Normal Heights Fire Victims Finding Out About Available Aid

Chris and Helen Gevas, whose home was destroyed in the June 30 Normal Heights fire, waited patiently to talk to disaster aid representatives at John Adams Elementary School.

Like most fire victims who went to the Normal Heights disaster assistance center on its opening day Tuesday, they were there to find out if they are eligible for public financial aid in replacing their losses.

The center provides one-stop shopping for disaster assistance, giving victims a chance to meet with all the agencies that can assist them, including the Small Business Administration, the Individual and Family Grant Program, the state Department of Insurance and the Internal Revenue Service.

The Gevases were covered by insurance, but they said they do not know to what extent because their original policy was destroyed in the fire. They are frustrated because they still haven’t gotten a clear statement from the insurance company about their coverage.

They met at the center with the representative from the state insurance commissioner’s office, which assists people with their insurance claims and investigates if they have trouble getting settlements.

By 4 p.m., 27 fire victims had visited the disaster assistance center on 35th Street. San Diego Police Sgt. Bill Wolf said that of the 140 fire victims known to the city about 25% were under-insured for their losses in the fire.

Fire victims at the center are first interviewed by a registrar who asks them about the extent of their losses and their financial needs. They are then referred to the agencies that may be able to help.

SBA disaster loans are available for most people who lost their homes. Andy Marshall, a representative of the agency, said all victims with uninsured losses of more than $5,000 are eligible for a loan as long as they are able to repay it. People who lost second homes are not eligible.

Homeowners may borrow as much as $100,000 for structural repairs and as much as $20,000 to replace personal property at 4% or 8% interest, depending on income and other debt obligations, according to Marshall. “People who have limited resources are declined,” he said.

Victims who do not qualify for a loan are referred to the Individual and Family Grant Program where they can receive a grant of as much as $5,000 for home repairs or replacement of personal belongings.

Allyson Miller, 22, was a renter in 3300 block of North Mountain View Drive when the fire destroyed her apartment and her belongings. She said she is having trouble recovering emotionally from the loss of her memorabilia.

Miller was turned down for a SBA loan because her loss was small. She was not sure whether she would be able to document the amount of her loss for the grant program. “I didn’t have expensive appliances that can be replaced,” she said. “My losses were just personal. I don’t even know if I had $5,000 worth of things.”

Miller said she kept scrapbooks, journals and wrote poetry. “You can’t put a price on a scrapbook,” she said. “I’d rather just have everything I had back.”

The Gevases said their mid-1950s custom-built home, also in the 3300 block of North Mountain View Drive, was valued at $150,000. They have not placed a value on their possessions.

Helen Gevas said they talked to the business association representatives about receiving a loan, but they will have to wait to hear whether they are eligible. They also talked to an IRS representative about the tax consequences of their loss.

She said they plan to rebuild on the lot but that it is difficult to get enthusiastic about creating a new home. “We feel tired. We know this is financially best, but we feel indifferent. There is no desire.” The loss of priceless memorabilia and a pleasant home makes her feel “like somebody’s dead,” Mrs. Gevas said.