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Wildfire Recovery Resources

The devastating wildfires that began in Los Angeles on January 7th have had widespread impacts on our communities across the city. Whether you are an individual, family, business, or worker, there are resources available to help you navigate the recovery process.

*Please note the following upcoming deadlines for wildfire disaster relief:

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS

Disaster Recovery Centers are open to support individuals with the following:

  • Lost vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, driver’s licenses, social security documentation) 
  • Disaster relief for people with homes and businesses lost or damaged by the fire.
  • Referrals for mental health counseling and other services.

Westside Location: 

  • UCLA Research Park – 10850 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Eastside Location:  

  • Altadena Disaster Recovery Center – 540 W Woodbury Rd., Altadena, CA 91001
    • Hours of Operation: 9 am – 8 pm, 7 days a week

FEMA RESOURCE CENTERS

In addition to the Disaster Recovery Centers, FEMA has opened two locations to provide support for people impacted by the recent fires – including the Hurst, Sunset, and Castaic fires – as they apply for FEMA assistance. The Deadline to Apply For Federal Assistance is March 10, 2025. 

Services at these locations are limited to assistance with FEMA applications. FEMA can provide the following types of financial assistance:

  • Special Needs Assistance Grants – $770 one-time payment to afford immediate needs like food, water, hygiene, and transportation.
  • FEMA Individual Assistance For Housing – Homeowners can receive FEMA Individual Assistance grants for home repair, replacement, and for temporary housing up to $43,600.
  • FEMA Individual Assistance For Other Needs – Another $43,600 is available in the form of a grant from FEMA to cover medical expenses, damage to a vehicle, household items/property, funeral expenses, moving/storage, and childcare expenses, etc.

Locations: 

  • Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd Building B, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
    • Tuesday – Friday, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331
    • Tuesday- Friday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM & Saturday 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

FEMA ASSISTANCE

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can apply for FEMA assistance three ways:

  • Online at disasterassistance.gov
  • On the FEMA App
  • Calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PST). Help is available in most languages.
  • Click HERE for a video tutorial on how to apply.

INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY ASSISTANCE

JFLA EMERGENCY LOANS FOR WILDFIRE EVACUEES

If you or someone you know has been evacuated due to the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) is here to help with the cost of temporary housing.

 JFLA’s emergency loans can be used to cover expenses such as: 

·     Hotel or motel rooms 

·     Short-term rentals through Airbnb, VRBO, or other platforms 

·     Travel outside of the Los Angeles area 

·     Other temporary accommodations for evacuees 

These zero-interest, zero-fee loans of up to $15,000 are available to eligible applicants.  

Recognizing that not everyone has access to a guarantor, JFLA is offering a limited number of loans without guarantors of up to $2,000 to people affected by the wildfires. These will go out on a first-come, first-served basis. 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

RED CROSS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Red Cross is currently reaching out to wildfire survivors to discuss their eligibility for financial assistance.

  • To see if you qualify for financial assistance, please complete and submit this registration form. 
  • If you have received an invitation to apply for financial assistance, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) to speak to an agent about completing your enrollment.

This round of the Red Cross Immediate Financial Assistance program has been extended to Feb 26, 2025. You must complete your financial assistance application by February 26, 2025, to receive this assistance.

INDIVIDUAL TAX FILING DEADLINE EXTENSIONS

COVERED CALIFORNIA OPEN ENROLLMENT EXTENSION

Covered California has opened a special enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties which runs through March 8, 2025.

Those signing up for 2025 coverage will be eligible for additional financial help due to state and federal investments. Thanks to the State’s enhanced cost-sharing reduction program, consumers will see lower out-of-pocket costs when seeking care, and will not see deductibles in all three Silver cost-sharing reduction plans.

Consumers can get help with enrollment by visiting CoveredCA.com or using Covered California’s online calculator tool.

For one-on-one help, consumers can have a certified enroller call them to assist for free or speak to a service center member at (800) 300-1506.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

LA REGION SMALL BUSINESS AND WORKER RELIEF FUNDS

To aid in the financial recovery of small businesses and displaced workers affected by the wildfires, the City of LA, in collaboration with LA County DEO, has launched the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund.

Through these funds:

  • Eligible small businesses and nonprofits can receive up to $25K in grants
  • Eligible displaced workers can obtain $2K in cash assistance

CLICK HERE TO APPLY. The deadline to apply is February 24, 2025.  

Philanthropic contributions are also being accepted for the relief effort. To contribute, visit lacounty.gov/relief. 

SBA DISASTER FUNDS

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering SBA disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes in areas covered by a disaster declaration. You can find more information here:
  • CA Incident
    • Deadline for Physical Damage filing 03/10/2025
    • Deadline for Economic Injury filing 10/08/2025
  • General Information

BUSINESS SOURCE CENTERS WILDFIRE WEBINARS

The city’s BusinessSource Centers are hosting webinars to assist businesses with the SBA Disaster Loan application and providing other resources for post-wildfire recovery. To register for a webinar, click HERE.

The City’s 10 BusinessSource Centers are also available to help business owners in-person. Locations  and contact information at bit.ly/LABusinessSource.

LA REGIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY WEEKLY BUSINESS WEBINARS

The LA Regional Economic Recovery is holding webinars to provide community and business providers with information, resources, and guidance for supporting businesses impacted by the LA Fires. To register for a webinar, click HERE. 

  • Feb 5, 12:00 PM
  • Feb 12, 12:00 PM
  • Feb 19, 2:00 PM
  • Feb 26, 12:00 PM

BUSINESS TAX FILING DEADLINE EXTENSIONS

  • The City of LA Office of Finance announced all business locations within zip codes 90402, 90272 and 90049 will be automatically granted an extension of the business tax renewal deadline to April 14, 2025.
  • In addition, any taxpayer with a business located outside of these zip codes, but whose business was interrupted as a direct result of the fires, may be granted an extension as well, provided that a written request, including reasonable proof of the interruption, is sent to the Office of Finance before the February 28, 2025 renewal deadline.

WORKER ASSISTANCE

FEDERAL DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (DUA)

Los Angeles County workers impacted by the severe wildfires and winds can now apply for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), or regular unemployment benefits. The Employment Development Department (EDD) administers these benefits.

DUA is for workers—such as self-employed people—who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits and lost their jobs or had hours reduced because of the disaster. 

DUA benefits apply to losses beginning the week of January 12, 2025. Eligible full-time workers can receive between $186 and $450 per week, for up to 26 weeks. Part-time workers may also be eligible for benefits. Eligible individuals who were unemployed as of January 12 can request to have their claim start on that date, even if they apply after January 12. The last payable week of this emergency benefit ends July 12, 2025.

DUA benefits help people affected by a federally-declared disaster who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits and meet any of the following criteria:

  • Worked, or were a business owner or self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment, in the disaster area. This includes, and is not limited to, those in agricultural and fishing industries.
  • Cannot reach their workplace due to the disaster or can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
  • Cannot perform work or self-employment due to an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
  • Became the head of their household due to a death caused by the disaster.
  • The work or self-employment they can no longer perform must have been their primary source of income.

DUA benefit claims must be filed by March 10, 2025, unless the individual has good cause to submit a late application.

Click here for more information and to apply.

WILDFIRE JOB LOSS ORIENTATIONS

The City of Los Angeles is offering no-cost help for people who lost their jobs because of the recent fires. The Economic and Workforce Development Department’s (EWDD) Rapid Response team is hosting daily virtual Wildfire Job Loss Orientations where people can learn about how to access job opportunities, unemployment benefits and healthcare. 

The Wildfire Job Loss Orientations take place Monday – Friday at 10 AM and 6 PM, and on Saturdays at 10 AM. Orientations will be conducted in English and Spanish. Sign up for English orientations here and Spanish orientations here. 

Topics include: 

Job opportunities

  • Navigating the unemployment benefits portal and the application process
  • Understanding the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) requirements
  • Healthcare benefits
  • Training programs and other services offered by the City of Los Angeles

WORKSOURCE CENTERS

The City’s 14 WorkSource Centers are available to help people who have lost income. Location and contact information is at bit.ly/EWDDWorkSource14.

The City’s 14 YouthSource Centers provide Angelenos ages 14-24 support and resources through access to education, paid work experience, and occupational skills training. See a list of the YouthSource Centers and contact information at bit.ly/EWDDYouthSource.

PROPERTY OWNER ASSISTANCE

CA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE WILDFIRE RESOURCES

The California Department of Insurance is available to assist affected Angelenos as they begin working with insurance agents or brokers. They are encouraged to call 1-800-927-4357 or visit the Insurance Wildfire Resources to ask questions about insurance coverage and/or disputes with insurance agencies.

MISFORTUNE AND CALAMITY TAX RELIEF

You may be eligible for tax relief if your property is damaged or destroyed by a calamity, such as fire or flooding. To qualify, you must file an Application for Reassessment: Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity (M&C) Form ADS-820 with the Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date the property was damaged or destroyed. The loss must exceed $10,000 of current market value. Relief for Properties Impacted By A Disaster

For questions or to submit an M&C claim, please email relief@assessor.lacounty.gov or call (213) 974-8658.

PROPOSITION 19 DISASTER RELIEF

If your property was substantially damaged or destroyed by a Governor-declared disaster, Prop.19 provides for your property’s tax base to be transferred to a comparable property within the same county or another county in California.

  • For more information, visit the LA County Assesor’s Prop. 19 page.

PRIVATE PROPERTY DEBRIS REMOVAL INFORMATION

LA County is dedicated to restoring its communities swiftly and safely after the recent wildfires. The debris removal process is divided into two main phases, each managed by different agencies. Residents have the option to participate in the government-run program or manage the cleanup independently by opting out.

  • For more information, visit the LA County Recovers page HERE, or
  • Call the LA County Public Works Fire Debris Hotline at 844-347-3332, or
  • Call the EPA Hotline at 1-833-798-7372