For L.A. wildfire victims: Valuable lessons from the Florida hurricanes

Editor’s Note: Cindy Hesterman (pictured), CEO of Vistage Florida and Chair Emeritus, wrote the following for our internal member network. This edited version has been published with her permission.

After experiencing several hurricanes in the past few years, some Vistage Chairs in Los Angeles dealing with the recent wildfires encouraged me to share what we have learned. I’m sharing this for any of you who have employees who have been impacted by the fires, or if you yourself have been impacted. Here’s what we did and what we learned along the way.

Initial steps

After each hurricane, the first step was to check on everyone who may have been impacted. Once everyone was accounted for, we triaged the losses and we created a spreadsheet of needs that was shared with Chairs and Vistage members around the state. We also put together a Tiger Team to help.

Broad impact

The impact of such disasters is broader than just those who experience losses. Anyone who evacuated, or even those who worried they should evacuate, experienced strong emotions such as fear, worry and uncertainty.

In some cases, they had to make split-second decisions on what to take and what to leave behind, causing guilt or regret. And where could they go where they would feel safe? Mother Nature is unpredictable, and areas you think may be safe often turn dangerous in a short time. Some people had to evacuate a second time in just a matter of hours.

Even watching the news coverage of the destruction may be traumatic to some. Many will experience PTSD and should seek professional help. Please watch for signs of trauma in your employees and encourage them to use your EAP (Employee Assistance Program) or find a support group.

Personal losses

I have dozens of friends who lost everything in the hurricanes, including cars, keepsakes, family heirlooms, baby pictures, legal documents, furniture, appliances, and even all of their clothing. On top of those losses, they were now homeless since their homes were either leveled or uninhabitable. All of their belongings were either washed away or piled by the street. And many of those piles are still there, months later, growing mold and infested with rodents, a constant reminder of all that was lost.

Many of those friends still are homeless — over 100 days later — with no end in sight. They are waiting for the pennies on the dollar they are supposed to receive from the insurance companies, and they are also waiting for local building officials to let them know if they are allowed to begin repairs or to rebuild their homes. Meanwhile, they must continue to pay their mortgage and utilities on a house that is no longer standing, while also paying for temporary housing elsewhere.

Many had their insurance claims denied the first time and had to persistently appeal in order to receive funds. They had to work through a significant amount of red tape even though the process had supposedly been streamlined due to the magnitude of the disaster. In some cases, they had to retain attorneys to make progress. One was told a check was issued, only to learn the check had been sent to their old mortgage company even though the mortgage had been paid off many years ago. The insurance company then issued a second check, which was sent to the home that was no longer standing. As of this week, a third replacement check is supposed to have been mailed to the apartment where they are currently living. While it will be just 25% of what they will need to rebuild their property, it is progress.

Displacement from wildfires

Temporary housing can be very hard to find. Parents want as much stability for their children as possible. However, the schools may have also been damaged, or the temporary housing they found may be far away. The “ideal” solution for many has been to live in campers and RVs on their property, when possible. Others have taken people into their homes, allowing them to live rent-free while they navigate the claims process and attempt to rebuild. Some have moved away since they cannot afford to rebuild, while others may eventually file for bankruptcy.

Business losses

Businesses can be washed away (or burned to the ground). If the business can be rebuilt, the owner is in the same situation as the homeowners — waiting for insurance money, building permits, etc. while trying to generate revenue somehow. One of our members lost all of his retail locations and inventory in the most recent hurricane. His group is helping him pivot to online sales to survive.

In a hurricane a couple of years ago, a member lost several resorts, leaving over 200 of his employees out of work. Other members of the group helped him by temporarily hiring some of the workers and referring them to other businesses that needed workers. They also helped him identify a way to generate revenue and bring back some employees while the area was closed down: housing and feeding the inspectors, first responders, and construction workers who would spend months going through the debris and beginning the rebuilding process. As a result, his business survived, and he was able to rebuild the destroyed resorts and rehire his workers. These stories exemplify the power of Vistage. Use your group and ask your Chair for help. This community is amazing.

Survivor’s guilt

Those who were not required to evacuate or did not have major damage can also experience survivor’s guilt. Survivor’s guilt can manifest in various ways. Some people may feel unworthy of their own safety and well-being, believing that they should have been the ones to suffer instead of others. This can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety and depression.

It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and understand that they are a natural response to a traumatic event. Seeking professional help, such as therapy or counseling, can be beneficial in processing these emotions and finding healthy ways to cope.

Support and resources

State and local governments will publish lists of resources, such as temporary shelters, helpful nonprofit organizations, and where to get grants and loans. Additionally, Vistage has provided a list of general resources in the West Network (My Vistage login required) for those impacted by the wildfires and in the South Network for those impacted by the hurricanes. Even more importantly, chairs and members can work together to create a support system and share resources. Stay in touch with your fellow members and keep your chair informed. Do not be afraid to ask for help!

I am sending continued prayers that the wildfires in Los Angeles will soon be extinguished so that the damage assessment and recovery can begin.

And for those still dealing with the wildfires: Stay safe.

Our thoughts are with those suffering due to the recent wildfires in Southern California. If you are in need or would like to volunteer, you can find a list of disaster relief resources here. If you’re a Vistage member and would like to contribute or ask for advice, please visit the West Network (login required).

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