Ventura County's Mountain Fire Survivors Face Recovery Challenges Without Federal Aid
SOMIS, Calif. - Survivors of the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, California, are struggling to recover without federal assistance, highlighting the disparities in disaster relief between 'low-attention' events and those that capture national focus [1][2][3].
The Mountain Fire, which occurred in November 2024, destroyed 182 houses and other structures in Ventura County [2]. Despite the devastation, it was not declared a federal major disaster, leaving survivors like Hatim Naim without access to crucial Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs [1][2][3].
'They have their cutoffs for where they declare their disaster, but it's still a disaster for me,' said Naim, 60, whose home was reduced to ashes. 'I lost everything.' [1][2][3]
The contrast is stark when compared to the response to the Palisades and Eaton fires that hit Los Angeles areas in January 2025. Survivors of those fires have access to FEMA programs and have benefited from hundreds of millions in philanthropic donations [1][2][3].
Keith McNett, whose Camarillo home was affected by the Mountain Fire, expressed the community's frustration: 'We kind of feel like we're the forgotten fire a little bit.' [1]
Without federal disaster declaration, Mountain Fire survivors lack access to:
- Disaster case managers
- Legal services
- Mental health programs
- Quick cash relief for essential items
- Temporary housing assistance
- Up to $43,600 for home repair or replacement [1][2][3]
The situation underscores the challenges faced by communities affected by disasters that don't meet federal thresholds for major disaster declarations. It raises questions about the equity of disaster relief distribution and the long-term impacts on recovery for these 'low-attention' disaster areas [1][2][3].
As Ventura County continues to recover, the disparity in aid and attention between neighboring disaster-struck areas remains a point of contention for those trying to rebuild their lives in the shadow of larger, federally recognized disasters [1][2][3].