REMEMBERING
by Richard Lieberman
“We had ten minutes to get out of there, we got out with our animals our family and our birth certificates and that was it” said Susan Bell. Susan and her family including husband John Bell her two children and grandchild safely evacuated their home in the Ondulando neighborhood in Ventura with just ten minutes notice to get out and escape the flames.
“We thought we would be back in our home in a couple of hours” said Bell. The hardest part of that night was for this family finding a place to stay. The family went to the government center and attempted to secure a place to stay the night, but their efforts were unsuccessful. All the hotel and motel rooms were already booked. Finally, the family was able to find a single room for them all.
The Bell’s lost everything that night one year ago. Four generations of photos, albums, memorabilia. “There was just nothing left” added Bell. “getting home from work I could see fire all around, I saw fire trucks rumbling up and down our street” Bell said. It was at this time clear that they needed to evacuate. Shortly police cars announcing on loud-speakers to evacuate immediately flooded the neighborhood. The family and pets made it out of the fire area safely.
With an uncompromising positive attitude and looking to re-build right away. They started the very next day December 5th. They were savvy enough to know what to do. File the claim, apply for the necessary permits, contact a contractor, get plans finalized and filed with the city. “We knew how to hound those we had to” Bell said. “
“We were very fortunate and we were the 10th on the list to be approved by the city for our re-build” added Bell.
The community was wonderful and shortly after settling into our hotel room that night, boxes of clothing and essentials began to arrive. “We received more than we needed so we started to disburse some of what we were given to other fire victims” Bell added.
“We have not been emotional at all. We have not had the time” The re-building project has taken all of our energy.” Bell said. “It is beginning to get to me now” “Now we are getting to the end of this project, I feel I am getting a little screwy.” She said. “It’s like a delayed reaction,” she added. “We have been helping other people out, by sharing and mentoring others on how to deal with the city and insurance companies, what to say and who to hound when necessary.”
The Bell’s house is now 80% complete on this one- year anniversary of the Thomas Fire. “The stucco is done, all our walls are done roof tiles will go in shortly, bathrooms and shower tiling will be completed soon” Bell said.
The Bells were fortunate that their insurance company paid exactly what they said they would. Insurance provided them with a four- bedroom home rental in Ventura where they have been residing since shortly after the fire. Being well insured has given them the edge in getting this project up and running and 80% complete in a year’s- time.
Right now we have had to go out and buy a new Christmas tree. “It reminded me of what we had and I just cried” she said. “It’s very emotional on a day to day basis.”
“We love where we are at, we love Ventura and we love the people of Ventura, we never even gave a thought to leaving.” Concluded Bell.
