Recovery Is Adaptation: Rebuilding After Wildfire

In this special episode of America Adapts (261), host Doug Parsons explores an often-overlooked part of climate adaptation: what happens after disaster strikes. Through the recovery from the Los Angeles wildfires, Doug talks with disaster recovery experts, a community leader who survived the fires, and researchers examining remediation, rebuilding, worker safety, and the risks faced by immigrant workers involved in cleanup. The episode also looks to Christchurch, New Zealand, where more than fifteen years of earthquake recovery offers important lessons for the adaptation sector about recovery and renewal. The central argument: recovery is adaptation. How we clean up, protect people, rebuild communities, and prepare for what comes next is every bit as much climate adaptation as preparing before disaster strikes. This episode was generously supported by the CO2 Foundation and its innovative investment in climate adaptation communications.

Experts in this Episode:

Maryam Zar — Founder & President, Palisades Recovery Coalition - Transcript

Dr. Laurie Johnson, FAICP — Principal, Laurie Johnson Consulting; internationally recognized urban planner specializing in disaster recovery and catastrophe risk management. - Transcript

Dr. Michael Méndez — Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning and Chancellor's Fellow, University of California, Irvine - Transcript

Abby Ross — Founder & CEO, The Resiliency Company - Transcript

Dr. Erica Seville — Commissioner, Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake; co-founder of Resilient Organisations and disaster recovery/resilience researcher. - Transcript

Download the Episode Field Notes — a practical guide to the episode's key ideas for policymakers and practitioners.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode

Maryam Zar "Are we going to come together and think about a purposefully, resiliently built community that can withstand the next fire? Or are we just going to build back if we can?"

Dr. Laurie Johnson "A disaster, in my opinion, unfolds over time, and the process of recovery is really about addressing that uncertainty and trying to bring certainty to all the various actors in the recovery process."

Dr. Michael Méndez "These wildfires, droughts, and other hazards are gonna continue to increase with our changing environment, and we need to prepare and adapt our communities. And with that, we need to have a workforce that is trained and provided with a living wage."