On September 30, 2026, FEMA announced approximately $11 million in additional funding for disaster case management connected to two California disasters. This is funding for a service that helps survivors organize recovery needs and find resources. It is not an announcement that each household will receive a new $11 million payment, or that the entire amount is reserved for the Los Angeles fires.

Read date: September 30, 2026. This article describes FEMA's announcement on that date. Program access and individual eligibility can change; confirm current details with the state program or FEMA before relying on them.

Where the announced funding goes

FEMA's release divides the new amount between two disaster case management efforts:

  • More than $6.6 million for services associated with the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires and straight-line winds. FEMA says this effort has served more than 3,000 survivors.
  • More than $4.5 million for services associated with the 2023 severe winter storms in several California counties. FEMA says this effort has served more than 2,700 survivors.

Those are program-level figures, rounded in FEMA's release. FEMA says it has provided nearly $24 million in disaster case management funding across the two disasters to date. The newly announced $11 million should not be confused with FEMA's separate Individual Assistance awards or with an insurance claim payment.

What a disaster case manager can help with

FEMA describes disaster case management as a state-managed, federally funded program. A case manager works with a survivor to identify unmet needs, build a recovery plan and make referrals to available resources. California's Department of Social Services lists the program in its Disaster Help Center. The case manager can help organize the process, but does not decide what an insurer owes under a policy or guarantee that a particular benefit is available.

If you are still working through a fire or storm claim

  1. Keep the records together. Save your policy declarations, claim number, adjuster correspondence, repair estimates, temporary-housing receipts and any FEMA correspondence. These documents help you explain where the recovery plan still has a gap.
  2. Separate the programs. Ask a case manager which resources they can refer you to, and ask your insurer or broker about policy terms and claim status. A disaster case management referral does not change the policy's limits, deductibles or exclusions.
  3. Check current access. Use the state's Disaster Help Center and LA County recovery resources to find current assistance and contact information. Cal OES has also published a disaster case management contact route; confirm it is still operating before making plans around it.

For insurance-specific preparation, see Bollinsure's wildfire claim documentation guide and Altadena and Pasadena home insurance page. If you need a policy review, send us your coverage request or call 562-268-9355.

What this article cannot determine

General educational information only. This article does not establish a household's eligibility for disaster case management or other assistance, interpret an individual insurance policy, decide a claim, or promise a payment. Check the current program information and the actual policy and claim documents for your circumstances. No coverage is bound through this article.

Primary Sources and Further Reading