Post-disaster (im)mobility aspiration and capability formation: case study of Southern California wildfire

Scholarship on the environmental dimensions of migration demonstrates the complex interplay of climatic and non-climatic factors which combine to create a potential for migration. Yet in times of environmental crisis or change, not everyone aspires to or is capable of moving to reduce their vulnerability. When, why, and how populations vulnerable to hazard risks decide not to migrate remains a significant gap in our understanding of the migration—environment relationship. Analysis of data from 38 qualitative interviews shows how Los Angeles County residents—after surviving the 2018 Woolsey Fire—developed aspirations to stay and/or rebuild, depending on the attachments and meanings associated with their communities. This paper also seeks to clarify the concept of capabilities to stay by considering separately the capabilities to return and rebuild from the capabilities to cultivate preparedness. Many who stayed also worked to strengthen community resilience to alleviate concerns of future wildfire risk. Some residents expressed individual commitments to stay and defend homes during future fires, while well-equipped volunteer fire brigades have proliferated in more affluent areas. Community mobilizations pressured local government and fire services to address the perceived institutional failure during previous fire responses and fostered feelings of collective efficacy among residents which increased their confidence to remain in high wildfire risk communities.