As we did following the 1993 fire, The Malibu Times is offering this free bulletin board for fire victims and those wanting to help. This page will be updated as new information becomes available. The latest version before The Times goes to print will appear in the print edition. Please send your announcements and event listings to Jonathan Friedman through e-mail at jf@malibutimes.com. Information can also be sent via fax to 310.456.8986 or by calling Jonathan at 310.456.5507 ext. 105.
The Greater Malibu Disaster Recovery Project, or Gumdrop, is available to assist those who have been affected by the fire and who have not or will not qualify for assistance from insurance, FEMA or the other more conventional helpers for those in need. Services and financial aid are offered to all residents of the greater Malibu area, regardless of whether they live within the city limits. The organization is actively seeking cash donations in all amounts. Donations should be made payable to Greater Malibu Disaster Recovery Project and mailed to GMDRP, P.O. Box 6321, Malibu, CA 90264-6321. Donations are tax deductible, and a receipt for the full amount of the cash donation will be furnished.
Gumdrop can be contacted by telephone at 310.456.2489 ext. 301, fax at 310. 456.3356 or by e-mail at gmdrp@ci.malibu.ca.us.
The Local Assistance Center is operating at Bluffs Park Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Agencies at the Center include FEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration, California Office of Emergency Services, Los Angeles County building and safety officials, Department of Motor Vehicles, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, property tax assessor, Social Services and several private insurance companies.
Mental health officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health are at the Local Assistance Center distributing informational brochures on “Coping with a Disaster,” “How to Talk to Children after a Disaster,” “Psychological First Aid for Parents, Children, Teachers and Students,” U.S. Homeland Security Preparedness, in addition to coloring books for children. Anyone needing general or crisis counseling or seeking additional resources can contact the ACCESS Center 24/7, including holidays, at 800.854.7771.
The U.S. Small Business Administration will have customer service representatives available at the Local Assistance Center to provide personalized disaster assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses to issue loan applications, explain the application process and help each individual and business owner complete their application.
Owners of fire damaged/destroyed structures within city limits should contact city of Malibu staff (310.456.2489 x241) to confirm the extent of their loss and to obtain a permit (no charge) for fire clean up. To find out about the status of your home in the Malibu area, you can call the Los Angeles County Fire Department at 323.881.2411. The city is providing information on the rebuilding process at this link: http://www.malibu-ca.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&navid=256&cid=11428.
Owners of property in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County should call 818.880.9416. Staff in that office can provide information regarding Red Cross centers and other available assistance.
If you would like to offer resources to fire victims or if you are a fire victim in need of resources, contact the Red Cross at 866.GET.INFO (438.4636). Donations can be made by calling 800.RED.CROSS (733.2767). For bulk donations, call 800.750.2858. The Red Cross Web site is www.redcross.org. The Red Cross Safe and Well List can be found at www.disastersafe.redcross.org.
The Malibu Post Office is open and mail is being delivered. Residents who have lost their homes can pick up their mail at the Point Dume Post Office, located at 29160 Heathercliff Road. Residents are asked to bring proper identification to obtain their mail. The post office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Allstate Insurance has set up its disaster recovery team at Bluffs Park. Farmers Insurance has its location on the eastbound side of Pacific Coast Highway next to the Malibu High School Christmas Tree Lot.
For emergency assistance with lost or found animals or other animal related issues, call the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control at 818.991.6384. For general questions, call 818.991.0071. The Web site is www.animalcare.lacounty.gov. Visit or contact the local command center or disaster relief center to find out what agency is rescuing animals from your neighborhood. Normally, the county or city animal control agency will be responsible for retrieving stranded animals. Call 888.738.7911 or visit www.pets911.com to find the phone numbers and locations of animal shelters or agencies nearby, go to www.petfinder.com/disaster. The site updates statistics and contact information for animal shelters and rescued pets. Those willing to provide a temporary home for a displaced pet should call 866.654.4732
Four months free storage, including safety deposit boxes, is being offered by Jay Sundher, a 30-year resident of Malibu and owner of Hollywood Storage Center of Thousand Oaks. He is also offering use of the conference room, copier and fax machine for victims. The storage facility is located at 3425 Old Conejo Road in Thousand Oaks. For more information, call 805.214.1066.
A home with reasonable rent is needed for a single mother of three whose home was destroyed in Latigo Canyon. Her insurance does not cover temporary housing during the rebuilding of her home. Anybody who can help should call insurance agent Wendy Baker at 310.924.1249
Consumers can verify a contractor’s license status at the Contractors State License Board’s Web site, www.cslb.ca.gov, or through its telephone system at 800.321.CSLB (2752). Find out if the contractor’s license is active and in the right classification for the work to be done. Consumers can also see if there are any legal complaints against the contractor, if the business name and address are correct and if there is workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employees.
The CSLB has activated its Disaster Hotline, which is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800.962.1125.
The Artifac Tree is helping fire victims. Donations can be made to the thrift shop founded in 1973 by Honey Coatsworth following a fire three years earlier. The Artifac Tree is offering a half-price sale from Dec. 3 through Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop located at 3728 1/2 Cross Creek Road. The phone number is 310.456.1068.
Gift certificates from clothing stores will be collected at the Boys & Girls Club fashion show at The Club on Friday. The Club is located at 30215 Morning View Drive on the Malibu High School campus. The event begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call 310.457.1400
Four free matching wicker chairs are available for fire victims. Call Karen Gray at 310.456.9676 to arrange a pick-up.
Free computer and Internet access is available for fire victims on the first floor of City Hall, located at 23815 Stuart Ranch Road. The hours are Thurs., Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Fri., Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Mon., Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thurs., Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Fri., Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Employees unable to work and employers whose businesses were disrupted by the Corral fire will receive special benefits from state and federal governments. Eligible workers will be able to collect a full two weeks of regular unemployment insurance benefits on their first check, and the federal government is offering Disaster Unemployment Assistance to workers who are not eligible for regular UI benefits. The state Employment Development Department (EDD), which administers the UI and DUA programs in California, is also offering employers affected by the fire a 60-day extension to file their state payroll reports and to deposit state payroll taxes with the department without penalty or interest. The deadline for filing DUA claims related to the Corral fire is Jan. 9.
The fastest and easiest way to file claims for UI and DUA benefits is on-line at http://www.edd.ca.gov/fleclaim.htm. Claimants can also file via the telephone at 800.300.5616.
A benefit concert for the firefighters injured in the Corral Fire featuring Point Dume resident Tommy Funderburk and others performing Christmas carols will take place on Dec. 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. both nights at the Malibu Performing Arts Center. For ticket information, call 866.468.3399.
A research team from UC Irvine is conduction a short survey about how people found and shared information during this year’s fires. The survey takes eight to 10 minutes and all data is anonymous. The survey can be found at this link: www.cs.colorado.edu/~palen/SoCalFireSurvey/.
Malibu Presbyterian Church is assisting fire victims in a variety of ways. Those who have been affected should contact Tim Jones at 310.456.1611 ext. 218 or send an e-mail to tjones@malibupres.org. Although the church lost its building in the October fire, the congregation is continuing to meet on Sunday mornings in Malibu. The church’s Web site is www.malibupres.org.
A nearly new mattress with box springs, frame and headboard that was used approximately five times is available for fire victims needing to refurnish. Those interested should contact Sandy Thacker at 310.454.750 or thackerca@aol.com.
A cat that survived the Corral Fire has been found. The cat is a female, torti-shell with medium long hair, and is located at the Agoura Hills Animal Shelter, 29525 Agoura Road in Agoura, 818.991.0071. When new animals are found, the shelter will take a photo and place it on the Web site,
www.animalcare.lacounty.gov. According to the shelter, animals will hide for several weeks, so anyone missing an animal should continue to look at the Web site and contact the shelter for updates.
A single woman in her 50s whose Corral Canyon home of 17 years was destroyed is looking for a place to live in the $1,000-per month range. She can be contacted at 310.770.0275.