Encinitas emergency manager urges seniors to prepare for year-round hazards

Marie Jones Kirk, the City of Encinitas emergency manager, told the Senior Citizen Commission on Jan. 21 that residents — and particularly older adults — should have evacuation plans, maintain 72-hour supply kits and sign up for local alert systems because hazards such as wildfires, severe storms and earthquakes are now year‑round threats.

Kirk spoke to commissioners at the Encinitas Community Center about who bears responsibility for disaster planning, the primary hazards facing the city and the practical steps households should take right now. "You don't have to wait for an evacuation order to evacuate," she said. "If you can see conditions are hot and dry, you can already be ready — have your car packed, have your plan."

Why it matters: Kirk emphasized that preparedness reduces panic and secondary incidents during evacuations. She cited recent Southern California fires and a January 2024 storm that produced severe flooding in the region as local reminders that emergencies can arrive with little notice.

Kirk outlined a “whole community” approach: fire and law enforcement coordinate incident decisions, but…