While planning on writing about Beyoncé’s huge announcement last week and what new ideas she was releasing, the postponement of the announcement shows bigger issues on the table. The ongoing wildfires in California have caused heartbreak and distress within the community and surrounding areas.
Suspicions have surfaced as to how the fires were started, with several lawsuits against Southern California Edison because of electrical grid disruptions in addition to scientists attributing the cause to global warming. 2020 was one year when fires in California were at an all-time high, destroying over 1 million acres of land. The fires this season have incinerated over 30,000 acres of land from Pacific Palisades, Altadena and down to Hurst.
These fires have affected more than 200,000 people and have already taken around 25 lives. Hundreds of houses, workplaces and schools are all gone, leaving structured civilians to break their routines and find shelter. It’s becoming harder for the affected California citizens to find insurance or use their insurance for support during this time of hardship because most of them don’t have fire protection.
To help out with these difficult times people are going through, celebrities and the surrounding communities are standing up and rising to the occasion for their state. Charities and donation drives have been created to help the affected communities get back on their feet. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) offers up to $770 to help cover immediate needs and tends to help out more after insurance issues its payout. If L.A. residents receive a maximum grant from FEMA, homeowners affected by this tragedy may be eligible for another $10,000 from the state, they just have to submit a claim. The Red Cross is another organization that is helping out and creating shelter for people in need. Airbnb is also helping with sheltering and there are so many organizations giving out food, clothing, supplies and more.
Links for donations can be found by following the links.
ALL RESOURCES:
California Community Foundation
Salvation Army of Southern California