Jan 12, 2025 - Energy & Climate

L.A. fires could be the U.S.' worst natural disaster, Newsom says

Avery Lotz

Gavin Newsom surveys damage amid catastrophic LA wildfires. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, surveys damage in Pacific Palisades with CalFire's Nick Schuler, center, and Sen. Alex Padilla during the Palisades Fire on Jan. 8 in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Photo: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a "Meet the Press" interview that the wildfires that have destroyed entire neighborhoods across Los Angeles could be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history "in terms of just the costs associated with it."

That would mean eclipsing Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi coastline in 2005 and caused over $200 billion in damage.

The big picture: The fires, which have now killed at least 16, are not the biggest ever recorded in the state — but they are among the most destructive.

Thousands of homes and businesses have been razed and tens of thousands of acres have burned.
Risk experts believe the insured losses from the fires will be greater than $20 billion, surpassing the 2018 Camp Fire's record for the biggest insured wildfire loss ever.

Context: While the LA County fires rank among the most expensive wildfires in U.S. history, they currently fall far behind other disasters.

Hurricane Katrina killed over 1800 people and remains the most expensive natural disaster to hit the United States.
Hurricane Harvey caused over $160 billion in damage in 2017. Over 100 people died in the storm across four states, as well as one death in Guyana.

What he's saying: Newsom said he expects there to be "a lot more" deaths counted.

Eleven of the 16 deaths currently recorded were attributed to the Eaton fire, according to the Los Angeles medical examiner's Saturday evening update. Five were attributed to the Palisades fire.

The catastrophic fires occurred as Los Angeles prepares to play a key role in what experts are calling the U.S.' "mega decade" of sports: In upcoming years, the city will host the Super Bowl in 2027, World Cup games in 2026 and the 2028 Olympics.

"[T]hat only reinforces the imperative in moving quickly, doing it in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation," Newsom said.

He said the state is organizing a Marshall Plan to rebuild the region ahead of the events.

Zoom out: Beyond rebuilding communities, Newsom said he wants an independent investigation to answer questions about water supply issues highlighted by the disaster.

Reports that firefighters found dry fire hydrants while combatting the flames sparked outrage — and an onslaught of political jabs from President-elect Trump, who claimed without evidence that the governor blocked supply to the south of the state because of fish conservation efforts.
"This is not about finger-pointing," Newsom said. "It's about answering the questions you and everybody want answered," he said.

Go deeper: The psychological toll of California's catastrophic fires

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L.A. fires could be the U.S.' worst natural disaster, Newsom says

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