What to Do Next If You Lost Your Home or Business in the Los Angeles Wildfires

The yanayin yanayi yanzu zaune a cikin Los Angeles County suna samar da wani tsari mai ban sha'awa, ƙirƙirar ma'aikata don ƙirƙirƙirar da kuma haƙĩƙa da yawa gidaje da kamfanoni. Idan ka ne a cikin yanki da aka kwatanta ko da yaushe kayayyakin, za ka iya kwatanta a cikin wani matsakaici na jima'i: kyakkyawanci, ƙarƙirar, da kuma karantawa. Wannan labarin yana samar da wani cikakken zane-zane don taimaka ka taimakawa da hanyoyi da haƙƙĩƙa na yanayin yanayi, samun haƙĩƙa kayayyakin, da kuma fara shirye-shirye don gaba.

Los Angeles Wildfires: A Guide to Safety, Evacuation, and Assistance

1. Ensure Your Safety and Well-being

Yawarka da kuma mai kyau da masu zaman kansu ne mafi muhimmanci. Idan kana a cikin wani yanki:

Evacuate Immediately: If you are under a mandatory evacuation order, leave immediately. Do not delay. Your life is more important than your property.

Evacuation Warnings: Kai ka a karkashin tsari na tsari, dubawa don fara a kan wani lokaci na alama. Ziyarci muhimmanci kayayyakin da zabi don fara.

Stay Informed: Monitor official sources for real-time updates:

• Cal Fire: www.fire.ca.gov
• Cal OES: www.caloes.ca.gov
• LA County Emergency Management: www.lacounty.gov/emergency
• Local Law Enforcement: Follow their social media accounts for updates on evacuations and road closures.
• Emergency Alerts: Sign up for emergency alerts through your county's emergency notification system.
• Local News: Hawara da kammala na gida News broadcasts (radio and television).

Prepare an Emergency Kit: If you haven't already, pack a "go-bag" with:

• Water (1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days)
• Non-perishable food (3-day supply)
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Hand-crank or battery-powered radio
• Copies of important documents (ID, insurance, etc.)
• Cash
• Change of clothes
• Pet supplies (if applicable)

Protect Your Home (If Safe to Do So):

• Clear a defensible space around your home by removing dry vegetation.
• Close windows and doors.
• Shiga gas supply at the meter if you evacuate.

Air Quality: Be mindful of poor air quality. Limit outdoor activities and keep windows closed. Consult your doctor if you have respiratory issues.

2. Prioritize Your Mental and Emotional Health

Yawar wani tsari za a iya zama traumatic. Yana da muhimmanci don taimaka wa jima'i da na jima'i:

• Disaster Distress Helpline: Provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
• LA County Mental Health Help Line: Call (800) 854-7771 or text "LA" to 741741 for immediate help or to access local mental health services.
• LA County Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 1-800-985-5990 ko rubutu "TalkWithUs" zuwa 66746 don haɗari taimako ko kayayyakin.
• SMC Center for Wellness & Wellbeing: The SMC Center for Wellness & Wellbeing samar da al'adu da kuma ingancin halitta sabis ga dalibai, kazalika da kwarewa masu sana'a ga kwararru da ma'aikata.
• Reach Out: Talk to family, friends, neighbors, or spiritual advisors.
• Limit News Exposure: While staying informed is important, constant exposure to news coverage can increase stress.
• Self-Care: Shigar da jima'i mai kyau kamar yadda za a iya, ciki har da tsarkakewa da kayayyakin abinci, samun wani sauƙi, da kuma samu matsala.

3. Immediate Assistance: Shelters, Food, and Essential Supplies

If you have been evacuated or need immediate assistance:

American Red Cross:

• Services: Notary shelters, abinci, ruwa, jima'i taimako, taimako hankali.
• Contact: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
• Find a Shelter: Text "SHELTER" and your ZIP code to 43362 or visit redcross.org/shelter.

Salvation Army:

• Services: Nazarin taimako (maki, abinci, mahimmanci), jima'i da jima'i.
• Contact: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) or visit their website at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

211 LA and Airbnb.org:

• Services: Airbnb.org yana aiki tare da 211 LA don samar da free lokaci gine-gine ga waɗanda aka ƙaddamar da gine-gine.
• Contact: Contact 211 LA to request assistance.

Local Assistance Centers (LACs):

• Availability: LACs za a iya kafa kamar yadda hali yana ci gaba. Duk da haka, su ne one-stop shops don bayanai da taimako.
• Information: Gungura tare da Cal OES da yanki don updates game da LAC yanki da sabis.

4. Contact Your Insurance Company (If Safe to Do So)

Kai da kayayyakinku da aka haifar da kuma shi ne mai ban sha'awa don yin wannan, danna da kamfanoni na abokin ciniki don ƙirƙirar da sha'awa.

Gather Necessary Documents: Kuma ka samu da kayayyakin da muhimmanci kayayyakin kamar kayayyakin kayayyakin ku, wani kayayyakin da aka rarraba ko rarraba (ko kana da wani), da kuma dukkan kwarewa ko takardar kebantawa da kayayyakin.

Document the Damage: Take photos and videos of the damage to your property and belongings. This documentation will be essential in supporting your claim. Only do this if it is safe to return to the property.

Understand Your Coverage: Ask your insurance agent or representative to explain your coverage limits for rebuilding or repairing your home, replacing personal belongings, and covering living expenses. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover wildfire-caused property damage to a home's structure, outbuildings, and personal belongings.

Keep Records: Maintain detailed records of all interactions with your insurance company, including phone calls, emails, and letters.

Insurance Gaps: It's important to review your policy carefully, as many property owners discover they are not fully insured for wildfire damage after a major fire.

• United Policyholders: A non-profit shirye-shirye da ke gabatar da abokan ciniki. Suna samar da kayayyakin, workshops, da alama a kan tafiya da tsari. Ziyarci shafin yanar gizo a www.uphelp.org.

5. Government Assistance: Immediate and Future Potential

The federal government has declared a major disaster for California, making federal aid available.

Immediate Focus (Emergency Response):

Federal and state efforts are currently concentrated on:

• Fire Suppression: Funding firefighters, equipment, and resources.
• Evacuations: Supporting evacuation efforts.
• Emergency Shelters: Save funding for temporary shelters and essential supplies.

Future Assistance (Register with FEMA Now):

FEMA Individual Assistance: Registering with FEMA NOW is crucial to access potential future assistance, which may include:

• Temporary Housing Assistance: Grants for hotels, rentals, or other temporary lodging.
• Essential Home Repairs: Grants to make your primary residence habitable.
• Other Needs Assistance: Funds for medical/dental costs, childcare, moving/storage, and essential personal belongings.

How to Register for FEMA:

1. Online: DisasterAssistance.gov (Fastest)
2. Phone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
3. FEMA Mobile App: Download the app.

Other Potential Long-Term Assistance Programs (Details to Come):

SBA Disaster Loans: Low-shekara kudi ga abokin ciniki, rentalers, da kuma kamfanoni. Ajiya tare da FEMA ne mai ban sha'awa. More information: DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov.

State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP): Yadda za a ba da ƙarin kudi ga bukatun da ba za a ba da kayayyakin ba tare da kudi ko sauran shirye-shirye. SSGP an tsara don samar da kudi ga mahimmanci da suka wuce kayayyakin saboda hasken rana da ba a cikakken kudi da ba a cikakken kudi tare da kudi ko sauran shirye-shirye na taimako. Yana samar da kudi don taimakawa da mahimmanci, irin su kayayyakin, kamar yadda aka taimakawa da mahimmanci, kamar yadda za a taimakawa da kayayyakin, idan yana da mahimmanci don aiki ko rayuwa a yau da kullum, da kuma kudi (costs connected to injuries or diseases caused by the disaster), da kuma funeral expenses (costs connected to disaster-related deaths).

• Who is Eligible? Must be a legal resident of the U.S., must have lived in the affected area at the time of the disaster, must have experienced losses not fully covered by insurance or other assistance, and must meet income guidelines (typically based on family size and income).
• How to Apply: Contact your local county social services agency or the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for information on how to apply. Be prepared to provide documentation of your losses, income, and other relevant information.

Information will be available through the California Department of Social Services (www.cdss.ca.gov).

Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP): Ta samar da takardun shaida da kuma taimako a kowace tsari. The DCMP ta samar da takardun shaida da taimako ga mutane da kasashe a kowace tsari. A case manager iya taimaka ka duba da bukatunku da samar da takardun shaida, hanyoyin taimako shirye-shirye, ƙirƙirar tare da sabis (tallace-tallace, kasuwanci, magani, da sauran mahimmanci sabis), gabatar da bukatunku (sa ka taimakawa da matsaloli tare da kamfanoni, abokin ciniki, ko kamfanoni), da kuma samar da takardun shaida na tsawon lokaci (tallace-tallace-tallace-tallace, kudi, da kuma jiki mai kyau).

• Who is Eligible? Individual da kamfanonin da aka haifar da tsari da ake bukata taimakawa a cikin ci gaba da tsari na tsari. Abincin kwarewa za a iya zama daban-daban da shirye-shirye na DCMP.
• How to Access: Tuntuɓi yanar gizo na yanar gizo na yanar gizo na yanar gizo na yanar gizo na yanar gizo don tambaya game da sabis na DCMP. FEMA zai iya ƙirƙirƙirar mutane zuwa masu samar da DCMP.

Information will be available through your local county.

Disaster Legal Services (DLS): FEMA, tare da American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, za a iya bayar da kyauta kudi ga low-gabatar abokan ciniki (tallace-tallace, kware-tallace/tallace-tallace, da dai sauransu).

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA): If you lost your job due to the wildfires, you might be eligible for DUA.

6. Resources from Government and Aid Organizations

Number government agencies and aid organizations are offering support to wildfires victims:

FEMA:

• Services: Currently supporting emergency response. Register now for potential future assistance with temporary housing, essential repairs, etc.
• Contact: 1-800-621-3362, www.DisasterAssistance.gov

California Employment Development Department (EDD):

• Services: Information regarding what to do in case of a natural disaster. Assistance for those who may have lost a job due to the disaster.
• Contact: 1-800-300-5616, www.edd.ca.gov

California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD):

• Services: Disaster Recovery, including assistance and funding for those affected by natural disasters.
• Contact: 916-263-2771, [email protected], www.hcd.ca.gov

American Red Cross:

• Services: Notary shelters, abinci, ruwa, jima'i taimako, taimako hankali.
• Contact: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767), www.redcross.org

California Fire Foundation:

• Services: Currently unknown. They usually offer grants, but their focus might have shifted due to the wildfires being active.
• Contact: www.cafirefoundation.org

Salvation Army:

• Services: Notary taimako (maki, abinci, muhimmanci kayayyakin), Emotional da kuma Spiritual Care
• Contact: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769), www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn

California Community Foundation:

• Services: Long-Term Recovery Efforts
• Contact: 213-413-4130, www.calfund.org

7. Securing Temporary Housing (If Evacuated)

Kai ka yi evacuated, samu temporary kayayyakin ne wani matsaloli:

• Red Cross Shelters: Text "SHELTER" and your ZIP code to 43362 or visit redcross.org/shelter.
• Airbnb.org and 211 LA: Request free temporary housing assistance through 211 LA.
• FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance: Za a iya zama samuwa a lokacin da hali yana ci gaba. Ajiya tare da FEMA shi ne mai ban sha'awa.
• Hotels Offering Discounts: Some hotels are offering discounted rates for evacuees. The Queen Mary hotel in Long Beach is offering rooms at $189, including a breakfast buffet for two and waived pet and historical preservation fees. Hotels in Big Bear are also offering assistance. Check their websites for more details.
• Additional Notary shelters, animal shelters, housing, da kuma jirgin kasa taimako kayayyakin.
• Other Options: Staying with family or friends, renting an apartment (short-term), or considering a manufactured housing unit or RV (longer-term).

8. Looking Ahead: Recovery and Rebuilding

The cikakken ƙarfi na tsanani ba za a sani, da kuma tsari zai zama tsawon lokaci. Wannan shi ne abin da za a gane a gane::

Document Damage (When Safe): If your property is damaged and it's safe to return, document everything with photos and videos for insurance and potential assistance claims.

Insurance Claims: Contact your insurance company as soon as it's safe to do so.

Debris Removal: Gundumar da aka bayar da shirye-shirye shimfidar shirye-shirye za a iya zama samuwa. Babu karantawa ta hanyar yanar gizo.

Permitting and Reconstruction: Kai za ka bukatar rebuild, za ka bukatar tafiya cikin tsari da za a ba da damar. Lokacin gine-gine da zane-zane za su iya canza daga lokacin da yanayin da aka fara, amma za ka ba za ka sani kafin za su shigar.

SBA Loans: Explore SBA loans for long-term rebuilding.

State and Local Programs: Be aware of potential state and local assistance programs that may emerge.

Rebuild Smarter: Consider fire-resistant materials, defensible space, and updated building codes when rebuilding.

9. Preventing Future Wildfire Risk

Create Defensible Space: Sauke wani tsari kusa da gida, ba tare da ƙwayar ƙwayar da kuma karfi kayayyakin.

Use Fire-Resistant Materials: When rebuilding or making home improvements, choose fire-resistant roofing, siding, and windows.

Landscaping: Choose fire-resistant plants and maintain your landscaping regularly.

Community Efforts: Support local fire prevention and mitigation programs.

Emergency Watershed Program: The Emergency Watershed Program ya samar da kwarewa da taimakon kudi don taimakawa da mahimmanci ga rayuwa da kayayyakin da aka yi amfani da tsuntsaye, yanayi, windstorms, da sauran tsuntsaye na halitta da ke ƙarya wani watershed.

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER): The BAER shirye-shirye a kan haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin haɗin

Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program: Wannan shirye-shirye samar da kudi da kuma fasaha don ƙirƙirƙirar kayan aiki kamar ƙirƙirar da kuma ƙirƙirar masana'antu ko ƙasar.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program: This program offers financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices, such as erosion control measures and tree planting. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program offers financial and technical assistance through contracts that can last up to ten years. They help with improving water and air quality, conserving water resources, enhancing soil health and reducing erosion, improving or creating wildlife habitat, and addressing other natural resource concerns.

• Who is Eligible? Agricultural producers (farmers, ranchers), owners of non-industrial private forestland, and Federally recognized Tribes are eligible.
• How to Apply? Tuntuɓi yanki na USDA Service Center ko ziyarci website na NRCS California don ƙarin bayani. Aikace-aikacen suna samu a ko'ina, amma akwai musamman tsare-aikacen lokaci don taimakawa.

10. Stay Informed

Cal Fire: www.fire.ca.gov

Cal OES: www.caloes.ca.gov

LA County Emergency Management: www.lacounty.gov/emergency

Local Law Enforcement: Follow their social media accounts.

Sign up for emergency alerts through your county.

Monitor local news broadcasts.

The Los Angeles wildfires present an ongoing and evolving crisis. By staying informed, prioritizing safety, taking immediate action to access available resources, and preparing for potential future needs, you can navigate this challenging situation. Remember, you are not alone. Utilize the resources outlined in this guide, and seek support from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and your community. We will face this challenge together, and in time, we will rebuild.