I have been issuing disaster relief funds to the many in my industry who have lost everything -- and I mean everything. It takes a while for insurance companies to come forth with money and all the other disaster relief assistance requires paperwork and whatnot. We have a fund put aside so I can write checks immediately on the spot and hand them to the victims without any forms whatsoever. I know them personally. I never have seen so many grown men break down and sob. Their stories are sad beyond belief. I felt bad just handing them a check as my life going forward will be a cake walk in comparison. They are like stunned deer in the headlights.
For the first time in about a week the sky can be seen. We have been choking on smoke and ash. The 101 freeway has been nothing but an artery for emergency vehicles coming from all over the country to help fight the fires. The Petaluma airport has been used as a helicopter base.
Good luck finding a hotel room or space at a campsite. Fire refugees are going anywhere they can for shelter and many streets are lined with RV's and campers. Housing rentals are non-existent and some people are gouging fire victims by jacking up the rent. What little housing inventory we had for sale is now seeing increases in prices $20,000 in one day. It's the old story of supply and demand mixed with the greed of opportunists.
It will takes years to rebuild. On the positive side, we have a tremendous opportunity to show the world when we rebuild how we do it. Are we going to have higher density housing? After all, who really needs a huge mansion that is a resource hog? Are we going to use sustainable materials? Are we going to rebuild incorporating renewable energy sources?
Out of the ashes we can be reborn. We can be a phoenix.
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