Some Pasadena Residents Will Not Be Going Home

When Heather Flores looks at what used to be her home of 15 years, she is grateful. Her two oldest children had been sleeping in the room under the impact point where a tree crashed down during the wind storm. Her family of five and their animals were trapped. They all made it out, rescued by neighbors.

"We ran over there and got everybody out of their master bedroom," said Margie Hakel.

"I still can't believe that we got out," said Flores. "By the looks of it, it doesn't look like anyone could have made it out."

City of Pasadena Building Official Sarkis Nazerian has been making the rounds, delivering bad news and the dreaded "red tags."

"This is a total loss," Nazerian said, pointing to the Flores home. "When the tree came down, it ruptured the main line, the water line, the gas line and in the rear, power lines."

The Pasadena building department red tagged the home. On Thursday, there were 40 homes and apartments with those tags.

"We increased, and as the day goes on with inspections, we may get more houses with damages as bad as this one," said Nazerian.

Meanwhile, a three-year-old resident finds comfort with her dogs. The helping hand is still extended among those on the close-knit street, which is still without power.

"We went shopping for clothes of the kids yesterday," said neighbor Carmen Cortez. "I was in charge. It was just like nothing compared to what they really need."

The little girl's mother says this is going to be a tough holiday season for her 11-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son.

"It's really hard with my son because he didn't want to go to sleep that night because he was afraid a tree would fall on the house," she says. "He had a hard time falling asleep that night. We talked a lot. He is okay."

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