Roles and experiences of non-governmental organisations in wildfire response and recovery
Rebecca K. Miller A B C F and Katharine J. Mach D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A University of Southern California, Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West. Social Sciences Building (SOS) 153, 3502 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0034, USA.
B Stanford University, Bill Lane Center for the American West. Y2E2 Building, Suite 174, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
C Stanford University, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. Y2E2 Building, Suite 226, 473 Via Ortega, Suite 226, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
D University of Miami, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. 1365 Memorial Drive, Room 230, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
E University of Miami, Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy. Ungar, 1365 Memorial Drive #230, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA.
F Corresponding author. Email: rkmiller@usc.edu
International Journal of Wildland Fire 31(1) 46-55 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF21080
Submitted: 8 June 2021 Accepted: 26 October 2021 Published: 9 December 2021
Journal Compilation © IAWF 2022 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play critical roles in providing immediate relief resources and long-term recovery support for communities after a disaster. Drawing on interviews with NGO representatives involved in three Northern California wildfires in 2017 and 2018, this study identifies challenges and opportunities for NGOs supporting wildfire relief and recovery. Across fires and NGOs, NGO management and wellbeing, coordination and disaster experiences emerge as common barriers and enablers of relief and recovery. In many cases, local NGOs’ participation in wildfire relief and recovery included simultaneous expansion of an organisation’s mission and activities and negative impacts on staff mental health. Under the rapidly evolving circumstances of relief and the prolonged burdens of recovery, personal relationships across NGOs and government agencies significantly improved coordination of assistance to communities. Finally, interviewees expressed greater confidence when responding to wildfires if they had previous experience with a disaster, although the COVID-19 pandemic presented distinct challenges on top of pre-existing long-term recovery work. Despite repeated assertions that interviewees’ experiences reflected only their individual community or wildfire, key challenges and opportunities were consistent across disasters. These results may aid other NGOs in preparing to provide immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery in California and other wildfire-prone areas.
Keywords: disaster recovery, disaster relief, non-profit organisation, non-governmental organisation, NGO, resilience, wildfire, California.
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