(ACT) ACTION NEEDED
(INF) INFORMATION ONLY
(DIS) DISCRETIONARY
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NEEDLES PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY CITY OF NEEDLES
CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1111 BAILEY AVENUE.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025
COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:00 PM
CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 6:00 PM
THE PUBLIC MAY ATTEND VIA TEAMS AND MAY SUBMIT ANY COMMENTS IN WRITING PRIOR TO NOON ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING BY EMAILING [email protected] TO JOIN THE LIVE TEAMS MEETING: log into the City of Needles website at www.cityofneedles.com to access the agenda and Click here to join the meeting If asked, enter the following: Meeting ID: 207 021 086# OR listen in and participate by calling Teams: 1-323-488-2227 - Meeting ID: 207 021 086# The meetings are being recorded.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS A three-minute time limit per person has been established.
RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957. Title:
City Manager
b. Conference with Labor Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency Negotiators: Mayor Janet Jernigan, Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell, and Council Member Henry Longbrake. Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
EXECUTIVE SESSION REPORT - by City Attorney
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
CORRESPONDENCE
INTRODUCTIONS
CITY ATTORNEY – Parliamentary Procedures
As a courtesy to those in attendance, we would ask that cell phones be turned off or set in their silent mode. Thank you
PUBLIC APPEARANCE - Persons wishing to address the NPUA / City Council on subjects other than those scheduled are requested to do so at this time. When called by the Mayor, please announce your name and address for the record. In order to conduct a timely meeting, a three-minute time limit per person has been established by Municipal Code Section 2-18. Amendments to the California Government Code Section 54950 prohibits the City Council from taking action on a specific item until it appears on the agenda.
PRESENTATION
(A ten-minute time limit per presentation has been established per Municipal Code Section 2-18.)
1. Presentation from League of Cities Mountain Desert Division Chair Art Bishop Helen Putnam Award.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. Adopt Purchasing Ordinance Number 678-AC, Amending Chapter 8, Article II of the Needles Municipal Code (First Reading) CONTINUED TO NOVEMBER 12, 2025.
3. Adopt Resolution 2025-44 City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to maintain eligibility for federal hazard mitigation grant funding. (ACT)
NPUA / COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed. The Mayor or any member of the NPUA / City Council may pull an item from the Consent Calendar for discussion. Prior to NPUA / Council action, a member of the public may address the NPUA / City Council on matters scheduled on the Consent Calendar. A three-minute time limit per person applies. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve Items 4 through 7 on the Consent Calendar by affirmative roll call vote (ACT)
4. Authorize a License Agreement for the Joint Use of Poles between the City of Needles and Route 66 Broadband for Cable Attachment to City Poles dated 2025.
5. Authorize Reliable Pump Inc. to rebuild the Hydromatic Pump for the Wastewater Pump, not to exceed $18,081.96, including sales tax in the amount of $1,114.43 for a total project cost of $19,196.39 to be funded by the Wastewater Asset Replacement Fund
6. Ratify the Utility Manager's purchase of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Instruments for the calendar year 2024 compliance period from Amerex for a total cost of $80,851.50
7. Adopt Resolution 2025-45 rescinding Chapter 6C, establishing Terms and Conditions for the Sale of Electric Services, of the Needles Municipal Code in its Entirety, and adopting a new Chapter 6C, Electric Services, regarding the terms and conditions for the sale of electric services.
END OF NPUA CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed. The Mayor or any member of the City Council may pull an item from the Consent Calendar for discussion. Prior to Council action, a member of the public may address the City Council on matters scheduled on the Consent Calendar. A three-minute time limit per person applies. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve Items 8 through 12 on the Consent Calendar by affirmative roll call vote. (ACT)
8. Approve the Warrants Register through October 28, 2025
9. Approve the Minutes of October 14, 2025
10. Accept and file the September 2025 Treasurer’s Report
11. Approve the extension of the FY 2024 Audit Contract with Vasquez Company LLC to March 31, 2026
12. Resolution No. 2025-43 approving an Agreement between the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and City of Needles for Senate Bill 125 Funds Administration; and authorize the creation of a new fund to account for the restricted revenues and expenditures associated with the new shuttle service and move the existing current year budget to the new fund.
END OF COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR COUNCIL ITEMS
13. Approve Amendment No. 30 to Contract No. 99-376 with the County of San Bernardino for law enforcement services in the City of Needles and increase appropriations by $172,195 for the Sheriff's contract and $25,000 for overtime funded with $197,195 of General Fund reserves. (ACT)
14. Recommend City Council acknowledge the findings of the October 20, 2025 Visitor Center Committee meeting, defer pursuit of California Welcome Center certification due to cost and sustainability considerations, and direct staff to focus on leveraging the existing Visitor Center and the City’s marketing partnership to promote Needles during the Route 66 Centennial and attract visitors to the Colorado River Valley region. (ACT)
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager's report for the week of October 10, 2025
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Council Member Ford
Council Member McCorkle
Vice Mayor Campbell
Council Member Pogue
Council Member Belt
Council Member Longbrake
Mayor Jernigan
ADJOURNMENT
INTERNET ACCESS TO CITY COUNCIL AGENDAS AND STAFF REPORT MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE PRIOR TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AT: http://www.cityofneedles.com Posted: October 24, 2025
SB 343-DOCUMENTS RELATED TO OPEN SESSION AGENDAS -- Any public record, relating to an open session agenda item, that is distributed within 72 hours prior to the meeting is available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office, 817 Third Street, Needles, CA 92363.
In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 326-2113 ext 133. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting (28 CFR 35.102-104 ADA Title II).
I hereby certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing Agenda was posted at the front entrance of City Hall not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting.
Dated this 24th day of October 2025
/s/ Candace Clark, CPMC, CMC, City Clerk
City of Needles, California
Request for City Council Action
CITY COUNCIL NPUA Regular Special
Meeting Date: October 28, 2025
Title: Resolution 2025-44 City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Background: The City of Needles, in coordination with Atlas Planning Solutions and multiple City departments, has prepared a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) as part of a five-year strategic initiative to enhance community resilience and preparedness against natural and human-caused hazards.
The LHMP identifies potential hazards that could affect the community—such as extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfires, seismic activity, and infrastructure failures—and outlines mitigation strategies and projects to reduce future risks to life, property, and critical infrastructure.
Preparation of the LHMP was funded through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administered under the Hazard Mitigation Assistance program.
The LHMP was developed between Summer 2024 and Spring 2025 and involved extensive coordination with City departments, regional partners, and public input through surveys, community meetings, and online outreach.
Following public review and submission to Cal OES and FEMA, the City received an “Approvable Pending Adoption” letter from the FEMA Region 9 Office, indicating that the plan meets all federal requirements subject to formal adoption by the City Council.
Upon adoption, City staff will transmit the signed adoption resolution and final plan to FEMA Region 9 to complete the approval process. Once approved, the City of Needles will be eligible to apply for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding opportunities.
The LHMP also complements the Safety Element of the City’s General Plan and supports alignment with future capital projects and emergency preparedness initiatives.
Next Steps:
1. City Council adopts the LHMP by resolution.
2. Staff submits the signed resolution and plan to FEMA Region 9 for final approval.
3. Upon final FEMA approval, the LHMP will be formally in effect for a five-year period (2025–2030).
Fiscal Impact: No General Fund impact. The LHMP was prepared using FEMA grant funding.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution 2025-44 City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to maintain eligibility for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hazard mitigation grant funding.
Submitted By: Irene Romero, City Planner
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-44. Adoption of the City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)
2. FEMA “Approvable Pending Adoption” Letter
3. City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City Manager Approval: Date:
Other Department Approval (when required): Date: 10/23/2025 10/23/2025
Agenda Item 3.
ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION 2025-44
Agenda Item 3.
RESOLUTION 2025-44
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING THE CITY OF NEEDLES LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (LHMP) WHEREAS, the City of Needles recognizes that it is subject to a variety of natural and human-caused hazards such as drought, extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, seismic activity, and infrastructure failures that pose a risk to life, property, and community well-being; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) requires local governments to develop and adopt a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) as a condition of receiving certain types of federal disaster assistance, including hazard mitigation grant funding; and WHEREAS, the City of Needles, with the assistance of Atlas Planning Solutions, has prepared a comprehensive LHMP that identifies hazards, assesses community vulnerabilities, and establishes mitigation strategies and actions to reduce long-term risks; and
WHEREAS, the LHMP was developed through a collaborative process involving multiple City departments, regional partners, and the public, including online surveys, outreach meetings, and opportunities for community review and comment; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 9 has reviewed the City’s LHMP and determined that it is Approvable Pending Adoption, contingent upon formal adoption by the City Council; and WHEREAS, adoption of the LHMP demonstrates the City’s commitment to hazard mitigation and makes the City of Needles eligible to apply for federal funding under FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); and WHEREAS, the LHMP will align with the City’s future General Plan Safety Element and supports the City’s goals of enhancing community resilience, protecting public safety, and safeguarding public and private investments.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Needles, California, as follows:
1. The City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), dated 2025, is hereby adopted as the official hazard mitigation plan of the City of Needles.
2. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized and directed to submit the signed resolution and adopted LHMP to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 9 for final approval.
3. The City Manager, or designee, is further authorized to implement and maintain the LHMP, and to pursue funding opportunities consistent with its goals and mitigation strategies.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 28th day of October, 2025, by the City Council of the City of Needles, California.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Janet Jernigan, Mayor
ATTEST:
Candace Clark, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Lena Wade, Deputy City Attorney
Agenda Item 3.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
FEMA Region 9
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, CA 94607-4052
www.fema.gov
September 25, 2025
Kathy Raasch
Director of Development Services/Capital Projects
City of Needles
817 Third Street
Needles, CA 92363
Reference: Hazard Mitigation Plan Approvable Pending Adoption City of Needles, CA
Dear Kathy Raasch:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed its review of the 2025 City of Needles Hazard Mitigation Plan and has determined that the plan is eligible for final approval, pending its formal adoption by the City of Needles.
Formal adoption documentation must be submitted to FEMA Region 9 within one calendar year from the date of this letter. If the adoption is not received within that timeframe, the plan must be updated and resubmitted for review.
FEMA will issue formal approval of the plan upon receipt of the adoption documentation.
Adoption of the plan is required to maintain eligibility for funding under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs. All funding requests will be evaluated individually based on the specific eligibility criteria and requirements of the applicable HMA program.
Please note that while local hazard mitigation plans may include additional content to meet Element H: Additional State Requirements or other local objectives, FEMA’s Approvable Pending Adoption (APA) status does not constitute review or approval of any content exceeding FEMA’s standard mitigation planning requirements.
If you have any questions regarding the planning or review processes, please contact the FEMA Region 9 Hazard Mitigation Planning Team at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Alison Kearns
Planning and Implementation Branch Chief
Mitigation Division
FEMA Region 9
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles Hazard Mitigation Plan Approvable Pending Adoption Notice September 25, 2025
www.fema.gov
Enclosure (1)
City of Needles Plan Review Tool, dated September 25, 2025 cc: Robyn Fennig, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Victoria LaMar-Haas, Hazard Mitigation Planning Chief, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Cal OES/FEMA Review Draft, August 2025
Agenda Item 3.
Adopted X, 2025 i City of Needles
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION.................................................1 Plan Purpose and Authority................................................................................................ 1 Plan Organization and Use................................................................................................. 3 Plan Goals ......................................................................................................................... 5 Planning Process ............................................................................................................... 5 Public Engagement............................................................................................................ 7 Plan Resources ............................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 2 – COMMUNITY PROFILE....................................13 Setting and Location ........................................................................................................ 13 History ............................................................................................................................. 13 Demographics.................................................................................................................. 14 Economy and Commute Patterns ..................................................................................... 16 Development Trends ........................................................................................................ 18 Vulnerability and Risk Reduction ...................................................................................... 18 Major Community Components ........................................................................................ 19 Infrastructure Assessment................................................................................................ 19 CHAPTER 3 – HAZARD ASSESSMENT ..................................23 Hazard Profiles ................................................................................................................ 23 Hazard Scoring And Prioritization ..................................................................................... 27 Earthquake Hazards (Seismic Shaking)............................................................................ 31 Wildfire ............................................................................................................................ 36 Severe Weather (Drought, Extreme Heat, Severe Wind, Thunderstorms) ......................... 40 Infrastructure Failure (Energy Shortage, Power Failure [PSPS]) ....................................... 51 Geologic Hazards (Expansive Soils)................................................................................. 56 Flooding (Including Dam Failure)...................................................................................... 58 Human Caused Hazards (Cyber Threat, Hazardous Materials Release, Natural Gas Pipeline, Transportation Accident) .................................................................................................. 65 CHAPTER 4 – THREAT AND VULNERABILITY .......................75 Threat Assessment Process............................................................................................. 75 Threat Profiles ................................................................................................................. 80 Agenda Item 3.
Adopted X, 2025 ii City of Needles
CHAPTER 5 – HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGY................105 Strategy Development Process ...................................................................................... 105 Capabilities Assessment ................................................................................................ 105 Hazard Mitigation Strategies and Actions.........................................................................118 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan ...........................................................................................119 National Flood Insurance Program ................................................................................. 141 CHAPTER 6 – PLAN MAINTENANCE....................................143 Coordinating Body ......................................................................................................... 143 Plan Implementation ...................................................................................................... 144 Plan Maintenance Process............................................................................................. 144 APPENDIX A........................................................................... A-1 APPENDIX B .......................................................................... B-1 APPENDIX C .......................................................................... C-1 APPENDIX D .......................................................................... D-1 APPENDIX E .......................................................................... E-1 Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 1 City of Needles
CHAPTER 1 –
INTRODUCTION
Plan Purpose and Authority
Hazard events are emergencies due to a natural or human-caused event that has the potential to cause harm. These events can lead to injuries or death, affect the overall health and safety of a community, damage or destroy public and private property, harm ecosystems, and disrupt key services. Although the hazard event often gets the most attention, it is only part of a larger emergency management cycle.
Emergency planners and responders can take steps during the cycle's response, recovery, mitigation, and
preparedness phases to minimize the harm caused by a
disaster. The City of Needles 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) focuses on optimizing the mitigation phase of the process.
Hazard mitigation is “any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural or human-caused hazards and their effects.” 1 This mitigation involves making a community more resilient so that when hazard events do ultimately occur, the
community suffers minor damage and can recover quickly
and effectively. Mitigation differs from preparedness, which involves advanced planning for how best to respond when a disaster occurs or is imminent. For example, a policy to make homes structurally stronger so they suffer minor
damage during an earthquake is a mitigation action, while fully equipping emergency shelters to accommodate
people who lose their homes in an earthquake is a
preparedness action. Some activities may qualify as both. 2 Like other communities, the City of Needles (City) could suffer severe harm from hazard events.
Although large disasters may cause widespread devastation, minor disasters can have more substantial effects. The City cannot make itself completely immune to hazard events, but this LHMP can help make the community a safer place to live, work, and play. This LHMP provides a comprehensive assessment of the city’s threats from natural and human-caused hazard events and a coordinated strategy to reduce these threats. It identifies resources and information to help community members, City staff, and local officials understand local threats and make informed decisions. The LHMP can also support increased coordination and 1 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. 2017. State of California Emergency Plan. https://www.caloes.ca.gov/wpcontent/uploads/Preparedness/Documents/California_State_Emergency_Plan_2017.pdf 2 Rodin, J. 2014. The Resilience Dividend: Managing Disruption, Avoiding Disaster, and Growing Stronger in an Unpredictable World. New York: Public Affairs.
The Emergency Management
Cycle
Resiliency is the “capacity of any
entity—an individual, a community,
an organization, or a natural
system—to prepare for disruptions,
to recover from shocks and
stresses, and to adapt and grow
from a disruptive experience.”2
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 2 City of Needles
collaboration between the City, other public agencies, local employers, service providers, community members, and other key stakeholders.
FEDERAL AUTHORITY
The City is not required to prepare an LHMP, but
state and federal regulations encourage it. The
federal Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Act, amended by the Disaster
Management Act of 2000, creates a federal
framework for local hazard mitigation planning. It
states that jurisdictions that wish to be eligible for
federal hazard mitigation grant funding must
prepare a hazard mitigation plan that meets a
particular set of guidelines and submit this plan to
the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) for review and approval. These guidelines
are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations,
Title 44, Part 201, and discussed in greater detail
in FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool.
STATE AUTHORITY
California Government Code
Sections 8685.9 and 65302.6
California Government Code Section 8685.9 (also
known as Assembly Bill 2140) limits the State of
California's share of disaster relief funds paid out to local governments to 75 percent of the funds not paid for by federal disaster relief efforts unless the jurisdiction has adopted a valid hazard mitigation plan consistent with the Disaster Management Act of 2000 and has incorporated the hazard mitigation plan into the jurisdiction's general plan. The State may cover over 75 percent of the remaining disaster relief costs in these cases.
All cities and counties in California must prepare a general plan, including a safety element that addresses various hazard conditions and other public safety issues. The safety element may be a stand-alone chapter or incorporated into another section, as the community wishes.
California Government Code Section 65302.6 indicates that a community may adopt an LHMP into its safety element if the LHMP meets applicable state requirements. This allows communities to use the LHMP to satisfy state requirements for safety elements. As the General Plan is an overarching long-term plan for community growth and development, incorporating the LHMP into it creates a stronger mechanism for implementing the LHMP.
California Government Code Section 65302 (g)(4)
California Government Code Section 65302 (g)(4), also known as Senate Bill (SB) 379, requires that the safety element of a community's general plan address the hazards created or exacerbated by climate change. The safety element must identify how climate change is FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Policy
Guide
This guide provides the official policy and
interpretation of the applicable statutes and
mitigation planning regulation in 44 Code of
Federal Regulations.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 3 City of Needles
expected to affect hazard conditions in the community and include measures to adapt and be more resilient to these anticipated changes.
Because the LHMP can be incorporated into the safety element, including these items in the LHMP can satisfy the state requirement. SB 379 requires that climate change be addressed in the safety element when the LHMP is updated after January 1, 2017, for communities that already have an LHMP or by January 1, 2022, for communities without an LHMP.
This LHMP is consistent with current standards and regulations, as outlined by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA. It uses the best available science, and its mitigation actions/strategies reflect best practices and community values. It meets the requirements of current state and federal guidelines and makes the City eligible for all appropriate benefits under state and federal law and practices. Note that while FEMA is responsible for reviewing and certifying this LHMP, and Cal OES is responsible for conducting a preliminary review, it does not grant FEMA or Cal OES an increased role in the governance of the city or authorize either agency to take any specific action in the community.
Plan Organization and Use
The Needles LHMP is both a reference document and an action plan. It has information and resources to educate readers and decision-makers about hazard events and related issues and a comprehensive strategy that the City and community members can follow to improve resilience in the city. It is divided into the following chapters:
• Chapter 1: Introduction. This chapter describes the Plan's background, its goals and objectives, and the process used in its development.
• Chapter 2: Community Profile. This chapter discusses Needles’ history, physical setting, land use, demographics, and other important community characteristics. • Chapter 3: Hazard Assessment. This chapter identifies and describes the hazards that threaten Needles and discusses past and future events and the effects of climate change.
• Chapter 4: Vulnerability Assessment. This chapter describes each hazard's threat to Needles’ key facilities and community members, including socially vulnerable individuals.
• Chapter 5: Mitigation Strategy. This chapter lists the mitigation actions to reduce Needles’ vulnerability to hazard events and provides an overview of the community's existing capabilities to improve hazard resilience.
• Chapter 6: Plan Maintenance. This chapter summarizes implementing, monitoring, and updating the LHMP and opportunities for continued public involvement.
PREVIOUS NEEDLES LHMP
This is an update to the City of Needles’ 2019 LHMP, which will reinstate the City’s eligibility, once approved and adopted by the City Council, to apply for FEMA grants for hazard mitigation projects and monetary relief during emergency situations. The content from the previous plan Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 4 City of Needles
has been included in this document and updated accordingly. Key modifications in this plan focus on expanding the risk assessment (understanding potential losses and vulnerable populations) within Chapter 4 and revised and modified mitigation strategies and actions within Chapter 5.
Key updated elements from the previous Needles LHMP include the following:
• Updated Plan Goals
• Integration of the General Plan, Housing Element, Safety Element, and Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment into the Community Profile, Hazards Assessment, and Vulnerability Assessment chapters of the plan
• Expanded historic events discussions within the plan
• Updated Capabilities Assessment
• Updated Mitigation Actions and Strategies, including progress on previous actions
PREVIOUS PLAN INTEGRATION
The previous LHMP has not been incorporated or integrated into any of the City’s planning policies and documents. To ensure future integration occurs, Chapter 6 of this plan includes additional guidance on how to best integrate the LHMP into the General Plan Safety Element, Emergency Operations Plan, and other planning mechanisms used by the City.
DISASTER DECLARATION CONNECTIONS
Since 2018, the following major disasters, emergency declarations, and fire management events (Table 1-1) have been issued by the FEMA. Past events identified in this plan have been identified in connection with these events in the “Past Events” sections within each Hazard Profile located in Chapter 3 of this Plan. If no event has been identified in a hazard profile in Chapter 3, that indicates that a disaster declaration has not been declared for that hazard type.
TABLE 1-1: DISASTER DECLARATION – SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY (2018-2023) Year
Declaration
Number Declaration Title Incident Type
Affected
the City
Activated EOC
or Requested
PA
2023 DR-4699-CA SEVERE WINTER
STORMS,
STRAIGHT-LINE
WINDS, FLOODING,
LANDSLIDES, AND
MUDSLIDES
Severe Storm No No
2023 EM-3591-CA SEVERE WINTER
STORMS,
FLOODING, AND
MUDSLIDES
Flood No No
2023 EM-3592-CA SEVERE WINTER
STORMS,
FLOODING,
LANDSLIDES, AND
MUDSLIDES
Flood No No
2021 DR-4569-CA WILDFIRES Fire No No
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 5 City of Needles
2021 FM-5381-CA BLUE RIDGE FIRE Fire No No
2020 DR-4482-CA COVID-19
PANDEMIC
Biological Yes No
2020 EM-3428-CA COVID-19 Biological Yes No
2020 FM-5350-CA EL DORADO FIRE Fire No No
2020 FM-5325-CA APPLE FIRE Fire No No
2020 FM-5301-CA HILLSIDE FIRE Fire No No
2019 EM-3415-CA EARTHQUAKES Earthquake No No
DR = Major Disaster
EM = Emergency Declaration
FM = Fire Management
Plan Goals
This plan was developed to increase resilience in Needles broadly, relying on the following revised goals.
This Plan was developed to broadly increase resilience in Needles. The following goal is from the 2011 LHMP:
1) Reduce damage and injuries from future hazards.
During the planning process, the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) identified these new goals to replace the previous goals:
1) Protect against threats from natural hazards to life, injury, and property damage within the Needles community.
2) Increase public awareness of potential hazard events. 3) Preserve critical services and functions by protecting key facilities and infrastructure for the community.
4) Protect natural systems from current and future hazard conditions. 5) Coordinate mitigation activities among City departments, neighboring jurisdictions, and federal agencies.
6) Prepare for long-term change in hazard conditions associated with climate change.
Planning Process
State and federal guidance for LHMPs does not require that jurisdictions follow a standardized planning process. FEMA encourages communities to create a planning process that reflects local values, goals, and characteristics. FEMA does suggest a general planning process that follows the steps identified below:
The planning process used to create this plan for the City of Needles is described as follows:
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 6 City of Needles
HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING COMMITTEE
The City established a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (hereafter referred to as the HMPC). The HMPC comprises representatives from key city departments and stakeholders from local and regional agencies and companies that are key to hazard mitigation activities.
Table 1-2 identifies the members who were invited and/or attended HMPC meetings.
TABLE 1-2: NEEDLES HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING COMMITTEE (HMPC) Name Title Department
Kathy Raasch Interim Development Services
Director
Development Services
Rainie Torrance Utility Manager Needles Public Utility Agency Irene Romero City Planner Planning
Jennifer Valenzuela Recreation Services Manager Parks & Recreation Cheryl Sallis Community Services Manager Community Services Department Will Guzman Building Inspector Building & Safety
Adrian Chavez Senior Code Enforcement Code Enforcement
Steve Ledbetter Contract City Engineer Engineering
Angelica Deermer Housing Manager Needles Housing Authority Manager Aaron Pfannenstiel LHMP Project Manager Atlas Planning Solutions Crystal Stueve LHMP Planner Atlas Planning Solutions
Robert Jackson LHMP Planner Atlas Planning Solutions
The HMPC held two meetings throughout the plan development process to lay out the methods and approach for the Plan, draft and review content, make revisions and engage members of the public.
Identify the
planning and the
resources it
contains
Build the planning
team
Create an outreach
team
Identify the risks
and threats to the
community
Review the
community's
capabilities
Develop a hazard
mitigation strategy
Review and adopt
the plan
Implement the plan
to create a safe and
resilient community
Keep the plan
current
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 7 City of Needles
• HMPC Meeting #1 (July 31, 2024): The HMPC members confirmed the project goals and responsibilities. They revised the community engagement and outreach strategy, confirmed and prioritized the hazards included in the Plan, and identified critical threat assessment facilities.
• HMPC Meeting #2 (November 25, 2024): The HMPC discussed and reviewed mitigation actions and strategies, made revisions, and assigned priorities.
Invitations and materials for meetings were provided via email. Appendix A contains copies of invitations, meeting agendas, sign-in sheets, and other relevant materials distributed for these meetings.
Public Engagement
Under FEMA guidelines, local hazard mitigation planning processes should create opportunities for the public to be involved in plan development—at a minimum, during the initial drafting stage and plan approval. Due to the policy changes in the post-COVID-19 pandemic world, in-person public workshops and meetings were replaced with virtual workshops, meetings, and discussion groups for health and safety reasons. A listing of several key activities of the LHMP follows.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
As part of the plan update process, the City invited stakeholders to review and comment on the Public Review Draft of the LHMP. These stakeholders included neighboring jurisdictions, utility providers, local school districts, energy producers, water districts, and County agencies.
Information regarding this engagement opportunity can also be located in Appendix B. All jurisdictions and stakeholders were invited via email and/or direct communication via telephone.
The following is a list of those stakeholders invited to participate in the plan development process and review.
• Colorado River Medical Center
• Fort Mohave Indian Tribe
• Mohave County Public Works
• Needles Chamber of Commerce
• Needles Regional Museum
• Needles Unified School District
• San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
• San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
• St. Vincent De Paul Society
• Tri-State Community Healthcare
Vulnerable Populations Outreach
Based on demographics, the City recognizes that a large segment of Needles residents live below the poverty limit. Needles also has a significant number of residents older than 65 years of age in the city, which should be considered in the planning process. Additionally, those primarily speaking another language may be more linguistically isolated than in other parts of the county.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 8 City of Needles
To address vulnerable population needs as part of outreach and engagement during the planning process, the City sent out a utility flyer insert. The flyer provided information regarding the LHMP planning process and provided links to access the survey and other engagement opportunities.
The purpose of this contact was to inform the residents in these locations about the LHMP update and provide an opportunity to participate in the planning process. Residents were invited to review the public review draft LHMP and provided access to an online form to submit feedback.
Future Outreach Opportunities
Recognizing that other vulnerable populations do exist in the city, this update focused on the one of greatest concern. For the next update, the City plans to enhance outreach efforts to daily workers who are employed within the city but reside elsewhere. The goal is to ensure these individuals are better informed about potential risks and challenges that may affect their wellbeing.
Public Engagement Opportunities
The City regularly conducts community meetings and events intended to provide useful information to participants/ attendees. In-person engagement opportunities were a central component of the City's engagement efforts. These meetings allowed members of the public to learn about the hazards of concern identified by the HMPC during this update. Atlas Planning Solutions and City staff presented the LHMP planning process and relevant information at one public engagement meeting early on in the process. Additionally, City staff advertised the public survey at various public events and through e-blasts and alerts shared throughout the city. • December 12, 2024 – Public Outreach Workshop: The City's consultant, Atlas, Planning Solutions, presented the City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Project and planning process to the residents of the city as a part of the public outreach process. There were 12 residents in attendance. In addition to answering questions and feedback, a QR code linked to a comment card was shared to record feedback from attendees.
Appendix B includes a copy of the materials shared at the outreach meeting.
ONLINE ENGAGEMENT
The City recognized that not all community members can attend public meetings and conducted public engagement through social media and online platforms.
The City promoted the planning process through the following online methods:
• Online survey
• Needles Connect e-blast
• City of Needles website
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 9 City of Needles
LHMP Project Webpage
The City created a page on the City’s website dedicated to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan development to reach a broad audience and increase public engagement and participation. The webpage is a simple, one-stop location where community members can learn about the LHMP.
The webpage explains what an LHMP is, why the City should have one, how it is developed, and how the public can participate in the planning process. It also includes a link to the LHMP survey described in the next section.
The webpage can be found at https://cityofneedles.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ProjectWebsite-Content.pdf.
Online Survey
The City released an online survey to community members to gather feedback on the planning process and hazards of concern. The City received 96 responses from community members and stakeholders during the survey period. Responses were received from all zip codes and areas within Needles, ensuring the entire city was represented geographically. Based on these responses, the following information was shared with the City:
• About 72% of respondents live in the City of Needles, while approximately 18% of respondents live and work in the City of Needles.
• According to respondents, the top (4) hazards of concern for the city are Extreme Heat, Hazardous Materials Incident, Dam Failure, and Drought. These responses confirmed that the concerns identified by City staff during the planning process were similar to those of residents who responded to the survey.
• Approximately 59% of respondents are concerned about how climate change may create new hazardous situations in the city or could make existing natural hazards worse. • Approximately 39% of respondents believe climate change already threatens their health, property, livelihood, and overall well-being.
• Approximately 41% of respondents are familiar with the special needs of their neighbors in the event of a disaster situation (special needs may include limited mobility, severe medical conditions, or memory impairment).
As part of the outreach strategy, a QR code was created for promotional materials and handouts at fairs and booths used by City staff at community events. This QR Code provided quick access to the City's online survey.
The results from the survey were provided to the HMPC. The data was then analyzed, reviewed, and incorporated by the HMPC within the LHMP content.
The data provided by the survey presented unique local insight into hazard concerns and assessed the public's overall opinion and perception of the hazards that affect Needles. The survey results are also provided in Appendix B of the LHMP, including the survey questions and answers.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 10 City of Needles
Social Media Outreach
The City promoted and provided information on the Hazard Mitigation Survey and the LHMP Public Review Draft on multiple social media platforms. • City of Needles – LinkedIn account with 133 followers • City of Needles YouTube account with 129 subscribers
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
On June 11, 2025, the City released a draft copy of the LHMP for public review and comment.
To ensure public access and awareness, the City distributed notifications about the Public Review Draft of the 2025 LHMP through multiple channels:
• City Website: A public notice announcing the draft comment period was posted on the City’s official website. The notice included information on where the draft could be accessed both online and in person.
• Public Viewing Locations: Printed copies of the draft and the notice were made available at City Hall and at the El Garces Center, where public hearings were scheduled.
• Newspaper Publication: A public notice was published in the *Desert Sun*, the local newspaper, to reach a wider audience within the community. • Direct Stakeholder Outreach: The City also directly emailed each identified stakeholder with a copy of the Draft 2025 LHMP. The email included information on the review process, how to submit comments, and the timeline for public input.
The Public Review Draft period extended from June 11, 2025, through July 11, 2025.
PLAN REVISION AND ADOPTION
The City received one response from a stakeholder on the plan during the public review period; however, the response didn’t require any edits or modifications to the plan content or major revisions. Following public comment, the City submitted the plan to Cal OES and FEMA, initiating their review process. Upon completing this review process, City staff transmitted the final plan to the City Council for final adoption. The Needles City Council adopted the final LHMP on [Month, Day, 2024]. Appendix C contains a copy of the adoption resolution.
Plan Resources
The City referred to several plans, studies, technical reports, datasets, and other resources to prepare the Plan's hazard assessment, mapping, threat assessment, and other components.
Table 1-3 provides some of the HMPC's primary resources to prepare this Plan.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 11 City of Needles
TABLE 1-3: KEY RESOURCES FOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Section Key Resources Reviewed Data Incorporated from
Resource
Multiple • Cal-Adapt
• California Department of
Conservation
• California Geological Survey
• California Office of Emergency
Services
• California State Hazard Mitigation
Plan
• City of Needles General Plan
• FEMA Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan Handbook
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
• National Weather Service
• US Geological Survey
• US Census Bureau 2018-2022
American Community Survey
• San Bernardino County
Vulnerability Assessment
• San Bernardino County Hazard
Mitigation Plan
• Science and background
information on different
hazard conditions
• Records of past disaster
events in and around
Needles
• Current and anticipated
climate conditions in and
around Needles
• Projections of future seismic
conditions and events
Community Profile • US Census Bureau 2018-2022
American Community Survey
• California Energy Commission
• Demographic information for
Needles and San Bernardino
County
• History of the region
• Economic trends in Needles
• Commute patterns in
Needles
• Local land-use patterns
• Background information on
utilities serving Needles
• Current Climate information
in Needles
Hazard Assessment
Dam Failure • California Department of Water
Resources
• San Bernardino County Flood
Control District
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• Mapping of dam failure
inundation areas
• Profiles and conditions of
dams in and around Needles
Flood • FEMA Map Service Center
• San Bernardino County Flood
Control District
• Records of past flood events
in and around Needles
• Locations of flood-prone
areas in Needles
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 12 City of Needles
Hazardous Materials
Release
• Department of Toxic Substances
and Control
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Cal OES Spill Reporting Database
• Location and dates of past
hazardous materials release
• Effects of hazardous
materials release
Human-Caused
Hazards – Cyber
Threat
• Cyber Security Index • Rate of Cyber Attacks over a
period of time
Human-Caused
Hazards –
Transportation
Accidents
• National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB)
• Records of past
transportation accidents
Seismic and Geologic
Hazards
• Southern California Earthquake
Data Center
• The Third California Earthquake
Rupture Forecast (UCERF3)
• California Geological Survey
• Location of fault zones
• Records of past earthquakes
• Probability of future
earthquake events
• Location of seismically
vulnerable areas
Severe Weather • Cal Adapt
• California Department of Water
Resources
• US Drought Monitor
• Western Regional Climate Center
•
• Historic drought information
• Current drought conditions
• Science and background
information on extreme
weather events
• Historical record of extreme
weather events in and
around Needles
Wildfire • California Department of Forestry
and Fire Prevention
• Fire and Resource Assessment
Program
• Records of past fire events
• Location of fire hazard zones
in and around Needles
Note: Sections not individually identified in this table relied primarily on sources identified in multiple sections.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 13 City of Needles
CHAPTER 2 –
COMMUNITY PROFILE
The Community Profile section of the LHMP describes Needles, including information about the community's physical setting, history, economy and demographics, current and future land uses, and key infrastructure. The Community Profile helps establish the baseline conditions in Needles, which informs the development of the hazard mitigation strategies and actions in Chapter 5.
Setting and Location
The City of Needles is located within the Mojave Desert in eastern San Bernardino County, CA.
The city sits along the western bank of the Colorado River, near the Arizona border. Needles covers approximately 30 square miles and sits at an elevation of 488 feet. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95.
The city is in a desert environment and experiences temperature extremes. The temperatures range from 40-80 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, autumn, and spring. The temperatures are typically above 100 degrees in the summer but may exceed 120 degrees on extreme days. The city experiences an average of 310 sunny days yearly, compared to the national average of 205. Precipitation averages 4.7 inches per year, with an equal amount falling during the monsoon season (summer) and winter. When precipitation occurs, it tends to be in the form of a cloudburst. It rains so hard that the soil becomes inundated and cannot absorb the water, leading to flash flooding.
History
Founded in 1883, Needles is one of the
oldest cities in San Bernardino County.
The city was incorporated on October
30, 1913, and became a charter city on
January 28, 1959. Located in the heart
of the lower Colorado River recreation
area just across the bridge from Arizona
and just minutes to Nevada (the “TriState” area), Needles is the gateway to the Golden State.
The Aha Macav (now federally
designated as the Fort Mojave Indian
Tribe) has managed their desert
homeland's natural resources for as
long as 8,000 years. There is evidence to suggest that the ancestors of today’s Mojave people migrated into the mountains and valleys along the Colorado River soon after the last ice age.
The Needles Eye newspaper office, circa the late 1890s.
Photo provided by the City of Needles.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 14 City of Needles
In 1776, Father Francisco Garces was the first white man to visit the homeland of the Mojave.
The United States Army established Camp Colorado (later changed to Ft. Mojave) on the east side of the Colorado River in 1859 to protect settlers migrating west.
In 1883, the first railroad crossed the Colorado River from Topock in Arizona Territory to the present site of Needles. The town of Needles was formed at that time. Needles became a regular stop for the Santa Fe Railroad and served as an icing station for the fruits and vegetables shipped east from California’s fields and orchards. Today, Needles remains an important part of the backbone of America’s shipping – the railroad.
Demographics
The data used in this section comes from the most comprehensive American Community Survey 2017 – 2022 (ACS), administered by the United States Census Bureau (U.S. Census) completed in 2022, and the California Department of Finance (DOF). Based on this dataset, Needles’ projected population is 4,931, with a median age of 48.8. This median age is approximately 14.9 years older than the average median age in San Bernardino County (33.9).
The percentage of children under the age of 10 is lower (8.6%) than the rest of San Bernardino County, which is 13.6%. The percentage of senior residents (aged 65 and older) in the city is
21.6%, which is significantly higher than the rest of San Bernardino County (11.9%). Needles residents have a lower median income than the rest of San Bernardino County. In addition, a higher proportion of Needles’ residents rent their homes (42.4%) than the rest of San Bernardino County residents (38.9%).
Table 2-1 identifies the basic demographics for Needles and San Bernardino County according to the 2022 ACS 5-year projections. Note that these statistics may vary from the demographic information in Chapter 4, Threat Profiles, as that data set comes directly from ESRI’s Business Analyst Tool.
TABLE 2-1: BASIC DEMOGRAPHICS—NEEDLES & SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY Demographic Needles San Bernardino County
Total Population 4,931 2,180,563
Percent of children who are less than 10 years old 8.6% 13.6% Percent of residents who are senior citizens (65+) 21.6% 11.9% Median Age 48.8 33.9
Total households 2,016 659,928
Median household income $38,368 $77,423
Percent of rental households 42.4% 38.9%
Sources: American Community Survey (2017-2022), ACS 2022 5-Year Projections * 2022 Census projections identify an estimated population of 4,900 which is used in Chapter 4 of this plan.
Regarding its racial and ethnic composition, Needles is a white-majority city, with 67.4% of all Needles residents identifying as white. According to the ACS, this population makeup differs from San Bernardino County, where most of the population identify as Hispanic or Latino. Table 2-2 shows the racial and ethnic composition of all Needles and San Bernardino County groups.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 15 City of Needles
Needles residents have attained lower education levels than San Bernardino County residents.
For example, a lower percentage of the city’s population has earned a bachelor’s degree (7.0%) compared to the rest of San Bernardino County (14.5%). Similarly, a lower percentage of the city has attained a graduate or professional degree (2.7%) compared to San Bernardino County (8.5%). However, more residents in Needles have a high school diploma or equivalent (33.7%) compared to San Bernardino County residents (28.7%). Table 2-3 shows all levels of educational attainment of residents 25 years of age or older in both Needles and San Bernardino County, according to the American Community Survey as of 2022.
TABLE 2-2: DETAILED DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN—NEEDLES & SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY Race or Ethnicity
Needles San Bernardino County
Population Percentage Population Percentage
White 3,322 67.4% 975,461 44.7%
Black 121 2.5% 171,762 7.9%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 445 9.0% 25467 1.2%
Asian 60 1.2% 169,063 7.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific
Islander 12 0.2% 7,333 0.3%
Some Other Race Alone 415 8.4% 484,024 22.2%
Two or more races 556 11.8% 347,453 15.9%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) * 1,255 25.5% 1,200,147 55.0% Total 4,931 100% 2,180,563 100%
* The US Census Bureau does not currently count persons who identify as Latinx as a separate racial or ethnic category. Persons who identify as Hispanic or Latinx are already included in the other racial or ethnic categories Note: Percentage values are rounded to the nearest tenth decimal.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) – Needles and San Bernardino County TABLE 2-3: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF RESIDENTS 25+ YEARS OF AGE Educational Attainment
Needles San Bernardino County
Number Percentage Number Percentage
Less than 9th grade 154 4.2% 129,465 9.2%
9th grade to 12th grade (no diploma) 595 16.3% 124,445 8.8% High school graduate or equivalent 1,230 33.7% 405,744 28.7% Some college (no degree) 1,107 30.3% 311,528 22.1%
Associate’s degree 207 5.7% 115,913 8.2%
Bachelor's degree 256 7.0% 205,233 14.5%
Graduate or professional degree 100 2.7% 119,723 8.5%
Total 3,649 100% 1,412,051 100%
Note: Percentage values are rounded to the nearest tenth decimal.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) – Needles and San Bernardino County Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 16 City of Needles
Needles has a wide range of non-English languages spoken at home among its residents, with varying proficiency levels. Generally, Spanish is the second most spoken language in Needles, with approximately 17.5% of the population speaking English less than “very well.” Asian and Pacific Islander languages are Needles’ third most spoken language category, with 89.7% of the population speaking English less than “very well.” This is similar to populations in San Bernardino County, where Spanish is the second most spoken language and Asian and Pacific Islander is the third most spoken language category. Table 2-4 shows the most spoken languages and the levels of fluency among speakers aged five years and older in Needles and San Bernardino County, according to the ACS.
TABLE 2-4: ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND LANGUAGES SPOKEN AT HOME AMONG RESIDENTS AGED 5+ YEARS
Languages
Needles San Bernardino County
Number
of
speakers
Speak
English “less
than very
well”
% not
fluent in
English
Number of
speakers
Speak
English “less
than very
well”
% not fluent
in English
English
only 4,184 _ _ 1,153,879 -- --
Spanish 435 76 17.5% 723,044 237,418 32.8%
IndoEuropean* 6 0 0% 29,093 7,283 25.0%
Asian and
Pacific
Islander*
29 26 89.7% 109,024 50,873 46.7%
All other
languages 55 2 3.6% 20,594 6,700 32.5%
Total 4,709 106 110.8%** 2,035,634 302,274 34.3%**
*Census data does not breakdown the specific languages for languages spoken in these regions. **Due to these figures only being a percentage of the overall number of speakers, they will not add up to 100%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) – Needles and San Bernardino County Economy and Commute Patterns
Needles has a diverse economy of employers from various sectors, including agriculture, public administration, healthcare, and education, with a total employment base of 2,804 jobs for employees. Some of the city's top employers include Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Colorado River Medical Center, Needles Unified School District, and various entities in the cannabis industry. Table 2-5 shows the top ten employment sectors in Needles, according to the City’s 2022-2025 Marketing Plan.
As of 2022, over 1,700 Needles residents are employed, with approximately 477 (28.1%) working within the city. The remaining workforce commutes from surrounding cities throughout the region. Table 2-6 shows the top five cities contributing to Needles’ workforce, accounting for approximately 62.2% of those employed within the city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 17 City of Needles
TABLE 2-5: EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY IN NEEDLES
Industry Number of Jobs Percentage of Total
City Employment
Public Administration 533 19.0%
Agriculture – Cannabis-related 509 18.2%
Health Care and Social Assistance 359 12.8%
Arts/Entertainment/Recreation 351 12.5%
Education 329 11.7%
Retail 219 7.8%
Other Services 131 4.7%
Real Estate & Rental/Leasing 64 2.3%
Transportation & Warehousing 60 2.1%
Construction 49 1.7%
Total 2,275 92.8%
Source: City of Needles, CA Marketing Plan 2022-2025
Percentage rounded to the nearest tenth percentage.
TABLE 2-6: TOP FIVE CITIES-OF-ORIGIN FOR NEEDLES’ WORKFORCE (2021) City of Origin Number of Employees Percentage
Needles, CA 477 33.1%
Lake Havasu City, AZ 166 11.5%
Mohave Valley, AZ 91 6.3%
Fort Mohave, AZ 83 5.8%
Bullhead City, AZ 79 5.5%
Total 689 62.2%
Source: https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/
While most Needles’ residents commute outside the city for work, most commuting residents (47.1%) travel between 50 miles or greater to reach their place of employment—most of those trips heading into the Los Angeles or San Bernardino areas. The city has convenient access to Amtrak at the El Garces Intermodal Transportation Facility and highway and interstate access with routes connecting to Barstow, Kingman, and Las Vegas. Table 2-7 shows the outflow of workers from Needles to other regional worksites.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 18 City of Needles
TABLE 2-7: WORK COMMUTE DISTANCES FOR NEEDLES RESIDENTS (2021) Work Destination Number of Employees Percentage
Less than 10 miles 594 36.9%
10 to 24 miles 160 10.0%
25 to 50 miles 97 6.0%
Greater than 50 miles 757 47.1%
Total 1,608 100%
Source: https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/
Development Trends
Needles is located within a somewhat isolated part of eastern San Bernardino County. From 2010 to 2021, the city’s population increased from 4,844 to 5,353 (approximately 10.5%).
Growth forecasts prepared by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) estimate that Needles’ population could surpass 6,000 people sometime between 2020 and 2035. At this rate, the population is expected to grow by less than 1 percent per year. Since 2019, the City has experienced a decrease in housing stock, from 2,897 (2019) to 2,867 (2021).
The loss of housing units by fire and no new units being built in over a decade has contributed to the city’s decrease in housing stock. Additionally, a decrease could also be contributed to units originally classified as residential converted for commercial use. Of the approximately 2,867 residential units within the City, 69.3% are single-family, 16.9% are multi-family, and
13.7% are mobile homes. In Needles, 25.3 percent of housing is less than 30 years old, and nearly 75 percent is at least 30 years old. In other words, almost 8 in 10 homes in Needles most likely require some degree of repair. Figure 2-1 shows land use and zoning for the city.
According to the 2021-2029 City of Needles Housing Element, the City has a state-mandated regional housing needs allocation (RHNA), residential development requirement, and housing allocation of 87 units. The RHNA process is part of the Housing Element Law used to determine how many new homes and the affordability of those homes each local government must plan for in its Housing Element. Currently, the city has ample vacant sites and zoned land to meet and exceed the RHNA. The City has other strategies outlined in the Housing Programs section of the 2021-2029 Housing Element, which can be accessed on the City of Needles website here.
Vulnerability and Risk Reduction
All new development and redevelopment occurring in the amended zoning areas will provide the city with hazard vulnerability and risk reduction. This reduction will occur due to the anticipated improvements and investments implemented in these older parts of the city due to these amendments to the General Plan and zoning regulations. In addition, the new developments that will be built will comply with the most up-to-date building codes and use the latest techniques, further reducing vulnerabilities throughout the city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 19 City of Needles
Major Community Components
EL GARCES HISTORIC TRAIN DEPOT
El Garces Train Depot is a historic freight and passenger depot in Needles, along Route 66.
Opened in 1908, the train depot was built to model a Greek temple and included a hotel and restaurant amenities. The depot was named after Father Francisco Garces, the first European to cross the Mojave Desert. As automobile travel became more accessible to people with a wider range of incomes, who often could afford to travel but not to dine or stay at a place as elegant as El Garces, El Garces closed in 1949, at which time the building was partitioned and used as Santa Fe Railway offices. In 1988, the Santa Fe Railroad moved to another facility and closed the building. Abandoned, El Garces was under threat of destruction until 1993, when a local group called Friends of El Garces formed and petitioned the City to purchase the station.
In 1999, the City of Needles purchased El Garces. The National Park Service recognized the building’s significance in 2002 by listing it in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2014, the facility opened as an Intermodal Transportation Facility. In 2016, Amtrak opened a dedicated waiting room for passengers. A room is also available for community events in what was formerly the luggage room. 3
COLORADO RIVER
The Colorado River runs along the easter portion of the city. Along the river are sandy beaches and waterfront campgrounds. People travel from neighboring states for boating and various other water activities that can be enjoyed on the Colorado River.
MOABI REGIONAL PARK
Located along the banks of the Colorado River, at the California and Arizona state lines, Moabi is the place where people can enjoy water recreation and beautiful scenery. Moabi Regional Park Campground offers a mix of group/tent camping and dedicated campsites. Fishing, hiking, boating, and off-road driving are popular activities in Moabi. The Pirate Cove Resort, a hot spot popular among boaters and RVers, operates the park. 4
Infrastructure Assessment
Infrastructure plays a vital role in mitigating the effects of hazard events. When infrastructure fails, it can exacerbate the effects of a hazard event or create complications for rescue workers trying to reach victims. For example, fallen utility poles resulting from strong winds or seismic activity can obstruct roadways and prevent emergency vehicles from reaching affected areas.
The following are Needles’ electrical, gas, water and wastewater, and infrastructure transportation networks.
3 National Park Service. California: El Garces. https://www.nps.gov/places/el-garces.htm 4 San Bernardino County Regional Parks. Moabi Regional Park. https://parks.sbcounty.gov/park/moabi-regional-park/ Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 20 City of Needles
ELECTRICITY SERVICE
Through the Needles Public Utility Authority (NPUA), the City owns and operates the electric utility. The electric system expands from the Nevada state line, south of Laughlin, Nevada, to Topock, Arizona. Needles’ peak electric demand is 26.72 MW (as of July 2024), serving approximately 3,000 customers. The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) delivers energy to the City of Needles on a 69KVA transmission line. The distribution line crosses the river in town at 3240 Needles Hwy, the firehouse switchyard. The City of Needles also has a back 69KVA Line from the Nora McDowell Substation located 15 miles north of Needles. The electric department is under direct supervision from the Utility Manager and City Manager; there is one Power Line Supervisor, two power line technicians, and three apprentice linemen.
The threat of wildfires in California is real and growing. One critical tool used to prevent wildfires is the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) circuits, in which power providers may temporarily shut off power to circuits during dangerous weather conditions to prevent their electric system from becoming a source of ignition, resulting in a wildfire. These safety shutoffs are a measure of last resort for keeping residents and the community safe. Although no part of the Electric Company’s service territory is located in the California Public Utilities Commission High Fire Threat Districts, and there have been no PSPS events in the city, the NPUA has the authority to conduct a PSPS event if fire-threat conditions occur. 5
NATURAL GAS
The Southwest Gas Company provides natural gas to Needles and surrounding jurisdictions.
Southwest Gas owns and operates transmission lines throughout San Bernardino County to ensure sufficient natural gas throughout the region. If these lines are damaged, there is potential for interrupting natural gas flow and delivery throughout the region. Additionally, natural gas ignites easily. Any rupture in a transmission line could cause additional damage to properties near the leak due to fire from the escaped natural gas. The presence of this infrastructure creates unique challenges for the city from an emergency management perspective. Including hazards associated with damage to this infrastructure is an important element of an effective response to future incidents involving natural gas use and transmission.
WATER SERVICE
The City of Needles Water Department provides water to its residents and other customers.
Groundwater is the source of Needles’ water supply. Approximately 781 million gallons per year are pumped from four wells. The wells are approximately 100 feet deep. The water distribution system consists of 66 miles of lines varying from 2” to 16” in diameter. Water storage capacity for the Needles water supply is provided by two 1.5 million gallon tanks for the lower pressure zone, one 1.5 million gallon tank, and one 100,000 gallon tank for the upper pressure zone.
Drinking water standards are established by the State Water Resource Control Board and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in compliance with the Safe Water 5 Needles Public Utility Authority Wildfire Mitigation Plan. 2023. https://cityofneedles.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NPUAWildfire-Mitigation-Plan-2023-4.0.pdf Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 21 City of Needles
Drinking Act. The City follows these standards and publishes them yearly in its Consumer Confidence Report. 6
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
The City’s Wastewater Department is responsible for managing the City’s sanitary sewer collection system. The field operation and maintenance services are fulfilled by City staff. The collection system consists of 19.25 miles of sewer line, 3.6 miles of Force Main, 4 lift stations, 390 manholes, and a 1.2 mgd wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The sewer system was first installed in 1950. The City has four lift stations. Once reaching the WWTP, the effluent water is pumped to the City’s Percolation Ponds. Here, the water percolates back into the ground and starts the life cycle all over again. The City receives Colorado River recharge credits for all water percolated back into the ground from the effluent. In Needles, the last of the sewer service on the south side goes as far as Victory Drive & Cherry; on the north side, it goes to Pashard Ave.
Needles has several septic systems, mostly in North Needles along the Colorado River. 7
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Private automobiles are the dominant means of transportation in Southern California and the City of Needles. However, the City of Needles meets its public transportation needs through the Needles Area Transit (NAT). In addition to route service in and around Needles, the NAT provides the following services:
• Dial-A-Ride: Provides specialized, curb-to-curb transportation for seniors (55+) and persons with disabilities within the City of Needles.
• Medical Transportation: Provides all Needles residents with medical transportation to Valley View Medical Center or Bullhead City Medical Facilities. • Shopper Shuttle: Provides shuttle services to Walmart, Safeway, Smith’s, and CVS in Fort Mohave.
6 City of Needles. Water Department. https://cityofneedles.com/services/water-department/ 7 City of Needles. Wastewater. https://cityofneedles.com/services/waste-water/ Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 22 City of Needles
Figure 2-1: Land Use and Zoning Map
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 23 City of Needles
CHAPTER 3 –
HAZARD ASSESSMENT
Hazard Profiles
This chapter discusses the types of hazards that might reasonably occur in Needles. It describes these hazards and how they are measured, where they may occur, a history of these hazards in and around the city, and the future risk they pose. The discussion of future risks includes changes to the frequency, intensity, and/or location of these hazards due to climate change. This chapter also discusses how the HMPC selected and prioritized this Plan's hazards.
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
FEMA guidance identifies several hazards that communities should evaluate for inclusion in a hazard mitigation plan. Communities may also consider additional hazards for their plans. The HMPC reviewed an extensive list of hazards and excluded those that do not pose a significant threat to Needles. Table 3-1 lists the hazards considered and explains the reasoning for inclusion/exclusion. For context, this table also shows if a hazard is recommended for consideration by FEMA if it is included in the 2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) and if it is included in the San Bernardino County Hazard Mitigation Plan (SB HMP).
This table does not include all potential impacts; the table is based on FEMA and State guidance and the most probable impacts within Needles. As a result, some hazards like war or foreign invasion are better addressed at the Federal level.
TABLE 3-1: HAZARD EVALUATION FOR NEEDLES LHMP
Hazard Recommended for
Consideration
Included
in LHMP?
Reason for Inclusion or Exclusion
Agricultural
Pests
SHMP No Needles has minimal agricultural uses within
the city that contribute to the economy.
Concerns regarding agricultural pests are
not a significant concern citywide.
Air Pollution SHMP No Air pollution is a state and regional issue addressed through plans and regulations
administered by the Mojave Desert Air
Quality Management District and/or
California Air Resources Board. Since the
City has little control over regulating air
quality, this hazard was not included.
Aircraft Incident SHMP No The city is located approximately 24 miles from Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport
and approximately 35 miles from Lake
Havasu City Airport. Given the distance and
lack of history associated with this hazard in
the city, it was determined that it should not
be included in the plan.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 24 City of Needles
TABLE 3-1: HAZARD EVALUATION FOR NEEDLES LHMP
Hazard Recommended for
Consideration
Included
in LHMP?
Reason for Inclusion or Exclusion
Aquatic
Invasive
Species
SHMP No There are no major bodies of water within
the city, which would create a concern
regarding aquatic invasive species. This
was not deemed a concern by the City.
Avalanche FEMA guidance
SHMP
No There is no potential for avalanches to occur
within the city.
Civil
Disturbance or
Riot
SHMP No The city has no major tourist destinations or
facilities that allow large crowds of people to
gather. This is not a concern for the City.
Climate Change SHMP
SBC HMP
Yes Climate change is a concern identified by
the HMPC and has been included within
each hazard profile where relevant.
Coastal
Flooding and
Storm
FEMA guidance
SHMP
No Based on its distance from the coast,
coastal flooding and storms are not a
concern for the City.
Cyber Threats SHMP Yes The growing threat of cyber security and data breaches has increasingly become a
potential hazard of concern for the City.
Dam Failure FEMA guidance
SHMP
SBC HMP
Yes There are several dams and reservoirs that
could affect the city in the event of failure.
The HMPC identified dam failure as a
potential hazard of concern.
Drought SHMP
SBC HMP
Yes Droughts are a recurring hazard in Needles
and Southern California and can affect city
water supplies.
Energy
Shortage
SHMP Yes Although the Needles Electric Company has
a long history of reliability, the HMPC has
identified this as a hazard of concern due to
energy demands during the extreme heat of
the summer months.
Epidemic,
Pandemic,
Vector-Borne
Disease
SHMP No Needles is in San Bernardino County, which
has experienced several health-related
incidents in the past. The city and the rest of
the country have recently responded to the
COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted
staff and resources. However, the HMPC felt
this issue did not need to be addressed
within the LHMP.
Erosion FEMA guidance
SHMP
No The city has not experienced many major
cases of erosion; the HMPC decided it was
not a concern for the City.
Expansive Soil FEMA guidance Yes The City has identified expansive soils as a hazard of concern.
Extreme Cold FEMA guidance
SHMP
No Temperatures in Needles rarely fall to a
level that would be considered a danger to
public safety. This was not identified as a
hazard of concern in the city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 25 City of Needles
TABLE 3-1: HAZARD EVALUATION FOR NEEDLES LHMP
Hazard Recommended for
Consideration
Included
in LHMP?
Reason for Inclusion or Exclusion
Extreme Heat FEMA guidance
SHMP
Yes Extreme heat conditions regularly occur in
the city and are expected to be a future
recurring issue. The City identified this as a
concern.
Fault Rupture FEMA guidance
SHMP
SBC HMP
No Alquist-Priolo fault zones occur within the
county; however, there are no Alquist-Priolo
fault zones in the city.
Flooding FEMA guidance
SHMP
Yes Portions of the city are located within
floodplains and have experienced historic
flooding. More localized floods also occur
during the monsoons. This has been
identified as a hazard of concern for the
City.
Fracking SHMP No Fracking does not occur in Needles.
Hail FEMA guidance No Hail that is severe enough to pose a threat to people and property is not a concern
identified by the HMPC.
Hazardous
Materials
release
SHMP Yes Hazardous material spills occur most
frequently along railroad tracks and major
highways, both of which run through the
center of Needles. This is a hazard of
concern for the City.
Hurricane FEMA guidance
SHMP
No Hurricanes do not occur in Needles.
Infrastructure
Failure
SHMP No Infrastructure failure can pose a threat to
people and property in Needles.
Infrastructure failure is discussed as a
function of other hazards.
Landslide FEMA guidance
SHMP
No The HMPC did not identify this as a hazard
of concern for the City.
Levee Failure SHMP No The HMPC identified flooding as a hazard of concern, given the lack of levees within the
city; however, this was not identified as a
hazard of concern.
Lightning FEMA guidance No Although lightning occasionally occurs in Needles, it does not pose a significant threat
to people or property.
Liquefaction FEMA guidance
SHMP
SBC HMP
No This is not an issue in Needles and was not
identified as a hazard of concern by the
HMPC.
Methanecontaining Soils
SBC HMP No The city does not have methane-containing
soils that pose a threat to the public health
and safety of residents and businesses. The
HMPC did not identify this as a hazard of
concern to the City.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 26 City of Needles
TABLE 3-1: HAZARD EVALUATION FOR NEEDLES LHMP
Hazard Recommended for
Consideration
Included
in LHMP?
Reason for Inclusion or Exclusion
Natural Gas
Pipeline
Hazards
SHMP Yes Natural gas transmission pipelines are
located within the city and could pose a
danger to people and property if they breach
and release their contents into the
community; therefore, the HMPC has
identified this as a hazard of concern.
Oil Spills SHMP No There is no history of oil drilling and extraction within the city. Based on this, the
HMPC did not identify this as a hazard of
concern to the City.
Power Failure SHMP Yes Although the Needles Electric Company has a long history of reliability, the HMPC has
identified this as a hazard of concern due to
energy demands during the extreme heat of
the summer months.
Radiological
Accidents
SHMP No There are no known major radiation sources
in Needles or the immediate surrounding
area that could seriously threaten the
community.
Sea-level Rise FEMA guidance
SHMP
No Needles is not located within close proximity
to the ocean.
Seiche FEMA guidance
SHMP
No The HMPC did not identify this as a hazard
of concern for the City.
Seismic
Shaking
FEMA guidance
SHMP
SBC HMP
Yes Needles is in a seismically active area
where shaking can be severe enough to
damage property or cause loss of life. For
this reason, the HMPC determined it should
be addressed in this plan.
Severe Wind FEMA guidance Yes Severe wind events are a common occurrence within the city and Southern
California. This hazard is included in the
Severe Weather profile and is referred to as
severe wind.
Severe Weather
and Storms
FEMA guidance
SHMP
SBC HMP
Yes Severe Weather includes discussions
regarding severe wind, extreme heat, and
thunderstorms, which are weather-related
hazards that are most common in Needles.
Storm Surge FEMA guidance No The HMPC did not identify this as a hazard of concern since the city is not located near
the California coastline.
Subsidence FEMA guidance No The HMPC did not identify subsidence as a hazard of concern for the City.
Mass-Casualty
Incident
(Terrorism)
SHMP No The HMPC did not identify this as a hazard
of concern.
Thunderstorm SHMP Yes The monsoons that occur in the city can bring dangerous thunderstorms. This hazard
is discussed as part of the Severe Weather
and Storms category.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 27 City of Needles
TABLE 3-1: HAZARD EVALUATION FOR NEEDLES LHMP
Hazard Recommended for
Consideration
Included
in LHMP?
Reason for Inclusion or Exclusion
Tornadoes FEMA guidance
SHMP
No Tornadoes are not a typical occurrence in
the county or city; therefore, the City did not
identify this as a hazard of concern.
Transportation
Accidents
SHMP Yes The HMPC identified this as a hazard of
concern due to the highway and rail
infrastructure in and around the city.
Tree Mortality SHMP No The HMPC did not identify this as a hazard of concern for the City.
Tsunami FEMA guidance
SHMP
No The HMPC did not identify tsunamis as a
hazard of concern since the city is not
located near the California coastline.
Urban Fire SHMP
SBC HMP
No The HMPC did not identify urban fires as a
risk to property and life in Needles.
Volcano SHMP No There are no volcanoes near Needles that pose a reasonable threat.
Wildfire FEMA guidance
SHMP
Yes The HMPC identified wildfire as a major
threat to the city.
After hazard evaluation and the organizational changes were made by the HMPC, this Plan discusses eight broad hazard types with their respective sub-categories (Table 3-2), including climate change, which is discussed in each hazard profile:
TABLE 3-2: HAZARD CATEGORIES AND SUB-CATEGORIES
Hazard Category Sub-Categories
Seismic Hazards Seismic Shaking
Wildland Fires
Severe Weather Drought, Extreme Heat, Severe Wind, Thunderstorms Infrastructure Failure Energy Shortage, Power failure (PSPS) Geologic Hazards Expansive Soils
Flood Dam Failure
Human-Caused Hazards Cyber Threats, Hazardous Materials Incident, Natural Gas Pipeline Hazards, Transportation Accident
Climate Change (Discussed in all relevant Hazard Categories) Hazard Scoring And Prioritization
The HMPC followed FEMA guidance for hazard mitigation plans and prioritized each of the eight hazards and their respective subcategories. In the initial step, it assigned a score of 1 to 4 for each of the hazards for the following criteria:
• Probability: The likelihood that the hazard will occur in Needles in the future. • Magnitude/Severity: The severity of the direct damage of the hazard to Needles.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 28 City of Needles
• Warning Time: The time the city has before a disaster event/hazard impacts Needles. • Duration: The time that the disaster event will affect Needles.
The HMPC assigned a weighting value to each criterion, giving a higher weight to the criteria deemed more important and multiplied the score for each criterion by weighing the factor in determining the overall score for each criterion.
FEMA recommended these weighting values:
• Probability: 2.0
• Location: 0.8
• Maximum Probable Extent (Primary Impact): 0.7
• Secondary Impacts: 0.5
After calculating the total impact score for each hazard (sum of the location, maximum probable extent, and the secondary impact). FEMA guidance recommends multiplying the total impact score by the overall probability to determine the final score for each hazard. A final score between 0 and 12 is considered a low-threat hazard, 12.1 to 42 is a medium-threat hazard, and a score above 42 is considered a high-threat hazard. This final score determines the prioritization of the hazards. Table 3-3 depicts the criterion for the scoring for each hazard as previously discussed, including probability, location, primary impact, and secondary impacts.
In compliance with the Disaster Mitigation Act (and as further specified by Interim Final Rule 44 CFR Section 206.401(c)(2)(i)), this LHMP addresses, in substantial detail, the primary hazards facing the city. Lower-priority hazards are addressed at a lesser level of detail due to their relatively reduced impacts, as identified in the hazard assessment discussion. Table 3-4 shows each hazard's criterion scores, final score, and threat level based on the above prioritization process.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 29 City of Needles
TABLE 3-3: CRITERION SCORING
CPRI
Category
Degree of Risk Chart Assigned
Weight
Level ID Description Factor Index
Probability
Unlikely
• Extremely rare with no documented history of occurrences or events.
• Annual probability of less than 0.001
1 45%
Possible
• Extremely rare with no documented history of occurrences or events.
• Annual probability of between 0.01 and 0.001
2 Likely
• Occasional occurrence with at least two or more documented historic events.
• Annual probability of between 0.1 and 0.01
3 Highly Likely • Frequent events with a well-documented history of occurrence. • Annual probability of greater than 0.1 4
Magnitude/Severity
Negligible
• Negligible property damages (less than 5% of critical and noncritical facilities and infrastructure) • Injuries or illnesses are treatable with first aid and there are no deaths
• Negligible quality of life lost
• Shut down of critical facilities for less than 24 hours 1 30%
Limited
• Slight property damages (greater than 5% and less than 25% of critical and non-critical facilities and infrastructures) • Injuries and illnesses do not result in permanent disability and there are no deaths
• Moderate quality of life lost
• Shut down of critical facilities for more than 1 day and less than 1 week
2 Critical
• Moderate property damages (greater than 25% and less than 50% of critical and non-critical facilities and infrastructures) • Injuries or illnesses result in permanent disability and at least one death
• Shut down of critical facilities for more than 1 week and less than 1 month
3 Catastrophic
• Severe property damages (greater than 50% of critical and non-critical facilities and infrastructure)
• Injuries or illnesses result in permanent disability and multiple deaths
• Shut down of critical facilities for more than 1 month 4 Warning Time
Less than 6
hours
Population will receive less than 6 hours of warning 4
15%
6 to 12 hours Population will receive between 6-12 hours of warning 3 12 to 24
hours
Population will receive between 12-24 hours of warning 2 More than 24
hours
Population will receive greater than 24 hours of warning 1 Duration
Less than 6
hours
Disaster event will last less than 6 hours 1
10%
Less than 24
hours
Disaster event will last between 6-24 hours 2
Less than
one week
Disaster event will last between 24 hours and 1 week 3
More than
one week
Disaster event will last more than 1 week 4
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 30 City of Needles
Table 3-4: Needles Hazard Prioritization Worksheet
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 31 City of Needles
Earthquake Hazards (Seismic Shaking)
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 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 after just a few seconds. Common effects of earthquakes are ground motion and shaking, surface fault ruptures, and ground failure. Ground motion is the vibration or shaking of the ground during an earthquake. When a fault ruptures, seismic waves radiate, causing the ground to vibrate. The severity of the vibration increases with the amount of energy released and decreases with distance from the causative fault or epicenter.
Seismic Shaking
Seismic shaking is the motion felt on the earth’s surface caused by an earthquake. In most cases, earthquakes are not powerful enough to feel the shaking. However, particularly powerful earthquakes can generate significant shaking, causing widespread destruction and property damage.
LOCATION AND EXTENT
Southern California, including Needles, is a highly seismic area due to the major faults that run through the region and are subject to seismic shaking. The intensity of seismic shaking is usually measured with the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, which is based on the amount of observed damage. The MMI scale has replaced the Richter scale, which is no longer used since it loses effectiveness when measuring larger earthquakes. Since the degree of shaking, and consequently damage, generally decreases as the seismic energy travels further away from the fault rupture’s point of origin, different sections of a city or region can report different MMI measurements in different locations. The MMI scale uses Roman numerals on a 12-point scale to measure each degree of shaking intensity. Table 3-4 shows the MMI scale, while Table 3-5 lists the earthquake faults that can impact the city.
Another scale for measuring seismic shaking is the moment magnitude scale (MMS, denoted Mw or simply M). The MMS measures the energy the fault rupture releases, which begins at 1.0 and increases as the earthquake's energy grows. The MMS is a logarithmic scale, meaning that the difference between numbers on the scale multiplies as they increase. An earthquake with
5.0 M is approximately 1.4 times greater than 4.9 M, 32 times greater than 4.0 M, and 1,000 times greater than 3.0 M.
Seismic shaking can also be measured in relationship to the force of Earth’s gravity (g) or percent g. This method is useful for geographically displaying areas of seismic shaking potential. Percent g is computed by determining the acceleration of the earthquake’s motion relative to the force of gravity. The acceleration of gravity is 980 centimeters per second, so if, for example, an earthquake’s acceleration is measured at 765 centimeters per second, the shaking is modeled as 765/980, or .781 g (78.1% g). Figure 3-1 shows the seismic shaking potential in the city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 32 City of Needles
TABLE 3-4: MODIFIED MERCALLI INTENSITY SCALE
Intensity Description Description
I Instrumental Felt only by very few people under especially favorable conditions.
II Feeble Felt only by a few people at rest, especially on the upper floors of buildings.
III Slight Noticeable by people indoors, especially on upper floors, but not always recognized as an earthquake.
IV Moderate Felt by many indoors and by some outdoors. Sleeping people may be awakened. Dishes, windows, and doors are disturbed.
V Slightly strong Felt by nearly everyone, and many sleeping people are awakened.
Some dishes and windows broken, and unstable objects overturned.
VI Strong Felt by everyone. Some heavy furniture is moved, and there is slight damage.
VII Very strong Negligible damage in well-built buildings, slight to moderate damage in ordinary buildings, and considerable damage in poorly built buildings.
VIII Destructive
Slight damage in well-built buildings, considerable damage and partial collapse in ordinary buildings, and great damage in poorly built buildings.
IX Ruinous
Considerable damage in specially designed structures. Great damage and partial collapse in substantial buildings, and buildings are shifted off foundations.
X Disastrous Most foundations and buildings with masonry or frames are destroyed, along with some well-built wood structures. Rail lines are bent.
XI Very
disastrous
Most or all masonry structures are destroyed, along with bridges. Rail lines are greatly bent.
XII Catastrophic Damage is total. The lines of sight are distorted, and objects are thrown into the air.
Source: United States Geological Survey. 2019. The Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/modified-mercalli-intensity-mmi-scale-assigns-intensities TABLE 3-5: EARTHQUAKE FAULTS THAT IMPACT THE CITY OF NEEDLES Fault Name Magnitude
Modified Mercalli
Ranking
Perceived
Shaking Potential Damage
Manix-Afton
Hills
7.1 IV Light None
Black Hills Fault
(Nevada)
6.2 IV Light None
Bullion
Mountains
6.9 IV Light None
Garlock 7.7 V Moderate Very Light
Hector Mine 6.8 I Not Felt None
Ludlow 7.1 V Moderate Very Light
Pinto Mountain 7.3 V Moderate Very Light
San Andreas 7.1 V Moderate Very Light
Source: USGS Earthquake Scenario Map
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 33 City of Needles
Figure 3-1: Seismic Shaking Potential in Needles
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 34 City of Needles
PAST EVENTS
Since seismologists started recording and measuring earthquakes, there have been tens of thousands of recorded earthquakes in Southern California, most with a magnitude below three.
No community in Southern California is beyond the reach of a damaging earthquake. Table 3- 6 shows all earthquakes in Southern California with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher TABLE 3-6: EARTHQUAKE EVENTS IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION (5.0+ MW) 1812 Wrightwood 1941 Santa Barbara 1992 Joshua Tree
1812 Santa Barbara Channel 1942 Fish Creek Mountains 1992 Big Bear 1857 Fort Tejon 1947 Manix 1994 Northridge
1892 Laguna Salada 1948 Desert Hot Springs 2001 West Hollywood 1899 Cajon Pass 1952 Kern County 2008 Chino Hills
1899 San Jacinto Fault Zone 1954 San Jacinto Fault (Arroyo Salada) 2010 Baja CA
1910 Elsinore 1968 Borrego Mountain 2012 Brawley
1915 Imperial Valley 1971 San Fernando 2014 La Habra
1918 San Jacinto 1978 Santa Barbra 2016 Borrego Springs 1923 North San Jacinto Fault 1979 Imperial Valley 2019 Ridgecrest 1925 Santa Barbra 1986 North Palm Springs 2021 Antelope Valley 1927 Lompoc 1986 Oceanside 2024 Lamont
1933 Long Beach 1987 Whittier Narrows
1940 Imperial Valley 1991 Sierra Madre
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Needles has experienced two earthquakes in the last 30 years of a magnitude greater than 4.0. • January 17, 1994 – The Northridge Earthquake (DR-1008) caused at least 57 fatalities (subsequent findings put the death toll at 72) and injured thousands. The earthquake caused up to $20 billion in damage costs and $40+ billion in economic loss. Although light shaking was felt in Needles, no damage was reported. 8 • October 16, 1999 – The Hector Mine Earthquake struck a remote part of the desert between Barstow, CA and Needles. The earthquake measured as a 7.1 magnitude and originated at the 29 Palms Marine Corps Base. Although slight shaking was felt in Needles, no damage was reported. 9
8 California Department of Conservation. Northridge Earthquake, January 17, 1994. https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/earthquakes/northridge 9 United States Geological Survey. M 7.1 - The 1999 Hector Mine, California Earthquake. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci9108652/executive Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 35 City of Needles
• July 29, 2024 – A 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Mojave Desert. Shaking was felt throughout the Colorado River valley and all the way to Los Angeles. The earthquake was centered approximately 13 miles northeast of Barstow, CA.10 Other strong regional earthquakes have occurred in Southern California, but their epicenters have been so distant from Needles that seismic shaking generated by the event did not cause significant property damage or harm to the city. The most recent significant earthquake affecting the Southern California region was the Northridge Earthquake in 1994. At 4:31 A.M. on Monday, January 17, a 6.7 earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley. Thousands of aftershocks occurred in the following days and weeks, causing additional damage to affected structures.
Fifty-seven people were killed, and more than 1,500 people were seriously injured. For days afterward, thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity; tens of thousands had no gas, and nearly 50,000 people had little or no water. Approximately 15,000 structures were moderately to severely damaged, leaving thousands of people temporarily homeless; 66,500 buildings were inspected, nearly 4,000 were severely damaged, and over 11,000 were moderately damaged. Several collapsed bridges and overpasses created commuter havoc on the freeway system. Extensive damage was caused by ground shaking, but the earthquake triggered liquefaction, and dozens of fires also caused additional severe damage. This extremely strong ground motion in large portions of San Bernardino County resulted in record economic losses.
RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
Historical and geological records show California has a long history of seismic events. Southern California is probably best known for the San Andreas Fault, a 400-mile-long fault running from the Mexican border to a point offshore, west of San Francisco. Geologic studies show that over the past 1,400 to 1,500 years, large earthquakes have occurred at about 130-year intervals on the Southern San Andreas Fault. As the last large earthquake on the Southern San Andreas occurred in 1857, that section of the fault is considered a likely location for an earthquake within the next few decades. The Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) was released in 2015 and is the most recent assessment of the probability of a major earthquake on various faults between 2015 and 2044. Table 3-7 shows the results for Needles’ nearby and regional fault lines.
The U.S. Geological Survey scenarios show that the Garlock, Ludlow, Pinto Mountain, and San Andreas faults could cause the strongest seismic shaking in Needles. The more distant faults, like the San Andreas fault, can produce more intense earthquakes but are less likely to cause damage in Needles due to their greater distance from the city. However, as Table 3-7 notes, the likelihood of a powerful earthquake occurring along most of these faults within the next 25 years is generally very low or negligible. Recent studies for State Route 95 realignment in Mohave Valley, AZ indicate that movement along faults in the Needles graben zone are not expected to generate earthquales larger than a magnitude 6.0.
10 Needles Desert Star & Los Angeles Times, “4.9 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Mojave Desert Monday,” needlesdesertstar.com, July 29, 2024, https://www.needlesdesertstar.com/news/4-9-magnitude-earthquakeshakes-mojave-desert-monday/article_9e18d3de-4de9-11ef-a620-c343b46b269d.html.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 36 City of Needles
As depicted in Table 3-2 and Table 3-3, seismic shaking will remain a possible occurrence with an annual probability of between a one-tenth of a percent and a one percent chance each year.
TABLE 3-7: EARTHQUAKE PROBABILITIES FOR KEY FAULTS NEAR NEEDLES (2015-2044) Fault Distance
(Miles)*
Estimated Probabilities
6.7+ Mw 7.0+ Mw 7.5+ Mw 8.0+ Mw
Baker 74.96 0.23% 0.12% 0.08% Negligible
Bullion Mountains 92.78 1.06% 0.17% Negligible Negligible Calico-Hidalgo 115.81 2.40% 2.18% 0.76% Negligible
Garlock 144.02 4.79% 4.63% 2.82% 0.30%
Hector Mine 101.37 0.57% 0.22% Negligible Negligible
Manix-Afton Hills 88.06 0.83% 0.31% Negligible Negligible Ludlow 89.90 0.47% 0.18% Negligible Negligible
Pinto Mountain 102.06 2.91% 2.83% 1.29% Negligible
San Andreas 119.89 23.99% 20.78% 10.76% 2.80%
* Distance between Needles City Hall and the nearest point of the fault. All distances are approximate. † Southern California segments only.
Note: UCERF3 results consist of two individual models (3.1 and 3.2), each of which provides rupture probabilities for each segment of the fault. This table shows the maximum probability for a section of the fault in either model.
Source: Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities. 2015. The Third California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3). http://www.wgcep.org/ucerf3
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
There is no direct link between climate change and seismic activity, so climate change is not expected to cause any changes to the frequency or intensity of seismic shaking. Some research indicates that climate change could result in “isostatic rebounds,” or a sudden upward movement of the crust because of reduced downward weight caused by glaciers. As glaciers are known to melt when global temperatures increase, climate change could indirectly lead to increased seismicity in Southern California. 11
Wildfire
DESCRIPTION
Wildfires are fires that burn in largely undeveloped and natural areas and are a regular feature of ecosystems throughout California. These fires help to clear brush and debris from natural areas and are necessary for the health of many ecosystems and various species' life cycles.
However, since the early twentieth century, the common practice was to suppress naturally occurring fires in wildland areas, allowing dry plant matter and other fuels to build up.
At the same time, human activity has caused changes in the buffer zone between urbanized and undeveloped areas, known as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The more natural setting 11 Masih, A. January 2018. “An Enhanced Seismic Activity Observed Due to Climate Change: Preliminary Results from Alaska.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. doi :10.1088/1755-1315/167/1/012018. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/167/1/012018/pdf Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 37 City of Needles
of a WUI can make these zones highly desirable places to live. In many parts of California, the WUIs have become developed, albeit at lower densities than fully urbanized areas. However, this development activity has brought more people into wildfire-prone areas. The availability of fuel, increasing encroachment into the WUI, and a changing climate have made wildfires among California's most common and dangerous natural hazards. Additionally, invasive pests such as the polyphagous shothole borer can kill trees, creating more dead material that will potentially provide additional fuel for wildfires.
Lightning, accidents, or arson can spark wildfires. The size and severity of any fire depend on fuel, weather conditions, and topography availability. However, wildfires in the WUI do not need to be large to be damaging. In Oakland, the 1991 Tunnel Fire was relatively small, only 1,600 acres, but it was one of California's deadliest and most destructive wildfires. 12 The flames from wildfires create severe risks to property and lives. Smoke and other particulate matter from wildfires pose a health risk, even to those not near the blaze. Burned areas can be more susceptible to flooding and landslides because wildfires destroy the vegetation that helps slow down water runoff and hold slopes together. 13 The ground may repel water rather than absorb it when faced with ash deposits. Due to the change in the landscape structure after a fire, repelled water can carry debris into water reservoirs. 14
LOCATION AND EXTENT
Wildfires are not measured on a specific scale and are usually classified by size (e.g., acres burned) or impact (buildings destroyed or damaged, injuries or deaths, cost of damage, etc.).
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) defines the wildfire hazard zones on a three-tier scale of fire hazard severity zones (FHSZs): very high, high, and moderate.
These zone classifications do not correspond to a specific risk or intensity of fire but are qualitative terms that consider many factors. Fire-prone areas are also classified by the agency responsible for fire protection. Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) falls to federal agencies such as the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service.
State Responsibilities Area (SRA), which includes unincorporated land within counties with statewide watershed value, falls to the Cal Fire. Local Responsibility Area (LRA), which includes portions of incorporated cities with identified wildfire hazard zones, falls to local governments.
Needles is in an area susceptible to wildfires, and portions of the community are within the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The WUI is the zone of transition between the wilderness and human-developed lands. Wildfires present a significant threat to the city and the county in or near the WUI, as it has relatively high temperatures, low humidity, and low precipitation during the summer. Fire threat assessment and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping for Needles identifies the WUI as the area with the highest fire risk within the city. According to Cal Fire FHSZ mapping, the city is not located near any Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ). Figure 3-2 identifies portions of the city located within the WUI and historic fire perimeters in the city.
12 Cal OES. 2016. https://webservices.caloes.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/10/Top20_Deadliest.pdf 13 EPA. 2019. “Wildfires: How Do They Affect Our Water Supplies?” https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/wildfireshow-do-they-affect-our-water-supplies 14 Bichell, R. 2019. “How Wildfires May Muck Up the West’s Reservoirs.” Colorado Public Radio. https://www.cpr.org/2019/09/25/how-wildfires-may-muck-up-the-wests-reservoirs/ Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 38 City of Needles
A fire can only ignite if three elements are present: heat, fuel, and oxygen. If any of these elements is removed, the fire will extinguish itself. In Needles, copious amounts of fuel are available from the structures throughout the city and the brush in and around the city, which makes them extremely flammable. Activity that creates intense heat that is unmonitored or unregulated may lead to the ignition of a fire. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, Fire Research Division, has developed a scale that measures the increase in temperature and the kind of fire response that develops. Table 3-8 shows the progression of temperature relative to fire response.
Once a fire has been ignited, it could conceivably grow indefinitely if abundant fuel and oxygen are available. For example, a fire that ignites in one house could hypothetically continue to expand and even spread to other adjacent houses if there was enough fuel to link the structures together. Fires in confined spaces may occasionally burn so intensely that they consume all the oxygen available and burn out before they can expand.
TABLE 3-8: FIRE SUSCEPTIBILITY BASED ON TEMPERATURE INCREASE Temperature (°F) Response
98.6 °F Average normal human oral/body temperature.
101 °F Typical body core temperature for a working firefighter. 109 °F Human body core temperature that may cause death. 111 °F Human skin temperature when pain is felt.
118 °F Human skin temperature causing a first-degree burn injury. 130 °F Hot water causes a scald burn injury with 30 s exposure. 131 °F Human skin temperature with blistering and second-degree burn injury. 140 °F Temperature when burned human tissue becomes numb. 162 °F Human skin temperature at which tissue is instantly destroyed. 212 °F Temperature when water boils and produces steam. 482 °F Temperature when charring of natural cotton begins. >572 °F Modern synthetic protective clothing fabrics begin to char. ≥752 °F Temperature of gases at the beginning of room flashover. ≈1832 °F Temperature inside a room undergoing flashover.
PAST EVENTS
• June 22, 2024 – A brush fire ignited in Needles and eventually jumped the Colorado River into Mohave Valley, AZ. Approximately 70 acres were burned, which included one abandoned structure. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.
RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
The history of wildfires in San Bernardino County and Needles and continued development within the city’s WUI indicates that wildfire events are likely to occur in the future. The risk is expected to remain highest in the undeveloped land in and around the city and the county's unincorporated areas. According to Table 3-2 and Table 3-3, the probability of a wildfire occurring will be frequent, with an annual probability of greater than 10 percent.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 39 City of Needles
Figure 3-2: Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and Historical Wildfire Perimeters Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 40 City of Needles
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Climate change is expected to cause an increase in temperatures and more frequent and intense drought conditions. This increase will likely increase the amount of dry plant matter available for fuel, increasing wildfire risk statewide. However, increases in fuel supplies could cause wildfires to move faster or spread into more developed areas, increasing the future threat to Needles and other surrounding communities.
Severe Weather (Drought, Extreme Heat, Severe
Wind, Thunderstorms)
DESCRIPTION
Drought
A drought is a long period with substantially less precipitation than usual. The primary direct impact of a drought is the reduction of available water supplies. This is particularly concerning in agricultural areas and natural environments but can also affect urban areas. Droughts can harm landscapes because plants do not get the water they need to survive. In severe cases, droughts may lead to a human health risk if available water supplies are insufficient to meet basic needs.
Indirectly, drought causes soils to dry out, making them harder and less able to absorb water.
When precipitation returns, the soil absorbs less water, increasing runoff, which can lead to flooding. Dry soils are more susceptible to erosion, especially if plants have died or no longer provide stability due to loss of roots and soil composition changes. Drought causes many plants in natural areas to dry out, making them more susceptible to pests/diseases and increasing the risk of wildfires.
Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is a period when temperatures are abnormally high relative to the normal temperature range. There are generally three types of extreme heat events:
• Extreme Heat Days: A day during which the maximum temperature surpasses 98 percent of all historic high temperatures for the area, using the time between April and October from 1950 to 2005 as the baseline.
• Warm Nights: A day between April and October when the minimum temperature exceeds 98 percent of all historic minimum daytime temperatures observed between 1950 and 2005.
• Extreme Heat Waves: A successive series of extreme heat days and warm nights where extreme temperatures do not abate; while no universally accepted minimum length of time for a heatwave event exists, Cal-Adapt considers four successive extreme heat days and warm nights to be the minimum threshold for an extreme heatwave.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 41 City of Needles
Severe Wind
Severe wind events pose a risk to life and property in the region by creating conditions that disrupt essential systems such as public utilities, telecommunications, and transportation routes. High winds can and do occasionally cause tornado-like damage to local homes and businesses. Severe wind events can present a very destabilizing effect on the dry brush that covers local hillsides and urban-wildland interface areas. High winds can have destructive impacts, especially on trees, power lines, and other utility services.
Wind is simply the movement of air caused by differences in atmospheric temperature. Highpressure air will naturally move to areas of low pressure. Usually, the distance between these high- and low-pressure zones is far; however, these low- and high-pressure zones may occasionally be near one another. When this happens, air will flow dramatically, creating highspeed winds. The National Weather Service identifies two types of straight-line winds that can cause damage: derechos and downbursts. A storm is classified as a derecho if the wind damage swath extends for more than 240 miles and has wind gusts of 58 mph or greater. Downbursts are a common cause of wind damage in thunderstorms. They can reach over 100 mph and are caused by air being dragged down by the thunderstorm’s precipitation. 15 When winds are fast enough, they can cause property damage to homes, public facilities, utilities, and other infrastructure. They can also uproot or topple mature trees or pick up debris and send it careening through the air. This debris can injure or even kill bystanders who may find themselves stranded outside. High-speed winds can deposit this debris in the middle of rights-of-way, such as roads, freeways, and railways, blocking exit routes for would-be evacuees or impeding access to first responders trying to reach wounded people.
Thunderstorms
A thunderstorm is a local rainstorm
produced by a cumulonimbus cloud
that is accompanied by lightning and
thunder. A thunderstorm requires
three things to form: moisture,
atmospheric instability, and a force
capable of lifting air (e.g., warm front,
cold front, mountain). 16
Although thunderstorms generally
affect a small area, they can become
dangerous due to their ability to
generate tornadoes, hailstorms,
strong winds, flash flooding,
landslides, and lightning. Roads may
become impassable from flooding,
downed trees or power lines, or a
15 National Weather Service. https://www.weather.gov/safety/wind-thunderstormsderecho#:~:text=A%20Derecho%20is%20a%20very,length%20of%20the%20storm's%20path. 16 NOAA. https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/thunderstorms
Cumulonimbus Cloud
Source: Britannica
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 42 City of Needles
landslide. Downed power lines can lead to loss of utility services like water, phone, and electricity. Typical thunderstorms are 15 miles in diameter and last an average of 30 minutes.
Lighting is a flash of electrical energy produced by a thunderstorm. The resulting clap of thunder is the result of a shock wave created by the rapid heating and cooling of the air in the lightning channel. Lightning kills approximately 50 people in the United States each year and injures hundreds. Lightning can be cloud to air, cloud to cloud, or cloud to ground. Cloud-to-ground strikes can also be the cause of wildfires.
LOCATION AND EXTENT
Drought
Droughts are somewhat frequent in California and typically occur when precipitation is limited for an extended period. Rain arrives in California via atmospheric rivers (channels of moist air located high in the atmosphere) and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle (a regional meteorological phenomenon in the southern Pacific Ocean). This cycle typically gives rise to two distinct phases: El Niño, the warm and wet phase, and La Niña, the dry and cold phase.
When California experiences a drought, it is typically the result of fewer atmospheric rivers or an active La Niña phase, resulting in lower-than-average precipitation levels. Drought may also occur when conditions in areas where water sources are located experience drought conditions, even though the local region does not. Table 3-9 identifies the drought classifications used by the US Drought Monitor program. This classification system synthesizes multiple different scales into a descriptive index.
Communities that rely on water supplies from other parts of the State versus communities that source their water supplies locally may experience drought differently. Currently, the Needles Water Department relies solely on water extracted from wells in the city. 17 17 City of Needles Water Department
TABLE 3-9: US DROUGHT MONITOR CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
Category Description Possible Impacts
D0* Abnormally Dry Slower growth of crops and pastures
D1 Moderate
Drought
Some damage to crops and pastures. Water bodies and wells are low.
Some water shortages may occur or may be imminent. Voluntary water use restrictions can be requested.
D2 Severe
Drought
Likely crop and pasture losses. Water shortages are common, and water restrictions can be imposed.
D3 Extreme
Drought
Major crop and pasture losses. Widespread water shortages and restrictions.
D4 Exceptional
Drought
Exceptional and widespread crop and pasture losses. Emergency water shortages develop.
Source: US Drought Monitor
* D0 areas are those under “drought watch,” but not technically in a drought. They are potentially heading into drought conditions or recovering from drought but are not yet back to normal.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 43 City of Needles
Droughts are regional events, so all parts of Needles face the same drought risk. However, urban areas will likely experience different effects than open-space areas. It is also possible for communities to experience a “long-distance drought” since many urban areas in California receive water supplies from great distances. If these distant areas experience drought, it may cause water shortages in the urban areas that rely on them, even if these areas are experiencing normal precipitation levels.
Extreme Heat
Extreme heat events will differ from region to region since different areas have historically high temperatures. For example, an extreme heat day on the coast will feel different than an extreme heat day in the High Desert. The reason for this is how humidity affects the perceived heat that people feel. Humid conditions will make a day feel hotter than non-humid conditions, even though the temperature may be the same. The difference between the perceived and actual temperatures is known as the “heat index.” To illustrate the effect of the heat index, a 90-degree day with 50 percent humidity feels like 95°F, whereas a 90°F Day with 90 percent humidity feels like 122°F. Figure 3-3 illustrates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service Heat Index.
Figure 3-3: NOAA’s National Weather Service Heat Index
Extreme heat events are not limited to any part of the city. They occur with the same intensity and duration at the same time across all locations in Needles. For Needles, an extreme heat day involves a temperature that exceeds 115°F, and a warm night involves a temperature that exceeds 89°F. 18 These thresholds are based on a 2% probability event. 18 https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 44 City of Needles
Severe Wind
The entirety of the city can be affected by severe wind events. Usually, they cause minimal damage; however, severe wind can cause massive damage to the city and personal property.
Needles is often affected by winds that accompany monsoons. Severe winds can exacerbate wildfire conditions.
Generally, winds are measured using the Beaufort scale, developed in 1805, categorizing wind events on a force scale from 0 to 12 using their speed and impacts. Any wind classified as force nine or above is generally considered a severe wind event. Table 3-10 details how the Beaufort scale classifies wind events. Most wind events in Needles are categorized as a storm or lower in the Beaufort Scale.
TABLE 3-10: BEAUFORT SCALE
Force Speed (mph) Description
1 0 to 1 Calm: Smoke rises vertically, and the sea is flat 2 1 to 3 Light air: The direction of wind is shown by smoke drift, but not wind vanes
3 4 to 7 Light breeze: Wind is felt on the face, leaves rustle, and wind vanes are moved. Small wavelets appear on the ocean, but do not break 4 8 to 12 Gentle breeze: Leaves and small twigs are in motion, and light flags are extended. Large wavelets appear on the ocean, and crests begin to break
5 13 to 18 Moderate breeze: Dust and loose paper become airborne, and small branches are moved. Small waves appear on the ocean
6 19 to 24 Fresh breeze: Small trees begin to sway and moderate waves form 7 25 to 31 Strong breeze: Large branches are in motion, and using an umbrella becomes difficult. Large waves begin to form
8 32 to 38 Near gale: Whole trees are in motion and walking against the wind can be hard. Foam from breaking waves is blown in streaks
9 39 to 46 Gale: Walking is difficult, and twigs break off trees 10 47 to 54 Severe gale: Slight structural damage. Crests of waves begin to topple 11 55 to 63 Storm: Trees are uprooted and considerable damage to structures.
Very high waves form in long, overhanging crests
12 63 to 72 Violent storm: Widespread damage. Exceptionally high waves form, and the ocean is completely covered in foam
*Source: https://www.weather.gov/mfl/beaufort
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms affecting Needles primarily occur during the monsoon season, typically from June 15th to September 30th. It should be noted that monsoon is a season and not a type of storm. The location and size of a thunderstorm vary depending on regional geography and regional and global weather events. For example, small precipitation events may occur in only one section of Needles. In contrast, a large event could inundate most of San Bernardino County and other parts of Southern California. Understanding this, any part of the city could become inundated by rain, and no part of the city is more susceptible to rainfall than another.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 45 City of Needles
California’s precipitation varies yearly, depending on how much moisture the state receives from atmospheric rivers. Atmospheric rivers are corridors along which wet air travels from the tropics to continents. When the moisture arrives in California, it may precipitate as rain or snow. One of California's most known atmospheric rivers is the “Pineapple Express,” which brings moist air from the ocean surrounding Hawaii to California. An immense amount of moisture may be transported along the atmospheric rivers that cross over California during certain years, leading to severe rains. 19
Another weather phenomenon influencing rainfall in Southern California is “El Niño,” officially referred to as the “Southern Oscillation” or “El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).” ENSO can cause increased rainfall, particularly during the winter months, caused by the warming of the surface of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, leading to the evaporation of warm, moist air into the atmosphere. Winds bring this moisture to the eastern Pacific and the American continents, where it falls as rain. ENSO does not always lead to increased rainfall by default, but in general, it can increase the chances of winter with higher-than-usual precipitation. 20 21 Rain events are usually measured by the amount of precipitation that falls. 22 Table 3-11 categorizes rain events by the amount of precipitation per hour.
TABLE 3-11: RAIN EVENTS CATEGORIZED BY PRECIPITATION PER HOUR Rain Type Description
Heavy Rain More than 4 mm per hour but less than 8 mm per hour Very Heavy Rain Greater than 8 mm per hour
Moderate Shower Greater than 2 mm, but less than 10 mm per hour Heavy Shower Greater than 10 mm per hour, but less than 50 mm per hour Violent Shower Greater than 50 mm per hour
Source: https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-howmuchrain-metric.html mm = millimeter
PAST EVENTS
Drought
Like the rest of California, Needles has experienced many drought events throughout its history.
Each event has been distinct, with varying lengths, severity, and frequency. One of the earliest recorded major droughts in state history is known as the “Great Drought,” which occurred in 19 NOAA. 2023. “Atmospheric Rivers: What are they and how does NOAA study them?” https://research.noaa.gov/2023/01/11/atmospheric-rivers-what-are-they-and-how-does-noaa-study them/#:~:text=Atmospheric%20rivers%20are%20long%2C%20concentrated,landfall%2C%20especially%20over %20mountainous%20terrain.
20 NOAA. 2014. “What Is the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in a Nutshell? https://www.climate.gov/newsfeatures/blogs/enso/what-el-ni%C3%B1o%E2%80%93southern-oscillation-enso-nutshell 21 NOAA. 2016. “El Niño and La Niña: Frequently Asked Questions.” https://www.climate.gov/newsfeatures/understanding-climate/el-ni%C3%B1o-and-la-ni%C3%B1a-frequently-asked-questions/ 22 NOAA. 2024. “El Niño & La Niña (El Niño – Southern Oscillation). https://www.climate.gov/enso Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 46 City of Needles
1863 and 1864. This drought killed 46 percent of the cattle in the state and ultimately led to the decline of cattle ranching. The Dust Bowl Droughts,” lasting from 1928 to 1935, had great impacts on the state’s agriculture. The effects of this drought were so severe that it sparked the movement to create some of California’s modern water irrigation infrastructure, such as the California Aqueduct. Another drought occurred in 1976 and 1977, leading to nearly $1 billion in agricultural losses. Implementation of water-saving practices resulted from this drought, which is still in effect today across the state. Further water conservation practices were enacted during a drought lasting from 1987 to 1993, which caused an estimated $250 million in agricultural damages each year.
California experienced its most recent drought, beginning in 2012 and lasting until 2017. All areas of the state were impacted, and by 2014, it was reported as the most severe drought in 1,200 years. Figure 3-4 illustrates the severity of the drought conditions experienced over the past 23 years.
Figure 3-4: Drought History (2000-2024)
By the summer of 2014, almost all of California was experiencing D2 (Severe Drought) conditions. Needles, all of San Bernardino County, and more than 75 percent of California were reported to be experiencing the most intense drought conditions, D4 (Exceptional Drought). By 2015, emergency water-saving mandates were enacted, requiring all jurisdictions to reduce water use by at least 25 percent. In late 2016 and early 2017, successive heavy rains helped end the drought conditions in the state. The following winter, in late 2017 and early 2018, rains did not return in the same quantity, and slight drought conditions returned across California.
This moderate drought again abated in late 2018 and early 2019 during the winter season when heavy rains ended any existing drought conditions.
In November 2022, the majority of the state was in D2 (Severe Drought) and D3 (Extreme Drought) conditions, with Central California falling into the D4 (Exceptional Drought) category.
A series of atmospheric rivers that swept through California from December 2022 to March Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 47 City of Needles
2023, bringing more than 78 trillion gallons of water, eliminated the drought for most of the state. 23
As of December 2024, about half of California is experiencing abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions. San Bernardino County is experiencing D0 (Abnormally Dry) to D3 (Extremely Drought) conditions. Figure 3-5 identifies current drought conditions as of December 3, 2024.
Figure 3-5: U.S. Drought Monitor – California
Extreme Heat
Based on Cal Adapt’s historical information (1950 through 2005), the city experiences five extreme heat days yearly. In 2022, California experienced one of the worst heatwaves it has ever experienced. From September 1st through September 9th, 2022, temperature records for September were shattered across the western portion of the United States, including Needles, where temperatures were reported as reaching 114° F. Prior to this, a heat wave in 1997 affected Southern California, causing 5 deaths. Temperatures in Needles reached 118° F during this event.
The County of San Bernardino has issued several high heat advisories between 2014 and 2020, as shown in Table 3-12.
23 Rice, Doyle. “Trillions of Gallons Have Soaked California. Is This the State's Wettest Winter Ever?” USA Today, March 29, 2023. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/29/californias-snow-rain-totalsexplained/11525451002/.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 48 City of Needles
TABLE 3-12: EXTREME HEAT EVENTS, 2014 TO 2020
Date
September 4, 2020
July 24, 2018
July 6, 2018
August 25, 2017
July 21, 2016
October 9, 2015
August 12, 2015
June 18, 2015
September 11, 2014
May 12, 2014
Severe Wind
There have been several strong wind events recorded around the City of Needles. Annually, the city is subjected to wind conditions that can cause significant damage to trees, buildings, and vehicles. While the effects of strong winds are often overlooked, it should be noted that in 2003, two deaths in Southern California were directly related to the fierce conditions. A falling tree struck one woman in San Diego. The second death occurred when a passenger in a vehicle was hit by a pickup truck cover launched by the Santa Ana Winds.
The following depicts some of these Santa Ana winds and other major wind events in the city, neighboring communities, San Bernardino County, and the surrounding region. Severe wind events have been and will continue to be a hazard of concern for the city. 24 • January 6-7, 2003 - Widespread regional Santa Ana winds in the region resulted in 2 dead, 11 injured, and widespread property damage, road closures, downed trees, crop damage, wildfires, and power failures.
• November 2014 - A Santa Ana wind event caused winds of approximately 50 mph, with damage reported throughout the region.
• August 12, 2014 – Severe winds and hail swept through Needles. Wind gusts reached over 60 mph, snapping approximately 50 power poles and trapping one motorist beneath live power lines. 25
• August 16, 2016 - Winds fanned the Blue Cut Fire, which spread rapidly, forcing 84,000 mandatory evacuations and threatening 35,000 homes. For two days, numerous roads 24 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. May 2017. “A History of Significant Weather Events in Southern California.” https://www.weather.gov/media/sgx/documents/weatherhistory.pdf 25 Steinberg, Jim. “High Winds, Hail Bash Needles, Snap Power Poles.” San Bernardino Sun, August 12, 2014. https://www.sbsun.com/2014/08/12/high-winds-hail-bash-needles-snap-power-poles/.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 49 City of Needles
were closed, including I-15, in both directions. The fire destroyed 105 homes and 313 smaller structures and scorched 36,274 acres before being extinguished. • January 2017 - A series of three storms caused strong winds that knocked down hundreds of trees throughout the region, causing millions of dollars in damage.
Thunderstorms
Needles and San Bernardino County as a region are no strangers to severe weather and thunderstorms. The following lists some recent major storm events in the surrounding communities and San Bernardino County.
• August 29-31, 2021 – Thunderstorms brought severe winds and flash flooding. In San Bernardino County, 30 low water crossings on Highway 95 between Needles and Lake Havasu Road were covered in mud and debris, resulting in $50,000 in property damage.
RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
Drought
Drought will continue to be a foreseeable event in the future of California, including Needles.
Droughts in the area are expected to become more frequent and intense due to climate change.
Droughts that result from infrastructure failure are equally impossible to predict since the circumstances that lead to infrastructure failure are unique to each situation.
Extreme Heat
As temperatures rise throughout California, the number of extreme heat days will also increase.
According to Cal-Adapt data, which relies on NOAA data sources, Needles experiences extreme heat days. The city historically (1961-1990) experienced, on average, four extreme heat days annually based on this historic period. That number of days is predicted to increase to 14 days annually from 2035-2064. According to Cal-Adapt, the city is projected to experience an annual average of 37 extreme heat days by 2100.
Severe Wind
Given the region’s history of severe wind events, it is very likely that wind events will continue to impact the city. The most probable source of wind events in the future will likely originate from extreme storms, such as thunderstorms brought by monsoons. All expectations are that the probability of severe wind events occurring again in the future is highly likely. As discussed in Tables 3-2 and 3-3, a “highly likely” probability indicates a greater than ten percent chance of severe wind events occurring annually.
Thunderstorms
There is no indication that thunderstorm hazards will abate either in Needles in the future. While Needles may experience prolonged periods of dry or wet years, all expectations are that the probability they will occur again in the future is highly likely and anticipated to increase in the future is highly likely. As identified in Tables 3-2 and Table 3-3, the future probability for this hazard is more than ten percent chance each year.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 50 City of Needles
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Drought
Climate change is anticipated to abate drought in certain situations but, on the other hand, could also intensify and exacerbate it in other cases. In some cases, climate change-intensified weather patterns, like ENSO, may bring more rain to California and Needles, which would abate drought conditions for the State’s affected parts. In other cases, climate change may also prolong the La Niña phase of ENSO, leading to longer dry periods with no precipitation in California.
Due to climate change, droughts are expected to become more frequent and intense in San Bernardino County and, more broadly, throughout California by mid-century. Scientific studies indicate:
• Climate change is projected to drive more frequent historically warm temperatures, reduced precipitation and snowpack, abnormally dry soils, and, in turn, drought conditions.
• Modeling studies attribute more frequent coincident warm and dry years and more severe drought conditions in Southern California due to climate change. • The incidence of extremely dry years (those occurring in 1 out of every 100 years over the historical period) could triple by the end of the century. • The likelihood of long-duration droughts in San Bernardino County would increase significantly, with some studies showing a more than 80% chance of multidecadal drought by the end of the century. 26
Climate change is also expected to increase the average temperature and cause more frequent and prolonged heat waves in California and Needles. During these events, water supplies may be diverted for cooling functions in the city. Hotter temperatures may also lead to increased surface water evaporation, which could contribute to greater water consumption. If a drought were to occur during a future heatwave, it could place water supplies under strain.
From a regional perspective, warmer overall temperatures in California are anticipated to reduce statewide water supplies. Much of California’s water comes from melted snow in the High Sierra, where mountain snowpack acts as a natural reservoir. As the average temperature grows warmer with climate change, the amount of precipitation that falls as snow is expected to shift towards rain. Precipitation as rain will not flow into reservoirs and aqueducts the same way snowmelt does. The natural water reservoirs created by the snowpack stay intact as the initial snowpack runoff begins in the early spring and ends in early to late summer, depending on the level of the snowpack. 27 The runoff from the snowpack can be managed due to the slow pace at which the snow melts; however, when rain occurs in place of snowfall, there is no significant way to collect the water and retain it because it falls much faster. As less snow falls, the amount 26 San Bernardino County Vulnerability Assessment. https://wrcog.us/DocumentCenter/View/7477/San-BernardinoCounty-Vulnerability-Assessment 27 NASA. “World of Change: Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada.” https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-ofchange/SierraNevada#:~:text=The%20snowpack%20on%20the%20Sierra%20Nevada%20has%20generally%2 0peaked%20and,reservoirs%20while%20recharging%20the%20groundwater.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 51 City of Needles
of melted water from the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada will decrease, reducing the water flowing into the reservoirs and aqueducts that supply Southern California. If regional and local water agencies do not account for increased groundwater withdrawal, Needles and the San Bernardino County region could experience greater dependence on imported water.
Extreme Heat
The primary effect of climate change is warmer average temperatures. The hottest years on record have occurred since 2000, with 2016 and 2020 being tied. 28 As climate change accelerates in the 21st century, extreme heat events are anticipated to become more frequent and intense in the city. The projection is that extreme heat days could increase between 10 and 64 days annually by 2100, and the city can expect a shift in residential and business needs for cooling and addressing heat-related issues.
Severe Wind
Studies indicate that climate change may affect severe wind events in varying ways, but it is unknown whether the frequency and intensity of events may be some of those ways. As temperatures increase, the amount of energy available to fuel storms that can cause severe wind events is expected to increase.
Thunderstorms
Climate change is expected to alter rainfall patterns in Southern California, including Needles.
As the climate warms, rain events are predicted to become more intense. Needles will likely experience more rain inundation events that lead to flooding and erosion and increase the threat of dam failure and other potential hazards within the community and surrounding area.
Infrastructure Failure (Energy Shortage, Power
Failure [PSPS])
DESCRIPTION
Energy Shortage
An energy shortage is any shortage or interruption in the energy supply to end users. California’s energy infrastructure is designed to cope with the State’s highly variable conditions and frequent disruptions caused by wildfires, storms, and floods. Generally, power failures caused by these events are short-term and limited to regional impacts. System-wide outages or shortages caused by a major disruption in supply or transmission are of more concern. The analysis of energy shortage for this LHMP focuses on disruptions to electrical power supply. 28 Rebecca Hersher and Lauren Sommer. 2020. “2020 May be the Hottest Year on Record. Here’s the Damage it did.” NPR. https://www.npr.org/2020/12/18/943219856/2020-may-be-the-hottest-year-on-record-heres-thedamage-it-did Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 52 City of Needles
Power Failure (PSPS Event)
An energy/power failure is an event that occurs within an electric power system when the total real or reactive power of the power plants in the system is insufficient to supply all consumers with electric power of the required quality. These events are considered a lifeline system failure.
These failures or outages can be the primary hazard, or these events can directly result from another hazard, such as an earthquake, extreme weather event, or flood. These failures can also be in conjunction with other lifeline system failures such as natural gas, communication, drinking water, wastewater disposal, or transportation. Power failure can exacerbate and or create detrimental effects on these various operational and lifeline systems. For this hazard profile discussion, energy/power failure incidents are the primary hazard of concern; however, power failure associated with other hazard events is a concern for many of the other hazards profiled in this plan.
Generally, these power failure events are the direct result of events beyond the control of the City. These events often occur during a time of extreme demand/need for power, such as an extreme heatwave that creates an enormous strain on the power grid as residents try to stay cool. Most of these energy outages are short-term but can last for weeks if the situation is dire.
There are three (3) types of power failures or outages; each of them is categorized based on duration and the actual effect of the failure/outage event:
1) Permanent - A massive loss of power typically caused by a fault on a powerline; however, power is restored automatically once the fault has been cleared. 2) Brownout - A sag (or drop) in voltage in an electrical power supply. They can cause equipment or various operational systems to perform poorly. 3) Blackout - A total loss of power in an area; the worst form of a power failure. Blackouts can last from a few minutes to multiple weeks, depending on the nature of the causing event and the configuration of the actual electric network.
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a practice that the three major electric providers in California (Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E)) and other utility companies may use to preemptively shut off power in high fire hazard areas to reduce fire risk during extreme and potentially dangerous weather conditions (hot, dry, and windy). The WAPA, which delivers energy to the City of Needles, can potentially conduct a PSPS event, especially in high wildfire risk areas.
LOCATION AND EXTENT
Energy Shortage
The city and surrounding areas are subject to energy shortages. Energy shortages can occur throughout the entire city. Shortages can vary in size and area of disruption for electrical services from a large area to a small number of service connections.
Power Failure
The entire City of Needles is vulnerable to energy/power failure. Most power failure events, as stated earlier, are not necessarily caused by humans. An overwhelming demand for power due to accidents, equipment malfunction/failure, weather conditions, or other natural hazards the Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 53 City of Needles
city is susceptible to can be the catalyst that creates a loss of energy/power. The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) delivers energy to the City of Needles on a 69KVA transmission line. The distribution line crosses the river in town at 3240 Needles Hwy, the firehouse switchyard. The City of Needles also has a back 69KVA Line from the Nora McDowell Substation located 15 miles north of Needles.
Power failure can occur in only small areas of the city, such as a single location or neighborhood, or the entire grid could fail, suddenly causing the entire city to lose power. Power failure is indiscriminate in who, where, or what it affects; however, locations with older infrastructure or infrastructure located above ground may be more susceptible to weather-related hazards. The duration of these power failures completely depends on the severity of the actual cause of the power loss and what is required to repair the issue or issues.
The electricity industry operated for years through "vertically integrated utilities,” meaning that they owned generation, transmission, and distribution, which typically had monopolies in their designated service areas. In 1996, the Federal Regulatory Commission issued orders 888 and 889 requiring utilities with transmission infrastructure to provide nondiscriminatory access to all transmission customers. One way for a utility company to comply with this new requirement was to allow an independent system operator (ISO) to operate their transmission system for them.
ISOs do not own the electricity transmitted over the grid, and they allow market participants to transmit electricity at the best available price. In 1998, because of Order 888 and CA state legislation AB 1890, the California ISO was incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to fulfill this mission. ISOs are often compared to air traffic controllers, as they independently manage the traffic on a power grid they do not own, much like air traffic controllers manage airplane traffic in the airways and on airport runways.
The California ISO is one of nine independent system operators in North America (refer to Figure 3-6). Collectively, they deliver over 2.2 million gigawatt-hours of electricity each year and oversee more than 26,000 miles of high-voltage power lines. These independent grid operators serve two-thirds of the United States. 29
No PSPS circuits have been identified in the City of Needles.
Figure 3-6: All of the ISOs in North America
29 California ISO website: “ISO History.” http://www.caiso.com/about/Pages/OurBusiness/ISO-history.aspx Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 54 City of Needles
PAST EVENTS
Energy Shortage
Due to the especially high demand for electricity during the warmer months, energy shortage has occurred throughout the city, region, and state. Some recent events (within the last 10 years) include:
• August 2020 (Statewide) – California experienced rolling blackouts due to a recordbreaking heatwave and high electricity demand. Though not widespread in Needles, the city was placed on Flex Alert status and was at risk for rotating outages. • Summer 2016–2024 (Needles, CA) – Multiple small-scale outages occurred in residential areas during peak summer months due to transformer overload and heatrelated equipment failures. • Ongoing PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) Events – Although Needles has not been a direct target of PSPS, regional utilities’ wildfire prevention shutoffs have raised concern about future reliability during fire season.
Power Failure
Due to maintenance and infrastructure failure, small-scale power failure frequently occurs throughout Southern California. The city, region, and state has experienced several occasions where power has been lost due to human-caused errors and natural hazards. Energy failures and blackouts tend to occur on a larger regional scale, affecting Needles residents and businesses depending on the location of the failure. Some events within the last 40 years include:
• December 1982 (near Tracy, California) - Loss of a transmission tower, two (2) 500-kV lines, and a pair of 230-kV lines. Five (5) million people were impacted. (Equipment Failure) 30
• October 1989 (Loma Prieta Earthquake) - Loss of substations; 1.4 million people impacted (Seismic Event) 31
• January 1994 (Northridge Earthquake) - Widespread power outages within the Lost Angeles region. Black-outs were also reported in seven western states, Mexico and Canada. 32
30 “The 3 Worst Power Outages in the History of the U.S”.https://www.a-1-electric.com/the-3-worst-power-outagesin-the-history-of-the-us/#:~:text=On%20December%2022nd%2C%201982,going%20without%20electricity%20for%20hours. 31 Eguchi, R. T.; Seligson, H. A. (1994), "Lifeline perspectives" Practical lessons from the Loma Prieta earthquake, National Academies Press.
32 “The January 17, 1994 Northridge Earthquake: Effects on Electric Power and Selected Industrial Facilities.” EPRI, April 22, 1997. https://www.epri.com/research/products/TR106635#:~:text=The%20Northridge%20Earthquake%20was%20the,experienced%20the%20highest%20ground%20motion.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 55 City of Needles
• August 1996 (region) - Cascading impacts from loss of power from 1996 North American Blackouts 33
• December 1998 (San Francisco) - Loss of substations, impacting 350,000 buildings and 940,000 people. (Infrastructure failure, human error) 34 • 2000 (statewide) - Power failures due to electricity crisis. 35 • 2011 (Southwest Blackout) - Cascading impacts from the loss of power from the 23 distinct events on 5 separate power grids impacted 1.4 million people. This was the largest power failure in California history. 36
• July 2017 (Los Angeles) - An explosion at a power plant caused widespread outages in San Fernando Valley. 37
• July 2018 (San Bernardino County) – Severe monsoonal thunderstorms caused localized power outages in the tri-state area, including portions of Needles.
RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
Energy Shortage
Energy shortage events are expected to continue in Needles. As extreme heat becomes more frequent, the need for power will increase to cool homes and businesses, placing more of a demand on energy resources. As identified in Table 3-2 and Table 3-3, the future probability of an energy shortage is possible, or between a one-tenth of a percent and a one percent chance each year.
Power Failure
Today, several mechanisms are in place to monitor, manage, and adapt to changing conditions and demands to help reduce and/or eliminate energy failures. California and regional departments (California Independent System Operator- Cal ISO, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission- FERC, Western Electricity Coordinating Council- WECC, North American Electric Reliability Corporation- NERC, California Public Utilities Commission- CPUC, California Energy Commission- CEC) are focused on energy production, use, and management. Each agency plays a role in planning, managing, and coordinating the allocation of energy within the state of California. Needles can experience a power failure anytime and anywhere throughout the year. 33 Venkatasubramanian, Mani V. (2003-08-20) "Analyzing Blackout Events: Experience from the Major Western Blackouts in 1996."
34 “Technician's error caused 1998 outage” https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Technician-s-error-caused1998-outage-1-death-2595806.php 35 Sweeney, James L. 2002. "The California Electricity Crisis: Lessons for the Future." https://www.nae.edu/Publications/Bridge/OurEnergyFuture/TheCaliforniaElectricityCrisisLessonsfortheFuture.as px
36 Medina, Jennifer (September 10, 2011) "Human Error Investigated in California Blackout's Spread to Six Million". The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/us/10power.html?scp=1&sq=blackout&st=cse 37 Floyd, Annie. July 8, 2017. DWP Plant Explosion Causes Massive Power Outage In San Fernando Valley. Laist. https://laist.com/news/dwp-plant-explosion-causes-massive Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 56 City of Needles
The probability of it occurring again will always be present, as the city depends on electricity to function.
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Energy Shortage
Energy shortages caused by other hazard types may be affected by climate change. Many energy shortage events are typically caused by some natural hazards (i.e., extreme heat, extreme cold). As discussed in the Severe Weather section, climate change is also expected to increase the number of extreme heat events in Needles. As higher temperatures create more energy demand, this effect may also increase the frequency and duration of energy shortage events.
Power Failure
Projections of changing climatic conditions through the end of the century suggest that the City should address future power failure concerns. Energy demands are not anticipated to increase significantly throughout the city (due to compliance with updated codes and requirements); however, electricity production occurs outside the city, reducing opportunities for Needles to be energy independent. To better address energy/power failure, Needles’ current and future climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts should prioritize energy efficiency measures, generate energy locally from clean and renewable sources, and build reliability & redundancy using the latest energy storage and backup systems technologies.
Geologic Hazards (Expansive Soils)
DESCRIPTION
Expansive soil is a soil that can shrink or swell and thus change in volume. Volume increases or decreases result from changes in the moisture content of the soil. These soils will almost always contain some form of expansive clay mineral, such as smectite or vermiculite, which can absorb water and swell, increasing in volume. The opposite effect (shrinkage) occurs as the soil dries. The more water is absorbed, the greater the volume increases. For the most expansive soils, volume changes of 10% are common. The actual amount that the ground will swell or shrink is determined by the water content in the near-surface (active) zone. 38 Many of our country’s largest towns and cities, and therefore their local and residential streets, highways, services, and buildings, are founded on clay-rich soils and rocks. These expansive soils can prove to be a substantial hazard to construction and the design of structures due to the ability of the soils to shrink or swell with seasonal changes in weather and moisture, changes at the site such as leakage from water supply pipes or drains. Even changes to landscaping and how it is drained or following the planting, removal, or severe pruning of trees or hedges near structures can help to address structural damage associated with expansive soils. 38 Jones L. (2018) Expansive Soils. In: Bobrowsky P., Marker B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology.
Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12127-7_118-1 Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 57 City of Needles
Residential homes and other single-story buildings, pavements, pipelines, and other shallow services, such as fiber optics, are especially vulnerable to soil expansion damage. They lack the flexibility of movement that other heavier multi-story structures have. Concrete construction such as driveways, sidewalks, asphalt roadways, or parking lots is also susceptible to damage because their lightweight nature extends over a relatively large area. Most new structures and improvements that adhere to current building standards and requirements incorporate expansive soil mitigation.
LOCATION AND EXTENT
According to the California Building Code (CBC) Section 1803.5.3, soils with an expansive potential of less than 20 are considered “non-expansive,” and soils with an expansive potential of greater than 20 are considered expansive. The extent to which soil expansion is present in an area or site can be measured relies on the Expansive Soil Index (Figure 3-7), which identifies categories ranging from very low to very high.
Figure 3-7: Expansive Soil Index
Engineers and other professionals use the expansion index, EI, as an indicator of the soil’s swelling potential. It may also be used to determine the suitability of soil to satisfy requirements set by specifying agencies.
The EI test is not used to duplicate any particular field conditions such as soil density, water content, loading, in-place soil structure, or soil water chemistry. However, consistent test conditions are used to prepare compacted specimens so that data can be directly correlated. 39 Expansive soils are found worldwide, and the United States is no exception. Every year, they cause billions of dollars in damage. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, roughly 25% of all homes in the US have experienced damage from expansive soils. They estimate that expansive soils cause more damage, resulting in financial loss to homeowners than earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. 40 Expansive soils in Needles exist in areas that are in the floodplain. Most of the city is in the 100- year floodplain, and most of the city's downtown area is in the 500-year floodplain. See Figure 3-8 for the FEMA 100-year and 500-year flood zones in Needles. 39 ASTM International: “Standard Test Method for Expansion Index of Soils” https://www.astm.org/Standards/D4829.htm
40 King, Hobart M. PhD. Geology.com “Expansive Soil and Expansive Clay” https://geology.com/articles/expansivesoil.shtml#:~:text=How%20Many%20Buildings%20are%20at,damage%20caused%20by%20expansive%20soils Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 58 City of Needles
PAST EVENTS
Given the presence of expansive soils in various parts of the city, the city and its residents could experience occasional damage to structures caused by these soils. The most vulnerable structures would be those built before adopting the City’s building codes and standards that mitigate the effects of these hazards.
RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
The community’s expansive soils will continue to swell and contract as they are exposed to water, become saturated, swell, and eventually dry out and contract, potentially causing damage as this occurs. As identified in Table 3-2 and Table 3-3, the future probability of expansive soils is between a one percent and a one-tenth of a percent chance each year.
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
It is possible that expansive soils may be affected by climate change, as climate change is expected to bring about more frequent drought conditions and contribute to more intense storms like El Niño. These extreme conditions could further increase the intensity of the expansive soils, physical expansion, and contraction, potentially increasing damage throughout the vulnerable parts of the city.
Flooding (Including Dam Failure)
DESCRIPTION
Flood
Flooding occurs when an area becomes inundated with more water than it can drain in a specified period. This can range from a small, confined area, such as a grassy field in a park that floods for a few hours after a rainstorm, to whole city sections, such as streets becoming impassable because of floodwaters. When floods are small, they may only represent a minor inconvenience as some recreational pathways and curb cuts become flooded. These smaller instances of flooding where water collects into a pool of standing water are called “ponding.” On the other hand, larger flood events can hamper a city’s operations. For example, if multiple streets flooded simultaneously, the results could prevent emergency workers from reaching people needing assistance. Flooding also has the destructive potential to damage critical infrastructure. For instance, unprotected electronic equipment can short-circuit if it becomes inundated by floodwaters. This could lead to outages in street lighting, traffic signals, and even City and government computer systems.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 59 City of Needles
Figure 3-8: FEMA 100-Year and 500-Year Flood Zones in Needles Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 60 City of Needles
Flooding has the potential to occur from multiple sources. In Southern California, the primary cause of flooding is usually heavy rain occurring during the winter storm season. Most precipitation in California arrives either via atmospheric rivers or the ENSO cycle. Atmospheric rivers are channels of moist air located high in the atmosphere. The ENSO cycle is a regional meteorological phenomenon in the southern Pacific Ocean consisting of ocean water and air temperature variations. These variations give rise to two distinct phases: El Niño, the warm and wet phase, and La Niña, the dry and cold phase. When the El Niño phase is active, California will likely receive higher than normal precipitation levels. These higher-than-normal levels of rainfall can quickly overwhelm the capacity of certain sections of land to drain the precipitation before the rainwater begins to pool effectively.
In Needles, flash flooding can occur. Flash flooding is a sudden flood of great volume, usually caused by heavy rain. Flash flooding tends to occur in the summer and early fall because of the monsoon rains and is typified by increased humidity and high summer temperatures. Flash flooding can cause roads and bridges to wash out, and the erosion of earthen channels and basins. Cities and towns often experience street closures for several days due to sediment transport and road damage.
A failure in infrastructure may also cause flooding. For example, a water main or sewage pipeline that bursts could cause flooding if left uncontained for a significant period of time. A more serious infrastructure failure, such as the failure of dams, reservoirs, or levees, could cause extensive flooding.
Dam Failure
Dam, reservoir, and levee failure can result from several causes, such as earthquakes, rapidly rising floodwaters, and structural design flaws. These hazards can occur instantaneously or very gradually, depending on the source of the failure. Inundation associated with these events can cause loss of life, damage property, and result in other impacts, such as displacement of persons residing in the inundation path and loss of critical infrastructure.
LOCATION AND EXTENT
Flood
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designates which areas in the United States are susceptible to flooding and how likely they are to experience flooding. FEMA uses a complex classification system to categorize the level of risk for each section of land. The two most well-known measures of flood event likelihood are the 100-year flood and 500-year flood zones. These designations do not refer to floods that occur every 100 or 500 years but to the likelihood of occurring yearly. For example, a 100-year flood zone has a 1 in 100—or 1% chance—of occurring in any given year, while a 500-year zone has a 1 in 500—or 0.2% chance—of occurring in any given year. These likelihood measures are combined with each locale's specific geography to produce specific flood “zone” designations. Table 3-13 shows a detailed list of all the flood zone categories used by FEMA.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 61 City of Needles
TABLE 3-13: FEMA FLOODPLAIN ZONES
Zone Description
A Within a 100-year flood plain, but the water height of the 100-year flood is not known.
A1-30 or AE Within a 100-year flood plain and the water height of the 100-year flood is known.
AO Within a 100-year flood plain, and the water height of the 100-year flood is between one and three feet but not specifically known.
A99 Within a 100-year flood plain, protected by flood protection infrastructure such as dams or levees.
AH Within a 100-year flood plain, and the water height of the 100-year flood is between one and three feet and is specifically known.
AR Within a 100-year flood plain, protected by flood protection infrastructure that is not currently effective, but is being rebuilt to provide protection.
V Within a 100-year flood plain for coastal floods, but the water height is not known.
V1-30 or VE Within a 100-year flood plain for coastal floods and the water height is known.
VO Within a 100-year flood plain for shallow coastal floods with a height between one and three feet.
B Within a 500-year flood plain or within a 100-year flood plain with a water height less than one foot (found on older maps).
C Outside of the 500-year flood plain (found on older maps).
X Outside of the 500-year flood plain (found on newer maps).
X500 Within a 500-year flood plain or within a 100-year flood plain with a water height less than one foot (found on newer maps).
D Within an area with a potential and undetermined flood hazard.
M Within an area at risk of mudslides from a 100-year flood event.
N Within an area at risk of mudslides from a 500-year flood event.
P Within an area at risk of mudslides from a potential and undetermined flood event.
E Within an area at risk of erosion from a 100-year flood event.
FEMA has designated most of Needles as lying within Zone “X,” generally meaning the city is not in danger of a 500-year flood; however, a significant amount of the downtown area does fall within the 500-year flood zone. The city is at risk of flooding due to surface drainage through the streets and storm drains. Figure 3-8 depicts the city's 100-year and 500-year flood zones mapped by FEMA.
TABLE 3-14: FLOODING HOTSPOTS IN NEEDLES
Location Problem Draining During
Heavy Rains
K Street Bridge Flooding
Baliey Avenue (between J Street and Lillyhill Drive) Flooding Lillyhill Drive (between Bailey Avenue and Clary Avenue) Flooding Needles Highway (between Budweiser Road and Balboa Street Flooding Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 62 City of Needles
Table 3-15 identifies relevant data regarding Needles from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
TABLE 3-15: NFIP DATA FOR NEEDLES
Total Number of Policies 13
Policy Characteristics Residential Policies: 11
Business Policies: 2
Total Premiums $12,624
Insurance in Force Residential: $2,752,000
Business: $580,000
Total: $3,332,000
Total Number of Closed Paid Losses Residential: 5
Business: 0
$ of Closed Paid Losses Residential: $16,398
Business: $0
# of Repetitive Loss (RL) Properties 0
# of Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Properties 0
CRS Class Rating N/A
Source: FEMA, 2024
Dam Failure
The two dams that are a hazard to Needles are the Davis Dam and the Hoover Dam. If either dam were to fail, the damage to Needles would be catastrophic. The most extensive damage would be focused on the portions of the city along the Colorado River. 1) Davis Dam – Davis Dam is
approximately 25 miles north of
Needles on the Colorado River and
approximately 67 miles
downstream of the Hoover Dam.
The Mexican Treaty of 1944
required the United States to
construct Davis Dam to deliver
water to Mexico. The reservoir
formed by the dam, Lake Mohave,
is used for that purpose through
integrated operations of Hoover
and Davis Powerplants. Davis
Dam is 200 feet above the lowest
point of the foundation and 140
feet above the level of the river. It is a zoned earth-fill structure with a concrete spillway, intake structure, and powerplant. The dam’s crest length is 1,600 feet, and its top width is 50 feet. Its reservoir, Lake Mohave, has a total storage capacity of 1,818,300 acreDavis Dam Source: Bureau of Reclamation
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 63 City of Needles
feet and, at maximum capacity, extends 67 miles upstream to the tailrace of the Hoover Powerplant. 41
2) Hoover Dam – Hoover Dam is
located approximately 105 miles
north of Needles. Completed in
1935, the dam was built to protect
Southern California and Arizona
from disastrous flooding from the
Colorado River and irrigate farm
fields. It also supplies water and
power to Los Angeles. The amount
of concrete used to build the
Hoover Dam was enough to pave a
road from San Francisco to New
York City. It is the highest concrete
arch-gravity dam in the United
States. The dam is located in the Black Canyon area of the Colorado River. It is a concrete thick-arch structure. The dam is 726 feet high and 1,244 feet long. It contains
3.25 million cubic yards of concrete. Its maximum storage is 30,237,000 acre-feet. Lake Mead, Hoover Dam’s reservoir, extends 115 miles upstream. Lake Mead is one of the largest human-made lakes in the world.
Due to the large reservoirs associated with Davis Dam and Hoover Dam and the downstream location of the city in relation to these dams, dam failure or inundation of either of these dams could be catastrophic for the entire city and its residents.
PAST EVENTS
Flood
San Bernardino County is no stranger to flooding during massive storm systems and has experienced the destructive effects that occur as a result. Some flooding events have caused damage in the City of Needles in the past. San Bernardino County is no stranger to flooding during massive storm systems and has experienced the destructive effects that occur as a result. Some flooding events have caused damage in the City of Needles in the past. Table 3- 16 identifies past events of flooding in the city.
TABLE 3-16: HISTORY OF FLOODING IN NEEDLES
Date Description and Effect
August 12, 2014 A strong storm brought 60 mph winds and heavy rain to the city. The thunderstorm produced flash flooding. The debris from the flash flooding closed Highways 62, 177, and 95 in both directions. Source: The Sun August 22, 2016 A band of thunderstorms caused flash flooding in the city, pushing several vehicles off the highway. Flooding was reported on SR 95 near I-40.
Source: AP
41 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Projects and Facilities: Davis Dam. https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=47 Hoover Dam
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 64 City of Needles
Dam Failure
There are no recorded dam failure events for the Davis Dam or the Hoover Dam.
RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
Flood
There is no indication that the severe rainfall that leads to flooding will abate in the future, either in Needles or the greater region of Southern California. While San Needles may experience prolonged periods of dry or wet years, flood events will likely continue to impact the city. For areas within the 100-year and 500-year flood hazard zones, the likelihood of flooding occurring annually is 1% and 0.2%, respectively.
Because the city is vulnerable to flooding during various storms and monsoons, it actively participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Through this program, “Special Flood Hazard Areas” within the city are identified and mapped on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), identifying the areas that require flood insurance. FIRMs generally describe flooding in terms of a 100- or 500-year flood event, which translates into the probability (1.0% or 0.2%, respectively) that flooding could occur within the designated zone in any given year. In addition to the federal requirements within the NFIP, the City has adopted flood protection standards requiring minimum building elevation, flood-proofing, and anchoring of buildings in areas prone to flooding. Figure 3-6 identifies the FEMA Flood Hazard Zones mapped within the city.
The City of Needles works with San Bernardino County on flood management and mitigation projects. The City also takes steps on an annual basis to maintain and prepare for flood events, ensuring the existing infrastructure can effectively convey floodwaters. Flood events within the city can occur either due to large storms and flash flooding that overwhelms infrastructure or the failure of flood control facilities that inundate downstream communities.
Dam Failure
Due to the presence of the two dams near Needles, the city is at risk of inundation in the case of significant dam failure. The potential consequences of dam failure are death or injury, people being displaced from their homes, damage to existing public and private buildings, damage to infrastructure, loss of services from utilities, loss of government services, and economic losses.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) evaluates and rates dams based on confirmed or unconfirmed safety issues, the probability of failure, and the potential consequences. The hazard potential classification indicates the potential hazard to the downstream area resulting from the failure or misoperation of the dam or facilities. It reflects the probable loss of human life and impacts on the economic, environmental, and lifeline interests. The hazard potential does not speak to the dam's condition or the risk of the dam failing. In this regard, the USACE has given both the Davis Dam and Hoover Dam a high-hazard potential classification.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 65 City of Needles
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Flood
Climate change is expected to exacerbate the conditions leading to flooding in Needles. Climate change will cause more intense local, regional, and global weather patterns, intensifying atmospheric rivers. Exactly how climate change will impact ENSO frequency is unknown, but its effects are anticipated to become more intense. Winter storm precipitation amounts in Southern California will increase based on atmospheric rivers and ENSO changes. This increases the likelihood of an exceptional rain event in Needles that could overwhelm the capacity of the region’s flood control system to contain and drain all the precipitation.
Due to climate change, droughts are also expected to increase in length and frequency. Soils dried by extensive drought periods are less able to absorb and drain water, likely increasing flood possibility. Overall, climate change is expected to create conditions that will raise the likelihood of flooding in Needles.
Dam Failure
Climate change could increase the risk of dam failure in the future. More intense rainstorms may increase the likelihood of reservoir infrastructure becoming overwhelmed, including the dams that control floodwaters from inundating Needles and the rest of San Bernardino County.
Indirectly, increased climate change-induced rains may cause more erosion, compromising the dam's structural integrity and the foundation on which it sits.
Human-Caused Hazards (Cyber Threat,
Hazardous Materials Release, Natural Gas
Pipeline, Transportation Accident)
DESCRIPTION
The Human-Caused Hazards profile discusses cyber threats, hazardous materials incidents, natural gas pipeline hazards, and transportation accidents.
Cyber Threat
Cyber threats are when an individual or a group threatens or attempts to disrupt the operations and functioning of computer systems belonging to private citizens, religious groups, educational institutions, government agencies, or businesses. These threats include online harassment, hacking, or in-person tampering with electronic equipment. Successful cyber threats can lead to service disruptions, infrastructure damage, and theft and may cause injury or death in severe instances.
Hazardous Materials Incident
The state of California defines hazardous materials as substances that are toxic, ignitable, or flammable, reactive, and/or corrosive. The state also defines hazardous materials as Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 66 City of Needles
substances that show high acute or chronic toxicity, are carcinogenic (causes cancer), have bioaccumulative properties (accumulates in the body’s tissues), are persistent in the environment, or are water-reactive. The primary concern associated with a hazardous materials release is the public's short and/or long-term effects from exposure to the hazardous material.
Hazardous materials release refers to a hazard event whereby harmful concentrations of hazardous or toxic substances are released into the environment. This occurs when storage containers of hazardous materials leak or fail. This can happen due to industrial accidents, vehicle crashes, as a direct result of other disasters (e.g., a flood or earthquake), or as a deliberate act.
The threat that hazardous materials pose to human health depends on the type of material, frequency, and duration of exposure, and whether chemicals are inhaled, penetrate the skin, or are ingested, among other factors. Exposure to hazardous materials can result in short- or longterm effects, including major damage to organs and systems in the body or death. Hazardous waste is any material with properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment and is no longer of use requiring disposal. Hazardous materials can also cause health risks if they contaminate soil, groundwater, and air, potentially posing a threat long after the initial release.
Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard
Natural gas pipelines primarily serve to move gas from the point of origin (production/storage well) to the point of consumption. Inter- and intrastate pipelines transport natural gas produced from gas fields, either onshore or offshore, through gathering systems to commercial, residential, industrial, and utility companies. The pipelines are usually constructed of carbon steel and vary in size from 2 inches (51 mm) to 56 inches (1400 mm) in diameter, depending on the type of pipeline.
Transportation Accident
A transportation accident is a crash or other failure involving a vehicle, including a car, truck, or train. This can result from the vehicle operator making an error or environmental conditions that prevent the vehicle from being safely maneuvered. Examples of transportation accidents include automobile crashes, freight truck collisions, and train crashes or derailments. It should be noted that small-scale incidents, such as minor collisions between automobiles, would not count as a hazard. However, a large-scale collision involving multiple vehicles that shuts down a freeway could present a hazard to Needles because it could deter first responders from reaching victims or prevent residents from evacuating quickly.
LOCATION AND EXTENT
Cyber Threat
Since computers are so ubiquitous, a cyber threat could appear in virtually any part of the city.
In extreme circumstances, a threat could impact the entire city. Cyber threats vary in their length and severity of impact. A minor threat could cause computer systems to slow down for a few minutes and not behave as responsively. On the other hand, a major cyber threat could cause a complete shutdown of critical systems, including those used by banks, healthcare institutions, universities, major businesses, and city governments.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 67 City of Needles
Cyber threats are not measured on any scale, but they can be assessed by determining the following:
1) The type of incident (website defacement, denial of service, unauthorized surveillance) 2) The use of malicious software
3) The level of security countermeasures that failed to prevent the cyber threat 4) The duration of the cyber threat (a few hours, a few days, several weeks, etc.) 42 Globally, cyber threats are increasing and becoming more sophisticated. The most common types of attacks include:
• Phishing
• Ransomware
• Intellectual Property Theft
• Spyware/Malware
• Unpatched Software
The Index of Cyber Security (Figure 3-9) can be referenced to understand the status of cyber threats, which identifies the measure of perceived risk. Since 2015, this index has trended upward and appears to have doubled in this timeframe.
42 Mateski, M., C. Trevino, C. Veitch, J. Michalski, J. Harris, S. Maruoka, and J. Frye. 2012. “Cyber Threat Metrics.” Sandia National Laboratories. https://fas.org/irp/eprint/metrics.pdf.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 68 City of Needles
Figure 3-9: Index of Cyber Security 43
Hazardous Materials Incident
Hazardous materials and chemicals are used daily in households and businesses throughout Needles. In addition to the locations of large commercial and industrial uses, sources of hazardous materials can originate from seemingly harmless places such as gas stations, auto repair shops, dry cleaners, medical centers, and almost any industrial business. Hazardous waste can take the form of liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludge. It can be the by-products of manufacturing processes or simply discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids and pesticides.
In severe situations, Needles may also be at risk of hazardous materials release events on a regional level. With the right prevailing wind conditions, airborne toxic material could spread to and impact various parts of the air basin, including areas of Needles.
Figure 3-10 identifies stationary hazardous materials locations within Needles that store, use, or produce hazardous materials regulated by the state. While these locations are fixed, roadways throughout the community are commonly used to transport hazardous materials and waste. These facilities are common locations for spills and releases. While there is no extent scale for hazardous materials release, the probability of an incident is anticipated to be occasional (less than 10% chance of occurrence) each year. Currently, the City has 296 facilities 43 TAG Infosphere
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 69 City of Needles
registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the California State Water Resources Control Board, there are a total of 31 sites in the city that require cleanup activity. Of these, 28 cases have been completed and considered closed. Of the remaining three, one site is currently in remediation, and two are under site assessment.
Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard
One natural gas pipeline is located north of the city in Willow Valley. Southern California Gas Company operates this pipeline. Most of the streets and roads within the city have natural gas lines. Four pipelines, approximately eight miles south of the city, cross the Colorado River along I-40. Based on the location of this infrastructure, any portion of the city has the potential for natural gas pipeline breaks that could expose businesses and residents to potential harm.
Figure 3-11 shows the natural gas pipelines in and around the city.
Transportation Accident
Arterial streets, highways, freeways, and railways are widespread in and around Needles. Major freeways passing through Needles include I-40 and US-95. Rail infrastructure runs through the center of Needles. Passenger and freight rail use this right-of-way, including Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF). Any of these transportation corridors, or others in or around Needles, could be the site of a transportation incident that affects the community.
Generally, transportation incidents are measured by the number of deaths they cause.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 70 City of Needles
Figure 3-10: Hazardous Materials Locations in Needles
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 71 City of Needles
Figure 3-11: Natural Gas Pipelines Near Needles
PAST EVENTS
Cyber Threat
The City of Needles has not experienced any cyber incidents negatively impacting public services or safety. However, several jurisdictions in Southern California and across the country have. Several recent incidents local to the city include:
• April 2023 – The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department was hit with a cyberattack that likely started after someone clicked a malicious hyperlink. The Department recovered the data but shut down most of its systems, including email, internet, and many computers in its vehicles, out of precaution. County officials did not say if they paid a ransom for the data. 44
In addition, other recent, notable cybersecurity events in the US include the Colonial Pipeline incident, JBS (the world’s largest meatpacker), and the Washington DC Metropolitan Police 44 McMillan, Rob. “San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Shuts down Internet Systems Following Recent Cyberattack.” ABC7 Los Angeles, April 23, 2023. https://abc7.com/san-bernardino-cyberattack-ransomwarehyperlink/13176620/.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 72 City of Needles
Department. These attacks have resulted in the shutdown or delay in critical services and functions, increasing the cost of goods/services, financial losses, and operational delays.
Hazardous Material Incident
Needles has experienced an average of 13.93 hazardous materials spills reported annually to the Cal OES Spill Release Reporting database. Table 3-17 displays this data. Most of these incidents involve the release of sewage and petroleum products.
TABLE 3-17: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS REPORTED ANNUALLY IN NEEDLES Year Reported Releases
2010 10
2011 9
2012 10
2013 10
2014 16
2015 2
2016 12
2017 17
2018 22
2019 14
2020 15
2021 22
2022 20
2023 16
Annual Avg 13.93
Source: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/fire-rescue/hazardous-materials/spill-release-reporting Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard
No natural gas pipeline accidents have occurred in Needles. According to the NTSB database, there have been two natural gas pipeline explosions/leaks of major relevance in California:
1) In 2010, the City of San Bruno experienced a huge explosion when one of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s natural gas pipelines exploded and caused an enormous fire.
Eight people were killed in the explosion. 45
2) The Aliso Canyon gas leak, called the Porter Ranch gas leak, was a massive natural gas leak in Aliso Canyon (near Los Angeles). A 7-inch well casing rupture caused a leak in an underground storage facility due to microbial corrosion from outside contact with 45 Gonzalez, Sandra (September 11, 2010). "Search for bodies in deadly San Bruno PG&E gas line explosion ends". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved September 11, 2010. https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/09/10/search-for-bodies-in-deadly-san-bruno-pge-gas-line-explosion-ends2/ Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 73 City of Needles
groundwater. Almost 100,000 tonnes of methane and over 7,000 tonnes of ethane were released into the atmosphere. 46
Transportation Accident
There was a total of six fatality accidents in Needles from 2020-2024. Four of these events were caused by improper turning, one from an unsafe lane change, and one from a pedestrian violation. During the same time period, there were no major transportation accidents, (such as those resulting in a hazardous materials spill or mass casualty event.
RISK OF FUTURE EVENTS
Cyber Threat
Due to the integrated nature of technology into the everyday lives of Needles’ residents, businesses, and government operations, it is possible that a cyber threat could emerge in the future. While no cyber threats are publicly known to have disrupted the City’s normal operations in the past, the likelihood of a cyber threat affecting the residents, businesses, and/or governmental operations in the future is increasing. As identified in Table 3-2 and Table 3-3, the future probability of cyber threat is highly likely, or greater than a 10% chance each year.
Hazardous Materials Incident
Most release events within Needles have occurred due to human error, malfunctioning equipment, or a deliberate act. Given this, future events within Needles are anticipated to include minor incidents like some of the past occurrences identified above in Table 3-17.
Activities to prevent future releases, as well as response strategies, should take this into consideration. As identified in Tables 3-2 and 3-3, the future probability of hazardous materials release is likely, or between a one percent and ten percent chance each year.
Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard
The city and its residents rely on natural gas as a major means of heating and cooking within the home. As long as natural gas use continues within the city, the potential for risk will remain.
Regular maintenance and inspections of these pipelines will be the best way to minimize the possibility of future release incidents. Activities to prevent future releases, as well as response strategies, should be taken into consideration. As identified in Tables 3-2 and 3-3, the future probability of hazards occurring from a natural gas pipeline is possible, or between a one-tenth of a percent and a one percent chance each year.
Transportation Accident
Transportation accidents will certainly continue. While guarding against such events and implementing safety measures is possible, preventing every transportation accident is impossible. The large volume of traffic on streets and highways in and around Needles makes it likely that an accident will occur on rail or highway transportation infrastructure in the future. 46 Wilcox, Greg. August 28, 2017. “LA County declares state of emergency over Porter Ranch gas leak.” Los Angeles Daily News. https://www.dailynews.com/2015/12/15/la-county-declares-state-of-emergency-over-porterranch-gas-leak/ Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 74 City of Needles
As identified in Tables 3-2 and 3-3, the future probability of a transportation accident is possible, or between a one-tenth of a percent and a one percent chance each year.
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Cyber Threat
Climate change is not likely to impact cyber threats in the future within Needles.
Hazardous Materials Incident
Climate-related natural hazard events, such as increased precipitation and subsequent flooding, could cause an increase in hazardous materials release. Some of these incidents could result from transportation crashes (due to poorer road conditions) or damage to storage containers or vessels containing these substances. Climate-related hazards could also exacerbate the effects and impacts of such events. For example, heavier rains could lead to more runoff from a contaminated site with hazardous materials. These issues should be monitored during the five-year implementation period of this plan.
Natural Gas Pipeline Hazards
Releases from natural gas pipelines are not anticipated to be affected directly by climate change. The location of this physical infrastructure is predominately underground within streets and easements throughout the city. Based on this location, the most likely impact of climate change would be the exposure of this infrastructure because of some other type of event. The most likely event would be erosion or some other event that could expose these facilities.
Transportation Accident
As mentioned in the severe weather profile, climate change is expected to alter rainfall patterns in Southern California, including Needles. As the climate warms, rain events are predicted to become more intense. Needles will likely experience more rain inundation events that lead to flooding and erosion, increasing the risk of transportation accidents. Additionally, heat stress on asphalt transportation corridors and railways could lead to an increase in transportation accidents. Heat stress can cause asphalt roads and railways to expand and deform. This leads to potential issues like rutting on roads and buckling or warping of rails, resulting in safety hazards like train derailments and reduced road lifespan due to increased damage from heavy vehicles.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 75 City of Needles
CHAPTER 4 –
THREAT AND VULNERABILITY
Threat Assessment Process
The threat assessment process evaluates the harm Needles may experience from a hazard event. Threat assessment does not consider a hazard’s likelihood, so it gives equal consideration to hazards that are more likely (e.g., earthquakes, drought) as well as hazards that are less probable (e.g., urban fire, dam failure). The threat assessment examines three aspects of each hazard: the physical threat to Critical Facilities (CFs) and Facilities of Concern (FOCs), the social threat to vulnerable populations, and the threat to any other assets.
CRITICAL FACILITIES AND FACILITIES OF CONCERN
Critical facilities consist of properties and structures that play important roles in government operations and their services to the community. Examples of CFs include local government offices and yards, community centers, public safety buildings like police and fire stations, schools, and any other properties a city has deemed essential for its operations. Critical Facilities may also serve dual roles if a city designates them as public assembly points during an emergency. The City often owns CFs, but many are also owned and operated privately, such as some utilities and telecommunication infrastructure. Facilities of concern are structures that play an important role in the city but are not critical to its function. These can be city-owned or privately owned facilities such as senior assisted living homes, parks, and storage facilities, to name a few.
The HMPC identified 10 CFs and 14 FOCs in Needles that fall into five different categories based on their function or characteristics. Table 4-1 shows the number of CFs and FOCs in each category, the total estimated value of the facilities in each category, and examples of the facilities in each. Appendix D has a complete list of the CFs and FOCs. Figure 4-1 displays the location of the CFs and FOCs in Needles.
The potential loss value is the total insured value of the CFs that fall within the hazard zone. It is intended to provide an estimate of a replacement cost if the property is completely or severely damaged. The actual repair costs could be smaller or larger than the provided estimate. The data relies on the City’s Insured Asset Values, and therefore, information for facilities not owned by the City is not shown (e.g., bridges, private buildings). In some instances, replacement cost information was not made available. Where this occurs, “N/A” has been used within the table.
Based on the available data provided by the City, there is a minimum of $116,244,778 worth of City-owned assets. The greatest potential for loss among the city-owned assets comes from the infrastructure category. The next category with the greatest loss potential is the Public Works Facilities category followed by the City Facilities category. To better understand the magnitude of impacts, this plan identifies representative percentages of potential impact based on the total valuation of City assets. For planning purposes, it is reasonable to assume that impacts would not exceed 50% of the total asset value citywide.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 76 City of Needles
The following are parameters to help understand how much a proposed investment/improvement compares to the existing assets within the city:
• 1% Impact - $1,162,447
• 5% Impact - $5,812,238
• 10% Impact - $11,624,477
• 20% Impact - $23,248,955
• 50% Impact - $58,122,389
The likelihood that all facilities are completely damaged simultaneously is extremely remote.
Most impacts are anticipated to be isolated to specific locations based on the hazard. This estimate does not include the value of underground infrastructure and surface drainage facilities owned and operated by the City.
TABLE 4-1: CRITICAL FACILITIES AND FACILITIES OF CONCERN Category
Number of Facilities
Potential Loss
Critical Concern
City Facilities (City Hall) 2 0 $5,405,100
Community Centers/Facilities 0 3 $4,347,000
Parks Facilities 0 13 $2,724,200
Infrastructure 29 0 $44,938,278
Public Works Facilities 1 8 $17,130,200
Medical Facilities (not City-owned) 1 0 $40,000,000
Fire Stations (not City-owned) 1 0 $1,500,000
Police Stations (not City-owned) 1 0 $200,000
Total 35 24 $116,244,778
* Based on the City of Needles insured replacement values
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Factors such as age, physical and/or mental condition, socioeconomic status, access to key services, and many other factors affect the ability of people to prepare for and protect themselves and their property from a hazard event. Even though some hazard events may equally impact all parts of Needles, people may experience the impacts differently. Higherincome households, for instance, are more likely to afford the cost of retrofitting their homes to resist flooding or move to a location that is less prone to flooding than a lower-income household. As a result, a higher-income household is less likely to experience significant damage during a flood event than a lower-income household, even if the same amount of rain falls on both.
A social threat analysis examines the ways hazard events are likely to impact different demographic populations in Needles and where these different demographic populations live in the city. This includes assessing whether the people in an area of an elevated hazard risk are Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 77 City of Needles
more likely than the average person to be considered a threatened population. The social threat analysis uses the following criteria to assess the threat to vulnerable populations:
• Disability status: Persons with disabilities may have reduced mobility and experience difficulties living independently. As a result, they may have little or no ability to prepare for and mitigate hazard conditions without assistance from others. • Income levels: Lower-income households are less likely to have the financial resources to implement mitigation activities on their residences. Another challenge may be finding adequate time to research and access educational resources about hazard mitigation strategies. Furthermore, lower-income households are less likely to have the necessary resources to move to safer areas less at risk of being impacted by a hazard. The national poverty limit standard for the U.S. for a four-person family is approximately an income of $31,200 or less. For San Bernardino County, the FY 2024 Low-Income Limit for a four-person family, according to Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is $82,000 • Seniors (individuals at least 65 years of age): Seniors are more likely to have reduced mobility, physical and/or mental disabilities, and lower-income levels, all of which may decrease their ability to prepare for and mitigate a hazard event.
Table 4-2 shows the metrics for Needles residents who meet at least one of the criteria for threatened or vulnerable populations.
TABLE 4-2: NEEDLES THREATENED POPULATION METRICS
Threatened Population Metrix CommunityWide Data
Population 4,900
Households 2,067
Median household income $57,294
Renter households 48.0%
Percentage of households with at least one person living with a disability 59.3% Percentage of households living under the poverty limit 27.4% Percentage of households with one member aged 65+ 36.3% Area affected by Hazard (Sq Mile and Pct of city) 31.02 Sq Miles (100%)
Source: 2018-2022 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2024 U.S. Census Bureau’s Estimates The social threat analysis also shows the threat other populations may encounter. For example, people experiencing homelessness or people without access to lifelines (vehicles or communication networks) may experience greater hardship in evacuating or recovering from a disaster. Since data for these groups are not readily available, there is no definitive way to determine the number of persons in areas of elevated risk, so this assessment will discuss how these other threatened groups may also be affected on a general level.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 78 City of Needles
DATA LIMITATIONS AND NOTES ON VULNERABILITY TABLES
Due to data limitations, the data comparing the hazard zone population with the citywide population comes from two separate sources. The citywide data comes from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and the hazard zone population data comes from ESRI’s Business Analyst reports. As a result, there may be minor discrepancies when comparing the two data sets. The data relies on available 2024 US Census Survey Projections and the 2018-2022 U.S. American Community Survey. Chapter 2 identifies additional censusrelated information, which may differ from the data in this Chapter based on the data available for the analysis.
OTHER ASSETS
In addition to the City’s designated inventory of CFs/FOCs and vulnerable populations, hazard events could threaten other important assets to Needles. These assets may include services, artistic or cultural landmarks, or local economic activities. Based on available information, the threat assessment describes the potential harm to these other assets.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 79 City of Needles
Figure 4-1: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 80 City of Needles
Threat Profiles
EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS (SEISMIC SHAKING)
Physical Threat
Physical assets located in the eastern portion of the city are estimated to experience seismic shaking intensity between 0.1501g to 0.25g (shaking intensity in relation to the earth’s gravity).
These facilities could be damaged during a significant seismic event, which could be extremely costly for the City. If all facilities were damaged at the same time during a seismic shaking event, it can be assumed that the City would incur a percentage of the maximum potential loss of its physical assets. Assuming 20% of the City’s assets are impacted, this potential loss could amount to over $23 million. Underground physical assets, like pipelines or utilities, could be damaged if the intensity of the seismic shaking is severe enough. In such a scenario, natural gas and water delivery service to Needles homes and businesses would not be available until repairs are completed. Table 4-3 displays the potential scenario and losses incurred should shaking reach the described threshold. Figure 4-2 displays the CFs (17) and FOCs (11) within the city’s Seismic shaking potential hazard zones.
TABLE 4-3: CRITICAL FACILITIES AND FACILITIES OF CONCERN (SEISMIC SHAKE 0.1501 TO .25G)
Category
Number of Facilities
Potential Loss
Critical Concern
City Facilities (City Hall) 0 0 -
Community Centers/Facilities 0 0 -
Parks Facilities 0 6 $2,024,700
Infrastructure 16 0 $20,605,399
Public Works Facilities 1 5 $15,999,700
Medical Facilities (not City-owned) 0 0 -
Fire Stations (not City-owned) 0 0 -
Police Stations (not City-owned) 0 0 -
Total 17 11 $38,629,799
* Based on the City of Needles insured replacement values Social Threat
The risk of a seismic event is a danger to all Needles households and businesses; however, some populations are at higher risk than others.
Seniors, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities may be at higher risk in a seismic shaking event as they may have limited mobility, which could delay or prevent safe evacuation.
Renters and persons with lower incomes are also more threatened by seismic shaking since they may live in homes that are not properly retrofitted to withstand the stresses of a seismic event. These groups may not have the financial resources to repair their homes or move to new housing if their homes become uninhabitable.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 81 City of Needles
Data compares the populations within the seismic shaking hazard zones to the citywide population. Of the approximately 4,900 residents of Needles, approximately 26.7% or 1,310 residents live within the 0.1501 to 0.25g seismic shake zone. This equates to approximately 573 (approximately 27.7%) of the city’s 2,067 households located in a potential seismic shaking hazard zone. Table 4-4 displays these characteristics of threatened populations in this area, covering approximately 1.78 sq miles (5.7%) of the city, which include households with lower median household incomes, a lower percentage of persons living with a disability, and a higher percentage of households with one member aged 65+.
TABLE 4-4: SEISMIC SHAKE HAZARD THREATENED POPULATIONS
Threatened Population Metrics
Seismic Shaking
(0.1501 to 0.25g) City of Needles
Population 1,310 4,900
Households 573 2,067
Median household income $55,655 $57,294
Renter Occupied Households 47.6% 48.0%
Percentage of households with at least one person
living with a disability 54.5% 59.3%
Percentage of households living under the poverty
limit 22.5% 27.4%
Percentage of households with one member aged
65+ 47.3% 36.3%
Percentage of Needles Potentially Affected Area 1.78 Sq Miles 5.7% Other Threats
The goal of early earthquake warning systems is to afford utility providers additional time that they may use to shut off gas, water, and power transmission to try and control potential leaks following the event. Authorities may also have enough warning to halt the use of bridges or safely shelter or evacuate workers from hazardous locations. Therefore, the goal is to allow service providers to remain inactive, reducing further impact, until authorities determine it is safe for employees to return and reactivate utilities. The length of this time will vary depending on the event's magnitude. A significant earthquake would necessitate utilities to remain off for a few hours or several days. The city and the region could lose the economic activity that normally occurs. In addition, structures such as downed telephone poles or power transmission towers could block roadways and prevent first responders from reaching victims or evacuees who need assistance.
Changes in Population and Land Use Development
Based on the current Housing Element data, the city's anticipated residential/population growth over the next five years is not anticipated to increase Needles’ vulnerability to earthquakerelated hazards. While this may also be true concerning land use and development, if a strong earthquake impacts the city, there is the potential that older structures of the city may be impacted more severely than newer structures and developments in the city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 82 City of Needles
Figure 4-2: CFs and FOCs Located in Potential Seismic Shaking Hazard Zones Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 83 City of Needles
WILDFIRE
Physical Threat
Structures and physical assets in Needles that are not equipped with fire suppression technology or design features that mitigate fire vulnerability are at risk of fire. Generally, these buildings are older, may not be well maintained, and may not meet current code requirements and regulations. While wildland fires can impact all structures, older buildings may have increased vulnerability to these hazards.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has no mapped Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) within the City’s Local Responsibility Area (LRA) or the State Responsibility Area (SRA). The LRA is a government-designated area where a local agency, city, or county, NOT the State, is responsible for fire protection. An SRA is the opposite, where the State is responsible for wildland fire protection. The City of Needles does fall within a WUI.
Figure 4-3 identifies Needles’ wildland-urban interface (WUI) area, including the CFs and FOCs, and historic wildfire perimeters in and around the city. Table 4-5 identifies a combined total of 44 CFs and two FOCs within the WUI, which could result in a potential total loss of approximately $88 million. While these areas have a high degree of vulnerability to wildfire, other areas of the city may also be susceptible due to ember cast. Sometimes, the ignition of a wildfire may occur due to power lines located around overgrown trees, causing a spark and catching the tree on fire.
TABLE 4-5: CRITICAL FACILITIES AND FACILITIES OF CONCERN (WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE)
Category
Number of Facilities
Potential Loss
Critical Concern
City Facilities (City Hall) 2 0 $5,405,100
Community Centers/Facilities 0 3 $4,347,000
Parks Facilities 0 11 $2,528,000
Infrastructure 20 0 $33,135,278
Public Works Facilities 1 4 $1,300,000
Medical Facilities (not City-owned) 1 0 $40,000,000
Fire Stations (not City-owned) 1 0 $1,500,000
Police Stations (not City-owned) 1 0 $200,000
Total 26 18 $88,415,378
* Based on the City of Needles insured replacement values Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 84 City of Needles
Figure 4-3: CFs and FOCs Located in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 85 City of Needles
Social Threat
A fire hazard immediately threatens seniors and people with disabilities. These groups may have limited mobility or diminished environmental awareness. For example, a senior who lives alone may not know if a fire ignites in their house until a room fills with smoke or a flashover occurs, at which point escape may be more difficult or impossible. Therefore, a fire that starts in or spreads to senior residences in Needles could be highly threatening to those populations.
People with disabilities may require special mobility devices or caregiver assistance to evacuate, which may not be readily available when a fire occurs. Other groups with increased threat levels include lower-income people and renters. These individuals may live in substandard housing with outdated materials known to be flammable. Renters and lowerincome persons may also live in housing units with improperly designed or unmaintained electrical or heating systems that could cause a fire. In the case of renters, these groups may not have the financial resources or authority to rebuild or relocate to new homes after a wildland or urban fire. Transportation-dependent populations are also at risk if evacuations become necessary and transportation services are suspended due to safety concerns.
Needles has a sizeable portion of its residents located within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Table 4-6 shows that approximately 94.7% of the city’s population is within Needles’ WUI. Of these households, approximately 59.8% have at least one person living there with a disability, 27.9% live under the poverty limit, and 35.7% have one member aged over 65+. These households also have a slightly lower median income than Needles as a whole.
TABLE 4-6: WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE THREATENED POPULATIONS Threatened Population Metrics WUI City of Needles
Population 4,642 4,900
Households 1,965 2,067
Median household income $56,163 $57,294
Renter occupied households 49.0% 48.0%
Percentage of households with at least one person living with a disability 59.8% 59.3%
Percentage of households living under the poverty limit 27.9% 27.4% Percentage of households with one member aged 65+ 35.7% 36.3% Percentage of Needles potentially affected area 8.67 sq miles 27.9% Other Threats
Wildfires can consume power lines and force utility operators to shut off electrical and gas transmission activity, leading to utility outages in homes and businesses in Needles. Any streets surrounded by blazes or blocked by burning debris would hinder transportation, prevent residents from evacuating, and block emergency response crews from reaching the source of the fire. Anyone living towards the end of a cul-de-sac faces an elevated threat of being trapped if the fire occurs or spreads to the mouth of the street. Fires that destroy trees or vegetation (especially within parks and open space areas) could limit or prevent the use of these areas, affecting recreational opportunities for residents.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 86 City of Needles
Climate Change Vulnerability
Climate change will likely increase the city’s vulnerability to wildfire impacts because of increasing temperatures, which could change the moisture content of plant materials and potentially increase future drought conditions.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use Development If a large wildfire were to occur, it is feasible that changes to population patterns could fluctuate.
Future land use designations, re-development, or new development in these areas could be restricted or prohibited, especially in the WUI. Based on the current Housing Element data, the city's anticipated residential/population growth over the next five years is also anticipated to increase Needles’ vulnerability to wildfire-related hazards.
SEVERE WEATHER (DROUGHT, EXTREME HEAT, SEVERE WIND,
THUNDERSTORM)
Physical Threat
Drought
Since the primary threat from drought is reduced water supply and availability, there are no foreseeable threats to any of the City’s physical assets. It is possible that any water delivery infrastructure not used or used less than usual may fall into some degree of disrepair if maintenance is deferred. Lower water pressures may cause some aged water pipes to release rust particles into the water supply. Amenities within facilities, like water features and landscaping, could be affected by reduced watering. If dead or dying vegetation becomes a nuisance, the City may have to replace or retrofit locations affected.
Extreme Heat
Extremely high temperatures can cause roads to deform and buckle as the pavement expands in the heat, especially in poorly maintained areas. Power lines and other electrical grid sections are less effective in higher temperatures and may be damaged due to stress during extreme heat events. Buildings with dark pavement will absorb more heat than surfaces with vegetation or lighter materials that are better at reflecting the sun’s energy. This urban heat island effect is strongest during hot periods when the sun is strongest.
Severe Wind
Intense winds likely present the greatest threat to physical structures, particularly from trees or branches that fall on buildings and cause substantial damage. Older structures that have deferred maintenance or have not been retrofitted for high wind conditions may suffer greater damage than newer/updated structures. Utility lines and wooden utility poles face an elevated threat from wind, as do buildings without reinforced roofs.
Thunderstorms
There is no indication that rainfall or severe rain hazards will abate either in Needles or the greater region of Southern California in the future. While Needles may experience prolonged periods of dry or wet years, all expectations are that they will continue and increase in severity.
Rain could damage structures with poorly constructed roofs and erode the soil around building Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 87 City of Needles
foundations. Heavy rain could also lead to flooding, damaging unelevated structures in flood zones.
Social Threat
Drought
Droughts are unlikely to cause serious social threats to households in Needles, though residents and business owners in the city may experience financial impacts associated with water conservation efforts. Those with less access to financial resources, such as low-income households or seniors, could be harder hit if higher water rates or additional fees are imposed during a severe drought event.
Extreme Heat
Whereas a heat event can be relatively harmless for those with a reliable means of staying hydrated and cool, the event can be deadly for others. Young children, the elderly, or people suffering from serious medical conditions are physiologically more vulnerable to heatstroke.
Some senior citizens also take medicines that can make it harder for their bodies to maintain a safe internal temperature, creating an additional threat from extreme heat events. Young children may not be aware of the signs of dehydration or ways of protecting themselves from heatstroke.
People living in homelessness are at a high risk of health complications during heat waves, especially if they are unsheltered. According to Point in Time Count data performed by the County of San Bernardino, in 2023, there were approximately 4,193 individuals experiencing homelessness in the county, with approximately 24.6% unsheltered. Of the 4,193 individuals experiencing homelessness within the county, approximately 6 individuals are experiencing homelessness within the city. During a heatwave, these people are very vulnerable to heatstroke, especially if they cannot reach a cooling center.
Lower-income households living in substandard housing may not have functioning air conditioning or may be unable to afford to run their air conditioning even if it does work.
Populations who work outdoors are also at risk of health effects from extreme heat.
Sudden spikes in heat can catch people by surprise. Stores can rapidly sell out of fans, airconditioning units, or drinking water during a heatwave.
Severe Wind
Severe wind events can harm people throughout Needles but have a greater effect on the safety of people experiencing homelessness and people who work outdoors. Lower-income residents, who may not have the financial resources to purchase homes built or retrofitted to withstand powerful winds, could also have difficulty recovering from wind events.
Thunderstorms
Severe storms threaten any groups in Needles who cannot access adequate shelter. Homeless people often live in tents or other informal structures that may protect against minor rains but are inadequate against heavy rain events. Heavy rain can lead to flooding, which could inundate or sweep away informal dwellings. Additionally, vulnerable populations living in older homes with outdated building materials may experience damage during significant rain events. If Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 88 City of Needles
affected groups have limited incomes or lack the resources to make necessary repairs or maintain the structures, retrofit of these structures may be hindered.
Other Threats
Drought
A typical drought is not anticipated to lead to any outages in service in Needles. However, an exceptional drought may lead to restricted water use for residents or businesses in the city.
Trees not adequately adapted to lower irrigation levels could perish, altering the city’s aesthetic appearance and long-term air quality. Any open spaces with extensive lawns may start to die, turning brown, which could discourage residents from using these parks and open spaces. In addition, long-term drought conditions can change and reduce soil’s ability to absorb water.
When this occurs, water runoff from these areas may increase, which could cause downstream flooding and erosion in some areas. Vegetation that has dried out from a lack of water can lead to more dust and allergens in the air, leading to an increase in respiratory issues among certain vulnerable populations.
Extreme Heat
Extreme Heat for any length of time can also affect other hazards and risks within the city. For example, it can create a spike in electricity demand, leading to power loss/failure, food insecurities, and a rise in vector-borne disease transmission. Coupled with severe wind events, it can cause or spread wildfires and jeopardize additional neighborhoods/communities.
Severe Wind
The potential for severe wind events to create a financial strain on both the public and the City exists in the event of utility infrastructure damage or loss of power. These wind events can uproot trees and landscaping, further burdening the owners to replace or repair the losses.
Trees located in City parks may also be damaged or destroyed. Air quality can also be affected by these wind events, stirring up dust, pollen, debris, etc. Another threat associated with severe wind is wildfire impacts (discussed earlier).
Thunderstorms
The potential for thunderstorms to create a financial strain on both the public and the City exists in the event of utility infrastructure damage and loss of power. Damage to roadway networks, including bridges, can interrupt effective transportation throughout the city, possibly hindering emergency equipment and first responder response capability. Major storm events can even impact the effectiveness of the evacuation capacity of the roadway network into and out of the city.
Climate Change Vulnerability
Drought
Climate change will likely increase the city’s vulnerability to drought as climate change is expected to bring more frequent historically warm temperatures to the area as well as reduced precipitation and snowpack, and abnormally dry soils.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 89 City of Needles
Extreme Heat
Climate change will likely increase the city’s vulnerability to extreme heat impacts because of the anticipated temperature increase in intensity, duration, and frequency.
Severe Wind
Climate change will likely increase the city’s vulnerability to severe wind impacts because of the increase in anticipated storm intensity and frequency and anticipated temperature increases.
Thunderstorms
Climate change and increased temperatures will likely increase the city’s vulnerability to thunderstorms because of the anticipated alteration of rainfall patterns and the increase in anticipated storm intensity and frequency. Vulnerability to rain inundation events that lead to flooding and erosion and increase the threat of dam failure could also increase.
Changes in Population and Land Use Development
Drought
Droughts occur periodically (primarily during the Summer/Fall months) and generally do not affect populations to the degree that they would need to migrate in and out of the city. Drought is unlikely to have any significant effect on population growth.
It is unlikely that drought will affect land use and development because the development review process will take steps to mitigate or minimize the impacts and vulnerability of drought in Needles.
Extreme Heat
There could be minor changes in population patterns due to extreme heat if people cannot continue to live in older structures with limited insulation and older cooling units. The anticipated population growth in Needles is not expected to significantly impact the city’s vulnerability to extreme heat. It is unlikely that extreme heat will affect land use and development because the development review process will take steps to mitigate or minimize impacts. However, it is possible that additional investment will occur in older parts of the city to modify structures to handle these conditions.
Severe Wind
Severe wind events occur periodically (primarily during the Fall months) and generally do not affect populations to the degree that they would need to migrate in and out of the city. It is unlikely that severe wind will affect land use and development because the development review process will take steps to mitigate or minimize the impacts of severe wind. There is the potential that older structures in parts of the city may be impacted more severely than newer structures within the city. Based on the current Housing Element data, the city's anticipated residential/population growth over the next five years will not increase Needles’ vulnerability to severe wind events.
Thunderstorms
It is unlikely that thunderstorms will affect land use and development because the development review process will take steps to mitigate or minimize impacts from severe storms. Based on Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 90 City of Needles
the current Housing Element data, the anticipated residential growth in the city over the next five years will not increase Needles’ vulnerability to thunderstorms.
INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURE (ENERGY SHORTAGE, POWER FAILURE
[PSPS])
Physical Threat
Energy shortages and power failures throughout the city can affect any CF or FOC at any time.
Traffic control infrastructure, communications networks, and emergency services are just some critical services/infrastructure that can be disrupted during a power failure. Facilities such as police stations and fire stations are equipped with backup generators to ensure continuity of operations in the event of power failures; however, generators can sometimes fail. In addition, physical damage to systems could result from intermittent or unexpected power loss that damages electrical and computer equipment. These events could result from maintenance, isolated power failures due to equipment failure, or loss of power from infrastructure (powerlines, powerplants, transformers, sub-stations) failure.
Social Threat
Persons with health issues are more vulnerable to this hazard since they may rely on medical equipment that requires power. Vital medical treatments such as dialysis are at risk of being canceled or postponed if a medical facility does not have enough backup generator power to conduct appointments. If the power failure occurs during the warmer months, young children, the elderly, or people suffering from serious medical conditions are more vulnerable to heatrelated complications if they are unable to relocate to a cooler location. Additionally, lowerincome residents may be affected if the power failure lasts for an extended amount of time, as they may not be able to afford to replace the food spoiled from the loss of refrigeration.
Additionally, private schools, preschools, residential care, and skilled nursing facilities located in this area are at risk of being impacted.
Other Threat
Older structures, electrical wiring and outlets may not meet current building code requirements, which could become damaged during power surges or damage the devices connected to them.
In addition, many businesses and residents may not use proper equipment to help prevent power surges or loss, which can impact the functions and operations of businesses and City services or affect residents negatively. Given the potential for future power loss events, protective measures (improved outlets, ground fault circuit interceptor outlets, surge protectors, and backup battery (uninterruptible power supply) technologies should be promoted in any retrofits and improvements within the city. Current and future climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in Needles should prioritize energy efficiency measures, generate energy locally from clean and renewable sources, and build reliability & redundancy using the latest energy storage and backup systems technologies.
Climate Change Vulnerability
While climate change has no direct link to infrastructure failure, the secondary effects can impact the city's potential vulnerability. Elevated temperatures, duration and intensity of Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 91 City of Needles
precipitation events, and extended drought conditions can strain the infrastructure within the city, potentially resulting in failure as demand for services rises.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use Development Based on the current Housing Element data, the city's projected residential/population growth over the next five years is not anticipated to increase Needles’ vulnerability to infrastructure failure. An increase in population increases the demand for utilities and power; however, Needles’ projected population growth is unlikely to influence available infrastructure.
GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS (EXPANSIVE SOILS)
Physical Threat
Expansive soils can cause structures such as sidewalks and driveways to buckle and crack.
The structure and foundation of buildings can become compromised by the swelling and shrinking behavior of these soils. Table 4-7 identifies the 10 CFs and 3 FOC located within the expansive soils hazard zones.
TABLE 4-7: CRITICAL FACILITIES AND FACILITIES OF CONCERN (EXPANSIVE SOILS) Category
Number of Facilities
Potential Loss
Critical Concern
City Facilities (City Hall, Fire, Police) 1 0 $3,891,500 Community Center/Facility 0 1 $1,153,000
Parks Facility 0 0 -
Infrastructure 8 0 $16,483,500
Public Works Facility 1 2 $15,679,200
Medical Facility 0 0 -
Fires Stations (not City-owned) 0 0 -
Police Stations (no City-owned) 0 0 -
Total 10 3 $37,207,200
* Based on the City of Needles insured replacement values Social Threat
Lower-income residents and renters may be more vulnerable to this hazard, as they may be unable to retrofit their residences or businesses to counteract the effects of expansive soils.
Table 4-8 identifies populations in the city threatened by expansive soils.
TABLE 4-8: EXPANSIVE SOILS THREATENED POPULATIONS
Threatened Population Metrics
High
Susceptibility City of Needles
Population 1,097 4,900
Households 507 2,067
Median household income $51,502 $57,294
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 92 City of Needles
Renter occupied households 44.2% 48.0%
Percentage of households with at least one person
living with a disability 55.4% 59.3%
Percentage of households living under the poverty
limit 25.6% 27.4%
Percentage of households with one member aged
65+ 38.1% 36.3%
Percentage of Needles potentially affected area 69.2%
Climate Change Vulnerability
Climate change could indirectly increase the city’s vulnerability to expansive soils impacts.
Increased frequency and intensity of future storms may cause more flooding, exacerbating the impact of expansive soils.
Changes in Population and Land Use Development
Expansive soils are being monitored throughout the hazard-prone areas in the city. The impacts can cause damage to structures located within these zones; however, these zones are generally located in certain areas of the city, meaning that the damage potential is limited to these areas.
Despite this potential, expansive soils are unlikely to cause changes in population patterns.
However, land use designations and new development may be limited in these areas out of precaution or subject to any policies developed in City documents such as the LHMP, Land Use, Housing, and Safety Elements. The City’s development review process will identify steps to mitigate or prevent damage from expansive soils. Based on the current Housing Element data, the city's anticipated residential/population growth over the next five years is not anticipated to increase Needles’ vulnerability to expansive soils.
FLOODING (INCLUDING DAM FAILURE)
Physical Threat
Flood
Any physical assets within these mapped boundaries could be inundated if enough precipitation fell, exceeding the storm drain infrastructure design capacity in these areas. Electronic or mechanical equipment on the ground could become waterlogged and nonfunctional. Needles currently has 10 CFs and 3 FOC located within the mapped FEMA flood zones, representing a potential loss of over $37 million. Table 4-9 depicts these statistics for the 100-Year and 500- Year FEMA Flood zones. Figure 4-4 displays these FEMA Flood zones in relation to the City’s CFs and FOC.
Dam Failure
Various factors, such as the amount of water released, the distance between the dam failure site, and the topography of the surrounding land, will influence the extent to which physical assets in Needles are threatened. Davis Dam and Hoover Dam have large storage capacities that could cause widespread inundation in Needles if the reservoir waters are released due to a dam breach. In a worst-case scenario, these dams could impact all CF and FOC in the city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 93 City of Needles
Figure 4-4: FEMA 100-Year and 500-Year Flood Zones
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 94 City of Needles
TABLE 4-9: CRITICAL FACILITIES AND FACILITIES OF CONCERN
LOCATED IN FEMA FLOOD ZONES
Category
100-Year Flood Potential
Loss
500-Year Flood Potential
Critical Concern Critical Concern Loss*
City Facilities (City
Hall, Fire, Police)
0 0 $ - 1 0 $3,891,500
Community
Center/Facility
0 1 $1,153,000 0 0 $ -
Parks Facility 0 0 $ - 0 0 $-
Infrastructure 6 0 $10,431,100 2 0 $6,052,400
Public Works Facility 0 0 $ - 1 2 $15,679,200
Medical Facility 0 0 $ - 0 0
Fires Stations (not
City-owned)
0 0 $ - 0 0
Police Stations (no
City-owned)
0 0 $ - 0 0
Total 6 1 $11,584,100 4 2 $25,623,100
* Based on the City of Needles insured replacement values **Replacement Values are unavailable as they are not City-owned.
Social Threat
Flood
Floodwaters in these areas, both the 100-year zone and the 500-year zone, are anticipated to rise to a depth of no more than one foot. Flooding of this type would likely inundate curb cuts and sidewalks to some extent. People who walk or bike as their primary form of transportation may encounter difficulties if they do not have access to an alternative means of transportation.
Seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income persons are also likely to be threatened.
Additionally, persons experiencing homelessness who are outside during flood conditions may experience property damage or may not be able to access shelter. Though floodwaters in Needles are not expected to exceed a depth of one foot, six inches of floodwater may render any makeshift structures uninhabitable during a flood event. Possessions such as sleeping bags or electronic devices may be damaged or swept away by the floodwaters. Table 4-10 shows that approximately 9.88% of the city’s population is within the 500-yr floodplain. Of these households, the vulnerable populations represent approximately 65.8% of these households having at least one person living there with a disability, 39.7% of these households live under the poverty limit, and 37.1% of these households have one member aged over 65+; these households have a significantly lower median income than the city as a whole, and 55.6% of these households rent their homes.
Dam Failure
Dam failure hazards in the city would impact various downstream properties and the residents that live there. The greatest risk to the city and its population comes from the failure of Davis Dam and Hoover Dam, which due to the downstream location of the city and the size of the reservoirs, would affect the entire Needles population and inundate the entire city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 95 City of Needles
TABLE 4-10: FLOOD-THREATENED POPULATIONS
Threatened Population Metrics
Flood Hazard
(100-year)
Flood Hazard
(500-year) City of Needles
Population 613 484 4,900
Households 309 198 2,067
Median household income $67,195 $35,810 $57,294
Renter Occupied Households 36.9% 55.6% 48.0%
Percentage of households with
at least one person living with a
disability 48.9% 65.8% 59.3%
Percentage of households
living under the poverty limit 16.4% 39.7% 27.4%
Percentage of households with
one member aged 65+ 41.2% 37.1% 36.3%
Percentage of Needles
potentially affected area
20.74 sq miles
(66.9%)
0.7 sq miles (2.3%)
Other Threats
Flood
Flooding may temporarily stop any type of transportation in the city. Debris from floodwaters can block roadways, hinder vehicle access, and potentially affect emergency response services.
One foot of rushing water is enough to carry small vehicles. A severe flood may prevent people who own smaller vehicles from driving to work, reducing economic activity. Severe flooding that causes serious damage to homes and businesses may also reduce economic activity until repair work is completed.
Dam Failure
Dam failures are often triggered by other events (e.g., seismic shaking, intense rainstorms, etc.). There would most likely be service disruptions in Needles if this type of event occurred.
Floodwaters could quickly inundate the city, disrupting utilities like water, power, heating, and other services such as communications or transportation infrastructure. Residents may find street lighting and traffic signals are temporarily disabled. Debris may be carried in the rapid inundation of water, blocking roads and impeding traffic flow. Water would likely inundate roadways and other low-lying, flat areas, such as parking lots, open spaces, and schoolyards.
In severe scenarios, mobility in these areas would likely be restricted or impossible. Any unprotected or unhoused mechanical or electronic equipment not properly elevated would become waterlogged and inoperable until crews can conduct repairs or replacements.
Climate Change Vulnerability
Climate change will likely increase the city’s vulnerability to flooding impacts because of the anticipated increase in the intensity and frequency of local, regional, and global weather patterns, intensifying atmospheric rivers. This increases the likelihood of an exceptional rain event in Needles that could overwhelm the capacity of the region’s flood control system to contain and drain all the precipitation. Due to climate change, droughts are also expected to Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 96 City of Needles
increase in length and frequency. Soils dried by extensive drought periods are less able to absorb and drain water, likely increasing flood possibility. Climate change is expected to create conditions that will raise the likelihood of flood-related hazards (including Dam Failure) in Needles.
Changes in Population and Land Use Development
Given the current percentage of residents residing in FEMA flood zones, it is possible that flooding will affect the city’s population patterns and growth. However, it is unlikely that flooding will affect land use and development patterns because the development review process ensures flood-related impacts are mitigated or minimized. Based on the current Housing Element data, the city's anticipated residential/population growth over the next five years is also anticipated to increase Needles’ potential vulnerability to flood-related hazards (including dam failure).
HUMAN-CAUSED HAZARDS (CYBER THREAT, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INCIDENT, NATURAL GAS PIPELINE HAZARD, TRANSPORTATION
ACCIDENT)
Physical Threat
Cyber Threat
Cyber threats would have a limited impact on physical assets. The extent of this impact would focus on City-owned computers and network infrastructure.
Hazardous Materials Incident, Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard, Transportation Accident Hazardous materials can cause damage to physical assets in Needles if they are released into the environment. Corrosive hazardous materials can damage the building exteriors of CFs or FOC. Flammable hazardous materials can start fires and cause any CFs or FOC nearby to flashover and ignite. Generally, sites closer to the origin for releasing hazardous materials are threatened greater than those further away.
Table 4-11 shows the numbers of physical assets in Needles threatened by a hazardous materials release within 500 feet of a site storing or using hazardous materials. There are 6 CFs located within 500 feet of a site with hazardous materials and 3 FOCs within 500 feet of a site with hazardous materials. The total potential loss estimated for these locations is over $24 million. Figure 4-5 depicts these sites in relation to CFs and FOCs within the city.
Due to its flammable nature, natural gas can cause damage to physical assets in Needles if the pipelines are compromised. Natural gas can potentially start fires and may cause any CFs or FOC nearby to flashover. Generally, sites closer to the origin for the release of natural gas are threatened greater than those further away.
TABLE 4-11: CRITICAL FACILITIES AND FACILITIES OF CONCERN (HAZ MAT BUFFER 500 FT) Category
Number of Facilities
Potential Loss
Critical Concern
City Facilities (City Hall, Fire, Police) 1 - $3,891,500 Community Center/Facility - - -
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 97 City of Needles
Parks Facility - - -
Infrastructure 5 $5,331,814
Public Works Facility - 3 $15,224,700
Medical Facility - - -
Fires Stations (not City-owned) - - -
Police Stations (not City-owned) - - -
Total 6 3 $24,448,014
* Based on the City of Needles insured replacement values Social Threat
Cyber Threat
Cyber threats may have an impact on residents and businesses throughout the city. While most cyber threats focus on large entities like major corporations and/or government agencies, all residents could become victims of cyber threats. If services affected by cyber incidents become delayed or are impacted, populations that rely on those services may be negatively impacted if no alternatives exist.
Hazardous Materials Incident
The threat of a hazardous materials release event affects those closest to a source of hazardous materials, including industrial sites, gas stations, gas transmission lines, or sewer mains. Table 4-12 shows the city’s vulnerable populations living within 500 feet of hazardous materials storage/waste sites. The median household income for these site types is less than the rest of the city. This suggests that more impoverished populations may live near hazardous materials locations, indicating potential environmental justice concerns should be considered. This data also suggests a higher percentage of households with at least one person living with a disability, living under the poverty limit, and living with at least one member aged 65+ live near these sites.
Groups such as older people, low-income persons, or renters face a greater risk of exposure since they may not have the financial resources necessary to retrofit their homes against infiltration by hazardous materials or move away to a home that is further from the potential sources of hazardous materials release events. Additionally, public and private schools, preschools, residential care, and skilled nursing facilities in this area are at risk of being impacted.
Needles residents living next to major transportation infrastructures, such as highways or major arterial streets, also face a greater threat of being affected by a release of hazardous materials since vehicles transporting hazardous materials may release their contents into the environment if involved in a collision. Specifically, residents in Needles living near the major transportation corridor running through the city (I-40 and U.S. Route 95) are at greater risk of exposure from a transportation-related hazardous material release than residents living in other parts of the city. Figure 4-6 depicts the overall community health score for the city as analyzed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) tool CalEnviroScreen.
This mapping tool helps identify California communities that are most affected by many sources of pollution and where people are often especially vulnerable to pollution's effects. This tool Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 98 City of Needles
uses environmental, health, and socioeconomic information to produce scores for every census tract in the state. The scores are mapped so that different communities can be compared. An area with a high score experiences a much higher pollution burden than areas with low scores.
Figure 4-7 depicts the FEMA National Risk Index score for Needles. The National Risk Index is a data set and an online tool to help illustrate the United States communities most at risk for 18 natural hazards (including coastal flooding, cold wave, drought, earthquake, hail, heat wave, hurricane, ice storm, landslide, lightning, riverine flooding, strong wind, tornado, tsunami, volcanic activity, wildfire, winter weather); the italicized hazards are hazards that can affect Needles.
TABLE 4-12: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS THREATENED POPULATIONS (50 FT BUFFER) Threatened Population Metrics
High
Susceptibility City of Needles
Population 1,310 4,900
Households 573 2,067
Median household income $55,655 $57,294
Renter Occupied Households 47.6% 48.0%
Percentage of households with at least one person
living with a disability 60.0% 59.3%
Percentage of households living under the poverty
limit 29.9% 27.4%
Percentage of households with one member aged
65+ 39.1% 36.3%
Percentage of Needles potentially affected area 1.78 sq miles (5.7%)
Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard
The impacts of these incidents potentially threaten all groups in Needles; however, the extent of the threat would depend upon the type and magnitude of the event. As mentioned in the Hazardous Materials Incident discussion, groups such as older people, low-income persons, or renters face a greater risk of exposure since they may not have the financial resources necessary to retrofit their homes against infiltration by natural gas or move away to a home that is further from the potential sources of natural gas release events.
Transportation Accident
Needles residents living next to major transportation infrastructures, such as highways or the railroad, face a greater threat of being affected by transportation accidents since vehicles transporting hazardous materials may release their contents into the environment if involved in a collision. Specifically, residents in Needles living near I-40, SR-95, or the BNSF railway are at greater risk of exposure from a transportation-related incident than residents living in other parts of the city.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 99 City of Needles
Figure 4-5: CFs and FOCs Located Near Hazardous Materials Sites (500 ft Buffer) Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 100 City of Needles
Figure 4-6: OEHHA CalEnviroScreen Rating for Needles
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 101 City of Needles
Figure 4-7: FEMA National Risk Index Scoring for Needles Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 102 City of Needles
Other Threats
Cyber Threat
The greatest impact a cyber threat could present to the city itself would be a complete shutdown of City services and programs. Electricity, gas lines, and water could be shut off for extended periods if a cyber threat compromised the control systems. Additionally, control over streetlights, traffic lights, and railroad crossings could be lost. To the average citizen, personal information, identity, and financial records could be stolen. As society becomes more and more technologically ingrained/dependent, the ever-evolving category of cyber threats will continue to change and grow in possible impact.
Hazardous Materials Incident, Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard, Transportation Accident Any of these hazards could threaten the city’s, and potentially the region’s, transportation networks. Large areas of the local road may be closed to keep people away from areas contaminated with hazardous materials or natural gas leaks to allow remediation and cleanup activities to occur. If a highly corrosive hazardous material is released, it could potentially cause significant damage to the exteriors of any homes or businesses in the area surrounding the release. Hazardous materials could also harm the city’s urban forest, resulting in the premature death of vegetation in the affected areas.
Climate Change Vulnerability
Cyber Threat
Climate change has no direct link to cyber threats and is not anticipated to increase the city’s vulnerability at this time.
Hazardous Materials Incident
Climate change could indirectly increase the city’s vulnerability to the impacts of a hazardous materials release as climate-related hazard events occur. Precipitation events with increased intensity causing flooding or overwhelming infrastructure could cause an increase in hazardous materials release. Climate-related hazards could also exacerbate the effects and impacts of such events. For example, heavier rains could lead to more runoff from a contaminated site with hazardous materials.
Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard
Releases from natural gas pipelines are not anticipated to be affected directly by climate change. The location of this physical infrastructure is predominately underground within streets and easements throughout the city. Based on this location, the most likely impact of climate change would be the exposure of this infrastructure because of some other type of event. The most likely event would be erosion or some other event that could expose these facilities.
Transportation Accident
Climate change is expected to alter rainfall patterns in Southern California, including Needles.
As the climate warms, rain events are predicted to become more intense. Needles will likely experience more rain inundation events that lead to flooding and erosion, increasing the risk of transportation accidents. Additionally, heat stress on asphalt transportation corridors and railways could lead to an increase in transportation accidents. Heat stress can cause asphalt Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 103 City of Needles
roads and railways to expand and deform. This leads to potential issues like rutting on roads and buckling or warping of rails, resulting in safety hazards like train derailments and reduced road lifespan due to increased damage from heavy vehicles.
Changes in Population and Land Use Development
Cyber Threat
Cyber threats will not affect population patterns or land use and development, as no connection can be drawn between this hazard and changes in population patterns or land use and development.
Hazardous Materials Incident
A change in population pattern would only occur if a hazardous materials release was severe enough to require people to move. It is unlikely that hazardous materials release will affect land use and development because the development review process will take steps to mitigate or minimize impacts from a hazardous materials release event. Locations that store, produce, and dispose of hazardous materials are highly regulated within the city and monitored regularly. It is not anticipated that land use and development patterns will change through this process and the development review process. Based on the current Housing Element data, the city's anticipated residential/population growth over the next five years is not anticipated to increase Needles’ vulnerability to hazardous materials release.
Natural Gas Pipeline Hazard
As the number of people, businesses, and traffic increases, so does the potential for an increase in hazards from natural gas pipelines. When population density grows, and land use development occurs near existing pipeline routes, new construction activities can inadvertently damage pipelines. However, based on the current Housing Element data, the anticipated residential/population growth in the city over the next five years is not anticipated to increase Needles’ vulnerability to hazardous materials release.
Transportation Accident
A change in population and the anticipated growth patterns could affect the city's vulnerability.
As the number of people, businesses, and traffic increases, so does the potential for an increase in transportation accidents.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 104 City of Needles
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 105 City of Needles
CHAPTER 5 –
HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGY
Strategy Development Process
Needles’ hazard mitigation strategy is a comprehensive set of actions intended to reduce the impact of hazard events. These hazard mitigation actions will help protect the safety and wellbeing of residents, visitors, CFs and FOCs, other buildings and structures, key services, the local economy, and other important community assets. Some actions will also help with emergency preparedness, allowing for a more effective community response to hazard events.
Preparedness actions are not a required component of an LHMP, but they support and complement mitigation activities. The HMPC chose to include them as part of the overall hazard mitigation strategy.
USE OF HAZARD AND THREAT ASSESSMENT
The HMPC relied partly on the hazard profiles and threat assessments in this Plan to develop the mitigation strategy's actions. A comprehensive set of mitigation actions was prepared to respond to the relevant hazard situations and protect residents, businesses, and community assets in Needles. The HMPC ensured that the mitigation actions would help reduce damage from the most frequent types of hazard events, the most significant that may reasonably occur, and those with the greatest potential to harm the community. The HMPC also drafted mitigation actions to help protect the most vulnerable community members and the most vulnerable local assets.
Capabilities Assessment
As part of the effort to draft mitigation actions, the City completed a capabilities assessment, which included reviewing existing policies, personnel, and technical resources to support hazard mitigation activities in Needles. The hazard mitigation actions build off these resources' existing success and leverage their capabilities to support improved resiliency in the community.
The capabilities assessment looked at the following types of resources:
• Personnel resources: City employees and volunteers, and employees and volunteers at other agencies
• Plan resources: Advisory or enforceable plans adopted by the City or other agencies • Policy resources: Policies adopted and implemented by the City or other agencies • Technical resources: Data and tools available to the City • Financial resources: Funding mechanisms available to the City that support mitigation activities
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 106 City of Needles
CAPABILITIES IMPROVEMENT/EXPANSION
The ability to expand current mitigation capabilities will generally be reliant upon the budgeting allocated for each department/program for that fiscal year. The level at which these programs may or may not be expanded upon, will be dependent upon the amount of funding received.
FEMA has released a series of guides over the past few years which highlight some of the ways in which jurisdictions can expand mitigation. Some strategies for increasing current mitigation capabilities may include:
1) Actively identifying, adopting, and enforcing the most current set of development codes and standards available. Strongly encouraging new development to be constructed to higher standards than currently required, increasing resilience within the community. 2) Engaging parts of the community that may not be actively involved in mitigation efforts. 3) Expanding the number and types of organizations involved in mitigation planning and implementation, increasing both efficiency and bandwidth. 4) Fostering new relationships to bring underrepresented populations and partners to the hazard’s mitigation planning process.
5) During the annual LHMP review, the committee should look for opportunities to fund and expand/enhance the effectiveness of current mitigation actions.
Table 5-1 shows the capabilities assessment for Needles.
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Legal and Regulatory Capabilities
Needles City
General Plan –
Land Use and
Transportation
Element (2023)
The Element serves as a guide to the
ultimate development pattern for the
city, both within its incorporated
boundaries and sphere of influence.
The Land Use and Transportation
Element:
• Designates the distribution,
location, and balance of land uses.
• Describes the desired build-out of
Needles
• Describes building intensity
standards for each land use.
• Communicates population density.
• Ensures compatibility between land
uses.
The entire Land Use and
Transportation Element can be found
at: https://cityofneedles.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/04/Needles_LU_ Trans_Element_Adopted_Feb2023.pdf
The Land Use and Transportation
Element and HMP will be aligned
to describe developmental trends,
hazards, and potential
development in hazard areas
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 107 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Needles City
General Plan –
Housing Element
(2022)
The Housing Element contains the
following material:
• Discusses demographics such as
age and race.
• Includes a description of the
household, including size, income,
and home ownership.
• Discusses new housing growth
needs
• Discusses sustainability and
energy efficiency
• Addresses building code
The Housing Element can be found at:
https://cityofneedles.com/wpcontent/uploads/2022/12/NeedlesHousi ngElement_Adopted-September-13-
2022.pdf
The Community profile and HMP
will be aligned to describe the city
and its population.
Needles City
Municipal Code –
Chapter 6 Building
Regulations
The purpose of the Building Code is to
implement the Needles City General
Plan by classifying and regulating the
uses of land and structures. It
addresses earthquake and fire safety
of structures, historic preservation, and
compliance with California and Uniform
Building Code regulations.
The building and construction safety
code can be found at:
https://needles.municipalcodeonline.co
m/book?type=ordinances#name=CHA
PTER_6_BUILDING_REGULATIONS
Building code policies should
inform the HMP and the General
Plan Community Development
element to provide guidance on
developing structures that are
compatible with and able to
withstand hazards.
Needles City
Municipal Code
Zoning Code
The purpose of this section of the
Municipal Code is to promote public
health, safety, and general welfare and
preserve and enhance the aesthetic
quality of the city by providing
regulations to ensure an appropriate
mix of land uses in an orderly manner.
The zoning code can be found at:
https://needles.municipalcodeonline.co
m/book?type=ordinances#name=ZONI
NG_CODE
Understanding land use policy and
regulatory requirements is
essential to developing mitigation
strategies and activities. The land
use components of the City Code
will inform the development of the
HMP mitigation actions.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 108 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Needles City
Municipal Code –
Chapter 7,
Emergency
Preparedness
This section of the municipal code
provides for the preparation and
implementation of plans for the
protection of persons and property
within the city in the event of an
emergency, the direction of the
emergency organization, and the
coordination of the emergency
functions of the city of Needles with all
other public agencies, corporations,
organizations, and affected private
persons.
This section of the City Code can be
found at:
https://needles.municipalcodeonline.co
m/book?type=ordinances#name=CHA
PTER_7_EMERGENCY_PREPARED
NESS
The emergency management
organization described in the City
Code represents a framework for
understanding preparedness
activities. It can inform the LHMP
of how the City prepares to
respond to hazards.
National Flood
Insurance Program
NFIP makes federally-backed flood
insurance available to homeowners,
renters, and business owners in
participating communities. The City will
continue to participate in the NFIP
program and will make changes
accordingly.
City websites and social media
accounts will include information
on the value of flood insurance for
properties located in flood hazard
areas and how to buy the
insurance.
California
Standards Building
Code (2022)
The California Building Standards
Code is a compilation of three types of
building standards from three different
origins:
• Building standards that state
agencies have adopted without
change from building standards
contained in national model codes.
• Building standards that have been
adopted and adapted from national
model codes to address
California’s ever-changing
conditions and
• Building standards, authorized by
the California legislature, which
constitute amendments not
covered by national model codes,
which have been created and
adopted to address California
concerns.
Adherence to building codes
including local code and regulates
growth and controls land use
patterns. Addressing known
hazards, as codes are updated,
results in lowered risk and
potentially less losses.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 109 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
California
Emergency
Services Act
The California Emergency Services Act
is found in Govt C §§8550-8669.7. It
covers the entire range of disaster and
emergency powers and responsibilities
of state and local government dealing
with any natural or humanmade
disasters or a state of war.
The City shall maintain a current
version of the Emergency Services
Act to inform the City Council and
staff of changes to disaster
mitigation and preparedness
activities and processes in the
State
Needles Public
Utility Authority
Wildfire Mitigation
Plan
The Wildfire Mitigation Plan describes
the range of activities that the NPUA is
taking to mitigate the threat of powerline ignited wildfires, including its various programs, policies, and
procedures. This plan is subject to
direct supervision by the Board of
Public Utilities and the Needles Public
Utility Authority and is implemented by
the NPUA’s Electric Supervisor. This
plan complies with the requirements of
Public Utilities Code section 8387 for
publicly owned electric utilities to
prepare a wildfire mitigation plan by
January 1, 2020, and annually
thereafter.
Integrate WMP information into the
wildfire hazard section of the HMP.
San Bernardino
County Hazard
Mitigation Plan
Mitigation actions for Needles that
require coordination with the county
may be integrated into the San
Bernardino County Hazard Mitigation
Plan. Similar mitigation actions in both
the counties and Needles’ hazard
mitigation plans can lead to a more
regionally unified hazard mitigation
strategy, improving effectiveness.
The SBHMP can be found at the
following link:
San Bernardino County Hazard
Mitigation Plan
San Bernardino County’s 2022
Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies
and describes the hazard events
that may occur in the
unincorporated areas of San
Bernardino County and provides a
suite of mitigation actions to help
decrease the potential damage
from these hazards.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 110 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
California State
Hazard Mitigation
Plan
The California State Hazard Mitigation
Plan assesses the types of hazards
that may be present in California. It
includes descriptions of these hazards,
summaries of past hazard events,
descriptions of how these hazards may
occur in the future, and how these
hazards may harm California's people
and assets. Like a local hazard
mitigation plan, the State Hazard
Mitigation Plan is updated every five
years.
The 2023 State Hazard Mitigation Plan
(SHMP) can be found at the following
link:
https://www.caloes.ca.gov/wpcontent/uploads/HazardMitigation/Documents/2023-CaliforniaSHMP_Volume-1_11.10.2023.pdf The City can use the 2023 State
Hazard Mitigation Plan as a source
of information to refine the hazard
profiles and vulnerability
assessments in future Needles
LHMPs.
Administrative and Technical Capabilities
Planning
Department
The Planning Department is
responsible for implementing the City’s
Zoning Code and related goals,
policies, and objectives of the City’s
General Plan. The Planning
Department processes land use and
development applications, promoting
public health, safety, and general
welfare to preserve or enhance the
high quality of life.
Provide opportunities for continued
education to Community
Development staff to maintain
state-of-the-art knowledge of new
code and regulatory requirements.
Building and Safety
Department
Building and Safety’s primary
responsibility is the enforcement of
Building Standards. These standards
include the California Building,
Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and
Energy Codes and Disabled Access
Regulations in Title 24 of the California
Code of Regulations.
Provide continued education
opportunities to Building and
Safety staff to maintain state-ofthe-art knowledge of new code and regulatory requirements.
Police Department The City of Needles contracts with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s
Department for law enforcement
services.
Proactively identify opportunities to
coordinate and collaborate with
neighboring jurisdictions to
increase City and region-wide
capabilities.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 111 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Fire Department The City of Needles contracts with San
Bernardino County Fire. The location
of the local San Bernardino County
station is 1113 E. Broadway Ave (Hwy
95 South).
Proactively identify opportunities to
coordinate and collaborate with
neighboring jurisdictions to
increase City and region-wide
capabilities.
Public Works
Department
These services include street
maintenance and repair,
transportation, and building
maintenance. Main areas of
responsibility include:
• Management of street sweeping.
• Traffic signs and signals Painting
of street and curb markings
• Graffiti removal
• Street repairs
• Flood Control Maintenance
• City Building Maintenance
• Road Closures
Improve the understanding of the
role that daily activities play in
hazard mitigation.
Floodplain Manager The duties and responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator shall include,
but not be limited to:
• Permit review
• Flood hazard reduction
• NFIP program administration
• Construction inspections
The Floodplain Administrator
supports compliance with NFIP
requirements, advocates for
appropriate development in flood
hazard areas, and provides
technical expertise on effective
flood mitigation activities. This can
support mitigation activities.
Planning
Commission
This eight (8) member Commission,
established by state law, has a primary
function of studying proposed
developments that may impact the
community’s growth and environment.
This commission ensures that
proposed developments will meet the
City of Needles’ technical,
environmental, and aesthetic
standards. The commission holds
public hearings to review plans to
ensure they comply with the city’s
zoning regulations and general plan for
development.
Provide opportunities for continued
education to members of the
Planning Commission to maintain
state-of-the-art knowledge of new
code and regulatory requirements.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 112 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
City Attorney The City Attorney provides legal
services to the City Council, City
Departments, and City committees.
The City Attorney is responsible for
preparing and reviewing all City
ordinances, resolutions, contracts,
agreements, and other legal
documents. The City Attorney also
represents the City in litigation matters
involving the City.
Provide opportunities for the
County Attorney to review updates
to regulatory information to provide
expert review of County resolutions
and ordinances that may address
hazard mitigation.
City Clerk The City Clerk serves as a critical link
between the City of Needles and its
citizens. The City Clerk is the local
official who administers democratic
processes such as elections, all
legislative actions, and ensures
transparency to the public. The City
Clerk is a compliance officer for
federal, state, and local statutes,
including the Political Reform Act and
the Brown Act.
The City Clerk is integral to the
HMP adoption process. They make
sure the adoption resolution meets
all administrative requirements.
Southern California
Association of
Governments
(SCAG)
Functions as the Metropolitan Planning
Organization for six counties: Los
Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino,
Riverside, Ventura, and Imperial. As
the designated Metropolitan Planning
Organization, the Association of
Governments is mandated by the
federal government to research and
draw up plans for transportation,
growth management, hazardous waste
management, and air quality.
Attend SCAG meetings. Continue
to participate in SCAG-sponsored
programs. Routinely coordinate
with SCAG staff to stay informed of
current planning initiatives.
California
Governor’s Office
of Emergency
Services
The California Governor’s Office of
Emergency Services (Cal OES) is the
state agency responsible for reducing
hazards through mitigation activities,
conducting emergency planning,
supporting emergency response and
recovery activities, and liaising
between local and federal agencies on
emergency-related issues. Cal OES
guides hazard mitigation planning
activities, shares best practices, and
distributes funding opportunities.
The City can work with Cal OES to
obtain funding to implement LHMP
mitigation strategies and receive
future updates.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 113 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) is responsible for
hazard mitigation, emergency
preparedness, and emergency
response and recovery activities. It
guides state and local governments on
hazard mitigation activities, including
best practices and compliance with
federal requirements.
FEMA also provides funding for
hazard mitigation actions through
grant programs.
Cal-Adapt Cal-Adapt is an online tool that
provides detailed projections for future
climate-related conditions in California,
including factors such as temperature,
precipitation, and sea-level rise. These
projections can help inform future
hazard events and explain how hazard
conditions are expected to change.
The City can use Cal-Adapt to
monitor anticipated changes in
future climate conditions and
adjust mitigation actions
accordingly.
Online Services
(Needles Website)
Over the past several years, the City of
Needles has provided 24/7 access to a
wide range of online services. The
website includes featured City services
from Needles. Provides alert and
warning information. Provides weather
information and other public safety.
Contains information on home and
individual preparedness.
The City Website can be found at the
following link:
City of Needles
This service allows the public to
ask questions and access
information to know what’s going
on within the city and better
prepare for a hazard. Link to
FEMA, State, and County websites
and social media accounts.
Provide comprehensive
personal/family preparedness
information on these media.
California
Department of
Transportation
The California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) is the state
agency with jurisdiction over
designated highways, including State
Route SR-62, US Route 95, and
Interstate I-40.
Mitigation measures related to
ensuring the resiliency of statedesignated routes will be implemented through coordination
with Caltrans.
Financial Resources
General Fund Program operations and specific
projects. Consists of property tax,
sales tax, transient occupancy tax, and
franchise tax that can be used for
general purposes.
Hazard mitigation projects may be
considered during the annual
budgeting process for funding from
the general fund.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 114 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Enterprise Funds The City operates four Enterprise
Funds, which include water, electric,
wastewater, and solid waste. These
Enterprise funds account for revenue
derived from specific taxes or other
revenue sources restricted by law or
administrative action to be expended
for specified purposes.
Where permissible, these funds
may be considered during annual
budgeting for funding mitigation
projects.
Community
Development Block
Grants (CDBG)
The CDBG program provides funding
for eligible senior activities such as inhome care, art classes, counseling, and home-delivered meals. HUD also
provides Disaster Recovery Assistance
in the form of flexible grants to help
cities, counties, and States recover
from Presidentially declared disasters,
especially in low-income areas, subject
to the availability of supplemental
appropriations.
Where applicable, CDBG grants
should be used to fund mitigation
projects that enhance the
resiliency of low-income and
underserved communities.
Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program
(HMPG)
Provides support for pre-and postdisaster mitigation plans and projectsTrain staff on notice of intent (NOI) procedures and track opportunities
on the Cal OES mitigation website
to initiate applications for grant
funding.
California
Proposition One
Bond Programs
Authorizes $7.545 billion in general
obligation bonds to fund ecosystems
and watershed protection and
restoration, water supply infrastructure
projects, including surface and
groundwater storage, and drinking
water protection.
Provides monetary opportunities
for projects that are outside of
traditional mitigation projects.
Building Resilient
Infrastructure and
Communities
(BRIC)
Provides support for pre-disaster
mitigation plans and projects.
Train staff on notice of intent (NOI)
procedures and track opportunities
on the Cal OES mitigation website
to initiate applications for grant
funding.
Flood Mitigation
Assistance Grant
Program (FMA)
Mitigates structures and infrastructure
that have been repetitively flooded.
Train staff on notice of intent (NOI)
procedures and track opportunities
on the Cal OES mitigation website
to initiate applications for grant
funding
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 115 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Special Use Funds Program operations and specific
projects. It consists of property tax,
sales tax, transient occupancy tax, and
franchise tax, which can be used for
general purposes.
Hazard mitigation projects may be
considered during the annual
budgeting process for funding from
the general fund.
Education and Outreach Capabilities
FEMA Provides free preparedness materials
from FEMA’s online ordering platform.
Contains a link to the FEMA readiness
app
FEMA’s website can be found at the
following link:
FEMA
Provide a link to the site on the
County web page and Facebook
account.
San Bernardino
County Office of
Emergency
Services Webpage
Responsible for the comprehensive
development and implementation of
the four phases of emergency
management.
The San Bernardino County Office of
Emergency Services (OES) website
can be found at the following link:
San Bernardino County OES
Expansion and Improvement:
Expand and reorganize the
website’s disaster preparedness
links page.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 116 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
Code Red
Emergency Alert
System
The City of Needles has instituted a
new rapid emergency notification
service called Code RED®. The new
system will distribute emergency
messages via telephone to targeted
areas or the entire city at a rate of
1,000 calls per minute. Code RED®
employs a one-of-a-kind Internet
mapping capability for geographic
targeting of calls, coupled with a high
speed telephone calling system
capable of delivering customized prerecorded emergency messages directly to homes and businesses, live
individuals and answering machines.
This service can be used in case of
fires, chemical spills, evacuations, lock
downs, downed power lines, lost
individuals, natural disasters,
abductions, water system problems,
bomb threats, or other emergencies.
Calls can be geographically targeted
for localized messaging. If widespread,
the entire community could be called
within 20 to 30 minutes. The system
also reports who did not get a call so
that they may be contacted by other
means.
Post material on social media
accounts that provide a link to the
appropriate website page.
Cal OES Family
Readiness Guide
The Guide provides a comprehensive
toolkit for making a family emergency
plan.
The Cal OES Family Readiness Guide
can be found at the following link:
Cal OES Family Readiness Guide
Provide link to the Readiness
Guide on County website and
Facebook account.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 117 City of Needles
TABLE 5-1: CITY OF NEEDLES CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Resource Resource Description
Connection to Current
Mitigation/Future Opportunities
for Expansion and Improvement
SBC Ready The San Bernardino County Ready
App helps its users, citizens of the San
Bernardino County, CA, to stay
prepared and protect their loved ones
should an emergency occur.
Using the Ready San Bernardino
County app, residents will be able to:
Share their status with their selected
contacts with the push of a button.
Receive critical emergency alerts via
push notification.
Locate San Bernardino County’s
emergency shelters.
View up-to-date evacuation route
maps.
Get the latest news and weather for
the San Bernardino County area.
Create a personalized Emergency
Preparedness Plan by answering five
basic questions.
A link to the SBC Ready membership
can be found at the following link:
https://prepare.sbcounty.gov/
Continue to conduct outreach to
expand the database and increase
the percentage of residents who
are subscribers.
Needles Connect
Needles Connect is a citizen
engagement app powered by GOGov.
Needles connect allows citizens to:
• Stay informed with up-to-date
city news, events, and
important links
• Receive timely updates on
service interruptions and
community announcements
• Streamline communication
between city staff and citizens
• Enhance community
engagement and participation
• Empower citizens with instant
access to essential city
resources
Continue to conduct outreach to
expand the database and increase
the percentage of residents who
are subscribers.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 118 City of Needles
Hazard Mitigation Strategies and Actions
HAZARD MITIGATION GOALS
The goals identified in Chapter 1 help develop policies to protect community members, ecosystems, and other important assets from hazard events. These goals informed the development of mitigation actions and acted as checkpoints to help City staff determine implementation progress.
EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIONS
The HMPC prepared a set of potential mitigation actions based on the hazard profiles, threat assessment, capabilities assessment, community survey results, discussions among HMPC members, and existing best practices. Next, the HMPC evaluated these potential actions using the following criteria:
FEMA requires local governments to evaluate potential mitigation actions' monetary and nonmonetary costs and benefits. While local governments are not required to assign specific dollar values to each action, they should identify the general size of costs and benefits. The HMPC may elect to include measures with high costs or low benefits, but such measures should benefit the community and make appropriate use of local resources.
Also, FEMA directs local governments to consider the following questions as part of the financial analysis:
1) What is the frequency and severity of the hazard type to be addressed by the action, and how vulnerable is the community to this hazard?
2) What impacts of the hazard will the action reduce or avoid? 3) What benefits will the action provide to the community? The HMPC also reviewed and revised the potential hazard mitigation actions using the STAPLE/E (Social, Technical, Administrative, Political, Legal, Economic, and Environmental) criteria (Table 5-2). The HMPC did not formally assess every potential mitigation action under all STAPLE/E criteria but used the criteria to guide and inform the discussion. The HMPC also discussed how the criteria might evaluate grant applications the City may submit to receive funding for LHMP implementation.
CHANGES TO PREVIOUS MITIGATION ACTIONS
A review of the mitigation actions from the 2011 Needles LHMP has identified where the City has integrated these strategies into standard procedures and practices. For those actions that were not successfully implemented and remain relevant to the city, this Plan update incorporates these actions into the current mitigation action table, as displayed in Table 5-3 (highlighted in light green). All actions from the 2011 LHMP were carried over to this plan.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 119 City of Needles
TABLE 5-2: STAPLE/E CRITERIA
Issues Criteria
Social • Is the action socially acceptable to Needles community members? • Would the action mistreat some individuals?
• Is there a reasonable chance of the action causing a social disruption? Technical • Is the action likely to reduce the risk of the hazard occurring, or will it reduce the hazard's effects?
• Will the action create new hazards or make existing hazards worse? • Is the action the most useful approach for Needles to take, given the City and community members' goals?
Administrative • Does the City have the administrative capabilities to implement the action? • Are there existing City staff who can lead and coordinate the measure's implementation, or can the City reasonably hire new staff for this role? • Does the City have enough staff, funding, technical support, and other resources to implement the action?
• Are there administrative barriers to implementing the action? Political • Is the action politically acceptable to City officials and other relevant jurisdictions and political entities?
• Do community members support the action?
Legal • Does the City have the legal authority to implement and enforce the action? • Are there potential legal barriers or consequences that could hinder or prevent the implementation of the action?
• Is there a reasonable chance that the implementation of the action would expose the City to legal liabilities?
• Could the action reasonably face other legal challenges? Economic • What are the monetary costs of the action, and do the costs exceed the monetary benefits?
• What are the start-up and maintenance costs of the action, including administrative costs?
• Has the funding for action implementation been secured, or is a potential funding source available?
• How will funding the action affect the City’s financial capabilities? • Could the implementation of the action reasonably burden the Needles economy or tax base?
• Could there reasonably be other budgetary and revenue impacts to the City?
Environmental • What are the potential environmental impacts of the action? • Will the action require environmental regulatory approvals? • Will the action comply with all applicable federal, state, regional, and local environmental regulations?
• Will the action reasonably affect any endangered, threatened, or otherwise sensitive species of concern?
2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan
Table 5-3 identifies the 2025 mitigation strategies and actions proposed by the City as part of this LHMP process. In addition to the list of actions, the table also identifies potential funding sources, responsible departments, relative cost estimates, timeframes, and priorities for these Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 120 City of Needles
actions, which are described further below. In addition to mitigation action and strategies, several preparedness activities were identified and denoted with the letter “P.”
POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES
Table 5-3 identifies the potential funding sources that may be used to implement mitigation strategies. These funding sources include the following federal and state sources:
• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC): A competitive FEMA grant program to support states, local communities, tribes, and territories. • Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA): A competitive grant program that provides funding to states, local communities, federally recognized tribes, and territories.
Funds can be used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): Provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to rebuild in a way that reduces or mitigates future disaster losses in their communities. This grant funding is available after a presidentially declared disaster.
• Emergency Management Performance Grant Program (EMPG): The federal government, through the EMPG Program, provides necessary direction, coordination, and guidance and provides necessary assistance, as authorized in this title, to support a comprehensive all-hazards emergency preparedness system. • Other Grants: Other grants may include State of California grants associated with climate change, water infrastructure, homeland security, transportation, or other funding sources that periodically become available. The list below provides some common sources:
o Climate Adaptation Planning Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program - Department of Transportation
o Sustainable Communities Competitive – Department of Transportation o CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grants Program – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
o Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program's Climate Adaptation Planning Grant – Office of Planning and Research
o Small Community Drought Relief Program – Department of Water Resources o Addressing Climate Impacts – Department of Fish and Wildlife o Cleanup Loans and Environmental Assistance to Neighborhoods (CLEAN) Program – Department of Toxic Substances Control
o Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program Construction – State Water Resources Control Board
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 121 City of Needles
o Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Construction – State Water Resources Control Board
o Water Recycling Funding Program (WRFP) Construction Grant – State Water Resources Control Board
o Equitable Community Revitalization Grants (ECRG) – Department of Toxic Substances Control
o Water Recycling Funding Program (WRFP) Planning Grant – State Water Resources Control Board
o Infrastructure State Revolving Fund (ISRF) Program - Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT
Table 5-3 includes the identification of key responsible departments that will be focused on future implementation of mitigation strategies and actions identified by the City.
RELATIVE COST ESTIMATES
The HMPC identified relative cost estimates to meet the hazard mitigation planning process's cost estimation requirements based on their understanding of the mitigation action intent and their experience developing identical or similar programs/implementing projects. Four cost categories based on the City’s typical cost criteria were used for budgeting purposes:
• Low cost ($): $15,000 or less
• Medium cost ($$): $15,001 to $500,000
• High cost ($$$): $500,001 to $2,999,999
• Very High cost ($$$$): Greater than $3,000,000
TIMEFRAMES
Table 5-3 includes timeframes that provide general timing durations due to the nature of the mitigation actions identified by the City. The following timeframes are used based on the following conditions:
1) Ongoing (Annually): Actions that identify this timeframe are the types of actions that City staff would conduct annually.
2) Ongoing (As Needed): Actions that identify this timeframe include activities that City staff would conduct in response to a request by internal (City Departments) or external (Property Owners) forces.
3) Future Planning Process: Actions identified within this timeframe are considered lowpriority actions that the City would like to continue to track but does not feel they would be able to implement in the current planning implementation timeframe.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 122 City of Needles
For actions that use these terms, it is intended to identify that the action may add to existing capabilities and not have a particular start or end date or occur periodically. This is typically used for actions that include new policies, tasks, or standard operating procedures intended to mitigate future risks. If a single year is stated in the timeframe column, this indicates the year the action will begin.
PRIORITIZATION
As part of the mitigation actions development and review, the HMPC also prioritized the actions.
The prioritization efforts looked at the risks and threats of each hazard, financial costs and benefits, technical feasibility, and community values. HMPC members were asked to identify their priority actions through a voting exercise. Items are prioritized based on the number of votes the HMPC members receive. These quantitative scores were then converted to low, medium, and high priority qualitative categories.
Based on the criteria and evaluation processes used during Plan development, the HMPC prepared a prioritized list of mitigation actions (Table 5-3) to improve Needles’ resilience to hazard events.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 123 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
Emergency Preparedness Activities
P1 Conduct regular emergency preparedness drills
and training exercises for City staff.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
P2 Create a Needles Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) program.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
P3 Ensure that community evacuation plans include
provisions for community members who do not
have access to private vehicles or are otherwise
unable to drive.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
P4 Continue to ensure effective emergency
notifications through multiple media formats, in
languages appropriate for the community, about
pending, imminent, or ongoing emergency events.
Ensure that information is accessible to persons
with access and functional needs.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(As
Needed)
High
P5 Maintain at least one emergency powergenerating station in all critical facilities that the City could use as an emergency public assembly
area, such as the Civic Center, Community
Centers, and any other locations designated in
the future.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(As
Needed)
High
P6 Update the Needles Emergency Operations Plan
to identify backup power and communications
locations for critical facilities.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Medium
P7 Increase the number of City staff with CalOES
Safety Assessment Program (SAP) credentials.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 124 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
P8 Establish or update agreements with local schools
to ensure facilities can act as evacuation sites
during major emergencies.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
P9 Ensure City staff complete all required
SEMS/NIMS courses to ensure agency
compliance.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency
Office Services
Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
Multiple Hazards
1.01 Install energy-efficient equipment upgrades in City facilities to increase the longevity of the fuel
supply for backup generators. (Hazards
Addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2028 Medium
1.02 Install digital signage in key locations to aid in public outreach and information dissemination
during emergency events. (Hazards Addressed:
All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2027 Low
1.03 Conduct routine updates to Facility Conditions
Assessments for City-owned infrastructure and
other utilities and coordinate with other agencies
to ensure inspections of other important
infrastructure. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/
Utilities
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
1.04 Installation of solar and battery backup systems at key critical facilities within the City. (Hazards
addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$$$ 2026 High
1.05 Work closely with community groups to increase
awareness of hazard events and resiliency
opportunities among socially vulnerable
community members. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Housing/
Community
Services/ Public
Safety
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 125 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
1.06 Closely monitor changes in the boundaries of
mapped hazard areas resulting from land use
changes or climate change and adopt new
mitigation actions or revise existing ones to
ensure continued resiliency. (Hazards
addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
1.07 Integrate policy direction and other information
from this Plan into other City documents, including
the General Plan, Emergency Operations Plan,
and Capital Improvements Program. (Hazards
addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services/ Public
Works/ Utilities
$ Following
All Plan
Updates
Low
1.08 Monitor funding sources for hazard mitigation
activities. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
All Departments $ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
1.09 Integrate climate change mitigation and
adaptation information and analysis into future
LHMP updates and other City Plans, where
practicable. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
All Departments $ Following
Any Plan
Update
Low
1.10 Install and harden encased emergency backup
power generators at critical facilities and key
infrastructure as deemed necessary. Prioritize
installations for facilities that serve as key
cooling/warming centers (including the Senior
Center), and evacuation centers. (Hazards
addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$$ 2027 Low
1.11 Install battery backup power supplies for traffic
signals to ensure functionality in the event of
power failure. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2025 Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 126 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
Earthquake Hazards (Seismic Shaking)
2.01 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to
the City's Earthquake preparedness/response
plans and protocols.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
2.02 Develop a small project-based retrofit program to
assist homeowners with simple earthquake
mitigation activities (i.e., water heater straps,
furniture anchoring, gas shut-off tools, and other
emergency supplies) to reduce strain on City
resources during an event.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Development
Services
$$ 2027 Medium
2.03 Conduct an educational campaign to incentivize
and promote medium-scale seismic retrofits, such
as window films to minimize shattering, rooftopmounted equipment anchors, masonry chimney bracing, and other preventative measures to
reduce damage to private buildings.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Development
Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
2.04 Conduct a seismic analysis of all City-owned key
facilities and retrofit vulnerable facilities.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Public Works $$$ 2027 Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 127 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
2.05 To the extent feasible, construct all new Cityowned facilities to remain operational in the event of a major earthquake.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
All Departments $$$$ 2028 Low
2.06 Retrofit key critical facilities with seismically rated window film treatments that ensure glass windows
do not shatter during a strong seismic event.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Public Works $$$ 2028 Low
2.07 Analyze the City's building and housing stock to
create an inventory of seismically vulnerable
buildings (unreinforced masonry, soft-story
construction, non-ductile concrete buildings)
within the city and conduct an educational
program providing information on how to begin
the process of seismically retrofitting these
buildings.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Development
Services
$$ 2027 Low
Wildfires
3.01 Promote the proper maintenance and separation
of power lines and efficient response to fallen
power lines, particularly in areas that experience
strong winds.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 128 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
3.02 Identify funding for existing non-conforming
retrofits in fire-prone areas to use noncombustible building materials such as masonry, brick, stucco, concrete, steel, or others as
appropriate. Establish defensible space zones
around homes in these areas to reduce fire
vulnerability.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services / Public
Safety
$$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Medium
3.03 Explore new funding opportunities to increase the
budget for public outreach and fire hazard
prevention awareness and education.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Safety $ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
3.04 Create a rapid response plan from among first
responder agencies to secure hospital, nursing,
and assisted living facilities during high fire
conditions and incidents.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Safety $$ 2027 Medium
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 129 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
3.05 Coordinate with SBCF and surrounding
jurisdictions on home hardening and vegetation
management assessments to assist residents in
understanding and addressing wildfire risk.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Code
Enforcement
(Development
Services)
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
3.06 Conduct regular fuel modification projects and
clear vegetation to reduce fire hazard risks, such
as removal of dead vegetation and invasive plants
in parks, open spaces, and right-of-way
embankments and creating larger buffers within
the wildland-urban interface.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/
Development
Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
High
Severe Weather (Drought, Extreme Heat, Severe Wind, Thunderstorms)
4.01 Expand current outreach to residents and
businesses prior to the severe winds on proper
tree maintenance and identification of potentially
hazardous trees.
(Hazards addressed: Severe Wind)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/
Code
Enforcement
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 130 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
4.02 Remove or trim trees determined to be
susceptible to blowing over during a severe wind
event. Encourage the undergrounding of existing
utilities, where practicable.
(Hazards Addressed: Severe Wind)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/
Code
Enforcement/
Utilities
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
4.03 Update the Needles Municipal Code to reflect the
latest advances in best practices in landscape
design that reduce water use within the City and
support fire risk reduction.
(Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$ 2025 Medium
4.04 Update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to
the City’s drought preparedness/response plans
and protocols.
(Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
4.05 Develop a campaign to encourage water/energy
efficiency, reduce consumption for existing
development, and promote the expansion of
electric vehicle-ready construction in new
development.
(Hazards addressed: Drought, Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities/
Development
Services
$$$ 2025 High
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 131 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
4.06 Create a Cooling Center Plan for the use of
designated public facilities (libraries, community
centers, etc.) as cooling centers for vulnerable
populations during extreme weather events.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ 2025 High
4.07 During the design review process, promote
passive cooling design (brise-soleil, long roof
overhangs, locating windows away from southern
facades, etc.) in new developments.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$ Ongoing
(As
needed)
Low
4.08 Evaluate the long-term capacity of designated
cooling centers and shelters in the City to provide
sufficient relief from extreme heat. Assess the
need to expand services as the frequency, length,
and severity of future heat waves potentially
change due to climate change.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services/
Community
Services
$$ 2025 Low
4.09 Upgrade HVAC within City facilities to more
efficient systems, including split or decentralized
systems that allow for heating and cooling
rooms/spaces.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
All Departments $$$ 2026 High
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 132 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
4.10 Increase the use and construction of shade
structures within new developments, City facilities,
parks, and trails to reduce extreme heat
conditions.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services/ Public
Works
$$$ Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Medium
4.11 Promote early notifications to residents before a
severe weather event, focusing on effective
communication methods with vulnerable
populations to better ensure they have adequate
time to prepare.
(Hazards addressed: Severe Wind, Extreme
Heat, Thunderstorms)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$ Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
4.12 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to
the City's Extreme Heat preparedness/response
plans and protocols.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
4.13 Ensure effective emergency notifications through
multiple media formats, in languages appropriate
for the community, about pending, imminent, or
ongoing thunderstorm events (to include flash
flood watches/warnings and severe wind
warnings). Ensure that information is accessible
to persons with access and functional needs.
(Hazards Addressed: Thunderstorms)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants,
California
Climate
Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$ Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 133 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
Infrastructure Failure (Energy Shortage, Power Outage)
5.01 Establish and routinely update a confidential
inventory of critical infrastructure and ensure
utility providers coordinate development activities
with future resilience enhancements.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2025 Medium
5.02 Expand access to alternative energy
technologies, energy efficiency improvements and
appliances, and programs for vulnerable
populations to reduce energy consumption and
the need for City services during extreme heat
events.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2026 Medium
5.03 Develop a Power Failure Strategic Plan that
prioritizes the following:
- Identification of critical facilities requiring
backup power supplies.
- Identification of critical systems requiring
backup battery supplies to ensure effective
operations during power failure events.
- Development of criteria for backup power
supplies and equipment for City-owned buildings
and infrastructure
- Development of code updates/modifications
for new developments/redevelopments that are
energy resilient or include backup power supplies
or plug-in-ready retrofits.
- Compilation of funding sources and
strategies for City facility improvements and
resources for residents and businesses.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities/
Development
Services
$$ 2025 High
5.04 Install resilient emergency power supplies and
microgrids at key critical facility locations
throughout the City.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2027 Medium
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 134 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
Geologic Hazards (Expansive Soils)
6.01 Monitor changes to areas where expansive soils
are located.
General Fund Development
Services
$$ Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
6.02 Conduct an analysis and develop maps of
expansive soil locations throughout the city.
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$$ 2026
Low
Flood (Flooding and Dam Failure)
7.01 Update the City’s Master Plan of Drainage
regularly to incorporate new data and/or address
emerging issues.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
7.02 Investigate the use of permeable paving and
landscaped swales for new construction and
replacement of City-owned hardscaped areas.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$$ 2028 Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 135 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
7.03 Identify potential flood improvements that reduce
inundation from both storm flows and potential
dam inundation effects.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$$ 2028 High
7.04 Conduct frequent cleanings of storm drain
intakes, especially before and during the rainy
season.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
7.05 Track areas where ponding frequently occurs
during heavy rainfall and install new drains or
upgrade existing ones to reduce ponding.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$$ 2028 Low
7.06 Identify all structures located in FEMA flood zones and determine the need to map, analyze, and
modify FEMA flood maps. If flood map revisions
are possible, work with property owners to
determine the desire to perform this activity on
their behalf.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$$ 2027 Medium
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 136 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
7.07 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to
the City's Flash Flooding preparedness/response
plans.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
7.08 Identify specific public works
projects/improvements to address flash flooding
impacts throughout the flood prone portions of the
city.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2025 Low
7.09 Identify specific improvements that may be
implemented to reduce flood hazards to the
Historic Harvey House railway station.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2025 Low
7.10 Continue to enforce development regulations
based on the most current FEMA flood insurance
rate maps and continue to comply with the NFIP.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$ Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 137 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
7.11 Coordinate with dam owners/operators and state
and federal agencies to collectively identify
threats to the City and the region and identify
ways to retrofit/strengthen the dams under their
control.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$ 2028 Low
7.12 Conduct a public outreach and awareness
campaign about the hazards associated with dam
failure, the areas within the city susceptible to
impact, and evacuation procedures and facilities
available in the event an impact occurs.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
7.13 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to
the City's Dam Failure preparedness/response
plans.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
Human-Caused Hazards (Cyber Threat, Hazardous Materials Incident, Natural Gas Pipeline Hazards, Transportation Accident)
8.1 Disseminate information on cyber threats to City
staff and continually follow up with information on
further developments of the situation.
(Hazards addressed: Cyber Threats)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
IT Department $ Ongoing
(As
Needed)
Low
8.2 Regularly update cyber security software and
educate business owners and residents on
current internet-based threats.
(Hazards addressed: Cyber Threats)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
IT Department $$ On going
(AsNeeded)
Medium
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 138 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
8.3 Ongoing training in coordination with County Fire,
the Railroad, County Sheriff, Mutual Aid, Police,
Fire, BLM, and Pipeline Companies (petroleum
gas, electric, fiber optic) to be prepared for and
respond to potential hazardous material
spills/incidents along the railroad, I-40, or I-95.
(Hazard Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident, Natural Gas Pipeline Hazards)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
8.4 Discourage new sensitive land uses, including
schools, parks, childcare centers, adult and senior
assisted living facilities, and community centers,
from locating near identified hazardous material
facilities. Discourage or prohibit new hazardous
material facilities from locating near sensitive land
uses.
(Hazard Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
8.5 Continuously inspect businesses and other
properties storing hazardous materials and create
an inventory of storage locations that require
updates, maintenance, or renovation.
(Hazard Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
SB County Fire $$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
8.6 Develop a parcel-level database, in coordination
with San Bernardino County, which tracks the
status of hazardous materials storage and use,
prioritized by potential threat to surrounding
properties.
(Hazard Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2027 Low
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 139 City of Needles
TABLE 5-3: MITIGATION ACTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Action # Mitigation Action Item
Potential
Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost
Time
Frame Priority
8.7 Continue to work with solid waste service
businesses to educate residents and businesses
on safely disposing of small quantities of
hazardous materials.
(Hazards Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
8.8 Coordinate with hazardous materials
generators/operators (Southwest Gas, etc.)
regularly to understand changes to operations
within the city.
(Hazards Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency
Office Services
$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
8.9 Analyze the locations of railroad rights of way,
and adjacent land uses to determine key locations
of concern if a train derailment occurs.
(Hazards Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident, Transportation Accident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services
$ 2025 Low
8.10 Maintain relationships with BNSF to improve rail
safety.
(Hazards Addressed: Transportation Accident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development
Services/
Emergency
Office Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
* Relative Cost Categories
$ - Less than $15,000
$$ - $15,001 to $500,000
$$$ - $500,001 to $2,999,999
$$$$ - Greater than $3,000,000
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 140 City of Needles
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 141 City of Needles
National Flood Insurance Program
Needles participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), created by Congress in 1968 to provide subsidized flood insurance to homeowners living in flood-prone areas. Needles has participated in NFIP since July 1979. Table 5-4 provides the City’s NFIP information.
TABLE 5-4: FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT DATA
Initial Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) 6/14/1974
Initial Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) 7/16/1979
NFIP Participation Date 7/16/1979
Current Effective Map Date 9/2/2016
Although participation is not a dedicated hazard mitigation action, Needles will continue participating in the NFIP and comply with the program’s requirements by enforcing the City’s Floodplain Management Regulations. This regulation applies to all areas identified as floodprone within the city. This chapter of the Municipal Code identifies the purpose of the regulation, methods of reducing flood losses, basis for establishing flood hazard areas, development permit requirements, duties and responsibilities of the City’s Floodplain Manager, development standards that apply in flood-prone areas, and required documentation and analysis for construction within these areas. As part of the City’s efforts to comply with NFIP, Needles will make updates and revisions to the Floodplain Management regulations to minimize the threat of harm from flood events. These updates and revisions may be promoted by changes in local demographics, land use shifts, flood regime changes such as the frequency and intensity of flood events, and other factors warranting municipal action. The City will also continue incorporating any changes to mapped flood plains' locations and designations into future planning documents, including future updates to this Plan. Table 5-5 provides the City’s floodplain management regulations.
TABLE 5-5: CITY OF NEEDLES FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS Adoption of Minimum Floodplain Management
Criteria and Implementation and Enforcement of
Floodplain Management Regulations
Ord. No. 431-AC, § 1.1; Ord. No. 457-AC, § 2
(part). Chapter 9A Floodplain Management
Designee to Implement NFIP Ord. No. 431-AC, § 4.2; Ord. No. 457-AC, § 2 (part). 9A-14: Designation of
the Floodplain Administrator. The City Engineer
fulfills this role.
Implementation of Substantial Improvement/
Substantial Damages Provisions
Article 9A-V: Provisions for Flood Hazard
Reduction. 9A-17: Standards of Construction
* Ordinances are hyperlinked to Municipal Code Section
The City of Needles contains Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA). Under the NFIP, there are 13 policies in force, amounting to roughly $12,624 in premiums paid annually. Total insurance coverage for these policies amounts to $3,332,000. Needles has no repetitive loss or severe repetitive loss properties that FEMA identified; however, they have had 5 closed Paid Loss cases totaling $16,398 in damages paid out.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 142 City of Needles
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 143 City of Needles
CHAPTER 6 –
PLAN MAINTENANCE
For this LHMP to remain effective and useful to the community of Needles, it must remain up to date. An updated version of the LHMP will continue to guide Needles’ hazard mitigation activities and help keep the City eligible for state and federal hazard mitigation funding. The HMPC has structured this LHMP so individual sections can easily be updated as new information becomes available and new needs arise, helping to keep this Plan current.
This chapter discusses updating this Plan to comply with applicable state and federal requirements. This chapter also describes how the City can incorporate the mitigation actions described in Chapter 5 into existing programs and planning mechanisms and how public participation will remain an important part of Plan monitoring and future update activities.
Coordinating Body
The HMPC will remain responsible for maintaining and updating the Plan, including evaluating the Plan's effectiveness as needed. Members of the HMPC will also coordinate the Plan's implementation through their respective positions. Table 1-2 contains a list of current members.
In future years, staff and representatives (either current HMPC members or other individuals) from the following departments, districts, and agencies should be included in maintenance and update activities:
• Building and Safety
• City Attorney
• City Clerk
• City Manager
• Community Services Department
• Engineering Department
• Finance
• Fire Department
• Human Resources
• Planning Department
• Public Works
• Sheriff’s Department
The staff member currently serving as the HMPC leader (responsible for coordinating future updates) is in the Development Services Department. During the update process, they will serve as the project manager or designate this role to another staff member. The HMPC leader or their designee will coordinate the maintenance of this Plan, lead the formal Plan review and evaluation activities, direct the Plan update, and assign tasks to other members of the HMPC to complete these activities. Such tasks may include collecting data, developing new mitigation actions, updating mitigation actions, presenting to City staff and community groups, and revising the Plan sections.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 144 City of Needles
Plan Implementation
The Plan's effectiveness depends on the successful implementation of the mitigation actions.
Implementation includes integrating mitigation actions into existing City plans, policies, programs, and other implementation mechanisms. The mitigation actions in this Plan are intended to reduce the damage from hazard events, help the City secure funding, and provide a framework for hazard mitigation activities. HMPC members prioritized the hazard mitigation actions in Table 5-3 in Chapter 5. These priorities will guide implementing these actions through new or existing City mechanisms as resources are available. The LHMP project manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation, promotion, and maintenance of this Plan and facilitating meetings and coordinating activities related to Plan implementation and maintenance.
The key City Plans that will incorporate content from this LHMP include:
1) Needles General Plan Safety Element – This element will incorporate relevant mapping and analysis in the Safety Element to ensure this plan's goals and policies are reinforced throughout future developments and projects proposed within the city. 2) Needles Emergency Operations Plan – The EOP focuses on the effective preparedness and response to hazard events within the city. Incorporating relevant content from this plan into the EOP ensures consistency regarding the hazards addressed in both plans.
3) Needles Capital Improvements Program – The CIP identifies key infrastructure investments throughout the city, including hazard mitigation elements. Incorporating this plan into the CIP may enhance infrastructure investment through additional funding and/or modification of improvements to include hazard mitigation elements.
This integration of the LHMP into the Needles General Plan also allows the City to comply with AB 2140 requirements, as identified in Chapter 1 of this plan.
Plan Maintenance Process
The City’s plan maintenance process will rely on the Needles Mitigation Implementation Handbook, located in Appendix E. The handbook is intended to function as a stand-alone document that gives concise and accessible guidance to staff to implement and maintain the Plan. A key component is the specific mechanisms that the City can use to integrate this plan into the other City planning mechanisms.
PLAN MONITORING AND EVALUATION
When members of the HMPC are not updating the Plan, they will meet at least once a year to go over mitigation action implementation and evaluate the Plan’s effectiveness. These meetings will include:
1) Discussion of the timing of mitigation action implementation 2) Mitigation action implementation evaluation and determination of success 3) Mitigation action prioritization revisions, if deemed necessary Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 145 City of Needles
4) Mitigation action integration into other mechanisms, as needed The first of these meetings will be held in the 2025-2026 fiscal calendar year. To the extent possible, HMPC meetings will be scheduled at an appropriate time in the City’s annual budgeting process, which will help ensure that funding and staffing needs for mitigation actions are considered.
When the HMPC meets to evaluate the Plan, members will consider these questions:
• What hazard events, if any, have occurred in Needles in the past year? What were the impacts of these events on the community? Were the impacts mitigated, and if so, how? • What mitigation actions have been successfully implemented? Have any mitigation actions been implemented but not successfully, and if so, why? • What mitigation actions, if any, have been scheduled for implementation but have not yet been implemented?
• What is the schedule for implementing future mitigation actions? Is this schedule reasonable? Does the schedule need to be adjusted for future implementation, and are such adjustments appropriate and feasible?
• Have any new concerns arisen, including hazard events in other communities or regions not covered by existing mitigation actions?
• Is new data available to inform the Plan's updates, including data relevant to the hazard profiles and threat assessments?
• Are there any new planning programs, funding sources, or other mechanisms to support hazard mitigation activities in Needles?
PLAN UPDATES
The information in this Plan, including the hazard profiles, threat assessments, and mitigation actions, is based on the best available information, practices, technology, and methods available to the City and HMPC when this Plan was prepared. As factors change, including technologies, community demographics and characteristics, best practices, and hazard conditions, it is necessary to update the Plan to remain relevant. Additionally, Title 44, Section 201.6(d)(3) of the Code of Federal Regulations requires that LHMPs be reviewed, revised, and resubmitted for approval every five years to remain eligible for federal benefits.
UPDATE METHOD AND SCHEDULE
The update process will begin no later than four years after this Plan is adopted, allowing a year for the update process before the Plan expires. However, it is recommended that you begin the update process three years after plan adoption if the funding source for the plan will be a mitigation grant. Depending on the circumstances, the LHMP project manager or their designee may also choose to begin the update process sooner. Some reasons for accelerating the update process may include:
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 146 City of Needles
• A presidential disaster declaration for Needles or an area that includes part of or the entire City.
• A hazard event that results in one or more fatalities in Needles.
The update process will add new and updated methods, demographic data, community information, hazard data and events, considerations for threat assessments, mitigation actions, and other necessary information, keeping the Plan relevant and current. The HMPC will determine the best process for updating the Plan, which will include the following steps:
UPDATE ADOPTION
The Needles City Council is responsible for adopting this Plan and all future updates. As previously mentioned, adoption will occur every five years. The City will begin the update process at least one year before expiration to ensure the plan remains active. If the City has a grant application that relies on the LHMP, an update to the plan will occur no later than 18 months before expiration. Adoption will take place after FEMA notifies the City that the Plan is Approved Pending Adoption. Once the City Council adopts the Plan following FEMA's approval, the adopted plan will be transmitted to FEMA.
CONTINUED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
The City will keep the public informed about the HMPC’s actions to review and update the LHMP.
The HMPC will develop a revised community engagement strategy that reflects the City’s updated needs and capabilities. The updated strategy will include a tentative schedule and plan for public meetings, recommendations for using the City's website and social media accounts, and content for public outreach documentation. The HMPC will also distribute information annually through the most appropriate method to ensure the most significant information dissemination to residents and businesses. These updates are anticipated to occur after the City's annual HMPC meeting.
Engage the Hazard
Mitigation Planning
Committee (with at least
one member from each
City department).
Contact non-City
organizations (that
previously participated
or are interested
stakeholders) to
participate in the
update.
Review and update the
hazard mapping and
threat assessment for
critical facilities.
Revise the threat
assessment for
populations and other
assets.
Determine what
measures have been
completed, changed,
cancelled, or postponed
and review and revise
mitigation actions, as
needed.
Prepare an updated
plan to be distributed to
stakeholders and the
public.
Conduct a public review
period of the Draft Plan
allowing residents and
interested stakeholders
to provide comment.
Following public review,
send a draft of the
updated plan to Cal OES
and FEMA for review
and approval.
Adopt the final updated
Plan within one year of
beginning the update
process and within five
years of the adoption of
the previous Plan.
Agenda Item 3.
2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopted X, 2025 147 City of Needles
POINT OF CONTACT
The Hazard Mitigation Plan leader for Needles is the primary point of contact for this Plan and future updates. At the time of production, the LHMP project coordinator is Kathy Raasch, Interim Development Services Director, available at [email protected] or 760.326.2113, ext. 126.
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
APPENDIX A – HMPC MEETING MATERIALS
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
TABLE 1-2: NEEDLES HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING COMMITTEE Name Title Department
Kathy Raasch Interim Development Services Director Development Services Rainie Torrance Utility Manager Needles Public Utility Agency Irene Romero City Planner Planning
Jennifer Valenzuela Recreation Services Manager Parks & Recreation Cheryl Sallis Community Services Manager Community Services Department Will Guzman Building Inspector Building & Safety
Adrian Chavez Senior Code Enforcement Code Enforcement
Steve Ledbetter Contract City Engineer Engineering
Angelica Deermer Housing Manager Needles Housing Authority Manager Aaron Pfannenstiel LHMP Project Manager Atlas Planning Solutions Crystal Stueve LHMP Planner Atlas Planning Solutions
Robert Jackson LHMP Planner Atlas Planning Solutions
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Needles
LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE
HMPC MEETING #1 AGENDA
JULY 31, 2024
I. Team Introductions
II. Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Overview
III. Project Goals and Expectations
IV. Hazard Mitigation Planning Team Roster
V. Data Needs (Critical Facilities List, vulnerable populations, recent/past hazards, GIS) VI. Community Engagement and Outreach Strategy
VII. Hazard Identification/Prioritization
VIII. Next Steps and To-Do List
Hazard Mitigation Planning Update
Process
April 2023 – December 2023
Community Outreach Ongoing
Administrative Draft LHMP Summer / Fall 2023
Public Review Draft LHMP Document Fall 2023
Cal OES/FEMA Review Draft Document Fall 2023/ Winter 2024 Meeting 1 Attendance
Kathy Raasch Interim Development Services
Director
Development Services
Rainie Torrance Utility Manager Needles Public Utility Agency Irene Romero City Planner Planning
Jennifer Valenzuela Recreation Services Manager Parks & Recreation Cheryl Sallis Community Services Manager Community Services Department Will Guzman Building Inspector Building & Safety
Adrian Chavez Senior Code Enforcement Code Enforcement
Angelica Deermer Housing Manager Needles Housing Authority Manager
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Needles
LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE
HMPC MEETING #2 AGENDA
NOVEMBER 25, 2024
I. Introductions
II. Review of Project Goals
• GOAL 1 - Protect against threats from natural hazards to life, injury, and property damage within the Needles community.
• GOAL 2 - Increase public awareness of potential hazard events. • GOAL 3 - Preserve critical services and functions by protecting key facilities and infrastructure for the community.
• GOAL 4 - Protect natural systems from current and future hazard conditions. • GOAL 5 - Coordinate mitigation activities among City departments, neighboring jurisdictions, and federal agencies.
• GOAL 6 - Prepare for long-term change in hazard conditions associated with climate change.
III. Overview of Mitigation Strategies
IV. Discussion of STAPLE/E Criteria
• Ordinances, Regulations Plans and
Regulations
Structural Projects • Utility Undergrounding, Structural Retrofits • Stream restoration, erosion control Natural Systems
Protection
Education Programs • Outreach materials, websites, presentations • Mutual aid agreements, equipment purchases,
notification protocols
Preparedness and
Response Actions
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Issue Criteria
Social • Is the action socially acceptable to community members? • Would the action treat some individuals unfairly?
• Is there a reasonable chance of the action causing a social disruption? Technical • Is the action likely to reduce the risk of the hazard occurring, or will it reduce the effects of the hazard?
• Will the action create new hazards or make existing hazards worse? • Is the action the most useful approach for the City to take, given the City's goals and community members?
Administrative • Does the City have the administrative capabilities to implement the action?
• Are there existing City staff who can lead and coordinate the measure's implementation, or can the City reasonably hire new staff for this role?
• Does the City have enough staff, funding, technical support, and other resources to carry out implementation?
• Are there administrative barriers to implementing the action? Political • Is the action politically acceptable to City officials and other relevant jurisdictions and political entities?
• Do community members support the action?
Legal • Does the City have the legal authority to implement and enforce the action?
• Are there potential legal barriers or consequences that could hinder or prevent the implementation of the action?
• Is there a reasonable chance that implementation of the action would expose the City to legal liabilities?
• Could the action reasonably face other legal challenges? Economic • What are the monetary costs of the action, and do the costs exceed the economic benefits?
• What are the start-up and maintenance costs of the action, including administrative costs?
• Has the funding for action implementation been secured, or is a potential funding source available?
• How will funding the action affect the City's financial capabilities? • Could the implementation of the action reasonably burden the City’s economy or tax base?
• Could there reasonably be other budgetary and revenue impacts to the City?
Environmental • What are the potential environmental impacts of the action? • Will the action require environmental regulatory approvals? • Will the action comply with all applicable federal, state, regional, and local environmental regulations?
• Will the action reasonably affect any endangered, threatened, or otherwise sensitive species of concern?
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
V. Discussion of Relative Cost Estimates
Example Cost Categories:
City specific values will be determined with the
HMPC in the meeting.
$ Less than $100,000
$$ $100,001 to $999,999
$$$ Greater than $1,000,000
VI. Review and Discussion of Draft Mitigation Strategies VII. Next Steps
Hazard Mitigation Planning Process June 2024 – January 2025 Community Outreach Ongoing
Administrative Draft LHMP January 2025
Public Review Draft LHMP Document March 2025
Cal OES/FEMA Review Draft Document April 2025
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
B-1
APPENDIX B – OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT MATERIALS
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
B-2
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
B-3
Agenda Item 3.
II. Hazard Awareness
1. Please indicate whether you live or work in the City of Needles. 80 responses
2. If you live outside the city, which applies to you:
80 responses
City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan
Survey
80 responses
Publish analytics
Copy
a. I live in the City of Needles.
b. I work in the City of Needles.
c. I live and work in the City of
Needles.
d. I live outside the city but
receive City services.
f. Neither applies to me, but I
am interested in the City's
resiliency.
15%
76.3%
Copy
a. I live north of the city.
b. I live south of the city.
c. Neither; I live in the city.
10%
85%
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 1/21 Agenda Item 3.
3. Have you been impacted by a hazard event in your current residence? 80 responses
4. If you answered yes to the previous question, please select the type of hazard event that you have been impacted by (select all that apply). 39 responses
Copy
a. Yes
b. No 55%
45%
Copy
0 10 20 30 40
Earthquake
Flash Flooding
Drought
Dam Failure
Hazardous Materials Inci…
Extreme Heat
Other
2 (5.1%) 22 (5.1%) (5.1%)
7 (17.9%) 77 (17.9%) (17.9%)
4 (10.3%) 44 (10.3%) (10.3%)
1 (2.6%) 11 (2.6%) (2.6%)
0 (0%) 00 (0%) (0%)
33 (84.6%) 333 (84.6%) 3 (84.6%)
7 (17.9%) 77 (17.9%) (17.9%)
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 2/21 Agenda Item 3.
If you selected “Other” above, please list any additional hazards that have previously impacted your neighborhood or home.
8 responses
Water, Power, Internet outages and only one Very bad road to our area….. Golf Course area. The road is carrying more than it was EVER designed for. It was a Dike Road…….not meant to carry the traffic that goes to Jack Smith Park. A bottle neck to Jack Smith Park with no alternatives that are useable.
Rattlesnakes
fire
Wind
A tornado (microburst) tore my (and others) roof off, and did tremendous damage to our city Winds
Fire
DOWNWIND SMOKE
5. The following hazards could potentially impact the city. Please mark the THREE (3) hazards that are of most concern to your neighborhood or home.
80 responses
Copy
0 20 40 60 80
Earthquake
Flash Flooding
Drought
Dam Failure
Hazardous Materials Inci…
Extreme Heat
Other
30 (37.5%) 330 (37.5%) 0 (37.5%)
31 (38.8%) 331 (38.8%) 1 (38.8%)
34 (42.5%) 334 (42.5%) 4 (42.5%)
33 (41.3%) 333 (41.3%) 3 (41.3%)
35 (43.8%) 335 (43.8%) 5 (43.8%)
66 (82.5%) 666 (82.5%) 6 (82.5%)
7 (8.8%) 77 (8.8%) (8.8%)
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 3/21 Agenda Item 3.
If you selected “Other” above, please list any additional hazards that have previously impacted your neighborhood or home.
8 responses
Answered above…….. Golf Course area access.
Power outage
fire
Winds
High winds
The materials the trains carry
Fire due to the inability of the fire dept to respond with a small crew Need at least 4 City wide power outage
6. The planning team is using various data sources to identify hazards in your community; however, some of these data sources do not provide data at a general citywide level. Are there any small-scale issues, such as ponding at a specific intersection during rain, that you would like the planning team to consider?
80 responses
Copy
a. I am not aware of local
hazards
b. I am aware of local hazards
41.3%
58.8%
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 4/21 Agenda Item 3.
Please provide as much detail as possible, including location and type of hazard. 27 responses
Needles hwy at Park rd
Flooding when there is heavy rain……. Several areas……Underpass, J. Street and Broadway…..
Needles highway flooding during thunder storms Washes flood road Underpass floods
Road to Jack Smith Park deteriorating to the point of too narrow for traffic and paint of lines at curve are almost gone.
East Broadway has a section that often floods during rain storms.
K Street Underpass. Flooding cutting off cross-railroad route.
Lillyhill Drive near Bailey. Flooding in wash blocking access to the hospital from Lillyhill.
Westbound I-40 curve near J Street. Seeing a large tractor-trailer truck tumble down the hill is concerning, especially if it were ever a hazardous material truck.
Anywhere along the BNSF rail-line where they carry hazardous material. road wash outs
The underpass floods every rain
lillyhill dr. and Bailey Dr. At the dip in the road if floods out there all the time. W. Broadway always floods during heavy rains.
Clary Drive had no drain off nor sidewalk and the main road is too rocky and cracked to safely walk on with a stroller or walker.
Ditch/ driveway by senior center (floods)
Hazards product the R R carries thru out town every day .
Underpass flooding
Lack of emergency communication structure other than phones or internet Flooding under the Railroad bridge and east end of Broadway, near Econo Smog anytime it rains. Traffic congestion and limited capacity and alternative route for river adjacent neighborhoods off of River Road.
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 5/21 Agenda Item 3.
Our desert gets flooded and roads are terrible
*Flooding-North K Underpass.
*Flooding- Broadway & Quivera St.
*Flooding/Fire Hazard-Intersection NDLS HWY & North K st. *Flash flood Hazard- Lilyhill between senior center and apartment complex, needs bridge with walkways handicap access both sides, from Bailey Ave to East End of Lilyhill. *BNSF Railroad.
*Flooding with no curbing, or sidewalks both sides on San Clemente St, from Casa Linda to East Broadway (40 years overdue).
Dangerous narrowing of road to Jack Smith Park.
Pot sites they smell
Hazardous railway materials, ponding under the underpass on k street vacant blue house on safari drive;
Needles Underpass Flooding and along Broadway at Front Street & Quivera St.
I live right when you come into town from Hwy 95. 95 has a lot of traffic coming and leaving throughout the day and night. There are many trucks, along with cars. The roads are narrow before they get here and sometimes there are long lines coming in. Right before you get to the Rangers Station there is a curve and it's a little dangerous getting out and in there sometimes. I can see an accident happening with major chemical spills from the trucks that carry chemicals. Not to mention that less than a mile after that is where 95 meets Interstate 40. Can be a very busy intersection. There are no parking signs along that stretch into town, however there are trucks parked there regularly and makes that area even more dangerous. I've seen patrols looking for speeding, however they never approached the trucks that were parked there illegally.
Ponding on N. K Street
The BNSF railroad runs through Needles, they carry thousands of tons of hazards material every day. If the trains have a derailment or train wreck, they could possibly spill thousands of gallons of hazmat material in the local area or river.
I understand the BNSF has Hazmat responders available in case of an accident, but how long would it take them to arrive (5 hours ?- 20 hours ? who knows).
How do the Needles residents get notified of a hazmat spill?, where do they for safety after a hazmat spill?
Flooding of the underpass in Needles. Flooding in Needles Hwy. 12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 6/21 Agenda Item 3.
7. How concerned are you that climate change may create new hazardous situations in Needles or make existing natural hazards worse?
80 responses
8. When do you think climate change will pose a threat to your health, property, livelihood, or overall wellbeing?
80 responses
Copy
a. Very concerned.
b. Somewhat concerned.
c. Somewhat unconcerned.
d. Not at all concerned.
e. Unsure.
13.7% 20%
27.5%
33.8%
Copy
a. It already is.
b. Within the next five years.
c. In five to twenty years.
d. Not for at least another
twenty years.
e. Never, or not in my lifetime
26.2%
16.2%
13.7%
37.5%
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 7/21 Agenda Item 3.
9. If you have taken any action to protect yourself against natural hazards, how confident are you that these actions will be sufficient to protect against more severe hazards that are expected because of climate change?
80 responses
10. If you are a homeowner, do you have adequate homeowners' insurance to cover the hazards that could impact your home? 80 responses
11. If you rent your residence, do you have renters' insurance? 80 responses
Copy
a. Very confident.
b. Somewhat confident.
c. Somewhat unconfident.
d. Not at all confident.
e. Unsure.
8.8%
28.7% 17.5%
10%
35%
Copy
a. Yes, my insurance coverage
should be adequate.
b. No, I don't believe my
insurance coverage would be
adequate for a major disaster.
c. Unsure.
d. I do not have an insurance
policy.
e. Not applicable; I rent my
current residence.
21.3%
11.3%
20%
42.5%
Copy
a. Yes
b. No
c. Not applicable; I own my
residence.
12.5%
72.5%
15%
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 8/21 Agenda Item 3.
12. Do you have flood insurance for your home?
80 responses
13. Have you done anything to your home to make it less vulnerable to hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and fires?
80 responses
Copy
a. Yes, I own my home and
have flood insurance.
b. Yes, I rent my home and
have flood insurance.
c. No, but I am interested in
reviewing flood insurance
options (https://
www.floodsmart.gov).
70%
27.5%
Copy
a. Yes
b. No
c. Not applicable; I rent my
16.2% residence.
43.8%
40%
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 9/21 Agenda Item 3.
If not, do you plan to?
17 responses
Yes
No
Yes.
I know I need to
I would love to, but I don't know how or where to start.
I would love to have a plan, but I don’t know how.
My understanding is the earthquake risk here is diminished compared to the coastal areas.
I plan to install a power generator in the event of a hazard caused power outage.
Not really
Maybe
Don’t know how.
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 10/21 Agenda Item 3.
14. If a severe hazard event occurred today such that all services were cut off from your home (power, gas, water, sewer) and you were unable to leave or access a store for 72 hours, which of these items do you have readily available?
80 responses
Copy
0 20 40 60 80
a. Potable water (3 gallo…
b. Cooking and eating ut…
c. Can opener
d. Canned / nonperishabl…
e. Gas grill / camping stove
f. Extra medications and…
g. First aid kit / supplies
h. Portable AM/FM radio…
i. Important family photos…
j. Extra clothes and shoes
k. Blanket(s) / sleeping b…
l. Cash
m. Flashlight (with batteri…
n. Gasoline
o. Telephone (with batteri…
p. Pet supplies
q. Secondary source of h…
r. Handheld "walkie-talkie…
49 (61.3%) 449 (61.3%) 9 (61.3%)
72 (90%) 772 (90%) 2 (90%)
75 (93.8%) 775 (93.8%) 5 (93.8%)
67 (83.8%) 667 (83.8%) 7 (83.8%)
52 (65%) 552 (65%) 2 (65%)
51 (63.7%) 551 (63.7%) 1 (63.7%)
67 (83.8%) 667 (83.8%) 7 (83.8%)
33 (41.3%) 333 (41.3%) 3 (41.3%)
30 (37.5%) 330 (37.5%) 0 (37.5%)
66 (82.5%) 666 (82.5%) 6 (82.5%)
69 (86.3%) 669 (86.3%) 9 (86.3%)
34 (42.5%) 334 (42.5%) 4 (42.5%)
66 (82.5%) 666 (82.5%) 6 (82.5%)
22 (27.5%) 222 (27.5%) 2 (27.5%)
47 (58.8%) 447 (58.8%) 7 (58.8%)
44 (55%) 444 (55%) 4 (55%)
31 (38.8%) 331 (38.8%) 1 (38.8%)
21 (26.3%) 221 (26.3%) 1 (26.3%)
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 11/21 Agenda Item 3.
What else do you have in your emergency kit?
20 responses
Don't have emergency kit
Solar power, ham radio
Water filters
Not sure
Motorhome with generator and solar
Backup USB battery
generator
Generators
nothing else
Ham radio, extended medical aid supplies
First Aid supplies, flashlight, candles, matches, solar phone charger, charging cords, All are listed above
Self protection
Ham radio with solar power/battery backup
solar phone charger
bandages and misc medical supplies
Candles
An emergency binder, which includes of: important documents, our family emergency plan, insurance policies, family health information, emergency numbers, water purification instructions, faraday cage instructions, and ideas for comfort and fun.
Generator
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 12/21 Agenda Item 3.
Power generator
15. Are you familiar with the special needs of your neighbors in the event of a disaster situation (special needs may include limited mobility, severe medical conditions, memory impairments)?
80 responses
16. Are you a trained member of your Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)?
80 responses
Copy
a. Yes
60% b. No
40%
Copy
a. Yes
b. No, but I would like to learn
more about CERT.
c. No, I am not interested in
being a trained CERT member.
46.3%
51.2%
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 13/21 Agenda Item 3.
17. How can the City help you become better prepared for a disaster? (Choose all that apply)
80 responses
Copy
0 20 40 60 80
a. Provide effective
emergency notifications…
b. Provide training and
education to residents an…
c. Provide community
outreach regarding emer…
d. Create awareness of
special needs and vulner…
e. Other (please specify)
74 (92.5%) 774 (92.5%) 4 (92.5%)
54 (67.5%) 554 (67.5%) 4 (67.5%)
63 (78.8%) 663 (78.8%) 3 (78.8%)
50 (62.5%) 550 (62.5%) 0 (62.5%)
9 (1 9 (11.3%) 1.3%)
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 14/21 Agenda Item 3.
If you selected “Other” above, please describe.
10 responses
Keep loss of Services to a minimum. Train people to be self sufficient…… put bridges over washes on Needles Hwy
We have a lot of retired fire and police in our community that ciuld be called on.
Clearly identify the risks the community faces, the likelihood of the risk and mitigations and preparations available to residents. (This may be included in "community outreach" but if it doesn't include clear communication of the actuals risks and disaster scenarios and only suggests preparation, it is incomplete).
emergency Escape route map and Possible Alternative Transportation Phone Numbers for those without Transportation.
Provide CERT training and promote amateur radio licensing. I maintain an amateur repeater in Needles and, if there would be interest on behalf of the city to support it on a city tower site with greater coverage and back up power, would be willing to relocate it.
If power is out how will I receive updates on emergency. No power no internet or cell phone Interact resources with Ft Mohave Indian tribe and BNSF rr Training for disaster prparedness
Organize a Co.munity preparedness event with vendors and donors for less privileged and elderly.
If you do NOT work in the City of Needles, please skip to question 22. 12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 15/21 Agenda Item 3.
18. Does your employer have a plan for disaster recovery in place? 36 responses
19. Does your employer have a workforce communications plan to implement following a disaster, so they can contact you? 33 responses
III. Recommendations and Future Participation
20. Would you like to be contacted when the Draft 2024 Needles Hazard Mitigation Plan is available for review?
80 responses
Copy
a. Yes
b. No
c. I don't know
19.4%
50%
30.6%
Copy
a. Yes
b. No
72.7%
27.3%
Copy
a. Yes, please notify me using
my contact information in the
next question.
b. No 20%
80%
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 16/21 Agenda Item 3.
21. If you would like to be notified of future opportunities to participate in hazard mitigation and resiliency planning, please provide your name and e-mail address. If you do not have an e-mail address, please provide your mailing address. This information will be kept confidential.
50 responses
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 17/21 Agenda Item 3.
22. Please provide us with any additional comments/suggestions/questions regarding your risk of future hazard events.
9 responses
Pave Schulz rd. I pay taxes!
I would like to have an easy online access to any useful and necessary information.
Let's avoid them, please.
Students should be included in do you "work" in Needles, no, but I'm a student and like to stay informed
CERT classes would be beneficial, power outage planning is essential because power will go out during almost any likely hazard event.
Road by golf course becoming narrower to accommodate large automobiles and boats.
Entering highway 95 by needles Rv park and bridge shrubs in vacant lot need to be cut down for better visibility for approaching vehicles. Many vehicles travel at excessive speed.
I am a former FEMA CATF-2 member rescue specialist and medical specialist. 29 year firefighter paramedic for Los Angeles County Fire Department. You might want to compile a list of others with same skills in case of an emergency. Needles has a lot of current and retired fire and police full and part time residents. That might be a question to ask.
I would suggest a city hall meeting when the plan has been complete so the community knows what is in the plan, that way if they have questions they can ask them Concerned about the possibility of Haz Mat incident from the railroad.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. If you have any questions, or if you know of other people/organizations that should be involved, please contact Kathy Raasch at [email protected].
This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google. - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy Does this form look suspicious? Report
Forms
12/22/24, 9:23 PM City of Needles 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PfQBtOZW1rofIkm6qwz3Q9hhPV7VTewXpVg10suokMs/viewanalytics 20/21 Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
C-1
APPENDIX C - RESOLUTION OF ADOPTION
(TO BE INSERTED AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL)
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
D-1
APPENDIX D- KEY FACILITIES
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
D-2
Asset Type Category Critical Facility Facility of Concern Government/City Operations 2 0
Emergency Operations Fire/Police 2 0
Community Centers/Facilities 0 3
Parks Facilities 0 13
Infrastructure 29 0
Public Works Facilities 1 8
Medical Facilities (not City-owned) 1 0
Total 35 24
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-1
APPENDIX E – HAZARD MITIGATION
IMPLEMENTATION HANDBOOK
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-2
PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-3
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Implementation Handbook
December 2024
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-4
What Is This Handbook?
The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the City of Needles features an evaluation of the City's hazards as well as a variety of corresponding mitigation actions. These actions are intended to preserve public safety, maintain critical municipal government operations and services when hazard events emerge, and empower community members to take on hazard mitigation at an individual level. This Implementation Handbook (Handbook) is intended for use by City staff and decision-makers after the LHMP is adopted. It will:
Give clear instructions on what to do following the adoption of the LHMP. Simplify future updates to the LHMP.
Assist the City in preparing grant funding applications related to hazard mitigation. Guide annual plan review actions.
How do I Use This Handbook?
This Handbook can help City staff and decision-makers in several different situations. If and when the events listed below occur, consult the respective sections of this Handbook for advice on how best to proceed:
A disaster proclamation has been issued by the Needles City Council A disaster proclamation has been issued by the State of California A disaster declaration has been signed by the Federal Government I want to apply for mitigation grant funding
Needles is undergoing its budgeting process
Needles is holding its annual meeting of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Needles is updating the following policy and regulatory documents:
• The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
• The Safety Element of the General Plan
• The Housing Element of the General Plan
• The Zoning Code
Who Maintains This Handbook?
The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) leader is responsible for maintaining this Handbook. At the time of writing, the current HMPC leader is Kathy Raasch from the Needles Development Services. The HMPC may delegate this responsibility to someone else should they choose.
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-5
What to do when a disaster has been proclaimed or declared Disasters may be proclaimed or declared by the Needles City Council, the State of California, or the federal government. Responsibilities may differ depending on who proclaims or declares the disaster. If multiple organizations proclaim or declare a disaster, consult all applicable lists.
The Needles City Council
If the Needles City Council (or the Director of Emergency Services, if the City Council is not in session) proclaims a Local Emergency, take the following steps:
Update Attachment 1 with information about the disaster. Include information about cumulative damage, including any damage outside of Needles. Discuss opportunities for local assistance with the representatives from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
If the disaster damages local infrastructure or City-owned facilities, repair or rebuild the structure to be more resilient, following applicable hazard mitigation actions. A list of actions, organized by hazards, is included in Attachment 4. Chapter 6 of the Needles LHMP states that the City should consider updating the LHMP if a disaster causes a loss of life in the community, even if there is no state disaster proclamation or federal disaster declaration that includes part or all of the city. If there is a loss of life in Needles, consider updating the LHMP. Consult the section on updating the LHMP in this Handbook for details.
The State of California
If the State of California proclaims a disaster for Needles or an area that includes part or all of Needles, take the following steps:
Update Attachment 1 with information about the disaster. Include information about cumulative damage, including any damage outside of Needles. Collaborate with representatives from Cal OES to assess the damage from the event. Discuss opportunities for local assistance with representatives from Cal OES. If the disaster damages local infrastructure or City-owned facilities, repair or rebuild the structure to be more resilient, following applicable hazard mitigation actions. A list of actions, organized by hazards, is included in Attachment 4. If the disaster may escalate into a federal disaster declaration, begin any necessary coordination with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Chapter 6 of the Needles LHMP states that the City should consider updating the LHMP if a disaster leads to a state disaster proclamation or federal disaster declaration that includes part or all of Needles, even if there is no loss of life. Consider updating the LHMP.
Consult the section on updating the LHMP in this Handbook for details.
The Federal Government
If the federal government declares a disaster for Needles or any area that includes part or all of Needles, take the following steps:
Update Attachment 1 with information about the disaster. Include information about Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-6
cumulative damage, including any damage outside of Needles. Collaborate with Cal OES and FEMA representatives to assess the damage. Determine if Needles will be eligible for public assistance funds related to the federal disaster declaration. These funds can be used to reimburse the City for response and recovery activities. If the City is eligible, work with FEMA and Cal OES representatives to enact the necessary requirements and receive funding.
If the disaster damages local infrastructure or City-owned facilities, repair or rebuild the structure to be more resilient, following applicable hazard mitigation actions. A list of actions, organized by hazards, is included in Attachment 4. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is a FEMA program that helps fund hazard mitigation activities after a disaster event. Needles may be eligible for funding because of the federal disaster declaration, although not all activities may meet the program's requirements. If Needles is eligible, work with FEMA to apply for this funding. Chapter 6 of the Needles LHMP states that the City should consider updating the LHMP if a disaster leads to a state disaster proclamation or federal disaster declaration that includes part or all of Needles, even if there is no loss of life. Consider updating the LHMP.
Consult the section on updating the LHMP in this Handbook for details.
I Want to Apply for Mitigation Grant Funding
There are three potential grant funding programs that FEMA administers for hazard mitigation activities. Two of these programs, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding sources, are available to communities with an LHMP that complies with FEMA guidelines and has been adopted within the past five years.
The third funding program is the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which is available for communities that are part of a federal disaster declaration. This section discusses the BRIC and FMA programs and how to apply for them. The HMGP is discussed under the "Federal Government" subsection of the above "What to Do When a Disaster Has Been Proclaimed or Declared" section.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) will support states, local communities, tribes, and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. BRIC is a new FEMA pre-disaster hazard mitigation program that replaces the existing Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program.
The BRIC program's guiding principles are supporting communities through capability- and capacity-building, encouraging and enabling innovation, promoting partnerships, enabling large projects, maintaining flexibility, and providing consistency.
Development projects must be identified in a hazard mitigation plan that meets FEMA guidelines and has been adopted within the past five years. When applying to this program, review the list of hazard mitigation actions in Attachment 4 to see which projects may be eligible. Planning efforts for communities that lack a valid hazard mitigation plan may be eligible for funding if the effort would create a valid hazard mitigation plan. All BRIC grant applications are processed through the State. To learn more, consult with Cal OES representatives or visit the FEMA webpage for the program. At the time of writing, this webpage is available at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities.
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-7
TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO APPLY FOR BRIC FUNDING:
Confirm that the program is currently accepting funding applications. Check with representatives from Cal OES or consult the Cal OES webpage on the BRIC program.
At the time of writing, this webpage is available at
https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities. Identify the actions from the hazard mitigation strategy (see Attachment 4) that call on the City to pursue funding or list grants as a potential funding source. Confirm that the actions are consistent with the requirements of the BRIC grant. Coordinate with Cal OES representatives to compile and submit materials for the grant application.
Flood Mitigation Assistance
The FMA grant program is a competitive, national program that awards funding for physical development projects and planning efforts that mitigate long-term damage from flooding. The funding is only available to communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which Needles currently does. Communities must also have a valid hazard mitigation plan that meets FEMA guidelines to be eligible, and all projects must be consistent with the list of actions in the hazard mitigation strategy. When applying to this program, review the list of hazard mitigation actions in Attachment 4 to see which projects may be eligible. As with the BRIC program, applications for the FMA program must be processed through the State. To view more information, consult with Cal OES representatives or visit the FEMA webpage on the program. At the time of writing, this webpage is available at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/floods.
TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO APPLY FOR FMA FUNDING:
Confirm that the program is currently accepting funding applications. Check with representatives from Cal OES or consult the Cal OES webpage on the FMA program. At the time of writing, this webpage is available at
https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/floods.
Identify the actions from the hazard mitigation strategy (see Attachment 4) that call on the City to pursue funding or list grants as a potential funding source. Confirm that the actions are consistent with the requirements of the FMA grant. Coordinate with Cal OES representatives to compile and submit materials for the grant application.
Needles is going through the budgeting process
Needles's budget process is an ideal opportunity to secure funding for hazard mitigation actions and to ensure that hazard mitigation efforts are incorporated into the City's fiscal priorities.
Needles currently operates on an annual budget cycle that runs from July 1 to June 30. During this process, City staff should take the following steps to incorporate hazard mitigation into Needles's annual budget:
Include hazard mitigation activities in Needles's list of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). Review the list of hazard mitigation actions in Attachment 4 and identify the projects that can be included in the CIP or can support efforts within the CIP. Review the risk and threat assessments in the LHMP (Chapter 3) to ensure that all Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-8
items in the list of CIP are planned, designed, and constructed to minimize the threat from hazard events.
Identify opportunities to identify state-alone hazard mitigation actions through the annual budget process. Include appropriate items from Attachment 4 in the budget as standalone line items, particularly items that the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (Planning Committee) considered a high priority.
Set aside staff to conduct hazard mitigation activities, including time to participate in Planning Committee meetings and research, prepare, and submit BRIC and FMA grant opportunities (consult the "I Want to Apply for Mitigation Grant Funding" section above). Ensure hazard mitigation activities are reflected in each department's priorities and earmarked time for specific goals.
Needles is Conducting its Annual meeting of the Hazard
Mitigation Planning Committee
The hazard mitigation planning process brings together representatives from multiple City departments as well as other relevant stakeholders. It provides a forum to discuss the hazards in Needles and how to mitigate them effectively. As mentioned in Chapter 5 of the LHMP, the Planning Committee should meet at least once each year, beginning a year after the LHMP is adopted. During these meetings, the Planning Committee should discuss implementation progress and integration of hazard mitigation actions in other City documents. At these meetings, the Planning Committee can review the status of the hazard mitigation actions and discuss whether completed or in-progress actions are working as expected. These meetings also allow the Planning Committee to strategically plan for the upcoming year.
It may help for the Planning Committee to meet early in the year, in advance of annual budget activities. Attachment 3 contains an example of a Planning Committee Meeting Agenda.
The annual meeting should include representatives from City departments and other organizations that originally prepared the LHMP. Representatives from other relevant organizations should also be invited. During the preparation of the current LHMP, the following individuals were part of the Planning Committee:
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-9
Needles Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
Name Title Department
Kathy Raasch Interim Development Services Director Development Services Rainie Torrance Utility Manager Needles Public Utility Agency Irene Romero City Planner Planning
Jennifer Valenzuela Recreation Services Manager Parks & Recreation Cheryl Sallis Community Services Manager Community Services Department Will Guzman Building Inspector Building & Safety
Adrian Chavez Senior Code Enforcement Code Enforcement
Steve Ledbetter Contract City Engineer Engineering
Angelica Deermer Housing Manager Needles Housing Authority Manager Aaron Pfannenstiel LHMP Project Manager Atlas Planning Solutions Crystal Stueve LHMP Planner Atlas Planning Solutions
Robert Jackson LHMP Planner Atlas Planning Solutions
In advance of Planning Committee meetings, consider using Attachment 1 to maintain an accurate list of recent disaster events that have occurred in and around Needles since the LHMP was adopted. At the Planning Committee meeting, review the Plan Maintenance Table (Attachment 2) to identify any gaps in the LHMP or any other component of the plan that needs updating. This also allows Planning Committee members the opportunity to review the actions in the hazard mitigation strategy (Attachment 4) and ensure that they are implemented as intended.
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-10
Needles is updating its policy and regulatory documents If Needles is updating the LHMP, the Safety Element or Housing Element of the General Plan, or the Zoning Code, consult the following applicable section.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
All LHMPs should be updated every five years. This helps keep the plan up to date and ensures that it reflects the most recent guidance, requirements, science, and best practices. An updated LHMP also helps keep Needles eligible for hazard mitigation grants that require a valid, recent LHMP (see "I Want to Apply for Mitigation Grant Funding"), along with an increased amount of post-disaster recovery funds.
The update process for the LHMP takes approximately one year. To ensure that a new LHMP comes into effect before the previous one expires, the update process should begin no later than four years after the plan is adopted. Updates may occur sooner at the City's discretion. Potential reasons for updating the LHMP sooner may include a state disaster proclamation or federal disaster declaration that covers part or all of Needles or if a disaster leads to a loss of life in Needles (see the "What to Do When a Disaster Has Been Proclaimed or Declared" section), as discussed in Chapter 5 of the LHMP.
Take the following steps to update the LHMP:
ASSEMBLE THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING COMMITTEE
Convene a Planning Committee meeting no later than four years after the LHMP is adopted. Invite the regular Planning Committee members, along with representatives from other organizations that may have a role to play in the update process.
Review the current status of mitigation actions, including if there are any that are not being implemented as planned or are not working as expected. Determine if there have been any changes in hazard events, regulations, best practices, or other items that should be incorporated into an updated LHMP.
Decide if there is a need for a technical consultant to assist with the LHMP update and conduct consultant selection activities if needed. If a consultant is desired, the selection process should begin a few months before the update begins. Create and implement a community engagement strategy based on the strategy prepared for the existing LHMP. Describe in-person and online engagement strategies and materials, including ideas for meetings and workshops, draft community surveys, content for websites and press releases, and other materials that may be useful.
UPDATE THE RISK AND THREAT ASSESSMENTS
Review and update the risk assessment to reflect the most recent conditions in Needles.
Consider recent hazard events, new science associated with hazards and climate change, new development and land use patterns, and other recent changes in local conditions.
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-11
Evaluate the status of all key facilities. Update this list if new facilities have been constructed or if existing facilities have been decommissioned. Reassess the threat to key facilities.
Review the demographics of community residents and update the threat assessment for vulnerable populations and other community members.
Assess any changes to the threat to all other community assets, including key services, other facilities, and economic drivers.
UPDATE THE MITIGATION ACTIONS
Update the existing hazard mitigation actions to reflect actions in progress. Remove actions that have been completed or revise them to increase their effectiveness. Revise actions that have been abandoned or delayed to make them more feasible or remove them from the list of mitigation actions if they are no longer appropriate for Needles. Develop mitigation actions to improve the status of hazard mitigation activities in Needles by addressing any issues not covered by the existing LHMP. The ability to expand current mitigation capabilities will generally be reliant upon the budgeting allocated for each department/program for that fiscal year. The level at which these programs may or may not be expanded upon will be dependent upon the amount of funding received. FEMA has released a series of guides over the past few years that highlight some of the ways in which jurisdictions can expand mitigation. Some strategies for increasing current mitigation capabilities may include:
City should actively identify, adopt, and enforce the most current set of development codes and standards available. Strongly encouraging new development to be constructed to higher standards than currently required, increasing resilience within the community.
Engaging parts of the community that may not be actively involved in mitigation efforts. Expanding the number and types of organizations involved in mitigation planning and implementation, increasing both efficiency and bandwidth. Fostering new relationships to bring underrepresented populations and partners to the hazard mitigation planning process.
During the annual LHMP review, the HMPC should look for opportunities to fund and expand/enhance the effectiveness of current mitigation actions. During annual budgeting processes, the City should identify new funding sources (bonds, grants, assessment districts, etc.) that can be used to support existing capabilities enhancements.
Ensure that the feedback from the community engagement activities is reflected in the new and updated mitigation actions.
REVIEW AND ADOPT THE UPDATED PLAN
Review the other chapters and appendices of the LHMP to reflect any changes made through the update process.
Release the updated plan to the Planning Committee members and revise the plan to reflect any comments by Planning Committee members.
Distribute the updated Plan to any appropriate external agencies not included in the Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-12
Planning Committee and revise the plan as appropriate in response to any comments.
Release the updated plan publicly for review and make revisions to the plan to reflect public comments.
Submit the plan to Cal OES and FEMA for approval and make any necessary revisions. Submit the plan to the Needles City Council for adoption.
The Safety Element of the General Plan
The Safety Element is a required component of Needles's General Plan. It can be updated as a stand-alone activity or as part of a more comprehensive process to update multiple sections or all of the General Plan. The Safety Element does not need to be updated on any set schedule, but updates should be frequent enough for the element to remain current and applicable to the community.
Local communities can incorporate their LHMP into their Safety Element as allowed under Section 65302.6 of the California Government Code, as long as the LHMP meets minimum federal guidelines. This allows communities to be eligible for an increased share of post-disaster relief funding from the State if a hazard situation occurs, as per Section 8685.9 of the California Government Code.
Take the following steps to incorporate the LHMP into the Safety Element:
Incorporate new requirements into the safety element and ensure that the LHMP is consistent with the safety element.
Review the requirements for Safety Elements in Section 65302(g) of the California Government Code and for LHMPs in Section 65302.6. Ensure that both documents meet all state requirements.
Ensure that the information in both plans does not contradict each other and that any inconsistencies are corrected to use the most accurate and appropriate information. This information should include a community description, a risk assessment, and a threat assessment.
Ensure that the policies in the Safety Element support the LHMP and provide a planning framework for specific hazard mitigation actions.
The Housing Element of the General Plan
The Housing Element is a required component of Needles's General Plan. Section 65583 of the California Government Code requires a Housing Element to analyze and plan for new residential growth in a community, including residential growth for households with an annual income below the area median. Like an LHMP, state regulations require the Housing Elements to be updated regularly to remain current and valid.
The Housing Element is not required to contain any information or policies related to hazards, although it may include policies that address retrofitting homes to improve resiliency. However, state law links the regular schedule of Housing Element updates to mandatory revisions to other General Plan elements. For example, Section 65302(g)(2) of the California Government Code Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-13
requires that communities that update their Housing Element on or after January 1, 2009, also update their Safety Element to include specific information and policies related to flood protection.
As the LHMP is incorporated into the Safety Element, updates to the Housing Element may indirectly trigger updates to the LHMP.
To update the LHMP concurrent with updates to the Housing Element, take the following steps:
Ensure that the LHMP meets any new requirements for the safety element that may be triggered by a housing element update.
Section 65302(g) of the California Government Code lists several requirements for the Safety Element of the General Plan. Some of these requirements are triggered by updates to the Housing Element. Check to see if there are any new requirements of this nature. Note that the requirement is linked to the new Housing Element's adoption date, not the date the update process begins.
Because the LHMP is incorporated into the Safety Element, any amendments or revisions to the Safety Element triggered by the Housing Element update may be made directly in the LHMP. Requirements triggered by the Housing Element are unlikely to require a full rewrite of the LHMP, but the process should fully involve the Planning Committee and include appropriate community engagement. Adopt the updated LHMP and incorporate it into the Safety Element. If necessary, amend the Safety Element to ensure the two documents are consistent (review the "Incorporate New Requirements Into the Safety Element, and Ensure that the LHMP is Consistent with the Safety Element" subsection above).
The Needles Municipal Code
Needles's Municipal Code contains a set of standards that guide land uses and development in the community. These standards include where different types of buildings and land use activities may be located, how these structures must be built, and how they must be operated or maintained. The Municipal Code may include requirements that structures (particularly new structures or those undergoing substantial renovations) incorporate hazard-resistant features, be located outside the most hazard-prone areas, or take other steps to reduce hazard vulnerability.
All communities in California are required to adopt the minimum state Building Standard Code (BSC), which includes some hazard mitigation requirements for new or significantly renovated structures. The BSC is generally updated every three years, with supplemental code updates halfway into each update cycle. Chapter 6, "Building Regulations," of Needles's Municipal Code contains building regulations and incorporates the BSC. Other sections of the Code adopt additional standards as desired by the City that adapts the BSC t Needles's local context.
As a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Needles is required to incorporate Floodplain Management Requirements in its Zoning Code, which is located in Chapter 9A – Floodplain Management. These regulations establish standards for developing and operating facilities within mapped flood-prone areas. Other sections of the Needles Municipal Code may include additional standards related to hazard mitigation activities.
With the exception of the Floodplain Management Regulations and the minimum standards in the BSC, Needles is not required to incorporate hazard-related requirements in the Municipal Code.
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-14
However, the Municipal Code is an effective tool for implementing hazard mitigation measures related to the siting, construction, and operation of new buildings and other structures. Substantial updates to the Municipal Code, including the Buildings and Construction and Zoning Code sections, should be done in a way that is consistent with the LHMP. Include hazard-related requirements in applicable sections of the Needles code of ordinances.
If the BSC is being updated, evaluate the hazard-related requirements of all sections in the new BSC. Identify any areas where it may be feasible to add or revise standards to help reduce the threat from hazard events. Ensure that these standards are consistent with the LHMP. Consider whether standards should be applied to all structures, to specific types of structures, or to structures in a limited area (such as a flood plain). If the Zoning Code is being updated, ensure that all requirements do not expose community members or community assets to an excessive risk of harm. Where feasible, use the requirements to strengthen community resiliency to hazard events. Ensure that these standards are consistent with the LHMP. Consider possible standards such as overlay zones that strengthen zoning requirements in hazard-prone areas, landscaping and grading requirements that buffer development from hazards, siting, and design standards that make structures more resilient, and other strategies as appropriate.
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-15
Attachment 1: Disaster Information Table
Use this table to fill out the information about any disaster events that have occurred in Needles or nearby and have affected the community. Include the date and location of the disaster event, the damages associated with the event, and any information about disaster proclamations or declarations resulting from the event.
Date Location Damages * Declaration Details †
* Includes number and type of injuries, number of deaths, and cost of physical damage † If the disaster was proclaimed or declared by the local, state, and/or federal government Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-16
Attachment 2: Plan Maintenance Table
Use this table when reviewing the LHMP as part of the Planning Committee's annual activities.
For each section of the LHMP, note if any changes should be made to make the plan more effective for the community. This includes noting if anything in the LHMP is incorrect or if any important information is missing. Make revisions consistent with these notes as part of the next update to the LHMP.
Section Is Anything
Incorrect?
Is Anything
Missing?
Should Any Other
Changes Be Made?
Multiple sections or
throughout
Chapter 1:
Introduction
Chapter 2:
Community Profile
Chapter 3: Hazard
Assessment
Chapter 4: Threat
and Vulnerability
Chapter 5: Hazard
Mitigation Strategy
Chapter 6: Plan
Maintenance
Appendices
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-17
Attachment 3: Sample Agenda and Topics for the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
This attachment includes a sample agenda and discussion topics for the annual meeting of the Planning Committee. Meetings do not have to follow this order or structure, but the items included in this attachment should be addressed as part of the annual meeting. During the update process for the LHMP, it is likely that the Planning Committee will meet more frequently. The meetings of the Planning Committee during the update process will involve different discussion topics.
ITEM 1: RECENT HAZARD EVENTS
1.1. What hazard events have occurred this past year in Needles or nearby in a way that affected the community?
• Identify events that caused loss of life or significant injury to Needles community members, significant property damage in Needles, or widespread disruption to Needles.
• More minor events should also be identified if there is a need for a community response to mitigate against future such events.
1.2. What are the basic facts and details behind any such hazard events? • Consider the size and location of the affected area, any measurements of severity, any injuries and deaths, the cost of any damage, the number of people displaced or otherwise impacted, and other relevant summary information. • Ensure that these facts and details are clearly recorded for future plan updates, including using the Disaster Information Table (Attachment 1).
ITEMS 2: MITIGATION ACTION ACTIVITIES
2.1. What mitigation actions have been fully implemented? Are they working as expected, or do they need to be revised?
2.2. What mitigation actions have started to be implemented since the Planning Committee last met? Is the implementation of these actions proceeding as expected, or are there any barriers or delays? If there are barriers or delays, how can they be removed?
2.3. What mitigation actions are scheduled to begin implementation in the next year? Are there any factors that could delay implementation or weaken the effectiveness of the actions? How can these factors be addressed?
2.4. What resources are needed to support planned, in-process, or ongoing mitigation actions? Does the City have access to these resources? If not, how can the City obtain access to these resources?
ITEM 3: INFORMATION SHARING
3.1. Is the City communicating with all appropriate local jurisdictions, including neighboring communities, San Bernardino County, and special districts? This should include information on district-specific hazard situations, mitigation actions, and other relevant information.
3.2. Is the City communicating with the appropriate state and federal agencies? Is the City receiving information about new regulations, best practices, and data related to hazard mitigation activities?
3.3. Are there opportunities for the City to improve coordination with local, state, and federal jurisdictions and agencies?
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
E-18
ITEM 4: BUDGETARY PLANNING
4.1. What are the financial needs for Needles to support the implementation of planned and in-process mitigation actions, including ongoing items? Is there sufficient funding for all measures in the LHMP that are planned for the next year, including in-process and ongoing items? If sufficient funding is unavailable, how can the City obtain these funds?
4.2. If it is not feasible for the City to support all planned, in-process, or ongoing mitigation actions, which ones should be prioritized?
4.3. Are there hazard-related activities not included in the LHMP that should be budgeted for? Can the City obtain the necessary funding for these activities? ITEM 5: STRATEGIC PLANNING
5.1. Which grants are available for hazard mitigation activities, and which activities are best positioned to secure funding?
5.2. How should the agencies and other organizations represented on the Planning Committee coordinate to maximize the chances of receiving funding?
5.3. Are there any scheduled or anticipated updates to other City documents that could relate to hazard mitigation activities? How can the Planning Committee share information with staff and any technical consultants responsible for these updates and ensure that the updates will enhance community resiliency?
5.4. What capital projects are scheduled or anticipated? Are these capital projects being designed and built to be resistant to hazard events? Are there opportunities for these projects to support hazard mitigation activities?
5.5. How can Planning Committee members coordinate efforts with those responsible for capital projects to take advantage of economies of scale that will make implementing hazard mitigation activities easier?
5.6. Has it been four years since the adoption of the LHMP? If so, lay out a timeline for plan update activities, including additional meetings of the Planning Committee. Identify if a technical consultant is needed and begin the contracting process.
5.7. Are there any other opportunities for Planning Committee members and the organizations they represent to coordinate efforts?
ITEMS 6: NEW BUSINESS
6.1. Are there any other items related to the Planning Committee's mission? Agenda Item 3.
E-19
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Attachment 4: Hazard Mitigation Strategy
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
Emergency Preparedness Activities
P1
Conduct regular emergency preparedness drills and
training exercises for City staff. General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing Low
P2
Create a Needles Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT) program. General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing Low
P3
Ensure that community evacuation plans include
provisions for community members who do not have
access to private vehicles or are otherwise unable to
drive.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing Low
P4
Continue to ensure effective emergency notifications
through multiple media formats, in languages
appropriate for the community, about pending,
imminent, or ongoing emergency events. Ensure that
information is accessible to persons with access and
functional needs.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing High
P5
Maintain at least one emergency power-generating
station in all critical facilities that the City could use as an emergency public assembly area, such as the
Civic Center, Community Centers, and any other
locations designated in the future.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing High
P6
Update the Needles Emergency Operations Plan to
identify backup power and communications locations
for critical facilities.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing Medium
P7 Increase the number of City staff with CalOES Safety Assessment Program (SAP) credentials.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing Low
P8
Establish or update agreements with local schools to
ensure facilities can act as evacuation sites during
major emergencies.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing Low
P9 Ensure City staff complete all required SEMS/NIMS
courses to ensure agency compliance.
General Fund,
EMPG
Emergency Office
Services Ongoing Low
Multiple Hazards
Agenda Item 3.
E-20
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
1.01 Install energy-efficient equipment upgrades in City facilities to increase the longevity of the fuel supply for backup generators. (Hazards Addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2028 Medium
1.02 Install digital signage in key locations to aid in public outreach and information dissemination during
emergency events. (Hazards Addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2027 Low
1.03 Conduct routine updates to Facility Conditions
Assessments for City-owned infrastructure and other
utilities and coordinate with other agencies to ensure
inspections of other important infrastructure. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/ Utilities $$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
1.04 Installation of solar and battery backup systems at key critical facilities within the City. (Hazards addressed:
All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$$$ 2026 High
1.05 Work closely with community groups to increase
awareness of hazard events and resiliency
opportunities among socially vulnerable community
members. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Housing/ Community
Services/ Public Safety $
Ongoing
(Annually) Low
1.06 Closely monitor changes in the boundaries of mapped hazard areas resulting from land use changes or
climate change and adopt new mitigation actions or
revise existing ones to ensure continued resiliency.
(Hazards Addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services $
Ongoing
(Annually)
Low
1.07 Integrate policy direction and other information from this Plan into other City documents, including the
General Plan, Emergency Operations Plan, and
Capital Improvements Program. (Hazards
addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services/
Public Works/ Utilities $ Following All
Plan Updates Low
1.08 Monitor funding sources for hazard mitigation
activities. (Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
All Departments $ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
1.09 Integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation information and analysis into future LHMP updates
and other City Plans, where practicable. (Hazards
addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
All Departments $ Following Any
Plan Update Low
Agenda Item 3.
E-21
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
1.10 Install and harden encased emergency backup power
generators at critical facilities and key infrastructure as deemed necessary. Prioritize installations for
facilities that serve as key cooling/warming centers
(including the Senior Center), and evacuation centers.
(Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$$ 2027 Low
1.11 Install battery backup power supplies for traffic signals to ensure functionality in the event of power failure.
(Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2025 Low
Earthquake Hazards (Seismic Shaking)
2.01 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to the
City's Earthquake preparedness/response plans and
protocols.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) Low
2.02 Develop a small project-based retrofit program to
assist homeowners with simple earthquake mitigation
activities (i.e., water heater straps, furniture
anchoring, gas shut-off tools, and other emergency
supplies) to reduce strain on City resources during an
event.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ 2027 Medium
2.03 Conduct an educational campaign to incentivize and promote medium-scale seismic retrofits, such as
window films to minimize shattering, rooftop-mounted
equipment anchors, masonry chimney bracing, and
other preventative measures to reduce damage to
private buildings.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
2.04 Conduct a seismic analysis of all City-owned key
facilities and retrofit vulnerable facilities.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Public Works $$$ 2027 Low
2.05 To the extent feasible, construct all new City-owned facilities to remain operational in the event of a major earthquake.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
All Departments $$$$ 2028 Low
Agenda Item 3.
E-22
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
2.06 Retrofit key critical facilities with seismically rated window film treatments that ensure glass windows do
not shatter during a strong seismic event.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Public Works $$$ 2028 Low
2.07 Analyze the City's building and housing stock to
create an inventory of seismically vulnerable buildings (unreinforced masonry, soft-story construction, nonductile concrete buildings) within the city and conduct an educational program providing information on how
to begin the process of seismically retrofitting these
buildings.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Earthquake
Authority Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ 2027 Low
Wildland Fires
3.01 Promote the proper maintenance and separation of
power lines and efficient response to fallen power
lines, particularly in areas that experience strong
winds.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
3.02 Identify funding for existing non-conforming retrofits in fire-prone areas to use non-combustible building
materials such as masonry, brick, stucco, concrete,
steel, or others as appropriate. Establish defensible
space zones around homes in these areas to reduce
fire vulnerability.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services
/ Public Safety $$$ Ongoing
(Annually) Medium
3.03 Explore new funding opportunities to increase the
budget for public outreach and fire hazard prevention
awareness and education.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Safety $ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
3.04 Create a rapid response plan from among first
responder agencies to secure hospital, nursing, and
assisted living facilities during high fire conditions and incidents.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Public Safety $$ 2027 Medium
Agenda Item 3.
E-23
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
Grants, Other
Grants
3.05 Coordinate with SBCF and surrounding jurisdictions on home hardening and vegetation management
assessments to assist residents in understanding and
addressing wildfire risk.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Code Enforcement
(Development
Services)
$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
3.06 Conduct regular fuel modification projects and clear vegetation to reduce fire hazard risks, such as
removal of dead vegetation and invasive plants in
parks, open spaces, and right-of-way embankments
and creating larger buffers within the wildland-urban
interface.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Cal Fire
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/
Development Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) High
Severe Weather (Drought, Extreme Heat, Severe Wind, Thunderstorms)
4.01 Expand current outreach to residents and businesses prior to the severe winds on proper tree maintenance
and identification of potentially hazardous trees.
(Hazards addressed: Severe Wind)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/ Code
Enforcement $ Ongoing (Annually) Low
4.02 Remove or trim trees determined to be susceptible to blowing over during a severe wind event. Encourage
the undergrounding of existing utilities, where
practicable. (Hazards Addressed: Severe Wind)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works/ Code
Enforcement/ Utilities $$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
4.03 Update the Needles Municipal Code to reflect the
latest advances in best practices in landscape design
that reduce water use within the City and support fire
risk reduction.
(Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services $ 2025 Medium
4.04 Update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to the
City’s drought preparedness/response plans and
protocols. (Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) Low
Agenda Item 3.
E-24
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
4.05 Develop a campaign to encourage water/energy
efficiency, reduce consumption for existing
development, and promote the expansion of electric
vehicle-ready construction in new development.
(Hazards addressed: Drought, Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities/ Development
Services $$$ 2025 High
4.06 Create a Cooling Center Plan for the use of
designated public facilities (libraries, community
centers, etc.) as cooling centers for vulnerable
populations during extreme weather events.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ 2025 High
4.07 During the design review process, promote passive
cooling design (brise-soleil, long roof overhangs,
locating windows away from southern facades, etc.) in
new developments.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services $ Ongoing
(As needed) Low
4.08 Evaluate the long-term capacity of designated cooling centers and shelters in the City to provide sufficient
relief from extreme heat. Assess the need to expand
services as the frequency, length, and severity of
future heat waves potentially change due to climate
change. (Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services/ Community
Services
$$ 2025 Low
4.09 Upgrade HVAC within City facilities to more efficient systems, including split or decentralized systems that
allow for heating and cooling rooms/spaces. (Hazards
addressed: Extreme heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
All Departments $$$ 2026 High
4.10 Increase the use and construction of shade structures within new developments, City facilities, parks, and
trails to reduce extreme heat conditions. (Hazards
addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services/
Public Works $$$ Ongoing (As Needed) Medium
4.11 Promote early notifications to residents before a
severe weather event, focusing on effective
communication methods with vulnerable populations
to better ensure they have adequate time to prepare.
(Hazards addressed: Severe Weather)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services $ Ongoing Low
Agenda Item 3.
E-25
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
4.12 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to the
City's Extreme Heat preparedness/response plans
and protocols. (Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) Low
4.13 Ensure effective emergency notifications through
multiple media formats, in languages appropriate for
the community, about pending, imminent, or ongoing
thunderstorm events (to include flash flood
watches/warnings and severe wind warnings). Ensure
that information is accessible to persons with access
and functional needs. (Hazards Addressed:
Thunderstorms)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, California
Climate Resilience
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services $ Ongoing(As Needed) Low
Infrastructure Failure (Energy Shortage, Power Outage)
5.01 Establish and routinely update a confidential inventory of critical infrastructure and ensure utility providers coordinate development activities with future
resilience enhancements.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2025 Medium
5.02 Expand access to alternative energy technologies,
energy efficiency improvements and appliances, and
programs for vulnerable populations to reduce energy
consumption and the need for City services during
extreme heat events.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2026 Medium
5.03 Develop a Power Failure Strategic Plan that prioritizes the following:
- Identification of critical facilities requiring backup power supplies.
- Identification of critical systems requiring backup
battery supplies to ensure effective operations during
power failure events.
- Development of criteria for backup power
supplies and equipment for City-owned buildings and
infrastructure
- Development of code updates/modifications for
new developments/redevelopments that are energy
resilient or include backup power supplies or plug-inready retrofits. - Compilation of funding sources and strategies for
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities/ Development
Services $$ 2025 High
Agenda Item 3.
E-26
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
City facility improvements and resources for residents
and businesses.
5.04 Install resilient emergency power supplies and
microgrids at key critical facility locations throughout the City.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Utilities $$ 2027 Medium
Geologic Hazards (Expansive Soils)
6.01 Monitor changes to areas where expansive soils are located. General Fund Development Services $$ Ongoing(As Needed) Low
6.02 Conduct an analysis and develop maps of expansive
soil locations throughout the city.
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services $$ 2026 Low
Flood (Flooding and Dam Failure)
7.01 Update the City’s Master Plan of Drainage regularly to incorporate new data and/or address emerging
issues.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
7.02 Investigate the use of permeable paving and
landscaped swales for new construction and
replacement of City-owned hardscaped areas.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ 2028 Low
7.03 Identify potential flood improvements that reduce
inundation from both storm flows and potential dam
inundation effects.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ 2028 High
Agenda Item 3.
E-27
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
7.04 Conduct frequent cleanings of storm drain intakes, especially before and during the rainy season.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
7.05 Track areas where ponding frequently occurs during heavy rainfall and install new drains or upgrade
existing ones to reduce ponding.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ 2028 Low
7.06 Identify all structures located in FEMA flood zones and determine the need to map, analyze, and modify
FEMA flood maps. If flood map revisions are possible,
work with property owners to determine the desire to
perform this activity on their behalf.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $$ 2027 Medium
7.07 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to the
City's Flash Flooding preparedness/response plans.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) Low
7.08 Identify specific public works projects/improvements to address flash flooding impacts throughout the flood
prone portions of the city.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Public Works $$ 2025 Low
7.09 Identify specific improvements that may be
implemented to reduce flood hazards to the Historic
Harvey House railway station.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Public Works $$ 2025 Low
7.10 Continue to enforce development regulations based
on the most current FEMA flood insurance rate maps
and continue to comply with the NFIP.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Development Services $ Ongoing
(As Needed) Low
Agenda Item 3.
E-28
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
7.11 Coordinate with dam owners/operators and state and federal agencies to collectively identify threats to the City and the region and identify ways to
retrofit/strengthen the dams under their control.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Emergency Office
Services $ 2028 Low
7.12 Conduct a public outreach and awareness campaign
about the hazards associated with dam failure, the
areas within the city susceptible to impact, and
evacuation procedures and facilities available in the
event an impact occurs.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) Low
7.13 Update the City's Emergency Operations Plan
annually to include recent additions/changes to the
City's Dam Failure preparedness/response plans.
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Flood
Mitigation
Assistance Grants,
Other Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) Low
Human-Caused Hazards (Cyber Threat, Hazardous Materials Incident, Natural Gas Pipeline Hazards, Transportation Accident)
8.1 Disseminate information on cyber threats to City staff and continually follow up with information on further
developments of the situation. (Hazards addressed:
Cyber Threats)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
IT Department $ Ongoing
(As Needed) Low
8.2 Regularly update cyber security software and educate business owners and residents on current internetbased threats. (Hazards addressed: Cyber Threats) General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
IT Department $$ On going
(As-Needed) Medium
8.3 Ongoing training in coordination with County Fire, the Railroad, County Sheriff, Mutual Aid, Police, Fire,
BLM, and Pipeline Companies (petroleum gas,
electric, fiber optic) to be prepared for and respond to potential hazardous material spills/incidents along the railroad, I-40, or I-95. (Hazard Addressed:
Hazardous Materials Incident, Natural Gas
Pipeline Hazards)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services $$ Ongoing (Annually) Low
8.4 Discourage new sensitive land uses, including
schools, parks, childcare centers, adult and senior
assisted living facilities, and community centers, from locating near identified hazardous material facilities.
Discourage or prohibit new hazardous material
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services $ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
Agenda Item 3.
E-29
City of Needles 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation Actions Implementation Plan
Action
# Mitigation Action Item Potential Funding Source
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost Time Frame Priority
facilities from locating near sensitive land uses.
(Hazard Addressed: Hazardous Materials Incident)
8.5 Continuously inspect businesses and other properties storing hazardous materials and create an inventory
of storage locations that require updates,
maintenance, or renovation.
(Hazard Addressed: Hazardous Materials Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
SB County Fire $$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
8.6 Develop a parcel-level database, in coordination with San Bernardino County, which tracks the status of
hazardous materials storage and use, prioritized by
potential threat to surrounding properties. (Hazard
Addressed: Hazardous Materials Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/ HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $$ 2027 Low
8.7 Continue to work with solid waste service businesses to educate residents and businesses on safely
disposing of small quantities of hazardous materials.
(Hazards Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Public Works $ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
8.8 Coordinate with hazardous materials
generators/operators (Southwest Gas, etc.) regularly
to understand changes to operations within the city.
(Hazards Addressed: Hazardous Materials
Incident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Emergency Office
Services $ Ongoing (Annually) Low
8.9 Analyze the locations of railroad rights of way, and adjacent land uses to determine key locations of
concern if a train derailment occurs. (Hazards
Addressed: Hazardous Materials Incident,
Transportation Accident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services $ 2025 Low
8.10 Maintain relationships with BNSF to improve rail
safety. (Hazards Addressed: Transportation
Accident)
General Fund,
BRIC/HMGP
Grants, Other
Grants
Development Services/
Emergency Office
Services
$$ Ongoing
(Annually) Low
* Relative Cost Categories
$ Less than $15,000
$$ $15,001 to $500,000
$$$ $500,001 to $2,999,999
$$$$ Greater than $3,000,000
Agenda Item 3.
City of Needles, California
Request for City Council Action
CITY COUNCIL NPUA Regular Special
Meeting Date: October 28, 2025
Title: Authorize Joint Use of Poles between the City of Needles and Route 66 Broadband (2025)
Background: The NPUA currently has active Joint Pole Agreements with (3) communication providers within the City of Needles. The Joint Pole Agreements allow the communications companies access to install communication services above ground rather than directly buried. The Joint Pole agreement is an agreement whereby each party has the right to attach to and occupy space on a power pole The original contract for Route 66 Broadband is dated 1995 and is in the name of Cablevision of Needles Inc.
Route 66 Broadband purchased Cablevision of Needles Inc. in 2021 and currently operates as Golden Valley Broadband. To date, there is no active Joint Use of Poles contract with Route 66 Broadband.
The Board of Public Utilities approved the recommended action on October 21, 2025.
Fiscal Impact: Route 66 Broadband has approximately 585 attachments at $15.10 per pole.
The annual fee is $8,833.50.
Environmental Impact: None
Recommended Action: Authorize a License Agreement for the Joint Use of Poles between the City of Needles and Route 66 Broadband for Cable Attachment to City Poles dated 2025 Submitted By: Rainie Torrance, Utility Manager
City Manager Approval: Date:
Other Department Approval (when required): Date: 10/23/2025 10/23/2025
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
Agenda Item 4.
City of Needles, California
Request for City Council Action
CITY COUNCIL NPUA Regular Special
Meeting Date: October 28, 2025
Title: Authorize Reliable Pump Inc. to rebuild the Hydromatic Pump for the Wastewater Pump, not to exceed $18,081.96, including sales tax in the amount of $1,114.43 for a total project cost of $19,196.39 to be funded by the Wastewater Asset Replacement Fund
Background: The treatment plant is equipped with 2 Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs) that require a mixing pump in each SBR. One of those pumps failed and requires rebuilding or replacement. Staff has installed the spare pump and repair/replacement of this pump will allow us to maintain a spare pump for redundancy.
The failed pump was sent to the authorized service provider for evaluation and a repair estimate. The cost to rebuild the pump is $19,196.39. The authorized service representative provided the cost of a replacement pump along with their repair estimate. Staff also contacted two other pump suppliers and requested quotes so we could better evaluate our options. Staff obtained three competitive quotes for a new pump, ranging in cost from $54,680.92 to $83,646.13, with estimated delivery times between 10 and 26 weeks, depending on the vendor. In comparison, the cost to rebuild the existing pump is $19,196.39, and the repair is expected to be completed within four weeks. Based on the significant cost savings and shorter turnaround time, staff recommends proceeding with the rebuild of the existing pump.
The Board of Public Utilities approved the recommended action on October 21, 2025.
Fiscal Impact: Reliable Pump cost is $18,081.96, sales tax on parts (excluding labor) is $1,114.43 for a total project cost of $19,196.39. The Wastewater Asset Replacement fund has a balance of $193K as of September 30, 2025
Environmental Impact: None
Recommended Action: Authorize Reliable Pump Inc. to rebuild the Hydromatic Pump for the Wastewater Pump, not to exceed $18,081.96, including sales tax in the amount of $1,114.43 for a total project cost of $19,196.39 to be funded by the Wastewater Asset Replacement Fund
Submitted By: Rainie Torrance, Utility Manager
City Manager Approval: Date:
Other Department Approval (when required): Date: 10/23/2025___ 10/23/2025
Agenda Item 5.
Estimate
Date
10/6/2025
Estimate #
20652
Name / Address
City of Needles
817 Third Street
Needles, CA 92363
Ship To
City of Needles
817 Third Street
Needles, CA 92363
USA
P.O. No. Terms
Net 30
Rep
BB(I)
FOB
Factory, FFA
Ship Via
Will Call
Signature:
Total
Subtotal
Sales Tax (0.0%)
Date: ___________________________________
Reliable Pump, Inc.
P.O. Box 31115
Las Vegas, NV 89173
Ph: 702-243-5116 Fax: 702-240-9319
Upon approval, sign at bottom and fax to 702-240-9319.
Estimate expires within 30 days from date shown above. Any alteration or deviation from above specifications, involving extra costs will be executed and become an extra charge over and above the Estimate.
Notice: Due to a global spike in demand, combined with material and labor shortages, we are experiencing shipping delays with some of our manufactures. Any quoted lead times cannot be guaranteed.
Item Description Qty Price Total
Estimate to repair one Hydromatic Model
S12LXP4000FA, 40 HP, 460 V, 3 PH, 60 HZ, 870 RPM,
61.00 FLA, 14.13 IMP DIA, SN: 10652740, Date Code:
06/20, Premium Efficient Pump.
During evaluation our technician found that the motor is shorted to ground, the upper and lower chambers oil is
dirty, the impeller is severely worn due to apparent
cavitation, replace bearings and seals, power/control
cable has heat damage under cord cap. Pump requires a
full rebuild.
Estimate below for a full rebuild of pump.
Shop labor to inspect and diagnose only. If repair is not approved, or a new replacement is not ordered within 30 days of receipt of estimate this amount will be billed and pump/motor will be subject to disposal.
Diagnostic Fee 1 420.00 420.00
Shop Shop Labor to rebuild pump 1 1,680.00 1,680.00
Stator rewind labor Labor to rewind stator 1 2,022.16 2,022.16 Stator Rewind Ma... Materials for Stator Rewind 1 866.64 866.64 Materials needed to rebuild cord cap, (6/4, 18/5, 35 Foot Cord.)
Cord cap rebuild ... 1 709.16 709.16
Bearing 6309 C3 Bearing - Open 1 130.56 130.56