Paradise wildfire survivor’s home deemed ‘livable’ by insurance company despite absence of water

New York Daily News, The (NY)

April 23-- Apr. 23--A resident of the small California town virtually wiped off the map by last year's historic wildfire is returning home -- but not by choice.

Kyla Awalt says she was told by her insurance company that she must return to Paradise even though her home does not have running water. In addition, the town's water supply has not been deemed safe.

"There is absolutely no water," she told ABC News in an interview published Tuesday. "There's no way to flush toilets. There's no way to wash your hands."

She told the network that her family stayed at four different locations after evacuating in November. However, they moved back home earlier this year when their insurance company informed them they would no longer cover their rent because their home was considered "livable."

"They were very clear numerous times," she told ABC News. "Once the house is cleaned, it's considered livable and that they would stop any additional living expenses that we were receiving."

She also said that she was rebuffed by Farmers Insurance when she filed a claim for a new water tank.

"You requested coverage for a water tank, pump and full-up due to the citywide water outage," read a letter from Farmers in January, according to ABC. "Per your policy, there must be actual, accidental direct, distinct and demonstrable physical loss or damage to the water system on your premise for additional; living expense coverage to apply, and for us to cover the water tank. We did not find any damage to the water system on your premise. Unfortunately there is no coverage for your claim based on the facts known to us at the present time."

Farmers said in a statement to ABC that it has worked with Awalt to pay all benefits "due under her policy" for direct damage to her home.

"While the homeowner has submitted requests for additional compensation, those supplementary items fall outside of the limitations of the policy, thus not compensable under her policy," the statement read. "We have discussed these items with our customer and are available to review any new information she may have related to this matter."

About 85 residents of Paradise, a town of 26,000, lost their lives to the wildfire in November. Approximately 1,500 residents have returned to the town, according to the Sacramento Bee.

"It was incredible for us to just know that it survived and that we were one of the very, very few ... we're the only house on our street," Awalt told ABC News.

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