FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell expressed grave concern over the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles during an interview on ABC News’ This Week on Sunday. She emphasized that the city remains in a perilous situation, with red flag warnings reissued and strong winds expected to return. Criswell stressed the importance of keeping residents away from dangerous areas, despite the understandable desire to return home and assess any damage. She highlighted that following evacuation orders is critical not only for the safety of residents but also for protecting firefighters working tirelessly to control the fires.
Criswell assured the public that the federal government is committed to supporting firefighting and recovery efforts. She called for careful planning for debris removal and long-term recovery, emphasizing the importance of preparing for the next steps in restoring affected communities.
California Senator Adam Schiff also joined the conversation on This Week, offering his perspective on the ongoing crisis. He supported an investigation into issues like the insufficient water supply and the flawed evacuation alert that was mistakenly sent to nearly all Los Angeles residents. Schiff stressed the potential danger of such miscommunications, noting that when evacuation orders are not trusted, people may ignore them, putting themselves and firefighters at risk.
Despite these concerns, Schiff underscored the need to prioritize immediate actions to contain the fires, especially with more high winds predicted in the coming days. He emphasized the urgency of extinguishing the fires, saving lives, and protecting property before delving into investigations into what went wrong.
Schiff also spoke about the importance of collaboration between President-elect Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure that the state receives the necessary support for recovery. He stressed that disaster relief should be bipartisan, regardless of political affiliation, and called for unity in addressing the crisis, stating, “We are all in this together.”
