As the Eaton wildfires advanced toward the Altadena and Pasadena regions earlier this month, the California START Lanterman team mobilized swiftly to support the families they serve in the community. 

“LAPD was on call for the fires, and it was an all-hands-on-deck effort,” said Kennia Reyes, program director of CA START Lanterman. “It really highlighted the compassion and empathy within our community and motivated our team to contribute even more to that collective effort."

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The group of 10 worked closely with the regional center, sharing information to reach as many affected people as possible. This coordinated effort resulted in the successful evacuation of 17 people to safe locations, including family homes and alternative group facilities. 

The team implemented a comprehensive emergency response plan as the Palisades Fire approached their service area. They quickly identified at-risk individuals using real-time evacuation data and conducted targeted outreach to ensure the safety of those they serve.  

"We immediately developed action plans for each person under evacuation orders," said Reyes. “Our priority was to contact them or their caregivers to assess their situation and provide crucial support.”

The START team's efforts went beyond basic evacuation assistance. They helped create emergency backpacks and distributed specially designed activity books to help people cope with the disruption and ensured that vital cross-systems crisis plans were readily available to families.  

With the immediate crisis behind them, the team has turned its attention to community recovery, exploring plans to offer trauma-informed training sessions open to both START families and the wider community.

"It’s been so impressive to see the community come together in so many ways to support one another during this crisis,” said Reyes. “At START, we work with partners like police departments and mental health providers, and within days, everyone was sharing resources and stepping up.” 

Most of the individuals served by START have returned home and resumed their routines, including day programs and school, following the lifting of evacuation orders. A few, primarily those in residential settings, are transitioning back more gradually as staff availability, home conditions, and air quality are carefully evaluated to ensure a safe return.