Wildfire Crisis - Part 1: Ways to Help Without Donating Money

My Experience With The California Wildfires & Things You Can Do

It's a surreal experience to see flames erupting on the hillside behind your home. That was my reality not just once, but twice this week. The second, the Sunset Fire, wound up scorching 40 acres and came dangerously close to my home—we were just a few blocks from the evacuation zone! (The photo accompanying this post is not AI, it's an actual image I took from my back balcony.)

Fortunately, firefighters were able to quickly contain the Sunset Fire, and my family and I are safe. While the winds continued to howl and hotspots remained, I barely slept that night. All the next day, about every 15 minutes or so, I'd hear sirens or helicopters, causing me to panic and run to the window to make sure the hill wasn't on fire again. Nevertheless, my experience was barely a blip compared to the extreme devastation some families and communities have experienced. The wildfires will leave their mark—literally and figuratively—for a long time to come.

It seems that social media and the news have been a constant stream of apocalyptical images. If you are feeling helpless watching from afar, I'd like to offer a few suggestions. These are things that have helped me personally, and I believe they create a ripple effect of positive change. Self-care and community care are intertwined and they are powerful tools for healing and resilience.

For those who have the financial resources and would like to contribute to wildfire relief, please see my accompanying post "Wildfire Crisis - Part 2: Places to Donate to Help Those Affected"

1. Check In On Your LA Friends

If you have friends in the Los Angeles area, reach out to show your support. Feel free to check in days and weeks from now, when the rest of the world will have moved onto a new crisis, but we will still be reeling and recovering. A simple "Thinking of you, I'm here if you want to talk ❤️” can go a long way. 

If you aren’t sure where your friends are located, note that LA County is the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Even with the total burn area being bigger than Manhattan, the chances of someone’s specific home being in a fire path is very, very low. However this town is interconnected and just about everyone I’ve spoken with knows someone who has had a devastating loss. There’s a lot we are grappling with and many folks are feeling raw and spent.

No matter how worried you are about your friends, make it clear that they are under no obligation to respond. (“No pressure to get back to me - I just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you!”) They may be overwhelmed, and may not have the time or energy to reply to everyone. Keep it short and sweet, and don't take it personally if you don't hear back. 

2. Combat Misinformation & Suppress The Trolls 

From what I understand, there is a lot of fake news and misinformation circulating about the wildfires. Please be careful about what you share and do your part to stop the spread of misinformation. If you see something that seems inaccurate or misleading, don't share it. You can also report fake news to the social media platform where you saw it.

I’ve also heard the internet trolls are doing their thing and saying incredibly cruel things. No sense engaging with random trolls, but if you notice that one of your friends or relatives is writing or saying things like, “Oh, who cares about Californians, they’re getting what they deserve!” please encourage them to have some compassion. Disasters can strike anywhere, and we are all human.

Sadly, but not surprisingly—some people are even trying to profit off this tragedy. A vendor posted in the Etsy Seller Forums that they are selling “Pray for LA” digital merch (with no mention of proceeds being donated) and they actually used the term “this trend is on fire.” Capitalists are gonna capitalize, but that is a step too far. They were rightly obliterated in the comments.  If you see something this like, call them out!

3. Prepare Yourself For Emergencies

The experience has been a stark reminder of how quickly things can change: the initial evacuations turned from a warning to "go" in less than 15 minutes! Taking even a few minutes to prepare ahead of time can make a huge difference.

It may seem counter-intuitive for me to suggest this as a way to help, especially if you are nowhere near a wildfire zone. But fire can strike anywhere, and this prep can help you feel less anxious should a natural disaster occur on your own turf. So if you’re feeling helpless about the current wildfire situation, know that you can’t control wildfires, but you can control your preparation.

• Pack a go-bag: Include essential items like important documents, medications, and sentimental items. For items that are impractical to leave packed (like medications), create a list and keep it with the go-bag. In case of emergency, follow the checklist to quickly gather the remaining items.
• Create a plan: Develop an evacuation and communication plan with loved ones. Where will you meet if you're separated and phones are down? If you have pets, how will you gather and evacuate them?
• Review your plan: Go over your plan regularly to keep it fresh in your mind.

As a real-life example: while panic-packing, I put 6 bars of chocolate in my go-bag, but forgot my laptop. Sure, the chocolate is pretty on-brand for me, but obviously, with more time to think, my priorities would have been different! Once I was no longer in danger, I re-did my list. That peace of mind from being prepared? It's priceless, and it ripples outwards. When we're less anxious, we're more present for others, more able to offer support, and more likely to create a positive impact. A calmer me contributes to a calmer us.

4. Support Your Local Community

Volunteering or donating to local organizations not only helps those in need but also fosters a sense of purpose and connection within yourself. Again, this may seem counterintuitive—what does volunteering locally have to do with LA? But strengthening your community also has a ripple effect that extends far beyond your immediate surroundings.

Whether it's hurricanes, mass shootings, floods, plane crashes, or pandemics, there will unfortunately always be more disasters. There's no way for any single person to support every cause. So if you are feeling guilty for not being able to help LA, please take that pressure off yourself. What you can do is help make your own community stronger, which in turn helps everyone.

5. Take a Break from the News

With algorithms constantly feeding us news designed to trigger an emotional response, it's all too easy to doomscroll. (I am guilty of this!) If the news or social media is causing you stress, turn it off. Instead, spend time with loved ones, do something creative, or volunteer (see #4)

Taking a break from the negativity and turning to creativity can be a powerful antidote. By engaging in creative pursuits, we can rewire our brains to default to curiosity and problem-solving, rather than anxiety. This fosters personal well-being and can potentially spark positive societal change.

(See The Guardian article: "The Anxiety Secret: How The World’s Leading Life Coach Stopped Living In Fear")

Small Actions, Big Impact

You don't have to be in California or donate money to make a difference. Whether you're checking in on friends, combating misinformation, or simply taking a break from the negativity, your actions matter.  Every act of kindness and compassion matters. Be well and safe, my friends.

If you would like to contribute to wildfire relief, please see my accompanying post, "Wildfire Crisis - Part 2: Places to Donate to Help Those Affected"