Destructive and unexpected: What funders should know about wildfire recovery

Since Jan. 7, Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the U.S., faced devastating wildfires. Entire neighborhoods were decimated, and Altadena, a community in L.A. County with a rich history of Black homeownership, saw massive destruction. Fires destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, causing families to flee.

The level of damage and California’s demographics, combined with a new administration and a federal disaster response agency that spent much of its budget responding to hurricanes last fall, will challenge recovery. How do we protect marginalized communities from extreme devastation in the wake of the fires?

During this webinar, our speakers discussed how donors can support long-term recovery after a disaster of this magnitude. They discussed the unique status of California’s population and what that might mean for individuals needing support.

CDP Director of Innovation and Special Projects Natalie Chang moderated the discussion with the following panelists:

• Nina Knierim, California Area Manager- Climate Resilience: Mitigation + Adaptation + Preparation, CORE
• Katie Simmons, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Butte County Administration
• Dr. Rosemary Veniegas, Director of Health Programs, California Community Foundation

This webinar was co-sponsored by Giving Compass, Philanthropy California, SoCal Grantmakers, The Funders Network, Philanthropy New York, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and Alliance Magazine.

Please see the slide deck, read the recap on Giving Compass and watch the webinar recording to learn more:

Photo: Wildfire damage in Los Angeles. (Credit: Jesse Rodriguez)