Supervisor says county's emergency notification system failed during fires

L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich is demanding action after residents reported major problems with the county's emergency notification system.

"The county’s new mass emergency notification system failed to inform residents about the status of the fire or evacuation orders," Antonovich wrote in a resolution. "It was reported to my office that an erroneous evacuation order was announced by the mass emergency notification broadcast system to the community of La Crescenta."

Antonovich also said the county needs to do a better job of informing residents about fire news evacuation orders and additional emergency details.

The supervisor today asked that county staff examine the effectiveness of the notification system and also look at ways to improve the county website during emergencies.

--Garrett Therolf

Comments

[Dick Diamond]

What baffles me is the fact that the brush around Mt. Wilson hadn't been cleared. All the communications towers, the value of the observatory and no one clears the brush?

Are the people who are in charge of such safety precautions living in a world where they think that ANYTHING, especially an observatory and communications towers in the San Gabriel Mts. are immune to the ravages of a brush fire? Methinks too much southern California sun and a la-la attitude about natural disasters.

[Scott Senechal]

Mike Antonovich is an idiot. A horrible supervisor who no doubt voted against every appropriation for an adequate warning system and is now trying to make political hay out of the catastrophic consequences. What a monumental scumbag this man is.

[PE]

Who needed a government warning when we all knew what was happening? I'm sorry, but if you didn't know there was a fire, or that you should have your pictures and pets ready to go, you were willfully ignorant.

We don't need more warnings, we need more common sense.

[rogpac]

Maybe Antonovich is covering his conservative butt. Though there
was a 2am automated, scare the pants off, call made to La Cresenta
residences that made no sense for those that lived blocks away from
the acute disaster area. Followed up at 3am with a call stating to
ignore the original call.

To me the thing that seems odd is this "wild" fire so out of control
when there is no erratic wind. I am obviously not a fire expert, but
the fire fighting seemed lax after JPL was saved. No super scooper,
no massive water drops, just a dry hot temperature, seemingly
methodical, slow creeping fire, until it finally worked itself up into
a frenzy.

I don't know, unless I wasn't following the fire story close enough
from day one, it almost seemed like it was allowed to burn the dry
terrain till it went out of control.

[James P]

"Mike Antonovich is an idiot."

Are *you* an idiot? Antonovich is the only sane voice on the Council! The rest of them I wouldn't even pay minimum wage to mop my bathroom. Bums.

[Sam]

Three excellent points.

[Looking for balance]

I am beginning to hate all politicians, especially supervisors. Just covering his a$$. I agree with Scott, Antonovich has probably voted against anything that may cost a dime (to seem frugal) for prevention, but you can bet he will be there for any photo op, just like Arnold, who seems to be giving a sixth grade presentation every time he speaks. Sorry folks, but the payment of taxes will help us all.

[Jose Hernandez]

Once again it will be proven that politicians speak before they know any of the facts. It is my understanding as I had family receive those evacuation calls that the system worked effectively but apparently when the areas where called either two large of area was notified or they were being overly cautious. When the facts come out it will be shown once again that politicians spoke without an understanding of what really happened. It appears everything worked and for the safety of me and my family I am very happy in receiving an extra phone call.