A wildfire displacement is the worst version of a move: forced, time-pressured, often with no possessions, conducted under acute trauma, in a market where prices have just spiked. The single most important thing to do in the first 72 hours is to start three time-clocks in parallel — your insurance claim, your FEMA registration, and your SBA loan application — because each has a different processing speed and the funds arrive at different times. This guide is organized to maximize total aid recovery while you find a place to live, recover documents, and begin to process the loss.
Source data includes FEMA Individuals and Households Program rules (44 CFR 206.110-206.117), SBA Disaster Loan Program documentation (13 CFR Part 123), California Insurance Code Section 10103.7 and Section 530 (post-fire homeowner protections), Oregon and Washington state wildfire recovery programs, FAS (Federal Assistance to States) tracking through 2025, and conversations with public adjusters experienced in Marshall Fire, Camp Fire, and Eaton/Palisades fire recoveries during early 2026.
The FEMA IHP is the principal federal program for households after a Presidentially-declared disaster. 2026 IHP statutory maximum is $43,600 (verify with current FEMA notice). The program has two assistance categories:
Apply at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. Registration window is typically 60 days from disaster declaration, sometimes extended to 90 or 180 days. Always apply even if you have full insurance — FEMA can cover gaps the insurance won't (e.g., uninsured personal property, ALE that exceeds your insurance cap).
After a federally-declared disaster, the Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses. SBA Disaster Loans are subordinate to FEMA assistance (apply FEMA first), but they are often the most important capital source for those rebuilding.
| Loan Type | Maximum Amount | 2026 Interest Rate | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Disaster Loan (real estate) | $500,000 | 2.5% (no other credit) / 5.4% (with other credit) | Up to 30 years |
| Home Disaster Loan (personal property) | $100,000 | 2.5% / 5.4% | Up to 30 years |
| Business Physical Disaster Loan | $2,000,000 | 4.0% / 8.0% | Up to 30 years |
| Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) | $2,000,000 | 4.0% | Up to 30 years |
Apply at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov. Application is intensive (credit check, income docs, tax returns). Processing typically takes 60-90 days; for severe damage, expedited. Required tax returns: most recent 3 years. The SBA application is also required to qualify for some non-loan FEMA programs, even if you don't intend to take the loan.
| Timing | Insurance Event | Typical Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0-3 | File claim, get claim number | $0 |
| Day 5-15 | Adjuster meeting / phone | — |
| Day 7-14 | ALE Advance Payment (request specifically) | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Day 14-30 | Structural damage assessment | — |
| Day 30-60 | Personal property advance (request specifically; California has 60-day rule for 25% of personal property coverage on request) | $10,000 – $50,000+ |
| Day 30-90 | Debris removal authorization or insurance-paid removal | — |
| Day 60-120 | Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss filed by insured | — |
| Day 120-365 | Structural settlement negotiations | — |
| Day 180-540 | Final structural settlement | $300,000 – $1,500,000+ (depends on coverage and total loss status) |
| Day 12-24 months | ALE continues until home is rebuilt or replaced | $3,000 – $8,000+/month |
Post-wildfire rental markets are tight and expensive. Specific patterns:
If everything burned, the insurance claim hinges on documentation of what was lost. Documentation methods in order of evidentiary value:
Insurance carriers require a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss with itemized inventory. This is 100-300 hours of work over months. Hire a public adjuster (typically 7-15% of settlement) if the claim exceeds $100,000 and you can't manage the documentation yourself.
The Wilson family (parents, 2 children) lost their home in a federally-declared wildfire in California in April 2026. Pre-fire home value $785,000; contents replacement value estimated $185,000. Insurance: $720,000 dwelling, $145,000 personal property, $144,000 ALE.
| Action | Detail | Funds Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0-3: file claim, evacuated to family in suburbs | Got claim # immediately | $0 |
| Day 5: requested ALE advance | Per CA Code 10103.7 | $12,000 (Day 14) |
| Day 7: registered with FEMA | Disasterassistance.gov | — |
| Day 12: submitted SBA disaster loan application | Pre-emptive even if not taking | — |
| Day 14: ALE advance received | — | $12,000 |
| Day 21: rented furnished home in next county | $5,200/mo (vs pre-fire $3,200) | ALE covers $2,000 differential |
| Day 30: structural damage assessment completed, totaled | Filed personal property advance request | $36,250 (Day 60) |
| Day 45: SBA disaster loan approved $230,000 | 2.5% rate, 30 yr | $230,000 available |
| Day 60: personal property advance received | 25% of $145k | $36,250 |
| Day 75: FEMA IHP grant received | $8,200 personal property + transportation | $8,200 |
| Day 90: SS Proof of Loss filed for full structural | — | — |
| Day 180: structural settlement negotiated | $702,000 (less depreciation, recovery + holdback) | $520,000 initial |
| Day 365: home rebuild started | Architect, contractor | $702,000 total released across draws |
| Day 720: home complete, family returns | — | — |
Wildfire trauma is significant. Resources:
Post-wildfire, families face a decision: rebuild on the same site or relocate. Considerations:
FEMA has limited grant programs for buyout of homes in high-risk areas (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program); investigate eligibility.
After a wildfire loss, you may face difficulty renewing or finding new homeowners insurance in high-fire-risk areas. Options:
The FEMA IHP is the principal federal program assisting households after a Presidentially-declared disaster. IHP provides Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance. The 2026 IHP maximum award is $43,600. Eligibility requires registration at disasterassistance.gov within the registration window.
The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses after a federally-declared disaster. Home Disaster Loans up to $500,000 for real estate, $100,000 for personal property. 2026 interest rates 2.5%-5.4% depending on other credit availability. Apply at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.
Standard timeline: ALE advance within 7-14 days; structural assessment 30-60 days; personal property advance 30-60 days; full structural settlement 6-18 months. California requires 60 days for advance payment of 25% of structural coverage on request.
ALE pays for temporary increase in cost of living when home is unlivable. Covers hotel, restaurant meals above normal, pet boarding, additional gas, laundromat. Most policies provide 12-24 months capped at 20-30% of dwelling coverage. California Code requires ALE for at least 24 months for total loss.
Strategies: apply through insurance carrier's preferred-relocation network; use FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance; look 30-60 miles from fire zone; network through workplace and religious organizations; use furnished short-term rentals for first 2-4 months.
Driver's license, passport, insurance policies, bank statements, recent tax returns, medical records and prescription list, birth certificates, property deed, vehicle title, photos of home interior. Store digital copies in cloud storage. The go-bag should be ready year-round in high-risk fire zones.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 (24/7); FEMA Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program; state-specific programs; local county mental health agencies; EMDR or trauma-focused CBT for persistent symptoms.
Pre-fire video walkthrough (most valuable evidence), pre-fire photographs, credit card statements showing purchases, receipts in email, manufacturer warranty registrations, social media photos, witness statements. Insurance carriers require an itemized Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss.