More than a year after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, many survivors continue to face significant emotional, financial, and logistical challenges.

A forthcoming white paper from tech-for-good nonprofit co-founders Adrienne Heinz, Ph.D. and Abhi Jha, in collaboration with researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, draws on surveys and interviews with 115 Eaton and Palisades wildfire survivors to examine how recovery unfolds over time, highlighting the persistent mental health impacts, barriers to recovery, and unmet support needs that often emerge after public attention has shifted elsewhere.

White Paper Publication Date: August 11, 2026

Among the findings:

• 67% of survivors remained displaced 12–16 months after the fires.
• 73% identified emotional or mental health stress as one of their greatest recovery challenges.
• 61% cited insurance and rebuilding paperwork among their top obstacles and 52% indicated dealing with financial strain was a barrier to recovery.
• Nearly one-quarter wanted mental health support but had been unable to access it.

The paper also explores what survivors expect from the next generation of disaster recovery support, including how AI may help bridge gaps in long-term recovery through personalized guidance, practical assistance, and continuity of care as needs evolve.

• Survivors expressed strong interest in AI-enabled recovery support that is pragmatic, transparent, and designed to complement human care.
• Receptivity to using AI tools for recovery purposes was high, with 69% of survivors expressing they were somewhat or very interested.
• Concerns about accuracy (81%), data privacy (64%), and lack of human connection (49%) emerged as critical factors influencing willingness to engage with AI for recovery purposes.

Heinz and Jha are co-founders of The After Collective, a nonprofit developing a freely accessible, AI-enabled Disaster Recovery Coach designed to complement existing disaster response systems and help survivors navigate the long path from crisis to recovery. Notably, 16 survivors interacted with a prototype of the Disaster Recovery Coach and responded favorably, with feedback supporting co-design of the MVP.

Advance review copies, including insightful quotes from survivors about their recovery experiences and impressions of the Disaster Recovery Coach, and interview opportunities with Heinz and Jha are available upon request.

About The After Collective

The After Collective (TAC) is a nonprofit advancing the future of disaster recovery through freely accessible, AI-enabled solutions that help communities navigate the complex path from crisis to long-term resilience. TAC is co-founded by Adrienne Heinz, Ph.D., a clinical research psychologist affiliated with Stanford University School of Medicine and a National Science Foundation GeoCAFE Climate & Health Scholar with 15 years of federal service at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, and Jha, who brings extensive experience in digital health and AI-based product development.

The organization is developing an AI-enabled Disaster Recovery Coach to complement existing disaster response systems with personalized, trauma-informed guidance that evolves alongside survivors' needs. Grounded in clinical research and lived experience, The After Collective envisions a future in which AI-enabled recovery tools are responsibly integrated into official disaster response systems, helping communities recover more rapidly, equitably, and resiliently from increasingly frequent climate-driven disasters.

theaftercollective.org