​On August 19, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to  support Hurricane Hilary response and recovery efforts in 11 counties: Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Tulare, and Ventura.

This Proclamation supports impacted residents in all the counties under state of emergency by waiving fees to replace certificates such as birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records, and provides flexibility to help hospitals and care facilities in impacted areas continue providing services.

Pursuant to this Proclamation of a State of Emergency, fees for certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records are suspended for any individual who lost such records as a result of the tropical storm. This Proclamation will remain in effect until the Governor terminates the State of Emergency. This Proclamation isavailable for viewing at: 

• 8.19.23-Emergency-Proclamation(ca.gov)​ (PDF, 3.3MB)
  
  

When requesting free copies of a vital record, survivors should state on the application, “Hurricane Hilary,” and complete the enclosed sworn statement declaring under penalty of perjury that they are a survivor. The sworn statement for winter storm survivors is a combined sworn statement which also includes the sworn statement required by Health and Safety Code Section 103526. For requests sent to the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR), survivors should additionally make the notation “Hurricane Hilary” on the front of the mailing envelope, for faster processing.

The application and combined sworn statement must be submitted to complete the request.