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Los Angeles Wildfire Resources

Rep. Barragán’s office is working with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure:

  1. Emergency responders have the resources they need to combat the fires effectively.
  2. Impacted families can access FEMA assistance and other recovery resources.
  3. You receive accurate and timely updates.

Rep. Barragán’s office can help if you or someone you know requires immediate assistance with federal agencies, including FEMA applications, disaster unemployment insurance, or other programs.

Please do not hesitate to call the office at 202-225-8220 if you have questions not covered in the resources below.

Follow Rep. Barragán on social media for real-time updates and additional resources. 

RESOURCES:

LA County Emergency Website

Real-time info on evacuation orders, shelter locations for people and animals, health and water alerts, road closures, impacted county services, and other resources.

Website: https://lacounty.gov/emergency/

CAL FIRE

Track wildfires, sign up for text alerts on wildfires, and access detailed checklists to prepare your home and family for wildfires.

Website: https://plan.readyforwildfire.org/en

Air Quality 

The U.S. Forest Service and EPA have a joint AirNow Fire and Smoke Map that maps wildfire smoke and resulting air quality impacts in your area: https://fire.airnow.gov/

You can also use Air Quality Index (AQI) to check the air quality in your area: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/

The CDC has additional helpful safety guidelines to help protect yourself and your family from a wildfire, including how to protect yourself against smoke and ash: https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/risk-factors/

Alerts/Notifications

Sign up to receive alerts for emergency events, extreme weather, or other incidents that impact public services or public health. 

Verify Evacuation Information 

The Office of Emergency Management is investigating erroneous evacuation order messages. 

Check if you are in an evacuation zone by:

  • Checking the map on alertla.org
  • Calling 211 for assistance

Please do not disable emergency alerts on your phone.

Prepare to Evacuate

It’s critical to be prepared if you need to evacuate. Remember the 6 P’s to ensure you carry the essentials with you:

  1. People and Pets: Make sure your loved ones and animals are safe and accounted for.
  2. Papers: Important documents like passports, deeds, and birth certificates.
  3. Prescriptions: Medications and medical devices you may need.
  4. Pictures: Irreplaceable photos and memorabilia.
  5. Personal Computer: Including hard drives and essential electronic devices.
  6. Plastic: Credit cards, ATM cards, and cash for emergency expenses.

LA Metro Updates

Stay updated on changes to Metro bus and rail services, as well as incidents at Metro facilities. 

https://alerts.metro.net

Emergency Temporary Housing

211 LA and Airbnb have partnered to offer free temporary housing for resident displaced or forced to evacuate their homes due to the wildfires. 

More info: https://211la.org/ (scroll to “Need Temporary Housing due to the Los Angeles Wildlfires”)

Redcross is helping connect those in need with available shelters. Visit redcross.org or call 800-733-2767 to find a shelter near you.

Free and Discounted Rides

Lyft is offering free and discounted rides to people affected by wildfires. 

By using the code CAFIRERELIEF25, eligible riders can receive up to two rides, each valued at $25, for a total of $50. This offer is available to the first 500 riders and is valid until January 15th at 11:59 p.m. For more details, visit their recent blog post here.

Groceries & Food Support

Instacart is waiving delivery fees on groceries and other essential goods for orders over $10 in Los Angeles. Service fees will still apply. 

On Monday (1/13) and Tuesday (1/14), the County’s Aging & Disabilities Department is offering food for those impacted by wildfires: Food Pantry Centers.

FEMA Federal Disaster Assistance

On January 8, California received a Major Disaster Declaration for the California wildfires. The declaration from President Biden allows federal agencies to provide aid, funding, and resources to support recovery efforts in the affected areas.

Through this major disaster declaration, California is receiving individual assistance, public assistance, and Small Business Administration assistance.

Those impacted by the fires can apply for federal assistance through FEMA at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or 1-800-621-3362

If eligible, disaster-related assistance may include: 

  • Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable; 
  • Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items; 
  • Unemployment payments for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for state benefits (self-employed);
  • Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance; 
  • Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; or 
  • Advisory assistance for legal veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

To apply for federal assistance through FEMA, applicants should have the following info available:

  • A phone number and a reliable alternate in case FEMA needs to call you back; 
  • Address of the damaged property; 
  • Social Security number; 
  • Bank account information (or direct deposit information); 
  • Insurance information (if you have insurance); 
  • Brief description of damages; and
  • Current mailing address.

SBA Federal Disaster Loans

Depending on post-disaster conditions and severity, the SBA can offer low-interest disaster loans. These loans are not just for small businesses. They are available to qualifying businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters. 

SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets.

Learn more online: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

Types of Loans Available

  • Individuals and Families: Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property —such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances — damaged or destroyed in a disaster.
  • Businesses: Up to $2 million to qualified businesses or most private nonprofit organizations to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.

Temporary Property Tax Relief

If your property has been damaged or destroyed by the windstorms or wildfires, you may qualify for temporary property tax relief through the Misfortune and Calamity Program at the LA County Assessor’s Office. 

Website: https://assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief

IRS Guidance for Impacted Taxpayers

Extension of certain tax filing deadlines: IRS has extended various filing deadlines for taxpayers in impacted areas. The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in the disaster area. These taxpayers do not need to contact the agency to get this relief.

Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses: IRS provided guidance to taxpayers on how to address disaster-related losses in their tax return, as well as providing guidance on how qualified disaster relief payments – like government assistance payments – are generally excluded from gross income. 

Replacing Lost Documents

California Driver’s License:

  • Phone: 800-777-0133

Green cards:

Medicare cards:

Military records:

Passport:

Social Security Card:

  • Phone: 800-772-1213; (TTY) 800-325-0778
  • Website: www.ssa.gov

U.S. Savings Bonds:

U.S. Tax Returns:

Additional Resources

Mental Health Resources for those Impacted by Wildfire

24/7 Mental Health Helpline for Emergency and Clinical Services: 1 (800) 854-7771

LA County Department of Aging and Disabilities – Provides information and supportive services to older and disabled adults.

LA County Department of Child Support Services – Can assist participants with child support obligations for those who lost their source of income because of the fire.

Emergency Animal Shelter Information – List of shelters available for animals affected by the evacuation orders.

Department of Consumer and Business Affairs – Price Gouging – When businesses raise their prices too much during and after an emergency, it may be considered price gouging, a crime in California.

Bank of America customers who are facing hardship related to the fires can call the Client Assistance Program at (855) 729-1764.  They may also access ERICA via the mobile app and state “wildfires”.