This week, as destructive winds and fires ravaged the Los Angeles area, many residents understandably turned to their smartphones, eager for updates and ways to assist.
The demand for apps like Watch Duty skyrocketed as locals desperately sought out information on evacuation zones, shelters, and the status of their own neighborhoods. Social media was flooded with photos, news reports, and screenshots from TV broadcasts, as many of us tried to stay informed about the Palisades and Eaton fires starting on Tuesday. Unfortunately, amidst the reliable updates, some erroneous secondhand reports caused confusion to spread.
On Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Fire Department made a routine public plea for off-duty firefighters to contact a staffing line and offer their availability to combat the fires. However, this was where the misinformation began to take hold.
With good intentions, people started to share the LAFD’s call, but some missed key details. Posts from celebrities, restaurants, and even journalists suggested that the department was seeking volunteers of any kind to step in as firefighters, directing them to the already overwhelmed LAFD phone line.
Despite efforts from the Fire Department to clarify, the damage was done. By midday Wednesday, misleading calls for volunteers were still rampant online, urging people to dial the number meant solely for off-duty personnel.
Residents of Los Angeles are eager to help their neighbors by sharing crucial information. Unfortunately, official emergency management channels often find it hard to compete with this cacophony of voices. In fact, communication hurdles can be a significant challenge in modern American emergency management. This situation highlights a missed opportunity—tapping into the public’s willingness to assist.
While there are numerous ways for neighbors to support each other during crises, such as assisting with evacuations, engaging in firefighting efforts without proper coordination can be dangerous and counterproductive. It’s uncertain if this occurred in Los Angeles this week, but many did report calling the LAFD to offer assistance, only to be turned away.
Without an organized plan for volunteers, such responses are likely for the best. Imagine untrained groups arriving on the scene, unaware of the tactical plan and without direct communication with the authorities. Firefighters might have to treat them as civilians needing rescue, diverting attention from their primary mission of protecting life and property. In such scenarios, impromptu volunteers could inadvertently endanger themselves and others. DIY drone operations could even force officials to ground their own aircraft.
But how could ordinary citizens know this?
It’s both understandable and commendable that Angelenos were quick to offer help upon hearing a perceived call for volunteers. This willingness reflects a deep reservoir of civic duty and compassion, which could be incredibly valuable in future crises if we prepare to harness it. Currently, official emergency messages aren’t effectively reaching the public, and most would-be volunteers lack the necessary training for disaster response.
Social media now serves as a vital platform for real-time updates during emergencies, with official entities such as police and fire departments, as well as meteorological organizations, posting alerts there first. Nevertheless, this vital information gets intermingled with content from less authoritative sources and, at times, bots or malicious actors spreading false information. When information spaces are this crowded, especially in the turmoil of a disaster, the public struggles to find reliable guidance.
In Southern California this week, emergency managers continue to battle these devastating fires while contemplating the recovery process ahead. Once the crisis abates, a thorough examination of the LAFD’s communication approach and the ensuing chaos could offer valuable insights and highlight areas for improvement.
There’s potential to better prepare for leveraging residents’ goodwill in future emergencies. This could mean initiatives to enroll volunteers in organizations like the American Red Cross, expanding the reserve firefighter and first responder programs, building up community emergency response teams, or perhaps something entirely new.
Los Angeles has the opportunity to pioneer a new model for emergency response and communication, challenging misinformation and providing clear pathways for citizens eager to contribute.
Jay Balagna is an assistant policy researcher at the nonpartisan, nonprofit Rand Corporation, where Alyson B. Harding is an associate policy researcher, and Vanessa Parks is a behavioral and social scientist.
