Residents from coastal and hillside neighborhoods at risk from wildfires and severe storms came together at the Skirball Cultural Center for an emergency preparedness summit organized by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. The “Get Ready Stay Ready” event connected attendees with wildland fire specialists and disaster officials. The goal: strengthen local disaster plans and offer practical advice on home protection and insurance issues.
During the morning, participants learned about wildfire evacuation routes and brush clearance. They also received information on structural home hardening, earthquake mitigation, and ways to handle insurance. The summit included a chance to pick up essential emergency supplies. Admission and parking were free, and the Metro 761 bus route served the venue. Complimentary coffee, bagels, and pastries were available in the Guerin Pavilion, which hosted both panel sessions and an exhibition hall.
Los Angeles faces overlapping hazards, including wildfires, earthquakes, severe storms, and utility-related emergencies. Multi-hazard preparedness remains a major public-policy issue for the region. The summit focused on evacuation planning, home hardening, and support for older adults and people with disabilities. Its educational agenda underscored the need for residents to prepare for a range of disasters that can affect the area.
Expert panels and agency participation
The summit’s program addressed Southern California’s main environmental hazards. Sessions included a presentation on earthquake preparedness by seismic expert Margaret Vinci and a discussion of technology-driven community resilience in high fire severity zones led by the Mandeville Canyon Association. The National Weather Service gave an overview of El Niño storm patterns. The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management offered emergency planning guidance for persons with disabilities and older adults. Los Angeles County Fire Department specialists led a session on wildfire and evacuation preparedness.
More than a dozen emergency management partners staffed informational tables in the main pavilion. Organizations included Cal Fire and the Los Angeles Fire Department CERT team, as well as the California Geological Survey, the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, SoCalGas, and Caltech’s Earthquake Country Alliance. Attendees could also meet with representatives from the office of California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, regional neighborhood councils, and legislative field staff for state Sen. Ben Allen and Assemblymember Rick Zbur. The Brentwood Hills Homeowners Association and other neighborhood groups took part in supporting the event.
While the summit offered guidance on insurance navigation, it unfolded as California's insurance market continued to face challenges. The California Department of Insurance publishes market-share reports, consumer complaint studies, and earthquake insurance studies that shed light on trends affecting homeowners statewide. Recent regulatory moves, such as the creation of the Green Ribbon Commission on nature, biodiversity, and insurance, aim to address the links between ecosystem health, risk reduction, and insurance market stability, as described by the California Department of Insurance (official press release).
The Department has also put long-term solvency regulations in place to strengthen insurance resilience after catastrophic wildfire losses, including those following the 2018 Camp Fire (regulatory announcement). These measures are designed to keep insurance companies stable and able to pay claims after major disasters, which remains a key concern for residents in high-risk areas.
For more details on the event, see Palisades News coverage.
