LA County wildfire disaster relief applications due next week
Survivors of the Los Angeles County wildfires have until Monday to apply for federal and state programs offering disaster relief aid.
After a
deadline
extension, residents affected by the Palisades, Eaton, or any of the other fires from early January will have until March 31 to fill out most of their forms.
Here's a list of financial, unemployment, small business and debris removal programs that will close enrollment by the end of the month.
The FEMA Individual Assistance program provides victims with funds to pay for basic home repairs and personal property losses. It also covers uninsured disaster-related needs, including childcare, transportation, medical needs, and funeral and dental expenses.
FEMA established two disaster recovery centers near the Palisades and Eaton fire zones to help residents apply. Both locations are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Residents can also apply anytime online at
DisasterAssistance.gov
, by calling FEMA's helpline at (800) 621-3362, or by using the
FEMA mobile app
. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.
The Small Business Administration is offering home disaster, business and economic injury disaster loans.
Homeowners and tenants can apply for home disaster loans to repair or replace their real estate and personal property, including vehicles.
The business loans cover the property owned by a business, including real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size can apply, as can private nonprofit organizations like charities, churches, and private universities.
Economic injury loans are meant to help businesses cover financial obligations affected by the wildfires.
To apply for any of these loans, visit
https://lending.sba.gov
or call (800) 659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can call (800) 877-8339.
People who lost their jobs or cannot work because of the wildfires can apply for unemployment, disability, or Paid Family Leave benefits. Apply online at
DUA.gov
.
Residents can opt for a free general wildfire debris cleanup from the Army Corps of Engineers or pay for a specialized contractor approved to remove the remaining rubble.
The right-of-entry and opt-out forms can be found at
recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/
. In-person applications are available at
FEMA disaster recovery centers.
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