When disaster strikes, single moms are often the ultimate multitaskers, juggling safety, healing, logistics, and the emotional health of their families. From wildfires that consumed neighborhoods across California to flooding, their stories go deeper than headlines. One of the things I try to impress upon my audience is that you should never doubt the will to live – you are stronger and more capable than you may believe! I celebrate real women navigating the mess, finding community, and building back stronger after every crisis. Preparedness can only add to the resilience shown by these ladies!

When Fire Hits Home: Bridgette Bradley’s Struggle for Shelter

Bridgette Bradley knows disaster doesn’t ask if you’re ready. When the Eaton Canyon wildfires tore through Altadena, her home—filled with memories and the routines of life as a single parent—was reduced to ashes. As a mother of three, Bridgette’s immediate obstacles went beyond the loss of her home.

With little time to process the trauma, she was thrust into a complex world of disaster recovery resources—forms to fill, lines to stand in, numbers to call. Relief wasn’t instantaneous; it was a full-time job. “You’re in shock, trying to keep your kids calm, but you have to be on the phone with insurance, the Red Cross, school, and social services. It feels endless,” Bridgette recalls. For single mothers like her, the logistics of accessing shelter, food, and basic supplies can be daunting. But she kept showing up—fighting for her family’s well-being, day after day.

Giving Birth in Chaos: Alizah Silver’s Evacuation Story

Life doesn’t pause for disaster. For Alizah Silver, the Palisades Fire arrived when she was eight months pregnant and raising a one-year-old and a four-year-old. As flames crept closer to her Topanga Canyon home, she packed necessities, soothed crying toddlers, and hurried her family to safety—first in emergency shelters, then temporary Airbnbs.

Three weeks after evacuating, Alizah gave birth to her daughter, Charisma. “We bounced from place to place, trying to escape smoke and ash. Everything I’d planned for postpartum—my support system, a place to nest—was up in the air.” Even after Charisma was born, Alizah’s family couldn’t return home immediately. With her husband’s construction work put on hold, they stretched their budget for double rent and essentials, counting on limited savings—and grit.

The hardest part? “Not having roots. My kids needed routine and security, and I was running on empty.” Alizah’s story is a testament to how mothers shoulder unimaginable pressures to keep everyone afloat, even when the world is on fire.

Motherhood and Hurricane Recovery: Saralyn in Asheville

When Hurricane Helene slammed into Asheville, Saralyn Bellmer’s world turned upside down. She and her family lost power, water, and road access for days—one storm-drooped oak balanced on their roof like a threat that wouldn’t move. While her spouse took on chainsaws and repairs, Saralyn managed their household and disaster response paperwork, all while keeping her toddler safe, fed, and (mostly) reassured.

She spent hours on the phone with insurers and city officials, organizing temporary housing and customer updates for her small business. Through sleepless nights, Saralyn’s toddler learned to talk, inventing new words (“Whoa! Boom!” at the sight of downed trees) and teaching everyone a lesson about resilience: kids notice the chaos, but they also find ways to adapt and grow.

Grassroots Power: When Moms Help Moms

In the middle of California’s wildfire crisis, Lisa Conn sparked a movement from her living room. With a single Instagram post, she began collecting and distributing baby essentials to displaced families, launching the now-renowned “Moms Helping Moms” network.

Unlike traditional donation systems that required parents to travel or wait, Lisa’s approach was hyper-personal. Moms filled out online forms, detailing exactly what they needed—diapers, bottles, strollers, formula—and volunteers matched donors with recipients directly. Within weeks, more than 5,000 submissions flooded in (from as far away as New York and Vancouver), and hundreds of women and children received targeted support.

This flexible, mom-to-mom strategy wasn’t just about the stuff. It restored dignity and agency to mothers at their most vulnerable. “I lost one village and gained another,” one participant shared. The lesson? Sometimes, survival doesn’t just come from official agencies—it grows out of community, one family at a time.

Professional Support: Birth Workers Bridging the Gap

Not every solution is logistical. For many, emotional recovery is just as critical as physical. Birth workers and doulas, like those from the nonprofit Mama2Mama, understood exactly what many new and expectant mothers needed during the chaos: real, human support.

Rolling up sleeves, these birth professionals provided postpartum counseling, delivered care packages, and checked on vulnerable families, making sure nobody fell through the cracks. As Mama2Mama’s founders Marisa Callahan and Cayla Willingham pointed out, disaster can magnify how society overlooks the mothers themselves: “Everyone’s focused on the baby—but a family’s recovery depends on the mom, too.”

What Single Moms Want You to Know

If you’re in the thick of disaster recovery—or wondering how you’d cope if the worst happened—these stories have powerful lessons:

• Normalcy is everything. Even small routines bring comfort. Try to keep consistent mealtimes, read familiar bedtime stories, and let kids help with simple, safe tasks.
• The paperwork is hard, but don’t give up. Write down every call, confirmation number, and next step. Those notes may save your sanity when things get confusing.
• Community matters. Seek local networks—even informal ones. Whether it’s a text thread, a Facebook group, or a friend-of-a-friend, connections can bridge gaps when official help lags.
• Accept help, then pay it forward. When everything feels overwhelming, let yourself receive kindness. Someday, you’ll have a chance to do the same for someone else.

Your Next Steps

Disaster can feel isolating, but your experience isn’t invisible. As the Urban Lady Prepper, I stand with you, celebrating stories of strength and sharing practical resources to help you rebuild. If you want to boost your own preparedness, my Prepper Checklist is a great place to start. The password is StayReady.

Check out my weekly podcast episode for advice on prepping as a modern single mom or solo woman. Also, sign up for my newsletter to receive news you may not see elsewhere, weather insights, and seasonal tips straight to your inbox three times a week. Because when a disaster happens, you don’t have to face it alone.

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