Tag: disasters

Disaster Workshops Being Held In Malibu

September 3, 2025 ·

Photo courtesy of the city of Malibu Facebook page.

MALIBU—On Tuesday, September 2, the city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the city will be hosting informational workshops on recovery resources for fire-affected businesses, homeowners, and renters.

The workshops are scheduled for the following dates and times:

-Sunday, September 7 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
-Tuesday, September 9 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
-Wednesday, September 10 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The workshops will take place at Malibu City Hall – Council Chambers (23825 Stuart Ranch Road)

Participants will get:
-Expert financial recovery support
-One-on-one meetings with SBA representatives
-Info on Express Event Permits & Sign Permit process
-Guidance on mitigation projects & increasing SBA loans

Spaces are limited and to register in advance call 571-686-5772 or visit Disaster.email@sba.gov.

CalAssist Mortgage Fund Begins Accepting Apps June 12

June 11, 2025 ·

Photo courtesy of the city of Malibu Facebook page.

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on Tuesday, June 10 that starting Thursday, June 12, the CalAssist Mortgage Fund will start accepting applications.

CalAssist Mortgage Fund is a state program that provides needed relief from mortgage payments for displaced families whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable by a California disaster such as the Los Angeles wildfires or floods.

Individuals who apply can receive the following:

-Get up to 3 months of mortgage relief, up to $20,000, if your home was damaged or destroyed by a California disaster.
-No repayment required
-Free to apply
-Payments go directly to your mortgage servicer
-Have the required documents ready to apply starting Thursday

To be eligible:

-Your primary residence was destroyed or is uninhabitable due to a qualified disaster from January 1, 2023, through January 8, 2025.

-Examples include the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the Park Fire in Butte, Tehama and Plumas counties.

-You meet program income limits

-You have a mortgage or reverse mortgage

-You own a single-family home, condo or permanently affixed manufactured home (may include up to four units)

Individuals who want to apply should visit www.CalAssistMortgageFund.org and click APPLY NOW to get started. Funds are limited and applications are processed first come, first serve.

By Danny Jones

Community Invited To Participate In CERT Training With Firefighters

August 22, 2024 ·

Photo by Shefali Lincoln.

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Wednesday, August 21, the city of West Hollywood posted on its website that it is encouraging community members to prioritize preparedness and is getting out the word that the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team (“CERT”) is presenting CERT Training in September 2024.

West Hollywood CERT Training is free and will take place on Friday, September 27, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 28; and Sunday, September 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center’s Fairfax/La Brea Room, located at 8750 El Tovar Place, adjacent to West Hollywood Library.

Space is limited and expected to fill quickly. Participants must register in advance and attend all three sessions to receive a certificate of completion. To register for CERT Training visit the LA County Fire Department CERT training website.

The city of West Hollywood is alerting the public that following a disaster, police, fire, and medical professionals may not be able to meet the immediate demand for emergency medical attention. Residents and neighbors may need to rely upon one another to help with immediate life-saving needs. CERT Training was developed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide basic fire safety and life-saving skills.

CERT Training participants will learn valuable survival skills, including disaster preparedness, terrorism, disaster fire suppression, disaster psychology, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, and drill simulation, which can be vital in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster.

For more details contact Jessica Anukam, West Hollywood’s Public Safety Specialist, at (323) 848-6436 or at janukam@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing call TTY (323) 848-6496.

By Trevor

Public Safety Expo At City Hall On June 10

June 6, 2023 ·

Public Safety Expo

MALIBU—The city is working to help the community prepare for wildfires, earthquakes, and other disasters with its annual Public Safety Expo on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Malibu City Hall.

“Malibu is vulnerable to many kinds of disasters from wildfires to earthquakes and tsunamis, so it’s our responsibility to be prepared, and the best time to get started is right now,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein. “I urge every resident, employee, student and business owner in Malibu to join us for the Public Safety Expo to learn how to make a plan and gather supplies so our whole community can be ready and resilient.”

The free event is part of Malibu’s ongoing efforts to help the community be more prepared for wildfires, earthquakes, floods, landslides and any other disasters that nature might bring.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will provide a presentation about new brush clearance regulations, and the California Department of Insurance will give a presentation on wildfire insurance issues from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The presentations will be recorded and will be made available to watch on the city of Malibu website and social media.

-New Brush Clearance Regulations – Ron Durbin from the Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division will be speaking on AB 3074, approved by the governor on September 29, 2020, establishes Zone 0, a 5-foot Ember Resistant Zone that may require removal of all flammable materials within five feet of any structure.

-Wildfire Insurance Issues – Armine Sargsyan, the Community Relations Outreach Analyst from the California Department of Insurance, will be speaking and answering questions on insurance issues that affect homeowners in the Very High Fire Safety Severity Zone, which encompasses all of Malibu.

Public Safety Responder Appreciation Day – The event will be a celebration of “Public Safety Responder Appreciation Day in Malibu.” To honor law enforcement and firefighting personnel, as well as the many public safety volunteers including Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Sheriff’s Volunteers on Patrol and Arson Watch, the community is invited to come and show their appreciation by signing a special thank you book that will be presented to each group.

Earthquake Simulator -Take a ride in an earthquake simulator that recreates a realistic and educational experience of a major earthquake inside a house, highlighting the need to make your home more earthquake safe.

“Jaws of Life” Demonstration – The Fire Department will demonstrate a vehicle extraction rescue using the “Jaws of Life.”

Fire Extinguisher Training – Learn how to use a fire extinguisher.

Free Lunch – Coupons for free lunch will be provided to participants in Expo events from two food trucks offering a variety of tasty hot food, including vegan options, and shaved ice. (There will be a Limited supply. Food will also be available for purchase).

Public Safety Specialty Teams and Vehicles; Volunteer Opportunities; Emergency Preparedness Vendors – The Expo is a great opportunity for kids to learn about emergency preparedness and meet public safety and law enforcement professionals in person. Numerous vendors will have emergency preparedness equipment and supplies for sale and demonstration. Learn about a variety of volunteer opportunities with organizations including Arson Watch and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

-LA County Sheriff’s Department K-9

-LA County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad

-Malibu Search and Rescue

-LA County Fire Department

-LA County Animal Care and Control

-LA County Lifeguards

-Arson Watch

-Insurance providers

The vendors, participating agencies and trainings offered at the Expo will be listed on the website.

By Casey