Disaster Relief: Architecture's Role Within the Emergency Management System

Abstract

The increased severity and frequency of wildfires continue to put communities at risk throughout Southern California. In January 2025, the Eaton and Palisades Fires impacted two Los Angeles County communities, activating the disaster relief system’s response phase. This thesis asks where are architects within the disaster relief system, including when and how do they currently participate? The disaster relief system is the response taken by participants, usually emergency management professionals from government and non-profit organizations, to minimize damage, displacement, and further vulnerabilities caused by disasters. By examining the effectiveness of recent disaster responses and the role of architects, this thesis aims to find how architects can increase their participation to improve disaster relief. Methods included mapping and diagramming of resources and geospatial relationships. Data was gathered by interviewing emergency management and architecture representatives and analyzing documents from their respective organizations. These methods compared the perspectives of experts and codified documents to data collected through mapping public information provided by CalFIRE and Los Angeles County. The findings show that architects participate across all phases of the disaster relief system, from volunteering as safety assessment evaluators in the immediate response phase, to serving as stakeholders in mitigation research prior to a disaster. The response and recovery phases of the disaster relief system in California are effective, but ongoing mitigation efforts are underutilized. The major challenges are a lack of awareness of available resources, minimal implementation of mitigation strategies and building codes, and lack of innovative alternatives to emergency shelters and temporary housing. The results show that architects and emergency management professionals believe they have an ethical obligation to help communities at risk of wildfires; however, architects have limited knowledge of how to participate in disaster relief. Although the American Institute of Architects provides a range of wildfire-related resources for architects and homeowners, it is not highly regarded amongst practicing architects as an ethical resource. As a result, architects can increase their participation in the disaster relief system through a variety of efforts, such as recommending policy and programs that strengthen the existing building stock; working amongst emergency management professionals on pre-planned housing options; spreading awareness to local homeowners about disaster-resilient design strategies; designing innovative temporary housing solutions; and reconfiguring the AIA’s ethical metrics to better reflect the evolving nature of housing and climate-related disaster risks.