Woodworker and CERF+ assisted artist Marcus Maria Jung after the 2015 California Valley Fire.

Steps for Art Studio Salvage and Recovery After a Wildfire

If your home, studio or space was damaged or destroyed in one of the recent California wildfires, review these tips to help you clean up, recover what you can, and rebuild.

Disaster Clean Up

• Make a Plan
• View the “Protect Yourself!” Personal Protect Equipment (PPE) video.

• Health + Safety Risks
• Useful Supplies + Equipment

Disaster Salvage

• Salvage Basics
• Salvaging Books + Papers
• e-Salvage
• After the Fire – FEMA’s Heritage Emergency National Task Force’s advice for salvaging damaged family treasures.

Self Support

• Creating Again
• Emotional Help
• Emotional Help Resources
• California Crisis Counseling – Short-term counseling may be available for emotional or mental health problems caused by the impacts of the disaster. For more information, contact your county mental health department.
• Rebuilding Your Business
• Insurance Claim Resource: United Policyholders
  • Woolsey Fire
  • Camp Fire
• California Department of Insurance – Wildfire resources and insurance information. If you are experiencing difficulty with the processing of your claim or wish to have an underinsurance issue investigated, contact the officers at the CDI’s Consumer Hotline at 1-800-927-4357(HELP).

Networking

• Crowdfunding
• Social Media
• Working with Volunteers
• Facebook’s Camp Fire Crisis Response Page
• Facebook’s Woolsey Fire Crisis Response Page
• Recovers.org’s Camp Fire Community Response Page

Be Aware

• Avoid Scams
• California Contractors State License Board (CSBL) – The CSLB verifies contractor licenses, investigates complaints, and provides helpful information about hiring a licensed contractor. For information on hiring or filing a complaint regarding a contractor, disaster victims may call CSLB’s Disaster Hotline M-F from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1-800-962-1125, or the 24-hour automated telephone response system, 1-800-321-CSLB (2752). Licenses can also be checked online.
• Legal Issues
• Disaster Legal Aid Hotlines (American Bar Association in conjunction with FEMA and the State Bar of California)
  • Butte County – 800-345-9491
  • Ventura County and Los Angeles County – 877-301-4448

Emergency Relief for Artists

Are You an Artist Working in a Craft Discipline?

CERF+’s emergency financial relief program, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, provides $3,000 grant and other assistance to artists working in craft disciplines who are facing a career threatening emergency. CERF+ staff is available during the week from 8:30am-5:00pm EST at 802.229.2306 and [email protected] to provide counseling and referrals to artists searching for emergency resources.

• CERF+ Emergency Relief Grants for Artists Working in Craft Disciplines
  • CERF+ Grants + Brokered Assistance
  • CERF+ Assistance Eligibility
  • Supporting Documentation

Other Emergency Relief Programs for Artists

• New York Foundation for the Arts’ (NYFA) National List of Emergency Grants for Artists in NYFA Source
• Additional resources will be added as arts organizations in the affected regions are able to respond

Additional Relief and Recovery Resources for Artists

Relief Agencies

• Government + Volunteer Relief Agencies
• Tips for Working with FEMA + SBA
• Relief + Resources from Arts Organizations
• Emergency Management Agency Links for California Wildfires
  • FEMA Disaster Declaration
  • DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) – Disaster loans for individuals, businesses and nonprofits
  • American Red Cross
  • California Emergency Services – Statewide Wildfire Recovery Resources
  • Butte County Recovers – The official website for Camp Fire response and recovery
  • Camp Fire – CalFire Incident Report
  • Woolsey Fire – CalFire Incident Report
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance – For the self-employed as well as employees. Application deadline 12/14/18