LA FIRES RESOURCES🔥: LOVE ON LA ❤️ — WE NEED IT!

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out to check on me during this incredibly challenging time. Your concern and support mean the world to me. I’m relieved to report that I am safe, and all my belongings are intact. I recognize how fortunate I am, especially when so many of our fellow Angelenos are facing unimaginable losses.

Living through these wildfires re-awakens the trauma and memories of living through 9/11 in New York City. The pervasive anxiety , the fear of the unknown, and the constant vigilance—it all feels eerily familiar. Here in Los Angeles, the tension is beyond palpable. Many have lost everything, while others live in a state of perpetual readiness, incessantly checking evacuation maps , with cars packed, prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The emotional toll is exhausting 😔

Yet, amidst this adversity, there emerges a profound sense of community and connectedness. Just as in the aftermath of 9/11, the solidarity among Angelenos and the outpouring of support from afar have been truly heartening 💞. It’s a testament to the resilience and compassion that defines our connected humanity. Please, continue to check on your friends and family. Your messages of concern and love bolster our collective strength and hope — TOGETHER, we will RISE through this challenging time 💖

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Below, I’ve compiled a list of resources for those in need and ways others can contribute to relief efforts.

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For Those in Need of Assistance 🎗️

If you or someone you know has been displaced or affected by the fires, the following resources are available:

• Airbnb Open Homes: Airbnb is offering free temporary housing for those displaced by the fires. AirBNB Application
• Lyft and Uber Relief Codes:
  • Lyft: Use code CAFIRERELIEF25 for $25 off rides.
  • Uber: Use code WILDFIRE25 for $40 off rides.
• Red Cross Wildfire Support: Access shelter 🛏️ and immediate emergency assistance. Learn more here.
• Local Charities Offering Free Food and Supplies: Organizations like the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank are providing meals and essentials to those in need. Find more information here.
• GoFundMe: If you or someone you know needs direct financial assistance, starting a GoFundMe campaign can rally support from friends and family. Here’s how to start one.
• California Department of Social Services: Offers disaster-related emergency services. Learn more here.
• FEMA Assistance: Apply for disaster assistance through FEMA. Visit FEMA’s website for eligibility and application details.
• 211 LA County: Call 211 for immediate help with housing, food, and other essential services. Learn more here.
• The Salvation Army Southern California Division: Provides disaster relief, including shelter, food, and financial support. learn more here.

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Emergency Evacuation Checklist: The 6 Ps + E 🚨

When you’re in the thick of preparing to evacuate, the stress and urgency can make it difficult to think clearly about what to pack. A straightforward system can be lifesaving in such moments. Here’s a simple guide, often referred to as the “6 Ps + E”:

1. People and Pets 🐾: Ensure the safety of all household members, including pets. Have leashes, carriers, food, and water for your pets.
2. Papers 📄: Gather important documents such as passports, birth certificates, insurance paperwork, medical records, and property deeds.
3. Prescriptions 💊: Pack essential medications, vitamins, and medical devices (like glasses, contact lenses, or inhalers).
4. Pictures 🖼️: Collect irreplaceable photos and memorabilia.
5. Personal Computers and Electronics 💻: Bring phones, chargers, laptops, external hard drives, and other critical devices.
6. Plastic 💳: Carry credit cards, debit cards, and cash for immediate expenses.
7. Essentials (E) 🎒: Don’t forget water, a change of clothes, toiletries, non-perishable snacks, and a flashlight.

Having this checklist ready and accessible can make all the difference in an emergency evacuation, ensuring you leave nothing critical behind while keeping stress levels manageable.

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For Those Who Want to Help

If you’re looking to support relief efforts, consider donating to the following organizations:

• KWCares: My firm, Keller Williams, is distributing grants to support clients and community members impacted by the fires. Donate here.
• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: Support our heroic firefighters, who are risking everything on the frontlines. Donate here.
• California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund: Offers grants for intermediate and long-term recovery efforts. Learn more.
• Los Angeles LGBT Center: Provides a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals 🌈, offering various services and support. Learn more.
• Baby2Baby: Provides essential items such as diapers, food, formula, and hygiene products for children and families affected by the fires. Donate here.
• Direct Relief: Offers medical assistance to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies. Donate here.
• World Central Kitchen: Provides meals to those affected by disasters, including wildfire evacuees and first responders. Donate here.
• LA United Way: Supports those impacted by disasters with housing, food, and recovery assistance . Donate here.
• Pasadena Humane: Offers shelter and care for animals displaced by the fires. Donate here.
• Homeless Support During Harmful Air Quality: Organizations like Union Station Homeless Services and The People Concern are working tirelessly to provide shelter and masks for those exposed to hazardous air.
• Schools and Families in Need: Many schools and families need help rebuilding. Consider donating to DonorsChoose to fund specific classroom needs in affected areas.

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Here for my community, Always ❤️

Again, I want to thank everyone for their support during this time. We will build back better and stronger. If anything good can come from this tragedy, it is the opportunity to become a more united, resilient community in Los Angeles—rebuilding not just our physical spaces, but also our collective spirit!

If you have family here or need help in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am here to do whatever I can, personally and professionally. There will be a huge need for housing in the rental and sales market, ideally fully furnished homes, as well as guidance navigating arduous insurance claims. Many escrows will now require re-inspections if they’re being financed or insured.

I am here to answer or find answers to any of these questions and help in any way I can. Together, we will get through this 💪🏼❤️!!!

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FYI: Grief Happy Hour 💔🍷

I will be hosting a GRIEF Happy Hour on January 20, 2024 from 5 PM to 7 PM. The location is still TBD. The initial idea was to create a space for friends, family, and community members processing post-election grief to come together and find support with like-minded individuals. Given the challenges we now face, I’m extending this invitation to anyone dealing with grief—whether related to the fires, the election, or other personal traumas.

The evening will include community support and guidance from a trauma-specialized therapist, who will share tools to help navigate the months and years ahead.

If you’d like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at 917.601.0038 or jed@realestate-jedi.com.