Commonwealth Club of California Podcast CLIMATE ONE: Inside The Chaotic, Lucrative ‘Disaster Economy’ With Grist
Jan 9, 2026
In this insightful discussion, guests share their experiences and expertise in the disaster economy. Haley Geller recounts her harrowing evacuation from the Los Angeles wildfires, highlighting the struggles of navigating recovery while parenting. Ayurella Horn Muller sheds light on the diverse workforce in disaster response and discusses alarming exploitation and wage theft issues. Naveena Sadasivam exposes contractor fraud scams post-disaster and provides actionable tips for homeowners to safeguard against exploitation. Together, they reveal the complexities that survivors face in the aftermath of catastrophe.
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Newborn Evacuation And Relocation
- Haley Geller evacuated with her newborn as ash filled their house and ended up relocating multiple times after smoke and contamination made their home feel unsafe.
- They ultimately left Los Angeles for the Bay Area because soil tests found lead and asbestos in neighborhood parks, making the area unsuitable for an infant.
Hidden Breadth Of The Disaster Workforce
- Disaster recovery requires a wide, often invisible workforce from linemen to hazmat teams and mental-health responders.
- Climate change is forcing these workers to rewrite playbooks as storms become more intense and unpredictable.
Wastewater Mechanic On The Front Lines
- Cricket Logan described living at his wastewater plant and working through hurricanes for decades to keep critical sanitation systems running.
- He recalled being evacuated once, then sent back at 3 a.m. to restore failing systems as sewage overflowed into neighborhoods.