Nothing in the world could have prepared Californians for the recent wildfires. As I write this, some of my friends and family members in Los Angeles are still in danger. Too many of my friends have lost everything in just moments. Their communities are suddenly gone. My sister and her husband, no strangers to being climate refugees after surviving Hurricane Maria in 2017, are once again evacuated from their home. The swift outpouring of love and support from the global community has made me feel the power of human connection and empathy. I had already started writing about my love for California in this newsletter before the wildfires blazed into our reality. Now it’s the only thing on my mind. 

It’s impossible to avoid the haunting photos of the devastation (especially these). So many chilling images of palm trees, an iconic symbol of Los Angeles, lit up like Roman candles. The City of Angels, now a semblance of a Phoenix, rising from the ashes. It will take all of our collective resources to help the recovery from this event. It is a long road ahead. I fear this is just Round 1 of the larger Climate Crisis. Please consider donating to any of the people and organizations listed below.

I remain hopeful. If there are bright spots, I will take them whenever possible. San Jose is charting ahead of its renewable energy goals. The desert tortoise population is bouncing back due to conservation efforts. If you want to just get away from it all, here are 12 ideas of experiences in our beautiful state for every month of 2025. And with climate weirding, comes bigger waves which is good news if you are a surfer and want to ride a 100 ft wave.

As we prepare for a new administration, the “golden child” of the nation is preparing to fight for higher standards of clean air and transformative transportation. California, with the highest number of electric vehicles, wants the right to set its own vehicle emissions standards that exceed that of the rest of the country. This fight is now heading to the Supreme Court.

Another path to cleaner air is the costly high-speed rail project which now looms in the balance. As Governor Newsom prepares for uncertainty and lengthy legal battles with the federal government. It doesn’t even matter that California’s budget was suddenly in the black, we have a climate crisis ahead of us that is beyond comprehension. It’s all hands, and dollars, on deck now.

Fuck it, let’s go surfing.

How to Take Action

Here are some additional resources and ways I am supporting right now:

While the fires still blaze, organizations such as the World Central Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund, California Fire Foundation and Los Angeles Department Foundation have all been quick to mobilize and help victims. You can donate to any of the aforementioned organizations if you want to make a difference. I have openly shared my appreciation for our firefighters before, and now I bow to them in total admiration for their heroic efforts to save lives and communities from total devastation. Give whatever you can to help those in need. California’s surplus is not enough now. 

You can donate directly to the extensive list of fundraisers for families on GoFundMe. There are also many shared docs floating around such as this one for the LA music community to help direct people to those in need. Grief and Hope is a fundraiser to help LA artists and art workers start over. Let’s not forget that Los Angeles is a source of entertainment for the world and most of the television shows we watch, the children’s cartoons our kids love, and so much of the art we experience comes from the creatives who live there. Many of these creatives have lost their homes and livelihoods.

The Lookout YouTube channel and website is a great resource for regional fire information. Zeke’s recent post helps with the aftermath of these fires: The Fires are Mostly Out, Now the Hard Part. You can subscribe and donate to support.

Watch Duty is a great app and a vital resource for tracking current fire information. The app also tracks wind direction, air quality, and where to find support and local shelters. Donations or memberships help the non-profit run.