The Winter of Our Discontent: Rebuilding After the Eaton Fire
By Ursula Hyman and Akila Gibbs

After disaster, there’s a phase few discuss but many feel deeply: disillusionment. It settles in quietly, long after the flames die down and the headlines fade. Survivors of the Eaton Fire know this stage well. Promises were made. Help was pledged. And yet, months later, many are left wondering: Has the world moved on?

We have not.

The fire struck in winter, but its emotional toll lingers. Over 6,000 families lost their homes. Survivors are still navigating the exhausting maze of insurance claims, reimbursements, and rebuilding—tasks made harder by systems built for bureaucracy, not humanity.

And yet, amid the hardship, something remarkable is happening.

More than 150 nonprofit organizations have joined forces to form the Eaton Fire Collaborative. This coalition recently elected a Leadership Council, which established two key groups to guide recovery:

• The Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) focuses on case management for vulnerable survivors.
• The Community Recovery Group (CRG) coordinates resources to streamline rebuilding.

These aren’t just committees—they’re engines of recovery.

Collaboration is driving progress. Organizations that had never worked together before are now co-creating support systems. The Pasadena Senior Center and the Assistance League of Pasadena have launched seminars for older adults navigating the complexities of recovery. We’ve partnered with Foothill Catalog Foundation, CityLab, and United Policyholders to bring specialized expertise to those who need it most.

Together, we created the Navigator Program, offering one-on-one support for seniors overwhelmed by post-fire logistics. Whether it’s deciphering insurance paperwork or finding a trusted contractor, the Navigator Program helps make the impossible feel manageable.

One survivor put it plainly:
“I never thought at 83 I’d be starting all over again. That I’d have nothing.”

Across the county, innovation is accelerating recovery:

• AI is expediting plan approvals.
• Architects are using 3D modeling to help residents visualize future homes.
• Neighbors are teaming up to cut rebuilding costs.
• Free mental health clinics are helping survivors process trauma.
• Concerned citizens are mapping soil and home survey data to ensure safety and transparency.

The Pasadena Senior Center continues to host events that blend practical guidance with emotional support—because rebuilding isn’t just about structures. It’s about restoring lives.

Some survivors are reimagining their futures. Others are just trying to get through the day. Both are valid. Both are part of the journey. Discontent lives not only in systems, but within us. But it can also be a catalyst—for connection, for change, and for renewal.

We may still be in the winter of our discontent, but we are not standing still. We are organizing, rebuilding, and supporting one another. The Eaton Fire community is committed to making this a shared recovery—not a solitary one.

Shakespeare’s line endures because it names a truth both timeless and timely: hardship often marks the beginning of transformation. We may stand in the shadow of loss, but unlike Richard III, we can choose how we respond.

Let us honor the fire as a winter we were forced to endure—and anticipate the summers we will create. In the depths of discontent lies the promise of rebirth.

Authors Bios:

Ursula Hyman is a retired partner at Latham & Watkins and former president of the Eaton Canyon Recovery Alliance. She lost two homes in the 2025 Eaton Fire and now serves as Director of four nonprofit boards focused on recovery and rebuilding in Altadena and Pasadena.

Akila Gibbs is Executive Director of the Pasadena Senior Center, where she has led for 18 years. The Center serves more than 15,000 older adults annually, providing essential services, support, and community connection. Gibbs is a longtime advocate for aging populations and emergency preparedness, with deep roots in regional leadership and public service.