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Critical Fire Resources & FAQ

I want to start this off by saying, my heart goes out to all those affected by the fires throughout LA...a place I know we all consider home.


The Eaton fire hits especially deep, as Pasadena is where I live and work, where I spent a large part of my childhood, and Altadena an area where my mother grew up and spent a large part of hers.


At this time having the right knowledge and resources is incredibly powerful, so please find a few critical resources in regards to disaster relief and recovery, as well as answers to the top burning questions you may have top of mind.


My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please stay safe and reach out if there's any way that I can support you.


Best,

  • Dominique Higgins, DRE#01927254


What should I pack if I’m facing an evacuation order?


While certain fires have been put out, other fires still remain, which means it may be possible, still, for you to receive a mandatory evacuation order. In the even that this does happen, here are a few key items that you will definitely want to grab before heading out:

  • ID(s)

  • Birth Certificate(s)

  • Passport(s)

  • Family memorabilia

  • Important documents including home/rental insurance

  • Essential items

  • Pets

  • Key valuables


Additionally, there are a few key things that you’ll want to take care of prior to evacuating your home.


#1 Take a Visual Inventory of the Items in Your Home


Prior to leaving your home, do walk-through of your entire property, with video. Specifically, you’ll want to document everything within your home, its condition, name brand, and value (if you have that information on hand) and to have it on video or with pictures.


While this sounds like the last thing you’d want to do when facing a fire evacuation order, it actually serves an essential purpose for your insurance company. Should anything happen, whether part or all of your property is damaged, you’ll be asked to create a full inventory of the items that were affected…a task that is much easier if you hav a video taken the day before you left.


#2– Secure your Home


Unfortunately, despite troubling times like these there are still bad actors afoot. Take the necessary precautions to make sure your home isn't targeted, by securing your home as you would if you were planning to go on a month long vacation. Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Take all hide-a-way keys with you. Lock all accessory buildings or detached garages.


#3 – Shut Off Your Gas at the Meter, Leave the Water On


Prior to leaving your home, I personally recommend that you shut off your gas at the meter, if you can. Typically, there is a lever that will indicate how can you turn it off. This is critical measure to take to help reduce the risk of an explosion if a fire were to spread to your home.


While on the topic you may have come across other news articles and publications that encourage you to also shut off your water, however, I don’t necessarily agree with this consensus.


Some of your neighbors may choose to defy orders and remain in the area, and there's a good change that if they see an ember on your roof, they'll provide assistance to put it out.


You may have even already seen the many videos of these brave individuals saving the homes of their fellow neighbors, by using water and garden hoses they find at the property.


In the rare event, you are gone and you happen to have a brave neighbor, you'll want to make sure that at the very least your water is on to help.


You simply never know.


Where Can I Find Immediate Housing?


AIRBNB


If you’re in need of immediate housing call 2-1-1. 211 LA has recently partnered with Airbnb to offer partially to fully subsidized housing for victims affected by the fire. A personal friend of mine was able to secure a $1,200 voucher for housing for the week for him and his family.


To be eligible for this program you must be a resident of:

  • Malibu

  • Pacific Palisades

  • Pasadena

  • Altadena

  • Santa Monica

  • Sylmar


EVACUATION SHELTERS


In the event you’re in need of immediate housing and have not quite figured out the Airbnb program, consider visiting one of the following evacuation centers in the area, which include:


Northridge Park

10120 Reseda Blvd. Northridge

 

Ritchie Valens Recreation Center

10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Pacoima

 

Arcadia Community Center

375 Campus Drive, Arcadia

 

El Camino Real Charter HS

5440 Valley Circle Blvd. Woodland Hills

 

Pasadena Convention Center

300 E. Green St. Pasadena

 

Pomona Fairplex

1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona


This is by no means an exhaustive list, therefore, I would highly encourage you to check out the MALAN Google Doc which is uploaded in real time. It not only contains a more comprehensive list of where you may find shelter, but also outlines areas where you can find free prepared meals, supplies, and more.



What Can I do if My Home was Damaged or Destroyed?


If your home was damaged or destroyed due to one of these fires, whether it was the Hurst, Studio City, Eaton, or Palisades fire, the following are key action steps that you can take now to help recover. By no means is this list all inclusive, but is rather designed to point you in the right direction of where to go from here.


  • Keep receipts for all your expenses after evacuating (gas, food, water, clothes, housing, etc.).


  • Revisit your home and document all damage.


  • File a claim with your insurance company


  • Apply for FEMA at diasterassistance.gov or 800-621-3362

    • This relief can include: displacement assistance for 2 weeks to help cover hotel costs, money for essential items, and larger direct grants to cover other essential costs, medical bills, cars, etc.


  • Apply for SBA disaster relief to cover what insurance will not.

    • Homeowners can receive up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    • Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property.


  •  File a “Misfortune and Calamity” Property Tax Relief with the LA County Assessor

    • Eligibility: The damage must exceed $10,000 in the current market value of the property.

    • Filing Deadline: Claims must be filed within 12 months of the date of the damage.

    • Benefits: Approved claims may result in temporary property tax relief, with adjustments made to reflect the reduced value of your property until repairs or rebuilding are completed.


  • Call your lender

    • Even if your home has been lost to a fire or currently uninhabitable, you're mortgage is still due.

    • Ask your lender for forbearance or payment deferment while your insurance claim is being processed.


What if my Insurance was Cancelled?


If your home and/or fire insurance was recently canceled, there is a bit of good news. The California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has banned insurance companies from canceling or not renewing polices for homeowners affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires for 1 year. Not only does this moratorium, or ban, apply 1 year moving forward, but it also backdates.  


Meaning, if your insurance company decided to cancel your insurance between Oct. 9, 2024 and Jan. 7, 2025, then you can still file a claim. When you do have a conversation and reach out to the company, make sure to document all your conversations with them. Setup a separate email address if you have to, to make it easier to track everything that is exchanged.


Additionally, don’t settle too early. If your insurance company makes you an offer that doesn’t feel right take the process they outlined to fight for what you think is the most fair amount.


Where can I donate?

In times like these, there are a multitude of ways to donate, each with its own unique benefits and impacts. Whether through financial contributions, the donation of goods, or the offering of your time and skills, there is no right answer, so long as you get out there and give back.


A few charities I'd personally like to highlight include:


@baby2baby

Providing supplies for children affected by the fires


LAFD Donations - Drop Off Location

Contact: Alycia Monroy - 818-891-0481


LAFD Donations - Drop Off Locations

Contact: Julio Torres - 310-568-8772


@wckitchen

Providing free meals at the

Pasadena Convention Center


Pasadena Humane Society

361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena.

 

The MALAN Google Doc linked above is the best resource as to where else you can donate, as they are updating the list in real time.


How Do I Stay Up to Date on New Information?

Again, because we still have ongoing fires, it’s critical to continue to stay up to date on all the latest information. The following are a few key resources and accounts you may want to consider following:


@losangelesfiredepartment

Resources and alerts via LAFD.org/alerts


@watchdutyapp

Real-time updates with maps


@readylacounty

Phone, email, and text alerts by registering here: https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/  


What if I Still Need Help or Guidance?  


If you are still in need of help or guidance in any these, feel free to reach out to me. I will help as much as I can or at the very least put you on the path of where you can receive help.


Additionally, if you are currently in need of finding mid-term housing, as in housing over the next few months and would be interested in getting a list of potential rentals, contact me at contact@dominiquehiggins.com, and I'd be more than happy to send a list of homes or apartments and help you navigate that process as well.


To close, my thoughts and prayers are with you and all families affected. Please stay safe.


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Dominique Higgins fully supports the principles of the fair housing act and the equal opportunity act.  All material presented herein is intended for information purposes only. While this information is believed to be correct, it is represented subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by Company. There is no guarantee of the accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​ While some of the listings on this site may not be our exclusive listings, we have ongoing relationships with all of the listing agents.All information should be verified by your own legal, tax, attorney, architectural and/or zoning professionals. © 2023 by Demi Watson. Proudly created with Wix.com

Dominique Higgins, Broker

DRE#01927254 

contact@dominiquehiggins.com

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