In the News

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When eliminating an emergency threat is not possible, protecting people is limited to only a few possible actions: You can alert people to shelter-in-place, evacuate a building, evacuate a neighborhood or evacuate a community. Evacuation of people and animals is always complex — and often fails for a few and sometimes for many. 

Following the 2001 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush in 2003 directed all federal agencies to use the National Incident Management System (NIMS). For many disasters this change has profoundly improved and changed the ability for local, state and federal agencies to work together with a common set of objectives. Yet it only works if it is fully used and, more important, it only works if there are decisive effective leaders commanding the disaster. 

EIS Council -  17 June 2021 - Robert Lewin joined a panel of Fire Service and Emergency Management professionals to share real-world stories and hard lessons learned by walking through key moments during the Thomas fire and the ensuing debris flow. 

Homeland Security Today -  April 9, 2020 , Robert Lewin

Seasoned disaster managers recognize that it is not just the best decision that needs to be made, it is the execution of those decisions. Across the world leaders not normally accustomed to emergency decision making are being confronted by a catastrophe that has or is about to strike them. It is that moment when they must adapt their normal business-as-usual planning and decision making to an emergency decision and planning process. 

Homeland Security Today -  November 15, 2019 , Robert Lewin

The wildfire menace of a century ago is forgotten by most. Even compared to the current wildfire situation, the scale of loss then was enormous. Deadly and destructive fires were regularly killing hundreds, even thousands, of people and destroying whole towns and forests. Part of the solution then was eliminating railroads as a major cause of wildfires. We are now faced by similar problem: How do we eliminate powerlines as a major cause of disastrous fires? 

Homeland Security Today - July 5, 2019, Robert Lewin

The devastation of climate-change induced wildfires is real and will continue to get worse as we see new fires eclipse previous fires in size, destruction and deaths. Shutting off the power will prevent some of these fires, but are the impacts acceptable? 

Homeland Security Today - May 4, 2019, Robert Lewin

We only have so much time following a disaster to identify lessons learned and determine how we can improve our response to the next similar crisis. History has example after example of a paradigm shift following a crisis or disaster. People and organizations are motivated, funds are found, and resources are redirected. With the record-breaking, climate-change-induced deadly wildland fires over the past two years, we are now in one of those crisis moments when we are again offered the opportunity to comprehensively focus our efforts on reducing loss of life during a disaster. Indeed, it is our responsibility to do so. 

KCLU Radio -  March 26. 2019, Lance Orozco

"Rob Lewin is looking forward to being able to get some real rest for the first time in four years. That was when he became Director of Santa Barbara County’s Office of Emergency Management. In four years, he faced six major fires, the Alamo, Ray, Sherpa, Whittier, Thomas, and Holiday brush fires. On top of that, there was the deadly 1/9 debris flow in Montecito. Lewin is planning to retire this spring."   

Homeland Security Today - August 18, 2016, Robert Lewin 

Emergency managers are looking at a new paradigm where multiple evacuations involving scores of people are prevalent. Many of the evacuees are elderly or have special needs. Despite challenging budgets, emergency managers must prepare their jurisdictions for the inevitable. 

SLO Chamber of Commerce · Oct 12, 2014, Robert Lewin 

A 5 minute "TED Talk" like presentation - At the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce's Good Morning SLO breakfast, SLO County Fire Chief Robert Lewin talks about predicting the unpredictable in any given situation, especially with emergencies.

Homeland Security Today - June 2012, Robert Lewin

Japan’s earthquake and tsunami forced a re-evaluation of nuclear power plant protection. Now, a veteran firefighter examines the state of American preparedness and looks at what needs to be done next.