Neighbors and strangers banded together to assist L.A. fire survivors – 60 years of research shows these unsung heroes are crucial to disaster relief

As wildfires swept through neighborhoods on the outskirts of Los Angeles in January 2025, stories spread on social media about residents helping their neighbors and complete strangers.

Reports from Hollywood stars Clearing roads to permit emergency vehicles to go through and fundraising for fire victims were widespread. But there have been many other examples of less famous people helping older neighbors stay secureand even show up Trailer for evacuation of horses.

corporations, including Fitness centeropened their facilities so evacuees could shower or charge their phones. Organizations that work routinely and quickly with homeless people mobilized their members to assist Make sure people living on the streets and in camps can get to secure places away from fires dangerous air quality.

disasters, by definitionoverwhelm local resources and make civilian emergency services like these essential. Sixty years of research University of Delaware Disaster Research Center and others who study the social features of disasters have repeatedly shown that effective disaster management requires the mobilization of community resources that reach well beyond official channels.

The response is commonly through local groups that form in response to a transparent need in the neighborhood and with shared skills and interests. And that's exactly what we're experiencing in Los Angeles.

The variety of civilians helping is commonly within the hundreds

The number of people that provide assistance during disasters varies depending on the event, but may be enormous.

Following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombingOver 6,800 volunteers worked with the Red Cross on the response. That same 12 months, volunteers responded to the Kobe earthquake in Japan greater than 1 million person-days of activitya measure of the number of individuals multiplied by the hours they worked.

In an in depth study of September 11, 2001 Attacks on the World Trade Centerwe interviewed residents who pumped water for the firefighters at Ground Zero with their decommissioned fireboat. Operators of tugboats, ferries and tour boats in and around New York City responded immediately and quickly evacuated 500,000 people in the realm out of harm's way. In fact, this was nearly all of the boats involved belonged to non-public corporations. Other volunteers lined up evacuees and arranged supplies and rides to get people home.

More than 900 people, most of whom held unofficial positions, were awarded medals or ribbons solely for his or her service in naval operations following the attack on the World Trade Center.

A resident survey after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake found that almost 10% of residents volunteered in the primary three weeks of the response. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakeIn California, a survey of residents in Santa Cruz and San Francisco counties found that two-thirds of the population were involved in relief efforts.

However, much of the work of local residents during and after disasters stays unaccounted for in official reports.

There isn’t any mechanism to quantify the complete extent to which a neighbor or complete stranger will help someone escape danger. But when individuals are trapped and counting minutes, research shows that it’s family, friends and neighbors who’re already there and are most probably save lives. Often it’s peculiar residents who become involved immediately Tasks similar to removing dirt. Providing a phone, a automobile, a spot to do laundry or just a little help can fill a niche and permit firefighters and other formal responders to deal with critical operations.

Bringing the correct help to where it is required

Every study of a significant disaster conducted by the Disaster Research Center has found some level of emergent, informal helping behavior.

The lack of public understanding of the big variety of residents already affected, including often the disaster victims themselves, can result in an influx of outsiders willing to assist. Their arrival can actually pose a challenge to disaster relief efforts.

When too many individuals show up or when people attempt to operate outside their area of ​​expertiseThey can put themselves and others at further risk. Communities often need supplies, but Unsolicited goods of the mistaken type or sent on the mistaken time may create much more problems as they solve.

So what are you able to do to best support these local efforts?

A financial donation to a trusted disaster relief agency or local organization can go a good distance toward actually providing communities the support they need. Organizations similar to the American Red Cross or Feeding America, or local community-based groups that work often in the realm, are sometimes best suited to supply assistance where it is required most.

Qualified help is required in the long run

Also do not forget that disasters don't end when the emergency is over. Survivors of the Los Angeles area fires face years of confusing and confusing events There are frustrating recovery tasks ahead.

It's equally vital to supply help after the immediate threat has passed – especially qualified help, similar to construction experience or expertise in coping with insurance and FEMA documents.

For example after the fires in 1970 destroyed tons of of homes within the San Diego areaLocal architects, engineers and contractors donated their time and skills to assist people rebuild. Her work was coordinated by an area architect and Chamber of Commerce member to make sure projects are assigned to reputable volunteers.

Recognizing the importance of neighbors and strangers helping those around them, the broader community can support wildfire victims by offering the correct help when needed. Almost every skill that is beneficial in quiet times will likely be needed within the difficult months and years ahead.