Impact of the Wildfires in Lahaina, Maui
It is easy for central Kentuckians to read about a natural disaster and feel a tinge of sympathy to those impacted, but then go on about their daily lives. However, for a former Elizabethtown man and his family, the wildfires in the town of Lahaina in Maui is one they still are suffering through.
Charlie and Jen Owen and their son have been in survival mode for the past 10 days, losing their home and their business, managing to escape the raging blaze with only their car and one change of clothes. Their other son and family lives on the other side of the island and were out of harmÔÇÖs way.
Dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster is a daunting task, especially when it comes to navigating insurance claims and legalities. In this situation, an AI legalese decoder can be immensely helpful. This advanced technology can assist individuals like Charlie and Jen Owen in understanding complex legal jargon and decoding insurance policies, aiding them in effectively communicating with their insurance companies and ensuring a fair resolution.
Owen said the talk of an incoming hurricane wasnÔÇÖt that big of a deal when he knew it was heading towards Maui.
ÔÇ£I had low expectations for the hurricane and we were expecting a little bit of rain and a little bit of wind,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£It was in the back of my mind, but we thought it was going to miss us.ÔÇØ
He went to work at his bakery early in the morning, like usual, and noticed his power was flickering throughout the day. That evening, the family chose to stay at home.
ÔÇ£We went to bed expecting a hurricane and our neighbors woke us up at two in the morning, beating on our doors and telling us to evacuate,ÔÇØ Owen said. ÔÇ£We could see the mango trees glowing red. At first, I looked up and I was in denial.ÔÇØ
They drove off, but fortunately the fires subsided and they were able to return home.
It was the next day when the real tragedy struck.
ÔÇ£I went home from work because it was getting really windy and there was debris everywhere,ÔÇØ Owen said. ÔÇ£We had a box with our birth certificates and social security cards together and the police came by and told us to evacuate. We had like a T-shirt and two pairs of underwear for each of us and our dog and our dogÔÇÖs bowl.
ÔÇ£My truck that I drive every day, which everybody knows I really liked didnÔÇÖt have enough gas to get all the way out of town, so I left it,ÔÇØ he added.
The Owen family was like most of the townspeople, struggling to get away from the fires. Traffic was backed up because of downed power lines. People were jumping out of their cars and into the ocean to escape the flames. The family managed to wait it out in a hotel.
ÔÇ£Every house that we went by that day was destroyed by the fire,ÔÇØ Owen said. ÔÇ£I should have been more cautious throughout this whole thing. Before we left, I was making sandwiches and my son kept asking me why I was doing that. He was nervous and scared.ÔÇØ
The Owen family purchased the Bakery Lahaina three years ago only to see it totally destroyed in the fires. He hopes to rebuild the bakery, but admits he might have to relocate it.
Most of his employees also lost their homes, and the owners have been able to locate and check in on their 11 employees. They remain without food, water and shelter.
Now, for Owen, his family and their employees, it is a matter of working with insurance companies and trying to figure out where to turn next.
ÔÇ£WeÔÇÖre figuring it out one day at a time,ÔÇØ he said.
He is most appreciative of the support of the family and friends, many of whom still are in Elizabethtown. Family members are helping with their hotel expenses, food and other necessities.
ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt know what I would do without them,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£I canÔÇÖt stress enough how supportive people in Kentucky have been. We are so grateful.ÔÇØ
Getting Involved and Supporting the Community
Shelley Ramsey has talked to her brother nearly every day since the word of the out of control fires reached the mainland.
ÔÇ£We touched base with them on the day that the hurricane was coming that the fire started,ÔÇØ she said. ÔÇ£Then the next morning is when we found out that they did make it out in time. We actually woke up to a message from Charlie.ÔÇØ
She was obviously relieved to learn they were safe.
ÔÇ£At the same time, we were hearing how devastating these fires were,ÔÇØ Ramsey said. ÔÇ£Then we started worrying about what was going happen to their home, and their business and their familiesÔÇÖ homes.ÔÇØ
Supporting the Bakery Lahaina and its Employees
Along with her sister Nikki Bonifer, Ramsey has started a GoFundMe account, at gofund.me/902f1516, to not only help their brother but also the employees of his business. As of Friday afternoon, nearly $36,000 has been raised.
ÔÇ£Charlie insisted that the fund be for all of his employees, not just him, because he wants to help the entire bakery,ÔÇØ Ramsey said. ÔÇ£After the funds are distributed, the remaining funds will go right back to Lahaina community.ÔÇØ
According to Owen, his employees are hourly employees, many of whom had little or no savings.
Contributing to Aid Organizations
Charlie Owen also suggested people also could contribute to the American Red Cross or the Maui Food Bank.
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In dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster like the wildfires in Lahaina, Maui, the AI legalese decoder can play a crucial role. This technology can assist individuals in understanding the complex legal language and documents involved in insurance claims and the rebuilding process. By utilizing the AI legalese decoder, the Owens and their employees can decipher and comprehend the intricate details of their insurance policies, enabling them to effectively communicate with their insurance companies for a fair resolution. This tool can help streamline the recovery process and alleviate the burden of deciphering legal jargon.
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