Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal agency
National Weather Service
Federal agency
Email nws.communications.office@noaa.gov
Website https://www.weather.gov
National public inquiry line; landowners should use their local forecast office.
United Policyholders
Nonprofit
Email info@uphelp.org
Website https://uphelp.org
A nonprofit that takes no insurance industry money. Currently running in person and Zoom clinics in disaster areas, including Altadena and Pasadena.
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal agency
Website https://www.fws.gov
No single general-public phone is published on the official contact page; use the web form.
US Geological Survey
Federal agency
USDA Forest Service
Federal agency
Email sm.fs.r5webinquiry@usda.gov
Website https://www.fs.usda.gov
National headquarters line; the Pacific Southwest Region (R5) line is (707) 562-8737.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRCS
The phone is the California state office in Davis. Programmes are applied for at the county NRCS Service Center, and enrolment requires a farm or tract number via the Farm Service Agency.
USDA Rural Development
Federal agency
The phone is the California Rural Development state office.
Conservation Stewardship Program
Cost shareCost share, from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Stewardship payments for maintaining and improving conservation systems on working land. The ACEP easement and AMA programmes run on the same periodic batching cycle.
How to apply Sign up is continuous at your county NRCS Service Center; funding is awarded by ranking in periodic batching rounds.
Emergency Watershed Protection
WaterFree, from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Post disaster watershed relief, open to sponsors based on available funding.
Who qualifies Applications come through public sponsors such as counties and RCDs, not directly from landowners.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Cost shareCost share, from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Financial and technical cost share for conservation practices on cropland, rangeland and private non industrial forestland. Serves raw land.
Who qualifies Serves raw, undeveloped land. Requires a farm or tract number via the Farm Service Agency.
How to apply Sign up is year round at your county NRCS Service Center; funding is awarded by ranking in periodic batching rounds, not first come first served. Apply as early as possible for the next cycle.
FEMA Individual Assistance
Cost shareFree to qualifying landowners, from Federal Emergency Management Agency
Individual Assistance, disaster case management and Hazard Mitigation Assistance after a federal disaster declaration; preparedness guides at ready.gov.
Who qualifies Available only after a federal disaster declaration covering your county.
How to apply Register at disasterassistance.gov or call.
Apply https://www.disasterassistance.gov
Fire Weather Forecasts and Red Flag Warnings
EducationFree, from National Weather Service
Free forecasts, fire weather outlooks and red flag warnings.
Apply https://www.weather.gov
Forest Service Landowner Assistance
Forest healthFree, from USDA Forest Service
Technical help for private forest landowners and the Forest Stewardship programme, delivered in California through the CAL FIRE partnership. State and Private Forestry money also funds local reforestation efforts such as the Feather River RCD's EFoRT.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife
WildlifeFree, from US Fish and Wildlife Service
Free technical and financial assistance to private landowners for voluntary habitat restoration: wetlands, uplands and riparian work.
Who qualifies Serves raw, undeveloped land. The landowner keeps all property rights and no public access is required; agreements run a 10 year minimum.
How to apply Contact the California state coordinator via fws.gov/program/partners-fish-and-wildlife.
Roadmap to Recovery
EducationFree, from United Policyholders
Free guidance on insurance claims, contractors, rebuilding and avoiding scams: the little yellow book, the Ask an Expert forum, and in person and Zoom clinics in disaster areas.
USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan
Cost shareFree to qualifying landowners, from USDA Rural Development
Zero down, subsidised rate as low as 1 percent, for low and very low income buyers in eligible rural areas. Funds can build, repair or relocate a home, or buy and prepare a site including water and septic. A rule effective February 10, 2026 lowered the modest home cap from 80 to 60 percent of the local FHA Section 203(b) limit and added appraised value caps, which disqualifies more higher value rural homes.
Who qualifies Low and very low income buyers in eligible rural areas; test the parcel and income on the USDA eligibility map.
How to apply Check eligibility at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov, then apply through Rural Development.
USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants
Cost shareFree to qualifying landowners, from USDA Rural Development
Home repair loans to around 40,000 dollars, and grants to around 10,000 dollars for owners 62 and over, to remove health and safety hazards in eligible rural areas.
USGS Topographic Maps
PlanningFree, from US Geological Survey
Free topographic maps and downloads through topoView and The National Map.
Apply https://www.usgs.gov
Web Soil Survey
PlanningFree, from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Free soil and parcel mapping tool for any parcel: septic suitability, building limitations and vegetation.
Apply https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov