A crisis response team under LA Mayor Karen Bass, equipped with hundreds of trained volunteers and a nearly million-dollar budget, sat idle during the city’s worst natural disaster, The Post has learned.
The Palisades Fire, which has claimed nine lives, destroyed thousands of homes, and scorched an area half the size of Brooklyn, exposed a series of leadership missteps.
Volunteers Left on the Sidelines
Despite the severity of the disaster, the Crisis Response Team (CRT) was not activated until questions from The Postprompted action. Volunteers were informed via email that their services weren’t needed, even as victims struggled to recover. Former CRT Director Joseph Avalos expressed disbelief, stating, “I don’t understand why the team hasn’t been deployed.”
Missed Opportunities for Support
While the CRT is trained to provide on-scene support and psychological first aid, volunteers were still being dispatched to minor incidents like traffic crashes but not to help fire victims. LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart confirmed she was unaware of the CRT’s involvement.
Leadership Criticism Intensifies
Critics, including former LAFD Battalion Chief Rick Crawford, highlighted the mayor’s authority to deploy the CRT without waiting for requests. Crawford called the lack of activation during this crisis unacceptable, especially given the fatalities and widespread destruction.
Ongoing Challenges
The CRT, created in 1992, has a history of responding to major tragedies but now faces operational setbacks, including a lack of permanent leadership. Amid the fires, Deputy Mayor Brian Williams, who oversees public safety, was placed on administrative leave following an unrelated FBI investigation, further complicating the team’s response efforts.
The mayor’s office insists the CRT is now active at disaster recovery centers, but questions remain about why the activation was delayed and whether critical resources were squandered during a time of immense need.
