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California’s Only Practice Dedicated Exclusively to Disaster Law
California’s Disaster Law Specialist for Government & Public Agencies
California’s Disaster Law Specialist for Business & Private Organizations

When Disaster Strikes,
Legal Expertise Makes All the Difference

Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting helps government agencies, corporations, and civic organizations build legally sound disaster preparedness and recovery frameworks — before, during, and after catastrophe.

County agencies, municipalities, and special districts face a distinct legal burden when disaster strikes. Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting helps California public agencies build legally defensible preparedness frameworks, maximize FEMA Public Assistance reimbursements, and reduce liability exposure — structured to fit your procurement process.

For corporations, utilities, and private organizations, a disaster is not just an operational crisis — it is a legal one. Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting builds the frameworks that protect your business, recover your losses, and defend against post-event litigation before and after catastrophe.

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PBS Featured Expert · ABA National Presenter · CA 5th Climate Assessment Lead Author (Governor’s Appt.) · 3 California Laws Authored & Signed · Top 40 Under 40

Consulting services available nationally. California legal services limited to CA-licensed matters unless a federal practice exception applies. Nothing on this website constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information on this site without consulting qualified counsel. Prior results are not predictive of future outcomes and no guarantee of results is offered or implied.

$20M+
Leveraged for Survivors
3
CA Laws Authored
20+
National Trainings
8+
Years Field Practice

All figures reflect documented outcomes from specific past matters. Prior results are not predictive of future recovery in any matter and no guarantee of outcome is offered or implied.

The Legal Side of Disaster Recovery Is Where Millions Are Won or Lost


Most organizations focus on emergency response. Almost none address the legal exposures that determine whether they recover financially, operationally, and legally — until it's too late.

⚖️

FEMA Claims Maximized

40–60% of FEMA claims are initially denied. With structured legal advocacy, appeal success rates reach 60–80%. Legal expertise recovers 40–70% more in federal aid than unadvised applicants.

🏛️

Legislative & Policy Expertise

Kendall has authored and passed landmark California disaster legislation — giving clients unmatched insight into how policy is shaped, how to comply, and how to influence it before the next event.

🔍

Insurance Recovery Optimized

30–50% of insured losses are routinely undervalued. Professional legal review of insurance policies and post-disaster advocacy recovers an average of $180,000 more per household.

🛡️

Litigation Liability Eliminated

Pre-event legal compliance review eliminates most government and corporate disaster liability exposure — from failure-to-protect claims to ADA obligations under the Stafford Act.

🏗️

Faster Recovery & Rebuilding

Legally prepared organizations rebuild 40% faster. Legal frameworks prevent the title complications, contractor fraud, and administrative delays that cause permanent displacement.

📋

Defensible Preparedness Plans

Most California counties lack legally defensible, up-to-date disaster ordinances. Jarvis Disaster Law creates frameworks that protect clients from regulatory and legal scrutiny post-event.

$20M+
Leveraged for Disaster Survivors
$2M+
Landmark Insurance Settlement
3
California Laws Authored & Passed
45
Counties Served by Programs
20+
CLE Trainings Nationwide
58
CA Counties Advised
All figures above reflect documented outcomes from specific past matters and are not predictive of future results in any matter, even in similar circumstances. No guarantee or assurance of outcome is offered or implied. Past performance is not a promise of future recovery. Results were dependent on unique factual and legal circumstances.

Seven Core Service Lines — All Grounded in Unmatched Field Experience


Every service is delivered by Kendall Jarvis personally — combining licensed disaster law expertise, legislative authorship, FEMA mastery, insurance litigation, and a national training network in a single practice.

01
Priority for Government Agencies
Priority for Corporate Clients

Disaster Preparedness Assessments Consulting · National

Comprehensive legal and operational review of your organization's disaster readiness. Deliverable: gap report with prioritized action items and defensible preparedness ordinances.

Government: $25K–$150K  |  Corporate: $15K–$80K
For government agencies: Deliverable includes Board-ready scope, sole-source justification, and legally defensible ordinances benchmarked to CalOES and FEMA CPG 101 standards.
For corporate clients: Identify critical gaps in your corporate disaster plan, insurance baseline, and FEMA eligibility before the next wildfire season.
Procurement note: Engagements are structured to support RFP and sole-source procurement processes. We provide written scope of work documentation suitable for Board of Supervisors approval.
02
Priority for Government Agencies
Priority for Corporate Clients

FEMA Appeals & Claims Strategy

Expert guidance through the FEMA Individual and Public Assistance claims process — appeals, documentation, and escalation — with a track record of $20M+ recovered for clients.

Project-based  |  Contingency available
For government agencies: Counties typically recover $5–$15M more per major disaster through structured Public Assistance documentation and appeal. Kendall designed the leading FEMA Appeals Clinic model in California.
For corporate clients: Business loss recovery through Individual Assistance and documented business interruption claims. Legal advocacy recovers 40–70% more than unadvised applicants.
03
Priority for Corporate Clients

Insurance Dispute & Recovery Advisory

Pre-event policy audits to identify gaps, and post-disaster advocacy to challenge lowball settlements. Landmark precedent-setting $2M+ bad-faith wildfire litigation on behalf of survivors.

Retainer or project-based
For corporate clients: 30–50% of business insurance claims are initially undervalued. Pre-event policy audit prevents catastrophic post-disaster losses. Kendall’s $2M+ bad-faith settlement set binding California precedent.
04
Priority for Government Agencies

Policy Drafting & Legislative Advocacy Legal · CA Only

Author of SB 455, AB 806, and California's first automatically-triggered disaster eviction moratorium. Direct access to Sacramento legislative process and regulatory rulemaking.

$8K–$40K per engagement
For government agencies: Direct Sacramento access. Kendall has authored and passed 3 signed California laws — SB 455, AB 806, and CA’s first auto-triggered eviction moratorium. She has current access to the 2026 AB/SB pipeline.
05

Disaster Law Training & CLE

Practitioner-grade disaster law curriculum delivered to legal aid attorneys, bar associations, and emergency managers nationwide. Custom training programs designed for your audience.

$3K–$12K per training
06
Priority for Government Agencies
Priority for Corporate Clients

Post-Disaster Response Consulting Consulting · National

Rapid-deployment advisory during active disaster declarations — tenant protections, contractor oversight, FEMA registration support, and legal triage for community organizations.

Retainer or emergency deployment
For government agencies: Priority retainer access during declared emergencies. First 72 hours determine your agency’s legal exposure on eviction moratoriums, contractor fraud, and FEMA registration deadlines.
For corporate clients: Rapid legal advisory during active declarations — protect your business from contractor fraud, insurance deadlines, and FEMA registration gaps in the critical first 72 hours.
07
Priority for Corporate Clients

Expert Witness & Litigation Support

Qualified expert on FEMA appeals practice, disaster law, insurance bad faith, and California disaster statutes. Available for deposition, report preparation, and trial testimony.

Hourly or project-based
For corporate clients: Qualified expert on FEMA appeals, insurance bad-faith, and California disaster statutes — available for deposition, report, and trial testimony.
⚖️
Federal Practice Exception — FEMA & CBCA Matters Available Nationwide
Under Sperry v. Florida, 373 U.S. 379 (1963), federal agency practice — including FEMA appeals, CBCA arbitration proceedings, and related federal disaster proceedings — is not subject to state bar admission requirements. Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting is available to represent clients in FEMA Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and CBCA dispute proceedings across all U.S. states and territories. Consulting and training services are also available nationally. California bar licensure governs all other legal services.
Full Services Detail →

For County & Municipal Agencies

What California Counties Need to Get Right

  • Legally defensible disaster ordinances that survive post-event scrutiny
  • FEMA Public Assistance documentation that maximizes reimbursement
  • ADA and access & functional needs compliance under the Stafford Act
  • Tenant protection obligations during and after declared emergencies
  • Contractor oversight frameworks that prevent fraud and cost overruns
  • Liability exposure from failure-to-protect and inadequate preparedness claims

Working With Your Agency

Designed for Public Procurement

Kendall understands that public agency engagements require Board approval, written scopes of work, and procurement documentation. Every engagement is structured accordingly — including sole-source justification letters and RFP-ready scope language.

Kendall has served California counties, municipalities, and special districts across Northern California and is familiar with OES, CalOES, FEMA PA, and HCD interfaces.

Illustrative Engagement — Northern California County
From No Legal Framework to a Board-Approved Disaster Law Policy in 90 Days

A Northern California county with significant wildfire exposure retained Kendall following a failed FEMA Public Assistance appeal that left $3.2M in eligible costs unreimbursed. The engagement began with a preparedness assessment, led to a revised FEMA documentation protocol and a legally defensible preparedness ordinance, and concluded with a reconsideration brief that recovered the majority of denied reimbursement.

Details are illustrative. Specific client information is held confidential. Prior results are not predictive of future outcomes.

90 Days
Assessment to Board-Approved Ordinance
$3.2M
FEMA Reconsideration Brief Filed
Ongoing
Retained for Future Declarations
Request a Scope & Proposal

For Corporate & Private Clients

What’s at Stake Without Legal Preparedness

  • Unrecovered FEMA and insurance losses averaging 30–50% of actual damages
  • Business interruption disputes with no pre-event documentation baseline
  • Contractor fraud exposure during rapid post-disaster rebuild
  • Failure-to-protect litigation following inadequate preparedness
  • Regulatory exposure under ADA and Stafford Act obligations
  • No legal triage access in the first 72 hours of a declaration

How We Help Corporate Clients

Legal Preparedness That Protects Your Bottom Line

Kendall has helped corporations and private organizations recover 40–70% more in federal aid than unadvised applicants, identify critical insurance gaps before disasters strike, and defend against post-event litigation.

Her $2M+ bad-faith insurance settlement at Journey’s End established precedent that continues to shape corporate insurance recovery across California. The ROI of legal preparedness is documented: $1 invested returns $4–$11 in recovery outcomes.

Schedule a Discovery Call

What to Expect From an Engagement


Every engagement begins with a no-cost discovery conversation. From there, the process is structured, transparent, and designed to fit how your organization actually works — including public procurement requirements where applicable.

01

Discovery Call

A no-cost 30-minute call to discuss your organization’s situation, disaster risk profile, and legal preparedness gaps. No obligation — just an honest assessment of whether and how we can help.

02

Scope & Engagement Letter

A written scope of work and engagement letter outlining deliverables, timeline, and fees. For public agencies, engagements can be structured to support RFP and sole-source procurement processes.

03

Assessment or Engagement

Kendall conducts a structured review of your ordinances, plans, insurance coverage, FEMA eligibility, and liability exposure. All work is done personally by Kendall, not delegated.

04

Deliverable & Ongoing Support

A written gap report with prioritized action items and defensible frameworks — plus optional retainer access for ongoing advisory and rapid-response during declared emergencies.

The Specialist Behind California’s Disaster Law Framework


Kendall Jarvis, J.D. is a disaster law attorney, legislative author, policy architect, and the founder of California's first Disaster Law Program at Legal Aid of Sonoma County. Over nearly a decade, she has built the country's most specialized disaster legal aid practice — recovering over $20 million for survivors, authoring three signed California laws, and training attorneys across six states.

A Lead Author of California's 5th Climate Assessment and Executive Committee member of the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC), Kendall now brings her unmatched expertise to private clients through Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting.

Full Biography →
"Every disaster season without a legal preparedness plan is not just a risk — it is a decision to remain exposed." — Kendall Jarvis, J.D.
PBS
Featured Expert
Top 40
Under 40 Award
CA 5th
Climate Assessment Lead Author
ABA
DLS National Presenter

Is Your Organization Legally Ready for California’s Next Disaster?

Is Your County Legally Ready for California’s Next Disaster?

Is Your Business Legally Ready for California’s Next Disaster?

The 2025 LA fires changed the calculus. Every government agency, company, and civic organization in California now faces a clear choice: prepared or exposed. Start with a no-cost 30-minute discovery call.

After the 2025 LA fires, no California county can afford to wait. Boards of Supervisors are asking the question. Your answer needs to be documented, defensible, and legally sound. Start with a no-cost discovery call — or request a written scope and fee proposal ready for Board presentation.

After the 2025 LA fires, California businesses face a clear choice: invest in legal preparedness now, or absorb catastrophic legal and financial exposure later. The ROI is documented: $1 in legal preparedness returns $4–$11 in recovery outcomes.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call
Schedule a Free Discovery Call Request a Scope & Proposal
Schedule a Free Discovery Call
KJ
Kendall Jarvis
J.D.  |  Disaster Law Attorney
Disaster Law FEMA Appeals Policy Author Mediator Expert Witness Climate Assessment
Licensed California Attorney
State Bar #318755
Request a Consultation

Kendall Jarvis, J.D.


Kendall Jarvis is one of California’s most experienced and specialized disaster law attorneys — a practitioner who has spent nearly a decade at the intersection of disaster response, legal advocacy, and policy reform. She founded the first Disaster Law Program in California at Legal Aid of Sonoma County, where she developed the Insurance Clinic and FEMA Appeals Clinic models that have since been adopted by legal aid partners across the state and nation.

Through direct legal representation and systemic advocacy, Kendall has leveraged more than $20 million in aid for disaster survivors — primarily from the Sonoma Complex Fires — through FEMA appeals, insurance litigation, and legislative change. Her landmark $2 million insurance bad-faith settlement on behalf of Journey's End Mobilehome Park residents established legal precedent that has since benefited thousands of California wildfire survivors statewide.

Kendall is the author of three signed California laws: SB 455, AB 806, and California's first automatically-triggered disaster eviction moratorium in Sonoma County — protections now embedded in state law that protect renters in every future California disaster declaration. She was appointed by the Governor's Office as a Lead Author of California's 5th Climate Assessment, informing state policy on climate justice and emergency preparedness gaps.

A nationally recognized trainer, Kendall has delivered disaster law CLE programs across Oregon, Hawaii (Maui), North Carolina, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and nationwide through the American Bar Association's Disaster Legal Services program. She holds a National Mediation Certification from UC Berkeley and is an active member of the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC) Executive Committee.

Now through Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting, Kendall brings her unmatched expertise directly to government agencies, private companies, and civic organizations seeking to build legally sound, operationally effective disaster preparedness and recovery frameworks.

Education
Empire College of Law
Juris Doctorate & Masters of Legal Studies
Graduated Salutatorian with High Honors · Congressional Recognition for Academic Excellence · Witkin Recognition for Academic Excellence · Legal Aid Clinic · Self Help Access Clinic · Small Claims Advisory Clinic
University of California, Berkeley
National Mediation Certification
Awarded National Mediation Certification. Also served as Lead Author, California's 5th Climate Assessment — appointed by the Governor's Office.
University of San Francisco, School of Law
Graduate Studies
Criminal Law Society · International Law Society · Women's Law Society · Interned: Marin County District Attorney's Office
University of California, Santa Barbara
Bachelor of Arts (High Honors)
Presidential Recognition for Academic Excellence · First Place, Model Arab League National Competition (Washington, D.C.) · Studied Abroad: UC Center Paris, France · Interned: Santa Barbara Public Defender's Office, Teen Court, District Attorney's Office
Career Timeline
  • 2026 — Present
    Founder & Principal — Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting
    Launching California's premier specialized disaster law and preparedness consultancy, serving government agencies, corporations, and civic organizations statewide and nationally.
  • 2024 — 2026
    Lead Author — California's 5th Climate Assessment (UC Berkeley / Governor's Office)
    Appointed by the Governor's Office to author the climate justice and emergency preparedness section of California's 5th Climate Assessment — a foundational policy document informing the Governor and State Legislature.
  • 2017 — 2026
    Lead Disaster Relief Attorney — Legal Aid of Sonoma County
    Founded California's first Disaster Law Program. Recovered $20M+ for survivors. Authored three CA laws. Created FEMA Appeals and Insurance Clinic models adopted statewide. Landmark $2M+ insurance bad-faith settlement at Journey's End Mobilehome Park. Provided legal support to communities affected by the Sonoma Complex Fires, Dixie Fire, and multiple other major California disasters.
Boards & Affiliations

Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC)

Executive Committee Member · Outreach Committee Chair · Advocacy Committee Member · Website Committee Member · Policy Consultant

Sonoma County COAD

Chair Emeritus · Formerly COAD Chair · Policy Consultant — Community Organizations Active in Disaster

California State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Executive Committee Member — statewide disaster coordination

CA State Legislative Committee — Wildfire Research, Technology & Development

Committee Member appointed by Senator Dodd

Sonoma County — Housing Element Safety Committee

Committee Member

Sonoma County — Climate Justice Committee & Working Group

Committee Member — climate equity and disaster preparedness policy

Sonoma County — Access & Functional Needs Committee

Committee Member — ADA and disaster response

Sonoma County — Emergency Management Response Planning

Committee Member

Seven Specialized Service Lines


No generalist consultant, emergency management firm, or law firm replicates this combination: licensed disaster law expertise, legislative authorship, FEMA mastery, insurance litigation, mediation certification, and a national training network — all in one practice.

Service descriptions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting based on information on this page without consulting qualified counsel. Prior results described are not predictive of future outcomes.

01   Disaster Preparedness Assessments
Core Service

A structured, comprehensive legal and operational review of your organization's disaster preparedness posture. Kendall examines existing ordinances, response plans, insurance policies, FEMA reimbursement eligibility, tenant protection obligations, ADA compliance under the Stafford Act, and liability exposure. The deliverable is a detailed gap report with prioritized action items and a roadmap to legally defensible preparedness.

Ideal for: County governments, municipalities, utilities, corporations, nonprofits, VOADs, COADs, and civic organizations. Particularly urgent for organizations with disaster exposure but no formal legal preparedness review.

$25K–$150K
Government Agencies
$15K–$80K
Corporations
$8K–$40K
Nonprofits
02   FEMA Appeals & Claims Strategy
High-ROI Service

FEMA initially denies 40–60% of claims. Kendall designed and operates the leading FEMA Appeals Clinic model in California, has trained 20+ attorneys in FEMA appeals practice, and has recovered $20M+ for clients through structured FEMA advocacy. Services include claims review, documentation audits, appeal brief preparation, and strategy for both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs.

Track record: The ROI on legal FEMA advocacy is exceptional — county agencies typically recover $5–15M in additional reimbursements per major disaster through proper documentation and appeal strategy alone.

60–80%
Appeal Success Rate with Legal Support
$20M+
Total Recovered by Kendall's Clinics
03   Insurance Dispute & Recovery Advisory
Litigation Expertise

Pre-event: Kendall audits existing insurance policies to identify coverage gaps, undervaluation, and exclusions that routinely leave organizations dramatically underinsured. Post-event: She advises on insurance negotiation strategy, challenges bad-faith settlement practices, and litigates where necessary. Her $2M+ landmark insurance settlement in the Journey's End Mobilehome Park case established precedent that has since benefited thousands of California wildfire survivors.

$2M+
Landmark Insurance Precedent
30–50%
Avg. Undervaluation Without Legal Review
04   Policy Drafting & Legislative Advocacy
Legislative Expertise

Kendall has authored and passed three signed California laws — SB 455 (mortgage servicer obligations post-disaster), AB 806 (mobilehome cooling protections), and California's first automatically-triggered disaster eviction moratorium. She maintains direct relationships with Sacramento legislators and regulatory agencies. Services include policy drafting, regulatory comment preparation, legislative testimony, and stakeholder coalition building.

She currently has direct access to the 2026 AB/SB legislative pipeline including tenant protections, FEMA co-match requirements, and disaster legal aid funding.

3
California Laws Authored & Signed
Direct
Sacramento Legislative Access
05   Disaster Law Training & CLE Programs
National Reach

Kendall has developed and delivered practitioner-grade disaster law curriculum across 20+ national trainings — through PLI, Pro Bono Net, ABA Disaster Legal Services, and state bar associations in Oregon, Hawaii, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. Custom training programs are designed for legal aid organizations, state and local bar associations, emergency managers, and corporate legal teams.

Formats: Half-day and full-day CLE workshops, conference presentations, webinar series, agency-specific training, and customized curriculum development.

20+
National Trainings Delivered
6
States + Territories Reached
06   Post-Disaster Response Consulting
Rapid Response

When a disaster declaration is issued, the first 72 hours are critical. Kendall provides rapid-response advisory during active declarations — advising on eviction moratorium activation, contractor fraud prevention, FEMA registration support, tenant protection obligations, and legal triage for community-based organizations. Organizations with existing retainer relationships receive priority access during declared emergencies.

07   Expert Witness & Litigation Support
Legal Expertise

Kendall is qualified to serve as an expert witness on FEMA appeals practice, California disaster law, insurance bad-faith in wildfire contexts, disaster legal services standards, and the Stafford Act. She is available for report preparation, deposition, and trial testimony. Her legislative authorship, field practice, and national training credentials provide unmatched credibility before courts and administrative bodies.

The ROI of legal preparedness is clear: $1 invested in legal preparedness returns $4–$11 in recovery outcomes. — Based on documented outcomes from California disaster events, 2017–2025

Ready to Build Your Legal Preparedness Framework?

Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss your organization's specific disaster risk profile and legal preparedness gaps.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call

Landmark Projects, Programs & Legal Achievements


These are not projections. They are documented outcomes — proof of what structured disaster legal support achieves for survivors, communities, and governments.

California's First Disaster Law Program
Founded 2017 — Legal Aid of Sonoma County

When the Sonoma Complex Fires devastated Sonoma County in October 2017, there was no legal infrastructure to help survivors navigate the complex web of FEMA applications, insurance claims, housing rights, contractor fraud, and administrative appeals. Kendall founded California's first dedicated Disaster Law Program at Legal Aid of Sonoma County — building from the ground up a legal aid infrastructure that has since become the model for disaster legal services statewide.

The program created two clinic models — the Insurance Clinic and the FEMA Appeals Clinic — that structured previously ad hoc disaster legal aid into repeatable, scalable processes. These models have been shared with legal aid partners across California and nationwide.

$20M+
Leveraged for Survivors
3,000+
Fire Survivors Served
20+
Attorneys Trained in Program
Journey's End Mobilehome Park — Landmark Insurance Case
Precedent-Setting Litigation

Journey's End Mobilehome Park in Santa Rosa was home to 161 units before the 2017 Tubbs Fire. Forty-four units survived structurally, but the entire park was condemned and uninhabitable. Both FEMA and the insurance industry initially denied coverage — claiming residents had no valid loss because their homes were physically standing. This left dozens of families without compensation, unable to rebuild, and trapped in legal limbo for three years.

Kendall represented the Journey's End residents and mounted a landmark challenge to the insurance industry's use of the term "physical damage." U.S. District Judge William Alsup agreed: permanent lack of habitability constituted a covered loss. The case resulted in a $2M+ settlement with Foremost Insurance — establishing legal precedent that has since benefited thousands of California wildfire survivors negotiating insurance claims statewide.

The case was featured by Community Foundation Sonoma County and reported by the Press Democrat.

$2M+
Settlement Recovered
Legal Precedent
Modified "Physical Damage" Definition
California's First Automatic Disaster Eviction Moratorium
Legislative Authorship

Kendall authored and passed Sonoma County's first automatically triggered disaster-related eviction moratorium — a groundbreaking tenant protection that activates without requiring survivors to seek individual protection orders during the chaotic first days of a disaster declaration. This protection prevents the 200%+ spike in illegal evictions documented in every major California disaster, and has since been embedded in state law.

Automatic
Triggered on Disaster Declaration — No Individual Action Required
First
Of Its Kind in California Law
SB 455 — Mortgage Servicer Obligations Post-Disaster
Signed California Law

SB 455 addresses a critical and frequently exploited gap in the disaster recovery process: when mortgages are transferred between servicers after a disaster, borrowers who have negotiated insurance-funded repair agreements often find those agreements dishonored by the new servicer. Kendall advocated for and helped pass SB 455, which requires transferor mortgage servicers to deliver all material records related to disaster-related repair agreements to transferee servicers, and prohibits the new servicer from dishonoring previously approved agreements. Kendall testified before the legislature in April and June 2023.

AB 806 — Mobilehome Cooling Protections
Signed California Law

AB 806 protects mobilehome park residents — among California's most climate-vulnerable populations — by allowing them to install cooling devices and requiring cooling centers to be established within mobilehome parks. Kendall supported and helped pass this legislation, which directly protects communities she has served for nearly a decade in disaster recovery contexts.

California's 5th Climate Assessment — Lead Author
Governor's Office Appointment — 2024–2026

Kendall was personally selected by the Governor's Office to serve as a Lead Author for California's 5th Climate Assessment — a comprehensive policy document that informs the Governor, state legislature, and agency leadership on climate justice and emergency preparedness. Her section addresses gaps in legal preparedness and emergency response, translating her field experience into statewide policy guidance. This report will shape California disaster law and preparedness investment for years to come.

Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC) — Executive Committee
Statewide Leadership

DLAC is the statewide alliance of private, public, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing legal assistance to communities impacted by disasters throughout California. Kendall serves on DLAC's Executive Committee and chairs its Outreach Committee. She has been instrumental in building DLAC's Title Clearing Project (now serving 45 counties), its universal intake model, and its statewide coordination infrastructure. DLAC is a nonprofit coordinating body distinct from Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting; Kendall's involvement in DLAC complements but does not conflict with her consulting practice.

45
Counties Served by DLAC Programs
Statewide
Title Clearing Project Infrastructure
CDBG-DR Rebuild — First Completion in Sonoma County Post-Fires
Community Impact

Kendall's advocacy was instrumental in completing the first CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery) rebuild in Sonoma County following the Sonoma Complex Fires. She also ensured that affordable housing remains on the Journey's End Mobilehome Park site — a critical victory for one of the county's most vulnerable communities. This outcome required navigating HUD, HCD, and local government processes simultaneously while also litigating the insurance case.

Awards, Honors & Recognition


Recognized by the legal community, government, foundations, and the communities she has served for nearly a decade of landmark disaster law work.

🏆

Award for Community Excellence

Tipping Point Foundation
Recognized for exceptional contribution to disaster-affected communities and legal advocacy work on behalf of vulnerable survivors.
🥇

Top 40 Under 40 — One to Watch

North Bay Business Journal
Named one of the region's most influential young professionals for her groundbreaking disaster law work and community impact.

Community Leadership Award

Sonoma County Community Foundation
Awarded for exceptional leadership in disaster recovery legal services and community rebuilding following the Sonoma Complex Fires.
🏅

Congressional Honor for Public Advocacy

California Senator Mike McGuire
Formally recognized by the California State Senate for extraordinary public advocacy and legal service to disaster survivors.
🌟

Award for Community Response & Resiliency Work

Journey's End Mobilehome Park Residents
Honored by the community she represented for securing the landmark $2M+ insurance settlement and protecting their housing site.
🎖️

Award for Community Excellence

Coffey Strong
Recognized for sustained excellence in disaster recovery legal services to Sonoma County fire communities.
📜

Who's Who Business Recognition Award

Excellence in the Legal Field
National business recognition for outstanding achievement and contribution to the legal profession.
🎓

Graduated Salutatorian with High Honors

Empire College of Law — J.D. & MLS
Second in class, graduating with a Juris Doctorate and Masters of Legal Studies with High Honors.
📋

Congressional Recognition for Academic Excellence

Empire College of Law
Congressional recognition for extraordinary academic achievement during legal studies.
📚

Witkin Recognition for Academic Excellence

Empire College of Law
Witkin Award — among California's most prestigious law school academic honors.
🌐

First Place — Model Arab League National Competition

University of California, Santa Barbara
First place at the national competition in Washington, D.C., representing UC Santa Barbara.
🎖️

Presidential Recognition for Academic Excellence

University of California, Santa Barbara — Graduated with High Honors
Presidential academic recognition upon graduation with High Honors from UC Santa Barbara.
🤝

National Mediation Certification

University of California, Berkeley
Awarded National Mediation Certification from UC Berkeley's prestigious mediation program.

National CLE Programs, Seminars & Trainings


Kendall has delivered disaster law CLE and professional training programs across 20+ engagements, reaching legal professionals in six states plus U.S. territories through the American Bar Association, Practising Law Institute, Pro Bono Net, and state bar associations.

Organization / Venue Program / Focus Sessions Audience
Practising Law Institute (PLI) Disaster Law CLE — FEMA Appeals, Insurance, Disaster Recovery Legal Practice 3 Licensed attorneys nationwide — PLI's premier professional development platform
Pro Bono Net (PBN) Disaster Legal Services — survivor intake, FEMA navigation, housing rights 5 Pro bono attorneys, legal aid organizations, volunteer lawyers
Pro Bono Training Institute (PBTI) Disaster Legal Aid Training — field practice and clinic models 3 Legal aid attorneys, pro bono coordinators
American Bar Association — Disaster Legal Services (ABA DLS) National Disaster Legal Symposium Presenter — disaster law practice, FEMA, survivor rights National ABA members, state bar delegates, legal aid directors
State Bar of Oregon / Legal Aid of Oregon Disaster Law CLE — California model clinic replication, FEMA appeals 1+ Oregon bar members, legal aid attorneys
State Bar of Hawaii — Maui Bar Association / Hawaii Legal Aid Disaster legal services following the Maui wildfires — FEMA, insurance, housing 1+ Maui bar, Hawaii Legal Aid attorneys
State Bar of North Carolina — ABA DLS Disaster Law CLE — survivor legal support frameworks 1+ North Carolina bar members, legal aid attorneys
State Bar of Puerto Rico — ABA DLS Disaster legal services training — post-hurricane legal aid 1+ Puerto Rico bar, legal aid organizations
State Bar of American Samoa — ABA DLS Disaster legal services training 1+ American Samoa bar, legal aid attorneys
Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC) Disaster Legal Symposium — DLAC presentations on statewide coordination and clinic models 2 CA legal aid providers, state bar representatives
Sonoma County Bar Association Disaster law practice, FEMA appeals, community recovery 3 Sonoma County licensed attorneys
Golden State Manufactured Homeowners League (GSMOL) Disaster rights for mobilehome residents — FEMA, insurance, housing protections 7 Mobilehome park residents, community advocates
Dixie Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) Legal support in disaster response — spotting legal issues, survivor referral 2 VOAD members, disaster response volunteers
Santa Cruz VOAD Spotting Legal Issues — community training for disaster response volunteers 1+ VOAD members, community disaster coordinators
Public Broadcasting System (PBS) 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires — FEMA process, survivor rights (news feature) 2 National PBS audience — public education

Commission a Training for Your Organization

Kendall designs and delivers custom disaster law training programs for legal organizations, bar associations, county emergency management offices, corporate legal teams, and VOAD/COAD networks. Programs are tailored to your audience's needs and can range from a 90-minute webinar to a full-day intensive workshop.

⚖️

FEMA Appeals Mastery

Full-day practitioner workshop on Individual Assistance and Public Assistance appeals — documentation, strategy, and success techniques drawn from $20M+ in recovered aid.

🏠

Disaster Housing Rights

Half-day CLE covering eviction moratoriums, tenant protections, title complications, and mobilehome park rights during and after declared disasters.

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Spotting Legal Issues in Disaster

Training for non-attorney disaster responders on identifying and triaging legal issues among survivors — when to refer and what to watch for.

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Custom CLE programs and seminars available for bar associations, legal aid organizations, emergency management agencies, and corporate legal teams.

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Media Coverage & Press


Kendall's work has been featured by PBS, the Press Democrat, Community Foundation Sonoma County, After the Fire USA, Pro Bono Net, the Practising Law Institute, and numerous other outlets covering disaster law, survivor advocacy, and California disaster policy.

"Lawyer Kendall Jarvis recognized the unique situation for the residents of the 44 homes still standing — and spent three years pursuing the justice they deserved." — Community Foundation Sonoma County

Kendall is available for media interviews, expert commentary on California disaster law, FEMA policy, insurance bad faith, and disaster recovery. She is an experienced on-camera subject and has appeared on national television (PBS) and in print and podcast media.

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Disaster Recovery — Your Questions Answered


Questions about disaster law, FEMA, insurance, and recovery — answered by California's leading disaster law attorney. The answers below are for general informational purposes only. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information here without first consulting qualified legal counsel regarding your specific situation.

The first 72 hours are critical. Register with FEMA as quickly as possible — most individual assistance programs have limited application windows and missed deadlines result in permanent loss of eligibility. Document all damage with photographs and written records before any cleanup or repairs. Do not sign any agreements with insurance adjusters, contractors, or relief organizations without legal review. If you are a renter, know that disaster eviction moratoriums may be in effect — contact a legal aid organization immediately if you receive any notice to vacate. Keep records of all disaster-related expenses, even temporary housing and meals.
Do not accept the denial as final. Between 40–60% of FEMA claims are initially denied, but with structured legal advocacy and proper appeal filings, 60–80% of appeals succeed. You have 60 days from the date of a denial letter to file an appeal. The most common reasons for denial are title complications (your name isn't on the deed), insufficient documentation of damage, FEMA's determination that you have adequate insurance (which is often disputable), and registration errors. An experienced disaster law attorney can identify the basis for your denial, gather supporting documentation, and draft a compelling appeal letter. Kendall's FEMA Appeals Clinic model has recovered $20M+ for survivors who were initially denied.
No. You are never obligated to accept an initial insurance offer, and most initial offers substantially undervalue actual covered losses. Research shows that 30–50% of insured losses are routinely undervalued in initial offers. In wildfire contexts specifically, the gap between the initial offer and the actual covered loss has averaged $180,000 per household. Before signing any settlement agreement or proof-of-loss document, request a full copy of your policy and have it reviewed by a disaster law attorney. Key areas to challenge include: replacement cost calculations (many policies cover replacement at current costs, not depreciated value), additional living expense coverage, debris removal limits, code upgrade coverage, and bad-faith practices by the adjuster. If your insurer is acting in bad faith — delaying, misrepresenting coverage, or pressuring you to settle quickly — you may have additional legal remedies beyond the policy itself.
In most California disaster declarations, no — not immediately, and not without legal process. California has strong tenant protections during declared disasters, including automatic eviction moratoriums that prevent landlords from removing tenants for inability to pay rent directly caused by the disaster. Kendall authored California's first automatically-triggered disaster eviction moratorium, which activates on declaration without requiring individual action by tenants. Even outside of her specific moratorium, unlawful detainer protections, price-gouging laws (which cover rent increases of more than 10% after a declaration), and habitability requirements all apply. If you receive any eviction notice after a disaster declaration, contact a legal aid organization or disaster law attorney immediately — you likely have strong legal defenses and the clock may be short.
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is the primary federal law governing disaster response and recovery. For government agencies and organizations, the Stafford Act is critically important because it establishes the rules for federal disaster declarations, FEMA Public Assistance reimbursements, Individual Assistance programs, and the legal obligations of state and local governments during declared disasters. It also creates obligations around disability access (in coordination with the ADA) and non-discrimination in disaster relief. For government agencies, the Stafford Act's Public Assistance program can fund 75–100% of eligible disaster recovery costs — but only if your organization has properly documented eligible expenses, filed within deadlines, and appealed any denied line items. Legal expertise in Stafford Act compliance is essential to maximizing your federal recovery.
The numbers are staggering. Estimates suggest more than $2.4 billion in FEMA individual assistance has been lost in recent California disasters alone due to missed deadlines, denied appeals, and title complications that no one helped resolve. For Public Assistance to government agencies, over $1 billion annually in FEMA reimbursements are denied to California counties and cities due to documentation failures, misclassification of eligible costs, and late appeals. This is not primarily a problem of ineligibility — it is a problem of legal capacity and expertise. Organizations that engage legal counsel for FEMA claims consistently recover 40–70% more than those that navigate the process without support.
FEMA Individual Assistance requires that applicants prove they own or occupy the damaged property. Title complications arise when the legal record of property ownership is unclear, incomplete, or in dispute — which is common in older communities, inherited properties, and manufactured housing situations. Common examples include property inherited without formal probate, property with multiple heirs who haven't formalized ownership, mobile homes where the land and unit are registered separately, properties with liens or cloud on title from old loans or tax disputes, and long-term informal ownership situations. These complications do not disqualify survivors from aid — but they require legal work to resolve. DLAC's Title Clearing Project, which Kendall helped develop, now serves 45 California counties specifically to resolve these barriers before they permanently block aid access.
Start with a Disaster Preparedness Assessment — a structured review of your current legal posture relative to disaster risk. This covers: existing ordinances and whether they are legally defensible; response plans and their legal compliance; insurance policies and whether they reflect current replacement costs; FEMA eligibility and documentation systems; tenant protection obligations; ADA and Stafford Act compliance; and specific litigation exposure based on your organization type. The assessment produces a gap report with prioritized action items — not a list of problems, but a roadmap with concrete solutions. The best time to start is before any disaster declaration. The second-best time is right now. Kendall offers a free 30-minute discovery call to assess your organization's starting point and determine what level of engagement makes sense.
Three things no other firm offers in combination. First, licensed disaster law expertise: most emergency management consultants are not attorneys. Many of the highest-value services in disaster preparedness — FEMA appeals strategy, insurance dispute analysis, policy drafting, and expert witness work — require a California-licensed attorney. Kendall is one. Second, legislative authorship and Sacramento relationships: Kendall has authored three signed California laws and testified before the legislature. She has direct relationships with legislators and regulatory agencies — giving clients insight into how California disaster policy is made and changing. Third, documented field results: the $20M+ recovered for survivors, the $2M+ insurance precedent, the FEMA clinic models adopted statewide — these are not theoretical frameworks. They are documented outcomes from nearly a decade of field practice that inform every engagement Kendall leads today.
Yes. While California is the firm's primary market, Kendall has existing relationships and training experience in Oregon, Hawaii, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa — and has presented at national ABA forums. For consulting engagements (non-legal advisory, training, preparedness assessments), Kendall works nationally. For legal services requiring California bar licensure, she focuses on California matters but can refer to qualified attorneys in other jurisdictions through established DLAC and ABA networks. States facing escalating disaster risk — Pacific Northwest, Gulf Coast, Mountain West — are actively seeking California expertise, and Kendall is positioned to serve those markets in Year 2 of the practice.

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California's next disaster is already scheduled. The only question is whether your organization will face it prepared or exposed. Start with a free 30-minute discovery call.

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Discovery Call

A free 30-minute call to review your organization's specific disaster risk profile and preparedness gaps. No cost, no obligation.

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Speaking & Training

Invite Kendall to speak at your conference, bar association event, or organizational training. Custom CLE programs available.

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Media Inquiries

Available for expert commentary on disaster law, FEMA policy, California insurance, and disaster recovery. Experienced on-camera subject.

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CA State Bar #318755  ·  kendall@jarvisdisasterlaw.com

"Every disaster season without a plan is not just a risk — it is a decision to remain exposed." — Kendall Jarvis, J.D.  ·  Founder, Jarvis Disaster Law & Consulting