The wildfires terrorizing Los Angeles continued to burn for a fourth day. The death toll rose to 10, at least 10,000 structures have burned and more than 180,000 residents have been forced to evacuate as of Friday afternoon.
The Palisades fire remains the largest at 20,000 acres and was just 8% contained. Crews were able to put out the Sunset Fire, but they continued to work on the Eaton, Kenneth, Hurst and Lidia fires.
To help
- Give money instead of supplies. “We call it material convergence, where there is an influx of supplies that isn’t always helpful and in fact can create sort of a second disaster for emergency responders,” Peek said.
- Check in on those affected, but don’t demand a response. “A deeply human act is reaching out to friends, family members, colleagues, checking in to see how they’re doing,” she said.
- Don’t forget about the victims when the coverage ends. “Once the emergency response phase has passed, trying to join one of those groups that’s involved in the rebuild and recovery can also be a really positive way to contribute.”
- Don’t assume your disaster story is the same. “It’s very important to recognize that every disaster is unique, every disaster story is unique. Instead of saying, ‘I know just how you’re feeling,’ it might be more helpful to say, ‘Tell me how you’re feeling and if you’re ready, I am ready to hear what you might need or how I can support you,’” Peek said.
Coloradans know all too well what wildfires can cost a community, especially after the Marshall Fire in 2021, which also sparked around this time of year. And now, many are wondering how they can help.
Director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder Lori Peek said people who lost property or have been evacuated may need cash, temporary housing or emotional support.
“Our fellow community members are so empathetic to and aware of what our friends and neighbors in the state of California are going through right now,” she said.
However, those looking for ways to help should be mindful of the trauma fire victims are experiencing.
“When people have gone through something as traumatic and overwhelming as losing a home, losing a child’s school, losing an entire neighborhood, to then ask, ‘What can I do for you now?’ can just be another source of overwhelm,” Peek said. “In some cases, it can be really helpful to have almost a menu of options of what you are able to offer. If there are specific things that you know could provide, you could offer those and then see what you hear in response.”
To read more stories from Colorado Public Radio, visit www.cpr.org.
