Barger and Horvath Seek Evaluation of Emergency Notifications During Eaton and Palisades Wildfires

In the wake of this month’s devastating Eaton and Palisades wildfires, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger and coauthor Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath successfully introduced a motion today calling for an independent after-action review of the emergency notification systems used to alert residents of evacuation orders.

The motion seeks to assess the County’s emergency evacuation policies and notification systems used during the Eaton and Palisades Fires, which tragically claimed 27 lives and destroyed more than 15,000 structures.

“The January 2025 fires, fueled by severe windstorms, mark one of the most destructive disasters in Los Angeles County’s history,” said Chair Kathryn Barger. “While I deeply appreciate the heroic efforts of our first responders, we owe it to our communities to assess and review our emergency notification systems. Our Board is committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in the face of increasingly severe natural disasters. This independent assessment will also ensure we are better prepared for future disasters and can act swiftly to protect lives and property.”

“Chair Barger and I stand united in calling for a comprehensive after-action report on the response to this month’s devastating wildfires,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Our communities affected by the Palisades, Eaton, and all other fires deserve a transparent and full accounting of everything that occurred. Los Angeles County is committed to understanding every aspect of these events to ensure we are continually improving our emergency management practices and better protecting our residents.”

The motion–which will be voted upon by the Board of Supervisors at its meeting next Tuesday–directs County Counsel, in consultation with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, and Office of Emergency Management, to engage an independent consultant to conduct a thorough review of the evacuation policies and emergency alert systems employed during the disaster.

The consultant will deliver a progress report to the Board within 90 days and subsequent updates every 90 days until the review is complete.