Financial Assistance
Contact
Phone: 800-621-3362 (FEMA)
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Disaster assistance may be able to fill insurance gaps or provide help if you've been waiting more than 30 days on a homeowner's claim. Assistance may also be available to help individuals rebuild, repair and replace housing and other personal property not covered by insurance.
Disaster-related assistance may include:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items
- Unemployment payments for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for state benefits (self-employed)
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance
- Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster
- Advisory assistance for legal veterans' benefits and social security matters
Individuals who were impacted by the fires should apply for FEMA assistance. You can apply in the following ways:
- Online at:
- Via smartphone:
- Constituents may call:
- The registration phone number at 800-621-3362
- Those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 800-462-7585 directly
- For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362
Please have the following information available when you call:
- A phone number and a reliable alternate in case FEMA needs to call you back
- Address of the damaged property
- Social Security number
- Bank account information (or direct deposit information)
- Insurance information (if you have insurance)
- Brief description of damages
- Current mailing address
- Pen and paper to write down your registration number
Important: If you have insurance, FEMA's process may designate you "ineligible" for benefits even though they may rightfully be yours. If you receive a denial letter, you may appeal/reapply within 60 days to keep your file open with FEMA while you settle your claim with your insurance provider.
FEMA Mobile App
- Get the FEMA App on Google Play
- You can also download the app via text messaging on Android device: Text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Download the FEMA App on the Apple App Store
- You can also download the app via text messaging on an Apple Device: Text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA)
Contact the SBA
Phone: 800-827-5722
SBA Disaster Assistance
Loans for homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The SBA loans are to help businesses repair or replace disaster-damaged property, inventory, and supplies. Homeowners and renters may also be eligible for SBA loans to repair or replace disaster-related damages to homes or personal property.
Types of Loans
Businesses
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help business and residents with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
Small Businesses & Nonprofit Organizations
For small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
Homeowners
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
IRS Disaster Hotline
Phone: 866-562-5227
IRS Tax Relief
Victims of the Ranch/River Fires may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service. Individuals who reside or have a business in Lake County may qualify for tax relief. The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.
Additional Information
Assessor's Office
255 N Forbes Street
Room 223
Lakeport, CA 95453
Phone: 707-263-2302
Assessor's Office Page
Revenue and Taxation Code section 170 provides that if a calamity such as fire, earthquake, or flooding damages or destroys your property, you may be eligible for property tax relief. The loss estimate must be at least $10,000 of current market value to qualify the property for this relief. The property will be reassessed according to its damaged state and property taxes will be adjusted accordingly.
This property tax relief is available to owners of real property, business equipment and fixtures, orchards or other agricultural groves, and to owners of aircraft, boats, and certain mobile homes - it is not available to property that is not assessable, such as state licensed mobile homes or household furnishings. For more information, contact the Lake County Assessor's Office.
Assessor's Office
255 N Forbes Street
Room 223
Lakeport, CA 95453
Phone: 707-263-2302
Assessor's Office Page
Property tax relief and valuation.
Additional Resources
California Board of Equalization (BOE)
Phone: 800-400-7115
BOE Website
Questions regarding sales and use, property and special taxes.
Additional Information
Franchise Tax Board
Phone: 800-852-5711
Franchise Tax Board Website
Information on filing disaster and casualty losses on a tax return.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), can be filed online, by phone, by mail, or by fax. The fastest and easiest option for individuals to file claims for UI benefits is online using UI Online.
California Employment Development Department (EDD)
To file a claim by phone, call EDD at one the following toll-free numbers between 8 am and noon (Pacific Time), Monday through Friday except holidays:
- English: 800-300-5616
- Spanish: 800-326-8937
- Cantonese: 800-547-3506
- Mandarin: 866-303-0706
- Vietnamese: 800-547-2058
- TTY (Non-Voice): 800-815-9387
Visit the EDD Disaster Related Services page.
Individuals with current claims for benefits, who are unable to receive their Unemployment Insurance payments at their home due to the disaster or emergency, should contact their local post office.
Additional Resources
American Red Cross
Phone: 800-733-2767, option 4 (800-RED-CROSS)
The Red Cross is providing $450 to households whose homes were confirmed to have been destroyed or sustained major damage from the recent California Wildfires.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Phone: 408-256-0571
Email the Tzu Chi Foundation
If your home incurred major damage after the Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit (LNU) Lightning Complex Fires, you may qualify for emergency financial aid from Tzu Chi Northwest. Register by September 30th, 2020.
North Coast Opportunities
Phone: 707-277-1058
Funding Support Available for LNU Fire Evacuees.