One Year Later - News from the Fire Survivors
Last Thursday our very own Sunrise Rotary fire survivors presented their recovery stories one year after the October 9, 2017 fires. Steve Amend, Harry Coffey, Leroy Carlenzoli, Max Bridges, Steve Olsen, MJ Girard and Michael Riel each discussed their fire recovery experiences. Each of their experiences were similar in some respects but different in others. Each discussed their sadness at losing all of their household belongings and their early struggles to find adequate housing. MJ mentioned that he escaped from his burning home and went to Ukiah only to find himself involved with another fire. Almost all our survivors lived in motels or other temporary housing and struggled to find more permanent housing. Leroy and Harry were even competing for the same house! Steve Amend thanked Ken and Doris Petro and Don and Wendy Floriani for housing Steve and Kathleen for months. Some of our Sunrisers are rebuilding in the same locations, some will have smaller footprints, and some will look for other housing. Insurance was an important part of each Sunrisers’ recovery story. Most are relatively happy with their insurers but were nevertheless are under-insured and will not be able to build the same homes. Michael Riel’s insurance experience has not been good; his insurer says it overpaid him and is looking to recover money from Michael! Only Leroy is in the rebuilding stage; most others are still working with their architects and contractors, and obtaining permits, prior to starting reconstruction. Steve Amend just received his permits and construction is next!
Thank all of you for sharing your experiences with the Club. You are all doing great and staying connected with Sunrise. Your continuing participation shows that Sunrise is an important part of your lives, even when things go as wrong as they did on October 9, 2017. Bless you all!
