Helping LA Firestorm Survivors Recover and Rebuild

Published: August 5, 2025

Since the LA firestorms devastated Californian communities in January 2025, we have supported more than 13,000 LA County workers delivering over $24 million in unemployment benefits to survivors, including federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

Over 79,000 survivors visited a local Disaster Recovery Center for help. At these and America’s Job Center of California locations, our teams met directly with many of those survivors to connect them with urgent financial support like unemployment, disability, and Paid Family Leave benefits. We also provided job search assistance and supported employers to help the resilience of the LA workforce.

We met survivors like Eddie, a longtime restaurant cook who lost both his home and job. He came to us overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. We helped him apply for unemployment benefits, walked him through how to apply for state jobs, and encouraged him to explore new career paths when he was ready. His story is a reminder of how critical it is to offer support with both compassion and clarity.

And Margarita, a self-employed domestic worker who suddenly lost her clients. She didn’t know she could even qualify for help. We supported her with applying for DUA, connected her to job training programs, and guided her to other resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Motor Vehicles to help her rebuild her life.

Every day at the centers, we met people who were not just seeking services — they were carrying deep loss, stress, and uncertainty. One survivor had run a children’s learning center in the Palisades for 14 years before losing everything in the fire. Living out of a hotel and unsure where to turn, they came to the disaster center looking for help.

We helped them begin their DUA claim, explained the next steps, and provided access to a computer and a printer. But most importantly, we took the time to listen to their story. We also referred them to the Department of Insurance and FEMA’s advocacy desk to help with housing support on top of their financial needs.

We supported over 3,000 employers by approving up to 60 extra days to file their payroll reports and make payroll tax payments. This extension wasn’t just about paperwork. It was about giving them the breathing room to focus on what mattered most. Many employers took advantage of this extra time, ensuring that those who truly needed support were able to access it and move forward with confidence. When communities face hardship, flexibility and understanding make all the difference.

We’re still helping firestorm survivors rebuild. We awarded up to $20 million to the Los Angeles region to support the immediate needs of workers suffering job losses or reduced hours in the aftermath of devastating firestorms with temporary employment. The funding also provides the kind of support needed for long-term recovery and more permanent reemployment.

This is the power of local, state, and federal partnerships coming together to serve communities when they need it most.

As the city continues to recover , CA.gov/LAfires is the main hub to get information and resources from state, local, and federal government. 

We’re proud to walk with Los Angeles through recovery and beyond. We are stronger, together.