Fragmented and Uncoordinated Disaster Recovery and Rebuilding. Post-disaster recovery is fragmented across federal, state, and local agencies, jurisdictions, utilities, and funding programs, resulting in misaligned timelines, uneven capacity, and confusing recovery pathways for households. This fragmentation slows rebuilding and exacerbates inequities across communities.

• Illustrative Example — Palisades and Altadena. After the Los Angeles–area fires, a single federal emergency declaration spanned multiple counties and cities with very different conditions and capacities. Differences in utility territories and prior investments led to unequal outcomes: areas such as the Palisades, which had undergrounded electrical lines, experienced stronger protection and faster recovery, while communities like Altadena faced greater damage exposure and slower reconstruction. Uneven staffing capacity further widened gaps, with some jurisdictions able to loan planners to neighbors and others unable to do so.