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Legislative Committees to Hold First Series of Hearings on Recent Firestorms

For immediate release:

(Sacramento & Los Angeles)–  Over the next two weeks, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management will roll out the first set of hearings examining the aftermath of the recent firestorms and the adequacy of the state’s existing emergency alert  and warning capabilities.

HEARING 1: Sounding the Alarm: Examining the Performance of Emergency Warning Systems in California During the 2017 Fire Season

WHO:

  • The Honorable Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair, Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency
  • Management
  • The Honorable Miguel Santiago, Chair, Assembly Committee on Communications and
  • Conveyance
  • The Honorable Belia Ramos, Chair, Napa County Board of Supervisors
  • The Honorable Rob Brown, District 5, Lake County Board of Supervisors
  • Ken Pimlott, Director, California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
  • Mark Ghilarducci, Director, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
  • Others – for full list see attached here.

WHEN:
Monday, December 4, 2017
1:30 p.m.

WHERE:
State Capitol, Room 4202
Sacramento, CA

HEARING 2: Ready or Not: Emergency Communications Networks

WHO:

  • The Honorable Miguel Santiago, Chair, Assembly Committee on Communications and
  • Conveyance
  • The Honorable Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair, Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency
  • Management
  • Mark Ghilarducci, Director, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
  • Representatives from LA-RICS and BayRICS
  • Representatives from the state’s firefighting and law enforcement communities
  • Others –for full list see attached here.

WHEN:
Thursday, December 14, 2017
1:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Commission Headquarters
1 Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor Boardroom
Los Angeles, CA 90012

The wildfires that swept across California this past October have become the second deadliest fires experienced by the state in the last century. The fires are responsible for the deaths of 44 people with hundreds still missing and over $3 billion in damage to thousands of commercial and residential properties. While many hearings are likely to be held over the next year examining every aspect of this tragedy, these two committees have banded together to hold the first overview and begin the painful process of recovery and progress in California.

Assemblymember Miguel Santiago is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance, and a member of both the Assembly Public Safety Committee and the California Latino Legislative Caucus. He represents the 53rd District composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Huntington Park, and Vernon.

CONTACT: (Santiago, C&C Committee) Jackie.Koenig@asm.ca.gov , (916) 319-2053
(Jackson, JCEM) Cynthia.Moreno@sen.ca.gov, (916) 651-4019