Santa Cruz County Fire Resources
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY UPDATES & RESOURCES
Santa Cruz County Recovery Resource Center
APRIL Santa Cruz County CZU Resource Flyer All the latest updates and resource for the month of April.
Fire Survivors, we need your input:
- Please take this anonymous survey to help track insurance progress and problems related to the wildfire. The data collected will help in the long term recovery and advocacy work.
- Please take this Rebuild Survey from the Long Term Recover Group to identify resources needed to help with the rebuild.
EVENTS FOR FIRE FAMILIES IN APRIL:
- Community Relief Events Saturday April 17 & 24, 2-5 at Boulder Creek Rec and Park District
- Sign up here for United Policyholders latest events
- Survivor to Survivor Forum April 6 7PM-8PM
- Roadmap to Recovery Q&A April 7 5:30PM
- Options and Decision Points for Replacing Your Dwelling April 8 4PM
- Roadmap to Recovery Q&A April 21 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
- April abril Bilingual Family Resource Calendar pantry, meal sites, crisis support, and healthcare resources.
- March Bilingual 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.
- Learn more about Debris Flows 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.
- Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz County are experienced in leading suppression repair, erosion control, road repairs and mitigating damage to reduce ongoing impacts. Contact trails@mbosc.org if your land has been damaged by the recent wildfires and you need help in remediation.
- Prepare for winter storms:
- Santa Cruz County Flood Warning System
- Debris Flow Hazard Risk Map: Know your zone.
- Sign up for Code Red, Reverse 9-1-1: alerts of emergency evacuations including wildfires and flooding.
- Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is offering post-fire free webinars, on-site assistance, and requests for run off control materials.
REBUILDING & PERMITS
County of Santa Cruz Recovery Permit Center:
- Temporary Housing Permits
- Building Permit Application
- Make an appointment or contact rpc@santacruzcounty.us
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
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.
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
