Rebuilding after the LA wildfires: lessons from Lahaina.

Thoughts from a wildfire survivor on how to bounce back from devastation.

I’ve been gutted watching the wildfires devastate LA. It’s a situation I know all too well. My family and I survived the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, which wiped out our entire beautiful town and tragically killed 102 people — within hours and without warning. We are now 1.5 years ahead of many of you in LA and have learned things the hard way.

Below is a brief list of things to know that I have been texting to people who have lost homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods. I hope that some of this information helps those dealing with heartbreak and shock as you navigate a completely changed world:

1. Evacuate early. Even if you think you won’t need to, you’ll never regret leaving too soon. Get your go bag with clothes, medications, documents, photos, children’s drawings, stuffed animals, pets, laptops etc. Do not overthink it. You and your family are the most important. Stuff can be replaced.

2. Find a safe place to stay. Stay with a friend or go to a shelter. Focus on being safe and getting your bearings before making bigger decisions. We were lucky that we had friends looking out for us when our world turned upside down.

3. Accept help. You will have survivor guilt, possibly focusing on others instead of yourself. But you’re also a victim. People want to help, let them — whether it’s through a GoFundMe, offering clothes, finding replica stuffed animals, or searching for homes.

4. Get the essentials. Cheap department stores are lifesavers. Focus on clothes, toiletries, and immediate necessities. You can figure out the rest later.

5. Leverage FEMA and Red Cross support. FEMA offers limited individual assistance (usually ~$700 regardless of insurance). FEMA and the Red Cross will help with immediate housing/hotel rooms. After about 8+ weeks, FEMA and your insurance will help find and pay for permanent housing. For amounts not covered by insurance, SBA loans are available for the re-build but the application/approval process takes time.

6. Secure a long-term rental ASAP. Rents will likely double or triple. Lock in a place for at least 1-2 years if you can to create a stable interim home. Consider access to schools and children’s activities if you have kids. FEMA will help with this too once the immediate danger has passed.

7. Be cautious with insurance claims. If you have both house/rental and jewelry insurance, check your policy. Insurers may penalize you for filing multiple claims and deny coverage for additional insurance later. Our rental insurance only covered a fraction of what we lost.

8. Replacing identification. Don’t worry about identification too much. Once FEMA is up and running, they’ll offer a one stop shop to replace all critical US documents, including passports, driver’s licenses, social security etc. We needed proof of life for social security which we got from our dentist. We got our passports back within weeks.

9. Take care of your mental health. The emotional toll is huge. Expect random bouts of crying and embrace it. My husband lost it in the Safeway fruit section, sobbing for 5 minutes staring at apples. Small acts of kindness from strangers had us breaking down in tears. Someone anonymously covered our coffee bill, overhearing our conversation on the phone. A shop attendant heard about our loss and offered free sets of clothes. A friend swings by unannounced with a suitcase full of toiletries and clothes. I encourage you to seek help for yourself and your kids. Kids are resilient, but don’t forget that you’re operating at a different speed than they are. They have less distraction than you have. Establish morning and evening routines, set up playdates, do what you can to get your kids back in school. Overload them with hugs and cuddles.

10. Take care of your body. You might feel like you can power through, but eventually, you will hit a wall. Be kind to yourself. Walk with a friend, hit the gym, or find something that keeps you moving and clears your mind.

11. Prepare for the long haul. Clearing debris can take 12+ months, and rebuilding even longer. In Maui, the EPA had to first assess trees and walls that might fall down, and mark toxic materials like batteries, paint, propane tanks, and other common household items. Authorities will need to search for victims and ensure that remains are treated in a dignified way. Only then will toxic items be removed, then debris. Lot by lot, soil needs to be dug out 6 inches deep and trucked away once a landfill site has been allocated and approved. Authorities will prioritize residential over commercial. For us, we were only allowed back four months after the fire to see our old home, completely reduced to rubble. It’s been 18 months since the fires, and only now are we seeing new houses being built. And this is in a much smaller area. Pace yourself, it will take years before things are back to what they are.

12. Recover valuables safely. If you are looking for valuables among the rubble, don’t go poking into it yourself. It’s toxic and dangerous. Authorities will make full PPE available and brief you on specific risks. Groups like Samaritan’s Purse can help sift through debris safely. We found my great grandmother’s ring and my engagement ring. Don’t give up, it’s worth a shot.

    

13. Be vigilant of misinformation. Misinformation will be everywhere. Protect your headspace. Stick to trusted sources and take breaks from social media if it’s overwhelming.

14. Organize for your community. Our community organized donations for bikes, laptops, clothes, and more. Many companies and organizations are willing to help, just ask. Federal aid is critical in the long run, but it’s neighbors helping neighbors that truly makes a difference.

Here in Lahaina, we are slowly starting to get on the other side of this. There are still lots of challenges to resolve as we plan to rebuild our town and keep our unique identity and culture intact. But I believe in my community. We’ve come together in an unprecedented situation, forging exceptionally strong ties. It will get better, but it is a long journey.

While we lost everything, I feel we gained everything too. When it comes down to it, there is nothing more important than life. For that, for the safety and health of my family and those around us, I’m forever thankful.

I believe in you. You can do this.

Karin