Matt Talley
Senior Vice President, Global Water Strategy
In January 2025, Los Angeles faced a wildfire event unlike anything we’ve seen. Entire neighborhoods burned in hours, the skies turned black and by the time the flames subsided, the damage had eclipsed $250 billion — the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
For those of us at AECOM, especially those of us who call California home, this wasn’t just a disaster response. It was personal.
In the very first hours of the wildfires, before any scopes or strategies, our focus was people. We called our employees and checked in on their families. We placed those who needed it into housing and walked them through the chaos of filing insurance claims. Because when our own people are safe, we can show up stronger for everyone else.
This is personal to me
I’ve spent over 25 years leading disaster recovery missions, across wildfires, hurricanes, floods and unimaginable loss. This work isn’t abstract for me — I’ve lived it.
In 2017, I was living in Florida when Hurricane Irma hit. I remember rushing to board up windows, sitting in line for gas, the flash and then the silence when the power went out. Afterward, I felt the disorientation of not knowing what came next. No clear information. No stability. Just survival.
That experience redefined my leadership as a disaster recovery and resilience specialist. It reminded me that behind every disaster declaration is a person trying to figure out how to protect their family, keep their job or rebuild their future. This is not just technical work. It is deeply human work, and it demands that we show up with empathy, clarity and urgency, every single time.
Taking action in LA
Within 24 hours of the federal disaster declaration in Los Angeles, we mobilized a national disaster response and recovery team — program managers, engineers, environmental scientists and community specialists, all focused on one question: how can we help, right now?
We deployed immediately where existing contracts allowed, and where they didn’t, we helped our clients define the path forward. Our goal was to eliminate red tape and deliver results quickly, safely and effectively.
One of our first on-the-ground assignments came from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We were asked to assess toxic debris left behind in residences, which included lithium-ion batteries from EVs, propane tanks, household and swimming pool chemicals, and lithium-ion batteries from EVs. These materials are dangerous and must be removed quickly and completely. Our team expeditiously assessed and cleared toxins and debris, restoring safety to the affected areas.
Rebuilding better, not just faster
After a catastrophic event, there’s always a push to rebuild quickly. But if speed becomes the only goal, we miss the opportunity to build smarter. Resilient recovery means more than replacing what was lost, it means asking: is this community better protected next time? And, does this design reflect the risks of today, and tomorrow?
Our teams include professionals who live in the impacted regions. We understand the local nuances from permitting to gaining public trust, and we embed that understanding into every recommendation. Rebuilding isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about people, culture, identity and hope.
We walk the long road to recovery together
Complete recovery after a disaster takes years and requires trust, patience, persistence and partnership. AECOM has spent over four decades walking that road with communities across the country — through FEMA programs, state and local partnerships, and some of the toughest recovery environments in the world. Our expertise is managing complexity, bridging the technical and the human. We stay until the job is done.
We don’t just restore roads, homes or power lines, we do something more powerful — we help restore stability and the belief that a stronger, better future is possible.