Wildfires have decimated more than 37,000 acres of the Los Angeles metropolitan area over the last several days, charring more than 12,000 structures, displacing over 150,000 residents and leaving at least 13 people dead.
On Tuesday, when the fires first started, the White House made federal disaster assistance available to the state of California to aid the state’s recovery efforts. The disaster has also prompted an outpouring of donations from around the world.
Follow along for live updates.
As the fires rage on and as Los Angeles looks ahead toward an eventual recovery, here are ways you can most effectively help the city’s recovery efforts.
Long-term giving
Patricia McIlreavy, the president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, stressed that the Los Angeles community will need donations to last beyond the immediate aftermath of the wildfires. She compared the disaster relief to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In the early days, people would have said, well, we just need protective gear and we need a vaccine, and that’s all we need. But as we went longer into that crisis, we had a much greater understanding that what everyone needed to move on from Covid was so different,” she said. “For some people, it was child care. For others, it was elderly care. For some it was, you know, their children were falling behind in school. It varied in so many ways, what we all need it to kind of move beyond.”
McIlreavy encouraged donating to organizations focused on preventing the Los Angeles community from falling behind due to the devastation, in addition to those providing immediate, lifesaving resources.
“What’s the difference between a warm meal and access to a pantry and kitchen of your own? A warm meal is great. It’s wonderful to be provided a warm meal after your family has suffered a disaster. But access to a kitchen, access to being able to prepare your own meal, to feed your children with food, and in a way, and in a time that you choose, that’s about dignity, that’s about agency.”
Be specific with your donation
Brea Burkholz — a spokesperson for Direct Relief, a California-based nonprofit that provides medical resources for disaster recovery — cautioned against bringing large bags of miscellaneous items directly to shelters. While doing so is well-intentioned, Burkholz said, Los Angeles shelters often lack the capacity to handle the sudden influx of donations.
“A lot of the time, the system can get overwhelmed with donations of clothing and the material things because they’re not set up and they don’t have the space to take all of that in,” she said.
Burkholz suggested people volunteer their time instead or assist specific families in need of particular items or housing.
“If you can make a direct connection to a family who is in need, that is a much better approach, because you know exactly who it’s going to and there’s a place for it,” she said. “A lot of these people who have been displaced, they don’t have a space. They don’t have a home.”
Wendy Escobedo, the emergency operations manager of food relief nonprofit World Central Kitchen, echoed Burkholz’s sentiment.
“In the beginning, it was just an influx of people bringing everything and anything,” she said. “And now they’re going to start focusing on really, ‘You know what? What are the needs?’”
Escobedo said the city’s shelters are in need of more toiletries, including diapers, wipes, towels and hairbrushes.
Beware of scammers
At a press conference on Saturday, California officials warned Los Angeles about a surge of scammers taking advantage of the crisis.
“To anybody who would take advantage of people for their greedy gain, who see dollar signs, I have a message for you: You will be held responsible,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. “You will be prosecuted.”
Experts advise doing thorough research before opening your wallet.
“If they’re saying that they can do something that trusted organizations can’t do or won’t commit to, there may well be a reason for that, and it isn’t always that they’re creative and ahead of the curve,” McIlreavy said.
Escobedo suggested people donate directly to organizations or shelters. World Central Kitchen, for example, only accepts donations through its website.
“We’re not accepting donations in any other way, or from any other sources,” she said. “That way, we should avoid any of those issues.”
The following charities have been vetted by NBC News:
California Community Foundation
L.A. Fire Department Foundation
Ventura County Community Foundation
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles
