Eaton Fire Survivors Network
EFSN Community Update: Week of June 6th

The Eaton Fire Survivors Network is a community of 2,500+ families - displaced survivors building community and accessing expert resources so that we all can recover faster and stronger. Join us on Discord by clicking here.

Key Dates for Recovery
The new Survivor Support Location (SSL) is now open at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive. Here, you can meet face-to-face with FEMA, the SBA, and L.A. County departments—all in one place. They’re open Monday through Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm.
Note: The old Disaster Recovery Centers on Pico and Woodbury are now closed.
 
The One-Stop Permit Center is open at 464 W. Woodbury Rd, Suite 210. Walk-ins are welcome Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm. Want to skip the line?  Book an appointment: Click here. 
 
If you opted out of the Army Corps program, your property must be fully cleared by June 30. If cleanup is not completed by this date, the property may be declared a Public Nuisance.

Message from Joy Chen
Founder of EFSN
This week marks five months since the fire that upended all our lives.
 
I feel incredibly fortunate that my family and I have completed remediation and moved back into our home. That was possible only because our insurer (USAA) promptly handled everything: testing, remediation, retesting, re-remediation, through a single, responsive, and caring adjuster. 
 
And that’s why my heart breaks every time I hear what so many of you are still going through.
 
🎥 CBS Statewide Insurance Town Hall: What 500 Complaints Revealed
This week, I appeared on CBS’s California-wide Insurance Town Hall special.
 
What I said on air that surprised many: whether a family is recovering like mine — or slipping further into financial and emotional crisis — often comes down to one thing: which insurance company they’re with. 
 
The special was designed as an expert Q&A, but within just three hours, the CBS Insurance Town Hall special team was flooded with 500 questions and complaints from viewers. They were stunned. Afterward, I explained that this outpouring happened because these are not isolated problems. They’re structural. No expert tip can fix rotating adjusters or systematic underpayments. These require regulatory and legal solutions.
 
I also suggested they transcribe the viewer questions and use AI to identify patterns: what issues are most common, which companies are underperforming, and where they need to dig deeper. They said they’ll follow up in future reporting. This team truly cares. I believe we’ll see more light shining soon.
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🧾 Got Tax Questions?
In our Discord, many of you have been asking questions like:
  • How do I get property tax relief if my home was damaged or destroyed?
  • What happens to my property taxes when I rebuild?
  • Can I transfer my property tax base if I decide not to rebuild?
  • How do I get my refund if I’m displaced?
Good news: I’m hosting a live Zoom Q&A with my old friend Jeff Prang, the LA County Assessor. Jeff was Mayor of West Hollywood when I was Deputy Mayor of LA. Today, he’s committed to making his office one of the most trusted and effective public agencies in California.
 
📅 Register now: Zoom Live Q&A with LA County Assessor Jeff Prang:
 
📬 Postcard Parties Are Coming!
Five months in, I don’t know about you, but I’m really feeling the need for us to gather in person.
 
So, we’re planning a couple of Postcard Parties for late June or early July. These will be a chance to come together, reconnect, and write postcards to public officials, asking for the oversight we need to ensure all insurers are held to account. These events are about community, solidarity, and taking action together.
 
With a bit of funding secured, we’re already planning one in the Altadena/Pasadena area for Eaton Fire survivors. I’d love to hold one in the Palisades too, if we can find a sponsor.
 
Here’s what we need:
  • A location in Altadena/Pasadena for 100 people, indoors or outdoors
  • A location in the Palisades, plus a sponsor for snacks and drinks
  • Support for postcard printing (approx. $3000)
If you can help, please reply to this email!
 
This anniversary marks five months of deep grief. But also five months of standing by each other, and refusing to give up. 
 
Every day, I’m moved by the generosity with which you all treat one another. Thank you!  Because we are together, I know that brighter days are ahead. I’m grateful to be walking them with you. ❤️
 
-Joy

Survivor-Led Advocacy
EFSN members are leading the charge on issues that matter to us all.
Keep Our Land in Community Hands : AB 797 would stop corporate land grabs after disasters and help longtime residents stay rootedKimberlina shared how you can raise your voice and support this critical effort. (Thanks Kimberlina!)
 
Make Wildfire Settlements Permanently Tax-Free: HR 5863, passed in 2024, made some wildfire settlements tax-free—but only until January 1, 2026. Krista shared how we can act to extend that protection. (Thanks Krista!)
 
Permit fees: Let’s Get Them Waived: Ali shared that Supervisor Barger is asking L.A. County departments to develop a plan to defer permitting and inspection fees for like-for-like rebuilds. Meanwhile, our own Leonor started a change.org petition urging the County to waive permit fees altogether. (Thanks Ali & Leonor)
 
Raising our voices: EFSN members Rossana Valverde and her husband Sam are standing strong, demanding the insurance compensation they—and many of us—deserve. (Thanks Rossana & Sam!) 
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Growing public awareness: EFSN member Kelsey Szamet opened her home to CBS Evening News, helping to shine a national spotlight on what we’re all fighting for: a fair insurance payout. (Thank you, Kelsey!)
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Community Conversations This Week
Free Debris Removal for Under-Resourced Survivors: Team Rubicon is offering free chainsaw and debris removal services—but only for a limited time. David shared that their focus is helping survivors who either didn’t qualify for government aid or still have debris left even after the Army Corps cleanup. (Thanks David!)
 
Contractor Research: Jane is compiling a shared list of must-ask contractor questions—plus tools to check licenses, complaints, and insurance. Annie followed up with tips on bonds and vetting for reliability. (Thanks Jane & Annie!)
 
Permitting Insights: Corey W. visited the Permit Center and learned new builds must include solar panels and indoor sprinklers. These are “code upgrades”—check your policy to make sure you're covered. (Thanks Corey!)
 
Security Incidents Are Rising. Here’s What You Can Do: LA County Sheriff Marquez presented at Victory Bible Church last week, laying out a clear plan to protect Altadena neighborhoods Andrew K. shared the key takeaways. (Thanks Andrew!)
  • Patrols quadrupling staffing in affected areas of Altadena
  • Add fencing and signage to build layers of deterrence.
  • Authorize Deputies to Act: Complete a Letter of Agency so law enforcement can remove trespassers from your property even when you’re not home.
 
Other crime prevention tools available:

Make an Impact:
Small Actions with Big Impact!
Got Home Insurance? (Takes 5 minutes)
Help The New York Times investigate which insurers are doing right by survivors—and which are not.
 
Is Your Insurer Not Being Fair? (Takes 5 minutes)
Provide the evidence public advocates need to hold our insurers accountable
 
Educate Yourself on Insurance Fraud
Watch the replay of the first-ever Eaton-Palisades strategy session for insurance accountability that Joy led. Learn how, together, we can secure the payouts we need to recover and rebuild. 
 
Your personal information and complaints will not be shared publicly or with your insurance company—by either The New York Times or Consumer Watchdog.

With love, determination, and solidarity,
 
Your Eaton Fire Survivors Network Team

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