The Floodplain Management Ordinance's effect is limited to requiring that any new construction or substantial improvement to existing structures will have to comply with the standards of construction identified in the Ordinance. The City’s continued involvement in NFIP supports this plan. Currently, the City of Pasadena implements a floodplain management program designed to protect the people and property of the City and implements activities such as public information and outreach activities, mapping and regulatory activities, and flood damage reduction activities.
The floodplain administrator (City Manager or designee shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood data available from federal or state agencies or other source to identify flood-prone areas within the boundaries of the city of Pasadena. This data will be on file at the city of Pasadena Department of Planning and Community Development, 175 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101.
The City does not have any repetitive loss properties.
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SECTION 5: RISK ASSESSMENT
A risk assessment involves evaluating vulnerable assets, describing potential impacts, and estimating losses for each hazard. The intention of a risk assessment is to help the community understand the greatest risks facing the City. The risk assessment defines and quantifies vulnerable staff, buildings, critical facilities, and other assets at risk from hazards and is based on the best available data and the significance of the hazard. The risk assessment further examines the impact of the identified hazards on the City, determines which areas of the City are most vulnerable to each hazard, and estimates potential losses to City facilities for each hazard.
5.1 Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern
Critical facilities (CF) consist of properties and structures that play important roles in government operations and the services they provide to the community. Examples of CFs include local government offices and yards, community centers, public safety buildings like police and fire stations, schools, and 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. Critical Facilities are often owned by the City, but some may also be owned and operated privately, such as some utilities and telecommunication infrastructure. Facilities of Concern (FOC) are similar to critical facilities; however, the City may not own them, or their purpose and function are not as important to the function of the City after a disaster. These facilities are identified to ensure the City understands their potential vulnerability to the hazards of concern.
The HMPC identified a total of 157 facilities [107 CFs and 50 FOC] in Pasadena that fall into 4 categories based on their function or characteristics. Table 5-1 shows the number of CFs and FOC in each category, the total estimated replacement value for these facilities, and examples of the type of facility in each category. Figure 5-1 shows the locations of the mapped CFs and FOC in Pasadena.
The potential loss values identified in subsequent tables are based on the City’s total insured value using the City’s Insured Asset Inventory. It is intended to provide an estimate of the replacement cost if the property/ structure is completely or severely damaged. The actual costs of repair could be smaller or larger than the provided estimate. Since the data comes from the City’s Insured Asset Inventory, no facilities not owned by the City will not have a replacement value listed. Where this occurs, “N/A” has been used within the table.
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Based on the available data provided by the City, a minimum of $1,261,099,373.00 worth of City-owned assets were analyzed. The total potential loss value of all City- owned and non-City-owned assets is much higher but is unknown due to data limitations.
The greatest potential for loss among City-owned assets comes from the Recreational Facilities category, which includes but is not limited to the Rose Bowl Stadium, libraries, cultural centers, community centers, and a museum located throughout the City. The next critical facility category with the greatest potential for loss would be City owned utilities, which include the power plant, reservoirs, substations, and pumpstations. The next category is Emergency Operations facilities which include Police and Fire Department facilities and equipment, while City owned residential property is the fourth highest potential loss among City owned facilities.
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, we identified different tiers of impact that could occur. It is reasonable to assume that impacts would not exceed 50% of the total asset value city-wide during a single event. The following are parameters to help understand how much a proposed investment/improvement compares to the existing assets within the City:
• 1% Impact - $12,620,993
• 5% Impact – $63,054,968
• 10% Impact – $126,109,937
• 20% Impact - $252,219,874
• 50% Impact - $630,549,686
The possibility that all facilities will be completely damaged simultaneously is extremely rare. Based on the hazard, most impacts are anticipated to be isolated to certain locations. This estimate does not include the value of the City's underground infrastructure and surface drainage facilities.
Table 5-1 lists the number of facilities and their associated potential replacement values.
Table 5-1: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern in Pasadena 344
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Category
# of
Facilities
- Critical
# of
Facilities -
Concern
Examples Potential
Loss
Government
Operations,
Modular
18 13 City Hall, City Hall
East, City Hall
Annex, Support
Buildings,
Corporate Yard,
Modular Buildings,
Schools, Armory
Building, Parking
Garage, Train
Station
$459,064,100
Emergency
Operations
11 0 Police Station, Fire
Stations, Fire
Equipment
(Engines)
$76,963,985
Water and
Wastewater
Infrastructur
e, Power
Distribution
System
57 0 Reservoirs, Holding
Tanks, Pump
Houses/Stations,
Booster Stations,
Pressure Reducing
Systems, Power
Plant, Substation
$88,266,275
Recreational,
Cultural, and
Community
Centers
5 37 Stadium, Museum,
Libraries, Golf
Courses, Parks,
Community
Centers, etc.
$628,752,079
Residential 16 0 Rental Housing
Units
$8,052,934
Total 107 50 --- $1,261,099,373
* Potential loss data are estimates only, as replacement values for some facilities were not available. Actual losses may be greater than the estimate presented in this table. 345
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Figure 5-1: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern 346
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5.2 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 impact all parts of Pasadena with equal severity, different people may experience the impacts differently. Higher-income households, for instance, are likely more able to afford the cost of retrofitting their homes to resist flooding or, alternatively, move to a location that is less prone to flooding than a lower-income household. As a result, the higher-income household is less likely to experience significant damage during a flood event than the lower-income household, even if the same amount of rain falls on both.
A social threat analysis examines how hazard events are likely to impact different demographic populations in Pasadena 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 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 often 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. Figure 5-2 below demonstrates the total number of people with a disability by census tract in the City of Pasadena.
• Income levels: Lower-income households are less likely to have the financial resources to implement mitigation activities on their residences. They may also struggle with having the necessary time to find and access educational resources discussing hazard mitigation strategies. Furthermore, lower-income households are less likely to be able to move to safer areas that are less at risk of being impacted by a hazard.
• 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 5-2 shows the number of people in Pasadena who meet at least one of the criteria for threatened or vulnerable populations. For more detailed demographic information, please refer to Section 3. Figures 5-3 – 5-5 provide further information of vulnerable populations in the City of Pasadena.
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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 is not readily available, there is no definitive way to determine the amount of these persons in areas of elevated risk, so this assessment will discuss how these other threatened groups may be affected on a general level.
Table 5-2: Pasadena Threatened-Population Metrics
Threatened Population Metric Community-Wide
Data
Population 144,388
Households 57,226
Median household income $76,264
Renter Households 61%
Percentage of households with at least one person
living with a disability
9.4%
Percentage of households living under the poverty limit 13.8% Percentage of households with one-member aged 65+ 9.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2023), 2019 American Community Survey Pasadena Health Assessment for People Living with Disabilities (2019) 348
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Figure 5-2: Total Number of People with Disability by Census Tract in the City of Pasadena
Figure 5-3: Percent of People with a Disability in Pasadena 349
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Figure 5-4: Percent of Population with a Disability by Type Figure 5-5: Percent of Population with Disability by Age 350
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5.2.1 Data Limitations and Notes on Vulnerability Figures The planning team used City provided demographic data to determine the percentage of residents with a disability. This 2017 data (the latest available) showed that 10.2 % (percent) of the population had a disability. The team also considered using the 2020-23 U.S. census data for this purpose. The census data listed 5.3% (percent) of the population with a disability. Census data only provides information on disabilities for people under 65. The planning team selected the 2017 data point as being more inclusive. Both data sets used the Six Standard Questions Census criteria for determining a disability.
5.3 Identification of Critical Facilities and Assets
The location and operations of high-risk facilities such as critical infrastructures and key assets in or near the City are a significant concern with respect to a disaster. The planning team used FEMA's “Public Assistance Guide” (FEMA 322) 22 that defines critical facilities like data centers, utility plants, or highly hazardous materials facilities.
They also used the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Handbook, which describes three (3) categories of facilities for analysis to revise this list: critical facilities for City operations; high potential loss facilities and facilities with hazardous materials; and critical infrastructure such as police/fire stations, streets and bridges, reservoirs, and pump stations.
5.4 Other Assets
In addition to the City’s designated inventory of CFs/FOC and vulnerable populations, hazard events could threaten other important assets to Pasadena. These assets may include services, artistic or cultural landmarks, or local economic activities. The threat assessment describes the potential harm to these other assets based on available information.
5.5 Risk Assessment and Potential Loss
The risk assessment and potential losses for physical damage for City facilities are listed in the tables below. Because the City provides a critical lifeline infrastructure support system, potential losses beyond physical damage must be considered. Loss of potable water service due to non-destructive events results in community hardship, economic loss, and reputational damage. Computing potential losses from these risks is beyond the scope of this LHMP and must be considered in the context of the impact on the entire City.
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5.6 Analysis of Potential Losses by Hazard
Dam Failure
Physical Threat
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 Pasadena are threatened. Devils Gate Dam and Eaton Wash Dam have large storage capacities that could cause localized inundation in Pasadena if the reservoir waters are released due to a dam breach. Table 5-3 identifies the physical assets in Pasadena that are threatened by the potential failure of Devils Gate and Eaton Wash Dam. Based on this analysis, dam inundation would affect 4 CFs and 2 FOCs within the City, with the potential to cause approximately $437 million in damage, based on available information. Figure 5-6 shows the location of the identified CFs and FOCs within these dam inundation zones.
Table 5-3: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (Dam Failure) Category
# of
Facilities
- Critical
# of
Facilities -
Concern
Potential
Loss**
Government Operations, Emergency
Operations
4 0 $45,427,589
Recreational, Cultural, Community
Centers
0 2 $5,484,509
Total 4 2 $50,912,098
** Based on the City of Pasadena insured replacement values. 352
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Figure 5-6: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern in Dam Inundation Zones Social Threat
Dam failure hazards in the City would impact various downstream properties and the residents that live there. Table 5-4 identifies these potential dam failure impacts caused by the Devils Gate and Eaton Wash Dam. Failure of the two (2) dams would affect almost 10% of the population and inundate 5% of the acreage in the City of Pasadena.
Table 5-4: Dam Failure Threatened Populations
Threatened Population Metric
Eaton Wash/
Devils Gate
Dam
City
Population 14,438 144,388
Households 5,722 57,226
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Threatened Population Metric
Eaton Wash/
Devils Gate
Dam
City
Median household income $126,012 $76,264
Percentage of households living under the
poverty limit
3.54% 13.8%
* Percentages are estimates only, as exact values for some statistics were not available. Actual percentages might be greater than the estimate presented in this table. ** Based on the City insured replacement values
Other Threats
Dam failures are often triggered by other events (e.g., seismic shaking, intense rainstorms, etc.). There would most likely be service disruptions in Pasadena if this type of event occurred. Floodwater could quickly inundate the city, disrupting utilities such as water, power, and other services (communications or transportation infrastructure).
Residents may find street lighting and traffic signals are temporarily disabled. Debris carried by the rapid inundation may result in injury of death, destroyed structures and facilities and damage to transportation systems.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use and Development Population in the inundation zone may choose to move out of the City or out of the inundation area if the impacts of dam failure are great enough. Those renting homes within the City (61% of households within the City) have little control over the rebuilding process of a home that has been affected by inundation and, therefore, may be forced to move out of the inundation area or out of the City.
Dam failure is unlikely to affect land use and development because the development review process will take steps to mitigate or minimize flood-related impacts. Areas inundated within the City would not be significantly altered, requiring changes in land use and development patterns
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Drought
Physical Threat
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.
Social Threat
Droughts are unlikely to cause serious social threats to households in Pasadena, 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.
Other Threats
A typical drought is not anticipated to lead to any outages in service in Pasadena.
However, an exceptional drought may lead to restricted water use for residents or businesses in the City. Trees that are 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.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use and Development 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. The anticipated population growth in Pasadena 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 Pasadena.
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Earthquake
Physical Threat
Seismic Shaking
Many physical assets in the City are estimated to experience the same seismic shaking intensity, ranging from 85 to 95% (shaking intensity in relation to the earth’s gravity).
Therefore, all facilities could be damaged during a significant seismic event, which would 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 $252 million.
Underground physical assets, like pipelines or utilities, could be damaged if seismic shaking were strong enough to cause a rupture. In such a scenario, natural gas and water delivery service to Pasadena homes and businesses would be incapacitated until repairs are completed. Table 5-5 displays these potential scenarios and losses that could incur should shaking reach the described threshold. Figure 5-7 displays the CFs and FOCs within the City’s seismic shaking potential hazard zones.
Table 5-5: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (Seismic) Category
# of
Facilities
- Critical
# of
Facilities
- Concern
Total Potential
Loss**
Government Operations, Modular 18 13 $459,064,100
Emergency Operations (Police, Fire) 11 0 $76,963,985
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure,
Pressure Reducing Systems
57 0 $88,266,275
Recreational, Cultural, Community
Centers
5 37 $628,752,079
Residential (City Owned) 16 0 $8,052,934
Total 107 50 $1,261,099,373
* Potential loss data are estimates only, as replacement values for some facilities were not available. Actual losses may be greater than the estimate presented in this table. 356
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** Based on the City of Pasadena insured replacement values Figure 5-7: Earthquake Threat Map with City infrastructure Subsidence
Subsidence can influence both the built and natural environment. Because water lines are gravity-driven, a change in elevation due to subsidence could make the system more inefficient. Structures built in areas that experience subsidence may require retrofitting or relocation. Subsidence could also irreversibly decrease an aquifer’s capacity to store water. Table 5-6 shows 107 CF, and 50 FOC could be affected by land subsidence in the City, resulting in a loss of almost $1,261,099,373. Figure 5-8 displays the CFs and FOC within the City’s land subsidence hazard zones. 357
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Table 5-6: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (Land Subsidence) Category
# of
Facilities
- Critical
# of
Facilities
- Concern
Total Potential
Loss**
Government Operations, Modular 18 13 $459,064,100
Emergency Operations (Police, Fire) 11 0 $76,963,985
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure,
Pressure Reducing Systems
57 0 $88,266,275
Recreational, Cultural, Community
Centers
5 37 $628,752,079
Residential (City Owned) 16 0 $8,052,934
Total 107 50 $1,261,099,373
* Potential loss data are estimates only, as replacement values for some facilities were not available. Actual losses may be greater than the estimate presented in this table. ** Based on the City insured replacement values
Social Threat
The risk of a seismic event is a danger to all groups in Pasadena though some are more threatened than others.
Seismic Shaking
Seniors, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities are more threatened by seismic shaking since they may have limited mobility and may be unable to reach shelter in time. Even if these groups reach shelter in time, they may find themselves trapped if furniture or building components have fallen around them. Renters and low-income people are also more threatened by seismic shaking since these groups may live in homes that are not properly retrofitted to survive the stresses of a seismic event. These groups may not be able to absorb the costs associated with repairing their homes or looking for new housing should their existing one be too damaged for occupancy. Table 5-7 displays the threatened populations in Pasadena associated the seismic shaking scenarios.
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Subsidence
While subsidence can cause significant issues with physical infrastructure, many of the social impacts can be related to where people live and work. Subsidence can impact the safety of homes and businesses. Buildings could gradually sink due to subsidence, causing minor issues such as cracks or misalignments of doors and windows or more costly problems such as sinkholes. These issues could impact residents living in older homes, which may not have been built with foundations reinforced with steel. Because insurance companies may not cover damages caused by subsidence or other geologic hazards, lower-income households may find it financially difficult to cope with subsidence. Table 4-26 displays the populations characteristics of those in Pasadena threatened by land subsidence. Approximately 80% of the City’s residents live in an area with land subsidence and share similarities with the demographics of the entire City.
Other Threats
Seismic Shaking
With early earthquake warning systems becoming operational, it can be expected that utilities will take advantage of these advance warnings to shut off gas, water, and power transmission to control any potential leaks following the seismic shaking. Authorities may have enough time to halt the use of infrastructure or move workers to safe locations away from hazardous conditions. Workers could cease their activity and take shelter until they can be safely evacuated. Therefore, all services could be non- operational during the shaking event and remain inactive until authorities are confident that it is safe to reactivate utilities and return employees to their workplaces. The length of this time would vary depending on the magnitude of the event. A significant earthquake would likely put utilities out of commission and halt any employment activity in the City for a few hours or several days. The City and the region would experience reduced economic activity during the outage period, which would not be felt for weeks, months, or years later. Structures such as telephone poles or power transmission towers felled by the shaking could block roadways and prevent emergency response teams from reaching victims or evacuees who need assistance.
Subsidence
If subsidence occurred in Pasadena, causing impacts to homes and businesses, the City would need to identify the locations of impact and potential triggering event.
Damage to roads, rail lines, and underground pipes (water, wastewater, and natural gas) is likely to be impacted during a subsidence event. As a result, the areas impacted 359
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by these effects could experience a loss of City services and potential congestion if roadways are impacted.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use and Development Seismic Shaking
It is not anticipated that population patterns will change over the next 20 years. 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 may be impacted more severely than newer structures in the City.
Subsidence
Although subsidence is being monitored throughout the City, its effects happen very slowly, and the impacts cause minor damage to structures that can be repaired.
Because of this, subsidence is unlikely to cause changes in population patterns as well as land use and development. The City’s development review process will identify steps to mitigate or prevent future subsidence.
Extreme Weather (Severe Winds, Extreme Heat, Severe Rainstorms) Physical Threat
Severe Winds
Intense winds likely present the greatest threat to physical structures, particularly from trees or branches that fall on buildings/vehicles, causing 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. Often utility poles and trees suffer impacts during high wind events if they occur after a significant rain event. During these events, saturated soils around the base of the tree/pole may be unable to hold up to the strains placed on it by strong winds causing it to fall over.
Trees, tree branches, and other objects have the potential to fall on powerlines and other electrical infrastructure during a severe windstorm, causing power outages throughout the City. Another physical threat of severe wind is wildfire impacts during the summer months.
Extreme Heat
Extremely high temperatures can cause roads to deform and buckle as the pavement expands in the heat, especially in areas that have not been maintained well. Power lines and other electrical grid components become less effective in higher temperatures and 360
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may be damaged due to stress during extreme heat events. Urban heat islands occur when natural land cover is replaced with concentrations of pavement, buildings, or other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. 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 the summer when solar radiation is strongest.
Severe Rainstorms
Physical threats associated with severe rainstorms are similar in nature to those identified in the Flood discussion below.
Social Threat
Severe Wind
Severe wind events can harm people throughout Pasadena but have a greater effect on the safety of people experiencing homelessness and those working outdoors.
Populations that work outside or have respiratory illnesses may be impacted by severe wind events as they can generate dust and other contaminants that can affect the health of residents and workers. Lower-income residents, who may not have the financial resources to purchase homes (or are renting homes) that are not built or retrofitted to withstand powerful winds, could also have difficulty recovering from wind events.
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 Pasadena homelessness count, in 2025, there were approximately 556 individuals experiencing homelessness in the City, with 57% percent unsheltered. This population is very vulnerable to heatstroke during a heatwave, especially if they cannot reach a cooling center.
Sudden spikes in heat can catch people by surprise. Stores can rapidly sell out of fans, air-conditioning units, or drinking water during a heatwave. Many lower-income households live in older, poorly insulated, and energy-inefficient housing and cannot 361
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afford to run their air conditioning, which can be further compounded by the threat of power outages due to heat/rolling blackouts. During these events, extreme heat impacts may affect larger portions of the City and populations that would not be viewed as vulnerable under normal circumstances.
Sever Rainstorm
Social threats associated with sever rainstorms are similar in nature to those identified in the Flood discussion below. The following populations are most vulnerable to severe weather:
• Households with financial instability.
• People that spend an extended amount of time outdoors. • People with existing health conditions or limited mobility. • People with language barriers and citizenship uncertainty. • People living in mobile homes.
• Overcrowded households.
Other Threats
Severe Wind
Southern California and the City all suffer from seasonal Santa Ana Winds and will for the near future. Extreme wind events can worsen other risks, such as wildfires.
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 extreme wind, it can cause or spread urban fires and jeopardize additional neighborhoods/ communities.
Severe Rainstorm
Other threats associated with sever rainstorms are similar in nature to those identified in the Flood discussion below. Severe rain can lead to debris flows in wildfire affected areas of the City and cause significant property damage to areas of the City.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use and Development Severe Wind
Severe winds 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. 362
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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 the northern part of the City may be impacted more severely than newer structures in the southern part of the City.
The northern part of the City has overhead powerlines and mature trees, and older structures may not comply with current building codes.
Extreme Heat
Based on the recent update to TOP 2050 (General Plan), it is not anticipated that population patterns will change over the next 20 years. 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.
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 from extreme heat. While it is unlikely that extreme heat will affect land use and development, it is possible that additional investment in older parts of the City will occur to modify structures to handle these conditions.
Severe Rainstorm
Severe rainstorms occur periodically (primarily during the winter months) and generally do not affect populations to the degree that they would need to migrate in and out of the City. However, in rare circumstances, there may be the need to evacuate households for a short period of time until the flooding recedes.
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Flooding
Physical Threat
No portions of the City are located within the 100-year flood zone (1.0% Annual Chance of Flooding) and the 500-year flood zone (0.2% Annual Chance of Flooding). Although not a “priority” hazard, it is worth to note aspects of the Flood hazard. Flooding in the City of Pasadena is generally related to urban flooding, not riverine flooding. Although the City has gone through several flood events in which properties have experienced repetitive loss, there are no properties that fall under the NFIP definition of Repetitive Loss Properties. The City of Pasadena has two (2) repetitive loss properties, both residential properties. One property has two (2) claims and is located on the southern boundary of Eaton Canyon Park; the other property has three (3) claims and is located just west of the Rose Bowl.
Any physical assets within these mapped boundaries can potentially be inundated if enough precipitation falls, exceeding the storm drain infrastructure design capacity in these areas. Electronic or mechanical equipment on the ground could be impacted causing it to fail. Table 5-8 identifies that one (1) physical asset within the City is located in the 100-year flood zone. Table 5-8 - 5-9 identifies 3 physical assets within the City located in the 500- year flood zone. In total, these facilities are valued at over $12 million. Figure 5-9 depicts the locations of CFs and FOCs located in FEMA- designated flood zones, which include the 100-Year Flood Hazard (blue), 500-Year Flood Hazard (orange), and Areas with Reduced Flood Risk Due to Levee (yellow).
Table 5-8: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (100-Year Flood) Category
# of
Facilities
- Critical
# of
Facilities
- Concern
Total Potential
Loss**
Government Operations Emergency
Operations
1 0 $10,000,000-
Recreational, Cultural, Community
Centers
0 0 0-
Total 1 0 $10,000,000-
* Based on the City of Pasadena insured replacement values * Percentages are estimates only, as exact values for some statistics were not available. Actual percentages might be greater than the estimate presented in this table.
Table 5-9: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (500-Year Flood) 364
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Category
# of
Facilities
- Critical
# of
Facilities
- Concern
Total Potential
Loss**
Government Operations, Emergency
Operations
1 0 $10,000,000
Recreational, Cultural, Community
Centers
0 2 $2,000,000
Total 0 0 $12,000,000
* Based on the City of Pasadena insured replacement values * Percentages are estimates only, as exact values for some statistics were not available. Actual percentages might be greater than the estimate presented in this table.
Figure 5-9: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern in FEMA Flood Zones 365
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Social Threat
Floodwaters in both the 100-year zone and the 500-year zone are anticipated to rise to a depth of no more than one foot above the base flood elevation. 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, people with disabilities, and low-income people are also likely to be impacted during these events. Figure 5-9 shows the proportion of Pasadena’s vulnerable populations that face a greater threat from a flood event. Based on the information in Table 5-10, the median household income in both the 100-year and 500-year flood zones is higher than the citywide average.
People experiencing homelessness who are outside during flood conditions may experience property damage or be unable to access shelter. Though floodwaters in Pasadena are not expected to exceed a depth of one foot in many areas, six inches (6 in.) 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 these floodwaters.
Additionally, the 2022 Vulnerability Assessment has identified the following populations as flood-threatened populations:
• Households with financial instability.
• People that spend an extended amount of time outdoors. • People with existing health conditions or limited mobility. • People with language barriers and citizenship uncertainty. • People living in mobile homes.
• Overcrowded households.
Other Threats
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, depending on the velocity. A severe flood situation may prevent people who own smaller vehicles from driving to work, leading to reduced economic activity. Severe flooding that causes serious damage to homes and businesses may also reduce economic activity until repair work is completed.
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Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use and Development It is unlikely that flooding will affect land use and development patterns in affected areas because the median income in impacted areas is higher than the City average.
Additionally, the development review process ensures flood related impacts are mitigated or minimized.
Table 5-10: Flood-Threatened Populations
Threatened Population Metric Flood Hazard City
Population 4500 144,388
Households 1,700 57,226
Median household income $134,981 $76,264
Renter Occupied Households 3% 10%
Percentage of households with at least one person
living with a disability
3% 9.4%
Percentage of households living under the poverty
limit
4.83% 13.8%
Percentage of households with one-member aged
65+
9.1%
* Percentages are estimates only, as exact values for some statistics were not available. Actual percentages might be greater than the estimate presented in this table. ** Based on the City insured replacement values
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Public Health Incidents: Pandemics, Epidemics
Physical Threat
Public Health events will not harm buildings or infrastructure within the City. However, the regional or global nature of public health incidents might incur indirect costs through personnel death and disease, absenteeism, and reduced efficiency. Public health incidents will likely threaten the city’s administrative and facilities operations, whereas automated services and infrastructure itself will not be significantly impacted.
Social Threat
Pandemics can overwhelm healthcare systems, creating shortages of medical supplies and causing significant morbidity and mortality. In addition to the physical health impacts such as respiratory distress, organ failure, and long-term complications for survivors, healthcare workers face an increased risk due to their exposure to infected individuals.
Beyond these immediate health impacts, pandemics disrupt daily life, leading to school closures, business interruptions, and economic downturns. The psychological toll on individuals and communities can be profound, with increased levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. These factors contribute to changes in population, influencing migration patterns, birth rates, and mortality rates, thereby altering the demographic landscape.
Fire
Physical Threat
Wildland Fire
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has mapped Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) within the City’s Local Responsibility Area (LRA). 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 has responsibility for wildland fire protection. Figure 5-10 identifies these zones and the City’s CFs and FOCs within the area. All structures within this fire zone are at an elevated risk of wildfire impacts.
All structures located within this zone are at an elevated risk of wildfire impacts. Table 5- 11 identifies 4 CFs and 7 FOC within the wildfire hazard zone, resulting in a potential loss of approximately $145 million based on available replacement values. Additional losses associated with the loss of homes and schools in these areas could also occur resulting in a significant amount of cost.
While these areas have a high degree of vulnerability to wildfire, other areas of the City may also be susceptible to ember cast. These areas, typically referred to as the WUI 368
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(Wildland Urban Interface), are vulnerable if the right conditions exist. Typically, the WUI is impacted if adequate fuels are combined with dry conditions and strong winds.
Sometimes, the ignition of a wildfire may occur if power lines around overgrown trees cause a spark and catch the tree on fire.
Table 5-11: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (Wildfire) Category
# of
Facilities
- Critical
# of
Facilities
- Concern
Total Potential
Loss**
Government Operations, Emergency
Operations
4 4 $130,424,000
Recreational, Cultural, Community
Centers
0 3 $15,000,000
Residential (City owned) 0 0 $0
Total 4 7 $145,424,389
* Based on the City insured replacement values
*Percentages are estimates only, as exact values for some statistics were not available. Actual percentages might be greater than the estimate presented in this table.
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Figure 5-10: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (2025 Map has not been adopted by City Council)
Urban Fire
Structures and physical assets in Pasadena 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, or may not meet current code requirements and regulations. While all structures can be impacted by urban fire, older structures may have increased vulnerability to this hazard. Power lines located around overgrown trees, where the tree crown envelops part or all the power lines, are also at risk of catching fire. When the wires overheat, they may ignite a fire in the tree, spread back to the power lines themselves, and burn the power line infrastructure.
Underground utilities, like water delivery systems, residential electrical systems, or natural gas pipelines, are not threatened by the occurrence of fire since any urban fires that emerge in Pasadena are likely to occur on the surface. 370
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Figure 5-11: Critical Facilities and Facilities of Concern (Previous adopted fire hazard map)
Social Threat
A fire hazard most immediately threatens seniors and people with disabilities. These groups may have limited mobility and reduced environmental awareness. For example, a senior who lives alone may not be aware that a fire has been ignited in their house until the room begins to fill with smoke or even flashover, at which point escape may be more difficult or impossible. Therefore, a fire that starts in or spreads to any senior residences in Pasadena could be highly threatening to those populations. People with disabilities may require special mobility devices or caregiver assistance to go outside, which may not be readily available if a fire occurs. Other groups with increased threat levels include lower- income people and renters. These people may live in substandard housing with outdated materials known to be flammable. Renters and lower-income persons may also live in housing units with improperly designed or maintained electrical 371
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or heating systems that could lead to a fire. Additionally, these groups may not possess enough financial resources to rebuild their homes or search for new homes after a fire occurs.
Other Threats
Fires can consume power lines and force utility operators to shut off electrical and gas transmission activity, leading to utility outages in Pasadena homes and businesses. Any streets surrounded by blazes or blocked by burning debris would hinder transportation, prevent people from evacuating, and block emergency response crews from reaching the source of the fire. Anyone living at the end of a cul-de-sac faces an elevated threat of being trapped if the fire occurs or spreads in a way that blocks evacuation. Fires that destroy trees or vegetation (especially within parks and open space areas) could limit or prevent the use of these areas, affecting future recreational opportunities for residents.
Outreach to residents and businesses to help them understand and prepare for these future events will become an important aspect of the City’s overall hazard mitigation strategy.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use and Development If a large urban fire were to occur, it is feasible that changes in population patterns could occur. Land use and development patterns could change if a large urban fire were to occur that impacted older parts of the City. After that type of event, the City would rely on a redevelopment process to determine how best to rebuild.
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Human-Caused Hazards
Physical Threat
Air Quality
Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay a foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified air pollution as a human carcinogen. Short-term exposure to higher levels of outdoor air pollution is associated with reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac problems, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions.
Air pollution and climate change affect each other through complex interactions in the atmosphere. Air pollution is intricately linked with climate change because both problems come largely from the same sources, such as emissions from burning fossil fuels. Both are threats to people’s health and the environment worldwide.
Civil Disturbance
Civil disturbance, depending on the cause and effect, could have a considerable impact on the population, built environment, lifeline infrastructure, economy, and the environment. Downtown Los Angeles is a frequent site of demonstrations due to its high profile and presence of government buildings. It is conceivable that a demonstration could turn to violence and begin spreading into neighboring communities. While the City does not have a history of riots, it also has a high profile and has several events which attract large crowds. This coupled with increased causes creating disharmony within society may provide opportunities for some individuals.
Cyber Attack
A significant cyber event could have considerable impact on the population, built environment, lifeline infrastructure, environment, and the economy. Most jurisdictions have several levels of security in place, dependent upon security levels of individuals and the geographical locations (onsite or remote). Many also have redundant dispatch centers with separate systems that can function if the primary center isn’t functioning.
Cyber-attacks can infiltrate many institutions including banking, medical, education, government, military, and communication and infrastructure systems. Most of the effective malicious cyber- activity has become web based. Recent trends indicate that hackers are targeting users to steal personal information and targeting computers to cause system failures. The duration of a cyber-attack is dependent on the complexity of the attack, how widespread it is, how quickly the attack is detected, and the resources available to aid in restoring the system. A cyber-attack could be geared toward one 373
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organization, one type of infrastructure and/or a specific geographical area. The affected area could range from small to large scale. Cyber-attacks generated toward large corporations can negatively affect the economy. A 2014 report from the MacAfee Corporation stated that the annual global loss to the global economy is between $375B and $500B. Attacks geared toward critical infrastructure and hospitals can result in the loss of life and the loss of basic needs, such as power and water, to the public. Cyber- attacks can lead to the loss of operational capacity.
Hazardous Materials Release (Pipeline Failure, Oil Spill, Transportation Incident) Hazardous materials can cause damage to physical assets in Pasadena if they are released into the environment. Corrosive hazardous materials can damage the exteriors of buildings or structures. Flammable hazardous materials can be ignited and cause damage to nearby structures. Generally, sites closer to the origin of the release of hazardous materials are more at risk than those further away.
The total potential losses associated with these assets are over $59 million based on replacement costs.
Transportation incidents typically threaten infrastructure like roadways, bridges, and utilities that may be adjacent or co-located with these facilities. Depending on the nature of the event surrounding structures and uses may also be impacted; however, to what degree it is difficult to identify at this time. While many incidents within the City may be considered minor, if one were to occur at a key intersection or interchange, traffic, and commerce within the affected area could be impacted significantly for hours or days, depending on the severity of the incident.
Power Outage
Energy shortage/outages (disruptions) are considered a form of lifeline system failure and could have a significant impact on the population, built environment, infrastructure, and the economy. Disruptions can be the consequence of another hazard, or can be the primary hazard, absent of an outside trigger. Pasadena and Southern California as a whole have experienced population growth, coupled with changes to daily lifestyles and weather have contributed to a heavy demand for power over recent years.
There are two (2) factors to consider: 1) increased demand within the City; and 2) increased demand elsewhere. Because Pasadena is connected to the Southern Californian Edison (Edison) power grid, increases in other parts of the state could curtail the energy available to Pasadena. This vulnerability is compounded by the reality that our communities have become more reliant on power for gadgets and appliances to perform basic daily activities. This loss of power will not only be an inconvenience but 374
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could become a life-threatening experience. Many citizens rely on power to operate medical machinery to survive (i.e., oxygen tanks, dialysis machines).
Climate change considerations indicate that as the weather conditions change, there could be an increase in energy needs. This could be from both the potential increase in heat and cold. These predicted increases will put ever greater strain on Pasadena’s energy supply.
Terrorism
There is no way to predict which of Pasadena’s facilities or assets may be impacted by an act of terrorism since the motivation behind the incident is often complex and not easily understood. Generally, these incidents occur at places of political, economic, or cultural importance. If the perpetrator's motives are to shut down City or regional government activity for a period, they may instead target pieces of infrastructure, like water systems, utility delivery systems, or transportation networks. The financial losses that may result from this type of incident would depend on the degree of destruction associated with the activity. If the incident involves the destruction of physical assets, the cost to the City or property owners in Pasadena could be significant.
Social Threat
Air Quality
Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay a foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified air pollution as a human carcinogen. Many studies have established that short-term exposure to higher levels of outdoor air pollution is associated with reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac problems, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions. Mortality rates related to air pollution are also a concern. Exposure to the air pollutant PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of death. Public health concerns related to high air pollution exposures include cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorders.
Civil Disturbance
Since civil disturbance events can occur anywhere in the City, all groups are potentially threatened by the impacts of these incidents; however, the extent of the threat would be much greater to businesses. For example, in May of 2020, the George Floyd protest turned into civil disturbance and impacted hundreds of businesses in Southern California. Additionally, there have been isolated incidents of individuals ransacking businesses around the Country.
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Cyber Security Incident
Cities like Pasadena are an attractive target for criminals and cyber threat actors to exploit vulnerable systems to steal critical infrastructure data and proprietary information, conduct ransomware operations, or launch destructive cyberattacks.
Successful cyberattacks against cities could lead to disruption of infrastructure services, significant financial losses, exposure of citizens’ private data, erosion of citizens’ trust in the smart systems themselves, and physical impacts to infrastructure that could cause physical harm or loss of life.
Hazardous Materials Release (Pipeline Failure, Transportation Accidents, Oil Spills) 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, sewer mains, and transportation incidents that produce hazardous material spills. Table 4-14 shows the city’s vulnerable populations living within 500 feet of a hazardous materials storage/waste site. The median household income in these locations is almost $25,000 less than the rest of the city. This suggests that lower-income populations may be living near locations that store or use hazardous materials. Pasadena residents living next to major transportation infrastructure such as highways or major roadways also face a greater risk of being affected by hazardous materials release if vehicles transporting these materials accidentally release their contents into the environment.
Groups such as the elderly, low-income, and 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 relocate to a home farther from the potential sources of hazardous materials.
Residents and businesses located near major transportation infrastructure may be at greater risk of impact from these types of incidents. For residents that rely on the transportation network to get to work, any closures or impacts to that network could have a negative impact on their daily lives and well-being. At the same time, businesses could be impacted if employees and customers are unable to reach their place of business due to an incident. While many incidents would be short-term, reducing impacts to the community, if a significant issue were to occur, the impact could be longer, which could have economic impacts for both residents and businesses.
Power Outage
Power outages most immediately threaten seniors, people with disabilities, and those with home medical equipment. These groups often face the greatest threat during a power outage, during extreme heat.
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Terrorism
Since mass casualty incidents/acts of terrorism could occur anywhere in Pasadena, all groups are potentially threatened by the impacts of these incidents; however, the extent of the threat would depend upon the type and magnitude of the event. For example, an active shooter situation may be isolated to a single location, whereas a larger-scale incident may affect multiple locations. Some locations are more likely to be targeted than others, including but not limited to medical facilities, government buildings, financial institutions that frequently visit these areas may face a greater threat than the average person. Seniors, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities, for instance, are more likely to frequently visit the local hospitals than other subpopulations in the city. If an incident occurs at the hospital or within the community (overwhelming hospital resources), these groups are expected to face an increased impact from the incident.
An incident that occurs at a government building or financial institution may be more likely to threaten seniors or lower-income individuals that rely on in-person transactions in place of online options. As such, their use of these in-person services may place them in harm’s way. An incident at Pasadena City Hall or bank locations in the City can be expected to be more of a threat to these groups. Seniors and people with limited income may be challenged if there is a need to shelter in place or evacuate during an incident requiring additional services, assistance, and/or medical treatment.
Changes in Population Patterns and Land Use and Development The hazards identified under human-caused hazards will not affect population patterns or land use and development, as no connection can be drawn between these hazards and changes in population patterns or land use and development.
It is not anticipated that population patterns will change over the next 20 years. A change in population pattern would only occur if a hazardous materials release was severe enough to require people to move for a prolonged period of time due to soil contamination.
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.
Through this process, as well as the development review process, it is not anticipated that land use and development patterns will change.
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SECTION 6: MITIGATION STRATEGY
Federal regulations require local mitigation plans to identify goals for reducing long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards in the planning area (Section 201.6(c)(3)(i)).
A hazard mitigation plan’s primary focus is the mitigation strategy. It represents the efforts selected by the City to reduce or prevent losses resulting from the hazards identified in the risk assessment. The strategy includes mitigation actions and projects to address the risk and vulnerabilities discovered in the risk assessment. The mitigation strategy consists of the following steps:
• Identify and profile hazards and risk within the City • Identify projects and activities that can prevent or mitigate damage and injury to the population and buildings
• Develop a mitigation strategy to implement the mitigation actions • Develop an action plan to prioritize, implement, and administer the mitigation actions
• Implement the LHMP mitigation action plan
A capability assessment was conducted of City authorities, policies, programs, and resources. Based upon this assessment and the hazard analysis and risk assessment, goals, and mitigation actions were developed. The planning team also developed a process to prioritize, implement, and administer the mitigation actions to reduce risk to existing facilities and new development
6.1 Hazard Mitigation Statement
The 2025 LHMP represents the City’s commitment to create a safer, more resilient community by taking actions to reduce risk and by committing resources to lessen the effects of hazards on the people and property of the city.
6.2 Hazard Mitigation Goals and Objectives
Mitigation goals are guidelines that represent what the community wants to accomplish through the mitigation plan. Goals are broad statements that represent a long-term, community-wide vision. The planning team reviewed the example goals and objectives from the previous LHMP and determined which goals best met the City’s objectives for mitigation. In addition to the overarching hazard mitigation goals, the City worked to 378
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develop the strategies aligned with the CIP and other planning mechanisms that relate to hazard mitigation. Overall, mitigation priorities did not change for the City of Pasadena, the city continues to be very concerned about wildfire and earthquake risks.
The 2025 LHMP was revised to focus on the communities’ priorities as they relate to Climate Change, Wild/Urban Fire, and their commitment to involving vulnerable populations to the planning process. Table 6-1 lists the goals for the 2020 LHMP .
Table 6-1: Hazard Mitigation Goals
2025 Goals
Goal 1: Protect life and property, and reduce potential injuries from natural, technological, and human-caused hazards
Goal 2: Improve public understanding, support of, and need for hazard mitigation measures
Goal 3: Promote disaster resilience for the City’s natural, existing, and future built environment
Goal 4: Strengthen partnerships and collaboration to implement hazard mitigation activities
Goal 5: Enhance the City’s ability to effectively and immediately respond to disasters
6.3 Mitigation Actions/Projects and Implementation Strategy Mitigation actions are specific activities or projects that serve to meet the goals that the community has identified. Mitigation actions and projects are more specific than goals or objectives and often include a mechanism, such as an assigned timeframe, to measure the success and ensure the actions are accomplished. The planning team conducted a review of the mitigation actions and strategies from the State Hazard Mitigation Plan and from other cities’ planning efforts to develop new mitigation actions and projects to reduce the effects of hazards, with emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure.
The requirements for prioritization of mitigation actions, as provided in the federal regulations implementing the Stafford Act as amended by DMA 2000, are described below.
Based on these criteria, the City prioritized potential mitigation projects and included them in the action plan discussed below in Table 6-3. The mitigation action plan 379
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developed by the planning team includes the action items that the City intends to implement during the next five (5) years, assuming funding availability. The action plan includes the implementing department, an estimate of the timeline for implementation, and potential funding sources.
6.4 Previous Mitigation Actions/Projects Assessment
The 2018 HMP contained 62 mitigations actions. Many of the mitigation actions were completed or carried out to some degree or are considered ongoing. Some of the mitigation actions were duplicative, others were better categorized as emergency preparedness or recovery activities, and others were either not addressed during the time period or were not feasible to accomplish. Table 6-2 provides the status of mitigation actions from the 2018 HMP.
Table 6-2: 2018 Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Action Status # Mitigation Action
Status (Complete,
Ongoing, Planned,
Not Completed)
1 Make the City Local Hazard Mitigation Plan available
on the website
Completed
3 Establish and conduct annual employee training on
privacy and security policies and incident response
procedures.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan. #5
4 Develop a policy to ensure the City's LHMP is
reviewed during the development of capital
improvement plans.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan. #3
5 Upgrade Traffic Signal, Street Lighting Poles, and
Systems citywide to meet or exceed modern loading
requirements.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan
6 Seismic Retrofit of City-owned Essential Buildings,
including Fire Stations and Evacuation Centers.
Planned
7 Develop a policy to ensure the annual review of
potential landslide areas in the City of Pasadena.
Planned
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# Mitigation Action
Status (Complete,
Ongoing, Planned,
Not Completed)
8 Develop a Public Outreach Plan geared towards
providing hazard education, emergency management,
and mitigation action activities.
Completed
9 Review and revise the Emergency Operations Plan
(EOP) to reflect response and recovery Concept of
Operations best practices
Completed
10 Purchase supplies, equipment, and other resources to enable critical facilities identified in the EOP to be able to function as needed
Completed
11 Review area-wide evacuation plans/routes to identify changes and determine if changes need to be
incorporated in the City Emergency Operations Plan
(EOP) and/or Evacuation Plan
Completed
12 Develop a Disaster Communications Plan Completed
13 Develop an EOP scenario-based Annex light rail
accident
Completed
14 Develop an EOP scenario-based Annex for active
shooter events
Completed
15 Develop a planning team to work with local school
districts and universities to prepare both scenario-
based and functional-based plans
Completed
16 Develop and adopt a soft story retrofit ordinance;
possibly administer an implementation program for the
ordinance.
Planned
17 Evaluate and take necessary actions to ensure robust cyber-security of utility infrastructure and protection of critical information systems from cyber-
attacks/incidents.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan #41
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# Mitigation Action
Status (Complete,
Ongoing, Planned,
Not Completed)
19 Develop a policy and/or possibly a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the County Department of
Public Works, neighboring jurisdictions, Metrolink, and the California
Completed
20 Department of Transportation to ensure coordination
and maintenance of the emergency transportation
routes
Completed
21 Establish a Disaster Coordination group and establish a regular meeting schedule. Include both public and
private members; and federal, state, county, and local
partners. Part of the duties
will include the review, evaluation, and monitoring of
the LHMP
Planned
22 Provide information to the public regarding hazard
mitigation and emergency planning at events promoted
by the City.
Completed
23 Develop a policy that encourages incorporation or
consideration of vegetation and restoration practices
that assist in enhancing and restoring the natural and
beneficial functions of the watershed when mitigation
against hazards
Completed
24 Develop a policy to ensure the City’s Building Codes are reviewed annually to reflect changes and best
practices in hazard science (flood, earthquake).
Ongoing
25 Develop a Debris Removal Plan. Completed
26 Develop a landslide area building ordinance. Review
local ordinances for building in potential landslide
areas based on proposed development plans and
current environmental conditions
Planned
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# Mitigation Action
Status (Complete,
Ongoing, Planned,
Not Completed)
27 Develop an EOP functional-based Annex for
evacuations
Completed
28 Identify City-service, mission critical tasks and develop Business Continuity Plans for each service
Completed
29 Utility infrastructure improvements against earthquake and other hazards including seismic upgrade of power
and water facilities, Sunset reservoir improvements,
and other critical water infrastructure and upgrades and replacements of local generating units.
Completed
31 Integrate the LHMP into the City’s General Plan Completed 32 Integrate hazard mitigation material into public safety information and training programs (e.g. Citizen’s
Academy, Community Emergency Response Team
Program)
Complete
33 Prepare an inventory of major urban drainage
problems and identify causes and potential mitigation
actions for urban drainage problem areas.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan
34 Assess and evaluate critical facilities identified in the EOP
Completed
35 Evaluate and retrofit critical facilities identified in the EOP
Ongoing
36 Develop an EOP scenario-based Annex for terrorist
events
Completed
37 Implement measures to bolster local water supply to
meet demand, create a sustainable water supply, while
meeting environmental mandates.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan #12
38 Seismic Retrofit of City-owned Bridges
Ongoing
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# Mitigation Action
Status (Complete,
Ongoing, Planned,
Not Completed)
39 Restoration of habitat, improvements to the
watershed, and enhancement of spreading activities of
water runoff to enhance the flood protection systems
and preserve the natural systems
Completed
40 Evaluate and implement protective measures of critical utility buildings, plants and facilities against natural hazards (fire, flood, windstorm)
Completed
41 Develop and implement a program to develop
Business Continuity Plans of utility mission critical
tasks. Potentially purchase of equipment, mobile
electrical sub-stations, and emergency backup
generators for utility facilities; emergency transmission and distribution system replacements to ensure
continuous functionality after disaster events
Completed
43 Develop a Floodplain Management/Flood Plan. Completed 44 Develop an EOP functional-based Annex for mass
casualties
Completed
45 Develop an EOP functional-based Annex for Mass
Shelter
Completed
46 Develop an EOP scenario-based Annex for civil unrest events
Completed
47 Develop a Dam Mitigation Plan. Completed
48 Develop a Vegetation Management Plan. Planned
49 In accordance with the 2020 Water system Resources
Plan, develop and implement alternative sources of
water to meet Pasadena’s annual water supply (non-
potable water project)
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan #13
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# Mitigation Action
Status (Complete,
Ongoing, Planned,
Not Completed)
50 Upgrade the Arroyo Seco stream water intake
structure (Arroyo Secon Canon Project) and
implement the Devil’s Gate Pump back project to
improve our ability to capture more stream water and
to recharge the groundwater basin.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan #11
51 Vegetation management on City lands in the
watershed for water supply enhancement and fire
reduction; Improvements to the Arroyo Seco Canyon;
Azusa Hydro upgrades and replacements; and
rainwater capture and recycling
Completed
52 Develop guidance to provide resources regarding
business continuity planning for local businesses
Planned
53 Evaluate and implement necessary retrofits and
upgrades to the diversion facilities in Arroyo Canyon
Completed
54 Evaluate and implement security and protective
measures of critical utility buildings, plants and
facilities from man-made hazards (terrorist)
Completed
55 Identity the libraries role as a critical facility during response and recovery efforts. Assess the current
facilities and retrofit as needed (i.e., fire systems,
seismic upgrades) to ensure the integrity of library
buildings for use as critical facilities during multi-
hazard events. Purchase equipment, supplies, and
other resources necessary to carry out the intended
role.
Completed
56 Develop a Landslide Management Plan. Ongoing – Added to 2025 Plan #22
57 Raise Park roadways where necessary to improve the
flow of water downstream.
Ongoing – Added to
2025 Plan #27
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# Mitigation Action
Status (Complete,
Ongoing, Planned,
Not Completed)
58 Find an alternate or new EOC location that allows for ease of access during an emergency. Current location
has limitations and safety concerns.
Planned
59 Install earthquake early warning systems o city-owned critical facilities
Planned
60 Develop citywide guidance on mitigation grant
application
Planned
61 Annually review and update Department Emergency
and COOP Plans
Planned
62 Create a volunteer program that will enhance our
community lifeline planning that will bolster our ability to respond to hazards.
Planned
6.4.1 New Mitigation Actions
Mitigation actions are specific activities or projects that serve to meet the goals that the community has identified. Mitigation actions and projects are more specific than goals or objectives and often include a mechanism, such as an assigned time period, to measure the success and ensure the actions are accomplished. The planning team conducted a review of the mitigation actions and strategies from the 2018 HMP. With information from the risk assessment, capability assessment, and status of the actions implemented since the 2018 HMP, the planning team developed 32 new ongoing mitigation actions and projects to reduce the effects of hazards, with emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure.
Table 6-3 lists the initial, potential mitigation actions developed by the planning team.
For each mitigation action, the following information is listed: type of mitigation project; hazard(s) addressed, type of development affected by action; and the source of the mitigation project idea.
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Table 6-3: Potential Mitigation Actions 2025
Goal Action
Item #
Action
Description
Mitigation
Type
Related
Hazards
Implementing
Organizations
Goal 1: Protect
life, property,
and reduce
potential
injuries from
natural caused
hazards
1.1 Assess and
implement
flexible piping
joints at above-
ground storage
reservoirs as
appropriate
Prevention Seismic Operations
1.2 Continuing to
identify and
ensure that pipe
specifications
are compatible
with GIS and
earthquake
specifications
Prevention Seismic Operations
1.3 Identify funding
and acquire a
mobile command
and
communications
vehicle
Response All Operations
1.4 Continue to
include back-up
power
Preparedn
ess
Loss of
Power/
PSPS
Operations
6.4.2 Mitigation Action Plan
The mitigation action plan developed by the planning team includes the action items that the City intends to implement during the next five (5) years, assuming funding availability. The action plan, shown in Tables 6-4 to 6-13, includes the implementing department, an estimate of the timeline for implementation, and potential funding sources.
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The new mitigation actions include a broad range of approaches to hazard mitigation such as retrofitting, code enforcement, development of new regulations, public education, development of redundant facilities, and others. Measures are included to mitigate risks to existing buildings and infrastructure, as well as new buildings and infrastructure. The mitigation action plan assigns primary responsibility for each of the action items to an implementing department. The implementing department is the controlling department that will assign funding and oversee activity implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
The planning team does not presume the expertise to prescribe which projects will be implemented. Prioritization of projects in the LHMP is a means to provide a basis for implementing the mitigation strategies, but all new mitigation actions and projects will be formally prioritized and selected by the implementing department. This will accommodate the project funding, schedule of the department, staff requirements, and ability to integrate the new project into existing and ongoing projects. Departments will consider the funding source, the cost-effectiveness of the project, alternative projects, the compatibility of the new project with ongoing projects, the extent to which the project addresses the risks assessed in Section 4, and the potential of economic and social damage.
Prioritization
To assist with implementing the mitigation action plan, the planning team used the following ranking process to provide a method to prioritize the projects for the Action Plan. Designations of High, Medium, and Low priorities have been assigned to each action item using the following criteria.
Does the action
• Solve the problem?
• Address vulnerability assessment.
• Reduce the exposure or vulnerability to the highest priority hazard? • Address multiple hazards?
• Offer benefits that equal or exceed costs?
• Implement a goal, policy, or project identified in the General Plan or Capital Improvement Plan?
Can the action
• Be implemented with existing funds?
• Be implemented by existing state or federal grant programs? 388
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• Be completed within the five (5)-year life cycle of the LHMP? Will the action
• Be implemented with currently available technologies? • Be accepted by the community?
• Be supported by community leaders?
• Adversely affect segments of the population or neighborhoods. • Require a change in local ordinances or zoning laws?
• Result in a positive or neutral impact on the environment? • Comply with all local, state, and federal environmental laws and regulations? Is there
• Sufficient staffing to undertake the project?
• Existing authority to undertake the project?
Each positive response is equal to one point. Answers to the criteria above determined the priority according to the following scale:
1–6 = Low priority
7–12 = Medium priority
13–18 = High priority
Benefit-Cost Analysis
Conducting benefit/cost analysis for a mitigation activity can assist the City in determining whether a project is worth undertaking now in order to avoid disaster-related damages later. Cost- effectiveness analysis evaluates how to best spend a given amount of money to achieve a specific goal. Determining the economic feasibility of mitigating hazards can provide decision-makers with an understanding of the potential benefits and costs of an activity, as well as a basis for comparing alternative projects.
Funding
The funds required to implement the mitigation action plan will come from a variety of sources, including Federal Hazard Mitigation Grants, City budget, bonds, fees and assessments, and others. Some projects are (or will be) included in capital improvement budgets, while some, especially ongoing projects, are included in department operating budgets.
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Prior to beginning a project or when federal funding is involved, the implementing department will use a FEMA approved benefit/cost analysis approach to identify the actual costs and benefits of implementing these mitigation actions. For non-structural projects, implementing departments will use other appropriate methods to weigh the costs and benefits of each action item and then develop a prioritized list.
Implementation
Mitigation projects were assigned to one of three (3) categories as a tentative schedule for implementation: short-range, mid-range, and long-range. Projects that are currently being implemented by various departments are assigned to the ongoing category.
Implementation of short-range projects will typically begin within the next three (3) years.
Mid-range projects will require some planning and likely require funding beyond what is currently allocated to the various departments in the City’s Operations and Maintenance budget. Projects in the mid-range category will generally begin implementation in the next three (3) to five (5) years. Long-range projects will require great planning and funding and will generally begin implementation within five (5) years and beyond.
Incorporation into Other Plans
The 2025 LHMP will be coordinated with and integrated into the following other planning mechanisms.
• The City EOP contains a list of hazards. The LHMP provides a similar, more detailed description of these hazards. Updates to the LHMP can inform revisions to the EOP. Hazards in both plans should be corroborated. • The American Water Infrastructure Act Risk required Risk and Resiliency Assessment (RRA) and the LHMP both should use the same source data and similar language to describe hazards that are contained in both. Hazard analysis and risk/vulnerability updates to one document should be reviewed for inclusion in both. For the 2021 LHMP, the planning team used portions of the RRA to develop new mitigations actions.
• The City will review the mitigation action plan in the LHMP as it updates its CIP.
Several mitigation actions address facility improvement and resiliency. Grant funding for these projects may support CIP project.
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Table 6-4: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan - Multiple Hazards # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
1 Install energy efficient equipment and harden
emergency backup power at critical facilities
deemed necessary. Prioritize installations for
facilities that serve as key cooling/warming
centers and evacuation centers/shelters.
(Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works $$ 2-5
years
Medium
2 Develop a list of key facilities. Conduct a
feasibility assessment of installing solar and
battery backup systems at critical facilities
within the City.
(Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works $ 2 years Medium
3 Upgrade power and water facilities, to include
Sunset reservoir, to improve resiliency due to
power loss, flooding, and seismic activity.
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Water and
Power
$$$ Ongoing
- Yearly
High
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
4 Initiate a project to develop Business Continuity
Plans for utility mission critical functions. Create
a long-range budget to purchase
emergency/standby equipment such as mobile
electrical sub-stations, and emergency backup
generators for utility facilities; and emergency
transmission and distribution system
replacements to ensure continuous functionality
after disaster events
(Hazard addresses: Power Loss)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
PWP $$$ 2 years High
5 Develop a policy to ensure the City's LHMP is
reviewed during the development of capital
improvement plans/projects.
(Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Fire $ 1 year Medium
6 Develop a Public Outreach Plan geared
towards providing hazard education, emergency
management, and mitigation action activities.
Create and Integrate hazard mitigation material
into public safety information and training
programs (e.g. Citizen’s Academy, Community
Emergency Response Team Program)
(Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Fire $ Ongoing
- yearly
Low
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
7 Integrate the LHMP into the City’s General Plan
by complying with AB 2140.
(Hazards addressed: All)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Planning
$ Ongoing
- yearly
Low
8 Develop a policy to ensure the City’s Building
Codes are reviewed annually to reflect changes
and best practices in hazard science
(Hazards Addressed: Flood, Earthquake).
General Fund,
HMGP
Grant
Planning $ 3 years Medium
9 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,
HMGP
Grants
Fire/
Planning
$ 2 years Medium
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Table 6-5: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Climate Change # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
10 Integrate climate change mitigation and
adaptation information and analysis into future
LHMP updates and others.
(Hazards addressed: Climate Change)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Fire
$ Ongoing
- Yearly
High
Table 6-6: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Drought # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
11 Upgrade the Arroyo Seco stream water intake
structure (Arroyo Seco Canon Project) and
implement the Devil’s Gate Pump Back project
to improve our ability to capture more stream
water and to recharge the groundwater basin.
(Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Water and
Power
$$$ 2 years High
12 Implement measures to bolster local water
supply to meet demand, create a sustainable
water supply, while meeting environmental
mandates.
(Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Water and
Power
$$$ 3 years High
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
13 In accordance with the 2020 Water System
Resources Plan, develop and implement
alternative sources of water to meet
Pasadena’s annual water supply (non-potable
water project)
(Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Water and
Power
$$ 2 years Medium
14 Develop public messaging about water
conservation to address climate change-
induced drought for posting on websites, social
media, and other platforms.
(Hazards addressed: Drought)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Water and
Power
$ Ongoing
- Yearly
Low
Table 6-7: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Earthquake/Geologic Hazards # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
15 Implement and enforce the soft-story retrofit
ordinance.
(Hazards addressed: Seismic)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Planning $ 2 years Medium
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
16 Conduct an educational campaign, incentivize
and promote medium-scale seismic retrofits,
such as window films to minimize shattering,
anchors for rooftop-mounted equipment,
bracing for masonry chimneys, and other
preventative measures to reduce damage to
private buildings.
(Hazards addressed: Seismic)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Planning $ 2 years Medium
17 Develop a Landslide Management Plan that
identifies areas at risk and mitigation strategies
and develop a policy to ensure the annual
review of potential landslide areas in the City of
Pasadena.
(Hazards addressed: Landslide)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Fire/
Planning/
Public Works
$ 5 years Low
18 Conduct a seismic analysis of all City-owned
key facilities and retrofit vulnerable facilities.
(Hazards addressed: Seismic)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works
$ Ongoing
- yearly
High
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
19 Seismically retrofit the City main public library. General Fund, HMGP
Grants
Planning/
Public Works/
Library
$$$$ 3 years High
20 Initiate a program to schedule installation of
resilient (seismically appropriate) piping for new
or replacement water distribution pipelines.
(Hazards addressed: Seismic)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Water and
Power
$$$$ Ongoing
- Yearly
High
21 Develop a landslide area building ordinance
that restricts building in hazard prone areas.
Review local ordinances for building in potential
landslide areas based on proposed
development plans and current environmental
conditions.
(Hazards addressed: Landslide)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Planning/
Fire
$ 5 years Low
22 Identify and retrofit key critical facilities with
seismically rated window film treatments that
ensure glass windows do not shatter during a
strong seismic event.
(Hazards addressed: Seismic)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Planning/
Public Works
$$ 5 years High
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Table 6-8: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Flooding # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
23 Investigate the use of permeable paved and
landscaped swales for new construction and
replacement of City-owned hardscaped areas.
[Identify which locations]
(Hazards addressed: Flood)
General Fund,
HMGP
Public Works $$
3 years
Medium
24 Retrofit roadway medians to capture stormwater
during rain events. Prioritize improvements
along major arterials/ roadways throughout the
City.
(Hazards addressed: Flood)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works
$$$ 4 years Medium
25 Prepare an inventory of major urban drainage
problems and identify causes and potential
mitigation actions for urban drainage problems.
(Hazards addressed: Flood)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works
$ 2 years Low
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
26 Raise Park roadways or build culverts where
necessary to improve the flow of water
downstream.
(Hazards addressed: Flood)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants.
Public Works $$$ 3 years Low
27 Track areas where ponding frequently occurs
during heavy rainfall and installs new drainage
systems or upgrade existing ones to reduce
water ponding.
(Hazards addressed: Flood)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works $ Ongoing
- yearly
Medium
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Table 6-9: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Extreme Weather (Severe Winds, Extreme Heat, Severe Rainstorms)
# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
28 Remove or trim trees determined to be
susceptible to blowing over during a severe
wind event and underground power lines, where
feasible.
(Hazards addressed: High Winds, Severe
Rainstorm)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Parks/
Public Works
$ Ongoing
- yearly
Medium
29 Increase the use and construction of shade
structures within new developments, City
facilities, parks, and trails to reduce heat
impacts.
(Hazards Addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Planning/
Public Works/
Parks
$ Ongoing
- yearly
Medium
400
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
30 Evaluate the long-term capacity of designated
cooling centers and shelters in the City to
provide sufficient relief from extreme heat.
Assess the need to expand services as the
frequency, length, and severity of future
heatwaves potentially change as a result of
climate change.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Fire $ Ongoing
- Yearly
Medium
31 Upgrade HVAC within City facilities to more
efficient systems that may include split systems
or decentralized systems that allow for heating
and cooling the spaces needed, not entire
buildings.
(Hazards addressed: Extreme Heat)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works $$ Ongoing
– yearly
Medium
Table 6-10: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Fire # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
32 Educate and promote the proper maintenance
and separation of power lines from trees and
other hazards.
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Fire/ PWP $ Ongoing
- Yearly
High
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
33 Conduct regular fuel modification projects to
reduce fire hazard risks, such as clearing out
dead vegetation in parks, open spaces, right-of-
way embankments, and other areas that could
become fuel for fires.
(Hazards addressed: Wildfire)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Parks/ Public
Works
$ Ongoing
- Yearly
High
34 Adopt a wildfire mitigation ordinance to limit the
use and development of wildfire hazard areas to
mitigate risk to life and property.
(Hazards addressed: Wildfire)
General Funds Fire $ 2 years High
Table 6-11: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Dam Inundation # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
35 Coordinate with County Public Works to
collectively identify threats to the City and
implement an early warning system/protocol
that notifies downstream communities in the
event of a potential dam failure incident.
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Works
$ 2 years Low
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Table 6-12: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Human-caused Hazards # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
36 Evaluate all critical facilities, facilities of concern for potential human-caused hazard
vulnerabilities and integrate counterterrorism
design elements and building materials, where
feasible.
(Hazards addressed: Terrorism)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Police $ Ongoing
- Yearly
Medium
37 Continuously inspect businesses and other
properties storing hazardous materials and
create an inventory of storage locations that
require updates, maintenance, or renovation.
(Hazards addressed: Hazardous Materials)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Fire $ Ongoing
- Yearly
Medium
38 Expand the installation of fiber optics
infrastructure and conduit (for future services) to
enhance the city's communications systems
and economic opportunities.
(Hazards addressed: Terrorism)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
IT $$ Ongoing
- Yearly
Medium
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# Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
39 Establish and provide annual cyber-security risk
briefings to City officials. Leverage the
Department of Homeland Security’s State,
Local, Tribal, and Territorial Cyber security
engagement programs.
(Hazards addressed: Cyber Attack)
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
IT $ 2 years High
40 Evaluate and take necessary actions to ensure
robust cyber-security of utility infrastructure and
protection of critical information systems from
cyber-attacks/incidents.
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
IT $$ Ongoing
- Yearly
High
Table 6-13: Mitigation Action Implementation Plan – Pandemic # Mitigation Action Funding
Sources
Responsible
Department
Relative
Cost*
Time
Frame Priority
41 Develop and coordinate planning with partners
for dispensing of medications or vaccines.
Coordinate infection control planning with
partners.
General Fund,
HMGP
Grants
Public Health $$ Ongoing
- Yearly
Medium
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SECTION 7: PLAN MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
Implementation and maintenance of the plan is critical to the overall success of hazard mitigation planning. This section details the process that the City will use to monitor, update, and evaluate the plan within the five-year cycle of the plan’s revision to ensure the LHMP remains an active and relevant document. The format of the plan aligns with the regulation checklist and is divided into sections of information. When it is time to maintain or revise the LHMP, data can be easily located and incorporated, resulting in an easy method to keep the plan current and relevant.
The planning team represents City staff from each department and other stakeholders that contributed to the development of the 2025 LHMP. The planning team oversaw the development of the plan and made recommendations on key elements of the plan, including the maintenance strategy.
It was important to the City that each department be represented in the planning team and given the opportunity to provide input during the plan’s development. This philosophy will continue for future plan revisions through evaluations, maintenance, and updates of data, processes, and programs. The planning team will convene annually to perform annual reviews of the LHMP and its implementation. The planning team will include representation from residents, citizen groups, partner agencies and stakeholders within the planning area.
If planning team members can no longer serve the planning team, the City Manager will assign another staff person to be on the planning team so that every City department is represented.
7.1 Monitoring and Evaluation
The hazard mitigation plan includes a range of action items to reduce losses from hazard events. Together, the action items provide a framework for activities that the City can choose to implement over the next five years. The effectiveness of the plan depends on the incorporation of the action items into existing City plans, policies, and programs. Although the City Fire Department will have primary responsibility for the LHMP’s continual review, coordination, and promotion, plan implementation, and evaluation will be a shared responsibility among all departments and agencies that contributed to the mitigation action plan.
The City Emergency Manager and Department Supervisors will be jointly responsible for the plan’s implementation and maintenance through existing City programs.
Department Supervisors will be responsible for implementing mitigation strategies and 405
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actions specific to their department operations. The City Emergency Manager will assume the lead responsibility for facilitating plan maintenance and coordinating the planning team.
Each April, the planning team will begin the process of reviewing the LHMP and the implementation of mitigation actions to develop an annual progress report. This process can also assist the budget review process by providing information on mitigation projects and activities that have been completed or implemented. The annual progress report process will serve to align annual reviews of the hazard mitigation plan and to incorporate information. As updates to the LHMP are completed, the public will be made aware of the changes to the LHMP and make recommendations or comments.
The planning team will monitor and evaluate the hazard mitigation strategies during the year, and at a meeting held in January of each year, team members will provide information for the evaluation of the progress of the 2025 LHMP. The Emergency Manager will convene the planning team and lead the effort for the annual evaluation.
This evaluation will include:
• A summary of any hazard events that occurred during the prior year and their impact on the planning area
• A review of successful mitigation initiatives identified in the 2025 plan • A brief discussion about the targeted strategies that were not completed • A re-evaluation of the action plan to determine if the timeline for identified projects needs to be amended, and the reason for the amendment, e.g., funding issues
• Any recommendations for new projects
• Any changes in or potential for new funding options (grant opportunities) • Any impacts of other planning programs or initiatives in the City that involve hazard mitigation
The planning team will write a progress report that will be provided to the City’s budget planning team for review and incorporation in the budget process as mitigation projects are completed or implemented. The hazard mitigation plan progress report will also be posted on the City website on the page dedicated to the hazard mitigation plan, provided to the local media through a press release, and presented in the form of a report to the City Council. The planning team will strive to complete the progress report process by March of each year.
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7.2 Plan Update
Section 201.6.d.3 of 44CFR requires that local hazard mitigation plans be reviewed, revised as appropriate, and resubmitted for approval in order to remain eligible for benefits awarded under the Disaster Mitigation Act. The City intends to update its hazard mitigation plan on a five-year cycle. Based on needs identified by the planning team, the update will, at a minimum, include the following elements:
• The hazard risk assessment will be reviewed and updated using the most recent information and technologies
• The action plan will be reviewed and revised to account for any initiatives completed, dropped, or changed and to account for changes in the risk assessment
• Any new City policies identified under other planning mechanisms, as appropriate
• The draft LHMP update will be sent to appropriate agencies and organizations for comment
• The public will be given an opportunity to comment on the updated version prior to adoption
• The City Council will adopt the updated plan
At a minimum of six months before the expiration date of the 2025 LHMP, the planning team will implement a plan revision schedule to formally update the 2025 plan. The plan will be revised using the latest FEMA hazard mitigation guidance documents, such as the Mitigation Planning Tool and Regulation Checklist, to ensure compliance with current hazard mitigation planning regulations.
The overall success of the LHMP is through implementation of the plan’s hazard mitigation strategy and activities to reduce the effects of hazards, protect people and property, and improve the City’s efforts to respond to and recover from disasters.
Members of the public and the City will ultimately benefit from the implementation of the LHMP and must be given the opportunity to provide input to the continuous cycle of LHMP planning.
7.3 Continued Public Involvement
The overall success of the LHMP is through implementation of the plan’s hazard mitigation strategy and activities to reduce the effects of hazards, protect people and 407
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property, and improve the City’s efforts to respond to and recover from disasters.
Members of the public and the City will ultimately benefit from the implementation of the LHMP and must be given the opportunity to provide input to the continuous cycle of LHMP planning.
The City will strive to keep the public aware of hazard mitigation projects that take place as a result of the LHMP. Public information will be released through press releases, City website announcements, public hearings as required, council meetings, social media, and press releases.
Projects that mitigate hazards are included in the City’s annual budget planning process. The public is made aware of the planning through City Council meetings and press releases during this time. The budget planning process will serve as an annual opportunity to conduct outreach to the public on updates to the hazard mitigation planning process.
A survey can be conducted to gather input on how the community feels about the progress being made on LHMP activities. The City will also provide press releases and information about hazard mitigation projects to the public regularly. At a minimum, the public will be engaged to learn about current LHMP activities and given the opportunity to provide comments and information on an annual basis to update and maintain the LHMP. The City PIO and the City Emergency Manager will be responsible for ensuring the public is included and involved in the annual public plan update and outreach.
When the time comes to begin revising the 2025 LHMP, the plan update process will be implemented, which will include continued public involvement and input through attendance at designated public meetings, web postings, through press releases to local media, community fairs, and events, and surveys. As part of this effort, a series of public meetings will be held, and public comments will be solicited on the revisions to the LHMP according to the five (5)-year cycle. Table 7-1 summarizes successful public involvement efforts previously conducted by the City, as well as proposed activities for public involvement and dissemination of information that shall be pursued whenever possible and appropriate.
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Table 7-1: Past and Proposed Continued Public Involvement Activities or Opportunities Identified by the City
Department Public Involvement Activity
or Opportunity - Past
Public Involvement Activity or
Opportunity - Proposed
Administration LHMP Survey was conducted
online and given out at City
events in person.
Conduct annual surveys to be
completed online and at the
annual Public Safety Event.
All Place more emphasis on the
risks associated with natural and
manmade hazards at public
awareness campaigns conducted
by various City departments.
Consider developing and
distributing public education
materials for natural hazards.
Fire
Department
Conduct yearly presentations to
the Accessibility & Disability
Commission to update on
progress of the mitigation
activities.
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APPENDIX A – LOCAL MITIGATION PLAN REVIEW TOOL
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APPENDIX B – PLANNING TEAM MEETING DOCUMENTATION
Appendix B contains documentation of the planning process for the LHMP Planning Team, including meetings, presentations, emails, etc.
Date Activity Documentation
7/9/2024 Project Kick-off Meeting • Presentation (cover only) • Meeting minutes
8/29/2025 Planning Team Meeting #1 • Invitation to stakeholders • Sign-in sheet
• Presentation (cover only)
• Meeting minutes
11/14/2025 LHMP Planning Team Meeting #2 • Invitation to stakeholders • Presentation (cover only)
• Meeting minutes
2/18/2025 LHMP Planning Team Meeting #3 • Presentation (Cover Only) • Meeting minutes
• Participant Roster
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PROJECT KICKOFF MEETING PRESENTATION (Cover Slide)
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230
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HMPC MEETING #1 PRESENTATION (Cover Slide)
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HMPC MEETING #1 PRESENTATION (Invitation)
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HMPC MEETING #1 NOTES
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HMPC MEETING #2 PRESENTATION & INVITATION
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HMPC MEETING #2 PRESENTATION (Invitation)
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HMPC MEETING #2 NOTES
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HMPC MEETING #3 PRESENTATION & MEETING NOTES W/PARTICIPANTS
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APPENDIX C – PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENTATION
Appendix C contains documentation of the planning process including meetings, presentations held for the stakeholders and public, and other stakeholder/public outreach efforts.
Date Activity Documentation
November
19, 2024 -
Present
Survey posted on City Website
with links provided in social
media accounts. General
Hazard Mitigation documents.
Documentation 1 – Survey
Documentation 2 – Posting on City
Instagram Account
Documentation 3 – Posting on City
Facebook Account
Documentation 4 – News release
Documentation 5 – Google Search
Documentation 6 – Posting on City
website
Documentation 7 – LHMP Flyer
(English)
Documentation 8 – LHMP Flyer
(Spanish)
Documentation 9 – LHMP Flyer
(Chinese)
Documentation 10 – Survey
(Spanish)
Documentation 11 – Survey
(Chinese)
Documentation 12 – City website
presentation and newsletter
Documentation 15 – Flyers at
facilities
November
19, 2024
Public Meetings Documentation 13: Accessibility &
Disability Commission Presentation
Agenda
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248
Date Activity Documentation
3 months Public hazard mitigation
survey conducted.
Documentation 14: Survey results
Ongoing Outreach Materials at Public
Facing Facilities
Documentation 15: Outreach
Materials at Public Facing Facilities
6/9/2025 Draft LHMP provided for public
review.
Documentation 16: Survey
Distribution for Feedback
Ongoing Survey Results to Public
Review Draft Feedback
Documentation 17: Survey
Distribution for Feedback
6/24/2025 Draft LHMP provided to
neighboring jurisdiction for
review and comment.
Documentation 18: Distribution
Email/Feedback
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249
DOCUMENTATION 1: SURVEY
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250
DOCUMENTATION 2: INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
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251
DOCUMENTATION 3: FACEBOOK POST
DOCUMENTATION 4: NEWS RELEASE
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252
DOCUMENTATION 5: GOOGLE SEARCH
DOCUMENTATION 6: FIRE WEBPAGE
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253
DOCUMENTATION 7: LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FLYER (English)
436
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254
DOCUMENTATION 8: LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE FLYER/SURVEY (SPANISH)
437
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DOCUMENTATION 9: LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE FLYER (Chinese)
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DOCUMENTATION 10: Survey (Spanish)
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DOCUMENTATION 11: Survey (CHINESE)
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DOCUMENTATION 12: CITY WEBSITE PRESENTATION & NEWS ARTICLE
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DOCUMENTATION 13: ACCESSIBILITY & DISABILITY COMMISSION AGENDA
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DOCUMENTATION 14: SURVEY RESULTS
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DOCUMENTATION 15: OUTREACH MATERIALS AT PUBLIC FACING OFFICES
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272
DOCUMENTATION 16: SOCIAL MEDIA POST SURVEY DISTRIBUTION FOR FEEDBACK
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DOCUMENTATION 17: PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT SURVEY RESULTS
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DOCUMENTATION 18: DISTRIBUTION EMAIL/FEEDBACK
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APPENDIX D – ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Acronym Definition
BRIC Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
Cal OES California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services CDAA California Disaster Assistance Act
CIP Capital Improvement Plan
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
CPRI Calculated Priority Risk Index
DMA 2000 Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
EAP Emergency Action Plan
EOP Emergency Operations Plan
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FMA Flood Mitigation Assistance
HMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance
HMGP Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
NFIP National Flood Insurance Program
NWS National Weather Service
PDM Pre-Disaster Mitigation
RFC Repetitive Flood Claims
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280
Acronym Definition
STAPLEE Social, Technical, Administrative, Political, Legal, Economic, Environmental
UCERF3 (the third) Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast USDM U.S. Drought Monitor
USSDO U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
NIDIS National Integrated Drought Information System
WUI Wildland Urban Interface
463
Appendix C: WSCP Adoption Resolution [to be inserted]
464
ITEM #2
465
PASADENA WATER AND POWER
MEMORANDUM
June 9, 2026
To: Municipal Services Committee
From: David M. Reyes
General Manager
Subject: Energy and Credit Risk Policy Pr oposed Enhancements to Integrate an Energy Hedging Structure
Attached for the Municipal Services Committee is a presentation from Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) summarizing the background and proposed enhancements related to energy hedging, which will be introduced dur
ing the annual review of the Energy and
Credit Risk Council Adopted Policy (last updated in 2025). This item is presented for information only.
The presentation details PWP’s proposed analysis of enhancements to the Pasadena Energy and Credit Risk Policy, introducing operational tools to manage pricing risk associated with energy market volatility. These enhancements are designed to protect PWP from adverse market price movements and limit financial exposure with a primary target of maintaining stable rates while reliably serving Pasadena’s energy load.
Attachment: Energy Hedging Overview Presentation
466
Pasadena Water and Power
Energy Hedging
Pasadena Water & Power Department
Municipal Services Committee
June 9, 2026
467
Pasadena Water and Power
PWP Energy Hedging: Why?
2 California’s wholesale energy and natural gas markets are historically volatile given changes in weather activity, supply shortages, power grid congestion, pipeline constraints and demand fluctuations PWP’s Power Supply procurement activities are structured to optimize resources within PWP’s energy portfolio. Resource optimization is achieved through analyzing and engaging in Day-Ahead and Real-Time energy market interactions to meet and serve Pasadena’s community load Goal: Designed to protect PWP from adverse market price movements and limit financial exposure with a primary target of maintaining stable rates while reliably serving Pasadena’s load
Scope: Complements recently approved Energy and Credit Risk Management Policy adopted by City Council
468
Pasadena Water and Power
Mitigating Market Exposure
3 Over one million (1,000,000) Megawatt-hours of energy delivered each year to PWP customers
PWP’s energy portfolio consists mainly of long-term contracts and wholesale short-term energy market transactions and supplemental locally owned generation.
PWP gains when market prices are above contracted prices by having procured energy resources at lower prices in advance of the current market.
Conversely, PWP may overpay when market prices are below contracted prices
PWP hedging through forward energy transactions, either physical or financially settled, can reduce the amount of market exposure by making unknown costs, known
469
Pasadena Water and Power
Why Does PWP Hedge Now?
4 ADVANTAGES
Mitigates price risk associated with
volatile energy and fuel purchases
Prudent planning and proactive
approach to energy risk
management
Aims to maintain stable rates by
actively managing procurement
costs
DISADVANTAGES
Opportunity costs of potentially
lower energy and fuel purchases in
daily market
Performance of contracts reliant on
counterparties over long periods
Continual Improvement | Protect Stable and Affordable Rates 470
Pasadena Water and Power
Hedging Policy Development
5 Council Direction Policy
A formal policy will
provide an extra layer
of accountability and
transparency when
operating in a volatile
market; integrated into
existing Energy Credit
Risk Policy
Risk Control
Enables prudent,
disciplined, and
structured hedging
activity of forward PWP
Power Supply Portfolio
471
Pasadena Water and Power
Hedging Objectives
6 Identify and
quantify PWP’s
energy portfolio
risk
01 Determine risk
tolerance
based on PWP’s
Risk Policy to
manage risk by
support of
hedging
activities
02 Develop and
execute
Hedging
Strategies to
optimize and
reduce
exposures as
guided by
PWP’s Hedging
Policy
03 Monitor, assess
and report on
the
performance
on the hedging
strategies
periodically
04 472
Pasadena Water and Power
City
Council
Municipal
Services
CommitteeCity
Manager
General
Manager
Energy and Credit Risk Management
Committee (RMC)
Front Office
(Energy Trading)
Middle Office
(Risk Management)
Back Office
(Settlements)
Risk Governance Structure
Risk Policy
Risk Management
Advisory Services:
City Attorney
City Finance Director
Internal Audit Manager
RMC Members:
1. General Manager
2. AGM – Power Supply
3. AGM – Finance & Administration
4. Energy Risk & Credit Manager
5. Energy Trading Manager
6. Energy Settlements Manager
7. Resource Planning Manager
Hedge Policy
Responsibly managing risk through appropriate governance 473
Pasadena Water and Power
Next Steps
• Incorporate into the Energy and Credit Risk
Poli
cy during the Fall annual review
8 474