Sandra and Tom Johnson lost their home in Altadena, California, due to the Palisades fire, which destroyed over 16,000 structures in just a week. At 72 and 76, respectively, the Johnsons, who fled with their dog, have been staying with their daughter in Palmdale. As they consider their future, they are reluctant to rebuild, finding the process too daunting at their age. The fires have left many older adults contemplating the difficult realities of waiting years to recover, compounded by increasing complexities in rebuilding due to federal policies.
Ms. Johnson expressed, 'It's too hard at this age to wait years and years and years to be back to normal,' highlighting the challenges faced by older adults after devastating losses.
The Johnsons, like many others affected, realized the difficulty of rebuilding post-fire, stating, 'They are not going back and rebuilding,' signaling a significant shift in their life.
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