Family hit with three disasters

Family hit with three disasters

Has been in orgon for more than seven months now.

Then in the midst of this pandemic -- fires broke out across the state -- leaving many people having to start from scratch.

And to make matters*even worse -- some aren't able to recieve their insurance money in time to get them through.

We spoke with one family who is currently experiencing all three of these struggles.

And as kezi 9 news reporter julian minisohn shows us -- its been a tough year for oregonians.

(joe) "like my mom put it, you just don't think it's going to happen to you, until it does."

Joe's mom, tina, lost everything in the holiday farm fire.

(joe) "they're about two miles away from where it started."

The family of 11 was forced to evacuate.

To make matters worse, all 11 of them tested positive for covid-19 after being cooped up in a hotel.

(joe) "it's been even harder to stay positive and not lose hope when there seems to be not a whole lot of light at the end of this tunnel."

Now the family has to quarantine for 14 days -- which will only increase the financial burden -- since they can't work.

Tina's insurance company provided 18-thousand dollars to help them relocate.

But with a family of 11, that money only lasts them a month in a hotel.

Tina's bank has not released the larger sum of insurance money for the loss of her home, despite having the funds for it.

(joe) "they needed to verify her id because it's a large amount, which she has done four times now, via the online portlal uploading her id's and in person at the green dot walmart bank.

The teller told her to take a photo copy and send it off as well."

(julian) "it seems its like one things after another.

What's going through your head all the way in california?

(joe) "i feel like my hands are tied.

I wish i could more.

I'm doing the best i can remotely.

Even if that's just having conversations with my mom to try ot stay positive and do the next steps and what directions we can take."

Castro hopes his story helps bring attention families who are going through similar situations.

(joe) "i would love to see maybe some philanthropy efforts to come out of this to help the community as well.

Not just my family directly.

It's tough to see that destruction but then not know what your next steps are."

Reporting in eugene,