Thousands of people lost important personal, medical and financial information along with important documents in the Los Angeles County fire.
Fire survivors go through a range of emotions, including shock and grief, while realizing the need to mobilize to rebuild and restore, said Jennifer George, director of community social services for the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
This article is provided free of charge to keep our community safe and supported during these devastating fires.
So, after a fire survivor is able to secure food and shelter, the first item on their checklist may be to apply for and transfer important documents.
Some form of identification is required to apply for disaster relief, file an insurance claim, and, in some cases, pick up free essentials from local distribution centers.
But the process can feel daunting.
“There's so much information out there, it's really a bit of information overload [the Motion Picture and Television Fund] “What we're really trying to do is provide practical help to help people narrow down and focus on what they need to do,” George said.
The advice George and the social service team share with their industry is applicable to the general public as well.
Further tips on how to prepare for the document recovery process are at the bottom of this article. But when you're ready to get started, here are some tips on what you need and what to do:
Top 6 Important Documents You Should Recover
The top 6 essential documents you need to retrieve are:
- Passport
- Driver's license or California Real ID (California residents must have valid ID by May 7.)
- If you're a homeowner, deed for your property
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificate
- Insurance documents (home or renter's)
These documents can be changed by approaching the respective agencies below:
- US Department of State Website. Disaster Recovery Reforms Act 2018 Legally allows the US State Department Waiver of passport application and file search fees A qualified major disaster for those who have lost or damaged passports after some major disasters and fires in the Los Angeles area.
- You can request a replacement driver's license or ID card by visiting a A local disaster recovery center where DMV officials can assist you Replace for free or reapply. You can get the same help at your nearest DMV office. List of DMV locations and contact information Here; There may be online meetings Done here.
- Los Angeles County residents directly affected by the fire can request property records free of charge to support their recovery efforts. You can call the county recorder-recorder/county clerk's office at (800) 201-8999 and select “Option 1” followed by “Option 2” in the menu of options. You can also email rrccfireassistance@rrcc.lacounty.gov for assistance. Go to for more information Website of District Department.
- Vital records (birth, death and marriage certificates) should be requested from the district registrar's office in the district where the event occurred. California Department of Public Health Online list of District Recorder offices and their contact information. Los Angeles County fire victims can request vital records at no charge by contacting the county's recorder-recorder/county clerk's office. Follow the same steps for property registration requests.
- Call your insurance company and request a copy of your residential home owner's insurance policy, including your declaration page – the same guidance applies to renter's insurance. By law, your insurance company must provide this to you free of charge within 30 days of your claim California Department of Insurance.
If you are, it's worth noting Applying to the Federal Emergency Management Agency For disaster assistance, you only need the following information.
- Names of everyone living in your home at the time of the fire.
- Social Security number (yours or your child's).
- Household income.
- Contact information.
- Information about property damage/emergency needs.
What address can I use for replacement documents if I lose my home?
If you can afford it, you can rent a mailbox at your local post office. You can see, Apply online for PO box reservation.
To get your key, you'll take your completed application and two pieces of identification to the post office where your box is.
For those unable to use a post office box, it is recommended to find a trusted friend or family member where you can deliver your replacement documents.
You can send your mail to a temporary location by submitting an official mailing address change order. Online or by filling in a PS Form 3575 (COA) is available at any post office. To perform this action online, you must verify your identity using a valid credit or debit card; A service fee of $1.10 will be charged.
Where can you find help and guidance for this process?
Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass, officials from FEMA and the Small Business Administration opened the event The City of Los Angeles Disaster Recovery Center Tuesday at the UCLA Research Park, formerly known as the Westside Pavilion, and the Pasadena City College Community Education Center.
Officials from all state agencies including the DMV, Department of Social Services, Property Tax Board, Department of Insurance, State Licensing Board, Public Health-Vital Records and more are available to assist you with record replacements and other disaster-related assistance.
Place Disaster Recovery Centers They are:
- UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 90064.
- Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena 91106.
Both centers are open daily from 9 am to 8 pm
What is the actual time frame for retrieval of these documents?
There is no fixed timeline for how long it may take to receive each converted document in the mail, George said. But agencies are said to be prioritizing expediting those requests.
Check your own mental health
The process begins with asking for help when you start retrieving your necessary documents.
“It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, but I think everyone should really ask for themselves,” George said. “Everybody is grieving to some degree about the home they lost, the school their children went to, the memories, the tangibles, all of it.”
If you need mental health support before you begin the recovery and rebuilding process, there are several ways to contact a support network.
“It's going to be a long road and we don't want anyone to be alone on this journey,” George said.
There is no perfect time to start this process; However, it's better to start sooner than later, he said.