Disaster Recovery Basics

Ten days ago, the Los Angeles Times posted an article, “California lawmakers upset that wildfire money is left out of White House’s disaster aid request” because none of the $44 billion asked from Congress for disaster aid this month is going to fund rebuilding California.

The article notes:

Every day, Mike Thompson [Napa Valley Congressman] hears a new story about how last month’s fires in Northern California have affected people’s lives. Insurance is being denied. Tourism is down. Some companies have laid off workers.

“Block after block of homes are wiped out and cars are melted down to their skeletal remains,” the Napa Valley congressman said of his travels in Santa Rosa over the weekend.

California had asked for $7.4 billion after receiving $576.5 million for wildfires in October. The $7.4 billion that California was denied would have included money for temporary housing for victims among many other things needed to restore the northwest part of the state. The only relief the White House offered was “tax relief for those affected”.

For those who lost everything, here is a list of things we received when were moved out of our home by our insurance company after water damage in 2002. (See our story in my post, “Fire and Water – How Can We Cope?”)

CRS Temporary Housing, a nationwide service for insurance companies who serve loss-of-use claims provided the following furnishings:

A bed, dresser and mirror, end tables, dining table and chairs, couch, love seat, TV, lamps, and framed oil-painting reproductions for the walls, as well as the following household items for three months:

Disaster recovery items for a household

Kitchen

!2 PC glassware set (incl. 4 wineglasses)

4 place settings of dishes

4 place settings of silverware

4 steak knives

1 cutlery tray

1 carving knife

1 paring knife

salt & pepper shaker set

1 drip coffee maker

1 toaster

1 2-quart casserole dish

4 pans with 3 lids

3 piece food storage kit

3 mixing/serving bowls

2 dish towels

2 pot holders

2 dish cloths

1 measuring spoon set

1 measuring cup set

1 spatula

1 slotted spoon

1 whisk

1 small plastic cutting board

1 kitchen wastebasket

1 blender

1 can opener

1 corkscrew

1 pitcher

1 colander

4 placemats

4 napkins

Bedroom

1 comforter set

1 blanket

1 mattress pad

2 fitted sheets

2 flat sheets

2 pillows

4 pillow cases

20 clothes hangers

Bathroom

4 bath towels

4 hand towels

4 wash cloths

1 bath mat

1 shower curtain & rings

1 bathroom wastebasket

Accessories

1 AM/FM clock radio

1 telephone

1 steam/dry iron and ironing board

1 vacuum cleaner

1 broom & dustpan

1 starter pack