The Wildfire Assistance Program (WAP) is now accepting applications. The bankruptcy court approved the $105 million WAP fund to help those impacted by the October 2017 Northern California wildfires and the 2018 Camp Fire.

 The program website and application are now live, and can be accessed at:               www.norcalwildfireassistanceprogram.com

 The program offers two funding tiers for wildfire victims with urgent needs, including those without adequate shelter.

  1.      Basic Unmet Needs - $5,000 payment per household
Claims for those who can establish basic eligibility requirements and self-certify that they have at least $5,000 of unmet needs that have not been compensated by FEMA will be prioritized. Payments are to support needs such as water, food, prescriptions, medical supplies and equipment, infant formula and diapers, personal hygiene items, and transportation fuels beyond what FEMA covered in the days immediately following the disaster.

2.      Supplemental Unmet Needs
Funds will be made available for these claims only after “Basic Unmet Needs” payments have been issued. The second round of funding will go to those who currently face extreme or extraordinary circumstances as compared to others who were impacted by the October 2017 Northern California wildfires or the 2018 Camp Fire. The third party claims administrator will ultimately determine which claims are eligible.

To qualify for payments, your primary residence must have been within the boundary of the October 2017 Northern California wildfires or the 2018 Camp Fire. Claimants will be required to establish proof of their identity and to certify that they are not requesting payments for an expense already paid for by FEMA.

 It is also important to reiterate that the WAP is separate from the bankruptcy claims process in which we represent you against PG&E. The WAP is a limited emergency fund, not a program of resolution of your bankruptcy claims.

Additionally, this is the Facebook link to the assistance program: https://www.facebook.com/WildfireAssistanceProgram

 Please contact us if you have any questions or encounter any difficulty preparing your application.