By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
Authorities in California and Washington continue to assess the fallout from the five devastating wildfires in Southern California caused by a mix of dry conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds.
As of Jan.10, ten deaths have been reported while emergency responders are still combing through the damage. The blaze has so far impacted over 45 square miles of land, over 180,000 residents were issued evacuation orders and nearly 350,000 energy customers are without power, including 200,000 in LA County alone.
Residents in surrounding areas have been cautioned to wear masks to protect from pollutants and smoke carried by strong winds. Additionally, the LA Department of Water and Power has issued boil water notices to Pacific Palisades zip codes 90272 and adjacent communities north of San Vicente when using water for drinking, cooking or cleaning.
With a high number of displaced people, government agencies, local businesses and other organizations are offering support and resources to evacuees and first responders.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has listed a range of information with links available on its website. Services, including health and legal assistance and shelter and air monitoring, are available/ for those who are seeking immediate and longer-term aid.
Unemployment Insurance – Individuals affected by the fires can apply for unemployment benefits immediately. Because Gov. Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency, they do not have to wait a week to begin receiving payments.
FEMA has announced additional resources for affected Californians. People affected by the fires may be eligible for financial assistance. Additional information and guidance can be accessed at disasterassistance.gov.
The California Department of Insurance has updated its services and resources list to assist individuals navigating the insurance claims process, which is expected to be daunting as the estimated insured losses from the week’s fires may exceed $20 billion and total losses could exceed $50 billion, according to JPMorgan.
The Red Cross is offering shelters for displaced fire victims. Anyone who needs a safe place to stay can find shelters at redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
Los Angeles is providing businessowners services like one-on-one consultation, business and employment support, and assistance with applying for forthcoming microenterprise grants and microloans at the city’s 10 BusinessSource Centers (BSCs). To find a complete list of BusinessSource Centers, use this Interactive Map.
L.A. Based Author, Activist and Media Strategist Jasmyne Cannick provided this list of services families affected by the fires can use to connect to resources available to them.
The MALAN Fire & Wind Store Resources spreadsheet provides up-to-date information on organizations opening their doors to victims.
Restaurants in the Los Angeles area have offered free meals for those displaced by the fire. This list hosted on the LA Times website is updated daily with locations participating in aid for those in need of something to eat.
The Abbey West Hollywood is offering free meals to evacuees and first responders
AT&T is offering wildfire areas unlimited data, talk and text through Feb. 6. An official list of zip codes can be found here.
Verizon has waived call, text and data charges for customers in hardest hit areas. Free Wifi and charging stations have been deployed at three wildfire shelters.
The Jewish Federation of LA is directing evacuees and affected families to various resources, including legal support, mental health resources and volunteer opportunities.
Airbnb, in collaboration with 211 LA, is offering free temporary housing for residents displaced or forced to evacuate due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Uber and Lyft are helping evacuated residents with free rides to shelter locations.
U-Haul is opening its facilities across Southern California for 30 days of free self-storage to victims. The U-Box container disaster relief program is also available to assist evacuees and affected families.
Planet Fitness is providing people free access to locker rooms, showers, HydroMassage loungers, electrical outlets and Wi-Fi, regardless of membership status. The offer is valid until Jan. 15 at Planet Fitness locations across Los Angeles County that the wildfires haven’t impacted.
UFC Gym is offering residents, first responders, and others affected by the wildfires free access to locker rooms, showers, recovery services, electrical outlets, WiFi, and more until the end of January.
The SAVE Card is a $250 gift card given to eligible survivors of fire and natural disasters by firefighters on scene who are enrolled in the SAVE program. This allows survivors to purchase basic necessities such as food, clothing, gas, medicine, or a place to stay the night in the immediate aftermath of a house fire. Learn more about how to apply for the card here.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis due to the impact of the wildfires, call or text 988. You can also click here to use 988 Lifeline Chat.
