Dear friends,
The reporting and scenes from the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton wildfires is both heartbreaking and devastating. With over seven thousand firefighters working in tandem in response, our thoughts remain with the communities affected by this crisis. Many of us in Assembly District 18 remain vigilant of our friends, family, and loved ones in Southern California and stand ready to welcome and support them. If you have friends or loved ones impacted by the fires, please visit https://www.ca.gov/LAfires/ to find resources and up-to-date information. This is also a solemn reminder of the Keller Fire this past October and the lasting tragedy of the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire. I know firsthand that many of us remain uneasy and anxious. But together, we will prevail and support one another during this devastating moment.
Locally, significant steps have been taken to diligently address vegetation management. Oakland’s revised 10-year Vegetation Management Plan, passed in 2024, will bolster fire prevention efforts and address high-risk fire zones in the Oakland Hills. Further, in partnership with CalFIRE, Oakland received $1M in 2024 for removing and mitigating dry vegetation. We thank our firefighters for their proactive efforts to protect the homes and lives of our residents and for implementing these lifesaving measures.
As we all do our best to monitor the Los Angeles fires and reflect on our District, below are resources to prepare for unexpected disasters:
- Following the “Six P’s” from CalFIRE
- People and Pets;
- Papers, Phone Numbers, and Important Documents;
- Prescriptions, Vitamins, and Eyeglasses;
- Pictures and Irreplaceable Memorabilia;
- Personal Computers, Hard Drives and Disks;
- Plastic such as Credit and ATM Cards, Cash, and Power Chargers.
- Assemble a “Go Bag” for you and your family
- Download the Wildfire Action Plan
- Register for AC Alert for Emergency Communication
Many homeowners are also reminded and concerned about non-renewal notices on their home insurance. While the legislature works to ensure access to coverage for Californians and protect consumers, below are actively available resources to assist you now:
- If your insurer fails to provide at least 75 days’ notice of non-renewal or cancellations, call the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-HELP or visit the website at insurance.ca.gov.
- If you feel the non-renewal notice is unfair, file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance.
- Contact your insurer and ask if you can take any specific actions to mitigate your risk and retain your coverage.
- Shop for a new homeowners’ policy with the California Department of Insurance home insurance finder tool.
- Use the homeowner’s insurance comparison tool to compare policies from different insurers.
- Visit the California FAIR Plan for basic fire and smoke coverage.
My office remains committed to helping you navigate any State resources or individualized questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact my District Office for any assistance or support with your questions.
Yours in Service,
Mia Bonta
Assemblymember, 18th District
In this newsletter, you'll find the following information:
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Section 1: National and Statewide Disaster Preparedness
Section 1A: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
The National Emergency and Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready Program is a national service campaign intended to educate and provide resources to the public to prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. Ready.gov has the following resources:
Section 1B: Prepare for Emergency with Listos California:
Using Listos California, Californians can be prepared for the most common natural disasters and emergency situations in the state, including extreme heat, wildfires & smoke, power outages, floods, earthquakes, and severe storms.
For severe events, Listos has resources on how to stay informed and prepare for flooding, strong winds, wildfires, and more.
Section 2: Respond to Natural Disasters with Local Alerts
Section 2A: Sign up for Alameda County’s “AC Alert” to receive Emergency Alerts
Sign up for Alameda County’s AC Alert System to receive up-to-date information on emergency alerts and natural disasters.
Critical alerts and notifications for residents and businesses for emergencies like earthquakes, fires, severe weather, road closures, and evacuations.
Section 2B: Protect Yourself and Recover From Wildfires
Following the Keller Fire, my office released a resource list to assist wildfire recovery. This includes recommendations from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to prevent wildfires in high-risk areas, respond to nearby wildfires, and recovery.