Navigating the Path to Resilience: Expert and Compassionate Response to the Los Angeles Wildfires

Matt Talley Senior Vice President, Global Water Strategy In January 2025, Los Angeles encountered a wildfire event of unprecedented scale. Entire neighborhoods were consumed within hours, skies darkened with smoke, and the total damages surpassed $250 billion, marking it as the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history. For those of us at AECOM, especially Californians, this crisis was personal, not just a professional challenge. During the initial hours of the wildfires, our primary concern was people. We reached out to our employees and their families, provided temporary housing for those displaced, and assisted in navigating insurance procedures. When our team members are safe, we are better equipped to serve the community. This situation resonates deeply with me. With over 25 years of experience leading disaster recovery efforts—including responses to wildfires, hurricanes, and floods—I understand the profound human impact behind these events. In 2017, I experienced Hurricane Irma firsthand in Florida. I recall the urgency of boarding up windows, waiting in lines for fuel, and the unsettling silence once the power went out. That disorientation underscored for me the importan...