Updated January 17, 2025

Table of Contents

 

Local Assistance & Guidance

1.     Take care and prioritize your mental health.

PTSD can sneak up on you even long after the traumatic event has passed.

First Aid Kit for Your Mind

2.     Dial 211.

Dial 211or visit: 211ca.org/LA-Wildfires

211 LA is the hub for community members and organizations in need of health, human, and social services in LA County. In partnership with Airbnb.org, American Express, and Hilton, they are coordinating the distribution of emergency housing for people displaced by the wildfires. 

3.     Take the time to carefully consider your decisions—don’t rush into anything.

Recovery takes years, so be patient with the process. It can be helpful to find someone you trust who isn’t personally affected by the situation to assist you in making important decisions. It’s also invaluable to enlist a friend with good organizational skills to help you sort through everything.

4.     Local Assistance Center/ Disaster Recovery Centers.

These centers are open in affected neighborhoods and bring together resources to assist you in replacing critical documents, filing claims, applying for assistance, and finding other local resources.

5.     Attend public meetings.

Public meetings are essential for learning about the programs and services available in your community post-wildfire.

6.     Start a GOFUNDME NOW.

Or let friends start a GoFundMe if they offer.

Important consideration: GoFundMe monies may be considered by FEMA as aid already given so consult someone you trust about whether this is a viable option for you.

7.     Set up a PO Box for all mail.

8.     Consider setting up a separate checking account for disaster-related transactions.

This makes it easier to track disaster funds and insurance payouts.

9.     Do not rush into signing contracts.

Get copies of ALL paperwork that you sign.

10.   Get a certified copy of your insurance policy (not just the declarations page) and report your claim immediately.

The California Department of Insurance also has resource. 

  • Get everything in writing with your agent and insurance company. Follow up on any oral conversation with an email stating what was discussed.
  • Go to Zillow or Redfin NOW and screenshot the value of your house.
  • Agree on finding housing quickly and contact the insurance company to request assistance with rental payments.

11.    Set up a new and separate email account.

This helps you keep track of all insurance and recovery-related correspondence. Send everything to it. We’d recommend creating separate folders in the new inbox for:

  • Communications to/from claims adjusters
  • Communications to/from insurance agents
  • Bids from contractors
  • Receipts from before: Any UPC codes you may have bought an extended warranty on, credit card statements can help you remember where you bought items and most stores can reprint receipts for you (if needed). 
  • Receipts from after: take photos of everything you spend during the recovery period and put them in this folder.
  • Photos of your home: Move any photos of your home into this folder, even if the picture was not of a specific item. It is okay if it is a photo of family, with items in the background.

12.    Sign up with FEMA immediately and do the same with the Red Cross and SBA for business owners.

It will protect against fraud (during past fires, people discovered fraudsters were using their names). FEMA put out this misconception fact sheet on Jan. 2, 2025.

13.    The Red Cross

You can accept monies for additional living expenses from the Red Cross and will not have to pay it back. The Red Cross is supplemental to insurance and is typically there to help you prior to any insurance reimbursement.

14.    Keep good records of all post-event expenses.

These expenses can include invoices and receipts for:

  • Temporary housing
  • Extra gas
  • Food
  • Items you buy to replace damaged or destroyed items
  • Counseling
  • Medical and professional fees
  • Hotel bills (may be reimbursed but requires receipts)
  • Clothes (may be reimbursed but requires receipts)
  • Pet boarding (may be reimbursed but requires receipts)

15.    Start a recovery diary.

Any notebook will do. Take notes on who you talked to, the number you called, the date and time, and what was agreed. 

16.    Great in-depth resources are available from United Policy Holders.

2025 California Wildfires – Insurance Claim and Recovery Help

This includes tips, tools, and information on insurance, clean-up, contractors, lawyers, adjusters, and your legal rights.

You can read through their resources, for more in-depth information and/or watch their webinars.

17.    Watch out for Scams.

Guidance from the California Department of Insurance is here: Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster.

18.    Accept help.

MALAN (Mutual Aid Network of Los Angeles) has a constantly crowd-sourced and updated spreadsheet of volunteer and donation needs and opportunities, which includes information on donation centers.

 

Re-Entry/ Returning Home

1.     Wait until local officials tell you it is safe to return to your home.

2.     Fire debris is HAZARDOUS. Sorting through/cleaning burn debris is not recommended for health reasons. Hazardous chemicals and unsafe conditions may be present.

3.     Be aware of slip, trip, fall, and puncture hazards.

4.     If you sort through possessions, wear sturdy shoes (steel toes and steel shanks are recommended), a properly fitting N95 mask, and protective gear. This includes wearing gloves, long shirts and pants, shoe coverings, and safety eyewear.

5.     It is best to change your shoes and clothing as soon as you are offsite to avoid contaminating your vehicle, home, or other non-contaminated areas.

6.     Keep pets and children away from wildfire debris.

7.     Anything in contact with ash should be sanitized and cleaned.

8.     Inspect propane tanks for visible damage before turning on. If you suspect your propane tank is damaged, contact your service provider.

9.     It is important to understand the risk to your health and safety even after the fire is out. The soot and dirty water left behind could make you ill. Do not eat, drink, or breathe in anything that has been near the flames, smoke, soot, or water used to put the fire out.

10.   Be very careful if you touch any fire-damaged items and be sure to wash your hands afterward. Ask the advice of the fire department, local building officials, your insurance agent, and restoration specialists before starting to clean or make repairs.

 

Insurance Guidance

  • Contact your insurance company to start the claim process as soon as possible.

Under California law, after an officially declared disaster, your insurer is required to give you an advance of no less than 30% of your “dwelling” insurance limit and at least four (4) months of your available coverage for temporary rent and other additional living expenses you incur due to having lost the use of your home. If you are insured through the CA Fair Plan, your coverage for temporary/additional living expenses is based on the Fair Rental Value of your dwelling.

  • Obtain a complete and current copy of your insurance policy and review it in detail.

    • Coverages typically available in your homeowners’ policy:

      Coverage A – Dwelling: This is the amount of money you have to rebuild your home. 
      Coverage B – Other Structures: This is the amount of money you have to rebuild other structures if part of your policy.  This could include money to rebuild a shed, pool or fence. 
      Coverage C- Personal Property/Contents: This is the amount of money you have to replace all of the items that were in your home. 
      Coverage D – Loss of Use – extra expenses: This is the amount of money you have to live outside of your home.
       
      For example, in the event of a total loss, your insurance company is responsible for paying out the total value of your policy for Coverages A, B and C (Dwelling + Other Structures + Personal Property) minus your deductible.

  • How does my mortgage factor in?

If you have a mortgage, you technically do not own your home. Your insurance company will want to work with your bank to issue payment to the bank for the Coverage A & B (Dwelling + Other structure) funds in your policy. Depending on your bank, you will have to establish a milestone payment plan in which the bank will release funds to you (and your contractor) to repair your home.

    • A Guide to Your Homeowners Policy
    • If you work with a broker for your home or business, reach out to that person and ask them to help you understand your policy.
    • Get everything in writing with your agent and insurance company. Follow up on any oral conversation with an email stating what was discussed.
    • Go to Zillow or Redfin NOW and screenshot the worth of your house.
    • Agree on finding housing quickly and contact the insurance company to request assistance with rental payments.

  • Utilize resources from the CA Department of Insurance.

Resources to Help Recent Wildfire Victims

The California Department of Insurance regulates insurance companies and has compiled assistance and information for the LA wildfire events. The Department can often provide additional state financial resources for consumers. 

Experts from the Department of Insurance will be on-site for one-on-one consultations to address specific insurance concerns. Attendees are encouraged to bring their insurance policy, declaration page, and any related correspondence.

The schedule for next week’s workshops is below:

    • Santa Monica @ Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center East Wing
      1310 11th St.
      Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
      Sunday, Jan. 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Pasadena @ Pasadena City College
      1570 E. Colorado Blvd.
      Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
      Sunday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling the California Department of Insurance Hotline at 1-800-927-4357, with walk-ins served on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Keep track of all your expenses and document everything.

Make detailed notes of damaged items and property and gather photos/videos of any visible damage or losses. Keep a written record of everything and take diligent notes during any meetings.

    • Pre-loss photos of your home and personal property are often your best source for documenting important details of your losses.  Ask friends, family, and co-workers to share any pictures they may have from social events, meetings, or holiday gatherings at your home.
    • Post-loss photos of damaged and destroyed property are also extremely important.  Take lots of pictures before and during clean-up or debris removal.
    • Get online receipts of recent home or personal purchases and add them to your receipt folder in your inbox.

  • Be aware of whether your homeowner's policy is an Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost policy.

You might come across both ACV and replacement cost coverage in your insurance policy, depending on what’s being covered. Your house is typically covered on a replacement cost basis. For personal belongings, like electronics, furniture, or clothes, the insurance company typically offers ACV coverage by default.

Replacement coverage likely costs more than ACV coverage as it provides more comprehensive protection. However, replacement cost coverage also ensures homeowners can replace their items without having to pay out of pocket.

  • Get second opinions on the value of your loss.

Evaluate whether you will need a public adjuster or attorney to help with your claim.

    • Professional appraisals of your home and valuables are very useful. This is particularly true if you are underinsured and believe the amounts you will recover from your insurance will be less than the “cost basis” of your property. A qualified real estate appraiser can help you prove the pre- and post-loss value of your home and help you make a decision on replacing it by buying elsewhere versus rebuilding. Appraisals of high-value personal property items “just before” and “just after” the loss are also particularly helpful if you anticipate insurance shortfalls for those items.
    • You should also 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. This ensures that the estimate reflects local conditions and the demand surge following a disaster.

 

  • California has special rules related to insurance and deadlines that are designed to make it easier for you to collect all available funds after a total or partial wildfire loss.

The California Department of Insurance has some great resources to help you throughout the process.

Wildfire Resources (California Department of Insurance)

  • Partial Loss

If your home was spared but exposed to extreme heat and smoke, there is guidance for potential partial loss insurance claims, proper cleaning, inspection for damage, restoration of healthy indoor air quality, and repair of obvious and hidden damage.

United Policy Holders has a few resources that could get you started.

 

FEMA & The Red Cross

Applying online is the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to apply. You can also Call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PST).

In the coming days, FEMA will also open Disaster Recovery Centers where you can apply in person.

You can apply even if you have insurance. Disaster assistance may be able to fill insurance gaps or provide help if you’ve been waiting more than 30 days on a homeowner’s claim. You should apply as soon as possible (some assistance will not be available until after you get your insurance settlement)

    • You should apply as soon as possible, even if you are not sure of your eligibility. This helps reduce the potential for someone fraudulently using your address and ensures your application is in on time.
    • Even if you do not think you are eligible, you should apply to FEMA because failure to do so can affect eligibility in other programs.
    • FEMA Individual Assistance consists of multiple federal programs to help disaster survivors start to recover. These programs include, but are not limited to:
      • Housing
      • Rental Assistance
      • Funds for Repair / Replacement of Damaged Homes
      • Disaster Legal Services
      • Disaster Unemployment Assistance
      • Other Needs Assistance

  • Housing Assistance
    • Even if you did not lose your home but were evacuated or displaced, FEMA can provide Lodging Expense Reimbursement and Displacement Assistance.
    • FEMA Housing Assistance can be especially helpful if you lack Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage or insurance.
    • FEMA Rental Assistance can cover temporary housing costs. Generally, if approved, you will receive two months of rental assistance based on the fair market rate (established by HUD) and household size. Though this is often not enough to fully cover actual housing costs, it can certainly make a big difference. If eligible, FEMA Rental Assistance can be extended up to 18 additional months.

  • FEMA often sends correspondence via mail.

Make sure you provide FEMA with a mailing address (PO Box) where you will be able to regularly receive mail while you are displaced.

  • FEMA appeals are also complex and they often deny you first.

You have the right to appeal any decision made by FEMA, and in many cases, you should appeal. Pay close attention to appeals timelines. You will only have 60 days after the date of the notification letter to appeal a FEMA decision.

  • You can also apply to FEMA and SBA at the same time.

SBA offers disaster loans of up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters also are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles. Interest rates can be as low as 4% for businesses and 2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years.

Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement, and loan repayment can be deferred 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

 

Debris Removal

  • There is very likely to be a government program for debris removal.

This is likely to be the most cost-effective option. Unless you have very good coverage for debris removal or want to move very quickly, this is likely to be the best option.

Participating in a government program will also simplify rebuilding as it will ensure you meet compliance/permitting standards. Guidelines for Debris Removal from CA.

  • Do not conduct any major debris removal or move debris until you fully assess your debris removal options.

You can sift through debris to recover personal property but leave all debris alone in its current location. Moving debris, organizing debris, or spreading debris outside the structural footprint will disqualify you from Private Property Debris Removal programs.

  • Take video and photographs of your entire property and all debris.

Continue to take regular photos of the debris.

  • Homeowners’ insurance policies cover the cost of debris removal in a few different ways.

You should review your policy to determine how your debris removal benefits are paid.

  • You likely either have to use part of your Coverage A (dwelling) benefits to cover this expense, or there may be extra benefits for debris removal on top of your Coverage A.

This extra coverage may be 5, 10, or 15% of your Coverage A benefits, tied to the loss's amount, or a fixed dollar amount labeled as “Additional Coverage.”

If you participate in a coordinated debris program and the cost of debris removal is less than your policy limits, you may be able to apply the benefits left over toward repairs/rebuilding.

In many cases, especially within government programs, the removal process includes demolishing and clearing the house’s foundation, a crucial step for future rebuilding efforts.

 

Property Tax

Property owners who lose their homes to calamities such as fire or flooding may be eligible for tax relief.

To qualify, individuals must file an Application for Reassessment: Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity with the Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date the property was damaged or destroyed.

 

Taxes

A federal disaster declaration is an official ruling that triggers special tax rules. IRS released this announcement today, providing tax relief to wildfire victims.

  • CA Tax Relief Program

  • You should consult with a tax professional. Casualty loss rules are a particularly complex part of the Internal Revenue Code, and it’s hard enough for the average person to understand them, let alone take full advantage of them. United Policy Holders recommends contacting a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Enrolled Agent (EA) who has worked with disaster survivors in the past.

  • Insurance proceeds and grants or gifts specifically designated for “contents or personal property” losses related to a primary residence are not subject to taxation, even if they cause a gain or potential gain. These proceeds must still be considered when calculating deductions for losses, similar to computing a loss on your real property.

 

Rebuilding

    • Hire only California-licensed contractors. Ask to see the license. The number must be on all advertisements, contracts, and business cards. You can check with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website tools Find My Licensed Contractor and License Check
    • Confirm that the contractor carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Ask them to provide proof of their insurance and contact the insurance company to verify that they are truly insured. Do not do business with a contractor who does not carry the appropriate insurance coverage. If the contractor is not insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
    • Check references when hiring a contractor. Ask the contractor for the names and contact information of their suppliers, subcontractors, and previous customers. Talking with these folks can reveal a lot about the contractor’s professional reputation.
    • Get multiple bids for comparison, and be sure to read the fine print on all estimates and contracts.
    • Don’t pay more than 10 percent down or $1,000—whichever is less.
    • Don’t pay cash, and don’t let the payments get ahead of the work. Only pay for work as it is completed to your satisfaction.
    • Keep a job file of all project papers, including correspondence and copies of all payments.

  • Disaster Debris Removal & Construction Scams

 

Post-Wildfire Debris

Post-wildfire debris flows can pose a risk to life and safety near burn scars. Wildfires can leave burned areas with little or no vegetation and an impaired ability to absorb rainwater. This can result in increased rainwater runoff and a significantly higher risk of flooding and debris or mud flows.

 

Contact

Let us support and guide you through the claims process during this difficult time.

Contact a Venbrook claims advocate today. We're here to help.

Venbrook Claim Services

Hotline Hours: Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 7 PM PST.

Call: 888.712.9602

Email: info@venbrook.com