US EditionFloods exposed weaknesses in California prisons’ emergency plans. They still aren’t ready
- In 2023, during unprecedented rain and snowfall, two prisons located in California's southern San Joaquin Valley were at high risk of flooding and lacked effective evacuation procedures.
- Facing a significant flood risk, the two prisons collaborated on a plan to relocate about eight thousand inmates to different state correctional facilities over a period of 11 to 14 days or possibly longer.
- Despite the flood risk, the waters did not reach the prisons, revealing broader weaknesses in California's 90,000-prisoner corrections system including slow evacuations and overcrowding.
- A recent independent report reviewing 30 state prisons highlighted deep fractures in emergency preparedness, stating the prisons are not adequately prepared for wildfires, floods, and earthquakes.
- The report’s 18 recommendations aim to improve emergency response, as officials and experts emphasized that reducing prison populations remains the top solution for addressing these preparedness issues.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Mid Florida Newspapers
Floods exposed weaknesses in California prisons’ emergency plans. They still aren’t ready
A report by an independent agency found that California’s prisoner corrections system has failed to adequately prepare for natural disasters. The report last week detailed fractures in the department’s emergency preparedness, including issues of transportation, varied risk assessment methodologies, lacking…
Floods exposed weaknesses in California prisons' emergency plans. They still aren't ready
In summary Earthquakes, wildfires and floods all could cause problems for California prisons. A new audit says they aren’t ready to quickly evacuate prisoners. In 2023, amid record-breaking rain and snow, two prisons in the southern San Joaquin Valley faced a serious risk of flooding. But neither prison, California State Prison, Corcoran or the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, had a robust evacuation plan on hand and ready for the looming dis…
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