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January 2025

Evacuation and Soot

We started getting emergency evacuation alerts on our phones in the late
afternoon. My son, Brian told me to prepare to evacuate. I put a box of files
of insurances, invoices paid and bills that need to be paid, and income tax
information that I would need by the door for him to put in the car. Then I
got the dog’s food and finally a change of clothes; no toothbrush, no
deodorant or other personal items. But I was ready for business.

About 9:30 pm, Brian got a call from his friend, who lived way above us.
He needed help getting his 85 year old mother out. She refused to go. I was
very nervous about him going up there because I could see the flames out
the window. When he came back he had his friend and two very elderly
ladies. I made them all comfortable on recliners in the living room. Brian
told everyone to get some rest that he would be on fire watch. Some hours
later Brian and I were having quiet conversation when we noticed an orange
glow out the windows in the North West. He went in his car to check it out
and came back to report that a house one block away was in fire without any
fire fighters nearby. It is time to evacuate! We had to get the others up and
moving to the cars. The ladies had to be told to keep walking to get them to
the cars!

We evacuated to the Pasadena Convention Center at 3:30 am. The next
morning, Brian drove up to see our house. Houses on both ends of the block
were on fire! He believed that our house would be lost. A miracle our home
was okay! After a couple of days of motel hopping, I needed a break from
all the sadness and trauma. I drove to my friend’s home in San Diego. It
was very relaxing and just what I needed. In a couple of days I was ready to
get back to the real world of insurance matters and other needs.
I filed insurance claims on both houses (separate policies and separate
agents). I went to FEMA two or three times. It seems that they don’t give
out complete information all at once.

When we were allowed back to our home after 10 days, first we had to buy
masks and gloves as it was filled with smoke and soot. I had appointments
with two different adjusters. For my house the adjuster brought a team.
There was a man to go on the roof to check its condition and two others to
do hygienic testing of the air and soot. These tests will take two weeks.
Actually it took 5 weeks because the labs are all backed up. At the same
time I’m scheduling restoration companies to get estimates. They told me
that they don’t provide quotes or estimates but they deal directly with the
insurance company. I’m very confused by the business model of not giving
quotes or estimates. I asked one person if I was supposed to hire him based
on his sparkling personality. He left quickly after that. The insurance
adjusters are also sending out restoration companies to get quotes. After
having the adjusters and six restoration companies, I’m completely confused
and frustrated! I called the agent for the back house and she explained that I
could hire whoever I want, but Service Masters is their preferred vendor. So
I signed, authorized and paid $1000 in order to get a date on the calendar
(even though their quote was different than that of the insurance adjuster). I
was given an approximate date 2-3 weeks out. The insurance adjuster then
told me that this was not their preferred vendor. I got really angry because it
was the same name as he had told me. He said that he could get my deposit
back. Also in the same conversation he asked if my tenant was moved back
in because in his opinion it was not too bad. By this time I was yelling at
him telling him that I’m not a slum landlord and would not move someone
in jeopardizing their health. Our water was so toxic you could not even
wash your hands. Later that day he called to say it was his mistake that this
vendor is ok and to proceed. This whole chaos caused me to break away
from my “taking care of business” to an emotional mess. I was weeping for
a week. After a couple of postponements, work was finally finished and the
tenant moved back in. The water is still toxic with Benzene but she goes to
her gym to shower. I still have to repair the fence and a section in the roof
where a branch fell on it.

Now Brian and I can concentrate on our house and pool, where lead has
been found.