The Los Angeles Fires are Exposing Some Major Systemic Financial Problems

enRICHed Member's Lounge #10

Our main story this week is about the Los Angeles wildfires, a series of blazes that have devastated the city and forced over 180,000 residents to flee their homes. As of Monday afternoon, the death toll stands at 24 people, with more than 40,000 acres of land decimated. More damage is expected to continue as the Santa Ana winds return, adding literal gas to the flames.

It’s a tragic event that has impacted thousands, and amidst all the stories coming out from the city, it’s also revealed some of the glaring financial issues in our country. As of Monday, the massive Palisades fire is only 14% contained; meanwhile, the second-largest Eaton fire is at 33% containment. Fire hydrants ran completely dry. One 66-year-old man was found dead with a garden hose in hand, as family friends believe he was trying to “save the home his parents had for 55 years.” Another 67-year-old amputee was found at the bedside of his son, who had cerebral palsy, as they waited for an ambulance to come get them. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed and many are scared this means even more emotional and financial burden ahead of them.

Today, we’ll talk about some of the systemic problems that have been swirling around this story, including the predatory actions of home insurance companies, the mismanagement of California’s water system, and what this means for residents. If you have been impacted by the fires and are looking for a list of free resources (shelter, food, item distribution, pet care, even recuperating your photos), I’ve compiled every free resource I’ve seen on my feeds so far.

Free Resources & Discounts For Affected Residents

Many local newspapers are putting together resource guides and fire-tracking maps for residents, so it’s important that we all support the Los Angeles journalists who are working very hard to share these resources as they come up. There’s a lot of information flying around as this situation continues to unfold, so I put together all the free stuff I could find for anyone who has been impacted by the wildfires.

Distribution Hubs: This Google document, which you’ve maybe already seen floating around social media, has a gigantic list of mutual aid and other free resources for impacted residents that includes free Wi-Fi and charging stations, meals, shelter, animal care, workspaces, child care and more across Los Angeles. If you are in need of clothes, feminine products, toiletries—anything that you may have been forced to leave behind, forgot to pack or lost in the fire, you can check out where the nearest distribution hub is for you and go collect what you need at no cost.

Shelter: Airbnb is offering two to seven day complimentary stay for evacuees, as well as free 30-day housing for anyone who has lost their home in the fires. There are no geographic limits on where a displaced resident can choose to stay, so if you want to leave California to be closer to family in a different state, you can still take advantage of this. Airbnb is accepting 25,000 more applications, so if you are still in need of emergency housing support, fill out the Airbnb.org intake form. You can check out local hotel discounts and other free shelter spots here.

Transportation: For transportation to a local shelter, Uber is offering free rides, up to $40, using the code WILDFIRE25. Lyft has provided the promo code CAFIRERELIEF25, which is good for up to $25 for a ride to any local shelter.

Food: Many restaurants are offering free food for first responders and evacuees—chains like Tatsu Ramen, Madre and Shake Shack are offering free meals in all their Los Angeles locations. Food magazine The Infatuation rounded up all the local restaurants that are providing free food for evacuees and/or first responders, so you can find a place closest to you for a hot meal. You can also check out the aforementioned gigantic resource sheet to see what other locations are offering food (it’s being updated periodically).

Legal Resources: The statewide legal assistance hotline is 888-382-3406, and it provides disaster legal services for anyone impacted by the wildfires. It’s a message-based system that is free for everyone and available any time (as it operates on texts).

Health: Gyms like Planet Fitness and Crunch Gym have opened their doors for affected residents to use their facilities for free, whether it means taking a shower or recharging your phone. Some hair salons like Ecco Hair Studio are also offering free hair washes.

Insurance Workshop: California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara will host insurance workshops and one-on-one consultations in Santa Monica and Pasadena over the following weeks. Affected homeowners can call 800-927-4357 to reserve an appointment.

Photos: Chatbooks announced that it will reprint your lost photos for free. Just email support@chatbooks.com or send them a DM to get your photos printed.

Now, onto the financial issues we’re seeing and a full recap of all of the major happenings around the fire & how they’ll impact wallets.