September 26th, 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath announced a motion to restructure the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) into an independent, fully resourced department. The motion follows the release of the After-Action Report (AAR) on the January 2025 fires, which identified both strengths and urgent areas for improvement in the County’s emergency alerts, warnings, and evacuations.

“Change moves at the speed we choose. When it comes to emergency preparedness, we are not waiting. We are implementing the proposed recommendations now because our communities deserve action,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “The After-Action Report makes clear where our systems need fixing, and we are committed to doing that work. Restructuring the Office of Emergency Management into a fully resourced department is the first critical step toward meeting the needs of a County of ten million people. Our focus is strengthening coordination, improving communication, and building a system residents can trust in moments of crisis.”

Supervisor Horvath’s motion directs the Chief Executive Office to report back within 60 days on the feasibility of establishing a new OEM department and to outline a timeline for transition. The report will:

• Evaluate OEM’s staffing, funding, and surge capacity needs.
• Assess whether OEM’s current structure aligns with best practices in emergency management.
• Provide a high-level schedule for creating a new department, including program transitions, funding, and critical milestones.

The independent AAR, commissioned by Supervisors Horvath and Barger and conducted by the McChrystal Group, found no single point of failure but instead a series of compounding weaknesses that complicated the response. Outdated policies, unclear authority, staffing and training gaps, outdated technology, and fragmented communication were among the top challenges. The report also highlighted community preparedness in the Santa Monica Mountains and strong coordination by first responders as models to build on.

The Board will receive a presentation from the McChrystal Group on September 30, 2025, and continue quarterly progress updates to ensure transparency and accountability as these reforms move forward.

More Information
Read the full motion >

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