We hope you and your families stay safe during these very challenging times. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been directly impacted by these devastating California wildfires. In response, NCP has aggregated several resource lists for our community and the LA area.
Where to Start After a Devastating Fire
Wisdom, Insights and Resources from Those Impacted by the Marshall Fire
1. Start a GoFundMe fundraising page NOW or let friends start a GoFundMe if they offer.
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People want to support and this will ultimately help quite a bit. Don’t wait for community funds.
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If you wait to create a campaign page, support will dwindle and results won’t be as good because too many campaigns will exist.
2. Dial 211. Or visit: https://www.211ca.org/
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They have partnered with Airbnb and are giving a week free housing,
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Resources for those impacted.
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Instructions are given for what to do and resources offered.
3. Get a certified copy of your insurance policy (not just the declarations page).
4. Get everything in writing with your agent and insurance company.
- Follow up any oral conversation with an email stating what was discussed.
5. Agree on finding housing quickly and contact the insurance company to request assistance with rental payments.
6. Go to Zillow or Redfin NOW and screenshot the worth of your house.
7. Hire a private adjuster when you know your full situation/if it is appropriate. Educate yourself on what your policy limits are and go after every single cent.
8. Open a bank account for insurance proceeds. It is so helpful to be able to track that money.
9. 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).
- Monitor GoFundMe for fake requests using your name (happened during the Marshall Fire).
10. Connect with others to learn of opportunities and share information.
11. Enlist in a friend with good organizational skills to sort everything (that friend can start monitoring social media and websites for information and opportunities as well).
12. Start scanning ALL receipts.
13. Check out United Policyholders’ website at www.uphelp.organd they have a CA 2025 fire library up. They also have significant information about smoke damage to help those whose homes remain standing but may have considerable contamination including not-obvious or even non-visible damage.
14. When visiting your property, wear a mask and gloves. Plastics and electronics that burn leave carcinogens behind. If your house didn’t burn, expect there will be smoke damage, and it could also make you sick to enter. Be safe and follow safety protocols.
15. Give yourself grace. There are days ahead that will be very hard. And you also will find resilience, perseverance, and strength you didn’t know you had.
Some How-To Information
Resources from Meryl Suissa, Founder, Marshall Fire Community FB Group:
1. Federal Assistance: FEMA Individual Assistance Program: Provides grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and other disaster-related expenses.
How to Apply:
Visit DisasterAssistance.gov. Phone: 1-800-621-3362.
Required Information:
- Social Security number
- Insurance information
- Damage description
- Bank account details for direct deposit
2. State Assistance: California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) offers financial aid for disaster-related costs.
Contact: California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)
- Phone: (916) 845-8110
- Email: RecoveryPayments@caloes.ca.gov
3. Non-Profit Organizations
California Fire Foundation’s Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) Program:
- Provides $250 cash cards to eligible victims for immediate needs.
- How to Access-Distributed through local fire departments. Contact your local fire department to inquire about availability.
California Fire Foundation Disaster Relief: Offers financial assistance to communities affected by wildfires.
- Visit California Fire Foundation - Disaster Relief: https://www.cafirefoundation.org/what-we-do/for-communities/disaster-relief
4. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans-Home Disaster Loans: Low-interest loans for homeowners to repair or replace damaged property.
- Visit SBA Disaster Assistance: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
- Call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955.
5. Insurance Claims: Homeowners Insurance: Contact your insurance provider to file a claim for property loss or damage.
- Document all damages with photos or videos.
- List all damaged or lost items.
- Keep receipts for any temporary repairs or accommodations.
6. Community Support-Local Assistance Centers (LACs): Local Assistance Centers are set up in affected areas to provide in-person support and resources.
- Monitor local news outlets for announcements.
- Contact local government offices for locations and hours.
- Important Considerations:
- Application Deadlines: Be aware of and adhere to deadlines for each assistance program.
- Documentation: Maintain thorough records of all communications, applications, and expenses related to your recovery efforts.
REGIONAL INFORMATION & RESOURCES
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
If you haven’t been able to view LA County/LA City One Voice Press Conferences, all are available for reply on the LA County website:
https://lacounty.gov/emergency/
From this website you will also be able to view detail on evacuations, shelters, assistance centers (English and Spanish), impacts to services and facilities, water and health alerts, road closures and transportation info, as well as media releases.
LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Detailed information and quick-links regarding the City of Los Angeles incident(s).
CAL FIRE
Detailed information and resources for all current fire incidents.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents
From this website you will also be able to view detail on evacuations, shelters, road closures, status updates, damage assessments, public health information, and images and camera feeds.
WATCH DUTY APP
Watch Duty app provides an overlap of the above information in their app.
211LA.ORG COMMUNITY SERVICES
Resources and information for LA County, including some overlap of information available from the above as well as transportation responses from LA Metro, Lyft and Uber, school closure details, power outage and water alerts, government closures, food resources, childcare resources, Airbnb.org support response, location details for FEMA offices and disaster resource centers.
https://211la.org/LA-Wildfires
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Provides shelter, food, and emotional support to those affected by disasters, including wildfires. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information.
DISASTER HELP CENTER
Disaster Help Center - California Department of Social Services: Provides various services, including assistance with replacing lost documents and connecting with local aid.
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/disaster-help-center
MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION & RESOURCES
LACPA
Los Angeles County Psychological Association’s webpage lists emergency services and shelters, mental health support lines, FEMA Individual Assistance information, some overlap with sites listed above, as well as opportunities to volunteer.
https://www.lacpa.org/2025-wildfires
LACPA Members in need of financial assistance can contact the LACPA Foundation via Dr. Sidonie Freeman at sidoniefreeman@gmail.com. Additionally, if you are a LACPA member in need of temporary housing, office space, personal items, etc., please email jillianpexa@gmail.com so we can try our best to assist you.
SCPS RESOURCES
Southern California Psychiatric Society Disaster Mental Health Relief Committee’s webpage with resources for providers, leaders, and community members during the aftermath of a disaster:
https://www.socalpsych.org/disaster-mental-health-relief-committee/
SAMHSA DISASTER DISTRESS HELPLINE
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a Disaster Distress Helpline – call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365. More information can be found at:
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/disaster-distress-helpline
PRO BONO THERAPY RESOURCES - GOOGLE SHEET*
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uAMVz8TQMzShQeuEA6kmOP0jyRN7qe1Iiqb6JOLTPqg/edit
*You may need a Google account to view/interact with this spreadsheet.
OTHER RESOURCES
INTERACTIVE MAP OF AREA RESOURCES
MUTUAL AID RESOURCES - GOOGLE SHEET*
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KMk34XY5dsvVJjAoD2mQUVHYU_Ib6COz6jcGH5uJWDY/edit
*You may need a Google account to view/interact with this spreadsheet.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WILDFIRE RECOVERY FUND
https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/
Purpose: Provides mid-term to long-term recovery support for communities affected by California wildfires, focusing on rebuilding homes, providing financial assistance, and supporting mental health services.
Email donorrelations@calfund.org or call (213) 413-4130 for more information.
GOFUNDME PAGES
The fundraising website GoFundMe has created a subpage specifically related to this disaster.
https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california
Here are some other things to consider about insurance and crowdfunding:
- Using GoFundMe money for covered losses
Using GoFundMe money to pay for something that is already covered by an insurance policy is considered "double dipping". The recipient may need to pay back the insurance company.
- Legal claims
Doctors and insurance companies may file legal claims against GoFundMe proceeds to recover unpaid medical bills.
- SSI and Medicaid benefits
GoFundMe proceeds may affect SSI and Medicaid benefits. The amount of income from a GoFundMe account may cause these benefits to be denied.
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
GoFundMe proceeds do not affect SSDI eligibility because there are no caps on unearned income or assets.
Insurance companies may scrutinize your crowdfunding campaign. They might try to argue that you're receiving money from another source and, therefore, don't need as much compensation. However, they legally can't reduce your claim based on the donations you receive through crowdfunding. Aug 23, 2024
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
Provides immediate food relief to evacuees and first responders in disaster zones. Email info@wck.org for more information.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS (from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Resources include:
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires(En Español)
- Wildfires: Tips for Parents on Media Coverage(En Español)
- Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents
- Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire- e-book for young children. (En Español)
- Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators(En Español)
- Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen(En Español)
- Creating Supportive Environments: When Scary Things Happen(En Español)
- After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal(En Español)
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event(En Español)
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Español)
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
(En Español) - Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Español)
- Once I Was Very Very Scared(En Español)
– children’s book for young children - Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing(En Español)
(for responders) - Preparing Children After a Wildfire Damages Your Community
Psychological First Aid and Skills for Psychological Recovery for children, adolescents, adults and families
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA; En Español). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. The PFA Wallet Card (En Español) provides a quick reminder of the core actions. The PFA online training (En Español) course is also available on the NCTSN Learning Center. PFA Handouts include:
- Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers(En Español)
- Parent Tips for Helping Preschoolers(En Español)
- Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children(En Español)
- Parent Tips for Helping Adolescents(En Español)
- Tips for Adults(En Español)
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT FIREFIGHTERS
The Center for Firefighter Behavioral Health has resources for firefighters, providers supporting them, and their friends and family, including the Helping Heroes web-based training.
MOBILE APPS
- Help Kids Cope
- PFA Mobile
- SAMHSA Behavioral Health Disaster Response App
- Supporting Firefighter Families
- Bounce Back Now(En Español)
MORE HELPFUL LINKS
- Sustaining the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers While Caring for
Disaster Victims - Safety, Recovery and Hope after Disaster: Helping Communities and
Families Recover - Leadership Communication: Anticipating and Responding to Stressful
Events - Wildfire Smoke Factsheet: Protecting Children from Wildfire Smoke
and Ash
SALVATION ARMY’S DISASTER SERVICES
Offers emergency relief and long-term assistance to those impacted by natural disasters, including wildfires. Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) for more information.
https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/help-disaster-survivors/
DIRECT RELIEF
Provides medical assistance to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies, including wildfire victims. Email info@directrelief.org or call (805) 964-4767 for more information.
DREAM CENTER
Provides support to individuals and families in need, including those affected by disasters like wildfires. Email: info@dreamcenter.org or call (213) 273-7000 for more information.
FRIENDS IN DEED
Pasadena area Friends In Deed offers supportive services to meet basic human needs, including assistance during disasters. Email info@friendsindeedpas.org or call (626) 797-2402 for more information.
CANINE RESCUE CLUB
Provides temporary foster care for displaced dogs during emergencies like wildfires. Email info@caninerescueclub.org for more information.
https://www.caninerescue.club/
1/14/25
IPA's Psychoanalytic Assistance in Crises and Emergencies Committee (PACE) has curated a comprehensive bibliography on trauma, social issues, migration, refugees, and environmental crises. These resources are available on the IPA website and can be an invaluable aid in our work:
https://www.ipa.world/IPA/en/
DONATION AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
ASSISTANCE FOR LACPA MEMBERS
The LACPA Foundation is able to receive donations for a 2025 LA Wildfire Relief Fund:
https://www.lacpa.org/foundation-donate-link
The LACPA Foundation will identify LACPA members affected by the 2025 LA Wildfires to provide financial assistance.
GOFUNDME CROWDFUNDING WEBSITE
The fundraising website GoFundMe has created a subpage specifically related to this disaster.
https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california
The fundraiser pages listed have been verified.
Please note: this website automatically tacks onto the donation a tip/fee for the website’s cost of doing business. Tips can be adjusted, even down to zero, at your discretion.
The website itself has also set up a campaign to support recovery efforts:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/wildfire-relief-fund-2025
GOFUNDME/FUNDRAISER DIRECTORIES – GOOGLE SHEETS*
Residents and communities are also updating spreadsheets with links to fundraisers and Venmo accounts, including the following:
Displaced Black Families
Displaced Latine Families
Hollywood crew members
Renters that lost housing
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vKz-UTzE6gbd4PdxJnVEslD6kq4r0kJMIRaebdQBzzU/edit?gid=0#gid=0
*You may need a Google account to view/interact with these spreadsheets.
This all means that it’s important to make sure a fundraiser is legitimate before sending any money. GoFundMe has a guide on verifying a fundraiser, and the company encourages donors to see if:
- Family and friends making donations and commenting words of support on the page
- The pages clearly details if intended recipient in control of the withdrawals. If not, is there a clear path for the funds to reach the victims?
- Does it seem like the GoFundMe is copying someone else’s story? (For example, you can check this by looking up the description on Google, and seeing if the exact sentences where used in another fundraiser.)
ADDITIONAL DONATION AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
The following three vetted websites have been suggested by local city and county leaders for those who wish to make donations or volunteer.
EMERGENCY NETWORK LOS ANGELES
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WILDFIRE RECOVERY FUND
https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/
LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT
Includes locations for dropping off donations of non-perishable food and essential goods.
https://lafd.org/news/wildfire-donations-your-generosity-inspiring
Monetary donations to the department:
VOLUNTEER SUGGESTIONS FROM LACPA
One way we can help is by providing pro-bono mental health services.
https://www.lacpa.org/volunteer-opportunities-for-clinicians
Another way is by providing psychological first aid, which is the gold standard in disaster relief efforts. We strongly encourage you to complete a Psychological First Aid course if you’re involved in disaster response efforts. If you are not trained in psychological first aid (PFA), there are many free trainings online. You can read more about PFA here: https://www.nctsn.org/treatments-and-practices/psychological-first-aid-and-skills-for-psychological-recovery/about-pfa And an example of a free training: https://www.nctsn.org/resources/psychological-first-aid-pfa-online. This particular one is a 5 hour webinar.
If you are interested in volunteering your time and would like to be placed on Dr. Supatra Tovar's separate list of LACPA members who have undergone Psychological First Aid training list, please email her at supatra@drsupatratovar.com .
If you are aware of any groups/organizations looking for psychological first aid and/or other psychological services, please continue to direct them to us so we can disseminate them to our membership and beyond.
The Conscious Citizens Los Angeles Disaster Support Masterlist: This is a comprehensive one-stop-shop collection of ALL essential directories and resources for anyone looking to help, find support, or want to donate to LA Fire Relief. Made by the people, for the people. Share this page with anyone who might find this information helpful.
Home Bank LA: Furniture & home goods for the SoCal wildfire evacuees
Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR)