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Altadena resident and recovery group describe loss, health harms and gaps in outreach after Eaton fire
Summary
A founder of the Altadena Recovery Team described severe home loss, respiratory and mental-health harms for long-time residents and said community-driven relief remains vital as government and larger donation centers slow operations.
The Assembly Health Committee received first-person testimony from Samantha (Sam) James, cofounder and CEO of the Altadena Recovery Team, who described household losses, persistent smoke-related health problems and emotional trauma among long-time Altadena residents.
James described multigenerational homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire and widespread smoke damage to surviving structures. She said many local residents suffer chronic lung conditions and that evacuations and repeated threats have intensified physical and mental-health harms. "I personally have emergency evacuated 3 times and suffer from a lung disease and breathing disorder that dramatically worsens when I'm around smoke of any kind," she told the committee.
Why the testimony matters: James framed the recovery not only as rebuilding structures but also addressing long-term health, mental-health and practical needs—PPE, hygiene items, temporary housing and help with debris removal and monitoring for toxic dumping.
Community needs and gaps - Donations and distribution: James said smaller community organizations provided direct relief every weekend and filled gaps left when larger donation centers closed, but noted limits: some donation centers required identification, which deters undocumented residents, and limits on per-person distributions did not reflect multigenerational households. - Mental-health and grief: She described compound grief following the loss of family members and longtime assets, and asked how the state will sustain community-driven art and mental-health supports that help with collective healing. - Environmental and worker protections: James asked who is monitoring for toxic waste disposal and for protections for residents exposed to ongoing debris-removal activities.
Ending: James urged sustained, consistent state support—outreach to homes, protections during debris removal and funding for community-led recovery organizations that maintain trust in multilingual and mixed-status neighborhoods.
