Maywood City Council
June 25, 2025

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The magnitude of an earthquake is determined from the logarithm of the amplitude of waves recorded between the various seismographs. Adjustments are located for the variation in the distance between the various seismographs and the epicenter of the earthquake. On the Richter scale, magnitude is expressed in whole numbers and decimal fractions. For example, a magnitude 5.3 might be computed for a moderate earthquake, and a strong earthquake might be rated as magnitude 6.3. Because of the logarithmic basis of the scale, each whole number increase in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude.

Damage from an earthquake depends on several factors, including the earthquake's magnitude, depth, distance from the epicenter, local geology, and building infrastructure. Larger magnitude earthquakes release more energy and typically cause greater destruction, especially when they are shallow and occur near populated areas. Soft soils can amplify seismic waves, increasing shaking and potential damage, while solid rock can reduce these effects. Additionally, poorly constructed buildings and infrastructure are more vulnerable to collapse during intense shaking.

Liquefaction is a phenomenon associated with earthquakes. During an earthquake, sediments near the ground’s surface can destabilize, causing sand and silt to behave like a liquid. According to the USGS, areas most susceptible to liquefaction include those with man-made landfills, former bay floors, and regions near water channels with younger soil. Liquefaction is most common in parts of California, including Los Angeles County.

The USGS describes liquefaction susceptibility through a rating scale classifies areas based on their potential for soil liquefaction during an earthquake. The scale includes five categories: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, and Very High. These ratings are based on factors such as soil type, depth to groundwater, age of deposits, and historical instances of liquefaction. For example, loose, young, sandy soils with shallow groundwater are often rated High or Very High, while dense, older soils or those far above the water table may be rated Low or Very Low.42 In California, areas with significant potential for liquefaction are deemed as Zones of Required Investigation for Liquefaction under the State’s Seismic Hazard Mapping Act of 1990. These zones typically contain geological conditions like loose, water-saturated sandy soils that are susceptible to liquefaction where detailed site-specific geotechnical investigations are legally required before new developments can proceed. The purpose is to ensure that proper engineering measures, such as soil stabilization or deep foundations, are implemented to reduce earthquake risk.43
Location
The entire City of Maywood is susceptible to earthquakes and liquefaction. Earthquakes can be felt and cause damage hundreds of miles from a fault. Mapped earthquake faults and earthquake risk areas help define locations. Figure 14 shows the fault activity map surrounding the City of Maywood. Earthquake activity in the City of Maywood would probably stem from an event in or 42 USGS. (n.d.) Liquefaction Susceptibility. Retrieved from Liquefaction Susceptibility 43 California Department of Conservation. (n.d.) California Seismic Hazard Zones. Retrieved from California Seismic Hazard Zones

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around the San Andreas Fault, the San Fernando Fault, or the Sierra Madres Fault zone.

Figure 16: Faults in California44
Figure 19 shows the zones of required investigation for liquefaction from the California Geological Survey.45 The City of Maywood sits within and near other liquefaction zones. 44 California Department of Conservation. (n.d.) Fault Activity Map of California. Retrieved from Fault Activity Map of California
45 California Department of Conservation. (n.d.) Earthquake Zones of Required Investigation. Retrieved from Earthquake Zones of Required Investigation
City of
Maywood
Fault along which historic
(last 200 years)
displacement has occurred.

Quaternary fault (age
undifferentiated)
Holocene fault
displacement (during last
11,700 years) without
historic record.

Late quaternary fault
displacement (during past
700,000 years)

FAULT CLASSIFICATION

COLOR CODE
Pre- quaternary fault (older
than 1.6 million years)

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Figure 17: Liquefaction Zones of Required Investigation in and around the City of Maywood
Previous Occurrences
The City of Maywood has been near the epicenters of various small earthquakes since 1980. The closest epicenters occurred within 1.5 miles northwest of the City. There were six earthquakes, five of which occurred between May and June of 1999. Their magnitudes range from 3.0 to 3.77.

The most recent proximate event occurred on October 24, 2021. This earthquake has a magnitude of 3.61.46 A visual representation of earthquake epicenters that have a magnitude of 3 or greater and are near the City of Maywood is shown in Figure 16. 46 USGS. (n.d.). Earthquake Hazards Program. Retrieved from Earthquake Hazards Program | U.S. Geological Survey

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Figure 18: Earthquake Epicenters Near Maywood and Adjacent Areas47 Numerous earthquakes around the City of Maywood and within the Los Angeles County area have occurred since 1980, mostly of minor to moderate magnitude. Yet, some have likely caused substantial damage to life and property. The Northridge earthquake of 1994 reported a magnitude of 6.7 had its epicenter about 25 miles northwest of the City. The 1987 Whittier Narrows Earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.9 had its epicenter about 8 miles east of Maywood. While specific impacts from these events within the City are unknown, it is likely that ground shaking was gelt within the City during these events. These events have likely all affected the City to some degree.
47 USGS. (n.d.). Earthquake Hazards Program. Retrieved from Earthquake Hazards Program | U.S. Geological Survey
June 1999, 3.77
Oct 2021, 3.61
June 1989, 4.82 mag
June 1989, 4.47

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Surrounding Los Angeles County, there were several earthquakes over a magnitude 5 which led to significant impacts and damages. The following earthquake events in Table 13 resulted in notable major impacts to areas near Los Angeles according to data from NCEI and the USGS.

These events have likely all affected the City to some degree.

Table 13: Notable Earthquakes near Greater Los Angeles from 1980-202448 Year Location Magnitude Damages
(2025 dollars) Deaths/Injuries
1987 Whittier Narrows 5.7 $358 million 8/200
1991
Sierra Madre: Los
Angeles, Glendale,
Arcadia

5.8 $33.5 million 2/104
1994 Northridge 6.7 $40000 million 9/4
2008 Chino Hills 5.4 N/A 0/8
Impacts from liquefaction for the City of Maywood were not available.

Extent
While a magnitude 8.0 earthquake is a rare occurrence, it is not impossible. The state of California has experienced its highest-recorded earthquakes with magnitudes over 7 from 1980 to 2024. To date, the City of Maywood has not experienced any loss of life due to earthquakes. However, damages to property and potential loss of life can still occur. According to the state’s Seismic Safety Commission, although the building code outlines the minimum standards for promoting safety and life, earthquakes bring the risk of damage to even the newest building structures, deeming them potentially unusable.
49 Climate change has no impact on the future conditions of earthquakes.

Within the City, the most recent report of earthquake activity being felt in Maywood was on October 24, 2021, which was an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.61. Future events can be more severe.

Probability
According to the USGS, Los Angeles County experiences an average of 15 earthquakes per year with a magnitude of 3 or higher. Most of these events cause no damage or injury. Due to the 48 NCEI. (n.d.). NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Retrieved from NCEI Hazard Earthquake Search 49 California Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. (n.d). Expected Earthquake Performance of Buildings Designed to the California Building Code. PDF file. Retrieved from. Seismic Safety Commission - 19-01 SSC Building Code and Earthquakes

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prevalence of earthquakes in the state at various magnitudes and historical data records, future earthquake events are anticipated.

Although earthquakes outside the City and county can impact the City of Maywood, the City and its surrounding area may experience several earthquakes regularly with little to no impact on daily life. Los Angeles County may experience earthquake events over a magnitude of 5, depending on the epicenter location and related factors. Earthquakes of this magnitude could cause damage to critical infrastructure.

Major earthquakes are events with a low probability but high consequences. Because of the high consequences, geologists, emergency planners, and other government officials have taken a great interest in adapting and mitigating structures and communities for potential earthquakes in the Western United States, including California. They are also focused on educating the population about the risks in their areas. Climate change is not considered to have a significant impact on earthquakes in the region.

The probability of magnitude 5 earthquake events occurring in the planning region with potential impacts on the City of Maywood, is considered ‘likely’ indicating between 50% and 90% annual chance of occurrence.

Vulnerability Assessment
All present and future populations, infrastructure, and buildings in the City of Maywood are vulnerable to earthquakes. The initial effects of an earthquake would be over quickly, but aftershocks and other earthquakes could be felt up to hours or days afterwards. Additionally, if a particular earthquake were powerful enough, the resulting damage it would cause to infrastructure could last for some time.

Nearby bridges, including those located on South Atlantic Boulevard and East Slauson Boulevard, in addition to the nearby East Florence Avenue bridge located south, in the City of Bell, are key infrastructure that provide access over the Los Angeles River. The South Atlantic Boulevard and East Florence Boulevard bridges provide critical access to the nearby freeway, Interstate-710. If these bridges were to fail in an earthquake event, access to critical facilities and the inflow and outflow of resources to the City would be significantly impacted.

In the City of Maywood, damage and injuries from a major earthquake could be significant.

Residentially most of the buildings in the City of Maywood are under two stories tall and of woodframe construction. These characteristics render the buildings less susceptible to damage from earthquakes, especially those of lower magnitudes. All buildings in the City of Maywood are subject to the requirements of the California Building Standards Code which provides standards for seismic design, retrofitting, and provisions for monitoring and reporting. 50 50 FEMA. (2024). National Building Code Adoption Tracking Portal. Retrieved from Building Code Adoption Tracking | FEMA.gov

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All schools’ structures within the City of Maywood have been evaluated under the AB300 criteria set forth by the LA Unified School District and are deemed seismically safe.51 Other vulnerable infrastructure includes underground gas, water piping, sewage systems, and communication systems. These systems are vulnerable because these lines may break as the earth shifts during an earthquake, causing damages and service outages. A substantial earthquake may also affect performance of water wells. The most vulnerable infrastructure to earthquakes within the City include non-reinforced brick and concrete block masonry structures, hazardous materials facilities, water, sewer, and natural gas pipelines, and public and private property structures.

A moderate to severe earthquake in the region would disrupt critical services within the City which are essential to the functioning of the community. Disruption of regional transportation, industry, and business when stopped could have a tremendous economic impact on the County.

Potential impacts include death and injury from falling equipment, buildings, downed power lines, and impaired natural gas lines. Additionally, releases of hazardous materials during earthquakes can cause fires. After an earthquake, the community may be strained to pay for recovery and debris removal. Earthquakes can also compromise transportation routes, potentially causing cascading effects on the economy and endangers public health by blocking trade routes, preventing service access, etc.

Additionally, earthquakes cause displaced populations. Emergency Shelters are needed to house those residents displaced from their homes.

The State of California uses ground motion sensors across the state called to detect and provide early warning of up to a few minutes for earthquakes. A free mobile application called MyShake is used to send notifications to residents that can provide between a few seconds to a few minutes warning to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” before shaking occurs.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
In the event of a serious earthquake, vulnerable populations may be susceptible to negative consequences. Individuals living in older housing (constructed before modern building codes were adopted), substandard housing, or housing not built to code have higher vulnerability. Individuals or families in high-density living situations may struggle to safely navigate damaged structures or evacuate quickly after an earthquake should a structural fire break out as a result of the hazard.

Households experiencing economic constraints may lack the necessary funds to repair damages.

Populations with limited access to telephone and internet services may experience delays in receiving and acting upon alerts and information in the aftermath of an earthquake, and the earthquake may also disrupt these communication mechanisms. Additionally, those who do not 51 LAUSD. (n.d.) LAUSD Seismic Building Evaluation Status. Retrieved from AB 300: Seismic Building Evaluation Status

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speak English well may experience further difficulty receiving and comprehending hazard incident or preparedness information.

Impacts of Climate Change
As stated previously, Climate Change is not considered to have a significant impact on earthquakes in the region.

Hazus Results
Hazus, a loss modeling tool developed by FEMA was used to estimate potential losses that would result within the City of Maywood from a high magnitude earthquake in the planning region. For this estimate, the 1994 Northridge earthquake was simulated to model loss estimates for the present year, i.e., 2025. The estimates from the Hazus simulation are described in this section.

The complete Hazus report is in Appendix G.

Transportation and Utility Lifeline Loss
The replacement value of the transportation and utility lifeline systems is estimated to be $4.85 billion. The City of Maywood has 7 transportation systems that consist of highways, railways, light rail, bus, ports, ferry and airports. There are also 6 utility systems that include potable water, wastewater, natural gas, crude and refined oil, electric power, and communications.

The City has 64 miles of highway and 64.62 miles of pipes. There are no damages expected to the transportation systems in the modeled scenario. Potable water systems, wastewater pipes, and natural gas pipelines may see some leaks and breaks. 83% of all households may lose electric power for several days.

Building Related Loss Estimates
Hazus estimates that there are over four thousand buildings in the region with a total replacement value of $1.8 billion. 75% of these buildings are residential housing. According to the report, if the Northridge earthquake were to occur in 2025, it is estimated that over 22% of the buildings in the City will be at least moderately damaged, and about 51 buildings will experience damages beyond repair.

Shelter Requirement
Hazus estimates that 167 households will be displaced, and 142 people will seek temporary shelter due to the earthquake.

Critical Facility Damage
The City of Maywood has nine school structures and one police station in the Hazus critical facility inventory.

Debris Generation

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The model estimates that a total of 33,000 tons of debris will be generated. Of the total amount, Brick/Wood comprises 44% of the total, with the remainder being Reinforced Concrete/Steel. If the debris tonnage is converted to any estimated number of truckloads, it will require 1,320 truckloads at 25 tons/truck) to remove the debris generated by the earthquake.

Casualties
HAZUS estimates the number of people that will be injured and killed by the earthquake. The casualties are broken down into four (4) severity levels that describe the extent of the injuries.

The levels are described as follows:
 Severity Level 1: Injuries will require medical attention, but hospitalization is not needed.
 Severity Level 2: Injuries will require hospitalization but are not considered lifethreatening.  Severity Level 3: Injuries will require hospitalization and can become life threatening if not promptly treated.
 Severity Level 4: Victims are killed by the earthquake.

The casualty estimates are provided for three (3) times of day, shown in: 2:00 A.M., 2:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. These times represent the periods of the day that different sectors of the community are at their peak occupancy loads. The 2:00 A.M. estimate considers that the residential occupancy load is maximum; the 2:00 P.M. estimate considers that the educational, commercial and industrial sector loads are maximum; and 5:00 P.M. represents peak commute time. Based on the earthquake model, the resulting casualties by severity level are shown in Table 14.

Table 14: Casualties by Severity Level
Time of Day Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
2 AM 46 9 9 2
2 PM 49 11 1 3
5 PM 41 9 1 2
Economic Loss
The total economic loss for the earthquake is $236 million which includes building and lifeline related losses based on the regions inventory.

Full details of the Hazus earthquake event can be found in the full report found in Appendix G.

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Extreme Heat
Description
Extreme heat is characterized by periods of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days.
52 According to NOAA,53 a heat wave is a prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity. An excessive heat Warning is issued if the heat index equals or exceeds 105° F for at least two days and nighttime air temperatures do not drop below 75° F. A Heat Advisory is issued when the heat index equals or exceeds 100° F for at least two days and nighttime temperatures do not drop below 75° F.

Extreme heat events are usually a result of both high temperatures and high relative humidity.

The higher the relative humidity or the more moisture in the air, the less likely that evaporation will take place. On hot days, the human body relies on the evaporation of perspiration to regulate the body’s internal temperature. Sweating does nothing to cool the body unless the water is removed by evaporation. When the relative humidity is high, then the evaporation process is hindered, robbing the body of its ability to cool itself.

The National Weather Service Weather Fatalities Database has records of heat-related fatalities beginning in 1986. Since 1986, there has been an approximate 30-year-average of 168 heatrelated deaths annually.54 To raise the public’s awareness of the hazards of extreme heat, the National Weather Service has devised the “Heat Index.” The Heat Index Chart, shown in Figure 17, uses air temperature and humidity to determine the heat index or apparent temperature.55 In addition, information regarding the health dangers by temperature range is presented.

Some of the heat dangers associated with extreme heat are described below. Some populations, such as the elderly and young children, are more susceptible to heat danger than other segments of the population.

Heat Disorders: Heat disorders are illnesses caused by prolonged exposure to hot temperatures and are characterized by the body’s inability to shed excess heat. These disorders develop when the heat gain exceeds the level the body can remove or if the body cannot compensate for fluids and salt lost through perspiration. In either case, the body loses its ability to regulate its internal temperature. All heat disorders share one common feature: the individual has been overexposed to heat or over exercised for their age and physical condition on a hot day. The following describes the symptoms associated with the different heat disorders. 52 Ready.gov (n.d.) Extreme Heat, Retrieved from Extreme Heat | Ready.gov 53 National Weather Service. (n.d.) Heat Watch vs. Heat Warning. NOAA. Retrieved from Heat Watch vs. Warning. 54 National Weather Service. (2022). Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics. NOAA. Retrieved from Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics
55 Extreme heat. (n.d.). University of Washington. Retrieved from https://www.washington.edu/uwem/preparedness/know-your- hazards/extreme-heat/.

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Figure 19: National Weather Service Heat Index Chart
 Sunburn: Sunburn is characterized by redness and pain of skin exposed too long to the sun without proper protection. In severe cases it can cause swelling, blisters, fever, and headaches. It can significantly limit the skin’s ability to shed excess heat.  Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are characterized by heavy sweating and painful spasms, usually in the muscles of the legs and possibly the abdomen. The loss of fluid through perspiration leaves the body dehydrated resulting in muscle cramps.

This is usually the first sign that the body is experiencing trouble dealing with heat.  Heat Exhaustion: Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, exhaustion, dizziness and faintness. Breathing may become rapid and shallow and the pulse weak. The skin may appear cool, moist, and pale. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a mild form of shock. If not treated, the victim’s condition will worsen.  Heat Stroke (Sunstroke): Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition characterized by a high body temperature (106°F or higher). The skin appears to be dry and flushed with very little perspiration present. The individual may become mentally confused and exhibit behavior such as aggression. The pulse is rapid and strong.

There is a possibility that the individual will faint or slip into unconsciousness. If the body is not cooled quickly, brain damage and death may result.

Studies indicate that, all things being equal, the severity of heat disorders tend to increase with age. Heat cramps in a 17-year-old may be heat exhaustion in someone 40-years-old and heat Extreme Danger
Sunstroke,
muscle cramps,
and/or heat
exhaustion likely
Heat stroke or
sunstroke highly
likely
Danger
Extreme
Caution
Sunstroke, muscle
cramps, and/or heat
exhaustion
possible
Caution
Fatigue possible

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stroke in a person over 60.56 Elderly persons, small children, people with chronic illnesses, those on certain medications, and persons with weight or alcohol problems are particularly susceptible to heat reactions.

Location
The entirety of the City of Maywood is exposed to extreme heat events. Areas with little vegetation, shade structures, and tree cover may experience even higher temperatures.

Previous Occurrences
To understand extremes, it is beneficial to understand typical temperatures. The closest weather monitoring station through NOAA is located in Downtown Los Angeles which is approximately 6 miles from the City of Maywood. This weather station was established in May 2024. Historical data is available from downtown Los Angeles’ earlier weather station located in the University of Southern California campus, which is approximately 5 miles west of the City.57 Figure 18 shows average maximum temperatures and record maximum temperatures recorded from both stations.

The Los Angeles region’s mediterranean climate is characterized by warm summers and mild winters. Generally, the warmest months occur from July to October, with average maximum temperatures of 77°F to 83°F.
58 The highest temperature reported at this station is 113°F in September 2010.

Figure 20: Average and Record Maximum Temperatures by Month at the Downtown Los Angeles Weather Monitoring Station
56 National Weather Service. (n.d.) Information About Extreme Heat and Related Dangers. Retrieved from Information About Extreme Heat and Related Dangers (weather.gov)
57 National Weather Service. (2024). Downtown Los Angeles Weather Station has Moved. Retrieved from Downtown Los Angeles Weather Station has Moved
58 National Weather Service. (2025). NOW Data, LA Downtown Area. Retrieved from Climate

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The NCEI Storm Events Database provides records of extreme heat in two categories: excessive heat and heat. Between 1997 and 2024, eight records of Extreme Heat were reported in the database for Los Angeles County, with four records occurring in regions surrounding the City of Maywood. A total of 8 deaths were reported in these events. No damages or injuries were reported. Details of significant past events are reported below. It is important to note that there can be additional instances of extreme heat events in the County that have gone unreported. A summary of significant extreme heat events is summarized in Table 15.

Table 15: Significant Previous Extreme Heat Occurrences near the City of Maywood Date Event Type Deaths Details
8/3/1997 Heat --
The combination of clear skies and weak offshore flow
produced record heat across Ventura and Los Angeles
counties. High temperatures ranged from the 90s at the
coast to around 110°F in the inland valleys. Above normal relative humidity combined with the high temperatures to produced heat indices ranging from 102°F to 116°F.
7/15/2006 Heat --
The combination of strong high pressure aloft and high
relative humidity produced excessive heat conditions
across the mountains and valleys of Los Angeles County
and the mountains of Ventura County. Heat index values
ranged from 100°F to 105°F in the mountains to between
105 and 111°F across valley areas.
7/22/2006 Heat --
The combination of high pressure aloft and above-normal relative humidity resulted in an extended period of
excessive heat across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara,
Ventura and Los Angeles counties. At times, heat index
values ranged from 100°F to 119°F.
9/3/2007 Excessive Heat 8
The combination of above normal temperatures and
relative humidity produced excessive heat across the
coastal plain of Los Angeles County. Heat index values
between 105°F and 112°F degrees were reported.

Fatalities resulted from a range of instances including lack of cooling within homes, and increased exposure during
outdoor activities and work. 59
Extent
Aside from the heat-induced health impacts, extreme heat extent can be defined with record highs and the NWS Heat Index. The record temperature at the Downtown Los Angeles monitoring 59 Los Angeles Times. (2007) Heat blamed in the deaths of at least 16. Retrieved from Heat blamed in the deaths of at least 16 - Los Angeles Times

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station is 113°F, occurring in September 2010, which was likely into the extreme danger level (Figure 17). Heat index can make the air feel even warmer.

Hotter events than those of the past are possible, especially with expected temperature increases due to climate change. According to the 5th National Climate Assessment, the planning region is expected to see an increase of up to 6°F in average temperatures in the upcoming decades under a high emissions scenario.60
In addition, impacts from urban heat island effects could increase due to any future increased development on and adjacent to the City of Maywood. Such impacts from urban heat islands could be reduced through the increased use of mechanisms such as tree canopies and green roofs.

Probability
As noted by average and record highs, temperatures in the City frequently reach into those listed on the NWS Heat Index Chart (80°F and above). With four reported extreme heat events in 27 years, the City of Maywood experiences a reported extreme temperature event approximately every six to seven years.

Nationally, climate change is expected to result in increasing temperatures for all parts of the country. According to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, temperatures in the U.S. have risen at a faster pace than global averages.61 Warming is projected for all parts of the country over the next several decades. The degree of warming will ultimately depend on greenhouse gas emissions. In 2011 and 2012, the number of intense heat waves were almost triple the long-term average, and analyses from the Fourth National Climate Assessment show that climate change has increased the probability of heat waves.

According to the Los Angeles Region Report in California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the intensity and frequency of extreme heat is projected to increase in the Los Angeles region, which includes the City of Maywood. The average hottest day of the year is expected to increase roughly 4 to 7°F under a stabilizing emissions scenario and 7 to 10°F under a higher emissions scenario in the late 21st century.62 Inland regions are expected to experience rising temperatures up to 10°F by the late 21st century. The City of Maywood is likely to experience greater temperature increases since it is situated further away from Los Angeles’ coastline.

Based on historic events and projected conditions of increase in extreme heat events, the probability assigned to the extreme temperatures hazard is ‘highly likely’ indicating greater than 90 percent annual chance of occurrence.
60 National Climate Assessment Interactive Atlas Explorer. (2023). Change in Average Annual Temperature.

Retrieved from National Climate Assessment Interactive Atlas Explorer 61 Fifth National Climate Assessment. (2023). Report Key Messages. Retrieved from Report Key Messages 62 California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment (2018) Los Angeles Summary Report Retrieved from California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment - Los Angeles Region Report

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Vulnerability Assessment
The entire City of Maywood is vulnerable to extreme heat, including all current and future buildings, infrastructure, and populations.

The National Risk Index Provides a risk score for heat waves, which indicates a county or Census tract’s risk relative to the rest of the United States.63 According to the index, almost all of the City of Maywood has relatively moderate risk of heat waves as shown in Figure 19. The central portion of the City, along Atlantic Blvd. is projected to be at relatively high risk from heat waves.

Figure 21: Heat Wave Risk Index Results for the City of Maywood According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention’s Heat and Health Tracker shown in Figure 20, the City of Maywood’s Health in Heat Index score is in the 94th percentile, meaning the area is in the top 6 percent of places across the nation that is vulnerable to health impacts related to heat.64
63 Federal Emergency Management Agency (n.d.), National Risk Index, Retrieved from Map | National Risk Index (fema.gov)
64 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) Heat & Health Tracker. Retrieved from Heat & Health Tracker | Tracking | NCEH | CDC

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Figure 22: Heat and Health Index in the City of Maywood There are no associated dollar losses with the extreme heat hazard in the planning area. Future damages to structures, buildings, and infrastructure are expected to be negligible but are possible through indirect losses, such as power outages, for example. Extreme heat events generally have a limited impact on buildings. However, in some rare cases extreme heat can cause structures to collapse or buckle. Heat can also cause pavement to expand and buckle. Urban areas are exposed more acutely to the dangers of extreme heat due to the urban heat island effect.

In the City of Maywood, buildings, roads, parking lots, and synthetic turf fields can contribute to the urban heat island effect. Fields that are made of synthetic turf grass develop a heat island effect due to two factors: 1) the synthetic turf blades trap heat and do not transpire (release water vapor), as natural grass does, and 2) the infill used underneath the blades (typically black rubber), absorbs, and radiates heat. Typically, synthetic turf gets 35°F to 55°F hotter than natural turf.65 Poor housing conditions exacerbate the impact of extreme heat. Older homes, especially those built before the 1960s, often have thinner walls, single-pane windows, and minimal insulation.

According to the LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment, homes in Maywood were built in 1941 or earlier on average, rendering their residents more vulnerable to extreme heat.66 65 Surface Temperature of Synthetic Turf. Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research. Retrieved from http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/ssrc/documents/temperature.pdf. 66 LA County (2021) Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Retrieved from LA-County-ClimateVulnerability-Assessment-1.pdf

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Additionally, buildings with inadequate or no access to cooling make their inhabitants more vulnerable to extreme heat.

Extreme heat can negatively impact air quality by increasing the amount of ground-level ozone (or smog). Worsened air quality can aggravate existing respiratory illnesses, and long-term exposure can result in decreased lung function.67 Extreme heat can degrade water quality by heating water bodies directly or heating runoff that drains into them.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Extreme heat poses serious health risks to the population. Extreme heat can cause heat cramps, nausea, sunburn, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Certain populations, such as the elderly, young children, and those without access to an adequate cooling source are considered at a higher risk to the impacts of extreme heat, which could include death. Those without resources to use or install air-conditioning will be most impacted. This could be further worsened by potential increases in the cost of electricity. Socially vulnerable populations have high risk to extreme heat events. Economically constrained households are more likely to live in homes with inadequate cooling sources (e.g., substandard or aging housing) and less able to find or even seek out a cool place when required. Further, such populations may have little to no financial buffers that would facilitate preparedness or mitigation actions such as repair or insulation of homes, or the ability to afford a cooling bill surge resulting from an extreme temperature event. People with housing insecurity also face increased risks and may struggle finding or traveling to a cooled location.

Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change will impact the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. According to CalAdapt, average temperatures in the City can rise by 4.6°F by mid-century under a high emissions scenario.68 The number of extreme heat days annually can rise to eleven from the historic average of two.69 Extreme heat in urban areas, can lead to dangerous conditions as these temperatures are exacerbated by urban heat island effects.

Increases in the intensity and frequency of extreme heat events will exacerbate the life safety, health, and public health impacts described above. The City of Maywood should not only prepare for the current extent experienced for extreme high temperatures, but also for those projected due to climate change.
67 US EPA. (2017). Ozone Basics. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/ozone-basics#effects. 68 CalAdapt. (n.d.) Local Climate Change Snapshot. Retrieved from Local Climate Change Snapshot 69 CalAdapt. (n.d.) Extreme Heat Days and Warm Nights. Retrieved from Extreme Heat Days & Warm Nights

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Flood
Description
Flooding is a very frequent, dangerous, and costly hazard. In the U.S., flooding has cost over $850 billion in damages since 2000, and accounts for 2/3rd of the cost from all natural disasters.70 Approximately 75 percent of presidential disaster declarations are associated with flooding.71
Floods cause utility damage and outages, infrastructure damage (both to transportation and communication systems), structural damage to buildings, crop loss, decreased land values and impede travel.

Flooding is the most common environmental hazard, due to the widespread geographical distribution of valleys and coastal areas, and the population density in these areas. The severity of a flooding event is typically determined by a combination of several major factors, including stream and river basin topography and physiography; precipitation and weather patterns; recent soil moisture conditions; and the degree of vegetative clearing and impervious surface. Flooding events can be brought on by severe (heavy) rain. There are several types of flooding, which are presented below.

Flash Flooding occurs within a few minutes or hours of heavy rainfall and can destroy buildings, uproot trees, and scour out new drainage channels. Heavy rains that produce flash floods can also trigger mudslides and landslides. Slow-moving thunderstorms or repeated thunderstorms cause most flash flooding in a local area or by heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms.

Although flash flooding often occurs in mountainous areas, it is also common in urban centers where much of the ground is covered by impervious surfaces.

Sheet flooding is a condition in which storm water runoff forms a sheet of water to a depth of six inches or more. Sheet flooding and ponding are often found in areas where there are no clearly defined channels, and the path of flooding is unpredictable. They are also more common in flat areas. Most floodplains are adjacent to streams or oceans, although almost any area can flood under the right conditions where water may accumulate.

Urban (Pluvial) Flooding and Extreme Precipitation. Urban flooding, also called pluvial flooding, is usually caused by heavy rain over a short period of time. As land is converted from fields or woodlands to roads and parking lots, it loses its ability to absorb rainfall. Since sidewalks and roads are non-absorbent, rivers of water flow down streets and into sewers. Roads and buildings generate more runoff than forestland. Fixed drainage channels in urban areas may be unable to contain the runoff that is generated by relatively small, but intense, rainfall events.

Urbanization increases runoff two to six times over what would occur on natural terrain. This high 70 Flood Defenders. (n.d.) America’s most frequent and expensive disaster. Retrieved from The Problem – flooddefenders.org
71 National Weather Service. (n.d.). Flood Related Hazards. National Weather Service. Retrieved from Flood Related Hazards (weather.gov)

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volume of water can turn parking lots into lakes, flood basements, and businesses, and cause lakes to form in roads where drainage is poor or overwhelmed.

Urban flooding, which can include flash flooding and sheet flooding, can also occur where there has been development within stream floodplains. This is partly a result of the use of waterways for transportation purposes in earlier times. Sites adjacent to rivers and coastal inlets provided convenient places to ship and receive commodities. The price of this accessibility has increased flooding in the ensuing urban areas. Urbanization intensifies the magnitude and frequency of floods by increasing impermeable surfaces, amplifying the speed of drainage collection, reducing the carrying capacity of the land and, occasionally, overwhelming sewer systems.

Riverine Flooding. Periodic flooding of lands adjacent to non-tidal rivers and streams (known as the floodplain) is a natural and inevitable occurrence. When stream flow exceeds the capacity of the normal watercourse, some of the above-normal stream flows onto adjacent lands within the floodplain. Riverine flooding is a function of precipitation levels and water runoff volumes within the watershed of a stream or river.

In addition, there are several types of floodplains. These are identified areas of flood occurrence.

However, not all flooding occurs in such areas. Localized urban flooding and flash flooding often occur outside of designated floodplain areas.

Floodplains. A floodplain is generally the land area susceptible to being inundated or flooded by water from any source (i.e., river, stream, lake, estuary, etc.). Floodplains are natural features of any river or stream. Streams that drain more than one square mile have their estimated floodplain areas mapped in most areas. The mapped floodplain areas are called the regulatory floodplain.

The regulatory floodplain mapping is a result of the hydrologic (rainfall) and hydraulic (runoff) analysis of the watershed and stream.

The regulatory floodplain is also known as the 100-year floodplain, base flood elevation, 1.0- percent annual chance floodplain or the Special Flood Hazard Area. The 100-year floodplain is the land area that is subject to a 1.0 percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. The term “100-year flood” is often misinterpreted. The 100-year flood does not mean that it will occur once every 100 years. A 100-year flood has a 1/100 (1 percent) chance of occurring in any given year. A 100-year flood could occur two times in the same year or two years in a row. It is also possible not to have a 100-year flood event over the course of 100 years or more.

The floodway is the portion of the floodplain required to convey the flood event. The flood fringe provides flood water storage. The floodway is the high velocity area and structures or obstructions in the floodway can increase flood heights.

Special Flood Hazard Area and Flood Insurance Rate Maps. A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) shown on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the regulatory floodplain. FIRMs are produced by FEMA. SFHAs are delineated on the FIRMs and may be designated as Zones A, AE, AO, AH, AR V, VE, A-99. Structures located in the SFHA are highly susceptible to flooding.

Structures located in the SFHA A-Zones are required by lenders to purchase flood insurance.

Anyone in a community that participates in the NFIP may voluntarily purchase flood insurance.

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Within the City of Maywood, the Zone X SFHA zone is present. Zone X corresponds to areas outside of the 1.0 percent annual chance flood area, and it includes areas in the 0.2 percent annual chance flood boundary and areas of minimal flood hazard.

Flooding can occur any time of year. The severity of flooding is determined by a combination of topography and physiography, ground cover, precipitation and weather patterns and recent soil moisture conditions. Flooding is also governed by the size and nature of the stream’s watershed.

A watershed is the geographic area of land where all runoff drains to a common point.

Within the watershed, the condition of the land affects how precipitation flows or infiltrates. For example, more rainwater will run off the land’s surface and into streams if the terrain is steep, if the ground is already saturated from previous rains, if the surface is significantly covered with impervious pavement (e.g., parking lots, rooftops), or if depressional water storage areas have been filled.72
Scientists have established that climate change will have significant impacts on flood frequency and intensity, which will vary by region. Generally, higher temperatures will result in drier conditions and will reduce flood magnitude and frequency. Precipitation changes will vary across the United States. Generally, wet areas will get wetter, and dry areas will get drier. Increased precipitation is typically associated with increased flood frequency and magnitude. What may have more of an effect on flooding is increasing heavy precipitation events. Heavy rainfall events have increased for most of the United States over the last several decades. Projections from the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment indicate that certain areas in the Los Angeles region are expected to experience a 20 to 30% increase in wet days by the end of the century.73 Location
The Los Angeles County FIRMs illustrate 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplain, regulatory floodway, and 0.2% annual chance (500-year) floodplain areas. The 1% annual chance of flood hazard is shown in Figure 21. The City of Maywood FIRMs became effective in 2008.

According to the FIRM, there is no designated floodplain within the City. Additionally, nearly one third of the land within the City is protected from riverine flooding by a Levee. For more information on flooding associated with levees, see the Dam and Levee section. 72 USGS. (2019). Surface Runoff and the Water Cycle. Retrieved from Surface Runoff and the Water Cycle | U.S.

Geological Survey
73 California Climate Change Assessment. (2018). Los Angeles Region Report. Retrieved from Regional Reports - California Climate Assessment

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Figure 23: Flood Risk in the City of Maywood
Additionally, since the City of Maywood is entirely developed and has a large footprint of impervious surfaces, the entire City is susceptible to urban flooding or stormwater flooding.

Previous Occurrences
Data regarding previous flood occurrences came from different sources, including the NOAA NCEO Storm Events Database, and anecdotal evidence shared by the Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee.

NCEI Storm Events Database
The NCEI Storm Events Database records flood, flash flood, and heavy rain events by county; data specific to the City of Maywood is not available. Therefore, all flood, flash flood, and heavy rain events reported for Los Angeles County are included. According to NCEI, there has been a total of 35 flood events in Los Angeles County since 1950. The flood events are summarized by

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event type in Table 16. Six deaths and four injuries were reported as a result of flooding. Over $1.3 million (2025 dollars) in damages were reported. Due to the nature of national reporting, it is likely that localized flood incidents have not been captured by NCEI. Significant events that impacted areas surrounding the City are reported below.

Table 16: NCEI Reported Flood Events in Los Angeles County Event Type Number of Events Deaths / Injuries Property Damage (2025 dollars)
Flood 15 0/0 $0
Flash Flood 108 6/4 $1,349,300
Total 123 10 $1,349,300
 February 1998 floods: The southern California region, Central region, and areas surrounding the City of Maywood sustained significant and devastating flood impacts in February of 1998. Four storms left damage to roofs, homes, and road infrastructure due to winds over 70 mph. The series of storms brought in rain and soon left most major roads closed as mudslides covered them.  November 2003 floods: On November 12, 2003, a thunderstorm brought over 5 inches of heavy rain and hail to the south-central Los Angeles area in two hours. The resulting flooding caused damages to over 130 neighborhoods and businesses. The incident was declared a state disaster.
 January 2005 floods: On January 9, 2005, a Pacific storm brought impacts to the southern and central California region. This was a five-day storm event for the coastal areas and mountains. The coastal areas experienced 3 to 20 inches of rainfall. For Los Angeles County, a flash flood left one person dead, road closures, and a flooded home park,
 January 2008 floods: In 2008, a nearby community, Belflower, experienced flash flooding. About two feet of flood water was reported during the rain event on I-605.  October 2012 floods: In October 2012, the Los Angeles River overflowed, causing flash flooding in east ern Los Angeles County, including the cities of Huntington Park, Monterey Park, and Montebello, that are proximate to the City of Maywood. 74 74 FEMA. (2016). Flood Risk Map: Los Angeles County, California, Retrieved from FRM_06037C_20160930.pdf

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Anecdotal reports from City Staff and the Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee According to City officials and the hazard mitigation steering committee, the intersections of King Avenue and 56th Street, and Mayflower Avenue and 56th Street in the City have had previous issues with nuisance flooding during heavy rainfall events. Water levels were reported to reach up to the curb level. Additionally, sewer overflows have occurred several times in the City in connection with heavy rainfall events.

The City of Maywood is enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and contains one structure within the jurisdiction with an active policy. However, the entire City is designated Non-Special Flood Hazard Area, indicating that the region has low to moderate flood risk, out of immediate danger of flooding from rivers or heavy rain. There has been no history of claims made to the NFIP from the City.75
Extent
Flood extent, or magnitude, can be defined in several ways including peak flow or discharge rate (cubic feet per second), height of flood waters, and damages. Local public works data or the United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauge data can often be used to determine the above factors. The Los Angeles River is partially within a concrete channel, much of which borders the eastern part of the City.

The Los Angeles County Public Works Stormwater Engineering Division has recorded one stream gauge closest to the City of Maywood. Drainage area, discharge rates, and available flood stage data are shown in Table 17.
76 Maximum discharge and maximum gauge height are
used to indicate the extent to date.

Table 17: Stream Gage Data for the Los Angeles River
Station Number Location Drainage Area
(square miles)
Max Gage Height
(feet)
F34D-R Below Firestone Blvd. 596 17
In addition, damages can be used to measure extent. In Los Angeles County the largest loss reported from a single flooding event was $1.8 million (2025 dollars) from a flooding incident in 2005. While there are no recorded losses to the City of Maywood, floods like or greater than what has been experienced by the County to date are possible. 75 Flood Insurance Data and Analytics. (2025). NFIP Policy Information by State 2025 March. Retrieved from nfip_policy-information-by-state_20250331.xlsx 76 Public Works LA County. (n.d.) Stream Gaging Station Information. Retrieved from. Stormwater Engineering Division: Runoff Stations Page

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Climate projections indicate that although the overall average precipitation in the region is projected to decrease, the amount of rainfall in the 95th percentile rainfall events is likely to increase under a historic emissions scenario as compared to the locally observed average.77 The region is expected to experience longer dry spells interspersed by extreme rainfall events. Heavy precipitation events in the future can overwhelm the City’s drainage capacity and lead to more severe urban floods than experienced in the past.

Probability
In the last 27 years, there have been 123 reported flood occurrences in Los Angeles County according to NCEI data. These records do not consider events that occurred before NCEI was recorded (1998). Further, many events go unreported. Not all these events likely impacted the City of Maywood.

The probability of flooding could increase with changing climate conditions. Increases in the intensity of heavy precipitation events, could increase the probability of urban flooding. However, the overall precipitation received in a year is projected to decrease marginally by mid-century. 78 Future flooding conditions will depend on shifts in weather patterns resulting from climate change and how communities adapt to these changes. More intense rainstorms can contribute to more severe flood events. Communities should not count on past flooding patterns remaining stable into the future.

Given the lack of severe flooding events reported in Maywood and the projected decrease in total annual precipitation, a probability rating of ‘unlikely’ indicating less than 10 percent annual chance of occurrence was assigned to this hazard.

Vulnerability Assessment
The City is vulnerable to impacts due to flooding and is susceptible to an increase in nuisance urban flooding events.

All current and future buildings, infrastructure, and populations in the City of Maywood are considered at risk of flooding.

Structures exposed to flooding, including critical facilities, can be severely damaged. Building contents can be lost, damaged, or destroyed, and structures themselves can be compromised by floodwaters. Pressure from floodwater, especially as seepage through soil, can damage building foundations. After a flood, wooden structures may rot.

Floodwaters often contain contaminants such as bacteria and chemical hazards. Flooding often results in combined sewer overflows, resulting in sewage in floodwaters. Individuals traversing 77 Cal-Adapt. (2019). Extreme Precipitation Events. Retrieved from Extreme Precipitation Events 78 Headwaters Economics. (2024). Neighborhoods at Risk. Climate Projections. Retrieved from Neighborhoods at Risk

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floodwaters can contract diseases, injuries, and infections. As noted by City staff, sewer overflows have impacted the City of Maywood in the past.

Structures exposed to floodwaters can also present public health hazards. Damaged electrical systems, natural gas tanks, and fuel storage present risk of fire and explosions. People with asthma, allergies, or breathing conditions may be at a higher risk to mold. 79 Buildings containing
hazardous materials, such as industrial facilities, have the potential for spills or hazardous materials releases if flooded.

The public often underestimates the dangers presented by floodwaters. Flooding is often localized to certain parts of a community (e.g., certain roads, intersections, or neighborhoods), and floodwaters can prevent normal access to buildings and facilities. This presents a danger when motorists and pedestrians attempt to traverse floodwaters. Motor vehicles and pedestrians can get swept up in flood currents, increasing the risk for drowning. Even in shallow waters, fastmoving currents can carry individuals or vehicles into deeper waters, where pressure from flowing water can prevent drivers from escaping submerged vehicles. As little as six inches of floodwater can move a vehicle, and as little as two inches can move a person. In addition, floodwaters often conceal conditions that are a danger to those on foot, including electrical wires, debris, and other hazards hidden beneath the surface. In addition, roads and bridges can be weakened by flood impacts, making them unsafe for travel. Types of infrastructure that are vulnerable to flooding include roads, bridges, utilities, and water/sewer infrastructure.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Floods can disproportionately impact socially vulnerable populations. Poorly drained neighborhoods with aging infrastructure are more susceptible to rapid water accumulation during intense storms. Limited resources may prevent low-income households from preparing for or recovering from flood impacts.

Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change is expected to increase the severity of future flood impacts. This is because heavy rainfall events are becoming more intense, even as the time between them grows longer leading to more frequent dry spells. Overall, total annual precipitation may decrease in some regions, but when it does rain, it’s likely to fall in shorter, more intense bursts.80 These heavy rains, especially when they follow extended dry periods, can cause more severe flooding. This is because drought conditions can degrade soil structure and reduce the land’s ability to absorb water, making flash floods more likely.81
79 CDC. (2020). Mold. Natural Disasters and Severe Weather. Retrieved from Mold | CDC on October 2, 2023. 80 California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment (2018) Los Angeles Summary Report Retrieved from California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment - Los Angeles Region Report 81 Flood Risk America. (2024). Why Floods Follow Periods of Drought. Retrieved from Why Floods Follow Periods Of Drought » Flood Barriers | Flood Risk America

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Hazardous Material Incidents
Description
Hazardous materials can be found in many forms and quantities that can cause death, serious injury, long-lasting health effects, and damage to buildings, homes, and property. These materials are routinely used and stored in many homes and businesses and are regularly shipped on highways, railroads, waterways, and pipelines. This section on hazardous materials provides a general overview of the hazard. Information used to identify fixed and mobile sources of hazardous materials is limited to general information on railroads, highways, and fixed hazardous material sites cataloged by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hazardous material (HAZMAT) incidents can apply to fixed facilities as well as mobile, transportation-related accidents in the air, by rail, on highways, and on the water. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has reported the total HAZMAT incidents related to transportation systems each year from 1975 to 2023.
82 An average of approximately over 16,000 HAZMAT
incidents occurred nationwide each year. There was an average of 1,092 air related, 15,510 highway related, 801 rail related, 27 water related, and 10 other HAZMAT incidents.

HAZMAT incidents consist of solid, liquid, and/or gaseous contaminants that are released from fixed or mobile containers, whether by accident or by design as with an intentional terrorist attack.

HAZMAT incidents can also occur as a result of or in tandem with natural hazard events. A HAZMAT incident can last hours to days, while some chemicals can be corrosive or otherwise damaging over longer periods of time. In addition to the primary release, explosions and/or fires can result from a release, and contaminants can be extended beyond the initial area by persons, vehicles, water, wind, and possibly wildlife as well.

Hazardous material incidents exclude:

1. Any release which results in exposure to poisons solely within the workplace with respect to claims which such persons may assert against the employer of such persons;

2. Emissions from the engine exhaust of a motor vehicle, rolling stock, aircraft, vessel or pipeline pumping station engine;

3. Release of source, byproduct, or special nuclear material from a nuclear incident; and

4. The normal application of fertilizer.

Contaminated soils or lands are also classified as hazardous material incident. According to the EPA, contaminated lands include the resulting factors of events such as:83  Areas contaminated because of the incorrect disposal or management of toxic and hazardous waste or material
82 Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (2023). Hazardous Materials Fatalities, Injuries, Accidents, and Property Damage Data. USDOT. Retrieved from Hazardous Materials Fatalities, Injuries, Accidents, and Property Damage Data | Bureau of Transportation Statistics (bts.gov)
83 EPA. (2024). Contaminated Land. Retrieved from Contaminated Land | US EPA

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 A site where there may be harmful or toxic substances deposited following a natural disaster or act of terror
 A site or area with the release of toxic or hazardous substances due to an accident or improper handling of materials that are not classified as waste.

Location
The Environmental Protection Agency provides public information on hazardous materials. EPA collects information from industrial facilities on the release and transfer of certain toxic agents.

This information is then reported in the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Releases from these sites are conducted in various formats including recycling, off-site release, treatment, and energy recovery. Releases include both accidental and controlled releases.

There are 69 TRI sites located within five miles of the City of Maywood and two facilities just outside the City boundary as of the latest reporting year 2023. 84 Figure 22 shows these facilities
and the total releases by facility.

Figure 24: Toxic Release Inventory Sites Within a Five Mile Radius of Maywood It is important to note that the TRI does not include all sites that can lead to toxic releases. There are several industries within Maywood, and the adjacent City of Vernon that store and utilize toxic 84 EPA. (n.d.) TRI Toxics Tracker. Retrieved from TRI Toxics Tracker (epa.gov).

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substances, that are not required to report to the TRI. As such, the City of Maywood is surrounded by industries that increase the City residents’ risk to hazardous materials exposure.

In addition to fixed sites, corridors along major roads, highways, truck routes, and railroads are at an elevated risk for HAZMAT incidents due to the transport of hazardous materials.

Previous Occurrences
The information for previous hazardous materials incidents comes from various sources, including EPA reports, reports from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and significant historic events impacting the City of Maywood.

The EPA provides facility reports for TRI sites. The releases by the TRI sites near the City of Maywood are presented by year in Table 18. These reports focus on the types and amounts of chemical releases, not on the direct health or environmental impacts. As such, while the data is useful for understanding the presence and scale of toxic chemical releases, it does not reflect the actual harm caused, if any.

Table 18: EPA-Reported Chemical Releases85
85 EPA. (n.d.) TRI Toxics Tracker. Retrieved from TRI Toxics Tracker (epa.gov).

Year Sum of Releases (lb.)
2014 1,053,424
2015 1,070,083
2016 851,949
2017 2,279,036
2018 997,563
2019 1,476,883
2020 1,176,605
2021 943,074
2022 677,992
2023 473,162
TOTAL 10,999,771

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The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) lists historic transportation HAZMAT occurrences nationwide. A “serious incident” involves:
 A fatality or major injury caused by the release of a hazardous material,  The evacuation of 25 or more persons as a result of release of a hazardous material or exposure to fire,
 A release or exposure to fire which results in the closure of a major transportation artery,
 The alteration of an aircraft flight plan or operation,  The release of radioactive materials from Type B packaging,  The release of over 11.9 gallons or 88.2 pounds of a severe marine pollutant, or  The release of a bulk quantity (over 199 gallons or 882 pounds) of a hazardous material.

However, prior to 2002, a hazardous materials “serious incident” was defined as follows:
 A fatality or major injury due to a hazardous material,  Closure of a major transportation artery or facility or evacuation of six or more persons due to the presence of hazardous material, or
 A vehicle accident or derailment resulting in the release of a hazardous material.

Since 1980, two PHMSA incidents have been reported in the City of Maywood planning area. 86 Of these two incidents, none have been reported as serious incidents. The releases are summarized below:
 On a recent event on September 22, 2019, a BNSF railcar carrying a shipment of palletized, flammable paint stripper experienced an incident. Ten damaged containers were discovered, resulting in spillage on the container floor and surrounding cargo. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries and no evidence of spillage outside the cargo area. However, this event served as a reminder to the community about the risks associated with rail transportation.  In February 1990, a highway incident was reported to have occurred on Alamo Ave, Maywood, where 10 gallons of 1,1,1 Trichloroethane was released due to the overfilling of the shipping container.

In addition to the releases reported above, several high-profile hazardous materials incidents have impacted the City of Maywood in the recent decades, leading to long term impacts and cleanup efforts that are ongoing in the City. These events are:
86 U.S Department of Transportation. (2023). PHMSA Portal. Retrieved from Oracle BI Interactive Dashboards - Hazmat Incident Report Search (dot.gov)

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PEMACO Maywood: 87
The EPA catalogs a series of Superfund sites, which are areas identified for long-term cleanup or monitoring due to the presence of toxic or hazardous waste. The City of Maywood has one Superfund site, PEMACO, which was once a chemical mixing facility from the 1940s until its closure in 1991. At the site, chemicals such as chlorinated solvents, chemical solvents, and flammable liquids were found in the soil. The site is currently maintained and managed by California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Multiple actions have been taken to clean up the site including the treatment of groundwater and soil vapor. The status of the site and cleanup efforts are reported every five years.

Exide Vernon:88
Exide Technologies operated a lead-acid battery recycling plant in Vernon, California, approximately five miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The facility processed over 11 million used lead batteries annually to produce lead ingots. Over decades of operation, the plant emitted harmful levels of lead, arsenic, and other toxic pollutants into the surrounding environment, affecting nearby communities including the City of Maywood. In 2015, following a lawsuit, the plant was shut down and Exide was ordered to begin cleaning up surrounding communities. As of 2025, soil of almost all residential plots within the City have been cleaned up to prescribed standards. Additionally, the cleanup of parkways within the City also commenced in November 2024. Although efforts are underway, several City residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the cleaning progress and doubt the effectiveness of efforts.

Fruitland Avenue Fire of 2016: 89
In June 2016, a fire blaze broke out at a metal recycling facility, at 3570 Fruitland Avenue, Maywood. 10,000 pounds of magnesium stored in the facility exploded due to the fire, showering the adjacent neighborhood with chunks of magnesium and toxic fumes. The fire burned for nearly 2 days before it was extinguished. Over 300 Maywood residents were forced to evacuate from their homes. Due to the hazardous nature of the materials burning, assistance was sought from 87 EPA. (2024). Superfund Site: PEMACO MAYWOOD, CA. Retrieved from PEMACO MAYWOOD | Superfund Site Profile | Superfund Site Information | US EPA
88 Department of Toxic Substances Control. (2025) Exide Home. Retrieved from. Exide Home | Department of Toxic Substances Control
89 U.S. EPA. (2016) Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident. Retrieved from Site Profile - Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident - EPA OSC Response

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the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for air surveillance and the cleanup of hazardous materials following this incident.

Extent
The extent of hazardous material incidents can be defined in terms of the amount of material released. According to the EPA, the largest chemical release at a TRI site within 2 miles of the City of Maywood was off-site, releasing 1,369,957 pounds of nitric acid in 2017.

Alternatively, extent can be measured in terms of health impacts to community members. Lead, the contaminant from the Exide battery recycling facility can cause severe long-term impacts to exposed populations including growth disorders, development delays, hearing loss, high blood pressure, memory related disorders, and reproductive failure.

Extent can also be measured in terms of estimate of cost to cleanup contaminants after a release.

As of 2020, the State of California had spent $250 million for cleanup efforts surrounding the former Exide facility.90 It should be noted that events with increasing severity are possible.

Probability
Probability of HAZMAT incidents can be estimated from occurrences reported for the area. With 5 events recorded in 44 years, the City of Maywood has experienced less than one HAZMAT incident per year. HAZMAT risk is also elevated by the presence of 69 TRI sites near the City.

While most events are cleaned up and remediated quickly, some releases can have long term impacts on the City. Therefore, a probability of ‘likely’ indicating between 50 and 90 percent annual chance was assigned to this hazard.

Vulnerability Assessment
Most hazardous material incidents that occur are contained and suppressed before damaging any property or threatening lives. However, they can have a significant negative impact. Such events can cause deaths, completely shut down facilities for 30 days or more, and cause exposed populations to face long term health impacts.

Weather conditions will directly affect how the hazard develops. Certain chemicals may travel through the air or water, affecting a much larger area than the point of the incident itself. Noncompliance with fire and building codes, as well as failure to maintain existing fire and containment features, can substantially increase the damage from a hazardous material release. Depending on the location of the incident, key infrastructure may be inaccessible.

In order to conduct the vulnerability assessment for this hazard, GIS analysis was used for fixed sites and truck transportation routes using 500-meter and 2,500-meter buffer areas. These areas are assumed to respect the different levels of effect: immediate (primary) and secondary. Primary and secondary impact sites were selected based on guidance from FEMA 426, Reference Manual 90 California Department of Toxic Substances Control. (2020). The State’s Poor Management of the Exide Cleanup Project Has Left Californians at Continued Risk of Lead Poisoning. Retrieved from. Report 2020-107

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to Mitigate Potential Terrorist Attacks Against Buildings and engineering judgment. For the fixedsite analysis, geo-referenced TRI sites along with buffers, were used for analysis.

GIS mapping of the TRI sites surrounding the City of Maywood reveals that approximately 1,644 structures, including Heliotrope Elementary School are with 500 meters of a TRI site, and all remaining structures in the City are within the 2,500 meters buffer. Figure 23 displays this analysis.

Figure 25: Hazardous Material Risk from TRI Sites
When considering potential exposure to a hazardous material release along a highway, the number of structures at risk climbs alarmingly. All structures in the City, including all critical facilities are within the 500 meter buffer zone from major truck routes crossing through the City.

Figure 24 displays this analysis.

Legend
TRI Site
Primary Impact Buffer
Secondary Impact Buffer

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Figure 26: Mobile Hazardous Material Exposure - Highways Infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railroad lines, and utilities have the potential to be impacted by hazardous materials incidents, particularly in an incident involving a corrosive material. Often, this infrastructure is being used to transport hazardous materials, making them especially at-risk.

HAZMAT incidents can result in injuries or fatalities when employees, responders, and civilians come in contact with hazardous materials. In certain events, persons may not realize they have been exposed until symptoms are presented. HAZMAT incidents may result in the need for evacuations or sheltering in place.

HAZMAT releases significantly impact public health through contamination of air, water, and soil in the affected region. Airborne pollutants can cause acute and chronic respiratory conditions, cardiovascular problems, and increased cancer risks, particularly for sensitive populations such as children and the elderly. Contaminated water sources may lead to gastrointestinal illnesses, liver and kidney damage, neurological effects, and other long-term health complications due to Legend
Significant Truck Route
Primary Impact Buffer

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exposure to chemicals like heavy metals, solvents, and industrial byproducts. Soil contamination can pose health risks through direct contact, inhalation of dust, or leaching into groundwater supplies. These exposures can lead to cumulative and sometimes irreversible health effects.

HAZMAT incidents are considered a City-wide hazard due to the presence of TRI sites, the presence of hazardous materials within the City’s industries, and the presence of significant truck routes within and around the City that transport hazardous materials.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Socially vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by hazardous material releases due to systemic inequities in housing, infrastructure, and access to healthcare. These groups often reside in closer proximity to industrial facilities or hazardous transport routes, increasing their exposure risk. They may also face greater challenges in receiving timely information, evacuating safely, or accessing medical care during an incident. These disparities highlight the importance of environmental justice, which seeks to ensure that no community bears a disproportionate share of environmental harms and that all people have equal protection and involvement in environmental decision-making and response efforts. The entire City of Maywood is recognized by the California EJ Screen as a community facing environmental justice concerns.91 Therefore, it is essential that mitigation actions in the region prioritize equal protection and strive to achieve equitable outcomes for Maywood residents.

Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change is not expected to have direct impacts on hazardous materials incidents.

However, HAZMAT incidents can be triggered by certain natural hazards, such as transportation accidents involving hazardous materials preempted by blinding downpours or severe winds. It is common for hazardous materials incidents (i.e., contamination) to occur as a secondary impact of flooding. Generally, if the frequency and intensity of natural hazards increases due to climate change, the frequency of HAZMAT incidents may increase as a result. 91 State of California OEHHA. (n.d.) CalEnviroScreen. Retrieved from CalEnviroScreen - OEHHA

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High Wind Events
Description
High wind events can include strong winds, windstorms associated with the Santa Ana Winds, and even tornadoes. High Wind definitions can vary by region. In general, high wind events are those events greater than normal averages of windspeed and have damage potential. The NWS issues high wind warnings when sustained winds of 40 miles per hour or greater or gusts of up to 58 miles per hour or greater are expected.
92 In 2023, high wind events were responsible for 71
fatalities in the United States, although it is possible that this number may be an undercount for fatalities not reported.93
High wind events in the Los Angeles region are typically a result of the Santa Ana Winds, also known as “devil winds.” The Santa Ana winds blow northeast from the deserts of the Sierra Nevada to southern California’s coast, impacting much of the southern California region. The Santa Ana wind seasons typically occur from October to April, peaking with its strongest speeds in December and January.
94 Winds are characterized with strong gusts of downslope winds, concentrated in Santa Ana, Santa Monica and Laguna Mountains. Sustained surface wind velocities on average have been observed to be 7–13 m s−1 (15–30 mi h−1) with gusts in excess of 25 m s−1 (56 mi h−1). 95 Santa
Ana Wind events often result in a dryer atmosphere, with relative humidity recorded as less than 15 percent.

The Santa Ana Wind’s extremely windy and dry characteristics create ideal wildfire conditions, when Red Flag Warnings may be issued. A Red Flag warning is issued when an area has been in a dry spell, a sustained wind average of 15 mph or greater is forecasted, a relative humidity less than or equal to 25 percent, and a temperature of greater than 75°. 96 Wildfires and Urban
Fire hazards will be discussed in greater detail in later sections. 92 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. (2023). Put Safety First: What to Know During High Wind Events. Retrieved from Put Safety First: What to Know During High Wind Events | Cal OES News 93 National Weather Service. (2023). NOAA. Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics. Retrieved from Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics
94 Guzman-Morales, J., A. Gershunov, J. Theiss, H. Li, and D. Cayan (2016), Santa Ana Winds of Southern California: Their climatology, extremes, and behavior spanning six and a half decades, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 2827–2834, doi:10.1002/ 2016GL067887.Retrieved from Santa Ana Winds of Southern California: Their climatology, extremes, and behavior spanning six and a half decades - Guzman‐Morales - 2016 - Geophysical Research Letters - Wiley Online Library
95 Rolinski, T., S. B. Capps, and W. Zhuang (2019): Santa Ana Winds: A Descriptive Climatology. Wea.

Forecasting, 34, 257–275, Santa Ana Winds: A Descriptive Climatology in: Weather and Forecasting Volume 34 Issue 2 (2019)
96 National Weather Service. (n.d.). NOAA. Fire Weather Criteria – The Red Flag Program. Retrieved from Fire Weather Criteria

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A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground97. Tornadoes may sometimes be invisible, unless water droplets, dust, and debris are picked up. Tornadoes occur throughout the nation but are typically uncommon in the Los Angeles region. The destruction caused by tornadoes ranges from light to inconceivable depending on the intensity, size, and duration of the storm. Tornado magnitude is classified using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, from EF0 through EF5, with EF0 being the least severe causing light damage to shallow rooted trees and sign boards, and EF5 causing the most severe damage such as lifting homes off their foundations.

Location
The entire City of Maywood is exposed and at risk to high wind events.

Previous Occurrences
The NCEI Storm Events Database reports wind event information by county and, when the information is available, by County region. The information is reported under three categories:
high wind, strong wind, and tornado. Events specific to the City of Maywood were not available; therefore, events occurring in Los Angeles County (with no region specified), South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, Southeast Los Angeles, and Downtown Los Angeles Zones were used as an indicator to identify events that would have likely impacted the City of Maywood as well.

There were 46 high wind events reported for the zones mentioned above between 1980 to 2024. These wind events resulted in 35 injuries, 0 deaths, and property damages totaling to over $111.5 million (2025 dollars). It is likely that additional wind events and damages to private property were not reported to NCEI. Therefore, the number of events and resulting damages is likely higher than what is indicated. Information on notable events is described in Table 20.

Table 19: Significant NCEI Thunderstorm Wind Events in the City of Maywood Region Date Location Event
Type
Property
Damages
(2025 $)
Injuries Details
1/28/1980 Los Angeles
County Tornado $10,925 - -
11/9/1982 Los Angeles
County Tornado $18,754,670 - -
3/1/1983 Los Angeles
County Tornado $90,466,451 30 -
97 National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.) Severe Weather 101. Retrieved from Severe Weather 101:

Tornado Basics

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Date Location Event
Type
Property
Damages
(2025 $)
Injuries Details
10/1/1983 Los Angeles
County Tornado - 3 -
4/9/1999 Southeast
Los Angeles
High
Wind 0 1
Gusty winds knocked down a 60
foot palm tree onto a house in
the community of Hancock Park.

One man was injured.
3/22/2023 East Long
Angeles Tornado 0 1
A weak tornado developed in the
community of Montebello. The
EF1 tornado impacted the area
around the intersection of
Washington Boulevard and
Maple Avenue. There was
substantial damage to the
industrial warehouse and
commercial business district,
including nearly total roof
collapse in one building and a
total of 17 damaged structures.

Numerous vehicles were
damaged due to flying debris.

In addition to the incidents reported to NCEI, the following event may have impacted the City of Maywood:

January 7, 2025, Severe Windstorm
On January 7, 2025, a severe Santa Ana windstorm brought strong winds to the Los Angeles County region, including the City of Maywood. The windstorm was described as “severe and lifethreatening, resulting in the loss of life, widespread damage, and destruction to residential structures, businesses, and infrastructure, power outages, downed trees, road closures, rockslides, and significant debris”.98 The strong Santa Ana winds blew up to 100 miles per hour in parts of the County and sparked destructive fires throughout the County, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Kenneth Fires, however, none of these were located in the City of Maywood.99 City of Maywood residents reported impacts from the debris and particulate matter from fires throughout the County which impacted local air quality. 98 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. (2025). Ratification of Proclamation of Local Emergency, Curfew, Order, and Local Health Emergency Declaration for the January 2025 Windstorm and Critical Fire Events. Retrieved from Motion_2004
99 Midwest Regional Climate Center. (2024) Tornado Tracks Retrieved from Tornado Tracks Tool - MRCC

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Tornadoes
Tornadoes are a less common type of high wind event in the Los Angeles region. Figure 25 depicts the previous tornado tracks in the nearby region, from 1980 to 2023.100 The tornado in Compton, pictured below resulted in no deaths and one injury per the NCEI database.

Figure 27: Tornado Paths Near the City of Maywood
In addition to the events reported in Figure 25, the following event occurred in March 2025:

March 13, 2025, Pico Rivera Tornado
A rare tornado with wind speeds of 65 to 85 mph reflecting an intensity rating of EF0 occurred in Pico Rivera, approximately 5 miles east of Maywood. The tornado caused damage to multiple homes, cars, and trees.

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Extent
The extent of extreme wind events can be measured in terms of windspeed or in terms of damage.

Wind events in the region surrounding the City of Maywood have resulted in 35 injuries. The greatest amount of property damage from a single event in the County was over $1.2 million (2025 dollars) in 1983, associated with a small tornado, including fallen trees, powerlines, and debris.

High wind events can also span multiple days of high wind velocities. For instance, a strong and prolonged Santa Ana wind event started on November 19 and ended on November 29, 1956. A fire started and burned 44,000 acres.101 Two wooden bridges and a power plant were destroyed, however, none of the destruction occurred in the City of Maywood. From February 16-19, 1988, strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts up to 70 miles per hour in the San Gabriel Mountains and foothill areas, caused numerous downed trees and power outages impacted 200,000 customers in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.101 From November 30-December 4, 2011, hurricane-force winds knocked down trees and electrical power poles, causing widespread damage through Los Angeles County.101
Tornadoes are uncommon in the area and occur at low magnitudes when they do. The recent Compton tornado in 2023 resulted in 1 injury and no deaths, per NCEI.

The impacts of climate change on future wind patterns are uncertain. Projections for Santa Ana Winds vary, with some models indicating an increased likelihood and others suggesting a decrease. Research into future wind conditions is ongoing.102 While the extent of wind damages from previous events within the City of Maywood is unknown, future events can cause damages, down power lines, and carry debris and soot from wildfires in surrounding regions.

Probability
With 46 significant wind events having been reported over 44 years, it is known that wind is a regular occurrence in the region surrounding the City of Maywood. It is also likely that NCEI data is not inclusive of all events that have impacted the City of Maywood.

Climate change predictions for the future nature of wind events is uncertain.

Based on historic events, the probability assigned to a high wind event hazard is ‘likely’ indicating between 50 and 90 percent annual chance.
101Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management. (2017). History of Strong Winds that Impacted the L.A.

County Operational Area. Retrieved from HAZARDS AND THREAT -TORNADOES - FUNNEL CLOUDS - WATERSPOUTS - HISTORY.pdf 102 California Climate Assessment. (2019) Los Angeles Region. Pg. 14. Retrieved from Los Angeles Region Report

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Vulnerability Assessment
The City of Maywood, in its entirety, is considered at risk from a severe wind event. The NRI provides a strong wind risk index score, which indicates a census tract’s strong wind risk relative to the rest of the United States.103 According to the NRI, the City of Maywood, has “very low” risk from strong wind and ‘relatively low’ risk from tornados, as shown in Figure 26.

Figure 28: National Risk Index Results for Strong Wind and Tornadoes for the City of Maywood
High wind events can cause extreme public health and economic impacts. Severe wind has the potential to blow shingles, siding, awnings, and other features off buildings. Falling trees and tree limbs can damage structures. Objects picked up by wind can be hurled through the air, damaging structures, and breaking windows when contact is made. In some cases, structures can be blown off foundations. Severe winds can down communications infrastructure, utility poles, and above ground power lines. This debris can obstruct key infrastructure, such as nearby bridges, including those located on South Atlantic Boulevard and East Slauson Boulevard, in addition to the nearby East Florence Avenue bridge located south, in the City of Bell. These bridges provide access to the City of Maywood over the Los Angeles River connecting people, goods, and emergency services. The South Atlantic Boulevard and East Florence Boulevard bridges provide critical access to the nearby freeway, Interstate-710.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Downed tree limbs, debris, and utility lines can block roads and reduce access to critical services such as emergency response. In addition, severe winds can result in serious life safety impacts. 103 Federal Emergency Management Agency (n.d.), National Risk Index, Retrieved from Map | National Risk Index (fema.gov)
City of Maywood – Strong Wind Risk – National Risk Index City of Maywood – Tornado Risk – National Risk Index

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People outside during severe wind events may be struck by falling trees and limbs, or by objects falling off buildings or being hurled through the air. Winds can also start wildfires, which can spread rapidly and cause further destruction to infrastructure, structures, and even result in loss of life. Wind and/or fires can blow debris and increase the particulate matter in the air and thus worsen air quality. Poor air quality can result in public health impacts related to acute and long term respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Those at an increased risk include elders, young children, immunocompromised individuals, and unhoused individuals.

Impacts of Climate Change
Research on the impacts of climate change on wind conditions is ongoing and uncertain. Some models predict that increasing variability in temperatures may change wind and weather patterns, which can also lead to an increase in the intensity and frequency of high wind events. Additionally, hotter, drier periods, combined with high wind events can be the catalyst that spark destructive fires.104
Public Health Emergencies
Description
Public health risks, such as those presented by infectious diseases, vector-borne illnesses, waterborne illnesses, and chronic diseases, are present within every community. They include commonly occurring illnesses like the common cold and influenza, as well as less common inflictions such as bacteria-caused Escherichia coli (“E. coli”) and Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever, and mosquito-transmitted West Nile Virus, as well as COVID-19.

The degree to which communities are susceptible to or actively experiencing public health issues can impact a community’s vulnerability to natural hazards, as well as its ability to respond to disasters. For instance, an infectious disease outbreak may complicate evacuations or/and mass sheltering required due to a natural hazard. Similarly, high incidents of chronic diseases may decrease mobility within a community, and natural disasters may reduce access to vital healthcare services needed by the ill.

An infectious illness outbreak is the occurrence of a disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a certain geographic area. An outbreak may last only a few days or weeks but could also last several years. Further, a single case of a communicable disease not previously recognized in the defined area may also be recognized as an outbreak and require investigation.
105 An infectious illness outbreak is often referred to as an epidemic. An epidemic or outbreak can occur when there are sufficient numbers of a disease agent and susceptible hosts, 104 Madakumbura et al. (2025). Climate Change A Factor in Unprecedented Fires. University of California, Los Angeles. Retrieved from Climate Change A Factor In Unprecedented LA Fires | Sustainable LA Grand Challenge 105 World Health Organization, (n.d.). Disease Outbreaks, Retrieved from https://www.emro.who.int/healthtopics/disease-outbreaks/index.html

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and the agent is effectively conveyed from the source to hosts. The following mechanisms may result in an epidemic.
106
 An increase in the amount and/or the potency of a disease agent  The introduction of a disease agent into a new location  An enhanced mode of transmission and increased exposure  A change in the susceptibility of the host to the agent  An increase in host exposure through new portals of entry An outbreak may occur in several different patterns, including:
 A common-source outbreak: a group of individuals are all exposed to an infectious agent or toxin from the same source (e.g., a group of patrons who all ate lettuce from a specific restaurant contract Hepatitis A)
 A propagated outbreak: a disease is transmitted by person-to-person contact, by a vehicle (e.g., needles), or by a vector (e.g., mosquito)  A mixed outbreak: a common-source outbreak occurs and is then spread from person-to-person
 Other outbreaks: A disease that is not spread by either a common source or propagated from person-to-person. This can be the result of sufficient interaction between humans and vectors (e.g., the epidemic of Lyme disease in the northeastern U.S. in the 1980s, in which the disease spread from deer to ticks to humans) In addition to localized or regional epidemics, infectious illness outbreaks can also be pandemic in nature, meaning the outbreak occurs at the national or global level, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emerging infectious diseases are outbreaks of previously unknown diseases, known diseases that are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range over the last two decades, or the persistence of infectious diseases that cannot be controlled. 107 Since the 1970s, approximately
40 infectious diseases have been discovered including COVID-19. 108 In 2007, the World Health
Organization (WHO) reported that infectious diseases are emerging at a rate that has never been seen before. With the trends of increased travel, population density, and closer contact with wild animals, the potential for emerging infectious disease-causing global epidemics is a major concern.
106 National Geographic. (2022). Epidemic, Retrieved from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/epidemic/ 107 Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Emerging Infectious Diseases, Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/emerging-infectious-diseases 108 Baylor College of Medicine, (n.d.). Emerging Infectious Diseases, Retrieved from https://www.bcm.edu/departments/molecular-virology-and-microbiology/emerging-infections-andbiodefense/emerging-infectious-diseases

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In addition to diseases, natural and human-caused hazards can also cause public health emergencies. For example, wildfires can travel and carry toxic smoke, triggering air quality alerts in regions far from the fire. A decline in air quality can cause short term and long-term damages to the respiratory system of populations.

Location
The entire City of Maywood is presumed to be equally at-risk of public health emergencies.

Children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals may be more impacted by public health emergencies. Households living in close quarters, high density neighborhoods, and schools are usually more susceptible to the spread of infectious diseases.

Previous Occurrences
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is the public health agency operating in 85 out of 88 cities in the County, including the City of Maywood.

On March 4, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared COVID-19 a public health emergency, which would extend for three years before declared over on March 31, 2023.

Despite the declaration ending the public health emergency, as of 2025, COVID-19 cases are still present and occurring. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health,13,292 COVID-19 cases and 114 deaths have been reported specifically in the City of Maywood todate. 109
More seasonal and long-term diseases include the flu, Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), and West Nile Virus. The seasonal flu is typically spread in late October through March, with various annual strains. Valley Fever is a common illness in California that is caused by a fungus living in the soil and dirt. When inhaled, individuals may experience flu-like symptoms. West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Los Angeles County, occurring annually. The virus can be detected in mosquito samples in neighborhoods. In 2022, four positive cases of West Nile Virus were detected in the City of Maywood.
110
Diseases that have a high average annual incidence rate in Los Angeles County as reported by the County’s Department of Public Health Department are reported in Table 21. 111
109 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2025). LA County COVID-19 Data, Retrieved from LA County Daily COVID-19 Data - LA County Department of Public Health 110 Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. (2022). West Nile Virtus Activity 2022. Retrieved from West Nile Virus Activity 2022 - Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District 111 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2022.). Los Angeles County Acute Communicable Disease Control – Disease Surveillance Data Dashboard. Retrieved from dashboard.publichealth.lacounty.gov/acdc_annual_report_dashboard/

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Table 20: Diseases with a high average annual incidence in Los Angeles County between 2018-2022
Disease Name Annual Incidence
Case (per 100,000)
Disease Classification
Campylobacteriosis 21.51 Food/ Waterborne
Valley Fever 14.84 Airborne
Salmonellosis (Nontyphoid)14.76 Food/ Waterborne
Shigellosis 11.21 Viral
Giardiasis 5.99 Food/Waterborne
E. Coli 5.96 Food/ Waterborne
West Nile Virus 0.61 Communicable – Meningitis/ Meningococcal Besides infectious diseases, poor air quality during wildfire season in the region often poses public health risks. The County Public Health department often releases smoke advisories, in alignment with South Coast Air Quality Management District, when regions experience unhealthy air quality around the County. On January 10, 2025, the County Public Health Department declared a local health emergency due to the multiple fires and windstorm conditions from the Los Angeles Fires, which severely degraded air quality by releasing hazardous smoke and particulate matter. 112
During this time, the 24 hour average concentration of PM 2.5 in the air surrounding the City increased to over 50 ug/m3
, which is nearly double the acceptable limit defined by the California Air Resources Board. In contrast, the 24-hour average for the day before the fires, January 7, 2025, was 9.4 ug/m3
.
113 Poor air quality can impact respiratory and cognitive functions.

Extent
The severity of infectious illnesses is difficult to determine without detailed records. In addition, it is likely that many disease cases, such as the flu, go unreported.

COVID-19 had the largest overall societal impact for all of Los Angeles County, including the City of Maywood. In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) appropriated funds to local governments across the nation to address challenges related to COVID-19. The City of Maywood facilitated community engagement efforts to best understand how to support the community during this pandemic and utilize its $6,452,514 one-time federal recovery funding. Engagement 112 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2025). Local Health Emergency Declared Due to Critical Fire Events and Windstorm Conditions, Retrieved from Local Health Emergency Declared Due to Critical Fire Events and Windstorm Conditions – COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 113 California Air Resources Board. (2025). Los Angeles County Daily Average PM 2.5 Data. Retrieved from.

MRGD7DAY Display

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data found that financial concerns was the top priority for community members, specifically opportunities to support utility assistance, loss of income, and housing assistance. 114 Community
members also noted public safety and park improvements as additional high-ranking priorities.

These priorities expressed in engagement data only show a snippet of how COVID-19 and other diseases can impact community members.

According to the California Climate Assessment, vector borne events are closely connected to climate change and are significantly influenced by high and low temperature extremes and precipitation patterns.115 Therefore, more severe events are possible in the City of Maywood.

Probability
The probability of public health emergencies impacting the City of Maywood is variable, with a mix of chronic public health risks and acute outbreaks. Many public health risks occur seasonally and are ongoing, such as the flu, Valley Fever, and West Nile Virus (WNV). Major outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are less common. According to the California Climate Assessment, the WNV poses the greatest threat to Californians. High temperatures and increased drought conditions are believed to have contributed to higher incidences of WNV between 2014 and 2015.

Additionally, climate change can create favorable conditions for non-native and invasive vectors.116
Based on the information available regarding historic or current events, this hazard was assigned a probability of ‘possible’ indicating between 10 to 50 percent annual chance of occurrence.

Vulnerability Assessment
All current and future populations of the City of Maywood are considered at risk of public health emergencies.

Buildings and infrastructure are not typically impacted by public health emergencies but may need to be sterilized or decontaminated in some cases. Infectious illness outbreaks can include an above average occurrence of a common disease, such as the flu, or a single case of a disease.

Illness outbreaks may make it more difficult for individuals to gather or to receive resources or information, or access resilience centers.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Socially vulnerable populations may experience the impacts of public health risks at higher levels compared to less vulnerable populations. The elderly and immunocompromised may be more susceptible to contracted diseases, and may experience disproportionate impacts in terms of 114 City of Maywood. (2023). American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Engagement Outcomes Report.

Retrieved from. City of Maywood 115 State of California OEHHA. (2018). Indicators of Climate Change on Biological Systems: Vector-borne diseases.

Retrieved from Vector-borne diseases - OEHHA 116 State of California OEHHA. (2018). Indicators of Climate Change on Biological Systems: Vector-borne diseases.

Retrieved from Vector-borne diseases - OEHHA

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illness, missed work or school, required isolation, and/or medical costs. Economically stressed households, such as those living below the poverty line, may have trouble paying for preventative measures and medical care or taking needed time off to recover from an illness. Those who are mobility impaired or living in isolated areas without access to transportation may have issues accessing medical supplies, equipment, or care. Further, those living in crowded households may have difficulty quarantining when a member of the household is ill, leading to an increased likelihood or spreading disease. Single-parent households may face increased challenges with childcare during a public health emergency, for instance if daycares or schools are closed.

Impacts of Climate Change
Increases in temperature, precipitation, and humidity associated with climate change may all have impacts on public health. Warmer and wetter conditions create a more favorable environment for the growth and spread of some vector-borne infectious diseases, such as mosquito-borne viruses.
117 Insects also have a limited range of temperatures where they can live, which may bring new insects to the area or lead to the decline of others. Conversely, warmer, and more humid weather generally weakens the spread of certain respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.

Changing climate conditions may also lead to virus mutations and adaptation leading to a rise in emerging diseases. It will also shift habitats for wildlife and livestock, bringing different animals, and their diseases, closer to humans.
117 Liao H. (et. al.). (2024) Climate change, its impact on emerging infectious diseases, and new technologies to combat the challenge. National Institute of Health. Retrieved from Climate change, its impact on emerging infectious diseases and new technologies to combat the challenge - PMC

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Severe Storms (Including Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Hail) Description
Severe storms include weather events that include one or a combination of thunderstorms, lightning, and hail.

Thunderstorms are a weather phenomenon characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth’s atmosphere. Thunderstorms are dangerous because of their ability to generate tornadoes, hailstorms, strong winds, flash flooding, and damaging lightning.

Three conditions need to occur for a thunderstorm to form. First, it needs moisture to form clouds and rain. Second, it needs unstable air, such as warm air that can rise rapidly (this is often referred to as the “engine” of the storm). Third, thunderstorms need lift, which comes in the form of cold or warm fronts, sea breezes, mountains, or the sun’s heat. When these conditions occur simultaneously, air masses of varying temperatures meet, and a thunderstorm is formed. These storm events can occur singularly, in lines, or in clusters. Further, they can move through an area very quickly or linger for several hours.

According to the National Weather Service, more than 100,000 thunderstorms occur in the United States each year, though only about 10 percent of these storms are classified as “severe.” A severe thunderstorm occurs when the storm produces one of three elements:
 Hail of three-quarters of an inch;
 Tornado; and
 Winds of at least 58 miles per hour.118
Lightning is a discharge of electrical energy resulting from the buildup of positive and negative charges within a thunderstorm, creating a bolt when the buildup of charges becomes strong enough. This flash of light usually occurs within the clouds or between the clouds and the ground.

A bolt of lightning can reach temperatures approaching 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lightning rapidly heats the sky as it flashes but the surrounding air cools following the bolt. This rapid heating and cooling of the surrounding air causes thunder. While most often affiliated with thunderstorms, lightning may also strike outside of heavy rain and might occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

Lightning strikes occur in very small, localized areas. For example, they may strike a building, electrical transformer, or even a person. Lightning injures 100s people and kills 20-30 people each year on average in the United States.119 Direct lightning strikes can also cause significant 118 NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (n.d.) Severe Weather 101, Thunderstorm Basics. Retrieved from Severe Weather 101: Thunderstorm Basics (noaa.gov)
119National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.) Lightning Safety. Retrieved from Lightning Safety | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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damage to buildings, critical facilities, and infrastructure largely by igniting a fire. Lightning is also responsible for igniting wildfires that can result in widespread damage to property.

Hail is precipitation in the form of irregular pellets of ice large enough to potentially cause damage.

Hailstorms are a damaging outgrowth of severe thunderstorms. Early in the developmental stages of a hailstorm, ice crystals form within a low-pressure front due to the rapid rising of warm air into the upper atmosphere and the subsequent cooling of the air mass. Frozen droplets gradually accumulate on the ice crystals until they develop to a sufficient weight and fall as precipitation.

Hail typically takes the form of spheres or irregularly shaped masses greater than 0.75 inches in diameter. The size of hailstones is a direct function of the size and severity of the storm.

Hailstones can range significantly in size from 5 millimeters (mm) (approximately pea-sized) to greater than 100 mm (approximately melon-sized). Hailstones are categorized using the TORRO Hailstorm Intensity Scale (Table 22).

Hailstorms are estimated to cause an average of $15 billion in damage to homes, crops, and cars each year in the US120. It damages buildings and homes by perforating holes in roofs and shingles, breaking windows and denting siding, and damages automobiles by denting panels and breaking windows. Hail rarely causes any deaths; however, several dozen people are injured each year in the United States.

Table 21: TORRO Hailstorm Intensity Scale (in millimeters) 121 Intensity Category
Typical
Hail
Diameter
(mm)
Probable
Kinetic
Energy, J-m2
Typical Damage Impacts Size
Code
Relational
Size
H0 Hard Hail 5 0-20 No damage 1 Mothball
H1 Potentially
Damaging 5-15 >20 Slight general damage to plants, crops 1-3 Walnut H2 Significant 10-20 >100 Significant damage to fruit,
crops, vegetation 1-4 Pigeon’s egg
H3 Severe 20-30 >300
Severe damage to fruit and
crops, damage to glass and
plastic structures, paint and
wood scored
2-5 Golf Ball
H4 Severe 25-40 >500 Widespread glass damage,
vehicle bodywork damage 3-6 Hen’s Egg
120 Wunderground (2020) U.S. Hailstone and Hailstorm Records, Retrieved from U.S. Hailstone and Hailstorm Records | Weather Underground (wunderground.com)
121 The Tornado and Storm Research Organization. (n.d.) The TORRO Hailstorm Intensity Scale, Retrieved from TORRO | Research ~ Hail ~ The H Scale

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Intensity Category
Typical
Hail
Diameter
(mm)
Probable
Kinetic
Energy, J-m2
Typical Damage Impacts Size
Code
Relational
Size
H5 Destructive 30-50 >800
Wholesale destruction of
glass, damage to tiled roofs,
significant risk of injuries
4-7 Tennis Ball
H6 Destructive 40-60 Bodywork of grounded aircraft
dented; brick walls pitted 5-8 Large Orange
H7 Destructive 50-75 -- Severe roof damage, risk of
serious injuries 6-9 Grapefruit
H8 Destructive 60-90 --
Severe damage to multiple
roof types (including sheet
and metal); damage aircraft
bodywork
7-10 Melon
H9 Super
Hailstorms 75-100 --
Extensive structural damage
(including concrete and
wooden walls). Risk of severe
or even fatal injuries to
persons caught in the open
8-10 Melon
H10 Super
Hailstorms >100 --
Extensive structural damage
(including destruction of
wooden houses and damage
to brick-built homes). Risk of
severe or even fatal injuries to
persons caught in the open
9-10 Melon
Location
All locations within the City of Maywood are uniformly susceptible to severe storms.

Thunderstorms, lightning, and hail frequently accompany each other, so their locations and spatial extents may coincide. According to the National Weather Service, the City of Maywood is located in an area of the United States that receives up to one day per year with hail events on average. 122
Lightning occurs randomly. Therefore, it is impossible to predict where and with what frequency it will strike. Per data from Vaisala Inc. about average lightning density, the City of Maywood is located in a region that receives up to 1 lightning flash per square kilometer per year on average.
123
122 Storm Prediction Center WCW Page. (2024). NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved from http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/. 123 Vaisala Inc. (2023) Interactive Global Lightning Density Map, Retrieved from Vaisala Lightning 2016-2023

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Previous Occurrences
The NCEI Storm Events Database reports thunderstorm, lightning, and hail information by county, and when available by city. 84 events occurred in Los Angeles County between 1957 and 2024, resulting in 4 deaths, 29 injuries and damages totaling to $6.6 million (adjusted to 2024 dollars).

A breakdown of these events is provided in Table 23.

Table 22: Previous Severe Storm Occurrences in Los Angeles County Event Type Number of Days
with Event
Number of
Deaths
Number of
Injuries
Damages
(2025 dollars)
Thunderstorm 55 1 11 $ 137,851
Lightning 9 3 13 $ -
Hail 24 0 5 $ 7,154,240
No events reported in the NCEI database were reported specifically in the City of Maywood. The greatest magnitude of hail reported in the county was 1.75 inches in an event in 1984, which corresponds to H5 and H7 on the Torro intensity scale and is capable of causing widespread destruction to roofs and vehicles and can cause injuries.

The most severe thunderstorm event reported in the region was in the City of Paramount, in 2000, which is approximately 6 miles south of the City of Maywood. Wind speeds of up to 87 knots were reported in this event which is equivalent to hurricane force winds.

The most devastating event to occur in the region was in November 2003 in the South Central Los Angeles County Region, roughly 5 miles from the City of Maywood. A large and powerful thunderstorm produced heavy rains, flash flooding, and hail across the region. Over 130 homes and businesses experienced significant damages due to flooding and hail. Numerous intersections were flooded with several feet of water. Damages of over $6 million (in 2025 dollars) were estimated from this event.

Extent
Thunderstorm wind extent is measured in terms of wind speed. Per NCEI, the greatest sustained wind reported close to the City of Maywood was 87 knots, or 100 miles per hour, during an April 2000 thunderstorm event. However, more severe events are possible. Thunderstorm extent can also be measured in terms of casualties, injuries, and damages. Strong thunderstorm winds have caused widespread vehicle damage, damaged roofs, and downed power lines causing property damage and injuries in Los Angeles County. Similar events are possible in the City of Maywood.

Lightning extent can be measured by lightning density, or the number of lightning events per square kilometer, per year. The City of Maywood receives approximately lightning event per

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square kilometer per year.
124 Lightning extent can also be measured in terms of casualties and damage incurred from an event. Since 1957, lightning strikes have caused 3 deaths, and 13 injuries in Los Angeles County. It is possible that additional damages have occurred and not been reported. Since the occurrence of Lightning is random, similar impacts can be expected in the City of Maywood.

Hail extent can be measured in terms of size, typically by diameter. According to storm events reported in NCEI, the most severe hailstorm in Los Angeles County was on August 22, 1984, and measured H5 – H7 on the TORRO Scale. Storms of this magnitude can produce tennis ball-sized hail that can cause extensive building damage and severe injuries. The most severe storm event reported in the region resulted in over $6 million in property damage (in 2025 dollars).

Of the 84 severe storm events recorded in Los Angeles County since 1974, thirteen have reported deaths and injuries, and four have reported damages. Although hail and lightning are common occurrences, severe events capable of causing damages are less likely to occur. Severe storms generally occur suddenly and pass by quickly. Whether or not lightning and hail occurs is dictated by the conditions within a particular storm.

Probability
Severe storms are frequent in the City of Maywood’s region. 84 events were reported in the last 67 years in Los Angeles County, resulting in an average of over 1 event annually. Thunderstorms and lightning occur multiple times throughout the year, though all events may not result in damage. Events that may impact the City of Maywood are less likely.

Trends in convective storm occurrences due to climate change are subject to greater uncertainty than temperature-related events. Because hail and lightning are outgrowth of severe thunderstorms, trends in hail and lightning frequency and intensity are directly related to trends in thunderstorm frequency and intensity. Although research is ongoing and evolving, a study cited by California’s Fourth Climate Assessment indicates an increase in the occurrence of atmospheric conditions conducive to producing more frequent storms in the Los Angeles region. 125
Considering the rate of historic occurrences, the likelihood of unreported or underreported events, and climate projections for convective storm conditions, a probability of “likely”, indicating between 50 and 90 percent annual probability was assigned to the severe storms hazard. However, the likelihood of events capable of causing extensive damage, injuries, or loss of life is less likely. 124 Vaisala Inc. (2021). Annual Lightning Report 2021. WEA-MET-2021-Annual-Lightning-Report-B212465EN-A.pdf (vaisala.com)
125 California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment (2018). Los Angeles Region Report, Retrieved from Los Angeles Region Report

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Vulnerability Assessment
The entire City is vulnerable to severe storms. The potential for loss of life and property damage are significant given the area’s-built environment. All current and future buildings, infrastructure, and populations are considered at-risk to severe summer storms, including critical facilities.

The National Risk Index provides risk scores for strong winds, lightning, and hail which indicates a region’s risk to a hazard in relation to the national level, reported at the census tract level. 126
According to the index, The City of Maywood has very low risk of lightning and hail as shown in Figure 27.

Figure 29: National Risk Index Results for Hail and Lightning Meteorologists are able to predict if a particular storm system would or would not be capable of producing hail. This makes the issuance of limited warnings possible, but where and when hail will occur is still difficult to predict. As such, the only real warning for hail that may be available is the sound it makes as it strikes the ground. The NWS does not issue warnings for lightning threats.

However, severe thunderstorm warnings are issued, and the sound of thunder is nature’s warning for lightning.

Hail can cause damage to landscaping, roofs, building exteriors, exposed glass, and metal.

Lightning can damage crops, cause structure fires, electric fires, and electrocute people exposed to it. Electrical systems, telecommunications equipment, and infrastructure exposed in open areas are especially vulnerable to lightning. In addition, falling tree limbs caused by lightning strikes to trees may damage buildings or vehicles.

Severe hail can result in injuries and loss of life to persons caught in the open. Lightning is one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities. From 2013 to 2024, lightning caused an average 126 Federal Emergency Management Agency (n.d.), National Risk Index, Retrieved from Map | National Risk Index (fema.gov)
City of Maywood – Hail Risk – National Risk Index City of Maywood – Lightning Risk – National Risk Index

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of 21 deaths per year in the U.S.127 Most lightning deaths and injuries in the United States occur in the summer months, when lightning frequency and outdoor activities reach a peak.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
People engaged in outdoor activities, unhoused populations, and populations living in substandard housing are more vulnerable to the impacts of severe storm events. In addition, income constrained homeowners may be less able to repair property damages incurred from severe storms.

Impacts of Climate Change
Impacts on storm intensity (extent) due to climate change are uncertain. Research from California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment indicates a projected increase in the number of severe storm occurrences in the planning area.128 An increase in the frequency of events would increase the vulnerability of people, buildings, and infrastructure to the severe storms hazard. 127 National Weather Service (2024). US Lightning Fatalities 2013-2024. Retrieved from National Weather Service Lightning Fatalities in 2024: 12 128 California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment (2018). Los Angeles Region Report, Retrieved from Los Angeles Region Report

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Tsunami
Description
Tsunami (pronounced soo-NAH-mee) is a Japanese word, which translates in English as "harbor wave," and is now used internationally to describe a series of waves traveling across the ocean of extremely long wavelength (10-500 kilometers) and long period between waves (up to an hour). They are generated by a sudden displacement in the sea floor due to landslides, earthquakes, or volcanic activity.
129 The displacement causes a huge release of
energy that allows tsunami waves to travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles. Tsunami waves involve the movement of the entire water column, from the surface to the ocean floor, as opposed to normal waves, which just involve surface movement. In deep water, tsunami waves can travel at 700 kilometers/hour, the speed of a jet plane, though the waves may only be a few inches high.130 However, as the waves reach shallow water, the topography and water depth slow them. The slower speed results in a higher wave height. Further, waves from behind travel faster than those in the front, thus creating a piling effect and a wall of water. In some cases, the waves may measure 30 meters (90 feet) high.

As tsunamis approach the shoreline, the sea floor is often exposed. According to National Geographic, “A tsunami’s trough, the low point beneath the wave’s crest, often reaches shore first. When it does, it produces a vacuum effect that sucks coastal water seaward and exposes harbor and sea floors. This retreating of sea water is an important warning sign of a tsunami, because the wave’s crest and its enormous volume of water typically hit shore five minutes or so later.”131 Observing this phenomenon is a clear indication to go to higher ground away from the shoreline. Tsunami waves have a very long reach and may transport destructive energy from the initial source location to coastlines thousands of miles or kilometers away.

As noted above, tsunamis are caused by any disturbance that displaces a large volume of water. In the case of earthquake-generated tsunamis, the earthquake causes the sea floor to abruptly uplift or subside, disturbing the equilibrium of the overlaying water column and resulting in a tsunami. Submarine landslides, which often accompany large earthquakes, can also generate tsunamis due to the sudden down slope movement and redistribution of sediment and rocks across the sea floor. Similarly, a violent submarine volcanic eruption can create an impulsive force uplifting the water column from its equilibrium and generating a tsunami. In 1883, Indonesia's Mt. Krakatoa erupted violently, generating a tsunami that killed more than 30,000 people. Conversely, super marine (above water) landslides and space born impacts can disturb the water column by the transfer of momentum from falling debris to the water into which the debris falls. In 1958, a huge landslide generated a 1,722-foot (525 meter) tsunami in Lituya Bay, Alaska. In general, tsunamis generated by these non-seismic mechanisms dissipate quickly and rarely affect coastlines far from the source area. 129 NOAA (n.d.). NOAA Tsunami Program. Retrieved from NOAA Tsunami. 130Australian Government Bureau of Metrology (n.d.). Tsunami facts and information. Retrieved from Tsunami Facts and Information (bom.gov.au) . 131 National Geographic (n.d.). Tsunami Facts and Information. Retrieved from Tsunami Facts and Information (nationalgeographic.com).

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It should be noted that there are many misnomers about tsunamis. Some refer to tsunamis as “tidal waves,” which is misleading. Although a tsunami's impact on a coastline is dependent upon the tidal level at the time of impact, tsunamis are unrelated to the tides. Tides result from the gravitational influences of the moon, sun, and planets on the earth’s oceans. The scientific community once referred to tsunamis as "seismic sea waves," which is also misleading. "Seismic" implies an earthquake-related generation mechanism, and a non-seismic event, such as a landslide, meteorite impact, or sub-marine volcanic eruption can also generate a tsunami.132
Location
The entire coastline of the State of California is at risk of tsunami impacts. The City of Maywood is located further inland in Los Angeles County and lies outside the tsunami hazard area.

Figure 28 shows the tsunami hazard area in the City of Maywood as mapped by the California Department of Conservation. The City of Maywood is located over 15 miles away from Los Angeles County’s coast and tsunami hazard areas.

Figure 30: Tsunami Hazard Area in City of Maywood133
132 Australian Government Bureau of Metrology (n.d.). Tsunami facts and information. Retrieved from http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/info/index.shtml
133 California Department of Conservation (2021) Los Angeles County Tsunami Hazard Areas. Retrieved from Los Angeles County Tsunami Hazard Areas

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Previous Occurrences
According to the Los Angeles County All-Hazards Mitigation Plan, 11 major tsunami events have occurred in Los Angeles County between 1923 and 2011.134 None of these events have impacted or led to cascading impacts in the City of Maywood.

Extent
The Los Angeles County Tsunami Hazard Map in Figure 28 shows the area of land that would be impacted in a worst-case scenario tsunami. The City of Maywood is several miles inland from tsunami inundation areas and is unlikely to be directly impacted by a tsunami event. As subsidence and climate-induced sea level rise continue to impact California in the future, there is potential for tsunamis to reach further inland, and closer to the City of Maywood.

Probability of Future Events
Given that no previous tsunami events have impacted the City of Maywood, and the City is situated several miles inland from known tsunami hazard areas, the probability assigned to this hazard is ‘unlikely’ indicating less than 10 percent annual chance of occurrence.

Vulnerability Assessment
Areas along the coast are most vulnerable to the impacts of tsunami. Damage to these areas will be particularly severe in terms of economic loss and property damage.

Tsunamis are sometimes followed by fires, termed ‘tsunamigenic fires.’ Fires can be fueled by spreading water-borne liquid fuels released from petrochemical facilities damaged by a tsunami.

Large fires can potentially spread several miles inland and impact the City of Maywood through direct damage, or through the impacts of smoke and debris. 135 When a tsunami warning is issued, communities residing within hazard areas may seek shelter in inland neighborhoods. The City of Maywood may serve as one such area providing temporary shelter to displaced residents.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Although the City of Maywood itself is not directly within a tsunami hazard zone, it is crucial to consider the impacts on socially vulnerable populations who may be displaced to the City of Maywood during a tsunami event. Certain populations may be more vulnerable due to socioeconomic characteristics, household composition, access to information, and access to 134 Chief Executive Office – Office of Emergency Management. (2020). 2020 County of Los Angeles All-Hazards Mitigation Plan. Retrieved from ceo.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/County-of-Los-Angeles-All-HazardsMitigation-Plan-APPROVED-05-2020.pdf 135 Scawthorn C. (2013) Fire Following Tsunami. SPARisk.

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lifelines. Displaced individuals may require additional support services such as medical care, housing, and social services, which can strain local resources.

Impacts of Climate Change
While tsunamis are most closely correlated to earthquake, climate change impacts can increase the impacts of tsunami through rising seas. Coupled with accelerating subsidence rates, future events may reach areas further inland. Although the City of Maywood is currently located several miles away from tsunami hazard zones, it is important to continue monitoring projections and prepare for potential changes in the extent of these hazard areas due to climate change.

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Wildfire
Description
A wildfire is an unplanned fire, a term which includes grass fires, forest fires, and scrub fires either man made or natural in origin. There are three different classes of wildfires.  Surface Fires are the most common type and burn along the floor of a forest, moving slowly and killing or damaging trees.
 Ground Fires are usually started by lightning and burn on or below the forest floor.  Crown Fires spread rapidly by wind and move quickly by jumping along the tops of trees.

Wildfires are a natural process which benefits the environment; however, they are frequently suppressed to prevent structural loss. Many species depend on fires to improve habitat, recycle nutrients, and maintain diverse habitats. Wildfire suppression results in the curtailment of fire spread. However, suppression can lead to more severe fires as the vegetation becomes denser.

The average wildfire kills most trees up to 3-4 inches in diameter in the area burned. These trees represent approximately 20 years of growth. In the case of up-slope burning, under severe conditions, almost every tree is killed regardless of size or type. When the trees are burned, and everything is killed, then the forest is slow to reestablish itself, because of the loss of these young seedlings, saplings, pole, and sawtimber trees.

Included in the destruction by fires are the leaves and other litter on the forest floor. This exposes the soil to erosive forces, allowing rainstorms to wear away the naked soil and wash silt and debris downhill, which will clog the streams and damage fertile farmlands in the valleys. Once the litter and humus (spongy layer of decaying matter) is destroyed, water flows more swiftly to the valleys and increases flood danger.

Other consequences of wildfires are the death of and loss of habitat for the forest’s wildlife. Even when the adult animals escape, the young are left behind to perish. The heaviest wildlife loss is felt by game birds since they have ground nesting habits. Fish life also suffers as a result of the removal of stream shade and the loss of insect and plant food by silt and lye from wood ashes washed down from burned hillsides.

While it was U.S. policy for most of the 20th century to suppress wildfires, fires benefit the ecosystem. The effects of fire can retard or accelerate the natural development of plant communities, alter species diversity and change nutrient flows. More than 100 years of suppressing fires, combined with past land-use practices, have resulted in a heavy buildup of dead vegetation, dense stands of trees, a shift to species that have not evolved and adapted to fire, and occasionally an increase in non-native, fire-prone plants. Because of these conditions, today's fires tend to be larger, burn hotter, and spread farther and faster, making them more severe.

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Scientific analysis of the 2000 fire season identified that most burned acres were in previously logged and roared areas, not in road-less or wilderness areas. The Congressional Research Service, in an August 2000 report analyzing the impact of the fires in 2000, concluded, "Timber harvesting removes the relatively large diameter wood that can be converted into wood products, but leaves behind the small material, especially twigs and needles. The concentration of these ‘fine fuels’ on the forest floor increases the rate of spread of wildfires." A study of the 2020 Creek Fire in California found that fuel-reduction logging was associated with higher fire severity136.

Humans, either through negligence, accident, or intentional arson, have caused approximately 90 percent of all wildfires in the last decade. Accidental and negligent acts include unattended campfires, sparks, burning debris, and irresponsibly discarded cigarettes. The remaining 10 percent of fires are mostly caused by lightning but may also be caused by other acts of nature such as volcanic eruptions or earthquakes.

Location
Communities in Los Angeles County are particularly susceptible to wildfires due to the high presence of Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas. A WUI area is where human development and undeveloped land meet, where the human development can weaken a local ecosystem’s ability to resist wildfires. According to the USDA’s Wildfire risk to Communities tool, the City of Maywood is located in the minimal exposure zone, away from the WUI. Homes and structures in the City are not likely to be impacted by wildfires.137 Figure 29 shows the Wildfire risk areas in and around the City.
136 Hanson C. (2021) “Is “Fuel Reduction” Justified as Fire Management in Spotted Owl Habitat?, MDPI, Retrieved from, https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/2/4/29 137 Wildfire Risk to Communities. (n.d.) Wildfire Risk to Communities. Retrieved from Wildfire Risk reduction zones in Maywood, CA - Wildfire Risk to Communities

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Figure 31: Wildfire Risk in the City of Maywood
Previous Occurrences
Communities within Los Angeles County have an extensive history of devastating wildfires. While no previous occurrences have directly affected the City of Maywood, cascading impacts such as extended exposure to poor air quality and smoke and soot accumulation can impact the City and its residents.

Significant wildfire events in the region from recent history are reported below:
 Greater Los Angeles Wildfires of January 2025: In January 2025, a series of devastating wildfires erupted in the Los Angeles area, primarily known as the "Palisades" and "Eaton" fires, causing widespread destruction, over 40,000 acres, leading to at least 28 fatalities, destroying 12,300 structures, and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for as many as 200,000 residents.138 While the cause of the fires are under investigation, the spread was exacerbated largely due to a combination of dry conditions, strong Santa Ana winds, and a buildup of dry vegetation. The fires are considered among the most destructive in Southern California’s history. During this time, the 24-hour average concentration of PM 2.5 in the air surrounding the City of Maywood increased to over 50 ug/m3 , which is nearly
double the acceptable limit defined by the California Air Resources Board. In contrast, the 24-hour average for the day before the fires, January 7, 2025, was 9.4 ug/m3
.
139
138 USGS. (2025). Greater Los Angeles Wildfires – January 2025, Retrieved from Greater Los Angeles Wildfires - January 2025 | U.S. Geological Survey
139 California Air Resources Board. (2025). Los Angeles County Daily Average PM 2.5 Data. Retrieved from.

MRGD7DAY Display

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 Southern California Fires of 2017: The end of California’s drought from 2012-2016 was marked by a wetter than normal winter that allowed abundant vegetation to grow. This vegetation later served as fuel for wildfires in drier seasons. The Creek and Rye Fires of December 2017 burned over 20,000 acres in the County and destroyed over 60 homes.

Extent
While the most severe wildfires have burned several thousand acres of land in the planning region, no wildfires have directly impacted the City of Maywood in the past. Cascading impacts such as poor air quality, and soot and debris accumulation have impacted the City of Maywood.

The worst single hour air quality of PM2.5 concentration recorded during the January 2025 fires was 76.3 ug/m3 on January 10.

Climate projections indicate that wildfire occurrences will likely become more frequent and severe due to drier, hotter conditions. The six largest fires in the State of California have occurred after 2005.140 Future fires may have more severe cascading impacts upon the City of Maywood.

Probability of Future Events
Given the climatic conditions, vegetation, and history of events, wildfires are a common occurrence in the broader Los Angeles region. However, the possibility of Wildfires impacting Maywood, is less likely due to its dense urban form located several miles away from the WUI.

Therefore, a probability of unlikely, indicating less than 1% annual chance of occurrence was assigned to this hazard.

Vulnerability Assessment
Wildfire impacts human life, health, and public safety as well as a loss of wildlife habitat, increased soil erosion, and degraded water quality. Wildfire also can cause utility damage and outages, infrastructure damage (transportation and communication systems), structural damage, damaged or destroyed critical facilities, and hazardous material releases. Depending on the location of the wildfire, nearby bridges, including those located on South Atlantic Boulevard and East Slauson Boulevard, in addition to the nearby East Florence Avenue bridge located, in the City of Bell, are key infrastructure that provide access over the Los Angeles River and can be impacted by a wildfire event. The South Atlantic Boulevard and East Florence Boulevard bridges provide critical access to the nearby freeway, Interstate-710 and damage to this infrastructure could severely reduce critical transportation routes.

A decline in air quality due to wildfire smoke can affect populations. Wildfires can cause smoke to spread over much broader areas than the area that is actively burning, negatively impacting air quality. The smoke can carry large quantities of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate 140 State of California OEHHA. (2018). Indicators of Climate Change in California: Impacts on Biological Systems.

Wildfires. Retrieved from. Wildfires - OEHHA

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matter into the atmosphere. Because smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials, it can irritate eyes and cause damage to respiratory systems causing shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, asthma exacerbations, coughing, and death. For those with heart disease, rapid heartbeat and fatigue may be experienced more readily under smoky conditions. The World Health Organization identifies infants, children, women who are pregnant, and older adults as being more susceptible to health impacts from ash and smoke.

When air quality alerts are issued, populations must limit their time outdoors. Outdoor workers may be disproportionately impacted due to poor air quality and may experience disruptions that impact economic stability. People engaged in outdoor activities during an air quality alert should reduce vulnerability by taking appropriate precautions such as wearing protective face masks and limiting exposure.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Wildfires present challenges to socially vulnerable populations, especially those who have difficulty evacuating due to disability, age, or mobility challenges. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that “older adults are more than twice as likely than the general population to die in fires.”141 Evacuation also presents a challenge for those living in crowded or high-density housing situations, especially in multi-story buildings. Populations with limited access to information may not receive time critical warning information to enable them to reach places of safety. Those already experiencing socioeconomic constraints may struggle to recover homes and property damaged or destroyed as a result of wildfire.

Impacts of Climate Change
Santa Ana winds, which are projected to be more pronounced due to climate change by some estimates, have a bearing on wildfire vulnerability. Increased risk of drought and extreme heat can also exacerbate wildfire impacts.142
141 Newberry, L. (2019). Must Reads: Poor, elderly and too frail to escape: Paradise fire killed the most vulnerable residents. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from: https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-camp-fire-seniorsmobile-home-deaths-20190209-story.html 142 California Climate Assessment. (2019) Los Angeles Region. Pg. 14. Retrieved from Los Angeles Region Report

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Urban Fires
Description
Urban fires are defined as the uncontrolled burning of any building—residential, agricultural, recreational, institutional, commercial, or industrial (MSP/EMHSD). Urban fires can originate from a number of sources, including faulty electric systems, industries, vehicles, natural gas leaks, arson, and improperly discarded cigarettes, candles, and incense. Urban fires are an occasional occurrence in and around the City of Maywood.

Within an urbanized area, it can sometimes be difficult to prevent the spread of a major fire to surrounding buildings. Buildings that hold a large number of people, like schools, recreational facilities, and nursing homes tend to be regularly inspected, built with masonry, and have emergency evacuation procedures, reducing the potential for injury and death. Of greater concern are densely populated areas, such as the City’s residential neighborhoods, where people live in wood-built homes in close proximity to other wood-built homes. Preventing the spread of a fire in this situation could be extremely challenging.

In the U.S., approximately 470,000 structure fires were reported in 2023, resulting in 3,070 deaths, 11,790 injuries, and over $14.7 billion in property losses. Of this, 332,000 fires originated in residential units.143 A study conducted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found that higher fire death rates are positively correlated with regions that have a larger percentage of people who:
 Have a disability
 Have incomes below the poverty line
 Are current smokers
 Live in rural areas
 Are either African American/Black or are Native American or Alaskan Native144 The severity of fire events is classified using a degree rating system based on three factors: the number of firefighter teams involved, the time taken to extinguish the fire, and the estimated response time to reach the fire. This rating system and typical response for every degree is described in Table 24 .
143 National Fire Protection Agency. (2022). Fire Loss in the United States During 2021, Retrieved from, NFPA report - Fire loss in the United States
144 National Fire Protection Agency. (2021). US Fire Death Rates by State, Retrieved from NFPA report - Fire death rates by state report "| NFPA[

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Table 23: Fire Alarm Degrees145
Degree Rating Description
One-Alarm Fire The most common type of response, involving a fire that can be contained within a small area.

Two-Alarm Fire Initiated if first responders on a one-alarm fire determine that the fire is more serious.

Three-Alarm Fire Indicates a significant fire involving a larger building, multiple floors, or hazardous materials.

Four-Alarm Fire Reserved for catastrophic fire emergencies involving major infrastructure, wildfires, or situations requiring extensive manpower and resources.

Five-Alarm Fire
This occurs very rarely and only if first responders to a four-alarm event determine that the severity of the incident requires additional backup to extinguish.

Location
It is assumed that the entire City of Maywood is uniformly exposed to structural fires. Areas with clusters of wood-built structures or densely developed areas may be at higher risk.

Previous Occurrences
The City of Maywood falls under the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles’ Fire Department and is serviced through station 163 located in the neighboring City of Bell. In 2021, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department received over 11,000 fire response calls.146 Information about the number of calls received in the local station was not available.

Additional data regarding urban fire previous occurrences was gathered from local news sources.

The following fire impacted the City in 2016:
 June 14, 2016: A three-alarm fire blaze broke out at a metal recycling facility, at 3570 Fruitland Ave., Maywood. The area is a commercial/ light manufacturing district which is directly adjacent to a residential neighborhood to its south. 10,000 pounds of magnesium stored in the facility exploded due to the fire, showering the adjacent neighborhood with chunks of magnesium and toxic fumes. The fire burned for nearly 2 days before it was extinguished. Over 300 Maywood residents were forced to evacuate from their homes. Due to the hazardous nature of the materials burning, assistance 145 Desert Fire (2021) Fire Alarm Degrees: What you Should Know. Retrieved from Fire Alarm Degrees: What You Should Know (5 min breakdown)
146 LACoFD. (2021) 2021 County of Los Angeles Fire Department Annual Report Retrieved from LACoFD-2020- Annual-Report_072222_Final.pdf

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was sought from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for air surveillance and the cleanup of hazardous materials following this incident. 147 Extent
The extent of urban fires is evaluated based on casualties and damage. The June 2016 fire did not result in any direct injuries or deaths. Cleanup efforts following the incident cost $3 million.148 Given the dense development and surrounding industrial areas in the City, more severe fire events that could result in loss of life or property are possible.

Probability
Determining the probability of urban fires is challenging without a complete dataset. Urban fires are common in most communities. Considering the volume of fire response requests reported to the LA County Fire Department and the City’s surrounding industrial areas, the probability of this hazard is classified as ‘possible,’ indicating between 10 and 50 percent annual chance of occurrence. However, events resulting in multiple fatalities or catastrophic damages are less likely.

Vulnerability Assessment
All current and future buildings, infrastructure, and populations are considered at risk from urban fires.

Urban fires can cause significant damage to buildings, including critical facilities, ranging from smoke and water damage to the total loss of one or multiple structures. Wooden buildings or densely developed areas may be at a higher risk, as fire may spread more quickly. This may include buildings such as multi-family dwelling units and apartment complexes where large numbers of people are cooking and using electrical devices among other activities that may result in fire. Compliance with building and fire codes greatly reduce buildings’ vulnerability to structure fires. Older structures, those not meeting current building code, or those without fire suppression systems have a higher vulnerability to structure fires. All buildings and premises in the City of Maywood are subject to the requirements of the 2022 County of Los Angeles Fire Code which provides standards for design and safety against fire hazards and the spread of fire covering aspects such as occupancy, maintenance, and fire protection features. 149
Urban fires that spread outward from their originating structure can damage infrastructure, such as utilities and bridges. Nearby bridges, including those located on South Atlantic Boulevard and East Slauson Boulevard, in addition to the nearby East Florence Avenue bridge located south, in 147 U.S. EPA. (2016) Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident. Retrieved from Site Profile - Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident - EPA OSC Response 148 U.S. EPA. (2016) Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident. Retrieved from Site Profile - Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident - EPA OSC Response 149 ICC Digital Codes. (2020). 2020 City of Los Angeles Fire Code. Retrieved from 2020 City of Los Angeles Fire Code - Complete Code

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the City of Bell, are key infrastructure that provide access over the Los Angeles River. The South Atlantic Boulevard and East Florence Boulevard bridges provide critical access to the nearby freeway, Interstate-710. Fires burning adjacent to infrastructure may also damage structural integrity.

People trapped in structures on fire may sustain injuries due to smoke inhalation or burns.

Fatalities can occur during structure fire events. Buildings should meet building codes and requirements for smoke detectors to result in early detection and evacuation of structures on fire.

Buildings with large footfalls or residents such as schools, gymnasiums, recreation facilities, offices, and apartment buildings tend to be regularly inspected, built with masonry, and have emergency evacuation procedures, reducing the potential for injury and death. Practicing fire drills can reduce impacts to life safety by speeding up the evacuation process in the event of an urban fire.

Displacement of individuals impacted by a structure fire is a concern, especially if the structure housed a large population, such as an apartment building. Having established emergency shelters and a plan for providing basic necessities to displaced individuals can mitigate issues arising from a structure fire.

Air pollution, hazardous material releases, and explosions are possible cascading events from an urban fire.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Socially vulnerable populations are more likely to be negatively impacted by urban fires. The U.S.

Fire Administration (USFA) acknowledges that socioeconomic factors are a good predictor of fire rates at a neighborhood level.150 This research indicates that housing characteristics play a key role in the likelihood of a structure fire. This includes the age of a residence, the density of vacant buildings in a neighborhood, and the installation and upkeep of smoke detectors in a residence.

Other factors include a parental presence in the home and household income. Immigrant community members might worry about their immigration status and hesitate to seek assistance after an event. Residential fires can drive up housing and rent prices, further displacing those already impacted by the fire. Additionally, individuals who are uninsured or underinsured may face the risk of being displaced from their homes.151
The easiest and most effective method for reducing the risk of structure fires is ensuring that smoke detectors are installed and maintained. Renters may have less control over the testing the replacing of smoke detectors, and those with negligent landlords may be more likely to live in housing without functioning smoke detectors.
150 US Fire Administration. (1997). Socioeconomic Factors and the Incidence of Fire, Retrieved from socio.pdf (fema.gov)
151 National Academies Press. (2020). Implications of the California Wildfires for Health, Communities, and Preparedness: Populations Impacted by Wildfires. Retrieved from 3 Populations Impacted by Wildfires | Implications of the California Wildfires for Health, Communities, and Preparedness: Proceedings of a Workshop | The National Academies Press

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Impacts of Climate Change
According to the State of California’s hazard mitigation plan, climate change could impact the size and severity of urban fires. It may create drier conditions and increase severe wind events, which can cause fires to spread from one structure to multiple structures.152 152 CalOES. (2023). California State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Volume 1. P. 22-5. Retrieved from 2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan

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Summary of Overall Risk
Priority Risk Index Results
The PRI results are presented in Table 25 in descending order of their PRI score. This information was used to inform the ranking of hazards, that was subsequently used to inform the identification of mitigation actions.

Table 24: Summary of PRI Results for the City of Maywood Hazard
Category/Degree of Risk PRI
Score
Probability Impact Spatial
Extent
Warning
Time Duration
Earthquake Likely Catastrophic Large Less than 6
hours
Less than 6
hours 3.80
Hazardous Materials
Incidents Likely Critical Large Less than 6 hours
More than one
week 3.80
Drought Highly Likely Limited Large More than 24
hours
More than one
week 3.20
Extreme Heat Highly Likely Limited Large More than 24
hours
Less than one
week 3.10
Urban Fires Possible Critical Moderate Less than 6
hours
Less than 6
hours 3.00
Public Health
Emergencies Likely Minor Large More than 24 hours
More than one
week 2.60
High Wind Events Likely Limited Small 6 to 12 hours Less than 6 hours 2.60
Wildfires Unlikely Critical Small 6 to 12 hours Less than one week 2.50
Flood Unlikely Limited Small Less than 6
hours
Less than one
week 2.40
Dam and Levee Failure Unlikely Limited Small Less than 6 hours
Less than 24
hours 2.30
Severe Storms Likely Minor Small 12 to 24 hours Less than 6 hours 2.10
Tsunami Unlikely Minor Negligible Less than 6
hours
Less than 6
hours 1.70

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Hazard Ranking
The hazards were ranked based on PRI results and divided into high, moderate, and low and are listed in Table 26. The ranking of the hazards was discussed with the Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee at the meeting on February 26, 2025.

Table 25: Hazard Ranking for the City of Maywood
Category Hazards
High
Drought
Earthquake
Extreme Heat
Hazardous Materials Incidents
Moderate
High Wind Events
Public Health Emergencies
Wildfires
Urban Fires
Low
Dam and Levee Failure
Flood
Severe Storms
Tsunami

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Section 5: Capability Assessment

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Introduction
The purpose of conducting the Capability Assessment is to determine the ability of the City of Maywood to implement a comprehensive mitigation strategy and to identify potential opportunities for establishing or enhancing specific mitigation policies, programs, or projects. 153 In any planning
process, it is important to establish which goals, objectives, and actions are feasible based on an understanding of the organizational capacity of those departments tasked with their implementation. The capability assessment helps to determine which mitigation actions are practical, and likely to be implemented over time, given the City’s planning and regulatory framework, level of administrative and technical support, number of fiscal resources, and current political climate.

The Capability Assessment has two components: 1) an inventory of the City’s relevant plans or programs already in place and 2) an analysis of its capacity to carry out current and future programs, plans, and projects. Careful examination of the City’s capabilities will detect existing gaps or shortfalls within City activities that could hinder proposed mitigation activities and possibly exacerbate hazard risks. A capability assessment also highlights the positive mitigation measures already in place or being implemented by the City, which should continue to be supported and enhanced through future mitigation efforts.

The Capability Assessment completed for the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan serves as a critical planning step and an integral part of an effective hazard mitigation strategy.

Coupled with the Risk Assessment (Section 4), the Capability Assessment helps identify and target meaningful mitigation actions for incorporation in the Mitigation Strategy (Section 6) portion of this plan. Any potential shortcomings in the ability of the City of Maywood to implement hazard mitigation is tied to the mitigation strategy in the form of actions selected by the planning team.

The capability assessment not only helps establish the goals and objectives for the City to pursue under this plan, but it also ensures that those goals and objectives are realistically achievable under given local conditions. Specific recommendations for actions that will improve the City’s ability to implement the hazard mitigation plan and increase resilience are offered at the conclusion of this section.
153 While the Final Rule for implementing the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 does not require a local capability assessment to be completed for local hazard mitigation plans, it is a critical step in developing a mitigation strategy that meets the needs of the region while considering their own unique abilities. The Rule does state that a community’s mitigation strategy should be “based on existing authorities, policies, programs and resources, and its ability to expand on and improve these existing tools” (44 CFR, Part 201.6(c)(3)). 44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3): A mitigation strategy that provides the jurisdiction's blueprint for reducing the potential losses identified in the risk assessment, based on existing authorities, policies, programs and resources, and its ability to expand on and improve these existing tools.

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Conducting the Capability Assessment
The Capability Assessment began with a request for pertinent plans from the City’s hazard mitigation plan leadership team. The request asked for existing local plans, policies, or programs related to hazard mitigation or emergency management. A summary of the requested plans is outlined in Table 27. Not all plans requested were considered pertinent to the City.

Table 26: Requested Plans for Capability Assessment
Requested Plan Available
from the City Notes
City of Maywood General Plan
The General Plan guides long-term planning
and development, including elements like
Safety and Conservation, which address
hazard mitigation.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transit Authority (LA Metro) Long
Range Transportation Plan
Addresses regional transportation
infrastructure, which can influence
evacuation routes and resilience
City of Maywood Local Road Safety
Plan
Focuses on improving road safety, indirectly
supporting hazard mitigation by enhancing
evacuation routes and reducing accident
risks during emergencies.

City of Maywood Building Code
Establishes construction standards that can
mitigate hazards like earthquakes and
floods.

Los Angeles County Comprehensive
Floodplain Management Plan
Manages flood risks through land use
planning and infrastructure development.

Los Angeles County Water Plan
Ensures water resource management,
crucial during droughts and other waterrelated hazards.

City of Maywood Climate Action and
Resilience Plan
Plan under development – focus on risk
reduction and resilience planning.

Addresses climate related conditions and
hazards. Council will decide to proceed with
a qualified CAP or just the plan itself.

City of Maywood Energy Resilience
Action Plan
Focuses on energy reduction and resilience
planning. Addresses energy resilience and
climate-related hazards while assessing
energy infrastructure and identifying critical
facilities for community resiliency center(s)
(CRC).

City of Maywood Flood Response Plan No
Los Angeles County Climate
Vulnerability Assessment
County-wide plan covers LA community’s
social and physical vulnerability and
cascading impacts from extreme heat,
wildfire, coastal flooding, drought, and inland
flooding.

City of Maywood Sustainability Plan No
Emergency Organizations and
Functions
Part of the City of Maywood Municipal Code;
outlines emergency response

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Requested Plan Available
from the City Notes
City of Maywood Continuity of
Operations Plan No
City of Maywood Evacuation Plan No
City of Maywood Disaster Recovery
Plan No
City of Maywood Capital
Improvements Plan No
City utilizes a capital improvement budget,
that includes projects that can potentially
relate to hazard mitigation
City of Maywood Economic
Development Element Part of the Maywood General Plan
City of Maywood Flood Damage
Prevention Ordinance No Flooding section in the Maywood Safety Element is listed (2.4 Flooding) City of Maywood Green or Complete
Streets Policy Yes
City of Maywood Zoning Ordinance Part of the City of Maywood Municipal Code; regulates land use to mitigate hazard risks
City of Maywood Tree
Removal/Replacement Ordinance No
City of Maywood Building Energy
Efficiency Ordinance No
City of Maywood Unified Development
Ordinance No
City of Maywood Fire Code
Part of the City of Maywood Municipal Code;
establishes fire safety standards to mitigate
fire hazards.

National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP)
NFIP Community Rating System No
City of Maywood Community Wildfire
Protection Plan No
City of Maywood Active Transportation
Plan
The objective of the ATP is to help: 1)
Increase active transportation network
connectivity throughout the City of Maywood
2) Facilitate mobility throughout the City 3)
Provide safer, more comfortable walking
and bicycling facilities to access work,
schools, and recreation opportunities 4)
Promote physical activity to improve health
5) Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
related to transportation
At a minimum, results provide an extensive inventory of existing City plans, programs, and resources that are in place or under development in addition to their overall effect on hazard loss reduction. However, the information can also serve to identify gaps or conflicts that the City can recast as opportunities for specific actions to be proposed as part of the hazard mitigation strategy. The results of this Capability Assessment provide critical information for developing an effective and meaningful mitigation strategy.

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Emergency Management
Hazard mitigation is widely recognized as one of the four primary phases of emergency management. The three other phases include preparedness, response, and recovery. Each phase is interconnected, as Figure 30 illustrates. Opportunities to reduce potential losses through mitigation practices are often implemented before a disaster event strikes, such as installing backup power sources, enhancing preparedness programs, and enhancing security measures.

Mitigation opportunities will also be presented during immediate preparedness or response activities, such as activating emergency response teams prior to severe storms, and certainly during the long-term recovery and redevelopment process following a hazard event.

Planning for each phase is a critical part of a comprehensive emergency management program and a key to the successful implementation of hazard mitigation actions. As a result, the Capability Assessment assesses the City’s willingness to plan and their level of technical planning proficiency.

Figure 32: The Four Phases of Emergency Management
Hazard Mitigation Plan: A hazard mitigation plan (HMP) represents a community’s blueprint for how it intends to reduce the impact of natural and human-caused hazards on people and the built environment. The essential elements of a hazard mitigation plan include a Risk Assessment, Capability Assessment, and Mitigation Strategy.

This Plan serves as the City of Maywood’s first Hazard Mitigation Plan. The City has not previously participated as a jurisdiction in the Los Angeles County Hazard Mitigation Plan and has no prior

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hazard mitigation plans. At the State level, the City of Maywood is covered under the State of California’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. As a local government, the City of Maywood is eligible for all hazard mitigation funding and education programs administered by the State.

Emergency Management: The City of Maywood does not presently have a dedicated department for emergency management operations. Emergency management is handled by the City Manager, the Assistant to the City Manager, and Administrative Analyst.

Emergency Organizations and Functions Plan (EOFP): The EOFP outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Director and Assistant Director of Emergency Services in Maywood in the event of a disaster. The EOFP is part of the City of Maywood’s Municipal Code and was established in April 1991.

The Maywood Disaster Council, chaired by the Mayor, is responsible for creating and recommending emergency and mutual aid plans. The emergency organization comprises all City officers, employees, and volunteers involved in emergency response. The Director of Emergency Services, who is the Chief Administrative Officer, has the authority to proclaim local emergencies, request state emergency proclamations, and direct the City’s emergency efforts. The Assistant Director, appointed by the Director, assists in developing emergency plans and managing emergency programs. The EOFP has not been updated since 1991 and the Disaster Council has not convened recently. It is recommended that the City revisit the EOFP and outline the roles and responsibilities for the Disaster Council members.

City of Maywood General Plan – Safety Element: The City of Maywood’s General Plan Safety Element was completed in compliance with requirements set forth by the California State Government Code Section 65302 and provides for the protection of the City from any unreasonable risks associated with seismic activities, tsunami, seiche, dam failure, slope instability, subsidence, liquefaction, flooding, wildland and urban fires, and climate change.

Additionally, it addresses evacuation routes, establishes safety goals, and objectives to protect the community from these hazards. The goals and objectives identified in the safety element were reviewed for inclusion in the Hazard Mitigation Plan to coordinate mitigation and resilience planning efforts across City agencies.

Non-Emergency Communication: The City of Maywood utilizes an alert center and Go Gov application called ‘Connect Maywood’ to inform residents of City information. Notifications are sent to residents who subscribe to receive updates. City events and announcements are also publicized via the City’s social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook. These pages are also used to conduct outreach and provide alerts for flooding and severe weather conditions.

Emergency Communication: While the Connect Maywood application does not currently provide emergency notifications, it can be expanded to provide emergency alerts in the future.

Additionally, City residents can receive earthquake warnings through the MyShake App managed by CalOES. The app is designed to give Californian’s few moments of warning to take cover before shaking occurs. The City relies upon county and area emergency updates to provide updates to its residents.

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Planning and Regulatory Capability
Planning and regulatory capability is based on the implementation of plans, policies, and programs that demonstrate the City’s commitment to guiding and managing growth, while maintaining the general welfare of the community. It includes emergency response and mitigation planning, master planning, capital planning, climate adaptation and resilience planning, and enforcement of design and construction standards. Although conflicts can arise, these planning initiatives present significant opportunities to integrate hazard mitigation principles into the City decision-making process.

This assessment is designed to provide a general overview of key planning tools and programs affecting the City of Maywood along with their potential effect on hazard mitigation. This information will help identify opportunities to address existing gaps, weaknesses, or conflicts with other initiatives, in addition to integrating the implementation of this plan with existing planning mechanisms where appropriate.

The implementation of hazard mitigation activities often involves departments and individuals beyond the emergency management profession. Stakeholders may include department chairs/directors, building managers, and administrators. In many instances, concurrent planning efforts will help to achieve or complement hazard mitigation goals, even though they are not designed as such. Therefore, the Capability Assessment also included general planning capabilities and the degree to which hazard mitigation is integrated into other on-going planning efforts.

Maywood General Plan: The Maywood General Plan is a comprehensive plan that establishes the overall vision for what the City wants to be and serves as a guide for future development.

While the general plan has broad goals, mitigation goals are integrated within every element of the plan. Goals and policies related to hazard mitigation identified in each of the plan elements are listed below:
 Environmental Justice Element: The Environmental Justice Element of the plan includes policy objectives to encourage the use of green roofs in residences and expand the City’s tree planting program to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Integrated climate actions that reduce greenhouse emissions and build resilience to climate impacts are encouraged.
 Housing Element: Housing element policies such as establishing a code enforcement program to bring substandard housing units into compliance with applicable codes will reduce resident vulnerability to risks from earthquakes and heat.  Land Use Element: Policies to enhance parks and green cover within the City will provide for improved heat mitigation.
 Safety Element: All goals, objectives, and actions identified in the safety element relate to hazard mitigation. The goals and actions cover mitigation categories including education and awareness, prevention through planning activities, and natural resource protection. Primary actions include completing the Urban Forestry Plan, identifying climate adaptation strategies, retrofitting existing buildings that do not meet earthquake and fire standards, establishing resource sharing and response partners, and creating a neighborhood resilience hub or cooling center.

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 Circulation Element: The circulation element briefly addresses the role of the City of Maywood’s roadways and bridges in emergency management and identifies the need to involve fire and police departments as stakeholders in future transportation improvement projects. Future planning efforts may include evacuation and emergency response planning and capacity reviews for the City.

Water and Floodplain Management Plans: The City of Maywood does not have its own water or floodplain management plans but refers to the Los Angeles County Comprehensive Floodplain Management Plan and the Los Angeles County Water Plan. The plans provide guidelines on managing flood risks through land use planning and water resource management for droughts.

City of Maywood Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CAARP) – Phase 1 (Pending Adoption): The phase 1 plan focuses on assessing the City’s current conditions and impacts of climate change, community vulnerabilities on greenhouse gas emissions, laying the groundwork for identifying adaptation strategies in Phase 2. Phase 1 recommendations include completing the Hazard Mitigation Plan and understanding the vulnerability of the City’s critical infrastructure in relation to hazards.

City of Maywood Energy Resilience Action Plan: The plan identifies opportunities to enhance the City’s energy efficiency and resilience. A primary component of the plan is a resilience hub opportunity assessment that evaluated the suitability of four Maywood City locations for a resilience hub through a data-driven assessment and public survey. The Teen Center, YMCA, and Cesar Chavez Library were chosen as potential candidates for serving as the City’s resilience hubs.

Regional Climate Vulnerability, Adaptation, and Hazard Mitigation Plans: Several regional climate assessments and adaptation strategy guidelines are available to guide hazard mitigation planning in the City. Plans reviewed for the current plan are listed below:
 The State of California’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (2023)  Los Angeles County All Hazards Mitigation Plan (2020)  Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment (2020)  California Adaptation Planning Guide (2023)
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): The City of Maywood is not included in the extent of any of the USACE, FEMA or other regional flood mapping efforts shared via the California’s Department of Water Resources. There are no NFIP policies in place within the City of Maywood, nor are there any previous reports of losses associated with flooding.

Local and Regional Transportation Plans: Transportation planning efforts focus on improving transportation infrastructure and road safety, encompassing highways and various mobility modes such as bike paths and public transit. Several transportation planning documents were reviewed at the City and regional level. While the plans do not directly relate to hazard mitigation, future planning for evacuation routes and emergency response may be influenced by these plans. The plans studied are listed below:
 City of Maywood Active Transportation Plan (2023)
 City of Maywood Local Road Safety Plan (2022)

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 LA Metro Long Range Transportation Plan (2020)
Building Design and Construction: Building codes and design within the City of Maywood are determined by the City’s Building Code. The code provides guidelines for building standards related to energy efficiency, fire safety, earthquake hazard reduction in existing buildings, and water efficient landscaping regulations for periods of drought. While there is no vacant land within the City, redevelopment is governed by the planning, zoning, and subdivision ordinances included in the City of Maywood’s Municipal Code.

Fiscal Capability
The ability of a City to take action is closely associated with the number of fiscal resources available to implement policies and projects. This may take the form of outside grant funding awards or City-based revenue and financing. The cost of mitigation policy and project implementation vary widely. In some cases, policies are tied primarily to staff time or administrative costs associated with creation and monitoring of a given program. In other cases, direct expenses are linked to an actual project, such as installing back-up power generators or resilience hubs, which can require a substantial commitment from City, state, and federal funding sources. The City has capital improvement funds, special purpose taxes, gas, electricity, water, & sewer fees, and funding from programs such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) that can be used to fund community resilience actions. This Hazard Mitigation Plan provides a foundation to plan for future needs as well.

Political Capability
One of the most difficult capabilities to evaluate involves the political will of a City to enact meaningful policies and projects designed to reduce the impact of future hazard events. The political climate must be considered in designing mitigation strategies as it could be the most difficult hurdle to overcome in accomplishing their adoption and implementation. The State of California has historically supported hazard mitigation and climate resilience efforts leading the development of planning tools and guidelines such as statewide climate risk assessments, adaptation strategies, and establishing funding opportunities for mitigation actions. City officials, residents, and stakeholder groups including the HMSC, school principals, and partners from community-based organizations have emphasized the need and desire for a safe, secure City, and their completion of the hazard mitigation plan is one such commitment to this effort.

Conclusion on City Capability
The Capability Assessment examines a City’s capabilities to detect any existing gaps or weaknesses within ongoing activities that could hinder proposed mitigation activities and possibly exacerbate community hazard vulnerability. Several areas where capability for mitigation could be expanded were identified for the City of Maywood through an examination of existing plans and programs and conversations with City staff and stakeholder groups. The conclusions of the Risk Assessment and Capability Assessment serve as the foundation for the development of a meaningful mitigation strategy. During the process of identifying specific mitigation actions to pursue, the City considered not only the level of hazard risk, but also the existing capability to minimize or eliminate that risk. The list below outlines key opportunities for the City of Maywood to expand its mitigation capabilities.

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Administrative and Technical Capability:
 Re-convene the Disaster Council and define roles and responsibilities for all members;
Education and Outreach
 Establish formalized emergency communications and alerts system to provide timely notifications to City residents.

Planning
 Update the EOFP and identify actions for all City agencies in preparing for and recovering from disasters;
 Integrate goals and objective across local and regional resilience and climate action plans;
 Establish an Electrification Plan that includes a back-up power plan and resilience hub for City;
 Update the building emergency plan for all critical facilities and areas of mass congregation within the City including schools, City Hall, hospital, shopping centers, and religious facilities;
 Integrate local school safety plans with City-wide emergency management planning efforts;
 Establish a building code enforcement program to ensure all buildings are up-to-code with respect to fire and earthquake safety. Conduct a thorough review and update codes to improve safety standards;
 Develop local stormwater management guidelines to assess and prioritize local concerns.

Financial
 Prioritize and integrate identified mitigation actions into City’s annual capital budget program.

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Section 6: Mitigation Strategy

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Introduction
The purpose of the Mitigation Strategy is to provide the City of Maywood with the goals that will serve as guiding principles for future mitigation policy along with an analysis of mitigation actions deemed obtainable to meet those goals and reduce the impact of identified hazards. It is designed to be comprehensive, strategic, and functional in nature:
 In being comprehensive, the development of the Mitigation Strategy includes a thorough review of all hazards and identifies extensive mitigation measures intended to not only reduce the future impacts of hazards, but also to help the City achieve compatible economic, environmental, social, and equity goals.  In being strategic, the development of the Mitigation Strategy ensures that the policies and projects proposed for implementation are consistent with pre-identified, long-term planning goals.
 In being functional, each proposed mitigation action is linked to established priorities and assigned to specific departments or individuals responsible for their implementation with target completion deadlines. When available, funding sources are identified that can be used to assist in project implementation.

The first step in designing the Mitigation Strategy includes the identification of mitigation goals.

Mitigation goals represent broad statements that are consistent with the hazards identified within the plan and achieved through the implementation of more specific mitigation actions. These goals set the blueprint for the Mitigation Strategy and allow the stakeholders to vision what they wanted to achieve over the next five-year period.

The second step involves the identification, consideration, and analysis of available mitigation measures (i.e., activities, policies, etc.) that lead to identifying mitigation actions that will help achieve the identified mitigation goals. This is a long-term, continuous process sustained through the development and maintenance of this plan. Alternative mitigation measures will continue to be considered as future mitigation opportunities are identified, as data and technology improve, as mitigation funding becomes available, and as this plan is maintained over time. 44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(i): The mitigation strategy shall include a description of mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards. 44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(ii): The mitigation strategy shall include a section that identifies and analyzes a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce the effect of each hazard, with particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure.
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(iii): The mitigation strategy shall include an action plan describing how the actions identified in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section will be prioritized, implemented, and administered by the local jurisdiction.

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The third and last step in designing the Mitigation Strategy is the development of the Mitigation Action Plan. The Mitigation Action Plan represents a comprehensive and functional plan for each action and is the most essential outcome of the mitigation planning process. The Mitigation Action Plan includes a prioritized listing of proposed hazard mitigation actions (policies and projects) for the County to complete. Each action has accompanying information, such as those departments or individuals assigned responsibility for implementation, potential funding sources, and an estimated target date for completion. The Mitigation Action Plan provides those departments or individuals responsible for implementing mitigation actions with a clear roadmap that also serves as an important tool for monitoring success or progress over time. The cohesive collection of actions listed in the Mitigation Action Plan can also serve as an easily understood menu of mitigation policies and projects for those local decision makers who want to quickly review the recommendations and proposed actions of the Plan and potentially integrate with other planning documents.

In preparing the 2025 Mitigation Action Plan, members of the HMSC considered the overall hazard risk and capability to mitigate the effects of hazards as recorded through the risk and capability assessment process. The adopted mitigation goals were also considered when developing each action item.

Developing the Plan’s Mitigation Goals
The primary goal of all local governments is to promote the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. In keeping with this standard and promoting a proactive and equitable approach to disaster management and risk reduction, the City of Maywood reviewed, revised and ultimately defined three (3) goal statements for the Plan. The goals were developed to be reflective of current priorities within the City. The goals were initially introduced and reviewed at the HMSC meeting on December 4, 2024. The revised goals were reviewed at the HMSC meeting on April 25, 2025.

The goals and objectives for the Plan are noted below.
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(i): The mitigation strategy shall include a description of mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.

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Risk Reduction Community Awareness Collaborative
Partnerships
Adopt and enforce measures
to reduce risk from hazards
and protect life and property
from their impacts.

Improve community
awareness of hazards and
safety measures to safely
respond to and recover from
them.

Foster partnerships and
resource-sharing between
local agencies, businesses,
neighboring communities,
and residents.

Identification & Analysis of Mitigation Actions
After evaluating the hazards facing the City of Maywood and identifying the number of people and the extent of property at risk, the HMSC began to analyze mitigation actions that might be taken to reduce that risk. During the kick-off meeting the committee began to discuss and analyze the mitigation techniques. In general, all activities considered can be classified under one of the following six (6) broad categories of mitigation techniques.

Prevention
Preventative activities are intended to keep hazards from getting worse and are typically administered through regulatory programs or enforcement actions. Adopting and administering ordinances, regulations, and programs that manage the development of land and buildings to minimize risks of loss due to natural hazards.

Prevention activities can include:
 Building codes
 Land use plans
 Subdivision regulations
 Capital improvement programs
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(ii): The mitigation strategy shall include a section that identifies and analyzes a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce the effect of each hazard, with particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure.

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Property Protection
Property protection measures involve the modification of existing buildings and structures to help them better withstand the forces of a hazard. This includes retrofitting existing structures to increase their resistance to damage and exposure of occupants to harm, relocating vulnerable structures and occupants from hazard locations, and conversion of developed land to permanent open space through acquisition and demolition of existing structures.

Property protection activities can include:
 Retrofitting at risk properties
 Constructing safe rooms
 Tie downs
 Critical facilities protection
 Insurance
Public Education and Outreach
Public education and outreach activities are used to advise the public about the risks of hazards, hazardous areas, and mitigation techniques available to reduce threats to life and property.

Public education and outreach activities can include:
 Severe weather awareness events
 Public service announcements on radio or television
 Internet access to hazard information
 Social media campaigns
Natural Resources Protection
Natural resource protection includes preserving and restoring the beneficial functions of the natural environment to promote sustainable community development that balances the constraints of nature with the social and economic demands of the community. Such areas include floodplains, wetlands, etc. Parks, recreation, or conservation agencies and organizations often assist with these protective measures.

Natural resource protection activities can include:
 Open space expansion
 Tree protection ordinances
 Acquisition of environmentally beneficial lands
 Riparian buffers

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Emergency Services
Although not typically considered a mitigation technique, emergency service measures do minimize the impact of a hazard event on people and property. Emergency services provide an avenue for responding to and recovering from a hazard event.

Emergency services activities can include:
 Disaster warning and forecasting systems
 Weather alert radios
 Resilience hubs
 Emergency power generation
Structural Projects
Structural projects include engineering structural modifications to natural systems and public infrastructure to reduce the potentially damaging impacts of a hazard on a community. They are usually designed by engineers and managed or maintained by Public Works departments at local, state, and federal agency levels.

Structural project activities can include:
 Detention basins
 Storm sewers
Evaluation of Potential Mitigation Actions
FEMA guidance for meeting the planning requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 specifies that plan participants should consider a variety of potential mitigation actions.

Considering mitigation is a long-term, ongoing process. Actions are continuously considered based on community needs. Further, there may be a variety of solutions to an existing problem.

By evaluating potential actions against a range of factors, the best solution can be selected.

The HMSC considered the City’s overall hazard risk and capability to mitigate the effects of hazards. To assist in evaluating potential actions, the planning team applied the FEMArecommended “STAPLEE” evaluation criteria to each proposed mitigation action. This includes Social, Technical, Administrative, Political, Legal, Economic, and Environmental considerations, collectively known as “STAPLEE” evaluation criteria and listed in Table 28. Any proposed actions that were deemed to not adequately meet the “STAPLEE” evaluation criteria were eliminated from further consideration in the development of the Mitigation Action Plan. In addition to STAPLEE the HMSC considered life safety which factored into final prioritization of actions.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 6 Mitigation Strategy 153
Table 27: Additional Considerations (STAPLEE evaluation) Hazard Justification for Inclusion
Socially Acceptable
Is the proposed action socially acceptable? Is the
action compatible with present and future values?
Are there equity issues involved that would mean
that one segment of the community is adversely
affected?
Technically Feasible
Will the proposed action serve as a long-term
solution? Will it create any negative secondary
impacts? Are there any foreseeable problems or
technical constraints that could limit its
effectiveness?
Administratively Possible
Does the community have the capability to
implement the proposed action? Is there someone
available to coordinate and sustain the effort?
Politically Acceptable
Is there political support to implement the proposed
action? Is there enough public support to ensure the
success of the action?
Legal
Is the community authorized to implement the
proposed action? Is there a clear legal basis or
precedent for the action? Are there any potential
legal consequences of the action?
Economically Sound
What are the costs and benefits of the proposed
action? Does the cost seem reasonable for the size
of the problem and the estimated benefits? Are
there funding sources available to help offset the
costs of the action? Is the action compatible with
other goals?
Environmentally Sound
How will the action impact the environment (natural
resources, ecosystems, endangered species, etc.)?
Will the action require any environmental regulatory
approvals? Is the action consistent with other
environmental goals?
Selection of Mitigation Actions
The Mitigation Action Plan (MAP) is a functional action plan and is considered the most essential outcome of the mitigation planning process. The MAP includes a prioritized listing of proposed hazard mitigation actions (policies and projects) for the City to implement. Each action includes accompanying information such as the entity responsible for completing the action, timeline, and potential funding source.

The MAP provides those responsible for implementing mitigation actions with a clear path to reduce vulnerability over time. Further, the MAP provides a mechanism to monitor progress over

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 6 Mitigation Strategy 154
time. Each action also considers benefits and costs of an action, to ensure it is cost effective, which is included in the prioritization of actions.

Prioritization of Mitigation Actions
All actions considered frequency and impact in its prioritization. In addition, local knowledge or need was considered in prioritizing the mitigation actions. The HMSC used similar criteria for evaluating each set of activities based on grouping by hazard. The ranking criteria, which has a points system ranging from 1 (Likely) to 5 (Unlikely), are as follows:
 Are there sufficient staff and resources for implementation of the mitigation activity?  Is the action item consistent with community plans and goals?  Will financial and social benefits be achieved?
 Does it address a hazard where there have been repetitive impacts or occurrences?  Is the action item cost effective?
 Will the action item, to the extent possible, contribute to a long-term solution to the problem it is intended to address?
 Is there funding currently available to complete the action?  Does the action provide opportunities to improve equitable outcomes for the community?
Once the Action Items were rated, they were categorized as high, moderate, or low priority items based on the scores. The different levels of project prioritization are as shown:
 Low Priority Projects: Projects associated with low or infrequent hazard probability and least likely to prevent loss of life.
 Medium Priority Projects: Projects associated with a less probable hazard with potential to save lives or damage to property.
 High Priority Projects: Projects identified in response to one or more of the highest probability hazards combined with the ability to save lives.

Implementation of Mitigation Actions
The MAP includes several measures to ensure actions are implemented. The City of Maywood will serve as the coordinating agency. However, each action is tied to an agency or individual responsible for leading the mitigation action. By assigning responsibility, it increases accountability and the likelihood of action.

In addition to assigning a local lead department or agency, an implementation time period or a specific implementation date has also been assigned to assess whether actions are being implemented in a timely fashion. Further, the City will seek outside funding sources to implement mitigation projects in both pre-disaster and post-disaster environments. When known, potential funding sources have been identified for proposed actions listed in the Mitigation Action Plan.

The MAP provides a functional plan of action for each jurisdiction. It is designed to achieve the established mitigation goals and will be maintained regularly according to the plan maintenance procedures.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 6 Mitigation Strategy 155
Each proposed mitigation action has been identified as an effective measure (policy or project) to reduce hazard risk for the City of Maywood. Each action is listed in the MAP in conjunction with background information such as the plan goal addressed by the action, a brief description of the action, hazard(s) addressed, relative priority, and estimated cost. Other information provided in the MAP includes potential funding sources to implement the action should funding be required (not all proposed actions are contingent upon funding). Most importantly, implementation mechanisms are provided for each action, including the designation of a lead agency or department responsible for carrying the action out and a timeframe for its completion. These implementation mechanisms ensure that the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan remains a functional document that can be monitored for progress over time. The proposed actions are not listed in priority order, though each has been assigned a priority level of “high,” “moderate,” or “low” as described below.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 6 Mitigation Strategy 156
2025 City of Maywood Mitigation Action Plan
The City of Maywood Hazard
Mitigation Action Plan is intended
to be comprehensive of all
potential mitigation actions. The
following key elements are
captured within the Mitigation
Action Plan to help the planning
team track each action over the
next five years.
 Action Number
 Action Description
 Comments
 Hazard(s) Addressed
 Estimated Cost
Table 29 presents the Mitigation Action Plan.
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(iii): The mitigation strategy shall include an action plan describing how the actions identified in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section will be prioritized, implemented, and administered by the local jurisdiction.
 Estimated Benefit
 Priority
 Potential Funding Source
 Lead Implementer/Other Partners
 Implementation Schedule

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 6 Mitigation Strategy 157
Table 28: Mitigation Action Plan
Mitigation
Action # Action Description Goals Addressed
Hazard(s)
Addressed Type Estimated Cost Benefits Potential Funding Sources Lead
Implementer
and other
Partners
Status Timeline Priority
1 The City of Maywood Energy Resilience Plan included
a survey and preliminary scoping of suitable locations
for establishing a resilience hub in the city. The City Teen Center, YMCA, and County Library were
identified as top options. Identify and secure the
resources to establish one of these locations as the
resilience hub.

Collaborative
Partnerships All Emergency
Services
High
($50000-
$249999)
Very High Grants, City
funds
City of
Maywood -
Administration
Design funding is
secured, and
construction will begin
in 2026.
2026 High
2 Expand community member participation in existing
emergency notification systems such as MyShake
Community
Awareness Earthquake Emergency
Services
Low ($0 to
$4999) Moderate Not applicable
City of
Maywood -
Community
Services
Not started Continuous Medium
3 Scope and implement emergency notification system
through the City's GoGov app.

Community
Awareness All Emergency
Services
Moderate
($5000-
$49999)
Moderate City funds
City of
Maywood -
Administration,
Public Works
Not started 1-2 years Medium
4 Update the emergency operations and functions plan
in the City Code
Risk
Reduction All Emergency
Services
Moderate
($5000-
$49999)
High State and City
funds
City of
Maywood -
Building and
Planning
Not started 1-2 years High
5 Strengthen the City's capabilities to support
emergency response. Explore formalizing partnerships
with neighboring jurisdictions, the county, and state to increase capabilities.

Collaborative
Partnerships All Emergency
Services
Low ($0 to
$4999) High Not applicable
City of
Maywood –
Administration,
Building and
Planning
Not started 1-2 years Medium
6 Continue and expand urban forest management and
tree planting project
Risk
Reduction
Extreme
Heat,
Drought,
Flood
Natural
Resource
Protection
Moderate
($5000-
$49999)
Very High State grant
programs, CalFire
City of
Maywood,
Amigos de los
Rios
Ongoing, current grant
expires in 2026, the
city will seek future
grants to continue
program
Continuous High
7 Promote drought-tolerant landscaping, smart
irrigation systems, water-efficient plumbing fixtures,
and appliances.

Community
Awareness Drought
Natural
Resource
Protection,
Prevention
Low ($0 to
$4999) Moderate Not applicable
Water
Replenishment
District, City of
Maywood –
Building and
Planning
Ongoing, City code has
a water efficiency
ordinance that applies
to all fresh and
redevelopment
projects.

Continuous Low
8 Removal of end-of-life assets from Maywood City Hall
for increased physical and IT security, and to maintain capacity for essential city services
Risk
Reduction All Prevention
High
($50000-
$249999)
High
California State
Nonprofit
Security Grant
Program
Modern IT, City
of Maywood
Ongoing, initial grant
application denied,
City will re-apply in
2025 grant cycle
1 year High

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 6 Mitigation Strategy 158
Mitigation
Action # Action Description Goals Addressed
Hazard(s)
Addressed Type Estimated Cost Benefits Potential Funding Sources Lead
Implementer
and other
Partners
Status Timeline Priority
9 Review, update, and enforce earthquake resistant
building code. Conduct building safety inspections to
check for earthquake and fire safety compliance.

Risk
Reduction Earthquake Prevention
Moderate
($5000-
$49999)
Very High
Permanent
Housing
Allocation
Program
City of
Maywood -
Building and
Planning
Ongoing, City has
secured funding from
the PHA program to
help bring homes up to
code. Building code
was updated to align
with County code
recently
1-5 years Medium
10 Coordinate with water utility companies to ensure fire hydrants functionality is routinely inspected. Establish city-scale tracking and monitoring systems in
partnership with Maywood Water 1, Maywood Water
2, and Tri-City Water.

Risk
Reduction,
Collaborative
Partnerships
Urban Fires,
Wildfires Prevention
Moderate
($5000-
$49999)
High Water Utilities
Operating Budget
Maywood
Water Utilities,
City of
Maywood
Not started 1-2 years High
11 Increase awareness about the importance of
inspecting and maintaining fire safety elements
including fire extinguishers and fire alarms on private property.

Community
Awareness,
Collaborative
Partnerships
Urban Fires,
Wildfires
Public
Education
and
Awareness
Low ($0 to
$4999) High Red Cross, staff
time
City of
Maywood
City has an ongoing
partnership with Red
Cross to campaign for
fire safety at home.

Campaign includes the
provision of smoke
detectors and fire
extinguishers to
residents.
1-2 years High
12 Collaborate with DTSC to establish knowledge sharing protocols about updates on soil cleanup activities,
level of contamination mitigated, and timelines
related to Exide cleanup efforts.

Collaborative
Partnerships
Hazardous
Materials
Incidents
Property
Protection
Low ($0 to
$4999) Moderate Not applicable DTSC, City of
Maywood Not started 3-5 years High
13 Increase earthquake risk awareness and conduct
routine emergency drills in City schools
Community
Awareness Earthquake
Public
Education
and
Awareness
Low ($0 to
$4999) High Not applicable Maywood City
Schools, LAUSD Ongoing Continuous Low
14 Increase public awareness of severe weather
mitigation activities to include shelter in place and air quality warnings and appropriate actions taken.

Community
Awareness All
Public
Education
and
Awareness
Low ($0 to
$4999) High Not applicable
City of
Maywood -
Community
Services
Not started Continuous Medium
15 Educate the public regarding proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials
Community
Awareness
Hazardous
Materials
Incidents
Public
Education
and
Awareness
Low ($0 to
$4999) High Not applicable
City of
Maywood -
Community
Services,
Universal
Waste Systems
Not started Continuous Medium

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 6 Mitigation Strategy 159
Mitigation
Action # Action Description Goals Addressed
Hazard(s)
Addressed Type Estimated Cost Benefits Potential Funding Sources Lead
Implementer
and other
Partners
Status Timeline Priority
16 Provide tools and information related to relevant
energy-efficiency and climate-resilient best practices
to all community members pursuing new construction,
renovation, and/or redevelopment projects.

Community
Awareness All
Public
Education
and
Awareness
Low ($0 to
$4999) Low Not applicable
City of
MaywoodCommunity
Services
Not started Continuous Low
17 Line, retrofit, and replace aging sewer lines to prevent system failures that can lead to contamination,
overflows, and health hazards
Risk
Reduction
Flood, Public
Health
Emergencies
Structural
Projects
Very High
($250000
+)
Moderate Grants (EPA,
USACE)
City of
MaywoodPublic WorksOngoing 3-5 years Medium
18 Conduct regular maintenance and debris removal for
city stormwater drainage systems to prevent nuisance
flooding. Install drainage catch basins in nuisance
flooding hotspots
Risk
Reduction Flood Structural
Projects
High
($50000-
$249999)
Moderate City funds, grants
City of
MaywoodPublic WorksNot started 3-5 years Medium

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 7 Plan Maintenance 160
Section 7: Plan Maintenance

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 7 Plan Maintenance 161
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City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 7 Plan Maintenance 162
Implementation and Integration
This Hazard Mitigation Plan is a prerequisite for receipt of Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Project Funds under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000). FEMA has established mitigation planning requirements for local jurisdictions. Each plan must demonstrate that the proposed mitigation actions are the result of a thorough planning process that describes the inherent risk and the capabilities of the City of Maywood. The City agencies and partners participated in numerous ways including:
 Serving on the Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee.
 Attending the planning meetings or public hearing.
 Completing questionnaires sent out by the planning team.

It is anticipated over time through good planning efforts and coordination between the State, County Emergency Management Agencies, and City that all mitigation plans will become more enhanced and refined. It is the intention of the City of Maywood and the Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee (HMSC/ the committee) to support pre-disaster planning and project activities that can help reduce risk and mitigate future disaster costs for the City of Maywood.

Plan Integration
The members of the City of Maywood HMSC will remain charged with ensuring that the goals and mitigation actions of new and updated City of Maywood planning documents are consistent, or do not conflict with, the goals and actions of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, and will not contribute to increased hazard vulnerability throughout the City.

Opportunities to integrate the requirements of this plan into other City planning mechanisms shall be identified through future planning efforts. Some mechanisms for integration under consideration include:
 Integration of the City’s mitigation plan is considered on a case-by-case basis.  Integration of City’s mitigation plan as a supporting document for other relevant plans and regulations.
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part201.6(c)(4)(i): The plan shall include a plan maintenance process that includes a section describing the method and schedule of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan within a five-year cycle.
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(4)(ii): The plan maintenance process shall include a process by which local governments incorporate the requirements of the mitigation plan into other planning mechanisms such as comprehensive or capital improvement plans, when appropriate. 44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(4)(iii): The plan maintenance process shall include a discussion on how the community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 7 Plan Maintenance 163
 Integration of the City’s mitigation plan into new development in the City of Maywood, especially in terms of environmental concerns, security, and life safety.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Enhancement
Periodic revisions and updates of the Hazard Mitigation Plan are required to ensure that the goals of the plan are kept current, considering potential changes in hazard vulnerability and mitigation priorities. In addition, revisions may be necessary to ensure that the Plan is in full compliance with applicable federal and state regulations. Periodic monitoring and evaluation of the Plan will also ensure that specific mitigation actions are being reviewed and carried out according to the Mitigation Action Plan.

The HMSC shall meet annually to monitor and evaluate the progress attained and to revise, where needed, the activities set forth in the plan. The City shall reconvene the committee annually. The annual meetings provide the committee with an opportunity to:
 Evaluate those actions that have been successful;
 Document hazard occurrences and impacts;
 Explore the possibility of documenting potential losses avoided due to the implementation of specific mitigation measures; and
 Identify any new or additional vulnerabilities that may be faced by the University and may need to be addressed through an amendment or in a future update of this plan.

In addition to annual meetings, subgroups of the HMSC may meet more frequently to monitor and evaluate actions tasked to their specific department, division, or facility.

Five Year Plan Review and Update
The plan will be thoroughly and formally reviewed by the HMSC every five years in alignment with federal regulations. This update is also used to determine whether there have been any significant changes in the City that may, in turn, necessitate changes in the types of mitigation actions proposed, goals, or priorities. New development in identified hazard areas, an increased exposure to hazards, an increase or decrease in capability to address hazards, and changes to federal or state legislation are examples of factors that may affect the necessary content of the plan.

Upon completion of the review and update/amendment process, the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan will be submitted to the State Hazard Mitigation Officer at CalOES for a state-level compliance review. Final approval is obtained in from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in coordination with the state. Once an “approved pending adoption” status has been issued by FEMA, the City Mayor, and City Attorney and City Clerk can then review and formally adopt the plan via a written resolution. The City review process consists of review by the HR & Risk Management Division, Building and Planning Department, Public Works Division and the Administration Department.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 7 Plan Maintenance 164
Disaster Declaration
Following a disaster declaration, the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan may be revised as necessary to reflect lessons learned, or to address specific issues and circumstances arising from the event. It will be the City of Maywood’s responsibility to reconvene the HMSC and ensure the appropriate stakeholders are invited to participate in the plan revision and update process following declared disaster events.

Plan Amendment Process
Unique circumstances, such as availability of critical data or an omission or a disaster event, may necessitate a plan amendment. Upon the initiation of the amendment process, the City will forward information on the proposed change(s) to all interested parties including, but not limited to, all directly affected City agencies and departments. Information will also be forwarded to CalOES, the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and FEMA Region 9.

This information will be disseminated in order to seek input on the proposed amendment(s) for no less than a 45-day review and comment period (unless circumstances necessitate a shorter review).

At the end of the 45-day review and comment period, the proposed amendment(s) and all comments will be forwarded to the City of Maywood City Manager for final consideration.

In determining whether to recommend approval or denial of a plan amendment request, the following factors will be considered:
 There are errors, inaccuracies, or omissions made in the identification of issues or needs in the plan.
 New issues or needs have been identified which are not adequately addressed in the plan.
 There has been a change in information, data, or assumptions from those on which the plan is based.

If the City Manager opts to move forward with the amendment, the revised plan must be reviewed and approved by the state and FEMA. The Board of Regents will also need to approve the revised plan. Prior to approval, the University may make the plan and proposed amendments available to the public by request. The Board of Regents will review the recommendation from the HMSC (including the factors listed above) and any oral or written comments received by the public.

Following that review, the Board of Regents will take one of the following actions:
 Adopt the proposed amendments as presented;
 Adopt the proposed amendments with modifications;
 Refer the amendments request back to the Director and planning team for further revision; or
 Defer the amendment request back to the Mitigation Planning Team for further consideration and/or additional hearings.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 7 Plan Maintenance 165
Continued Public and Stakeholder Involvement
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(4)(iii): The plan maintenance process shall include a discussion on how the community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process.

Public participation is an integral component to the mitigation planning process and will continue to be essential as this plan evolves over time. In order to keep the public engaged over the five years, the City will regularly post information about hazards, risk, and safety on City communication channels (e.g., social media and websites). These efforts are underway now and will continue over the next five years with specific content for hazard mitigation.

Risk and Emergency Management will also work to “piggyback” other public engagement efforts to relay hazard mitigation effort to the campus community.

Other efforts to continually involve the public will be made as opportunities are presented. These efforts include:
 Advertising public meetings on City websites, social media channels, and public bulletin boards.
 Utilizing available City channels to update the public on any maintenance and/or periodic review activities taking place;
 Documentation and distribution of annual review meeting notes;  Designating willing and voluntary staff and community members as official members of the HMSC, as appropriate;
 Making the plan available to the public.

Appendix A:

Adoption Materials
This appendix includes:

A1: Adoption Resolution
A2: FEMA Letter of Approval

A1: Adoption Resolution
Placeholder for Adoption Resolution

A2: FEMA Letter of Approval
Placeholder for FEMA Letter of Approval Placeholder for Adoption Resolution

Appendix B:

Planning Tools
This appendix includes:

B1: Blank Public Survey
B2: Blank Staff Capability Assessment Form
B3: Blank Mitigation Actions Form

B1: Blank Public Survey

Community Member Survey
City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
The City of Maywood requests your response to this survey in support of the City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan will assess the City’s risk to hazards (including severe weather events, natural hazards, and human-caused hazards) and identify strategies to mitigate them. All data collected in this survey will be used strictly to inform the planning process.

For more information on the City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan, visit https://engagestantec.mysocialpinpoint.com/maywood-hmp/maywood-hmppage-1/ or scan the QR Code.

1. Have you experienced or been impacted by any of the following hazards? Please check all that apply.
 Dam and Levee Failure (Includes
consequences of Dam and Levee Failure
from surrounding regions)
 Drought
 Earthquake
 Extreme Heat
 Flood
 Hazardous Materials & Waste
 High Wind (Includes Strong Winds,
Tornadoes & Santa Ana Winds)
 Public Health Emergencies (Includes
Communicable Diseases and Pandemics)
 Severe Storms (Includes
Thunderstorms, Lightning & Hail)
 Tsunami
 Wildfire
 Urban Fire (Includes structure and
industrial fires)

2. How concerned are you about the possibility of your community being impacted by a hazard? Check one box per hazard.

HAZARD Not at all
concerned
Somewhat
Concerned
Extremely
Concerned
Dam and Levee Failure   
Drought   
Earthquake   
Extreme Heat   
Flood   

HAZARD Not at all
concerned
Somewhat
Concerned
Extremely
Concerned
Hazardous Materials & Waste   
High Wind   
Public Health Emergencies   
Severe Storms   
Tsunami   
Urban Fire   
Wildfire   

3. Is there another hazard not listed above that you think is a wide-scale threat to Maywood? If yes, please explain.
___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. The City is planning for hazardous events and disasters. Please share how important you think each activity area is by checking 1 box per row.

ACTIVITY Not
Important
Somewhat
Important
Very
Important
The City takes measures to regulate land and
property development to protect you from
hazards.

Examples include planning, zoning, building codes,
and open space preservation.
  
The City modifies existing buildings to
protect them from hazards.

Examples include retrofitting buildings and
structural improvements.
  
The City preserves or restores natural
resources that help minimize hazards.

Examples include stormwater management,
protecting tree canopy, increasing green space, and
working with the state to eliminate man-made
hazards.
  

ACTIVITY Not
Important
Somewhat
Important
Very
Important
The City builds structures to reduce hazards
in the community
Examples include stormwater management, sewer
maintenance, and building resiliency centers such
as cooling centers and storm safe rooms.
  
The City protects people and property during
and immediately after a hazard event.

Examples include warning systems, evacuation
planning, and emergency response operations.
  
The City provides materials to educate and
inform residents about hazards and ways to
protect themselves and their property.

Examples include outreach projects, educational
workshops, school programs, and informational
materials.
  

5. What additional actions do you think are the most important for your community to take to increase resilience to hazards, including climate-related hazards? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Please provide any feedback, comments, or suggestions ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
Please feel free to contact Miguel Leon, City of Maywood, Administration Analyst at [email protected] or (323) 562-5747.

Encuesta Para Miembros De La Comunidad
Plan De Mitigación De Riesgos De La Ciudad De Maywood

La Ciudad de Maywood solicita su respuesta a esta encuesta en apoyo del Plan de Mitigación de Riesgos de la Ciudad. El plan evaluará el riesgo de la ciudad a los peligros (incluyendo eventos climáticos severos, peligros naturales y peligros causados por el hombre) y a identificar estrategias para mitigarlos. Todos los datos obtenidos en esta encuesta se utilizarán estrictamente para informar el proceso de planificación. Para más información sobre el Plan de Mitigación de Riesgos de la Ciudad de Maywood, visite https://engagestantec.mysocialpinpoint.com/maywood-hmp/maywood-hmp-page-1/ o escanee el código QR.

1. ¿Ha sufrido o se ha encontrado afectado afectado por alguno de los siguientes peligros? Marque todas las que correspondan.
 Rotura de presas y diques (Incluye las
consecuencias de la rotura de presas y diques en
las regiones circundantes)
 Sequía
 Terremoto
 Calor extremo
 Inundación
 Materiales y residuos peligrosos
 Viento fuerte (incluye vientos intensos,
tornados y vientos de Santa Ana)
 Emergencias de salud pública (incluye
enfermedades transmisibles y pandemias)
 Tormentas severas (incluye tormentas
eléctricas, rayos y granizo)
 Maremoto
 Incendio forestal
 Incendios urbanos (incluye incendios
estructurales e industriales)

2. ¿En qué nivel de preocupación se encuentra ante la posibilidad de que su comunidad se vea afectada por un peligro? Marque una sola caja por peligro.

PELIGRO No me preocupa
en absoluto
Algo preocupado Extremadamente
preocupado
Rotura de presas y diques   
Sequía   
Terremoto   
Calor extremo   
Inundación   
Materiales y residuos
peligrosos   
Vientos fuertes   
Emergencias de salud pública   

PELIGRO No me preocupa
en absoluto
Algo preocupado Extremadamente
preocupado
Tormentas severas   
Maremoto   
Fuego urbano   
Incendio forestal   

3. ¿Existe algún otro riesgo no mencionado anteriormente que considere una amenaza a gran escala para Maywood? Si la respuesta es sí, por favor explíquelo. ___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. La ciudad se está preparando para afrontar riesgos y catástrofes. Por favor, comparta la importancia que cree que tiene cada área de actividad marcando 1 caja por cada fila.

ACTIVIDAD Sin importancia Un poco
importante
Muy
importante
La Ciudad toma medidas para ordenar el
desarrollo del terreno y la propiedad
con el objetivo de protegerle de los
peligros.

Algunos ejemplos incluyen el planeamiento, la
zonificación, los códigos de construcción y la
preservación de espacios abiertos.
  
La Ciudad modifica los edificios
existentes para protegerlos de los
peligros.

Algunos ejemplos incluyen la modernización
de edificios y las reparaciones estructurales.
  
La ciudad preserva o restaura los
ecosistemas naturales que contribuyen
a minimizar los riesgos.

Algunos ejemplos son la regulación de las
aguas pluviales, la protección de las copas de
los árboles, el aumento de los espacios verdes
y la colaboración con el Estado para eliminar
los peligros provocados por el ser humano.
  
La ciudad construye estructuras para
reducir los riesgos en la comunidad.   

ACTIVIDAD Sin importancia Un poco
importante
Muy
importante
Algunos ejemplos incluyen la gestión de las
aguas pluviales, el mantenimiento del
saneamiento y los centros de resiliencia de los
edificios, como los centros de refrigeración y
las salas seguras contra tormentas.

La ciudad protege a las personas y los
edificios durante y después de un
suceso peligroso.

Algunos ejemplos incluyen los sistemas de
alerta, la planificación de la evacuación y las
operaciones de respuesta a emergencias.
  
La ciudad ofrece materiales para educar
y informar a los residentes sobre los
peligros y las formas de protegerse a sí
mismos y a sus propiedades.

Algunos ejemplos incluyen proyectos de
speración, talleres educativos, programas
escolares y material informativo.
  

5. ¿Qué otras medidas cree que son las más importantes para que su comunidad aumente la resistencia a los peligros, incluidos los riesgos relacionados con el clima? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Por favor, indique sus opiniones, comentarios o sugerencias ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ¡GRACIAS POR SU PARTICIPACIÓN!
Por favor, no dude en ponerse en contacto con Miguel León, Ciudad de Maywood, Analista de Administración en [email protected] o (323) 562-5747.

B2: Blank Staff Capability Assessment Form

2025 CITY OF MAYWOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN - CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT The Capability Assessment is intended to help the planning team understand the City of Maywood’s capabilities related to addressing the impacts of future hazard events and climate change. Please review the capabilities included for Maywood as they relate to your area of work.

Instructions:
• Review the capabilities listed and fill in boxes for any capability about which you have knowledge. • Add additional capabilities you believe relate to hazard mitigation or climate adaptation. • If you have risk reduction project ideas, there is space to provide them at them at the end of this assessment.

Table 1: Planning and Regulatory Capability
Planning and regulatory capabilities are plans, policies, codes, and ordinances that prevent and reduce the impacts of hazards.

Planning/Regulatory Tools
Is this
plan/policy
in place?
Responsible
Department/
Agency
Does this plan
actively address
current and/or
future hazard
risk?
Optional: Comment on how this plan impacts hazard
mitigation.

Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Maywood General Plan
LA Metro Long Range Transportation Plan
Maywood Local Road Safety Plan
Maywood Building Code
LA County Comprehensive Floodplain Management Plan
LA County Water Plan
City of Maywood Climate Action and Resilience Plan
City of Maywood Energy Resilience Action Plan
Flood Response Plan
Sustainability Plan
Emergency Organizations and Functions
Continuity of Operations Plan
Evacuation Plan
Disaster Recovery Plan

Planning/Regulatory Tools
Is this
plan/policy
in place?
Responsible
Department/
Agency
Does this plan
actively address
current and/or
future hazard
risk?
Optional: Comment on how this plan impacts hazard
mitigation.

Capital Improvements Plan
Economic Development Plan
Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
Green or Complete Streets Policy
Zoning Ordinance
Tree Removal/Replacement Ordinance
Building Energy Efficiency Ordinance
Unified Development Ordinance
Fire Code
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
NFIP Community Rating System
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
If there are additional plans or regulations, please list them here.

Table 2: Administrative and Technical Capability
Administrative and technical capabilities include boards, commissions, departments, staff, and consulting services, along with the related skills and tools, that can be used for mitigation planning and the implementation of specific mitigation actions.

Board, Commission, or Department Is this department part of the City’s Administration?
Optional: Comment on how this department/commission can support hazard mitigation activities
City Engineering
Code Enforcement
Land Use Planning
Floodplain Management
Emergency Management
Grant Administration
Sustainability or Climate Change
Geographic Information Systems
Financial Management
Planning Commission
Brownfields
If there are additional capabilities, please list them here.

Table 3: Financial Capability
Financial capabilities include access to or eligibility to use funding resources for hazard mitigation.

Financial Tool/Resources
Is this financial capability
available to the City of
Maywood?
Department/Agency
responsible
Optional: Comment on how this financial
capability can be used for hazard mitigation
activities
Capital Improvements Program
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Special Purpose Taxes (or taxing districts)
Gas / Electric Utility Fees
Water / Sewer Fees
Stormwater Utility Fees
Development Impact Fees
Tree Removal Fees
General Obligation, Revenue, and/or Special Tax Bonds
Partnering Arrangements or Intergovernmental
Agreements
State Funding Programs
Philanthropic Funding Programs
EPA Brownfield Grants
If there are additional financial capabilities, please list them here.

Table 4: Education and Outreach Capability
Education and outreach capabilities include programs and methods already in place that could be used to support implementation of mitigation actions and communicate hazard-related information, including activities related to social cohesion.

Education/Outreach Program Responsible
Department/Agency
Does this actively
reduce current and/or
future hazards?
Optional: Comment on how this tool impacts
hazard mitigation
Storm Ready Certification (link)
Emergency Notification and Alert System
Seasonal Emergency Management Outreach (e.g., extreme
heat management and outreach in the summer)
Equitable Engagement Initiative (Outreach efforts centered on underserved communities)
If there are additional capabilities, please list them here.

Table 5: Political Capability
Political Capability includes the will and ability of a jurisdiction to enact meaningful policies and projects designed to reduce the impact of future hazard events and climate change.

Does Maywood have the political capability to address the impact of future hazard events and climate change? Comments:

Table 6: Additional Comments on Capability
Do you have any additional comments on Maywood’s capability to address the impact of future hazard events and climate change? Comments:

Table 7: Risk Reduction Project Ideas
Do you have any ideas related to making the city more resilient to current and future hazard and climate change impacts? They can be plans, policies, regulations, staff, or structural projects.

Comments:

B3: Blank Mitigation Actions Form

City of Maywood, CA Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Action Worksheet
Contact information (Name, Phone Number, Email)
INSTRUCTIONS: Please identify mitigation actions for the City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Hazard(s) Addressed: List the hazard(s) for which the proposed action is intended to mitigate against.

Type/Category: Indicate the most appropriate category(s) for the proposed action as discussed during the planning committee meetings
• Prevention
• Property Protection
• Natural Resource Protection
• Structural Projects
• Emergency Services
• Public Education and Awareness
Cost estimate:

Costs are estimated based on knowledge, experience, and professional judgment:
• $0-$4,999 (Low) • $50,000-$249,000 (High)
• $5,000-$49,000 (Moderate) • $250,000+ (Very High)
Benefits estimate: Indicate whether the benefit of the action is “very high,” “high,” “moderate,” or “low” based on the following general criteria
Enhance Life Safety Positive Environmental Impacts
Protect Property Positive Social Impact
The Action is Technically Feasible Administrative Capability The Action is Political Feasible Local Champion
The Action is Legal The Action Advances other Community Objectives
Potential Funding Sources: If applicable, indicate how the cost to complete the action will be funded. For example, funds may be provided from existing operating budgets or general funds, a previously established contingency fund, a cost-sharing federal or state grant program, etc.

Timeframe: Describe a timeframe goal for completion. Please provide as much detail on the timeframe of this action as possible. For example, it could be an Action that is completed annually, or it could have a goal to be done in 2 or 5 years etc.

Lead Agency/Department Responsible: Identify the local agency, department or organization that is best suited to implement the proposed action.

Priority: Indicate whether the action is a “high” priority, “medium” priority or “low” priority based estimated cost-benefit review, life safety, funding availability, political support, environmental considerations, and social considerations.

Enter a status of “in-progress,” “completed,” “deleted,” “deferred,” or “new”.

City of Maywood, CA Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Action Worksheet

Name
Phone Number
Email
Project
Description
Hazard(s)
Addressed:

Type/Category:
(select all that apply)
Prevention;
Property Protection;
Natural Resource Protection;
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
Public Education & Awareness
Estimated Cost
Estimated
Benefits:

Potential Funding
Sources:

Time Frame:

Responsible
Parties:

Priority:

Notes

Appendix C:

Meeting Notes and Presentations
This appendix includes:

C1: Interested Parties Meetings Presentation
C2: First Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting Presentation C3: First Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting Notes C4: Second Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting Presentation C5: Second Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting Notes C6: Third Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting Presentation C7: Third Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting Notes C8: Public Engagement Activity Posters (Blank)
C9: Food Distribution Event Outreach Notes

C1: Interested Parties Meetings Presentation

5/9/2025
1 City of Maywood, California
Hazard Mitigation
Plan Introduction
ORGANIZE THE PLANNING PROCESS & RESOURCES ASSESS RISKS DEVELOP A MITIGATION STRATEGY ADOPT & IMPLEMENT THE PLAN What is Hazard Mitigation? Any sustained action taken to reduce or
eliminate the long-term risk to human life
and property from hazards. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan Process Hazard Mitigation Plans: o Identify hazard risk o Develop strategies to reduce it o Break the disaster cycle 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N

1. Organize the Planning Process and Resources 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N • Convene stakeholders • Assess current conditions and capabilities
• Publicize plan development efforts and build public awareness • Public survey

2. Assess Risks 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N• Identify potential hazards • Assess vulnerability of community residents
and assets to hazards
• Impact on buildings and critical facilities
• Damage to critical infrastructure (E.g., hospitals,
utility poles) • Impact to community health and safety
• Economic impacts
• Impacts due to climate change 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N List of Hazards Hazard Priority Group Drought High Earthquake High Extreme Heat High Public Health Emergency High Hazardous Materials and Waste Medium Structural and Industrial Fire Medium
Thunderstorm, Lightning and Hail Medium
Dam and Levee Failure Low
Flood Low
Low High Winds (Includes Strong Winds Santa Ana Winds, and Tornadoes) Tsunami Low Wildfire Low

3. Develop a Mitigation Strategy 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N • Identify goals for plan
• Identify mitigation actions to minimize or protect community from impacts 1 2
3 4
5 6

5/9/2025
2 Mitigation Action Types
• Prevention
• Comprehensive planning, zoning, building codes, open space preservation • Property Protection • Retrofitting buildings and structures
• Natural Resource Protection
• Increase tree canopy, green space
• Structural Projects
• Stormwater sewer expansions, detention basins. , neighborhood shelters • Emergency Services
• Warning systems, evacuation plans
• Public Education and Awareness
• Educational workshops, school programs 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N

4. Adopt and Implement the Plan 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N • Plan is reviewed by the public, state, and FEMA
• Implement identified mitigation actions
• Integrate hazard mitigation planning efforts into other community plans • Update plan every 5 years • Revise community priorities, • Check status of mitigation actions and identify new ones • Re-assess risk to hazards based on new developments
Survey 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N How can you help?
• Participation
o Publicize and attend community open house events o Upcoming Events: o February 26, YMCA Food Distribution o Earth Day Celebrations, April 2025 o Fill out our survey • Education and Awareness
• Understand risks and mitigation
• Share Knowledge and Feedback o Plan goals o Propose mitigation actions o Talk about hazard mitigation in other community planning activities o Plan review 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Contact Information
Thank you!
Miguel Leon
Administrative Analyst, City of Maywood 323-562-5747 [email protected] 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N 7 8
9 10
11

C2: First Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting
Presentation

5/9/2025
1 City of Maywood, California
Hazard Mitigation
Plan
Hazard Mitigation Committee
Meeting #1 – Kickoff
December 4, 2024
Menti.com
CODE
5324 5276
What natural
hazards or extreme
weather events
have you
experienced in the
City of Maywood?
Menti.com
CODE
5324 5276
Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Project Overview

3. Hazards Review

4. Goals Review

5. Survey Review

6. Mitigation Activity

7. Next Steps

PROJECT UNDERSTANDING & CRS
POINTS
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Introduction
Introductions
PROJECT UNDERSTANDING & CRS City of Maywood POINTS
• Miguel Leon, Administrative Analyst
• Karen Iniguez, Community Development Analyst
• Jennifer Vasquez, City Manager
Stantec
• Ben Schattschneider, Project Manager
• Priya Satish, Planning Lead
• Emily Ng, Engagement Lead
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
1 2
3 4
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5/9/2025
2 Hazard Mitigation Committee Roles
• Outreach:
o Participate in meetings
o Share information regarding the planning
process and community engagement
• Share Knowledge and Feedback:
o Hazards and impacts
o Community capability
o Mitigation actions and plan goals
o Plan review
• Actively Participate throughout process
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Project Overview
What is Hazard Mitigation?
Any sustained action taken to reduce or
eliminate the long-term risk to human life and
property from hazards.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan Process
Hazard Mitigation Plans:
o Identify hazard risk
o Develop strategies to reduce it
o Break the disaster cycle
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Why are we creating a plan?
• REDUCE RISK!
o Protect People
o Understand asset and structure-level
risk
o Equity considerations
o Meet FEMA requirements for funding
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Hazard Mitigation Plan Elements
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
PROJECT UNDERSTANDING & Element A. CRS POINTS Planning Process Element B. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment
Element C. Mitigation Strategy
Element D. Plan Maintenance
Element F. Plan Adoption
Element E. Plan Update
Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment - Data Collection GIS Data
• Jurisdiction Boundaries
• Parcel Data
• Building Footprints
• Critical Facility Locations
• FEMA Special Flood Hazard
Areas and other Hazard
Areas
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
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9 10
11 12

5/9/2025
3 Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment - Data Collection Plans
• Maywood General Plan
• State of California Hazard
Mitigation Plan
• LA County All Hazards Mitigation
Plan
• City of LA Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Upper LA River Watershed
Management Plan
• LA County Emergency Operations
Plan
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
• Assessment of risk for natural and
human-caused hazards
• All hazards include a profile and a
vulnerability assessment
• The hazard profiles include:
o Description
o Previous occurrences
o Extent (or magnitude)
o Probability
• Estimate the potential health, safety
and property damages attributable to
hazards.

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment – Risk Assessment 2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
• When GIS data is available, a structure-based risk assessment is performed
• When applicable, the vulnerability assessment will address the following potential vulnerabilities to each hazard:
o Impact on buildings and critical facilities
o Damage to critical infrastructure
o Impacts to health and life safety
o Economic impacts
o Future conditions
Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment – Vulnerability Assessment 2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
• Identify goals
• Identify actions
• Create mitigation action list
• Develop capability assessment
Mitigation Strategy
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
• Continue public participation
• Monitor progress of mitigation
actions
• Evaluate plan for
effectiveness
• Integrate hazard mitigation
plan into other planning
mechanisms
• Update plan every 5 years
Plan Maintenance
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Plan Update
• Plan describes changes in
development in hazard prone areas
that impact community vulnerability
• Plan revised to reflect changes in
community priorities
• Status update for all mitigation
actions
• How jurisdictions integrated the
mitigation plan into other planning
mechanisms
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
13 14
15 16
17 18

5/9/2025
4 Plan Review and Adoption
• Draft plan review
o HMSC
o Public
• Compliance review
o State
o FEMA Region 9
• Plan Adoption
• Plan document and data
deliverables
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Hazards Review
• Collected natural and human-caused
hazards from the following documents
• City of Maywood HMP Planning Team
• City of Maywood General Plan – Safety
Element
• Los Angeles County All Hazards
Mitigation Plan 2020
• City of Los Angeles Hazard Mitigation
Plan 2024
• State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan
2023
Hazards of Concern
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Included in Maywood HMP? Maywood General
Plan – Safety Element
Included in LA
County AHMP Hazard
Dam and Levee Failure Large portion of Maywood protected by Levee Drought
Earthquake
Extreme Heat
Flood
Hazardous Materials and Waste
High Winds and Tornadoes
Public Health Emergency
Structural and Industrial Fire
Thunderstorm, Lightning and Hail
Tsunami Maywood is not exposed to coastal hazards
Wildfire Maywood not in wildfire hazard area
Should this hazard be included in the
Maywood HMP?
2025 CITY OF MAYWOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
List of Hazards

SHOULD WE

CONSIDER ANY

ADDITIONAL
HAZARDS?
Menti.com
CODE
5324 5276
Goals Review
19 20
21 22
23 24

5/9/2025
5 • Goals are broad, long-term policy and vision
statements that explain what is to be
achieved by implementing the mitigation
strategy.
• Objectives are strategies or implementation
steps to attain mitigation goals. Unlike goals,
objectives are specific and measurable,
where feasible.
• A mitigation action is a measure, project,
plan or activity proposed to reduce current
and future vulnerabilities described in the risk
assessment.

Definitions
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Example Goals
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Reduce the loss of life,
property, and
repetitive damage
from the effects of
natural hazards by
encouraging
community use of
hazard risk reduction
practices.

Create safe,
sustainable
communities through
long-range planning
that seeks a balance
between the natural
and man-made
environments and by
developing
public/private
partnerships.

Establish a program
that will help facilitate
orderly recovery and
minimize economic
disruption following a
disaster.

Enhance emergency
preparedness,
increase awareness,
and promote risk
reduction activities
through education of
and outreach to the
community.

Expand and enhance
partnerships between
government,
businesses, the public,
and community
partners to foster more
effective mitigation
action and build
community resilience.

Emergency
Response &
Recovery
Community
Resilience
Education,
Awareness, &
Outreach
Long-range
Planning
Protection of Life
& Property
Rank your key priorities
that should be captured
in the City of Maywood’s
HMP Goals. Menti.com (#1 = top priority, #5 = lowest priority) CODE
5324 5276
Survey Review
Draft Survey Review
• Survey will be posted on Social
PinPoint
• Survey will be printed in English and
Spanish
• Survey will be open from December
2024 to April 2025
• Results will be discussed during 3rd
HMC meeting in March 2025
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Mitigation Activity
25 26
27 28
29 30

5/9/2025
6 Mitigation Action Types
• Prevention
• E.g., Comprehensive planning, zoning, building
codes, open space preservation
• Property Protection
• E.g., Retrofitting buildings and structures
• Natural Resource Protection
• E.g. Increase tree canopy, green space
• Structural Projects
• Stormwater sewer expansions, detention basins
• Emergency Services
• Warning systems, evacuation plans, neighborhood
shelters
• Public Education and Awareness
• Educational workshops, school programs
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Example Mitigation Actions
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
• Expand and enhance coordinated evacuation planning
between the city, county, and university.
• Develop/enhance emergency power capabilities,
protocols, and procedures for campus buildings in the
event power is compromised.
• Develop a plan for sheltering students living in
university housing in the event they are displaced for
greater than 12 hours
• Develop emergency preparedness guidance for
assisting people with disabilities as needed when
hazards arise.
• Increase tornado siren coverage
• Incorporate hazard mitigation and climate adaptation in the Comprehensive Plan Update, including adopting
the Hazard Mitigation Plan as an annex.

Mitigation Ideas
Next Steps
Timeline
Task Completion
December 4th , 2024 Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting 1 o Hazard Identification
February 2025
Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting 2 and Public Outreach o Risk assessment
o Mitigation strategy
April 2025
Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting 3 and Public Outreach o Finalize mitigation strategy
o Draft plan review
Draft Plan Review Period May 2025
State and FEMA Review June 2025
Plan Adoption (After State and FEMA review is complete) TBD 2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee
• Identify and create
o Goals and objectives
o Mitigation actions
• Publicize survey
Stantec
• Prepare Risk Assessment Results
• Collect Survey Results (posted on Social
PinPoint site)
• Plan/prep for Hazard Mitigation Committee and
Public Outreach in February 2025.

Next Steps
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Contact Information
Thank you!
Miguel Leon
Administrative Analyst, City of Maywood
323-562-5747
[email protected]
2025 CITY OF MAYW OOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
31 32
33 34
35 36

C3: First Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting
Notes

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting 1
Maywood City Hall
December 4, 2024
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format with 14 in-person participants and 10 virtual participants. The meeting began at about 2:00 pm with Ben Schattschneider, Project Manager, Stantec, making opening remarks.

Introductions
Ben Schattschneider, Stantec, began the presentation following the agenda and going around the room to give everybody a chance to introduce themselves.

Ben followed this by explaining expected roles and responsibilities for everyone as this project progresses. Community participation and feedback is crucial both for a successful plan, and plan approval.

Project Overview
Ben provided a short overview of hazard mitigation activities and funding opportunities highlighting what a hazard mitigation plan is and why it is important.

He continued to explain the steps involved in completing a hazard mitigation plan and requirements for plan adoption.

Hazards Review
Priya described the hazards proposed to be included in the Plan. The proposed list was derived from discussions with the City’s hazard mitigation planning team, local knowledge, and inferences drawn from the county and neighboring jurisdiction’s hazard mitigation plans. An activity was presented asking both in-person and virtual participants to vote on the inclusion or exclusion of hazards. The committee decided after the activity discussion to remove Wildfire, and Tsunami. Additionally, it was proposed to combine thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and high wind events into one category named “Severe Summer Storms’ Results from the activity are presented below.

Hazard Voting results
<1 = no
>1 = yes
Decision
Dam & Levee Failure 0.8, No Include
Drought 1.8, Yes Include
Earthquake 1.9, Yes Include
Extreme Heat 2, Yes Include

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazard Voting results
<1 = no
>1 = yes
Decision
Flood 1.3, yes Include
Hazardous Materials &
Waste 1.7, yes Include
High Wind (Severe
Summer Storms) 1.7, yes Include
Public Health Emergencies 1.9, yes Include
Structural Fire 1.7, yes Include
Thunderstorms, Lightning
& Hail (Severe Summer
Storms)

1.1, yes Include
Tsunami 0.3, no City of Maywood to Decide
Wildfire 0.5, no City of Maywood to Decide
Goals Review
Ben ran through a general goal and objective setting discussion, and described the purpose of goals, objectives and action. This was followed by an activity to initialize goal formulation and ideation by ranking community priorities to include in a goal. The results from the activity are presented below.

Additional discussion followed this activity where the committee discussed the need for better coordination and establishing partnerships among resident organizations, neighboring cities, and utility providers in the City. The discussion to identify goals will be continued in the following steering committee meeting.

Survey Review

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan Priya described the community survey which will be sent to all committee members and posted on the project’s Social Pinpoint website. While the committee was agreeable with the questions, a remark was made to include a disclaimer at the top of the survey stating the purpose and use case for survey results.

Mitigation Activity
Ben introduced the committee to the types of mitigation activities providing examples of actions that may be applicable to Maywood. Committee members were provided with a ‘New Actions Form’ to propose mitigation actions for the city. A link to FEMA’s Mitigation Ideas Workbook was also provided. There was a discussion regarding a potential mitigation action to obtain power generators for water supply companies.

Next Steps
The Hazard Mitigation Committee will identify goals, objectives and mitigation actions for the HMP. The Committee will also add any mitigation actions to the actions form. In addition, the Committee will publicize the survey and open house.

Stantec will initiate work on the risk assessment and prepare for the next HMC meeting in late February 2025 at the Maywood City Hall. This will be followed by a tabling event and community engagement at YMCA’s food distribution event.

The meeting concluded at 3:30 pm.

The list of attendees is included on the sign in sheets.

C4: Second Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting Presentation

5/9/2025
1 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N City of Maywood, California Hazard Mitigation
Plan
Hazard Mitigation Committee
Meeting #2 – Risk Assessment February 26, 2025 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Agenda

1. Introductions 2. Progress Updates 3. Capability and Capacity Assessment Results 4. Risk Assessment Results 5. Mitigation Strategies 6. Next Steps P R O J E C T U N D E R S T A N D I N G & C R S P O I N T S 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Introductions P R O J E C T U N D E R S T A N D I N G & C R S City of Maywood P O I N T S • Miguel Leon, Administrative Analyst • Karen Iniguez, Community Development Analyst Stantec
• Ben Schattschneider, Project Manager • Priya Satish, Planning Lead • Emily Ng, Engagement Lead 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Progress Updates Progress Updates
What is Hazard Mitigation?
Any sustained action taken to reduce or
eliminate the long-term risk to human life and
property from hazards. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan Process Hazard Mitigation Plans: o Identify hazard risk o Develop strategies to reduce it o Break the disaster cycle 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Hazard Mitigation Plan Elements 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N P R O J E C T U N D E R S T A N D I N G & Element A.C R S P O I N T S Planning Process Element B. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment Element C. Mitigation Strategy Element D. Plan Maintenance Element F. Plan Adoption Element E. Plan Update 1 2
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2 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N o Survey o Open till April 30 o Public Outreach – TODAY @ the YMCA Food Distribution Event, 1:30 pm
o Mitigation Steering Committee Meeting #3 – Mitigation Strategy Workshop – April 25th, 2025 o City of Maywood Earth Day Event– April 26th 2025 Upcoming Engagement Opportunities 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Capability and Capacity Assessment Progress Updates
Results 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Capability Assessment
Purpose
• Understand the City’s ability to implement a mitigation strategy • Understand strengths and challenges to implementing mitigation actions (e.g., planning, staffing, resources) • Understand and build upon mitigation successes • Identify opportunities to enhance mitigation-related policies, programs, and projects Process
• Plans and programmatic documents collected and reviewed during data request period • Input from Steering Committee to gain understanding of needs and abilities 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Capability Assessment
Plans Reviewed: • 2023 City of Maywood General Plan Update • Maywood Local Road Safety Plan
• Maywood Building Code
• Maywood Emergency Operations and Functions Plan
• LA County Comprehensive Floodplain
Management Plan
• LA County Water Plan
• City of Maywood Climate Action and Resilience Plan – Phase 1 • City of Maywood Energy Resilience Action Plan
• Maywood zoning ordinance
• State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan
• LA County All Hazards Mitigation Plan
• California Climate Change Assessment - Los
Angeles Regional Report • Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Capability Assessment
Findings: • Fiscal Capability: • Mitigation actions can be included in capital budget, general budget or be funded through community development block grants
• Planning Capability: • Climate Action Plan, Energy Resilience Plan, General Plan Safety element identify local goals and policies related to mitigation. Integrate goals and actions across plans
• Regional and statewide climate action and resilience plans provide adaptation and mitigation guidelines 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Capability Assessment
Recommendations Administrative and Technical Capability  Re-convene Disaster Council and define roles and responsibilities;  Establish position for City stormwater management Education and Outreach  Establish formalized emergency communications and alerts system to provide timely notifications to City residents Financial  Integrate identified mitigation actions into City’s annual capital budget program 7 8
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3 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Capability Assessment
Recommendations Planning
• Update emergency operations and functions plan; • Create/update the building emergency plan for all critical facilities and areas of mass congregation within the City including schools, the city hall, hospital, shopping centers, and religious facilities; • Integrate local building and school safety plans with city-wide emergency operations plan; • Review and update building codes for fire and earthquake safety. Establish code enforcement program; • Develop local stormwater and flood management plans to assess and prioritize local concerns.

ARE THERE OTHER PLANS OR POLICY DOCUMENTS WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? STAFFING CAPACITY NEEDS? Progress Updates Risk Assessment Results 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N • Assessment of risk for natural, and human-caused hazards • All hazards include a profile and a vulnerability assessment • Hazard Profiles Include: • Description • Previous occurrences • Extent (or magnitude) • Probability of future occurrences • Estimate the potential health, safety and property damages, and reputational risks attributable to hazards.

Risk Assessment 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N • When GIS data is available, a structure-based risk assessment is performed • When applicable, the vulnerability assessment will address the following potential vulnerabilities to each hazard: • Impact on buildings and critical facilities • Damage to critical infrastructure
• Impacts to health and life safety
• Economic and operations impacts • Impact on socially vulnerable populations • Climate projections
Vulnerability Assessment 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Revised Grouping Priority Group Hazard Drought High High Earthquake High High Extreme Heat High High Public Health Emergency High Medium Hazardous Materials and Waste Medium High Structural and Industrial Fire Medium Medium Thunderstorm, Lightning and Hail Medium Low
Dam and Levee Failure Low Low
Flood Low Low
Low Medium High Winds (Includes Strong Winds Santa Ana Winds, and Tornadoes) Tsunami Low Low Wildfire Low Medium List of Hazards
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4 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N DroughtDescription Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall • California Drought from 2021 - 2023 • California Drought from 2012 – 2016
• U.S. Drought Monitor – 23 years with drought conditions in 25-year study period • U.S. Drought Monitor reported ‘Exceptional Drought’ for 211 weeks in last 25 years
• Average summer temperature expected to increase by 3-5oF by 2099 (NCA5, CalAdapt) • Average annual Precipitation expected to decrease by 1” by 2099 (NCA5) High 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Drought
Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Disrupted water supply
• Extreme cases – foundation damages
• Infrastructure Risks
• Green infrastructure impacts
• Population Risks
• Water conservation
• Increased costs
• Food supply disruptions
• Sanitation, hygiene, health risks
High 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Earthquake Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • Ground shaking and radiated seismic energy caused by sudden stress changes in the Earth. Liquefaction occurs when sand and silt behave like a liquid during an earthquake • Southern California has the highest level of earthquake risk in the Country • 300 faults around City – San Andreas, Newport-Inglewood, San Fernando, Sierra Madre, and Whittier • Liquefaction – City in zone of required investigation for stability • <3.5 – Weak unlikely to be felt • 3.5-5.4 – Felt but rarely causes damage • 5.4-6 – Will damage poorly designed buildings
• >6.1 – can cause significant damage
• 33 Earthquakes above 3.5 in 10-mile region of Maywood since 1980 • 1987 Whittier Narrows event - 5.9 magnitude, 8 mi E of Maywood • 1994 Northridge event -6.7 magnitude, 25 mi NW of Maywood • No anticipated impacts from climate change High 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N 1987, 5.9,Whittier Narrows 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Liquefaction Zones 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Earthquake
Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Structural damage
• Falling Objects
• Infrastructure Risks
• Burst pipes
• Potable water supply interruption
• Levee failure
• Bridge failure
• Population Risks
• Injuries/ death
• Public health emergencies
• High-density living situations
High
June 1999, 3.77 Oct 2021, 3.61
June 1989, 4.82 mag
June 1989, 4.47
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5 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Earthquake
Hazus Risk Report
• Modeled 1994 Northridge event, • 6.7 magnitude, approximately 25 miles north-west of Maywood • Modeled losses if Northridge earthquake occurred in 2025 • 235 million dollars
• 50% (2000) of all buildings moderately damaged
• Approximately 40 minor injuries, 10 severe injuries, and 2 deaths High 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Extreme Heat Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • A prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity,
temperatures above 90 degrees for at-least 3 days in a row. • Excessive heat warning issues if heat index exceed 105oF for two days
• Heat Disorders – Sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke • 8 records of extreme heat in Los Angeles County from 1997 to 2024 (NCEI) • Average maximum between 92oF – 95oF between July – September (DTLA weather station) • Record temperature at DTLA station - 116oF • Hotter events possible
• Average summer temperature expected to increase by 3-5oF by 2099, summers will be longer (NCA5, Cal Adapt) • 22 additional days over 90oF by 2050 (NAR) • 9 additional days over 100oF by 2050 (NAR) High 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Extreme Heat
Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Buildings, roads, parking lots, and turf fields contribute to urban heat island effect • Buckling in rare cases • Infrastructure Risks
• Power outages
• Pavement expansion and buckling
• Population Risks
• Older adults, children, athletes, and outdoor workers are at higher risk • Populations without air conditioning are at higher risk High 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Public Health Emergencies Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • Includes infectious diseases, vector-borne illnesses, waterborne illnesses and chronic illnesses. • Air quality alerts from wildfires • Covid-19 pandemic
• Campylobacteriosis, Valley Fever, Salmonellosis, E. Coli • Covid-19 pandemic – economic slowdown, financial losses • More severe events possible
• Warmer temperatures more favorable for vector-borne infectious diseases High 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Public Health Emergencies
Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Sterilization and decontamination
• Operational changes
• Infrastructure Risks
• None
• Population Risks
• Illness, fatalities
• Populations living in dense neighborhoods, close quarters • Diseases from other regions High

HAVE YOU FACED ANY IMPACTS FROM DROUGHT,
EARTHQUAKES, EXTREME HEAT, OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES? 25 26
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6 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Hazardous Materials Incidents Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • A hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incident involves the uncontrolled release of one or more hazardous materials into an environment where humans are or could be present posing threats to human health, safety, and the environment. • HAZMAT releases could occur from stationery sources (e.g., industrial release), or mobile sources (E.g., a moving truck). • Exide Technologies – Soil Contamination – Cleanup in progress since 2018, scheduled completion in 2025 • PEMACO Maywood Superfund site
• Magnesium Fire – Panda International Trading Company (Urban Fires) • Fruitland Ave Fire – 3000 residents evacuated, power outages • 17 Toxic Release Inventory Sites (TRI) within 2 miles of Maywood • All of Maywood in primary impact zone
• No direct impacts
• Increase in natural hazard frequency can increase HAZMAT risks Medium 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N TRI Site Legend
Primary Impact Area Secondary Impact Area Mobile HAZMAT Risk Area Fixed Site HAZMAT Risk Area Vulnerability Assessment • Building Risks
• Fires, corrosive material • Material contamination • Population Risks • Injuries or fatalities
• Long-term health conditions from exposure to contaminants Hazardous Materials Incidents 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Exide Technologies Cleanup Area – Residential Plots Hazardous Materials Incidents 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Exide Technologies Cleanup Area – Parkways Hazardous Materials Incidents 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Urban Fire (Includes Structural and Industrial Fire) Description Previous Occurrences Extent & Probability Climate Projections • An urban fire is a fire that occurs in a densely populated urban area due to industrial, residential, or commercial sources. These fires have the potential to spread rapidly through a city due to the close proximity of structures posing risks to life, property, and infrastructure • 3570 Fruitland Ave Fire of 2016 – Magnesium fueled
• 3000 + residents evacuated from homes
• EPA assistance to clean up site
• $3 million in damages
• Density of development can lead to more severe events • Size and severity of fires can increase due to drier heat and severe wind events (State of California HMP) Medium 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Significant damage, loss of property
• Densely populated regions more prone to fire spread
• Infrastructure Risks
• Bridge failure can impact emergency response
• Population Risks
• Injuries, death
• Public health hazards Medium
Fruitland Ave Fire of 2016 Urban Fire (Includes Structural and Industrial Fire) 31 32
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7 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Severe Storms (Including Thunderstorms, Lightning & Hail) Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • Thunderstorms, lightning, and hail may occur independently, but often accompany each other. Severe storms can bring heavy rains, strong winds, lightning flashes, and hail which can damage or destroy life or property. • 84 events reported since 1957 in LA County (NCEI) • No reported impacts in Maywood • 13 events with deaths and injuries in LA County (NCEI) • Low-moderate risk of severe storms (NRI) • Future deaths, injuries, and property damage likely. • Increase in frequency of storm events (California 4th Climate Change Assessment) Medium 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Hail damage to landscaping, roofs, glass, vehicles
• Lightning can cause structure fires
• Infrastructure Risks
• Power outages, telecommunications outages
• Population Risks
• Injuries, loss of life
• Outdoor workers, unhoused populations exposed more Medium Severe Storms (Including Thunderstorms, Lightning & Hail)

HAVE YOU FACED ANY IMPACTS FROM DROUGHT,

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INCIDENTS, URBAN
FIRES, OR SEVERE STORMS? 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Dam and Levee Failure Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • Dams and Levees are manmade structures designed to control flooding. Failure of dams and levees can lead to uncontrolled flooding and damages to life and property. The City of Maywood is protected from flooding by a Levee along the banks of the Los Angeles River. • No previous occurrences. No high hazard dams in proximity of City. Maywood Levee of moderate risk • If levee along Maywood fails, nearly half of the City can flood • Increase in heaviest precipitation days can increase likelihood of levee failure (NCA5)
Low 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• 1377 buildings & 0.49 sq miles in Levee inundation area • Loss of building contents
• Infrastructure Risks
• Power outages, water contamination
• Road and bridge blockage
• Population Risks
• Health impacts
• Injuries or loss of life Dam and Levee Failure
Low 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Flood Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • An overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. Stormwater flooding in urban areas occurs when heavy rainfall overwhelms the drainage capacity of an area leading to excess water flowing over land and into streets, homes, and other structures. • 123 flash flood events reported since 1997 in LA County (NCEI) • No reported impacts in Maywood • City outside mapped floodplain areas
• Costliest incident in LA County - $280,000 in 2014. • 12% increase in number of says with precipitation in top 1% of historical rainfall events by 2050. (NCA5) Low
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8 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Sewer overflows
• Infrastructure Risks
• Levee Breach
• Transportation impacts
• Population Risks
• Health impacts
• Injuries or loss of life
Flood
Low
DOES THE CITY HAVE ANY PAINPOINTS WITH LOCAL STORMWATER FLOODING? 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N High Winds (Including Strong Winds, Santa Ana Winds, and Tornadoes Description Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • Strong winds that can cause damage to structures, trees, and power lines. Santa Ana Winds are strong, dry winds that occur seasonally in Southern California. Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that can cause significant destruction due to their high wind speeds and the debris they can carry. • 46 events reported since 1980 in LA County (NCEI) • Jan 7th 2025 Windstorm (Santa Ana Winds) • 35 injuries in LA County (NCEI) • Wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour • Increase variability in temperature can affect wind and weather patterns • Exact impacts hard to predict • High wind can spark fires (Madakumbura et. al., 2025) Low 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Vulnerability Assessment
• Building Risks
• Blown shingles, sidings, awnings, and other building features • Debris damage
• Infrastructure Risks
• Downed power and communication lines
• Debris
• Population Risks
• Deaths and injuries
Low
Tornado Paths near City of Maywood High Winds (Including Strong Winds, Santa Ana Winds, and Tornadoes 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N TsunamiDescription Previous Occurrences Extent Climate Projections • A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves caused by the displacement of a significant volume of water, typically due to underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. • None in Maywood • City 14 miles from coast and away from Tsunami inundation zones • Rising seas can impact tsunamis with future events reaching areas further inland. However, the City of Maywood is currently very far inland to be impacted.

Low 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Wildfire Description Previous Occurrences Climate Projections Vulnerability Assessment • A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that burns in wildland vegetation such as forest, grasslands, or brushlands, often spreading rapidly and causing significant damage to ecosystems, property, and human life. • Extensive history of wildfires in greater planning region • No previous impacts to Maywood
• Cascading impacts such as poor air quality impact City • Drier hotter conditions can increase severity of wildfires. Embers carried through winds can impact city. Low • Air quality and public health impacts
• Arson and criminal activities
• Bridge failure from fires impacting evacuation and response 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N 43 44
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9 HAVE YOU FACED ANY IMPACTS FROM HIGH WINDS, WILDFIRES, FLOOD, OR DAM AND LEVEE FAILURE? 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Mentimeter Questions https://www.menti.com/alorsyqe83r4 Code: 6255 4368 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Which 3 hazards concern you the most in the City of Maywood? (Free Response)
• Dam and Levee Failure
• Drought
• Earthquake
• Extreme Heat
• Flood
• Hazardous Materials and Waste
• High Winds
• Public Health Emergencies
• Structural and Industrial Fire
• Severe Storms (Thunderstorm,
Lightning and Hail)
• Tsunami
• Wildfire
Mitigation Strategies Progress Updates 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A NMitigation Strategy To discuss at Workshop #1 in April
Formulate goals
Identify Actions
Create mitigation action list 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Mitigation Actions Identify
Ongoing mitigation activities in the City
New mitigation needs
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10 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Ongoing Mitigation Actions Urban Forest Management and Tree Planting Project Action Description Extreme Heat, Drought, Flood Hazards Addressed City of Maywood, Amigos de Los Rios Lead Implementor Funding State grants Status Ongoing 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Proposed Mitigation Actions City of Maywood Resilience Hub Action Description All Hazards Hazards Addressed Source Maywood Energy Resilience Plan Removal of end-of-life assets from Maywood City Hall for increased physical and IT security Action Description All, Other (Cybersecurity) Hazards Addressed Source Modern IT 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Proposed Mitigation Actions Supply information to community about local hazard risks and preparedness Action Description All Hazards Hazards Addressed Maywood General Plan Safety Element, Youth Commission of Maywood Source Coordinate with county and other public agencies, including transportation agencies and health care providers, on emergency planning, response activities, and evacuation planning Action Description All Hazards Hazards Addressed Maywood General Plan Safety Element Source Example Goals 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Reduce the risk of injury, loss of life, and property damage from hazards.

Integrate hazard mitigation strategies into long-term community planning to ensure sustainable growth and development. Strengthen emergency response and recovery procedures to minimize disruptions after a disaster Foster partnerships and resource sharing between local agencies, businesses, neighboring communities, and residents.Increase awareness of hazards and promote preparedness through education and community engagement Emergency Response & Recovery Community Resilience Education, Awareness, & Outreach Protection of Life & Long-range Planning Property WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON THE GOALS AND MITIGATION ACTIONS? ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL ONGOING OT PROPOSED ACTIONS? 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Mentimeter Questions https://www.menti.com/alorsyqe83r4 Code: 6255 4368 55 56
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11 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Mitigation Actions Poll Question
How would you spend $100 on the 6 mitigation categories? Public Education/ Awareness Emergency Services Structural Projects Natural Resource Protection Property Protection Prevention Outreach projects Social media Speaker series/ demonstration events Hazard map information Real estate disclosure
Library materials School children educational programs Hazard expositions Warning systems and monitoring Emergency response equipment Shelter Operations Evacuation planning and management Emergency response training and exercises Storm sewer expansions Detention basins Energy and water supply redundancy Community Resilience hubs Tree canopy increase Green Streets Green roofs Increase pervious surfaces Earthquake Retrofitting Critical facilities protection Insulation/ structural upgrades for critical
facilities Planning and zoning Building codes Open space preservation requirements Drainage system maintenance Capital improvements programming Social Cohesion (e.g., community tree planting) 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Hazard Mitigation Planning Techniques
• Prevention
• Property Protection
• Natural Resource Protection
• Structural Projects
• Emergency Services
• Public Education and Awareness 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Prevention
• Planning and zoning • Building codes
• Open space preservation requirements
• Drainage system maintenance
• Capital improvements programming
• Social Cohesion (e.g., community tree
planting) 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Property Protection • Earthquake Retrofitting
• Critical facilities protection
• Insulation/ structural upgrades
for critical facilities 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Natural Resource Protection • Tree canopy increase • Green Streets
• Green roofs
• Decrease impervious surfaces 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Structural Projects • Storm sewer expansions • Detention basins
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12 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Emergency Services • Warning systems and monitoring
• Emergency response
equipment • Shelter Operations
• Evacuation planning and
management • Emergency response training
and exercises
• Community Resilience Hubs 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Public Education and Awareness • Outreach projects
• Social media
• Speaker series/ demonstration events
• Hazard map information
• Real estate disclosure
• Library materials
• School children educational
programs
• Hazard expositions
Progress Updates Next Steps 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N • Finalize Risk Assessment Results
• Finalize Capability and Capacity
Assessment • Collect Survey Results • Develop Mitigation Strategy • Mitigation Strategy Workshop
– April 25, 2025
• YMCA Outreach – TODAY! • Earth Day - April 26, 2025
• Review Draft Plan – May 2025
Next Steps 2 0 2 5 C I T Y O F M A Y W O O D H A Z A R D M I T I G A T I O N P L A N Contact Information
Thank you! Thank you!
Miguel Leon
Administrative Analyst, City of Maywood 323-562-5747 [email protected] 67 68
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