Santa Cruz County Fire Resources
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY UPDATES & RESOURCES
Please see the Santa Cruz County Fire Recovery site for the latest info including:
Long Term Recovery Group Resources: If you need assistance in recovering from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire email CZUFireHelp@gmail.com to be connected with a disaster case manager. Disaster case managers can help you return to safe and secure housing by connecting you with available resources, assisting in advocacy and appeals, and creating an attainable recovery plan with you.
Fire Survivor Feedback Needed:
- CALFIRE Survey Community Feedback on the CZU Lightning Complex Fire
- The Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group Rebuild Survey: help the SC LTRG get a better understanding of what type of rebuild support fire survivors may be interested in.
EVENTS FOR FIRE FAMILIES IN JUNE:
SC LTRG CZU Fire Survivor Events Calendar for the latest updates and additions.
- Community Relief Events Every Saturday in June 2-5:
- United Policyholders Events in June:
- Survivor to Survivor Forum June 1 7PM
- Roadmap to Recovery Q&A June 2 5:30PM
- Speak UP: How to communicate with your insurance company June 9 5:30PM
- Survivor to Survivor Forum June 15 7PM
- Roadmap to Recovery Q&A June 16 5:30PM
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
- Give an Hour is offering free online sessions for fire survivors led by a mental health professional. You can sign up for a time here.
- CalHope provides crisis counseling and resources. Call 833-317-4673
- Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 trained crisis counseling to support people experiencing emotional distress related to a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5590 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS
For assistance with food, basic essential items, and emergency financial/rental/rehousing support contact a local family resource center.
- Community Bridges:
- Mountain Community Resources 831-335-6600
- Live Oak Community Resources 831-476-7284
- Nueva Vista Community Resources 831-423-5747
- La Manzana Community Resources 831-724-2997
- Community Action Board (Davenport Resource Service Center) Call 831-763-2147
- Valley Churches United Call 831-336-8258
- Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey is offering services to families impacted by the fires in need of financial aid to purchase basic needs items. Call 831-920-4764
FOOD
- Call the Second Harvest Community Food Hotline 831-662-0991
- June junio Bilingual Family Resource Calendar pantry, meal sites, crisis support and healthcare resources.
- May mayo Bilingual Family Resource Calendar pantry, meal sites, crisis support and healthcare resources.
INSURANCE HELP
- United Policyholders (UP) is a nonprofit organization that has been helping and advocating for insurance consumers since 1991. Through a Roadmap to Recovery program, UP provides FREE guidance on collecting available insurance benefits, making decisions and getting back home after a catastrophic loss.
- Their Road to Recovery Webpage and Event Series is helping homeowners and renters navigate insurance and claims with free events, sample letters, and strategies.
- Check out their upcoming and past events for California Wildfire Survivors here.
- Contact UP for further support: info@uphelp.org or sign up here to get the latest events and updates.
- The California Department of Insurance provides assistance on insurance issues.
- Wildfire Resources and Insurance Tips
- If you are experiencing difficulty with processing your claim or have an underinsurance issue. Contact 1-800-927-4357 English Contact Spanish Contact
Rental and Rehousing Assistance
If you are receiving temporary housing assistance through FEMA's Individual and Households Program, you may qualify for continued rental assistance. Let FEMA know if you have continued need.
Contact Community Bridges, Community Action Board, or Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey to see if you qualify for rental assistance.
Debris Removal, Debris Flows and Post-Recovery Assistance
- Learn more about Debris Removal here.
- Post Fire Recovery: The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is offering free post-fire recovery assistance including on-site technical and planning help. Please see their website here that includes free webinars on how to protect your land after a wildfire.
- Request technical on-site assistance here
- Request run off control materials here.
- The Resource Conservation District offers chipping services to landowners who clear 100 feet of defensible space around their homes and private roads, as recommended by CalFire, to improve fire safety. Sign ups open May 1 and is first come, first served. Chipping takes place annually May-July and will be scheduled by neighborhood. Fill out the Contact Us form at www.rcdsantacruz.org/fire
REBUILDING & PERMITS
County of Santa Cruz Recovery Permit Center:
- Temporary Housing Permits
- Building Permit Application
- Make an appointment or contact rpc@santacruzcounty.us
Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay is accepting applications for affordable homes for sale at Rodeo Creek Court in Live Oak. For an application or more information contact Family Services, 831-469-4663, ext. 14 or familyservices@habitatmontereybay.org.
MATERIALS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE
Mobile Laundry Community Bridges mobile laundry trailer offers free access to washers and dryers to households impacted by the recent fires.
LEGAL AID
- Disaster Legal Services may provide free legal help to low-income disaster survivors. DLS can help with insurance claims, legal papers lost in the disaster, home repair contracts and contractors, problems with landlords, proof of homeownership and FEMA appeals. Learn more here or call 1-800-624-33-62 TTY 1-800-462-7585
- Free Legal Assistance for Fire Survivors in California from the DLAC.
MUTUAL AID
- Santa Cruz Relief Get help, offer help, find additional resources.
LOANS & GRANTS
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Fannie Mae's Disaster Response Network :Fannie Mae's Disaster Response Network's HUD-approved housing counselors can develop a personalized action plan, explain mortgage relief programs, provide financial coaching, and support clients’ successful recovery for up to 18 months to support safe, sustainable housing for homeowners and renters.
o If you're a homeowner impacted by the CZU Fire, call the Disaster Response Network using the number specifically set up for the CZU Lightning Complex Fire: 866-864-8989 or request an appointment online for free assistance. You can qualify for housing counseling whether Fannie Mae owns your mortgage or not.
o If you’re a renter in an apartment impacted by the CZU Fire or other multifamily housing with 5 or more units, use the Renters Resource Finder to access the Disaster Response Network or other helpful resources to address your financial situation.
o Visit knowyouroptions.com for more information.
- Free business advising assistance services are provided through Santa Cruz SBDC by signing up here.
- Disaster Loan Assistance: SBA low-interest loans for businesses, private non-profits, homeowners and renters to replace uninsured/underinsured disaster damaged property. Three Step Process in English/ Three Step Process in Spanish. You must apply for FEMA here in English/ here in Spanish. Then apply for Disaster Loan Assistance Here.
- 3CEnergy Grant Program The NCEP Homeowner Rebuild Incentive track is a grant for homeowners affected by the 2020 wildfire season who plan to rebuild their homes as all-electric. 3CE will fund eligible projects until a total of $125,000 in funds have been fully reserved. Homeowners in 3CE service territory whose homes were red-tagged by Cal Fire during the 2020 wildfire season may apply for this program. Homeowners can also apply for an additional incentive for Level 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations to be installed in their new developments.
CALIFORNIA DISASTER ASSISTANCE SERVICES
- California Disaster Help Center
- Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Californians
- Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians in English here / Spanish here
Want to help?
- LANDLORDS NEEDED TO HELP CZU FIRE SURVIVORS. The County of Santa Cruz invites property owners and managers to assist in meeting the medium- and long-term housing needs of CZU Lightning Complex fire survivors. If you are interested in helping survivors, please fill out a brief survey here.
- Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District is seeking material donations:
- Native Seeds and Plants for fire families
- Solar hand crank radios for fire families and families in debris flow zones
- Native Seeds and Plants for fire families
