016: Day 2: TALK STORY: From Ashes to Allies: Local Government Leaders Discuss Mutual Aid and Best Practices Post-Megafires

2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Episode Description: 

“There's no greater power, no greater strength, and no greater drive to persevere than when you're fighting for your family and you're fighting for your home, even in the face of insurmountable odds.” —Josiah Nishita

 

“We were the home to the most disastrous wildfire at the time, and that's one of those titles that you don't want, but at the same time you don't want to lose it, because that means that somebody else has gone through something worse than you.” —Paul Lowenthal 

 

“That trust with someone that had gone through it and built it before was so necessary. As a new community going through this, you don't know who to trust.” —John Smith 

 

“We learned some lessons the hard way, but other communities don't have to.  We continue to pay it forward. We continue to help others. That is our mission, that is our goal.” —Scott Westrope

 

Mutual aid is a critical component of effective disaster recovery. By sharing resources, expertise, and lessons learned, communities can bounce back faster and stronger in the face of catastrophic events. Mutual support is the foundation for building resilience and restoring hope.

In this episode, we hear from Josiah Nishita, the Managing Director for Maui County, John Smith, the Public Works Highways Division Chief of Maui, Scott Westrope, the Fire Chief for the City of Santa Rosa, and Paul Lowenthal, the Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Santa Rosa.  

From navigating the complexities of debris removal and infrastructure repair to fostering community engagement and maintaining resilience, this panel shares invaluable insights on the power of mutual aid and how to do it right. Don't miss this episode to learn how collaboration and shared experiences can transform disaster recovery.

 

Connect with After The Fire USA: 

• Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA
• X: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ

Highlights:

• 01:26 Maui: Where We Were and How Far We’ve Come
• 05:20 The Day After the Horrifying August 8th
• 09:57 One Year After
• 14:43 Fighting For Our Home
• 19:47 Facing the Unexpected
• 22:58 Connecting Sta Rosa with Maui
• 29:07 The Importance of Building Trust
• 33:54 Build Relationships Early
• 37:31 Pay It Forward

 

Meet the Moderator

👩🏻‍💼 Reva Feldman, Former City Manager, Malibu (2016-2021) / Advisor, After the Fire USA

Reva Feldman has more than twenty years of experience in public service. She has been with the City since 2005, serving as the Assistant City Manager and Administrative Services Director before her appointment as City Manager in May 2016. Reva brings with her strong leadership skills, knowledge, experience, and a deep dedication to the community.

 

Meet the Panel:

👨🏻‍💼Paul Lowenthal, Deputy Fire Chief, City of Santa Rosa

Paul Lowenthal is the Division Chief Fire Marshal for the city of Santa Rosa. He's been involved in fire and disaster recovery since 2017 when he first led the Debris Task Force for the city of Santa Rosa, following the Tubbs fire and Nuns Fire. In 2020 Paul played a key role in coordinating recovery after the Glass Fire. More recently, Paul has been assisting with recovery in Maui County. He's a board member of the Fire Safe Council for Sonoma County. He managed the development of the Santa Rosa vegetation management program and the vegetation management ordinance. He also has helped develop the city's community wildfire protection plan.

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-lowenthal-2115638a/ 

👨🏻‍💼Scott Westrope, Fire Chief, City of Santa Rosa

Scott Westrope is the Fire Chief for the city of Santa Rosa. He began his fire service in San Luis Obispo County, first with a Pismo Beach Fire Department and then with San Luis Obispo County. He came to Santa Rosa in 2000 and has held the ranks of firefighter, paramedic, Captain, training captain, battalion chief and Deputy Fire Chief. He became the interim fire chief in 2020 and fire chief in 2021. He holds a bachelor's degree in emergency services management and is a state of California Certified Chief Officer. He sits on the board for REDCOM, he is the Vice President of the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association, represents all of the cities on the Sonoma County Fire Service working group, is the Area Director for the California Fire Chiefs Association and serves as Sonoma County's Operational Area Coordinator. 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-westrope-4b24068a/ 

 

👨🏻‍💼John Smith, Highways Chief, County of Maui

John Smith is the Public Works Highways Division Chief for Maui County. He is a seasoned engineering professional with over 22 years of experience in infrastructure design, construction, and maintenance. He manages all operations and provides oversight for personnel and program budgets regarding county roadway systems. John now serves as the CO lead for the Office of Recovery, infrastructure recovery support function, and leads all fire debris removal efforts while restoring critical services such as clean drinking water, sanitary sewer, and electricity. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Ohio University and is a registered professional engineer.

 

👨🏻‍💼Josiah Nishita, Managing Director, County of Maui: Office of the Mayor

Josiah Nishita is the managing director for the county of Maui. He has played a crucial role in leading Maui's disaster recovery efforts following the devastating wildfires that impacted the island in August 2023. Josiah has demonstrated exceptional leadership in coordinating the county's response and recovery operations, including establishing emergency shelters, facilitating debris removal, and restoring critical infrastructure. He has also been instrumental in fostering strong partnerships with other communities and organizations to leverage mutual aid and best practices. His dedication to supporting the Maui community through this challenging time has been widely recognized, and he continues to be a driving force in the county's ongoing recovery and resilience efforts.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiah-nishita-21a96442/ 

 

Connect with the County of Maui:

• Website: https://www.mauicounty.gov/ 

 

Connect with the City of Sta Rosa:

• Website: https://www.srcity.org/