Help Rachel, Kuba, Mimi, & Miki Recover From the Eaton Fire

My name is Joe Neumann and I'm raising money to help support my sister Rachel, my brother-in-law Kuba, and my wondrous niece Mimi and nephew Miki as they begin the very long process of recovery from the Eaton Fire in Altadena, CA. Their house sits within the burn zone and they have been unable to return home since evacuation in the early morning of January 8th. While their house is still standing, which is undeniably a blessing, the toxic byproducts of almost the entire neighborhood burning around it have rendered their home unlivable until it and thousands of other properties like it have undergone an expensive, 8-step decontamination process. The timeline for the completion of this restoration process is unknown, but it is likely to be months before Rachel and her family even know what will be required, let alone when that work will be done. While the bulk of the remediation will be covered or carried out by the EPA or the State of California, additional independent toxicity testing may needed to ensure Mimi and Miki's safety in particular. Because the house is still standing, additional interior remediation may be required beyond what is covered by state, Federal, or insurance

In the meantime, they need to try to find a new mode of existence. The biggest challenge will be finding a place to live. In the case of Rachel and her family, the special needs of my severely disabled niece Mimi make finding a temporary home particularly challenging. Mimi is very dysregulated and loud both indoors and outdoors. Mimi's sleep is also dysregulated and she is often up late, or even all night, stomping and/or crying. As unreasonable as this may seem, an apartment in a multifamily home with shared walls and floors would be unfair to all.

Mimi's well-being relies on her access to a safe and secure outdoor space where she can run around and ride her bike. This is her only form of relaxation and entertainment: she can't use any of the fun activities a typical kid can enjoy: TV, video games, kids' play centers, movies, toys, crafts or visits to the library or the park.

Mimi is a serious flight risk. She has no understanding of the dangers posed by traffic and by unfamiliar environments but will be tempted to get out by any unlocked exit. Her outdoor space must be completely secure and Mimi-proof.

All of this means it's going to be harder, take longer and be more expensive, to find housing. They do not know yet whether, or how much, their insurance will cover this substitute housing, especially if the housing meeting Mimi's needs is much more expensive than other unsuitable options. During this extended period that could be years long they will face extensive out of pocket expenses that will not be covered by FEMA or their insurance. It is my goal to provide them a cushion to help mitigate some of these huge costs. This experience has already been traumatic in the extreme, and the trauma for Rachel, Kuba, Mimi, and Miki will remain fresh for months and years. I hope to provide them some stability with this fundraiser during this impossible time.

Thank you for every dollar you are able to spare! More updates with details will follow, either from me or from Rachel.