As the reports of the June 6th Holiday Fire surfaced, the ThomasFireHelp.org team was already hard at work to connect those in need to those who had help to give. Within hours of the fire’s start, the ThomasFireHelp team had expanded the platform once designed to meet the needs for the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslide survivors to now serve the needs of our Goleta neighbors.

Since the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslide, ThomasFireHelp has continued to be a key leader in long term recovery efforts in the region. In an effort to expand their capacity to support and advocate for survivors, ThomasFireHelp has enriched their community partnerships and their recovery network now includes faith-based and service organizations. With these vital community collaborations in place, ThomasFireHelp was able to quickly deploy their innovative platform to assist residents affected by the Holiday Fire.

To date, ThomasFireHelp has had over 22,000 page views on ThomasFireHelp.org and saw posts on the ThomasFireHelp Facebook page reach 11,000 and nearly 13,000 people on critical days after the Thomas Fire and Montecito Slide, respectively. ThomasFireHelp with the use of their online platform, social media outreach and community partnerships works on the grassroots level to match help with need, solving problems on a one-on-one scale and picking up those who fell through the cracks.

“ThomasFireHelp was born out of the immediate and desperate needs of people in the Ventura and Santa Barbara communities facing disasters of unprecedented scale and destruction. No one knew where to go or what to do, and everyone wanted to help. That was our simple beginning we became the ‘Craigslist’ of recovery, building a web-based platform connecting those in need with those who had resources to give”, stated Emily Barany, co-founder of ThomasFireHelp.

The site offers everything from supplies and housing to services and volunteers. Following the closure of the 101 Highway after the Montecito Slide, ThomasFireHelp organized the Montecito Airlift, which deployed 64 volunteer pilots to transport doctors and medical patients, all of whom urgently needed to get across the mud when the 101 was closed for nearly two weeks. 117 passengers were transported as far north as Palo Alto and as far south as San Diego.

“The Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslide disasters have devastated our community and more than 6 months later, survivors are still trying to find the support they need to get back on their feet” said Peter Zierhut, Vice President of Haas Automation, a local employer with a history of community support. He continued, “For that reason, the Gene Haas Foundation is announcing a challenge grant of $25,000 to ThomasFireHelp, allowing them to continue their work of connecting those affected by the disasters with the services they need. We’re proud to be a part of the good work being done by this hard working organization. As new disasters strike, innovative models like ThomasFireHelp will be integral to the recovery of the region. ThomasFireHelp is poised to be international leader in recovery assistance and The Gene Haas Foundation is proud to be part of the effort.”

The grant ensures that, for every dollar raised from the community, the Gene Haas Foundation will match that amount, up to $25,000.

United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) has approved $281,172 for individual hardship assistance from the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund. This is part of the $1.5 million made available in the current round of assistance funding, with applications for those remaining funds open through April 30.

“Being able to get the funds in the hands of those who need it has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re so grateful to be working with our responsive partners to make the process as simple as possible,” said Eric Harrison, UWVC President & CEO. “We’re looking forward to hearing from more residents to continue dispersing these funds.”

Applications – offered in English and Spanish – and a list of partnering agencies where they can be submitted are available at vcunitedway.org.

Before submitting an application, victims should gather any documentation to substantiate needs, such as rental agreements, campground rental fees, costs replace trade tools (could be prices from online or physical stores) or insurance invoices in preparation of speaking with a case manager.

Eligible applicants are Ventura County residents, and household income limits are determined by family size of 120% AMI or less.

The United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund has grown to more than $4 million. The next phase in disbursements will focus on long-term recovery. To contribute, visit unitedwaythomasfirefund.org.

For more information about United Way of Ventura County, visit www.vcunitedway.org.

Southern California homeowners and renters who have registered for disaster assistance with FEMA following the December wildfires and January mudslides and flooding, are encouraged to stay in touch as their applications are processed.

Financial help for home repair, temporary rental assistance, personal property loss and other losses or damage not covered by insurance may be available to applicants in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Applicants can track their application and should notify FEMA of changes to their mailing address, phone number, email address or if they receive an insurance settlement. Any necessary documents can also be uploaded directly by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov. Applicants can also call the helpline at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week.

As of close of business March 27, 691 households have received more than $4.2 million in assistance from FEMA. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved 381 loans for businesses, homeowners and renters for more than $40.4 million.

Significant efforts have been made with the removal of debris from basins and creeks in Santa Barbara County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed 326,908 cubic yards of debris from 11 basins that provide protection to downstream neighborhoods and properties in Santa Barbara County. USACE is also assisting Santa Barbara County clear debris from nine creeks. Work is complete in eight of nine creeks, for a total of 47,306 cubic yards removed.

CalRecyle has been working in Ventura County to remove debris from private property and conduct soil sampling. So far CalRecyle is 71 percent complete with private property debris removal in Ventura County and expect to be complete by mid-April.

Debris removal is critical to reopening roadways and facilitating further recovery, but is also essential to helping communities prepare for increased flood risks that follow major fires for several years. All residents of Southern California who live near burned areas should be carefully monitor the weather and follow local emergency recommendations. Residents can increase their financial protection by buying insurance now. Click here for information on flood risks after fire, go to or visit California Department of Water Resources for more information.

For more additional updates on California recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4353, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion9 and WildfireRecovery.org.

Thank you for your incredible patience as we work on the distribution of the one-time Thomas Fire Benefit Festival checks. Each person/household will receive $750! We can confirm that the checks will be ready Friday, March 16.

There are three distribution centers:

Ventura Residents: Please come to the Downtown Ventura Partners offices at 420 East Santa Clara St. Come only on Friday, March 16 between 1pm-6pm. And on Wed., March 21 through Friday, March 23 from 1pm-6pm. If you cannot make these times, email [email protected] to discuss other arrangements.

Ojai Area Residents: Please go to Help of Ojai’s Community Assistance Program at 108 Fox Street, Oja between 9am-3pm on Friday, March 16. And again 9am-3pm on Monday, March 19 through Wednesday, March 21. Help of Ojai is graciously volunteering to be a pick-up location. Please do not call their office or go to their main offices. If you cannot make these times, please email [email protected] to discuss other arrangements.

Santa Paula/Fillmore Residents: We are finalizing a pick-up location. We have your email addresses and we will be communicating directly with you to provide the location and times.

To collect your check, you must present a form of ID and FEMA paperwork, or (if you don’t have FEMA papers) a utility bill or documents that describe your loss and a valid ID linking yourself to the affected property. Please do not email these documents. Just bring them when you pick up your check.

We appreciate your patience throughout this process! We truly hope this money will help soften the incredible blow you have endured. These funds are to address any unmet needs beyond any insurance payouts or disaster assistance you have received. #VenturaCountyStrong!

The Thomas Fire Benefit Team

Southern California residents recovering from the December wildfires and January mudslides and flooding have until March 16 to register for federal disaster assistance .

Individuals and families who were living in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and suffered damage or losses from the fires and mudslides are encouraged to register for assistance.

After applying for disaster assistance with FEMA, they may also be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Survivors are encouraged to submit their application for a low-interest disaster loan, if contacted by the SBA to do so.

Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 from SBA to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Businesses and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury.

So far, 629 individuals and households have been deemed eligible for FEMA individual assistance and more than $3.7 million has been approved in grants. The SBA has approved 287 disaster loans for businesses, homeowners and renters for more than $30 million.

Survivors are encouraged to register even if they have insurance. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance or other benefits but may be able to help with uninsured or underinsured losses.

Survivors can apply for disaster assistance by going online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by using the FEMA app on a smart phone or by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, seven days a week.

Ventura County Assessor Dan Goodwin, Auditor Controller Jeff Burgh, and Treasurer-Tax Collector Steven Hintz have announced that reduced property tax bills or refunds will begin being mailed to fire victims. Staff from all three departments have been attending post-fire community meetings to answer questions, and appraisers have already inspected more than 3,000 properties.

The reduced bills or refunds of taxes previously paid are for Ventura County taxpayers whose Calamity Claims for property tax relief for property losses resulting from the Thomas Fire have been approved. The first batch of revised bills is scheduled to be mailed on this week. The bills will be mailed to the address submitted on the Calamity Claim form. Refunds will be made to the person who actually made the original payment.

“This is another example of how County agencies are working collaboratively to assist city and county residents who were affected by the Thomas Fire,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “Dan, Jeff and Steven promised taxpayers relief from this disaster on December 7, just three days after the fire started. And now, that relief is already arriving. This is an extraordinary effort and a thoughtful demonstration of how local government can respond to the urgent needs of its constituents.”

For more information, contact:

Steven Hintz, Treasurer-Tax Collector, 654-3744
http://www.ventura.org/ttc

Dan Goodwin, Assessor, 654-2181
htpp://assessor.countyofventura.org

Jeff Burgh, Auditor-Controller, 654-3152
http://www.ventura.org/auditor-controller