Evacuations

During an emergency that poses a threat to life safety, such as a major fire, earthquake, flooding, or landslide, the Incident Command (usually Fire or Sheriff's Department) may issue an evacuation order for the threatened area. Information will include safe areas or emergency shelter locations where evacuated individuals and families may go for temporary shelter.

MALIBU MASS Evacuation Plan

At its Regular meeting on February 24, 2020, the City Council adopted the Mass Evacuation Plan as an update to the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, previously adopted in 2018. The Mass Evacuation Plan was one of the findings of a working group assembled after the 2018 Woolsey Fire to improve disaster coordination, communication, and evacuation among all of the public agencies that might provide mutual response to the City in the event of a disaster, including Los Angeles County Fire, Sheriff’s, Public Works, and Beaches and Harbors Departments, the County Supervisor’s office, Caltrans, Southern California Edison, California State Parks, CHP, City of Santa Monica, and other agencies.

Genasys Protect formerly known as ZONeHAVEN Aware: New EVACUATION ZONES AND MAPS FOR MALIBU

Look up your zone & explore the Genasys Protect website

Know your zone! During September 2023, the City will be mailing out information cards to all households in Malibu about the updated Evacuation Zone numbers for Malibu. Malibu’s zones are now numbered MAL-C111 - MAL-C114.

Los Angeles County adopted new official disaster response and evacuation zones in November 2022. All County agencies and cities, including the City of Malibu, will adhere to them in a disaster.

The new zones for Malibu are the same as the City’s Evacuation Zones (11-14) which were adopted in February 2020 as part of the City’s official Mass Evacuation Plan, following a Malibu Disaster Council recommendation after the Woolsey Fire.

Residents, businesses, students, employees and other community members are encouraged to look up the new zones for their home, business or school, and familiarize themselves with Genasys Protect (formerly known as Zonehaven Aware). Genasys Protect will show valuable information specific to location and any incident, emergency services, response, real-time status updates, shelter options, roadblocks, evacuation routes and more. Remember your Zone – they will be referred to in alerts and public messaging during any large-scale emergency incidents in LA County.

EVACUATION TERMINOLOGY

New California Standard Statewide Evacuation Terminology was developed by the California Office of Emergency Services in close partnership with public safety agencies throughout the state to communicate clearly and consistently in alerts and warnings. The standardized terminology was created in response to the catastrophic wildfires of 2017 and 2018. In the event of an evacuation in Malibu, the New California Standard Statewide Evacuation Terminology will be used.

Evacuation Order

There is an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.

Evacuation Warning

There is a potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave now.

Shelter in Place

Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction.

Evacuation Order(s) Lifted

The formal announcement of lifting evacuations in an area currently under evacuation.

Hard Closure

No one is permitted through hard closures except for emergency services personnel such as Law Enforcement or Fire. Hard closures are generally the result of an evacuation order or other threats to life safety.

Soft Closure

No one is permitted through soft closures except for emergency services personnel and critical incident resources (i.e. utility, Caltrans, City/County Roads, etc. or the needed to repair or restore infrastructure).

Resident only closure

Soft closure with the additional allowance of residents and local government agencies assisting with response and recovery. The Dolphin Decal will provide entry with potential further verification required.

Please be aware that all closures are operated at the discretion of law enforcement.