LA Fire Disaster : Palisades & Eaton Fires
Objective: Deployed the Evacuation Monitoring Module to analyze resident movement patterns as mandatory evacuation orders were issued.
Region: Los Angeles
EmergenCITY Data Product: Resilitix Evacuation Monitoring Module
Primary Users: Emergency planners, public health officials, emergency management coordinators
Impacts & Results:
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Palisades Fire: Burned 23,400 acres and destroyed 7,000 structures
Eaton Fire: Burned 14,000 acres and destroyed 9,400 structures
Total Impact: 29 fatalities and the evacuation of 180,000 residents under 100 mph Santa Ana winds
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High Wind Conditions: Extreme Santa Ana winds accelerated fire spread, limiting response time.
Varying Evacuation Responses: Some communities immediately followed mandatory orders, while others experienced delays due to limited resources, access routes, and differing risk perceptions.
Need for Real-Time Insights: Emergency teams required near-instant visibility on evacuation bottlenecks to optimize resources and alert residents in under-informed areas.
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Real-Time Evacuation Monitoring: Deployed the Evacuation Monitoring Module to analyze resident movement patterns as mandatory evacuation orders were issued.
Actionable Intelligence: Within hours, data revealed where evacuations were lagging—pinpointing zones with restricted exits or late departure behaviors.
Targeted Communications: Insights helped local authorities fine-tune messaging, directing resources to areas with limited awareness or high congestion.
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Bottleneck Identification
Highlighted access routes prone to traffic jams, enabling responders to redirect evacuees and open alternate corridors.
Community Engagement
Demonstrated the importance of tailored communication, especially where risk perception hindered timely evacuations.
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Provided near-real-time evidence that certain populations lacked essential resources—leading to faster deployment of buses, shelter info, and public safety announcements.
Informing Future Innovations
Underscored the need for a Predictive Evacuation Module in EmergenCITY for proactive planning and mitigation, shaping the development of EmergenCITY 2.0 in Phase II research.
