One Year Anniversary of the LA Fires

Photo: Taken at Brentwood School during the LA fires

Plus, what recovery really looked like after the LA fires

Welcome back to This Week in Disasters! This newsletter combines expert perspectives with a weekly roundup of upcoming threats, recent natural disasters, and available survivor assistance. If you’re an HR, Risk, Insurance, Employee Assistance, or Emergency Management professional (or you’re just really curious about disasters in the United States!) you’re in the right place.

Major Disasters of the Last Week

Forecasted Risks for Next Week

A pair of potent storm systems will sweep from Texas through the Midwest and into the eastern U.S., bringing a mix of snow, flooding rain, severe thunderstorms (including damaging winds and potential tornadoes) and travel-disrupting weather to well over 100 million people across the central and eastern United States

Cold weather advisory issued for the Bay Area and extreme cold warning issued for parts of the Central Coast including Monterey and Big Sur.

Disasters in the Headlines

Exclusive: DHS begins slashing FEMA disaster response staff as 2026 begins

CNN

Failures of the past haunt L.A.’s fire recovery agenda for 2026

Los Angeles Times

In Ash and Twisted Metal, Finding the Courage to Rebuild

Rolling Stone

One year after the Los Angeles Fires

Place + Resilience

On One-Year Anniversary of California Wildfires, SBA Extends Disaster Relief Deadlines as Local Bureaucrats Stall Recovery

U.S. Small Business Administration

Climate and Weather Disasters Cost the U.S. $115 Billion in 2025

Time (We have our own year in review too. You can check it out here.)

PRO PERSPECTIVE

What Recovery Really Looked Like After the LA Fires

But we’re focusing somewhere else today: how survivors actually moved forward once the headlines and tents were gone.

When we listened closely to survivors, a clear pattern emerged. People felt confused or stymied by fragmented and overly rigid recovery programs. For many, progress only began when a person took the time to listen.

“Everywhere I turned I hit a dead end until someone listened to my story.” Margot Mandel, Palisades Fire survivor

That moment of being heard unlocked access to options and expertise survivors did not know existed and could not have navigated alone.

Recovery also depended on coordination across many sources of help.

“After losing everything, support came from organizations, public servants, business and neighbors. Without their advice, funding, and resources, we never would have been on the way to recovery.” Kim Mischook, Eaton Fire survivor

Stability also came from unexpected places. While formal systems worked through timelines, individuals were quietly bridging the gaps.

“We were able to stay at a woman's house for 3 months post-fires because she wanted to help people that were impacted as she raised her children in Pacific Palisades. Another family in San Diego allowed us to stay in their back house (ADU) for over a month and a half while we figured out next steps. In total, we stayed freely for 4-5 months in the homes of people we've never met.The kindness is unprecedented and it was extremely helpful for me and my wife as we navigated the loss of our ability to live and afford Los Angeles.” Anonymous, Palisades Fire survivor

The hardest part of recovery was not resilience. It was navigating the complexity of insurance claims, FEMA appeals, and overlapping agencies without clear guidance.

Recovery does not move at the speed of programs. It moves at the speed of understanding.

When survivors are equipped with the information and tools to navigate complex systems, forward progress becomes possible.

Active Federal Major Disasters

There is usually a 60 day window to apply for help after a disaster is declared.  The following disasters are still actively taking applications from survivors for financial support.

The following disasters are actively taking applications from survivors for financial support. To apply, survivors can visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800‑621‑3362.

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