Assessing Wildfire Survivors’ Needs and Impacts Following 2017 and 2018 Northern California Wildfires

Keywords: Wildfire, Disaster, Recovery, Needs
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

The increasing trend of large, destructive wildfires across the globe, especially in the American West, has drawn concern for the well-being of wildfire survivors. While the physical consequences of these dangerous wildfires are more readily measurable, the mental health burden remains less understood. We present the results of a survey administered to survivors of key Northern California Wildfires from 2017 and 2018. We explore the holistic impact of wildfire disasters by centering a discussion of the less-visible mental health impacts, which can arise after a fire as both a direct or indirect consequence. We present results that identify significant immediate and ongoing mental health needs in the local population, including calls for peace of mind, healing, and professional psychological treatment. Given the heterogenous effects of fires, we also explore the physical dimensions of needs and impacts, and how they interact with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. We conclude by discussing how the effects of wildfires can linger in communities long after the smoke has dissipated and identify opportunities bolstering mental health support following wildfires