For new Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, being sworn in to the California Legislature and named chair of the state Assembly’s Emergency Management Committee has literally been a trial by fire.
The Democrat joined Speaker Robert Rivas over the weekend on the frontlines of the Eaton fire, centered in Altadena, to see first-hand how the crews were performing as they work to save lives and property while pushing back the flames.
Ransom was elected to Assembly District 13 in November after having served on the Tracy City Council. She was sworn in only a month ago and soon after, appointed as chair of the Emergency Management Committee. It left little time to prepare for the role before being struck by one of the state’s worst disasters.
“I am honored to represent San Joaquin County and the state of California at this critical time,” Ransom told Stocktonia. “Recovering from the current state of emergency and implementing proactive measures for both my district and the state will be a top priority for the Emergency Management Committee.”
After the tour in Southern California, she invoked the word that has been echoed by so many others: “heartbreaking.”
The two major fires in the Los Angeles area had claimed 25 lives and burned more than 37,000 acres as of Wednesday morning. The Eaton fire, north of downtown Los Angeles, had destroyed 4,627 structures and was 45% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported. The Palisades fire, burning on L.A.’s westside, had claimed 2,191 structures and was 19% contained.
“Our focus must now be on supporting survivors, rebuilding lives and restoring communities with compassion and urgency. I am fully committed to ensuring the necessary resources are available for recovery and rebuilding,” Ransom said in a statement. “California will do the work to rise from this devastation and ensure no one faces this journey alone.”
She said legislators would be meeting with leaders and residents in Southern California, and she vowed legislation to help Los Angeles recover.
The Emergency Management Committee will certainly have a key role in the recovery. Its mission is to focus on emergency declarations, homeland security and victim services programs. That includes disaster response, emergency medical services, communications and evacuations — all issues that have surfaced in evaluating the response to the L.A. fires.