Sandra Kaler
Appearances
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
I raised four children there. It was homey. It had a view of the ocean. It had, you know, a deck on top. It was home. You know, it was home.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
Oh, why is that? Palisades, again, it's 38 years. That's home. I knew where everything was. So many things burned down. The elementary schools burned down. The high school is non-functional. Like right down the street, the stores, you know, our kids would go to after school to buy French fries and just hang out and be bad because they were kids. And it's like it's not there anymore.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
To me, it's sort of like it's a place that won't exist anymore. A whole town. I can't even believe that, but it's a whole town and a whole lifestyle that won't exist anymore.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
People should know what State Farm did because we, you know, many people in our area had State Farm and we trusted them.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
Oh, no. Paddle City is a very homey kind of town. Everybody uses the services of the town. And, you know, there was a state farm agent and someone told us, yeah, I think our realtor, when we bought the house, said contact him. And I did. And we set it up with him. And they had all, they had our cars and they had the house. He never had a problem, wasn't super expensive. They were very responsive.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
It's true. But there was never a fire there. And when they would say you need to evacuate, it would never be because of our area, really. It would be, you know, the next Malibu or the other direction. So we never felt a personal risk.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
You know, it's just so hard to say. It's having, when the kids would have friends over, that was pretty special. They didn't think I noticed, but it was pretty special that they would do that. And then also like we had French windows that opened up and I had a fountain because I love the sound of water. And that's a very strong memory for me.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
Our insurance for State Farm had been something like $3,000. You know, it was never very much. And he called around and I don't know the company, but he found a company that it was going to be $14,000. And we went, that's crazy. Yeah. So we went back to State Farm and they were at that point encouraging us, telling us, you know, you have to do California Fair Plan.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
And they made it sound like that was the only game in town.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
And, you know, you just don't think of these things. So I never really read it. You know, I sort of accepted, like, well, we're not going to have a fire. We don't have fire here.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
And then in August, I think it was, we got a letter from them saying that, you know, you were being dropped. And we were going to be dropped. November 25th was the date.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
And in the email follow-up, he told me he'd pray for me.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
You know, it was like thoughts and prayers. I've heard it before.
The Journal.
State Farm Cut Policies. Then the Fires Hit.
I do. Um... I do. But I feel like, you know, every time I see an article that about that the fair plan is begging for money from the state and that they've already over budgeted, I'm scared.