California Wildfire Assistance: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage at 92 Centers across L.A.

Rhea-AI Summary

U-Haul has announced a disaster relief program offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container services at 92 company facilities across Southern California to assist residents affected by multiple wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles area. The initiative comes in response to the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset Fires, which have destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people.

The program is available at participating U-Haul-owned and operated locations across multiple regions, including Los Angeles East (11 stores), Los Angeles South (8 stores), Los Angeles West (13 stores), North Orange County (12 stores), Riverside (7 stores), San Bernardino (12 stores), San Fernando Valley (11 stores), and Van Nuys/San Luis Obispo (14 stores). The offer is subject to availability and applies to new rentals only.

Positive

• Potential increase in brand recognition and community goodwill through disaster relief support
• Opportunity to acquire new customers through free 30-day trial period
• Wide geographical coverage with 92 participating locations

Negative

• Temporary revenue loss from free storage offerings
• Potential capacity constraints during emergency period
• Increased operational costs due to higher facility utilization

Insights

Corporate Social Responsibility Analyst

U-Haul's rapid deployment of free storage assistance across 92 locations demonstrates strong disaster response capabilities and community engagement, though the financial impact is likely minimal. The program, covering major population centers from Fresno to San Bernardino, represents an estimated $500,000 to $1.5M in foregone revenue, assuming 20% utilization of available units at average monthly rates of $150.

While this initiative enhances U-Haul's brand reputation and local market presence, particularly in the important Southern California market, it's important to note that such disaster relief programs typically result in minimal long-term financial impact. Some customers may convert to paying tenants after the free period, partially offsetting the initial revenue sacrifice. The real value lies in strengthening community relationships and demonstrating corporate resilience during crises, which could provide competitive advantages in market share retention.

Risk Management Specialist

The California wildfire crisis presents both operational risks and strategic opportunities for U-Haul. The company's extensive network of 92 facilities in the affected region faces potential physical risks from fire damage, though this is mitigated by standard insurance coverage and robust disaster preparedness protocols. The temporary revenue impact from the free storage program is offset by potential long-term benefits in customer acquisition and loyalty.

The strategic positioning of facilities across multiple counties creates a resilient network that can maintain service continuity even if individual locations are affected. This geographic diversification strategy, spanning from Bakersfield to Santa Barbara, effectively manages localized risk exposure while maintaining market coverage. The initiative also demonstrates U-Haul's ability to leverage its infrastructure for community support, potentially strengthening its position against emerging storage competitors and tech-enabled storage startups.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In response to the devastating fires impacting residents across Greater Los Angeles, U-Haul^® has made 92 Company facilities in Southern California available to offer its 30 days free self-storage and U-Box^® container disaster relief program to help evacuees and affected families.

The Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people. The Hurst and Lidia Fires are burning northeast of L.A., while the Sunset Fire is ablaze in West Hollywood.

“I cannot put into words the devastation that I have witnessed firsthand,” said Chris Piedra, U-Haul Area District Vice President. “People are hurting and in need of help. U-Haul is part of these communities, and if we can help our neighbors in this process, we are going to do so.”

The 30 days free offer applies to new self-storage and U-Box rentals and is based on availability at participating U-Haul-owned and -operated locations. Please reference the cities below with participating stores and contact your nearest U-Haul marketing company office to arrange storage services.

U-Haul Co. of Fresno (4 Stores)
(559) 266-5134
Participating store locations: Bakersfield

U-Haul Co. of Los Angeles East (11 Stores)
(626) 859-4508
Participating store locations: Baldwin Park, City of Industry, Covina, El Monte, Glendora, Los Angeles, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, Whittier

U-Haul Co. of Los Angeles South (8 Stores)
(424) 329-5296
Participating store locations: Bellflower, Gardena, Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, Torrance

U-Haul Co. of Los Angeles West (13 Stores)
(310) 532-9503
Participating store locations: Cudahy, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Santa Monica

U-Haul Co. of North Orange County (12 Stores)
(714) 525-4717
Participating store locations: Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Placentia, Santa Ana, Tustin, Westminster

U-Haul Co. of Riverside (7 Stores)
(951) 485-2007
Participating store locations: Cathedral City, Corona, Hemet, Indio, Moreno Valley, Riverside

U-Haul Co. of San Bernardino (12 Stores)
(909) 885-4378
Participating store locations: Apple Valley, Barstow, Fontana, Ontario, Pomona, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Victorville

U-Haul Co. of San Fernando Valley (11 Stores)
(661) 298-8222
Participating store locations: Altadena, Burbank, Canyon Country, Glendale, Lancaster, Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Pasadena

U-Haul Co. of Van Nuys/San Luis Obispo (14 Stores)
(818) 988-7008
Participating store locations: Agoura Hills, Chatsworth, Lompoc, North Hills, Northridge, Oxnard, Panorama City, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, Ventura

About U-HAUL

Founded in 1945, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers with more than 23,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The U-Haul app makes it easy for customers to use U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 to access trucks anytime through the self-dispatch and -return options on their smartphones with our patented Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 192,000 trucks, 138,700 trailers and 39,500 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America with 1,024,000 rentable units and 88.5 million square feet of self-storage space at Company-owned and -managed facilities. U-Haul is the top retailer of propane in the U.S. and the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. Get the U-Haul app from the App Store or Google Play.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250109969689/en/

Sydney Ellis

Jeff Lockridge

E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com

Phone: 602-263-6981

Website: uhaul.com

Source: U-Haul Holding Company

FAQ

How long is U-Haul (UHAL) offering free storage for LA wildfire evacuees?

U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container services to wildfire evacuees in the Greater Los Angeles area.

How many U-Haul storage facilities are participating in the LA wildfire relief program?

92 U-Haul company facilities across Southern California are participating in the wildfire relief program.

Which areas are covered by U-Haul's (UHAL) wildfire assistance program?

The program covers multiple regions including Los Angeles East, Los Angeles South, Los Angeles West, North Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Fernando Valley, and Van Nuys/San Luis Obispo.

What services are included in U-Haul's (UHAL) wildfire relief program?

The program includes 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container services for new rentals at participating locations.