Chairman Rick Scott of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging led a field hearing in Pacific Palisades, California, to address the impact of the January 2025 wildfire on older adults. He was joined by Senator Ron Johnson, who also chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
The hearing, titled “Forgotten After the Flames: Stories from the Palisades Fire,” is part of an ongoing congressional investigation into the wildfire. The senators listened to accounts from survivors, community leaders, and advocates such as author and podcast host Spencer Pratt. Participants discussed difficulties faced by seniors during preparation for evacuation, their experiences during the fire, and challenges in recovery efforts nearly a year after the disaster.
Chairmen Scott and Johnson highlighted ongoing obstacles for many residents trying to rebuild. They called attention to what they described as failures by state and local government officials during both response and recovery phases.
“The chairmen heard from survivors, community leaders, and advocates, including author and podcast host Spencer Pratt, who recounted the challenges that they and community seniors faced in preparing for the fire, evacuating safely, and recovering afterward — challenges that today, nearly a year later, continue to hinder many residents’ ability to rebuild. Chairmen Scott and Johnson emphasized the urgent need for relief for these victims as they seek accountability for the failures that occurred from state and local government officials, and ensure stronger protections are in place to prevent a similar disaster in the future.”
The committee continues its work to identify shortcomings in current systems supporting older adults during natural disasters.
