Disaster Resources

Court Information

Services and hours of courts may change during a disaster or emergency. Please call or visit your local court’s website to learn more.

• Preparing to Participate for a Court Hearing Via Zoom 

• E-Filing Instructions

Legal Helplines

• Advocates for Disaster Justice

• Find Help: Disasters and Emergencies  (Spanish)

• Disaster Legal Services - Young Lawyers Division of the ABA

Families and Parenting

• Coping With Disasters - Take Care of Yourself and Children

• Requesting Temporary Emergency Orders in Family Law Cases (En Espanol)

Individual Rights

• Civil Rights in Emergencies and Disasters

• Disaster Relief Fund for Sexual Assault Victims
  
  
  Work/Employment Rights
  
  Workers’ Rights During a Disaster 

• 
  Protection from Wildfire Smoke (Spanish )

• Labor Commissioner Laws Protecting Workers in a Disaster

• Workers' Right to Refuse Dangerous Work | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Employee Rights During Natural Disasters (Information for employers and employees. Refusing to go to work, mobile device use, reporting time pay, leaves of absence.)

Helplines for Work issues

Legal Aid at Work's Workers’ Rights Clinic provides low-income and unemployed people with confidential information about their legal rights related to work in California. They provide services in Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese, and can accommodate other languages.

Before calling, please read this FAQ

• San Francisco: 866-864-8208

• East Palo Alto: 866-864-8208

• Watsonville: 831-722-2845

• Santa Ana: 714-571-5200

• San Diego: 619-260-7470

• Sacramento: 916-905-5857

• Berkeley/Oakland: 866-864-8208

• Merced: 559-570-1200

• Fresno: 559-570-1200

• San Bernardino: 909-889-7328

Employment Resources 

• EDD Disaster-Related Services and Policies (Unemployment benefits, payroll tax extensions, list of current state-declared disasters, Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance, job search assistance, disability insurance, paid family leave)

• Visit your county or city website for local resources and programs

• FAQ on Undocumented Worker's Rights

• Fact Sheet for Employers and Workers

• Benefits and Employment FAQ 

• Resources for Domestic Workers (English and Spanish)

Unemployment/Benefits

• Visit your county or city website or call 211 for local resources and programs

• Resource Sheet for people who are unemployed or whose wages have been impacted

• How to File a Disability Insurance Claim Online if You Are Sick and Cannot Work (video)

• List of Relief Funds for Undocumented Californians

Federal Emergency Relief from FEMA

• FEMA Wildfire Info Sheet

• FEMA Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables (En Español)

• How to Appeal FEMA's Decision

• FEMA Frequently Asked Questions (En Español)

• Fact Sheets - multiple resources

• Questions and Answers for Undocumented Immigrants Regarding FEMA Assistance 

• Qualifying for FEMA Disaster Assistance: Citizenship and Immigration Status Requirements

Immigrant Rights

• Replacing Immigration-Related Documents

• USCIS Immigration Relief

• Immigrant Eligibility for Disaster Assistance

• Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians

• Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

• Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants (En Español )

• Undocumented and Seeking Safety During a Natural Disaster

Insurance

• Insurance Complaint - California Department of Insurance (En Español)

• What Homeowners Should Know About Filing Insurance Claims for Damages

• Residential Insurance for Homeowners, Condo Owners, Renters (Includes information on Home Protection Contracts (home warranties), and what happens in case of total loss to the structure.)

  •  Español: ¿Mi póliza sustituirá completa y totalmente mi vivienda si queda destruida?

• Top 10 Tips for Wildfire Insurance Claimants

• Insurance Companies are not allowed to cancel or not renew policies for some properties near a fire after a state of emergency

• United Policyholders Claim Guidance Library and Roadmap to Recovery
  
  Health
  
  Mental Health

• Disaster Distress Helpline 

  • (Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.”

  • For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: Please text or call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 using your preferred Relay provider.)

Disability Rights

• Wildfire Resource Guide & How Disability Rights California Can Help You

• Disability Disaster Access & Resources

• Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities

Health Insurance

• Visit your county or city website or call 211 for local resources and programs

• Special Enrollment in Insurance following a major life change or Disaster

Health Care During a Disaster 

• Accessing Health Care During a Disaster (Western Center)

• Accessing Health Care During a State of Emergency (Health Consumer Alliance)

Health Care - Consumer  

• Emergency Prescription Access Program

• RX Open Emergency Healthcare Support

Replacing Identity Documents

• Replace Driver's License

• Replace Certified Copies of Birth Certificates

• Replace Social Security Card

Housing

In addition to the resources below, make sure to visit your county or city website or call 211 to see what local resources and programs are available to you.

If you are not sure what applies to you, please use our "Search for legal Help" tool to find legal aid programs in your area. They should be able to tell you what local programs and protections you are eligible for.


Tenant Rights Following a Disaster

• Federally Assisted Tenants’ Rights After a Disaster: Repairs, Relocation, and Right to Remain or Return

• Disaster Landlord and Tenant Laws

• Disaster Information for Landlords and Tenants

Homelessness Resources

• Resources To Support People Experiencing Homelessness

• CA Homeless Shelter Directory

Rental Assistance Programs

• Find Rental Assistance Programs 

• Alameda County Rental Assistance 

• Amador County Rental Assistance 

• Butte County Rental Assistance 

• Fresno County Rental Assistance

• Glenn County Rental Assistance

• Imperial County Rental Assistance  

• Los Angeles County Rental Assistance 

• Madera County Rental Assistance

• Marin County Rental Assistance

• Mono County Rental Assistance

• Monterey County Rental Assistance

• Placer Couny Rental Assistance

• Plumas County Rental Assistance

• Riverside County Rental Assistance

• Sacramento County Rental Assistance 

• San Benito County Rental Assistance

• San Joaquin County Rental Assistance 

• Santa Barbara County Rental Assistance

• Tehama County Rental Assistance

Financial and Consumer Protection

• Visit your county or city website or call 211 for local resources and programs

• Natural Disasters and Your Federal Student Loans and Grants (Spanish)

• Guide on Protecting Yourself Financially

• FAQ on Price Gouging During Disasters

• Attorney General on Price Gouging (Including Rentals) 

• California Unemployment Eligibility Checker

• Apply for Disaster Assistance through Small Business Administration (SBA) 

• What should I do after a disaster to protect my finances and property? (Spanish)

• What to Do if Your Home is Damaged or Destroyed After a Disaster and You Can't Make a Payment (Spanish)

Protection from Abuse

• Visit your county or city website or call 211 for local resources and programs

• Disaster Relief Fund for Sexual Assault Victims

• Resources for Emotional Support and Well-Being

Evacuating with Pets

• Preparing Your Pets for Disasters

• Los Angeles Emergency Animal Shelter Information (LA Animal Shelters)

• Los Angeles Emergency Animal Shelter Information (LA County)

Tax Relief Following a Disaster

• Property Taxes for victims of a Wildfire or other Natural Disaster - Proposition 19

• Property Relief for Properties Impacted by a Disaster - Los Angeles 

• Proposition 19 - Information for County Assessors on Tax Implications of Disasters

• Federal Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

Utilities

• Visit your county or city website or call 211 for local resources and programs

• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power - Assistance Programs

• Southern California Edison - Disaster Programs

• Assistance For Heating and Cooling Energy Costs 

• Find Assistance Programs For Utilities 

• Power Outage Safety and Tips

• PGE Outage Compensation

• PGE Health and Safety

Voting Rights

• Voting In a State of Emergency or Natural Disaster - Updated 2024

Scams and Fraud

• File a Price Gouging or Scam Complaint

• Be Aware of Fraud When Disaster Strikes and Report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud 

• Disaster Fraud Hotline (Español)

• Disaster Fraud Form (Español)

• Disaster Fraud Public Service Announcement Video

General Resources

• Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance

• USPS - Hold Mail for Temporary Relocation

• USPS Change Address for quickly Changing Address

• Disaster Resources

• A Know Your Rights Guide for Transgender People (English and Spanish)

• Map and List of Community Mutual Aid Projects

• Center for Disease Control Coronavirus Resource Page 

Veterans

• VA Disaster Assistance Programs (Español)

Public Benefits

• CalFresh Disaster Food Support

• CalWORKs Emergency Assistance (Contact your local office to ask for more information)

California Fire Disaster Resources 

Resources for Specific Fires 

If you are impacted by a California fire, please visit www.fire.ca.gov or your county's website for information. LawHelpCA will add new legal resources for California fires as they become available.  

Are You Ready For Wildfire Season?

Please use this resource https://www.readyforwildfire.org/ to make sure you are prepared for wildfire season.

Disaster Directory by County

Disaster Directories for 58 California counties with information to help at risk populations get prepared for wildfires, power shut offs, and other natural disasters. (English) (Spanish)

General

If you are impacted by a California fire, please visit www.fire.ca.gov or your county's website for more information. LawHelpCA will add new legal resources for California fires as they become available.  

• Navigating Fire Recovery: An Online Legal Webinar for Homeowners and Consumers

• Los Angeles County Education - Disaster Resources and School Closures

• CWLC Wildfire Resource Bank

• Wildfire Recovery and Readiness

• Resources To Help Recent Wildfire Victims

• Recovering From Disaster

• CalFire Wildfire Readiness Plan

• MyHazards

• Disaster Ready Guide – Listos California (Korean) (Chinese) (Filipino) (Hmong) (Vietnamese)

• Disaster Ready Guide (Spanish) – Listos California

• Wildfire Resource Guide for Californians with Disabilities 

• FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Locator

• Apply for Disaster Assistance through Small Business Administration (SBA) 

• Find Food Assistance Near You 

• Redcross Shelter Locator 

• How to Replace Important Documents 

• Apply For Individual Assistance 

• What to Do Before, During, and After a Wildfire

• California Disaster Legal Services 

• Education Rights After a Disaster

• Ten Tips for Wildfire Claims (English) (Spanish) 

Video Resources

• Prepare for a Wildfire

• Este Preparado Para un Incendio

• How to Prepare for a Forest Fire

• Making an Wildfire Emergency Kit

For more information and online resources about disaster assistance and recovery, including information about crisis counseling, a guide to replacing lost legal documents, see LawHelpCA's disaster assistance information.