When disaster strikes, government emergency alert systems offer a simple promise: Residents will get information about nearby dangers and instructions to help them stay safe.As the deadly L.A. wildfires and other major emergencies have shown, alerts rely on a complicated chain of communication between first responders, government administrators, third-party companies, and the public.Sometimes, the chain breaks.After the wind-driven wildfires broke out in Southern California on January 7, evacuation orders for some neighborhoodsincluding the part of Altadena where the majority of deaths occurredcame long after houses were reported on fire. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County officials approved an outside review of how alerts functioned in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire in response to residents demands. City officials declined to answer APs questions about a lag in some Palisades Fire alerts, though Fire Capt. Branden Silverman said responding to a fire and determining evacuation needs can take some time.Its an increasingly common issue: After-action reports and investigations revealed issues with alert systems in other California blazes: in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which killed 22 people in Santa Rosa; the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people in Paradise; the Woolsey fire, which started the same day and killed three in Malibu; as well as in Colorados 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes outside Denver; and in Hawaiis 2023 Lahaina Fire, which decimated that historic town and killed 102.It could take months to know why some evacuation orders lagged in the Los Angeles fires.Several residents who lost homes in the Eaton Fire told the Associated Press they received no notifications about their neighborhoods. For others, the first warning was an urgent text message in the middle of the night.Susan Lee Streets, who signed up for the alert app Nixle, did not get any alerts specific to her west Altadena neighborhood before she and her family left of their own accord around 10 p.m. after losing power and cell reception.If we had even been informed that houses and other structures were burning down, we would have known better what was happening, she said. We almost went to sleep that night with two kids and a dog and two cats in the house.Only after 3 a.m. did an alert hit her phone. Destroyed along with the house are the Christmas ornaments she saved for her children, and countless other family keepsakes.We lost everything, everything, Streets said, breaking into tears.Tricia Wachtendorf, director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware, said alerts have to be specific and clear. Research has shown that for them to be effective, people have to hear, understand, believe, personalize, and confirm them before they react.Just because you send the message at 3 a.m. doesnt mean someone is hearing it, Wachtendorf said.The hours between midnight and 3:30 a.m. appear to have been particularly challenging for first responders in Los Angeles County, based on an AP review of scanner traffic recordings and data from CalFire, the states chief fire agency; the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA; and the Watch Duty app.Resources were stretched thin, and hurricane-force winds had grounded air support, limiting authorities ability to get a top-down perspective on the flames.Calls reporting burning homes were flooding in as embers blew onto roofs and yards. During one half-hour period, 17 new addresses were relayed to firefighters, even as some crews ran low on fuel.By 12:07 a.m., CalFire records show, dozens of neighborhoods had been ordered to evacuate because of the Eaton Fire, all of them east of Altadenas North Lake Avenue. None of the neighborhoods to the westwhere all of the 17 confirmed fatalities occurred, as first reported by the Los Angeles Timeshad received evacuation warnings or orders, despite house fires being reported there more than an hour earlier.Over the next three hours, fire crews would go from begging for resources on the eastern flank of the blaze to radioing the command center to make sure it knew the fire was spreading west along the foothills near Sunset Ridge.Just before 3:30 a.m., evacuation orders expanded significantly, with residents in 12 areas of Altadena and elsewhere told to leave now.Jodi and Jeff Moreno first heard about the fire from a neighborhood app. But the first official warning only came around 2:30 a.m., when authorities yelled through a bullhorn to evacuate. The couple grabbed their three daughters, their dog, and some important papers, and fled.There were no text alerts until after they were gone.On the neighborhood apps, some people were going, some people were staying. It was a wide variety of responses. We were navigating it on our own, Jodi Moreno said. Its hard for us to gauge where exactly is that fire, where are the embers blowing. . . . Those are things I would rely on people who are monitoring it for information.Desperate for more information, both the Morenos and Streets downloaded the Watch Duty app, which maps evacuation zones and consolidates information from multiple sources into a single stream. Launched in 2021 and today covering 22 states, it became a lifeline for them.The ideal system for warning people is informing them, right? said Nick Russell, vice president for operations at Watch Duty.Theres certainly diligence necessary in the execution of official evacuation warning and orders or shelter in place, whatever the condition might be, he said. But telling people why that discussion is taking place between law enforcement and fire is important. And thats what were doing.The process of issuing evacuation notices starts with firefighters or other personnel on the ground recommending action, Russell said. It then moves up the chain of command to sheriffs, who ultimately put out any order.During major emergencies that communication can be hampered by issues such as limited radio connectivity, wind noise, or other technical problems. Incident command stations may have trouble synthesizing the large amounts of information they are getting from different agencies, something that is critical for understanding the scope of an emergency like a fire.In Los Angeles County, residents who sign up for emergency notifications through the AlertLACounty website are then directed to a list of 57 links to other specific neighborhood or city alert system signups, as well as a general one covering 19 other cities. The city of Los Angeles and the Sheriffs Department also have alert systems.It is not clear how the overlapping systems, which use different software programs, work together, or whether officials coordinate.A 2024 Hazard Mitigation plan directed the citys Emergency Management Department to assess gaps in alert and warning systems in areas with poor cellphone connectivity and then implement a solution to ensure alerts reach people. But that goal was given a medium priority level and a long-term timeline, with completion expected sometime in the next 10 years.Meanwhile the countys Hazard Mitigation Plan, last updated in 2020, did not include a focus on emergency alerts or public notifications. Instead its high-priority goals had to do with educating people about winds impact on wildfire risk and with community wildfire protection.Officials at the Countys Coordinated Joint Information Center declined to comment other than to say that an independent review of evacuations and emergency notifications is planned and the Office of Emergency Management, County Fire Department and Sheriffs Department plan to fully engage with it.Christopher L. Keller, Claudia Lauer, Amy Taxin and Rebecca Boone, Associated Press

President Donald Trump on Wednesday will sign the Laken Riley Act into law as his administrations first piece of legislation. It mandates the detention and potential deportation of people in the U.S. illegally who are accused of theft and violent crimes before theyve actually been convicted.The measure swiftly passed the Republican-controlled Congress with some Democratic support, despite immigrants rights advocates decrying it as extreme enough to possibly trigger mass roundups of people for offenses as minor as shoplifting.Trump has made a promised crackdown on illegal immigration unprecedented in the nations history a centerpiece of his political career, however, and is now suggesting the law might only be the beginning.This shows the potential for additional enforcement bills that will help us crack down on criminal aliens and totally restore the rule of law in our country, the president said at a conference of House Republicans held at his Doral golf club in Florida.The law is named for Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who went out for a run in February 2024 and was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally. Ibarra was found guilty in November and sentenced to life without parole.To have a bill of such importance named after her is a great, a great tribute, Trump said. This new form of crime, criminal, illegal aliens, itsits massive, the numbers are massive and you add that to the crime we already had.The speed at which the act cleared Congressand the fact that Trump is preparing to triumphantly sign it at the White House surrounded by lawmakers and other supportive, invited guests just nine days after taking officeadds to its potent political symbolism for conservatives. Critics say the measure is using a tragedy to effectively unleash chaos and cruelty while doing little to fight crime or fix an antiquated federal immigration system that hasnt been overhauled in decades.Under the Laken Riley Act, federal officials are required to detain any immigrant arrested or charged with crimes like theft or assaulting a police officer, or offenses that injure or kill someone. It further gives legal standing to state attorneys general to sue the U.S. government for harm caused by federal immigration decisionspotentially allowing the leaders of conservative states to help dictate immigration policy set by Washington.Ibarra had been arrested for illegal entry in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, amid an unprecedented surge in migration, and released to pursue his case in immigration court. Federal officials say he was arrested by New York police in August 2023 for child endangerment and released. Police say he was also suspected of theft in Georgia in October 2023all of which occurred before Rileys killing.This is the right thing to do, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said after the act cleared the House. Its always good when the right thing is also the popular thing.Some Democrats, however, have questioned the acts constitutionality. Immigrant advocates are bracing for mass detentions that they say will trigger subsequent, costly construction of immigration lockup facilities to house the people arrested.They dont just get to celebrate. They get to use this for their mass deportation agenda, Naureen Shah, deputy director of government affairs in the equality division of the American Civil Liberties Union, said of the acts supporters.The ALCU says the act can allow people to be mandatorily locked uppotentially for yearsbecause at some point in their lives, perhaps decades ago, they were accused of nonviolent offenses.Hannah Flamm, interim senior director of policy at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said the law violates immigrants basic rights by allowing for detaining people who havent been charged with, much less convicted of, wrongdoing. Still, she said, The latent fear from the election cycle of looking soft on crime snowballed into aiding and abetting Trumps total conflation of immigration with crime.Flamm said the act is likely to be challenged in court on its parameters directing mandatory detentions, as well as its granting legal standing to state attorneys general in immigration cases and policy. But she also predicted that a need to pay for more immigration detention centers will give advocates a chance to challenge how federal funds are appropriated to cover those costs.I think it is pivotal to understand: This bill, framed as connected to a tragic death, is pretext to fortify a mass deportation system, Flamm said.The signing of the Laken Riley Act follows a flurry of first-week executive orders by Trump that are designed to better seal off the U.S.-Mexico border and eventually move to deport millions of immigrants without permanent U.S. legal status. The new administration has also canceled refugee resettlement and says it may attempt to prosecute local law enforcement officials who do not enforce his new immigration policies.Were tracking down the illegal alien criminals and were detaining them and were throwing them the hell out of our country, Trump said. We have no apologies, and were moving forward very fast.Will Weissert, Associated Press

Promotion: a new fashion course at Loughborough University sets out to explore the most pressing issues facing the modern fashion industry.Students enrolling on the BA Fashion Design and Technology programme get to grips with challenges consuming the fashion industry and the quest to find substantive solutions. Themes include sustainability, digital wearables and the shift to sportswear.The course explores how breakthrough technologies are recalibrating the norms around design and manufacturing encompassing faster processes.The course teaches students both craftsmanship and digital design skillsAs well as learning about cutting-edge technology, students also delve into traditional craft methods to reflect on how clothes are made and worn in contemporary culture.Students have a chance to think conceptually as well as gain hands-on experience with traditional craft methods and new technology in three years full-time, or four years with a placement year."Our goal is to equip students with a forward-thinking approach to fashion, where innovation meets craftsmanship," said programme director Jenny Prendergast."We want our graduates to be at the forefront of the fashion industry, prepared to tackle tomorrow's design challenges with creativity, critical thinking, and cutting-edge skills."Students receive training in garment constructionThe course, which was developed together with fashion industry professionals, provides students with both grounding in traditional design techniques and practical experience of "state-of-the-art" fashion technologies.It takes a future-facing approach and encourages students to use creative solutions to solve today's design challenges, while also receiving in-depth training in traditional techniques and garment construction.Read: Ten textile design projects by students at Loughborough UniversityThe BA Fashion Design and Technology programme also teaches students about virtual prototyping, digital fashion trends and sustainable practices.To ensure its graduates enter the fashion job market with a competitive edge, the course also provides opportunities for students to intern, work on projects, and collaborate with leading global fashion brands.The BA Fashion and Technology will offer possibilities for internships at global brandsLoughborough University focuses on preparing the course's students to work in the ever-evolving fashion industry by taking a holistic approach to fashion education and training them in sustainability, digital design and craftsmanship."By combining the university's heritage of excellence with cutting-edge advancements, the BA Fashion Design and Technology programme is set to produce a new generation of designers who will shape the future of fashion," the university said.Loughborough University is a leading UK university and is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.To find out more about Loughborough University and the BA Fashion and Technology programme, visit its website here.Partnership contentThis article was written by Dezeen for Loughborough University as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Loughborough University's BA Fashion Design and Technology programme explores the ever-evolving fashion industry appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen Showroom: French design brand Edition 1.6.9 has worked with interior architect and designer Sandra Benhamou on a series of rugs with landscape-informed patterns.Tellus Mater rugs are made from a combination of wool, linen, merino, hemp, natural silk and bamboo fibres that are hand-crafted into striped, patch-like patterns evoking the appearance of topographical landscapes.Sandra Benhamou designed the collection in reference to landscapes as viewed from the airDifferent weaving styles including hand knotting, flat weave, boucl and sumac result in variations in the pile height and texture, which gives each rug a unique, organic aesthetic."The Tellus Mater collection evokes an intimate geography, blending territories and soils, zooming in and out on living memories of a desert, a stone quarry, a piece of marble, a stretch of sand, an aerial view, a journey, a landscape relief," said Edition 1.6.9.The rugs are characterised by neutral colourways"Sandra Benhamou has traced fault lines, crafted textures, and sought harmony, composing each rug as one would paint a canvas," the brand continued.The rugs come in various neutral colourways, from warm sandy and brown tones to patterns that combine darker charcoals and greys.Product details:Product: Tellus Mater rugsDesigner: Sandra BenhamouBrand: Edition 1.6.9Contact: london@edition169.comMaterial: linen, silk, wool, bamboo silk, hemp, mohairDimensions: 2500 millimetres x 3500 millimetres standard size (custom sizes available upon request)Dezeen ShowroomDezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.The post Tellus Mater rugs by Sandra Benhamou for Edition 1.6.9 appeared first on Dezeen.

I spotted this cargo truck while watching a video on Toyota's manufacturing plants in Japan. Look closely at the cab's wheels:Incredible. I don't think I've ever seen a tractor-trailer with four-wheel steering. It not only makes sense for Japan, with its narrow streets, but would make backing the truck up in confined spaces a heckuva lot easier in any country. Not to mention the reduced turning radius.The truck model is called the Profia, and it's made by Toyota subsidiary Hino. I do wonder if we'll ever see this in the 'States; I'd imagine anyone with a CDL who tries driving one of these would never want to go back.

If you're looking for the perfect gift for that herpetologist or ophiophile in your life, particularly if they're always running late, here you go. This is the Snake Watch, by a brand called Zbioland:"Wind up the power for the Snake by rotating the watch bezel. Activate and deactivate the Snake with a simple press of the upper button. When the snake power reserves is fully-wind [sic], about 5 rounds, the snake can move up to 60 seconds."It's up on Kickstarter for around $3K a pop. At press time it was falling short of its $14,639 goal with 17 days left to pledge.

Its definitely not everyones cup of tea, but many find the heat of a sauna actually relaxing. Most of these establishments are now found inside modern buildings, but a few try to offer a more rustic and nature-inspired experience with an outdoor sauna. Unsurprisingly, most of these are designed like small wooden cabins to blend with their surroundings and evoke that sense of a nature escape.What better way to connect with nature, however, than to build such a freestanding room in a way that doesnt hurt Mother Nature? At least not as much as a regular building would. Although a green sauna might not have been the original motivation for this Upcycled sauna, it still has the same effect of giving you peace of mind and body as you relieve your stress inside a box made from peoples trash or leftovers.Designer: Tom Dvok, Lenka Bak (ika architects)Plenty of materials dont make the cut in the process of making new products. Some materials are also simply discarded when theyve reached the end of their use. While it might be impossible to reuse them in the exact same product, unless they undergo some form of recycling, they could serve a new purpose in some other product thats completely unrelated to their original design.Wooden sleepers and pallets, for example, would become the foundation and structure of a cubical room that would eventually become this sustainable outdoor sauna. Sheep wool that would simply be thrown away is transformed into insulation that would keep the heat from escaping through the walls. Corrugate fiberglass laid out on a grid and layered like scales become the distinctive exterior of this sauna. Admittedly, it doesnt look like a work of art, but its true value lies not in what it has become but in what it has been.The materials were sourced from construction sites, locals, friends, and other people, giving what would become trash a new lease on life. Even more interesting is that, once you know how the sauna was made, you begin to wonder what story each piece has to tell. It gives the room an almost spiritual or at least social vibe, connecting you not just to the Earth but to people and places as well.To top it all off, theres a cooling pool outside, though it looks more like a tub for a single person. Its made from an old discarded mining cart thats painted gold, perhaps giving emphasis to the saying that one mans trash is another mans treasure.The post Outdoor sauna made from second-hand materials lets you truly relax with nature first appeared on Yanko Design.

Darth Vader was one of the first fictional characters that I really loved even though he was technically a villain. There was something about this tragic character that appealed to me and to millions of fans around the world given his popularity. The much maligned prequels, for all its faults, gave us even more insight into Anakin Skywalker and his transformation to the dark side. The Clone Wars series though cemented Anakin as one of my favorites. Sometimes, I wonder about an alternate timeline where he wouldnt have become one of the most dangerous villains in the Star Wars universe. Designer: BandaiWell never get the answer to that of course but at least with this newest toy, you get to raise Anakin. Of course hell still eventually become Darth Vader but at least you get different versions of him. Bandais newest Star Wars Tamagotchi lets you raise a digital pet version of Anakin Skywalker. Just like with other Tamagotchis, you need to feed and take care of him, but with a Star Wars twist. You have lightsaber drills and duels as part of your training and you can also take him to meet other popular characters from the universe. Aside from the usual Tamagotchi things, this one has several mini games like a letter hunt, lightsaber training, the famous/infamous trench run, and even a lightsaber duel with Obi Wan Kenobi and Like. There are also low-res sprite renditions of 12 iconic scenes from the Star Wars universe so there are a lot of things to do in this tiny body. Too bad theres no way that you can actually change the fate of Anakin but at least you will get 10 different Darth Vader outcomes, depending on how well you take care of little Anakin or how much you neglect him, as we all eventually do with our Tamagochis. When you get the Star Wars Darth Vader Tamagotchi, you also get a protective silicone case that is, as expected, shaped like the iconic helmet of this fan favorite villain. So you get a tiny Vader inside an egg-shaped Vader. Imagine how cute that would look like attached to your bag or keychain. Its available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released this March. Bandai previously released R2-D2 and Grogu Tamagotchis so its about time we got another iconic character. The post Raise Anakin to become Darth Vader in new Star Wars Tamagotchi first appeared on Yanko Design.

With performance that comes teasingly close to NVIDIA's flagship, the GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition looks tempting for ambitious but value-conscious creatives.

Eight years after the original Pebble smartwatch fizzled, a new team is working on a modern reboot using open source software. The e-paper screen is coming back too.