Homes burn in Southern California amid fast-moving fire, prompting evacuation orders

In Altadena, California, a displaced resident is facing the loss of her disaster case manager as a funding dispute between California and FEMA continues. Mary Landau, a 78-year-old retired teacher, credits her case manager, Veda Ashby Romero, for providing her with hope and strength throughout the rebuilding process following the 2025 Los Angeles fires.

Romero assists Landau in navigating insurance claims, completing paperwork, and accessing financial assistance. Now, roughly 1,400 households, including Landau, are set to lose their case managers by the end of October due to the lack of funding. This termination is seen as another setback for LA communities in the midst of recovery, as they await billions of additional federal dollars.

California requested $28 million for case management following the January 2025 fires but only received $13.2 million from FEMA, leaving the state to cover the remaining costs. Despite FEMA's claims of providing assistance, the program's termination risks abandoning survivors like Landau, who still face significant costs to rebuild her home.