Mobility challenges, medical needs and failed alerts left many older residents trapped when flames spread and smoke billowed as the Eaton and Palisades fires tore through Southern California last year. Of the 31 people killed, the median age was 77.
The state took notice.
Drawing on lessons from these blazes, a state commission recently released a series of recommendations to protect older adults during a natural disaster. As this group continues to be the fastest-growing segment of California’s population — and wildfires increase in frequency and severity due to climate change — disaster preparedness for seniors is emerging as a critical issue.
“That is what we’re most anxious about. That is the group that has been most impacted by fires and disasters,” said David Lindeman, Oakland-based chair of the California Commission on Aging, which developed the recommendations. The commission, which advises the governor and Legislature, is the state’s advocate for older Californians.
At the local level, the commission urges counties to pre-designate evacuation sites, coordinate disaster response with aging and disability organizations, and ensure representation by seniors on emergency planning boards. On the state level, it proposes creating a disaster registry to help first responders identify people with special needs, restoring aid to help low-income homeowners rebuild, and expanding training for first responders. The brief calls for the state Legislature to provide new funding for regional aging agencies, a long-term care mutual aid system and stronger consumer protections tied to disaster recovery.
Only a few months after the Eaton Fire, the commission convened to examine what went wrong for some of the most vulnerable. Testimony and case studies echoed patterns seen in other major California wildfires: Older residents were more likely to be left behind during evacuations, cut off from alerts or assistance, and died at higher rates than any other age group.
Taken together, those repeated failures prompted the commission to reframe disaster preparedness.
“Disaster planning, overall, is an aging issue,” said the commission’s policy and research analyst Patrick Smith.
Even in Santa Clara County, which officials describe as having robust emergency response infrastructure, older adults face heightened risks during disasters. Many are more likely to be disabled, homebound or reliant on medical devices, and those who live alone or speak limited English may struggle to access timely help. Transportation also remains a persistent challenge.
“Santa Clara County has similar issues to the rest of the state when it comes to disaster preparedness,” said Vanessa Merlano, director of the county’s Department of Aging and Adult Services.
One nationwide network working to address these challenges is Community Emergency Response Teams, or CERT, groups of trained volunteers who assist first responders during disasters. These teams often serve as a critical bridge between emergency agencies and neighborhoods. During wildfires, CERT volunteers may help with evacuation support, basic first aid, wellness checks and filling in gaps of first responders when they are stretched thin.
“In a real emergency, there’s just not enough staff to help everyone who needs it,” said Laila Hinkle, a 71-year-old CERT volunteer for the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department.
CERT volunteers also need support: As aides to first responders, they often see firsthand where older adults fall through the cracks during wildfire emergencies.
A lack of preparedness for fire-related disasters is a key issue, CERT program manager Pat Halleran said. Unlike storms and heat waves, fires pose a particular threat to older adults because they often come with little warning and can spread quickly, prompting sudden evacuation orders and leaving people with only minutes to escape. Because of the unpredictable nature of fires, Halleran said early preparedness is one of the most effective ways to stay safe.
A national survey cited in the brief found that fewer than one in three adults ages 50 to 80 actually has a stocked emergency kit, despite years of targeted preparedness campaigns.
“We see the impact of a disaster is much less when people have the information,” Halleran said.