An insurance adjuster, and some of the residents of Montecito’s Bonnymede Condominiums off of Olive Mill Road are touring the complex to try to get a handle on damage to the 100 plus units in the community.
Resident Ken Murphy says the damage may be in the millions. For thousands of Southern Santa Barbara County residents impacted by the January 9th storm, they are trying to get a handle on their losses, and what insurance companies will do to help.
For some victims, they are coping with the total loss of a home. For others, it’s damage. And, for thousands more, the biggest impact is being evacuees for two to three weeks. Recovery means dealing with insurance, but government officials say they’re seeing a spectrum of response from companies to early claims.
State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued a formal notice to the industry reminding companies that under California regulations, victims don’t have to have slide insurance to be covered for slide damage. He says if people have fire insurance, they will be covered, because the flooding and slides were a direct impact of the Thomas Fire.
The state insurance commissioner says we don’t know yet whether most companies will comply, or whether it will turn into a fight. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams, who represents Montecito, says so far we’ve seen a patchwork of responses from insurance companies.
State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones was joined by a top FEMA insurance official for a tour of the disaster zone. Roy Wright is FEMA Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation. He says while he sees a lot of disaster areas, the way this happened with a fire and flood in a matter of weeks is very unusual. Wright says one of the messages he’s trying to get to people in fire zones is that with rainfall possible for the next few months, people without flood insurance should get it. He says the law allows people who live next to federal lands hit by brush, or forest fires can get flood insurance without the traditional 30 day waiting period.
As crews continue to work on everything from damaged roads to mud filled homes, there are still some people who remain in evacuation limbo. Without utilities, they are unable to return home. Ken Murray says he and his wife feel lucky. While their Montecito complex was hit hard, their unit was spared. Still, they haven’t been able to stay in their home for nearly three weeks, and have stayed in hotels, and with friends.
The State Insurance Commissioner’s office is planning a pair of free community workshops for victims this Saturday. One will take place at Ventura College from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and the second will be at Santa Barbara City College from 4-6 p.m., with the state commissioner and his staff on hand to help people with the claims process.
