Rebuilding LA after the fires Podcast: Disaster recovery that actually works
January 29, 2026
Jennifer Gray Thompson is a nationally recognized leader in wildfire recovery and resilience, and a fierce advocate for disaster survivors. Named a Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact Leader, she is the founder and CEO of After the Fire USA, a survivor-led, survivor-focused nonprofit advancing equitable recovery from megafires nationwide. After the 2017 North Bay Fires, she transformed a small local effort into a national model supporting communities after catastrophic fire. Jennifer was instrumental in delivering more than $6 billion in federal tax relief for disaster survivors. A former high school teacher and public administrator, she designs survivor-centered recovery systems, advises federal policy, and hosts the How to Disaster podcast, spotlighting leaders who know how recovery actually works.
In this episode, Jan and Jennifer discuss:
- How mega fires have increased dramatically and reshaped disaster recovery in the U.S.
- The mission of After the Fires USA is to support local leaders after disasters
- Why collaboration between jurisdictions and leaders is essential in LA’s recovery
- The limits of philanthropy versus the role of federal disaster funding
Posted in 2026