​On January 23, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in San Diego and Ventura counties to support recovery from winter storms in late December and early January.

The proclamation supports impacted residents by easing access to unemployment benefits and waiving fees to replace driver’s licenses and records such as marriage and birth certificates.

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 winter storms. This Proclamation will remain in effect until the Governor terminates the State of Emergency. This Proclamation isavailable for viewing at: 

• Proclamation 1-23-2024​ (PDF, 2.3MB)
  

When requesting free copies of a vital record, survivors should state on the application, “San Diego County Winter Storm” or “Ventura County Winter Storm,” 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 “San Diego County Winter Storm”or “Ventura County Winter Storm” on the front of the mailing envelope, for faster processing.

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

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