🔥Milk & Fire: Breastfeeding Through Wildfire & Disaster
- Chardá Bell, IBCLC, CBE, CD
- May 8
- 2 min read
Emergency Prep for Families with Babies & Toddler
May marks Wildfire Preparedness Week, but for families in California—especially San Diego—wildfire season is no longer seasonal. It’s a constant, year-round concern. If you’re a parent with a baby or toddler (especially if you’re breastfeeding), it’s time to think beyond flashlights and bottled water. Your emergency kit needs to reflect your real life—milk, mess, and all.
🔥 What You Need to Know: Local Wildfire Zones
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal recently released updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for the first time in 15 years. For those of us in San Diego County—including El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and City of San Diego—these new maps outline areas at moderate, high, or very high risk for wildfires.
These maps aren’t just about data—they’re about action. Local governments can use them to strengthen building codes, vegetation management, and zoning projects that help protect our homes and communities.
👶🏾 Emergency Preparedness for Breastfeeding Families
Here’s the thing, if you’re nursing, pumping, or using human milk to feed your baby, emergencies look different. Wildfires can displace families, contaminate water supplies, and cut off power. Breastfeeding becomes even more essential—but it also gets more complicated.
That’s why we created an Emergency Checklist specifically for parents with babies and toddlers, with a focus on breastfeeding safety, support, and survival.
🧾 Download the Checklist
👉 Download English Version
👉 Descargar Versión en Español
Print it, screenshot it, or tuck it into your diaper bag—it’s got the essentials for:
Emergency breastfeeding & pumping supplies
Mental health & milk supply support
Feeding rights in shelters & evacuation centers
Paperwork and baby care necessities
Local and statewide fire safety resources
You can also check out CAL FIRE’s trusted sites:
🧡 Breastfeeding Is Emergency Nutrition
In crisis, breastfeeding is not just feeding—it’s protection. Human milk is clean, portable, and adapts to your baby’s needs. It’s also a powerful tool for bonding and calming both baby and parent during stress.
But remember: you don’t have to do it alone.If you need lactation support during a crisis, text:📞 Melanin Milk SD 619-841-1160 to connect with a lactation consultant (virtual, phone & text support available free to those in disaster crisis)
🏘️ Ask for accommodations in shelters and emergency sites—breastfeeding is legally protected
Wildfires may be unpredictable, but your preparation doesn’t have to be. When we center the real needs of real families: diapers, doulas, breast pumps, and backup plans—we protect more than property. We protect our babies, our bodies, and our communities.
This Wildfire Preparedness Week, let’s pack wisely, plan boldly, and keep the milk flowing.
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