The LA fires have ravaged the Southern California community, displacing nearly 180,000 people and destroying 10,000 structures across the city. Five fires are still actively burning in the area.
The fires are the most devastating in LA's history, and as of Friday, the largest fire sweeping through the Palisades was just 6% contained. While the situation continues to remain fluid, there are ways for employers
"Those impacted by the LA wildfires will look to their communities for solace," says Marie Unger, CEO of Emergenetics, a personality assessment tool. "Employers can play their part by proactively reacting and responding."
Establishing immediate connection with any employees in impacted areas is a critical first step. Because power and internet service may be down across much of the city, it's important to reach out through multiple connection points, via email, text or Slack.
"In the wake of this unprecedented tragedy, it's time to deploy your internal crisis communication plan, keeping in mind that some employees may not have immediate access to the internet, given the circumstances," Unger says. "Opening and sustaining a multitude of open communication channels is paramount. Consider using phone trees, text, email and internal messaging platforms to ensure you reach as many people as you can. Create an email address for inquiries related to the wildfires, so you can build a repository of questions, which helps build internal FAQs that can be continually updated as the situation evolves."
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Employers should then turn to both short-and longer-term solutions as soon as possible, Unger says.
"The reaction is short-term, quick solutions they can offer, like flexible time off or emergency relief funds," she says. "The response is the holistic support that can be provided over the long term, including remote work options, extended mental health and wellness benefits or child care assistance."
Employers can also establish a
Employers should also leverage the resources available through their EAP, and ensure employees are aware of what's available and how to access these benefits. EAPs typically offer mental health support and other counseling resources, support that's especially necessary during traumatic events.
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"During times of unexpected crises, such as the devastating fires in Southern California, employers play a critical role in supporting the mental health and overall well-being of their teams. Holistic support begins with fostering an environment of empathy, transparency, and proactive care," says Brian Smith, founder of IA Business Advisors. "Promote the availability of mental health resources, counseling services, and financial aid programs. Ensure employees know how to access these tools and consider bringing in external specialists for group sessions or crisis-specific workshops,"
Employers can also provide financial support for employees who have lost their homes or have had to evacuate through Section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. Employers can pay for hotel stays, offer money for food and clothing and even allocate funds toward home repairs on a tax-free or tax-exempt basis.
As employers review their disaster relief plans, it's critical to establish policies that will support employees impacted by these fires today, as well as for the probable event of other natural disasters in the future. Any disaster relief plan should include guidance on how employers will be communicating with their employees, have established emergency response procedures, and a blueprint for how to react so employees can get the help and support they need as quickly as possible.
"The frequency and ferocity of events, both domestically and internationally, is ever-increasing," Dale Bruckner, CEO of Global Guardian, an international emergency response and medical services provider, previously told EBN. "With 100% certainty, there will be more natural disasters. If you're not thinking like that, you're not posturing like that, then you're already behind and you're failing your employees."
