Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella joins Jennifer Gray Thompson to talk about what disaster recovery looks like from inside one of the country’s largest and most complex public systems. Drawing from both his professional role and his own experience of being displaced by fire, Mark explains why rebuilding depends on far more than permits and infrastructure. They discuss trust, coordination, community voice, mental health, and the small signs of normalcy that can matter deeply after disaster. The conversation offers a closer look at how public servants can help create more certainty while still giving communities agency over what comes next.Resources:How to DisasterLearn more about After the Fire USAAfter the Fire USA Resource LibraryConnect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedInProduced by NOVA
Paul Lowenthal has spent years responding to wildfire from both sides: as a fire service professional and as someone who lost his own home in the 2017 Tubbs Fire. In this conversation, he and Jennifer Gray Thompson look at what Santa Rosa learned while rebuilding, why experienced recovery leaders matter, and how those lessons have been carried into communities from Maui to Los Angeles. They also talk about the relationships behind effective mutual aid, the importance of preparing new leaders, and what it means to show up for another community with both technical knowledge and lived experience.Resources:How to DisasterLearn more about After the Fire USAAfter the Fire USA Resource LibraryThe City of Santa RosaConnect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedInProduced by NOVA
Mayor Richard Bissen reflects on leading Maui through the immediate response and long recovery following the August 2023 fires. He shares why listening, community meetings, trusted local advisers, and careful preparation have shaped the county’s approach to rebuilding Lahaina. The conversation also explores the tension between urgency and safety, the importance of protecting communities from outside interests, and why recovery must restore people and culture, not only structures. In “Kim on the Street,” Lahaina Brewing Company founder Mary Anderson shares how cooperation and community support helped her business find a way forward after the fire.Resources:How to DisasterLearn more about After the Fire USAAfter the Fire USA Resource LibraryCounty of MauiConnect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedInProduced by NOVA
In this episode of How to Disaster, Jennifer speaks with American singer and songwriter Aloe Blacc about the Eaton Fire, its impact on his family, and the community of Altadena that he has worked to support in its aftermath. He reflects on evacuating during extreme winds, seeing places his children knew and loved damaged by the fire, and carrying both personal grief and a growing responsibility to speak up for others.They also explore the role of art in recovery, from music and songwriting gatherings to the ways creative expression can help people process loss and imagine a future together. Aloe shares what makes Altadena so special, why its history and relationships matter, and how staying rooted in community can offer hope during a long recovery.Resources:How to DisasterLearn more about After the Fire USAAfter the Fire USA Resource LibraryAloe Blacc’s WebsiteAloe Blacc Instagram Connect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedInProduced by NOVA
In this episode of How to Disaster, Jennifer speaks with Renae Hanvin and Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich about why relationships are one of the strongest foundations of disaster resilience and recovery. Together, they explain social capital in plain language: the connections, trust, and cooperation that help communities prepare, respond, and rebuild. The conversation looks at how these ties can be measured, mapped, and supported before disaster strikes, not only after. It also offers a grounded reminder that recovery is not just about roads, buildings, or systems. It is also about the people, places, and everyday connections that help a community come back.Resources:How to DisasterLearn more about After the Fire USAAfter the Fire USA Resource LibraryResilient ReadyDr. Daniel P. Aldrich Connect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedInProduced by NOVA