“The recent wildfires in Los Angeles County are bringing back painful memories for survivors of two major Northern California wildfires: the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa (2017) and the Camp Fire in Paradise (2018).
In Santa Rosa, District 6 City Councilman Jeff Okrepkie, who lost his home in the Tubbs Fire, recalls the overwhelming emotions of confusion, helplessness, and anger during recovery. The rebuilding process, he says, is long and difficult, involving steps like finding housing, filing insurance claims, and debris removal.
Marcia Koester, a Camp Fire survivor, also shares her trauma, expressing how the devastation in LA is hard to watch and that the loss and challenges faced by those affected are difficult to truly understand unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Despite the challenges,
both survivors emphasize the importance of leaning on others during recovery, sharing information about insurance and builders, and being cautious with large financial decisions during the rebuilding process.”
