
Official Evacuation Centers
- CZU Hotel List - Folks must dial 2-1-1 to fill out an application in order to access free logging.
Resources to Stay Informed About The CZU Fires
- CAL FIRE CZU Email News Release updates- Sign up!
- CAL FIRE CZU Twitter: Latest evacuation orders and fire updates.
- Map of Fires and Evacuations with Zones
- List of road closures
- Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office (Facebook)
- County of Santa Cruz Emergency Services (Twitter)
- American Red Cross for direct assistance: 1-866-272-2237
- Visit Santa Cruz County Hotel Lodging and Capacity
- Evacuating pets and livestock – contact Santa Cruz County Animal Services Agency: 831-471-1182. If you have been displaced and need pet supplies, visit the animal shelter at 1001 Rodriguez Street in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz County Recovery Resource Center
- Santa Cruz County Recovery Resource Center (RRC)for victims affected by the fire to learn about assistance and support through FEMA, CalOES, and nonprofits.
- Kaiser Permanente Arena
104 Front St Santa Cruz
Open daily 11am to 7pm
- Kaiser Permanente Arena
For assistance or support contact a local family resource center:
- Community Bridges:
- Mountain Community Resources 831-335-6600
- Live Oak Community Resources 831-476-7284
- Nueva Vista Community Resources 831-423-5747
- La Manzana Community Resources 831-724-2997
- Community Action Board (Davenport Resource Service Center) Call 831-763-2147
- Valley Churches United
- Temporarily relocated to Holy Cross Food Pantry 210 High Street Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday 10am -1pm. Call 831-336-8258
- Financial Assistance - You may qualify for financial assistance from the federal government. Click link and enter your zip code to start the application process.
Apply for FEMA
- DISASTER ASSISTANCE DEADLINE EXTENDED The federal deadline for individual assistance and small business assistance for those impacted by the CZU Lightning Complex fires has been extended to Nov. 21, 2020.
- Registering for disaster assistance through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can make individuals and families eligible for a variety of assistance programs, including rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Private well losses or damage could also be considered for financial assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program.
- Apply for disaster assistance with FEMA online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov
The Small Business Administration has established a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to help homeowners and renters, open daily 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT. Email FOCWAssistance@sba.gov or call (800) 659-2955. Representatives are available to assist business owners and individuals with SBA’s disaster loan program and application process. Information on the CZU Lightning Complex fire recovery process including rebuilding, hazards and cleanup, as well as links to helpful resources, are available on the Santa Cruz County Fire Recovery website, https://www.santacruzcounty.us/firerecovery
Food Security
- FREE LUNCH PROGRAM FOR FIRE EVACUEES: Available starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Recovery Resource Center, the meals are available to residents who have been processed through the center. Meals are being provided by an anonymous donor through local participating restaurants, including My Mom’s Mole, Woodstock Pizza, Barceloneta, Rogue Pye, Half Moon Bay Brewing, Kickin’ Chicken, Full Steam Dumpling, Feel Good Foods and Hanloh Thai Foods. Each meal will be individually packaged and ready for pick-up around noon. Meals are only available to CZU Lightning Complex evacuees.
- The Recovery Resource Center is located at Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz. The center is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. No appointment necessary.
- Call the Second Harvest Community Food Hotline 831-662-0991
- September Family Resource Calendar & August Family Resource Calendar Food pantry, meal sites, crisis support, and healthcare.
Housing Support
1. For immediate temporary shelter support call the Red Cross 800-733-2767 or find a shelter here.
2. Look at the Damage Assessment Map for preliminary information on damages to your home.
3. Register and apply for FEMA disaster assistance here in English/ here in Spanish.
Or call 1-800-621-3362. For deaf or hard of hearing use Text Telephone 800-436-7585. For those that use 711 or VRS call 1-800-62-3362
If you are an immigrant please see this FEMA fact sheet.
If you need help applying for FEMA please contact the Resource Recovery Center or Family Resource Centers listed above.
- If you do not have insurance or are underinsured:
FEMA may be able to provide assistance for items not covered by insurance however you cannot receive assistance from both your insurance company and FEMA for the same damage.
You may be eligible for the following FEMA and State programs:- Traditional Shelter Assistance (TSA) : For eligible disaster survivors who need shelter. Learn more here.
- Individual and Household Programs (IHP): For eligible disaster survivors uninsured or underinsured who need financial and direct services for basic needs. Here is a list of what FEMA coversin English,in Spanish.
- California State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP) in English, in Spanish.: If you have reached your maximum IHP assistance, FEMA will transmit your application automatically to SSGP which may provide additional assistance. Call 1-800-759-6807 for more information. 1-800-952-8349 for deaf or hard of hearing.
- If you have homeowners or renters insurance:
- Contact your insurance company to understand what they cover and file a claim.
- The California Department of Insurance provides assistance on insurance issues.
- Wildfire Resources and Insurance Tips
- If you are experiencing difficulty with processing your claim or have an underinsurance issue. Contact 1-800-927-4357 English Contact Spanish Contact
4. If you are a homeowner rebuilding: Rebuilding information and next steps are here. Or email FireRebuild@santacruzcounty.us
Legal Aid
- Disaster Legal Services may provide free legal help to low-income disaster survivors. DLS can help with insurance claims, legal papers lost in the disaster, home repair contracts and contractors, problems with landlords, proof of homeownership and FEMA appeals. Learn more here or call 1-800-624-33-62 TTY 1-800-462-7585
Healthcare Information
- Those impacted by the wildfires could be eligible to sign up for Covered California between September 1 to December 31 2020. You may be eligible for no-cost or low-cost coverage through Medi-Cal. Apply hereor call 1-800-300-1506
- The California Department of Managed Health Care can help speed up approvals for care, lost prescriptions, or arrange healthcare at other facilities due to disasters. Call 1-888-466-2219
COVID-19 Updates
Crisis Counseling
- Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 trained crisis counseling to support people experiencing emotional distress related to a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5590 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
- FEMA may provide funding for supportive crisis counseling. Learn more and how to apply here.
Updates and Information
School Closures
Several school districts and charter schools have made the decision to suspend instructional programs as a result of this dynamic situation from August 24 - 28, 2020:
- Bonny Doon Elementary School District
- San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District (closed through September 8th)
- Pacific Elementary School District
- Live Oak School District
- Santa Cruz City School District
- Soquel Union Elementary School District
- Santa Cruz County Office of Education Alternative Education Programs
Additionally, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education maintains an online information page related to the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires. You can go to that page by clicking HERE.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Santa Cruz Volunteer Center – Click Here to register
United Way Regional Wildfire Fund
The Greater Bay Area Central Coast Wildfire Relief Fund was created to provide immediate and long-term recovery assistance to Bay Area and Central Coast residents affected by the August 2020 wildfires that have spread throughout the region.
Working together, United Way Bay Area, United Way of the Wine Country, United Way Monterey County, and United Way of Santa Cruz County will assist the residents and community agencies in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties that have been adversely affected by the August 2020 wildfires.
FUNDING FOCUS
The collected funds will be applied to immediate and long-term recovery assistance for residents affected by the wildfires, with an initial focus on providing housing assistance (vouchers or cash), cash assistance to displaced families and other identified immediate needs.