People Across The Valley Get Ready For Storm Aftermath
Mark Shapen lives at San Jacinto Village apartments in Palm Springs. His parking spot was covered in debris after the wind storm blew the carport off, causing it to fall on top of cars.
“I was lucky I was at work that day. Normally I’m not happy about working Saturdays, but I’ll take it,” said Shapan.
Trees landed on cars and broke through windshields but Shapan was one of the lucky ones.
“We’re a single-car family so it would’ve been devastating,” said Shapan.
Jennifer Bush also lives in the complex. She parked her car in a different spot over the weekend. It was next to where a tree fell and crushed the top of a truck.
“I come out and yeah, the entire place is just like, devastation. It’s complete chaos,” said Bush.
The tree only broke her car’s antenna but she said she still couldn’t believe the damage.
“I’ve never seen any damage like this. I was totally thinking the Wizard of Oz when I stepped out here. Like ‘Oh my Gosh, we were hit by a tornado’,” said Bush.
But what’s next for the storm victims? Insurance agent Michael Williams has seen the damage at San Jacinto and said there are options.
“What they need to do is contact their renter, contact their homeowner’s association for their rental unit.On their cars, they can make a claim through their auto insurance if they do have full coverage and they will go back and forth with the complex,” said Williams.
And if you don’t have full coverage on your car?
“If I’m a renter in the San Jacinto’s apartments, I’d contact the HOA or the rental office there and get a hold of their insurance company and make a claim through them. You have like, three years to make the claim,” said Williams.
Williams said rental communities must be responsible for certain things that happen on their property and it’s OK to wait a few days and allow the complex to get things in order. He recommends to look at what your options are and if possible, reassess your insurance coverage needs.
