Early Edge Resources

Resources for SoCal-based Families Affected by the Wildfires

January 10, 2025

Last updated: January 15, 2025

Early Edge California has compiled these resources to support SoCal-based families affected by the wildfires.

• 211 LA’s Current Wildfire Information: resources to help keep you and your loved ones safe including the latest updates on the fires, evacuation orders, shelters, and other essential services.
• Eaton Fire Resources: shelter locations, FEMA assistance, small business loans, unemployment assistance, and more.
• LA County’s Emergency page: emergency alerts and resources for residents impacted by wildfires.
• LA County’s Animal Care Resources: emergency animal shelter information. 
• LAist’s Resources for SoCal fire victims, evacuees and first responders: resources about housing/shelter/childcare, evacuation centers, for animals/pets, mental health,  Food/drink/park/recharge, and more.
• Los Angeles Public Library’s Emergency Information and Resources
• Download the Watch Duty app to track the fires.
• Housing/shelter resources:
  • Free Housing from 211 in partnership with Airbnb
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Text “SHELTER” and your ZIP code to 43362 for the nearest open shelters
• Rideshare resources: 
  • Uber: Residents in Los Angeles County who’ve been ordered to vacate their homes can get a credit from Uber to get to an evacuation site. The $40 will only be valid for trips to an active shelter and by using the code WILDFIRE25.
  • Lyft: will be offering $25 vouchers, valid for two trips, to 500 customers from now until midnight on Jan. 15. Use the code CAFIRERELIEF25 to get the promotion.

Executive Orders for Child Care and Rebuilding

• Gov. Newsom issued an executive order that agencies and local government entities in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties that are directly impacted as a result of this emergency and contract with the California Department of Social Services to operate Alternative Payment Programs, Migrant Alternative Payment Programs, CalWORKs Stages 1, 2 and 3 Programs, Emergency Child Care Bridge Programs or Family Child Care Home Education Network Programs may be reimbursed for up to 30 days from the actual date of the state-declared emergency, using the most recently certified record/invoice available, when no attendance record or invoice is available as a result of this emergency. Contracting agencies or facilities may be reimbursed for approvable startup costs in an amount in excess of 15 percent of the agency’s total contract amount only when costs are used to expand or increase a contracting agency’s total contract amount, is suspended for contracting agencies directly impacted as a result of this emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The Department may reimburse approvable startup costs for impacted child care and development agencies or facilities pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 10300(a) even if the startup costs are not used to expand or increase the impacted contractor’s total contract amount. Learn more
• Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed in the recent Southern California firestorms. Learn more

Happening Now: Supply/Meal Distribution Events: 

• Friday, January 10th: Pasadena Unified School District Drive-Through Meal Program launches: breakfast and lunch for all district Learn more
• Friday, January 17th: Venice Family Clinic Distribution Event: food, water, and supplies distribution from 2-4pm PT Learn more
• Ongoing: World Central Kitchen Meal Distribution Sites for Eaton Fire
• This week: information on free meals and discounted meals for first responders and evacuees in the LA area can be found here and here. 

Health & Mental Health Resources: 

• Bounce Back Now (BBN) (En Español): free app designed to improve the emotional health of adults and families affected by a disaster.
• Didi Hirsch Helpline Resources: list of mental health resources, including disaster-related resources and behavioral health resources.  
• L.A. CARE Members
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a Disaster Distress Helpline – call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365. Additional resources about what to do during and after the fires can be found here.
  • SAMHSA Behavioral Health Disaster Response App 

Family Resources:

• LA County School/District Closure Map
• Protecting Children from Wildfire Smoke and Ash (Airnow)
  • Air Quality Monitoring Tool: Aairnow.gov
• No-cost child care for families: 
  •  YMCA Free Child Care & No-Cost Services: no-cost child care for children of essential workers and families who have been displaced, evacuated, or experienced property loss due to the firestorms
  • Project Camp: The Los Angeles-based organization runs trauma-informed pop-up day camps for children displaced or out of school due to natural disasters. It’s in the process of setting up multiple sites to help families impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires. It is accepting monetary donations as well as volunteers to staff the camps. Sign up here
• Coping tools for families: 
  • 3 Tips for talking to kids about emergencies and natural disasters (LAist) 
  • Child Care Aware® of America’s Children’s Books:
    • 100 Children’s Books to Support Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery 
    • Books to Help Children Cope with Disasters
  • Help Kids Cope: App that helps parents talk to their kids about the disasters they may face and know how best to support them throughout—whether sheltering-in-place at home, evacuating to a designated shelter, or helping your family heal after reuniting.
  • Preparing Children After a Wildfire Damages Your Community [National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)]
  • Self-Care: During & After a Crisis (Sesame Workshop)
  • Slumberkins Giveaway: complimentary grief and loss stuffy available to families impacted by the fires, contact [email protected] to request one. 
  • Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers (Spanish) (SAMHSA)
  • Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire (NCTSN)

Educators/Care Providers:

• Department of Public Health’s Fire Safety and Health Information: information in English and Spanish focused on safe clean-up after fires, food safety tips, power outages, and mental health support. 
• California Department of Education’s (CDE) Wildfires page: Resources on how to respond to a wildfire and what to do after.
• Air Quality: 
  •  The LA County Health Officer issued a Smoke Advisory press release due to the unhealthy air quality. The advisory includes helpful guidance for schools from the California Department of Education.
  • California Department of Education’s (CDE) Air Quality page: General guidance for schools regarding Air Quality and potential school closures due to wildfires and other hazards.
  • Practice safe clean-up following a fire. Follow the ash clean-up and food safety instructions at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/wildfire. 
• Sustaining the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers While Caring for Disaster Victims [Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS)]

Post-Fire General Resources: 

• Disaster Unemployment Assistance: can check eligibility if work hours or self-employment was reduced because of a disaster.
• Emergencies (Sesame Workshop) 
• Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Traumatic Event: What To Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work, and Financial Life (Spanish). This resource discusses the long-term impact of trauma, including personal uncertainties, family relationship changes, work disruptions, and financial concerns. Tips for overcoming these challenges are included.
• Tips for Families of Returning Disaster Responders: This tip sheet describes aspects of the transition families go through when a member returns home after a disaster deployment. It also suggests ways that family members can navigate the transition and support the responder in coping with the return home.
• FEMA resources: apply for federal assistance by:  
  • Visiting http://disasterassistance.gov
  • Calling 800-621-FEMA (3362)
  • Via smartphone at m.fema.gov

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Where to Donate to Support Families and Individuals Impacted by the Wildfires:

• Baby2Baby
• Babywearing LA
• LAFD Foundation
• GoFundMe Wildfire Relief
• World Central Kitchen
• American Red Cross
• CCF Wildlife Recovery Fund
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA
• Cal Fire Foundation
• Venice Family Clinic