Editor’s Note: This announcement comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in wake of the CZU Lightning Complex fire.
Wildfire survivors in California who lost important documents may need replacements to apply for services and help rebuild their lives.
This guide provides links and contacts to replace these important documents. All of the organizations listed here offer online resources. If personal computers aren’t available, public libraries and other agencies may have computers available to the general public.
Who to Contact for Replacement Documents
EBT Card: California’s CalFresh is part of the federal program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps). For lost EBT card replacements, call 877-328-9677 or contact your local county social services worker.
Birth and Death Certificates: California Department of Public Health is at www.cdph.ca.gov or 916-445-2684. Birth certificate: $25 fee. Death certificate: $21 fee.
Lost Green Card: Go to www.uscis.gov and complete Form I-90, Application to Replace a Permanent Resident Card, and file it online or by mail. Call 800-375-5283 to check application status.
California Driver License: Visit a California Department of Motor Vehicles office to complete an application or fill out the form online at www.dmv.ca.gov. Replacement license forms must be delivered in person. For more information, call 800-777-0133.
Bank Checks, ATM/Debit Cards or Safe Deposit Boxes: Contact your financial institution or get contact information from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation by calling 877-275-3342 or going to www.fdic.gov.
Credit Cards: Contact the issuing institution:
- American Express 800-992-3404 or www.americanexpress.com
- Discover 800-347-2683 or www.discover.com/credit-cards/help-center/
- Master Card 800-627-8372 or www.mastercard.com/cgi-bin/emergserv.cgi
- Visa 800-847-2911 or www.usa.visa.com
NOTE: If you don’t remember all the credit cards you had, obtain a credit report from any of the three major credit bureaus. Credit Report Equifax, Experian or TransUnion 877-322-8228 or www.annualcreditreport.com
Social Security Card: Social Security 800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov
Fraud Alerts or a Credit Freeze Fraud Alerts: Call the identity theft helpline at 877-438-4338 or contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov
Medicare Cards: Social Security Administration 800-633-4227 or www.ssa.gov
Passport: U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section or 877-487-2778 or https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-informationresources/lost-stolen-visas.html
U.S. Savings Bonds: U.S. Department of Treasury 844-284-2676 or www.treasurydirect.gov
Tax Returns: Internal Revenue Service 800-829-1954 or download the Request for Copy of Tax Return form at www.irs.gov.
Military Records: National Archives and Records Administration 866-272-6272 or www.archives.gov/contact/
•••
Wildfire survivors from Santa Cruz County who suffered uninsured losses may be eligible for federal assistance. The deadline to register with FEMA for help is Nov. 23.
Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PDT. If you use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, provide FEMA the specific number assigned to that service when you register.
For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov and follow on Twitter @cal_OES, and on Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES. For FEMA, go to fema.gov/disaster/4558 and follow on Twitter @femaregion9 and at Facebook.com/FEMA.