'Not out of the woods': Fire-scarred LA braces for another round of dangerous winds

Los Angeles County officials on Tuesday moved to provide clarity to wildfire victims who applied for relief assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and received a response that said the application was "not approved."

"If the letter says you are 'not approved' for assistance, it does not mean you have been denied assistance. Understanding this letter and any next steps you need to take is critical to move your recovery forward," an explanatory page, titled "Understanding FEMA Determination Letter," said on the official L.A. County Recovers website.

"It is important to read the letter carefully because it will include the amount of money FEMA may provide and information on the appropriate use of that money," the website said. "The letter will also explain your application status and advise what you need to do to appeal if you do not agree with FEMA's decision."

Officials noted that people with insurance may receive an initial "not approved" decision but that FEMA assistance may nonetheless still be available.

"FEMA may need your insurance determination to be finalized in order to continue processing your application to make sure you are not receiving financial aid for the same damage twice," according to L.A. County Recovers. "By law, FEMA cannot pay for costs related to the wildfires that your insurance already covers."

After 30 days or more have passed since an insurance claim has been filed, if a settlement has not been received, wildfire victims are urged to contact the FEMA helpline at (800) 621-3362. FEMA may be able to provide some initial funds while residents wait for their insurance payout, officials said.

The website also included tips to help FEMA keep applicants on track toward recovery, instructions on how to appeal a FEMA decision, and information about other federal support that may be available.

The agency has received more than 40,000 applications in connection with the Southern California wildfires and has provided more than $8 million in relief, the agency said.

A Pacific Palisades couple used garden hoses to protect their home from the Palisades Fire as the flames approached. Both of them survived.

Susan Salser, 85, fought the fire with her 86-year-old husband, Winston, and saved their home - just like they did in a 1978 fire that hit the Palisades.

Their home is one of only three still standing at the top of their Pacific Palisades street.

A Pacific Palisades couple used garden hoses to protect their home from the Palisades Fire as the flames approached. Both of them survived.

The next 24 hours will be very dangerous as high winds blow through the Los Angeles area, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna warned.

The next 24 hours will be very dangerous as high winds blow through the Los Angeles area, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna warned.

He urged residents to follow evacuation orders, noting that many people who waited until the last minute to evacuate last week suffered significant burns.

"We don't want you to impact your own life or the life or your loved ones," Luna said.

The sheriff said conversations around repopulation are ongoing, but he emphasized that he did not want people to feel a false sense of security.

"I don't want people to think everything is OK now. Everything is not OK yet. We'll get there, we'll get there together, but again, the wind is blowing and it's going to continue to blow," Luna said.

The sheriff's department is following 24 missing persons cases, all adults, Luna said. The LAPD said it has 13 active missing persons cases, two of whom are believed to be dead.

No more remains were found when crews searched the hard-hit Altadena area on Monday, the sheriff said.

ABC News contributed to this report.

More than 20,000 donors have given a total of $14 million to the nonprofit California Community Foundation to support recovery efforts prompted by the Southern California wildfires, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.

"I want to acknowledge the thousands of Angelenos who have come together all across the city to help -- hundreds, thousands of people just showing up, who are providing resources and supplies for victims," Bass said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

The mayor also thanked the Walt Disney Co., Netflix, the Wasserman Foundation, the Hilton Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, Snap Inc. "and so many others for donating millions of dollars to relief efforts.

More than 20,000 donors have given a total of $14 million to the nonprofit California Community Foundation to support recovery efforts prompted by the Southern California wildfires, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.

"L.A., we stand together," Bass said. "We will do what we need to be safe over the next couple of days, and then we rebuild. We will rebuild Los Angeles and make Los Angeles the world-class city that we are."

Donations to the California Community Foundation's wildfire recovery fund can be made by visiting the organization's website.

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