Resources
For those who may be affected by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, we have compiled these helpful resources below.
Community Support
- LA County Recovers – Los Angeles County has compiled resources for those affected by the fires, including damage maps, debris removal information, an updated recovery newsfeed, and many other County resources. Check their website for the latest updates.
- The Watch Duty app provides real-time updates about local conditions, emergency alerts, and evacuation notices during wildfires and firefighting efforts. Download the app or go directly to the website at https://app.watchduty.org/ to stay informed and connected to current evacuation, shelter, and emergency services information.
- Disaster assistance:
- Shelter & Temporary Housing
- If you need to search for shelters near you, Text SHELTER and your Zip Code to 43362.
- American Red Cross -Temporary shelters
- Airbnb & LA 211 – Free temporary housing
- Planet Fitness – Free showers and phone charging
- Financial Assistance
- CA Fire Foundation offers $250 gift cards to households that experienced more than 25% damage to their home/apartment. Contact the LA Fire Department by calling (213)978-3800 to receive a gift card, and click here for more information.
- CA Disaster Help Center’s list of state government social services available to victims of natural disasters.
- Mutual Aid LA Network and their list of 150+ wildfire resources
- Insurance Support
- Constituents can call the CA Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at (800) 927-4357 during normal business hours to ask any insurance-related questions.
- Visit the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for in-person support in Los Angeles or Altadena; current DRCs are open daily from 9am-8pm.
- Resources from the CA Department of Insurance, including a policy locator for residential insurance and life insurance.
- Debris Removal support for property owners
- LA County has committed support toward private property debris removal in two phases – Phase 1 for hazardous materials and Phase 2 for other free cleanup.
- More information is available on the LA County Recovers website. Deadline for registering your participation in these programs is March 31, 2025.
- Transportation
- Free Metro rides
- Lyft vouchers: Lyft announced it will be offering $25 vouchers, valid for two trips, to 2,000 customers from now until midnight on Jan. 15. Use the code CAFIRERELIEF25 to get the promotion.
- Childcare
- Free YMCA childcare for TK-8 students at select locations
- Food Assistance
- World Central Kitchen (WCK) is offering free hot meals. Updated locations and times are on the WatchDuty App, or WCK social media.
- LA Regional Food Bank
- Hollywood Food Coalition
- Local food pantries
- Mental Health support:
- Animal Assistance
- Evacuation centers for large animals: LA Equestrian Center, Pierce College – Current info on the WatchDuty App.
- Pasadena Humane pet supply distribution
- Best Friends Animal Society
- LA County Animal Care Foundation
- Tax Support
- You may be eligible for tax relief if your property is damaged or destroyed by a calamity, such as fire or flooding. To qualify, you must file an Application for Reassessment: Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity (M&C) Form ADS-820 with the Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date the property was damaged or destroyed. The loss must exceed $10,000 of current market value.
- For questions or to submit an M&C claim, please call (213) 974-8658 or visit the LA County Department of Assessor’s Office.
- Community & Government Agency info including information about safe drinking water, power, and local city and county resources during and after an emergency.
Members of the Scripps Community
In addition to the resources listed above, information is included below specific to the Scripps College community.
- Scripps College Emergency Fund – Students and Employees impacted by the Los Angeles fires are eligible to apply to the Scripps College Emergency Fund for a one-time financial support award for personal or housing necessities, medical expenses, or temporary housing. Contact the Office of Human Resources (ScrippsHR@scrippscollege.edu) if you have any questions.
Students
- CARE@SCRIPPS provides comprehensive information on support resources available 24/7/365, including 7C Health for online counseling services.
- If you have any questions or issues accessing these resources, please contact CARE@Scripps at care@scrippscollege.edu.
- For urgent issues that can’t wait until the next business day, please call Campus Safety at (909) 607-2000 or Dispatch@claremont.edu and ask to speak to the Scripps on-call administrator.
- Federal Student Aid & FAFSA information for those affected by the Los Angeles fires or other federally declared natural disasters
Employees
- If you are experiencing stress or emotional distress, you can access Optum Care’s 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by calling (800) 234-5465. This service offers confidential support and access to mental health professionals to help you navigate challenging situations. You can also visit www.liveandworkwell.com and use access code: claremontcolleges.
Financial Assistance
- A no-interest loan may be available to employees who are directly impacted and unable to reside in their homes. Please contact the Office of Human Resources for more information (ScrippsHR@scrippscollege.edu).
- Through TIAA, employees may be eligible for an emergency hardship withdrawal or loan from their 403(b) account. For assistance, contact Evelin Mairen, Senior Benefits Administrator at TCCS Human Resources, at (909) 607-3780 or via email at evelin.mairen@claremont.edu.
- President Biden has declared the ongoing wildfires a federal disaster, which has resulted in some significant relief provisions for affected individuals. Under this declaration, employees who have been impacted by the wildfires are eligible to take a federally declared disaster distribution from their retirement accounts. Here are the key details of the distribution:
- No early withdrawal penalty applies, even if the employee is under the age of 59½.
- Employees have the option to spread the distribution over 3 years.
Housing Support
- The TCCS Real Estate and Housing Office offers assistance with off-campus housing rentals, providing support and resources to help employees find suitable accommodations. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. For assistance, visit their website at services.claremont.edu/real-estate-and-housing or contact Katie Timmerman at (909) 621-8039 or katie.timmerman@claremont.edu.
- Through the TCC Real Estate Office, employees looking for housing or offering rooms, including those who wish to assist individuals impacted by the fires, can post their information through this platform: Off-Campus Housing and Roommate Inquiry Form
Healthcare Support
- Blue Shield has announced enhanced support for members impacted by recent events. Services include immediate prescription refills, continuity of care, virtual care options, mental health support, vision plan assistance, out-of-network provider access, and member ID card replacement.
- For assistance, please contact Blue Shield Customer Service at (855) 599-2657 or visit www.blueshieldca.com/login.
- You can also reach out to the TCC Benefits Representative at (909) 621-8151 or benreps@claremont.edu for assistance.
Additional Support & Updates from Human Resources
- The Office of Human Resources is actively working with our vendors to obtain updated support information. As new details become available, they will promptly share notices with the community.
- If you need to take time off or require additional assistance beyond what is listed, please reach out to Human Resources (ScrippsHR@scrippscollege.edu) to explore available options.