The Great California ShakeOut 2025
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Recent Storm is a Reminder to Be Prepared
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Rainstorms present certain risks to burned areas, especially hillsides, canyons, and areas downstream. It generally takes five years for an area that has been through a major fire to recover enough vegetation to reduce the additional significant risks like debris flows, mudslides, and flooding.
Los Angeles County made it through a significant storm on Tuesday, October 14.
The next storm with heavy rainfall will happen; it's just a matter of time. Preparing now will help.
Los Angeles City Fire Department
Released Its Report on the Palisades Fire
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The Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) released its After-Action Review Report (AARR) on the Palisades Fire, detailing the first 36 hours of the department’s response.
Since January 2025, the LAFD has implemented several new processes to protect the city, including strengthened interagency coordination, upgraded communications technology, enhanced wildfire training and evacuation drills, and improved pre-deployment protocols. In partnership with various local agencies, the LAFD is also expanding outreach to equip our communities with critical wildfire preparedness resources.
LAFD Palisades Fire After-Action Review Report (PDF, 70 pages)
AARR-Associated Fact Sheet (PDF)
LA County Delivers Over $31M in Relief Grants
to Wildfire-Affected Households
In the aftermath of the 2025 Wildfires, thousands of households faced devastating loss. Amid this hardship, the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) in partnership with The Center by Lendistry, launched the LA County Household Relief Grant, a targeted response in a time of great need.
The LA County Household Relief Grant was designed to offer immediate relief while longer-term aid was underway. As directed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, DCBA provided over $31.7 million in emergency financial relief to 3,425 of the most severely impacted households through the grant. This support reached more than 9,600 individuals across the households that received the grant.
With award amounts ranging between $6,000 and $18,000, the program was designed to prioritize the most severely impacted residents: households with children, older adults, people with disabilities, displaced residents, those with health-related needs and those who lost livelihoods. Grant funding helped households cover their most pressing costs at a vulnerable time and provided many recipients with the stability needed to envision a path toward recovery.
Read more about this program here.
State and FEMA In-Person Support Ending at Centers
Assistance Still Available Online and by Phone
Local Services Continue
As the demand for in-person services for the Eaton and Palisades Fires has decreased, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) will end in-person presence at assistance centers at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) will continue to provide support and remain available at two locations, as will local agencies:
📍 One Stop Rebuilding Center – LA City
1828 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed weekends.
📍 Altadena Community Center – LA County
730 E. Altadena Dr., Altadena, CA 91001
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Closed weekends.
Survivors of the Eaton and Palisades Fires can access state services at this website.
To contact FEMA and stay in touch, visit DisasterAssistance.gov. To speak with a FEMA specialist directly call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service. Lines are open daily from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), the Altadena Community Center will continue to provide on-site support for residents, helping them access County resources, answer questions, and connect with available County programs and services.
Survivors can continue to provide additional documentation or supporting files to FEMA by mail:
FEMA – Individuals and Households Program
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055;
Or by facsimile:
800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA – Individuals and Households Program
The Disaster Case Management Program is There to Help
The Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) is FEMA-funded and provides supplemental Disaster Case Management services to vulnerable populations.
The January 2025 wildfires are an active DCMP under the name:
DR-4856 - 2025 Wildfires Straight-line Winds (January)
To see if you qualify, please call 833-775-3267 or click here for more information from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Disaster Services Branch (DSB).
Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program
The Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program provides immediate hiring and training support for impacted and dislocated workers from the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires in partnership with LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the region’s America’s Job Centers of California.
Check eligibility and fill out an interest form here.
Regional “Shop Local. Dine Local. Recover Local.” Campaign Supports Economic Recovery for Fire Impacted Small Businesses
Local businesses in or near impacted areas can sign up at shoplocal.la to be included in the Recover Local Business Directory, an online list of highly-impacted businesses.
Nonprofit Organization Better Angels Offering Fire Recovery Grants
As part of their larger mission of preventing people from going unhoused, Better Angels is offering grants to qualified applicants whose residence was in one of the major fires. These grants are to help with rental housing.
For more information and to apply, visit their Fire Recovery Grant page.
Ensuring Habitable Rental Housing in Unincorporated Areas
The Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP) aims to ensure rental units meet habitability standards, support property values, and provide safe living conditions. It is important for landlords and renters in unincorporated Los Angeles County communities to be aware this program, especially in areas where wildfires have impacted the conditions of rental properties.
RHHP is authorized to respond to tenant complaints.
To meet state housing health and safety standards, landlords and/or rental property owners are required to maintain rental housing units in a safe and habitable condition. The likelihood of smoke damage from the Eaton Fire, including fire-related ash and soot in and around a rental housing property and/or a lingering smell of smoke, may present a health and safety risk to tenants and requires professional evaluation.
CalAssist Mortgage Fund for California Disaster Survivors
is Taking Applications
The CalAssist Mortgage Fund is a state program that provides much-needed relief from mortgage payments for displaced families whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable by a California disaster such as the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.
You may eligible if your primary residence was destroyed or is uninhabitable due to a qualified disaster from 1/1/2023 through 1/8/2025, you meet program income limits, you have a mortgage or reverse mortgage, and you own a single-family home, condo or permanently affixed manufactured home (may include up to 4 units). If you qualify and are selected, the Fund will pay three months of mortgage payments, up to a maximum of $20,000. Funds never have to be repaid and it’s free to apply. Grants will be paid directly to your mortgage servicer.
Funds are limited and applications will be reviewed in the order received.
Rebuilding Together Virtual Workshops
Recordings are available of six Rebuilding Together Virtual Workshops.
Discover insights from experts on topics like finding and working with design professionals and licensed contractors, navigating manufactured and factory-built home submittals, and more.
Malibu Fee Waiver Program
The City of Malibu has a Fee Waiver Program to help property owners affected by the recent fires. The program eliminates City planning and building permit fees for like-for-like, owner-occupied homes and duplexes.
The fee waiver applies to City of Malibu-issued permits for:
🔵 Planning approvals and building permits
🔵 Temporary housing
🔵 Wastewater treatment system upgrades
🔵 Required infrastructure (seawalls, water tanks, suppression systems)
🔵 Accessory structures, hardscaping, and landscaping
📅 Key Deadlines:
June 30, 2028: Fee Waiver Application Due
June 30, 2028: Planning Applications Must Be Complete
December 30, 2030: All Building Permits Must Be Pulled
Fee Waivers & Refunds for Rebuilding in Unincorporated Areas
On June 17, 2025, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to waive and refund fees for qualifying property owners rebuilding single-family homes in unincorporated Los Angeles County following the Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
Residents can check their eligibility on this Fee Waivers & Refunds page.
If you're rebuilding in Altadena or any unincorporated wildfire area in LA County, get the information you need from this website.
There are ways to speed up the process of rebuilding. We call it the Express Lane on the Road to Recovery. ⬇
eCheck AI Pilot is Part of “Express Lane” for Faster Rebuilding
The eCheck AI Pilot is one way residents can accelerate the approval process, along with opting for a pre-approved plans and a Like-for-Like Rebuild.
Here’s how residents can participate in the eCheck AI Pilot:
• Sign up for a free account:
➡ LA County (Altadena and other unincorporated areas)
➡ City of LA
➡ NEW! City of Malibu
• Look up your property address.
• Upload your architectural drawings in PDF format.
• Residents can choose between Like-for-Like and Non-Like-for-Like rebuild projects.
When results are ready, participants can review them on the eCheck platform and include the downloadable report in their permit application.
This is a completely voluntary pilot; it is not required as part of the existing Plan Check application process.
Like-for-Like Rebuilds
Like-for-Like Rebuilds: And Why It Matters - Recorded Webinar
📺 Video
🖼 Slides (PDF)
Pre-Approved Plans
To learn about the benefits of using pre-approved plans visit the
Pre-Approved Plans page.
To see the library with latest pre-approved designs visit the Standard
Plan Catalog page.
Preapproved Plans: A Headstart for Homeowners - Recorded Webinar
📺 Video
🖼 Slides (PDF)
The County of Los Angeles has an introductory resource guide for planning, designing, and constructing healthy, fire resilient, and efficient buildings and properties.
The guide includes currently available incentives & rebates, and links to other trusted information with fact sheets and checklists for property owners.
Click here to explore the guide.
Resilient Rebuild Resources Guide - Recorded Webinar
📺 Video
🖼 Slides (PDF)
Self-Certification Pilot Program for Rebuilding in Unincorporated Areas
Under the Building Plan Self-Certification Pilot Program, California licensed architects and engineers can self-certify that their building plans comply with the Los Angeles County Building Code, eliminating the need for a full plan check review. Architects and engineers interested in participating in the program must register at recovery.lacounty.gov/rebuilding/self-certification.
A list of professionals registered to self-certify will be available at recovery.lacounty.gov/rebuilding. Only architects and engineers who register in advance will be able to self-certify plans.
Eligible projects include the replacement of single-family homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and appurtenant structures that were damaged by the Eaton or Palisades Fire and are located in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
All required approvals from other L.A. County departments – including Regional Planning, Public Health, and Fire – must still be obtained prior to the issuance of a building permit.
For more information on the Self-Certification Pilot Program, eligibility requirements, or to find a registered professional, visit recovery.lacounty.gov/rebuilding/self-certification/.
Charting the Path Forward for Unincorporated Burn Areas
LA County Foward: Blueprint for Rebuilding is now available here (PDF).
See a summary of what this means for wildfire survivors (PDF).
Rebuilding Permit Centers: Get Help with Rebuilding
Rebuilding Permit Centers are open for guidance through the rebuilding process for residents affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. These permit centers connect you with the departments responsible for rebuilding in your area.
LA County One-Stop Permit Center
464 West Woodbury Road, Suite 210, Altadena, CA 91001
Walk-In Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Rebuild Consultation Appointments Available:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 Noon.
SCE Planner Appointments Available:
Monday and Wednesday: 8 a.m. - Noon.
Click here for more information.
LA County One-Stop Permit Center
26600 Agoura Road, #110, Calabasas, CA 91302
Walk-In Hours:
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Rebuild Consultation Appointments Available:
Monday and Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
1st Saturday of the month: 8 a.m. – Noon.
SCE Appointments Available:
SCE representatives are available Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 1-800-250-7339.
Book an online virtual appointment here.
Click here for more information.
City of LA - One Stop Permit Center
1828 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
Open Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Click here for more information.
City of Malibu Rebuild Center
23805 Stuart Ranch Road, Suite 240, Malibu, CA 90265
Open Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Click here for more information.
City of Pasadena Planning Recovery Virtual Consultations
Appointments are available Monday through Thursday here
Questions: Email or visit the Pasadena Permit Center
Additional In-Person Services Are Available
to Assist in Wildfire Recovery
In-person County services continue to be available at two locations for those impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires:
One-Stop Rebuilding Center
📍 1828 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
🕘 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Altadena Community Center
📍 730 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91001
🕘 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To contact FEMA, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
To speak with a FEMA specialist directly call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service. Lines are open daily from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Weekly Online Altadena Community Meetings
This series has been scheduled to run each Monday until the end of the year.
All attendees (even if they have attended in the past) can register for the series at https://bit.ly/altadenacommunitymeeting
These online meetings provide recorded updates from Supervisor Kathryn Barger and agencies involved in recovery and rebuilding.
📅 This Monday, October 20, 2025
🕓 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To watch the meeting:
📺 YouTube
📺 Zoom
Pool Season at Loma Alta Park Concludes October 31
The pool at Loma Alta Park will remain open through October 31, 2025. Altadena area residents have opportunities to enjoy low-cost lap swim, water exercise classes, swim lessons, and free swim hours, providing opportunities for recreation, exercise, and stress relief for the community recovering from the Eaton Wildfire.
The Loma Alta Pool is located at 3330 North Lincoln Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001.
Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Program flyers and schedules are available here. Additional program information can be found at linktr.ee/lacountyaquatics.
Altadena’s Village Post Office
A Village Post Office is available at Webster’s Pharmacy in Altadena. The postal counter at Webster's accepts mail and package drop-offs, has pre-paid box services, flat-rate mailing supplies, and sells forever stamps.
📍 Location: Webster’s Community Pharmacy at Chase Plaza 2333 Lake Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Post-Fire Air, Soil, and Water Assessment Dashboard is updated continually as new assessment results are made available. Residents are encouraged to check the dashboard regularly for updates.
Residents can refer to Public Health’s Frequently Asked Questions for best practices to minimize exposure to these potential hazards.
Free Testing for Lead
Residents who were near wildfires or burn areas are able to receive free blood lead testing through December 2025 by the following two options:
1. Visit Your Medical Provider.
Ask your doctor for a blood lead test. Testing is covered by most insurance plans, including Medi-Cal.
- or -
2. Schedule a Free Blood Lead Test at a Quest Lab.
Call 1-800-LA-4-LEAD (1-800-524-5323) to request a free appointment. Testing is simple, confidential, and convenient.
The Department of Public Health also has a FREE soil lead testing program for residents living downwind of the Eaton Fire burn area.
For more information, including instructions on how to participate, please visit: ph.lacounty.gov/eaton-soil-testing
For more post-fire information from County of Los Angeles Public Health, click here.
Free Medical and Mental Health Clinic in Pasadena
Mondays and Wednesdays, from Noon to 5 p.m.
In person, hosted by the Eaton Health Village, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health
For free medical and mental health care, including medical consultations, medical refills, mental health services and case management, vision care, and dental care.
- Location: Pasadena Seventh-Day Adventist Church (1280 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104)
- More information: 951-595-7032 or click here
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