HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 EL NIÑO PREPARATIONAgenda Item 4
AGENDA REPORT Reviewed:
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City Manager
Finance Director N/A
MEETING DATE. OCTOBER 6, 2015
TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER. CITY MANAGER
FROM: DOUGLAS S. STACK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: EL NINO PREPARATION
SUMMARY
At the August 18, 2015 City Council meeting, Council Member Murray requested an update on
preparations for the upcoming EI Nino event that is being forecast by meteorologists.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN
This item contributes to the fulfillment of the City's Strategic Plan Goal B: Public Safety and
Protection of Assets. Specifically, by implementing Strategy 2, which is to enhance Tustin's
readiness to respond to major disasters.
DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
Public Works, Police and Emergency Management staff have been tracking information
provided by research centers regarding the potential effects of the upcoming EI Nino. The EI
Nino phenomenon is generally characterized by exceptionally warm water in the Pacific Ocean
and specific atmospheric conditions that together have the potential to distort weather patterns
around the world. While researchers are preparing the world for a strong EI Nino event this
winter, it remains unclear how much rain Southern California may receive.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction
Center there is a greater than 95% chance that EI Niho will continue through Northern
Hemisphere winter 2015-16, and around an 85% chance it will last into early spring 2016. EI
Nino is most prevalent across Southern California. Unfortunately most State Project water
supply is located in Northern California. Record dry and hot conditions have significantly
impacted water resources throughout the State. 2015 is the fourth consecutive drought year
and the seventh dry year out of the last eight in California. EI Nino does not guarantee recorded
breaking rainfall or a drought ending year.
A key outcome in relieving drought conditions Statewide will be consecutive years of above-
average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Keep in mind, snowpack hit its lowest level
in recorded history last year in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Although much needed rain
will help groundwater recharge, EI Nino generally produces warmer pacific storms that are not
EI Nino Preparation
October 6, 2015
Page 2
necessarily ideal for snow at higher elevations. That being said, the Public Works Department
is taking actions now to prepare for a wet winter.
Each and every year the Field Services Division prepares for possible flooding related to storms
in the winter months. Preparations include:
■ Cleaning storm water catch basins to remove debris accumulated during the dry season
■ Purchasing sandbags and sand for distribution at the City Yard and Fire Station 43
(11490 Pioneer Way) and additional City Stations in coordination with Orange County
Fire Authority
■ Preparing 300 sandbags for City deployment.
■ Assessing equipment and making repairs as needed.
■ Evaluating the emergency supply inventory and replenishing supplies as needed.
■ Ensuring facility roofs are debris free and show no signs of deficiency.
■ Providing refresher training to employees on the use of chainsaws and other
infrequently used equipment that may be necessary for efficient response.
■ Reviewing communication procedures with personnel, including updating emergency
contact information.
Although Field Services staff receives annual training that focuses on responding to
emergencies related to winter weather, it is important to remember that an emergency can strike
at any time and without warning. Therefore, emergency response training is ongoing. All
department employees are aware of their responsibility to assume the duties of a disaster
worker in the event of a locally declared emergency and are encouraged to develop family
emergency plans in case they are on duty for extended periods of time.
One new response technique is available to Field Services this year. On August 1, 2015, the
City entered into two new landscape maintenance contracts. These contracts are labor based
and require that each contractor provide 10 employees, 5 days per week, rain or shine. These
individuals can be utilized to assist in emergency response, working alongside City staff.
Similarly, staff from the City's tree maintenance contractor can be utilized for tree and branch
removal if necessary. If required during a major disaster, the City may also utilize the services
of Ashbritt, Incorporate. Ashbritt is under contract to the County and City to provide a wide
variety of disaster support services.
The Water Services Division is generally less impacted by rain events than the Field Services
Division. Monitoring of wells, treatment plants, and reservoirs is ongoing, with increased
frequency during periods of severe weather. Should it become necessary, available Water
Services staff may be required to assist Field Services staff address issues of flooding or other
needs around the community. Water Services staff attends the same annual trainings as Field
Services staff and is equipped to participate in emergency response efforts.
Engineering staff is prepared for delays on construction projects that are in progress at Tustin
Legacy. Construction on bare land essentially stops during significant rain and for three days
after such an event to allow the soil to dry enough to resume activity. Back to back storms
similar to those experienced during the 1997-98 EI Nino have the potential to halt construction
at Tustin Legacy through the spring. The construction of Moffett Drive and Park Avenue is the
only City project that is currently underway and could be impacted. Construction projects in
developed areas are generally not impacted to the degree those at Tustin Legacy are during a
rain event. Storm water runoff mitigation measures are planned and can be deployed to ensure
work continues.
EI Nino Preparation
October 6, 2015
Page 3
Engineering personnel are also prepared to deploy in the event that supplemental resources are
necessary to help prioritize response efforts by field crews, working in coordination with Police
and Orange County Fire Authority personnel.
Police Department staff will review field response procedures with Public Works staff and the
Emergency Management Coordinator will prepare and distribute a refresher for activation of the
City's Emergency Operations Plan and mutual aid procedures. The Emergency Management
Coordinator will also ensure that the City's Emergency Operations Center is ready for any
contingency. The City's Emergency Operations Center is currently undergoing a major remodel
and will be fully available for use in December. In the interim, the Finance Department will be
utilized as the backup Emergency Operations Center.
Orange County Operational Area Readiness
A 1993 California law established the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS),
which mandated the manner in which local governments organized their response to disasters.
A destructive storm event will likely impact more than one local government, so SEMS provides
a framework for inter -agency coordination and communication. Under SEMS, the Operational
Area includes all 34 cities, the unincorporated communities, and special districts within the
County.
Orange County is designated to serve as the day-to-day Operational Area Coordinator and
facilitates ongoing planning and preparedness activities for the Operational Area. As an
example, the OC Sheriff's Department Emergency Management Division in partnership with OC
Public Works convened a 2015 Pre -Storm Season- Winter Weather Workshop on Wednesday,
September 23, 2015 at the County/Operational Area Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
The workshop featured subject matter experts from the National Weather Services, US Army
Corp of Engineers, Orange County Water District, Orange County Sanitation District, the County
Departments of Sheriff, Public Works, and Environmental Resources, all designed to educate
and inform a wide cross section of the emergency preparedness and response community. City
personnel attended this workshop with well over 100 regional emergency management
representatives and operation personnel.
Conclusion
The City Departments, especially the key public safety and emergency management
departments (Police, Fire, Public Works, and City Manager's Office), remain committed to
carrying out an effective unity of effort during the coming storm season. This includes utilizing a
unified command structure, when a particular incident warrants it, in order to ensure:
■ The safety of first responders and the community.
w The protection of the environment and property.
The achievement of tactical objectives.
■ The efficient use of resources.
The City's flood control system is well positioned to capture storm water for the purpose of
conveyance to larger regional flood protection channels. More susceptible areas that included
Irvine Boulevard from Prospect Avenue to Holt Avenue, Main Street undercrossing at State
Route 55 and the lower lying tract areas of Pepper Tree and Tustin Meadows will be monitored
closely during events, especially if multiple storms arrive in close succession. As always, sand
and sand bags will be available to the community at the Corporate Yard, located at 1472
Service Road and Fire Station 43. Keep in mind our entire system of roadway/right-of-way
collection is designed for open channel hydraulics with the purpose of containing and conveying
a minimum 10 -year and 25 -year storm frequency within the travel way. Larger regional flood
El Nino Preparation
October 6, 2015
Page 4
control facilities and newer legacy backbone facilities (i,e. Tustin Ranch Road) are designed for
100 -year frequency. Drivers should always use extreme caution when driving in heavy or
sustained precipitation.
09 t Stack, P.E.
Dir t r f Public Works/City Engineer
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