The Brief

When the Big One or another major disaster hits California, the emergency response will need to be massive. Fixing roads and other infrastructure; restoring power and cellphone service; providing food, shelter and and other essentials.

For decades, state officials have operated knowing the federal government would step in almost immediately when they request help with response and recovery, including by providing hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance. However, California and federal disaster recovery officials say they’re concerned that President Donald Trump may retaliate against the state by delaying or withholding major disaster aid.

And they’re sounding the alarm.

“ We never really thought about what the president would do if a disaster were to happen,” said one longtime Federal Emergency Management Agency insider.

But today: “You don't really have any idea which way it would go,” said the California-based FEMA employee who spoke anonymously for fear of professional retribution. “ Everyone just has to plan to be self reliant. And I'm not talking just individuals, but the states.  Because honestly it's really unpredictable to know what you can rely on.”

Emergency management professionals and observers told LAist they now expect that offers of federal help from the Trump administration will come with strings attached.

“Disaster declarations, especially in California, will be conditional on political policies being made in the state,” the FEMA employee said.

It’s a reality state leaders are preparing for.

“The governor basically told us that we need to think through when the next disaster happens and there's no federal assistance,” said Brian Ferguson, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s deputy cabinet secretary for emergency management.  ”The modern era of emergency management, which started under Jimmy Carter, is forever changing.”

Some experts told LAist it’s unlikely Trump would flat-out deny aid to California — the optics would be too bad, they said. But they did say delays wouldn’t be a surprise.

Their concern is rising as the broader system of disaster response is compromised by cuts and attrition in FEMA and other agencies, leaving the state and its nearly 40 million residents even more vulnerable to disasters.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said FEMA is “focused on warranted, non-political disaster response.”

“In California and throughout the country, FEMA remains fully prepared and capable of responding to natural disasters,” the spokesperson said via email.

Before publication, the agency did not respond to a request seeking the name of the spokesperson and did not agree to a phone interview.

Why insiders are worried

Myriad signs point toward the likelihood Trump could curtail or deny disaster assistance.

During the 2018 Camp Fire, which destroyed the Northern California town of Paradise, Trump waffled on giving aid until he was told that it was his supporters who were affected.

“We went as far as looking up how many votes he got in those impacted areas … to show him these are people who voted for you,” a former Trump aide told Politico then.

Trump also denied aid to California after a string of wildfires — including the Creek, Bobcat and El Dorado blazes — in 2020, according to CNN, before changing his mind.

During his campaign in 2024, he talked about denying disaster aid.

“We’re not giving any of that fire money that we send you all the time for all the fire, forest fires that you have,” he said in the Central Valley, according to KQED.

And he threatened to withhold wildfire money in response to California’s water management policies.

“The level at which this has become politicized is unlike anything we've seen,” said Mark Ghilarducci, who ran the California governor’s Office of Emergency Services from 2012 to 2022.

Even now, California is waiting on $34 billion of wildfire aid requested by Newsom after the L.A. fires. It includes requests to Congress for more than $20 billion to help rebuild communities.

It’s not just the threats to disaster response and recovery funds that have observers worried. It’s also a pullback from funding disaster preparation.

In April, FEMA said it was ending its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program, calling it “another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program … more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters.”

The program was supposed to provide almost $33 million in funding to help reduce Land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes has slowed down, but the city is bracing for winter rains, according to a lawsuit filed by California and other states in response. Other projects on the chopping block were $21 million for flood mitigation in Sacramento and $32 million to retrofit a hospital in rural Kern County.

What’s happening inside FEMA 

Several officials told LAist that even if aid is granted, so much damage has been done to the emergency management system that immediate response and long-term recovery will likely be compromised.

The California-based FEMA official said Region 9 — which responds to disasters in California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii — has been hemorrhaging employees with extensive experience in disasters.

 ”Most people at FEMA just don't know what the future really holds, so they’re looking for other jobs,” the official said.

Between January and June of this year, the number of FEMA employees fell by about 2,500, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office. The losses include 20 senior executives. Exact numbers for Region 9 weren’t immediately available.

There’s an air of unease among federal emergency response workers, said a former White House employee who worked on emergency management and requested anonymity because of the fear of harassment. Those workers worry they could rush to help in the immediate aftermath of a disaster but then be second-guessed by a presidential administration that might see them as assisting a political enemy, the former official said.

“ The smallest little things that run counter to the narrative that this administration prefers  run the risk of retribution,” the person said.

Emergency officials may worry they could be fired or “reassigned to ICE or something like that.”

“Whether it's happening or not,” the person said, “I think the environment has been created where people feel fearful of that.”

Meanwhile, Southern Californians affected by the January fires already have struggled with what they say is a lack of federal support.

“The federal government was always a backstop in times of need. And it's very possible that there's no additional help coming beyond the state and local responders.  So we're going to adjust to that reality,” said Ferguson, the senior Newsom adviser.

But, Ferguson added, the smaller, rural, Trump-voting parts of California would be hit most heavily by a federal pullback.

“With FEMA  stepping back, we're actually going to be less ready at a local level for whatever the next disaster is,” he said.

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Bandfest is an opportunity to see marching bands from around the country — and Mexico and Japan — before their 2026 Rose Parade performance.

“This is the granddaddy of them all,” Tournament of Roses Honor Band Director Peter Huerta said of playing in the parade. “It is viewed all around the world. Everybody is watching you. Every little detail has to be perfect.”

Adriana Del Toro lined up outside Pasadena City College’s Robinson Stadium on Monday to watch her niece play the trumpet in the Los Angeles Unified School District All-District High School Honor Band.

“I'm living my childhood dream through her,” Del Toro said. ”When I was in high school, I always wanted to try out for a band, but I never did it because I was too shy. So I told her, as long as I can, I'm going to be here and support her.”

Some performances incorporated the 2026 Rose Parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork.”

For example, the Tournament of Roses Honor Band’s performance includes the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” and High School Musical’s “We’re All in This Together.”

The Pasadena City College marching band and musicians from 62 local high schools make up the ensemble.

The 250-member Tournament of Roses Honor Band includes the Pasadena City College marching band and musicians from 62 local high schools.

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Mariana Dale

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LAist

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Drum Major Orlando Garcia said the teamwork theme makes him remember the smoky skies and power outages that followed January’s wildfires.

“We can come together and make great music,” Garcia said of his bandmates, students from Pasadena City College and local high schools. “Just as we always come together and get through everything.”

The Rose Parade is right around the corner, and thousands of people are already preparing to flock to Pasadena for the New Year’s Day festivities.

In its 137th year, the parade theme is “The Magic in Teamwork,” with Laker icon Earvin "Magic" Johnson as the Grand Marshal. It kicks off at 8 a.m.

Whether you’ll be camping out the night before, or heading over with blankets in tow in the early morning hours, keep in mind that the weather is currently forecast to be rainy. Yes, that's rare. If it does pour on the parade it will be the first time in 20 years and before that it had been 50 years since the last rainy parade day.

Here’s what you need to know this year.

Parade details and closures

The Rose Parade route lasts two hours, with its 5.5-mile journey starting at Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard.

The floats, bands, and horses will head north along Orange Grove at a slow but steady 2.5 mph pace before turning east onto Colorado Boulevard for a majority of the show. It’ll then head north onto Sierra Madre Boulevard, wrapping up at Villa Street.

Police and city officials will start closing off part of the route to cars as early as 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, through 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1.

That includes Colorado Boulevard from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard, and Sierra Madre Boulevard to Paloma Street. So if you’ll be hosting viewing parties or are overdue for a delivery, Tournament of Roses officials recommend telling everyone to arrive before the closures kick in Wednesday night.

Unless you have a need to be in the area during the parade, you might want to avoid this stretch of the city until it's all over.

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CityOfPasadena.net

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If you’ll need to drive to or through the downtown Pasadena area, you can use:

• Walnut Street or the 210 Freeway for east-west travel north of Colorado Boulevard
• Del Mar Boulevard or Cordova Street for east-west travel south of Colorado Boulevard
• There will be limited crossing for north-south travel during the closure (see map for details)

Please note: There will be a 5K race at midnight to celebrate the New Year from Pasadena Avenue to Hill Street. Several intersections will close to cross traffic at 11 p.m. Dec. 31 and re-open at the end of the race event at about 2 a.m., including Pasadena, Fair Oaks, and Marengo avenues (see full list on map.)

Tickets

You can still snag grandstand tickets — we found ones from $80 to $130, depending on where you want to sit. You’ll need to have your ticket handy.

The Rose Parade of 2022 represented a long-awaited return to Pasadena's New Year’s tradition.

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Alborz Kamalizad

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LAist

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The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 8 a.m. Organizers recommend that ticketholders aim to be seated by 7 a.m. In order to do that, you should plan to arrive in the area by at least 6 a.m. to give yourself plenty of time to work through the crowds and traffic.

Note that there is a "clear bags only" policy in place for grandstand seating at the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl game and several other events. You can find details here.

Curbside seating and camping

Curbside seating is free, and lots of people will set up shop and camp overnight, which is only allowed on Dec. 31. If you’ll be bringing your kids or teens along, they need to be with an adult during the overnight hours.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the parade without paying for seating. You just need to plan. And plan to arrive early!

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CityOfPasadena.net

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You can grab your sidewalk spot starting at noon Dec. 31, but all your blankets and chairs have to stay on the curb until 11 p.m., at which point you’ll be able to move up a bit closer to the blue “honor-line.” Tents, sofas, unoccupied chairs, and boxes that can be used as stools or seats are not allowed along the route.

You can warm up with a small elevated barbecue, but it needs to be away from buildings and you have to have a fire extinguisher available. Bonfires and fireworks are banned, period.

Most importantly, don’t forget to drink water and dress for cool temps and the possibility of rain. (You can always sit on that extra jacket).

Given the weather conditions, it's important to note that the rules call for no umbrellas. The City of Pasadena advisers parade goers to use rain jackets and ponchos, which they optimistically describe as "a great alternative so everyone can enjoy the show!"

Pasadena city officials are reminding people than umbrellas are not allowed along the Rose Parade route ahead of a forecast of rain on the parade for the first time in 20 years.

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LAist's Sharon McNary, a longtime Pasadena resident who has offered great tips on making the most of the parade in the past, points out this might be a very popular year for what she calls "The People’s Grandstand.”

That said, Sharon notes "it’s kind of a locals-only institution. Fans create their own little wooden seats that fit nicely into the notches in the stones lining the sloped wall of the 210 Freeway overpass over Sierra Madre Blvd. In the rare rainy year, they have shelter, and in the more typical warm years, they have shade. And they get to view the spectacle of the taller floats folding themselves down to fit under the overpass and opening back up on the other side."

Local craftspeople make small wooden seats that fit in the mortar notches in the sloped wall under a the 210 Freeway overpass at Sierra Madre Blvd.

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Sharon McNary

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LAist

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Parking

There is no parking allowed on the parade route, but you can purchase reserved spots. Pasadena recommendations include Sharp Seating, the city itself, and LAZ Parking. Parking at Metro rail stations are another option you can check on before you head out.

Authorities urge that you pay for parking in advance to guarantee your spot. Otherwise, parking is on a first-come, first-served basis and of course that supply is limited.

Once again: Arriving extra early is your best bet so you can avoid the traffic hassles and any unintended GPS glitches. Authorities warn: "Please do not rely upon your GPS as road closures will be in effect and may not reflect on the GPS application."

The last time it rained, in 2006, the bleachers were far less packed than usual.

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Anne Cusack

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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

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All parking meters are free and time limits will not be enforced on New Year’s Day, and overnight parking restrictions will not be enforced until 2 a.m. Jan. 4, according to the city. But keep an eye out for red curbs, “No Parking” signs, fire hydrants, and driveways, as the usual restrictions still apply. You don't want to risk getting your vehicle towed.

Public transportation

Where possible, public transit might be your easiest way to go, and Metrolink will be offering special early morning hours on the San Bernardino, Antelope Valley, Orange County, Ventura County, and 91 Perris Valley lines for the parade. (Note that Metrolink’s Riverside County Line is not running on New Year’s Day.)

From the Metro website: "On New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day (Dec. 31 to Jan. 1), we’ll be running service all night on the A, B, D and E Lines with additional early morning service to help get you to Pasadena on time for the parade, which begins at 8 a.m. sharp." Metro will also have buses traveling to areas near the route and Rose Bowl game.

You can find more information here.

These are the A Line stations in Pasadena that closest to the parade: 

• Del Mar Station (walk .3 miles north to the parade route)
• Memorial Park Station (walk .2 miles south)
• Lake Station (walk .4 miles south)
• Allen Station (walk .4 miles south)

Metro will also have buses traveling to areas near the route and Rose Bowl game, which you can find more information on here

Metro is offering free fares on buses, trains, Metro Bike Share and Metro Micro from 4 a.m. Dec. 31 until 3 a.m. Jan. 1. For Metro Bike Share, use code 123125 on New Year’s Eve. For Metro Micro riders, use promo code RING26.

Accessible viewing

Three street-level viewing areas are reserved for people with disabilities and up to four of their guests.

Each of those areas along the parade route will have a section with audio descriptions for visually impaired people and another with sign language interpreters.

Diane Gagnon among Rose Parade floats on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.

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Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

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Los Angeles Times

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Tickets to all these viewing areas are free! But to request space, you’ll need to complete a form. The 2026 form is already marked closed, but for future planning, here is the Jan. 1, 2027 form.

Please note: no seats are provided, so you’ll need to bring your own arrangements.

There’s also limited wheelchair accessible grandstand seating sold through Sharp Seating.

Rose Bowl game

The Rose Bowl game, the oldest of bowls dating back to 1902, immediately follows the parade. The Rose Bowl Stadium parking lot opens at 4 a.m. Jan. 1 and the stadium gates open at 10:30 a.m. The game starts at 1 p.m.

A quick scan turned up tickets that are still available for the Indiana vs. Alabama matchup for a little as $130.90 and as much as $2,683.13.

General parking is available in certain lots at the stadium, with spots going for $69 that you buy it in advance.

For public transportation, you can take the Metro A line and exit at the Memorial Park station. You can find more information here about getting to the stadium.

Please note: the stadium has a clear-bag policy, which means backpacks, purses, and camera cases are not allowed.

If you want more info

If you’re dying for more details, you can download the official Rose Parade app here or here. You’ll be able to see the full line-up, maps, and get more information about the participants.

If you skimmed over the rules and your car gets towed on New Year’s Day, you can call (626) 577-6426 from 5 p.m. Dec. 31 until 6 p.m. Jan. 1.

And if you still have questions that have not been answered here, you can try the visitor hotline at (877) 793-9911.

L.A. shoppers could see an additional 0.5% sales tax that would help fund the Los Angeles Fire Department.

A petition to get the sales tax on next year’s General Election ballot was approved by the City Clerk on Dec. 26 for signature gathering.

If approved by voters, the money gathered from the tax would help pay for hiring firefighters, equipment, facility upgrades and more. The ordinance would be to “supplement, not replace,” the department’s current funding, according to the ordinance.

In a statement, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City said the LAFD is half the size needed to keep LA safe.

"Due to decades of underinvestment, our fire department currently operates with the same number of firefighters as in the 1960s, six fewer stations, and five times the call load,” the union representing the city’s firefighters said.

What we know

The petition must gather more than 139,000 petition signatures by mid-April for the initiative to be on the upcoming November ballot.

If voters approve the ordinance, the funds generated by the tax would be kept in a separate account. It would also require annual audits and a citizens’ oversight committee to monitor spending.

More on the fire department’s needs

An LAist report found the department is one of the smallest for a big city in the U.S.

According to the department, there are 106 fire stations — six fewer than in the 1960s — and 3,412 sworn firefighters — only 33 more than in 1965.

In 2024, the International Association of Fire Fighters conducted a “Standards of Cover” report on the LAFD. It found that the department had overwhelming needs, according to the union.

The report concluded that for L.A.’s current population, LAFD should have 7,360 firefighters – 4,000 more than its current force. It also identified that the department needs 52 new fire stations, dozens of new dispatchers, EMS stations and more.

What about the city's budget?

In June, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed a $13 billion budget that included cuts to LAFD's street medicine teams. The department's budget is $76 million —higher than last year's to allow fire officials to hire more firefighters and buy new fire trucks. The 9% increase in the fire budget is the highest among departments.