Insurance adjusters helping Waldo fire victims

Insurance adjusters have been in Colorado Springs for almost two weeks, since the Waldo Canyon wildfire ignited June 23.

Adjusters have been meeting with residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the fire. The meetings are part of the early steps toward rebuilding. However, adjusters say present needs also must be met.

“Housing, medicine, and they need someone to listen to,” said Gary Hodge of State Farm’s office in Houston, Tex. “So we’re listening.”

Andre McDuffy, a State Farm adjuster based in Colorado Springs, said homeowners have been surprisingly upbeat.

“They’ve had a chance to digest it somewhat,” he said. “But it’s still hard, and is going to take time for them to mend.”

Hodge and McDuffy were visiting residents in a damaged area on Harbor Pines Point in Mountain Shadows. They said that so far, affected residents want to rebuild and don’t want to move.