services after the quake he was told he would have to apply in person for assistance, although he was unable to drive because of the lost glasses. He stayed home isolated and fearful for many months. Because his vision was so poor, he ventured out only to a nearby grocery for food. A CARe volunteer was able to assist this man and within 24 hours his lost items were replaced. In another situation, an elderly disabled woman, living in North Hollywood, with earthquake damage and debris littering the inside of her home, called and told us her only help was from a contractor who stole her late husband's tools. Frightened, very alone and distrustful, after seeing our telephone number in the Los Angeles Times, she called CARe for assistance. CARe volunteers visited her home, moved debris (it had to be saved until documented for the insurance company) and cleared paths so she could more easily move about in her home and began the insurance claims process on her behalf. She was incredulous that the CARe volunteers did all of this work for free.Promoting Family Stability CARe received a call from a woman, near Inglewood, whose children were being taken by the county family agency because her husband had lost his job as a result of the earthquake. The parents could not pay the family expenses and the county determined the children were in jeopardy. Volunteers contacted various agencies and helped document the connection between the family's lack of income to the earthquake disruption of the husband's workplace. The family's resources were depleted and with CARe’s persistence, the county family agency finally understood the family's dilemma. Funds were made available for housing and the family was able to stay together. Promoting physical safety CARe has been instrumental in providing information to property owners regarding asbestos contamination to their homes as a result of the earthquake. Our experience has shown that less than 5% of homeowners who suffered earthquake damage received adequate asbestos information from government or private agencies. In one case, an elderly homeowner, in North Hollywood, called with concerns that his home may be unsafe. CARe arranged for a home inspection and an asbestos test. The asbestos report showed the level of contamination so high that his house had to be "red-tagged" and quarantined. The family had to leave their possessions behind, shower in the back yard and have friends bring uncontaminated clothing. CARe was also able to secure immediate emergency living expense funds for his family from his insurance company. Copyright © 2008 CARe, Inc., Community Assisting Recovery, Inc. |
