Your Survival Blog
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Jill Barklow: A Wildfire Survivor
Let me start by saying I am a neighbor to all who have lost their homes. I lived in Los Angeles unincorporated approximately 45 miles east of Los Angeles in the foothills of the city of Claremont. Since surviving the 2003 wildfires, I bought a home with my SBA loan in Pomona.
My heart goes out to all of you. Tears are streaming down my face as I relive this horrible experience. It is something you will live with forever, but it will make you stronger. There may be a time when a day will go by that you do not "remember" what has happened.
I hope whoever can rebuild their homes, and wants to do so, is able. At this time I am not able to rebuild and think this would have helped me tremendously. I am at the mercy of my city and county. They are expecting my small community in Palmer Canyon to put in and pay for the infrastructure to rebuild (i.e. new road, water, gas). We had a working infrastructure; we were on wells and propane, which I think a lot of the mountain canyon homes are. Our road was a private road, so, FEMA and the city wasn’t responsible. We have to rebuild to the new “codes” so our road has to be resurveyed and widened. That alone has taken us four years and we still not completely finished. The engineering part has cost us $200,000 thus far, and splitting that between 40 homes was almost impossible. The county had quoted about five to nine million for them to put in the infrastructure. That’s when we decided to do it on our own. If we are lucky, we will be able to accomplish it with five million.
This will not be everyone’s story. I know others in the “city limits” who did rebuild in a year. Your government officials will make you lots of promises that I’m pretty sure they will not keep, or you will have to remind them of. Stick together as a community because there is strength and knowledge in numbers. Stay in touch with your neighbors. You are in this together.
Get ready for lots of work, record keeping, etc
YOU CAN DO IT!
Jill Barklow
Your Survival: What fire was your family affected by in the past?
Jill Barklow: Our family was affected by the “Grand Prix” or “Padua Fire” on October 25, 2003. The name changed when it went from San Bernardino County into Los Angeles County. We were just a very short distance from San Bernardino county into LA county.
YS: How much notice did you get before having to evacuate?
JB: We were told to evacuate immediately. My family stayed at least ten minutes past that time. I couldn’t breathe and didn’t know if it was the anxiety or the air from the fire. I could see over the ridge of the canyon.
YS: What items were you able to pack?
JB: My adult daughters packed their personal items, and remembered the family photos, for which I am now so grateful. If you have a large extended family they probably have a lot of duplicate pictures. Still, I took two things that were left to me by my grandmother - a cookie jar and my childhood dolls (I collect dolls). You aren’t thinking rationally, as I left behind a very expensive French baby doll. I guess you take that which is most important to you at the moment.
My husband chose important papers and an expensive TV he had just purchased. We were doing a remodel so we were able to grab a lot of boxes. They turned out to be grab bag type things when I got to them after the fire. I figured since those boxes were already packed I’d take them because it was hard to pick and choose. I walked past my jewelry box thinking it was too fragile and it would get bumped around. You never in your mind think your house is really going to burn. We had just been evacuated the year before and my husband’s company came and took everything out of the house, only to have to bring it all back. We lost two beloved pets we couldn’t catch.
YS: Where you able to leave your neighborhood easily?
JB: Yes, there was not much traffic. It was really only the community that I lived in, which was approximately 45 homes.
YS: Where did you go after leaving your home?
JB: My daughter’s boyfriend’s studio apartment. My one daughter, husband, two birds and 3 cats. My other daughter and grandson, whom also lived in the house, stayed with her boyfriend.
YS: What condition was your home in when you returned?
JB: It was a total loss. Nothing was spared.
YS: What were your first thought upon returning?
JB: This is the worse thing in the world that could have happened. It looked like a war zone. I was shocked, horrified, numb, mad… I had so many emotions running through me, I can’t begin to name them all.
YS: What did you learn about insurance? Any tips?
JB: I, like EVERYONE, was underinsured. I spent the next two years dealing/fighting with my insurance company. They will try to get you to sign off, but don’t do it unless you are satisfied with the amount they are offering. YOU have RIGHTS and the insurance company doesn’t want you to know that. I contacted my state insurance commissioner John Garamendi, who is now Lt Governor. I requested what is called a RFA (request for action) and dealt with them directly. I can write a book on what I went through with the insurance company. Also, the organization CARe Inc., helped me tremendously.
YS: What were you most shocked to discover through your experience?
JB: Where should I begin? The lack of support from my local government agencies, i.e. city, state, and county. My own community. You will be surprised at the lack of empathy from people you would expect to be supporting you
YS: What helped you and your family recover?
JB: We are still recovering, even after we have been made financially whole. You will never fully recover. My community is still fighting to rebuild.
YS: Is there anything you wish you could have done differently?
JB: Been more prepared. I miss a lot of my stuff, especially my children’s art work and baby books. A lot of my family members are artists and I miss all those things they made, all the things that make you comfortable. I cleared my brush so I did everything I could to make my home safe. Make sure your neighbors do the same. I wish I had sprinklers or things of that nature, but I doubt it would have saved my home.
YS: What organizations were the most helpful?
JB: Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA, SBA and a Buddhist community that was close to our home in the San Bernardino mountains. I am not a Buddhist but they were there at the “command center”. Right after the fire there will be lots of people to help and people who do genuinely care. It is after the dust settles that the real “work” begins.
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