FEMA & Financial Recovery
Disaster Recovery Centers
Two Disaster Recovery Centers are open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Altadena Disaster Recovery Center
540 W Woodbury Rd.
Altadena, Ca 91001.
**The Pasadena City College location closed on 1/31/25 with all services shifting to the Altadena location.
UCLA Research Park West
10850 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
At these centers you can register for FEMA in person, talk with someone about your application status or denial letter (which might mean you need to submit additional information), talk with someone from the Small Business Administration about low-interest loans for businesses affected by the fires, and talk with the Red Cross and other support organizations. Additional help is also available for replacing lost paperwork, and medications. To see all of the services and government agencies represented at the Altadena location, go to this page on the official LA County Recovers website.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans
Despite the name, SBA is not just for small business owners. SBA disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans is available for homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes affected by the wildfires and straight-line winds in California. Learn more here.
Temporary Property Tax Relief
If your property has been damaged or destroyed by a disaster, like a fire, flood, or earthquake, you may be eligible for property tax relief. To qualify, the damage to the property must exceed $10,000 of current market value and an Application for Reassessment: Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity (Form ADS-820) must be filed with the Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date the property was damaged or destroyed. Additional information on and resources for property tax relief following a disaster can be found on the Property Relief for Properties Impacted by a Disaster fact sheet. Fill out an application for reassessment here.
Guide to Housing Disaster Property Damage Claims
MPTF has provided this helpful video from the Beverly Hills Bar Association to walk you through the process of property damage claims for properties destroyed by the wildfires.
Rehousing
The LA Fed Disaster Resources
The LA Fed can assist with housing, food, and more to qualified union members. Among their resources is first and last month’s rent. Fill out the intake form here. When applying, your union contact is Steve Kaplan, Business Representative, 818-845-7500, steve.kaplan@tag839.org.
Free Furniture & Home Goods from Zello
The Zello Group has partnered with the Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF), Hollywood crew members, Hollywood studios, and others to provide free household furnishings to entertainment industry members who lost their homes in the wildfires. The initiative also includes partnerships with Teamsters Local 399 drivers and local truck rental companies to assist with deliveries. Fill out this form to sign up and request an appointment.
Free Home Furnishings from Home Bank LA
Home Bank LA is dedicated to those who have lost everything in the wildfire. They are working quickly to fulfill needs for furniture and home goods so that those urgently moving into rental properties can promptly feel at home in their new surroundings. Apply here.
U-Haul Free Storage
U-Haul has made 92 company facilities in Southern California available to offer its 30-day free self-storage and U-Box container disaster relief program to help evacuees and affected families. Find locations here.
MALAN Fire & Windstorm Resources
This Mutual Aid LA Network list provides information on available shelters. This is one of the most comprehensive lists available and is updated daily.
Information for Renters
Renters Rights
Per the Los Angles Housing Department: “If a rental unit is completely destroyed, the lease no longer applies. The tenant does not owe future rent and will need to find a new place to live. Landlords must return any security deposit within three weeks. If tenants had already paid the January rent, the landlord should pro-rate and return the tenant’s rent for the remainder of January.” Learn more at Los Angeles County Consumer and Business Affairs.
Tenant’s Rights Legal clinics
Every Saturday at 10 a.m., Coalition for Economic Survival hosts a Tenants’ Rights Zoom Clinic, with one-on-one counseling by our volunteer Tenants’ Rights Attorneys. Learn more here.
Property Clean-Up and Safety Issues
Debris Removal if Your Home Was Destroyed
The debris removal process is divided into two main phases, each managed by different agencies. We have spoken to LA County officials and been told that Phase 1 household hazardous debris removal is mandatory and is being undertaken by the EPA. If your property has been damaged or destroyed, it must pass a Phase 1 household hazardous debris inspection and clearance by the EPA before being eligible for moving into Phase 2 removal of the remaining fire debris.
For Phase 2, property owners need to decide whether to opt in for free cleanup by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or opt out and pay a specialized, approved contractor to remove the remaining fire debris, following all necessary requirements, rules, and regulations. Property owners won’t be able to get a Phase 2 permit unless they have received Phase 1 clearance from the EPA. Learn more and opt in or opt out for free cleanup at the LA County Recovers Debris Removal page.
The deadline to opt-in for Debris Removal is March 31, 2025. For questions call the LA County Public Works Fire Debris Hotline at 844-347-3332.
Returning to Your House
On the wildfire recovery page of the County of Los Angeles Public Health website, it states: “Once local officials have cleared the area and allowed entry, individuals entering previously evacuated or fire-damaged areas should take precautions to protect their health and safety.”
We know that for houses that have been destroyed, a two-part process of inspection and fire debris removal is mandatory. We spoke with the EPA, and shared the following:
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If no structures on your property were destroyed by the fire, the two-part inspection and debris removal process is not mandatory.
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If any structure on your property was destroyed, even if your house is still standing, the two-part process is mandatory. The deadline to opt in for free Debris Removal by the county is March 31, 2025. You can learn more and opt in or opt out for free cleanup at the LA County Recovers Debris Removal page.
If you are uncertain of the status of your house, the EPA has a web page where you can search your address: https://www.epa.gov/ca/2025-
Scroll down to the “Response in Southern California” section and use the scroll function within that section to go to “Status Map of U.S. EPA’s Work.” Here, in the top left corner of the map, you can enter your address. Properties are color-coded. If your property is not one of the four colors in the “Parcel Status” key, then it does not require mandatory inspection and debris removal.
The maps on this page also provide inspection status. At the top of the map under “Damage Maps,” Choose Palisades or Altadena. Enter the address in the search function at the top left of the map. This will give you a search result. You need to click on the icon that the search result is pointing to, in order to see the status. The status also contains a photo of the property.
Safety Tips for Returning to Your Home Site
This helpful document from the County of Los Angeles Public Health explains safety precautions for dealing with ash, water, and more.