Our heart is with those in the Southern California area who have been and still are being affected by the California wildfires. 

And, our gratitude is with the firefighters and first responders who are working to keep people, their homes, and their business safe. 

We are sharing these tips and resources in the hope that it might help some of you who have homes that have been destroyed or damaged. If you know someone who has been affected, please share this information. 

This list of vetted resources from the State of California include resources for immediate help (e.g., food and shelter), but also include very useful resources to assist with many of the things we mention below: www.listoscalifornia.org/recovery-help .

A short-term to do list:

1. 1. Apply for help from FEMA.
      
      • • 
   2. Contact the USPS to find out where you are able to pick up mail that has not been delivered yet.
   3. Get a PO Box and have your mail forwarded. Use this PO Box as the mailing address on all forms you will begin to fill out.
   4. Do you need to replace medications, medical equipment (e.g., a CPAP machine), medical records, or find a new place to get medical care?
      
      • • First, identify a local pharmacy location. 
          
          1. 1. Contact your medical provider to ask them to resubmit your prescription to a local pharmacy.
             2. Contact your insurance company to ask about coverage for replacing lost medications and equipment. See this press release from the California Department of Insurance (DOI) about coverage during this time. If you are having trouble with your insurance, contact the DOI.
             3. If the facility where you visited your provider to receive care is no longer available, you can also ask your provider if they are moving to a temporary or permanent new location.
             4. Update your contact information with any providers and your insurance company.
   5. Start working on a list of what was in your home . Make a list of each room in your home. Start with furniture, then electronics, then other items.
      
      • • List everything, even if it is above and beyond your insurance policy limit. Everything above and beyond the policy limit is considered a loss and may be claimed on your taxes
   6. As you buy things to replace what you have lost, many stores are providing discounts to people.
   7. Save all of your receipts. Your insurance company may cover the costs.
   8. Contact your homeowners or rental insurance company to inform them of your situation.
      
      • • For help dealing with insurance, there are useful resources from the California Department of Insurance .
        • Insurance may help with evacuation and relocation costs under Additional Living Expenses coverage (ALE). ALE coverage typically includes food and housing costs, furniture rental, relocation and storage, and extra transportation expenses, among other costs.
   9. Apply for property tax relief from the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office: https://assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief .
   10. Start searching for a short (or long-term) housing. Coordinate with your insurance company about how to use funds from your “Loss of Use” coverage to pay for your housing.
       
       • • If housing providers are quoting extremely high rates, know that California has a law against price gouging during emergencies. Rent cannot be increased to 10% above pre-emergency levels during a state of emergency. It also applies to hotels, goods, and services. Reports of price gouging can be submitted to the CA Attorney General's Office. https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/pricegougingduringdisasters#4C
         • Airbnb is offering free, emergency housing for those affected. Complete this intake form to be considered.
   11. If you lost a car in the fire, contact the DMV and your car insurance company to learn about your coverage.
   12. Contact your utility companies and either freeze or cancel service. In most cases, you will not be charged while the service has been turned off, but as utilities start to come back online, they will begin to bill again. This includes electricity, gas, cable, internet, landline phone service, security cameras (e.g., Ring).
   13. Consider any hard copy newspaper/magazine deliveries, either cancel or update to PO Box.
   14. Consider canceling streaming services or transfer locations once you have identified a place to stay.
   15. Do you have recurring deliveries (e.g., Amazon)? Make sure to cancel them or change the delivery address.
   16. It is okay to ask for help, and, to let people help you.

At this point, it is unclear when people will be allowed back in some of these neighborhoods, including areas that are still under mandatory evacuation orders. The clean up process will be immense, and in some places, there are hazards involved, including downed power lines, open gas lines, unstable structures and debris, and toxic substances (e.g., from batteries). The state, county, and cities have indicated that they are moving quickly but it will likely take the next two weeks to inspect these areas and then they will have more information. In some areas, it is expected to take months to clear the areas.

As many have learned over the past week, the Watch Duty app , is sharing useful information about where food and water is being distributed, community meetings that are providing information to residents, press conferences, and more. It is important to stay connected, so that you can get the latest about resources available and recovery efforts.

Need to understand the property insurance claims process?

The Beverly Hills Bar Association is giving a free seminar on Zoom on Tuesday, January 14, from 12:30-1:30pm Pacific: https://conta.cc/3DZHioK .

The California Department of Insurance is also providing seminars. More information can be found in this press release: https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/releasea005-2025.cfm . And there are more tips and resources in this press release: https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release002-2025.cfm .

Need to replace lost documents and records?

The Metropolitan Los Angeles YMCA is providing help with childcare and a place for people to take showers, etc.:

There are many, many other resources being shared on social media and on the news. And, there are many places soliciting donations. Please make sure that if you generously choose to donate that you are making a donation to a reputable place.

For those who have not been affected by the wildfires, they are another sobering reminder of the importance of being prepared for a natural disaster. There are useful resources at www.ready.gov .

About Triage Cancer

Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit providing free education to people diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, and health care professionals on cancer-related  legal and practical issues . Through  events ,  materials , and  resources , Triage Cancer is dedicated to helping people move beyond diagnosis.

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