Community resources for emergency response support

(Information as of Jan. 22, 2025 at 4 p.m.; subject to change)

Table of Contents

Real-time incident response information

Visit the USC Emergency site for the latest on university operations
Stay informed on the 211LA website
Get the Watch Duty wildfire map and alerts app
Follow LA County’s emergency website or social media pages
Register for LA County emergency alerts
Register for LA City emergency alerts
Monitor regional air quality with South Coast AQMD
Monitor road closures per LA County Public Works

Evacuation centers

  • Pasadena Civic Center: 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 (accepts domestic family pets in a carrier or crate)
  • Ritchie Valens Recreation Center: 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331 (accepts small animals)
  • Stoner Recreation Center: 1835 Stoner Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center: 14201 Huston St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
  • Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025 (accepts domestic family pets in a carrier or crate)
  • Valencia High School: 27801 Dickson Dr, Valencia, CA 91355

Animal shelters

For those impacted by the Palisades fire and searching for lost pets, contact the Missing Pets Line at 213-270-8155. For those impacted by the Eaton fire and searching for lost pets, contact the Animal Rescue Hotline at 626-577-3757.

Small animals:

  • Agoura Animal Care Center: 29525 Agoura Rd., Agoura Hills, CA 91301
  • Baldwin Park Animal Care Center: 4275 Elton St., Baldwin Park, CA 91706
  • Dogtopia of East Pasadena (3410 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107) is offering three free overnight stays for pups from families displaced by fire and a 50% discount afterwards
  • Downey Animal Care Center: 11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA. 90242
  • Lancaster Animal Care Center: 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
  • Palmdale Animal Care Center: 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550
  • Pasadena Humane Society: 361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105 (Help foster displaced animals: email foster@pasadenahumane.org)
  • spcaLA: 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016
  • Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 S Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Large animals:

  • Lancaster Animal Care Center: 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
  • Pomona Fairplex: 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 (accepts large animals
  • Savage Ranch in Temecula is offering shelter to people with horses, several rooms, plus space for RVs and trailers. DM or reach out through their website.

Telehealth for Pets:

  • Vetster is offering free telehealth appointments to pets affected by the fire — for up to 500 pets through Jan. 23.

Temporary housing options

  • 211 LA is partnering with Airbnb, American Express, and Hilton to offer free temporary shelter for fire-displaced individuals. Already applied? No need to reapply. If you haven’t yet applied, start by filling out this application.
  • Big Bear has offered this list of vacation homes and hotels which has been created specifically for the needs of fire evacuees. 
  • The local hotel association is maintaining this list of regional hotels with available space and discounts for fire victims and evacuees.
  • Odyssey Relocation is providing support for displaced individuals including referring, sourcing, and coordinating temporary or long-term housing and rental-car services.
  • Planet Fitness locations in L.A. County are offering free access to fire-affected individuals and first responders. Amenities include showers, massage chairs, locker rooms, and WiFi. Contact the club near you for more information.
  • Red Cross Los Angeles may be able to help with finding a shelter here.
  • RentSpree is offering to waive or refund application fees for individuals who need to rent property as a result of displacement/property damage. For information, email support@rentspree.com after submitting an application through RentSpree.
  • Visit Anaheim has a list of special hotel offers and assistance for people affected by the wildfires. Visit Visit Anaheim’s official website. 
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is offering temporary shelter, showers, basic amenities, and mental health support. They have also teamed up with L.A. Unified School District to provide childcare. Register on the YMCA Community Response website.

Food and transportation

  • LA Metro is providing free train and bus rides while the wildfire crisis continues.
  • The L.A. Times is maintaining this list of restaurants offering shelter, discounts, and food to fire evacuees and first responders. 
  • Uber is offering two free rides up to $40 to shelters and evacuation sites. Use code: WILDFIRE25.

Medical and mental health

  • Anthem Blue Cross is offering free access to LiveHealth Online (online option) to anyone living in the impacted area for non-emergency health needs. The free visit offer will be available through the end of the state of emergency.
  • CalHope is offering a 24/7 free hotline for confidential, emotional support.
  • Keck Care of Caregiver: If you are a Keck Medicine of USC employee and have been impacted by the wildfires, there is a dedicated hotline (323) 865-9897, email CareForTheCaregiver@med.usc.edu, and website KM-CareforCaregiver website.
  • The LA Homeless Services Authority has a list of many other resources, including food, medical care, and where to donate if able.
  • The USC WorkWell Center staff is available for emotional support for faculty and staff at (213) 821-0800 or email at workwell@usc.edu. 

State and federal assistance

  • The California Department of Insurance is offering Insurance Workshops to support those impacted by the fires. Dates and locations can be found on the department’s website.
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing assistance to eligible individuals and families affected by this disaster. Get the details and a link to the application at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4856.
    • For assistance with applying for aid and understanding your options, FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open daily from 9 a.m – 8 p.m. at the following locations:
      • Westside Location: UCLA Research Park West, 10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
      • Eastside Location: Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106
  • The Los Angeles County Assessor offers disaster relief to those whose properties were damaged or destroyed. Learn how to apply at www.assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief.
  • The State of California has launched a one-stop shop website for fire victims to access recovery resources at ca.gov/lafires. Resources include unemployment benefits, state tax relief, and more.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened the application process for disaster loans. Loans are open to homeowners and renters. Find out more and apply at www.sba.gov/disaster.

USC benefits and other support

  • The Trojan Family Relief Fund has been set up to help USC students, faculty, and staff who have been displaced by the fires and need support with transitional expenses, such as temporary housing, family care, and emergency supplies. Please visit the Wildfire Relief Fund Grants information page or details, including how to apply.
  • Major Disaster Leave Sharing Plan: With the LA wildfires declared a major disaster, USC is relaunching this plan, which allows faculty and staff to voluntarily donate their accrued vacation or paid time off to a pool of hours that other employees — who have exhausted their own accrued hours due to a declared major disaster, like the LA wildfires — can utilize.
    • The donor form is open for submissions on the Major Disaster Leave Sharing Plan page.
    • The vacation request process is scheduled to launch on Monday, Jan. 27. Please check back on or after that date for more information.
  • Relief programs for benefits-eligible employees who lost their primary residence or whose primary residence has been deemed uninhabitable by a local municipality due to the wildfires:
    • Vacation cashout: Eligible employees will be able to cash out a maximum of 10 accrued vacation days. Please check back beginning Wednesday, Jan. 29 for more information.
    • Temporary bank of up to 40 Hours of time off: Eligible employees will be provided a time code with up to 40 hours, which they can then use to work with cities, insurance companies, or contractors without having to use their accrued time. The time given must be used by June 30, 2025. Time off needs after that date would first be addressed through accrued vacation, followed by applying for donated vacation hours (once accrued vacation is exhausted) under the vacation donation program being launched.
  • Back-up dependent care: All benefits-eligible employees (non-union) qualify for 10 back-up care days per calendar year. Visit the Bright Horizons website to create an account and reserve care. For instructions on how to register, visit the Family and dependent care resources page (scroll to the back-up dependent care section).
    • New enrollment families impacted by fires get a 20% tuition discount for 3 months, with no registration fee.
  • Retirement: To access your USC retirement funds while still at work, visit the Employee Gateway In-service distributions page.
    • USC retirement plans (401(k) and 403(b)) allow a hardship withdrawal for FEMA disasters, to cover expenses and losses (including loss of income). Note, the participant’s main residence or place of employment at the time of the disaster must be in an area designated by FEMA. 
  • USC Gould School of Law is offering resources and services, like legal workshops and clinics, to impacted employees and students. Find these resources at gould.law/fire-resources.

USC Credit Union

The USC Credit Union is finalizing its support plans and specific measures to assist those members affected. This assistance will include loan extensions, short-term housing support, and additional help for those facing hardship.

If you need immediate support, please contact the USC Credit Union directly.

USC vendor discounts

The university has negotiated rates with many suppliers and our employees will automatically be offered such rates.