18. The Full-Time Job Nobody Expects After Disaster

Disaster recovery does not end when the cameras leave or rebuilding begins. Jennifer Gray Thompson looks at the role disaster case managers play in helping survivors navigate FEMA, insurance, housing, loans, benefits, and the many systems that can quickly turn recovery into a full-time job.

She also discusses the recent uncertainty around disaster case management funding in Los Angeles, and why disruptions in that support can add unnecessary stress for people already carrying so much. The episode explores the idea of “soft infrastructure,” the relationships, services, and human support that help communities recover alongside roads, homes, and utilities.

It is a reminder that recovery is not only about rebuilding what was lost, but making sure people have help finding their way through what comes next.

Resources:

• How to Disaster
• Learn more about After the Fire USA
• After the Fire USA Resource Library
• Connect with Jennifer Gray Thompson on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA