Monrovia details response, debris removal and damage estimate after Jan. windstorm and fires

Monrovia city officials told the City Council on Jan. 21 that the city declared a local emergency after the January 2025 windstorm and related fires, submitted an initial damage estimate of $1,051,629 to county and state partners, and has mobilized public works, fire, police and community services to clear debris, staff emergency centers and prepare for possible federal reimbursement.

City Manager Dylan Feek said the estimate covers debris removal and emergency protective measures and that the city "expect[s] a significant, if not a percentage of this amount to be fully reimbursed by the federal government." He also emphasized the uncertainty around reimbursements: "I don't know" whether the federal share will be 100 percent, Feek said, noting that reimbursement decisions are still being determined.

Council members and staff described the operational response and immediate needs. Feek reported that public works has collected more than 1,000 cubic yards of large debris — roughly the equivalent of 25 roll-off dumpsters — and that crews continue to work through more than 100 lane miles of streets. "We're maybe close to halfway through picking up all the debris," he said. The city has called in contract partners and extra staff to accelerate collection.

Shifts in public notification and dispatch systems were a focus. Feek said Monrovia used subscription-based and non-subscription systems during the event and is working to expand non-subscription alerts. "We can push information out directly to every cell phone within a geographic area defined in the city," he said of a system called Rave that the city is implementing; Feek contrasted that with Nixle, which requires residents to subscribe. He said coordination with regional partners and the county was inconsistent at times and that after-action reviews will focus on improving regional notification.

The city's emergency operations center was activated; community services operated warming/charging centers and information hubs. Fire and police staff responded to multiple structure fires and other incidents during gusts that staff reported near 80 mph in places, and the city reported five structures with damage ranging from fire to falling trees. Feek said red-tagged properties include addresses at 450 Sedman Place, 813 Naples Avenue, 1211 Encino, 1024 Royal Oaks and a multiunit building across from the high school. The city placed a building official on call to expedite inspections and plan review to get residents back into homes as soon as it is safe.

Feek described damage to the Hillside Wilderness Preserve, where dozer fire lines and fuel-break work done to protect the city likely will require major repair. He said early estimates for preserve restoration could approach or exceed $1 million and emphasized the need to act quickly: many disaster reimbursement programs require work to start within roughly 180 days of an emergency proclamation.

Council members and residents who spoke during public comment urged better, clearer notification for residents (including non-subscribers and people with disabilities), improved regional coordination with the utility and county, and increased community resiliency planning. Resident Victor Franco and longtime resident Robert Hansen described evacuation experience and asked the city to map evacuation zones and clarify debris removal procedures. Brian Sackey and others thanked first responders for rescuing people and pets during structure fires.

What's next: staff said it will prepare after-action reports, pursue state and federal reimbursement, and bring follow-up items to council, including a consolidated directive to review outreach and the CDBG program and to add a briefing about water reserves and emergency water supplies. Feek also said the city will explore opportunities to present resilience planning and public outreach at upcoming neighborhood and MAP (Monrovia Area Partnership) events.