Rebuild:LA

When the firestorms of January 2025 raged through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, they left nearly 30 people dead and historic destruction in their wake. Recovery will be a long, uphill road, and rebuilding will take years and dedicated planning. This podcast takes a deep dive into the circumstances that led to the fires, how people can prepare for future wildfires - which are inevitable - and how Angeleños can come together to rebuild our beautiful city.

Rebuild:LA is the proud winner of the 2025 Award of Excellence from the Communicator Awards and the 2025 Silver W3 Award!

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Rebuild:LA

Rebuild:LA Episode 037 Why Didn’t Evacuation Plans Work in the Palisades and Eaton Fires with MySafe:LA’s David Barrett - Part I

August 12, 2025 • MySafe:LA • Season 2 • Episode 37

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This week is the first half of another conversation we’re stretching over two episodes, and that’s because of the complexity of what we’re discussing - evacuation. Why didn’t it work in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena when wildfires raged through both communities this January? Why does the death toll for the fires keep rising? Los Angeles County Sheriff’s just recently identified yet another victim of the Eaton Fire, a 74-year-old man who didn’t get out in time. Why can’t we get this right? What can we do to increase survivability when the next fire strikes? We ask all those questions and more of David Barrett, the Chief Officer of our non-profit, MySafe:LA, this week, and find out about new software that could make notifications and evacuations easier for both municipalities AND residents.

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