Wildfire Resource Center

Up-to-date information, checklists and tips to help you prepare and recover

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Is your community prepared for wildfire season?

About wildfires

Wildfires typically take place in natural areas, such as forests and prairies. They can quickly spread to communities and devastate buildings and personal property.

Grants information

There are several grant programs available for those in wildfire-prone areas. Some are national programs, while others are available only to California residents. There are a number of programs designed specifically for wildfire mitigation and recovery. These include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire, PrepareCA Jumpstart,Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG), and more.

Preparedness tips

Don’t wait to prepare. Not sure where to get started? We’ve curated a few different resources to help you and your community learn how to be prepared. Access them in the resources section above.

Resources and downloads

Wildfire Preparedness Checklist

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Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire

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What our experts have to say

“Controlling fires is the responsibility first of the local community, then it goes up to the state if necessary. Sometimes, however, the efforts may not be enough. FEMA has a program called the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) that provides assistance in the form of grants for equipment, supplies, and certain personnel costs. This program is for the mitigation, management, and control of fire on public or private land.”
– Carlos J. Castillo, Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer

“Wildfires need to be respected because they are nature’s terror weapon. Wildfires can result in complete devastation, with their after-effects lasting generations. You may not encounter one for decades, and then you smell smoke.

Communities’ encroachment into wooded areas, warmer and drier conditions, and ineffective forest and rangeland management are just a few elements contributing to more intense wildfires, so we need to be alert. We need to prepare.

Individuals need to take responsibility, with a sense of urgency, to protect themselves, their families, and their property. Create a viable defensible space around your property and use fire-resistant materials whenever possible. Be familiar with and practice your evacuation routes; you cannot fight a wildfire with a garden hose. Create go-kits that include essential documents and medicines. Urge your community to adopt area-wide fire prevention practices and enhancement of fire response.”
– Mark Stephenson II, Mitigation Grant Manager

Carlos J. Castillo

Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer

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Mark Stephenson II

Mitigation Grant Manager

The 2004 hurricane season was a difficult one for Lee County in Southwest Florida. We were fortunate, indeed, to have retained your firm to process FEMA claims following Hurricane Charley. Especially effective was the coordinated approach you used in seeking financial relief from separate sources such as FEMA, FHWA, NRCS and insurance. …The knowledge needed to deal with FEMA regulations is mind-boggling. It was obvious you and your team are very much up to speed with these regulations, procedures and processes.Without hesitation, we would recommend you and your firm to anyone faced with the task of processing large and/or complex loss claims in a disaster environment. Your firm’s ability to bring together the right team of professionals at the right time resulted in the creation of a superior product. Your thoroughness, knowledge, attention to detail, and logical approach provided us with the assurance that we would obtain the maximum reimbursement from all eligible sources.

Tony Majul, Budget Director, Lee County, Florida

During Huricanne Irma 2017, the City contracted the services of Tidal Basin in order to help us recover the necessary funds spent during the disaster cleanup process…Due to the efforts by Tidal Basin’s staff, the City was able to receive our much needed reimbursement from F.E.M.A. The attention to detail displayed by Tidal Basin’s staff was imperative during the process which involved tedious paperwork and inspections. I am confident that your organization will benefit from the services provided by Tidal Basin and its hardworking staff.

Arturo L. Ruiz, Director of Administration, City of Hialeah Gardens

The University of Miami has been working with Tidal Basin for over 10 years and they are a valued partner. I have had the pleasure of working with them for the past year, which includes completing work related [to] Hurricane Irma, staging for Hurricane Dorian, and currently COVID-19. They have proved very knowledgeable in the navigation of the FEMA reimbursement process… As their client you get access to all their team members and resources.

Craig R. McAllister, Executive Director, Department of Risk Management, University of Miami

Tidal Basin has been a big part of our hurricane response team for the past 6 years providing excellent, professional service for the staff and residents of the City of Aventura. During this time, we experienced two major storm events and we utilized your debris monitoring and FEMA documentation services which both were very exceptional. We could not have weathered those events without you.

Joseph S. Kroll, Public Works/Transportation Director, City of Aventura

We retained your services to assist us in the Public Assistance grant application process and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program with FEMA and the State of Florida. This turned out to be one of the most sensible decisions we made. Your organization made a very onerous situation much more bearable…The experience and knowledge that you provided us was invaluable.Without hesitation, we would be delighted to recommend your services to anyone who faces the task of processing large, complicated grant applications to the federal government. Your systematic approach and attention to detail allowed the City of Fort Myers to obtain our maximum eligible reimbursement.

Judy Hartwell, Director, Financial Services, City of Fort Myers, Florida

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