California Park Fire: What’s next for wildfire evacuees?

The Park Fire is a wildfire in Northern California that has burned more than 370,000 acres and has quickly become the fifth largest fire in the state’s history, forcing emergency evacuations in four counties.

Officials said the fire was caused by arson, and it has intensified over the past week, and the western United States may usher in another peak wildfire season. Heavy rainfall in the past few years has led to vigorous vegetation growth, and coupled with high temperatures this summer, larger wildfires may occur in the coming months.

These conditions have exacerbated the scale of the fire in the park, which has now killed more than 100 buildingsand put At least 8,000 people According to the evacuation order. From another perspective, the fire has grown so large that Visible from space Now covering a larger area Than the entire city of Los Angeles.

The Park Fire is one of several large wildfires that have hit the U.S. in recent years, including Hawaii in 2023, California in 2021and Montana in 2017It’s the latest disaster to highlight how profoundly the impact of fires is on communities across the United States, and the urgent need for better policies to help deal with potential displacement.

In 2023, 2.5 million Americans were forced to temporarily or permanently leave their homes due to natural disasters. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, The agency’s current estimates suggest at least 500,000 and above Seven million people have been displaced so far this year. Vulnerable Groups Low-income households, people over 65, and Black and Hispanic Americans are among the groups more likely to be displaced by these phenomena.

The impact of the park fire and the growing natural disaster, Some of these events are related to climate change, highlighting the urgent need for more federal support to boost economic recovery and how they are exacerbating an existing housing crisis.

Those who needed to evacuate during the Park Fire, and others like them, were forced to seek shelter with friends or family, in hotels or in evacuation centers set up by affected counties. Typically, evacuations are led by the affected county or city, which is responsible for notifying residents as the situation becomes more urgent.

Evacuation orders can come in at any time, including in the middle of the night. Law enforcement officers are often responsible for notifying people and alerting communities, and can use cars and sirens. They also provide updates through television, radio and social media. Many counties have text-based emergency alert systems that residents can sign up to get mobile updates about disasters.

People living in areas at high risk of fire are generally urged to prepare an evacuation plan, including an emergency kit with essentials such as water and flashlights, charging equipment and fuel for their vehicles. Those who are able to drive themselves away are encouraged to leave quickly if they receive an evacuation order and to leave the areas affected by the fire, as shown on maps released by counties.

Counties can also designate meeting points for people to gather if they can’t leave on their own or roads are blocked. Officials will then coordinate emergency routes people can use and transportation to shelters.

Depending on how long it takes to contain and deal with the fire, evacuees could be left in limbo for days to weeks, unsure of the status of their homes. Stress and feelings of devastation Many people are waiting for news, wondering if their homes have survived the disaster.

Once the immediate danger has passed and the fire is under control, officials assess when it is safe for people to return, said Tom Cova, a University of Utah geography professor who has studied wildfire evacuation systems. That includes checking the area for toxins left behind by the fire and other hazards, such as downed power lines and propane tanks.

If it is deemed safe, people may be allowed to return to the area and assess potential damage, or they may only be allowed to drive back and check their homes from their cars because of the health risks posed by lingering smoke and debris.

Those whose homes were destroyed and permanently displaced by the disaster face a longer and more complex journey to rebuild or relocate.

Insurance can help offset some of the costs, but some former Maui evacuees noted that the funds are only enough to cover Temporary payment of rent.

In some areas where wildfire risk is high, Homeowners insurance may not cover wildfires Because these disasters inflict huge losses on these companies, the responsibility for rebuilding falls on the owners. In addition to construction costs, families also face the expense of finding alternative housing, a process that can take months or even years.

Disasters like the Parkland Fire highlight the current gaps in federal aid for recovery and the already existing housing shortage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the central allocator of reconstruction grants that people can apply for, but those programs can have strict requirements — Include specific damage thresholds — Not everyone qualifies. People who do receive insurance funds may not be able to receive some assistance. Often, the assistance provided is not enough to cover the full cost of rebuilding. According to a 2020 Government Accountability Office reportAccording to the FEMA data, the average amount of assistance an individual received from FEMA between 2010 and 2019 was $3,522.

California and other states It has filled some of the gaps by offering benefits such as free trash removal to homeowners, and agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development There is also a reconstruction loan programBut overall, the amount of aid needed is greater than what is available and could leave those who have lost their homes in a more financially vulnerable position.

“The help Americans receive in the aftermath of disasters is not only inadequate, but also complex to navigate and extremely slow to arrive,” wrote Samantha Montano, a professor of emergency management at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. New York Times“From the time it takes to fully recover (measured in years rather than months) to the labyrinth of policies, regulations, false promises and litigation, the reward for surviving a disaster is to be thrust into a system so cruel that it constitutes a second disaster.”

Montano believes the solution is to increase FEMA resources. Facing a funding shortage in 2023Many of these challenges were on display in the response to the Lahaina wildfire on Maui. Families displaced by the fire are still looking for temporary housing. About six months after the disaster.

Another issue these disasters have brought into focus is the housing challenges that people in the affected areas already face. A fire broke out in Paradise, California in 2018. For example, approximately 14,000 homes were destroyed, exacerbating the region’s housing shortage. In Plumas CountyThe county, one of four affected by the Parker Fire, also already has a shortage of affordable housing for low-income households. Any additional damage from the Parker Fire could exacerbate that shortage.