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Nearly three weeks after the Eaton Fire destroyed their Altadena home, Pete and Angela Mitchell need answers on what to do next. They registered for FEMA assistance, but got a letter of non-approval. After a 90-minute call to the agency’s helpline and a long day at a FEMA recovery center, they learned they needed more insurance documents. But their insurance agent’s office also burned down. Now they have the documents, but can’t figure out how to upload them to FEMA. Front of mind for them is where they, their four dogs and cat will live for the several years it will take to rebuild, and how they will pay both the existing mortgage for their destroyed home and rent on a temporary place each month. Its a marathon, not a sprint, said Angela, but they dont know who can guide them. And they worry about what happens when FEMA and the media move on to the next crisis. Were going to be here, struggling. Tens of thousands of people impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires have similar worries. To help, nonprofits across the region are readying what they say will be a record number of disaster case managers and advocates to support survivors through their recovery, connecting them with resources, and fighting on their behalf. What people really need when at the lowest point in their lives is someone on their team that is helping support and guide them through their recovery, said Claire Balsley, director of disaster assistance programs at the New Orleans-based disaster recovery organization SBP. Given the scale of destruction, the nonprofits expect a dire need for these services. The term unprecedented couldn’t be more accurate, said Jenni Campbell, executive director of the Los Angeles Region Community Recovery Organization, or LARCRO. The number of agencies and organizations that have come forward to participate in disaster case management is also unprecedented. Disaster case managers (DCMs) are trained and vetted helpers who support households through a longterm recovery plan, but many nonprofits also offer other types of advocates and caseworkers who can connect survivors to resources and help them navigate applications. We want everybody as much as possible to take part in their own recovery, but we want to steer them in the right direction,” said Shaun McCarty, program manager for disaster case management at Catholic Charities of Los Angeles. They dont want to start making mistakes like clearing their property or spending money that is going to come in later on. The need for support is clear. As of Jan. 27, nearly 112,000 FEMA applications had been submitted, but only about 19,000 of them were approved for Individual Assistance, according to the agency. FEMA applicants who get a letter saying they are not approved often just need to submit more documents or correct typos. Balsley said it’s crucial these families appeal decisions. A denial does not mean its the end of the road, its the start of a conversation, she said. But that process can be grueling. They feel like theres not a path forward, and if they dont have an advocate, I think a lot of people do give up, said Melissa Baurer, director of integrated health and outreach at Santiam Hospital and Clinics in Stayton, Oregon. Her hospital hired case managers to support people impacted by the 2020 Santiam Canyon Fire in northwest Oregon. It took eight appeals to get one clients Small Business Administration loan approved. A case manager called FEMA 14 times over four months to get a households payout. We gave that case manager boxing gloves,” said Baurer. “She just went to battle on every FEMA appeal and never took no for an answer. Without someone to trust, people struggling after disasters might not seek out help at all, deterred by misinformation or past traumas suffered by their communities, experts say. Case management isnt just about navigating paperwork, its about human connection, said Skye Kolealani Razon-Olds, director of resiliency at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, or CNHA. After the 2023 Maui wildfires, CNHA hired community care navigators who were Lahaina survivors themselves. Their lived experiences allowed them to connect with community members on a deeply personal level, building trust and fostering a sense of shared understanding, said Razon-Olds. In Los Angeles, the first step is finding all the people impactednot just homeowners, but renters, small business owners, and people who lost workand telling them these services are available. Many have never heard of disaster case management, including the Mitchells. Standing outside a FEMA recovery center, they said the idea interested them, especially after calling FEMA only to be passed from person to person. You don’t have that centralized focus or connection,” said Angela Mitchell. To get case management help, households can call their local 211 helpline, or fill out intake forms online with LARCRO, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, and other local organizations. Some nonprofits are connecting with survivors at FEMA disaster recovery centers and resource fairs. Campbell said LARCO and Catholic Charities are collaborating to centralize survivor data to assess needs and triage cases so DCMs can start reaching out. We are all working really hard to make sure that we dont duplicate efforts and that we ensure that we gather every last individual that could need help, she said. Making sure no one is missed requires outreach at schools, churches, and other community focal points, too, said Siugen Constanza, director of community affairs and outreach at the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu. Her team of family therapists and social workers in training are calling families from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. We do whatever it takes, if we have to meet them at Starbucks, a shelter, on the street, whatever it takes to provide that support, said Constanza, adding that Spanish-speaking caseworkers are badly needed. While FEMA provides funding for disaster case management, most groups will rely on philanthropic and local support to hire and train case managers. Balsley of SBP said she’s seen those donations pay dividends. For every dollar that a philanthropic donor puts into our program, we can help survivors access three dollars, she said. Robust support lets the programs last as long as they need to. Campbell said DCMs are still helping Malibu households recovering from the 2018 Woolsey fire. We dont go away, she said. We stay until the long term recovery process is done. Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit < href="https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy">https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Associated Press
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Oil and gas companies would be liable for damages caused by climate change -related disasters in California under legislation introduced Monday by two Democratic lawmakers. The proposal claims that the oil industry intentionally deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels on climate change that now have intensified storms and wildfires and caused billions of dollars in damage in California. Such disasters have also driven the state insurance market to a crisis where companies are raising rates, limiting coverage or pulling out completely from regions susceptible to wildfires and other natural disasters, supporters of the bill said. Under state law, utility companies are liable for damages if their equipment starts a wildfire. The same idea should apply to oil and gas companies, said Robert Herrell, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, for their massive contribution to these fires driven by climate change. The bill aims to alleviate the financial burdens on victims of such disasters and insurance companies by allowing them to sue the oil industry to recoup their losses. It would also allow the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan, created by the state as a last resort for homeowners who couldnt find insurance, to do the same so it doesn’t become insolvent. If approved, California would be the first state in the U.S. to allow for such lawsuits, according to the bill’s author, state Sen. Scott Wiener. “We are all paying for these disasters, but there is one stakeholder that is not paying: the fossil fuel industry, which makes the product that is fueling the climate change, Wiener said at a Monday news conference. The new measure is bound to face major backlash from oil and gas companies, who have faced a string of defeats in California in recent years as the countrys most populous state started to shift policy priorities to address climate change. The Western States Petroleum Association, representing oil and gas companies in five states, already signaled it will fight the bill. President and CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd said state lawmakers are using the L.A. fires to scapegoat the industry. We need real solutions to help victims in the wake of this tragedy, not theatrics, Reheis-Boyd said in a statement. Voters are tired of this approach. Supporters said the measure will also help stabilize the state’s insurance market by allowing insurers to recover some of the costs after a natural disaster from oil companies, which will prevent increased rates from being passed onto policyholders. The bill is supported by several environmental and consumer protection groups. The legislation comes as California begins the long recovery process from multiple deadly fires that ripped through sections of Los Angeles and burned more than 12,000 structures earlier this month. The fires were named the most destructive in the modern history of the city of Los Angeles and estimated to be the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. Lawmakers last week voted to spend $2.5 billion to help the area rebuild. Dozens of U.S. municipalities as well as eight states and Washington, D.C., have sued oil and gas companies in recent years over their role in climate change, according to the Center for Climate Integrity. Those suits are still making their way through the courts, including one filed by California more than a year ago against some of the worlds largest oil and gas companies, claiming they deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels. Scientists overwhelmingly agree the world needs to drastically cut the burning of coal, oil and gas to limit global warming. Thats because when fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide forms and is released, which accounts for over three quarters of all human-caused greenhouse gases. California is also working to persuade insurers to continue doing business in the state by giving them more latitude to raise premiums in exchange for more issuing policies in high-risk areas. Citing ballooning risks of climate-driven natural disasters, seven of the top 12 insurance companies doing business in California in 2023 either paused or restricted new business in the state. The state now allows insurers to consider climate change when setting their prices and will soon also allow them pass on the costs of reinsurance to California consumers. Trān Nguyn, Associated Press
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How often do our workplace communications open with I hope you are well or I trust you are doing fine? These wellness checks reflect the fact that everybody has become more conscious of the need to be kind to others. Thats a good thing. Our workplace has become a setting where the best bosses and colleagues take pride in showing sensitivity to the emotional and physical well-being of others. And for these reasons, beginning a letter or a conversation with I hope you are well has some merit. But even if it reflects the best of intentions, this opening should be abandoned. Heres whyand some suggested replacements. Why to stop saying I hope you are well in emails I hope you are well is not a prohibited email opener by any means, but here are some reasons you may want to consider starting your message a different way. 1. Its a cliche. First, this opening is overly general. Of course you want to begin an email or conversation with something that warms up the relationship. I call this the grabber. But people who use I hope you are well or a similar phrase are simply making a pro forma statement that could be made to anyone. The words sound good but have no deeper personal or individual meaning. 2. It sounds unprofessional. Second, beginning an email or phone call with I hope all is well can make you sound unprofessional. Given that this expression is a throwaway line that typically is not meant to be answered, it will make you sound fluffy. It smacks of fillerof saying something that youve heard others say and youre just repeating it because it sounds good. Its a bit like saying hows it going? or whats up? These are oft-repeated, empty expressions. Platitudes can weaken your impact because they are empty of meaning. You dont want to come across as a person who has nothing to say and therefore begins emails and conversations with boilerplate text. 3. It creates confusion. Third, beginning with I hope you are well can create confusion for the recipient, who may wonder how to respond. Should they address the comment or let it go? For example, when an email begins with this expression, possible answers run through the recipients mind, including Im well, or Im having a great week, or life has been good. They might even consider getting more specific. But if theyre grappling with a problem, should they spill all? Here is where the confusion sets in. Should the respondent not address the query at all, answer only in the positive, or go deeper and explain that they are wrestling with a problemat work or at home? People justifiably get confused about how to respond. 4. It can lead to a digression. An email or conversation launched with I hope all is well with you can get the discussion off course. Your recipient may respond with details of whats happening in their lifewhich can be fine (or even nice). But you may also find yourself having to respond to a narrative you hadnt planned on. With an especially talkative individual, you might get a response like, Yes, Ive been well. In fact, let me tell you where we went on a recent holiday. Your listener has been waiting for a chance to tell you or anyone else about their recent vacation, what cities they saw, and what they liked about each one. Your statement becomes an invitation to share a personal narrative that may get you (and them) off track. 5. It may sound empty. Saying I hope you are well might also sound empty or even heartless to someone who has actually been going through an especially hard time. It may strike the recipient as toxic positivity insofar as the speaker is using a quick brushstroke to gloss over something much more profound. It may not be an intentional dig, but its still a poor way of introducing the subject of the recipients emotional state. The query will ring hollow with any recipient who is dealing with something serious. 7 Alternatives to I hope you are well Here are some other ways to start your messages: 1. With something specific and sincere I hope youre well can sound overly vague. So instead, sk yourself what you can say to show that you do care about the person you are writing to or talking with. You might begin: You have been on my mind lately, and then explain why. Or say: We were so enthralled with the event you hosted last month. In short, think about something in your relationship with your recipient to draw out. If its a new contact, show youve done your research and say something positive about that person. For example: Im so impressed with your HR organization, or I am looking forward to meeting you and being part of your product launch. Being specific gets the relationship off on good footing. 2. I hope youre having a [productive/good/great/etc.] [week/month/season/year]. This is a good email opener for a quick message. Not every email needs to make a great first impression or build a relationship, but getting a bit more specific will make it feel more personal than the vague I hope youre well. 3. We met at.. or another a reminder Maybe youve met the person youre emailing, but it was just once or perhaps you worked together years ago. Either way, you want your recipient to know who you are right up front. If not, they might not be motivated to read the rest of your message. A well wish from a stranger doesnt mean much. 4. [Name] said I should reach out. This is another opener that hooks your recipient by telling them why they should read your message. It tells them right up front why youre contacting them and reassures them that someone they know vouches for you. Your next sentences should quickly explain why you were referred to them by your mutual contact. And of course, you should only use this opener if its true. 5. With an introduction to yourself Sometimes youre sending a cold or nearly cold email, and in these cases, your first order of business should always be introducing yourself. This doesnt mean telling your life story, however. Instead, quickly tell the email recipient what about you is relevant to them. For example, if youre messaging someone who works at the same company as you, you might say: Hi Millie, Im Peter, the new marketing assistant under Kim and I was wondering if youd be able to answer some of my questions on the newest product feature release. Or if youre reaching out toa possible contact for an information interview, you might say: Hello Juan, Im a senior in USCs Computer Science major and Im interested in pursuing a career in game design. 6. How are you? This doesnt necessarily mean to literally start your email with the sentence How are you?you can use any of the many alternatives. But only use this opener if you genuinely want an answer and youre ready to continue any conversation that the recipient starts as a result. Asking how someone is doing is less presumptuous than I hope you are well because it gives room for them to answer genuinely. 7. Nothing Not every email needs a dedicated opener. Particularly if youre emailing someone you work with a lot or have other conversations going with, you can just cut to the point. If youre Slacking your supervisor every day, for example, theres no reason to start an email with pleasantries. Instead, you can just keep your email brief and to the point. Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article and a previous version.
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