Victims of California fires begin to rebuild

Families have big challenges
If FEMA denies their request, the Booths could apply for up to $40,000 in loans from the Small Business Administration to replace the contents of their home.

For the Southern California fires, the federal government has already offered a 2.937 percent interest rate, and homeowners can have up to 30 years to repay the loan.

It isn’t just the Booths’ house and all their belongings that were destroyed. Their business, Booth’s Pump and Crane Service, also burned and so did all of the equipment.

To restart their business, the Booths will have to apply for hefty loans to purchase new equipment and cover their lost income.

One of the biggest challenges is showing proof when important paperwork went up in flames.

Robert Sanders, 56, a commercial photographer who lost his Rancho Bernardo house, complained Monday about a pile of documents he needed to fill out for assistance when the information requested went up in smoke.

“Under normal circumstances, I can understand it, but in this kind of situation where everything you have has been ripped from your soul, filling out these forms is the last thing you want to do,” he said. “What you want to do is just climb on the back of a Harley and go ride and live out of pup tent for the rest of your life. It’s a real sense of futility.”

Sanders did get food stamps and $1,000 from the American Red Cross, but he got nothing from FEMA.

Insurance pays some, for a few
Business owners can apply for up to $1.5 million in loans from the Small Business Administration, which come with a 4 percent interest rate. The agency aims to approve loans within two weeks of receiving applications, said spokesman Phil Duncan.

For victims who had fire insurance, insurance agents can provide initial money for hotels and apartment rentals. Homeowner’s insurance will usually cover a year — or even two — of expenses for temporary living quarters while customers rebuild.

But that’s not a solution for the Booth family, who like so many others in the area, had their fire insurance canceled after devastating blazes in 2003. Their house wasn’t damaged then, but they were unable to meet requirements issued by insurance companies to clear away brush and vegetation in mountain communities.

The Booths have filled out their FEMA paperwork. They’ve talked to the SBA. They have an appointment with the Red Cross.

And still, Booth says days later, she doesn’t know what to do.

“They told me this was just the beginning process. What does that mean? What do we do in the meantime?” asked, her cheeks smudged from wiping tears with ash-stained hands. “I just wish somebody would tell me it’s going to be all right.”

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