When disasters hit, they reveal cracks in our systems of care, equity, and readiness. As LA recovers from the 2025 wildfires, past failures from Katrina to Morocco show the risks of delays, poor planning, and exclusion. LA must rebuild with equity, resilience, and community at the center.
After the January 2025 wildfires destroyed over 16,000 homes, rebuilding efforts are being slowed by immigration crackdowns. As deportations rise, fear among immigrant workers is creating labor shortages that deepen the housing crisis and delay recovery for fire survivors.
When the Eaton Fire hit Altadena, many got no warning. Power failed, alerts came late, and neighbors became the only lifeline. Now, survivors are calling for systems that protect every community, not just the ones with privilege.
Summer used to mean joy, but for fire-impacted kids, even vacation can trigger trauma. Resilience is not automatic; it takes time, therapy, and support. Healing starts by making space for our children’s fear, not rushing joy.
Rebuilding after LA’s wildfires is getting harder as tariffs raise the cost of materials like wood and steel. With rising construction prices and labor shortages, low-income communities face the biggest hurdles. Policy changes and resilient design are key to recovery.
When disaster strikes, recovery can feel overwhelming. But communities around the world have shown that rebuilding is possible. Explore how past recoveries offer lessons for LA’s ongoing response to the 2025 wildfires.
Families in Altadena and Pasadena are still facing stalled insurance claims, housing struggles, and the emotional weight of recovery months after the fires. This piece shares one family’s experience navigating the slow process of trying to rebuild.
Four months after the wildfires, recovery in Altadena is still an uphill climb. Anish Saraiya breaks down what families are facing, and how local efforts like Lotus Rising LA are stepping in to help.
Four months after the Palisades and Eaton fires, recovery is underway. Thousands of families are clearing debris through the government program. With cleanup nearly complete and rebuilding beginning, signs of hope are finally returning to fire-affected neighborhoods.
Hunter spent over a decade building a collection of movies, music, and memories. When the Eaton Fire hit, he had moments to choose what to save. This is a story about loss, the things we hold onto, and what it means to start over.