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Mountain Views News Saturday, January 11. 2025

 

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FEMA, FEDERAL 
AND NONPROFIT SUPPORT TO THE CALIFORNIA 
WILDFIRES RESPONSE

 

WASHINGTON -- As state, local and federal 
responders continue efforts to save 
lives, homes and public property in the 
areas affected by the wildfires, residents 
should remain vigilant as conditions are 
still dangerous and severely degraded 
air quality in Los Angeles county poses 
a threat to residents. Follow instructions 
from local officials and evacuate immediately 
if told to do so.

Los Angeles County residents can apply for FEMA assistance

FEMA understands that you may not have all of your personal documents with you or that 
they may have been lost in the fires. To apply for assistance, you only need:

Names of everyone living in your home at the time of the fires.

Social Security number (yours or your child’s).

Household income.

Contact information.

Information of property damage/emergency needs.

If you have insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA assistance is available 
to help jumpstart your recovery if you have uninsured or underinsured damage. If insurance 
does not cover all your damage, FEMA may provide additional help. There are three ways to 
apply: 

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov and in Spanish language at DisasterAssistance.gov/es.

Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 for assistance in multiple languages.

On the FEMA App for mobile devices. 

To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: FEMA Accessible: Registering for Individual 
Assistance - YouTube.

Applying for FEMA assistance is a process

After applying for assistance, you will receive a letter from FEMA by mail or email and you can 
find it on your DisasterAssistance.gov account, based on the preference you indicated when 
you applied. The letter will explain whether FEMA has found you eligible for assistance, how 
much and how the assistance must be used.

In some cases, you may receive a letter stating you are “not approved” for help from FEMA. 
While this may seem like a denial, you may still be eligible for FEMA assistance. Oftentimes, 
survivors are “not approved” because FEMA needs additional information to make a determination. 
The letter will explain the reason for the initial decision. Read the letter carefully. The 
fastest way to submit additional documents is to upload to your disaster assistance account at 
DisasterAssistance.gov. 

State and local governments may receive 100% reimbursement for emergency work

President Biden approved the 100% cost share for Public Assistance Categories A and B for 
180 days. This means that FEMA will fund 100% of the cost of debris removal and lifesaving 
and life sustaining activities the state and local governments take—including fire suppression 
efforts —as they work to save lives.

The assistance FEMA provides through its Public Assistance Program is subject to a federal 
cost share, normally 75%, which means that FEMA provides funding for a portion of the 
project and the state, territory, local government or nonprofit is responsible for the remaining 
portion.

For debris removal and emergency protective measures specifically, the federal cost share may 
be increased in limited circumstances, and for limited periods of time, as with the California 
wildfires and a number of other major disasters.

Disaster response is a whole of government effort

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for 
California, providing health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility to meet emergency 
health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

The U.S. Department of Defense is providing firefighting personnel and capabilities as well as 
Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets to assist with aerial fire suppression.

Anyone feeling overwhelmed or in distress because of the fires can call or text the Disaster 
Distress Helpline 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990 to receive free crisis counseling.

State and nonprofit partners like the American Red Cross and others are providing a safe place 
to stay, meals and emotional comfort to people. To find a shelter, text SHELTER and your ZIP 
code to 43362, visit redcross.org/shelter or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). You can 
also call this number if you need assistance locating a missing loved one because of the fires.

People can help affected communities recover

Financial contributions to recognized disaster relief organizations are the fastest, most flexible 
and most effective method of donating. Organizations on the ground know what items and 
quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts and, if possible, purchase through businesses 
local to the disaster, which supports economic recovery.

SBA DISASTER NEWS RELEASE – SBA OFFERS 
FINANCIAL RELIEF TO LOS ANGELES COUNTY 
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IMPACTED 
BY DEVASTATING WILDFIRES ADMINISTRATOR 
GUZMAN TO TRAVEL TO SOUTHERN 
CALIFORNIA TO ASSESS NEEDS

WASHINGTON – Today, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that 
low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Southern California businesses, 
homeowners, renters and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations following President 
Joe Biden’s major disaster declaration. The declaration covers Los Angeles and the contiguous 
counties of Kern, Orange, San Bernardino, and Ventura due to wildfires and 
straight-line winds that began Jan. 7, 2025.

Administrator Guzman also will join FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in Southern 
California this week to assess on-the-ground needs and ensure the SBA is fully 
prepared to assist businesses, homeowners, and renters impacted by this disaster.

“As heroic firefighters and first responders continue to battle the devastating wildfires 
sweeping across Southern California, the federal government is surging resources to 
ensure that Angelenos are prepared to recover and rebuild from this catastrophe,” said 
SBA Administrator Guzman. “In response to Presi-dent Biden’s major disaster declaration, 
the SBA is mobilizing to provide financial relief to impacted businesses and residents. 
Our continued prayers are with the brave individuals working to put out these 
fires as well as all those who have lost loved ones, their homes, and their businesses to 
this disaster. We stand ready to support our fellow Americans for as long as it takes.”

Loans are available to businesses of all sizes and PNP organizations to repair or replace 
damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business 
assets. The SBA also of-fers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to small 
businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, 
and most PNP organizations to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster, 
even if there is no physical damage. EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, 
accounts payable, and other expenses that would have been met if not for the disaster. 
Busi-nesses can apply for loans of up to $2 million.

Disaster loans of up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace 
damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters also are eligible for up 
to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including 
personal vehicles.

Interest rates can be as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for PNP organizations, and 
2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and 
terms are set by the SBA and based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interest 
does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement 
and loan repayment can be deferred 12 months from the date of the first 
disbursement.

The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications as soon as possible. 
Applications will be prioritized in the order received and the SBA remains committed 
to processing them as efficiently as possible. Funding for the SBA’s disaster loan program 
recently was replenished through the American Relief Act of 2025, signed into 
law by President Biden on Dec. 21, 2024.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at 
sba.gov/disaster. Applicants also may call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-
2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster 
assistance. 

People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access 
telecommunications relay services. As soon as Disaster Recovery Centers open 
throughout the affected area, SBA staff also will be available to provide in-person one-
on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com