Help Debra & Bob Recover from the Palisades Fire

My name is Denise and I'm a long-time friend of Debra Mesisca, whom some of you know from school, or maybe as your physical therapist, or just as a friend of hers and her husband, Bob. The morning of Tuesday morning, January 7th, Deb left their home in Pacific Palisades as usual, looking forward to working with her patients. Bob was at home. The wind was blowing, but she had no idea of the scope of the disaster that was brewing. Shortly after 10:30 in the morning she learned that the fire was encroaching upon their home. Debra tried Bob multiple times, but could not reach him by phone. Ultimately she learned from a neighbor who likewise was still at home and had cell reception that there was no way for Bob or her to get out. Fire blocked all the escape exits from their Palisades Drive home. Bob was told by firefighters working on their street that there was nothing they could do to help him, he had no choice except to shelter-in-place. That was about the time I texted Deb having learned through the news that Pacific Palisades was burning. Deb was petrified and spent the next eight hours watching on TV at a friend's house. She texted me that she while was thankful to be safe, the only thing that would help at that point was for Bob to be with her. My heart broke for her. Thankfully, late that evening, they were reunited, but the news was bad otherwise. They lost everything. Their home burned to the ground. All of their family heirlooms, business and financial records, personal possessions except the clothes on their backs and some Debra had in a bag in her car she intended on donating to Goodwill, Bob’s car . . . everything was gone. What to do after such a loss? And on this scale? No one knows. No one knows what first steps to take. You may have heard that for the fire victims everything has been complete chaos, trying to find housing, replacing bank cards, medications. On top of all that, Deb and Bob are now worried sick about their homeowners’ insurance, what they might pay for and when. And just think: most people are expecting that, if a family decides to rebuild, that might take as long as five years! Currently Bob and Debra are couch- and hotel-surfing, watching their credit card debt mount as they try to scrape together an existence having no idea how long this will go on. So now they are turning to you, their friends and family, to ask for your help. Any amount you are able to give to help them cope with this catastrophe, to help them move forward, I know they would be forever grateful.