What Local Officials Should Do When Facing a Wildfire: Disaster Response and Recovery
The recent wildfires that erupted throughout Los Angeles, California and surrounding areas highlight the evermore urgent need for cities to implement strategies for wildfire mitigation, response and recovery. These wildfires spread with unprecedented speed and intensity, driven by the high Santa Ana winds and severe drought conditions that created an increased amount of fuel to feed the flames. The amount of devastation has further strained essential resources. This includes water supplies needed to combat the fires, thus leaving local governments grappling with significant challenges. As wildfires become more frequent and destructive due to prolonged droughts and extreme weather, its essential local governments prioritize not only immediate response efforts but also long-term recovery and resilience planning.
The National League of Cities has provided a comprehensive outline of various strategies for such instances.
Coordinating Emergency Services
Elected officials coordinating emergency services during a disaster must navigate the complexities of aligning efforts across local, state and federal agencies to ensure an effective and unified response. Establishing clear communication channels — often through the city or county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) — is crucial for disseminating information and coordinating actions. Familiarity with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) is essential for integrating seamlessly with state and federal partners.
Officials must prioritize needs such as search and rescue, medical assistance, sheltering and infrastructure repair. Additionally, they must effectively coordinate the deployment of resources provided by state and federal agencies, ensuring these resources address the most pressing challenges.
City Emergency Management Operations
Some of the larger cities like Los Angeles maintain dedicated emergency management staff within an Office of Emergency Management or similar agency to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. These professionals develop emergency plans, conduct risk assessments and coordinate training exercises. During crises, they activate the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to centralize decision-making, allocate resources and liaise with state and federal agencies like FEMA.
