Monica & Dereck (McNevin's cousins) Paradise Fire
My cousins Monica & Dereck Horton lost their home in the Paradise "Camp Fire", along with their 5th wheel (up until this year, the RV was their 'work home' during their seasonal park work in higher elevations). More important to them though, is Dereck's mom and dad. Layne & Karen Horton, age 75 and 73, had just moved into their house to live out their golden years. Everything they owned - possessions, memories, and heirlooms - was burned in the house. They are all ok, they got out with their lives. Their 110 lb chocolate lab Peanut is also ok. The town of 25,000 people, lost virtually all of it's 7500 homes, and other buildings, school, Walmart, the town is completely gone. Layne, a guitarist, grabbed two of his most precious guitars (including a one of a kind Mosrite electric, from his early days touring in the Horton family band). Everything else was left behind.
As they rebuild their lives, the short term hurdle is to find permanent lodging, basic living needs, clothes, food, etc. The search for a new place to live starts now. Right now Dereck and Monica are up in a small cabin 25 miles out of town, while Layne and Karen are staying down in Chico with their grandson Jacob and his wife, and their four children (two toddlers, and two teenagers). It is a tight fit. It is a blessing to be together at this time, but the grandparents are living in the downstairs area of the house on couches, and cannot climb the stairs. The housing and apartment market in and around Chico is crazy and saturated, as is Yuba City, Redding, Lake County areas; the whole region is absorbing a huge Northern California population that has been displaced by fires.
Monica and Dereck do have insurance on their home and their belongings that were still in the house with their parents (Dereck, also a musician, lost his pro vintage drum kit). However, Dereck's folks do not have insurance, and they do not have a lot of savings or pensions as fall back funds. Their SSA income was allowing for a decent and modest life in Monica and Dereck's place, but that is no longer an option. It will be months, or years, to reestablish a home and future, sort out their damages and finances. As the land is cleaned, cleared, and decided on by the insurance company and response orgs, this GoFundMe page can help carry them through. The $20k goal is lofty, but any number reached is money they'll have access to, immediately. This page is mainly for Dereck's parents, and also helps Dereck and Monica, who are now several thousand dollars in the red in emergency expenses.
There are five different AAA adjusters working on Monica and Dereck's place. It will be a slow go as FEMA and other response teams sort through the rubble and assess the conditions. Thousands of families and homes are in a similar holding pattern while the search and rescue and other response teams sift through the neighborhood.
My cousins consider themselves all lucky to be alive and together for Thanksgiving weekend. The financial hit and life uncertainties ahead are enormous. Please consider a donation to help get them back on their feet and living out their golden years under their own roof.