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Many fire-prone California towns don’t plan for evacuations

Counterintuitive as it may sound, Paradise has some of the strongest evacuation planning in California. In fact, a USA TODAY Network-California survey of communities at high risk from wildfires found only 22% (including Paradise) have a robust, publicly available evacuation plan.

The scale of disaster in the Camp Fire was unprecedented, but the scene of people fleeing wildfires was familiar, repeated numerous times over the past three years up and down California from Redding and Paradise to Santa Rosa, Ventura, and Malibu.

In many of those communities, motorists became stuck in traffic as officials tried to evacuate thousands onto a few roads leading away from the flames.

NO REQUIREMENT TO PLAN

The 85 deaths and nearly 19,000 buildings destroyed in Paradise’s Camp Fire made it the deadliest and most destructive blaze in California history. Eight of those who perished were found in their vehicles, with two others found outside their vehicles.

In some spots, burned-out and abandoned vehicles lined roads leading out of town.

Should cities be required to have detailed evacuation plans? In 3–5 sentences, answer the question and provide specific textual evidence to support your analysis.

(4 points)

Yes, cities should be required to have detailed evacuation plans. The passage states that only 22% of high-risk communities in California have a robust, publicly available evacuation plan. This suggests that the majority of California towns are not adequately prepared for evacuations. Additionally, the passage mentions instances where motorists became stuck in traffic as they tried to evacuate, demonstrating the critical need for effective evacuation planning. The devastating Camp Fire, which resulted in 85 deaths and the destruction of nearly 19,000 buildings, also emphasizes the importance of detailed evacuation plans as it is the deadliest and most destructive blaze in California history.

Yes, cities should be required to have detailed evacuation plans. The passage states that the town of Paradise had one of the strongest evacuation planning in California, and yet it still experienced a devastating fire with numerous deaths and destroyed buildings. This suggests that even with a robust plan in place, there can still be significant loss of life and property. Additionally, the passage mentions that many communities in California do not have publicly available evacuation plans, with only 22% having such plans. This lack of planning can lead to chaotic evacuations, as seen in previous wildfires where motorists became stuck in traffic. Requiring cities to have detailed evacuation plans can help ensure that there is a structured and organized approach to evacuations during emergencies, potentially saving lives and minimizing damage.