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—PREP

ARED

NESS

y

De

partme

nt

Los

Angel

es Co

unty O f f

i c e

o f  

E m

ergenc

y 

M

anage

ment 

1

Los

A

ngeles

 Co u

nty F i r

e De par

tment

2

Los A

ngeles

 

Cou

nty

Depar

tme nt

o f P u b l

i c Works

 

2

L

os An

geles Cou

nty

h e r i f f

  s

Depa

rtmen

t

4

Lo

s Ang

eles Coun

ty

De par

tme nt

f

 

Parks

and

Re

creatio

n

4

L

os Ange

les Count

y D

epart

me nt f

 Bea

ches and

Harb

ors

4

Out

line of

 an Eme

rgenc

y Resp

onse

Pro

gram 

RESPO

NSE Durin

g

a R ai

n

E ve

nt)

Los

Angel

es C

ounty O f f

i c e

o f

E m

ergen

cy Manag

ement

5

  l l

De part

me nts

5

Los A

ngeles

 

C

ounty F

i r e

Depar

tme nt

5

Los A

ngeles

 Cou

nty

P u b l i

c

H e

a l t h

6

Los An

geles

Co un

ty S h e r i f f

  s  De

partme

nt

6

Los Ang

eles

Co unt

y Depa r

tme nt

f P u b

l i c W

orks

6

O

utline

 o

f an Em

ergen

cy Res

ponse

 Pr

ogram

 

RE

COVER

Y

6

ITEM 2

Status of

capacity 

at

the 

County s

flood

control 

a c i l i t i e s

and

re adiness of the County s

spr

eading

 

grou

nds to captu

re  

storm

 

w

ater to

 rep

lenish g

roundw

ater 

basins

Summa

ry

 

7

Ba

ckgrou

nd  

7

St

atus o f

Capac

ity

7

R ead

iness

of Spre

ading

Ground

s

o

R

epleni

sh Groun

dwater

 

B

asins

10

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ITEM

Afire

preparedness

and response

plan since EI Nino

events

can

lead

to i l d f i r e s and

mudslid

es

Summary

 

1

Background

 

11

  i r e

Preparedness and

response

p l a n

11

ITEM

An utline

of

a

Comprehensive

EI

Nino

Communication

Plan

to

keep

the public and

other

agencies

informed using One

oice Messaging

Background

 

12

Communication Plan:

Guiding

P r i n c i p l e s

and

O u t l i n e

12

Next

Steps

14

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ITEM

1

Outline

of an

emergency

response

program that

includes

l l

relevant

County

Departments

i n preparing,

responding

and

recovering

from the

predicted EI Nino event

Summary

Emergency

Management s

made

up

of the

f o l l o w i n g phases:

Mitigation

Preparedness

Emergency

Management

Recovery

Response

For

the

p r e d i c t e d E I Nino

event, the County

i s

concurrently

i n

the

M i t i g a t i o n an d

Preparedn ess phase.

Examples

of

ongoing m i t i g a t i o n

e f f o r t s

include

the

Department

of

Public

Works

renovation of h e i r f l o o d

c o n t r o l features, the Department

of Public H e a l t h s

Ocean Monitoring

program

and

the County F i r e

Department s

vegetation

management,

r e f o r e s t a t i o n ,

and

land

r e h a b i l i t a t i o n

program.

This

r e p o r t

w i l l

f u r t h e r

d e t a i l

out the

preparedness,

response, and

recovery

phases

b y

h i g h l i g h t i n g the e f f o r t s

of

n d i v i d u a l

departments.

A l l

f i r s t

responder

County

Departments

c l o s e l y

monitor the

weather r e p o r t s t h a t

are

issued

b y

the

N a t i o n a l

Weather Service

NWS).

Depending

on

the

f o r e c a s t , various

l e v e l s

of readiness are t r i g g e r e d .

Outline of

an

Emeraencv

Response

P rogram —

By

Department

PREPAREDNESS

Before

a a i n

event)

Los

Angeles

County

Office

of

Emergency

Management OEM)

  f

the

NWS

dvises

t h a t an

upcoming

storm i n the County i s

forecast o b e s i g n i f i c a n t —

forexample,

h a t

t

w i l l

have

high

r a i n f a l l i n t e n s i t y

and/or t h r e a t of mudslides

i n

h i l l s i d e

areas,

then:

o

O M

i l l e s t a b l i s h

an

Operational

Area

Severe

Weather

Conference

C a l l

w i t h

County

departments,

independent c i t y

representatives and response

and recovery p a r t n e r s .

T h es e a l l s

w i l l

commence efore

the

storm

s t r i k e s ,

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and

continue

through

the

response and

recovery

phase

as

d i c t a t e d by the

i n c i d e n t .

o Basic

n o t i f i c a t i o n

group

me s sa g e s i l l be sent by

the

OEM u t y O f f i c e r

which

w i l l

i n c l u d e

the

o l l o w i n g

element s):

 

Weat h e r o r e c a s t

 

Countywide

common

p e r a t i o n a l

p i c t u r e

  I n d i v i d u a l

j u r i s d i c t i o n a l needs

 

A c t i v a t i o n

o f e m e r g e n c y p e r a t i o n centers

  Status

of evacuations

 

S h e l t e r

o p e r a t i o n a l s t a t u s

  Animal s h e l t e r s

o p e r a t i o n a l

s t a t u s

  Eme r g e n c y

Proclamations

 

A d d i t i o n a l

p e r t i n e n t

i n f o r m a t i o n

as i c t a t e d by

events

Los

n g e l e s

C o u n t y

F i r e

D e p a r tm e n t F i r e

De pa r tm en t )

Th e

F i r e

Department

provides

i r e

p r o t e c t i o n

and

l i f

s a f e t y

s e r v i c e s

t o 58

i t i e s

and

the

unincorporated areas

o f Los

Ange les County.

Th e F i r e

Department provides

s e r v i c e s

t o

o v e r 4 i l l i o n

r e s i d e n t s and

as

w e l l as

p r o t e c t i n g

th o usands

f

acres

of watershed.

Th e

F i r e Department takes

a

c omprehensive

approach

i n

i t s e m e r g e n c y

preparedness

p l a n n i n g f o r

w i n t e r

storms and

r e l a t e d

floods and d e b r i s

f l o w s . This

i n c l u d e s a p r o - a c t i v e

approach and

ongoing

communication

w i t h t h e i r s t a f f , t h e i r

a s s i s t i n g

agencies,

and

the

general

p u b l i c by

addressing

the

o l l o w i n g :

  P u b l i c

education about

s w i f t w a t e r and mud/debris f l o w

through

p r e

- i d e n t i f i e d

burned

and

prone

areas through

our l o c a l

f i r

personnel and

the media.

 

D a i l y

m o n i t o r i n g o f

weather

and

e a r l y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f

r e q u i r e d

s t a f f i n g .

 

Pre-season

t r a i n i n g

t o

i n c l u d e

s w i f t w a t e r

t r a i n in g , v a l i d a t i o n

o f

proper

equipment,

s a f e t y

messaging

t o emp lo y e e s ,

and ensuring

o p e r a t i o n a l

readiness.

 

Pre

-deployment o f sand and

sandbags a t

f i r e

s t a t i o n s and

other i r e department

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s i t e s .

Operational readiness i l l be

augmented i n advance f adverse

weather

bypre-deploying

a d d i t i o n a l

resources,

s u c h

as

s w i f t

water

t eams and

h e l i c o p t e r s , t o

p r o v i d e

q u i c k

t r a n s p o r t a t i o n

and

support rescue

o p e r a t i o n s .

L o s

An g e l e s C o u n t y

D epartment

o f

Pub lic Works

P u b l i c Works)

See

TEM

2

n

t h i s

r e p o r t f o r

s t a t u s o f

the

l o o d c o n t r o l

system

t h a t

i s

maintained

by

P u b l i c

Wor ks.

P u b l i c

Wor ks,

through i t s

f u n c t i o n of

the Los

Ange les

Co un t y

Waterworks

D i s t r i c t s

 LACWD),

provides

water s e r v i c e t o

approximately 240,000 people

i n

f i v e

D i s t r i c t s

throughout Los Ange les

County,

i n c l u d i n g areas i n the

Antelope V a l l e y , Acton,

Kagel

Can y on ,

Malibu/Topanga,

Ran c h o

D om i n g u e z Water

Syst em, and

Val

Verde.

I n a d d i t i o n ,

LACWD l s o operates

and

maintains the Marina

Del

R e y

Water

Sy s t em o n

b e h a l f o f

the

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Los

Angeles County Department

of Beaches and Harbors and manages the

water u a l i t y

programs

o r

the

C i t y

of Lomita

and

Peter

.

Pitchess

Honor

Rancho water systems.

The

LACWD has an Emergency

Response

Plan

t h a t

covers

storm

events.

Based on

i n s p e c t i o n

the

o l l o w i n g i s the s t a t u s

of

the

Waterworks i s t r i c t s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e :

 

88

Pump

t a t i o n s

and

Well

S i t e s

were

inspected

and

found

t o

be

storm

ready.

 

3 o t e n t i a l l y storm v u l n e r a b l e

water r e s e r v o i r

s i t e s

were inspected and access

was

ound

t o be

n need of

e p a i r . The r e p a i r s w i l l be

completed

p r i o r t o the

storm

season.

P u b l i c

Works

a n t i c i p a t e s c e r t a i n

c o n d i t i o n s t o a f f e c t the t r a n s p o r t a t i o n

network

t h a t

i n c l u d e s :

 

Rockslides and

sloughing from h i l l s i d e s

adjacent o County

-maintained

roadways,

p o t e n t i a l l y

causing u l l

or

p a r t i a l

road

c l o s u r e s .

 

Impacts o road shoulders,

and

clogged

road d r a i n s .

 

a l l e n t r e e

branches

impacting

p e d e s t r i a n

and

v e h i c u l a r

t r a v e l .

 

i g h t

mudflows

causing unsafe

d r i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s

on

r u r a l

and

mountain

roads.

  o t e n t i a l

moderate

mudflows

n

areas

near

recent w i l d f i r e s .

  P o w er

outages a t

County

-maintained t r a f f i c

s i g n a l s

and P u b l i c

Works

yards

and

b u i l d i n g s .

To

prepare f o r

these a n t i c i p a t e d

adverse

c o n d i t i o n s

P u b l i c Works has

been

and w i l l

continue o

do

the

o l l o w i n g :

 

n s p e c t i n g

roadway

u l v e r t s and

c l e a r i n g

i n l e t

areas

of

o c k s

v e g e t a t i o n and

i r t

t o ensure

storm r u n o f f can be

adequately

drained

from

the

roadways.

 

n s p e c t i n g road d r a i n s t o

ensure r i p r a p and

other

p r o t e c t i o n s are

n

p l a c e

t o

a v o i d

the

p o s s i b i l i t y of roadways

being

washed

out due o

heavy

r u n o f f .

  reparation t o

close

roadways

as

necessary

when

c o n d i t i o n s w a r r a n t

or

as

requested

by

the C a l i f o r n i a

Highway P a t r o l (CHP).

  l e a r i n g road shoulders

o

remove e b r i s r o c k s and

v e g e t a t i o n i n order o a l l o w

f o r

proper

drainage

of storm

r u n o f f

i n t o

road

d r a i n s .

 

l e a r i n g t r a s h

racks

and areas

behind

K

- r a i l s

i n

areas

h a t

were

f f e c t e d by

recent

w i l d f i r e s .

 

Pre

- p o s i t i o n

heavy equipment

near areas

h a t

are

i k e l y

t o

s u s t a i n

mudflows,such

as those a f f e c t e d by

recent w i l d f i r e s .

  Reviewing

procedures

f o r

assembling

a

B a i l e y

Bridge

when

needed

t o r e p l a c e

c e r t a i n

bridges d u r i n g

emergencies.

 

Ensuring

t h a t

as

-needed

emergency

c o n t r a c t s

are ready

o

be

used

f o r

s e r v i c e s

such

as

r e e

trimming, debris

removal, and

h a u l

t r u c k s .

 

Reviewing

procedures

o r

documenting

storm

damage

n order

o

p r o p e r l y apply

f o r

d i s a s t e r

r e l i e f

Conducting

pre

-storm checks

of

the

e l e c t r i c a l

systems

a t

P u b l i c Works

l o o d

maintenance a c i l i t i e s .

 

Conducting f u n c t i o n a l i t y

t e s t s of mobile

p o r t a b l e

e l e c t r i c a l

generators

and

emergency

road

c l o s u r e

equipment.

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  M a i n t a i n i n g an ample

t o c k o f

road

b a r r i c a d e s , road

s i g n s , sandbags,

oad

cones,

hand t o o l s ,

chainsaw b l a d e s ,

stop

signs

and

others

emergency

e v i c e s .

The Lo s

Angeles

County S h e r i f f s

Department

S h e r i f f epartment)

I n

advance

o f

storm

season,

he

S h e r i f f s

Department

i l l

o

Review Emergency

Operations Procedures,

EOP

- 6 ,

Storm and Mud

-Flow

Warnings

along w i t h W i l d f i r e Procedures

o be

conducted

d u r i n g

i n - s e r v i c e

b r i e f i n g s

f o r

a l l

p a t r o l

p e r s o n n e l .

o

PerForm

the

annual

i n s p e c t i o n

o f

each

p a t r o l

u n i t t o

ensure

W i l d f i r e / S t o r m

and Mud

-Flow

Supplemental

Emergency

Plans are i n p l a c e .

o

D i s t r i b u t e

hazard maps

when a p p l i c a b l e ) t o

p a t r o l

s t a t i o n s

o f

b u r n areas

and

p o t e n t i a l flood/mud

f l o w

l o c a t i o n s t o

i n c l u d e c r i t i c a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e

c h e c k l i s t s .

o

D i s t r i b u t e Emergency

Connex

Boxes o

each p a t r o l

u n i t

c o n t a i n i n g

MRE s

(Meals Ready o

Eat)

l e e p i n g

bags

and

o t h e r emergency u p p l i e s .

o

D i s t r i b u t e

sandbags

o

each

p a t r o l u n i t

f o r p u b l i c

d i s t r i b u t i o n .

o Coordinate

w i t h

o t h e r

County

Departments

and

mutual

a i d

c i t i e s

f o r

c o l l e c t i v e

p u b l i c

i n f o r m a t i o n

d i s s e m i n a t i o n

v i a

A l e r t

LA

County

and

s o c i a l

media.

o Coordinate

w i t h mutual

a i d

agencies

o r

resources

and a s s i s t a n c e .

Los

Angeles County

Department o f Pa rks and

Recreation

I n

a n t i c i p a t i o n

o f the

upcoming E I Nino

season,

he

Department f

Parks and

R e c r e a t i o n

has

d o ne or i s

p l a n n i n g

t o d o

a c i l i t y i n s p e c t i o n s

which i n c l u d e

the

o l l o w i n g :

o

Cleaning of o o f d r a i n s ,

storm d r a i n s and

catch

b a s i n s .

o

Assessing the

i n t e g r i t y

of

r o o f s ,

r a i n

g u t t e r s .

o

E v a l u a t i n g areas and

p l a c i n g sand

bags

as

needed.

o

T r a i n i n g the

t a f f

t o

recognize

r e e s

s t r e s s e d by

dro ught which may e m o re

prone o

f a l l i n g

d u r i n g

a

storm. M a i n t a i n i n g ,

removing

and/or i f t i n g

the

r e e s

when needed.

Los Angeles

County

Department

o f Beaches

an d

Harbors

There

are

16

p r o t e c t i v e

sand

berms

u i l t t o p r o t e c t

County p r o p e r t y t h a t i s

along

c o a s t a l

areas

o f

M a l i b u ,

Venice

Beach,

Dockweiler Beach and Hermosa

Beach.

A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

u l l

sandbags

are o f f e r e d t o the

p u b l i c a t s i x maintenance

y a r d s :

Zuma Beach,

i l l

Rogers

Beach,

Venice

Beach,

Dockweiler

Beach,

Manhattan

Beach, and

Torrance

Beach.

L a s t l y , many

L i f e g u a r d towers are

p u l l e d back away

from

the

c o a s t l i n e t o

a v o i d damage

d u r i n g h i g h

c o a s t a l

surge

events h a t

o f t e n accompany

a

storm system.

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Outline

of an Emergency Response

Program

RESPONSE

During a r a i n

event)

Office

of Emergency

Management

Monitor

o r damages

i t h i n

the

unincorporated

areas

and

coordinate

any

damage

i n f o r m a t i o n r e p o r t s

r e c e i v e d

from

the

c i t i e s . This i n c l u d e s :

o

High

r i s k areas

i n

c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h

c i t i e s .

o

Adjust

the County

Emergency

Operation Center

a c t i v a t i o n

l e v e l

based

on

r a i n events

or

number o f c i t i e s a c t i v a t i n g

t h e i r

Emergency

Operation

Centers.

o

A c t i v a t e

the

Operational

Area

Reporting

and Recovery

System

OARRS)

computer

based

a p p l i c a t i o n so t h a t

a l l governmental p a r t n e r s

are

communicating

o p e r a t i o n a l

s t a t u s

through

a

common

p e r a t i n g p r o t o c o l

o

A s s i s t i n

the

c o o r d i n a t i o n o f mutual

a i d requests throughou t

the County.

o

Communicate

w i t h

the Governor s O f f i c e

of

Emergency Services f o r an y

assistance

n e e d e d

w i t h i n

the

County and

t o r e p o r t

out

the

County s

s t a t u s

o

Monitor

l l

County

department s

responses

t o

any

r a i n

event a c t i v i t i e s .

o

Coordinate w i t h the

A u d i t o r

C o n t r o l l e r s

O f f i c e t o

set up

t r a c k i n g

numbers

t o capture

l l

costs

associated w i t h

eac h

r a i n

event.

o

Provide

ongoing

s i t u a t i o n a l

updates v i a

the Basic

N o t i f i c a t i o n

Group

r e p o r t i n g

system.

A l l

Departments

W i l l

f o l l o w Statewide Emergency

Management System BEMs) r o t o c o l s

w h e n

a c t i n g as

a i r s t

responder

t o damage

aused

by

severe

r a i n

events.

o

At

the

f i e l d

response

l e v e l t h i s

means

ensuring

t h a t

t h e r e

i s

a

command

element

of a p p r o p r i a t e a u t h o r i t y ( i n c i d e n t

c omman d er or u n i f i e d

command

i c o n d i t i o n s warrant)

n order

o

c a r r y

out

a c t i c a l

d e c i s i o n s . A

standardized

command

t r u c t u r e

and process

u t i l i z i n g the

N a t i o n a l

I n c i d e n t Management

System NIMS)

i l l

be used t o d i r e c t

personnel

and

resources

i n

order

t o

p r o t e c t l i f e p r o p e r t y

and

the

environment, and

m a i n t a i n

c o n t r o l

and

support

continued

operations of government.

Los

Angeles Co u n t y F i r e

Department

F i r e Department)

Response/Mitigation

T h e F i r e

Department

provides

a

robust response t o

b o t h s w i f t w a t e r and/or m u d an d

debris

f l o w

i n c i d e n t s .

A l l f i r e f i g h t e r s and

l i f e g u a r d

personnel

have

been

t r a i n e d

i n

b a s i c

s w i f t w a t e r t r a i n i n g .

I n

a d d i t i o n , the F i r e

Department

deploys

h i g h l y

t r a i n e d

personnel an d

response v e h i c l e s t h a t

are capable

o f

p r o v i d i n g

t e c h n i c a l

rescue a s s i s t a n c e .

A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

the

F i r e

Department r o u t i n e l y

uses

heavy equipment (dozers

p r i m a r i l y ) and F i r e

Suppression

hand crews

t o f a c i l i t a t e the

f i l l i n g of sandbags, mud/debris

removal,

an d

o v e r a l l

manpower.

Page5

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During

r a i n events the F i r e

Department

o u t i n e l y

p a t r o l s

and monitors the

f l o o d prone

an d

burned

areas

w i t h i n i t s

j u r i s d i c t i o n .

I n

the event

of

a

s i g n i f i c a n t event the

F i r e

Department

r o u t i n e l y

a c t i v a t e s o n e

o f t h e i r

three a l l

-hazard

I n c i d e n t

Ma n a g e m e n t

Teams

IMT),

s t a f f e d w i t h 5

personnel,

t o

e f f e c t i v e l y

lead/manage

s uc h an i n c i d e n t .

G e n e r a l l y ,

the IMT

w i l l be

a

u n i f i e d

i n c i d e n t

command

i t h law enforcement

and

P u b l i c

Works.

Publ ic

Health

Publ ic

Health)

P u b l i c Health h as

a

th orough E I

Nin o response

wo r k p l a n

which provides

f o r

P u b l i c

I n f o r m a t i o n ,

Disease

S u r v e i l l a n c e ,

Environmental

H e a l t h ,

Community H e a l t h , P u b l i c

Health E m e r g e n c y

Preparedness

and

Respo nse, a nd

V e t e r i n a r y

P u b l i c H e a l t h see

attached

E I Nin o

R e s p o n s e

A c t i v i t i e s

r e p o r t ) .

The h e r i f f s

D e p a r t m e n t

i l l :

  D i r e c t

t r a f f i c

and

e f f e c t road

c l o s u r e s .

 

Conduct evacuations.

  Provide s e c u r i t y

f o r

road

closures and evacuated

areas.

 

Deploy

Aero Bureau

s p e c i a l i z e d

teams

o r

w i l d f i r e

suppression, w i f t

-water

rescues,

and

search

and

rescue

o p e r a t i o n s .

 

Deploy

Search

and

Rescue

teams i n canyon

and mountain

areas.

Publ ic Works

i l l :

 

Quickly m o b i l i z e t o

r e s t o r e

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t

maintains roads, waterworks a c i l i t i e s

f l o o d

c o n t r o l f a c i l i t i e s , e t c . )

t o

safe

c o n d i t i o n s .

 

Close roads as

necessary

w h e n

storm c o n d i t i o n s w a r r a n t ,

or

as requested

by

the

CHP r S h e r i f f .

 

P a t r o l r u r a l or mountain roads and

push f a l l e n

rocks

and

mudfl ows

t o the s i d e

o f

the

road as

necessary.

 

n urban areas

w he r e

there i s

a

h i g h

n u m b e r

o f

d ow n e d

t r e e

l i m b s ,

crews are

deployed t o cut the limbs

and push t hem t o the s i d e

of

the

road t o

a v o i d

impacts

t o

p e d e s t r i a n

and

v e h i c u l a r

t r a f f i c .

  Monitor

l o c a l i z e d

f l o o d i n g and

mudflows,

e s p e c i a l l y i n r u r a l areas and

mountain

roadways,

and

take

c o r r e c t i v e

mea s u r e s

as

necessary.

Outline

o f an E m e r g e n c y

R e s p o n s e

P r o g r a m

RECOVERY

Restore

s e r v i c e s

or

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e

t o

p r e

-event

c o n d i t i o n

 

f

a

storm

event

creates s i g n i f i c a n t

damage

n the

r e g i o n :

Pa ge

6

f

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o OEM i l l

c o l l e c t

I n i t i a l Damage stimates

from

c i t i e s

Special D i s t r i c t s

and

County

departments.

o I f damages s u f f i c e

the

Board of Supervisors may

p r o c l a i m a

l o c a l

emergency.

This may l s o

t r i g g e r

a

request o the

Governor

o r a State

o f

E m e r g e n c y

and t o

the

e d e r a l government

o r

a

P r e s i d e n t i a l

D e c l a r a t i o n .

o

I f State of

E m e r g e n c y

proclaimed,

the

State

and

f e d e r a l

f i n a n c i a l

reimbursement

process

i l l be

invoked.

o OEM i l l continue

t o monitor

Operational

Area

need s and

o p e r a t i o n a l

recovery

and

c o o r d i n a t i o n .

ITEM 2

Status of apacity at the County's

flood control a c i l i t i e s a n d

readiness

of

h e

County's

spr eading

grounds to

capture

storm

water

to

replenish groundwater basins

Summary

P u b l i c

Works

performs

maintenance a c t i v i t i e s

i n c l u d i n g

those r e l a t e d

t o

storm

season

p r e p a r a t i o n

on a year round b a s i s .

T h e f l o o d

c o n t r o l

and

storm

water

capture

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e i s

i n a n o v e r a l l good

s t a t e

of

p e r a t i o n a l

readiness o r an above average

amount

f seasonal a i n f a l l This

system helps e p l e n i s h

the

groundwater

q u i f e r s

which

p r o v i d e

approximately n e - t h i r d of o c a l

water

u p p l i e s .

B a c k groun d

P u b l i c

Works

Public Works)

rovides u s t a i n a b l e

water

supplies

and

h e a l t h y watersheds

w h i l e reducing f l o o d

r i s k f o r our

communities.

A

u b s t a n t i a l

p a r t

of

the necessary

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e i s

an

extensive

network

of

d a m s ,

e b r i s b a s i n s

channels, torm

d r a i n s

and

spreading

grounds.

Status

of capacity

14 ajor Dams nd Reservoirs

P u b l i c Works'

major dams re designed

f o r

extreme

storm events such a s the one h a t

occurred

i n 1938. Every

year

personnel

and

f a c i l i t i e s

are

prepared

t o

operate

o r such

events.

Successful

a l v e

t e s t s

f o r the dams er e conducted

o l l o w i n g the 2014-15 storm

season

and

e s t i n g w i l l

be

completed

again p r i o r t o the

t a r t

of he 2015-16

storm season.

Since 2005 P u b l i c Works

h a s imp lemented

approximately

50 i l l i o n

i n

c o n s t r u c t i o n

p r o j e c t s t o

increase

dam

p e r a t i o n a l r e l i a b i l i t y

and

over 110 m i l l i o n

t o

increase

storm

water capture

and

dam

a f e t y . This

a r g e c a p i t a l investment

h a s

e s u l t e d

i n

a

remarkable

o p e r a t i o n a l

readiness

of he l o o d

c o n t r o l system

t o

reduce l o o d r i s k f o r the communities

of Los

Angeles County

and

t o improve

storm water

capture and

groundwater recharge

f o r l o c a l

s u s t a i n a b l e

water

supply.

P ag e

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D

am 

i n f r a

s t r u c t u r e

  im

proveme

nts f o r

r e l i b i l

i t y have

  i n

c l u d e d r e p

l a c i n g / u

p g r a d i n g

e l e c t r i c a l

 

and

me

chanical

 

system

s and

i n

l e t o u t l e

t

work

s

c o

n s i s t i n g

 

o f

g a

t e s , v

a l v e s , and

c o n t r o l

s , whic

h  ena

ble  mor

e e f

f e c t i v e

and e f f i c

i e n t dam

o p e

r a t i o n s . D

am s a f

e t y

impro

vements

 have

i n c l u d e

d  

r e h a b i l i t a

t i n g da

m

t

r u c t u r e s

 t o meet

u r r

e n t State seism

ic

and

s p i

l l w a y stan

dards.

These

sta

ndard

r e

q u i r e

the dams

 

o

 s a f e l y

 w i

t h s t a n d a

Maximu

m

Credible

Earthquake

(the

l a r g e s t

magnitude

earthquake

g e o l o g i s t  

consider

p o s s i b l e

f o r

the

ne

arby f a u l t s

wh

ich

could

a f f e c t th

e

dam

)

nd

t o

s a f e l y

pass

a

Pr

obable

Ma

ximum

Flood

(the 

most

 i n t e n s e

 

conceiv

ab le

storm eve

nt —co

nsidere

d t o occur

o n l y

onc

e

i n

10,00

0 y e a r s

  .

With

the

major

dams

eing

 

c o n s t r u c

t e d

i n

the

 19 2

0 s and

 

19

30 s, 

t h e i r

de s

igns had

l i m i t e d

 

sei

smic

c o n s i d e

r a t i o n s

and s

maller p

i l l w a y s  tha

n c u r r e n t

l y

r e q u i r

e d .

C onsequ

ently,

he am

ount o

f storm

wate

r

h a t c

ould b

e captu

red and h e l d i

n

t

he r e s e r v o i

r s

was e s t r i c

t e d

f o r

 

s a f e t y

reasons

.

Upgr

ading

the  se

ismic 

s a f e t y

of

the

major

 

da

ms 

as

allo

wed

f o r

t

he removal

 o f

 

m

andated

 

o

p e r a t i o n

a l

r

e s t r i c t i o

n s a

nd increas

ed the st

orm

wat

er

capture

c a p a c i t y

 

o f

the r

e s e r v o i r s

.

A l l

o f

P u b l i c

 Works

14

maj

or dam

s are

f

u l l y

o p e r

a t i o n a l .

Val

ve system

s have be

en

upgraded 

and/or 

e f u r b i s h e d ,

and

l l

maintenance work has been

completed.  

A l l

14

dams

have bee

n c e

r t i f i e d by the

State

and are ready f o r

 the

upco

ming sto

rm seaso

n t o s t o r e

a

nd

con

serve w a

t e r . Cur

rent 

c a p a c

i t y  and s t a t

u s

o f

P

u b l i c Work

s

14

maj

or

d

ams

s

a

s

f o

l l o w s :

11

Dams

(Big Dalto

n, Big

Tujung

a,

C o

gswell,

 

D e v i

l s

G

ate, Eato

n

Wash Live O

ak

P

acoima

  Puddi

ngston

e 

D

iversion

, San

Dima

s 

S

an G

abriel, Thomp

son

Creek):

  C e r

t i f i e d by

Stat

e

f o r

 

f

u l l

r e

s e r v o i r

sto

rage

S t

orm 

Valv

e 

Capacity

:

1 0 0 °

/ o

S p i l l w a y

 

Cap

acity: Able

 

t

o pas

s

t

he probab

le max

imum l o o d

even

t

1 Da

m

Morris

 

Dam:

 

e r t i f i e d by

 Stat

e

o r

f u l l   r e s e r v o i

r

s

torag e

S tor

m

V

alve

Capac

ity: 84 

S p i

l l w a y Capacit

y: Able t o

pass the p

robable

maxim

um l o o d e

vent

1

 Dam

Pudd

ingston

e Dam: R e s t r i

c t e d

t o

h

o l d

45

f

r e s e r v o i r

 

c a p

a c i t y

f o r l o n g - t e

r m

s t o r a g e

.

Stor

m

V

alve

Capa

city:

1

00

S

p i l l w a y

Capaci

ty: Able t o

pass t

he probabl

e

maximum

 

l o o d e

vent

1 Dam

Santa

Anita

Dam

:

C e r t i f

i e d by

State f o r

tempora

ry

u l l r e

s e r v o i r  

stora

ge

d

u r i n g

stor

m

ev

ents

S tor

m

Valve

Capa

city: 100

S p i

l l w a y

Capacity

:

S p i l l w

a y

u

pgrade s

chedule

d f o r

2017

P

age 8

f

1

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Reservoir Sediment

Sediment

accumulation

i n

the

r e s e r v o i r s

behind dams educes

the

a v a i l a b l e

c a p a c i t y

f o r

storm water

c a p t u r e . Very

h i g h

depths o f sediment a t the

face

o f dams

o u l d

t h r e a t e n t o

c l o g

the

dam

u t l e t

works

needed

f o r

f l o o d

c o n t r o l

o p e r a t i o n s and

f o r

r e l e a s e

o f

c a p t u r e d

storm wa ter

t o

send

t o

downstream

spreading.

Sediment

accumulation

i n

the

r e s e r v o i r s

increases

d u r i n g

l a r g e

storm events

e s p e c i a l l y w h en

the

watershed

h as

burned d e b r i s

( a f t e r

a

w i l d f i r e )

t h a t b e c o m e s

p a r t

o f the

l o w . For example,

sediment

n f l o w t o

r e s e r v o i r s

l o c a t e d

below

the

burn area

o f the

2009 S t a t i o n F i r e h a s

r e s u l t e d i n

planned

sediment

removal p r o j e c t s

a t

D e v i l ' s

Gate,

Pacoima,

i g Tujunga, and

Cogswell Dams.

I n

the

i n t e r i m , a t

Pacoima,

B i g

Tujunga Dam, nd

Cogswell Dams

h i g h e r than normal

r e s e r v o i r

p o o l

w i l l

b e

m a i n t a i n e d

t o h e l p

sediment

n f l o w s s e t t l e

i n

the

r e s e r v o i r a w a y

rom

the face

o f the

dams.

A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

i n

the

i n t e r i m , a t

D e v i l ' s

Gate

Dam,

r o t e c t i v e

measures ha v e

been

implemented

i n c l u d i n g

extending

the

s t e e l

t r a s h

racks

t h a t p r e v e n t

the

f l o o d

p r o t e c t i o n

v a l v e s

from

p l u g g i n g , i n s t a l l i n g

n e w b o o m

l o g s

t o b l o c k

f l o a t i n g

d e b r i s ,

adding maintenance

p l a t f o r m s

t o

keep

s p i l l w a y

openings

c l e a r ,

and

annual

removal o f

accumulated

sediment

immediately

i n f r o n t

o f the

dam. A

l o o d Hazard

Warning Plan w a s l s o

p u t

i n

p l a c e t h a t

i n v o l v e s

n o t i f i c a t i o n of

the

p u b l i c s a f e t y agencies

f o r any areas

of

p o t e n t i a l

f l o o d i n g

along the Arroyo

Se c o

Channel.

During storm

season, P u b l i c

W orks i l l

c a r e f u l l y

monitor the

sediment

l e v e l s

near the

o u t l e t v a l v e s

of

l l o f the

14

major dams

nd

take

a c t i o n s t o

c l e a r

them as

necessary.

Other

Flood

Control

I n f r a s t r u c t u r e

  64

i l e s

o f

E a r t h

Bottom Channels:

V e g e t a t i o n

maintenance on

these

reaches

t y p i c a l l y

s t a r t s a f t e r

the

b i r d

n e s t i n g

season

which

ends on

September

1 ,

2015.

Most

l e a r i n g

o p e r a t i o n s

are

expected

t o

b e

completed b y

November 30, 2015

 

417 m i l e s of concrete

channels

i l l

b e

i n s p e c t e d

p r i o r t o

storm

season.

 

3,331

m i l e s

o f underground

storm d r a i n s

are

u n c t i o n i n g

p r o p e r l y .

 

81,765

Catch

Basins

i l l

b e

cleaned out

b y

November 15, 2015.

 

Routine

maintenance a t 46

pump t a t i o n s are

planned t o b e completed

b y

October

31, 2015. One

pump

t a t i o n

i s

undergoing

r e p a i r

and

w i l l b e ready

b y

November

15, 2015.

  Routine

maintenance a t

a l l

172

d e b r i s basins

are pl anned

t o b e

completed

b y

October 31, 2015.

0 166 d e b r i s

basins

are

l o c a t e d

below

un-burned

watersheds.

l l

are

below

25 full

and

r e a d y .

0

5

e b r i s

basins

l o c a t e d

below

the

Colby

i r e

are l e s s

than

5 f u l l .

o

Sediment

n

one d e b r i s

b a s i n l o c a t e d

below

the

Calgrove i r e

i s planned

t o

b e

c l e a r e d b y

October

31, 2015.

Several

R a i l

Timber

s t r u c t u r e s

downstream o f burn

areas

are a l s o planned t o b e

c o n s t r u c t e d

b y

October

31, 2015.

  328

Debris

R e t a i n i n g

S t r u c t u r e s

w i l l

b e

cleaned

out

b y

October 3 1,

2015.

P a g e 9

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The 27 preading

grounds

have l l

been

c l e a r e d

o f v e g e t a t i o n a n d are ready o r

storm water

c a p t u r e .

Readiness

of

Spreading Grounds o

Replenish Grou n d w a ter Basins

P u b l i c

Works

monitors

storm

events

24 hours

a

day,

seven

d a ys

a

week.

Weather

forecasts from

the

N a t i o n a l

Weather

Service

a n d a weather

o r e c a s t i n g

c o n s u l t a n t are

u t i l i z e d

t o

prepare o r

inc oming storms.

Once

rai n fall

has t a r t e d

a n d

r u n o f f i n the

r i v e r s

a n d

channels

i s

detected,

t a f f are a c t i v a t e d a n d

r e p o r t t o f l o o d

c o n t r o l

a n d storm

water

capture

aci li t i es. Based

on

h i s

data,

operations

o f the dams n d

spreading

grounds are

d i r e c t e d t o

reduce

f l o o d

r i s k

t o downstream

communities, w h i l e

a l s o

maximizing

the

a m o u n t

f

storm

water captured t o

r e p l e n i s h our water u p p l i e s .

F i e l d

crews a n d o f f i c e

s t a f f

operate

27

spreading

grounds

throughout

the County t o

capture

a n d

r e p l e n i s h

the

maximum a mo u n t o f

storm water

p o s s i b l e . P u b l i c

Works

coordinates t s

e f f o r t s w i t h

the

U n i t e d States

Arm y

Cor p s

o f

Engineers

o r e l e a s e water

from

t h e i r

r e s e r v o i r s t o

conserve

water

when

not

i n

f l o o d c o n t r o l

-mode.

P u b l i c

Works

a l s o

releases water

from

t s

own e s e r v o i r s

in

the same

manner.

P u b l i c

Works

aptures a n d

recharges

a n

average

o f 200,000

acre

e e t

(65

i l l i o n

g a l l o n s )

o f

storm

water

each y e a r . The mos t recent

s t r o n g

E I

Nino

event

occurred in 1997-98.

That

y e a r ,

P u b l i c

Works captured

a n d recharged

366,000

acre

f e e t (119

i l l i o n

g a l l o n s )

o f

l o c a l storm

w a t e r .

The

2004-05

E I Nino

storm

season

was

not c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s a

  s t r o n g

E I

Nino

however

t

r e s u l t e d

i n

r e c o r d

rai n fall

(over 40

nches

o f p r e c i p i t a t i o n i n

d o w n to w n Los Angeles) a n d

P u b l i c

Works

captured a n d

recharged

over

600,000 a c r e -

f e e t

(195 i l l i o n g a l l o n s )

o f l o c a l storm

w a t e r .

I n

a d d i t i o n t o

the

c a p i t a l

improvements

a t

dams

o

increase

t h e i r

water

conservation

c a p a b i l i t i e s , P u b l i c Works

has

completed

22 torm water

recharge

p r o j e c t s a t a cost

o f

 37

m i l l i o n

since 2007,

which

combined,

increased the

spreading

grounds

storage

c a p a c i t y by 2,190

acre

f e e t ,

which w i l l

increase the

average

annual water

conserved

by

19,770 acre

e e t

(6.5

i l l i o n g a l l o n s ) .

F i f t e e n

a d d i t i o n a l p r o j e c t s are planned

over

he next

5 years t h a t

w i l l

continue

the

expansion

o f

our

groundwater recharge system

by

i n c r e a s i n g

storage by

over 3,000

acre

f e e t a n d

w i l l

conserve

over

13,000

acre f e e t

(4.2

b i l l i o n g a l l o n s ) o f a d d i t i o n a l

storm water

a n n u a l l y .

ITEM 3

A

i r e

preparedness

a n d

response

plan

since

EI

Ni n o

events

c a n

lead t o

w i l d f i r e s

a n d

mudslides

Summary

The F i r e Department takes a

comprehensive

approach i n i t s

emergency

preparedness

p l a n n i n g

when

responding

t o w i l d f i r e s .

This same approach

i s

being

u t i l i z e d a s

we

continue

o

p l a n

f o r

the

E I

Nino

event.

F o l l o w i n g

a

i l d f i r e

w i t h i n the many rban i n t e r f a c e

Page 10

f

14

8/20/2019 OEM B100667 El Nino 091515

18/32

ar

ea

s

o

f

th

e 

Co

un

ty

, t

he

re 

i

s   a

 hei

gh

te

ned

 co

nce

rn

 t

h a t

 s

tor

ms

 

ca

n b

r i n

g  

mu

ds

lid

es

.

T

her

ef

or

e, th

e  F

i r e

 

D

ep

art

me

nt

 

i s co

mm

it

te

d t o

 

ap

ro-

ac

ti

ve

 

ap

pro

ac

h an

d o

ng

oi

ng

com

mu

ni

ca

t i

on

 w i

t h

 

i

t s   s t

a f f

 

i

t s a s

s i s

t i

n g

a

ge

nci

es

,

an

d  th

e g

ene

ra

l 

p u b

l i

c  

d u

e  t

o  

the

t h

r e a

t

o

f

w i l

d f i

r e s

 

t h

i s

 se

as

on

.

Background

T

he

 

mi

ss

io

n 

o f

 

t

he

 

F i

r e

D

ep

ar

t m

en

t

s

 

t o p

r o t

e c

t

l i

v e s

 

th

e e

nvi

ro

nm

ent

,

an

d  

p r

o p

e r t

y  b

y

p

r o

v i d

i n

g  

pro

mp

t,

 

k i l

l f u

l   a

nd

 

c o

s t

- e f

f e c

t i

v e

f i r e

  p r o

t e c

t i

o n  

an

d  

l i f

s a

f e

t y  s

e r

v i c

e s .

F

i r

e  

pr

ep

ar

ed

ne

ss a

nd

 r

es

po

n s

e  

pl

an

P

re

pa

re

d n e

ss

Th

e F

i r e

 

De

pa

rt

men

t i s  

i

n   c

ont

in

uo

us

c

o l

l a b

o r a

t i

o n   w

i t

h  

ot

he

r

f i r

e  

ag

en

cie

s 

th

rou

gh

ou

t

t

he

 

r e g

i o

n i n

 o

rde

r 

o

 

p r

e

- p l

a n

 c o

o r

d i n

a t

i o n

 

o f

re

so

ur

ces

, co

mm

un

ic

ati

on

s,

 

an

d 

o

p e

r a t

i n

g

p l a n s .

This 

ensures 

a  

coordinated 

m u l t i

-ag ency 

w i l d f i r e  

suppression 

respons

e.

T

he

 

F i

r e

De

pa

rt

me

nt'

s

F

o r e

s t

r y

 

D

i v i

s i

o n

h a

s 

w

or

ke

d

c l o

s e

l y

w

i t h

 

St

at

e an

d  

Fe

der

al

ag

en

ci

es

 t

o  

co

ord

in

at e

 v e

g e

t a t

i o

n m

an

ag

em

en

t ,

  e

- f

o r e

s t a

t i

o n

a

nd

 l a n

d

r e

h a b

i l i

t a t

i o n

 

t

o

d e

cr

ea

se

t

he

 

i

mp

act

 

of

i r

e s a

nd

 su

bs

eq

ue

nt

 mud

sl

id

es.

 

n

a d

d i t

i o n

,  

wo

rki

ng

 

c

l o

s e l

y

w i t

h

t

he 

C

ou

nt

y

o f

  Lo

s

Ang

el

es

  D

ep

ar

tm

en

t

o f

  A g

r i c

u l

t u r

a l  

C

om

mi

ss

io

ner

/W

ei

gh

ts

 

a

nd

Me

as

ur

es

,

he

 F i r

e D

ep

ar

t m

en

t im

pl

eme

nt

s

t

he

 

Br

us

h  

Cl

ea

ra

nce

 Pr

og

ra

m.

 Th

is

 

m

ea

su

re

cr

eat

es

 

Def

en

si b

le

 S

pa

ce

  o

n p r o

p e

r t i

e s

 b

y re

mo

vi

ng

 t

he

 mo

st

 

f

l a

mma

bl

e p

l a n

t s

  w

h i

l e

m

a i n

t a

i n i

n g

 o

th

er

dee

p-

ro

ote

d s

pec

ie

s t

h a t

 

w i l

l

h o l

d

s

o i

l   i

n  

pl

ac

e a

nd

 

d e

cre

as

e

e

r o

s i o

n

w

he

n 

e

xc

ess

iv

e r

a i n

f a l

l

i

s

r e c

e i

v e d

.

T

his

 y

ear

 

al

one

,

t h e

r e

  h a

ve

 

b

ee

n

o

ve

r 4

0,

00

0

i

n s p

e c

t i o

n s

 

c

on

du

cte

d .

T

he

  i r

e

C

hi

ef

 

an

d

h

i s

ex

ecu

ti

ve t e

am

 

r

o u

t i n

e l y

 

co

mm

un

i c

at

e 

on

 th

e

p r e

d i

c t e

d

f

i r e

 

se

as

on

h i

g h l

i g h

t i n

g t

he

 

im

po

rt

anc

e 

o f

 t r a

i n i

n g  

a

nd

 

p

re

par

ed

ne

ss.

 

T h r

ou

g h

 

t

he

 F i r

e D

ep

art

me

nt

s

 

i e

l d  

d i

v i

s i o

n s

im

po

rta

nt

  i r e

 s a

f e

t y  

a

nd p

re

pa

re

dne

ss

 me

ss

ag

in

g

oc

cu r

s.

 

T

he

  s

s i s

t a

n t

f i

r e

c h

i e

f s ,

 

co

mmu

ni

t y

 

se

rvi

ce

s r

e p

r e s

e n

t a t

i v e

s ,

 

a

nd

 

f

i e l

d  

pe

rs

onn

el

 

tak

e 

ev

ery

o p p

o r

t u n

i t

y t o

r

emi

nd

 t

he

co

mm

un

i t

y a

bo

ut

t

he

 

im

po

rt

an

ce

o

f

w i

l d f

i r e

  p

re

pa

re

dne

ss

 

and

ho

w

 

o

ta

ke  

the

 n

ec

ess

ar

y 

a c

t i o

n s

 b e

f o

r e

an

d  d

u r i

n g

 

a

 w i l

d f i

r e .

 

D

uri

ng

 

c

om

mu

ni

t y

 ev

ent

s,

em

er

g e

nc

y

pre

pa

re

dn

es

s

a i

r s

an

d  v

i a

s o

c i a

l  

m

ed

i a,

 t

he

 F i r

e

De

pa

rt

men

t s

 

e

mp

h a

si

s  s

on

 

ma

ki

ng

 th

e 

p u b

l i c

 a

wa

re

 o

f th

e

Re

ad

y  S

et

 G

o P

er

son

al

 

W i

l d f

i r

e

A c

t i o

n  

P

l a

n ,

wh

ic

h

pro

vi

des

 

gu

id

an

ce

 t o

 

r e

s i d

e n

t s  

i n

  p

r e p

a r

a t i

o n

 

an

d p

l a

n n i

n g

 

i

n  

ord

er

 

t

o

be

 

w e

l l

p

re

pa

red

i n

 t

he 

ev

en

t 

o f a

w i

l d

l

a n d

 f

i r e

.

L a s

t l y

  the

 

F

i r e

 

De

pa

rtm

en

t  

an n

ua

ll

y

ho

ld

s 

a

 

s

e r

i e s

 

o

f

l

i v e

-

f i r

e t r

a i

n i n

g s

t o

 en

su

re

 

t h a

t

t

h e i

r  p

er

son

ne

l 

m a

i n t

a i

n t

he

 

p

ro

pe

r l

e v e

l

o f

 

s

k i l

l s

a

nd

 kn

owl

ed

g e

 

t

o e

f f

e c t

i v e

l y

re

sp

on

d t o

a

 

w i

l d f

i r e

.

 

ag

e

1

1 

o

f 

14

8/20/2019 OEM B100667 El Nino 091515

19/32

Respo

nse

Th

e

F i r e

 

De

partmen

t

ensur

es

t h a t t

rece

ives

th e

 

l a t e s

t

and most a

ccurate weat

her

forec

as ts

from

the

 NWS. Th

e o r

e c a s t s are

r

i t i c a l i n  

d e c i s i o n -

making,

 sinc

e 

t

he o l l o w i n g

steps

i l l g e n e r a l l

y

be

take

n d u r

i n g

p e

r i o d s

o f h i g h

f i

r e

dang

er:

 

The

Brush

F i r e

Dispatch 

M a t r i x

i s  

adjusted

by

i n c r e a s i n g  

the

number 

o f

re

sources

being a u

t o m a t i c a

l l y  di

spatched

 

t o

 a br

ush i r e  

F i r e  

Depart

ment

o

p e r a t i o n

a l

readines

s

s

 

e

nsured

by augme

nting

s t a f f

and

p r

e-deploy

 

a d d i

t i o n a l

res

ources

t

o

t

hose areas

o f h i g

h e r

f i r

e

dang

er.

This

i n c l u d

e s the incre

ased 

a i r operat

ions 

c a p a b i l i t

i e s t h a t

e x i s t

 

du

e t o

c o n t r

a c t i n g

a d d i t i o

n a l  

a i r c r a

f t

i n c l u d

i n g

the

  Sup

erScoop

ers and

 

th e

H e l i

t a n k e r .  

The

F i r e

Departm

ent h as

the a b i l i

t y

t o

extend

the

 

l e n g t h

o f

 

t

he

c

o n t r a c t s

 based 

on c u r r e n t

or

forecas

ted f i r e

a c t i v i

t y .

ITEM

4

An 

utline

of  

a

Comprehensive

E I

Ni no

Communication

Plan

to

keep

the

publ i c

and

ot

her

agenc i e

s i nf

ormed usi ng

 On

e oi c

e

Mess

ag i ng

Bac

kground

I n o

rder

t o

keep Los

 Angel e

s Coun

ty

r e s

i d e n t s

w e l l

-form

ed

and safe b e f o r e

d u r i n g

 an

d

a f t e r

 

the

 

E I

Ni no

c l i m a t e

  event, th

e CEO

s O f f i c

e

of

 

Emer

genc y M

anagem

ent 

has

c onvene

d a  P u b

l i c

I n f o r m a

t i o n  

O f f i c e r

 

(

PIO) On

e Voi ce

 

Ta

skforce c o

n s i s t i n g  

o f th e

f o l l o

w i n g

seven

Co

unty

De

partment

s:

CEO 

h e r

i f f

F i r e

  P u b l

i c W

orks, P u b l i c

H e a l t h

Be

ac h es

a

nd Harbo

rs, and Par

ks

and

R

ec reatio

n.  

The CE

O s  Co

untywi d

e

Communi c ations 

team has

played

a key

r o l e

i n  

t h i s

t a s k f o r c e  

a r t i c u l a t i n

g s t r a t e g i

e s t h a t

c an a m p l i f y  

and

 

f u r t h e

r coordina

te depart

ments

I

Ni n

o- r e l a

t e d

p u

b l i c s a f e

t y mess

ages.

O v e r

 the

c our

se

of

 

two

meeti

ngs

d u

r i n g

August

2015

,

th

e

PIO

O

ne oi ce

Taskfo

rce h a

s

a p p l i e

d

i t s

e x

p e r t i s e

i n

p u b l i c

 

c

ommunic

ation

s t r a

t e g i e s t

o

develop

  a f l e x

i b l e

and

adapt

able o u t l

i n e

f o r

 an E I  

Nino

Co

mmunica

tion P

lan.

T

he 

o l l

o w i n g

s e c t i

o n  i

d e n t i f i e s

th e

g u i d i n g

p r i n c

i p l e s

and

s p e c i

f i c

compo

nents

o f

t

he

c o

mmunica

ti on

p l a n

 agreed

u

pon

by

the PIO

One oi ce

Taskforc

e.

om

m u n i c at

io n

P

lan:

Gu

i din g Princ i

ples and Out

line

An

import

ant  i r s t step

 

comple

ted by

th

e

t a

s k f o r c e

wa

s 

o

i d e n t i f y

 

the

f o l l o w

i n g g u i d i n g

p r i n c i p l e

s  

f o r

O

ne 

V

oice

E I   Ni n

o

p u b l i c

 

m

essage

 

develop

ment

and

a

corresp

onding

c o

mmuni c at

i on p l a

n :

  Ti m

el y:

Mes

sages m

ust be 

releas

ed  q u

i c k l y and

e f f i c i

e n t l y

so t h a t

th

e

media

,

p u b l i c

 a

nd 

othe

r agencies

 r e

c e i v e a p p l i c

a b l e i n f o r m

a t i o n

a

nd

c a

n take a p

p r o p r i a t

e

an

d inf orm

ed s t

e p s ;

P

age 2

f

14

8/20/2019 OEM B100667 El Nino 091515

20/32

 

Accurate: Messages

must be coordinated a n d

c o n t a i n

c o r r e c t

i n f o r m a t i o n

t h a t

d o es not

c o n t r a d i c t or confuse

message r e c i p i e n t s ;

  I n t e r a c t i v e :

Messages

w i l l

be

enhanced

by having

i n t e r a c t i v e web

-based t o o l s

a v a i l a b l e f o r

the

p u b l i c s

use,

such

as

mapping

t o o l s t h a t

i d e n t i f y

sand

-bag

d i s t r i b u t i o n

s i t e s ;

  Appropriate:

Messages

mus