A Guide for Moms Navigating Life After LA Wildfires
- Pour Les Mères
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 25
As a mom, your world revolves around creating a safe and loving home for your family. When a house fire disrupts that, the emotional and practical challenges can feel overwhelming. The recent LA wildfires have tragically reminded us of how quickly life can change. For moms facing such a crisis, here’s a guide to help you take control, rebuild, and keep your family grounded during this turbulent time.
1. Prioritize Immediate Safety and Essentials
The first steps after a fire are crucial:
Ensure Everyone is Safe: Check that your family and pets are unharmed. Seek medical attention for any injuries, even minor ones.
Contact Emergency Services: If you haven’t already, report the fire to your local fire department and insurance company.
Secure Temporary Housing: Connect with organizations like the Red Cross for shelter options, or lean on family and friends if possible.
Gather Essentials: Focus on basic needs such as clothes, toiletries, and important documents. Local shelters or donation centers may provide these items.
2. Address Your Children’s Emotional Needs
Children can feel especially vulnerable after a traumatic event. As a mom, you can help them process and heal:
Reassure Them: Explain what happened in simple terms and let them know it’s okay to feel scared or sad.
Maintain Routines: Even small routines like bedtime stories or meal times can offer comfort and normalcy.
Encourage Expression: Allow your children to talk, draw, or write about their feelings.
Seek Professional Support: A child therapist can provide valuable tools to help them cope.
3. Focus on Managing Practicalities
While it may feel overwhelming, addressing logistical matters can make things more manageable:
File Insurance Claims: Document damages with photos and videos before cleanup begins. Keep receipts for temporary expenses.
Contact Local Resources: Reach out to community organizations for financial aid, food, clothing, and other support.
Replace Documents: Focus on recovering IDs, birth certificates, and financial records.
Plan Ahead: Create a list of priorities to tackle day by day, and delegate tasks if possible.
4. Lean on Your Support System
During times of crisis, community support is invaluable:
Accept Help: Let friends, family, and neighbors assist you. They want to help—give them ways to do so.
Join Support Groups: Connect with others who have experienced similar situations.
Communicate Your Needs: Share updates with loved ones to keep them informed and engaged.
5. Build Toward Recovery
While the road to recovery may feel long, taking intentional steps can help you regain a sense of control:
Involve the Kids: Let your children participate in choosing items for your temporary home to help them feel involved.
Focus on Small Wins: Celebrate progress, no matter how small.
Create a New Plan: Consider how to rebuild or relocate based on your family’s needs and future goals.
Practice Self-Care: It’s okay to take time for yourself. Your well-being is vital to supporting your family.
5. Places to Donate to support relief for LA Wildfires
Many families, including moms and children, are affected by the ongoing LA wildfires. If you’re looking to make a difference, here are five reputable organizations to support:
California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund
Provides long-term recovery efforts and support for displaced families.
Baby2Baby
Focuses on providing essentials like diapers, clothing, and formula to children impacted by disasters.
American Red Cross
Offers emergency shelter, food, and relief supplies to those affected by wildfires.
Save the Children
Dedicated to helping children recover through education and emotional support programs.
World Central Kitchen
Provides hot meals to families and first responders during disasters.
If your house burnt down recently or is in threat from the LA Wildfires (or another fire in your area), it can feel like the world is crumbling. But as moms, we find strength in protecting and guiding our families through even the darkest times. Take things one step at a time, lean on your support network, and know that rebuilding is possible. Please reach out anytime - we're here.
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