Top findings and recommendations from the McChrystal Group’s after-action review of alerts and evacuations during the Palisades and Eaton fires include updating conflicting and outdated policies and protocols, improving emergency response training and addressing staffing shortages and resource constraints.
The third-party report, commissioned by Los Angeles County and released on Thursday, Sept. 25, shared a “series of weaknesses” that hindered emergency-alert system in sending timely notifications to residents and efforts to evacuate during the January wildfires. It also offered advice on how to improve future response scenarios.
Here’s the report’s findings at a glance:
SHORTFALLS
–Los Angeles County’s policies and protocols on evacuation warnings and orders were “outdated, unclear, and contradictory.”
–The Office of Emergency Management operated with staffing “fundamentally inadequate for … complex emergency management needs.”
–The Sheriff’s Department was beset by a high numbers of deputy vacancies, a shortage of patrol vehicles and an outdated dispatch system.
–First responders were unable to consistently share real-time information amid unreliable cellular connectivity, inconsistent field reporting methods and use of unconnected platforms.
–Limited cellular coverage in the mountains cut the power of commercial cell towers that would have transmitted evacuation messages.
–Communication of evacuation details was worsened by downed power lines and signal degradation amid heavy smoke.
RECOMMENDATIONS
–Update policies and L.A. County Code to ensure first responders and emergency management clearly understand roles and responsibilities.
–Restructure the Office of Emergency Management and increase staffing comparable to other large U.S. emergency agencies.
–Standardize and enhance preparedness and evacuation-specific training for county departments and partners.
–Update obsolete systems and technology to enable all emergency response communications to tap the L.A. Regional Interoperable Communications System
–Implement field-accessible mobile dashboards and build in reliable satellite data and internet connectivity.
–Develop a robust public education campaign across the county to increase public awareness of zone-based evacuation systems.
To see the full report, click here.
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