In this special episode focusing on the January 2024 Los Angeles fires, I talk with Mark Neveau, a former fire chief and FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) under the Obama administration. Drawing from his extensive experience in emergency management, Mark provides essential guidance for those affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires, while offering valuable insights for anyone living in disaster-prone areas.
Key Points
- FEMA provides immediate assistance and coordinates with state/local agencies
- Insurance considerations, including California Fair Plan details
- Debris removal and rebuilding timeline expectations
- Mental health resources and community support importance
- Common scams to watch for during recovery
- The role of public adjusters in insurance claims
- Long-term recovery planning considerations
Resources
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers:
- West Side: UCLA Research Park West, 10850 West Pico Boulevard, LA 90064
- Pasadena: PCC Community Education Center, 3035 East Foothill Boulevard, 91107
- Altadena: 540 West Woodbury Road, 91001
Important Tips:
- Register with FEMA immediately after disaster
- Document everything possible
- Avoid rushing major decisions
- Consider working with a public adjuster
- Stay connected with community support groups
- Verify all official communications
- Be realistic about rebuilding timelines (potentially several years)
- Participate in community recovery efforts
- Seek mental health support when needed
About Our Guest
Mark Neveau served as a fire chief and FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, managing emergency responses across California. His experience includes working on the 2008 LA fires and numerous other major disasters. For more information, visit markneveau.org.
Popular Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com