Resilience in the Heat of Crisis: LADWP’s Lessons from the Pacific Palisades Fire
When wildfires swept through Los Angeles in January 2025, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) faced a cascading disaster unlike any in its history — one that began as a power emergency and evolved into a full-scale water crisis. In this case study, LADWP leaders share how they managed extreme winds, misinformation, and public scrutiny while protecting life and critical infrastructure. This case study highlights lessons on unified command, mutual assistance, and innovative approaches such as deploying mobile water tankers, using ArcGIS StoryMaps for public transparency, and collaborating with influencers to counter misinformation. The Pacific Palisades fire ultimately became a proving ground for LADWP’s evolving approach to resilience — one that blends coordination, communication, and community trust under pressure.
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