Home » Many residents with disabilities can’t flee fires on their own. Could a database help? – Jobsmaa.com

Many residents with disabilities can’t flee fires on their own. Could a database help? – Jobsmaa.com

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Faced with mounting questions about chaotic evacuations, top L.A. County officials say they want to create a database of residents with disabilities who need help escaping a fire-ravaged neighborhood.

LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told county supervisors at a public meeting Tuesday that the current wildfires underscore the need for a “database to track people with mobility challenges or health challenges.”

“Trying to do that in an emergency is very difficult,” he said.

The assessment comes as the district faces A new study In relation to Altadena's turbulent exodus, Jan. Most of the 7 to 10 fire-related deaths. At the very least Eight of the 27 people who died in the fire At least 80 to date, and some had disabilities that hampered their evacuation efforts.

Anthony Mitchell Sr., who lost an arm in his 60s, for example, She died at home in Altadena with her son, JustinSufferers of cerebral palsy were waiting to be rescued.

said Mitchell's other son, Anthony Mitchell Jr The Times He also wanted to see better accounting of residents with special needs, saying officials “need to narrow down those addresses to priorities.”

Marron said first responders evacuated about 500 people to safety after the fire. Some could not leave on their own. Others may have, but waited too long.

“I've heard of people who didn't leave during the evacuation order, and our firefighters and our sheriff's deputies had to evacuate those people,” Marrone said. “People need to protect themselves.”

Supervisor Holly Mitchell warned the region is unprepared for a future in which the county is routinely blackened by wildfires while those who call it home Grays quickly.

“We're seeing the aging of our society — people want to age in their own homes,” Mitchell said. “As a society, we're not ready.”

Fecia Davenport, the county's CEO, said she plans to get back to the board with more information about a potential database.

Supervisor Kathryn Barker, who represents Altadena, said she plans to review the district's evacuation policies and emergency alert notifications system. On Tuesday he asked for the names of consultants to lead such a review. Her request comes later The Times reported Parts of Altadena didn't receive evacuation orders until hours after the Eaton fire started.

The plans were part of discussions about the fire and moves Tuesday on how to improve county recovery efforts. Supervisors also voted tentatively Bar landlords In unincorporated areas of the county, evicting tenants who are staying with them — or their pets — in violation of their leases and suspending some restrictions on short-term rentals to increase available housing.

“It's time for all Angelenos to come together, step up and do their part to help victims,” ​​said Supervisor Lindsay Horvath.

The Board also agreed to send one Letter Governor Gavin Newsom and President Trump have been asked to help craft a massive bill for recovery efforts.

“We're continuing full throttle on the gas cycle to maximize every resource we can get from the state and federal government,” said Kevin McGowan, chief of the county's Office of Emergency Management.

Supervisor Janice Hahn said that while she wasn't concerned about state support, she was wary of what the county could expect from the new Trump administration.

“I'm concerned about the possible strings we've heard that might be attached to this disaster aid,” said Hahn, who watched speaking engagements in which politicians blasted the county's “empty reservoirs and empty reservoirs.”

“We've heard some pretty sharp words suggesting that if certain things don't change, we might not get the money,” Hahn said.

Barker, the only Republican on the panel, countered that he “looks forward to working with this administration” and plans to prove to the White House that “what we're asking is justified.”

Former President Biden pledged to cover all disaster relief costs for the next half year, but local politicians say it's unclear whether that support will continue under Trump. The president, like other Republicans, has slammed California's liberal leaders for their handling of the wildfires. Trump accused Newsom on Truth of hoarding social water and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) He pointed out that the central government relief Funding may be reduced due to state leadership.

“If Gavin Newsom and local leaders make decisions that make this disaster exponentially worse — and it seems they have — should there be any consequences?” Johnson asked reporters last week.

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