Maywood City Council
February 25, 2026

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Dam and Levee Failure......................................................................................50 Drought..............................................................................................................59 Earthquake ........................................................................................................66 Extreme Heat.....................................................................................................77 Flood..................................................................................................................85 Hazardous Material Incidents.............................................................................93 High Wind Events ............................................................................................102 Public Health Emergencies ..............................................................................109 Severe Storms (Including Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Hail)........................115 Tsunami...........................................................................................................122 Wildfire.............................................................................................................126 Urban Fires......................................................................................................131 Summary of Overall Risk.................................................................................. 136 Priority Risk Index Results ...............................................................................136 Hazard Ranking ...............................................................................................137 SECTION 5: CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT............................................138 Introduction....................................................................................................... 140 Conducting the Capability Assessment ............................................................ 141 Emergency Management.................................................................................143 Planning and Regulatory Capability .................................................................145 Fiscal Capability...............................................................................................147 Political Capability............................................................................................147 Conclusion on City Capability........................................................................... 148 SECTION 6: MITIGATION STRATEGY .................................................149 Introduction....................................................................................................... 151 Developing the Plan’s Mitigation Goals ............................................................ 152 Identification & Analysis of Mitigation Actions................................................... 153 Prevention........................................................................................................153 Property Protection ..........................................................................................154 Public Education and Outreach........................................................................154 Natural Resources Protection ..........................................................................154 Emergency Services ........................................................................................155 Structural Projects............................................................................................155 Evaluation of Potential Mitigation Actions......................................................... 155 Selection of Mitigation Actions.......................................................................... 156 Prioritization of Mitigation Actions..................................................................... 157 Implementation of Mitigation Actions ................................................................ 157 2025 City of Maywood Mitigation Action Plan................................................... 159 SECTION 7: PLAN MAINTENANCE......................................................163 Implementation and Integration ........................................................................ 165 Plan Integration................................................................................................165 Planning Mechanisms for Integration ...............................................................166 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Enhancement ....................................................... 167 Five Year Plan Review and Update .................................................................167 Disaster Declaration.........................................................................................168

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Plan Amendment Process................................................................................168 Continued Public and Stakeholder Involvement ............................................... 169 APPENDIX A: ADOPTION RESOLUTION.............................................170 APPENDIX B: PLANNING TOOLS........................................................171 APPENDIX C: MEETING NOTES AND PRESENTATIONS...................172 APPENDIX D: CORRESPONDENCE ....................................................173 APPENDIX E: REVIEW TOOL...............................................................174 APPENDIX F: SURVEY RESULTS........................................................175 APPENDIX G: HAZUS SUMMARY REPORTS......................................176

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Members of the City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee ...................................18 Table 2: Historic and Projected Future Climatic Conditions in the City of Maywood..................................32 Table 3: Housing Characteristics ................................................................................................................33 Table 4: Critical Asset Inventory .................................................................................................................34 Table 5: Share of Employment by Sector ...................................................................................................35 Table 6: FEMA Declared Disasters.............................................................................................................43 Table 7: Hazards included in 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan ............................................45 Table 8: Priority Risk Index Criteria ............................................................................................................48 Table 9: Dam Downstream Hazard Classification ......................................................................................51 Table 10: Levee Risk Levels.......................................................................................................................52 Table 11: Drought Classification Descriptions ............................................................................................59 Table 12: Drought Categories.....................................................................................................................60 Table 13: Notable Earthquakes near Greater Los Angeles from 1980-2024 .............................................71 Table 14: Casualties by Severity Level.......................................................................................................76 Table 15: Significant Previous Extreme Heat Occurrences near the City of Maywood..............................80 Table 16: NCEI Reported Flood Events in Los Angeles County ................................................................89 Table 17: Stream Gage Data for the Los Angeles River ............................................................................90 Table 18: EPA-Reported Chemical Releases.............................................................................................95 Table 19: Significant NCEI Thunderstorm Wind Events in the City of Maywood Region.........................103 Table 20: Diseases with a high average annual incidence in Los Angeles County between 2018- 2022 ..........................................................................................................................................111 Table 21: TORRO Hailstorm Intensity Scale (in millimeters)....................................................................116 Table 22: Previous Severe Storm Occurrences in Los Angeles County ..................................................118 Table 23: Fire Alarm Degrees...................................................................................................................132 Table 24: Summary of PRI Results for the City of Maywood....................................................................136 Table 25: Hazard Ranking for the City of Maywood .................................................................................137 Table 26: Requested Plans for Capability Assessment............................................................................141 Table 27: Additional Considerations (STAPLEE evaluation)....................................................................156 Table 28: Mitigation Action Plan ...............................................................................................................160

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Hazard Mitigation Planning Process............................................................................................17 Figure 2 - Engagement Activity at Risk Assessment Open House.............................................................21 Figure 3 -Activity To Decorate Your Own Emergency To-Go Bag .............................................................22 Figure 4: City of Maywood Location within Los Angeles County ................................................................30 Figure 5: City of Maywood Map ..................................................................................................................31 Figure 6: City of Maywood General Land Use Map....................................................................................35 Figure 7: City of Maywood Social Vulnerability Index.................................................................................36 Figure 8: Social Vulnerability Indicators......................................................................................................37 Figure 9: Cal Enviro Screen Results for the City of Maywood....................................................................38 Figure 10: Dam Locations, Classification, and Inundation Potential of Dams Within a 10-Mile Radius of the City of Maywood ...................................................................................................54 Figure 11: Levee System and Inundation Potential for the City of Maywood .............................................55 Figure 12: Climate Change-Related Factors in Dam Failure......................................................................56 Figure 13: Average Precipitation by Month in Downtown Los Angeles ......................................................61 Figure 14: Percent of Los Angeles County Affected by Drought per USDM Ratings.................................62 Figure 15: Modified Mercalli Scale..............................................................................................................66 Figure 16: Faults in California .....................................................................................................................68 Figure 17: Liquefaction Zones of Required Investigation in and around the City of Maywood ..................69 Figure 18: Earthquake Epicenters Near Maywood and Adjacent Areas ....................................................70 Figure 19: National Weather Service Heat Index Chart..............................................................................78 Figure 20: Average and Record Maximum Temperatures by Month at the Downtown Los Angeles Weather Monitoring Station ........................................................................................................79 Figure 21: Heat Wave Risk Index Results for the City of Maywood ...........................................................82 Figure 22: Heat and Health Index in the City of Maywood .........................................................................83 Figure 23: Flood Risk in the City of Maywood ............................................................................................88 Figure 24: Toxic Release Inventory Sites Within a Five Mile Radius of Maywood.....................................94 Figure 25: Hazardous Material Risk from TRI Sites ...................................................................................99 Figure 26: Mobile Hazardous Material Exposure - Highways...................................................................100 Figure 27: Tornado Paths Near the City of Maywood...............................................................................105 Figure 28: National Risk Index Results for Strong Wind and Tornadoes for the City of Maywood ..........107 Figure 29: National Risk Index Results for Hail and Lightning..................................................................120 Figure 30: Tsunami Hazard Area in City of Maywood ..............................................................................123 Figure 31: Wildfire Risk in the City of Maywood .......................................................................................127 Figure 32: The Four Phases of Emergency Management........................................................................143

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Section 1: Introduction

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Background
Natural, man-made, and technological hazards are a part of the world around us. Natural hazards, such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes, are inevitable, and there is little we can do to control their force and intensity. Further, given the changing climate, many areas are experiencing greater frequency and intensity of hazards. Man-made and technological disasters, such as hazardous materials incidents, industrial fires, and disease outbreak can also impact the City. Such hazards are often cascading impacts of natural hazards. Although the requirement of a FEMA hazard mitigation plan is natural hazards, the City of Maywood must also consider other manmade hazards as legitimate and significant threats to human life, public safety, and property to build holistic resilience and safeguard the community.

While the threat of hazard events may never be fully eliminated, much can be done to lessen potential impacts upon the City of Maywood and its population. By minimizing the impact of hazards upon the built environment, such events can be prevented from turning into disasters.

The concept and practice of reducing risks to people and property from known hazards is generally referred to as hazard mitigation.

Hazard mitigation techniques include structural measures (e.g., strengthening or protecting buildings and infrastructure from destructive forces of potential hazards) and non-structural measures (e.g., the adoption of sound land use policies, regulations, and the creation of public awareness programs). Mitigation has a strong return on investment, estimated at $6 return for every $1 invested according to a 2017 National Institute of Building Science study. It is widely accepted that the most effective mitigation measures are implemented at the local level, where decisions on the regulation and control of development are ultimately made. A comprehensive mitigation approach addresses hazard vulnerabilities that exist today and in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is essential that projected future development and population change patterns are evaluated and considered to assess how growth will affect the community’s overall hazard vulnerability.

A key component in the formulation of a comprehensive approach to hazard mitigation is to develop, adopt, and update a local hazard mitigation plan. A hazard mitigation plan establishes a broad citywide vision and guiding principles for reducing hazard risk and proposes specific mitigation actions to eliminate or reduce identified vulnerabilities. It also presents an opportunity to integrate hazard mitigation and risk reduction principles into other City plans and procedures.

The 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP/ the Plan) represents the first iteration of a city-wide hazard mitigation plan. The Plan draws from the City’s existing policies, data, and related planning and visioning documents. At its core, this Plan recommends specific actions to minimize hazard vulnerability, reduce the risk profile of the City, and protect the population.

Further, this document is intended to serve as a single source to compile City concerns about all FEMA Definition of Hazard Mitigation:
“Any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards.”

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hazards. The Plan will remain a living document with implementation and evaluation procedures established to help achieve meaningful objectives and successful outcomes over time.

Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
To reduce the Nation's mounting natural disaster losses, the U.S. Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Section 322 of DMA 2000 emphasizes the need for state and local government entities to closely coordinate on mitigation planning activities and requires a hazard mitigation plan for any local government applying for federal mitigation grant funds. These funds primary fall under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program. Grant programs under HMA include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. Entities with an adopted and federally approved hazard mitigation plan are pre-positioned to receive available mitigation funds before and after the next disaster strikes.

Purpose
The purpose of the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan is to:
 Develop a supporting source documenting City needs related to emergency management;
 Increase public (i.e., City population, staff, and stakeholder) awareness and education of hazards and hazard mitigation;
 Attain grant eligibility for FEMA funding; and
 Attain compliance with state and federal legislative requirements for local hazard mitigation plans.

Scope
The 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan focuses on hazards determined to be high or moderate risks to the City, as determined through a detailed hazard risk assessment. In addition to FEMA requirements for natural hazards, the City included non-natural hazards, which could have grave consequences on the population and operations. A detailed, FEMA-compliant risk assessment was undertaken for all natural hazards. Non-natural hazards are also assessed.

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Authority
The 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan has been developed in accordance with current state and federal rules and regulations governing local hazard mitigation plans and has been adopted in accordance with county procedures. A copy of the adoption resolution is provided in Appendix A. The Plan shall be routinely monitored and revised to maintain compliance with the following provisions, rules, and legislation:
 Section 322, Mitigation Planning, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as enacted by Section 104 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-390); and
 FEMA's Mitigation Planning Final Rule published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2009, at 44 CFR Part 201.

Summary of Plan Contents
This plan is designed to be as reader-friendly and functional as possible. While significant background information is included on the processes and studies used (i.e., risk assessment, capability assessment), this information is separated from the more meaningful planning outcomes or actions (i.e., mitigation strategy, mitigation action plan). In the beginning of each section is a list of the 44 CFR 201.6 requirements that are met. The following text defines each section in greater detail.

This section, Section 1, Introduction, provides a general background on the need for the plan and the study area.

Section 2, Planning Process, describes the process used to prepare the Plan. It identifies members of the planning team and how the public and other stakeholders were involved. It also includes a summary for each key meeting and any associated outcomes.

The City Profile, located in Section 3, provides a general overview of the City of Maywood, including geographic, demographic, and economic characteristics. In addition, this section discusses building characteristics and land use patterns. This baseline information provides a snapshot of the planning area and helps local officials recognize those social, environmental, and economic factors that play a role in determining the City’s vulnerability to hazards.

The Risk Assessment is presented in Section 4. This section serves to identify, analyze, and assess hazards that threaten the City of Maywood. The risk assessment also attempts to define hazard risks that may uniquely or exclusively affect specific areas of the City.

The Risk Assessment begins by identifying hazards that threaten the City of Maywood. Next, it establishes detailed profiles for each hazard, building on available historical data from the previous plan, past hazard occurrences, spatial extent, and probability of future occurrences. This section culminates in a hazard risk ranking based on conclusions regarding the frequency of occurrence, spatial extent, and potential impact highlighted in each of the hazard profiles (known as the Priority Risk Index). The vulnerability assessment uses available hazard data to evaluate vulnerability. FEMA’s HAZUS® loss estimation methodology evaluates earthquake risk. The information generated through the risk assessment serves a critical function as the City seeks to determine the most appropriate mitigation actions to pursue and implement. The risk assessment

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enables the City to prioritize and focus its efforts on hazards of greatest concern and structures or planning areas facing the greatest risk.

The Capability Assessment, found in Section 5, provides an inventory and analysis of existing plans, ordinances, and relevant documents. The purpose of this assessment is to identify any existing gaps, opportunities, or conflicts in programs or activities that may hinder hazard mitigation efforts and to identify those activities that should be built upon in establishing a successful and sustainable local hazard mitigation program. Specific capabilities addressed in this section include planning and regulatory capability, staff and organizational (administrative) capability, technical capability, fiscal capability, and political capability. Information was obtained through a Capability Assessment Survey.

The Community Profile, Risk Assessment, and Capability Assessment collectively serve as a basis for determining the goals for the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan, each contributing to the development, adoption, and implementation of a meaningful and manageable Mitigation Strategy that is based on accurate background information.

The Mitigation Strategy, found in Section 6, consists of broad goal statements as well as an analysis of hazard mitigation techniques for the City of Maywood to consider in reducing hazard vulnerabilities. The strategy provides the foundation for a detailed Mitigation Action Plan which links specific mitigation actions for each City department or community partner. This process assigns local implementation mechanisms and target completion dates. Together, these sections are designed to make the plan both strategic, through the identification of long-term goals, and functional, through the identification of immediate and short-term actions that will guide day-today decision-making and project implementation.

Plan Maintenance, found in Section 7, includes the measures that the City of Maywood will take to ensure the Plan’s continuous long-term implementation. The procedures also include how the Plan will be regularly evaluated and updated to remain a current and meaningful planning document.

Lastly, the Appendices provide documentation including Appendix A: Adoption Materials, Appendix B: Planning Tools, Appendix C: Meeting Notes and Presentations, Appendix D:

Correspondence, Appendix E: Plan Review Tool, Appendix F: Survey Results, and Appendix G:

Hazus Summary Reports.

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Section 2: Planning Process

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Introduction
Local hazard mitigation planning is the process of organizing community resources, identifying and assessing hazard risks, and determining how to best minimize or manage those risks. This process culminates in a hazard mitigation plan that identifies specific mitigation actions, each designed to achieve both short-term planning objectives and a long-term vision.

Entities that participate in hazard mitigation planning have the potential to accomplish many benefits, including:
 Protecting lives and property,
 Saving money,
 Accelerating recovery following hazard events,
 Reducing future vulnerability through strategic development and investment,  Expediting the receipt of pre-disaster and post-disaster grant funding, and  Demonstrating a firm commitment to improving community health, security, and preparedness.

A core assumption of hazard mitigation is that the investments made before a hazard event (natural or non-natural) will significantly reduce the demand for post-disaster assistance by lessening the need for emergency response, repair, recovery, and reconstruction. Furthermore, mitigation practices and security enhancements get the community back on track sooner with less interruption.

The benefits of mitigation planning go beyond solely reducing hazard vulnerability. The process serves to bolster relationships and mitigation measures often permit multiple benefits such as 44 CFR Requirement
Requirement §201.6(b): To develop a more comprehensive approach to reducing the effects of natural disasters, the planning process shall include:
(1) An opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval; (2) An opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities, and agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses, academia, and other private and non-profit interests to be involved in the planning process; and (3) Review and incorporation, if appropriate, of existing plans, studies, reports, and technical information.

Requirement §201.6(c)(1): [The plan shall document] the planning process used to develop the plan, including how it was prepared, who was involved in the process, and how the public was involved.

Requirement: §201.6(c)(3)(ii): [The mitigation strategy] must also address the jurisdiction’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and continued compliance with NFIP requirements, as appropriate.

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increased recreation opportunities through open space conservation, enhanced public awareness of best practices for safety, and reduced economic interruptions. Thus, it is vitally important that any mitigation planning process be integrated with concurrent local planning efforts, and any proposed mitigation strategies must consider other existing City goals or initiatives that will help complement or hinder their future implementation.

Hazard Mitigation Planning in the City of Maywood
This Plan is the first hazard mitigation plan for the City of Maywood. The City has not previously participated as a jurisdiction in any regional plans. The planning process was initiated in October 2024 following selection of Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec) to provide professional mitigation planning services and to prepare the mitigation plan document for submittal to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), the FEMA, and City leadership.

At the onset of the planning process, the City of Maywood Administrative Analyst (Miguel Leon), and consultant project manager (Ben Schattschneider, AICP, CFM) reviewed the proposed planning process and schedule.

Per the contractual scope of work, the consultant team followed the mitigation planning process recommended by FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (April 2023). The Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, found in Appendix E, provides a detailed summary of FEMA’s current minimum standards of acceptability for compliance with DMA 2000 and notes the location where each requirement is met within this Plan. These standards are based upon FEMA’s Final Rule as published in the Federal Register in Part 201 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The process used to prepare this Plan included twelve major steps that were completed over the course of approximately 9 months beginning in October 2024. Each of these planning steps (illustrated in Figure 1) resulted in critical work products and outcomes that collectively make up the Plan. Specific Plan sections are further described in Section 1: Introduction. The Plan was developed with input from a broad planning team and the public, as described below.

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Figure 1: Hazard Mitigation Planning Process
The City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee In order to guide the development of this plan, a Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee (HMSC) was created. The HMSC is made up of representatives from various City departments, stakeholders, and partners identified to serve as critical partners in the planning process. The HMSC includes City officials engaged in Emergency Management, Planning, Construction, and Public Safety, among others.

Beginning in December 2024, the HMSC engaged in local meetings to discuss and complete tasks associated with preparing the plan. This steering committee coordinated all aspects of plan preparation and provided valuable input to the process. In addition to meetings, planning team members were kept informed and participated through targeted phone calls. Agendas and minutes from the meetings can be found in Appendix C.

Specifically, the tasks assigned to the Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee members included:
 Participate in committee meetings and stakeholder calls;  Provide best available data as required for the risk assessment portion of the plan;  Provide information that will help complete the capability assessment section of the plan and provide copies of any mitigation or hazard-related documents for review and incorporation into the plan;
 Support the development of the Mitigation Strategy, including the design and adoption of goal statements;

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 Help design and propose appropriate mitigation actions for their department/agency for incorporation into the Mitigation Action Plan;
 Review and provide timely comments on all study findings and draft plan deliverables; and
 Support the adoption of the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Table 1 lists the members of the City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee who were responsible for participating in the development of the plan.

Table 1: Members of the City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Name Organization Role
Claudia Zavala City of Maywood Community Services Supervisor Daisy Guerrerro City of Maywood Building and Planning
Daniel Kaufman Cesar Chavez Library Community Library Manager Dave Khanchalian Modern IT City IT Consultant
David Ashman DMAC Disaster Management Coordinator
Dina Cruz AltaMed CORE Partnership Manager
Gerardo Salcedo YMCA Executive Director
Herlinda Chico LA County Fire Department Community Services Liaison Jaime Guerrerro City of Maywood Code Compliance Officer Jennifer Vasquez City of Maywood City Manager
Jerry Gomez City of Maywood Public Works Superintendent Joe Rodriguez Maywood Mutual Water 2 Manager
Junaid Rasul YMCA Engagement Director
Karen Iniguez City of Maywood Community Development Analyst Laura Gracia Communities for a Better
Environment Legal Advocate
Maeli Montecinos LAUSD LAUSD Representative
Manuel Ruvalcaba Tri City Mutual Chief Operator
Miguel Leon City of Maywood Administrative Analyst
Mirla Hub Cities Case Manager
Mohammad Mostahkami Transtech City Engineer Contract
Nancy Rodriguez City of Maywood HR/ Risk Manager
Norma Hernandez Avant Garde Planning Consultant
Multiple Representatives CalOES Emergency Services Coordinator Rimo Hanson City of Maywood Finance Director
Stephanie Cadena ESA Urban Planner

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Plan Development Meetings
The preparation of this Plan required a series of meetings and open houses for facilitating discussion, gaining consensus, and initiating data collection efforts with local government staff, community officials, and other identified stakeholders. More importantly, the meetings and workshops prompted continuous input and feedback from relevant participants throughout the drafting stages of the Plan. The following is a summary of the key meetings and community workshops held during the development of the plan update. Five in-person meetings were conducted:

1. HMSC Kick-off and Hazard Identification Meeting – December 4, 2024

2. Stakeholder group meetings – January and February 2025

3. HMSC Risk Assessment Meeting – February 26, 2025

4. Public Risk Assessment Open House – February 26, 2025

5. HMSC Mitigation Strategy and Plan Review Meeting – April 25, 2025

6. Public Outreach and Tabling Event – April 26, 2025
Meeting notes and the presentation for all meetings are provided in Appendix C.

In addition to these meetings, many routine discussions and supplemental meetings were held by City staff with other stakeholder groups to accomplish specific planning tasks and increase community awareness about the plan development process. Project management meetings were held weekly.

HMSC Kick-off and Hazard Identification Meeting – December 4, 2024 This meeting was facilitated by Ben Schattschneider, Priya Satish, and Emily Ng from Stantec, as well as Miguel Leon and Karen Iniguez from the City of Maywood, who served as the City’s planning leads and managers for the Plan. The meeting was held in a hybrid format with in-person attendees at the Maywood City Hall, and virtual attendees on Zoom on December 4, 2024. The purpose of the meeting was to:
 Provide an overview of hazard mitigation including possible techniques;  Review proposed project tasks, roles and responsibilities;  Review project schedule with the planning team; and,
 Review hazards for inclusion in the risk assessment
The meeting began with introductions, followed by an overview of hazard mitigation planning.

Members of the planning team noted information that may be of interest to the Stantec team. A draft hazards list was reviewed and the HMSC provided input on the level of concern associated with each hazard as well as additional hazards to consider. A preliminary discussion of goal areas and mitigation actions was conducted, and the committee reviewed the public survey.

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Stakeholder Group Meetings – January and February 2025
In addition to HMSC meetings, the planning team met stakeholder groups identified by the City to introduce the HMP plan process and solicit feedback on mitigation actions, and participation in the community survey in four virtual meetings. Groups engaged are:
 Amigos de los Rios
 Maywood School Principals
 City of Maywood Youth Commissioners
 City of Maywood Youth and Government Club
The groups provided feedback about potential mitigation actions they can support with, as well as provided responses to the public survey. Young adults from the City’s Youth Commissioners and the Youth and Government Club expressed the need for education and awareness programs surrounding mitigation actions. The school principals suggested considering overlaps between mitigation planning, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s hazard mitigation plan, and each school’s safety plans. Amigos de los Rios proposed increasing tree cover as a mitigation action to combat extreme heat and drought.

HMSC Risk Assessment Meeting – February 26, 2025
This meeting was facilitated by Ben Schattschneider, Priya Satish, and Emily Ng from Stantec, along with other team members, and as well as Miguel Leon and Karen Iniguez from the City of Maywood. The meeting was held in a hybrid format with in-person attendees at the Maywood City Hall, and virtual attendees on Zoom on February 26, 2025. Ben provided a recap of hazard mitigation process, and an overview of the project with an updated schedule. He presented progress that had been made since the last meeting, including collection of data and development of the draft risk assessment.

Priya presented an overview of the Capability and Capacity Assessment results. It was noted that the Plan must consider lessons learned from other disasters that have occurred in the region, such as the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles, in addition to planning documents.

The Stantec team then presented results from the risk assessment. Concerns and mitigation actions/redundancies in place regarding power outages, stormwater-related nuisance flooding, and hazardous materials releases were discussed.

Lastly, future engagement opportunities and next steps were discussed.

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Public Risk Assessment Open House – February 26, 2025
Figure 2 - Engagement Activity at Risk Assessment Open House This open house was facilitated by Ben Schattschneider, Emily Ng, Hayat Rasul, and Priya Satish from Stantec along with Miguel Leon, and Karen Iniguez from the City of Maywood. A tabling booth was set up at the City’s YMCA Monthly food distribution event and over 100 members of the public attended. Bilingual engagement was conducted to introduce the plan to members of the public and solicit feedback about hazard concerns and goals. The purpose of this meeting was to:
 Introduce the public to the hazard mitigation planning process;  Document residents’ concerns and previous impacts related to the hazards;  Distribute and collect responses to the survey; and
 Identify goal areas for the hazard mitigation plan.

City residents participated in an activity to mark hazards that they have been impacted by or are concerned about using stickers on a poster board. Feedback about experiences was provided, with several residents expressing concerns about extreme heat, drought, and hazardous materials. Several residents were particularly concerned about hazardous materials from industrial uses and the Exide Battery Recycling Facility’s soil cleanup efforts on their property.

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HMSC Mitigation Strategy and Plan Review Meeting – April 25, 2025 This meeting was facilitated by Ben Schattschneider and Priya Satish from Stantec. The primary focus of the meeting was to finalize goals and actions for the Plan. A draft list of proposed actions collected from prior steering committee meetings, outreach and engagement activities, complimentary City planning efforts, neighboring jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plans, and the FEMA Mitigation Ideas handbook provided to the committee one week prior to the meeting to review and discuss at the meeting. At the meeting, the committee discussed each of the proposed actions and provided additional input about the status of related ongoing activities in the City. A priority rating was assigned to each of the actions. The committee was also provided with an additional opportunity to review proposed actions for a week after the meeting.

Public Outreach and Tabling Event
– April 26, 2025
This outreach was facilitated by Ben
Schattschneider, Emily Ng, Hayat Rasul, and
Priya Satish from Stantec along with Miguel
Leon and Karen Iniguez from the City of
Maywood. A booth was set up at the City’s Earth
Day event and about 100 members of the public
attended. Bilingual engagement was conducted
to engage with the public about the planning
process and provide emergency preparedness
procedures. The goals of this engagement
were:
 Document residents’ concerns and
previous impacts related to the
hazards;
 Distribute and collect responses to
the survey;
 Distribute emergency preparedness
items to children and families
containing flashlights, utensils, water
bottles, and an informational activity
book for children; and
 Introduce ideas to talk about disaster
management and preparedness in
City events. Figure 3 -Activity To Decorate Your Own
Emergency To-Go Bag

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Involving the Public
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(b)(1): The planning process shall include an opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval.

An important component of the mitigation planning process involved public participation. Input from the community provides the entire HMSC with a greater understanding of local concerns and increases the likelihood of successfully implementing mitigation actions by developing community “buy-in” from those directly affected by the decisions of City officials. As members of the community become more involved in decisions that affect their safety, they are more likely to gain greater awareness of the hazards present in the City and greater Los Angeles region and take the steps necessary to reduce their impact. Public awareness is a key component of any city’s overall mitigation strategy aimed at making a city safer from the potential effects of hazards.

Public involvement during the development of the City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan was sought using three methods: (1) two public open houses were held during the planning process as described above (2) a public survey was conducted (described below) which permitted open comment; and (3) digital copies of the draft plan deliverables were made available and advertised for public review and comment on the City’s website, and the Plan’s Social Pinpoint site.

The public was provided two opportunities to be involved in the development of the Plan at two distinct periods during the planning process: (1) during the drafting stage of the plan – two public meetings; and (2) upon completion of a final draft plan – draft plan review, but prior to official plan approval and adoption. A link to an electronic version of the draft plan was posted and advertised via the Plan Social Pinpoint Site for residents. (June 25, 2025 – July 31, 2025). Appendix D documents these advertisements. The plan was sent to officials at the City of Maywood, and Los Angeles County for review and comment. The final plan was reviewed and approved by the City on February 25, 2026 (the adoption resolution can be found in Appendix A).

Public Participation Survey
The planning team was successful in getting community members to provide input to the mitigation planning process using a Public Participation Survey. The public survey was created to capture concerns and feedback from campus communities, especially those who might not be able to attend public meetings or participate through other means in the mitigation planning process. The survey was distributed in English and Spanish both in paper format at the Maywood City Hall and public tabling events, as well as online, on the Plan’s Social Pinpoint site. Details for the Survey results can be found in Appendix F.

A link to an electronic version of the survey was posted and advertised via the City’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and posted on the City’s resident information application.

Public survey links were also disseminated by HMSC members. Appendix D documents each of these advertisements.

A total of 56 responses were received from the public survey, which provided valuable input for the planning team to consider during plan development. Select survey results are presented

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 2 Planning Process 24
below. A copy of the survey and a detailed summary of the survey results are provided in Appendix B and Appendix F.

Public Survey Results
Question: Have you ever experienced or been impacted by any of the following hazards? 1 2
10 15
14 22
19 26
36 31
39 37
Tsunami
Dam and Levee Failure
Flood
Wildfire
Urban Fire
High Wind
Severe Storms
Drought
Hazardous Materials and Waste
Public Health Emergencies
Extreme Heat
Earthquake

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 2 Planning Process 25
Question: How concerned are you about the possibility of your community being impacted by the following hazards?
Question: How important are the following activity areas for hazard mitigation? * *Respondents were provided with example projects for each activity area 41 39
39 27
20 21
16 17
18 12
8 11
11 15
14 28
32 32
31 29
29 34
22 3
3 3
6 7
6 9
14 13
12 28
20 Hazardous Materials and Waste
Earthquake
Extreme Heat
Public Health Emergencies
Urban Fire
Drought
Severe Storms
Wildfire
High Wind
Flood
Tsunami
Dam and Levee Failure
Extremely Concerned Somewhat concerned Not concerned
1 1 2 2 1 2
7 6 7
12 9 9
47 48 46
41 43 44
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 Structural Projects Emergency
Services
Property
Protection
Prevention Public Education
and Awareness
Natural Resource
Protection
Not Important Somewhat imporant Very Important

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 2 Planning Process 26
Involving the Stakeholders
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(b)(2): The planning process shall include an opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities, and agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses, academia and other non-profit interests to be involved in the planning process.

As demonstrated through this section, the planning team worked to provide an opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders, including staff from departments across the City, partner agencies, community-based organizations, youth and young adult groups, general community members, and others to be involved in the planning process.

In order to involve a wide range of stakeholders, the City made a significant effort to broadly distribute the public survey, advertise public meetings, and solicit comments on the draft plan.

The opportunity to be involved and offer input was provided for City staff, the City Council, the Steering Committee, and community members throughout the mitigation planning process.

Furthermore, the following activities demonstrate broad stakeholder involvement:
 The HMSC included representatives from Disaster Management agencies, Health and Safety organizations, Public Works administration, community-based organizations, City departments, IT, and others.
 Risk assessment data was leveraged from several City, County, State, and national sources.
 Officials such as the City Council, Principals of City Schools, and Police Commissioner from the City of Maywood were encouraged to review and provide feedback on the draft plan via email sent on July 8, 2025. These requests and feedback received are documented in Appendix D.
 The final draft plan was publicized on the City Social Pinpoint site for stakeholder comment and review. The City Council formally released the plan for public review through the City Council meeting held on June 25, 2025.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 2 Planning Process 27
Incorporation of Plans, Studies, and Technical Information 44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(b)(3): Does the Plan describe the review and incorporation of existing plans, studies, reports, and technical information?
Several plans and studies have been leveraged during the development of this plan. Each section references these sources at the end, which are mainly found in Section 3 through Section 5.

Types of sources leveraged included:
 City planning documents (e.g., Maywood General Plan, Maywood Local Ordinance, City of Maywood Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Draft)  Local, state, federal hazard technical information (e.g., USGS Earthquake data, Hazus, CalAdapt)
 FEMA hazard mitigation plans and planning guidance
City plans were also queried and reviewed, which is discussed further in Section 5: Capability Assessment.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 3 County Profile 28
Section 3: City Profile

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Geography and the Environment
The City of Maywood is located in Los Angeles County, 8 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles and is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles. Its neighboring cities include the City of Vernon to the north, the City of Bell to the south, City of Bell Gardens to the east, and the City of Huntington Park to its west. The City is approximately 2.73 miles eastwest and 1 mile north-south and comprises of a total land area of 1.18 square miles. The Los Angeles River runs along the north edge of the City. The location of the City within Los Angeles County is in Figure 4.

Figure 4: City of Maywood Location within Los Angeles County The City comprises a densely developed urban landscape with a majority of residential land use, and commercial uses spread along its two main arterials, Atlantic Boulevard, and Slauson Avenue. The north and west edges of the City comprise of industries along Fruitland Avenue and S. Downey Road and are adjacent to the predominantly industrial City of Vernon. Industrial land is also located in the southeast corner of the City of Maywood along the Los Angeles River. The 44 CFR Requirement
Requirement §201.6(d)(3): A local jurisdiction must review and revise its plan to reflect changes in development, progress in local mitigation efforts, and changes in priorities, and resubmit it for approval within 5 years to continue to be eligible for mitigation project grant funding.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 3 County Profile 31
City is primarily residential and serves communities employed in the nearby industrial areas. The entire City population is an estimated 23,824. 1
The City map showing its major roadways, and landmarks is in Figure 5.

Figure 5: City of Maywood Map
Climate
The region experiences semi-arid climate with hot summers and wintertime rainfall. The average annual temperature is 66.2°F, which is based on the 1971-2000 12-month mean. The mean precipitation within the same study period was 15.14 inches. 2 The City averages 278 sunny days with the clearest part of the year being May-October. High and low average temperatures range from 83°F to 53°F in the summer, 74°F to 48°F in the winter. 2 1 United States Census Bureau. (n.d.) QuickFacts Maywood City, California. Retrieved from U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Maywood city, California
2 WRCC. (n.d.) Los Angeles Downtown USC Campus California NCDC 1971-2000 Monthly Normals. Retrieved from LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary Riverfront
Park
Maywood
Shopping
Center
City of Vernon
City of Bell
City of Huntington
Park
City of Commerce

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 3 County Profile 32
The coldest temperature recorded at the nearest weather station (located in Downtown Los Angeles) was 28°F (January 1913) while the warmest temperature was 113°F (September 2010).

Rainfall typically occurs between November and April. Most precipitation events in the area result in less than 0.2 inches of rain. On average, January is the wettest month with an average of 3 inches of precipitation overall. 3
In recent decades, data trends show a gradually changing climate. Trends and climate models suggest an overall increase in extremely hot days and average annual temperatures. Average annual rainfall is projected to remain roughly the same, but the intensity of the heaviest rainfall events is expected to increase, with heavier bursts of rainfall interspersed by longer dry spells.

Table 2 shows the historic and anticipated future climatic conditions in the region. 4 Table 2: Historic and Projected Future Climatic Conditions in the City of Maywood Climate Indicator
Observed
Baseline
(1961-1990)
Modeled Future
Conditions
(2035-2064)
Anticipated Hazard
Impacts
Average Annual
Maximum
Temperature

77.6°F 79.8 - 84.1°F
Increase in heat
waves, drought, and
wildfire conditions.

Number of days
over 99°F in a year 4 days 12 days
Average Annual
Precipitation 14.3 inches 14.2 inches Longer dry spells interspersed by heavy
rainfall events,
increased risk of flash
flooding, and
increased risk of
droughts.

Maximum 1-day
Precipitation 1.83 inches 1.95 inches
Population and Demographics
From 2010 to 2020, the official population count in the City of Maywood decreased by eight percent from 27,395 to 25,138. The population density of the City is 21,448 per square mile, making it the most densely populated City in California. 5 3 WRCC. (n.d.) Los Angeles Downtown USC Campus California NCDC 1971-2000 Monthly Normals. Retrieved from LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary 4 Cal-Adapt. (2019). Local Climate Change Snapshot. Retrieved from Local Climate Change Snapshot 5 USA.com. (n.d.) California Population Density City Rank. Retrieved from California Population Density City Rank

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Section 3 County Profile 33
Maywood’s population is predominantly Hispanic and close to 98% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. Close to half the population was born outside the U.S. in Mexico and Latin America. Of the foreign-born population, nearly 30% are naturalized U.S. citizens. Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the community and over half the population (51.5%) speaks English less than “very well.” 6
Housing, Infrastructure, Critical Assets, and Land Use
Housing
The City has 6,768 housing units. 54.5% of the units are single-family detached houses.7 Housing information is provided in Table 3. Over 4,300 units were constructed before 1969, over 50 years ago. 8
Table 3: Housing Characteristics
Location Housing Units
(Census 2020)
Owner Occupied
Units (ACS 2023)
Median Home
Value (ACS 2023)
City of Maywood 6,696 1,900 (28%) $609,300
Infrastructure
Slauson Avenue is the main east-west arterial, and S. Atlantic Boulevard is the main north-south arterial throughout the City. The only access to the City of Maywood from the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region is through three bridges across the Los Angeles River: one at Atlantic Boulevard through the center of the City; two at Slauson Avenue; and three at Randolph Street at the south of the City. I-710 runs along the eastern edge of the City across the Los Angeles River and connects to I-10. The railway junction north of the City carries goods and materials in and out of the industrial region.

The City of Maywood has one primary green space, which is the Riverfront Park located in the northeast corner of the City by the Los Angeles River. Additionally, Maywood Park is a recreation center with a baseball field located on 58th Street.

Electric power for the City is provided by Southern California Edison. Water service is provided by three water companies: Maywood Mutual Water Co. 1; Maywood Mutual Water Co. #2; and Maywood Mutual Water Co. #3. Waste collection and recycling services are provided by the City through a contract. Natural gas is provided by Southern California Gas Company. 6 U.S. Census Bureau (2023). American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Retrieved from language - Census Bureau Tables
7 Maywood General Plan (2021). Housing Element. 8 Hazus. (2024)

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Section 3 County Profile 34
The City has no vacant parcels and has no potential to support new development. Any planned redevelopments are planned to be built to 100% of the allowable density. The City’s largest challenge lies in preserving and enhancing its existing neighborhoods.

Critical Assets
Critical assets are essential to the functioning community; therefore, it is imperative that assets are resilient to hazard events. The City of Maywood’s inventory of critical assets is shown in Table

4. A map of the City’s critical facilities is shown in Figure 5 in the previous section.

Table 4: Critical Asset Inventory
Critical Facility Count
Medical Facilities 1
Police Station 1
Municipal Government Building 1
School Buildings 6
Land Use
Sixty percent of the City’s land area is covered by housing uses. The remaining land is utilized by industrial, commercial, and public uses including streets and rights-of-way. Parks and open spaces comprise less than 1% of the total land. As per the City of Maywood General Plan, Land Use Element, there are no changes proposed to the land use of the City. A map of the City’s land use is in Figure 6.9
9 City of Maywood General Plan. (2021). Land Use Element

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Section 3 County Profile 35
Figure 6: City of Maywood General Land Use Map
Employment and Industry
The City’s residents are primarily employed in the manufacturing and production occupations (14.3%). The top five sectors where Maywood residents are employed are shown in Table 5. 10 The median household income in the City is $57,615.

Table 5: Share of Employment by Sector
Sector Percentage of People Employed
Production Occupations 14.3%
Construction & Extraction Occupations 11.5%
Office & Administrative Support Occupations 10.3%
Sales & Related Occupations 8.47%
Transportation Occupations 7.66%
Social Vulnerability
According to the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, social vulnerability “refers to the demographic and socioeconomic factors (such as poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing) that adversely affect communities that encounter hazards and other community-level stressors. These stressors can include natural or human-caused disasters (such 10 Data USA. (2022). Maywood, CA Economy. Retrieved from Maywood, CA | Data USA

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 3 County Profile 36
as tornadoes or chemical spills) or disease outbreaks (such as COVID-19).”11 This concept is relevant to hazard mitigation analysis because social vulnerability indicates a community’s capacity to withstand and recover from various hazards. Figure 7 shows a map with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that depicts that all of the City of Maywood has high social vulnerability as compared to the national average. 11 Overall, the City has a social
vulnerability score of 0.86, which ranks as a high level of vulnerability compared to the rest of the nation.

Figure 7: City of Maywood Social Vulnerability Index
Factors that contribute to social vulnerability include socioeconomic status, household characteristics, housing type/transportation, and race and ethnic minority status. Figure 8 shows the breakdown of social vulnerability data.
11 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2024) CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index (CDC/ATSDR SVI):

Overview. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Retrieved from Social Vulnerability Index | Place and Health - Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP) | ATSDR

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Section 3 County Profile 37
Figure 8: Social Vulnerability Indicators
The SVI status of the City is primarily driven by the Hispanic identity and low English-speaking proficiency of a significant percentage of its residents. Additionally, 18.6% of all Maywood residents are considered to be below the poverty line, and close to 40% of adults are not in the workforce.12
The ACS defines overcrowding as more than one occupant per room and severe overcrowding as more than 1.5 occupants per room. By this definition, almost three-fourths of Maywood households are overcrowded or severely overcrowded. 13
Another indicator of a community’s level of vulnerability is environmental justice. According to the State of California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), environmental justice is “the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” CalEPA, in collaboration with other state agencies developed CalEnviroScreen to identify those communities 12 U.S. Census Bureau (2023). American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Retrieved from Maywood city, California - Census Bureau Profile
13 City of Maywood General Plan. (2021). Sixth Cycle Housing Element

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Section 3 County Profile 38
that are disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution. The results of CalEnviroScreen 4.0 for the City of Maywood are in Figure 9.

Figure 9: Cal Enviro Screen Results for the City of Maywood As shown in the map, all areas of the City are identified as experiencing disproportionate burdens from pollution, which includes burdens on air and water quality, toxic releases, and traffic density.

Given this information, it is important to consider environmental justice goals alongside mitigation goals for the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Figure 9: Cal Enviro Screen Results for the City of Maywood14 As shown in the map, all areas of the City are identified as experiencing disproportionate burdens from pollution, which includes burdens on air and water quality, toxic releases, and traffic density. 14 California OEHHA (2021). CalEnviroScreen 4.0. Retrieved from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Results

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 3 County Profile 39
Given this information, it is important to consider environmental justice goals alongside mitigation goals for the 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Changes in Development
The City of Maywood experienced a decline in population between 2010 and 2020. This decline is expected to continue over the coming years.

In 2021, The City of Maywood adopted its new General Plan that is intended to guide and influence long term planning in the City for years to come. The focus areas of the plan include:15  Continued redevelopment and revitalization of retail commercial areas along Slauson Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard;
 Maintenance and preservation of existing residential neighborhoods;  Improving the quality of new development through a thorough re-examination of building and development standards;
 Continued emphasis on promoting new development in the industrial areas, thus providing new employment opportunities; and
 Cooperation with other agencies and governments in improving the environment and quality of life for both residents in the City and in the surrounding region. 15 City of Maywood. (2021). General Plan. Retrieved from General Plan | Maywood, CA

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Section 4 Risk Assessment 40
Section 4: Risk Assessment

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Introduction
The City of Maywood faces various natural and man-made hazards, which have caused deaths, injuries, and millions of dollars in damages. The Hazard Risk Assessment section looks at past and potential future hazards specific to the City Maywood. It includes a risk and vulnerability assessment for each hazard. By examining past events and potential future scenarios, the assessment provides information about how these hazards can impact the focus area, including possible damage and financial losses.

The hazards are organized into profiles that cover a description, location impacts, past occurrences and damages, the extent (or magnitude) of risk, and the likelihood of future events.

These profiles focus on the City of Maywood and its critical assets. The assessment is mostly qualitative and includes quantitative data (such as dollar loss estimates) when data permits. Each profile also features climate change considerations.
44 CFR Requirement
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the type … of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the … location and extent of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction. The plan shall include information on previous occurrences of hazard events and on the probability of future hazard events.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the jurisdiction’s vulnerability to the hazards described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section. This description shall include an overall summary of each hazard and its impact on the community.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii): [The risk assessment] must also address National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insured structures that have been repetitively damaged floods.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(A): The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of the types and numbers of existing and future buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities located in the identified hazard area
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(B): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of an] estimate of the potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures identified in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(A) of this section and a description of the methodology used to prepare the estimate.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(C): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of] providing a general description of land uses and development trends within the community so that mitigation options can be considered in future land use decisions.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(iii): For multi-jurisdictional plans, the risk assessment must assess each jurisdiction’s risks where they vary from the risks facing the entire planning area.

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 4 Risk Assessment 43
Disaster Declarations
Hazard events in Los Angeles County have caused significant damage, leading to disaster declarations over the past 44 years. These events include floods, severe storms, fires, freezing conditions, and the COVID-19 epidemic. Major Disasters are identified at the county level and denoted with a “DR”. Information about the specific impacts of these disasters to the City of Maywood is not known. Table 6 lists all presidential or federal major disaster declarations for Los Angeles County since 1980. Presidential Disaster Declarations are declared at the county-level; therefore, declarations made for Los Angeles County were considered as relevant to the City of Maywood.

Table 6: FEMA Declared Disasters16
Declaration
Date Declaration Event Incident Subcategory
Disaster
Number
2/21/1980 Severe Storms, Mudslides &
Flooding Flood 615
11/27/1980 Brush & Timber Fires Fire 635
2/9/1983 Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides &
Tornadoes Coastal Storm 677
10/7/1987 Earthquake & Aftershocks Earthquake 799
2/5/1988 Severe Storms, High Tides &
Flooding Flood 812
6/30/1990 Fires Fire 872
2/11/1991 Severe Freeze Freezing
Temperature 894
2/25/1992 Rain/Snow/Wind Storms, Flooding,
Mudslides Flood 935
5/2/1992 Fire During A Period Of Civil Unrest Fire 942
2/3/1993 Severe Winter Storm, Mud & Land
Slides, & Flooding Flood 979
10/28/1993 Fires, Mud/Landslides, Flooding,
Soil Erosion Fire 1005
1/17/1994 Northridge Earthquake Earthquake 1008
16 Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.) Disaster Declarations for States and Counties. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/data-visualization/disaster-declarations-states-and-counties

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 4 Risk Assessment 44
Declaration
Date Declaration Event Incident Subcategory
Disaster
Number
1/10/1995 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding,
Landslides, Mud Flows Severe Storm 1044
3/12/1995 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding
Landslides, Mud Flow Severe Storm 1046
2/9/1998 Severe Winter Storms And Flooding Severe Storm 1203 10/27/2003 Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow And
Debris Flow Fire 1498
2/4/2005 Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris
Flows, And Mudslides Severe Storm 1577
4/14/2005
Severe Storms, Flooding,
Landslides, And Mud And Debris
Flows
Severe Storm 1585
3/13/2007 Severe Freeze Freezing
Temperature 1689
10/24/2007 Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, And
Debris Flows Fire 1731
11/18/2008 Wildfires Fire 1810
3/8/2010 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding,
And Debris And Mud Flows Severe Storm 1884
3/16/2017 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding,
And Mudslides Flood 4305
1/2/2018 Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, And
Debris Flows Fire 4353
11/12/2018 Wildfires Fire 4407
3/22/2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Biological 4482
10/16/2020 Wildfires Fire 4569
1/14/2023 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding,
Landslides, And Mudslides Flood 4683
4/3/2023
Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line
Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And
Mudslides
Severe Storm 4699

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 4 Risk Assessment 45
Declaration
Date Declaration Event Incident Subcategory
Disaster
Number
4/13/2024
Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes,
Flooding, Landslides, And
Mudslides
Severe Storm 4769
Hazard Identification
Section 201.6(c)(2)(i) requires the risk assessment to include a description of the type of allnatural hazards that can affect the City of Maywood. As part of the planning process, hazards from the City’s General Plan Safety Element, the Los Angeles County All Hazards Mitigation Plan, and Mitigation Plans from other cities in the planning region were considered. The Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee (HMSC) and the City of Maywood provided additional input on hazards of concern that should be included in the Plan. Table 7 includes the list of hazards included in the City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan, and notes if they are included in the Los Angeles County Plan and the City’s Safety Element.

Table 7: Hazards included in 2025 City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan Hazard included in
2025 City of Maywood
HMP
Hazard included in 2020 Los Angeles County HMP
Hazard included in
2021 Maywood Safety
Element
Dam & Levee Failure Yes Yes
Drought No Yes (Under
Precipitation)
Earthquake Yes Yes
Extreme Heat No Yes
Flood Yes Yes
Hazardous Materials &
Waste No Yes
High Wind Events No No
Public Health
Emergencies No No
Severe Storms No No
Tsunami Yes Yes
Urban Fires No Yes
Wildfires Yes Yes

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 4 Risk Assessment 46
The 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan includes additional natural hazards that were not included in this Plan. These hazards were not considered a concern by the planning and steering committee due to the geographic distance from known hazard areas. These hazards are:
 Coastal flood/ sea level rise
 Extreme cold or freeze
 Landslides, debris flow and other mass movements
 Snow avalanche
 Subsidence
 Volcano
Risk Assessment Tools
Hazard information was collected for all hazards under consideration using hazard studies, GIS data, and descriptions of previous events. This information is cited throughout the plan.

Hazards Assessed Geospatially
GIS tools provide a mechanism to perform quantitative analysis. Hazards that have specified geographic boundaries permit analysis using GIS. Profiled hazards that were assessed using GIS include:
 Dam and Levee Failure
 Flood
 Hazardous Materials Incidents
The objective of the GIS-based analysis was to inform exposure of critical facilities and structures for the identified hazards in the City using the best available geospatial data. ESRI® ArcGIS Pro™

3.1.2 was used to assess hazard vulnerability utilizing digital hazard data, such as FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Using these data layers, hazard vulnerability can be assessed by estimating the number of structures determined to be in identified geographic hazard area boundaries.

Priority Risk Index
The prioritization and categorization of identified hazards for the City of Maywood is based largely on the Priority Risk Index (PRI), a tool used to measure the degree of risk for identified hazards in a particular planning area. The PRI was used to assist the Hazard Mitigation Committee in identifying hazards that pose the most significant threat to the City.

The PRI results provide a numerical value for each hazard, allowing hazards to be ranked against one another (i.e., the higher the PRI value, the greater the hazard risk). PRI values are obtained by assigning varying degrees of risk to five categories for each hazard: probability, impact, spatial extent, warning time, and duration. Each degree of risk has been assigned a value (1 to 4) and a weighting factor. To calculate the PRI value for a given hazard, the assigned risk value for each

City of Maywood Hazard Mitigation Plan
Section 4 Risk Assessment 47
category is multiplied by the weighting factor. The sum of all five categories equals the final PRI value, as demonstrated in the example equation below:

PRI VALUE = [(PROBABILITY x .30) + (IMPACT x .30) + (SPATIAL EXTENT x .20) + (WARNING TIME x .10) + (DURATION x .10)]
According to the weighting scheme applied, the highest possible PRI value is 4.0. Table 8 shows the weighting schemes for each category. By determining a value for each hazard that can be compared to other hazards threatening the planning area, hazards can be ranked with greater ease. Many of the PRI categories are described within the hazard profiles. The final PRI results, including the calculated values for each hazard in the City of Maywood, are found at the end of this section in the “Summary of Overall Risk.”

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Section 4 Risk Assessment 48
Table 8: Priority Risk Index Criteria
PRI
Category Level Criteria Index Value
Assigned
Index Value
Probability
Unlikely Less than 10% annual probability 1
30%
Possible Between 10 and 50% annual probability 2
Likely Between 50 and 90% annual probability 3
Highly Likely Greater than 90% annual probability 4
Vulnerability
Minor
Only minor property damage and minimal
disruption to government functions and
services. No shutdown of critical facilities.
1 30%
Limited
Minor injuries are possible. More than 10%
of buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Temporary shutdown of critical facilities (less
than one week).
2 Critical
Multiple deaths/injuries possible. More than
25% of buildings were damaged or
destroyed. Complete shutdown of critical
facilities for more than one week.
3 Catastrophic
High number of deaths/injuries possible.

More than 50% of buildings were damaged
or destroyed. Complete shutdown of critical
facilities for 30 days or more.
4 Spatial
Extent
Negligible Limited to a specific area. 1
20%
Small Small areas affected 2
Moderate Large areas / multiple areas affected 3
Large All areas affected 4
Warning
Time
More than 24
hours Self-explanatory 1
10%
12 to 24
hours Self-explanatory 2
6 to 12 hours Self-explanatory 3
Less than 6
hours Self-explanatory 4
Duration
Less than 6
hours Self-explanatory 1
10%
Less than 24
hours
Self-explanatory 2
Less than one
week Self-explanatory 3
More than
one week Self-explanatory 4

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Section 4 Risk Assessment 49
Hazard Profiles
Each hazard is profiled separately to describe the hazard and potential impacts to the City. Where data exists, specific information on hazard location will also be included. When applicable, impacts from climate change are integrated throughout each hazard profile. The profile for each hazard includes:
 Description: A scientific explanation of the hazard including potential magnitude (or severity) and impacts (including climate change considerations);  Location: Geographical extent of the hazard;
 Previous occurrences: The number of previous impacts from the hazard on the City in the past;
 Extent (or magnitude): The severity of the hazard in the past and potential severity in the future. Measures may include wind speed, depth of flooding, or property damage, for example;
 Probability of future events: The likelihood of future events impacting the City of Maywood. Given that an exact probability is often difficult to quantify, this characteristic is categorized into ranges to be used in hazard profiles:
o Unlikely: Less than 10 percent annual probability
o Possible: Between 10 percent and 50 percent annual probability o Likely: Between 50 percent and 90 percent annual probability o Highly Likely: Greater than 90 percent annual probability  Vulnerability assessment: The vulnerability assessment investigates the potential number of and type of structures at risk, potential dollar loss, and potential impacts resulting from each hazard based on available data and information. When applicable, the vulnerability assessment will address the following potential vulnerabilities to each hazard:
o Impact on buildings and critical facilities, including potential structural damage to buildings or other property damage. The types of critical facilities that are affected are also described;
o Damage to critical infrastructure;
o Impacts to health and life safety;
o Social vulnerability;
o Economic impacts;
o Cascading Impacts from the hazard; and
o Future conditions and how they may affect the hazard impacts.

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Dam and Levee Failure
Description
A dam is an artificial barrier constructed across a stream channel or a man-made basin to store, control, or divert water. Dams are typically built of earth, rock, concrete, or mine tailings. The area directly behind the dam where water is impounded or stored is called a reservoir.

Dam failure is the partial or total collapse, breach, or other failure of a dam that causes flooding downstream. Dam failures can result from natural events such as a flood event, earthquake or landslide, human-induced events such as improper maintenance, or a combination of both. In case of a dam failure, the people, property, and infrastructure downstream could be subject to devastating damage.

A levee is a man-made barrier designed to control the flow of water from rivers or other bodies of water, helping to prevent flooding in nearby areas. According to the National Levee Database, one levee system runs along a portion of the City of Maywood. The Los Angeles/Compton Creek (LA/CC2) levee is a three-segment system that spans 23 miles. The segment closest to the City of Maywood runs from the City of Vernon to the City of Cudahy. The proceeding segments eventually lead to the confluence with the Los Angeles River. 17 Dam and levee failure occurs when the structure does not effectively hold or withstand water due to an event or intentional impact. Dam and Levee failures can result from one or more of the following:
 Prolonged periods of rainfall and flooding;
 Frequent overtopping from rainfall and flood events resulting in weakening structural material
 Internal erosion caused by water seepage with more porous material portions of the structure
 Internal erosion caused by embankment or foundation leakage;  Inadequate spillway capacity resulting in excess flow overtopping the dam or levee;  Earthquakes which can cause longitudinal cracks at the tops of embankments that can weaken entire structures.
 Improper design (including use of improper construction materials and practices);  Negligent operation (including failure to remove or open gates or valves during high flow periods);
 Failure of an upstream dam on the same waterway; and
 High winds can cause significant wave action and result in substantial erosion. 17 USACE (n.d.). Los Angeles River/Compton Creek 2. National Levee Database. Retrieved on February 19, 2025, from National Levee Database (army.mil)

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Dam and Levee Regulation and Classification in California Dams and levees provide the citizens of California with essential benefits such as water supply, flood control, recreation, and irrigation. While dams have multiple benefits, they also are a risk to public safety and economic infrastructure if improperly maintained. Dams can be categorized in many ways based on their size, condition, or relative damage based on population size. The state of California uses a classification system based on federal guidance from FEMA. 18 These definitions are used to categorize the level of severity of impacts from a dam failure on human life and damage to property. Table 9 shows each classification level from low to extremely high as well as their definitions.

Table 9: Dam Downstream Hazard Classification
Downstream Hazard
Potential Classification Potential Downstream Impacts to Life and Property Low
No probable loss of human life and low economic and environmental losses. Losses are expected to be principally limited to the owner’s property.

Significant
No probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, impacts to critical facilities, or other significant impacts.

High Expected to cause loss of at least one human life.

Extremely High Expected to cause considerable loss of human life or would result in an inundation area with a population of 1,000 or more.

Levees have been used across the United States for over a century. The LA/CC2 levee near the City of Maywood became active following the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act in 1935. Years later, the levee was advanced further through a project under the Flood Control Act. Portions of the levee were then improved under later versions of the act as more nationwide efforts were underway to minimize flood impacts and losses to life and property.19 The levee was fully completed in 1957. In Los Angeles County, the LA/CC2 levee is maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Across the state, levees are also maintained by local, state, tribal, and federal entities including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

In 2007, Congress enacted the National Levee Safety Act to formulate recommendations for a program for levee safety called the National Levee Safety Program. Led by both FEMA and USACE, the ongoing program provides guidelines for levee owners on the appropriate standards 18 California Department of Water Resources. (2021). Division of Safety of Dams, Downstream Hazards. Retrieved from. Division of Safety of Dams Definitions for Downstream Hazard and Condition Assessment 19 USACE (n.d.). Los Angeles River/Compton Creek 2. National Levee Database. Retrieved from National Levee Database (army.mil)

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and recommendations to maintain flood safety and risk management. The program supports communities having levees with risk education and information.

Through the National Levee Safety Act came forth the National Levee Database to inventory levees and their locations. The level of risk associated with a levee is classified through a Levee Safety Action Classification (LSAC) system. 20 The LSAC is neither a levee rating or grade, it is a classification system designed to consider the existing condition of the levee, the current and future maintenance of the levee and the consequences if a levee were to fail or be overwhelmed.

The classification ranking from very high to very low is designed to help local officials, stakeholders, and the public to make informed decisions regarding levee safety and is designated based on a combination of factors including the structural properties of the levee, its age, and the population residing in the inundation zone if the levee is breached.

Table 10 shows the levels of LSAC classification system.

Table 10: Levee Risk Levels
Risk Level Recommended Action
Very High
Based on risk drivers, take immediate action to implement interim risk reduction measures.

Increase frequency of levee monitoring, communicate risk characteristics to the community within an expedited timeframe; verify emergency plans and flood inundation maps are current; ensure community is aware of flood warning systems and evacuation procedures; and recommend purchase of flood insurance. Support risk reduction actions as very high priority. Likelihood of inundation due to breach and/or system component malfunction in combination with loss of life, economic, or environmental consequences results in very high risk.

High
Based on risk drivers, implement interim risk reduction measures. Increase frequency of levee monitoring; communicate risk characteristics to the community within an expedited timeframe; verify emergency plans and flood inundation maps are current; ensure community is aware of flood warning and evacuation procedures; and recommend purchase of flood insurance. Support risk reduction actions as high priority. Likelihood of inundation due to breach and/or system component malfunction in combination with loss of life, economic, or environmental consequences results in high risk.

Moderate
Based on risk drivers, implement interim risk reduction measures as appropriate. Verify risk information is current and implement routine monitoring program; assure O&M is up to date; communicate risk characteristics to the community in a timely manner; verify emergency plans and flood inundation maps are current; ensure community is aware of flood warning and evacuation procedures; and recommend purchase of flood insurance.

Support risk reduction actions as a priority. Likelihood of inundation due to breach and/or system component malfunction in combination with loss of life, economic, or environmental consequences results in moderate risk.
20 USACE. (n.d.). Levee Safety Classification. US Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved from Levee Safety Action Classification

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Risk Level Recommended Action
Low
Verify risk information is current and implement routine monitoring program and interim risk reduction measures if appropriate; assure O&M is up to date; communicate risk characteristics to the community as appropriate; verify emergency plans and flood inundation maps are current; ensure community is aware of flood warning and evacuation procedures; and recommend purchase of flood insurance. Support risk reduction actions to further reduce risk to as low as practicable. Likelihood of inundation due to breach and/or system component malfunction in combination with loss of life, economic, or environmental consequences results in low risk.

Very Low
Continue to implement routine levee monitoring program, including operation and maintenance, inspections, and monitoring of risk. Communicate risk characteristics to the community as appropriate; verify emergency plans and flood inundation maps are current; ensure community is aware of flood warning and evacuation procedures; and recommend purchase of flood insurance.

No Verdict Insufficient information to assign LSAC
The levee system along Maywood is currently being reviewed for risk but currently holds a rating of “moderate” of risk level. This levee segment is considered to have moderate risk before overtopping due to structural deficiencies in the system. The levee has never held more than 50% of its maximum water height, so how it would perform under full pressure is unclear. The main factors contributing to the risk rating are:
 The area protected by the levee is heavily populated;  People may not be well informed or prepared for floods;  There are no specific flood evacuation plans; and
 Roads could get very congested during an evacuation. 21 Location
There are no dams located within the boundaries of the City of Maywood. There are five dams within a ten-mile radius of the City. These dams are shown in Figure 10. As shown in the figure, these dams have a hazard potential classification of ‘Significant’ and ‘High’. Inundation potential maps that determine the area predicted to flood in the event of dam failure were available for these dams through the California Department of Water Resources. Per the maps, none of the inundation zones for these dams are projected to impact the City of Maywood. 22 The Garvey Reservoir, and Whittier Narrow Dams are high hazard potential dams with potential inundation footprints projected to reach within 1-mile of Maywood. 21 National Levee Database. (n.d.) Los Angeles River/ Compton Creek 2. Retrieved from National Levee Database 22 California Department of Water Resources (n.d.) Dam Breach Inundation Map Web Publisher. Retrieved from Dam Breach Inundation Map Web Publisher

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Figure 10: Dam Locations, Classification, and Inundation Potential of Dams Within a 10- Mile Radius of the City of Maywood
As mentioned in the description, there is one levee system adjacent to the City of Maywood.

Figure 11 shows the levee and the area of the City protected by it. The levee currently holds an LSAC rating of moderate, as described in the previous section. If the levee breaches, the eastern portion of the City would likely be impacted by flooding, which includes two of the City’s schools, and the City YMCA, that often serves as a location for shelter and large events in the community.

Laguna
Regulating Basin
Elysian Dam
Silver Lake Dam
Garvey Reservoir
Whittier Narrows
Dam
Legend
Dam Hazard Potential
Classification
Significant
High
Maywood

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Figure 11: Levee System and Inundation Potential for the City of Maywood Previous Occurrences
There is no recorded history of dam or levee failures impacting the City of Maywood.

Extent
Dam and levee failure extent can be measured in terms of loss or life or property, or by amount of water released. Per current information, the City of Maywood is located away from potential inundation zones of dam failure. The eastern portion of the City is protected by the LA/CC2 levee, which has a moderate risk classification. The area comprising of 0.49 square miles of areas, and 1,377 buildings, is heavily populated, where inundation could impact properties, transportation infrastructure, and critical facilities. The level and depth of flooding would depend on the location of the levee failure.

City of Maywood

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While there have been no historic events, fatalities, or reported damage costs in proximity to the City of Maywood, climate change is expected to increase the intensity of precipitation during the heaviest rainfall days. 23 Such events may elevate the risk of dam and levee failures, potentially expanding future dam inundation zones to impact the City. Figure 12 is an image from the National Climate Assessment 5 which describes climate related factors contributing to dam failure. Additionally, the levee adjacent to the City may face overtopping. Such failures could result in significant loss of life and property.

Figure 12: Climate Change-Related Factors in Dam Failure 23 LA County (2021). LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Retrieved from LA-County-Climate-VulnerabilityAssessment-1.pdf

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Probability
There are no records of dam or levee failures within the City of Maywood. As such, it is difficult to predict an annual chance of dam failure. The probability of dam and levee breach in the future is low.

Climate change can have many indirect impacts on dam and levee failure. The cause of most failures is flooding from prolonged periods of rainfall. In the planning area, increases in precipitation intensity in the 95th percentile heavy rainfall days, 24 can increase the likelihood of dam and levee failure due to increased flooding, overtopping, or inadequate spillway capacity.

Levees can also be impacted by spells of drought followed by extreme rainfall. According to the state of California’s Fourth Climate Assessment, the Los Angeles region has experienced severe drought conditions in recent years. At the same time, more wet year extremes in the region are expected.25 The variable nature of wet and dry conditions by year supports the need for continued upkeep and maintenance to reduce flood risk to communities near the infrastructure.

Further, many dams, including the ones described in this plan, were designed, and built over 30 years ago based on climate conditions at the time of design. Dam upgrades and retrofits should be designed to withstand changing climate conditions; such actions are typically addressed in a dam management plan and are out of the scope of this plan.

Considering the history of no previous occurrences, great distance from potential inundation areas of dam failure, the probability assigned to dam and levee failure is ‘unlikely’ indicating lower than 10% chance of annual probability.

Vulnerability Assessment
Based on current information, the chances of a dam and levee failure within the City are anticipated to be low. If the levee protecting the City of Maywood fails, damage to infrastructure found within levee breach inundation areas could impact the City through power outages or water contamination. Travel through the City could be impacted if highways, local roads, or bridges are inundated during a levee failure event and deemed impassable. For instance, 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.

Other critical facilities including City Schools, the police station, city hall, and medical facility may experience access limitations, power outages, or water service disruptions, which could hinder emergency response, public safety coordination, and continuity of essential services. Schools 24 LA County (2021). LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Retrieved from LA-County-Climate-VulnerabilityAssessment-1.pdf 25 CA.gov. (2019). California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Retrieved from California State Portal | CA.gov

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may require evacuation or temporary closure depending on flood extent and infrastructure damage.

All populations within levee inundation areas are considered at risk from levee failure. This includes populations who live in inundation areas, as well as populations in the inundation area for work or recreation. Levee failure can result in injuries and loss of life and result in the need for evacuations.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Dam and levee failure can disproportionately impact socially vulnerable populations including causing displacement, loss of homes, and limited access to emergency services. Low-income and renter households may also lack insurance coverage to recover from damages delaying their ability to rebuild and return to normal.

Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change can have many indirect impacts on dam and levee failure. The cause of most dam and levee failures is flooding from prolonged periods of rainfall. In the planning area, increases in the severity of extreme precipitation events can increase the likelihood of dam and levee failure due to increased flooding or inadequate spillway capacity.

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Drought
Description
Drought is conceptually defined by the National Drought Mitigation Center as “a protracted period of deficient precipitation resulting in extensive damage to crops, resulting in loss of yield.” Although sometimes considered a rare and random event, drought is a normal, recurrent feature of climate. Climatic factors such as high temperatures, high wind, and low relative humidity are often associated with drought. Drought occurs in virtually all climatic zones, varying significantly from one region to another, and can be defined according to meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, socioeconomic, or ecological criteria, as categorized in Table 11. 26 Drought is differentiated based on the use and need for water.

Table 11: Drought Classification Descriptions
Drought Classification Description
Meteorological Drought The degree of dryness or departure of actual precipitation from an expected average or normal amount based on monthly, seasonal, or annual time scales. (Dry weather patterns dominate an area; can begin/end rapidly).

Hydrological Drought The effects of precipitation shortfalls on stream flows and reservoir, lake, and groundwater levels. (Low water supply is evident; conditions take longer to develop and then recover.

Agricultural Drought Soil moisture deficiencies relative to water demands of plant life, usually crops. (Crops significantly affected).

Socioeconomic Drought The effect of demands for water exceeding the supply because of a weather-related supply shortfall.

Ecological Drought A prolonged and widespread deficit in naturally available water supplies — including changes in natural and managed hydrology — that create multiple stresses across ecosystems
The severity of a drought depends on the degree of moisture deficiency, the duration, and the size and location of the affected area. It is generally difficult to pinpoint the beginning and the end of a drought. Because the impacts of a drought accumulate slowly at first, a drought may not be recognized until it has become well established. Even during a drought there may be one or two months with above average precipitation totals. These wet months do not necessarily signal the end of a drought and generally do not have a major impact on moisture deficits. Droughts can be short, lasting just a few months. Conversely, they can persist for several years before regional climate conditions return to normal. While drought conditions can occur at any time throughout 26 The National Drought Mitigation Center. (n.d.). Types of Drought. Retrieved from https://drought.unl.edu/Education/DroughtIn-depth/TypesofDrought.aspx.

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the year, the most apparent time is during the summer months. Nationally, drought impacts often exceed $1 billion per event due in part to the sheer size of the areas affected. 27 Measuring Droughts: There are several quantitative methods for measuring drought in the United States. How these indices measure drought depends on the discipline affected (e.g., agriculture, hydrology, meteorology, etc.) and the region being considered. Two main methods are the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the U.S. Drought Monitor. The PDSI was the first comprehensive drought index developed in the United States. The U.S. Drought Monitor is a relatively new index that combines quantitative measures with input from experts in the field. It provides information of drought conditions by County. Information specific to the City of Maywood was not available at the time of creating this plan. Therefore, the U.S. Drought Monitor is used in this plan to assess drought occurrences that likely impacted the City.

U.S. Drought Monitor: The U.S. Drought Monitor is designed to provide the public, media, government officials, and others with an easily understandable overview of weekly drought conditions across a county throughout the United States. The U.S. Drought Monitor is unique because it assesses multiple numeric measures of drought, including the PDSI and three other indices, as well as the interpretations of experts to create a weekly map depicting drought conditions across the United States. The U.S. Drought Monitor uses five drought intensity categories, D0 through D4, to identify areas of drought. 28 These categories are shown in Table

12. Table 12: Drought Categories
Category Name Description
D0 Abnormally Dry Going into drought: short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures. Coming out of drought: some lingering water deficits; pastures or crops not fully recovered
D1 Moderate Drought Some damage to crops, pastures; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent; voluntary water-use restrictions requested
D2 Severe Drought Crop or pasture losses likely; water shortages common; water restrictions imposed
D3 Extreme Drought Major crop/pasture losses; widespread water shortages or restrictions
D4 Exceptional
Drought
Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies 27 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. (2024) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters.

Retrieved from. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/ 28 National Drought Mitigation Center. (n.d.) What is the U.S. Drought Monitor. Retrieved from What is the USDM? | U.S. Drought Monitor (unl.edu)

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Location
A drought is a regional event that is not confined to geographic or political boundaries; it can affect several areas at once. It can also range in severity across those areas. All of the City of Maywood is at equal risk from drought occurrence and impacts.

Previous Occurrences
To understand the conditions of past drought, it can be helpful to understand the typical precipitation received each year. 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. 29 The downtown Los Angeles weather station has historically reported an annual average of 14.77 inches of precipitation. Monthly averages are shown in Figure 13. 30
Figure 13: Average Precipitation by Month in Downtown Los Angeles The U.S. Drought Monitor was used to ascertain historical drought levels for the area. Data specific to the City of Maywood was not available, but due to the regional nature of drought, it can be assumed that any drought impacting Los Angeles County also impacted the City. The U.S.

Drought Monitor reports data on drought conditions from 2000 through 2024. Drought conditions are reported by category as percentage of area affected. Drought Impacts in Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2025 are presented in Figure 14.
29 National Weather Service. (2024). Downtown Los Angeles Weather Station has Moved. Retrieved from Downtown Los Angeles Weather Station has Moved
30 National Weather Service. (2025). NOW Data Los Angeles Downtown Area, Retrieved from, Climate

3.22 3.24

2.36 0.93

0.25 0.05 0.02 0.1 0.25 0.4

1.31 2.2
0 0.5
1 1.5
2 2.5
3 3.5
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average Total Precipitation (in.)

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Figure 14: Percent of Los Angeles County Affected by Drought per USDM Ratings In the study period, exceptional drought conditions occurred in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2022. Drought conditions were present for at least one week a year in some part of the County during 23 of the 25 years studied, with nearly two thirds of all weeks experiencing some degree of drought. 31 The occurrence of drought is a chronic issue in the region.

Several exceptional multi-year droughts have impacted Los Angeles County in history. Since 2000, the entire Southwest U.S. has experienced an exceptional ‘megadrought’ recognized as the driest 22-year period in 1,200 years.32 During this time, periods of exceptional drought impacted California and Los Angeles County and are described below.

California Drought from 2021 to 2023
The statewide drought occurred between 2021 and 2023 and peaked in 2022. The drought marked the driest three-year period ever recorded in the history of the state, topping even the last historic drought from 2012 through 2016. The drought led to an extreme water deficit with nearly two-thirds of all wells sinking below average levels and unlikely to recover with an average year of precipitation.33 Significant economic losses such as $1.3 billion crop revenue in 2021, followed by $1.7 billion loss in crop revenue in 2022 occurred due to this drought. 34 31 National Integrated Drought Information System. (2025). Historical Data and Conditions. Retrieved from Historical Data and Conditions | Drought.gov
32 National Climate Assessment 5. (2024). Southwest. Retrieved from Southwest 33 Cal Matters. (2022). Four in a row: California drought likely to continue. Retrieved from Four in a row: California drought likely to continue - Cal Matters 34 Medellin-Azuara, J. et.al., California Department of Food and Agriculture. (2022) Economic Impacts of the 2020- 2022 Drought on California Agriculture. Retrieved from Microsoft Word - Economic_Impact_CA_Drought_V01.docx

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California Drought from 2012 to 2016
Between 2012 and 2016 the state of California experienced its driest four-year span to that date in the last 1,200 years. Defined by unprecedented high temperatures and low annual precipitations, the drought resulted in devastating environmental, social, and infrastructure effects. According to an ongoing study by UCLA, the drought is said to have been exacerbated by climate change. 35 Dead vegetation from the drought years led to a year-long wildfire season across the state. During this time, most portions of Los Angeles County experienced exceptional drought conditions between 2014 and 2017. Total annual precipitation during this time was between 5.8 and 9 inches, up to 9 inches below the County’s usual average. 36 Extent
Extent can be defined by the highest drought monitor category: Exceptional Drought. Since the U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000, there have been 211 reported weeks where all or part of Los Angeles County experienced Exceptional Drought. With climate change, the region is projected to experience increased extreme heat days in the summer months.37 This may contribute to more severe droughts in the future than those experienced in the past.

Probability
An exact probability of drought is difficult to quantify given a limited reporting period (25 years; 2000-2024). Drought conditions were reported in 23 out of 25 years for Los Angeles County. This equals a historic rate of occurrence of approximately 90 percent per year.

When determining future probability, the historic frequency must be considered along with projected future conditions. It is difficult to quantify the impact climate change will have on the future drought occurrence, as several factors, such as precipitation, humidity, and temperature, influence the formation of drought conditions. Summer temperatures in the City of Maywood are projected to increase, as are extreme heat days (e.g., days above 90°F) per the Climate Explorer.38 The number of days with temperatures above 90°F is projected to increase from 40 to 90 days in 2020 to 73 to 148 days in 2080 under a high emissions scenario. Drought is most likely to occur during summer months, when high temperatures increase the amount of surface evaporation. Climate projections indicate that average annual precipitation in the City of Maywood will decrease by approximately 7% by mid-century.39 Increased heat and lower precipitation indicate the potential for an increase in drought conditions in the region. 35 UCLA. (2020) Impacts and Implications of the 2012-2016 Drought for Los Angeles County Habitats and Energy Infrastructure. Retrieved from Impacts and Implications of the 2012-2016 Drought for Los Angeles County Habitats and Energy Infrastructure | Sustainable LA Grand Challenge 36 Los Angeles Almanac. (2024). Total Rainfall (Precipitation) by Season, Downtown Los Angeles. Retrieved from Total Seasonal Rainfall 1877-Present for Downtown Los Angeles, California 37 LA County (2021). LA County Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Retrieved from LA-County-Climate-VulnerabilityAssessment-1.pdf 38 The Climate Explorer (2024). Days with maximum temp >90F. Retrieved from Climate Explorer 39 Headwaters Economics. (2024). Neighborhoods at Risk. Climate Projections. Headwaters Economics. Retrieved from Neighborhoods at Risk

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Based on historic frequency and projected future conditions, the probability of future drought occurrences is ‘highly likely’ indicating over 90% annual chance of occurrence. However, the probability of exceptional drought is less likely.

Vulnerability Assessment
The region in which the City of Maywood lies is prone to drought conditions. All current and future buildings, populations, infrastructure, and critical facilities in the City are at risk from drought.

Drought conditions may affect the operational capacity of Maywood’s critical facilities, including by limiting access to clean water for sanitation, cooling, and hygiene. Prolonged water shortages could disrupt services, particularly in facilities that serve vulnerable populations or require consistent water supply for health and safety.

Many drought impacts, however, are not structural but societal in nature. A drought’s impact on society, and thus the City, result from the interplay between a natural event and the demand people place on water supply.

During droughts, surface water levels in lakes, reservoirs, and impoundments can drop significantly, while groundwater supplies may also be strained due to increased demand and reduced recharge. Both surface and groundwater are critical sources of water for drinking, agriculture, energy production, and sanitation. As these sources dwindle, communities may face drinking water shortages, higher utility costs, and limited access to clean water for hygiene, posing public health risks. There is no agricultural land within the City. However, a regional drought can severely impact local food prices. The City may also have to purchase water which could increase water costs for its residents.

Particulate matter from the dried land areas can lead to respiratory illnesses or irritation. Food and nutrition services may also be impacted or slowed down, contributing to overall health risk.

Agriculture can suffer as farmers struggle with water restrictions, leading to crop losses and financial hardship. Ecosystems dependent on stable water levels may be disrupted, affecting fish, wildlife, and recreational activities. These combined effects can ripple through local economies, particularly in industries that rely heavily on water, resulting in broader economic and social challenges.

Scarcity in municipal water during droughts can impact the water availability for the City’s parks and street trees. This can lead to a decline in the green cover of the City and further exacerbate the impact of heat and urban heat island effects during summer months.

Drought has minimal impacts on structures but could have impacts on the functionality of the building if water supply is disrupted. In addition, structural issues could occur in the event that drought impacts building foundations or footings. There are no known losses associated with drought and buildings in the City of Maywood.

When the region is under drought conditions, the City of Maywood undertakes steps to restrict water usage to preserve water for essential uses. Residents and businesses are required to follow

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restrictions as prescribed by their water company, which can include restrictions on outdoor watering schedules, a ban on usage of water fountains, and restrictions on car washing. Specific guidelines are provided each time drought conditions are declared.

Impacts on Socially Vulnerable Populations
Reduced surface water and groundwater availability during droughts disproportionately affect lowincome households. Economically constrained households may face difficulty paying for water if a drought causes rate hikes introduced to spur conservation. Ability for economically vulnerable populations to pay should be considered in any changes to water pricing. Economically constrained households may also face challenges in the event food prices rise due to drought, both locally and in areas from where food is grown.

Impacts of Climate Change
It is difficult to quantify the impact climate change will have on the future drought occurrence as several factors influence drought. Changes in precipitation patterns, driven by shifts in global atmospheric circulations, are causing some regions to experience less frequent but more intense rainfall events, which are less effective at replenishing groundwater supplies. Increasing temperatures due to climate change are exacerbating droughts leading to drier soils, greater atmospheric evaporative demand, and reduced flows in major river basins. 40 40 FEMA Disaster Resilience Hub. (2024). Drought. https://resiliencefema.hub.arcgis.com/pages/855b58eac21240e4b47e4f233c6579f4

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Earthquake
Description
An earthquake is a sudden motion or trembling caused
by a release of strain accumulated within or along the
edge of the Earth’s tectonic plates. The severity of these effects depends on the amount of energy released from
the fault or epicenter. The effects of an earthquake can be felt far beyond the site of its occurrence. They usually occur without warning and can cause massive damage
and extensive casualties within seconds. Common
effects of earthquakes include ground motion and
shaking, surface fault ruptures, and ground failure.

According to the USGS, earthquakes are one of
nature’s most damaging hazards and are more
widespread than often realized. The Pacific Coast in
California experiences the greatest seismic activity
among all areas in the United States. The Southern
California region, where the City of Maywood is located, has over 300 faults that could produce quakes of
magnitude 6 or higher.41 Weather conditions do not
control earthquakes, and they can occur in any season.

There are several ways to measure the force and power
of an earthquake. Two of the most common are the
Modified Mercalli Scale and the Magnitude Scale.

These scales are depicted in Figure 15.

The Magnitude Scale, also known as the Richter Scale,
is a logarithmic (base 10) scale used to measure the
magnitude of the largest seismic wave of an
earthquake. In simple terms, the magnitude measures
the size of the earthquake.

The Modified Mercalli Scale, on the other hand, is used to evaluate the physical effects of an earthquake on an area. The Magnitude Scale is an objective
measurement of an earthquake’s overall power,
whereas the Modified Mercalli Scale provides a
subjective analysis of the damage it causes.
41 USGS. (2022). Southern California Earthquake Hazards. Retrieved from Southern California Earthquake Hazards | U.S. Geological Survey
Figure 15: Modified Mercalli Scale

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

Figure 16: Faults in California44
44 California Department of Conservation. (n.d.) Fault Activity Map of California. Retrieved from Fault Activity Map of California
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 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.

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 18. 45 California Department of Conservation. (n.d.) Earthquake Zones of Required Investigation. Retrieved from Earthquake Zones of Required Investigation
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
City of Maywood

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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.

Critical assets may experience structural damage, service disruption, or temporary closure due to compromised utilities, access routes, or safety concerns. Damage to schools and emergency service buildings such as police and fire stations could delay response efforts and displace vulnerable populations who rely on these facilities for shelter, care, and coordination.

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

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subject to the requirements of the California Building Standards Code which provides standards for seismic design, retrofitting, and provisions for monitoring and reporting. 50 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 infrastructures include 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 includes non-reinforced brick and concrete block masonry structures, hazardous materials facilities, water, sewer, natural gas pipelines, and public and private property structures.

Vapor intrusion is an additional and often overlooked hazard that can be triggered or worsened by earthquakes. When seismic activity damages building foundations or alters subsurface conditions, it can allow toxic gases from contaminated soil or groundwater to migrate into indoor air. This is especially concerning near known hazardous materials sites. Exposure to vapors from substances like chromium, lead, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause serious health effects, including cancer, respiratory issues, and organ damage. Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are at heightened risk.

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. Earthquakes can trigger cascading impacts on water quality, particularly if a nearby hazardous materials facility experiences a release during or after seismic activity. If an earthquake compromises containment systems or underground infrastructure, these substances could further infiltrate groundwater or surface water supplies. Health impacts vary depending on exposure levels and duration but may include kidney and liver damage, increased cancer risk, developmental effects on fetuses and breastfed infants, decreased immune function, thyroid disruption, and other serious conditions.

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 endanger public health by blocking trade routes, preventing service access, etc. 50 FEMA. (2024). National Building Code Adoption Tracking Portal. Retrieved from Building Code Adoption Tracking | FEMA.gov
51 LAUSD. (n.d.) LAUSD Seismic Building Evaluation Status. Retrieved from AB 300: Seismic Building Evaluation Status

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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 warnings 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 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 is no damage 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.

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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
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.

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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 19, 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 20 shows average maximum temperatures and record maximum temperatures recorded from both stations between 1878 and 2025. 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 81 82 84 88 88 90 93 94 97 94
87 81
95 95 99
106 103
112 109 106
113 108
100
92 0
20 40
60 80
100
120
Temperature ( o
F)
Month
Average and Record Maximum Temperatures by Month
Mean Max

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The NCEI Storm Events Database provides records of extreme heat in two categories: excessive heat and heat. Between 1997 and 2025, 20 records of Extreme Heat were recorded over eight event days in the database for Los Angeles County, with six 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. A summary of significant extreme heat events is summarized in Table 15.

Table 15: Significant Previous Extreme Heat Occurrences near the City of Maywood59 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. 60
It is important to note that there can be additional instances of extreme heat events in the County that have gone unreported. Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings are common occurrences in the region and are issued whenever the heat index levels reach 100°F or higher.61 (Figure 19) 59 NCEI. (2025). Storm Events Database. Search Results for Los Angeles County, California for Excessive Heat, Heat. Retrieved from Storm Events Database - Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information 60 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 61 Weather.gov. (n.d.) Heat Safety. Retrieved from Heat Safety

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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 station is 113°F, occurring in September 2010, which was likely into the extreme danger level (Figure 19). 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. 62
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. 63 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. 64 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. 62 National Climate Assessment Interactive Atlas Explorer. (2023). Change in Average Annual Temperature.

Retrieved from National Climate Assessment Interactive Atlas Explorer 63 Fifth National Climate Assessment. (2023). Report Key Messages. Retrieved from Report Key Messages 64 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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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.

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.65 According to the index, almost all of the City of Maywood has relatively moderate risk of heat waves as shown in Figure 21. 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 22, 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.66
65 Federal Emergency Management Agency (n.d.), National Risk Index, Retrieved from Map | National Risk Index (fema.gov)
66 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) Heat & Health Tracker. Retrieved from Heat & Health Tracker | Tracking | NCEH | CDC
City of Maywood

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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 significantly increases electricity demand, particularly for air conditioning and cooling systems. When demand exceeds safe operating thresholds or when equipment is at risk of overheating, electric utilities may implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) to prevent equipment failure and reduce fire risk. PSPS can impact residents by disrupting refrigeration for food and medication, disabling lifesaving medical devices, and limiting access to communication systems.

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. Critical facilities may experience service disruption or temporary closure due to increased cooling demands, power outages, or strain on HVAC systems. Schools and emergency service buildings may face operational challenges in maintaining safe indoor temperatures, especially for vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

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. 67 67 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.

City of Maywood

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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. 68 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. 69 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.70 The number of extreme heat days annually can rise to eleven from the historic average of two. 71 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.
68 LA County (2021) Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Retrieved from LA-County-ClimateVulnerability-Assessment-1.pdf 69 US EPA. (2017). Ozone Basics. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/ozone-basics#effects. 70 CalAdapt. (n.d.) Local Climate Change Snapshot. Retrieved from Local Climate Change Snapshot 71 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. 72 Approximately 75 percent of presidential disaster declarations are associated with flooding. 73
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 72 Flood Defenders. (n.d.) America’s most frequent and expensive disaster. Retrieved from The Problem – flooddefenders.org
73 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. 74
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.75 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 23. 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. 74 USGS. (2019). Surface Runoff and the Water Cycle. Retrieved from Surface Runoff and the Water Cycle | U.S.

Geological Survey
75 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 City of Maywood

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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. 76 76 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.

NFIP Participation
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. 77
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 17.78 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 77 FEMA Flood Insurance Data and Analytics. (2025). NFIP Policy Information by State 2025 March. [Dataset] Retrieved from Flood Insurance Data | The National Flood Insurance Program for Agents – Policy Information by State, August 2025
78 Public Works LA County. (n.d.) Stream Gaging Station Information. Retrieved from. Stormwater Engineering Division: Runoff Stations Page

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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.

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. 79 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. 80 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 79 Cal-Adapt. (2019). Extreme Precipitation Events. Retrieved from Extreme Precipitation Events 80 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.81 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. 82 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. 83
81 CDC. (2020). Mold. Natural Disasters and Severe Weather. Retrieved from Mold | CDC on October 2, 2023. 82 California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment (2018) Los Angeles Summary Report Retrieved from California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment - Los Angeles Region Report 83 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 2023.84 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: 85  Areas contaminated because of the incorrect disposal or management of toxic and hazardous waste or material
84 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)
85 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. 86 Figure 24 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 86 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 Releases87
87 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.88 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:
88 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: 89
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: 90
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: 91
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 89 EPA. (2024). Superfund Site: PEMACO MAYWOOD, CA. Retrieved from PEMACO MAYWOOD | Superfund Site Profile | Superfund Site Information | US EPA
90 Department of Toxic Substances Control. (2025) Exide Home. Retrieved from. Exide Home | Department of Toxic Substances Control
91 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. 92 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.

Critical facilities in Maywood may be affected by hazardous materials releases, particularly those that are located near industrial sites or transportation corridors. Service disruption or temporary closure may occur due to contamination risks, evacuation orders, or air quality concerns. Schools 92 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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and emergency services may face operational delays if protective measures or decontamination are required.

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 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 within 500 meters of a TRI site, and all remaining structures in the City are within the 2,500 meters buffer. Figure 25 displays this analysis.

Figure 25: Hazardous Material Risk from TRI Sites
Legend
TRI Site
Primary Impact Buffer
Secondary Impact Buffer
City of Maywood

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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 26 displays this analysis.

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.

Legend
Significant Truck Route
Primary Impact Buffer
City of Maywood

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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 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. 93 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. 93 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.94 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.95
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. 96
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). 97 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°. 98 Wildfires and Urban Fire hazards will be discussed in greater detail in later sections. 94 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 95 National Weather Service. (2023). NOAA. Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics. Retrieved from Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics
96 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
97 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)
98 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 ground99. 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 19.

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 -
99 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”.100 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.101 City of Maywood residents reported impacts from the debris and particulate matter from fires throughout the County which impacted local air quality. 100 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 101 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 27 depicts the previous tornado tracks in the nearby region, from 1980 to 2023. 102 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 27, 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.

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 City of
Maywood

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fire started and burned 44,000 acres.103 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.103 From November 30-December 4, 2011, hurricane-force winds knocked down trees and electrical power poles, causing widespread damage through Los Angeles County.103
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. 104 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.

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. 105 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 28. 103Los 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 104 California Climate Assessment. (2019) Los Angeles Region. Pg. 14. Retrieved from Los Angeles Region Report 105 Federal Emergency Management Agency (n.d.), National Risk Index, Retrieved from Map | National Risk Index (fema.gov)

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Figure 28: National Risk Index Results for Strong Wind and Tornadoes for the City of Maywood
Severe winds can down communications infrastructure, utility poles, and above ground power lines. These can cause service and operational interruptions including impacts to critical facilities. his 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.

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, City of Maywood – Strong Wind Risk – National Risk Index City of Maywood – Tornado Risk – National Risk Index City of Maywood
City of Maywood

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hotter, drier periods, combined with high wind events can be the catalyst that spark destructive fires.106
106 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

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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. 107 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, and the agent is effectively conveyed from the source to hosts. The following mechanisms may result in an epidemic. 108
 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) 107 World Health Organization, (n.d.). Disease Outbreaks, Retrieved from https://www.emro.who.int/healthtopics/disease-outbreaks/index.html 108 National Geographic. (2022). Epidemic, Retrieved from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/epidemic/

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 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. 109 Since the 1970s, approximately 40 infectious diseases have been discovered including COVID-19.110 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.

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 damage 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 being declared as 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 109 Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Emerging Infectious Diseases, Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/emerging-infectious-diseases 110 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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Health,13,292 COVID-19 cases and 114 deaths have been reported specifically in the City of Maywood to-date.111
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.112
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 20. 113 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, 111 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 112 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 113 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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which severely degraded air quality by releasing hazardous smoke and particulate matter. 114 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
. 115 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 data found that financial concerns was the top priority for community members, specifically opportunities to support utility assistance, loss of income, and housing assistance. 116 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. 117 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. 114 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 115 California Air Resources Board. (2025). Los Angeles County Daily Average PM 2.5 Data. Retrieved from.

MRGD7DAY Display
116 City of Maywood. (2023). American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Engagement Outcomes Report.

Retrieved from. City of Maywood 117 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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Additionally, climate change can create favorable conditions for non-native and invasive vectors.118
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.

During public health emergencies, critical facilities may experience staffing shortages, increased demand for services, or temporary closures due to quarantine protocols. Schools and emergency services may be strained by surges in health-related needs, especially among vulnerable populations.

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 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 118 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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viruses.119 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.
119 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. 120
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.121 Direct lightning strikes can also cause significant 120 NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (n.d.) Severe Weather 101, Thunderstorm Basics. Retrieved from Severe Weather 101: Thunderstorm Basics (noaa.gov)
121National 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 21).

Hailstorms are estimated to cause an average of $15 billion in damage to homes, crops, and cars each year in the US122. 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) 123 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
122 Wunderground (2020) U.S. Hailstone and Hailstorm Records, Retrieved from U.S. Hailstone and Hailstorm Records | Weather Underground (wunderground.com)
123 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. 124 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.125
124 Storm Prediction Center WCW Page. (2024). NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved from http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/. 125 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 22.

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. 126 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.127 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. 126 Vaisala Inc. (2021). Annual Lightning Report 2021. WEA-MET-2021-Annual-Lightning-Report-B212465EN-A.pdf (vaisala.com)
127 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. 128 According to the index, The City of Maywood has very low risk of lightning and hail as shown in Figure 29.

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 128 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 City of Maywood City of Maywood

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of 21 deaths per year in the U.S. 129 Most lightning deaths and injuries in the United States occur in the summer months, when lightning frequency and outdoor activities reach a peak.

Short-term power outages from downed power lines are possible. Minor wind damage, power outages, and localized flooding can cause temporary disruptions in essential operations, including the blockage of critical access routes, delays in emergency response systems, and temporary shelter-in-place orders for schools.

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.130 An increase in the frequency of events would increase the vulnerability of people, buildings, and infrastructure to the severe storms hazard. 129 National Weather Service (2024). US Lightning Fatalities 2013-2024. Retrieved from National Weather Service Lightning Fatalities in 2024: 12 130 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. 131 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. 132 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.”133 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. 131 NOAA (n.d.). NOAA Tsunami Program. Retrieved from NOAA Tsunami. 132Australian Government Bureau of Metrology (n.d.). Tsunami facts and information. Retrieved from Tsunami Facts and Information (bom.gov.au) . 133 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. 134
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 30 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 Maywood135
134 Australian Government Bureau of Metrology (n.d.). Tsunami facts and information. Retrieved from http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/info/index.shtml
135 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. 136 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 30 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. 137 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 136 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 137 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 severity138.

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.139 Figure 31 shows the Wildfire risk areas in and around the City.

Figure 31: Wildfire Risk in the City of Maywood
138 Hanson C. (2021) “Is “Fuel Reduction” Justified as Fire Management in Spotted Owl Habitat?, MDPI, Retrieved from, https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/2/4/29 139 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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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. 140 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
.141
 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. 142 Future fires may have more severe cascading impacts upon the City of Maywood. 140 USGS. (2025). Greater Los Angeles Wildfires – January 2025, Retrieved from Greater Los Angeles Wildfires - January 2025 | U.S. Geological Survey
141 California Air Resources Board. (2025). Los Angeles County Daily Average PM 2.5 Data. Retrieved from.

MRGD7DAY Display
142 State of California OEHHA. (2018). Indicators of Climate Change in California: Impacts on Biological Systems.

Wildfires. Retrieved from. Wildfires - OEHHA

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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 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. Critical facilities may need to implement shelter-in-place protocols or adjust operations to protect sensitive populations from smoke exposure.

During wildfires, it is common practice to implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). PSPS can impact residents’ ability to refrigerate food and medication, operate life-saving medical devices, and maintain communication systems. For example, in January 2025, the Los Angeles wildfires triggered several shutoffs by Southern California Edison, the electricity provider for

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Maywood.143 Although wildfires are unlikely to occur within Maywood itself, the city remains vulnerable to the secondary impacts of wildfire including power shutoffs and poor air quality.

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.” 144 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. 145
143 ABC7. (2025). Where power is out in Southern California|MAP Retrieved from Power outage map tracker: See affected areas in Los Angeles and larger Southern California area - ABC7 Los Angeles 144 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 145 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.146 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 Native147 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 23 .
146 National Fire Protection Agency. (2022). Fire Loss in the United States During 2021, Retrieved from, NFPA report - Fire loss in the United States
147 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 Degrees148
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. 149 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 was sought from the 148 Desert Fire (2021) Fire Alarm Degrees: What you Should Know. Retrieved from Fire Alarm Degrees: What You Should Know (5 min breakdown)
149 LACoFD. (2021) 2021 County of Los Angeles Fire Department Annual Report Retrieved from LACoFD-2020- Annual-Report_072222_Final.pdf

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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for air surveillance and the cleanup of hazardous materials following this incident. 150
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. 151 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.152 Urban fires pose a direct threat to critical facilities in Maywood, especially older buildings with outdated electrical systems or limited fire suppression infrastructure. Temporary closure or evacuation may be required, and emergency services may be delayed if access routes are 150 U.S. EPA. (2016) Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident. Retrieved from Site Profile - Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident - EPA OSC Response 151 U.S. EPA. (2016) Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident. Retrieved from Site Profile - Fruitland Magnesium Fire Incident - EPA OSC Response 152 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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compromised. 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 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. 153 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.154
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 153 US Fire Administration. (1997). Socioeconomic Factors and the Incidence of Fire, Retrieved from socio.pdf (fema.gov)
154 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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replacing of smoke detectors, and those with negligent landlords may be more likely to live in housing without functioning smoke detectors.

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. 155 155 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 24 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 25. 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.156 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.
156 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 26. 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

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Requested Plan Available
from the City Notes
Emergency Organizations and
Functions
Part of the City of Maywood Municipal Code;
outlines emergency response
City of Maywood Continuity of
Operations Plan No
City of Maywood Evacuation Plan No
City of Maywood Disaster Recovery
Plan
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
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
Regulated as a part of the City of Maywood
Municipal Code
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)
The City of Maywood is designated as
NSFHA, meaning that it doesn’t contain any
Special Flood Hazard Area. However, it
does participate in the NFIP.

NFIP Community Rating System No The City of Maywood does not participate in the CRS System
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