The Park Fire, a Northern California wildfire that spanned 370,000 acres, quickly became the fifth largest in state history, prompting evacuations in four counties.
Officials say the fire, which was started by arson, has grown over the past week as the western U.S. faces what could be another strong wildfire season. A combination of strong vegetation growth from heavy rains over the past few years and high temperatures this summer could lead to even bigger wildfires in the coming months.
All of these conditions contributed to the scale of the Park Fire, which already caused more damage than it already had 100 structuresand keep At least 8,000 people Under an eviction order. For another sense of scale, the fire grew so large that it Visible from space And now covers more square footage than the entire city of Los Angeles.
The Park Fire follows several other large wildfires that have ravaged the United States in recent years, including Hawaii in 2023, California in 2021, and Montana in 2017. It’s the latest disaster to highlight how deeply wildfires can affect communities across the United States and the urgent need for better policies to help navigate the potential displacement.
In 2023, 2.5 million Americans were forced to leave their homes temporarily or permanently due to a natural disaster, According to the US Census Bureau, And the agency’s current estimates suggest at least that Another 500,000 Displaced so far this year. weak group Low-income families, including people over 65 and black and Hispanic Americans, are more likely to be displaced as a result of these events.
Park fire effects and a growing number of those natural disaster, Some of which are linked to climate change, highlighting the urgent need for more federal aid for recovery and how these events are exacerbating the existing housing crisis.
How evacuation works
Those who must evacuate during the Park Fire, and others like it, are forced to take shelter with their friends or family, in hotels or in an evacuation center set up by the affected counties. Usually, evacuations are managed by the affected county or city, which is responsible for notifying residents if the situation becomes more urgent.
Evacuation orders can come at any time, including midnight. Law enforcement officers are usually responsible for notifying people and warning neighbors and may use cars and sirens. They provide updates through television, radio and social media. Many counties have text-based emergency alert systems that residents can sign up for to receive mobile updates about a disaster.
Those living in areas with a high wildfire risk are often urged to have an evacuation plan ready in their car with water and a go-bag with essentials such as a flashlight, charged devices and fuel. Those who are able to leave alone in their vehicles are encouraged to do so quickly in the event of an evacuation order and get out of fire-affected areas shown on maps released by counties.
Counties can also designate rally points for people to gather if they can’t get there on their own or roads are blocked. Officials then coordinate transportation to shelters as well as emergency routes that people can use.
Depending on how long it takes to contain and combat the fire, evacuees may be stranded for days to weeks, unsure of the status of their homes. my graduation Stressful and overwhelming feelings For many who are waiting to hear if their homes survived the disaster.
Once the imminent danger has passed and the fire is contained, officials assess when it’s safe for people to return, said Tom Cova, a geography professor at the University of Utah who has studied wildfire evacuation methods. This includes screening the area for toxins left by the fire and other hazards such as downed power lines and propane tanks.
If it is deemed safe, people may be cleared to return to the area and assess potential damage, or may be allowed to view their homes from their cars due to health risks from residual smoke and debris.
Those whose homes were destroyed and those permanently displaced by the disaster face a much longer and more complicated journey to rebuild or relocate.
Insurance can help cover some of these costs, although some former movers on Maui noted that such funding was only adequate. Cover rent temporarily.
In certain areas where the risk of fire is high, Homeowner’s insurance may not cover fires That’s because of how costly these disasters have become for these companies, putting the onus of rebuilding on the owners. In addition to construction, families also face the cost of securing alternative housing while they wait during a process that can take months to years.
Disasters highlight gaps in aid and shelter
Disasters like the Park Fire underscore the gaps in federal aid currently available for recovery and housing shortages that were already a challenge.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the central distributor of rebuilding grant assistance that people can apply for, but these programs can have strict requirements — with certain thresholds for damages – That not everyone gets along. Even those who are able to receive insurance funds may opt out of receiving some of this assistance. Often, the aid given is not enough to cover the full cost of rebuilding. According to a 2020 report from the Government Accountability OfficeThe average amount of aid individuals received from FEMA between 2010-2019 was $3,522.
States like California Fill some of the gaps by providing benefits such as free debris removal services to homeowners, and to agencies including the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. There are also loan programs for remodeling. Above all, though, the support needed is greater than available and can leave those who lose their homes in an economically vulnerable position.
“The help Americans receive after disasters is not only inadequate, it’s complicated to navigate and painfully slow to arrive,” wrote Samantha Montano, a professor of emergency management at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. For the New York Times. “The amount of time it takes for recovery to be complete — measured in months, not years — in a maze of policies, regulations, false promises and lawsuits, the prize for surviving a disaster is being forced into a system so cruel that it constitutes a second. Catastrophe.”
The solution, Montano argues, is to bolster resources for FEMA, which A funding shortfall is faced in 2023, and for states to develop better recovery plans that include increasing their budgets and dedicated management. Many of these challenges are evidenced by the response to the Lahaina wildfires on Maui. Families displaced by that fire are still moving into temporary housing About six months away from that disaster.
Another thing that these disasters draw attention to is the housing challenges that people already face in places affected by them. 2018 Fires in Paradise, California For example, around 14,000 houses were destroyed and worsened the housing shortage in the region. In Plumas County, one of four counties affected by the Park Fire, already has a shortage of affordable housing for low-income families. Any additional damage from the Park Fire could deepen those gaps.
