Wednesday marks one year since the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed more than 16,000 buildings and changed the lives of tens of thousands of people.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, told L.A.’s Morning News the biggest takeaway from the fires is that the Altadena community is strong.
“While we're still trying to figure out how people are going to be rebuilding based on insurance, based on the financing…this is a community that sticks together and is very focused on coming back,” she said.
She added that insurance has been an impediment to the rebuild, and it's time for the federal government to step up.
“The insurance industry has not honored the policies that are in play,” she said. “I can guarantee if they hadn't paid their premiums, they'd be all over them. They've paid their premiums, and they have a right to get what is due to them. And then for those that are underinsured or have no insurance, you know, the federal government needs to step in and recognize that they play a role. I mean, there is a reason why we have FEMA. There's a reason why SBA was set up and to politicize this based on the dislike of a governor or a disagreement in terms of the policies of the state holding the survivors hostage is just unfair.”
Barger also said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara needs to look into the insurance companies to see why they aren't paying those who have insurance and lost their homes.
You can listen to the full interview with Barger in the audio above.
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