The damage and loss of life in the current wildfires in California is unprecedented. Our thoughts are with these communities, and with colleagues, friends and families elsewhere, many of whom are still unable to reach or know the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The Camp Fire in Northern California along with several wildfires in Southern California including the Woolsey and Hill Fires are still not fully contained. We thank the first responders, firefighters, law enforcement and numerous other organizations and volunteers who are courageously endeavoring to stop the fires and assist those in extraordinary need. Assistance, resources and relief efforts from both the public and private sectors are required on a massive scale as low-income and diverse communities, especially Native American communities, are disproportionately affected by the wildfires. Our neighbors in California will need legal assistance to help them respond to the numerous challenges in securing safety and stability for their families. Experience from past disasters has shown us that the legal community will not only provide critical assistance when rebuilding efforts begin, but will remain steadfast in assisting these communities for years to come.
NLADA and its partners are committed to ensuring its expertise and resources are available over the long-haul. The National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center, a collaboration among NLADA, Pro Bono Net, the American Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation, is an online resource center that provides legal information on issues such as housing, insurance claims, and employment needed to recover from such disasters, which are becoming all too recurrent.
We know the recovery in California will be a long and arduous journey; NLADA will be there for its members and the communities they serve.