Southern California is in Crisis.

Right now, Los Angeles is burning on both ends with over 20,000 acres up in flames as of 3:30 PM on January 8. Thousands of Californians are losing their homes, livelihoods, and communities. At this critical moment, it’s vital that we come together to support our neighbors, loved ones, and the brave first responders.

If you or your loved ones have been impacted by this catastrophe, we’ve collected some resources for you:

• Evacuation Centers: 
  • Palisades Fire | Los Angeles Fire Department
  • Hurst Fire | Los Angeles Fire Department
  • Eaton Fire | CAL FIRE
  • LACounty.gov/emergency (for Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton)
• Watch Duty App: An easy to navigate app that allows you to see current evacuation orders, evacuation shelters for people & animals, etc.)

And for those who want to support relief efforts, here are a few local organizations doing the on-the-ground work right now:

• California Fire Foundation: Provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect.
• California Community Fund: Focused on finding long-term, comprehensive solutions that address the vital issues concerning quality of life in Los Angeles County.

The focus needs to be on protecting and supporting those who are directly impacted by these ongoing fires, at the same time we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture: This is the climate crisis at work.

Devastation like this is the direct result of corporate polluters’ greed and our inability to transition quickly enough to clean energy and resiliency as a state and as a nation.  

Right now, the most catastrophic climate emergencies are happening frequently, but not daily. 

By the time they’re happening daily, it will be too late. 

As California prepares to release its proposed state budget this week, these catastrophic fires are a call to action for our elected leaders. To not just prioritize urgent disaster relief for the moment, but ensure robust investments in clean energy and resilience to prevent the worst and protect communities now and in the future. California can’t afford anything less than visionary, preventative, and robust investments in clean energy and resilience.

Please share the resources above to ensure our neighbors are fully supported in this time of crisis. 

Take good care, 

Mary Creasman

CEO, California Environmental Voters