Residents who lack air conditioning are at extreme risk of health impacts particularly associated with extreme heat. About 30 percent of households in California. Of those households without air conditioning, a majority are in low-income communities (Chen et al. 2020)
People who live in areas of high violent crime are more likely to live in areas with neighborhood instability and economic disadvantage.
Additionally, one study found that 20 percent of most
disadvantaged neighborhoods are predicted to absorb over 50 percent of climate change-related increases in violence. This highlights the critical link between environmental stressors, resource scarcity, and social vulnerability, as these areas often struggle with limited access to essential resources, economic opportunities, and social services. This lack of resources can intensify tensions and conflicts when compounded by the additional pressures brought on by climate change impacts, leading to heightened levels of violence in heat-stressed neighborhoods (Plante and Anderson 2017). In Glendale, from 2012 to 2017, there were 2,887 arrests, generating $1,196,547 in incarceration rates (MDH 2017). Most of the documented crime in Glendale occurs around densely populated, marginalized communities adjacent to I 5 and SR-134 (Neighborhood Scout 2023). Glendale experiences disproportionate rates of arrests by race and these rates are likely to continue to increase, exacerbated by heat inequity from climate change impacts.
Students may experience educational disruption and setbacks including reduced rate of graduate and college attendance as aa result of climate hazards that cause school closures, loss of personal property, and/or psychological distress, particularly students with additional characteristics that increase sensitivity to climate hazards. Additionally, students have limited ability to modify the physical conditions at school that affect climate hazard exposure and risk such as air filtration and air conditioning (GAO 2022).
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers
Glendale is located within the ancestral lands of the Tongva people.
Because many Native American people experience some degree of the implications of colonial violence, cultural erasure, and social marginalization, they are more likely to be under-resourced and experience poverty (Rogers 2012). Not all City residents who identify as Native American have ties to tribal communities, which affects the ways in which climate hazards impact individuals. In 2020, one in three Native Americans across the United States were living in poverty (Northwestern Institute for Policy Research 2020).
Native Americans often experience worse health outcomes and lower life expectancies compared to other populations due to a variety of systemic factors including toxic stress due to regularly experiencing racism and other systemic harms, disproportionate poverty, and discrimination in the delivery or accessibility of health services. Native Americans are also less likely to have health insurance, which may limit their ability to seek medical care for injuries or illnesses caused or exacerbated by climate change impacts (Rogers 2012). Native Americans are more likely to live in high-hazard risk areas and less likely to be homeowners, which Social Vulnerability Assessment
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leaves them vulnerable to climate impacts (Gamble et al. 2016).
Within the vulnerability analysis, potential impacts to Native American populations are discussed in the context of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Recently, the City of Glendale recognized its past with racial injustices by unanimously passing a resolution apologizing for its history as a “sundown town” (Crouch 2020). A sundown town is the term for predominantly white towns and cities across the nation that attempted to keep their towns minority-free through violence, discriminatory legislation, and harassment. These places were areas in which City officials posted notices that minorities could work and travel in the town, but had to leave by sunset, or “sundown” (Christmas 2021). The history of violence and discriminatory laws against people of color and marginalized communities extends beyond the direct harassment and exclusion of these peoples in Glendale’s history through legislation such as the intentional neighborhood redlining, as described in Individuals Facing Societal Barriers. Now, as climate change impacts threaten all of Glendale’s citizens, these communities are feeling the generational effects of racial injustice, stemming from the City’s past as a “sundown town.” These communities predominantly reside in C-graded
neighborhoods, as depicted in Figure 6, and face climate vulnerabilities such as increased pavement, lack of trees for adequate cooling (Figure 7), and heat inequity. While Glendale addresses its history as a sundown town, the effects of its past on marginalized communities are being exacerbated by climate change and continue to shape their inequitable climate vulnerabilities.
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
36 Figure 6 Glendale High Social Vulnerability Areas and Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) Neighborhood Redlining Grade
Social Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Action & Adaptation Plan 37
Tree Equity Score
The number and distribution of trees in cities in the United States, often reflects differences in race and income across city landscapes.
While the amount of paved and impermeable surfaces and lack of water features and green spaces can increase the impact of temperature increases from climate change, adding more green spaces and especially trees, can have the opposite effect. Trees provide several critical services to cities and residents including shade, improved air quality, increased rain interception and reduced stormwater runoff, and in great enough numbers, trees can cool ambient temperatures and reduce the impact of climate change and extreme heat on public health.
Treeequityscore.org analyzes a range of neighborhood
characteristics including the existing tree canopy, population density, income, employment, surface temperature, racial demographics, age distributions, and health metrics to create a single tree equity score between 0 and 100. A score of 100 would indicate that a neighborhood has achieved tree equity.
Of the 137 census block groups included in the Tree Equity Score Municipality Report for Glendale, 11 have a tree equity score below
70. Comparing the HOLC map in Figure 6 and the Tree Equity Score map in Figure 7 can shed some light on the legacy of redlining and historic disinvestment on current levels of heat risk throughout the City. In line with the research referenced above, the southern and western portions of Glendale that had C (Definitely Declining) graded neighborhoods continue to have fewer trees, and lower tree equity scores relative to the rest of the City. Neighborhoods just north of West Kenneth Road and East Mountain Street and in east Glendale, north of SR 134 which received an A grade have some of the highest tree equity scores in the City.
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
38 Figure 7 Glendale High Social Vulnerability Areas and Municipality Tree Equity Score Social Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 39
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health
Related Sensitivities
Individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitivities are socially and physiologically vulnerable to climate change impacts and hazards. Seniors and people who are differently abled may have limited or reduced mobility, mental function, or communication abilities, making it difficult to evacuate during or prepare for a climate hazard event. They may also have medical needs for electricity which may be impacted during a public safety power shutoff or climate hazard event. Individuals in these groups are more likely to have pre-existing medical conditions or chronic illnesses that may exacerbate the risk of illnesses and medical problems from climate hazards. Individuals with asthma, individuals with cardiovascular disease, individuals with diabetes, individuals with high blood pressure, and individuals with stroke risk are more likely to experience health impacts from climate hazards because of pre-existing conditions or diseases. Seniors often face challenges regulating their temperature due to medications or underlying conditions related to age. Young children are socially and physiologically vulnerable to climate hazards. They often have limited understandings of climate hazards and insufficient resources to independently prepare for and safely respond during a climate hazard event. Young children are reliant on their caregivers to ensure their health, safety, and wellbeing. Young children have not fully physiologically developed and are therefore more vulnerable to health effects of climate change impacts. (Kenney et al. 2014).
The caregivers of young children are also at risk during some climate hazard events as they may face challenges navigating an evacuation process with young children. Military veterans may have been exposed to a variety of environmental, physical, and chemical stressors during military service which may have caused physiological or psychological health conditions, illnesses, or different abilities that make them particularly vulnerable to climate hazards (Olenick et al. 2015). Pregnant people and their fetuses are particularly vulnerable to climate hazards as they are susceptible to certain health conditions, including anemia, low birth weight, preterm birth, and miscarriage. Pregnant people are also at increased risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after a climate hazard event (EPA 2022).
Residents in households using fuels for heating, as opposed to electricity, are more likely to be impacted by indoor combustion pollutants. Combustion pollutants are the gases and particles made by burning any fuel such as natural gas, diesel, and kerosene.
Exposure to combustion pollutants may lead to adverse health impacts that can make individuals more at risk of climate hazards.
For example, cooking emissions, especially from gas stoves, are associated with increased respiratory disease (CARB 2023).
3.4 Social Vulnerability by Climate
Hazard
This section assesses the potential impacts, adaptive capacity, and the resulting social vulnerability, of each population group by climate hazard.
Extreme Heat and Warm Nights
Overview
Extreme heat was a major issue identified during Focus Group Meetings 1 and 2. Specifically, the lack of air conditioning in housing units, limited protection for renters, and the urban heat island effect in areas with high proportions of vulnerable populations were identified as areas of concern. Below is an overview of the urban City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
40 heat island effect, historical causes of inequitable heat exposure, tree equity score in Glendale, and compounding risks of housing and heat related illness.
Sustainability Working Group participants also identified extreme heat as a major concern. Participants noted having to close facilities due to broken Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) during extreme heat events, and warnings of rolling blackouts.
URBAN HEAT ISLAND
Urban Heat Island (UHI) refers to developed areas that are hotter than the surrounding landscape primarily due to the use of building materials and surfaces that absorb and re-radiate heat (like roofs and pavements), as well as a lack of vegetation, particularly trees.
The UHI effect causes people in cities to have higher heat exposure than residents in less densely developed areas. Within urban landscapes, neighborhoods with more impermeable and dark colored surfaces, and fewer trees, parks, and water features, have greater heat exposure and heat related risk than urban
communities with more green space and reflective surfaces. These differences in development patterns typically correspond with income and demographic disparities across the urban environment.
Low-income communities and many communities of color across Los Angeles County are the most impacted by the urban heat island effect (LA CDPH 2021). UHI will likely compound the impact and risk of extreme heat days and higher average temperatures resulting from climate change. In some locations, the effect could be twice as strong as the impact of global warming (Huang et al. 2019).
In Glendale, the UHI effect will most likely impact vulnerable communities in densely populated communities without access to green spaces, open areas, or reflective surfaces. According to the Urban Heat Island Interactive Map from the California
Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA UHI), the areas of Glendale which will experience the most intense UHI effect are the southwest neighborhoods along I-5 and the northeast neighborhoods along I210 (CEPA UHI). These areas have historically been socially vulnerable areas in C-graded neighborhoods (Figure 6) which have experienced racially motivated redlining and currently experience low tree equity scores (Figure 7). The UHI effect is calculated per urban census tract in degree-hours per day, in which the temperature differences every hour per day over 182 warm summer days are summed, then divided by the number of days in the study. In Glendale, the southern socially vulnerable communities have a degree-hour day rating of about 80.53, while the northern socially vulnerable communities have a rating of about 149.75 degree-hour days (CEPA UHI). In A-graded Glendale communities with higher tree equity scores, degree-hour days range from about 74.21 to 99.15 (CEPA UHI). As such, Glendale’s most populated urban areas will likely experience the highest UHI effects and heat inequity stemming from historical redlining and lack of access to green open spaces.
HISTORICAL CAUSES OF INEQUITABLE HEAT EXPOSURE
After the Great Depression the U.S. Government undertook numerous projects to stimulate the economy, expand housing stock, and evaluate the riskiness of home mortgages. The Home Owners’ Loan Corporation was established in 1933 with the passage of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, with the key task of refinancing mortgages and slowing down the rate of foreclosures (FHFA).
During the 1930’s the HOLC created detailed maps of urban areas across the United States. HOLC maps documented the perceived risk of lending and determined the lending practices of banks and other mortgage lenders administering the federal loans.
These maps graded neighborhoods on a scale from “A” through “D” and the grade correlated with color coding on the maps of green Social Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 41
through red, hence the term “redlining”. A-rated neighborhoods, colored green on the maps, were classified as the most desirable, and least risky for lenders. D-rated neighborhoods, colored red on the maps, were classified as the highest risk neighborhoods, and families in these neighborhoods were typically denied mortgages and their mortgages were often not federally insured if they were granted one (Rothstein 2017). The HOLC neighborhood assessments explicitly used racial makeup of residents as a determinant of neighborhood quality and mortgage risk (Rothstein 2017).
Neighborhood descriptions included references to the racial makeup of a neighborhood, in particular the homogeneity, percentage of immigrants and whether they were considered “subversive”, and the number of black, Mexican, and residents of various non-white ethnic groups (Nelson et al., 2023; Rothstein 2017). In the HOLC assessments, racially integrated neighborhoods, and neighborhoods with higher numbers of immigrants and people of color were considered higher risk and perceived as destined to deteriorate in value (Nelson et al., 2023; Rothstein 2017). This led to disinvestment in low-rated areas of cities and a loss of wealth building for generations of American families who were unable to purchase homes (Rothstein 2017). This practice of racial exclusion from homeownership allowed white Americans to accumulate wealth through government backed homeownership while minority communities were excluded and marginalized (Rothstein 2017).
Historic disinvestment and constraints on loans to real estate developers tied to racial restrictions resulted in differences in the quality of housing, amount of housing, and the amount of green space and other amenities that were built in different
neighborhoods based on the income and racial demographics of potential residents (Nelson et al., 2023; Rothstein 2017).
Many of these development differences still largely persist to this day. Recent research has shown that neighborhoods that HOLC rated as a “D” level of risk are still predominantly low-to-moderate income and communities of color, while “A” neighborhoods are still predominantly white and above average income. Previously redlined neighborhoods are also correlated with more impervious paved surfaces, fewer trees and green spaces, and higher average temperatures than the non-redlined, historically white
neighborhoods in the same city (Hoffman et al.). Another study assessing 175 of the largest urbanized areas in the United States found that the average person of color lives in a census tract with greater than 2 degrees Celsius higher urban heat island intensity compared to non-Hispanic whites (Hsu et al.). A few degrees of temperature difference, and especially warmer temperatures at night, can translate into an appreciably increased risk of heat stress.
This means that communities that faced historical housing discrimination often bear a greater health burden as excessive heat events become more frequent and severe due to climate change.
This disparate heat exposure risk is known as heat inequity.
Figure 6 shows the HOLC Neighborhood Redlining Grade for neighborhoods in Glendale. Green colored areas represent neighborhoods that were graded A (Best). Neighborhoods just north of West Kenneth Road and East Mountain Street and in east Glendale, north of SR 134 received an A grade. Several
neighborhoods bordering A grade neighborhoods were graded B (Still Desirable) due to deed restrictions that limited development to single family housing and prevented non-white families from purchasing homes. These areas were developed with federal financing and graded favorably on the mortgage risk map as a result of the good quality homes this financing afforded, and the racial segregation achieved through racially restrictive deeds.
Neighborhoods graded C (Definitely Declining), yellow areas on the map, are located in north Glendale along I-210, and in south and southwest Glendale. The reasoning provided for C grade
neighborhoods was the presence of lower-income and workingclass. Residents, powerlines and industrial uses, and mixed quality City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
42 of housing. No neighborhoods in Glendale were rated D (Hazardous).
Areas with high social sensitivity in Glendale today fall within neighborhoods rated C (Definitely Declining) by HOLC, as shown in Figure 6.
COMPOUNDING RISKS: HOUSING AND HEAT RELATED ILLNESS
Housing and socio-economic factors can intersect in ways that compound the risks of climate impacts such as extreme heat events.
When housing is in short supply and unaffordable this can lead to overcrowding, especially for lower-income communities. Aging, overcrowded, and poorly insulated housing can contribute to risk from heat related illness, which can in turn lead to hospital visits and even increased mortality. If the electricity grid is strained during a heat wave and there are power outages, this can further increase the risk of heat related illnesses if access to adaptations such as air conditioning, fans, and refrigeration are lost.
A study published In 2022 found that housing age, housing crowding ratio, and roof condition were found to be correlated with the risk of heat-related illness indexes and can predict the risk of heatrelated emergency department visits and heat-related mortality on a state level. This analysis indicates that housing quality and affordability as characterized by age, crowding, and roof condition can impact heat related illness risk (Hu et al. 2022).
The California 2020 Census Hard-to-Count index rated census tracts in south and southwest Glendale as falling within the highest difficulty level for accurately estimating population numbers. The variables cited for contributing to difficulty in getting accurate counts were renter occupied units, crowded units (in south Glendale), immigrants and limited English-speaking population, multi-unit structures, and households without broadband subscriptions (CA Census 2020). The large numbers of immigrants, non-English speakers, and crowded housing conditions in south Glendale likely contributed to an undercount of the true population of Glendale.
Housing affordability issues also impact Glendale residents.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), housing is considered “affordable” if monthly housing costs are no more than 30 percent of a household’s gross income. In Glendale, 57.8 percent of renter households spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing cost, compared to 55.3 percent regionally. Additionally, 36.1 percent of renter households in Glendale spend 50 percent or more of their income on housing cost, compared to 28.9 percent regionally. These households are considered severely cost burdened (SCAG 2021).
The age of housing stock can indicate housing quality and the likely need for rehabilitation work that can impact public health, including remediation of lead-based paint and maintenance or replacement of major elements such as roofing. 77 percent of the housing stock in Glendale was built prior to 1980, and 20.2 percent of those homes, the largest proportion, were constructed prior to 1939 (SCAG 2021). Typically housing over 30 years of age is likely to need rehabilitation work to major elements of the structure. Given the age of the housing stock in the City, a large majority of Glendale’s housing stock is in substandard condition, with approximately 1,291 units lacking telephone service, 164 units lacking plumbing facilities, and 1,478 units lacking complete kitchen facilities (SCAG 2021). The age, availability, cost burden, and crowding conditions of Glendale housing may contribute to increased risk of heat-related illnesses, especially as climate change contributes to more frequent extreme heat events.
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A separate study analyzed exposure and vulnerability to heat by housing type and location using census tract level data combined with housing characteristics, climate projections, and an index of adaptive capacity and vulnerability to heat. The analysis revealed that subsidized housing in California simultaneously has the most sensitive populations and barriers to adaptation while being disproportionately located in the hottest census tracts (C. J. Gabbe et al. 2020). Specifically, while 8 percent of California’s total number of housing units are located in tracts with high heat exposure and high vulnerability populations (high-high tracts), these high-high tracts contain 16 percent of public housing units, 14 percent of LowIncome Housing Tax Credit units, and 10 percent of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (C. J. Gabbe et al. 2020).
These studies show that housing policy should be considered an essential public health and safety mechanism for mitigating climate change-exacerbated health conditions in Glendale. Policies and programs should aim to address heat exposure and adaptation for subsidized housing, highly sensitive populations, and seek to increase housing availability and quality, especially in the hottest parts of the community, in order to help reduce health impacts from extreme heat.
Potential Impacts
This section describes the potential impacts of extreme heat on each vulnerable population group.
INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH OUTDOOR EXPOSURE
Individuals with high outdoor exposure are at risk of health impacts from extreme heat. Outdoor workers are often subject to strenuous work conditions and are vulnerable during extreme heat events.
People experiencing houselessness and displaced individuals are exposed to the health-related impacts associated with extreme heat because they have limited access to shelter and air conditioning.
The primary health impacts to these populations are heat-related illnesses, such as heat stress, heat stroke, and dehydration, which can be life-threatening (CDPH 2020). Visitors are at risk during extreme heat events because they may not be keyed into local heat warning communications and are less likely to know where to seek refuge. People that rely on active transportation or public transit may experience health impacts from extreme heat due to biking and walking in high temperatures and high exposure while waiting for public transit.
UNDER-RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS
Under-resourced individuals may not be able to pay for adequate air conditioning or fans, increasing their exposure to extreme heat.
Individuals without vehicles may face challenges traveling to cooling centers or temporary shelters during extreme heat events (Cooley et al. 2012). Residents who lack air conditioning are at risk of health impacts from extreme heat at increased temperatures may make it harder to regulate their body temperatures. Households without a computer or broadband internet may not receive heat advisory warnings or governmental guidance, causing them to experience health impacts from extreme heat exposure (CDPH 2017). Underresourced individuals are less likely to receive medical care for illnesses triggered or exacerbated by extreme heat, or if treatment is received, they are likely to face a significant medical cost burden and related financial stress. Extreme temperatures may contribute to a rise in high violence crime rates, which increases safety risks to people who live in areas of high violent crimes (Muggah 2021).
INDIVIDUALS FACING SOCIETAL BARRIERS
BIPOC, immigrants, and people who are undocumented are more likely to live in housing with insufficient protection from extreme City of Glendale
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44 heat events and limited or no affordable air conditioning and are less likely to be able to make the home improvements necessary due to financial constraints or because they are renters. Limited or non-English speakers may not be provided heat advisory warnings or governmental guidance in their language, potentially causing them to experience greater exposure to extreme heat (Gamble et al. 2016). The primary health impacts to these populations are heatrelated illnesses, such as heat stress, heat stroke, and dehydration, which can be life-threatening (CDPH 2020). Immigrants and people who are undocumented may not have access to medical services to treat heat-related illnesses.
INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR HEALTH
RELATED SENSITIVITIES
Individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitivities are particularly at risk of heat related illnesses during extreme heat events. People who are differently abled, seniors, and children may have difficulty affording or accessing air conditioning or traveling to cooling centers during extreme heat events. Extreme heat events can also trigger power outages which are particularly dangerous for individuals who are electricity-dependent, either for their mobility, communication, or medical devices. Extreme heat conditions can exacerbate asthma, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, certain different abilities, and other respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, potentially causing heatrelated illnesses such as heat stress, heat stroke and dehydration, which can be-life threatening (CDPH 2020). Residents in households using fuels for heating may face disproportionate health impacts from extreme heats events as high temperatures may lead to compounding impacts from indoor air pollutants. Young children are still physiologically developing which means that they are less able to regulate their bodies during extreme heat events (Kenney et al. 2014). Young children and seniors are especially at risk of dehydration as their bodies are not able to regulate as well (Kenney et al. 2014). When exposed to extreme heat, pregnant people and their fetuses are particularly susceptible to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality (EPA 2022). Dehydration may exacerbate underlying health conditions and illnesses.
Warm nights affect the body’s ability to cool down and recover from heat stress during extreme heat periods exacerbating heat-related health problems including, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and cardiovascular stress, especially for individuals with chronic health conditions and health related sensitivities.
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led and community-scale adaptive capacity to extreme heat and warm nights.
CITY-LED ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Existing efforts that increase the City’s resilience to extreme heat include:
▪ Increasing urban forest, tree canopy coverage, parks, and open space throughout the City are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Greener Glendale Plan and the Glendale Downtown Specific Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements, including in vulnerable areas not within 1/3 mile of recreational open space (Greener Glendale Plan – Community 2012) (Glendale Downtown Specific Plan 2019).
▪ Inventorying backup-generators, medical equipment and supplies, temporary shelters, and other emergency response supplies and equipment are adopted policies and strategies as Social Vulnerability Assessment
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envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element 2003. (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
COMMUNITY-SCALE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
As described in the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment, the following resources increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to extreme heat and warm nights in Glendale:
▪ Heat refuge: Cooling centers and other cool indoor public and private locations can provide critical refuge for people to escape extreme heat conditions. The City operates 4 cooling centers placed around the City, with only one of the four located close to areas of high social vulnerability (Glendale News Press 2023). ▪ Park access: Parks and open spaces can provide shade, natural cooling, and mental health benefits to community members seeking refuge from the heat. In their Greener Glendale Plan— Community 2012, Glendale aims to increase parks specifically in areas not currently within 1/3 mile of recreational open space and develop strategies to provide parks or recreational open space in those areas (Greener Glendale Plan – Community Plan 2012). Currently, most Glendale parks and green spaces are not accessible by most vulnerable populations, but Glendale is working to develop strategies to address this imbalance. ▪ Tree canopy: Trees can provide shade, natural cooling, and mitigate the urban heat island effect, providing numerous benefits to residents. According to Glendale’s tree equity report, 19 of 137 block groups have a tree equity score of less than 75. These 19 block groups are located in dense, vulnerable communities adjacent to major roadways like I-5. The lack of tree canopy in these areas will exacerbate the urban heat island effect and increase heat inequity.
▪ Thermal building performance: Older buildings heat up faster during extreme heat events and are less effective at remaining cooler than outdoor temperatures. Improving building
insulation and using reflective building materials can increase thermal building performance, increasing community resilience.
Thermal building performance in Glendale is likely poor, given that 77 percent of the housing stock in Glendale was built prior to 1980, with 20 percent of those homes, the largest
proportion, constructed prior to 1939.
▪ Permeable surfaces: Permeable spaces include green spaces and other cool, ground surfaces that help protect against localized heat gain and reduce the urban heat island effect.
Large areas of permeable surfaces are located in areas with the lowest social vulnerability scores, where access to open spaces and cooled surfaces prevent urban heat island effects. In Glendale, these areas have historically been less densely populated areas, typically away from major roadways and in areas with fewer vulnerable populations.
City of Glendale
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46 Vulnerability Score – Extreme Heat and Warm Nights
Population Group Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure High Low 5-High
Under-resourced Individuals High Low 5-High
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers High Low 5-High
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities High Low 5-High Social Vulnerability Assessment
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Drought
Overview
Prolonged drought conditions can cause long-term public health problems including shortages of drinking water and poor-quality drinking water, impacts on air quality, sanitation and hygiene, and food and nutrition, and more disease, such as West Nile Virus carried by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water (CDC 2020).
Potential Impacts
This section describes the potential impacts of drought on each sensitive population group.
INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH OUTDOOR EXPOSURE
Unless there are major water shortages in the City which disrupt drinking water supplies or cooling water features at parks and other public locations, individuals with high outdoor exposure are most likely not at disproportionate risk to drought.
UNDER-RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS
During periods of prolonged drought, under-resourced individuals are more likely to experience the cost burden associated with increased water rates (Feinstein et al. 2017). These individuals may struggle to access clean and affordable drinking water which may cause financial strain (Gamble et al. 2016).
INDIVIDUALS FACING SOCIETAL BARRIERS
Unless there are major water shortages in the City, individuals facing societal barriers are most likely not at disproportionate risk to drought.
INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR HEALTH
RELATED SENSITIVITIES
Unless there are major water shortages in the City, individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitivities are most likely not at disproportionate risk to drought.
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led and community-scale adaptive capacity to drought.
CITY-LED ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Existing efforts that increase the City’s resilience to drought impacts include:
▪ Increasing urban forest, tree canopy coverage, parks, and open space throughout the City are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Greener Glendale Plan and the Glendale Downtown Specific Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements, including in vulnerable areas not within 1/3 mile of recreational open space (Greener Glendale Plan – Community 2012) (Glendale Downtown Specific Plan 2019).
▪ Increasing biodiversity of plants and ecosystems are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Greener Glendale Plan (Greener Glendale Plan – Community 2012).
▪ Glendale Water & Power offers the Utility Users Tax exemption to low-income senior and differently abled customers. Glendale Water & Power also promotes the Low-Income Household
Water Assistance Program (LIWAP) which provides funds to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills (GWP Financial Assistant Programs 2023).
City of Glendale
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48 COMMUNITY-SCALE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
As described in the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment, the following resources increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to drought.
▪ Water conservation practices: Water conservation practices such as using drought-tolerant vegetation in gardens and open spaces, promoting water reuse for non-potable uses and
installing water efficient appliances are important practices for increasing resilience to drought are adopted policies and strategies. Policies and strategies in the Greener Glendale Plan seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Greener Glendale Plan – Community 2012).
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Vulnerability Score – Drought
Population Group Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure Low Medium 2-Low Under-resourced Individuals Medium Medium 3-Medium
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers Low Medium 2-Low
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities Low Medium 2-Low City of Glendale
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50 Wildfire
Overview
Wildfires cause direct and indirect impacts to community members.
Wildfires that burn within City limits can pose a significant impact to the safety of community members and can burn homes. Indirectly, wildfires both within and outside of City limits can cause power disruption and lead to poor air quality. Focus Group participants identified concerns with wildfires leading to power disruption and affecting air quality through smoke.
Population groups that are located in the additional vulnerable focus areas are at-risk to wildfires, as shown in Figure 8. These include community members within ¼ mile buffer of schools (which is where children, a climate-vulnerable population group, spend much of their time), ¼ mile buffer of I-210 and SR 2, as well as portions of east Glendale.
Potential Impacts
This section describes the potential impacts of wildfire on each vulnerable population group.
INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH OUTDOOR EXPOSURE
Some outdoor workers, including fire fighters, police officers and other emergency personnel, may be exposed to hazardous work conditions during wildfire events and may become injured from burns and wildfire smoke. Domestic workers that typically service areas under a wildfire evacuation order are impacted by loss of wages, especially where hazard pay is unavailable. In some cases, domestic workers were still required to report to work within emergency evacuation areas, exposing themselves to harm (Climate Resolve 2021). Individuals with high outdoor exposure may face disproportionate exposure to wildfire smoke which can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions, mental illness, and chronic health conditions. (CDPH 2017). Individuals with high outdoor exposure may be reliant on active and public transportation modes and have a more difficult time evacuating in a timely fashion.
UNDER-RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS
Under-resourced individuals may experience injuries or death from burns and are likely to experience financial burden associated with medical treatment and property loss or damage (CDPH 2017). These individuals may have their belongings and homes damaged by a wildfire. If this occurs, under-resourced individuals are less likely to be covered by insurance and more likely to suffer from the cost burden. Under-resourced individuals are less likely to have adequately hardened and weatherized housing. They are more likely to have limited control over home hardening and
improvements that may protect against fire. Subsequently, they may experience economic and health impacts and a greater loss of belongings than affluent homeowners (Gamble et al. 2016).
INDIVIDUALS FACING SOCIETAL BARRIERS
BIPOC, immigrants, and people who are undocumented are
generally more likely to live in housing with insufficient protection against wildfire. Individuals facing societal barriers may not have access to language appropriate advisory warnings or government guidance. Individuals in these groups may face systematic and/or cultural barriers to access resources to safely evacuate hazard areas and/or to treat injuries (Gamble et al. 2016) (Mendez et al. 2020).
The harm that many community members have experienced when engaging with government systems, including at evacuation centers, may make it harder for them to receive the support and services that they need.
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INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR HEALTH
RELATED SENSITIVITIES
Individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitivities may be more susceptible to injuries or death from burns (CDPH 2017). People who are differently abled, young children and their parents/caregivers, military veterans, pregnant people, and seniors may have difficulty evacuating from wildfires, increasing the risk of health impacts from wildfire burns (EPA 2022).
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led and community-scale adaptive capacity to wildfire.
CITY-LED ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Existing efforts that increase the City’s resilience to wildfire impacts include:
▪ Ensuring adequate fire services, such as fire equipment, infrastructure, and response times throughout the City are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the General Plan – Safety Element. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety
Element 2003).
▪ Enforcing fuel management, weed abatement, fire-resistant landscaping, and structure hardening programs and efforts to minimize wildfire risk are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the General Plan – Safety Element. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
▪ Designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating Glendale Water & Power electric transmission and distribution system to minimize wildfire risk are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale Water & Power – Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhoodwide improvements (Glendale Water & Power–- Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2022).
▪ Coordinating with local and regional jurisdictions and agencies to update and implement disaster preparedness and recovery plans, maintain mutual aid agreements, and carry out
evacuation procedures are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan—Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003). ▪ Inventorying backup-generators, medical equipment and supplies, temporary shelters, and other emergency response supplies and equipment are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
COMMUNITY-SCALE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
As described in the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment, the following resources increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to wildfire in Glendale:
▪ Fire Safe Structures: Homes and facilities that are designed and constructed with fire resistant building materials will mitigate potential impacts from fire and smoke.
▪ Fire Resistant Landscaping: Planting fire resistant plants can mitigate the spread of fire in open spaces and surrounding structures. Employing vegetation management techniques (e.g., trimming, pruning, and cleanup) will reduce flammability.
City of Glendale
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52 ▪ Roadway and Access: Roadway access and street signage ensures adequate ingress/egress for residents and emergency personnel.
▪ Fire Service Resources: Fire equipment, infrastructure, and response times are all critical.
Social Vulnerability Assessment
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Figure 8 Glendale High Social Vulnerability Areas and Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
54 Vulnerability Score – Wildfire
Population Group Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure Medium Medium 3-Medium Under-resourced Individuals High Medium 4-High
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers Medium Medium 3-Medium Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities High Medium 4-High Social Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 55
Landslides
Overview
Population groups that are located in the additional vulnerable focus areas are at-risk to landslides, as shown in Figure 9. These include community members within ¼ mile buffer of schools, ¼ mile buffer of I-210, La Crescenta Avenue, and SR 2, as well as portions of east Glendale.
Potential Impacts
This section describes the potential impacts of landslides on each sensitive population group.
INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH OUTDOOR EXPOSURE
Individuals with high outdoor exposure (outdoor workers, people experiencing houselessness, visitors, and people who use active transportation and public transit) may not receive timely emergency evacuation information or may have limited access to shelter and transportation to evacuate from hazardous areas (Gamble et. Al 2016). Some outdoor workers, including emergency personnel and construction workers, may be exposed to hazardous work
conditions during landslide events and may become injured from debris, rocks, or damaged infrastructure or facilities.
UNDER-RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS
Under-resourced individuals may experience injuries or death from landslides and are likely to experience financial burden associated with medical treatment (CDPH 2017). These individuals may have their belongings and homes damaged by a landslide. If this occurs, under-resourced individuals are less likely to be covered by insurance and more likely to suffer from the cost burden. Underresourced individuals are less likely to have adequately hardened and weatherized housing. They are more likely to have limited control over home hardening and improvements that may protect against landslides. Subsequently, they may experience economic and health impacts and a greater loss of belongings than homeowners (Gamble et al. 2016).
INDIVIDUALS FACING SOCIETAL BARRIERS
BIPOC, immigrants, and people who are undocumented are
generally more likely to live in housing with insufficient protection against landslides. Individuals facing societal barriers may not have access to language appropriate advisory warnings or government guidance. Individuals in these groups may face systematic and/or cultural barriers to access resources to safely evacuate landslide hazard areas and/or to treat injuries (Gamble et al. 2016) (Mendez at al. 2020). The harm that many community members have experienced when engaging with systems, including at evacuation centers, may make it harder for them to receive the support and services that they need.
INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR HEALTH
RELATED SENSITIVITIES
Individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitivities may be more susceptible to injuries or death from a landslide (CDPH 2017). People who are differently abled, young children and their parents/caregivers, pregnant people, and seniors may have difficulty evacuating from landslides, increasing the risk of health impacts and geographical isolation (EPA 2022).
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led and community-scale adaptive capacity to landslides.
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56 CITY-LED ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Existing efforts that increase the City’s resilience to landslide impacts include:
▪ Mitigating landslide risks and potential damage to structure and infrastructure through requiring geotechnical investigations, regular inspections, and prohibiting reconstruction of structures in areas with failed slopes are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the General Plan – Safety Element. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
COMMUNITY-SCALE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
The following resources increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to landslides in Glendale:
▪ Stabilize slopes mechanically or with vegetation: Vegetation helps stabilize slopes and prevent erosion by strengthening roots in the soil.
Social Vulnerability Assessment
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Figure 9 Glendale High Social Vulnerability and Landslide Susceptibility City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
58 Vulnerability Score –Landslides
Population Group Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure Medium Medium 3-Medium Under-resourced Individuals Medium Medium 3-Medium
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers Low Medium 2-Low
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities Medium Low 4-High Social Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 59
Stormwater Flooding and Extreme
Precipitation
Overview
When an influx of stormwater exceeds a drainage system’s capacity to infiltrate water into the soil or to carry it away, localized stormwater flooding can occur. Urban landscapes tend to be built with impermeable surfaces that do not allow much water to infiltrate the ground and this increases the amount of runoff that must be channeled in storm drainage systems and carried elsewhere. Most urban drainage infrastructure was not built to manage stormwater flows from the increased precipitation events that are occurring and will occur more frequently with climate change and can be costly to retrofit. As a result, the costs and impact of urban flooding are expected to increase as precipitation patterns become more extreme due to climate change (NASEM 2019).
Climate change may cause areas throughout Glendale to experience more frequent stormwater flooding. Stormwater systems may be overwhelmed more frequently as more extreme rain events occur, causing localized flooding which could impact properties and leave roads temporarily unusable. Areas with high amounts of
impermeable surfaces and those adjacent to drainage systems are prone to stormwater flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
Flooding impacts directly create physical damage from inundation (Hall et. al 2018). Flooding can also lead to cascading risks due to loss of power, wastewater management issues, pollution carried by stormwater including hazardous materials, and overwhelm storm drainage infrastructure, exacerbating public health concerns.
Potential Impacts
This section describes the potential impacts of stormwater flooding and extreme precipitation on each sensitive population group.
INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH OUTDOOR EXPOSURE
Individuals with high outdoor exposure (outdoor workers, people experiencing houselessness, visitors, and people who use active transportation and public transit) may not receive timely emergency evacuation information or may have limited access to shelter and transportation to evacuate from hazardous areas (Gamble et. Al 2016). Some outdoor workers, including emergency personnel and police offers, may be exposed to hazardous work conditions during flooding events and therefore are vulnerable to health impacts (CDPH 2020).
UNDER-RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS
Under-resourced individuals may experience injuries or death from high velocity flooding and are less likely to receive medical treatment (CDPH 2017). Individuals in these groups may experience cost burdens if their belongings and homes are damaged from floodwater inundation. Under-resourced individuals are less likely to have adequately hardened and weatherized housing. They are more likely to have limited control over home hardening and
improvements that may protect against flooding. Subsequently, they may experience economic and health impacts and a greater loss of belongings than homeowners (Gamble et al. 2016).
INDIVIDUALS FACING SOCIETAL BARRIERS
BIPOC and people who are undocumented are more likely to live in low-lying area that are more susceptible to stormwater flooding.
They are also more likely to live in housing with insufficient City of Glendale
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60 protection against stormwater flooding. Individuals facing societal barriers may not have access to language appropriate advisory warnings or governmental guidance. Individuals in these groups may face systemic and/or cultural barriers (including racism and other forms of discrimination) when seeking access to resources needed to safely evacuate hazard areas and/or to treat injuries (Gamble et al. 2016) (Mendez et al. 2020).
INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR HEALTH
RELATED SENSITIVITIES
Individuals with underlying health conditions may be more at risk of injury/illness due to exposure to mold after flooding events. Molds grow in places with a lot of moisture, particularly areas where there has been flooding and inadequate home hardening to protect from water infiltration. After severe flooding events, damage from flooding may lead to mold infestations, as home interiors are exposed around pipes, windows, and roofs. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), exposure to damp and moldy
environments may cause health effects ranging from sneezing and mild allergic reactions to fungal infections for more susceptible populations, such as those with chronic respiratory disease. Studies also suggest that early mold exposure in children may lead to the development of asthma and further sensitivity to mold. Young children and their parents/caregivers, seniors, people who are differently abled, pregnant people, and individuals with chronic health conditions or illnesses may not be able to safely evacuate floodwater hazard areas. This could lead to further exposure to mold infestations and increase the likelihood of experiencing serious health-related events for these populations.
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led and community-scale adaptive capacity to stormwater flooding and extreme
precipitation.
CITY-LED ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Existing efforts that increase the City’s resilience to stormwater flooding and extreme precipitation impacts include:
▪ Mitigating flood impacts through discouraging development of critical facilities in flood hazard areas, requiring hydrological studies, and maintaining City-owned storm drain facilities are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the General Plan – Safety Element. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety
Element 2003).
COMMUNITY-SCALE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
As described in the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment, the following resources increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to stormwater flooding and extreme precipitation in Glendale:
▪ Green Infrastructure: Green infrastructure projects expand permeable areas and reduce flooding potential. According to the City of Glendale Nature Based Development, the City has conducted Indigenous Tree Protection programs and annual street tree planting programs for decades. In 2011, the City completed a re-forestation project within Scholl Canyon and has planted over 5,000 trees in 2020. Additionally, Glendale maintains over 5,000 acres of open space and 286 acres of developed park land, with 47 parks and recreation facilities (City of Glendale Nature Based Development).
Social Vulnerability Assessment
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Vulnerability Score – Stormwater Flooding and Extreme Precipitation Population Group Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure Medium Medium 3-Medium Under-resourced Individuals High Medium 4-High
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers Medium Medium 3-Medium Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities Medium Low 4-High City of Glendale
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62 Poor Air Quality
Overview
Focus Group participants identified concerns with wildfires contributing to poor air quality through smoke.
LOCAL CONDITIONS IMPACTING AIR QUALITY
The City of Glendale is in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB), which is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains to the north and east, and the San Diego County line to the south. The air quality in the SCAB is primarily influenced by a wide range of emissions sources – such as dense population centers, heavy vehicular traffic, industry, and weather (South Coast AQMD N.d.) The general region lies in the semi-permanent high-pressure zone of the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in light average wind speeds. The SCAB experiences a persistent temperature inversion (increasing temperature with increasing altitude) because of the Pacific high-pressure zone. This inversion limits the vertical dispersion of air contaminants, holding them relatively near the ground. The combination of stagnant wind conditions and low inversions produces the greatest pollutant concentrations in the SCAB. On days of no inversion or high wind speeds, ambient air pollutant concentrations are lowest. During periods of low inversions and low wind speeds, air pollutants generated in urbanized areas are transported predominantly onshore into Riverside and San Bernardino counties (CARB N.d.)
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENTS
Air quality monitoring stations throughout the region monitor concentrations of air pollutants and determine whether ambient air quality meets the California and federal standards for various air pollutants. While air quality has improved in the SCAB over the past several decades, the region has exceeded the federal health 8-hour ozone standard 124 days in 2022, based on preliminary data.
Maximum levels are almost twice as high as the federal standard for clean air (South Coast AQMD N.d.)
POOR AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Poor air quality is associated with increased health impacts, most frequently from inhalation of pollutants. Examples of inhalable pollutants include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Of these pollutants, the most common is particulate matter, which refers to inhalable particles that are commonly made up of sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, and other harmful compounds. Higher temperatures are conducive to air pollution formation, and rising temperatures could therefore result in worsened air quality. Worsening air quality due to climate change can create respiratory issues for sensitive populations and impact indoor environments that do not have adequate air filtration systems. There are several types of sources that cause a decline in air quality:
▪ Dust. Increased temperature leads to dry, dusty conditions also associated with drought (Hall et al. 2018). Increases in dust conditions increases exposure to particulate matter, including PM10 (particulates less than 10 microns in diameter). PM10 can cause increased respiratory disease, lung damage, cancer, premature death, and reduced visibility. These adverse health effects have been reported primarily in infants and children, and seniors with preexisting heart or lung diseases (CARB 2022). ▪ Smog. Increases in ambient temperature can lead to higher rates of smog also referred to as ozone. Groups most sensitive to O3 include children, the elderly, people with respiratory disorders, and people who exercise strenuously outdoors Social Vulnerability Assessment
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(USEPA 2021a). Depending on the level of exposure, ozone can cause inflame and damage the airways; make the lungs more susceptible to infection; and aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Ground-level ozone increases with ambient temperatures and will be
experienced at higher rates due to climate change leading to raised cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality rates (CDPH 2014). Ground-level ozone has also been shown to have particularly disproportionate adverse impacts on
populations experiencing homelessness and lower median
income (PNAS 2021).
▪ Fewer Natural Filtrations. Precipitation variability and long periods of dry spells lead to less reliable air quality for the entire region. Moisture in the air can filter pollutants and provide for overall improved conditions. Urban vegetation can directly affect air quality. Trees remove gaseous air pollution. Large healthy trees remove more pollution than younger, smaller trees (USDA Forest Service, 2002). Rising temperatures could increase mortality for large healthy trees which would reduce the ability for urban vegetation to reduce air pollutants, therefore increasing pollutant exposure to sensitive
populations.
▪ Wildfire Smoke. Temperature, severe wildfire conditions, and the area burned by wildfires have all increased throughout the state and are expected to continue to increase. Higher
temperatures accompanied by an increase in the incidence and extent of large wildfires will lead to increased wildfire smoke and associated toxins and air pollution (Hall et al. 2018).
Wildfire smoke is comprised of a mixture of gaseous pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, water vapor, and particle pollution (fine airborne particulate matter – PM2.5) with particle pollution being the main component and the principal threat to public health (USEPA 2021b). Smoke from wildfires is known to
contain a large abundance of PM2.5 and are estimated to contribute to approximately 18 percent of the total PM2.5 atmospheric emissions in the US (Liu 2016). On days where PM2.5 exceeds regulatory standards an average of 71.3 percent of the total PM2.5 emissions are attributable to wildfires (Liu 2016). Short-term exposures to PM2.5 (up to 24-hours duration) has been associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart or lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, respiratory symptoms, and restricted activity days. These adverse health effects have been reported primarily in infants and children, and seniors with preexisting heart or lung diseases (CARB 2022).
COMPOUNDING RISKS: HEAT AND SMOG DURING A RECENT HEAT
WAVE
Central and Southern California experienced a heat wave in July 2023 that not only raised the risk of wildfires and heat-related illness, but also resulted in bad air quality. The South Coast AQMD issued an air quality alert for inland areas of the SCAB because of elevated levels of ozone caused by the high temperatures and weak winds that allowed the air to stagnate (LA Times, 2023). As discussed in the Social Vulnerability by Climate Hazard section, heat presents a major health risk to community members, especially to those with higher vulnerability to heat. Ozone levels increased alongside temperature throughout the day, peaking around noon and the early afternoon. Since higher temperatures increase ground level ozone, these health risks are compounded during extreme heat events, particularly when local conditions such as low wind speed, prevent the dispersion of pollution.
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64 Potential Impacts
This section describes the potential impacts of extreme heat on each sensitive population group.
INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH OUTDOOR EXPOSURE
Outdoor workers may become injured from smoke inhalation and poor air quality during heat waves. People experiencing houselessness are particularly at-risk when air quality is poor as they often suffer from respiratory conditions, mental illness, and chronic health conditions that may be exacerbated from poor air quality. People experiencing houselessness have limited access to shelter and often do not have access to transportation to evacuate from smoke engulfed areas (CDPH 2017). Visitors may not have access to emergency public health warnings related to poor air quality. Additionally, poor air quality from smoke or extreme heat may deter visitors, impacting Glendale’s economy (Gamble et. al 2016). People who use active transportation and public transit are vulnerable during times of poor air quality because of their higher outdoor exposure.
UNDER-RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS
Under-resourced individuals may experience injuries or death from respiratory issues caused by smoke or poor air quality during heat waves and are likely to experience financial burden associated with medical treatment (CDPH 2017). Renters have limited control over home hardening and improvements, such as filtration, that protect against poor air quality. Individuals living in mobile homes may also face disproportionate risk if their homes do not have adequate filtration.
INDIVIDUALS FACING SOCIETAL BARRIERS
Limited or non-English speakers may not be provided with smoke advisory warnings or governmental guidance in their language, potentially causing them to experience greater exposure to smoke.
Individuals in these groups may face systematic and/or cultural barriers to access resources to safely evacuate hazard areas (Gamble et al. 2016). Individuals in these groups may experience injuries or death from smoke inhalation (CDPH 2017). People who are undocumented may not have access to medical services to treat injuries (Mendez et al. 2020). The harm that many community members have experienced when engaging with government
systems, including at evacuation centers, may make it harder for them to receive the support and services that they need.
INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR HEALTH
RELATED SENSITIVITIES
Individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitivities may be more susceptible to injuries or death from smoke inhalation (CDPH 2017). These populations are particularly at risk to respiratory health impacts associated with smoke inhalation of wildfire smoke pollutants and pollutant poor air quality during heat waves. Seniors and military veterans are vulnerable to health impacts from wildfire smoke and extreme heat pollutants because they are more likely to have underlying respiratory and/or cardiovascular conditions and illnesses. Young children may experience respiratory health impacts from wildfire smoke and extreme heat pollutants because their respiratory systems are not fully developed and are sensitive to stressors. Individuals with cardiovascular disease, individuals with high blood pressure, and individuals with stroke risk may experience severe cardiovascular health impacts if exposed to wildfire smoke and extreme heat pollutants. Individuals with diabetes face increased risk of all-cause Social Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 65
respiratory and cardiovascular-related physician visits after wildfires and an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity (Ratter-Rieck et al. 2023). Individuals with asthma may experience severe respiratory health impacts such as difficulty breathing if exposed to wildfire smoke pollutants (EPA 2022). Residents in households using fuels for heating may face disproportionate health impacts from wildfire events and extreme heat as the resulting outdoor air pollutants may lead to compounding impacts from indoor air pollutants. People who are differently abled, young children and their
parents/caregivers, pregnant people, and seniors may have difficulty evacuating from wildfires, increasing the risk of health impacts from wildfire smoke inhalation (EPA 2022).
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led and community-scale adaptive capacity to poor air quality.
CITY-LED ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
There are no existing policies or programs led by the City for addressing poor air quality.
COMMUNITY-SCALE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
The following resources increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to poor air quality in Glendale:
▪ Tree canopy and large open spaces: Trees and large open spaces can reduce air pollution and provide numerous other benefits to residents, including providing shade, natural cooling, and mitigating the urban heat island effect.
▪ Indoor air filtration: Upgrading central air system filters and using high efficiency portable air cleaners can effectively improve air filtration in homes, protecting residents from the impacts of poor air quality.
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66 Vulnerability Score – Poor Air Quality
Population Group Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure High Low 5-High
Under-resourced Individuals High Low 5-High
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers High Low 5-High
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities High Low 5-High Physical Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 67
4 Physical Vulnerability Assessment
4.1 What is Physical Vulnerability
Physical vulnerability is the susceptibility and limitations of physical infrastructure in the context of climate hazards and extreme events.
Climate change has the capacity to harm physical infrastructure and disrupt services or restrict accessibility. Given that robust infrastructure is a crucial element in enhancing Glendale’s resilience, this assessment examines the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to understand how climate change will impact them.
4.2 Physical Assets at Risk
Physical Assets Included in the Physical Vulnerability
Assessment
The physical assets included in this assessment include natural and recreational resources, building and facilities, and infrastructure and critical services in Glendale.
Natural and recreational resources
Natural and recreational resources within Glendale, as detailed in the General Plan Recreation Element and Open Space and
Conservation Plan, include parks, City bikeways, open spaces, waterways, critical habitats, and street trees. The City currently provides 284 acres of total parkland space across 31 parks.
Waterways in Glendale include the Los Angeles River and two of its tributaries, Verdugo Wash, and the Burbank Western Channel.
Glendale has more than 49,000 City trees. Of those City trees, 43,000 are public rights-of-way along City streets and the remaining 6,000 trees are located in City parks. These resources provide sources of community resilience to the city. These resources are spread throughout the City and face various levels of exposure to climate hazards.
Primary vulnerabilities for parks and natural resources are typically associated with extreme heat and drought related stressors, increasing wildfire frequency and severity, with impacts such as species mortality and loss of habitat.
Buildings and Facilities
Climate change is expected to amplify extreme weather and hazards in Glendale. A jurisdiction’s vulnerability increases when buildings and facilities are not designed, operated, and/or maintained to function effectively under extreme weather conditions. The following buildings and facilities in Glendale are particularly important to assess for climate change impacts because they play a critical role in providing services to the community: City Hall, schools, police stations, libraries, fire stations, hospitals, parks, recycling facilities, water treatment plant, the Grayson Power Plant, potable/recycled water pump stations, and Scholl Canyon Landfill /waste management facilities.
Infrastructure and Critical Services
Within Glendale, there is a variety of infrastructure and critical services that are vulnerable to climate change. Assets within this category include water and wastewater services, storm drainage and flood protection, solid and hazardous waste and recycling, fire City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
68 services, emergency services, medical services, energy utilities and major utility corridors, water lines, transmission lines, public transportation, roadways, and active transportation routes. This asset group is sensitive to climate change as the impacts of hazards can affect the ability to provide services and resources; and the infrastructure in place may not be adequately prepared to sustain increasing and compounding hazards.
▪ Glendale Water & Power provides water and electrical services to City residents and businesses.
▪ Southern California Gas Company provides natural gas services to the City.
▪ The Glendale Public Works Maintenance Services maintains the City’s sewer system.
▪ The City’s wastewater is processed and reclaimed at the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant
▪ Most stormwater drains in Glendale are owned and maintained by the City Public Work Department.
▪ The Glendale Police Department provides police services to the City.
▪ The Glendale Fire Department provides fire suppression services in the City.
▪ Waste and recycling services are provided through the Public Works – Integrated Waste Management Department.
▪ The Glendale Transportation Division operates the Beeline Bus, Dial-A-Ride and the Glendale Transportation Center.
▪ The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates buses throughout Glendale.
▪ Amtrak, Los Angeles Department of Transportation Metrolink, and Greyhound serve the Glendale Transportation Center
providing rail and bus services.
4.3 Physical Vulnerability by Climate
Hazard
Extreme Heat and Warm Nights
Overview
Extreme heat and warm nights impact natural resources, buildings, and infrastructure. As described in the Climate Hazards section, extreme heat events are expected to increase in both severity and frequency by mid-century.
Potential Impacts
NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
Increased temperatures can cause vegetation stress in parks, landscaping, wildlife, and urban forests. Indirect impacts include reduced carbon storage and increased tree and vegetation mortality, as well as increased watering needs and related costs.
Wildlife under these conditions face impacts of heat stress and heat related illness as well as disrupted reproductive cycles, and compounding risks associated with early and extended seasonal temperature increases (Backlund 2008). Plants are more likely to experience heat stress and drying, and species’ habitat ranges may shift. Some pests can proliferate more easily with warmer temperatures (Hamerlynck 1995), and some plants and animals illsuited to the new warmer conditions may suffer increased mortality rates (Ackerly et al. 2018). Increased temperatures may also impact outdoor recreation opportunities and residents and visitors would not be as likely to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits associated with outdoor recreation.
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 69
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
Extreme heat may impact occupants of buildings and facilities that are not adequately weatherized for increased temperatures, however, the buildings and facilities themselves are not at risk to extreme heat or warm nights.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL SERVICES
As temperatures increase, roadways, active transportation routes, and railroads are vulnerable to damages through sustained heat such as buckled railroad ties and cracked surfaces. Additional impacts from extreme heat are associated with increased emergency service calls which could strain medical services.
Electrical infrastructure could be overwhelmed by demand and result in blackouts and Glendale Water & Power could conduct power safety shutoffs to avoid impacts to electrical facilities. Power outages have significant impacts on communication networks, water conveyance, and vulnerable populations. See the Cascading Impacts Assessment for more information on the cascading impacts of power outages.
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the city-led adaptive capacity to extreme heat and warm nights:
▪ Increasing urban forest, tree canopy coverage, parks, and open space throughout the City are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Greener Glendale Plan and the Glendale Downtown Specific Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements, including in vulnerable areas not within 1/3 mile of recreational open space (Greener Glendale Plan – Community 2012) (Glendale Downtown Specific Plan 2019).
▪ Increasing biodiversity of plants and ecosystems are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Greener Glendale Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhoodwide improvements. (Greener Glendale Plan – Community 2012).
▪ Inventorying backup-generators, medical equipment and supplies, temporary shelters, and other emergency response supplies and equipment are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
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70 Vulnerability Score – Extreme Heat and Warm Nights
Physical Assets Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Natural and Recreational Resources High Medium 4-High
Buildings and Facilities N/A N/A N/A
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High Physical Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 71
Drought
Overview
Drought poses a risk to Glendale and the surrounding LA County.
The recent 2012– 2016 drought had major impacts on water resources throughout the state, such as permanently reduced groundwater storage capacity because of land sinking caused by excessive extraction of groundwater (Lund et al., 2018). In the future, drought severity, frequency, and length are expected to increase so much so that California may experience long-term droughts at least every decade (Bedsworth et al., 2018). Glendale Water & Power is responsible for maintaining an adequate and reliable water supply. The City purchases between 60 percent and 70 percent of its potable water from the Metropolitan Water district of Southern California. The remaining 30 percent of its water is from local groundwater wells.
Drought can have severe impacts on natural resources,
infrastructure, and critical services.
Potential Impacts
NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
Drought would likely increase irrigation requirements for maintaining landscaping, park facilities, and street trees, while water use restrictions would potentially prevent asset managers from meeting this increased watering demand, resulting in waterstressed vegetation, increased vegetation mortality, and potentially reducing the quality of and benefits provided by recreational resources such as open spaces and parks and the urban forest (Lund et al., 2018; Okin et al., 2018). Drought will disrupt habitats and the ability for wildlife to survive from dehydration and unreliable food sources.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
Drought can cause increased soil cracking and subsidence in areas with low groundwater tables and high plasticity soils (e.g., clayheavy soils), causing damage to building foundations and façades (LA County CVA 2021).
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL SERVICES
Drought can impact water reliability and water infrastructure.
Projected changes in snowpack, temperature, and precipitation rates from climate change across California will result in increased water scarcity through the end of the century (Ackerly et al. 2018).
The recent multi-year drought significantly strained the State’s water supply systems, which resulted in water storage levels sinking to historic lows. This led to mandatory water use restriction impacting day to day activities and local economies. Low water supply also led to significant capital investments by water agencies in an effort to increase reliability during extended drought periods, which may lead to future water rate adjustments. Drought can result in an increased dependency on groundwater and lower groundwater levels, causing increased contaminant concentrations in aquifers and permanently impaired aquifers (LA County CVA 2021). Although Glendale has a diverse portfolio of multiple different water sources and providers, the impacts of drought on the water system are regional in scope. Drought can also result in increased maintenance needs, causing cracked pavements
compounded with extreme heat (Samuel et al. 2019).
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72 Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the city-led adaptive capacity to drought:
▪ Implementing and enforcing water use restrictions for nonessential or wasteful activities by promoting conservation and administering penalties for overuse are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the City of Glendale Urban Water Management Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (City of Glendale Urban
Water Management Plan 2020).
▪ Utilizing a phased approach to water use restrictions to account for varying supply (i.e., mandatory water restrictions in times of emergency water shortage) are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the City of Glendale Urban Water Management Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhoodwide improvements (City of Glendale Urban Water Management Plan 2020).
▪ Maintaining a diversified water portfolio is critical for drought resilience. The City of Glendale purchases between 60 percent and 70 percent of its potable water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and between 30 percent and 40 percent of its water is from local groundwater wells.
Physical Vulnerability Assessment
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Vulnerability Score – Drought
Physical Assets Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Natural and Recreational Resources High Low 5-High
Buildings and Facilities Low Low 3-Medium
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
74 Wildfire
Overview
Climate change has been linked to increases in wildfire activity and longer wildfire seasons across California (Westerling et al., 2006).
Increasing temperatures, earlier snowmelt, megadroughts, and precipitation whiplash events are all contributing factors (Ullrich et al., 2018; Swain et al., 2018). However, wildfire activity and its associated impacts vary depending on factors such as land use, ecology, and topography. Wildfire events typically occur in more rural areas, along the wildland urban interface (WUI), and in wildfire hazard severity zones. Historically wildfires have affected Glendale mainly on a regional level with two wildfires in City limits as show in Figure 11, La Tuna and (2017) and the Mountain Fire (2002).
Potable/recycled water pump stations, parks, schools, landfill/waste management stations, police stations, and fire stations are located within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in northern Glendale, as shown in Figure 10.
Sustainability Working Group participants also identified wildfire impacts to community members due to road closures and smoke.
Impacts of wildfire smoke on air quality are described in the Poor Air Quality section below. Power disruption is discussed in the Cascading Impacts Assessment below.
Wildfire risks are likely to increase in the future. While many critical facilities are located in urbanized areas, where wildfire is less likely to occur, urban assets may be affected by disruptions in the delivery of services (such as electricity) provided by facilities located in the path of wildfire. See Cascading Impacts Assessment for more information on these impacts.
Potential Impacts
NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
Wildfires can cause direct mortality and loss of resources and wildlife as well as indirect mortality due to loss of habitat area and available food sources and seed bank (Backlund 2008). The severity and frequency of wildfires can exacerbate these impacts further through habitat conversions resulting in vegetation communities that no longer support the species using that habitat (Coop et al. 2020). Wildfire impacts on parks can also cause prolonged closure of park facilities, limiting access to important recreational areas and facilities for the public.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
Structures and buildings located within wildfire hazard zones are at risk of direct structural damage from wildfires. There are many critical facilities in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, including potable/recycled water pump stations, parks, schools, landfill/waste management stations, police stations, and fire stations as displayed in Figure 10. These critical facilities could be directly damaged by wildfires. Areas of high exposure include low density residential zoned areas in north Glendale below I-210 and above Markridge Road, between La Canada Boulevard and SR 2, as well as
neighborhoods throughout east Glendale as displayed in Figure 10.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL SERVICES
Wildfire hazard zones may expand by the end-of-century which could lead to more critical facilities at risk of structural damage.
Additionally, above ground or just below-grade utility lines have the potential to be damaged in wildfire hazard zones, resulting in oil and gas leaks, water loss, and power outages, which can cause fires.
Utility lines under certain high wind conditions can also trigger Physical Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 75
wildfires through downed power lines (Ackerly et al. 2018).
Additionally, public safety power shut offs in response to wildfire risk can affect power service reliability. Three above-ground major transmission lines that GWP maintains are located in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, as shown on Figure 10
Increased frequency of wildfires can place strain on fire and emergency services. Displaced residents can cause service strains and needs for additional community safety services. Increased frequency of wildfires can place strain on fire and emergency services. Evacuation routes could be disrupted during a wildfire event limiting emergency responders’ access and the ability for people to evacuate.
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led adaptive capacity to wildfire:
▪ Ensuring adequate fire services, such as fire equipment, infrastructure, and response times throughout the City are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element. Policies and strategies seek citywide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
▪ Enforcing fuel management, weed abatement, fire-resistant landscaping, and structure hardening programs and efforts to minimize wildfire risk are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
▪ Designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating Glendale Water & Power electric transmission and distribution system to minimize wildfire risk are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale Water & Power – Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhoodwide improvements (Glendale Water & Power–- Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2022).
▪ Coordinating with local and regional jurisdictions and agencies to update and implement disaster preparedness and recovery plans, maintain mutual aid agreements, and carry out
evacuation procedures are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003). ▪ Inventorying backup-generators, medical equipment and supplies, temporary shelters, and other emergency response supplies and equipment are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
76 Figure 10 Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones in Glendale Physical Vulnerability Assessment
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Figure 11 Historical Wildfire Events in Glendale
City of Glendale
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78 Vulnerability Score – Wildfire
Physical Assets Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Natural and Recreational Resources High Low 5-High
Buildings and Facilities High Medium 4-High
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High Physical Vulnerability Assessment
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Landslides
Overview
Sustainability Working Group participants identified historical issues related to mud and debris flows following the Station Fire and impacts to development and anticipate these impacts to continue due to climate change.
Areas in the north bordering I-210 and La Crescenta Ave, and areas in central Glendale along SR 2 as well as those in east Glendale have high landslide risk, as shown on Figure 7. The San Gabriel Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and Verdugo Mountains are at the greatest risk in the area for having slope instabilities. Historically, landslide occurrences have affected the City of Glendale during extreme precipitation events preceded by intense wildfire.
Landslides can cause habitat loss, erosion, property damage, injury, and strained emergency services.
Potential Impacts
NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
Landslide susceptibility directly overlaps with parks and natural resource areas throughout the City as shown in Figure 12. In the event of a landslide, there is potential for loss of lands, habitat, and disruption of waterbodies in areas of debris flow. There is risk around loss of topsoil and habitat conversions. Wildlife and plants face a compounding risk to landslide events because it creates both habitat displacement and increased mortality risk.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
Buildings and facilities located in the landslide risk zone are susceptible to damage in the event of a landslide event. There are many critical facilities in landslide hazard zones, including potable/recycled water pump stations, parks, schools, landfill/waste management stations, police stations, and fire stations as displayed in Figure 12. Areas of high exposure include areas in the north Glendale bordering I-210, from Canada Boulevard and SR 2, as well as those in east and southeast Glendale as displayed on, Figure 12.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL SERVICES
There is high landslide susceptibility along roadways in the northern and east end of the County, shown in Figure 12, and in areas where there are several critical facilities including fire stations, schools, and water pumps, there is a risk of emergency service disruption and impacts to evacuation (CDOC 2021). Pipelines for water, electrical distribution lines, and roadways are vulnerable to landslide impacts which could occur in sloped areas that extend into wildfire zones.
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the City-led adaptive capacity to drought:
▪ Mitigating landslide risks and potential damage to structure and infrastructure through requiring geotechnical investigations, regular inspections, and prohibiting reconstruction of structures in areas with failed slopes are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety Element 2003)
▪ Coordinating with local and regional jurisdictions and agencies to update and implement disaster preparedness and recovery plans, maintain mutual aid agreements, and carry out
evacuation procedures are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
80 Figure 12 Landslide Susceptibility in Glendale
Physical Vulnerability Assessment
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Vulnerability Score – Landslides
Physical Assets Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Natural and Recreational Resources Medium Medium 3-Medium Buildings and Facilities High Medium 4-High
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
82 Stormwater Flooding and Extreme Precipitation
Overview
Sustainability Working Group participants identified historical and current flood issues including downed trees, flooded roads and buildings, and downed trees and debris from storms hitting utility lines.
When an influx of stormwater exceeds a drainage system’s capacity to infiltrate water into the soil or to carry it away, localized stormwater flooding can occur. Urban landscapes tend to be built with impermeable surfaces that do not allow much water to infiltrate the ground and this increases the amount of runoff that must be channeled in storm drainage systems and carried elsewhere. Most urban drainage infrastructure was not built to manage stormwater flows from the increased precipitation events that are occurring and will occur more frequently with climate change and can be costly to retrofit. As a result, the costs and impact of urban flooding are expected to increase as precipitation patterns become more extreme due to climate change (NASEM 2019).
Climate change may cause areas throughout Glendale to experience more frequent stormwater flooding. Stormwater systems may be overwhelmed more frequently as more extreme rain events occur, causing localized flooding which could impact properties and leave roads temporarily unusable. Areas with high amounts of
impermeable surfaces and those adjacent to drainage systems are prone to stormwater flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
Flooding impacts directly create physical damage from inundation (Hall et. al 2018). Flooding can also lead to cascading risks due to loss of power, wastewater management issues, pollution carried by stormwater including hazardous materials, and overwhelm storm drainage infrastructure, exacerbating public health concerns.
Cascading impacts are discussed in the Cascading Impacts Assessment section.
The Verdugo Wash is a 9.4-mile-long tributary of the Los Angeles River in Glendale. It flows southeast along the eastern edge of the Verdugo Mountains and is entirely encased in a concrete flood control channel. The City is working toward a re-envisioned Verdugo Wash that includes a linear park to increase public access and aesthetics in the area. The project will create a 9.4-mile-long linear park and nature trail for walking and cycling with access to business and entertainment venues increase connections between nature, people, places, and culture as it weaves several important City centers, services, and neighborhoods together that make up a large area of Glendale (City of Glendale N.d.b).
The Los Angeles River runs through the City of Glendale from north to south along the eastside of Griffith Park south to Elysian Park.
This narrow, seven-mile stretch of the Los Angeles River is known as the Glendale Narrows. It is currently one of the only stretches of the Los Angeles River that does not contain a concrete bottom, and as a result, provides crucial habitat for local vegetation and wildlife. The City is working towards finishing the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk, which will provide approximately one mile of trails for bicyclists and pedestrians. This project will include parks, rest areas, river overlooks, an equestrian facility, public art projects, interpretive signage, and the Garden River Bridge connecting to Griffith Park (City of Glendale Narrows Riverwalk).
The Burbank Western Channel is a 6.3-mile-long tributary of the Los Angeles River in the eastern San Fernando Valley that serves as a flood control channel. Intersecting the Los Angeles River at the start of the Glendale Narrows, the Burbank Western Channel allows for Physical Vulnerability Assessment
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 83
excess water in the river to flow north into this area and avoid flooding the surrounding north Glendale and south Burbank areas.
Potential Impacts
NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment projects more extreme precipitation events will occur throughout the Los Angeles region, which may lead to areas throughout Glendale to experience more frequent flooding. Heavy precipitation can lead to erosion which may impact vegetation and wildlife. Because there is a low risk of flooding in open spaces in Glendale, the impact on natural and recreational resources is deemed to be low.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
Flooding may cause damage to buildings and facilities or render them temporarily unusable should flooding of buildings or facilities occur.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL SERVICES
Impervious surfaces can impede the absorption of water and augment stormwater flooding in areas of Glendale. There is risk of damage from increased extreme precipitation events including localized flooding, erosion, transport of debris, and sediment deposition. Storm drainage and flood protection services for the City may be impacted by these events, and flooded roadways may be temporarily impassable, disrupt or delay provision of emergency services, or increase risk to road users.
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the city-led adaptive capacity to drought:
▪ Increasing urban forest, tree canopy coverage, parks, and open space throughout the City are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Greener Glendale Plan and the Glendale Downtown Specific Plan. Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements, including in vulnerable areas not within 1/3 mile of recreational open space (Greener Glendale Plan – Community 2012) (Glendale Downtown Specific Plan 2019).
▪ Mitigating flood impacts through discouraging development of critical facilities in flood hazard areas, requiring hydrological studies, and maintaining City-owned storm drain facilities are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element. Policies and strategies seek citywide or neighborhood-wide improvements (General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
▪ Coordinating with local and regional jurisdictions and agencies to update and implement disaster preparedness and recovery plans, maintain mutual aid agreements, and carry out
evacuation procedures are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
84 Vulnerability Score – Stormwater Flooding and Extreme Precipitation Physical Assets Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Natural and Recreational Resources Medium Medium 3-Medium Buildings and Facilities Medium Medium 3-Medium
Infrastructure and Critical Services Medium Medium 3-Medium Physical Vulnerability Assessment
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Poor Air Quality
Overview
Poor air quality events often coincide with regional wildfire events, periods of time without wind, extreme heat events, and extended droughts. As climate change is expected to result in an increased severity and frequency of those extreme events, it is likely that poor air quality will worsen in the future and under worse climate scenarios. Poor air quality can harm wildlife and vegetation as well as cause strained emergency services based on the negative health impacts associated with poor air quality.
Potential Impacts
NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
The direct effects of air quality declines on natural resources and parks relate to plant and wildlife health as increased levels of air pollutants cause stress and mortality. Impacts from poor air quality can further impact natural resources since air quality declines correspond with other hazards, such as extreme heat, compounding risks. The degradation of plant and wildlife health could impact the quality of recreational resources such as open spaces and parks.
Impacts from poor air quality can also make outdoor recreational resources dangerous or unhealthy for vulnerable groups identified in the Social Vulnerability Assessment section.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
The impact of reduced air quality will have a similar effect as extreme heat for buildings and facilities. The ability to filter air will greatly affect the populations reliant on buildings and facilities. The direct impact of poor air quality on buildings and facilities is low.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL SERVICES
Higher incidence of unsafe air quality generated by increased smog, dust and pollutants can create general strain on existing infrastructure and critical services through increased rates of hospitalization and emergency and medical services (CDPH 2020).
Adaptive Capacity
This section gives an overview of the city-led adaptive capacity to drought:
▪ Inventorying backup-generators, medical equipment and supplies, temporary shelters, and other emergency response supplies and equipment are adopted policies and strategies as envisioned in the Glendale General Plan – Safety Element.
Policies and strategies seek city-wide or neighborhood-wide improvements (Glendale General Plan–- Safety Element 2003).
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
86 Vulnerability Score – Poor Air Quality
Physical Assets Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Natural and Recreational Resources High Medium 4-High
Buildings and Facilities Low Low 3-Medium
Infrastructure and Critical Services Medium Medium 3-Medium Cascading Impacts Assessment
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5 Cascading Impacts Assessment
5.1 What are Cascading Impacts?
Glendale community members rely on an interdependent network of critical facilities, services, and infrastructure that are vulnerable to climate change. Electrical infrastructure could be overwhelmed by peaks in demand and result in blackouts or public safety power shutoffs instituted by GWP to avoid impacts to electrical facilities.
Power outages have significant cascading impacts on
communication networks, water conveyance, transportation systems, emergency services, and vulnerable populations. Water systems can fail from lack of power or supply creating city-wide shortages and issues related to power generation cooling or wildfire mitigation. Transportation systems could fail from a variety of direct physical vulnerabilities through climate hazards as well as through power reliant infrastructure which could isolate community members to unsafe conditions. These interconnected, or cascading impacts, could broaden the scope of impact past a single system or neighborhood to reliant subsystems and populations.
The Los Angeles County Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment includes a detailed analysis of the interconnections between various systems to better understand the different paths a climate hazard impact may have (Los Angeles County 2021). A systems map was created that identifies critical nodes (e.g., aqueduct volume, imported water supply) and the potential pathways of cascading impacts from one node to another.
Based on the Los Angeles County Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment systems map, electricity was found to strongly influence every other infrastructure sector and was found to have the most connections. Highway system reliability and communications were nodes that had the second and third highest number of outgoing connections. Water was also found to be heavily relied upon by other infrastructure nodes. Community function, defined as human health, well-being, and livelihood in the Los Angeles County Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, was found to be an
interconnected node when considering indirect connections.
Maintaining community function is the actual purpose of energy, communications, and transportation services, but it is people who keep infrastructure running. Therefore, when climate hazards interfere with workforce availability, there are significant cascading impacts to reliant subsystems.
Unlike most other municipalities, Glendale has direct control over its own water and electricity, through GWP. These two
interconnected sectors and associated cascading impacts unique to Glendale are discussed in this chapter, followed by an assessment of cascading impacts associated with transportation and
communications.
5.2 System Interdependencies
The following section builds on Glendale’s physical and social vulnerabilities through an analysis of the interconnections between Glendale’s energy, water, transportation, and communication systems and highlights the more prominent cascading risks across Glendale’s systems.
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88 Electricity System
The electricity delivery system, often times referred to as the “grid”, is made up of three primary subsystems; electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. Each of these systems needs to be operational in order for community members to receive the electricity they rely on for lighting, internet, communication, heat, hot water, and more recently, mobility. Each of these systems can be impacted by a physical threat such as wildfire burning facilities or infrastructure, wind or vegetation damage, or extreme heat which can decrease the effectiveness of transmission and distribution lines. Increased heat can also increase electricity demand (for example when extreme heat triggers additional cooling demand) that exceeds the amount electricity is available (generation) or the capacity of the infrastructure to move that electricity (transmission and/or distribution).
Electricity Generation
Glendale Water & Power relies on both locally sourced and external sources of energy to meet its demand. Local sources of energy generation include the Grayson power plant, existing solar and planned battery storage. External sources of energy are obtained via the Pacific DC and Southwest AC interties, which are transmission line interconnection points with an energy grid that spans the Western United States. The Glendale Water & Power Integrated Resource Plan (2019) outlines the makeup of Glendale’s energy portfolio as well as an analysis of load and resource needs based on projected climate changes, state requirements of renewable resources, and changing needs of the community (City of Glendale Water & Power 2019).
1 Per the IRP GWP anticipates a load increase from 28 GWh in 2019 to 173 GWh in 2030, and 290 GWh in 2038 for Electric Vehicles using the states assumption of 5 million EV's by 2030.
GWP produces local sourced energy at the Grayson Power Plant, which is a collection of 9 gas burning engines, that produces 173 MW from units 1-8 and 48 MW from unit 9 during peak load. Units 1-8 were set to expire in 2022. According to the Integrated Resource Plan, alternatives to energy generation within Glendale are limited.
It is estimated that GWP would need 12.4 square miles of solar panels to adequately power Glendale, which is equivalent to about 40 percent of Glendale’s land area. Even with GWP investments in locally produced energy sources the City is constrained by land, resource, and infrastructure availability (Ascend 2021).
To address these energy generation constraints, GWP has proposed to replace Grayson Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8A, and 8BC at the Grayson Power Plant to install reciprocating internal combustion engines which generate electricity using a variety of fuels, but predominately natural gas in the short term. This system change is intended to address existing energy shortfalls within the antiquated system currently in place at the Grayson Power Plant. These engines are intended to operate as backup power generation during peak demand hours (Ascend 2021).
With anticipated upgrades to the Grayson Power Plant, and assuming a certain amount of EV charging1 and associated charging infrastructure, increased ambient temperatures, and projected energy demands, GWP anticipates meeting demand pending
approval of the Grayson Power Plant changes upon construction and implementation of the newer engines. Until changes occur, the energy supply of local sources and external sources will not meet forecasted or current peak demand (Ascend 2021).
Cascading Impacts Assessment
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The Grayson Power Plant in southeast Glendale is located in close proximity to a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which is located just outside City limits (City of Glendale Water & Power 2019).
Electricity Transmission
GWP has access to a limited amount of external transmission through the Pacific DC and Southwest AC interties. The interties provide approximately 212 Megawatts of peak load. Typically, Glendale needs 478 MW of peak load. During high heat days, the actual megawatts obtained through the interties is likely lower, as heat reduces load capacity on transmission lines. The limited access Glendale has to external sources of energy necessitates over half of the peak load energy generation to be produced within City limits (Ascend 2021).
Climate hazards could result in direct and indirect impacts on power delivery to Glendale community members. There are three overhead transmission lines owned and operated by GWP that pass through the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in north Glendale.
GWP engages in several programs to reduce the impacts associated with potential power disruption due to wildfire events. According to the GWP Wildfire Prevention Mitigation Plan, GWP has a Public Safety Shutoff Events program that involves providing 24–48-hour advanced notice as well as more immediate shutoff notifications to limit risk of triggering a wildfire and to avoid damaging electrical infrastructure from peak demand periods. Since wildfires are most often triggered by vegetation coming into direct contact with electric utilities, GWP also maintains a Vegetation Management Plan to reduce risks (City of Glendale 2022). In addition, impacts anywhere along those transmission lines outside of Glendale could also cause issues within Glendale if enough capacity is not available locally to meet demand.
Electricity Distribution
The third part of the grid are the smaller distribution lines, transformers, and service lines running directly to each individual building. Distribution systems can be disrupted by similar impacts as transmission lines (wildfire, wind, vegetation, extreme heat), but at a local level. Small areas of wildfire, neighborhood trees, or demand outstripping capacity for a local transformer or distribution line.
Summary
Between higher rates of extreme heat days and increasing wildfire probability due to climate change, the possibility of power disruption is high (City of Glendale 2022).
Power disruptions in Glendale, whether caused by factors like wildfires, deliberate power shutoffs for public safety, or extreme heat, have extensive cascading impacts. Impacts include but are not limited to loss of power in homes, which prevent community members from running their air conditioning or gas or electric heaters, and gas and electric kitchen appliances. For those who rely on in-home medical devices, power disruption could directly impact health and safety. If the power outages occur during bad air quality days from regional wildfire smoke, people with underlying health conditions could experience worsening health conditions. Traffic signals, cell-towers without back-up power, and critical facilities that lack backup power would cease to function. Losing many of these energy dependent amenities during events like heatwaves and wildfires can create increased risks to public health, including heat related illness, food access constraints, evacuation challenges, overloaded emergency services, and increased climate hazard exposure.
Natural Gas System
Southern California Gas Company provides natural gas services to the City through transmission lines and high pressure distribution City of Glendale
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90 lines. Natural gas lines have the potential to be damaged in wildfire hazard zones, resulting in oil and gas leaks and power outages, which can cause fires or explosions. Significant landslides after wildfires or during an extreme rain event may also damage natural gas lines. In addition, natural gas leaks, such as the 2016 leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in Southern California, can lead to temporary closures of natural gas facilities. In the case of Aliso Canyon, the loss of the facility’s storage capacity was unable to be offset by short term increase in the volume of gas deliveries through the regional supply network. This event exposed the limitations of the region’s natural gas system to effectively respond to the prolonged disruption to a critical component of its energy storage infrastructure (Hall et al. 2018).
Water System
Per the City of Glendale’s Urban Water Management Plan (2020), Glendale is anticipated to experience water supply disruption for outdoor water use during drought conditions. GWP acquires water from a variety of sources including water purchased from the Southern California Metropolitan Water District, groundwater from the Verdugo and San Fernando Basins, and recycled water from the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant (City of Glendale Urban Water Management Plan 2020). These sources enter the City through 11 different conveyance points and are distributed through water distribution lines and pump stations across the entire City.
Water pump stations are located in landslide risk areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (City of Glendale Urban Water Management Plan 2020).
Many relationships between higher water usage and lower water availability are observed. There are several demonstrated positive feedback loops wherein the City's water systems can be strained due to drought and extreme heat conditions, which in turn lead to diminished water availability, influenced by both consumer demand and climatological factors. Water usage for regional and city-specific wildfire mitigation aligns with heightened drought conditions and decreased water supplies. These interconnected impacts within the water sector compound, resulting in extreme strains on water supply and introducing additional challenges for Glendale.
During drought conditions, there is an increase in demand for water, however, that is when water supply is constrained. Increased demand for water during drought conditions include water needs for landscaping, and water-cooling features for community members. Drought conditions typically increase the risk of wildfire, further compounding the effects of drought on the community. The cascading impacts of an adversely impacted water system include reduced supply for community consumption potentially increasing water rates and associated public health concerns for underresourced Individuals who may not have the ability to pay for increased water rates. Water shortages can also impact power generation with availability of water for generator cooling.
Inadequate water supply can also impact wildfire mitigation without enough fire flow to fight active fires and/or prevent anticipated fires. Inadequate water can impact the City’s tree canopy which is critical for addressing the urban heat island effect and stormwater capture.
Transportation System
Several freeways and major arterial routes run directly through wildfire and landslide hazard zones in Glendale creating broad transportation system and infrastructure vulnerabilities. There are many resulting cascading impacts from transportation sector disruptions which could result in mobility isolation for the community, reduced ability for emergency services to respond, and constrained evacuation routes. Transportation impacts can occur Cascading Impacts Assessment
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from a wide range of causes including direct physical damage associated with climate hazards within City limits or external climate impacts afflicting regional transportation networks and services.
Power outages could cause traffic signal failures. Transit system failures could place the community in increased danger with inability to evacuate or seek medical attention.
I-210 and I-5 as well as SR 134 and 2 overlap multiple hazard zones and simultaneously serve as major evacuation routes. This type of infrastructure exposure can result in both city-wide and regional cascading impacts limiting evacuation and emergency service accessibility.
Communications System
Like other sectors, the initial vulnerability within Glendale’s communication systems and infrastructure relates to physical exposure to climate hazards. Communication networks consisting of utility, telephone, and broadband infrastructure can experience disruptions and service failures from exposure to extreme heat, wildfires, landslides, and flooding. The viability of a communication network is greatly improved with redundant communication networks, backup power, and alternative forms of communication (e.g., radio) to help minimize the extent of impact to community members. The cascading impacts resulting from downed
communications can vary from interrupted evacuation
communications to general isolation and heightened risk due to inability to receive hazard information. Areas across Glendale in hazard zones are more prone to experiencing communication service disruptions and, therefore, may experience increased cascading impacts from loss of communication infrastructure. .
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92 6 Conclusion
Climate change can have far-reaching consequences on the Glendale community. This report evaluates how climate change may impact community members and physical assets including natural and recreational resources, buildings and facilities, and infrastructure and critical services.
Consistent with Phase 3 of the Cal APG, major problem statements are provided to characterize the overall climate impacts Glendale may experience. These problem statements will be utilized to frame and generate climate adaptation strategies for the Glendale CAAP.
6.1 Problem Statements
The following problem statements are intended to guide the development of adaptation policies and programs for the City’s CAAP. Problem statements are organized based on four systems that have the greatest influence on climate resilience, as well as greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Building Systems
Residential Buildings. Weatherized or fire-hardened residential buildings are critical to increasing community resilience to the effects of extreme heat, wildfires, landslides, stormwater flooding, and poor air quality. A large majority of Glendale’s housing stock was built over 50 years ago and needs rehabilitation to address climate stressors. Individuals facing societal barriers are generally more likely to live in housing with insufficient protection against climate hazards. Particularly in south Glendale, overcrowding, poor housing conditions, a large number of immigrants, and non-English speakers render the households disproportionately vulnerable to climate hazards. Under-resourced individuals are less likely to have adequately hardened and weatherized housing. They are more likely to have limited control over home hardening, improvements, and air conditioning/filtration systems that protect against climate hazards. Residential buildings are located in Very High Hazard Severity Zones in northern and eastern Glendale. Residential buildings are also located in landslide susceptibility zones in areas north bordering I-210 and La Crescenta Ave, and areas in central Glendale along SR 2 as well as east Glendale.
Critical Public Facilities. Critical public facilities are structures and institutions that provide Glendale with resources and services and are essential to the health and welfare of residents. Weatherized and energy resilient critical public facilities are important for a community to be able to better respond to and recover from a climate hazard event. These facilities must continue to operate during and following a climate hazard event to reduce the severity of impacts and accelerate recovery. Critical public facilities located in landslide susceptibility areas and Fire Hazard Severity Zones include schools, police stations, and fire stations.
Resilient Energy System. The reliability of Glendale’s energy system is critical to the resilience of the City’s services and community members. Glendale’s energy system and power infrastructure are highly vulnerable to extreme heat which causes increased energy demand due to cooling needs, wildfire, and landslides. Energy infrastructure and dependent populations experience cascading impacts around power outages from downed utility lines, power safety shutoffs, and grid overload. All forms of power outages can Conclusion
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 93
affect how critical services are able to perform their needed functions during a climate hazard. Three above-ground major transmission lines that Glendale Water & Power maintains are located in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The Grayson Power Plant, which generates electricity using natural gas, exacerbates the poor air quality conditions in southeast Glendale. This area is designated as a high social vulnerability area in Glendale. Individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitives are disproportionately susceptible to health impact associated with air pollutants. The Grayson Power Plant is located in close proximity to a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which is located just outside City limits.
Mobility, Land Use, and Emergency Systems
Alerts and Evacuation. Emergency communications and timely evacuations are an essential part of emergency operation planning and community safety. Emergency communication and evacuation orders will be key to alert the Glendale community regarding various climate hazards, including wildfires and landslides, extreme heat events, and poor air quality days. Barriers to communication and evacuation can occur from deficiencies in the energy, transportation, and communication systems, as well as inequitable access and distribution of resources. Individuals with chronic health conditions or health related sensitivities may have difficulty evacuating in a timely fashion during a hazardous event which can result in direct impacts to health and safety and exacerbate chronic health problems. Individuals facing societal barriers may not have access to language appropriate advisory warnings or government guidance and may face systematic and/or cultural barriers to access resources to safely evacuate hazard areas and/or to treat injuries.
Under-resourced individuals and individuals that rely on public transportation are less likely to have access to transportation for evacuation purposes and often lack the financial resources to evacuate from a climate hazard or find a safe and affordable place in which to evacuate.
Transportation and Communication Infrastructure for Emergency Evacuation. Major freeways and arterial routes in Glendale are located within landslide and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, including the I-210, I-5, SR 134, SR 2, La Canada Boulevard, N Verdugo Road, and La Crescenta Ave. These routes serve as major evacuation routes, allowing community members to evacuate during emergency orders and allowing emergency personnel to enter emergency evacuation zones. Should these transportation networks be directly impacted by landslides or wildfires, or are impacted by regional threats outside City limits, emergency evacuation could be adversely impacted. Communication
infrastructure (such as cell towers) damaged by wildfires or landslides would hinder emergency communications and impact the health and safety of emergency personnel and community
members.
Equitable Access to Services. People who rely on active transportation or public transit may experience barriers in accessing cooling centers, parks, and other critical services, and have a greater likelihood of encountering interruption in transportation services which could lead to direct income losses from the inability to access their workplace during climate events. They also have higher outdoor exposure, such as extreme heat, air pollution, or heavy rainfall, than those who use personal vehicles and are therefore at greater risk to climate hazards. This high risk is compounded by the fact that communities of color are more likely to have limited or no access to a car, increasing their likelihood of being impacted during heat and other climate hazards. Under-resourced individuals are less likely to have access to transportation, healthcare, and other basic needs which increases their vulnerability to climate hazards.
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
94 Building on systemic inequities, these disproportionate exposures can leave community members isolated and/or without the needed resources during a climate hazard event.
Urban Ecosystems
Water Reliability and Consumption: Water supply infrastructure, such as pipelines and pump stations, can be damaged by climate hazards, impacting water reliability throughout the City which has direct implications on wildfire mitigation, community members, and critical services. Several water pump stations are located in landslide susceptibility areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in northern Glendale. Glendale’s water potable supplies, including those from the Southern California Metropolitan Water District and groundwater from the Verdugo and San Fernando Basins, have declined in recent years due to lower-than-average rainfall. Extended drought conditions that impact availability of water supply can increase the cost of water and affect water quality, resulting in disproportionate impacts to vulnerable populations.
Natural and Recreational Resources. Natural and recreational resources in Glendale, including parks, City bikeways, open spaces, waterways, critical habitats and street trees, face exposure to climate hazards. All of these resources provide community benefits either directly or indirectly and face heightened risks of drought, landslides, stormwater flooding, wildfires, extreme heat and poor air quality. Primary vulnerabilities for natural resources are associated with extreme heat and drought related stressors, increasing wildfire frequency and severity, with potential impacts including species mortality and loss of habitat. Climate hazard events may impact outdoor recreation opportunities and residents and visitors may not be as likely to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits associated with outdoor recreation. Parks in northern and eastern Glendale are located in landslide susceptibility areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Resilient Landscapes. Significant areas of northern and eastern Glendale are located within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Glendale is expected to experience increased decadal wildfire probability throughout the entire City by the end of the century.
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones encompass many natural and recreational resources, entire residential communities, and critical public facilities and utility infrastructure. Wildfires may exacerbate poor air quality and water quality declines, structural damages, service line disruptions and strain, human and wildlife mortality, and habitat loss. This broad level of exposure and projected impacts across all asset groups makes wildfire one of the greatest climate hazard risks for the City. Adapting existing and planned landscapes in residential areas, open spaces, and adjacent to critical public facilities and utility infrastructure is critical to reducing ignitability and wildfire risk. Removing or modifying live and dead vegetation in high-risk areas can reduce the potential spread of wildfire ignitions and increase community safety.
Social and Governance Systems
Equitable Community Safety As climate change impacts occur, virtually all populations in a community will be affected; however, some individuals will be disproportionally impacted by climate hazards due to inequitable systems and structures. The areas of the City with the greatest concentration of vulnerable populations are in south and southwest Glendale. Census tracts that are above the 60th percentile is considered a high social vulnerability area.
Additional areas with high social vulnerability include historically redlined areas as well as areas identified based on input from community-based organizations. These included areas near major roads and highways, schools, the Scholl Canyon Landfill and the Conclusion
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 95
Grayson Power Plant. Community members in these areas are also at-risk for disproportionate impacts from climate change.
Inequitable access to, and distribution of resources, critical services, and resilient infrastructure systems decreases the ability for sensitive populations to prepare for, cope and recover from climate impacts.
All Hazards Awareness and Capacity Building. The overall exposure of Glendale to climate change hazards creates vulnerabilities throughout the entire community. Virtually all vulnerable populations face barriers in accessing information and/or adaptive resources targeting climate hazard resilience. Glendale community members may possess informal networks creating resilience to climate change which the City can further augment through tools and resourcing of both individuals and community-based
organizations.
Recovery and Reconstruction. Adaptation to climate change involves both preparedness and recovery and reconstruction. The way in which a community is resourced after experiencing a climate hazard event can be a source of community resilience or of systemic inequities. Individuals across all vulnerable population groupings face larger barriers to recovering from hazards without adequate accessibility to resources for recovery and reconstruction.
Extreme Heat and Air Quality Protection. All vulnerable communities in Glendale are significantly exposed to poor air and extreme heat. Changes in annual average maximum temperature by the end of the century will increase across the entire region increasing incidences of extreme heat. Impacts from temperature increases and extreme heat events are expected to include heatrelated illness, such as heat stress, heat stroke, and dehydration, which can be life threatening.
6.2 Vulnerability Analysis
In addition to problem statements, vulnerability scoring helps the City understand which climate change hazards pose the greatest threat to specific asset groups and would need to be prioritized in adaptation planning and policy development. Vulnerability scores were determined by combining the impact scores with adaptive capacity scores assigned within Chapters 3 and 4. A list of asset categories with high vulnerability scores is provided in Table 6.
City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
96 Table 6 High Vulnerability Scores
Population Group Impact Score Adaptive Capacity Score Vulnerability Score Extreme Heat
Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure High Low 5-High
Under-resourced Individuals High Low 5-High
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers High Low 5-High
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities High Low 5-High Natural and Recreational Resources High Medium 4-High
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High Drought
Natural and Recreational Resources High Low 5-High
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High Wildfire
Under-resourced Individuals High Medium 4-High
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities High Medium 4-High Natural and Recreational Resources High Low 5-High
Buildings and Facilities High Medium 4-High
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High Landslides
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities Medium Low 4-High Buildings and Facilities High Medium 4-High
Infrastructure and Critical Services High Medium 4-High Stormwater Flooding and Extreme Precipitation
Under-resourced Individuals High Medium 5-High
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities Medium Low 4-High Poor Air Quality
Individuals with High Outdoor Exposure High Low 5-High
Under-resourced Individuals High Low 5-High
Individuals Facing Societal Barriers High Low 5-High
Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions or Health Related Sensitivities High Low 5-High Natural and Recreational Resources High Medium 4-High
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 97
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Climate Change Adaptation. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 109-230.
https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/SREXChap3_FINAL-1.pdf Simes, Jack, et al. Summary Report: Los Angeles Basin Study. U.S.
Department of the Interior and County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Works, Nov. 2016, www.
usbr.gov/watersmart/bsp/docs/fy2017/LABasinStudySumm
aryReport.pdf
South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD).
N.d. About Us. http://www.aqmd.gov/nav/about.
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 2020.
Southern California Adaptation Planning Guide (APG).
https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/fileattachments/socaladaptationplanningguide_oct2020_0.pdf Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 2021. Local Housing Data for the City of Glendale.
https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/fileattachments/glendale-he-0421.pdf?1620797773.
Swain, Daniel L., et al. 2018. “Increasing Precipitation Volatility in Twenty-First-Century California.” Nature Climate Change, vol. 8, pp. 427–33, www.nature.com/articles/ s41558-018- 0140-y.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 2022. “The Effects of Climate Change.”
https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
Tree Equity Score. Tree Equity Score Municipality Report for Glendale, CA.
https://www.treeequityscore.org/reports/place/glendale-ca Ullrich, P. A., et al. 2018. “California's Drought of the Future: A Midcentury Recreation of the Exceptional Conditions of
2012–2017.” Earth's Future, vol. 6, no. 11, pp. 1568–87, agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2018EF00100 7 City of Glendale
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
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United States Census Bureau. 2020. Decennial Census P1 | Race. https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0630000&tid=
DECENNIALPL2020.P1
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. 2020. “Preparing Wildlife for Climate Change: How Far Have We Come?”
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2021/nrs_2021_led ee_001.pdf
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. 2002. “The Effects of Urban Trees on Air Quality.”
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/units/urban/localresources/downloads/Tree_Air_Qual.pdf.
United States Department of Energy. Low-Income Energy
Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool.
https://www.energy.gov/scep/slsc/low-income-energyaffordability-data-lead-tool United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2021a. “Criteria Air Pollutants.” https://www.epa.gov/criteria-airpollutants (accessed February 2021).
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2021b. “Why Wildfire Smoke is a Health Concern.”
https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/why-wildfiresmoke-health-concern United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP).
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Climate Assessment, Volume. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, 470 pp,
doi: 10.7930/J0J964J6.
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WelfareInfo.2023. Poverty Rate in Glendale, California. https://www.welfareinfo.org/povertyrate/california/glendale/ Westerling, A. L., et al. 2006. “Warming and Earlier Spring Increase Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity.” Science, vol. 313, no. 5789, pp. 940–43, www.science.org/
doi/full/10.1126/science.1128834
Appendix C
Evacuation Analysis
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM
Introduction
Kittelson & Associates, Inc. (Kittelson) has prepared an evacuation analysis for the City of Glendale, California in support of the city’s General Plan Safety Element update. The evaluation considers two (2) representative evacuation scenarios and provides the city with estimates of roadway capacity constraints and travel time considerations during evacuations. The analysis helps identify locations where there is a greater potential for traffic congestion and need for additional control measures in the event of an evacuation.
This evacuation evaluation is consistent with requirements outlined in Assembly Bill (AB) 7471and Senate Bill (SB) 992. These laws require agencies to evaluate the resiliency of their transportation system, the capacity of evacuation routes, and identify key routes for community areas with only one access point.
The memorandum includes the following sections:
◼ Introduction, including legislative requirements and analysis scenarios ◼ Methodology
◼ Evacuation analysis results
◼ Evacuation planning considerations and recommendations.
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Recent California legislation, including Assembly Bill (AB) 747, requires local agencies to review accessibility and evacuation routes when specific elements within the General Plan or other emergency planning documents are completed or updated.
◼ Assembly Bill 747 requires that the Safety Element be reviewed and updated to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. This is a 1 https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20192020/AB747/
2 https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20192020/SB99/
155 Grand Avenue, Suite 505
Oakland, CA 94612
P 510.839.1742
September 23, 2024 Project# 29359
To: Reema Shakra
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
From: Mike Aronson, P.E; Grace Carsky; Poppy Yang
RE: Glendale Safety Element: Evacuation Analysis
September 2024 Page 2
City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Introduction Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
requirement for all Safety Elements or updates to Hazard Mitigation Plans completed after January 2022.
ROADWAY NETWORK
The City of Glendale is located in the central area of Los Angeles County, California (Figure 1). It is bounded by the cities of Burbank to the west, Pasadena to the east, Los Angeles to the south, and La Cañada Flintridge to the north.
State Routes
State Route 2 (SR-2) is a state highway that runs southeast-northwest through the City of Glendale. It provides access to the city via several interchanges, including those at Colorado Street and Mountain Street. SR-2 transitions from a freeway to an arterial road, known as Glendale Boulevard, as it continues southeast into Los Angeles.
State Route 134 (SR-134) is an east-west freeway that connects Glendale to Pasadena in the east and Burbank in the west. The portion of SR-134 running through Glendale is a fully access-controlled freeway with multiple interchanges, including those at Brand Boulevard and Central Avenue. This route is a major corridor serving both residential neighborhoods and commercial districts within the city.
State Route 210 (SR-210) is an east-west freeway that skirts the northern edge of Glendale. It connects the city to La Cañada Flintridge in the west and Pasadena in the east. SR-210 is fully access-controlled, with interchanges providing access to Glendale, including a freeway-freeway interchange at SR-2.
Local Road Network
There are several arterial and collector roads that complement the state highways and are also likely to be used for evacuation purposes, depending on the evacuation scenario, including but not limited to:
▪ Brand Boulevard
▪ Central Avenue
▪ Colorado Street
▪ Glenoaks Boulevard
▪ Foothill Boulevard
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City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Introduction Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Figure 1: Glendale Roadway Network and Evacuation Routes Source: City of Glendale, Kittelson & Associates, 2024
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ANALYSIS SCENARIOS
The evacuation analysis considers the following two representative evacuation scenarios:
◼ Wildfire Scenario #1 – Wildfire ignites in the Verdugo Mountains/San Rafael Hills in east Glendale ◼ Landslide Scenario #2 – Landslide occurs in the San Gabriel Mountains in north Glendale These scenarios do not represent every possible emergency that could affect Glendale, but they do represent the highest likelihood emergencies that may stress different parts of the road system. The evacuation scenarios were chosen in discussion with City staff, including Glendale Police Department and Glendale Fire Department, to represent likely emergencies for the Safety Element purposes.
Time Frames
Each evacuation scenario is compared to weekday PM peak hour traffic conditions (between 4PM to 6PM) for two time frames, base year and future year.
BASE YEAR
The base year evaluation is representative of evacuations with existing traffic levels. The available Glendale Travel Demand Model uses a base year of 2021.
FUTURE YEAR
The future year traffic levels include development allowable under the current Glendale General Plan.
Outside of Glendale, the traffic forecasts include travel that would be generated by the 2040 demographic forecasts for the entire region provided by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for travel forecasting.
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Methodology
Assumptions regarding travel patterns for evacuees were developed based on recent research. The following sections describe the tools and inputs used for the evacuation analysis.
EVACUATION MODELING
Travel Modeling Tools
The evacuation analysis uses the City of Glendale Travel Demand Model (“travel model”). The current travel model was calibrated and validate for a 2021 base year and includes a 2040 future scenario with 2040 land use forecasts and transportation improvement assumptions.
The travel model represents all land uses in the City of Glendale grouped into transportation analysis zones (TAZs) (Figure 2). The travel model includes a representative roadway network (generally all streets except for local residential streets). Each road segment is coded with functional classification, number of lanes, uncongested speed, and an estimate of the typical hourly capacity. The travel model estimates vehicle trips generated by each land use, distributes the trips to a variety of likely destinations, and assigns each origin-destination pair to the best route. The travel model also assesses congestion and iteratively diverts traffic to alternative routes until congestion is balanced between all available routes.
Affected Areas
The areas that would be affected by each emergency scenario were identified based on the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Fire Hazard Severity Zones mapping and consultation with Glendale city staff and emergency responders. The affected areas were overlaid with the Glendale TAZs to identify the numbers of people that would need to be evacuated.
Time Period
Transportation activity was modeled for one worst-case time period, based on the weekday PM peak hour (between 4PM to 6PM) when non-evacuation traffic and congestion would be at its highest levels. Peak evacuation traffic was assumed to occur during this period involving the specified area within the city. ∙þ134
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Altura Ave
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Los Encinos Ave
N Louise St
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Lincoln Ave
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H:\29\29359 - Glendale Safety Element Update\GIS\Glendale Safety Element Update\Glendale Safety Element Update.aprx Date: 9/23/2024 Roadway Network and Emergency Routes
Glendale Safety Element Update
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0 1Mile [
Glendale Traffic Analysis Zones
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Number of Evacuation Trips
If a fire occurs during the night, most residents would be home but most employees would not be at their workplace. If a fire occurs during the workday, most employees would be at their workplace but many residents would not be at their homes. The evacuation analysis conservatively assumes that 75 percent of residents and 75 percent of employees would need to evacuate during a fire event.
Depending on the order received, a proportion of residents, employees, and visitors will choose to evacuate. When a zone is assigned an Evacuation Order, it is assumed that 90 percent of residents, employees, and visitors will evacuate and approximately 10 percent will remain behind. The estimated factors are based on survey results from people impacted by prior fires in California in UC Berkeley’s Review of California Wildfire Evacuations from 2017 to 2019.3 Based on vehicle ownership data from the United States Census American Community Survey (ACS)4, there are a weighted average of 1.6 vehicles per household in Glendale. Therefore, the number of evacuating households is multiplied by 1.6 to estimate residential vehicles. Each evacuating employee is assumed to use one vehicle.
Evacuation Destinations
Likely evacuation destinations were identified in consultation with city staff:
◼ Clark Magnet School, Glendale Civic Auditorium, and Glendale High School are used to estimate evacuation trips leaving Glendale towards the north and the south in the base and future years. o For the wildfire scenario, Clark Magnet School and Glendale High School were chosen as evacuation destinations.
o For the landslide scenario, Glendale Civic Auditorium and Glendale High School were chosen as evacuation destinations.
◼ Burbank and Pasadena are also used as evacuation destinations for evacuees leaving Glendale.
The percentage of trips heading for each evacuation destination were assigned based on the location and direction of the evacuation. The majority of trips were typically assigned to the nearest destination within Glendale if the evacuation route would not cross the affected fire or landslide area. However, smaller percentages of trips from each neighborhood were assumed to want to travel in the other directions, particularly if they could reach shelter with family or friends. 3 This assumption is based in knowledge that there is a certain contingent of people who will not evacuate, even when under official notice. See Wong, S., Broader, J. and Shaheen, P., 2022. Review of California Wildfire Evacuations from 2017 to 2019. [online] Escholarship.org. Available at: <https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5w85z07g> 4 U.S. Census Bureau. "Household Size by Vehicles Available." American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Table B08201, 2022, https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B08201?q=b08201&g=160XX00US0613214&moe=false. Accessed on May 2, 2024.
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City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Methodology Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
The distribution of the destinations is not intended to represent a precise distribution of the routes that would be taken during an evacuation.
Roadway Capacity
Traffic congestion, as measured by the demand volume-to-capacity ratio, was modeled using the default average capacities for each roadway. The scenarios conservatively represent conditions without implementation of any evacuation strategies, such as manual traffic control or contraflow lanes, which could increase roadway capacity in one direction versus the other.
Travel Times
The travel model includes formulas which estimate how much travel speeds decrease based on the demand volume versus the capacity and the type of road. These formulas are based on standard travel forecasting practice. Travel times for evacuation trips are estimated by identifying the best route between origins and destinations with the congested speeds and summing the congested travel times on each road segment along the route.
LIMITATIONS
The results of this evaluation are intended to identify potential congested locations during modeled representative evacuation scenarios. These scenarios were developed based on conservative assumptions and modeling techniques that reflect current understanding of evacuation analysis. These scenarios are intended to model a potential range of different evacuation scenarios but not all possible scenarios.
The scenarios represent potential emergencies occurring in portions of the City of Glendale. Actual emergencies may occur at other locations in and around the city and the specific conditions of an emergency evacuation could result in evacuation behavior that diverges from the definitions and assumptions used for this analysis. As a result, the identified scenarios and evacuation constraints represent informed estimates of the most likely potential evacuation scenario footprints and capacity constraints based on available data.
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Evacuation Analysis Results
Evacuation analysis was conducted for the analysis peak hour (between 4PM to 6PM) for conditions with no evacuation and for the two (2) different evacuation scenarios. The analysis is presented for the base year and future year.
BASE YEAR NO EVACUATION CONDITIONS
The PM peak analysis hour volumes were compared to road capacities for weekday conditions without an emergency evacuation event. These congestion conditions can be compared to the congestion conditions with an evacuation event to determine where additional traffic management may be needed during an emergency.
Base Year
The PM peak hour (between 4PM to 6PM) modeling for the base year without an evacuation event indicates roadway conditions near or over capacity in the following locations within the City of Glendale (Figure 3):
◼ I-5 west of Glendale (northwest of I-5/SR-134 interchange) ◼ SR-134 between I-5/SR-134 interchange and Concord St
Beyond the city limit, the base year scenario indicates roadway conditions near or over capacity in the following locations:
◼ I-5 going through Burbank, near I-5/SR-134 interchange, and several I-5 ramp locations, e.g. at Los Feliz Blvd and Fletcher Dr
◼ Along SR-210: La Tuna Canyon Rd and Tujunga Canyon Blvd ◼ Along SR-2: N San Fernando Rd (between SR-2 and Hallett Ave), Eagle Rock Blvd and El Paso Dr (between SR-2 and Terrace 49), York Blvd (between SR-2 and N Avenue 54), Colorado Blvd (between SR-2 and College View Ave)
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Figure 3: Base Year PM Peak Hour Congestion Locations, No Evacuation Source: Kittelson & Associates using Glendale travel model, 2024 September 2024 Page 11
City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Analysis Results Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Future Year
The PM peak hour (between 4PM to 6PM) modeling for the future year with the proposed General Plan (Mobility and Land Use Elements) and without an evacuation event forecasts roadway conditions near or over capacity in the following locations within the City of Glendale (Figure 4):
◼ I-5 in west Glendale (northwest of I-5/SR-134 interchange). ◼ SR-134: between the I-5 SR-134 interchange and Concord St, N Central Ave and N Jackson St, Geneva St and N Glendale Ave
◼ Small sections of some roadways:
o San Fernando Rd between S Pacific Ave and W Acacia Ave o W Laurel St between S Central Ave and S Brand Blvd
Beyond the city limit, the future year scenario indicates roadway conditions near or over capacity in the following locations:
◼ I-5 southwest of Glendale, going through Burbank, near I-5/SR interchange, and several I-5 ramp locations, e.g. at Los Feliz Blvd and Fletcher Dr
◼ Along SR-210: La Tuna Canyon Rd and Tujunga Canyon Blvd ◼ Along SR-2: N San Fernando Rd (between SR-2 and Hallett Ave), Eagle Rock Blvd and El Paso Dr (between SR-2 and Terrace 49), York Blvd (between SR-2 and N Avenue 54), Colorado Blvd (between SR-2 and College View Ave)
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Figure 4: Future Year PM Peak Hour Congestion Locations, No Evacuation Source: Kittelson & Associates using Glendale travel model, 2024 September 2024 Page 13
City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Analysis Results Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
SCENARIO 1: WILDFIRE IN EAST GLENDALE
Under this scenario, a fire ignites in the Verdugo Mountains / San Rafael Hills in east Glendale, initiating an evacuation order for communities in the eastern half of Glendale, such as College Hills, Glenoaks Canyon, Rancho San Rafael, and Emerald Isle (Figure 5). Residents and workers are given orders to evacuate to Clark Magnet School or Glendale High School. Table 1 shows the estimated number of households and employees in the affected area by transportation analysis zone (TAZ) as well as the total estimated evacuation trips for this scenario.
Base Year
If an evacuation were to occur due to a wildfire in the Verdugo Mountains, the analysis estimates overcapacity conditions on several roadways in the City as shown in Figure 6. Specifically, the roadways where demand volumes are projected to be at or exceed road capacity with the City of Glendale include:
◼ Along I-5: west of Glendale (west of I-5/SR-134 interchange, similar to no evacuation conditions), segments close to SR-134/SR-2 interchange
◼ Along SR-210: Lowell Ave (between SR-210 and Foothill Blvd), Pennsylvania Ave (between SR-210 and Los Olivos Ln), New York Ave (between Foothill Blvd and Santa Carlotta St) ◼ SR-134 between I-5/SR-134 interchange and Concord St (similar to no evacuation conditions) ◼ Along SR-2 between Camino San Rafael and SR-134
Beyond the city limit, the base year scenario estimates congestion in the following locations:
◼ I-5 going through Burbank, near I-5/SR interchange, and several I-5 ramp locations, e.g. at Los Feliz Blvd and Fletcher Dr
◼ Additional length of I-5 west of Glendale
◼ Along SR-210: La Tuna Canyon Rd and Tujunga Canyon Blvd ◼ Along SR-2: N San Fernando Rd (between SR-2 and Hallett Ave), Eagle Rock Blvd and El Paso Dr (between SR-2 and Terrace 49), York Blvd (between SR-2 and N Avenue 54), Colorado Blvd (between SR-2 and College View Ave)
◼ Additional length of roadways southeast of Glendale connecting to SR-134 and SR-2. ◼ Linda Vista Ave between SR-134 and SR-210
◼ Chevy Chase Dr and Highland Dr connecting to SR-210 northwest of Glendale September 2024 Page 14
City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Analysis Results Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Figure 5: Evacuating Area, Wildfire Scenario
Source: Kittelson & Associates, 2024
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Table 1: Affected Population and Peak Hour Evacuation Trips, Scenario 1 in East Glendale Wildfire Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
6 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E026 394 85 494 394 85 494
7 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E017 410 0 454 410 0 455
9 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E038 171 25 202 171 28 204
10 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 4 79 57 5 81 59
11 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E026 0 3,704 2,500 0 3,708 2,503
13 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E026 519 44 605 519 45 605
15 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E017 380 33 443 383 31 445
16 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E038 421 17 465 421 17 465
17 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 244 4,593 3,364 244 4,594 3,364
26 Q1585 98 0 68 98 0 68
48 Q1585 58 9 67 58 9 67
49 Q1585 134 25 109 134 27 111
50 Q1585 333 319 556 333 329 563
52 Q1585 195 29 222 195 30 222
53 Q1585 73 0 51 73 0 51
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
136 Q1585 34 112 99 34 114 100
195 Q1585 68 117 127 68 121 129
203 Q1585 40 128 114 40 131 116
213 Q1585 133 194 268 133 192 267
229 Q1585 65 57 106 65 59 107
234 Q1585 501 302 716 501 300 714
379 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E038 351 7 384 351 7 383
380 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E038 0 84 57 0 83 56
386 Q1585 165 30 174 165 32 176
389 Q1585 101 120 191 101 118 190
390 Q1585 220 0 205 220 0 205
395 Q1585 241 108 296 241 109 296
399 Q1585 170 0 159 170 0 159
401 Q1585 95 29 85 95 36 89
444 Q1585 99 147 169 99 147 169
451 Q1585 101 106 166 101 103 164
September 2024 Page 17
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
459 Q1585 148 40 164 148 40 165
460 Q1585 92 30 84 92 29 83
461 Q1585 129 169 235 129 166 233
463 Q1585 89 172 198 89 172 198
476 Q1585 411 107 445 411 106 445
477 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 262 61 324 264 63 327
478 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 81 0 87 81 0 87
479 Q1585 441 36 474 441 36 474
480 Q1585 344 0 335 344 0 335
481 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 146 77 209 146 76 209
482 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 78 0 85 78 0 85
483 Q1585 225 50 261 225 51 262
484 Q1585 133 36 162 133 36 161
485 Q1585 251 35 283 251 37 285
486 Q1585 92 22 116 92 24 117
487 Q1585 173 28 193 173 27 192
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
488 Q1585 203 25 222 203 26 222
489 Q1585 158 0 147 158 0 147
490 Q1585 116 0 118 116 0 117
491 Q1585 129 0 131 130 0 132
492 Q1585 82 73 132 82 75 133
493 Q1585 177 215 328 177 216 328
494 Q1585 175 131 265 175 132 266
495 Q1585 152 34 164 153 34 165
496 Q1585 87 126 145 87 124 144
497 Q1585 282 0 285 282 0 285
498 Q1585 160 0 149 160 0 149
499 Q1585 63 72 112 63 74 114
500 Q1585 257 0 259 257 0 259
501 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E038 43 23 62 43 25 64
502 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 178 257 366 178 256 366
503 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E042 34 0 37 34 0 37
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
503 Q1585 34 0 37 34 0 37
504 Q1585 84 0 91 84 0 91
558 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E030 245 0 359 246 0 361
559 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E018 533 1 781 533 0 780
560 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E030 120 0 176 120 0 176
561 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E040 74 0 107 73 0 107
562 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E029 328 24 496 328 125 564
563 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E027 90 0 100 90 0 100
564 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E041 134 0 196 134 0 196
565 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E044 0 158 107 0 159 107
566 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E039 51 0 75 53 0 77
567 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E028 348 0 510 348 0 510
568 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E040 32 0 47 33 0 48
569 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E044 289 0 417 290 0 419
570 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E039 230 0 336 230 0 336
571 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E044 193 0 278 193 0 278
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
572 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E040 80 0 117 83 0 122
573 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E040 150 39 246 150 39 246
574 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E043 268 60 426 268 60 427
575 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E027 202 0 296 202 0 296
576 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E018 0 0 0 0 0 0
577 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E018 0 1,450 979 0 1,519 1,025
824 Q1177 471 747 1,150 526 646 1,157
826 Q1177 699 1,000 1,636 752 876 1,624
827 Q1177 350 1,530 1,514 377 1,343 1,425
Source: City of Glendale Travel Demand Model; Kittelson & Associates, Inc., 2024 September 2024 Page 21
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Figure 6: Congestion Locations, Wildfire Scenario, Base Year Source: Kittelson & Associates using Glendale travel model, 2024 September 2024 Page 22
City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Analysis Results Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Future Year
With peak evacuation from a wildfire in the Verdugo Mountains in the future year, the analysis predicts over-capacity conditions on several roadways in the city as shown in Figure 7. In addition to the locations listed for the base year, the roadways where demand volumes are projected to be at or exceed road capacity with the City of Glendale include:
◼ All I-5 segments in the west of Glendale
◼ Segments in parallel to I-5 in the northwest of Glendale: W Kenneth Rd, Glenwood Rd, 5th St, W Glenoaks Blvd, San Fernando Rd, Grand Central Ave, Flower St ◼ SR-134: between I-5/SR-134 interchange and Concord St, N Central Ave and N Jackson St, Geneva St and N Glendale Ave (similar to no evacuation conditions) ◼ Scattered segments, e.g. San Fernando Rd between S Pacific Ave and W Acacia Ave, W Laurel St between S Central Ave and S Brand Blvd (similar to no evacuation conditions) ◼ Along SR-2 between Camino San Rafael and SR-134
Beyond the city limit, the future year scenario indicates congestion in the following locations:
◼ I-5 going through Burbank, near I-5/SR interchange, and several I-5 ramp locations, e.g. at Los Feliz Blvd and Fletcher Dr
◼ Additional length of I-5 west of Glendale
◼ Along SR-210: La Tuna Canyon Rd and Tujunga Canyon Blvd ◼ Along SR-2: N San Fernando Rd (between SR-2 and Hallett Ave), Eagle Rock Blvd and El Paso Dr (between SR-2 and Terrace 49), York Blvd (between SR-2 and N Avenue 54), Colorado Blvd (between SR-2 and College View Ave)
◼ Additional length of roadways southeast of Glendale connecting to SR-134 and SR-2: Atwater Ave, N San Fernando Rd, Fletcher Dr
◼ Linda Vista Ave between SR-134 and SR-210
◼ Chevy Chase Dr and Highland Dr connecting to SR-210 northeast of Glendale Travel Times
Travel times between Glendale neighborhoods and various evacuation destinations are listed in Table 2 With base year traffic levels, an evacuation event would add up to 30 minutes to the time to reach the Clark Magnet School, up to 36 minutes to reach safety in Pasadena, and up to 21 minutes to Glendale High School. With future year traffic levels, an evacuation event would add up to 40 minutes to the time to the Clark Magnet School, up to 40 minutes to Pasadena, and up to 25 minutes to Glendale High School.
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Figure 7: Congestion Locations, Scenario 1 Verdugo Mountains Wildfire, Future Year Source: Kittelson & Associates using Glendale travel model, 2024 September 2024 Page 24
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Table 2: Travel Times (Minutes), Scenario 1 East Glendale Wildfire Origin and Destination
Base Year No
Evacuation
Base Year
Scenario 1
Future Year No
Evacuation
Future Year
Scenario 1
From Montecito Park
To Clark Magnet School 7.6 10.4 8.0 20.2
To Glendale High School 6.9 9.3 6.9 12.5
East towards Pasadena 17.9 19.3 21.4 23.5
From Emerald Isle
To Clark Magnet School 12.7 23.2 13.0 37.7
To Glendale High School 9.5 17.0 9.5 25.3
East towards Pasadena 16.4 25.8 19.8 34.3
From Chevy Chase
To Clark Magnet School 11.7 19.8 12.0 34.1
To Glendale High School 8.2 14.3 8.5 22.7
East towards Pasadena 15.4 22.4 18.8 30.7
From Woodbury
To Clark Magnet School 11.0 13.8 11.5 23.7
To Glendale High School 3.2 4.8 3.2 7.9
East towards Pasadena 19.0 20.3 22.5 24.6
From Glenoaks Canyon
To Clark Magnet School 13.0 29.9 13.5 39.7
To Glendale High School 4.8 21.1 4.8 23.3
East towards Pasadena 20.8 36.0 24.3 40.2
Source: Kittelson & Associates using City of Glendale Travel Demand Model, 2024 September 2024 Page 25
City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Analysis Results Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
SCENARIO 2: LANDSLIDE IN NORTH GLENDALE
Under this scenario, a landslide occurs in the San Gabriel Mountains in north Glendale, which is presumed to necessitate the evacuation order for people in north Glendale (Figure 8). Residents and workers are given orders to evacuate to Glendale Civic Auditorium or Glendale High School. Table 3 shows the number of households and employees in the affected area as well as the total estimated evacuation trips for this scenario.
Base Year
With peak evacuation from a landslide in the San Gabriel Mountains in north Glendale in the base year, the analysis indicates over-capacity conditions on several roadways in the city as shown in Figure 9.
Specifically, the roadways where demand volumes are projected to be at or exceed road capacity include within the City of Glendale include:
◼ I-5 west of Glendale (west of I-5/SR-134 interchange). ◼ SR-134 between I-5/SR-134 interchange and Concord St
◼ SR-2 north of SR-134
◼ Segments in the east of Glendale in parallel to SR2, including N Verdugo Rd, Camino San Rafael, Royal Blvd, and E Chevy Chase Dr.
◼ Segments in the north of Glendale connecting to SR-210, including Lowell Ave, Boston Ave, Dunsmore Ave, New York Ave, Pennsylvania Ave, Ramsdell Ave, Honolulu Ave, Montrose Ave, and La Crescenta Ave
Beyond the city limit, the base year scenario indicates congestion in the following locations:
◼ I-5 going through Burbank, near I-5/SR-134 interchange, and several I-5 ramp locations, e.g. at Los Feliz Blvd and Fletcher Dr
◼ Along SR-210: La Tuna Canyon Rd
◼ Some segments of SR-2 to the southeast of Glendale
◼ Along SR-2: N San Fernando Rd (between SR-2 and Hallett Ave), Eagle Rock Blvd and El Paso Dr (between SR-2 and Terrace 49), York Blvd (between SR-2 and N Avenue 54), Colorado Blvd (between SR-2 and College View Ave)
◼ Linda Vista Ave between SR-134 and SR-210
◼ Chevy Chase Dr and Highland Dr connecting to SR-210 northeast of Glendale September 2024 Page 26
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Figure 8: Evacuating Area, Scenario 2 Landslide in North Glendale Source: Kittelson & Associates, 2024
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Table 3: Affected Population and Peak Hour Evacuation Trips, Scenario 2 Landslide Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
522 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E002 142 0 211 314 0 212
523 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E003 144 202 349 316 202 349
524 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E003 150 175 341 331 172 339
525 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E003 146 55 255 322 55 255
526 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E002 211 0 313 463 0 313
527 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E005 209 113 366 430 110 364
528 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E001 45 0 67 100 0 67
529 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E002 188 0 279 413 0 279
531 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E002 143 42 241 315 42 241
532 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E002 46 10 75 102 10 76
533 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E007 105 2 147 216 1 147
534 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E005 230 0 317 471 0 318
535 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E003 95 0 141 209 0 141
536 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E005 224 0 310 460 0 310
537 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E007 0 19 13 0 19 13
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
538 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E005 90 205 262 183 201 259
539 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E002 187 0 277 411 0 277
540 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E006 304 53 447 610 53 447
543 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E006 137 62 232 283 63 233
544 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E007 120 0 166 246 0 166
545 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E007 166 21 244 340 21 244
546 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E007 219 48 332 443 49 332
549 Community 306 4 408 600 4 408
550 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E004 113 65 212 250 63 211
551 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E006 222 96 370 454 106 378
552 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E004 262 192 518 577 193 519
553 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E004 81 175 238 178 175 238
554 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E004 210 0 311 462 0 312
555 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E006 134 64 228 274 65 229
557 US-CA-XLA-GLN-E001 23 26 51 51 26 52
780 Community 258 403 614 570 413 663
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
781 Community 129 133 262 288 137 286
782 Community 193 1,588 1,328 426 1,617 1,379
783 Community 275 399 634 736 387 758
784 Community 206 265 453 551 259 547
785 Community 138 132 273 372 129 338
786 Mountain 272 1,660 1,490 548 1,604 1,452
787 Mountain 276 222 524 582 232 549
788 Mountain 183 443 548 387 461 572
789 Alabama 91 882 720 194 917 750
790 Alabama 276 222 524 582 230 548
791 Mountain 564 440 1,065 1,298 449 1,179
792 Mountain 188 721 742 432 734 787
793 Henrietta/Briggterrace 196 45 321 431 45 321
794 Henrietta/Teasley 228 45 368 767 45 548
795 Henrietta/Teasley 228 67 383 767 67 563
796 Henrietta/Teasley 342 67 552 1,145 67 818
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Evacuating
TAZ Evacuation Zones
Base Year
Households
Base Year
Employment
Base Year
Evacuation
Trips
Future
Households
Future
Employment
Future
Evacuation
Trips
806 Community 123 215 293 248 208 307
807 Community 372 543 815 752 528 864
808 Community 372 107 521 752 104 577
809 Community 371 456 756 750 445 806
810 Community 372 107 521 752 104 577
811 Community 247 451 602 498 440 633
812 Community 372 107 521 752 104 577
813 Community 247 215 443 498 208 476
Source: City of Glendale Travel Demand Model; Kittelson & Associates, Inc., 2024 September 2024 Page 31
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Figure 9: Congestion Locations, Scenario 2 Landslide in North Glendale, Base Year Source: Kittelson & Associates using Glendale travel model, 2024 September 2024 Page 32
City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Analysis Results Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Future Year
With peak evacuation from a landslide in the San Gabriel Mountains in north Glendale in the future year, the analysis predicts over-capacity conditions on several roadways in the city as shown in Figure 10. Most congestion locations would be the same as those identified for the base year. In addition to the locations listed for the base year, the roadways where demand volumes are projected to be at or exceed road capacity within the City of Glendale include:
◼ Scattered segments, e.g. San Fernando Rd between S Pacific Ave and W Acacia Ave, E Garfield Ave and E Acacia Ave between S Adam St and S Chevy Chase Dr. ◼ N Glendale Ave (between SR-134 and E Doran St) connecting to SR-134 ◼ Santa Carlotta St/Orange Ave between Dunsmore Ave and Pennsylvania Ave in the east of Glendale Beyond the city limit, the future year scenario indicates congestion in the following locations:
◼ Glendale Blvd and Hyperion Ave to the southwest of Glendale, connecting to I-5 ◼ Yosemite Dr between Townsend Ave and N Figueroa St
◼ Additional length of segments north of SR-210, including Palm Dr, Ocean View Blvd, and Los Amigo St
Travel Times
Travel times between Glendale neighborhoods and various evacuation destinations are listed in Table 2 With base year traffic levels, an evacuation event would add up to 70 minutes to the time to reach the Glendale Civic Auditorium, up to 70 minutes to reach safety in Pasadena, and up to 79 minutes to Glendale High School. With future year traffic levels, an evacuation event would add up to 99 minutes to the time from north Glendale to the Glendale Civic Auditorium, up to 121 minutes to Pasadena, and up to 110 minutes to Glendale High School.
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Figure 10: Congestion Locations, Scenario 2 Landslide in North Glendale, Future Year Source: Kittelson & Associates using Glendale travel model, 2024 September 2024 Page 34
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Table 4: Travel Times (Minutes), Scenario 2 Landslide
Origin and Destination
Base Year No
Evacuation
Base Year
Scenario 2
Future Year
No
Evacuation
Future Year
Scenario 2
From Crescenta Highlands N
To Glendale Civic Auditorium 10.3 69.9 10.5 99.0
To Glendale High School 12.2 78.9 12.5 109.6
East towards Pasadena 19.5 70.3 23.1 121.1
From Dunsmore Park
To Glendale Civic Auditorium 9.0 68.7 9.2 97.8
To Glendale High School 11.0 77.7 11.2 108.5
East towards Pasadena 18.2 69.1 21.8 120.0
From Crescenta Highlands S
To Glendale Civic Auditorium 8.6 66.0 8.7 94.2
To Glendale High School 10.5 75.0 10.7 104.8
East towards Pasadena 17.8 66.4 21.3 116.3
From Honolulu Avenue
To Glendale Civic Auditorium 8.4 58.3 8.5 84.1
To Glendale High School 10.3 67.3 10.4 94.7
East towards Pasadena 17.5 58.7 21.0 106.2
Source: Kittelson & Associates using City of Glendale Travel Demand Model, 2024 September 2024 Page 35
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Evacuation Planning Considerations
This section describes evacuation projects and strategies that may be considered to improve the capacity and resilience of the city’s roadway network to support future evacuation events. The projects and strategies were identified based on previous congestion and evacuation studies, review of recent evacuation efforts, and effective evacuation planning practices identified by US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The strategies are organized into five categories:
1. Roadway Management
2. Communications
3. Vulnerable Populations
4. Public Education
5. Resource Management
ROADWAY MANAGEMENT
This section includes infrastructure-related strategies that will aid in improving the capacity of the evacuation roadway network, which can be a challenging element in a successful evacuation. For each infrastructure-related treatment, it is necessary to consider downstream capacity limitations and identify if those limits nullify the potential benefits of the treatment as well as other competing roadway design needs to serve other functions and goals. Table 5 outlines each of these strategies and provides a brief description of the strategy and desired outcomes.
Of these strategies, the most effective for increasing evacuation capacity would be those that involve manual control of traffic combined with contra flow operations that allow evacuation on both inbound and outbound lanes of streets, combined with maintaining clear passages for emergency vehicles.
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Table 5: Roadway and Intersection Capacity and Resilience Related Strategies Strategy Recommendations
Responsible
Department
Limited/unlimited
contra flow on
unlimited access
arterials
Establish temporary control points to temporarily close inbound travel lanes on selected unlimited access
arterials (such as parkways and boulevards) to allow
outbound traffic to utilize these lanes during
evacuation.
Glendale
Public Works
(Engineering),
Glendale
Police
Department
Closure of inbound
lanes on selected
roads
Establish temporary control points to close inbound
lanes on selected roadways utilized for evacuation
routes to prevent drivers on these routes from entering the city while evacuation is underway.
Glendale
Police
Department,
Glendale
Public Works
(Engineering)
Restrict left-turn
movements
Establish temporary control points to minimize left-turn movements along evacuation routes and on roads
leading to evacuation routes.
Glendale
Public Works
(Engineering),
Glendale
Police
Department
Stage tow trucks Consider how to stage tow trucks at bottleneck locations along evacuation routes to help detect and
clear minor crashes and maintain traffic flows.
Glendale
Police
Department,
Glendale
Public Works
(Fleet Services)
Adjust signal timing Increase the green time and/or progression band for through movements leading out of an evacuation zone.
Glendale
Public Works
(Engineering)
Signal operation
during power outage
Install signal battery backups in case signal operations need to be maintained during a power outage. Consider
using channeling devices, static signs, and coning
strategies to manage intersection flow during power
outage if the signals lack power.
Glendale
Public Works
(Engineering)
Additional access
routes
Identify and communicate with communities that have
one or two access points. Prioritize adding additional
access to communities which are currently served by
only one or two access points.
Glendale
Public Works
(Engineering)
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Strategy Recommendations
Responsible
Department
Public Transit Develop transportation solutions such as the use of a bus system for evacuating individuals with special needs (such as those with mobility limitations).
Glendale
Public Works
(Transit),
Glendale
Beeline Transit
Traffic control points Establish traffic control points (i.e., locations along designated evacuation routes with emergency
management personnel) to maintain a greater degree
of evacuation management. These locations could
enhance the efficiency of an evacuation, reduce public
confusion, and allow increased operational flexibility
during an evacuation.
Glendale
Police
Department
Vegetation
clearing/management
Maintain evacuation roadways and shoulders to clear
them of trees, vegetation, and debris that would block
travel lanes and shoulders for evacuating and
emergency operation vehicles.
Glendale
Public Works
(Maintenance
Services),
Glendale Fire
Department
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COMMUNICATIONS
This section describes communication strategies that address how information may be shared among agencies, organizations, and the general public for evacuations. During an emergency evacuation event, two types of communication take place: (1) communication among entities involved in the management of response, and (2) communication between the City and the general public. Table 6 outlines each of these strategies and provides a brief description of the strategy and desired outcomes.
Table 6. Communication Strategies for Evacuations
Strategy Recommendations
Responsible
Department
Establish and
maintain
communications
Strengthen and maintain communication among
coordinating emergency event agencies. This could be
achieved through systems such as the Public
Information Emergency System and Emergency Satellite
Communications.
Glendale Fire
Department,
Glendale
Communications
Manager
Variable/Dynamic
Message Signage
Use variable message board equipment and targeted
installation of permanent dynamic message signs on
evacuation routes to improve communication and
reduce public confusion.
Glendale Public
Works
(Maintenance
Services)
Public Posts and
Flyers
Post signs and flyers in public places, such as
businesses, community centers, and parks, with
instructions on where to go in an evacuation and key
evacuation information. Signs and flyers should be
posted in multiple languages.
Glendale Public
Works
(Maintenance
Services),
Community
Services and
Parks
Traffic Control
Center
Implement a traffic control center which would have up
to the minute reports on traffic patterns and can
communicate directly with emergency officers via
broadcast media, social media, and other emergency
communications channels (e.g., Everbridge, Genesis) to
let drivers know about roadway congestion and
conditions and direct them to alternate routes.
Glendale Public
Works
(Engineering),
Glendale
Communications
Manager,
Glendale IT
Department
Traffic
counters/CCTV
cameras
Install traffic counters and/or CCTV cameras on
freeways, which can help assess traffic flow, volume of vehicles evacuating, and monitor incidents during
emergency evacuation events.
Caltrans currently has two cameras in the proximity of
Glendale Public
Works
(Engineering)
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Strategy Recommendations
Responsible
Department
Glendale: SR-2 at Colorado Street and SR-134 at
Glendale Avenue.
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VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
This section identifies strategies specifically for evacuation of vulnerable populations. 5 The city can use
demographic data and U.S. Census data to identify vulnerable population locations and communities. City staff and emergency response teams may work with specialized organizations such as hospitals, medical associations, public service organizations, public health staff, and other providers or community groups to identify and locate relevant population segments and the types of assistance needed. Public awareness and messaging of programs and resources to help vulnerable populations needs to be communicated ahead of time. Table 7 outlines considerations by need.
Table 7: Additional Steps for Evacuation of Vulnerable Populations Special Need Recommendations
Responsible
Department
Visually
impaired
May be reluctant to leave familiar surroundings when the request for evacuation comes from a stranger. People who are blind or partially sighted may have to depend on their guide dogs and/or others to lead them to safety.
Partner with neighboring cities/private/non-profit agencies to provide adequate paratransit services for those who
need assistance in an evacuation.
Community
Engagement
Response Team
Hearing
impaired
May need additional evacuation warning resources. Include visual aids such as pictures or maps to reinforce key
messages during evacuations. Continue to provide written updates via communication channels, such as Everbridge
and Genesis, and on social media channels.
Community
Engagement
Response Team
Mobility
impaired
May need special assistance such as paratransit. Partner with neighboring cities/private/non-profit agencies to
provide adequate paratransit services for those who need assistance in an evacuation.
Community
Engagement
Response Team,
Beeline Transit
People without
vehicles
Emphasize the importance of carpooling with neighbors or other community members. Provide information on transit routes and transit stops. Identify areas that would benefit from a carpooling program (e.g., communities with limited ingress/egress). Coordinate with neighbors, local
businesses, and local transit to identify volunteers for carpooling at the local level. For businesses or commercial centers, identify if there are commercial vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks) that can be used for evacuation of people or supplies.
Community
Engagement
Response Team
5 Using Highways for No-Notice Evacuations: Five Planning Considerations, FHWA, Accessed August 2022.
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City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Planning Considerations Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Special Need Recommendations
Responsible
Department
Non-Englishspeaking
persons
Provide bilingual or multilingual materials to support
communication with non-English speaking populations
during evacuation. Communications should be created in
English, Armenian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Korean.
Community
Engagement
Response Team
People with
medical
conditions
Communicate in advance the location and availability of hospitals or facilities with emergency/life-sustaining
medical equipment that residents can go to during an
evacuation. Identify the transportation mode of transfers to other facilities, based on the criticality of patients/clients and type of health needs.
Community
Engagement
Response Team
Unhoused
(Homeless)
population
Arrange for food, shelter, and transportation for unhoused (homeless) population. Offer age-appropriate emergency
and evacuation information to homeless children.
Community
Engagement
Response Team
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City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Evacuation Planning Considerations Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Sharing information is a critical element to help educate the general public on how to prepare in advance for an evacuation. The public education strategies the city may consider include:
◼ Defining the meaning of different types of evacuation orders; ◼ Sharing how evacuation orders are declared and communicated to the public; ◼ Providing information on preparations to carry out in advance (such as emergency “go” kits or family evacuation plans);
◼ Conducting a public affair campaign(s) to distribute easy-to-read evacuation maps with alternate routes;
◼ Providing information on available transportation options, including for vulnerable populations; and ◼ Providing information on evacuation shelters and support services offered during evacuation. ◼ Providing regular emergency preparedness trainings in multiple languages at convenient, accessible locations.
◼ Building capacity of resilience hubs, CBOs, and other community groups to support communitybased disaster preparedness efforts through direct or passthrough funding, grant writing support, information sharing, etc.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Evacuations are resource-intensive events that require significant personnel, facilities, and equipment to implement successfully. The City should determine what resources are available as well as what resources will be needed for staff to perform their responsibilities during an evacuation successfully, which can include the following:
◼ Clarity on staff roles and expertise available, including number of staff available to help people evacuate from homes and other buildings
◼ Facilities available (e.g., traffic operations center, shelters, etc.); ◼ Available information systems to support the evacuation (e.g., ITS, computer networks, ancillary hardware such as cameras, road sensor loops, etc.);
◼ Communication systems (e.g., landline, mobile phones, radio system, email, sirens); ◼ Vehicles/transports (e.g., staff transport, tow trucks, transit vehicles, heavy equipment); and, ◼ Miscellaneous materials to support implementation of evacuation strategies (e.g., traffic cones, channeling devices, static signs).
If critical resource gaps are identified, the City may look to work with other evacuation entities to determine additional resources and needs. The City may also work with private sector entities to expand the resource base. For example, utilities companies may keep cell and internet services running in vulnerable communities during public safety power shutoffs. Private service companies such as ambulance operators and towing companies can provide additional assets during evacuation. These companies can clarify what is expected of them during a potential evacuation event to ensure their services are available, when needed.
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City of Glendale Safety Element Update - Evacuation Analysis Next Steps Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Next Steps
This memorandum describes the results of the evacuation analysis as well as evacuation planning considerations and strategies to help improve the capacity and resilience of the City of Glendale’s roadway network to support future evacuation events. This information will be used to frame supportive policies for the Safety Element update. These strategies and policies can be used to identify potential evacuation resiliency improvements throughout the city.