Dear clients, friends, and community. We understand how confusing and scary this must be for those affected by the fires. We lost our home in the Woolsey fires, so we know what it is like to be seemingly lost without answers.
We’ve prepared a guide of questions and answers you may have during this tough time. In addition, we have included comprehensive lists of resources accessible to you right now and for those that are looking to donate and help. We will do our best to keep this consistently updated.
To quickly see the super spread sheet of resources please head to the bottom of the article, or, for an incredibly simplified list of resources please click here.
Where Do I Stay Short Term?
Be accepting of other friends' rooms and homes. After the Woolsey fires we stayed in a family friend's room for four months before we moved into our first rental.
If you do not have friends and family readily available to you, many hotels in Los Angeles are offering free stays and large discounts for fire victims. Here is what we’ve found.
211.org x Airbnb - Airbnb is offering a free week's stay at any of the listings here for those affected by the fires.
Santa Monica Super Sheet - Santa Monica’s super sheet of hotels offering discounted rates for those affected by the fires.
City of Anaheim Super Sheet - Anaheim’s super sheet of hotels offering discounted rates for those affected by the fires.
The Queen Mary - Offering stays at $189/night for Evacuees.
Air Venice - 50% discount
The Hilton Garden Inn LAX - $109 plus tax rate when booking with the code “wecare.”
Hotel Per La - 25% to all fire Victims
For a current list of immediate shelters please check here.
Where Do I Stay Long Term?
During the Woolsey fires, we experienced difficulties securing a long term rental during the recovery period. Because of supply and demand, many rentals will go quickly to those that are proactive in their search. We personally had to stay in two separate rentals before we found something that was right for our needs.
Even though there are probably many other things on your mind right now, our recommendation is not to wait too long before finding a home even if it's only for the short term. You can search for current Sotheby's rentals here, we will continue to send out emails for new rentals that come on the market.
If you need more personal assistance please contact us, we are working around the clock to help our clients into new homes for their recovery.
How Long Do I Wait for Insurance Payouts?
It will depend on your policy, but this often depends on when the insurance adjustor can access your property. Once they assess your property and approve the claim you should receive funds relatively soon after.
The most difficult hurdle right now is getting in contact with your insurance company due to the volume of calls. Continue to be consistent with your representative.
If you run a business from home, you can also make a separate claim for your business insurance. We recommend making claims for both your home and business if available.
Also make sure to keep receipts of all your expenses in the meantime (stay, food, transportation, etc.) as those should also be covered by insurance.
How Do I Replace My Records and Legal Documents? (I.E. SSN, Birth Certificate, Marraige Certificate, Passport, Etc.)
Typically, FEMA will establish a service center to help with much of this. President Biden declared a Major Disaster Declaration so we will keep you updated with where the stations will be set up.
When the center is established, your local representative will check off a list of all the documents you need replaced. We received our documents within a month after filing.
In the meantime, the DMV and the California Department of Public Health are available to help you with record replacement. Find out more here.
Establish an Address for Documents
In order to replace your documents it’s important you have an address for the state/government to send your files. If you do not have a stable address yet we recommend setting up a P.O. box as quickly as possible as inventory runs low quickly.
Importance of a FEMA Number
With a FEMA number you have access to many benefits and we highly suggest you take advantage of them as we did. Some of your benefits may include: Housing Assistance, Childcare, Healthcare, Transportation, Displacement funds. Find out more of what FEMA covers here.
We also found that you can use your FEMA number at many local stores to receive discounts.
When Can I Come Back to Look Through the rubble?
Although we don’t know exactly when this will be for this particular fire, we can tell you that during the Woolsey fire it was approximately three weeks - month before we were able to come back to our home. Stay in contact with local authorities and community members to find out when that will be.
What Happens to the rubble?
The State of California has a Consolidated Debris Removal program. We will include simplified information directly from the California Emergency Services Website but you can find more information here.
The Consolidated Debris Removal Program has two phases.
Phase 1: Local government, state and federal agencies will inspect your property to remove hazardous materials (batteries, herbicide, propane tanks, paints, etc.) Phase one is automatic and includes both residential and commercial properties destroyed by the fire.
Phase 2: FEMA and local officials coordinate with the Consolidated Debris Removal Program to conduct fire-related debris removal property if you have elected to participate in the program by completing and signing a Right of Entry Form.
What do I need to do?
Phase I (household hazardous waste): You do not need to do anything to have household hazardous waste removed from your property.
Phase II (remaining fire-related debris): To sign up for the Phase II Program, you will complete a Right-of-Entry (ROE) form to grant government contractors access to your property to conduct the debris removal. Please provide insurance information with the ROE Form as applicable.
After I turn in an ROE to my local government, what happens next?
First, the ROE Center reviews your ROE to ensure it has been filled out correctly. They will also cross-check property records to verify you are the property owner. Afterward, the ROE will be transferred to the Debris Management Teams for processing and scheduling.
How Can I Prepare Myself to Search Through the Rubble?
When we went to look at our property, it was recommended to us to buy workman's gloves, painters pants, tops, and overalls, rated respiratory masks and goggles as this helped protect our families skin and eyes from toxic material. In addition, the soot and dirt from the rubble easily rubs onto your skin.
Tools you will want to consider using are rakes and shovels as well as strong construction rated clamps and tongs to move the debris. You can also bring a metal detector to search for valuable items.
We also reccomend bringing boxes, tarps and bins to take away and organize what you find.
How Do I Replace my Vehicle if it's Gone?
First try to get photo evidence of your vehicle to make an insurance claim. But in the meantime Los Angeles County is offering free rides on public transportation for the next few days. In addition, Uber and Lyft announced they are offering free rides up to for evacuees to designated shelters through January 15, 2025.
To redeem the free ride, evacuees must use the promo code "WILDFIRE25" in their Uber app and "CAFIRERELIEF25" for Lyft.
Where/How Do I Replace my Belongings?
After the Woolsey fires, donation centers were set up throughout the year offering furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies, etc.. We found out about many of these through posts on social media and word of mouth through the community.
You will be surprised at the quality of items available but we recommend acting fast and staying aware as the best donations often come earlier in the recovery period.
For immediate assistance you can check the Salvation Army and The Red Cross as they are offering food, clothing and supplies.
Where Do I Bring my Pets and Displaced Animals?
Here is a list of shelters accepting both large and small animals in Los Angeles.
Large Animals
Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
Antelope Valley Fair 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536
Industry Hills Expo 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744
Capacity for 200 horses; not staffed by DACC
Pomona Fairplex 1101 W Mckinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768
Receiving horses only
Small Animals
Baldwin Park Animal Care Center 4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Carson Animal Care Center 216 W Victoria St, Gardena, CA 90248
Downey Animal Care Center 11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242
Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
Palmdale Animal Care Center 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550
Are there Resources for Food?
Here is a list of restaurants offering free food to fire victims and first responders : Click here.
List of Food Banks within Los Angeles County here.
Additional Resources / Where You Can Help
Super Spread Sheet of Relief Centers around Los Angeles here. Everything from free food, shelter, wifi, health services, etc.
List of disaster relief funds and organizations helping fire victims you can donate to here.
Planet Fitness is offering free access to their gym and showers through Jan. 15th. Find locations here.