Southern California is experiencing the most destructive firestorm ever in Los Angeles County. The fires have destroyed thousands of structures across tens of thousands of acres of land, leading to loss of life and forcing nearly 200,000 people to evacuate. Sadly, many of our members, employees, and physicians have lost their homes or have had to evacuate.
Entire communities remain under threat as the winds and fires continue. Amid the devastation and trauma, Kaiser Permanente is helping to meet the immediate needs of those directly affected by the wildfires.
At this time, all Kaiser Permanente facilities are open and operating on normal schedules. Our virtual care options, including phone and video, are also available 24/7.
The latest updates and member information are available on kp.org.
In affected communities, Kaiser Permanente is offering clinical care and supplies at evacuation centers, providing respite to our first responders, and contributing financially to organizations that provide direct relief to impacted communities and first responders.
Our physicians, nurses, mental health staff, and non-medical personnel are helping to staff 24/7 shifts at the Pasadena Convention Center, which is serving as an evacuation center for hundreds of displaced people, including people evacuated from senior assisted living facilities. We have pharmacists available at the Pasadena Convention Center to provide prescription support, refill coordination, and free over-the-counter products for members and the community. We are also making over-the-counter medications available in Westwood. And we’ve converted Kaiser Permanente Walnut Center into a place of respite for first responders and others helping to staff the evacuation centers.
Across Southern California, we are extending mental health resources to our members and those in the community affected by the fires. We are fortunate to have a robust network of clinicians available in Southern California and many more who have volunteered from other Kaiser Permanente markets. They are on hand to help both our community outreach efforts and our own teams. Any member needing help with mental health can call 1-833-KP-WITH-U (1-833-579-4848) or access care through our member portal at kp.org, or our Kaiser Permanente app.
We are also providing medical and non-medical supplies as needed to evacuations centers in affected areas. We’ve deployed a mobile health vehicle to augment clinical support at the Westwood evacuation center in West Los Angeles and we are ready to help in other affected areas as needed.
We are deeply appreciative of the many community-based organizations that excel at leading communities through crisis. In support of affected residents and first responders, we are making contributions of $100,000 each to 3 of these organizations:
Disasters of this magnitude can have short-term and long-term effects on everyone involved. We are currently focused on responding to the immediate needs of those in Los Angeles County. We also know there will be a need to support long-term recovery. Kaiser Permanente is committed to working with city and county leaders and partners to support our communities as they recover and heal.