RECEIVED
2023 JAN 23 PM I: 53
Linda Vista-Annandale Association
.::..
Pasadena, CA
Re: Council Meeting 1-23-2023; Agenda Item 21; Draft Disaster Evacuation Plan Mayor Gordo and Councilmembers,
The Linda Vista-Annandale Association (LVAA) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Draft Evacuation Plan. We are characterizing he Plan before you as a "Draft" because LVAA considers the Plan a start, but incomplete.
We have been waiting for about 25 years for a detailed Disaster Evacuation Plan - being told over and over again that when a Disaster, such as a Wildfire Storm hits similar to the Oakland Hills Fire, we will be told "at that time" what will happen and what to do. This approach is not acceptable, and so we were very pleased to hear from Chief Augustin that a real Plan needs to be developed and adopted. We understood that we would have the opportunity to express our "on the ground" knowledge to the Fire staff and the consultant, and we waited for months for our opportunity. LVAA's ability and opportunity to participate directly in the development of the Plan, other than a general introductory Zoom meeting early on, has not materialized. This situation is very disappointing.
Here are a few of our concerns and ideas in response to our direct experience and our review of the Draft Plan.
Rose Bowl/Arroyo Events During a Disaster: This is a major concern and we have expressed this concern directly to the Fire Staff, and, yet the Plan ignores the issue and the challenges.
Our Hillside area is full of narrow, winding, steep roads which will clog up quickly In a Disaster such as a Wildfire Storm. Linda Vista Ave. will be totally clogged also, very quickly. What is supposed to happen with thousands of attendees inside the Rose Bowl for a major event? What about the Olympics and Soccer when nearly all the attendees will have no idea where to go or what to do? What about thousands of attendees at a Music Festival or other event on the Golf Course? How will all the extra vehicles from the Rose Bowl on our Hillside streets be accommodated? Is the Plan to shelter attendees inside the Rose Bowl "in place"? What happens to Event attendees outside the Rose Bowl itself? Do we residents have the "right of way" to get out, or what? How
1/23/2023
Item 21
will all the vehicles parked in the Central Arroyo be addressed? Who or what will manage all this at the time? Why doesn't the Plan even mention the Rose Bowl Operating Company staff and their role in all this? Should Rose Bowl staff be trained in any of these matters? Should Disaster evacuation plans be distributed in connection with attendance at a Rose Bowl event, including Football games? Has there been any communication and Planning with the Tournament of Roses and New Year's activities in the Central Arroyo, let alone in connection with the Parade? "One Way Out"/Other Street Plans: Is the idea that all of our narrow, winding, steep roads, and our main streets such as Linda Vista Ave. and Lida, will become "one way out" streets for evacuation purposes? We saw nothing about how this occurs in the Plan and how it is communicated to our residents, or how streets will be converted.
We expect enormous back-ups and clogs on our streets but using "one way out" methods may mitigate this to some extent. What about an evacuation rule that if a household has more than one car, which is very common, each household can only utilize one vehicle to evacuate in order to limit the street crowding? We saw nothing about this in the Plan. What is the Plan to interact with Glendale, and all the fleeing residents from the Canyons adjacent to ours such as Glenaks Canyon? We believe that there is some thought that while some of us may think that evacuating on Lida toward Glendale could work, Glendale residents may be evacuating on Lida toward us.
How will this situation be managed? Why hasn't the Art Center and Hillside campus staff been included in this Planning process? What happens with the students and staff there and the Art Center Shuttle Service in the event of Disaster? Evacuation Locations/Centers: Why is the Convention Center completely ignored as a major evacuation center and location for Pasadena residents, particularly West Pasadena residents? Isn't the Convention Center an obvious resource for evacuations and sheltering?
Earthquake Planning: The Plan seems to assume that Wildfire is the immediate expected Disaster. What about a major Earthquake and should the Plan respond differently to this Disaster as opposed to a Wildfire? What about damaged roads and the inability to exit with vehicles?
Communicating With Residents: What is the preferred method NOW to advise residents on receiving Disaster information particularly concerning evacuation/exiting planning? This is not clear to us from the Plan. We will distribute the information and advise our residents now if we receive clear directions. However, be advised that we are able to communicate with only a percentage of our neighbors - LVAA (and other
neighborhood associations) do not have contact information for every residence in our service area.
These are some of our issues and questions. LVAA suggests that the Plan is not finished yet, and that Fire Staff and the Consultant should interact with LVAA and other neighborhood associations to improve and complete the Plan and address specific neighborhood concerns.
Sincerely,
/s/ Nina Chomsky
Nina Chomsky,
LVAA President
cc: LVAA Board of Directors