I worked with a officer (in my AF years) that was hooked into a master's degree program, and he was taking a risk analysis course. So we got into a discussion one day in the vault.
He laid out the mental side of chaos....where people are just overly consumed when massive events occur in their life. In the initial week....they simply absorb the 'mess'....trying to understand things. Around the 10th day of this reflection....you start looking for a way out....a 'path'. By day thirty....you want to forget about the initial problem, and get as far away from the mess as possible.
In this LA fire situation....by the end of the first day of reality....where you've been to the home and found nothing exists. You call your insurance agent....realizing now that of his 5,000 clients....you are number 2,003 in line.
Around 72 hours after your contact...someone from out-of-state calls you...from the insurance company. They want to assure you of 'things-working'. The package is discussed, and they warn you that these settlements take time. Then they remind you....your coverage was 'X', and the maximum check they can write is $.2-million. Then they make it sound great that they are giving you a check now for $20,000 to cover temporary living expenses.
Then you ask....how will you get the check....since the mailbox situation is non-existent? There's a long pause...the agent isn't sure. 'More to come' is the response.
Four days pass, and you get another call....they have a camper-office at such-and-such address.....if you stop by....the check will be issued.
So you get the $20k check and discover that the bank building you typically used....burned down. The next alternate site? That burned as well. You end up driving 12 miles to a operating bank....only to find that they will cash the check but you can only have $2,000 in funds until the 7th day.
This is where you start to grumble.
You start to talk to construction folks about rebuilding. They let you know....just getting a permit might be two years (minimum). Then you get into a discussion about the old home value of $1.75-million....can't be built for that price in this atmosphere. You need to start assuming (with their advice)....once the new house is built....the final bill will be near $2.9-million.
So you drive to the bank to talk loans. It's a mix of positive talk and depressing views. This is the day that you drive to the local motel where you, the wife and two kids are staying. You consume a fair amount of booze that night.
The next day....you get up and the wife wants to have a 'Jesus-moment' conversation.....asking why are we staying here?
Over the next 24 hours....you linger over the idea....maybe this is it (the exit from California). You realize that even if you rebuild....another fire was possible because of the idiot way that the city and county function.
So when April comes and the final check is written....you load everyone up in the car, and like some moment out of John Steinbeck's 'Grapes of Wrath'...you are taking the family back to Missouri, Kansas, or Iowa. The $2-million check? Well...it goes a long ways, and a regular home in Iowa runs $300,000.
A year passes and you quietly admit....life is different. You live around city/county administrators who seem to be competent. Stress is less. You miss the weather but things are better than ever.
