Rebuilding after the storm: A disaster specialist’s path to public health

Sean is set to arrive in Los Angeles within the next two weeks to assist with recovery efforts from the Eaton and Palisades fires of Southern California.

We spoke with Sean about his experiences in disaster zones, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and the power of solidarity in times of crisis.

You worked in the wake of the devastation of the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Helene. Can you share some insights from those experiences?

Both were unique challenges. In Maui, the devastation was highly concentrated in Lahaina, which simplified some logistics but magnified the emotional toll. In contrast, North Carolina during Hurricane Helene presented major infrastructural hurdles, with widespread damage to roads, water systems and electricity lines. It will take years for North Carolina to fully recover. 

The geography in Asheville created a “bowl effect,” with water pooling in low-lying areas, turning highways into waterways. Many rural Appalachian communities were inaccessible, so we had to get creative. For example, we partnered with local ATV riders to deliver supplies to areas unreachable by traditional vehicles. I’ll never forget seeing a convoy of ATVs, escorted by police, transporting disaster supplies to areas that we couldn’t reach with our regular vehicles.

The resilience of those communities is incredible. Despite their own losses, locals stepped up to help each other, and we saw an overwhelming number of people volunteering to support relief efforts. It was a perfect example of how strong communities can overcome even the most daunting challenges when they come together.

You leave for Los Angeles in a week or two. What will be your focus? 

The current priority—both for the Red Cross and emergency services in general—is ensuring everyone is safely evacuated from the affected areas.

Disaster responses typically happen in phases, and as of today, we’re still in the evacuation and safety phase. Based on the latest reports, the fires are starting to become more contained, which means the next steps will likely involve damage assessment and recovery. Once we have more access to the fire zones, that’s where much of our focus will shift.

Air quality has been a significant concern, which has made it difficult for volunteers to enter the most heavily affected areas. For now, we’re concentrating on providing shelter and support for those who have been displaced. The scale of the devastation is substantial, with significant property loss in densely populated areas—similar to what we saw in Lahaina during the Maui fires. 

Fortunately, many people have been able to evacuate safely, and our priority has been to ensure that they have shelter and resources during this time. Once air quality improves and firefighters gain more control over the situation, we’ll move into the damage assessment and recovery phase. That’s likely when I’ll be deployed, as my role typically supports those efforts after containment.

How has climate change affected your work?

That’s a great question, and it’s something we’ve been discussing extensively at the Red Cross over the past year. One of the concepts we’ve embraced is what we call ‘a state of continuous response.’ In the past, disasters were more seasonal—we had hurricane season and periods of higher fire risk, but there was a general sense of predictability.

Now, with climate change, that predictability is gone. The changes we’ve seen in ecosystems, weather patterns and environmental conditions mean disasters are happening year-round. The frequency and intensity of these events are unlike anything we’ve experienced before. Instead of managing one major disaster and then having time to recover and regroup, we’re now moving directly from one disaster to the next with little to no break in between.

A lot of this can be directly tied to climate change. We’re seeing longer droughts that increase fire risks, followed by strong winds that escalate those fires. Hurricanes are becoming more intense, and sometimes even overlapping. For example, with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, we saw two hurricanes hit Florida back-to-back—a situation that’s almost unprecedented.

And it’s not just warming temperatures or prolonged droughts. Climate change is also increasing the likelihood of extreme winter weather. So, we’re seeing severe weather on both ends of the spectrum—hotter, drier conditions that fuel fires, and colder, more intense storms during winter. 

What is the best way to prepare for natural disasters?

Disasters can happen anywhere now—there are no longer ‘safe zones.’ During Hurricane Helene, even areas like Asheville, North Carolina, which were once considered disaster-resilient because of their distance from the coast, were significantly impacted. It’s critical for everyone, regardless of location, to be prepared.

One thing I always recommend is building a solid disaster plan for you and your family. Make sure you have a ‘go bag’ packed with essentials in case you need to evacuate quickly. This should include things like medications, important documents, basic supplies and anything else you might need to sustain yourself for a few days. It’s not a pleasant thing to think about, but it’s crucial to be ready. 

Once you’re confident that your household is ready, you’ll have the capacity to help your neighbors and your wider community. Prepared individuals contribute to a more resilient community, and that benefits everyone in the long run.