Elderly Cottonwood couple left down and out after being flooded out

Nearly a month after being flooded out of their Cottonwood home and burglarized twice, Paul and Hattie Otto, both 78 years old, are still struggling to recover and get their lives back to normal.

The couple lost most of their belongings to flood damage and theft after people broke into their home in mid-March. Since then they have also been unable to find another place to live that is within their budget.

So they live in their grandson's former bedroom in Davis.

"It's just so tragic. And they were not alone in getting flooded and then subsequently robbed and looted," said their daughter Anna Otto of Davis.

The National Weather Service reported just under 3 inches of rain fell at its official rain gauge at the Redding Regional Airport on March 14. The record-setting rain caused widespread flooding throughout Shasta County, prompting the Sheriff's Office to declare a local emergency.

The state followed that with an emergency declaration in Shasta, Modoc, Alameda and Marin counties.

Paul Otto said in the afternoon of March 14 as heavy rain fell, water began to run into their house. The fire department came by and asked if the Ottos needed help evacuating. They declined, but later left on their own, he said.

"Within a very short time that water came up really fast. And I'd say we had 14 inches or so in the garage and probably 6 inches in the house. We didn't have time to save hardly anything. We lost all of our furniture and a lot of other other belongings. But then sadly, after we were evacuated, in two nights close together, people broke in and stole almost everything that was still left of any value," Paul Otto said.

Someone apparently kicked in their front door during the first break-in. After Paul Otto screwed in a two-by-four across the inside of the front door, thieves broke in again, smashing a window to get into the house, Anna Otto said.

"They lost almost all of their furniture because of the flooding and subsequent mold. And then from the robbery. Pretty much anything that was personal property that had any value was stolen," Anna Otto said.

Among the personal, sentimental items that cannot be replaced, there were also goods that had substantial value, Paul Otto said.

As a longtime mineral collector, Paul Otto said someone made off with most of his mineral collection, which he had accumulated during some 65 years and was worth an estimated $45,000.

Among the items stolen from his collection was a crystalized gold specimen and a malachite after azurite from Arizona. Paul Otto said his collection had won seven national trophies at mineral shows.

The loss of his collection has shaken him, his daughter said.

"I have not seen my father look any more dejected than when he talks about the loss of his minerals," Anna Otto said.

They had renter's insurance, which will cover some of their losses from the theft, Anna Otto said. But renter's insurance doesn't cover flood damage, she said.

Some of the things stolen, such as Hattie Otto's flamingo statue made from shells and her jewelry, have sentimental value that money can't replace, Anna Otto said. They also stole all of Paul Otto's tools from the garage and his set of custom-made fishing rods.

"To me, it's unfathomable how somebody would do that to people. You take from people that are already down and out," Anna Otto said.

Shasta County sheriff's Sgt. Tom Fleming said one man was arrested in connection to at least one of the burglaries. And the sheriff's office was able to recover about $6,000 worth of the mineral collection, he said.

While Shasta County and state of California officials declared a state of emergency due to the floods, that has not translated to help for the Ottos, their daughter said.

The Ottos cannot return to the Cottonwood home they rented because of the water damage, Anna Otto said. Finding another place to rent has been difficult.

Their income is limited to what they receive in Social Security payments, Anna Otto said. For many locations, their income is too high to receive assistance but too little to afford a place at what the market offers, she said.

There are some housing units the Ottos would qualify for, but in some cases there are long waiting lists that could take years before they get into them, Anna Otto said.

"Personally, my biggest shock is how little support there is for my parents," Anna Otto said. "I have also been incredibly disappointed by the response, or more often lack of response, from elected officials."

Anna Otto said she resorted to starting a GoFundMe page to raise money for her parents. As of Friday, they had raised $1,660, according to their GoFundMe page.

Despite their troubles, Hattie Otto said her daughter has helped them through it all.

"It's very, very stressful. And I'm not in very good physical shape. I have to walk with a walker most of the time, and I've got arthritis, and so I'm almost useless for doing things. Thank goodness our wonderful daughter stepped in and has been doing things to help us," Hattie Otto said.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: After being flooded out, elderly Cottonwood couple left down and out