Greater LA
California wildfire survivors on unexpected costs of rebuilding their homes
It has become a seasonal tradition in California: Homes burn down, then we hear stories of resilient fire victims promising they’ll rebuild and recover. But many people who lost their homes to wildfires years ago still haven’t rebuilt, or have chosen not to, after discovering how difficult and long the process can be.
By Steve Chiotakis • • 25m ListenIt has become a seasonal tradition in California: Homes burn down, then we hear stories of resilient fire victims promising they’ll rebuild and recover. But many people who lost their homes to wildfires years ago still haven’t rebuilt, or have chosen not to, after discovering how difficult and long the process can be.
In this episode
3 storiesYears after Woolsey and Thomas Fires, survivors explain why they still haven’t rebuilt their homes
Many people who lost their homes to wildfires years ago still haven’t rebuilt, or have chosen not to, after discovering how difficult and long the process can be.
Read the story9 minHow parents are trying to keep their unvaccinated kids safe as Delta variant spreads
If you’re a parent of a child under age 12, navigating the world can still feel unsettling. Should you eat indoors with your kids or bring them to the zoo?
Read the story11 minSisters of Watts distribute food, clothes, and vaccine advice
The nonprofit Sisters of Watts is made up of four sisters who’ve lived in Watts nearly their entire lives. For the past five years, they’ve been handing out free backpacks to kids and meals to senior citizens, giving haircuts to unhoused people, and more recently, helping people get vaccinated.
Read the story6 min
