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Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States, has a surprisingly small budget for its Office of Emergency Management. Documents reveal that for fiscal year 2024, the office's budget is approximately $15 million. This budget is not usually made public and is rarely shared among emergency management employees. Of the total budget, nearly $4 million comes from federal grants. The office employs 36 full-time staff, with about $9.2 million allocated to salaries and benefits, leaving limited funds for other essential functions, such as utilities and office expenses.
According to The Washington Post, this budget is significantly lower than those of other major cities. For instance, New York County's emergency management budget is about $88 million, while Cook County, home to Chicago, has over $130 million for fiscal year 2025. Los Angeles County has declared 74 disasters over the past 20 years and is still recovering from a destructive firestorm in January. The county also prepares for major upcoming events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Emergency management experts express concern over the county's ability to prepare for and respond to disasters effectively. Soraya Sutherlin, a disaster management area coordinator, noted that many emergency managers often pay for supplies out of pocket due to budget constraints. Red Lake Nation News reported that the county's reliance on federal grants, which have been reduced by nearly 40 percent over the past five years, exacerbates the issue.
The county's executive office is currently reviewing budget allocations for the year. However, with ongoing reviews into the office's actions during the January wildfires, the Office of Emergency Management has declined to comment on its budget. As federal funding faces potential cuts, concerns grow over the county's preparedness for future disasters.