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Community Assisting Recovery, Inc.

“Survivors Helping Survivors” • 888-216-8264 • carehelp.org

This Week’s Meeting Schedule:

Insurance/Recovery Tip:

If anyone has a recovery tip they’d like to share with new fire survivors, please reply with your suggestion.

Personal Property Tips

For those of you who are just beginning your personal property inventory here are a few tips

1. Start now:  The longer you wait, the more you will forget.
2. If your adjuster gives you an inventory form with several columns of information to fill out about each item, review your policy to determine which are required and which aren’t.
3. List everything (itemize as much as possible): You will end up with thousands of dollars of items that each cost less than $5. Yes, we mean everything.
4. Never use the original cost of the item. Always use today’s replacement cost.
5. For antiques or collectibles, ask an expert to give you a written estimate. Find a dealer who will be sympathetic to your cause and appraise the items from the photographs and your description
6. Potted plants can be claimed as personal property.
7. Use catalogues, the internet and gift registries to your advantage.
8. If you are a member at a warehouse store, ask them for a copy of your purchase history.

For more tips, go to: http://www.carehelp.org/downloads/handouts/Handout04-PersonalProperty.pdf

Don’t forget about our example inventory! http://www.carehelp.org/downloads/handouts/PPInventory.xls

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CARe Update:

CARe on KCAL news -and- Pictures from November 19 Thank You event.
Gary Stephen, a CARe volunteer, has been busy at work in the new burn areas. Here he is featured on KCAL News

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=83781@kcbs.dayport.com  

I posted pictures from the Thank You event at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/hayes.lila/19CareParty#

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Disaster Recovery News:                   

A Few Suggestions for Navigating the Rebuilding Labyrinth

With the Tea Fire [in Santa Barbara] contained, the issue of what to do about the homes destroyed in the blaze has taken top priority for many. Those who lost their homes must now navigate the maze of insurance claims, permitting procedures, and contractor selection that can be part of the recovery process — and that’s not to mention the mystery of any restrictions on materials, style, and location that may apply to those attempting to rebuild in the zones that burned. The good news is that city and county officials are working with area nonprofits to provide information and resources. The bad news is that more than 200 homes were destroyed, so rebuilding all of them may take a while. State Assembly member Pedro Nava announced this week that the insurance claim process will be expedited, too, and county officials have made similar statements about their permitting process.

[more at:

http://www.independent.com/news/2008/nov/20/few-suggestions-navigating-rebuilding-labyrinth/ ]

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Insurance Industry News:                  

Allstate Hit With $16 Million Bad Faith Award
October 14, 2008

Demonstrating why the American Association for Justice has named Allstate the worst insurance company in America, a Missouri appellate court has upheld a $16 million judgment against it for failing to settle for the $50,000 policy limits in a clear cut case of its insured's liability.

[more at:
http://cleveland.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/allstate-hit-with-16-million-bad-faith-award.aspx?googleid=249414 ]

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Disaster Prepared:

After a fire, watch out for debris flow!

Santa Barbara County put out a good booklet on preparing for debris flow. Burn areas (even from up to 3-4 years ago) please prepare for the rainy season!
http://www.countyofsb.org/pwd/water/downloads/homeownersguide.pdf

There is a video about Debris Flow available online by the USGS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVkVsKsUPOY

There is a really good book that has a good chapter on the Southern California fire/flood cycle. The book is called The Control of Nature. This book does not talk about how to prepare, but it does describe how it happens.

This is a very serious threat and not just for people who live in areas hit by fires this year. Debris flows can happen even years after a fire. Two months after the Old Fire (that we were effected by) two people were killed during debris flow on Christmas Day. Here is a video from someone who lived in the area:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3W-wDIR-Os

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Disaster News:

I Filmed An Inferno
By Citizen Correspondent Rich Cowgill

I'm a semi-retired “stringer”—I shoot video on the fly to sell to news outlets. I’ve filmed more car crashes, shootings, and fires than I care to remember. My family normally fills my time, but when things get out of hand, I grab my camera and head out the door, like I did the day of the Freeway Complex fire.

http://orato.com/current-events/2008/11/18/i-filmed-inferno

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Quote of the Week:                   

Circumstances do not determine a man, they reveal him.

                            -James Lane Allen

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Help CARe provide assistance to disaster survivors and continue our free services:

http://www.carehelp.org/contribute/contribute.htm

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Community Assisting Recovery, Inc.

19360 Rinaldi Street, PMB 220, Northridge CA 91326
www.carehelp.org
888-216-8264