Attorney General Rob Bonta says price gougers will be ‘held accountable’ during LA wildfire emergency

• January 17, 2025

Amid the deadly Los Angeles County wildfires, some landlords have decided to raise the prices of housing due to the high demand.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned price gougers that they will be “held accountable” for their unlawful conduct and said he is taking these crimes seriously, during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 16.

Price gouging refers to sellers trying to take unfair advantage of consumers during an emergency or disaster by greatly increasing prices for essential consumer goods and services, according to the attorney general’s website.

“These predators are looking at the disaster with dollar signs in their eyes, instead of kindness in their hearts,” Bonta said. “That is unconscionable, despicable, and unacceptable, and most importantly, it is illegal.”

California law generally prohibits increasing rent or prices more than 10% after an emergency is declared, the attorney general said. For items a seller only began selling after an emergency declaration, the law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds the seller’s cost of the item by more than 50%.

This applies to long- and short-term rental housing, hotel accommodations, transportation, emergency cleanup services, and repair or reconstruction services. It also applies to food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, and gasoline.

Violators of price gouging are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000, the attorney general said. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation.

“You can’t exploit victims and break the law for the sake of turning a profit and get away with it,” Bonta said. “There will be consequences.”

Protections have been in effect since Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Jan. 7.

Since then, the California Department of Justice has already opened multiple active investigations into price gouging reports and will be prosecuting any crimes found, Bonta said.

“We have redistributed, deployed and moved our resources into L.A. to tackle the price gouging that we’re seeing,” he added. “We have boots on the ground, conducting investigations as we speak, building the criminal cases against price gougers. We will continue to pressure those cases and others and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”

Bonta also announced the creation of DOJ’s Disaster Relief Task Force – which will be responsible for uncovering, investigating and prosecuting price gouging and other crimes targeting disaster victims – as well as the launch of a website dedicated to its response at OAG.ca.gov/LAFires.

“There is increased demand because people have lost their homes and they’re looking for a place to stay,” Bonta said. “They’ve been suffering from perhaps the worst tragedy they’ll ever face in their lives and they deserve support, compassion, services and resources. They deserve their community to wrap their arms around them not predators to take advantage of them.”

Those who believe they have been the victim of price gouging are encouraged to report it to their local authorities or to the attorney general’s office at OAG.ca.gov/LAFires or by calling the hotline at 800-952-5225.

​ Orange County Register 

Kid Rock, Jason Aldean to perform during Trump’s Inauguration weekend

• January 16, 2025

A host of big-name performers including Kid Rock and country singer Jason Aldean will be making their way to Washington, D.C., to perform at various presidential inauguration events over the weekend. The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee unveiled most of the lineup Wednesday.

Kid Rock, a longtime Trump supporter, and Billy Ray Cyrus will join Lee Greenwood and The Village People at the Make America Great Again Rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington on Sunday, along with a choir from Liberty University.

“The pageantry is wonderful. I’m excited about all of that,” Greenwood told The Associated Press Wednesday morning. “I’m excited to sing yet again for President of the United States and particularly my friend Donald J. Trump.”

Aldean, a five-time Grammy nominee behind the controversial song “Try That in a Small Town,” is set to perform at The Liberty Ball on Monday night, alongside The Village People and a “surprise musical guest.”

The swearing-in ceremony Monday will feature previously announced performers Carrie Underwood, who is singing “America the Beautiful,” opera tenor Christopher Maccio performing the National Anthem and Greenwood. Following are three inaugural balls.

“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement Monday.

Country group Rascal Flatts will be at the Commander-in-Chief Ball, focused on military service members, with Texas-based singer-songwriter Parker McCollum.

Rascal Flatts frontman Gary LeVox wrote on Instagram that he was “happy and humbled and grateful for the opportunity.” LeVox played at Trump’s first inauguration and promised that it will be a “night to remember,” thanking South Dakota governor Kristi Noem in his post.

The Starlight Ball, focused on high-dollar donors, will feature a performance from Gavin DeGraw, a singer-songwriter best known for the song “I Don’t Want to Be,” which was used as the theme song for the CW show “One Tree Hill.”

Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 featured performances from the Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” singer Jackie Evancho.

​ Orange County Register 

How Los Angeles wildfire victims can get mortgage payment relief

• January 16, 2025

If your home is damaged or destroyed by the Los Angeles wildfires, or from any disaster for that matter, call your mortgage loan servicer.

Homeowners may be eligible for mortgage relief in the form of a monthly payment forbearance.

Note that your loan may be owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac even though you make your mortgage payment to ABC mortgage company. If either government institution owns the mortgage, you have up to 12 months of payment forbearance without incurring late fees or penalties.

Also see: Newsom clears the way for ADU, temporary mobile homes for LA wildfire victims

Freddie Mac also covers homeowners whose places of employment have been affected, resulting in a financial hardship that prevents them from being able to make their mortgage payments.

Homeowners have several options to make up the missed payments, including additional forbearance if needed, according to a Freddie Mac statement.

More on fires: Altadena attracting real estate vultures eyeing deals

Reinstatement, a repayment plan, payment deferral and loan modification all are available for consideration from Freddie Mac.

The loan servicer can tell homeowners if either mortgage giant owns the loan, or search for “lookup tools” offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allows up to 12 months of payment forbearance on FHA mortgages for any area under a presidential disaster declaration.

Also see: Dealing with disasters at your HOA

If you have a VA mortgage, the US Department of Veterans Affairs encourages loan servicers to extend all possible forbearance to borrowers in distress, according to Susan Carter, its director of media relations. This includes forbearance requests, moratorium on foreclosure and late charge waivers.

Chase Bank offers forbearance for three months. It is then extendable in three month increments up to 12 months. Forbearance exits can vary, because they are unique to the customer’s circumstances and dependent on the loan investor/insurer.

The customer is evaluated for loss mitigation options, which could result in a deferment of missed payments, a Chase Bank declared told me.

Also see: Demand for temporary housing likely to push up rent prices

Bank of America has a Client Assistance Program offering forbearance and other options. BofA also offers assistance for account holders place of work was affected by the wildfires, according to spokesperson Carla Molina.

Wells Fargo Bank customers can contact the Disaster Assistance team, according to spokesperson Laurie Knight.

Do not assume you will automatically receive some type of mortgage payment forbearance. If you have an exotic mortgage or so-called non-QM loan or a private party mortgage, there may be no options for payment forbearance.

“The borrower is still responsible for making mortgage payments,” said Eric Morgenson, vice president of business development at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, a non-QM lender.

Full disclosure: My firm is an approved broker with Angel Oak.

Assembly Bill 238, called the Mortgage Deferment Act, was introduced Jan. 13 and listed as pending in the California legislature. If approved, it would override any lenders’ unwillingness to offer payment forbearance.

The bill allows borrowers to request an initial pause of their monthly mortgage payments for up to 360 days in order to provide financial relief to those who have lost their homes or livelihoods to wildfire.

Borrowers with mortgages on homes, condos townhouses and rental property with one to four units in Los Angeles County would be eligible for payment delays if they are experiencing financial hardship due to the effects of the wildfire (loss of home or income disruption).

The missed payments must be repaid, although it may be paid back over time.

Updated Freddie rates

The 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.04%, 11 basis points higher than last week. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 6.27%, 13 basis points higher than last week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 33.3% mortgage application increase compared to one week ago, which also includes an adjustment for the New Year’s holiday.

Bottom line: Assuming a borrower gets the average 30-year fixed rate on a conforming $806,500 loan, last year’s payment was $236 less than this week’s payment of $5,387.

What I see: Locally, well-qualified borrowers can get the following fixed-rate mortgages with one point: A 30-year FHA at 5.875%, a 15-year conventional at 5.625%, a 30-year conventional at 6.5%, a 15-year conventional high balance at 5.99% ($806,501 to $1,209,750 in LA and OC and $806,501 to $1,077,550 in San Diego), a 30-year-high balance conventional at 6.75% and a jumbo 30-year fixed at 6.75%..

Eye-catcher loan program of the week: A 30-year mortgage, with 30% down locked for the first 5 years at 6.25% with 1 point cost.  

Jeff Lazerson, president of Mortgage Grader, can be reached at 949-322-8640 or jlazerson@mortgagegrader.com .

​ Orange County Register 

Antonio Villaraigosa: From the ashes, a stronger California will rise

• January 16, 2025

The catastrophic wildfires that tore through Southern California stands as a profound tragedy for Los Angeles County, California, and our nation. We witnessed the full fury of nature as 100 MPH winds created fire tornadoes that devastated an area larger than Manhattan. These fires claimed dozens of lives, forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate, and destroyed more than 12,000 homes, schools, places of worship, and businesses.

These catastrophes have revealed the fragility of our communities but also our collective strength.

Firefighters, first responders, and volunteers risked their lives to save countless homes and lives. Thousands of ordinary citizens stepped up in extraordinary ways. Juan, a food blogger from Pasadena, turned the Rose Bowl into an impromptu donation center, which grew into one of the largest relief hubs in the region. An undocumented immigrant from Guatemala organized a volunteer cleanup effort in Altadena. An Irish-American Angeleno opened his restaurants and cafes to evacuees, offering both refuge and essential services. A nonprofit leader dressed as a superhero, bringing $2,000 worth of toys and immeasurable comfort to children at a donation center in Arcadia, lifting the spirits of displaced families.

I had the privilege of spending one morning alongside many fellow Angelenos at the North Valley Caring Services Food Pantry, where we organized thousands of donations for those in need. Meanwhile, animal shelters overwhelmed by pets rescued from the fires saw a tremendous outpouring of support from volunteers willing to foster animals until they could be reunited with their owners.

The sheer scale of humanity’s response has filled me with hope and inspiration, even as we face a long road to recovery.

As Mayor of Los Angeles, I led the city through too many natural disasters and know that rebuilding will require a Herculean effort. Here’s what I also know: With resilience, grit, and compassion, we will rise again.

In the early days of this disaster, the political attacks and finger-pointing—while tens of thousands of lives were still in danger—were deeply troubling and only hindered our recovery efforts. Now is the time for unity. We must set aside our differences and work together for the common good. It’s time to reflect our better angels and shed the divisiveness of party politics at all levels of government. Now is the time for federal, state, county, and local governments to work in unison while leaning on the efforts of businesses, utilities, labor unions, nonprofit organizations, and both the public and private sectors to achieve the best results. Only through collective effort can we rebuild Los Angeles and fully recover from this disaster.

By coming together—not just to rebuild, but to reimagine—we have the opportunity to create a future that honors the lives lost, protects the unique landscape we call home, and strengthens the bonds that unite our diverse neighborhoods, towns, and cities.

Some of that work has already begun but we must do more.  Suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act is a great start but we need to look at everything. Every single permitting rule, every local, state and federal agency and every facet of government that could possibly hinder rebuilding efforts needs to be reviewed. Today.

At every level of government we cannot let perfect be the enemy of the good. Together, we can strengthen critical infrastructure, including upgrading earthquake resilience, installing redundant utilities to ensure continued power and implementing smarter technology to take better advantage of AI and other tools to improve response times and protect communities.

Let’s also use this time to consider green building practices without red tape, including using sustainable building materials to ensure their resiliency against future calamity. Entire towns have been decimated, necessitating the need for the local, state and federal government to prioritize business recovery grants, workforce development initiatives and the restoration of buildings.

We have a chance to rebuild in a way that will strengthen communities for the next 100 years but only if we eliminate every single bureaucratic hurdle that stands in our way. Let this be our rallying cry: We will rise together, stronger, united, and ready for whatever comes next.

I believe deeply in this because I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength of communities bound by compassion and action. And that strength will come from the neighbors, volunteers, and everyday heroes who refuse to let anyone face this recovery alone. From the ashes, a stronger California will rise.

Antonio Villaraigosa was the 41st mayor of Los Angeles

​ Orange County Register 

Maintaining good balance is crucial as you age. Asking these questions can help

• January 16, 2025

By ALBERT STUMM

Taking a shower. Grocery shopping. Moving around the kitchen. Getting dressed. The underappreciated link between these mundane activities is good balance, which geriatricians say is key to maintaining an independent lifestyle as we age.

Lacking balance can be dangerous. In the U.S., 3 million older people seek medical care for fall-related injuries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But falls are not inevitable, said Roopa Anmolsingh, a geriatrician who created the Cleveland Clinic’s balance classes.

“Some people have a misconception that part of getting old is, you’re going to fall. That’s not true,” Anmolsingh said. “You can control how you fall, or if you fall.”

To prevent falls, geriatricians say people should start asking themselves questions about their balance as early as 50 years old.

Do I ever feel unsteady?

Besides muscles and bones, other systems in the body can affect balance, so it’s important to have a doctor check you if you ever feel unsteady, even if only occasionally. The cause could be related to blood pressure, a medication, inner-ear function, a nervous system issue or countless other potential problems.

Even if unsteadiness is not an issue, you can determine whether you still might need an intervention with an easy at-home assessment.

Standing next to a wall or something that can lend support if needed, raise one leg. If you can balance on each leg for 10 seconds, you should be fine, said Greg W. Hartley, a University of Miami professor of physical therapy specializing in geriatrics.

“If you can’t do that, then you should probably go see a physical therapist,” he said.

Another assessment, which Hartley recommended doing supervised, is called TUG, for “timed up and go.” Sit in a chair and start a timer when you stand. Walk 10 feet (3 meters), come back and stop the timer upon sitting back down. If it takes longer than 15 seconds, the risk for a fall is very high. Twelve seconds or less, the likelihood of a fall is almost zero.

The National Council on Aging offers an online resource to assess the risk of a fall with questions about medications, whether you worry about falling and if you have trouble stepping over a curb, among others.

What can I do to improve balance?

Because muscle mass begins to decline in most people during their 30s, geriatricians say the best way to preserve good balance is to stay physically active throughout life. But it’s never too late to start prioritizing it, Anmolsingh said.

Tai chi and yoga are particularly good for older adults because they involve controlled movements while shifting body weight. There also are individual exercises people can work into their everyday lives.

Anmolsingh recommended standing on one foot while waiting in line at the grocery store. At home, try sitting up and down from a chair several times without using arm rests. While holding onto a chair or the wall, do three-way leg lifts on each side, lifting a leg to the front, side and then back. At the kitchen counter, take a few steps to the side in each direction.

How often should I do the exercises?

For general physical activity, which will improve balance as well as mood and overall health, the National Institute of Aging recommends at least 150 minutes per week. That should include a mixture of stretching to improve flexibility, an aerobic activity increasing the heart rate and strength training with weights or resistance bands.

For balance-specific exercises, it’s particularly important to do them regularly because it takes at least 50 hours of training to have a measurable impact, Hartley said. Besides strengthening the associated muscles, doing exercises repetitively for extended periods trains the brain to react properly when you slip or trip.

“Just like an athlete needs to do repetition to train for a sport, you’re doing repetition to train for everyday balance activities,” he said.

Albert Stumm writes about wellness, food and travel. Find his work at https://www.albertstumm.com.

​ Orange County Register 

UFC 311: Fires weigh heavy on fighters with Southern California roots

• January 16, 2025

As Southern California continues to grapple with the devastating wildfires and fallout of the past several days, the UFC comes to town looking to provide a distraction.

In its fifth month of existence, Intuit Dome in Inglewood will host its first combat sports event Saturday, with UFC President and CEO Dana White hoping UFC 311 offers a respite from the chaos and calamity of the recent blazes that have destroyed lives and entire neighborhoods.

“That’s kind of the vibe that I’ve been getting from people that are going,” White said on “The Jim Rome Show” on Wednesday. “They’re excited to go to the fights and not think about what’s going on. What’s crazy is I was there the night the fires started. I was actually out there for meetings. That was the first night and it felt really crazy.

“For people that aren’t in L.A., we’re used to seeing, ‘Oh, there’s fires in Southern California.’ This was a whole different vibe and feeling, and it’s only gotten worse. So yeah, I think this is definitely going to be a boost for the people that live there.”

As of Thursday morning, the Palisades fire had ravaged 23,713 acres with 22% containment. The Eaton fire in Altadena was at 14,117 acres and 55% contained. In all, 25 people have died and 24 others are reported missing.

Two fighters with Southern California connections who will appear on the main card at UFC 311 are feeling for those affected by the catastrophes.

Placentia lightweight Beneil Dariush knows all too well about wildfires from when he lived in Yorba Linda. The Canyon Fire in 2017 raced up Anaheim Hills and destroyed 25 homes and more than 9,200 acres.

“It’s been tough. You have family, you have friends in L.A. who are on evacuation notice. We have people who have evacuated and then come back and I don’t know anyone who’s lost their home yet, but I’m sure probably it’s happened and I just don’t know about it,” Dariush (22-6-1) said. “So it’s been rough, but we keep in prayer and we hope that this is a wake-up call basically, for California and this is a worst-case scenario, and then we’ll be prepared for the next one.”

Last year, the UFC awarded Dariush the Forrest Griffin Community Award for his volunteerism and work with two charities: the Shlama Foundation, a non-government organization that funds humanitarian aid and community projects assisting Assyrian Chaldean Syriac people, and Promise Child Ministries, which helps fund orphanages in Haiti.

The devout Christian and father of three daughters, who received $25,000 as part of the award to go toward the charities and often donates any fight bonuses to the causes, is hopeful he can make another type of difference Saturday.

“If this is a little thing that could give them some, you know, comfort? Then it’s amazing for me. It’s a big, big joy for me. It’s a privilege for me,” said Dariush, who takes on Renato Moicano (20-5-1) on Saturday. “But I hope it can do that basically. I hope it does, you know, give them something to think about besides the fire.”

Middleweight Kevin Holland, a Riverside native who was raised by his grandparents in Ontario, says it helps put everything into perspective.

“It sucks, you know? It sucks to see homegrown,” said Holland, who now resides in Fort Worth, Texas. “It makes me want to convince my grandparents to move, come a little closer to me. It’s like, I don’t think I’ll come closer to home.”

Holland (26-12, 1 NC) arrived at media day Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles representing his roots decked out in Lakers gear, 6-foot-3 of purple and gold from hat to letterman jacket even though he’ll be competing in the Clippers’ arena Saturday.

“It’s a beautiful place to be. I’m a California boy, but I’m damn sure a Texas man,” said Holland, three days before opening the main card against Reinier de Ridder (18-2). “I miss it, it’s easy just to come back and visit. The price of living here versus the price of living there is just two completely different things. And where I fight at and what I do for my organization, I make the same amount of money no matter where I live.”

Bantamweight title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov, who hails from Dagestan, Russia, and occasionally trains at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, offers a different perspective.

The undefeated cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will take on 135-pound champ Merab Dvalishvili (18-4) in Saturday’s co-main event, isn’t convinced Saturday’s fights will cure much.

“People who lost houses, I don’t think they care about UFC now. They have problems,” Nurmagomedov (18-0) said. “Patience. Nobody can understand. We just can’t talk, just tell them. But these people lost everything. We just wish them patience.”

UFC 311

When: Saturday

Where: Intuit Dome

How to watch: early prelims (3 p.m., ESPN+); prelims (5 p.m., ESPNews, ESPN+); main card (7 p.m., PPV via ESPN+)

​ Orange County Register 

Minimum wages are increasing in nearly half the states this year

• January 16, 2025

By Kevin Hardy, Stateline.org

The minimum wage will increase in nearly half the states this year even as the federal wage floor remains stuck at $7.25 per hour.

In many states, the minimum wage is automatically adjusted upward as inflation rises. But voters in several states, including deeply red ones such as Alaska and Missouri, chose in November to significantly increase their minimum wages this year.

Michigan will see its minimum wage jump from $10.33 to $12.48 on Feb. 21 after the state Supreme Court concluded the legislature subverted residents when it adopted but then significantly amended voter-initiated ballot measures in 2018 to raise the minimum wage and mandate paid sick time.

Michigan’s wage floor is set to rise to $14.97 by 2028 — more than double the federal minimum wage, which has not increased since 2009. That’s the longest period without a federal increase since Congress first set a minimum wage in 1938.

A total of 30 states and the District of Columbia have set their own minimum wage higher than the federal rate. And 67 localities — including Denver; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Los Angeles — have raised their minimum wage above the state minimum, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank.

Currently, 10 states have a minimum wage of $15 or higher: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington.

Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri and Nebraska are on track to reach the $15 benchmark in the coming years. Such movement in red states should prompt Republicans who control Congress and the White House to move the national wage floor, argued Richard von Glahn, the political director at the labor advocacy group Missouri Jobs with Justice.

“We should have Republican legislators looking and seeing what their own voters are telling them and say, ‘You know, maybe they’re on to something here and maybe I should follow their lead,” he said.

Von Glahn led a successful campaign to raise Missouri’s minimum wage from 2024’s rate of $12.30 to $15 per hour next January through a November ballot initiative that also guaranteed sick leave for many workers.

While a tight labor market forces many employers to pay above minimum wage to compete, von Glahn noted many workers still earn at or near the lowest legal rate. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that more than half a million Missouri workers will see raises as the state’s minimum wage increases.

“That sort of proves the point as to why this is so necessary, why these guardrails are so important,” he said.

For Kaamilya Hobbs, the Missouri law means she can expect at least an extra 31 cents per hour once she returns to work at Arby’s following maternity leave.

This year’s new minimum wage of $13.75 isn’t enough to live comfortably in Kansas City, she said. But every bit helps her afford the basics, such as diapers and baby formula.

“It won’t be a huge difference. But it’ll still be a little bit of something for us,” said Hobbs, 33, who is also an organizer for a group advocating for low-wage workers.

Inflation has significantly eroded the buying power of the stagnant federal minimum wage. Advocates say raising the wage floor helps low-wage workers cover the rising cost of essentials and boosts the economy by putting more money into the pockets of people who are likely to spend it. But many employers, especially retailers and restaurants, counter that raising the minimum wage forces them to cut workers or raise prices.

In December, President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider a national increase in the minimum wage. Trump won 19 of the 20 states — all but New Hampshire — still subject to a $7.25 minimum wage. In an NBC News interview, he acknowledged the $7.25 rate was “a very low number,” but said raising the minimum wage too much would decrease employment.

“There is a level at which you can do it,” he said, without specifying a number.

Earlier this month, Alaska’s minimum wage went up 18 cents thanks to an automatic inflation-based bump.

But the state’s current $11.91 rate will increase to $13 this July, thanks to the passage of a November ballot measure. Under the measure, the wage will increase to $14 in July 2026 and $15 in July 2027, followed by inflation-adjusted increases starting in 2028.

The ballot measure drew fierce opposition from business groups but won approval by 58%-42%. The new law also mandates employers provide up to seven paid sick days per year — a major concern particularly in seasonal industries, including tourism.

Before November’s election, members of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association said passage of the ballot measure would result in higher prices and lead to layoffs and reduced hours for workers, said Sarah Oates Harlow, president and chief executive officer of the organization.

The minimum wage hike will particularly hurt smaller businesses, she said, and those with tipped workers such as servers and bartenders. Alaska is among seven states that don’t allow employers to pay tipped employees less than the minimum wage, meaning many of those workers are already making well above the state’s wage floor, she said.

“I guarantee you we will be seeing prices going up across the board,” she said. “Groceries are going to be more expensive. Eating out is going to be more expensive.”

But Mark Robokoff, who owns the pet supply store AK Bark in Anchorage, sees a higher wage floor as good for business. He said the minimum wage increase will put more money into the pockets of his customers.

“It’s not like there’s no benefit to this cost,” Robokoff said.

To attract the best staff, he said, employee wages start at $17 per hour. But he expects to ratchet that figure up as the state’s minimum wage increases.

“That’s why it needed to be a law,” he said. “It only works if we all do it. Then we all get more revenue and pay our employees a little bit more.”

©2025 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Where to turn when a natural disaster upends your finances

• January 16, 2025

By Laura McMullen, NerdWallet

Natural disasters, whether massive wildfires, hurricanes or floods, can upend lives in an instant, but unwinding the financial damage can take many months. Still, those affected have many sources of help.

Here’s how you can get help and be strategic with your resources as you begin to rebuild after a disaster.

Deal with immediate needs first

First things first: Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get help via a disaster recovery center by texting “DRC” and your ZIP code to 43362. Texting “Apple” or “Android” to that same number will give you a download link for a mobile app from FEMA with additional resources, such as shelter locations.

Local and state agencies and nongovernmental groups such as the Red Cross also can also help; call 211 from any phone or visit 211.org to get information.

Check your credit card or hotel loyalty accounts as well. You might have points or a free night certificate that can cover the cost of your immediate lodging.

Some general rewards credit cards allow you to use points to book hotels directly through their own travel portals or let you transfer points to a specific hotel loyalty program. Some nearby hotels might offer discounts for evacuees as well.

Next, tend to financial issues

As soon as possible, turn to handling your finances. FEMA offers unemployment assistance, rental assistance, legal services and much more. You have several ways to register, including online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via the FEMA app, at a disaster recovery center or by phone at 800-621-3362 (FEMA).

Nonprofit credit counseling agency Money Management International has a free program called Project Porchlight that offers disaster victims support for up to a year. The program helps people navigate an unfamiliar process, stay on top of deadlines and address the trauma that makes handling tasks harder.

And you do have several tasks to handle:

Contact insurers as soon as possible

Act quickly so you can get the most out of your home insurance, renters coverage or auto insurance.

Review your policies for types of damage covered, coverage limits and deductibles. Home and renters insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so if you have flood insurance, check that policy as well. Flood and wind damage to your car are covered as long as you have comprehensive insurance on your auto policy.

Report damage to your agent or insurance company as soon as possible. Insurers will face a glut of claims, so the sooner you file, the better.

Ask about your coverage, the time frame for filing and processing a claim, whether the claim will exceed your deductible and if you’ll need estimates for repairs to structural damage. You should ask about coverage of living expenses if you are displaced and reimbursement for a car rental. Some insurers will also cover the loss of spoiled food.

When you talk to your insurer, ask what you can throw out and what you should document for your claim. Take photos and video of the damage, then do what you can to protect your property. Take detailed notes about every interaction you have with the insurance company. Here’s more about how to file a home insurance claim.

Call your mortgage company and other creditors

If you’re worried about your ability to make monthly mortgage payments, contact your mortgage servicer as soon as possible — ideally before missing a payment — to discuss your options.

Mortgage forbearance is a way to avoid foreclosure and may allow you to make partial payments or pause payments entirely for an agreed-upon period of time.

Communicate proactively with creditors, said Bruce McClary, spokesman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, in an email. Impassable roads and outages to power, internet access and phone service are all factors that can hinder paying on time. “Once your creditor is aware of these things, they may be able to offer some temporary payment relief,” McClary said. Hardship programs may waive fees or lower your interest rate for a time.

Because cash is king in areas where power and communication are disrupted, you might have to use your credit card to get cash from an ATM. Just be aware that typically carries a higher interest rate, McClary said.

Seek a student loan payment pause, and contact your college for aid

Federal student loan borrowers can get a natural disaster forbearance, which pauses or reduces your payments for up to 90 days.

Some borrowers may automatically receive this forbearance, but you may need to proactively request it from your student loan servicer. Interest may build on your debt while you’re in this forbearance, increasing the amount you’ll owe in the future.

Payment relief options for private student loan borrowers vary by lender. Call your lender to ask about options.

If you’re a current student and you or your family’s finances were affected, contact your school’s financial aid office and ask them to reassess your financial aid eligibility due to changed circumstances. You may also want to apply for more immediate money through your school’s emergency financial aid fund.

If you’re displaced, notify your school’s financial aid office (or your student loan servicer) of your change in residence.

Be strategic with aid, credit and debt as you dig out

“Rebuilding and repairing after a disaster can be incredibly expensive, even for those with insurance,” says Kate Bulger, vice president of business development for Money Management International. “Applying for as much aid as possible and preserving cash today means that consumers will have more funds left when they are ready to rebuild.”

When you exhaust aid and your emergency fund, you’ll likely need to rely on credit to afford necessities or repair damage. Lately, some major card issuers are making it easier (and cheaper) to turn your available credit line into an installment loan, often at a lower ongoing interest rate. Or you might be allowed to break up a large emergency purchase into predictable monthly payments.

When your debt picture becomes clearer, consider strategies for paying balances back down. The debt snowball, where you focus your efforts on the smallest debt first while maintaining minimum payments on others, can give you some quick wins and motivation.

Finally, be aware of debt relief options for contending with amounts that are beyond your ability to repay.

NerdWallet writers and editors Caitlin Constantine, Meghan Coyle, Eliza Haverstock, Lauren Schwahn and Kate Wood contributed to this article.

Laura McMullen writes for NerdWallet. Email: lmcmullen@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lauraemcmullen.

The article Where to Turn When a Natural Disaster Upends Your Finances originally appeared on NerdWallet.

​ Orange County Register