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Resources

For those who may be affected by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, we have compiled these helpful resources below.

Community Support

  • The Watch Duty app provides real-time updates about local conditions, emergency alerts, and evacuation notices during wildfires and firefighting efforts. Download the app or go directly to the website at https://app.watchduty.org/ to stay informed and connected to current evacuation, shelter, and emergency services information.
  • Disaster assistance:
    • FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) – (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or disasterassistance.gov
      • FEMA disaster assistance may be available to meet your household’s basic needs for necessary uninsured or underinsured expenses and serious needs to jumpstart your recovery.
      • For more information:
        • FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) / DRC Locator – Find your closest DRC location, where staff can provide information & support to apply for disaster assistance, understand FEMA status and updates, find housing & rental assistance, agency referrals.
        • FEMA Assistance Overview – Scripps College has compiled this information about FEMA, including the application process and forms of assistance.
  • Shelter & Temporary Housing
  • Financial Assistance
    • CA Fire Foundation offers $250 gift cards to households that experienced more than 25% damage to their home/apartment. Contact the LA Fire Department by calling (213)978-3800 to receive a gift card, and click here for more information.
    • CA Disaster Help Center’s list of state government social services available to victims of natural disasters.
    • Mutual Aid LA Network and their list of 150+ wildfire resources
  • Insurance Support
    • Insurance Support Workshops will be hosted by State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s team to assist with insurance questions. Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of their insurance policy, declaration page, and any relevant correspondence related to their concerns.
      • Those who want to make a one-on-one appointment should contact CDI’s Hotline at 1-800-927-4357. *Walk-ins will be on a first-come-first-serve basis.*
  • Transportation
    • Free Metro rides
    • Lyft vouchers: Lyft announced it will be offering $25 vouchers, valid for two trips, to 2,000 customers from now until midnight on Jan. 15. Use the code CAFIRERELIEF25 to get the promotion.
  • Childcare
    • Free YMCA childcare for TK-8 students at select locations
  • Food Assistance
  • Mental Health support:
    • SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline – The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
      • Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
      • 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.
  • Animal Assistance
  • Tax Support
    • You may be eligible for tax relief if your property is damaged or destroyed by a calamity, such as fire or flooding. To qualify, you must file an Application for Reassessment: Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity (M&C) Form ADS-820 with the Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date the property was damaged or destroyed. The loss must exceed $10,000 of current market value.
    • For questions or to submit an M&C claim, please call (213) 974-8658 or visit the LA County Department of Assessor’s Office.
  • Community & Government Agency info including information about safe drinking water, power, and local city and county resources during and after an emergency.

Members of the Scripps Community

In addition to the resources listed above, information is included below specific to the Scripps College community.

 

Students

  • CARE@SCRIPPS provides comprehensive information on support resources available 24/7/365, including 7C Health for online counseling services.
  • If you have any questions or issues accessing these resources, please contact CARE@Scripps at [email protected].
  • For urgent issues that can’t wait until the next business day, please call Campus Safety at (909) 607-2000 or [email protected] and ask to speak to the Scripps on-call administrator.
  • Federal Student Aid & FAFSA information for those affected by the Los Angeles fires or other federally declared natural disasters

Employees

  • If you are experiencing stress or emotional distress, you can access Optum Care’s 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by calling (800) 234-5465. This service offers confidential support and access to mental health professionals to help you navigate challenging situations. You can also visit www.liveandworkwell.com and use access code: claremontcolleges.
Financial Assistance
  • A no-interest loan may be available to employees who are directly impacted and unable to reside in their homes. Please contact the Office of Human Resources for more information ([email protected]).
  • Through TIAA, employees may be eligible for an emergency hardship withdrawal or loan from their 403(b) account. For assistance, contact Evelin Mairen, Senior Benefits Administrator at TCCS Human Resources, at (909) 607-3780 or via email at [email protected].
  • President Biden has declared the ongoing wildfires a federal disaster, which has resulted in some significant relief provisions for affected individuals. Under this declaration, employees who have been impacted by the wildfires are eligible to take a federally declared disaster distribution from their retirement accounts. Here are the key details of the distribution:
    • No early withdrawal penalty applies, even if the employee is under the age of 59½.
    • Employees have the option to spread the distribution over 3 years.
Housing Support
  • The TCCS Real Estate and Housing Office offers assistance with off-campus housing rentals, providing support and resources to help employees find suitable accommodations. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. For assistance, visit their website at services.claremont.edu/real-estate-and-housing or contact Katie Timmerman at (909) 621-8039 or [email protected].
  • Through the TCC Real Estate Office, employees looking for housing or offering rooms, including those who wish to assist individuals impacted by the fires, can post their information through this platform: Off-Campus Housing and Roommate Inquiry Form
Healthcare Support
  • Blue Shield has announced enhanced support for members impacted by recent events. Services include immediate prescription refills, continuity of care, virtual care options, mental health support, vision plan assistance, out-of-network provider access, and member ID card replacement.
  • Kaiser Permanente is offering support for those impacted by the fires, including prescription and medical equipment services, medical financial assistance, mental health support, and out-of-network access options. For more information, visit Member Services or call (800) 464-4000 (English) or (800) 788-0616 (Spanish). Additional contact numbers are listed below.
    • Prescription transfers to non-KP pharmacies – (866) 385-2644
    • Waived prescription delivery fees – (866) 206-2983
    • Medical equipment replacement – (855) 805-7363
  • You can also reach out to the TCC Benefits Representative at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected] for assistance.
Additional Support & Updates from Human Resources
  • The Office of Human Resources is actively working with our vendors to obtain updated support information. As new details become available, they will promptly share notices with the community.
  • If you need to take time off or require additional assistance beyond what is listed, please reach out to Human Resources ([email protected]) to explore available options.