<
Back
From
: Lila Hayes
Sent : Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Subject : OFRG weekly update
Meeting
Reminder
Our next meeting will be on June 12 we will be having Chris Kincaid from Milgard Windows and
Doors who will be sharing information regarding
their products.
---
Index
1. Book Review: American Ground
2. FEMA/Insurance Info by a Hurricane
Survivor Group
3. Florida Insurance Reform
---
In The News
1. Museums
are just plane fun
2. Family
rebuilds home, memories
3. Public
will hear water options
---
1.
Book Review: American Ground
---
American Ground was written by William Langewiesche
and was first published in "The Atlantic Monthly", but is currently available in
paperback by North Point Press.
This book is about the "Unbuilding of the World
Trade Center"... basically the clean up of Ground Zero. William
Langewiesche had unique unrestricted access to the site and he wrote the book in
a narrative approach as if looking back on the events with a bit of emotional
distance, but in his own words "more openly in the first person, as their [the
reader's] agent on the ground."
The result is a fascinating account of how the
organization of the clean-up formed in a completely unplanned, ad-hock manner
where people you don't expect step up and become the indispensable leaders
despite the fact that other organizations (such as FEMA) were supposed to be in
charge of this type of operation.
Although the writing of these events was very well
done, I was hoping to read more of the victims organizing and the issues they
faced (such as the likely life insurance "snafus"), but the unpredictable way
the organization formed was none-the-less very similar as I have heard and
observed in other disasters.
In any case, it is a fascinating book and I do
highly recommend it!
---
2. FEMA Info by a Hurricane Survivor
Group
---
Steven Kanstoroom is a hurricane/flood survivor who lives close to
Washington DC. He is a retired Pattern Recognition and Fraud Detection
Expert who started recognizing patterns of "behavior" by the insurance companies
and adjusters after hurricane Isabel destroyed his house along with many others
in September 2003.
He has been dealing with FEMA and insurance issues and has been
lobbying the US Congress for change. After some TV time via news
interviews (many of which are posted on his website), he has had several whistle
blowers from agencies and insurance companies contact him so the evidence he is
collecting is quickly gathering.
He is very interested in finding survivors in California who have found
similar experiences to gather further support.
Steve would love you to contact him if you were offered less than the
actual repair cost of your home by the insurance company no matter what point in
the recovery process you currently are so he
can further prove that the issues are widespread. sjk@femainfo.us or 301-260-2024 or
301-503-6078.
---
3. Florida insurance reform
---
I have received the following from Amy Bach of
United Policyholders.
Florida just
enacted a bill that addresses a number of the same post-disaster insurance
issues we’re grappling with here in CA., (patterns of non-renewals,
availability shortages, claim dispute mediation, inadequate funds to
rebuild/repair).
We’re still gathering information from our Florida contacts on
what it means in practical terms, and whether it will provide more relief for
insurers than insureds but meanwhile I’m forwarding it for your
review.
An insurance industry publication’s
summary:
http://www.claimsmag.com/enews/enews/viewClaimNews.asp?articleID=687
The actual bill text:
http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2005/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s1486er.pdf
Regards,
Amy Bach, Executive Director
United
Policyholders
110 Pacific Ave.,
#262
San Francisco,
CA. 94111
---
In The News
---
1.
Museums are just plane fun
Balboa Park's
transportation displays offer visitors a new view of San
Diego
Friday, May 20, 2005
By CARY ORDWAY / Special to The Press-Enterprise
Think zoo and you think of San Diego. Think of San Diego and you think of the
San Diego Zoo.
For decades, this world-famous zoo has been attracting visitors from all over
the world -- and its popularity is as great as ever.
Yet many people don't realize that the San Diego Zoo is just one part of an
amazing collection of fascinating attractions and museums that make up Balboa
Park. While you might allow several hours for your visit to the zoo, you could
literally come back several different days to enjoy the 15 museums on this
picturesque piece of San Diego real estate.
[cut to the relevant part]
The Natural History Museum is worth some extra time and, in
addition to more generalized exhibits about the natural world, the museum
currently offers an especially topical exhibit called Earth, Wind and Wildfire,
detailing the wildfires that struck the San Diego area in October 2003.
[more HERE]
http://www.pe.com/entertainment/guide/stories/PE_Ent_Guide_D_out20.582fd.html
---
2. Family rebuilds home, memories
Friday, May 20,
2005
By MARK MUCKENFUSS / The
Press-Enterprise
CEDAR
GLEN - There is no escaping the devastation.
Driving down Hook Creek Road, it's impossible to
ignore the disaster that once was Cedar Glen. Here and there, a handful of new
homes and others under construction pop into view. Even fewer are the houses
that survived the Old Fire of October 2003 when it raced up the canyon,
incinerating 350 homes.
[more HERE]
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_pretzinger19.f3b5.html
---
3. Public will hear water
options
Study of Cedar Glen's system
conducted
Friday, May 20, 2005
By George Watson, SB Sun Staff Writer
In an attempt to clear up questions regarding the
water system in Cedar Glen, residents can listen today to the results of a
feasibility study of the complex situation.
Rebuilding Mountain Hearts and Lives commissioned a
$5,000 engineering study of the communit y's a ntiquated water system. The
report examined options to ensure the delivery of quality water, and the pros
and cons of each.
[more HERE]
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208%257E12588%257E2880646,00.html?search=filter
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