A hundred days after the Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of homes, a group of homeowners who have State Farm insurance gathered in Pasadena to demand accountability over the company’s fire response.
Members of the Eaton Fire Survivor Network gathered outside the insurance company’s tent on Colorado Blvd. Joy Chen is with the group and called on California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to do three things.
“Number one, launch a formal investigation into State Farm's handling of Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire claims,” she said. “ Number two, expedite all unresolved claims and pay them out with interest, and number three, deny this 17% rate hike until State Farm shows it will fulfill its obligations to California families.”
Chen added that the main factor in whether Altadena recovers is access to insurance payouts.
One resident, Ciressa Henderson, said it's been a tough battle dealing with the insurance.
“I've been out of pocket for one day, I had to spend $8100 to the point where my bank thought it was fraud, so I couldn't continue using that card,” Henderson said. “I have been on the phone with State Farm no less than 50 times since the fire. I've shown up here multiple times. I went to community events where insurance people were there to discuss, and still no real help.”
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Another resident, Shawna Dawson Beer, said the insurance company is threatening their future.
“We will continue to speak up for our neighbors, for ourselves, for our community, and we will not go quietly,” she said.
In March, Lara temporarily granted State Farm’s request for an emergency 22% hike. On April 8, insurance officials justified the hike during a meeting with the California Department of Insurance.
KNX News has reached out to State Farm for comment.
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