Thinking about Tomorrow

01/13/2025

Los Angeles Wildfires: Safety & Support Guide for Angelenos
Wildfires are currently affecting communities across LA County, but in challenging times like these, our strength lies in coming together. Below, you'll find critical information for Angelenos, including emergency response and evacuation guidance, tools for tracking fire activity, health and safety tips, support for those impacted, and more.
Emergency Response & Evacuation
Resources for those facing emergencies
Emergency Alerts & Updates
Visit lacounty.gov/emergency for LA County evacuation updates.
Sign up for LA City’s Emergency Alert System NotifyLA.
Reporting Hazards
New fires and life threatening emergencies: Call 911 immediately.
Police non-emergency services: Call 877-275-5273.
Roadblocks: Report via MyLA311, app, or call 311.
Power outages: Visit LADWP outages or call 1-800-DIAL-DWP.
Fallen trees or wind related hazards: Call LA County Public Works at 800-675-4357.
Evacuation Centers & Shelters
Locate Evacuation centers: LA County centers and Red Cross hosted sites.
Specialized Support
Disability Disaster Access & Recovery Center: Assistance for individuals with disabilities or older adults.
Preparedness Checklist
Follow the LAFD home evacuation checklist, including the “6 P’s”: people/pets, papers, prescriptions, photos, personal computers, and plastics (ID/cards/cash).
Traffic & Road Closures
Check real-time updates on the CalTrans website.
Fire Tracking & Updates
Tools for monitoring wildfire activity
Real-Time Fire Updates
Los Angeles City Fire Department
County of Los Angeles Fire Department
State of California Fire Department
Apps & Tools
Genasys Protect, a free tool designed to provide official safety information directly from local authorities during emergencies like wildfires.
Watch Duty, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offers a free app which alerts you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time.
Weather & Preparedness Resources
Local weather updates from the National Weather Service.
Wildfire preparation tips from CAL FIRE.
Health & Safety Tips
Protect Your Lungs & Air Quality
Check air quality: U.S. Air Quality Index and South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The CDC recommends to use N95/P100 masks outdoors; keep windows closed and use HEPA air purifiers.
Food Safety During Outages
Follow USDA guidelines: Keep fridge closed; perishable food is safe for 4 hours without power, frozen food for up to 48 hours if the freezer is full.
Resources for Those Impacted
Financial Assistance & Relief Programs
Apply for FEMA assistance (temporary housing, emergency needs, or repair grants) at DisasterAssistance.gov, via the FEMA app, or by calling 800-621-3362.
Contact your Congressional member’s office for help with forms or additional assistance.
Emergency Shelters & Housing
Airbnb.org, in partnership with 211 LA, is offering free temporary housing to those displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires.
Access LAHSA’s 24-hour emergency shelters through the Emergency Response Program by dialing 211.
Safe Parking LA offers services for vehicular homelessness: Call/text 323-210-3375 or email [email protected].
Goods, Supplies & More
SUAY has a free store for fire relief, offering no-cost clothing to those that need it.
The LA Times has compiled a list of free and discounted resources available to fire victims.
LA County Parks is providing free Care Camps for youth and teens with a supportive space for fun and recreation including music, arts and crafts, sports activities and field trips (free; January 13th to 31st).
Mental Health Support
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline provides free, 24/7 multilingual crisis counseling at 1-800-985-5990.
LAUSD Student and Family Wellness Resource Line, students and families can call 213-241-3840 (Monday - Friday, 7 am - 6 pm) for mental health support for students and families.
Resources to Support Firefighters & their Families from the Center for Firefighter Behavioral Health.
Helping Communities and Families Recover from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers resources to help children and families cope with disasters (full list here).

This map is intended for regional emergencies that pose significant threat to large numbers of people and/or property. Check media and local fire and/or law enforcement for information about smaller, localized events.

01/09/2017

A few great reads to really get your going!

You're tired. You're exhausted from the moment you get up in the morning. It feels like you've been plowing the field with a fork. You're working too ...

01/04/2017

Kicking the new year off strong while we with all of our favorite schools!

12/30/2016

Thanks to ALL of our volunteers and donors who have helped make this year truly spectacular - Wishing everybody a happy and healthy new year! :) :)

12/21/2016

The holidays are always a great time to give to those in need - Just be sure you know your money is actually going!

Clark Howard warns: Know your charity, before you give

12/06/2016

SAVE MORE this holiday season!
Shop Goodshop and EARN MORE for Thinking about Tomorrow!

Join me on Goodshop - they have coupons for every online store I could ever want (like Amazon, Gap, and Target…), & also donate a % of each eligible purchase to Thinking about Tomorrow!

12/05/2016

"Hooking your habit" is easier than you think!

There’s nothing inherently wrong with reading Facebook, unless you’d rather be reading a good book instead (and that whole fake news problem.) Luckily, the habit loop, which David Kadavy describes as the “habit hook” in his post, holds the key to breaking that Facebook habit and replacing it with a…

11/10/2016

It's not yet, but AWW!

11/09/2016

Wow - after a long and exhausting , congratulations to both candidates on their hard fought race!

However, below is a disturbing video that we have been reluctant to post... not because he supports (I'm sure there are supporters that share the same mentality), but because this type of thinking is NOT OK! This man (if he even deserves to be called a man) is EXACTLY what is wrong with our society!

11/08/2016

Don't forget to vote!

11/04/2016

Meet Asher!

After getting word of a Georgia mom’s campaign to spread awareness of children with disabilities, OshKosh B’Gosh met with her family, and now their son, who has Down syndrome, will be part of the children’s clothing company’s holiday advertising campaign.

11/01/2016

Please take a second to share a fun experience you've had with Thinking about Tomorrow! , thanks SO MUCH for such a great review!

TinaR123 - This year we noticed a huge difference in the classrooms attitude about going to school. Their School is Cool attendance program works really well.