The smoke has cleared from the skies overhead but tons of ashes still remain where homes and whole neighborhoods once stood just two weeks ago before the northern California wildfires struck on Oct. 8. The skies may be clear, but our futures are not. Our county just suffered an historic natural disaster, the most destructive wildfire ever in California. We are facing questions and impacts that no one has ever been challenged with before.
What we need most of all now is an abundance of mutual aid. It took the mutual aid of 10,000 firefighters to attack the flames and stomp out the final embers. And it will take many other forms of mutual aid to complete our recovery for the immediate fire victims and for all segments of our county.
This mutual aid will include lots of neighbors helping neighbors, numerous fundraisers and a maximum of FEMA and other government grants. It will take even more than that, we fear.
Over 200,000 acres burned in the complex of 12 fires that killed 42 people and forced 80,000 people to evacuate from their homes. A total of 6,625 structures were lost and at one point 310,000 customers were without electricity. Most of the region was without communication connections and many thousands of businesses went dark for several days.
Local businesses, far from the fire zones, will need our support. Many may lose displaced employees and suppliers. Local shopping dollars are an excellent form of mutual aid.
While we continue to generously support the major fire relief funds, donate to fire victims and offer volunteer hours, we will also want to keep supporting all our local charities, nonprofits and community groups. It will take many millions of dollars to recover and rebuild from this historic disaster. That is money that will not go to our churches, schools, senior centers and our favorite cultural activities. We need to be extra generous with our mutual aid.
We know that our Sonoma County housing market will be heavily impacted by the loss of over 6,000 homes and properties. Some people made homeless by the fires — especially renters — may face the approaching winter without shelter. Beyond the immediate need to rebuild thousands of homes, there will be long term and permanent changes to our building codes, zoning rules, hazard mapping and local tax base. Our housing future is one of the biggest unknowns we now face and we expect there will be years of public sessions and debates about all this.
We’ve seen photos and heard stories of the mass destruction and loss of lives. Almost all of us have a family member, co-worker or friend who suffered terrible losses and we’ve tried to grieve and share sympathy with them. Part of our unknown future will be the many lingering and confusing emotions we can’t deny we already feel or see in others. The best kind of mutual aid here will be sharing good talks, hugs and maybe a few common tears. Where the need is bigger, we might need professional guidance.
We have declared ourselves as Sonoma Strong and we have proven to ourselves how generous and compassionate we can be. Before the fires Sonoma County already was known as a place of remarkable philanthropy. The Community Foundation of Sonoma County has awarded over $200 million in local grants since its founding in 1983. Our Redwood Empire Food Bank is one of the most robust in the nation and was feeding 82,000 people on a regular basis before the fire emergency. Our major corporations, the wine industry, local realtors associations and largest employers all promote a workplace culture of charity and volunteerism.
Before we reach full recovery and renewal Sonoma Strong may need to become Sonoma Stronger.
