Need help recovering from Sacramento storms? Here are some financial and housing options
Storms and dangerous winds in Northern California wreaked havoc across the region, flooding streets, reeling power from thousands of homes and toppling trees that mangle cars in the process.
Sacramento Bee reader Elizabeth Kaestner asked the service journalism team if utilities would be responsible for loss of food or need to find temporary housing due to power outages. Generally, utilities are not responsible for issues beyond their control, such as power outages caused by weather, according to Pacific Gas &Electric and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District websites.
That doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck. To answer Kaestner’s question and provide more resources for Sacramentans facing financial losses due to storm damage, The Bee gathered the following resources. Here are some options:
Federal Emergency Management Agency programs
Those in Sacramento County, as well as Merced and Santa Cruz can now apply to FEMA programs for disaster assistance. These programs are set up to help individuals and businesses who need help recovering from the recent storms.
You can apply online. Some things you’ll need for your application include:
- Social Security Number (SSN) OR the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien
- Annual Household Income
- Contact Information (phone number, mailing address, email address*, and damaged home address)
- Insurance Information (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
- Bank Account Information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)
FEMA does not typically cover food loss.
Report your home to Sacramento County
If your home or business was damaged due to recent storms, you can report it to Sacramento County online.
This will help the county identify when and where they need to create a Local Assistance Center, according to the county’s email reply, which will help “(provide) recovery direction, assistance and resources to residents when recovering from a disaster.”
U-Haul free storage
U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage to Californians affected by the state’s strong of hazardous rainstorms, according to a news release. Several of the participating locations are in the Sacramento area.
CalFresh Benefits Replacement
CalFresh recipients can request to replace their benefits if they experienced a power outage that resulted in spoiled food.
Requests must be made up to 10 days after food loss, according to CalFresh. To make a request, you need to contact your local CalFresh office and complete a form, which includes your contact information and brief description of how and when your food was lost.
Your insurance policy
Depending on your homeowner or renter’s insurance policy, you may be able to get coverage for food spoilage during a weather event, according to Money Geek, a personal finance website.
You should check with your insurance company and file a claim for damages to your home, if it is covered in your policy.
What about shelters?
If you are unable to stay in your home, you can call 3-1-1 to ask about city and county services. Shelter information can be found through the county’s 2-1-1 number or online.
Want to help others?
If you want to help others in need, GoFundMe organized a central hub of verified fundraisers in the area.
After a state of emergency was issued in California on Jan. 8 due to flooding and storms, the company is holding verified donations to help people who need to rebuild and pay for medical and memorial costs.
You can see the fundraisers online for individuals and communities affected by the recent weather.
This story was originally published January 10, 2023 at 12:59 PM.