By the Unified Savers Editorial Team
Emergency protocols for IHSS vary by county and may change based on the nature of the emergency. Contact your county IHSS office for current guidance during any declared disaster or emergency.
During a natural disaster, public health emergency, or declared state of emergency in California, IHSS services can continue — but providers and recipients need to plan ahead to ensure continuity of care. Key provisions include emergency backup provider enrollment, potential advance pay authorization, temporary service expansions, and county-level emergency protocols that activate when normal procedures are disrupted. IHSS recipients with evacuation or shelter needs may also access emergency shelter accommodations that are accessible for their disabilities.
California’s vulnerability to wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and extreme heat events makes emergency preparedness planning essential for IHSS participants. This guide covers what IHSS providers and recipients should know before, during, and after a disaster.
Before a Disaster: Building Your Emergency Plan
The most important IHSS disaster preparedness step is done before any emergency occurs.
Register with your county’s emergency alert system Every California county maintains an emergency notification system (often called Nixle, AlertMedia, or a county-specific system). Register your phone number and address to receive evacuation orders, shelter information, and emergency updates. This is especially important for IHSS recipients who may need additional lead time or assistance to evacuate.
Enroll an emergency backup IHSS provider California allows IHSS recipients to designate a backup provider — a different person who can step in when the primary provider is unavailable. During a disaster, your primary provider may be unable to reach you, may have evacuated themselves, or may be dealing with their own emergency. Having an enrolled backup provider means care can continue without waiting for new provider enrollment.
To enroll a backup provider:
- Identify someone who can provide your care in an emergency (family member, neighbor, trusted person)
- Have them enroll through your county IHSS office as a backup provider
- They must complete orientation, pass a Live Scan background check, and register with the Electronic Services Portal (ESP)
This process takes 2–4 weeks in normal circumstances — do it now, before any emergency.
Know your county’s emergency protocols Contact your county IHSS office and ask:
- Does your county have a formal IHSS emergency protocol?
- Is there an emergency contact number for IHSS during disasters?
- How does your county handle timesheet submission when the Electronic Services Portal is inaccessible?
- Are there advance pay options if the county’s payment systems are disrupted?
Keep this information written down in a place you can access even if your phone or internet is unavailable.
Document your care needs in writing Prepare a one-page care needs summary that lists:
- Your primary diagnosis and functional limitations
- What personal care tasks you need assistance with, and how often
- Your medications and dosing schedule
- Emergency contacts (your IHSS provider, a family member, your doctor)
- Your county IHSS caseworker contact information
Give a copy to your primary provider, your backup provider, and keep one with your emergency documents kit.
Include your emergency supplies in your IHSS plan IHSS recipients who use medical equipment — oxygen concentrators, power wheelchairs, feeding pumps, CPAP/BiPAP machines — should register with their local electric utility for Medical Baseline status. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) all offer Medical Baseline programs that provide advance notice of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) for medically vulnerable customers, and in some cases priority restoration.
During an Emergency: What Providers and Recipients Can Do
If you must evacuate California’s emergency shelters are required to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need personal care assistance to shelter safely, inform shelter staff upon arrival that you require IHSS-funded personal care. In major disasters, the state may coordinate with counties to allow IHSS providers to accompany recipients to emergency shelters and continue providing care there.
Contact your county emergency management office and your county IHSS office to report your location during an evacuation so services can be coordinated.
If your IHSS provider cannot reach you During wildfires, floods, or other emergencies, transportation disruptions may prevent your IHSS provider from reaching your home. Options:
- Activate your backup provider if you have one enrolled
- Contact your county IHSS office’s emergency line (if available)
- Contact your county’s IHSS Public Authority registry for emergency referrals
- Contact family, neighbors, or local emergency management for immediate assistance
Timesheet submission during emergencies Electronic Services Portal (ESP) may be inaccessible during power outages or internet disruptions. In declared disaster situations, counties may accept alternative timesheet verification methods. Contact your county IHSS office for current instructions — timesheets can sometimes be submitted after the fact for emergency periods, with appropriate documentation of why normal submission was not possible.
Advance pay during emergencies In some declared emergency situations, California has authorized advance pay provisions for IHSS providers. This allows providers to receive advance payment before timesheets are submitted, to ensure they can continue providing care without financial disruption. Advance pay is not automatic — it requires a request and county approval, and is typically limited to specific declared disaster situations. Check with your county office during an active emergency.
After a Disaster: Restoring Your IHSS Services
If your provider was displaced or their home was destroyed Your provider may have evacuated, lost their home, or be unavailable for an extended period after a disaster. Contact your county IHSS office to:
- Report that your regular provider is unavailable
- Request an emergency referral from the county Public Authority registry
- Initiate emergency enrollment for a new provider if necessary
Counties can expedite provider enrollment during declared disasters — processing that normally takes 2–4 weeks may be compressed. Contact your county IHSS office directly to ask about emergency enrollment protocols.
If your IHSS services were interrupted If your IHSS services were interrupted during the emergency and you incurred out-of-pocket care expenses, contact your county IHSS office about potential back-payment. California law may allow reimbursement for care services paid privately during a period when IHSS was inaccessible due to circumstances beyond your control, but this is handled case-by-case.
If you were displaced from your home If a disaster displaces you temporarily into a hotel, family member’s home, or emergency shelter, you retain your IHSS eligibility as long as you remain a California resident. However, your provider may need to travel to your temporary location, or you may need a new provider if transportation isn’t feasible. Contact your county IHSS office to report your temporary address and coordinate continued services.
Special Situations: Extreme Heat Events
California’s extreme heat events — which are increasing in frequency and severity — create specific risks for IHSS recipients. Many recipients are elderly or have conditions that impair thermoregulation, making them particularly vulnerable to heat illness.
Heat-related IHSS considerations:
- If your IHSS hours include time for you to travel to a cooling center, your provider may be able to accompany you and receive payment for that time under IHSS transportation services
- During heat emergencies, some counties increase outreach to IHSS recipients
- If you don’t have air conditioning and your medical condition makes heat dangerous, contact your doctor, county IHSS office, and local emergency management to discuss resources
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events PG&E and other California utilities periodically shut off power proactively to prevent wildfire ignition. If you use electrical medical equipment, register for Medical Baseline status with your utility now — before an outage. Your IHSS provider can help you access community resources (libraries, cooling centers, community centers) during PSPS events.
IHSS-Specific Contacts to Know Before Any Emergency
Keep these contacts accessible even if your phone is not charged:
- Your county IHSS office main number (written down, not just saved in your phone)
- Your county’s IHSS Public Authority registry number
- Your IHSS provider’s phone number
- Your backup provider’s phone number
- California Department of Social Services (CDSS): 1-800-952-5253
- Your county Office of Emergency Services (OES): varies by county
- Your utility company’s medical baseline program number: PG&E: 1-800-743-5000; SCE: 1-800-655-4555; SDG&E: 1-800-411-7343
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I lose my IHSS if I have to temporarily move to another county during a disaster? A: Generally, no. IHSS is a statewide program and your eligibility follows you as a California resident. However, your services are administered by the county where you currently live. If you move temporarily to another county, notify both your original county and the county where you are staying. The original county remains responsible for your case during a temporary displacement; if the move becomes permanent, your case transfers to the new county.
Q: Can my IHSS provider be reimbursed for costs they incurred helping me during a disaster? A: IHSS providers are paid based on authorized service hours — not for expenses like gas, supplies purchased during an emergency, or extra time spent on logistics. Out-of-pocket expenses incurred by providers during an emergency are generally not reimbursed through IHSS. If your provider incurred significant expenses helping you during a disaster, they may be eligible for disaster relief through FEMA or state emergency programs as an individual — separate from their IHSS role.
Q: What if my IHSS provider’s home was destroyed in a wildfire and they can no longer work? A: Your provider’s personal circumstances affect your care even though IHSS is your benefit. If your provider cannot continue, contact your county IHSS office and the county Public Authority registry as soon as possible. Your assessed hours remain authorized — you just need a new provider to fill them. The county can help expedite finding and enrolling a new provider during a declared disaster period.
Related Resources on Unified Savers:
- IHSS Emergency Backup Provider — How backup providers work
- IHSS Advance Pay Options — Understanding advance pay eligibility
- What Is IHSS California — IHSS program overview
- IHSS Direct Deposit Setup — Setting up direct deposit for uninterrupted payments