Disaster Recovery Is Personal

by Bernadette Austin

My mother’s family lived in impoverished communities in the Philippines. Our family lore includes dramatic stories of surviving extreme weather. In one such story, a major typhoon caused extensive flooding that forced the family to flee to the rooftop of their home. My mother—who swam competitively through college—was sent to get food and fresh water, and her siblings share their memories of watching her fight against strong currents filled with debris and dead bodies, worried that the water would overtake her. Growing up, these are the images I would picture in my mind when I thought of climate refugees.

The unfortunate truth is that we have climate refugees here in our own communities. Climate-related disasters are growing in both frequency and intensity. According to Cal Fire, four of the state’s top five most destructive fires have happened in the last seven years, and seven of the top ten largest fires have taken place since 2020. On the other side of the country, Atlantic communities were devastated by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the deadliest storm to hit the US mainland since Hurricane Katrina, with 219 deaths and over $78 billion in damage.

Last month, the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire were just two of 14 documented wildfires that impacted Southern California for the better part of January. Recent reports estimate that $30 billion of damage resulted from 18,000 structures being destroyed or damaged by fire. Tens of thousands people have been displaced, and 29 people lost their lives.

While these fires were still less than 10% contained in mid-January, I attended a leadership retreat for the California Chapter of the American Planning Association. This gathering was held on the Central Coast, which itself was recovering from extensive damage due to extreme weather events that caused severe flooding in Pajaro in 2023, crumbling of Highway 1 in Big Sur in 2024, and wharf collapse in Capitola and Santa Cruz over two years. At this retreat, colleagues from other communities that are recovering from pervasive wildfire damage—including Butte, Plumas, and Sonoma counties—shared insights and wisdom with their Southern California friends and colleagues still reeling from the destruction. One attendee wrapped up a poignant but productive problem-solving session by quoting President Theodore Roosevelt: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

The community that CivicWell convenes includes a robust network of local and state officials, planners, engineers, scientists, and many more experts and community leaders. I have had conversations with County Supervisors and Sustainability Managers who do critical high-level work supporting policies and programs that promote resilient and adapted communities while also navigating the urgent day-to-day work supporting their families and neighbors who have lost insurance or are rebuilding damaged homes. For us, this work is personal.

To that end, this newsletter includes some of the resources CivicWell has gathered from our network of leaders who both know and care about preparing for and recovering from climate-related disasters.

During challenging times, there are some who may be opportunistic, manipulating tragedy for a political agenda or exploitative monetary gain. As leaders in our fields and communities, we are uniquely positioned to support recovery and protect residents from becoming victims of fraud. Below are some questions that can help guide your work, and we would love to hear what you might add to the list.

• Who should be involved in disaster mitigation plan development and implementation? Consider who is already involved and who needs to be invited to participate, including people working on behalf of disinvested communities.
• What are the existing assets in the community? Consider physical assets like equipment and facilities, as well as coalitions and communication networks.
• Who are the trusted messengers? During disasters and the early recovery period, it is critical to establish clear pathways for disseminating timely and accurate information to all who are impacted, especially vulnerable communities.
• How can we strengthen our community now? Communities that have strong mutual aid programs, clear communication channels, and robust community engagement in governance typically have the fastest and most effective responses.

Cultivating strong, resilient communities can prepare us not only for threats from climate disasters, but also for threats to health, culture, and prosperity. My family tells their story of overcoming disasters as one of resilience and solidarity, when they could easily focus on fear and loss instead. In my family, older generations share their wisdom and insights with younger generations. Similarly, officials and professionals can share their experiences and lessons learned about recovering from other challenges, whether from decades-long rebuilding after Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes or even emerging from COVID only a few years ago. 

In just two short weeks, we will be gathering with leaders and experts for CivicWell’s annual Policymakers Conference, and I look forward to sharing some of the valuable insights from that event with our network of leaders like you.

Resources:

• How can local communities make the most of state and federal funding to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events? Check out the recording from CivicWell’s 2024 Fall Webinar Series on Climate Disaster Resilience and Recovery
• How can local governments raise revenue to plan for climate mitigation or adaptation projects and implement those projects? See the recording from CivicWell’s 2023 Webinar Series on Creating a Climate Resilience District
• Where can I find resources to help planners and other professionals in communities navigating the complexities of recovering and rebuilding? Visit the American Planning Association (APA) California website for their Response to the LA Fires: Recovering and Rebuilding

Board Highlight

Yolo County Announces 2030 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors has unanimously adopted the 2030 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). CAAP was built on Yolo County’s previous climate action initiatives, including the 2011 Climate Action Plan and the 2020 Climate Emergency Declaration. CivicWell CEO Bernadette Austin served on the Yolo County Climate Action Commission that developed the CAAP.

Yolo County Supervisor and CivicWell Board Treasurer Lucas Frerichs expressed the urgency of climate action.

“Yolo County is already experiencing impacts from the changing climate, and we know we need to take immediate action to reduce our emissions and protect our residents,” he writes. “This plan reflects the County’s unwavering dedication to equity and advancing solutions that will build a more resilient, sustainable community for generations to come.”

Read the full article in The Aggie.

Header image: Firefighters work during the Eaton Fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, on Jan. 8. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images