Emergency Resources

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We send our thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected, and we thank all those fighting the fires and all the first responders. We wanted to make it as easy as possible to have as many resources as possible in one place as a reference for you or someone you know who may need help. Please see the extensive list below:

Insurance Claims:

Insurance broker Phillip Til provided the following recommendations:

  1. Get your own attorney or public adjuster. Your insurance will not work to get you the most. Your representative will pay for itself even if they’re collecting 10% of your win.

  2. Just like getting arrested, anything you say can and will be used against you. Speak as little as possible, volunteer as little as possible to the insurance company. Let your representative handle that conversation for you.

  3. Select your own remediation company. Don’t choose somebody that your insurance selected for you because they’re ultimately going to be working for the insurance company. Having your own remediation company guarantees they're representing your interests.

Please note, claims must be submitted ASAP as they are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The CIC website offers this information in multiple languages HERE.

Top Ten Tips for Wildfire Claimants by California Insurance Commission

  1. Obtain a complete copy of your residential homeowner's insurance policy, including your declarations page. The law requires your insurance company to provide this to you free of charge within 30 days of your request. Ask your agent or insurer representative to explain how much coverage you have (1) to rebuild or repair your home, (2) for your personal belongings, and (3) for living expenses. This should include an explanation of Extended Replacement Cost and Building Code Upgrade coverages if applicable. Ask how to most effectively claim your coverage benefits.

  2. Take note of your Additional Living Expense (ALE) limits and manage your ALE expenses in recognition of a long rebuilding process. Your time to collect ALE after a declared catastrophe is no less than 24 months even if your policy says otherwise; however your amount of coverage is not increased. An extension of up to 12 additional months, for a total of 36 months, should be granted if you encounter delays beyond your reasonable control.

  3. Track all of your additional expenses that arise from having to live in another location away from your home. Note: your ALE reimbursement may be offset by your normal cost of living before the fire (i.e., ALE does not pay for your mortgage or expenses you would normally incur) but you are entitled to the same standard of living you had before the fire. ALE will pay for temporary rent, additional mileage, etc.

  4. Document all of your conversations with your insurer/adjuster about your claim and policy limitations in a dedicated "claim diary." If your adjuster says something is excluded, limited, or subject to certain conditions, ask the adjuster to point out the specific provision in your policy being cited.

  5. Get at least one licensed contractor's estimate or bid on the cost to rebuild your home just to get a reasonable sense of the actual cost as compared to your coverage limits (for more considerations on contractors, view the CDI's electronic brochure Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster and check the California's Contractors State License Board website.) While your insurance company may provide its own estimate, it may contain errors or fail to reflect local conditions or demand surge. Demand surge reflects price increases following a major disaster when contractors and materials are in short supply.

  6. Call the Department of Insurance Hotline for help at (800) 927-4357. You can also file a complaint. Consider insights from consumer advocates.

  7. Understand you can purchase or rebuild at another location, and still receive full replacement cost benefits including Building Code Upgrade and Extended Replacement Cost benefits if those were included on your policy and necessary to rebuild the insured dwelling. You also have the right to rebuild using the contractor of your choosing. In order to reduce the cost of rebuilding, you might also consider a community-wide development approach utilizing a common builder.

  8. Assess your situation, do not rush into any decision about contractors, lawyers or public adjusters - consider your mortgage/employment/financial situation, your age, children's schools, your willingness to deal with construction issues (no matter who your contractor is). The insurance process is a series of important decisions over a long period of time, but few, if any, need to be made today. Of course, move forward if you have obtained multiple bids from reputable licensed contractors, are certain you want to rebuild, are sure of the rebuilding costs and your insurance limits and want to be sure you are a priority for your selected contractor to start the rebuild. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) has publications that can help you identify and avoid problems before they occur. Contact CSLB at 1-800-321-2752 to obtain a free copy of their publications and/or verify the licensing status of a contractor.

  9. Do not assume you have inadequate coverage based on general information you are hearing about building costs or other general comments. The adequacy of your limits needs to be addressed on a case specific basis to determine how much it will cost to rebuild your home and whether your limits, including extended replacement cost coverage if applicable, are adequate. But if you determine you are underinsured, gather relevant documentation and contact the Department of Insurance for help.

  10. Evaluate whether you will need a public adjuster or attorney to help you with your claim. If rebuilding will take a long time you are likely to use your entire ALE limits. If you are also reimbursed by your insurer for your entire personal property loss or your full personal property limits, you may not need a public adjuster or attorney to help you obtain full settlements for either of these coverages. Public adjusters typically require a percentage of the claim settlement for their services. Make sure you understand what they charge and the services you are paying for before you sign a public adjuster contract. Some public adjusters may insist on a contract that includes payment to the public adjuster based upon the entire amount paid to the policyholder by the insurer, including amounts paid to the policyholder before the public adjuster contract was signed. A public adjuster should not charge a fee on payments you received from your insurer before the public adjuster contract was signed. A fee should only be charged on additional monies the public adjuster gets for you. Contact the Department if this issue arises in your contract.

In a declared-disaster, you may cancel the contract within five calendar days. Public adjusters are required to be licensed by the California Department of Insurance. To verify a public adjuster's license, call us at 1-800-927-4357 or check the status online on the License Status Inquiry application. Practicing without a license is against the law. Public adjusters may not solicit business in a declared-disaster area until 7 calendar days have passed from the end of a loss-producing event such as a fire.

Emergency Housing, Shelter & Financial Assistance:

AirBnB

"To support residents who have been displaced from their homes or forced to evacuate by the wildfires, Airbnb.org is working with 211 LA, which serves Los Angeles County, to offer free, temporary housing. Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts — many of whom offer their home for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org. How it works..." – Courtesy of Airbnb

**Evacuation Centers**

  1. Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles (accepts small animals)

  2. Pasadena Convention Center: 300 E Green St., Pasadena

  3. El Camino Real Charter High School: 5440 Valley Circle Blvd.,Woodland Hills

  4. Pierce College: 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills (accepts large animals)

  5. Pan Paciic Center: 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles

  6. Hollywood High School: 15121 Highland Ave., Los Angeles

**Disaster Assistance**

  1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Individuals and business owners can apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling (800) 621-3362 or (800) 462-7585 TTY.

  2. State Bar of California: Provides information on resources for emergency food assistance, unemployment, shelter, crisis counseling, and other health concerns. Click here for more info.

  3. California Department of Social Services: Offers a Disaster Help Center. Click here for more info.

  4. Housing Assistance: You can locate an FHA-approved lender for disaster rehabilitation. Click here for more info.

  5. UCANR Fire Network: Offers financial resources. Click here for more info.

Shelter and Emergency Relief

  1. American Red Cross

  2. The Red Cross is providing shelter, food, emotional support, and health services to displaced residents.

  • How to Help: Donate at redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 contribution.

  1. United Way of Greater Los Angeles

  2. United Way is assessing needs and working with community partners to aid long-term recovery efforts.

  1. Emergency Network Los Angeles (ENLA)

  2. This network provides disaster relief to individuals and communities in need.

  • How to Help: Learn more and donate at enla.org.

  1. Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)

  2. CORE is supporting wildfire recovery with a focus on underserved communities.

Food and Essential Supplies

  1. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

  2. The Food Bank is distributing meals to wildfire survivors and welcomes donations of food or funds.

  • How to Help: Donate at lafoodbank.org or drop off food at their locations in Los Angeles or City of Industry.

  1. World Central Kitchen

  2. This organization is delivering fresh meals to displaced families and first responders in Southern California.

  • How to Help: Visit wck.org to donate.

Financial and Pet Support

  1. California Fire Foundation

  2. This foundation collaborates with fire agencies to provide financial assistance to wildfire victims.

  1. Pasadena Humane

  2. Pasadena Humane is caring for animals displaced by the fires and seeks donations of food, crates, and blankets. They also need foster homes for larger dogs.

Community and Crowdfunding Support

  1. GoFundMe – California Wildfire Relief Fund

  2. Verified campaigns are raising funds for individuals and organizations affected by the wildfires.

  1. California Community Foundation – Wildfire Recovery Fund

  2. This fund supports long-term solutions for communities affected by wildfires in Los Angeles County.

  1. Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation (LAFD)

  2. The LAFD Foundation provides critical equipment and funds to support firefighters during emergencies. How to Help: Visit supportlafd.org to make a donation.

East Side resources helping families affected:
Food, Drink, Phone Charging

  1. Planet Fitness on Lake Avenue is offering anyone affected by the fires, including first responders, free access to their facilities, including showers, locker rooms, charging ports and WiFi.

  2. Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery is offering free boxed lunches and charging ports.

  3. Chick-fil-A is handing out free bag lunches to evacuees and first responders outside of the Pasadena Convention Center.

  4. Yeastie Boys handing out free bagels to evacuees and first responders outside of the Pasadena Convention Center.

  5. San Marino Community Church offers charging stations and internet. 8am-8pm. The church is also assisting families who need a temporary place to stay.

Community Alerts:

  1. Do not drink tap water in evacuated areas until further notice.

  2. Pasadena Transit & Dial-A-Ride service is suspended.

  3. If you do not live or work in the impacted fire area, please stay out.

If you know someone who needs assistance or if there’s anything I can do to help you personally, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly. Thank you for sharing this message with those in need.

Karen & Geoff
323-804-8043 | 323-804-8033