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From :
Lila Hayes
Sent :
June 29, 2005
Subject :
OFRG weekly update

Meeting Reminder
Now that our regularly scheduled meetings at the Calvary Baptist Church are over, we look forward to visiting survivors homes!  We will be doing so once a month until the two year anniversary in October 2005. 
 
Our first get together will be July 24th, 2PM at Margie & Joe Arnett's located at 1681 Echo Drive.  This will be a potluck event so please bring something to share!  If there is anyone else located within a couple of blocks of this location, we would also love to visit your house.  Please let me know in advance!
 
Lila Hayes
Old Fire Recovery Group
www.oldfirerecoverygroup.org
909-266-1459 vm/fax
 
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Index
 1. Rebuild Statistics
 2. Old Fire Recovery Group to be recognized by the City Council
 
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In The News
 1. Allstate to Settle Rate Claims, June 27, 2005, LA Times Staff Writer
 2. Fire's acreage lowered, June 23, 2005The Sun 
 3. SDSU researchers test wildfire sensors in East [San Diego] County, June 23, 2005, San Diego Union Tribune
 4. What to take, June 4, 2005, Riverside Press Enterprise
 
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On The Web
 1. Identity Theft Information
 2. Free Privacy Survival Kit
 
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1. Rebuild Statistics
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As of May 31, 2005
 
San Bernardino Valley (City)
Certificate of Completion - 88 of 330 or 27%
Started permit process, or currently rebuilding - 134 of 330 or 40%
 
San Bernardino Valley (County)
Certificate of Completion -  82 of 218 or 38%
Started permit process, or currently rebuilding - 99 of 218 or 45%
 
San Bernardino Mountains (County)
Certificate of Completion - 11 of 445 or 2%
Started permit process, or currently rebuilding -  53 of 445 or 12%
 
San Diego County
Certificate of Completion - 477 of 2137 or 22%
Started permit process, or currently rebuilding - 787 of 2137 or 37%
 
San Diego City
Certificate of Completion - not yet reported for this date
Started permit process, or currently rebuilding - not yet reported for this date
 
There are other areas which lost homes that day (Ventura County and the city of Poway) from which I have been unable to collect statistics.
 
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2. Old Fire Recovery Group to be recognized by the City Council
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On August 1, 2005 the Old Fire Recovery Group will be recognized by resolution at the San Bernardino City Council meeting.  The meeting will take place at the City Council Chambers at 3PM.  As it gets closer I will have more information.
 
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In The News
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1. Allstate to Settle Rate Claims
The insurer will pay a state fine and repay $30 million to clients who may have been overcharged. It admits no wrongdoing.
By Kathy M. Kristof, LA Times Staff Writer
June 27, 2005
 
Allstate Insurance Co. has agreed to pay $30 million to an estimated 250,000 Californians who were allegedly overcharged for auto and homeowner policies, in a settlement expected to be announced today.
 
The company, though not admitting wrongdoing, also has agreed to pay a $4-million fine to the state Insurance Department.
 
[snip]
 
As part of the settlement, Allstate also agreed to make changes in the way it handled fire damage claims, Garamendi said.

In the wake of the 2003 Southland wildfires, numerous Allstate policyholders complained that their insurance claims were shifted from one adjuster to another — creating extra work for the customers and delaying payment of their claims, Garamendi said.

[more HERE]
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-allstate27jun27,1,7043472.story
 
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2. Fire's acreage lowered
June 23, 2005
By Lolita Harper, The Sun Staff Writer

MORONGO VALLEY - Sandy Birghouse stood Thursday at the edge of her property, staring at charred rubble that served as her sewing room before a wind-whipped blaze devoured her portion of the desert.
 
[more HERE]
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208%257E12588%257E2936332,00.html?search=filter
 
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3. SDSU researchers test wildfire sensors in East [San Diego] County
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM
 
FALLBROOK – Researchers at San Diego State University are developing a system of remote sensors that can detect the start of a wildfire from up to a half-mile away.
 
[more HERE]
 
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4. What to take
Create a 'red file' to grab quickly in an evacuation
Saturday, June 4, 2005
By EILEEN ALT POWELL / The Associated Press

Beyond planning an escape route, setting aside food and water and designating a meeting place, families need to make sure important papers are secure and that they've got access to cash to live on.
 
"Unfortunately, most people tend to do nothing until they hear a warning (to evacuate)," said Ken Strauss, a certified public accountant who specializes in personal finance. "Being prepared means you've got everything in hand while everyone else is running around in a panic."
 
[side bar]
BE PREPARED
 
Among the documents a family should keep handy if it needs to evacuate include:
 
[more HERE]
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On The Web
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1. identitytheft.org
I have heard more than one person say that a disaster survivor can be at increased risk for Identity Theft.  Mari Frank is an Identity Theft survivor and has lots of information about surviving this ordeal. http://www.identitytheft.org/  You can also purchase her book at bookstores  "From Victim to Victor: A Step By Step Guide for Ending the Nightmare of Identity Theft", 2nd Edition (With CD) (Porpoise Press, Inc. 2005) by Mari Frank, Esq.  176 pages plus CD  $39.95   
 
2. Free Privacy Survival Kit
Utility Consumers Action Network - Ucan.org in conjunction with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has created the "Privacy Survival Kit"  You can get one for free by visiting www.ucan.org or calling 619-696-6966.  They are currently at the printers and should be available the first part of July.
 
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Old Fire Recovery Group
www.oldfirerecoverygroup.org
909-266-1459 vm/fax