The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a request from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Trinity County to include the River Complex Fire as part of the major disaster declaration for the 2021 wildfires (DR-4610).
The first DR-4610 amendment was made on September 28, 2021 adding both Tehama and Trinity counties, however River Complex survivors were not included for Individual Assistance until November 18, 2021.
Individuals, governmental entities, and eligible non-profits impacted by the River Complex are now eligible for both Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance.
Assistance may include funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as rental assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs; funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges; and funds for disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property and vehicles, funds for moving and storage, medical, dental, child care and other miscellaneous items.
Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property, businesses and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance. The easiest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Survivors may also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. If you use a relay service, such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel, give FEMA the number for that service.
Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.
Although the deadline to register for assistance with FEMA/SBA closed on November 8, 2021, those in Trinity County impacted by the River Complex have a registration deadline of January 8, 2022. Those impacted by the River Complex should inform FEMA/SBA that they are registering late because the River Complex was added to DR-4610 after the November 8, 2021 registration deadline.
For more information about California’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4610 and Cal OES’ wildfirerecovery.caloes.ca.gov.