A view of one of the Los Angeles wildfires. (Courtesy: Simon Li)
On Jan. 9, Shalina Xufang Cao, a student at Columbia Journalism School, visited the Westwood Recreation Center in Los Angeles, which has been serving as an evacuation site for wildfire victims. She interviewed evacuees, citizen donors, the Los Angeles director of the Red Cross, and journalists who have been covering the fires since they began.
Since the wildfires broke out, Southern California residents have sought refuge at evacuation centers. In these spaces, evacuees find solace in shared experiences and a brief reprieve from the devastation caused by the fires.
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About the author(s)
Shalina Xufang Cao
Shalina Xufang Cao is a student in the M.A politics program at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. She is a TV reporter covering China, Eastern Asian and international affairs.