Chula Vista Community Engagement
The Chula Vista Safety Element Update included community outreach through a community-wide survey and two identical workshops- one in the east and one in the west of the City. Several key stakeholders were involved in the project, including the Coastal Commission, San Diego County, Cal Fire, and the local Police and Fire Departments. These stakeholders play a significant role in ensuring that the safety element aligns with regulation and current planning efforts and meets the requirements of emergency response agencies. Below is the summary of community engagement.
Survey Results
Michael Baker International prepared and posted an online survey to get input from community members to identify hazards and other locally relevant safety issues, such as emergency response, pandemics, hazardous materials spills, and crime reduction. The survey launched in English and Spanish and was open for 4 weeks, August 10 to September 7, 2023.
City Affiliation
A total of 95 completed surveys were received. Of these respondents, 55.3 percent live in the City of Chula Vista, 64.9 percent work in the City, and 8.5 percent visit the City, but live and work elsewhere, as indicated in Figure 1. About 25.5 percent of respondents both live and work in the City.
Figure 1: City Affiliation
Live in Chula
Vista
Work in Chula
Vista
Visit Chula Vista,
but live and
work elsewhere
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
Do you: (Select all that apply)
Disasters or Hazards Experienced
The participants were asked which types of disasters or hazards their household has experienced while residing in, working in, or visiting Chula Vista, As shown in Figure 2, severe weather and extreme heat were the most prevalent hazards experienced in the City. Pandemics or epidemics were also experienced at a high rate, which is likely due to the pandemic COVID-19 which was a global pandemic experienced just a few years before the survey and was not a hazard specific only to the region. Many respondents have experienced more than one of these hazards.
Figure 2: Disasters or Hazards Experienced
Concern for Hazards
As shown in Figure 3, there is very little concern by survey respondents for tornadoes or dam failure.
Concern for wildfires, climate change, and drought were the most prevalenet, which is consistent with the hazards that have primarily affected residents of Chula Vista in recent years.
Figure 3: Concern for Hazards
Concern for Evacuation
Also in regards to community concenr for hazard or disaster, Figure 4 illustrates that concern for evacuation due to disaster is present, but not extreme. In the instance of an evacuation, 98 percent of respondents have transportation in order to evacuate.
Figure 4: Concern for Evacuation
Hazard Notification
Almost 80 percent of survey respondents indicated that in the instance of emergency in the City of Chula Vista, they would expect to be notified via AlertSanDiego, which is a telephone notification system. Many respondents also indicated that they receive notifications via television, radio, or the SD Emergency App, which includes text notifications. Social media websites like NextDoor and Twitter are not commonly used for this purpose.
Figure 5: Hazard Notification
Not concerned Somewhat
concerned
Concerned Very concerned Extremely
concerned
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
How concerned are you about evacuating in the event of a disaster?
Household Emergency Supply Preparedness
As noted in Figure 6, 77.4 percent of respondents have done some emergency preparation, with 63.4 percent of survey respondents being somewhat prepared to get along without electricity, gas, or water for one to five days, and 14 percent being very prepared. 23 percent of respondents are not at all prepared with emergency supplies.
Figure 6: Household Emergency Supply Preparedness
Steps to Prepare for a Local Hazard Event
The most common steps the community has taken to prepare their household for potential local hazard events are installing smoke detectors and storing first aid kits. Very few respondents have taken more intensive measures such as completing medical alert registration, anchoring furniture, or completing Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.
Figure 7: Steps to Prepare for a Local Hazard Event
Not at all prepared Somewhat prepared Very prepared
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
How prepared is your household to get along without electricity, drinking water, or natural gas supply for one to five days?
In addition to taking measures to prepare the household for local hazards, about 62 percent of respondents have some sort of hazard-specific insurance. Insurance types range from earthquake insurance, flood insurance, fire insurance, and more.
Figure 8: Hazard Insurance
Suggestion on Community Program
Respondents also suggested awareness and preparedness programs that they think the City should provide to promote resident actions to reduce exposure to the risks associated with hazards. Some suggested that the educational aspects for hazard preparedness could be included in a booth by the City at public events.
Many respondents expressed specific concerns with wildfire and fire safety and evacuation during hazard events. Respondents believe there may not be enough firefighters to combat a wildfire if a major issue should exist. Additionally, a concern was raised about the need to clear out the canyons in order to prevent wildfires.
In addition to fire preparedness, respondents expressed that it could be beneficial for both the fire and police departments to be prepared for active shooter situations. Respondents suggested that there is a need for training for involvement in active shooter situations, as well as medical training to prepare for an active shooter situation.
No Not sure Earthquake
insurance
Flood
insurance
Fire insurance
(in addition to
standard
home
insurance)
Other
insurance
(please
specify)
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
Do you have hazard-specific insurance? Select all that apply.
Community Workshops
Two identical in-person community outreach meetings were facilitated by the City to solicit in-person input and educate the public about the Safety Element update process. These are listed below. • Meeting 1: September 27, 2023, Montevalle Recreation Center • Meeting 2: September 28, 2023, City Council Chambers
The City created and distributed flyers in English and Spanish (see Figure 9). These were distributed via social media and posted on the City website.
Figure 9: Flyers in English and Spanish
The workshop provided information on Safety elements, the reason for the update, and hazard maps including faults, shake potential, liquefaction, landslides, wildfire, flood map, Dam inundation, Sea Level rise, and Tsunami. An interactive exercise was also organized using sticker dots for the participants to select the hazards that concerned them the most. Participants were also asked to provide suggestions on preparedness programs that they thought would be beneficial to Chula Vista residents.
A presentation was done at the beginning of the workshop to provide information regarding Safety elements. Four participants attended meeting 1 and Meeting 2 was attended by nine participants.
Figure 10: Pictures from Public Workshop
Public Review Draft
The draft Safety Element was available for public to review on the City website from March 4 to March 15 and to solicit comments on the document.
Figure 11: Safety Element on Website Banner