Many will remember the scenes in Apollo 13 when Gene Kranz (played by Ed Harris) went around the room getting everyon's take for launch (CAPCOM-GO, Medical-Go, Engines-Go, etc) and they could then make a educated call on what actions to take. If this is not being done in Southern California, there should be some people getting fired and politicans should be voted out of office. We live in a world that is awash in information, computers, and technology that should all be mastered in a case like this, not cause people to get overwhelmed.
Right now, there should be multiple command posts checking the sdituation and all coordinating with each other. What kinds of information should be tracked: power grid, fire locations, traffic conditions, weather inc visibility, cell phone useage and other forms of comunication, the stability of the internet, hospitals, old folks homes, schools, etc etc, etc.
This is much like fighting in a moving battle, the fire is the enemy and will take lives, property, disrupt travel and business, and require the constant shifting of resources. But, much of this information should be made available to the public to allow them to deal with it, especially in the case of the old or infirm, young kids and animals (I know there are lots of farms in these areas of SD County) decide when to evacuate and to where. Right now, the institutions of SD County are failing. From reports we are getting, the local media is not only cluless, it's passing on bad information: graphics showing fire everywhere, not where it really is. You lose power, you lose ATM's and most gas stations. If you are in SD and LA area, time to fill the gas tank up and get some cash, not to mention a "go bag" with emergency items in case you are evacuated.
Folks, this could as easily been a leak from the Nuclear Power Plant at San Onofre power plant or an outbreak of desease. Or a terror plot. Or any of a hundred things. Southern California is completely dependant on it's freeways and highways. To not have a robust information dialogue going on via the internet, radio, TV, and local law enforcement is pathetic.