Aaron Clark-Ginsberg
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aclarkginsberg.bsky.social
Aaron Clark-Ginsberg
@aclarkginsberg.bsky.social
Social scientist of disaster. Researcher, RAND, and professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School. Occasional ultrarunning. https://www.rand.org/about/people/c/clark-ginsberg_aaron.html
A not-so-small sliver of hope: +70 years disaster-related research shows that people and communities almost always help each other after disaster. Your friends, family, and neighbors will be there for you regardless of what's happening at federal level.
June 18, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Likewise @jimwhittington.bsky.social - continue to learn a ton from you.
January 14, 2025 at 10:21 PM
That's it for now, but will add to the thread as more comes out. Hoping some of these writings will be useful as we think over these fires in the coming weeks, months, and years.
January 14, 2025 at 8:09 PM
LA specific (cont):

When Fire Information and the Desire to Help Collide Online
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

(9/n)
When Fire Information and the Desire to Help Collide Online
As wildfires swept through Los Angeles, misinformation circulated among citizens, celebrities, and some journalists, leading to significant confusion. This scenario highlights the challenges of ensuri...
www.rand.org
January 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Los Angeles specific:
The Los Angeles Fires and the Need for Long-Term Strategy Building Wildland Fire Resilience
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

As Fires Continue to Burn Around Los Angeles, Here Are Some Recovery Tips and Resources
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

(8/n)
The Los Angeles Fires and the Need for Long-Term Strategy Building Wildland Fire Resilience
The fires in Los Angeles highlight an urgent need for policy reforms in land management and community preparedness. Without sustained investment and effort, future disasters are inevitable.
www.rand.org
January 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Recovery & resilience (cont):

Local Communities Need a Voice in How to 'Build Back Better'
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

We Aren't Helpless in the Face of Increasing Fires and Smoke
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

(7/n)
Local Communities Need a Voice in How to 'Build Back Better'
Long before it was popularized and made its way into political slogans and economic recovery battle cries, the phrase “building back better” was a central tenet of disaster recovery and community resi...
www.rand.org
January 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Recovery & resilience:
Realizing the Power of Community in Disaster Recovery
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

Community-Driven Recovery: The Lahaina Wildfires a Year Later
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

(6/n)
Realizing the Power of Community in Disaster Recovery
Communities—not governments—are often the primary agents driving disaster recovery. Understanding their needs, improving resource allocation, and measuring results can better leverage the community's ...
www.rand.org
January 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Response (cont):

What's Missing From Community Disaster Response? The Whole Community
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

Maintaining wildfire and COVID-19 continuity of operations
www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfp...

(5/n)
What's Missing From Community Disaster Response? The Whole Community
Across the United States, significant gaps exist in disaster response needs and capabilities. Community volunteers have stepped up to fill those gaps where possible. They may need more support and res...
www.rand.org
January 14, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Response:

As Fire Season Heats Up, Burnout Looms
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

Disaster Reporting and Its Impacts on Policy and Inequities
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

(4/n)
As Fire Season Heats Up, Burnout Looms
Increasingly intense fire seasons are taking a physical and mental toll on wildland firefighters. Without more direct attention paid to firefighters' mental health, burnout could decimate the ranks of...
www.rand.org
January 14, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Causes (cont):
Exceptional drought and extreme heat: The fire risk in the West has never been seen before
thehill.com/opinion/ener...

(3/n)
thehill.com
January 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Causes:
Climate Change Is Only One Driver of Explosive Wildfire Season—Don't Forget Land Management
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

Another Record-Breaking Fire Season Shows the Need for a Comprehensive Strategy
www.rand.org/pubs/comment...

(2/n)
Climate Change Is Only One Driver of Explosive Wildfire Season—Don't Forget Land Management
The fire seasons that have been scorching huge areas and wiping entire towns from the map appear to be the future. Accepting that wildland fires are a part of our environment and working to live with ...
www.rand.org
January 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Shamelessly plugging a former student of mine, Anuszka Mosurska, who's done some great work on disaster narratives/discourse: scholar.google.com/citations?us...

NAS' excellent report on community-driven relocation also has a section on retreat: nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2721...
Community-Driven Relocation: Recommendations for the U.S. Gulf Coast Region and Beyond
Read online, download a free PDF, or order a copy in print or as an eBook.
nap.nationalacademies.org
January 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM