Santa Cruz County Fire Resources & Updates

September Resources for Fire Survivors provides contact information for fire recovery resources, events, crises support resources, and days for food distribution

We will have a new comprehensive debris flow report that will significantly reduce and in many cases eliminate the need for property owners to pay for their own individual reports. If your preclearance requires a geologic report, wait until the new debris flow report is complete around September. If you have questions, contact 4Leaf at the Recovery Permit Center rpc@santacruzcounty.us 831-454-5323

Please see the Santa Cruz County Fire Recovery site for the latest info including:

Debris Removal

The Recovery Permit Center

Upcoming Events

Latest News

Learn about the Santa Cruz County Long Term Recovery Group here.

If you need assistance in recovering from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire email CZUFireHelp@gmail.com or call 831-920-4764 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.

Long Term Recovery Group Events

Wildfire Preparation Worksheet and Evacuation Guide from the Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County here.

Latest Resources for Survivors on United Way's 211

California Disaster Help Center

Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Californians

Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians in English here / Spanish here

List of other Fire Relief Funds

Find a fund to support local relief efforts for other California communities affected by wildfire.

Check the calendar for latest updates & additions

Community Relief Event August Series:
Davenport August 7th, 2-5PM
Boulder Creek August 14th 11-2PM
Bonny Doon August 21st 2-5 PM

August Events:
Survivor to Survivor Forum Tues Aug 3, 7PM

Roadmap to Recovery Aug 11, 5:30PM

Survivor to Survivor Forum Tues Aug 17, 7PM

Roadmap to Recovery Aug 17, 5:30PM

Finishing your contents Inventory Aug 19, 4PM

Deadlines and Decisions at the 1 year Anniversary Aug 26, 4PM

September Events:
United Policyholders Roadmap to Recovery
Virtual Workshops

Understanding Depreciation
September 9, 4:00 PM

Survivor to Survivor Forums
September 14, 7:00 PM
September 21, 7:00 PM

Q&A for Wildfire Survivors
September 15, 5:30 PM

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.

Nation’s Finest is offering free referral support and one-hour, self-help, virtual group support meetings on the Teams platform, plus one-on-one phone crisis intervention to those impacted by the wildfires. Contact Nation’s Finest santacruzwildfire@nationsfinest.org or the direct hotline, 650-431-3209, to reach a crisis counselor.

Self-help groups include: Stress Management; Communications & Coping Skills; Navigating Life after a Wildfire; Meditation

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.

Our local resource centers are coordinating Disaster Case Management for Fire Families.

If you need assistance in recovering from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire email CZUFireHelp@gmail.com or call 831-920-4764 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.

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

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

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 or direct financial assistance.

The Santa Cruz County Fire Recovery website has a comprehensive debris removal page.

The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is offering free post-fire recovery assistance including on-site technical and planning help with land and vegetation management.

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 RCDSC 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

The Resource Conservation District built a spreadsheet of erosion control suppliers.

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.

Low-Income Fire Survivors may apply for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) through Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay. More information here.

50% off for Fire Survivors at Habitat Restore Santa Cruz.

The Seventh Day Adventists are donating kitchenware sets to CZU survivors that applied for and received assistance through FEMA. If that relates to you, and you are in need of kitchen ware, please fill out this form. If you did not apply for FEMA funding, or were denied, please reply no to the first question and complete the form, so we can discern if this is a persistent need in the community. You can view the packet of kitchenwares here.

Now open at Boulder Creek Rec and Park District: 15685 Forest Hill Drive 831-703-4135
Free tool rental for fire survivors.

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. Learn more here about the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative or call the hotline 888-382-3406

California Lawyers Association Free Legal Answers.

Santa Cruz Relief Get help, offer help, find additional resources.

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.

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.

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.

or 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.