Figure 1
As Resource Needs Increase, Higher Levels of Government Become Involved in Emergency Management
Figure 1 shows a red arrow pointing up to demonstrate that government involvement increases as resource needs increase. The first level at the bottom of the figure shows first responders as the first level of response once an emergency begins. As necessary, first responders can request support and resources from local government entities, which is the next level of government, who can then request support from the State including Cal OES and other state agencies. Finally, the federal government gets involved once the State requests additional resources.
Figure 2
Individuals With Access and Functional Needs May Require a Variety of Services in Natural Disaster Situations
Figure 2 shows a list of the variety of services that people with different access and functional needs may need during a natural disaster. For example, people with mobility disabilities might need assistance with evacuating, which may require accessible vehicles, and might need equipment in emergency shelters, such as wheelchairs and accessible cots. People with sensory disabilities might need devices to receive evacuation alerts, such as bed shakers for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They might also need interpreters or documentation in Braille at emergency shelters.
Figure 3
For Many Years, Emergency Response Agencies Have Struggled to Assist People With Access and Functional Needs
Figure 3 shows an ascending timeline of natural disasters that have taken place across the country between 1989 and 2017 including earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, and a tornado. Each of the events included in the timeline shows that emergency response agencies struggled to meet access and functional needs in at least one of the following areas: emergency information, evacuation assistance, and emergency shelters. For example, during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, emergency response agencies struggled in all three areas. During the Napa Earthquake in August 2014, emergency response agencies struggled to meet access and functional needs in emergency shelters.
Figure 4
The Three Counties Are Not Adequately Prepared for Natural Disasters
This infographic includes text and graphics to represent the key planning practices that the counties did not follow to prepare for natural disasters. These key planning practices include assessing their population to determine their needs during emergencies, maintaining complete, updated plans for alert and warning, evacuation, and sheltering, and prearranging key resources to assist people during evacuations and in emergency shelters.
Figure 5
We Reviewed Key Areas of Emergency Management at Each of the Three Counties
Figure 5 shows simple symbols for each of the four key areas of emergency management that we reviewed, including emergency plan development, alert and warning, evacuation, and sheltering.
Figure 6
The Counties Have Significant Populations of People With Access and Functional Needs
Figure 6 shows a bar chart of population densities for each of the three counties we reviewed, including the proportion of residents with limited English proficiency, who are 65 years of age or older, and who have a disability. Butte's chart shows that five percent of its total population are limited English proficient, 17 percent are 65 years of age or older, and 17 percent have a disability. Sonoma's chart shows that 10 percent of its total population are limited English proficient, 17 percent are 65 years of age or older, and 12 percent have a disability. Ventura's chart shows that 14 percent of its total population are limited English proficient, 14 percent are 65 years of age or older, and 11 percent have a disability.
Figure 7
People With Access and Functional Needs Can Take Steps to Prepare for Natural Disasters
Figure 7 is an infographic showing that people with access and functional needs can take steps to prepare themselves for natural disasters. Individuals can improve their ability to protect themselves during a natural disaster by signing up to receive emergency communications, preparing a kit containing emergency supplies, and making plans for how to evacuate and how to reconnect with family. People with access and functional needs may need to take different or additional steps to help prepare themselves. For example people who are deaf can buy vibrating pagers or bed-shakers to improve their ability to receive emergency alerts. People who need assistance during a disaster should develop a personal support network or family and friends who can help them evacuate. People taking medication should include a one-week supply in their emergency kit.
Figure 8
None of the Counties Adequately Warned Residents of Impending Danger From Wildfire
Figure 8 is an infographic showing that during recent wildfires, Sonoma and Butte did not issue WEA messages and many people did not receive the alert and warning messages that the counties sent via phone. The alert and warning messages that Sonoma and Butte issued did not include all recommended information. None of the counties issued messages for people to evacuate in languages other than English.
Figure 9
The Messages That Butte and Sonoma Issued During the Recent Fires Did Not Align With Best Practices
for Ensuring That They Were Effective
Figure 9 shows examples of emergency text messages that each county sent during recent wildfires to warn residents of impending danger. The messages that Butte and Sonoma issued during recent fires did not align with best practices for ensuring they were effective. Butte's emergency message does not identify the source of the message, which could make the message less credible to the public. Sonoma's message does not identify that the threat is a wildfire, which could make recipients less likely to understand the impending danger. However, Ventura's message aligns with best practices. It identifies the source of the message, the specific threat, and the protective action that recipients should take.
Figure 10
None of the Three Counties Adequately Planned to Assist Evacuees During Natural Disasters
Figure 10 shows that none of the counties had adequately planned to assist evacuees during natural disasters by following best practices. None of the counties had updated all-hazard evacuation plans, assessed how many people would need assistance in an evacuation and mapped areas with high percentages of persons who need evacuation assistance, or prearranged accessible transportation for evacuees.
Figure 11
Emergency Planning Best Practices
Figure 11 lists the emergency planning best practices we considered in our review and that we recommend counties implement to improve their ability to protect people with access and functional needs during natural disasters. The best practices include including representatives of people with access and functional needs on planning teams, and conducting assessments to determine how many people have access and functional needs and what those needs are. They also include developing specific plans for alert and warning, evacuation, sheltering, and establishing local assistance centers that include strategies for protecting and assisting people with access and functional needs. Finally, best practices include identifying the resources that the county will need to assist people with access and functional needs during natural disasters and prearranging those resources by establishing agreements with vendors and sources of accessible transportation to ensure that those resources are available when a disaster occurs.
Figure 12
Cal OES Has Not Taken Key Steps to Support Local Jurisdictions in Planning to Meet Access and Functional Needs During Natural Disasters
Figure 12 is an infographic showing the key steps that Cal OES has not taken to support local jurisdictions in planning to meet access and functional needs during natural disasters. Cal OES did not adhere to all state laws that require it to provide important resources about access and functional needs to local jurisdictions, maintain and easily navigable set of guidance for planning to assist people with access and functional needs, or involve people with a variety of access and functional needs when developing and approving guidance.
Figure 13
Cal OES Has Not Shared After-Action Reports That Could Have Strengthened Disaster Response
Figure 13 is an infographic showing that Cal OES has not completed timely after-action reports and has not disseminated lessons broadly.