Maya McClatchy, Kate Dewey, and Howard Glassman’s Emergency Disaster Plan: Wildfires in Malibu

Introduction: The city of Malibu has a long and calamitous history of wildfires. Malibu’s location on the southern coast of California is what has made it a beloved destination, but it also leaves the city at constant risk of wildfires. The ecological makeup of the region is defined by dry plant matter that dries, frequent droughts, and the Santa Ana winds. In combination with increasing urbanization, these factors put the population at constant and increasing risk from wildfires. This plan is intended to support a more coordinated response between local, county, and state level agencies in the event of future wildfires, and to define strategies to more efficiently deploy emergency resources and protect the lives and property in Malibu.