News

Imagine, just 5 weeks ago we were bathing in the soothing light of the Hanukkah candles and then 3 weeks ago we watched in horror as thousands of homes were destroyed by hurricane force Santa Ana winds that raked Southern California. By now, the immediate crisis has passed, as the fires have mostly been contained, but the marathon recovery is just beginning. Most of us know at least one family that has been affected by the loss of their home.

The impact of this disaster will be widespread and felt for many years to come. As the affected areas of Los Angeles start to rebuild, there will be a major strain on resources at every step of the process. The acres of debris must be cleaned up and inevitably there will be questions about whose house/block will be first and who will pay for it? The amount of material to be removed, including the possibility of toxic waste will create a logistical problem as to where to take all the burnt houses, trees, and broken roads. Every new structure will need an architect, plans will need to be approved by various official agencies and ultimately contractors hired. The sheer size of the destruction will overwhelm all these systems and strain resources beyond capacity at every level. Contractors and tradespeople will be in short supply and the cost of materials will likely skyrocket as LA builds and furnishes what is essentially a small city. The situation will be ripe for conflict, abuse, and fraud, adding to the immense post-fire headache. Insurance companies who will also be overwhelmed may be slow to pay claims as they adjudicate what they owe. We can expect that insurance companies will either refuse to insure homes in fire prone areas or increase the costs to be unaffordable across the entire basis to make up for their losses.

Businesses of all types will be affected for many years to come. As a wood turner, I have admired and emulated the work of a Palisades wood turner named John Beaver who makes exquisite bowls costing between $1,000-$2,000 each. He recently told me that he lost not only his house, but his shop as well. Even if he can rebuild everything, what is the likelihood that someone would buy a piece of art when all the essentials come first? John is just one of thousands whose life as he knew it may be irretrievably lost.

As Los Angeles struggles to return to some version of normal, we must allow today’s disaster to become old news and become numb to the ongoing needs of our community. As Reform Jews, our tradition of Tikkun Olam is to help people in need and especially when it is close to home, to people we know personally. There are reputable groups in our area that have taken the lead in coordinating aid, so we can give, knowing our money will go to those who need help the most. Beware of those who will try to take advantage of this disaster and only send your money to established entities with a long track record.

Here is a list of places where to send your money to, plus organizations that can help people you know who have specific issues:
Red Cross: www.redcross.org
Jewish Federation LA: https://www.jewishla.org/wildfire-crisis-relief/
For Legal help with insurance companies, landlords et cetera: https://bettzedek.org
Free loans ranging from $1,000 to $100,000: JFLA.org