City estimates $358 million in initial wildfire and windstorm damages; CAO outlines FEMA process and short-term staffing window

Los Angeles City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo told the Los Angeles City Council on Jan. 22, 2025, that the city has submitted an initial damage estimate of $358 million to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for costs associated with the Jan. 7–10 windstorm and wildfire response.

The estimate covers emergency response, infrastructure and structural damage, and debris removal tied to the event, and Szabo said it is preliminary and likely to grow as departments complete field assessments. "This is our first, preliminary report on the costs and the damages, associated with the fire and the windstorm event," Szabo said to the council.

Why it matters: The estimate will drive the city’s reimbursement requests to state and federal disaster programs. Patty Huber, executive officer and assistant city administrative officer, said the city has already submitted the initial damage estimate to FEMA through the county and state and is preparing the next steps in the federal public-assistance process. "We have submitted our initial damage estimate to FEMA," Huber said. The council and CAO discussed how the city will front costs and the staffing and documentation needed to secure federal reimbursements.

Key figures and preliminary damage breakdown

- Initial damage estimate submitted to FEMA: $358,000,000 (covering Jan. 7–10 period). - Infrastructure and city property/structure damage within that total: about $350,000,000. - Estimated staffing and overtime costs (Jan. 7–17): at least…