Log onto FEMA to get a “Disaster Number”.’ FEMA.org

  • Call and file a “Loss of Use” claim with your Insurance Company. They can overnight thousands of dollars for emergency funds
  • Register with your local shelters.
  • Log onto RED CROSS and enter your FEMA “Disaster Number” to get into line for supplies. Most aid coming in will use these lists as a point of contact and will help insure that don’t get left out of anything, https://www.redcross.org
  • Notify your doctors Offices. Make sure you have prescriptions, eyeglasses and eye drops. Update your contact information. Cive alternative contacts and phone numbers.
  • Find a Disaster assistance center – DRC Locator – Text “DRC” and zip code to 43362

Free Fire Insurance Workshops

  • Pasadena City College – 1570 East Colorado BIvd. Pasadena 91106
    Saturday January 25, 10am – 5pm – Sunday, January 26 10am – 1pm
  • Santa Monica College of Performing Arts Center East Wing –
    1310 11th St. Santa Monica 90401
    Saturday, January 18, 10am – 5pm. Sunday January 19, 10am – 1pm

Human Evacuation Shelters

  • Calvary Community Church – 5495 Rocas, Westlake Village
  • El Camino Real Charter High School – 5440 Valley Circle Blvd. Woodland Hills
  • Lanark Recreation Center – 21816 Lanark St, Canoga Park
  • Pan Pacific Recreational Center – 7600 Beverly BIvd. Los Angeles
  • Pasadena Civic Auditorum – 300 E. Green St., Pasadena
  • Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Biva., Pacoima
  • Sepulveda Recreation Center – 8825 Kester Ave, Panorama City
  • Sherman Oaks Recreation Center – 14201 Huston St, Sherman Oaks
  • Stoner Recreation Center – 1835 Stoner Ave, Los Angeles
  • Van Nuys Recreation Center – 14301 Vanowen St, Van Nuys
  • Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles
    Animal Evacuation Shelters
  • Agoura Animal Care Center (Small Animals) – 29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills
  • Baldwin Park Animal Care Center (Small Animals) – 4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park
  • Carson Animal Care Center (Small Animals) – 216 W Victoria St, Gardena
  • Castaic Animal Care Center (Small Animals)- 31044 Charlie Canyon Rd, Castaic
  • Pasadena Humane Society (Small Animals) – 361 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena
  • Lancaster Animal Care Center (Large Animal)- 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster
  • Los Angeles Equestrian Center (Large Animals) 480 W Riverside Dr. Burbank
  • Industry Hills Expo (Large Animals) – 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry
  • Pierce College Equestrian Center (Large Animals) – 7100 El Rancho Drive, Woodland Hills
  • Rose Bowl Stadium (Large Animals) – 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena
  • @comptoncowboys – is offering horse hauling emergency assistanceAction Plan
  • Get a P.O. Box & New Email address and forward all mail to it. Start using this address on any and all forms you fill out.
  • Track every conversation – BEWARE of those that come up to you to help with insurance. DO NOT sign anything under duress.
  • Create a GoFundMe. https://www.gofundme.com
  • Longer term rental search – include insurance on it so the pay directly for rental. Find a nice place you like, don’t settle. You should be able to get a”Like Property” insurance should cover a nice place for you to live while you work thru this. You might be living there for 2 years, choose wisely.
  • Call the rest of your insurance points as needed (car insurance, specialty insurance for unique items, etc.
  • Call all of your utilities and either freeze or cancel service (electric, gas, TV, land line.). If applicable, for newspaper delivery, either cancel or update to P.O.Box
  • Cancel all supscriptions, autopays – (internet, cable, ring camera etc.) You will be able to get out of contracts. Don’t let them talk you into keeping it on hold.
  • Start a “Personal Property” List. Write down the moment you remember – keep a list on phone or pad of paper with you at all times. Replacement Cost should be what it cost to replace it. Example list here:
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/121Mg3aasiht8tX7RBOa4d7w3f4t2wTs/edit
    List everything, even if it’s above and beyond your policy limit. This is very important because everything listed above and beyond the policy limit is considered a Loss and claimed on your taxes.
  • Save Receipts. Loss of Use Insurance will cover incidentals too – hairbrush, phone chargers, etc.
  • As you buy things, tell the stire owner your situation. Most stores will give you some level of discount.
  • Continue paying your insurance. This may seem weird, but while we would hope that insurance would act immediately, sometimes it takes a while to process. You don’t want a lapse in payment to compromise this.
  • Attend public meetings – Public officials will schedule meetings to provide updataes on the fires, address questions, and deailed recovery roadmaps
  • California Community Foundation –https://www.calfund.org
  • Disaster Assistance –
  • Ventura County Community Foundation – https://vccf.org
  • World Central Kitchen – Free Meals https://wck.org
  • California Fire Foundation – https://www.cafirefoundation.org
  • LA Fire Department Foundation – https://supportlafd.org
  • American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles – Los Angeles Region Red Cross
  • Pasadena Humane Society – https://pasadenahumane.org
  • Center for Disaster Philanthropy – https://disasterphilanthropy.org
  • Entertainment Cummunity Fund – https://entertainmentcommunity.org/CAFires
  • Salvation Army – https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/wildfire-relief/
  • List of Hotel Assistance of Los Angeles – https://www.hotelassociationla.com
  • Planet Fitness – Showers, Wifi, Charging Stations. No Membership Required
  • AIRBNB – Free, temporary housing for people who have been displaced
  • UBER – Free rides for evacuees. Code “WILDFIRE25”
  • LYFT – Free rides for evacuees. Code “CAFIRERELIEF25”
  • AT&T – Unlimited talk, text and data thru Feb. 6
  • List of Resources Compiled from LA Times –
    https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-10/heres-a-list-of-free-and-discounted-resources-for-victims-of-los-angeles-area-fires
  • Best Friends Clinic & Pantry – https://bestfriends.org/emergency-response/los-
    angeles-wildfires
  • Fire Aid Information – https://www.fireaid.info
  • LA Fire Hotel Availability –
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13k8WKk06GsCmPfQYXUyVONILEt_8jSTz
    HTk7elQ4os/edit?gid=0#gid=0Rebuilding Materials
  • Permits are an unfortunate necessity
  • Debris Removal – as things wind down it will be necessary to remove the debris, this requires a permit usually. (This should be covered by your insurance, might have to force the issue.)
  • Erosion Control – If you are in any kind of hill or have sloped property yo will need to put some sort erosion control measure in place, again this will need some sort of permit.
  • Temporary Power Pole/ Trailer On Site Permit – Getting this earlier on can prove helpful in the rebuilding process.
  • Water and Power- getting back online needs permits and time
  • Find a place to buy some sturdy boot and gloves. Get some shovels. Be careful digging thru ashes! Wear a mask, gloves & protective overalls. Remember asbestos & heavy metals along with chemicals in the ashes.
  • Get a storage unit for the things you acquire
  • Taxes – You willbe able to claim the monetary loss of the value loss of the value of all your items minus what you receive from your insurance company.
  • Record conversations – if you are unable take careful notes

    Network
  • Network with others. You will learn so much from others as you go through rebuilding process. We all have our strengths so share yours and use others. The amount of time that yu will spend on the rebuild, insurnace, recovery process is staggering so you need to use all your resources.
  • Let people do things for you. Do you have a friend that you can send to the store to buy you some basic clothes or comfort foods? Let them do it – they want to help and you don’t need to spend time doing these errands. (The ‘fun’ of shopping is gone…it quickly becomes a chore because you don’t want a new shirt, you want the one that you always liked to wear but now it’s gone and you are sad/mad.)

  • Staying Safe After a Wildfire

    • Survival Guidelines fro the CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/safety/how-to-safely-stay-safe-after-a-wildfire.html
    • Emotional Trauma: Contact SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline. Call or Text 1-800-985-5900 (press 2 for Spanish) People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preffered relay service

  • Disaster Assistance Loans

    • SBA disaster assistance for homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses of all affected by the wildfires and straight-line winds in California – sba.gov
    • Small Business loans – U.S. Small Business administration sba.gov