One of the best things I’ve ever done was move to and live in the Los Angeles metro area.
When the Santa Ana winds (also called the Devil Winds) started whipping at unprecedented speed, and the humidity sank to single digits, I knew fire would break out somewhere in the area—and as you all know, it did—with heartbreaking and devastating results.
According to Reuters, AccuWeather estimates the total damage and economic loss is between $250 billion and $275 billion, making these fires the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, surpassing Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago.
If you live in the impacted areas, there are a lot of resources you can tap into. While local media have done an extraordinary job covering the fires and their aftermath, here are a few places you can turn that you may not have seen.
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Reuters also reported that the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce created a relief fund to support and rebuild small businesses affected by the fires. The Chamber is offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, disaster recovery webinars, and business advice to help businesses navigate rebuilding.
Restaurants Care
The California Restaurant Association announced that Restaurants Care started a $200,000 disaster fund “to kick-start direct assistance to food and beverage workers who have lost their homes, jobs, and stability” in the fires. Grants up to $1,500 are available to help with critical needs like housing, food, and clothing.
The grant application is available here.
Los Angeles County
LA County has formed the LA Region Small Business Relief Fund to help nonprofits and small businesses impacted by the disaster. Grants up to $25,000 will be provided “for eligible applicants to access relief, start to recover, and rebuild their businesses in LA County.”
The grants will be administered by community-based organizations with the Department of Economic Opportunity.
County resources to contact:
- The Office of Small Business (OSB): 844-432-4900 or email them at osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov
- American Job Center of California: email them at workforce@opportunity.lacounty.gov
If you email either resource, put “wildfire assistance” in the email subject line.
If you want to donate, here are some other worthy organizations:
- Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund
- LA County Relief
- Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
- The California Community Foundation
Free Roof Measurements
RoofSnap is offering free roof measurement reports for homes located in impacted zip codes in southern California. Roofing contractors or homeowners can order a report at RoofSnap, which will be turned around in 2 to 4 hours.
The company uses aerial satellite imagery to measure the size of a residential roof, allowing roofing contractors to estimate the materials and labor needed without having to physically be at the location. This saves contractors and homeowners a lot of time.
Comparing before and after pictures also helps contractors and insurance companies see how the roof was constructed before the fire.
RoofSnap says since many of the homes in the LA fires were completely destroyed, it can help with “new construction with looking at blueprints (select file types) and giving roofers specific measurements to form a materials list.
Rieva Lesonsky is President of Small Business Currents, LLC, a content company focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurship. While you can still find her on Twitter @Rieva, you can also reach her @Rieva.bsky.social and LinkedIn. Or email her at Rieva@SmallBusinessCurrents.com.
Pacific Palisades fire picture by Arprince/Shutterstock
