After the house that she grew up in burned down in the Eaton fire in Altadena, California, last week, Steven Celiceo’s wife Kiri suggested that the couple visit the local library. As a librarian herself, she knew there were resources being distributed – and Fema agents available – at nearby branches.
The couple had heard some concerning claims on social media and wanted to sort fact from fiction. Like hundreds of other Angelenos, Celiceo had launched a GoFundMe for his in-laws – but rumors were floating around that its existence could prevent the family from receiving badly needed funds.
On Tuesday, Fema shared a post on social media explaining that the agency cannot give aid to cover expenses that a recipient has already received help covering, whether through insurance coverage or a donations page.
That guidance is nothing new – the agency has shared the same information with communities after unprecedented rains caused severe flash floods across Death Valley national park in August 2022 and after wildfires tore through Maui in August 2023. But it’s still sparked confusion and concern among Los Angeles residents who’ve lost their homes in the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires.
The good news: having a GoFundMe does not disqualify someone from receiving disaster assistance. But the funds raised there cannot go toward covering the same costs as Fema aid – so the agency advises taking care in creating donation pages.
“Fema might be able to help you to replace a vehicle that was damaged during the disaster,” a Fema spokesperson said in the post. “However, if your GoFundMe page clearly states that the funds you’re raising will be used to replace your car, Fema won’t be able to provide assistance for that specific need.
“That’s why we encourage you to carefully consider how you describe your needs when creating a GoFundMe page.”
Since catastrophic wildfires broke out across Los Angeles on 7 January, hundreds of GoFundMe accounts have been created for victims of some of the most destructive blazes in California history.
As of late this week, those pages had raised more than $100m – but in the wake of Fema’s guidance, many families are reconsidering how they phrase their requests for assistance. Some accounts are careful to specify “this fundraiser aims to help this family get back on their feet with things that won’t be covered by Fema/insurance” or listing immediate needs – such as finding housing, food and replacement clothing – that donations will support.
Los Angeles residents have begun circulating posts on Instagram and other social media platforms describing how to write a GoFundMe page that will not disqualify recipients from future Fema aid. GoFundMe itself has even published “a Help Center article on our site for people organizing fundraisers for wildfire relief”, according to a spokesperson.
On its own site, Fema says it “cannot duplicate benefits you receive from another source”. It explains: “If you receive money from a GoFundMe page for something specific, such as repairs, funeral expenses or other aid, this may affect your Fema eligibility, but survivors should still apply for assistance and let Fema determine if you are eligible.”
Celiceo says amid all the confusion and misinformation, he’s grateful his family spoke with Fema directly. Celiceo and his wife had been married in the house – where her grandmother, aunt and two cousins lived – just three weeks earlier. Even though everyone had evacuated safely, including their four cats and pet chihuahua, the house Celiceo’s wife’s grandmother had purchased in 1971 for $19,000 was gone.
Her grandmother had just returned home from the hospital after having a stroke when the evacuation order was announced, giving the family little time to gather any possessions.
After arriving at the library, “we waited for a couple hours, and we were able to sit down and speak with a Fema agent who was very, very knowledgeable. She made us feel very comfortable,” he said. “The agents that they have on the ground – at least the ones that I’ve spoken to – know what they’re talking about.”
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