Los Angeles County Faces Scrutiny After Deadly Wildfires
LOS ANGELES – A new report is raising concerns about how Los Angeles County handled emergency alerts during the deadly wildfires in January. The review, conducted by an outside group, points to a lack of resources and outdated procedures that caused delays in warning people to evacuate.
The fires, which swept through Altadena and Pacific Palisades, tragically resulted in the loss of more than 30 lives and the destruction of thousands of homes. County officials commissioned the report to understand what went wrong and how to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The report highlights several key issues, including:
* Outdated policies for sending emergency alerts.
* Inconsistent communication practices.
* Staffing shortages within the Office of Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Department.
* Problems with communication technology, such as unreliable cell service and incompatible systems.
Some residents reported not receiving alerts until after their homes were already on fire. The report also notes that the process for deciding on and sending out evacuation orders was slow and complicated, involving multiple layers of bureaucracy.
While the report acknowledges that frontline responders acted bravely, it emphasizes the need for clearer policies, better training, and improved communication with the public. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger stressed that the goal is not to assign blame, but to learn from these mistakes and restore the public’s confidence in the county’s emergency response system.
The report also found that the county’s emergency management office was understaffed and that key personnel were not adequately trained on new emergency notification software.
The current system relies on residents to “opt-in” to receive alerts, meaning that many people may not be aware of the services or may not sign up for them.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to discuss the report and consider ways to improve the county’s emergency preparedness. This incident underscores the importance of responsible government and ensuring that local services are adequately prepared to protect its citizens.
