Resources
Business
- Small Business Administration.Federal small business resource that can provide additional assistance with loans and financing for your small business. SBA can provide low-interest federal disaster loans
- Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center - (800) 659-2955
- Sonoma County Economic Development Board. Assists local business with resources, training, consulting services
- City of Santa Rosa Business. City resource to assist with business licenses, forms, training and other local services.
Food
- Economic Assistance Division: Food & Nutrition Benefits. A resource under the County of Sonoma's Economic Assistance Division, this program assists in applying for CalFresh, which is available to qualified low-income households affected by the fire that do not already have benefits.
- Website: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Economic-Assistance/
- Call: (877) 699-6868
Health & Wellness
- County of Sonoma Warm Line. Getting ourselves and our lives back in a routine that is comfortable for us takes time.
- Call (707) 565-2652 for free and private support if you or someone you know is experiencing emotional stress and anxiety during COVID-19. Seven days a week 10:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m.
- Sonoma County Human Services Department. County office that provides a variety of service, including promoting and protecting the Health and Well-Being of Every Member of the Community.
Housing - Temporary / Rental
- American Red Cross. Find shelters and assistance with temporary housing. Also includes financial assistance.
Insurance
- United Policyholders - Navigating the Insurance Process through Recovery
- United Policyholders is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to be a trustworthy and useful information resource and a respected voice for consumers of all types of insurance in all 50 states. In the aftermath of a disaster, residents struggle with serious and unexpected gaps in their insurance coverage and a claim process that is often adversarial. UP was formed to help level the playing field between insurers and insureds. United Policyholders was instrumental in support 2017 Santa Rosa wildfire survivors with their tools, resources, and guidance and are offering support now to our community's survivors impacted by the Glass Fire.
Visit United Policyholders' 2020 California Wildfires webpage to access helpful resources
- United Policyholders is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to be a trustworthy and useful information resource and a respected voice for consumers of all types of insurance in all 50 states. In the aftermath of a disaster, residents struggle with serious and unexpected gaps in their insurance coverage and a claim process that is often adversarial. UP was formed to help level the playing field between insurers and insureds. United Policyholders was instrumental in support 2017 Santa Rosa wildfire survivors with their tools, resources, and guidance and are offering support now to our community's survivors impacted by the Glass Fire.
- Claiming Reimbursement for Additional Living Expenses (ALE) incurred due to Mandatory Evacuation Order
- Per United Policy Holders, you may be eligible to claim reimbursement from your insurance company for Additional Living Expenses (ALE) incurred due to a mandatory evacuation order. ALE covers expenses such as the cost of temporary housing or food. A deductible may or may not apply to your ALE claim, depending on your policy’s wording.
- The City has created a searchable map tool that identifies the date range for each zone within the City limits that was under mandatory evacuation due to the Glass Fire as authorized by the Santa Rosa Police Department. Insurance providers can utilize this tool to verify individual customer addresses. Go to map: srcity.org/3419
- Please note: If your temporary living expenses are modest, you may be better off paying them out of pocket to avoid filing an insurance claim that goes on your record and can increase the cost of your insurance. For more info on this, read United Policyholder’s “Evacuation Tips” here: uphelp.org/blog/evacuation-tips
Legal Assistance
- American Bar Association Young Lawyer Division. A partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, free help with disaster-related legal concerns is available to eligible wildfire survivors in Sonoma County. Survivors may seek no-cost aid with wildfire-related legal issues by calling the disaster legal services hotline. Help is available in several languages.
- Hotline: (888) 382-3406
- For more information online
- Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC). Free legal assistance to communities following natural disasters including California Fire Survivors. Information for this program from:
- Legal Aid of Sonoma County. Legal Aid of Sonoma County has provided services to Sonoma County’s indigent population for over 60 years. Founded in 1958 and incorporated in 1983 as a private nonprofit, Legal Aid provides crisis legal services to low-income families, children, elders, immigrants, and other vulnerable Sonoma County residents.
Property Assessments & Taxes
- Assessor. County entity to assist in property valuations and support.
- Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector (ACTTC). County entity to assist with property tax support.
- Internal Revenue Service. Information about federal tax relief for California wildfire victims.
- Call the IRS Disaster Hotline (866) 562-5227 for related questions or to request a copy of tax returns or transcripts.
Replacing Lost Personal Documents
Fire survivors who lost important documents may need replacements to apply for services and begin the recovery process.
Access a list of agencies/service providers for requesting document replacements
Seniors - Services & Resources
Seniors who have lost homes or had property damage can find someone to assist them through the process of recovery by calling:
- Sonoma County Human Services Department’s Adult and Aging Division, 707-565-5900
- Council on Aging, 707-525-0143
Seniors can get help to navigate recovery paperwork, arrange transportation to recovery services offices, medical appointments, and other places, find warm nutritious meals or food at home, or get caregiving help for day-to-day needs.
Senior Housing
For help with housing, SHARE Sonoma County, in partnership with Petaluma People Services Center, offers a Home-Sharing Program for those 60 years and older. SHARE helps facilitate and screen safe home shares for seniors, including those needing basic assistance (service in exchange) go to http://petalumapeople.org/seniors/share-sonoma-county/ or call 707-765-8488.
Home-Sharing is a living arrangement of two or more unrelated people who share a home or apartment for their mutual benefit. Each person has their own bedroom and possibly bathroom, but shares common living areas.
Additional Senior Resources
The Sonoma County Senior Guide from the Area Agency on Aging lists resources for seniors, their families and caregivers. Download the pdf in English or Spanish: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Adult-and-Aging/Area-Agency-on-Aging/Senior-Resource-Guide/
Utilities
- PG&E
- For specific customer related updates, please call (800) 743-5000 for a PG&E customer service representative.
- For general information for evacuees returning home, visit pge.com/wildfirerecovery
- PG&E has services available that may help customers with recovery and/or financial hardship caused by the Glass Fire. Customers may receive financial assistance through one of the these programs if they qualify:
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program - Qualified households can save 20 percent or more each month on their energy bill.
- Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program - Separate from CARE, income-qualified households with three or more persons can apply for a monthly discount on their electric bil
- Residential customers who have special energy needs due to certain qualifying medical conditions can receive a lower rate on monthly energy bills through the Medical Baseline program. There are no income qualifications.
- Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH). REACH provides income qualified customers with financial assistance during times of hardship. Customers impacted by the wildfires are eligible for financial assistance. Certain limitations may apply.
Voting
Residents displaced by the Glass Fire have options for how they can vote:
By Mail
- If mail is being held, the ballot should have been mailed October 5 and received soon after with the rest of the resident's mail (depending on when the hold went into effect)
- If mail is being forwarded, please contact the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters, as the ballot will NOT be forwarded to a new address
In Person
- Starting October 5 in the Registrar of Voters Office: 435 Fiscal Dr., Santa Rosa
- Starting October 31 at any in-person voting location
Updating Information for Destroyed Properties
Residents whose homes were destroyed are encouraged to take action to preserve their voting options. The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters suggests two options for updating voting information.
- Stay registered at the current address and update mailing address.
- This option is for those who are planning on rebuilding or reoccupying the existing property and want to continue voting in their current districts.
- There is not a time limit on this option (rebuild or move in does not need occur in a specified period of time).
- Residents should contact the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters office directly to update their mailing address:
- Phone: (707) 565-6800
- Email: [email protected]
- Register at a new address.
- This option is for those who do not plan to return to their disaster-impacted property or who wish to vote in the districts in which they temporarily reside.
For more information on voting options following a disaster, visit the Sonoma County Registrar of Votes Office page.