CalMatters: An audit found California was unprepared to help vulnerable people in a fire. Five years later, lawmakers finally talk about it

In February 2019, Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) called for an audit of the emergency plans of counties susceptible to natural disasters, specifically relating to the safe evacuation of elderly and disabled residents. Five years and 15 historic fires later, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee has now decided to review the State Auditor’s findings.

Some Highlights:

Five years ago, as COVID-19 hit the state, legislators cancelled a hearing to discuss a state audit that found the state’s office of emergency services and at least three California counties weren’t prepared to help vulnerable people during natural disasters. That hearing finally took place Wednesday. 

It was co-led by Assemblymember John Harabedian, who chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, and whose district includes neighborhoods impacted by the Eaton Fire in Southern California in January.

He said a disproportionate number of deaths from that fire were older residents and people with disabilities. Those include the deaths of Altadena residents Anthony Mitchell Sr. and his son Justin, who had cerebral palsy.  The two died waiting for assistance to evacuate.

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The State Auditor’s report found that Ventura, Sonoma, and Butte counties lacked complete emergency plans for vulnerable residents during wildfires. Alerts were not widely accessible, lacked key details, and were only in English. The counties also failed to assess their population to determine and support at-risk residents or available evacuation resources. However, the report acknowledged that while local governments are primarily responsible for emergency response, the state auditor found that the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services did not provide the necessary resources, including some legally required measures, to support county planning.

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Assemblymember Tom Lackey, a Republican from Palmdale who requested the original audit, said he was glad the Legislature was re-upping the discussion.

“Fires are going to continue to blaze, and we need to be making sure that we’re not letting people die when we could have protected them through public policy and through processes,” he told CalMatters. “We need to make sure that we’re having these discussions so that we can continue to protect our people.”

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It is deeply concerning that it took five years for lawmakers to address a report that could have saved lives, especially among disabled and elderly residents. The 2019 audit exposed critical failures in emergency planning, yet the legislature is only now discussing these life-or-death issues. Vulnerable communities were left without clear evacuation plans, accessible alerts, or proper resources, while the state failed to provide required support. This delay is not just negligence—it’s a blatant disregard for the safety of those most at risk during disasters.

To read this column in its entirety, please click here.

Twitter: @SameeKamal

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