b) Civil Penalties: In additional to all other remedies, the City may issue civil penalties for failure to comply with any provisions of this Article are as follows:
1) First Violation: The City will issue a written warning and deliver a copy of this ordinance by mail.
2) Second Violation: The City will issue a second written warning and deliver a copy of this ordinance by mail.
3) Third Violation: A third violation within the preceding 12 calendar months is subject to fine not to exceed $100. This fine will incorporated into the Customer’s water bill. Non payment will be subject to the same remedies as non payment of basic water rates.
4) Fourth Violation: A fourth violation within the preceding 12 calendar months is subject to a fine not to exceed $250. This fine will be incorporated into the Customer’s water bill.
Non payment will be subject to the same remedies as non payment of basic water rates.
5) Fifth and Subsequent Violations: A fifth and subsequent violation is subject to a fine not to exceed $500. This fine will be incorporated in to the Customer’s water bill. Non payment will be subject to the same remedies as non payment of basic water rates. i) Water Flow Restrictor: In addition to any fines, the City may install a water flow restrictor device of approximately one gallon per minute capacity for services up to one and one-half inch size and comparatively sized restrictors for larger services after written notice of intent to install a flow restrictor for a minimum of 48 hours. ii) Termination of Service: In addition to any fines and the installation of a water flow restrictor, the City may disconnect and/or terminate a Customer’s water service.
c) Cost of Flow Restrictor and Disconnecting Service: A Person or entity that violates this Article is responsible for payment of the City’s charges for installing and/or removing any flow restricting device and for disconnecting and/or reconnecting service per the City’s schedule of charges then in effect. The charge for installing and/or removing any flow restricting device must be paid to the City before the device is removed. Nonpayment will be subject to the same remedies as nonpayment of basic water rates.
d) A violation of this Article is declared to be a public nuisance and may be abated by the City in accordance with its authority to abate nuisances.
e) The penalties and remedies listed in this Article are not exclusive of any other penalties and remedies available to the City under any applicable federal, state or local law and it is within the discretion of the City to seek cumulative penalties and remedies.”
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9 SECTION 3
Any inconsistent provisions of the Torrance Muni cipal Code, or any other inconsistent ordinances of the City, are repealed, to the extent of the inconsistencies.
SECTION 4
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason deemed or held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision will not affect that validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance. The City Council of the City of Torrance hereby decla res that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or other portions might subsequently be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 5
This ordinance will take immediate effect upon its adoption pursuant to Water Code section 376.
Within ten days following adoption, this ordinance will be published at least once in the Daily Breeze, a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of Torrance.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED the 24th day of March, 2009.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/s/ Frank Scotto
Mayor Frank Scotto
JOHN FELLOWS III, City Attorney
by /s/ Ronald Pohl
Ronald T. Pohl, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST:
/s/ Sue Herbers
Sue Herbers, City Clerk
TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. 3717
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF TORRANCE )
I, Sue Herbers, City Clerk of the City of Torrance, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was duly adopted and passed by said Council at a regular meeting held on the 24th day of March 2009 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Barnett, Brewer, Furey, Numark, Rhili nger, Sutherland, and Mayor Scotto.
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None.
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None.
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None.
/s/ Sue Herbers
Sue Herbers,
City Clerk of the City of Torrance
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Appendix I: City Water Conservation Plan
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ARTICLE 4 - WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE AND SUSTAINABILITY
PROGRAM
(Added by O-3320; entire Chapter repealed and added by O-3717)
76.4.010 TITLE.
This Article will be known as the City of Torrance Water Conservation and Water Supply Shortage and Sustainability Program.
76.4.020 FINDINGS.
a) A reliable minimum and sustainable supply of Potable Water is essential to the public health, safety and welfare of the people and economy of the City of Torrance and the southern California region.
b) Southern California is a semi-arid region and is largely dependent upon imported water supplies.
A growing population, climate change, environmental concerns, and other factors in other parts of the State and western United States, make the region highly susceptible to water supply reliability issues. c) Careful water management that includes active water Conservation measures not only in times of drought, but at all times, is essential to ensure a reliable minimum supply of water to meet current and future water supply needs.
d) Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution declares that a city or county may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws.
e) Article X, Section 2 of the California Constitution declares that the general welfare requires that water resources be put to beneficial use, waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use of water be prevented, and Conservation of water be fully exercised with a view to the reasonable and beneficial use thereof.
f) California Water Code section 375 authorizes water suppliers to adopt and enforce a comprehensive water Conservation program to reduce water consumption and conserve supplies. g) The adoption and enforcement of a Water Conservation and Supply Shortage and Sustainability program is necessary to manage the City’s Potable Water supply in the short and long-term and to avoid or minimize the effects of drought and shortage within the City. Such program is essential to ensure a reliable and sustainable minimum supply of water for the public health, safety and welfare for current and future generations.
76.4.030 DECLARATION OF PURPOSE AND INTENT.
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a) The purpose of this Article is to establish a Water Conservation and Supply Shortage and Sustainability program that will reduce water consumption within the City through Conservation, enable effective water supply planning, assure reasonable and beneficial use of water, prevent waste of water, and maximize the efficient use of water within the City to avoid and minimize the effect and hardship of water shortage to the greatest extent possible. b) This Article establishes permanent water Conservation standards intended to alter behavior related to water use efficiency for non-shortage conditions and further establishes three levels of water supply shortage response actions to be implemented during times of declared water shortage or declared water shortage emergency, with increasing restrictions on water use in response to worsening drought or emergency conditions and decreasing supplies.
76.4.040 DEFINITIONS.
a) The following words and phrases whenever used in this Article have the meaning defined in this section:
1) "Allocation" means a form of water rationing that uses penalty pricing to achieve target reductions in water use.
2) "Billing Unit" means the unit of water used to apply water rates for purposes of calculating water charges for a Person’s water usage and equals 100 cubic feet or 748 gallons of water. 3) "City" means the City of Torrance.
4) "Conservation" means the practice of protecting against the loss or waste of natural resources.
5) "Customer" or "Water User" means a Person that uses Potable Water through a metered service connection.
6) "Landscape Irrigation System" means an irrigation system with pipes, hoses, spray heads, or sprinkling devices that are operated by hand or through an automated system. 7) "Large Landscape Areas" means a lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area, or combination thereof, equal to more than one (1) acre of irrigable land. 8) "Person" means any natural person or persons, corporation, public or private entity, governmental agency or institution, or any other user of water within the City. 9) "Potable Water" means water which is suitable for drinking. 10) "Recycled Water" means the reclamation and reuse of non-Potable Water for beneficial use.
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11) "Single Pass Cooling Systems" means equipment where water is circulated only once to cool equipment before being disposed.
12) "Sustainability" means a decision making concept describing water use that meets present needs without compromising the ability to meet future requirements.
76.4.050 APPLICATION.
(Amended by O-3782)
a) The provisions of this Article apply to any Person in the use of any Potable Water within the City.
This Article applies to the Torrance Municipal Water service area and to the service areas of any other agencies providing water service within the City. b) The provisions of this Article do not apply to uses of water necessary to protect public health and safety or for essential government services, such as police, fire and other similar emergency services.
c) The provisions of this Article do not apply to the use of Recycled Water. d) The provisions of this Article do not apply to the use of water by commercial nurseries and commercial growers to sustain plants, trees, shrubs, crops or other vegetation intended for commercial sale.
e) This Article is intended solely to further the Conservation of water. It is not intended to implement any provision of federal, State, or local statutes, ordinances, or regulations relating to protection of water quality or control of drainage or runoff.
76.4.060 PERMANENT WATER CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS - PROHIBITION AGAINST WASTE. (Amended by O-3782)
The following water Conservation requirements are effective at all times and are permanent, unless rescinded by the action of the City Council. Violations of this section will be considered waste and an unreasonable use of water.
a) Limits on Watering Hours: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water is prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
b) Limit on Watering Duration: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water using a Landscape Irrigation System or a watering device that is not continuously The Torrance Municipal Code is current through 3799, passed March 22, 2016.
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attended is limited to no more than fifteen (15) minutes watering per day per station or per area. This subsection does not apply to Landscape Irrigation Systems that exclusively use very low-flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two (2) gallons of water per hour and weather based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers that meet a seventy percent (70%) efficiency standard.
c) No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff: Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area in a manner that causes or allows excessive water flow or runoff onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch is prohibited. d) No Washing Down Hard or Paved Surfaces: Washing down hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or alleys, is prohibited except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards, and then only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device or a low-volume, high-pressure water efficient water broom (Watermiser or equivalent brand) type or cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used. e) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions: Excessive use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the Water User’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected and in no event more than 15 days of receiving notice from the City, is prohibited. f) Recirculating Water Required for Water Fountains and Decorative Water Features: Operating a water fountain or other decorative water feature that does not use recirculated water is prohibited.
This provision will be effective 90 days after adoption of this Ordinance. g) Limits on Washing Vehicles: Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not is prohibited, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device. This subsection does not apply to any commercial car washing facility.
h) Drinking Water Served Upon Request Only: Eating or drinking establishments, including but not limited to a restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria, bar, club or other public place where food or drinks are sold, served, or offered for sale, are prohibited from providing drinking water to any Person unless expressly requested.
i) Commercial Lodging Establishments Must Provide Option to Not Launder Linen Daily: Hotels, motels and other commercial lodging establishments must provide Customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily. Commercial lodging establishments must prominently display notice of this option in each bathroom using clear and easily understood language.
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j) No Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems: Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service.
k) No Installation of Non-recirculating in Commercial Car Wash and Laundry Systems: Installation of non-recirculating water systems is prohibited in new commercial conveyor car wash and new commercial laundry systems.
l) Restaurants Required to Use Water Conserving Dish Wash Spray Valves: Food preparation establishments, such as restaurants or cafes, are prohibited from using non-water conserving dish wash spray valves.
m) Limits on Watering During or After Measurable Rainfall: Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water during a measurable rainfall is prohibited.
Additionally, watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water within forty-eight (48) hours after a measurable rainfall is prohibited.
76.4.070 LEVEL 1 WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE.
(Amended by O-3782)
a) A Level 1 Water Supply Shortage exists when the City determines, in its sole discretion, that due to drought or other water supply reductions, a water supply shortage exists and a consumer demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and appropriately respond to existing water conditions. Upon the declaration by the City of a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage condition, the City will implement the mandatory Level 1 Conservation measures identified in this section. The type of event that may prompt the City to declare a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage may include, among other factors, a finding that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ("MWD") calls for extraordinary water Conservation and declares up to a 15% mandatory Allocation (rationing) within the MWD service area.
A Level 1 Water Supply Shortage condition exists when the City notifies its Water Users that due to drought or other supply reductions, a Customer demand reduction of up to 15% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing water shortage conditions. Upon the declaration of a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage condition, the City shall implement the mandatory Level 1 Conservation measures identified in this ordinance.
b) Additional Water Conservation Measures: In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in Section
76.4.060, the following water Conservation requirements apply during a declared Level 1 Water Supply Shortage:
1) Limits on Watering Hours and Watering Duration: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 The Torrance Municipal Code is current through 3799, passed March 22, 2016.
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p.m. on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water using a Landscape Irrigation System or watering device is limited to no more than fifteen (15) minutes watering per day per station or per area.
2) Limits on Watering Days: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water is limited to 3 days per week on a schedule established and posted by the City. This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than 2 gallons of water per hour. This provision also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
3) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions: All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the Water User’s plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 7 days of notification by the City unless other arrangements are made with the City. 4) Other Prohibited Uses: The City may implement other prohibited water uses as determined by the City, after notice to Customers.
76.4.080 LEVEL 2 WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE.
(Amended by O-3782)
a) A Level 2 Water Supply Shortage exists when the City determines, in its sole discretion, that due to drought or other supply reductions, a water supply shortage exists and a consumer demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing water conditions.
Upon the declaration by the City of a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage condition, the City will implement the mandatory Level 2 Conservation measures identified in this section.
A Level 2 Water Supply Shortage condition exists when the City notifies its Water Users that due to drought or other supply reductions, a Customer demand reduction exceeding 15% to up to 30% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing water shortage conditions.
Upon the declaration of a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage condition, the City shall implement the mandatory Level 2 Conservation measures identified in this ordinance. b) Additional Conservation Measures: In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in Section
76.4.060 and
76.4.070, the following additional water Conservation requirements apply during a declared Level 2 Water Supply Shortage:
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1) Limits on Watering Hours and Watering Duration: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water using a Landscape Irrigation System or watering device is limited to no more than ten (10) minutes per day per station or per area.
2) Watering Days: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water is limited to 2 days per week on a schedule established and posted by the City.
This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than 2 gallons of water per hour.
This provision also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
3) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions: All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the Water User’s plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within four days of notification by the City unless other arrangements are made with the City. 4) Limits on Filling Ornamental Lakes or Ponds: Filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited, except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life, provided that such animals are of significant value and have been actively managed within the water feature prior to declaration of a supply shortage level under this ordinance.
5) Limits on Washing Vehicles: Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to, any automobile, truck, van, bus motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not, is prohibited except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, by high pressure/low volume wash systems, or at a commercial car washing facility that utilizes a recirculating water system to capture or reuse water.
6) Limits on Filling Residential Swimming Pools and Spas: Refilling of more than one foot and initial filling of residential swimming pools or outdoor spas with Potable Water is prohibited. 7) Other Prohibited Uses: The City may implement other prohibitions on water uses as determined by the City, after notice to Customers.
76.4.090 LEVEL 3 WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE - EMERGENCY CONDITION.
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a) A Level 3 Water Supply Shortage condition is also referred to as an "Emergency" condition. A Level 3 condition exists when the City declares a water shortage emergency and notifies its residents and businesses that a significant reduction in consumer demand is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing water conditions. Upon the declaration of a Level 3 Water Supply Shortage Emergency condition, the City will implement the mandatory Level 3 Conservation measures identified in this section.
A Level 3 Water Supply Shortage condition exists when the City notifies its Water Users that due to drought or other supply reductions, a Customer demand reduction exceeding 30% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing water shortage conditions. Upon declaration of a Level 3 Water Supply Shortage condition, the City shall implement the mandatory Level 3 Conservation measures identified in this ordinance.
b) Additional Conservation Measures: In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in Section
76.4.060,
76.4.070, and
76.4.080, the following water Conservation requirements apply during a declared Level 3 Water Supply Shortage Emergency:
1) No Watering or Irrigating: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with Potable Water is prohibited. This restriction does not apply to the following categories of use or to the use of Recycled Water providing it is available and may be lawfully applied to the use:
i) Maintenance of vegetation, including trees and shrubs, that are watered using a hand- held bucket or similar container, hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or a very low-flow drip type irrigation system when no emitter produces more than 2 gallons of water per hour subject to the hour restrictions in Section
76.4.060 (a);
ii) Maintenance of existing landscape necessary for fire protection; iii) Maintenance of existing landscape for soil erosion control; iv) Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the well being of rare animals;
v) Maintenance of landscape within active public parks and playing fields, day care centers, school grounds, cemeteries, and golf course greens, provided that such irrigation does not exceed 2 days per week according to the schedule established in Section
76.4.080
(b)(1) and time restrictions in Section
76.4.060 (a) and (b);
vi) Public works projects and actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects. 2) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions: All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in The Torrance Municipal Code is current through 3799, passed March 22, 2016.
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the Water User’s plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within two days of notification by the City unless other arrangements are made with the City. 3) Discontinue Service: The City, in its sole discretion, may discontinue service to Customers who willfully violate provisions of this section.
4) Other Prohibited Uses: The City may implement other prohibited water uses as determined by the City, after notice to Customers.
76.4.100 PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINATION/NOTIFICATION OF WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE. (Amended by O-3782)
a) Declaration and Notification of Level 1, 2, and 3 Water Supply Shortage:
1) The existence of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Water Supply Shortage conditions may be declared by resolution of the City adopted at a regular or special public meeting held in accordance with State law. The mandatory Conservation requirements applicable to Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Water Supply Shortage conditions will take effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council.
2) In case of emergency, the City Manager will have the authority to declare a Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Water Supply Shortage condition subject to ratification by the City Council within 7 days or the order will have no further force or effect. 3) The City Council is authorized to implement mandatory Conservation requirements applicable to Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Water Supply Shortage conditions in order for the City to comply with water use restrictions imposed by federal, state or regional water agencies or respond to emergency water shortage conditions.
76.4.110 OTHER PROVISIONS.
(Amended by O-3782)
a) Commercial Car Wash Systems: Effective on January 1, 2012, all commercial conveyor car wash systems must have installed and operational recirculating water systems, or must have secured a waiver of this requirement from the City.
b) Large Landscape Areas - Rain Sensors: Effective January 1, 2012, Large Landscape Areas, such as parks, cemeteries, golf courses, school grounds, and playing fields, that use Landscape Irrigation Systems to water or irrigate, must use Landscape Irrigation Systems with rain sensors that automatically shut off such systems during periods of rain or irrigation timers which automatically use information such as evapotranspiration sensors to set an efficient water use schedule. c) Construction Purposes: Recycled or other approved non-Potable Water must be used for The Torrance Municipal Code is current through 3799, passed March 22, 2016.
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c) Construction Purposes: Recycled or other approved non-Potable Water must be used for construction purposes when available.
d) Limits on Building Permits: The City will limit or withhold the issuance of building permits which require new or expanded water service, except to protect the public health, safety and welfare, or in cases which meet the City’s adopted Conservation offset requirements. e) Water Recycling Required if Alternative Available: The use of Potable Water, other than Recycled Water, is prohibited for specified uses after the City has provided to the Customer an analysis showing that Recycled Water is a cost-effective alternative to Potable Water for such uses and the Customer has had a reasonable time, as determined by the Public Works Director, to make the conversion to Recycled Water.
f) Water Recycling - New Service: Prior to the connection of any new water service, an evaluation must be done by the City to determine whether Recycled Water exists to supply all or some of the water needed and Recycled Water must be utilized to the extent feasible. g) Administrative Rules: The Public Works Director shall have the authority to establish administrative rules, operating rules, procedures, and guidelines to implement and enforce this Article in accordance with its provisions and intent.
76.4.120 HARDSHIP WAIVER.
(Amended by O-3782)
a) Undue and Disproportionate Hardship: If, due to unique circumstances, a specific requirement of this Article would result in undue hardship to a Person using water or to property upon which water is used, such as addressing appropriate moisture content to maintain the integrity of foundations or structural components of buildings in expansive soil areas, that is disproportionate to the impacts to Water Users generally or to similar property or classes of Water Users, then the Person may apply for a waiver to the requirements in accordance with administrative procedures established by the City.
76.4.130 PENALTIES AND VIOLATIONS.
a) Misdemeanor: Any Person who violates any provision of this Article is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both fine and imprisonment.
b) Civil Penalties: In addition to all other remedies, the City may issue civil penalties for failure to comply with any provisions of this Article [and] are as follows:
1) First Violation: The City will issue a written warning and deliver a copy of this ordinance by mail.
2) Second Violation: The City will issue a second written warning and deliver a copy of this The Torrance Municipal Code is current through 3799, passed March 22, 2016.
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ordinance by mail.
3) Third Violation: A third violation within the preceding 12 calendar months is subject to fine not to exceed $100. This fine will [be] incorporated into the Customer’s water bill. Nonpayment will be subject to the same remedies as nonpayment of basic water rates. 4) Fourth Violation: A fourth violation within the preceding 12 calendar months is subject to a fine not to exceed $250. This fine will be incorporated into the Customer’s water bill.
Nonpayment will be subject to the same remedies as nonpayment of basic water rates. 5) Fifth and Subsequent Violations: A fifth and subsequent violation is subject to a fine not to exceed $500. This fine will be incorporated into the Customer’s water bill. Nonpayment will be subject to the same remedies as nonpayment of basic water rates. i) Water Flow Restrictor: In addition to any fines, the City may install a water flow restrictor device of approximately one gallon per minute capacity for services up to one and one-half inch size and comparatively sized restrictors for larger services after written notice of intent to install a flow restrictor for a minimum of 48 hours. ii) Termination of Service: In addition to any fines and the installation of a water flow restrictor, the City may disconnect and/or terminate a Customer’s water service. c) Cost of Flow Restrictor and Disconnecting Service: A Person or entity that violates this Article is responsible for payment of the City’s charges for installing and/or removing any flow restricting device and for disconnecting and/or reconnecting service per the City’s schedule of charges then in effect.
The charge for installing and/or removing any flow restricting device must be paid to the City before the device is removed. Nonpayment will be subject to the same remedies as nonpayment of basic water rates.
d) A violation of this Article is declared to be a public nuisance and may be abated by the City in accordance with its authority to abate nuisances.
e) The penalties and remedies listed in this Article are not exclusive of any other penalties and remedies available to the City under any applicable federal, state or local law and it is within the discretion of the City to seek cumulative penalties and remedies.
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Appendix J: City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Torrance | 2025 Urban Water Management Plan
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2017-2022
LOCAL HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN
Final Plan | October 2017
City of Torrance
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2017-2022
LOCAL HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN
Final Plan | October 2017
Prepared for
City of Torrance Fire Department
1701 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90501
Prepared by
Michael Baker International
3900 Kilroy Airport Way, Suite 120
Long Beach, CA 90806
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City of Torrance
October 2017
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Final Plan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Authority for the Plan .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Plan Adoption ............................................................................................................................................................... 3 Plan Use ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Mitigation Priorities and Goals ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Hazard Mitigation Planning Process ............................................................................................................................ 4 Public Review Draft ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Supportive Plans, Studies, and Other Resources .......................................................................................................... 8 Community Profile ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Physical Setting ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 History ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Demographics ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 Economic Trends ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Land Uses ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Critical Facilities .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Development Trends .................................................................................................................................................. 16 Evacuation Routes ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 Energy Infrastructure .................................................................................................................................................. 19 Hazards ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 Hazard Identification .................................................................................................................................................. 21 Hazard Prioritization ................................................................................................................................................... 23 Hazard Profiles ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 Mitigation Strategy ..................................................................................................................................... 69 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 69 Capabilities Assessment ............................................................................................................................................ 69 287
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Measure Development ............................................................................................................................................... 70 STAPLE/E ................................................................................................................................................................... 77 Hazard Mitigation Actions .......................................................................................................................................... 79 Plan Maintenance ........................................................................................................................................ 93 Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan .......................................................................................................... 93 Method and Schedule for Plan Updates ..................................................................................................................... 94 Adoption .................................................................................................................................................................... 95 Implementation ......................................................................................................................................................... 96 Continued Public Involvement ................................................................................................................................... 96 Point of Contact......................................................................................................................................................... 96 Sources ....................................................................................................................................................... 97 Tables
Table 1: Planning Team Meeting Summaries ........................................................................................................ 5 Table 2: Key Resources Used to Develop LHMP ....................................................................................................8 Table 3: Basic Demographics of Torrance (2014) ................................................................................................. 10 Table 4: Race and Ethnicity of Torrance Residents (2014) ................................................................................... 11 Table 5: Educational Attainment of Torrance Residents (25+ years 2014) ........................................................... 11 Table 6: Language Proficiency of Torrance Residents (5+ years, 2014) ................................................................ 12 Table 7: Top Ten Employers in Torrance (2015)................................................................................................... 13 Table 8: Torrance Land Uses (2010) .................................................................................................................... 14 Table 9: City of Torrance Critical Facilities by Type and Priority .......................................................................... 15 Table 10: City of Torrance LHMP Hazard Evaluation ............................................................................................. 21 Table 11: Hazard Ranking Scores and Weighing Factors ....................................................................................... 23 Table 12: Scores and Threat Levels by Hazard ...................................................................................................... 24 Table 13: US Drought Monitor Classification Scheme ...........................................................................................26 Table 14: Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale for Earthquakes ................................................................................. 29 Table 15: Estimated Maximum Seismic Intensities in the Torrance Area............................................................... 30 Table 16: Historic Earthquake Events in Torrance ................................................................................................. 31 Table 17: Maximum Likelihood of Earthquake Events by Size and Fault in the Next 30 Years ............................... 33 Table 18: Critical Facilities at Risk of Fault Rupture by Type .................................................................................. 38 288
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Table 19: Enhanced Fujita Scale............................................................................................................................ 44 Table 20: Critical Facilities at Risk of Hazardous Materials by Type and Priority .................................................... 50 Table 21: Critical Facilities at Risk of Expansive Soils by Type and Priority ............................................................ 62 Table 22: Capabilities Assessment ........................................................................................................................ 71 Table 23: STAPLE/E Criteria.................................................................................................................................. 78 Table 24: City of Torrance Hazard Mitigation Measures ........................................................................................ 81 Figures
Figure 1: Critical Facilities .................................................................................................................................... 17 Figure 2: Liquefaction Risk ................................................................................................................................... 35 Figure 3: Torrance Fault Lines .............................................................................................................................. 39 Figure 4: Hazardous Material Sites Near Critical Facilities .................................................................................... 51 Figure 5: Flood Hazard Zones ............................................................................................................................... 55 Figure 6: Expansive Soil Hazard Area ................................................................................................................... 65 Figure 7: Landslide Hazard Zone .......................................................................................................................... 67 Appendices
Appendix A - Project Meeting Materials
Appendix B - Public Engagement Survey
Appendix C - Critical Facilities List
Appendix D - Adoption Resolution
Appendix E – Public Comments Received
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1 INTRODUCTION
Natural hazards have different impacts in varying
locations and times, with the potential to severely impact human health and safety, property, ecosystems, and key
services. Over a sufficient period of time, cyclical patterns of occurrence and recovery associated with natural
hazards eventually become evident. These patterns can
be identified and analyzed to create the most effective set of emergency management activities. Emergency
management has five phases: the emergency or disaster
itself, response, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness.
By optimizing each phase, emergency planners and
responders can help protect a community from the worst
effects of disasters. A clear understanding of the potential hazards facing a community and a coordinated plan to
address the risks posed by hazards are essential to an
effective emergency management strategy. While no community can entirely protect itself against all potential impacts from natural hazards, communities can reduce the severity of these impacts by taking actions to become more resilient. This Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP, or Plan) is a blueprint for how the City of Torrance, California, may reduce the threat posed by natural hazards.
Note to Readers/Reviewers
This LHMP is not considered an update to the City’s previous Plan that was approved in 2005 by Cal OES and FEMA.
This previous Plan was never officially adopted by the Torrance City Council, which is the final action required to put the plan into effect. As a result, the plan presented here, is considered the first plan that will be officially adopted by the City, once approved by Cal OES and FEMA.
Purpose
Like many other communities, Torrance could face widespread devastation and loss of life, interruptions to vital services, and other substantial challenges in the event of a severe disaster. Even a natur al hazard event of a smaller magnitude could cause significant disruptions and negative impacts to the community. This Plan is intended to help make Torrance Disaster
Response
Preparedness
Recovery
Mitigation
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2 a safer place to live, work, and visit by identifying effective and feasible actions to reduce the risks posed by various hazards. The City has developed this Plan to be consistent with current standards and regulations, to ensure that the understanding of hazards facing the community reflects current conditions and best available science, that the mitigation measures in the plan are grounded in best practices and available resources, and that the Plan is consistent with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements.
Hazard mitigation plans such as this Plan have four overarching objectives:
Establish and foster a basis for coordination and collaboration among public agencies, participating private organizations and companies, and other key stakeholders. Identify and prioritize future mitigation projects.
Meet the requirements of federal assistant grant programs, including FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funding.
Work in conjunction with other plans, including the City’s General Plan.
Authority for the Plan
FEMA
The federal Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act (Stafford Act), as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and supported by various pieces of regulation, directs hazard mitigation planning. The Stafford Act requires state, local, and tribal governments to develop and submit to FEMA a mitigation plan that outlines processes for identifying the natural hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities of the jurisdiction if the jurisdiction wishes to be eligible for federal hazard mitigation grant funds (United States Code Title 42, Section 5156(a)). FEMA has promulgated the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 44, Part 201 in order to implement the mitigation planning requirements of the Stafford Act. These regulations govern the planning process, plan content, and the process for obtaining FEMA approval for hazard mitigation plans. FEMA’s Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool identifies the planning requirements set forth in the CFR.
The City of Torrance LHMP complies with DMA 2000 and the Stafford Act, as well as Title 44 Parts 201, 206, and 322 of the CFR.
State of California
The State of California enacted California Government Code Sec tions 8685.9 and 65302.6 through the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 2140 in 2006. These sections address the federal requirements to have a hazard mitigation plan as a condition for certain federal grants.
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3 Section 8685.9 limits the State of California’s share of disaster relief funds to 75 percent of funds not covered by FEMA, unless the affected community receiving the disaster relief funds has adopted a valid hazard mitigation plan consistent with DMA 2000 and has incorporated the hazard miti gation plan as part of the community’s general plan. In this case, the State may cover more than 75 percent of the costs. Section 65302.6 authorizes a local community to adopt a hazard mitigation plan as part of the safety element or comparable component of its general plan.
This LHMP includes information required by the appropriate sections of the California Government Code.
Plan Adoption
The City of Torrance will adopt this LHMP through a resolution of the City Council, following approval of the plan by FEMA. Appendix D contains the City Council resolution adopting the 2016 LHMP.
Plan Use
Each section of the LHMP contains information and resources to assist in the understanding of the natural hazards and related issues that may affect Torrance. The structure of the LHMP allows users to review each section as needed and allows the City to review and update sections with new data as it becom es available. The LHMP is made up of the following chapters:
Chapter 1 – Introduction: Describes the background and purpose of the Plan, the goals and priorities, and the planning process used to develop it.
Chapter 2 – Community Profile: Provides the history, physical setting, land use, and demographics of Torrance. Chapter 3 – Hazards: Identifies and describes the hazards that threaten Torrance, and how these hazards were selected and prioritized. For each hazard, this chapter discusses past hazards, the risk of future hazards, the impact of climate change on the hazard, and the vulnerability of the community. Chapter 4 – Mitigation Strategy: Provides the mitigation measures to reduce potential risks from hazards in Torrance, and an overview of the City’s existing capabilities to improve resiliency to hazard events. Chapter 5 – Plan Maintenance: Describes the process for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the Plan, as well as opportunities for continued public involvement.
Mitigation Priorities and Goals
The City of Torrance established goals as part of the planning process to develop the City’s previous LHMP, which was authored in 2004, however it was never officially adopted by the City. The Planning Team modified these goals for this updated Plan while preserving the original intent. The goals for this LHMP are as follows:
Make properties and structures more resilient to natural hazards, reducing injuries and damage. 293
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4 Improve assessments of hazards to encourage preventive measures. Create outreach and education efforts to increase public awareness of risks. Support the local environment through hazard mitigation planning efforts. Improve public and private participation to encourage leadership and prioritize hazard mitigation actions. Coordinate hazard planning and emergency operations by strengthening collaboration.
Hazard Mitigation Planning Process
State and federal laws and regulations do not require a specific planning process for developing hazard mitigation plans.
Individual communities are allowed to develop and implement a planning process that is best suited for local conditions.
FEMA guidance suggests that planning processes achieve the following objectives:
Determine the planning area and resources it contains. Build the planning team.
Create an outreach strategy.
Review the community capabilities.
Conduct a risk assessment.
Develop a mitigation strategy.
Keep the plan current.
Review and adopt the plan.
Create a safe and resilient community.
In keeping with FEMA’s recommendations, the City of Torrance convened a Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Team (the Planning Team), made up of representatives from different City departments. The Planning Team included the personnel from the following departments. Individuals listed were in attendance at most meetings:
Aram Chaparyan (City Manager ‘s Office)
Dana Cortez (City Treasurer)
Jefferey Gibson (Community Development)
Jason Minter, John Jones (Community Services)
T. Connaughton (Finance)
Martin Serna, David Dumais (Fire)
Sheryl Ballew (General Services)
Soraya Sutherlin, Darek Wawryk, Bernard
Anderson (Police)
Rob Beste (Public Works)
Kim Turner (Transit)
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5 The Planning Team held three meetings throughout the plan development process. At these meetings, the Planning Team members discussed the objectives of the Plan, identified the appropriate hazards that pose a threat to Torrance, and prepared and reviewed t he mitigation measures to improve community resiliency to hazards. Table 1 summarizes the results of these meetings. Appendix A provides additional details and copies of materials used in these meetings.
Table 1: Planning Team Meeting Summaries
Meeting Description
Meeting 1 – January 14, 2016
This meeting provided an overview of the hazard mitigation planning process, discussed the critical facilities inventory, and prioritized the hazards of concern.
Meeting 2 – May 5, 2016 This meeting discussed the hazard profiles and risk assessment analysis conducted as part of the planning process.
Meeting 3 – May 17, 2016
This meeting discussed the draft hazard mitigation actions, which included editing/removing actions deemed unnecessary, and concluded with a prioritization exercise of the remaining mitigation actions.
In addition to the work of the Planning Team, the City held a public engagement and outreach process so as to give community members the opportunity to learn about the Plan and contribute to its development. As part of this process, the City created an online survey for community members about hazard -related concerns and existing preparatory actions. Approximately 550 people responded to the survey. The key outcomes of the survey are presented below:
Among respondents who were impacted by a disaster in their current home, approximately 49 percent were exposed to hazardous materials and approximately 44 percent were impacted by an earthquake. Other disasters impacted substantially fewer respondents.
Earthquakes, severe weather, flooding, and exposure to hazardous materials were by far the hazards of greatest concern to respondents.
Less than half of homeowners were certain that their homeowners insurance would be adequate to cover losses from a hazard event.
While a substantial number (approximately 39 percent) of respondents were familiar with any special needs that their neighbors may have during an emergency situation, a significant majority (61 percent) were not. When asked how the City could help prepare respondents for disaster situations, approximately 86 percent requested effective emergency communication, 69 percent wanted increased community outreach, 59 percent requested training and education on preventing future damage, and 49 percent requested increased awareness of populations with special needs or increased vulnerability.
Appendix B contains a more detailed summary of the survey findings. 295
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6 Public Review Draft
On October 6, 2016, the City of Torrance completed the public review draft LHMP and released it for review and comment by the general public for a period of 30 days. Electronic versions were published on the City’s website (at http://www.torranceca.gov/TPD/Documents/Torrance_LHMP_Public_Review_Draft_combined_9-26-16.pdf), distributed to the Torrance Unified School District and local homeowners associations, and distributed through City social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, Nixle, and TorranceAlerts. Hard-copy versions of the Plan were provided at the following locations:
Torrance City Hall
Katy Geissert Civic Center Library (Main Library)
Torrance Fire Department Station #1
Torrance Police Department
Bartlett Senior Center
Herma Tillim Senior Center
Torrance Alerts was the primary method of outreach during the planning process. Using the City’s existing database of 13,039 recipients, notifications were distributed to area residents, businesses, and jurisdictions through the region, including emergency managers within the Los Angeles County Disaster Management Area G, which included the following Cities:
El Segundo, Emergency Manager
Gardena, E-Prep Coordinator
Hawthorne, Emergency Manager
Hermosa Beach, Emergency Manager
Inglewood, Community Services Representative
Lawndale, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Lomita, City Manager’s Office
Manhattan Beach , Emergency Services
Coordinator
Palos Verdes Estates, Community Relations Officer
Rancho Palos Verdes, Senior Administrative
Analyst
Redondo Beach, Emergency Preparedness
Rolling Hills, City Manager
Rolling Hills Estates, Emergency Services
Coordinator, and
Torrance, Emergency Services Coordinator
Appendix E provides a printout of the notification analysis provided by the Torrance Alerts system, showing the distribution of the notification for the Public Review Draft LHMP.
During the 30 day public comment period (completed on November 6, 2016), the City received comments from six individuals/groups. The full comments are provided in Appendix E of this document, and the summary below identifies the nature of the comments and changes to the plan that were made in response:
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7 Comment 1 – Identify an inaccurate logo used in the Draft Plan. Response: the logo was updated to reflect the most current version.
Comment 2 – Concern regarding the ability to hear an emergency alert siren on the southern edge of the City. Response:
Mitigation action 1.19 was originally developed to promote better emergency alerts throughout the City and addresses the concern raised by the commenter.
Comment 3 – Question regarding the end of the comment period. Response: no change to the plan was made, based on this comment.
Comment 4 – Addition of hospitals to the critical infrastructure list. Response: development of the critical facilities list included facilities under the direct control of th e City or are facilities where the City actively coordinates with the controlling agency. The City identified working with community partners, like the hospitals as a priority and these facilities could be added to the risk assessment as part of future upd ates. The City also intends to address this in their upcoming Emergency Operations Plan Update.
Comment 5 – Correction of a site population figure for Honda Motor Co. Response: the number was corrected in the plan.
Comment 6 – Concerns regarding the hazard assessment as it relates to the Torrance refinery and use of many of the chemicals onsite that could impact the community during a disaster event. Response: Additional text was added indicating that the risk to hazardous material release can be exacerbated by natural hazard events (i.e. earthquake) and should be considered as part of the City’s overall risk. The City also intends to address this in their upcoming Emergency Operations Plan Update.
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8 Supportive Plans, Studies, and Other Resources
The Planning Team relied on numerous plans, studies, technical reports, databases, and other resources to develop hazard discussions and mapping. Table 2 shows key resources used for different sections of the Plan. A more e xtensive list of resources is given in the Sources section at the end of the main body of this Plan.
Table 2: Key Resources Used to Develop LHMP
Section Key Resources
Multiple Hazards
California State Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Torrance General Plan and Environmental Impact Report City of Torrance 2004 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
California Geological Survey Regulatory Maps
City of Torrance Community Development GIS
Drought US Drought Monitor
City of Torrance Urban Water Management Plan
Seismic Hazards
City of Torrance General Plan
US Geological Survey ShakeMap Scenarios
Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast
Southern California Earthquake Data Center
Severe Weather
Western Regional Climate Center
Cal-Adapt
National Weather Service
Hazardous Materials
California Environmental Protection Agency
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
California State Water Resources Control Board
Flood Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Map Service Center California Adaptation Planning Guide
Diseases and Pest Management Centers for Disease Control California Department of Public Health
Note: All resources used for the Geologic Hazards section are given in the Multiple Hazards row of this table. 298
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9 COMMUNITY PROFILE
Physical Setting
Torrance is a city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, approximately 11 miles from downtown Los Angeles at its closest point. As of 2014, Torrance had an estimated population of 147,181, making it the eighth-most populous city in Los Angeles County. Located in the urbanized Los Angeles Basin, Torrance is almost entirely developed and mostly surrounded by other urban areas. Although residential land uses make up approximately half of the community’s area , Torrance also has extensive retail, office, and industrial land uses.
Torrance is bordered by the cities of Lawndale and Gardena and the unincorporated community of El Camino Village to the north, by the cities of Los Angeles and Lomita to the east, by t he cities of Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Estates to the south, and by the city of Redondo Beach and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Interstate 405 runs through the northern part of the city; the Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) runs through southern Torrance; and Hawthorne Boulevard (State Route 107) runs through the length of the city. The community is divided roughly in two by rail lines, which are currently only used for freight.
History
The area which is now Torrance was originally inhab ited by the Tongva people (also called the Gabrieleño people), who lived throughout the Los Angeles Basin. The Tongva were primarily hunter -gatherers, numbering as many as 5,000 to 10,000 by the time the Spanish arrived in the area in the late 1700s (Harki n 2004). In 1786, an area of 75,000 acres was granted by Spain to a soldier named Juan José Dominguez. This land grant, called Rancho San Pedro, extended east from the Los Angeles River to the Pacific Ocean and included what is now Torrance, along with the other communities of the South Bay region. When Mexico won independence from Spain, the grant was reduced to 48,000 acres, and then to approximately 43,000 acres after the United States took California during the Mexican-American War.
In 1911, Pasadena developer Jared Sidney Torrance purchased 3,701 acres in the area and hired the landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted Jr. to design a new town. The community, which was founded the following year, was named Torrance after its developer. Torrance incorpora ted in 1921 and oil was discovered in the area shortly thereafter, transforming the small town into an industrial center. The city’s major industrial activities continued after World War II, as the community expanded and developed rapidly. Although growth slowed significantly after 1970, Torrance remains a major industrial and commercial hub. A number of large corporations, including Honda and the Torrance Refining Company, have a major presence in the community. Torrance has also emerged as a major health care center and is home to multiple hospitals, including the Torrance Memorial Medical Center and the Little Company of Mary Hospital. 299
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10 Demographics
As of 2014, the US Census counted 147,181 residents in Torrance. The average Torrance resident is older than the average resident of Los Angeles County. Torrance residents are also more likely to have a higher household income and to have a smaller number of people in their household. Table 3 shows the summary demographics for Torrance.
Table 3: Basic Demographics of Torrance (2014)
Category
Total population 147,181 (71,517 male, 75,664 female)
Median age 41.6 years
Elderly population (65+ years) 23,448 (15.9%)
Foreign-born population 42,553 (28.9%)
Number of households 55,279
Average household size 2.64
Median household income $78,286
Rental households 24,531 (44.4%)
Source: US Census Bureau 2014a, 2014b, 2014c, 2014d
As of 2014, slightly more than half of Torrance residents identified as white. Among residents who identified themselves as belonging to another race or ethnic group, most (70.3 percent of non -whites) identified as Asian. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race made up approximately 16 percent of Torrance residents. Table 4 shows the race and ethnicity of Torrance residents.
Torrance residents at least 25 years of age demonstrate a high degree of educational attainment when compared to residents of Los Angeles County as a whole. Over 45 percent of Torrance residents at least 25 years old have achieved a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to approximately 30 percent for Los Angeles County. Approximately 7 percent of Torrance residents have not completed high school, compared to approximately 23 percent for all of Los Angeles County.
Table 5 shows educational attainment for Torrance residents at least 25 years of age. 300
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11 Table 4: Race and Ethnicity of Torrance Residents (2014)
Race/Ethnicity Population Percentage
White 75,837 51.5%
Black or African-American 4,072 2.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native 524 0.4%
Asian 50,134 34.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 485 0.3%
Other race 6,711 4.6%
Two or more races 9,418 6.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 24,046 16.3%
Total 147,181 100%
Source: US Census Bureau 2014e, 2014f
Table 5: Educational Attainment of Torrance Residents (25+ years 2014)
Category Percentage
Less than 9th grade 3.0%
9th grade to 12th grade (no diploma) 4.0%
High school graduate or equivalent 17.5%
Some college (no degree) 21.1%
Associate’s degree 9.0%
Bachelor’s degree 30.1%
Graduate or professional degree 15.3%
Source: US Census Bureau, 2014b
Torrance is a diverse community, which is reflected in the variety of languages spoken by residents. Among residents at least 5 years of age, approximately 62 percent speak English at home, while 38 percent speak another language.
Commonly spoken languages in Torrance include Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. A large number of residents who do not speak English at home speak English “less than very well,” including a majority of Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Persian speakers. Table 6 shows language proficiency for Torrance residents who are at least 5 years old.
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12 Table 6: Language Proficiency of Torrance Residents (5+ years, 2014)
Language Spoken at Home Total Number of Speakers Percentage Speaking English “less than very well”
English 86,482 0%
Spanish or Spanish Creole 12,981 32%
Korean 10,605 60%
Japanese 7,024 57%
Chinese 5,540 50%
Other Indo-European languages * 3,786 24%
Indic languages † 2,862 38%
Tagalog 2,762 34%
Other Asian languages ‡ 1,860 31%
Vietnamese 1,735 55%
Semitic languages § 1,475 37%
Persian 986 51%
All other languages 999 21%
Total 139,097 17%
* Includes German, French, and Portuguese
‡ Includes Thai and Khmer
Source: US Census Bureau 2013, 2014f
† Includes Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati
§ Includes Arabic and Hebrew
Economic Trends
Torrance is the most populous city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County and a regional hub for commercial and industrial activity. The community is not dominated by any individual economic sector, although many Torrance residents are employed in educational/health care/social services (20.3 percent), manufacturing (14.7 percent), professional/scientific/management/administrative (13.5 percent), and retail trade (10.6 percent) sectors. This economic diversity is reflected in the list of the city’s ten largest employers, as shown in Table 7. Some of these employers have experienced considerable growth since 2015 (for example, American Honda now employs approximately 3,000 people). 302
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13 Table 7: Top Ten Employers in Torrance (2015)
Employer Number of
Employees
Percentage of Total
Employment
Toyota Motor Sales/Credit Corp 3,886 5.2%
American Honda 3,000 4.0%
Torrance Unified School District 2,461 3.3%
Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center 2,088 2.8% City of Torrance 1,692 2.3%
Honeywell International 1,443 1.9%
Lisi Aerospace/Hi Shear Corporation 1,216 1.6%
Robinson Helicopter Company 1,212 1.6%
Alcoa Fastening Systems 865 1.2%
Torrance Refining Company 618 0.8%
Source: Torrance 2015a
Although not among the list of top ten employers in Torrance, other major employers in 2015 included the Torrance Refining Company and Torrance Memorial Medical Center (Torrance 2015a).
As a regional job center, Torrance attracts commuters from outside of the community. As of 2013, 87,531 residents of other communities traveled to the city for work, while only 51,282 Torrance residents traveled to work in other communities (13,216 Torrance residents worked in the city). Individuals who come into Torrance for work predominantly come from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Carson, Redondo Beach, and Gardena. Torrance residents who work elsewhere travel mostly to Los Angeles, El Segundo, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, and Carson (US Census Bureau 2016).
Land Uses
Residential buildings (predominantly single -family houses) are the most common land use in Torrance, although the community has extensive retail commercial, office, and industrial lands. A substantial part of the community is also given over to public, quasi-public, and open space uses. Table 8 shows land use in Torrance as of 2010. 303
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14 Table 8: Torrance Land Uses (2010)
Land use category and example land uses Acres Percentage R-LO: Low density residential (single-family homes, up to 9 units per acre) 4,002 38.1% R-LM: Low-medium density residential (small-lot single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes, up to 18 units per acre)
420
4.0%
R-MD: Medium density residential (townhomes and low-rise multifamily buildings, up to 31 units per acre)
606
5.8%
R-HM: Medium-high density residential (low-rise and medium-rise multifamily buildings, up to 44 units per acre)
274
2.6%
R-HI: High density residential (medium-rise and high-rise multifamily buildings, up to 60 units per acre)
5 <0.1%
Total residential 5,307 50.5%
C-GEN: General commercial (retail, dining and entertainment, professional services, and mixed-use development)
825
7.9%
C-CTR: Commercial center (downtown, shopping malls, and mixed-use development) 402 3.8% R-OF: Residential office (professional services, townhomes, and low-rise and medium-rise multifamily buildings)
41 0.4%
Total commercial 1,268 12.1%
I-HVY: Heavy industrial (manufacturing and processing facilities, particularly involving hazardous materials)
859
8.2%
I-LT: Light industrial (limited manufacturing and assembly, research and development facilities, warehouses and wholesalers, and professional offices)
527
5.0%
I-BP: Business park (professional offices, research and development facilities, light industrial uses, and supporting commercial facilities)
881
8.4%
Total industrial 2,267 21.6%
PUB: Public, quasi-public, and open space (City and other government facilities, schools, utilities, and open space)
1,218
11.6%
HM: Hospital and medical (hospitals, medical offices, and supporting uses) 62 0.6% AIR: Airport (Torrance Municipal Airport) 313 3.0%
Others 73 0.7%
Total others 1,666 15.9%
Total 10,506 100%
Source: Torrance 2010a
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15 Critical Facilities
Critical facilities are properties that serve an important function or service to the community and to the City government.
In some instances, critical facilities help to provide key services, such as public safety or utilities, or serve as vital transportation links. Other critical facilities, such as administrative centers, are necessary to maintain government operations during a disaster and can help coordinate response and recovery activities. In some instances, critical facilities can act as temporary emergency shelters or as staging and coordination grounds for response and recovery operations.
The City of Torrance has identified 135 individual critical facilities. In some instances, these individual facilities are collectively part of a larger property (for example, the hangars at Torrance Municipal Airport are treated as three individual facilities, although they are similar in terms of function, location, and vulnerability). There are five categorie s of critical facilities in Torrance:
Bridges: road and railway bridges, including overpasses Government facilities: City-owned properties, including administrative centers, fire and police stations, and community facilities (e.g., libraries, community centers, parks) Schools: public and private elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as vocational schools Transportation routes: key evacuation routes
Utilities: water and wastewater infrastructure, including pumps, wells, and key pipe connections
Most of the critical facilities (109, or 81 percent) have been prioritized on a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the most important.
Table 9 shows the number of critical facilities in Torrance by type and priority. Figure 1 shows the location and types of critical facilities.
Table 9: City of Torrance Critical Facilities by Type and Priority
Number of Critical Facilities
Facility Type Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 No Priority Given Total
Bridges 0 14 0 0 14
Government facilities 11 7 0 26 44
Schools 0 45 0 0 45
Transportation routes 0 2 0 0 2
Utilities 0 13 17 0 30
Total 11 81 17 26 135
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16 The critical facilities list is limited to government properties, such as those owned by the City or by local school districts.
This list does not include facilities that not owned by government agencies but are very important to health and safety in Torrance, such as hospitals and electricity lines. While this lack of government control means that these structures will not be treated as critical facilities for the purpose of this Plan, it is nevertheless important for the City to work with the owners of these facilities to help ensure they are adequately protected from hazard conditions.
Development Trends
Recent development in Torrance has been mostly comm ercial, including a large -scale redevelopment of the Del Amo Fashion Center, several new vehicle dealerships, and the completion or construction of multiple retail and industrial buildings. Torrance Memorial Medical Center has completed a new tower, and work began on a regional transit terminal for Torrance Transit and other regional buses, which may eventually connect to the regional Green Line light rail line.
Residential development has been slow, primarily remodeling of existing homes and new small -scale multifamily buildings. New development/redevelopment in Torrance has taken into consideration many of the hazards discussed in this plan, which are also highlighted in the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code. As a result, these new developments not only take current hazard concerns into account, but also implement the latest building and safety codes, making these developments more resilient than what has been previously developed in the city.
Evacuation Routes
The major freeway in Torrance is Interstate 405, which runs through the northern part of the community and provides access to the San Fernando Valley to the north and Orange County to the east. Pacific Coast Highway, which traverses the southern part of the city, lies roughly parallel to Interstate 405 and provides access to the coastal communities of Los Angeles and Orange Counties and points beyond. Interstate 405 is a limited access freeway and is made up of several lanes in each direction, whereas Pacific Coast Highway is a primary surface stree t with no access limitations. While Interstate 405 has significantly more capacity than Pacific Coast Highway, it is also the most traveled freeway in the United States and is frequently congested. This congestion may lead to challenges if large numbers of Torrance residents use Interstate 405 as an evacuation route, particularly if an evacuation coincides with peak commute periods.
Other major freeways in the region that could serve as evacuation routes include Interstate 110 and State Route 91.
Interstate 110 runs from Long Beach north to Pasadena through downtown Los Angeles, while State Route 91 originates about a mile east of Torrance and runs east to Riverside and San Bernardino through northern Orange County. Major north–south surface streets in Torrance that could serve as evacuation routes include Hawthorne Boulevard (State Route 107), Crenshaw Boulevard, and Western Avenue. Key east–west surface streets are Artesia Boulevard, 190th Street, and Sepulveda Boulevard.
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17 Figure 1: Critical Facilities
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19 Energy Infrastructure
Energy infrastructure, which consists of the delivery systems for electricity and natural gas, are critical systems during emergency situations. Energy is vital for public health and safety, and the availability of these services is crucial after a disaster has occurred. If these systems are damaged, they may also pose additional hazards, such as the risk of electrocution from a downed power line or the risk of an explosion from a leaking natural gas pipe.
Electricity
Torrance receives its electricity from Southern California Edison (SCE), a privately owned utility company. SCE procures its electricity from power plants throughout California and beyond, and delivers it to Torrance through a wide network of power lines and facilities called substations. There is one major power plant in Torrance at the Torrance Refining Corporation oil refinery, although it supplies electricity to the refinery facility itself and not to the wider community (CEC 2014a). The community has one major power transmission line owned by SCE, running roughly parallel to Artesia Boulevard through the northern part of the city, as well as a number of smaller transmission lines owned by SCE and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) (CEC 2014b). Of the 13 substations in Torrance, 12 are owned by SCE and one is owned by LADWP (CEC 2015). Torrance is extensively connected to the electricity infrastructure of the wider Los Angeles region. Large sections of Torrance will lose electricity as a result of damage to a small number of power lines or substations, although a sufficiently large event could still cause a widespread power outage.
Natural Gas
Natural gas service in Torrance is provided by the Southern California Gas Company (SCG), a private utility. Although natural gas pipelines run throughout the community, high-capacity natural gas pipelines run along 190th Street and along Crenshaw Street north of 190th Street. T here is also a natural gas compressor station in the community, near the intersection of the two high -capacity pipelines (CEC 2014c). These facilities help maintain pressure in the natural gas pipelines, keeping the gas moving through the pipes. Any disruption to these pipelines or to the compressor station may cause outages or reductions in service throughout Torrance, and potentially in surrounding communities. 309
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21 HAZARDS
Hazard Identification
Members of the Planning Team reviewed a list of potential hazards consistent with FEMA guidance for inclusion in the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The team eliminated hazards that were not relevant to Torrance or did not pose a substantive threat, and added hazards that were not included in FEMA guidance but are applicable to the community.
Table 10 shows the possible hazards consistent with FEMA guidance that were evaluated to be included in the LHMP, and the reasoning behind the decision for each hazard.
Table 10: City of Torrance LHMP Hazard Evaluation
Hazard Decision Reason for Decision
Avalanche
Exclude
Torrance and the immediate environs do not receive any appreciable snowfall or snow accumulation, as would be necessary for an avalanche to occur.
Dam failure Exclude Torrance is not within the potential inundation zone for any dam.
Drought Include Droughts have been a recurring and potentially severe hazard in Torrance.
Earthquake Include Torrance has experienced multiple strong earthquakes in the past.
Erosion Exclude Erosion is not a recognized issue in Torrance.
Expansive soils Include Expansive soils are present in Torrance and have historically caused damage.
Extreme cold Include Extreme cold events occur occasionally in Torrance.
Extreme heat Include Extreme heat events occur occasionally in Torrance.
Flood Include Floods are a recognized threat in Torrance which have occurred in the past.
Hail Include Hail events have occasionally occurred in Torrance.
Hurricane Exclude Current and anticipated climatic conditions make hurricanes extremely unlikely to directly affect the city.
Landslide Include Landslides have historically occurred in Torrance.
Lightning Exclude While lighting occasionally occurs in Torrance, it has not caused sufficient damage or otherwise been a hazard of concern to merit inclusion. 311
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22 Hazard Decision Reason for Decision
Sea level rise Exclude Torrance has no buildings or structures in low-lying coastal areas.
Severe wind Include Severe wind events have occurred in Torrance and occasionally have caused damage.
Severe winter weather Exclude Torrance is not in a climate that experiences severe winter weather.
Storm surge Exclude Torrance has no buildings or structures in low-lying coastal areas.
Subsidence Exclude There are no recognized past subsidence events in Torrance.
Tornado Include Tornadoes have occasionally occurred in the region.
Tsunami Exclude No buildings or structures in Torrance are within a recognized tsunami hazard area.
Wildfire Exclude Torrance is not located in or adjacent to any wildland or wildland-urban interface.
Source: FEMA 2013
The team then chose to amend the list of included hazards to be more accurate for local conditions, taking the following steps:
Combine extreme heat and cold, hail, severe wind, and tornadoes as a single hazard called “extreme weather.” Combine landslides with expansive soils and a new hazard, methane-containing soils, and label the combined hazard as “geologic hazards.”
Expand the definition of earthquake to include ground shaking, fault rupture, and liquefaction, and refer to the combined hazard as “seismic hazards.”
Add two new hazards: “diseases and pest management” and “hazardous materials.”
The following are the hazards discussed in this LHMP:
Drought
Seismic hazards
Extreme weather
Hazardous materials
Flood
Diseases and pest management
Geologic hazards
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23 Hazard Prioritization
After determining which hazards to include in the LHMP, the Planning Team prioritized each hazard based on four criteria, on a scale of 1 to 4 for each:
Probability: the likelihood that the hazard would occur in the future Location: the size of the area affected by the hazard Maximum probable extent: the intensity of direct damage to structures in the community Secondary impacts: the severity of indirect community impacts
The Planning Team weighed each criterion, with probability being the most important, followed by location, maximum probable impact, and secondary impacts. The Planning Team then combined the assigned value of 1–4 for each criterion with its weighing factor to determine the overall score for each. Table 11 shows the scores and weighing factors.
Table 11: Hazard Ranking Scores and Weighing Factors
Probability Maximum Probable Extent (Primary Impact)
Based on estimated likelihood of occurrence from
historical data
Weighing
Factor: 2.0
Based on percentage of damage to
typical facility in community
Weighing
Factor: 0.7
Probability Score Impact Score
Unlikely (Less than a 1 percent chance of occurring in a given year) 1 Weak – little to no damage 1
Occasional (A 1 to 10 percent chance of occurring in a
given year) 2 Moderate – some damage, loss of service
for days 2
Likely (A 10 to 90 percent chance of occurring in a given year) 3 Severe – devastating damage, loss of
service for months 3
Highly likely (More than a 90 percent chance of
occurring in a given year) 4 Extreme – catastrophic damage, uninhabitable conditions 4
Location Secondary Impacts
Based on size of geographical area of community
affected by hazard
Weighing
Factor: 0.8
Based on estimated secondary
impacts to community at large
Weighing
Factor: 0.5
Affected Area Score Impact Score
Negligible (Affects less than 10 percent of the planning area) 1 Negligible – no loss of function,
downtime, and/or evacuations 1
Limited (Affects 10 to 25 percent of the planning area) 2 Limited – minimal loss of function, downtime, and/or evacuations 2
Significant (Affects 25 to 75 percent of the planning
area) 3 Moderate – some loss of function,
downtime, and/or evacuations 3
Extensive (Affects more than 75 percent of the planning area) 4 High – major loss of function, downtime,
and/or evacuations 4
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24 After the overall score for each criterion is calculated, the scores for location, maximum probable extent, and secondary impacts are summed to obtain the total impact score. The impact score is then multiplied by the probability score to determine the total score for each hazard. Hazards that score between 0 and 12 are considered low-threat hazards, 12.1 to 42 is a medium-threat hazard, and scores above 42.1 are considered high-threat hazards. Table 12 shows the criterion scores, total scores, and threat levels for each hazard.
Table 12: Scores and Threat Levels by Hazard
Impact
Hazard Probability Location Primary
Impact
Secondary
Impact
Total
Score Threat
Drought 4 4 4 4 64.0 High
Seismic hazards 4 4 4 4 64.0 High
Extreme weather 3 4 4 4 48.0 High
Hazardous materials 3 4 3 3 40.8 Medium
Flood 4 2 2 2 32.0 Medium
Diseases and pest management 3 2 2 2 24.0 Medium
Geologic hazards 2 2 3 3 20.8 Medium
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25 Hazard Description
Hazard Profiles
Drought
In periods of low to no precipitation, long -term water shortages may emerge, creating a drought. In California’s Mediterranean climate, a rainy season that is concentrated between October and March often leaves the state with dry summer months. However, when these winter rains do not fall as anticipated, the diminishing water supply is strained under the sustained demand from cities and farms. Drought can lead to increases in the cost of water and increased regulations on water use. If drought conditions persist and become more ex treme, some communities may experience reduced availability of water, creating the need to import supplies. Vegetation and agriculture face severe impacts, especially plants and crops that are water-intensive.
Secondary impacts of sustained drought may create additional risks for Torrance. As moisture evaporates, local soils may harden and decrease in permeability. This means that when rain does come, the ground is less capable of absorbing all of the water, decreasing groundwater recharge and increasing flooding risk. These dry conditions, especially when paired with dry and dying vegetation, can increase the risk of wildland -urban interface (WUI) fires, although this risk is smaller within Torrance’s boundaries, in which there is no WUI zone.
Location and Extent
Unlike other natural hazards, which can impact cities in sudden, specific, and often catastrophic ways, drought comes along slowly but is more distributed in its impacts, often gripping entire regions or states. It takes years of below-average precipitation to create a drought, and as a result it can take just as long to get out of one, requiring years of normal or above-average rainfall to remedy the impacts of drier years. The ramifications of drought vary across the cities in the largest impact area, depending on sources of local water supply, soil type, land use, and climate conditions. Communities that import water from drought -vulnerable regions of California may be more vulnerable to the impacts of drought because of a lack of sufficient l ocal supply. The City’s 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) indicates that in 2015, approximately 88 percent of the City’s potable water supply comes from imported sources, mainly the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. State Water Pro ject water is sourced from the northern Sierra Nevada, while water in the Colorado River Aqueduct comes from the Colorado River Basin, both of which regularly experience drought conditions (Torrance 2016a).
There are multiple classification systems that de scribe the severity of different drought conditions. Table 13 shows the US Drought Monitor Classification Scheme, which combines many of these systems into a single index. 315
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26 Table 13: US Drought Monitor Classification Scheme
Category Description Possible Impacts
D0 Abnormally dry Slower growth of crops and pastures compared to normal activities.
D1
Moderate drought
Some damage to crops and pastures. Streams, reservoirs, or wells low. Some water shortages may be developing or imminent.
D2 Severe drought Likely crop and pasture losses. Water shortages are common, leading to restrictions.
D3 Extreme drought Major crop and pasture losses. Widespread water shortages.
D4 Exceptional drought Exceptional and widespread crop and pasture losses.
Emergency shortages develop.
Source: US Drought Monitor 2016
Hazard History
Droughts are a relatively frequent event in California, and many native plants and animals have evolved strategies to deal with long-term water shortages. Due to California’s extensive water infrastructure networks, a drought in one part of the state may have a relatively small impact if the water supply in the affected area comes from another location that is not under drought conditions. However, if a city, such as Torrance, receives most of its water from distant, mountainous regions, a localized drought in the Sierra Nevada can have farther -reaching impacts.
Occasionally the state may experience a widespread drought that lasts for multiple years. A drought from 1928 to 1937 affected all parts of the state and was the longest drought in California’s recorded history. Between 1976 and 1977, California experienced one of its most severe droughts, with 1977 the state’s driest year on record. Since 2012, California ha s been experiencing drought conditions statewide. This drought is among the most severe in the state’s history, initiating
US Drought Monitor - California
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27 widespread restrictions on water use. In January 2014, the Governor declared a State of Emergency in California in response to current drought conditions, which began in 2012. 2015 was the driest year on record in California, and Water Year (WY) 2015 was the eighth of nine years with below average spring runoff, on which the State Water Project depends (DWR 2016). Figure 1 depicts the drought conditions throughout the State as of December 13, 2016, which corresponds to the categories in Table 13. Based on this mapping, the City is currently in a state of exceptional drought (D4).
Southern California, which depends largely on a water supply imported from outside the region and major metropolitan areas, has invested significant resources to promote water storage, reliab ility, and conservation programs. Over $12 billion has been spent on these efforts, resulting in a new water storage reservoir in Hemet. In Torrance, the City has continued to diversify its water supply, which relies heavily on imported water, as discussed above. The City has developed several new sources of local supply, including groundwater wells in north Torrance, expansion of a groundwater desalination plant, and improvements to the existing recycled water system (Torrance 2015b).
These efforts are all in response to the Southern California region’s continual struggle with water supply. To support conservation efforts and address the impacts of drought within the community, the City of Torrance adopted a Water Conservation Ordinance (Ordinance 3717), wh ich prohibits wasteful water uses and encourages sustained conservation through use restrictions. In 2015, the City elevated the level of the Water Conservation Ordinance to Level 2 of 3 in order to address new challenges posed by California’s fourth year of severe drought (Torrance 2015b).
Risk of Future Hazards
The primary risks to Torrance in the future are continued drought and decreased snowpack in the Sierras and the Colorado River Basin, paired with a sustained reliance on a water supply imported fr om these regions. The Torrance Municipal Water Department (MWD) provides water to nearly 80 percent of the community. In addition to managing local water supply and procuring imports, the MWD is responsible for maintenance, operation, and repair of the wat er distribution system. Local, regional, and statewide drought conditions have the potential to impact the MWD’s ability to provide water to its customers (Torrance 2016b).
Climate Change Considerations
Scientific evidence suggests that precipitation levels across California, including in Los Angeles County, will decline as a result of climate change. This reduction in precipitation is consequently expected to reduce the Sierra Nevada snowpack.
The State Water Project depends on this snowpack’s gradual springtime melt to provide fresh water across the state, but as the accumulation of snow decreases, so will the amount of water that can be released for urban use in drier months.
The flow of the Colorado River will also be impacted by climate change –related decreases in snowpack and potential decreases in precipitation, further impacting Torrance’s largely imported water supply, although significant uncertainties remain about future precipitation levels in the Colorado River Basin (USBR 2016). Recent scientific studies have found that California’s drought, beginning in 2012, was exacerbated by climate change and that the overall likelihood of extreme droughts is likely to increase as a result (Williams et al. 2015). 317
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28 Vulnerability Assessment
During drought events, drought conditions will be present throughout Torrance and will not vary to any significant degree in different parts of the community. All community members will experience similar conditions. While direct effects will be equal for all residents and businesses, lower-income residents may be disproportionately affected if the City elects to increase water rates or levy fines against water customers with significant use. No critical facilities are likely to be affected.
Seismic Hazards
The earth is made up of moving tectonic plates that move very slowly along each other. As the plates slide past each other, the stresses between them tend to cause a buildup of energy that when released causes an earthquake. The stored energy from the seismic process is released as seismic waves, causing ground shaking in the area around the slip. Above ground, the location of this slip is called a fault. The deformation of plates and accumulated stress from this process creates faults in a wider ar ea around the plate boundary, meaning that earthquakes can happen even in areas that lie outside of the plate boundary itself.
Earthquakes vary in size and intensity with a range of potential impacts. The amount of damage from an earthquake is determined not only by the duration and intensity of ground shaking, but also by the conditions in the impacted area, including soil conditions, construction quality, distance from the center of the earthquake, and the type of fault rupture.
This hazard profile covers ground shaking, liquefaction, and fault rupture, the most common impacts from an earthquake.
Ground Shaking
Hazard Description
Ground shaking is the primary cause of damage and injury during earthquakes. Ground shaking impacts can lead to surface rupture, liquefaction, landslides, and infrastructure failures, which could lead to fires and other secondary hazards. The geology of the impacted area alters the amount of ground shaking felt. Thick, water -saturated, unconsolidated materials will generally experience greater shaking motion than areas of firm bedrock.
The size and magnitude of an earthquake have different ways of being measured. The magnitude is a number that characterizes the relative size of an earthquake. Magnitude is based on measurement of the maximum motion recorded by a seismograph. Many scales, such as the Richter scale, do not provide accurate estimates for the magnitudes of large earthquakes. To account for these large earthquakes, the moment magnitude scale (abbreviated as MMS; de noted as MW or M) is preferred for its ability to cover a wide range of earthquake sizes and be applied globally. The moment magnitude scale is based on the total moment release of the earthquake. Moment is a product of the distance a fault moved and the f orce required to move it. Moment is derived from modeling recordings of the earthquake at multiple stations.
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29 The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale for Earthquakes, shown in Table 14, measures ground shaking intensity in terms of percept ion and damage and takes into account localized earthquake effects. The amount of shaking experienced at different locations varies based on not only the overall magnitude but also the distance from the fault that ruptured in the earthquake, geologic conditions, and the level of preparedness built into surrounding infrastructure.
Table 14: Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale for Earthquakes
Scale Equivalent Moment
Magnitude Intensity Earthquake Effects
I 1.0 to 2.0 Instrumental Detected only on seismographs II 2.0 to 3.0 Feeble Some people feel it
III 3.0 to 4.0 Slight Felt by people resting; like a truck rumbling by IV 4.0 Moderate Felt by people walking
V 4.0 to 5.0 Slightly Strong Sleepers awake; church bells ring VI 5.0 to 6.0 Strong Trees sway; suspended objects swing; objects fall off shelves
VII 6.0 Very Strong Mild alarm; walls crack; plaster falls VIII 6.0 to 7.0 Destructive Moving cars uncontrollable; masonry fractures; poorly constructed buildings damaged
IX 7.0 Ruinous Some houses collapse; ground cracks; pipes break open X 7.0 to 8.0 Disastrous Ground cracks profusely; many buildings destroyed; liquefaction and landslides widespread
XI 8.0 Very Disastrous Most buildings and bridges collapse; roads, railways, pipes and cables destroyed; general triggering of other hazards XII 8.0 or greater Catastrophic Total destruction; trees fall; ground rises and falls in waves Source: USGS 2014
Location and Extent
Horizontal ground acceleration, typically used to measure the rate of ground shaking, is one of the most destructive forces in a seismic event (Torrance 2008c). Many factors impact the damage caused by ground shaking, including size of the earthquake, proximity to the ruptured fault, and local soil conditions. In Tor rance, soft, unconsolidated sediments and soils underlie most of the city to depths of 100 feet. Because soft rocks are more capable of free-form movement, 319
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30 the seismic waves released from a fault rupture can be amplified throughout the ground beneath the city, with the potential for intensity levels to nearly double. Table 15 shows the estimated Mw and intensities that could result from the maximum plausible earthquake generated by the faults present in and around Torrance. This is not a complete list of all faults and potential maximum earthquake scenarios that could affect the community.
Table 15: Estimated Maximum Seismic Intensities in the Torrance Area
Fault name Distance from Torrance (miles) Maximum
Mw
Maximum MMI
Palos Verdes 0–6.6 7.3 X–XII
Puente Hills Blind Thrust 0.5–6.2 7.1 X–XII
Puente Hills (Coyote Hills segment) 0.5–6.2 6.6 X–XII
Puente Hills (Los Angeles segment) 8.3–15 6.6 VIII–IX
Puente Hills (Santa Fe Springs) 10–16 6.5 VIII–IX
Newport-Inglewood (onshore) 3–10 7.1 IX–X
Elysian Park Thrust 10–19 6.7 VII–IX
Santa Monica 15–19 6.6 VII–VIII
Malibu Coast 16–20 6.7 VII–VIII
Hollywood 16–20 6.4 VII–VIII
Upper Elysian Park 12–19 6.4 VII–VIII
Anacapa-Dume 23–26 7.5 VII–VIII
Whittier 18–25 6.8 VII
Raymond 18–24 6.5 VI–VII
Verdugo 21–28 6.9 VII
San Andreas (equivalent 1857
rupture) 47–54 7.8 VI–VII
Source: Torrance 2008c
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31 Hazard History
Earthquakes have impacted the land on which Torrance sits since the start of the region’s recorded history. The City’s General Plan EIR cites seismic events as far back as 1769, indicating the sustaining earthquake risk in the region. Table 16 shows historic seismic events in Torrance.
Table 16: Historic Earthquake Events in Torrance
Name Year Description
Elsinore
earthquake
1910
This magnitude 6 earthquake occurred on May 15, at 7:47 a.m., following two moderate tremors that occurred on April 10 and May 12. The Elsinore fault is thought to have caused the earthquake, although no surface rupture along this fault was reported.
San Jacinto
earthquake 1918 This magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred on April 21 near the town of San Jacinto.
Long Beach
earthquake
1933
The Long Beach earthquake occurred on March 10 following a strong foreshock the day before. The earthquake ruptured the Newport-Inglewood fault and was felt from the San Joaquin Valley to Northern Baja.
Torrance-
Gardena
earthquakes
1941
Two small earthquakes struck the southern Los Angeles Basin, affecting surrounding communities. Although these earthquakes were relatively minor, they occurred close to the surface and caused significant although local damage. The magnitude 4.8 Torrance earthquake occurred on October 21. A second earthquake occurred less than a month later, on November 14 at 12:42 a.m., near Wilmington. Shaking during the second earthquake was reportedly stronger than the first, locally reaching intensity level VIII and felt as far away as Cabazon, Carpinteria, and San Diego.
San Jacinto
fault
earthquake
1954 Also known as the Arroyo Salada earthquake, this magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck on March 19. The Clark fault of the San Jacinto fault zone may have been involved.
Borrego
Mountain
earthquake
1968
This magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck on April 8. It resulted in about 18 miles of surface rupture along the Coyote Creek fault (a branch of the San Jacinto fault zone), and triggered slip was observed on fault systems up to 40 miles away.
San Fernando
(Sylmar)
earthquake
1971
This magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred on the San Fernando fault zone, the westernmost segment of the Sierra Madre fault, on February 9. The surface rupture caused by this earthquake was nearly 12 miles long and occurred in the Sylmar-San Fernando area.
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32 Name Year Description
Oceanside
earthquake
1986
This magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred on the morning of July 13 at 6:47 a.m. The epicenter was about 32 miles offshore from Oceanside on an unidentified fault that may be related to the San Diego Trough or the Palos Verdes-Coronado Bank fault zones.
Whittier
Narrows
earthquake
1987
The Whittier Narrows earthquake occurred on October 1, at 7:42 a.m., with its epicenter approximately 21 miles northeast of Torrance. This magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred on a previously unknown, north-dipping concealed thrust fault (blind thrust) now called the Puente Hills fault.
Landers
earthquake
1992
This magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurred on June 28 and was the largest earthquake to hit California in 40 years. The earthquake was centered approximately 120 miles from Los Angeles, in the small desert community of Landers. More than 50 miles of surface rupture associated with five or more faults occurred as a result of this earthquake.
Northridge
earthquake
1994
On January 17, at 4:31 a.m., a M6.7 earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley. This moderate-sized tremor was the most expensive earthquake in United States history, due primarily to its proximity to the heavily populated northern Los Angeles area. The rupture occurred in the San Fernando Valley on the previously unidentified eastern continuation of the Oak Ridge fault, a blind thrust fault.
Hector Mine
earthquake 1999 This magnitude 7.1 quake occurred on October 18 in a remote region of the Mojave Desert, 47 miles east-southeast of Barstow. MMIs of IV were reported in the Torrance area.
Source: Torrance 2008c
Risk of Future Hazards
As indicated by nearly two centuries of earthquake records, the impacts of ground shaking related to seismic activity are expected to remain a risk in Torrance. Given the maximum estimated potential earthquake from faults near the community, illustrated in Table 15, the impact to Torrance from these events could be severe. Table 17 indicates the maximum odds of different sizes of events occurring on the faults in or near Torrance in the next 30 years.
According to seismic forecasts conducted by the US Geological Survey (USGS), a 6.9 M w event on the Newport - Inglewood fault, centered approximately 13 miles southeast of the center of Torrance, could produce shaking measuring VIII on the Mercalli Intensity Scale throughout the community. Shaking of this intensity could cause damage to poorly constructed buildings, and fractures in masonry and other building materials. A 7.1 M w earthquake on the Palos Verdes fault, centered approximately 7 miles southeast of the center of the community, could be even more damaging, measuring IX on the Mercalli Intensity Scale in Torrance. Shaking of this intensity could cause structures to colla pse, damage to underground utility pipes, and cracks in the ground and structures. The city’s housing stock, 62 percent of 322
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33 which was built before 1970, may be especially vulnerable to a large ground shaking event, as these homes were constructed prior to strict building codes for resistance to ground shaking.
All critical facilities are considered to be equally vulnerable to seismic shaking impacts, given the various scenarios identified in Table 17. In addition, it is anticipated that injuries and deaths could occur as a result of strong events measuring X on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. Depending on the amount of damage that occurs from the event, economic impacts are anticipated, due to loss of wages/income, business closure associated with building damage or lack of utilities/service, and/or lack of transportation to/from homes and places of business.
Table 17: Maximum Likelihood of Earthquake Events by Size and Fault in the Next 30 Years
Fault 6.7 Mw 7.0 Mw 7.5 Mw 8.0 Mw
Palos Verdes 3.17% 2.84% 0.1% —
Puente Hills 0.78% 0.58% 0.19% —
Puente Hills (Coyote Hills segment) 0.95% 0.65% 0.19% — Puente Hills (Los Angeles segment) 1.01% 0.51% 0.15% —
Puente Hills (Santa Fe Springs segment) 0.96% 0.76% 0.29% <0.01% Newport-Inglewood (onshore only) 0.99% 0.88% 0.43% —
Elysian Park 0.06% 0.05% 0.02% —
Santa Monica 1.19% 1.02% 0.29% <0.01%
Malibu Coast 0.75% 0.65% 0.37% <0.01%
Hollywood 1.59% 1.18% 0.29% <0.01%
Upper Elysian Park 1.26% 0.78% 0.07% —
Anacapa-Dume 0.90% 0.66% 0.25% <0.01%
Whittier 1.58% 1.43% 0.80% <0.01%
Raymond 1.70% 1.18% 0.35% <0.01%
Verdugo 0.51% 0.45% 0.32% <0.01%
San Andreas * 22.34% 19.68% 18.74% 6.91%
* Only fault sections in the greater Los Angeles region are included. This does not represent the risk of future events on the entire San Andreas fault.
Note: The magnitude of the events shown in this table are for the site of the earthquake. Depending on the locations of the earthquake, the magnitude may be less severe within Torrance itself.
Source: USGS 2015a
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34 Climate Change Considerations
The likelihood, size, and severity of ground shaking during seismic events are not expected to be directly impacted by climate change, as the geologic processes that lead to the release of seismic energy are not impacted by atmospheric conditions.
Vulnerability Assessment
Ground shaking conditions in Torrance from an earthquake will be similar throughout the city, although parts of the community will likely experience slightly stronger or weaker shaking depending on the location of the earthquake and underlying soil conditions. Renters who may lack the control over their homes to conduct earthquake-resistant retrofits, or lower-income residents who may not have the financial resources for such retrofits, may be more severely impacted than the rest of the communit y. Renters may also be challenged by a potential shortage of available units in the event that a strong earthquake damages or destroys a large number of homes in the area. All critical facilities will be affected by earthquakes, although the specific threa t to the facility depends on the location and strength of the earthquake, underlying geologic conditions, and the condition of the facility itself.
Liquefaction
Hazard Description
Liquefaction happens when loosely packed sandy or silty materials saturated with water are shaken hard enough to lose strength and stiffness. Liquefied soils behave like a liquid and are responsible for tremendous damage in an earthquake, causing pipes to leak, roads and airport runways to buckle, and building foundations to be damaged. The risk of liquefaction depends on many factors, including the height of the groundwater table and the composition of the soil.
Liquefaction susceptibility is typically defined on a scale ranging from very low to very high based on the intensity of the earthquake as described in Table 14.
Location and Extent
According to maps prepared by the California Geological Survey, areas of elevated liquefaction potential are only present in Torrance in very limited locations, as only a few places have both the high water table and the loose sediments in the soil that are necessarily to create a liquefaction risk. These areas are around the old Dominguez Creek (now Dominguez Channel) in northern Torrance (CGS 1999a, 1999b) and on the beach itself, although not including any blufftop developed areas (CGS 1999c). Figure 2 shows a map of the liquefaction risk in Torrance.
Hazard History
Given the limited presence of liquefaction-prone soils in Torrance, there is no substantial record of liquefaction within the community, although numerous liquefaction events have been recorded in the immediate area. In the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, liquefaction occurred in the San Pedro area, causing broken water lines and gas mains along with a 324
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35 Figure 2: Liquefaction Risk
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37 foot-long crack in one of the berths at the Port of Los Angeles. Similar damage occurred at the Port of Los Angeles in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and both the 1994 Northridge and 1971 San Fernando earthquakes caused widespread liquefaction damage throughout the Los Angeles Basin (CGS 1998).
Risk of Future Hazards
The liquefaction risk is expected to remain present in Torrance, as there is no known factor that will cause this risk to substantially decrease. Given the very small area of the city that is at risk of liquefaction, any future liquefaction risks are likely to be limited in scope. However, within these affected areas, damage from liquefaction may still be significant.
Climate Change Considerations
While the likelihood, size, and severity of seismicity are not expected to be directly impacted by climate change, anticipated changes in the intensity and frequency of precipitation could alter groundwater aquifer levels, expanding or contracting existing potential for liquefaction in Torrance. Additional research is needed on how the effects of climate change may impact liquefaction risks.
Vulnerability Assessment
Liquefaction poses a hazard to a relatively small portion of Torrance. However, individuals and businesses in this area are highly vulnerable to liquefaction hazards, particularly if their homes or buildings have not been strengthened to reduce potential damage from liquefaction. There are no critical facilities within the liquefaction hazard zone.
Earthquake Fault Rupture
Hazard Description
Fault rupture is the actual movement and displacement of the ground’s surface along the fault boundary when an earthquake occurs. Depending on the type of fault, this displacement may be horizontal, vertical, or both. Damage from fault rupture can be severe depending on the size of the displacement, but is limited to the relatively small area along the fault boundary where the slip occurred. Not all earthquakes result in fault rupture that is visible at the surface, and strong earthquakes can occur without any discernible displacement along the boundary. Such events are known as “blind thrust earthquakes.”
Location and Extent
The risk of surface rupture exists in the immediate area around the Palos Verdes fault zone, which runs south of Pacific Coast Highway roughly parallel with it. This area is vulnerable to surface rupture if an earthquake occurs on the Palos Verdes fault, the only known fault in Torrance with the potential to cause surface rupture (Torrance 2009). Figure 3 shows the fault lines in Torrance.
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38 Hazard History
There is no known record of the Palos Verdes fault zone causing fault rupture within historic times. The Palos Verdes fault zone was believed to have last caused a surface rupture sometime in the Late Quaternary period, which ranges from approximately 700,000 years ago to the present day (SCEDC 2013).
Risk of Future Hazards
The hazard risk caused by the Palos Verdes fault zone is likely to remain in place. The fault zone is not known to have ruptured in historic times, although it is unknown whether the fault is “due” for another event. As shown in Table 17, the USGS (2015a) estimates that there is a 3.17 percent chance that the Palos Verdes fault zone will generate a 6.7 M w or greater earthquake within the next 30 years. However, a weaker earthquake, which has a higher chance of occurring, would still be capable of causing fault rupture in Torrance. Additionally, the Palos Verdes fault zone may cause an earthquake without resulting in fault rupture in the city.
Climate Change Considerations
The likelihood, size, and severity of fault rupture during seismi c events are not expected to be directly impacted by climate change, as the geologic processes that lead to fault slip or rupture are not impacted by atmospheric conditions.
Vulnerability Assessment
As with liquefaction, fault rupture poses a risk to a relatively small portion of Torrance, but there is potential for significant damage within this area. Fault rupture is also difficult to protect against, and so it is possible that most residents and businesses within the fault rupture area will be substantially affected if a fault rupture event occurs. There are three critical facilities within 500 feet of fault lines in Torrance and thus vulnerable to fault rupture. Table 18 shows the types these critical facilities. All facilities vulnerable to fault rupture are Priority 2.
Table 18: Critical Facilities at Risk of Fault Rupture by Type
Facility Type Not at Risk Within Fault Rupture Hazard Zone Bridges 14 0
Government facilities 44 0
Schools 45 0
Transportation routes 2 0
Utilities 27 3
Total 132 3
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39 Figure 3: Torrance Fault Lines
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41 Extreme Weather
Extreme Temperatures
Hazard Description
While there is no single definition of extreme heat, it typically refers to a period of time in which the high temperature significantly exceeds normal levels. In California, government plans related to extreme heat generally define it as any day in which the maximum temperature falls above the 98th percentile of the maximum temperatures observed from May to October in 1961 to 1990 (CDPH 2013). Sustained high temperatures can create health issues such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, especially for elderly persons and people who work outside. High humidity can exacerbate the problem by making already hot conditions feel even hotter (Cal OES 2013a).
Extreme cold temperatures, similar to extreme heat, occur when temperatures drop well below historical averages. In many parts of the state, this occurs when temperatures reach near freezing levels, although temperatures may have to fall substantially below freezing to constitute extreme cold in some higher elevations. Extreme cold can cause frostbite, which occurs when body tissue freezes, as well as hypothermia, which happens when body temperatures drop to abnormally low levels. Wind can make conditions feel colder than they actual are, a factor known as wind chill (Cal OES 2013b).
Location and Extent
Extreme temperatures are generally distributed fairly evenly across Torrance, as all areas of the community are likely to be subject to similar extremes, although impacts may be greater in areas with more vulnerable persons. In Torrance, the threshold for extreme heat is 87°F (CEC 2016). There is no precisely defined threshold for extreme cold, but average low temperatures in the city for the coldest months of the year are approximately 44°F, so any temperature below 35 –40°F may constitute extreme cold (WRCC 2015). Extreme heat is most likely to occur in September and October, while extreme cold is most likely to happen in January (WRCC 2012).
Hazard History
Extreme heat events occur at least once in most years, although the severity of these events can vary significantly.
Particularly notable extreme heat events occurred in 1955, 1965, 1970, and 1987 (LACOA n.d.). More recently, a 2006 heat wave killed at least 147 people statewide, including in Los Angeles County, although due to difficulties in attributing deaths to extreme heat, the actual number of fatalities may be 2 –3 times higher or more (CEC 2009). Notable extreme cold events occurred in 1988 and 1990, among other years (LACOA 2012). 331
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42 Risk of Future Hazards
Given the past occurrences of extreme temperature events, these incidents are all but certain to occur in the future. While extreme cold should remain a hazard of concern in Torrance and the wider Los Angeles region, extreme heat is expected to continue to pose the greater risk.
Climate Change Considerations
As the temperature increases as a result of climate change, extreme heat events are likely to become much more frequent, although the forecasts vary significantly depending on how substantially climate conditions actually change.
From an average of approximately four extreme heat days (those above 87°F) each year, Torrance may see approximately 20 to 40 extreme heat days annually by the end of the century, or in some scenarios well over 50 each year (CEC 2016).
Extreme cold events are likely to decline as global temperatures become warmer, although they are unlikely to go away entirely.
Vulnerability Assessment
Extreme heat is particularly dangerous to older individuals. According to 2014 data from the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 23,440 residents in Torrance over the age of 65, making up 16 percent of the population (US Census Bureau 2014a). Many elderly residents take medication that can reduce their body’s ability to maintain a safe internal temperature, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses during heat waves. Elderly residents are also more likely to live alone and to be socially isolated, further increas ing their vulnerability. Similar factors can make heat waves particularly dangerous for immunocompromised individuals and others with increased social isolation. Individuals who spend a lot of time outdoors, such as construction workers, are vulnerable to extreme heat. Households without air conditioning units, or lower-income households concerned about the cost of running an air conditioner, may also face an increased risk.
There is no specific risk to critical facilities, although stress on some electrical or mechanical systems may increase during heat waves.
Elderly and socially isolated individuals may be vulnerable to extreme cold due to physical conditions and a generally smaller social support network available to provide assistance when needed. While most Torrance households have heating (the US Census Bureau reports that only 909 households, or less than 2 percent of Torrance households, do not), the households that lack heat are vulnerable to very cold conditions, as are lower-income residents who may be unwilling or unable to incur the cost of heating. No critical facilities face a specific risk from extreme cold.
Hail
Hazard Description
Hail is a form of precipitation, made up of rough lumps of ice. It is formed when strong winds in a thundercloud, called updrafts, force water droplets up into areas where the temperature drops below freezing, causing the droplets to turn 332
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43 into ice and stick together to form hailstones. Eventually, the weight of the hailstones becomes too heavy for the updrafts to keep them aloft, causing the hail to fall to the surface. Hail can damage windows, plants, and roofs. In rare instances, larger hail can cause more substantial damage, and in truly extreme instances, hail can cause serious injury or death. Hail should not be confused with sleet or freezing rain, which are different forms of precipitation.
Location and Extent
Hail is a fairly rare event in Torrance, although if it does occur, it is equally likely to occur anywhere in the community.
Hazard History
One of the most significant past hail events in the Torrance area occurred in November 2003. During a rare thunderstorm that caused some parts of the area to receive 5.3 inches of rain in under three hours, a few locations saw upwards of a foot of hail, although Torrance was not significantly affected (Broder 2003; Fovell 2004). Since 1955, Los Angeles County has seen 25 hail events, including two in the immediate vicinity of Torrance. One event occurred in 1959 and the other in 1979. There were no injuries or reported property damage associated with either occurrence (NOAA 2015a).
Risk of Future Hazards
Significant hail events are anticipated to continue to occur in Torrance, although based on the history of these incidents, they are likely to remain rare.
Climate Change Considerations
Climate change is expected to cause an increase in the average intensity of already intense storm events in Southern California. As a result, climate change could cause an increase in the risk of storm-related severe weather such as hail.
Vulnerability Assessment
The risk of hail is consistent across Torrance and does not vary by location. While truly damaging hail events are rare, it is likely that less-maintained homes face a greater risk of damage from the se events. Such homes are more likely to be occupied by lower -income residents and renters, who may be more vulnerable to these events than other Torrance residents. All critical facilities generally face the same risk from hail events, but some weaker structures may suffer more damage if a significant hailstorm occurs.
Tornado
Hazard Description
Tornadoes are one of the most violent hazard types, defined as rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm’s base to the ground, often visible as a funnel cloud (FEMA 2016). These storms can travel at over 200 miles per hour, destroying infrastructure and endangering all life in its path. Tornadoes are a far more common hazard east of the Rocky 333
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44 Mountains, but they have the potential to occur anywhere at any time. The most damaging tornados form out of “supercells,” which are rotating thunderstorms that can also cause severe winds, hail, and lightening (NOAA 2016). The strength of a tornado is mea sured using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale as depicted in Table 19 , which is based on estimates (not actual measurements) of wind speed as a result of observed damage.
Table 19: Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale 3-Second Gust (mph) Potential Damage EF0 65–85 Minor to no damage
EF1 86–110 Moderate damage
EF2 111–135 Considerable damage
EF3 136–165 Severe damage
EF4 166–200 Extreme damage
EF5 Over 200 Total destruction of buildings
Source: NOAA 2006
Location and Extent
While tornadoes are rare in California, they are capable of occurring anywhere, and no single part of Torrance faces an elevated or lower risk of tornadoes relative to the rest of the city. Topographic features such as mountains, oceans, and rivers are often thought to prevent tornadoes from forming or to act as a barrier to moving tornadoes, although there is no evidence to support this theory. Similarly, heavily urbanized areas are sometimes thought to be resistant or immune to tornadoes, although numerous tornadoes have damaged urban areas, even downtowns of major cities.
Hazard History
Since 1955, 36 tornadoes have been recorded in Los Angeles County. On March 1, 1983, between 7:40 and 8:05 a.m., a F2 intensity tornado tore through Los Angeles. It caused the most damage to overhead pole -suspended power lines and telephone cables and old wood buildings. The tornado’s path ran south to north through downtown Los Angeles, starting in South Los Angeles and following Interstate 110 north (NRC 1985). Although this tornado did not occur in Torrance, the tornado’s path was less than 15 miles north of the city, indicating the possibility of this hazard occurring in Torrance. Two tornadoes have been recorded in the immediate vicinity, one in 1962 (EF1) and one in 1980 (EF0), neither of which caused any injuries. The 1962 tornado caused somewhere between $5,000 and $50,000 in damages, while the 1980 event caused less than $5,000 in damages (NOAA 2015b).
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45 Risk of Future Hazards
Tornadoes are expected to continue to occur in and around Torrance based on past events and trends, although they are likely to remain very rare events.
Climate Change Considerations
As previously mentioned, climate change is expected to lead to an increase in the average intensity of storm events. It is possible that tornadoes may become a more frequent event as a result, although information about climate change’s effects on tornadoes remains sparse and research is ongoing. However, tornadoes are already very rare in the area, an d any increase due to climate change may not be significant enough to be readily noticed.
Vulnerability Assessment
Because the probability of a tornado occurring within the community is the same regardless of location, no residents are more or less likely to be exposed to these hazards. As tornadoes are very rare in the area, structures generally lack the specific features found in more tornado-prone regions that would make them more resilient to tornadoes. As a result, if a significant tornado does occur in the city, it is unlikely to have a greater impact on any specific subset of Torrance residents compared to other community members. All critical facilities are equally at risk of tornadoes, although more fragile structures may suffer greater damage.
Severe Wind
Hazard Description
Southern California, including Torrance, experiences warm, dry winds that blow from the eastern deserts across the region. Cooler temperatures in the desert, compared to warmer winter temperatures in the Los Angeles Basin, build pressure over the eastern region. When air flows pass over the desert, this pressure is released as a dry wind across the region. As the elevation between the desert and the Los Angeles Basin declines, the air compresses and increases the temperatures, causing the dry, hot winds that define the Santa Ana winds. Severe winds may also occur because of intense storms.
Location and Extent
Severe wind events may occur anywhere in Torrance and are not more or less likely to occur in any particular location.
Hazard History
There have been nine significant severe wind events in and around Torrance since 1955. The strongest of these occurred on April 18, 2000, and registered gusts of 87 miles per hour (mph). No injuries or significant damage has been recorded as a result of any of these events (NOAA 2015c).
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46 Risk of Future Hazards
Based on past trends, significant wind events are likely to continue to occur in Torrance.
Climate Change Considerations
The effect of climate change on wind conditions is not yet fully understood, although there is some evidence that climate change will increase the intensity of coastal winds in California. Climate change’s impacts on the Santa Ana winds remains unknown. It is possible that strong winds associated with storms may occur more frequently, as climate change is expected to cause already intense storms to become more intense in the Southern California area.
Vulnerability Assessment
All Torrance community members face an equal chance that they will be exposed to severe wind events. However, poorly built or poorly maintained structures may suffer greater damage, and such buildings are more likely to be occupied by renters or lower-income individuals. It is possible that these residents will be disproportionately affected by severe wind events. All critical facilities have an equal chance of being exposed to severe wind, but some structures may be less resistant to damage.
Hazardous Materials
Hazard Description
The California Health and Safety Code, Section 25501, defines a hazardous material as:
A substance that, because of physical or chemical properties, quantity, concentration, or other characteristics, may either (1) cause an increase in mortality or an increase in serious, irreversible, o r incapacitating illness; or (2) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or dispose of, or otherwise managed.
Hazardous materials are a wide -ranging category of substances that include toxic substances, flammable or explosive materials, corrosive substances such as acids, infectious agents such as dangerous bacteria, and radioactive substances.
While some hazardous materials are dangerous at all times, others may only be dan gerous under specific conditions (flammable materials, for example, which may be perfectly inert and harmless until exposed to a spark or a heat source).
Hazardous wastes refer to hazardous materials that are no longer used and have been disposed of or are awaiting disposal.
Emergencies involving hazardous materials often occur when a storage container holding the material is damaged or destroyed, allowing the substance to escape into the environment where people may be exposed to it. This sometimes occurs as a secondary impact of another emergency, such as an earthquake or flood, or because of human error or equipment malfunction. Earthquakes in particularly are a common cause of hazardous material releases, which can often be exacerbated when the earthquake damages equipment and infrastructure that could be used to control the hazardous 336
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47 material. Hazardous material releases can occur from buildings such as factories and processing facilities, as well as from vehicles that transport these substances. Road vehicles, trains, and (more rarely) aircraft can all suffer accidents that cause a release of hazardous materials.
Location and Extent
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) maintains a list, known as the Cortese List, of all facilities where hazardous materials are released. One facility on the Cortese List is located in Torrance: an old Halbert’s Lumber site at 2026 Abalone Avenue (CalEPA 2016). According to the DTSC, this site was contaminated with zinc, lead, chromium, and copper. Cleanup activities were completed in 1996 (DTSC 2016a). Beyond the Cortese List facilities, there are 94 sites in Torrance that are designated as hazardous material sites, although some properties may have multiple designated sites. These 94 sites are primarily active and historic industrial facilities, and many are currently undergoing cleanup operations even though activities involving hazardous materials may persist at the site (DTSC 2016b). The DTSC also reports 16 hazardous waste facilities in Torrance, most of which have already been closed or are in the process of being closed (DTSC 2016c).
The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) maintains a separate list of sites containing hazardous materials that may contam inate groundwater supplies. There are 182 such sites in Torrance, 130 of which have been successfully cleaned up. The other 52 locations are currently undergoing cleanup activities, evaluation, or monitoring activities (SWRCB 2016a). There are also 92 perm itted underground storage tanks in Torrance which may store hazardous or potentially hazardous materials. While these tanks are not necessarily actively releasing hazardous materials into the environment, they may fail as a result of age, disasters such as an earthquake or flood, or other factors (SWRCB 2016b).
There are no sites in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund program in Torrance, although two are located near the city. The 13 -acre Montrose Chemical Corporation site, located less t han half a mile east of Torrance in Los Angeles, was used to manufacture DDT from 1947 to 1982. The site was contaminated with DDT as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, an environmental toxin and possible carcinogen). Cleanup activities at the site e nded in 2002 (EPA 2016a). The 280 -acre Del Amo industrial area east of Torrance, in Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County, was a rubber factory from 1943 to 1972 and introduced numerous contaminants into the groundwater and soil. Much of the site has been redeveloped, although cleanup activities remain ongoing at some parts of the property (EPA 2016b).
In addition to these sites, the Torrance Refinery site is a location of concern within the City. This site stores and produces a variety of toxic chemicals, which if not handled properly or released as a result of a catastrophic event (natural or man- made) could impact residents and properties in the vicinity of the facility. 337
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48 Hazard History
Due to the large number of industrial complexes in and around Torrance, along with close proximity to freeways and rail lines that transport hazardous materials, Torrance has seen a number of hazardous material releases. Since 1993, there have been 2,774 reported hazardous material releases in Torrance, ranging from less than 30 to approximately 350 events in any given year, most of which involve small amounts of material and do not pose a threat to surrounding properties.
Of these events, 2,067 hazardous material releases (approximately 75 percent) occurred at the refinery (Cal OES 2016):
The refinery has seen a number of hazardous material releases during its operational life, including the following events:
A butane leak at the refinery in 1979 resulted in a large fire when a spark from a nearby car ignited the cloud of butane gas. The fire killed three people, including two refinery workers (Belgium 1998). In 1984, a pipeline at the oil refinery ruptured, shooting superheated oil into the air, causing damage to nearby properties (The Daily Breeze staff 2015).
A fire in November 1987 at the refinery caused damage at nearby properties and released approximately 100 pounds of highly toxic and corrosive hydrofluoric acid, although none of it spread beyond the refinery grounds (Belgium 1998).
In June 1990, a leak of hydrofluoric acid and ammonia vapors at the refinery sent three workers to the hospital (Stein 1990).
A leak of propane and butane gases at the refinery in October 1994 ignited, causing a fire and injuring 28 people (The Los Angeles Times staff 2015).
In April 1999, a broken pipeline at the refinery caused a leak of isobutene (a refrigerant, aerosol propellant, and raw material for various industrial products) and hydrofluoric acid, causing three workers to be hospitalized (The Daily Breeze staff 2015).
A hydrofluoric acid leak in July 2001 at the refinery forced nearby residents to remain indoors (The Daily Breeze staff 2015).
A malfunctioning piece of equipment at the refinery caused a release of toxic hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gases in March 2007, although no injuries were reported (The Long Beach Press-Telegram staff, 2007). A February 2015 explosion at the refinery dispersed large clouds of catalyst material up to a mile away from the refinery site. There was no release of dangerous hydrofluoric acid, although a piece of debris from the explosion came very close to striking a tank of hydrofluoric acid (USCSB 2016). The catalyst material released by the explosion was nontoxic but was a skin, eye, and throat irritant (Vives and Rocha 2015).
Hazardous material releases in Torrance have often involved a fairly small number of substances, including ammonia, catalyst material, fuel oils such as gasoline and diesel, various nitrogen oxides (NOx), sewage, and sulfur oxides (SOx) 338
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49 (Cal OES 2016). However, other chemicals (not listed above) used at various locations throughout the City still have the potential to be released due to human error or as the result of a natural hazard event.
Risk of Future Hazards
Based on past trends, it is anticipated that future hazardous materials -related events and significant wind events are likely to continue to occur in Torrance. This risk can be further exacerbated by other hazard events like earthquakes that could also trigger release of hazardous materials.
Climate Change Considerations
Climate change is not directly linked to the risk of hazardous material releases. However, it may indirectly increase the risk by increasing the frequency, severity, or range of other hazards, such as severe temperatures or winds. It is possible that an increase in these other hazards may increase the likelihood of an accidental hazardous materials release as a secondary hazard.
Vulnerability Assessment
Hazardous material facilities, particularly those used to support industrial operations, are frequently found in neighborhoods with a greater number of lower-income households or otherwise disadvantaged individuals. It is unknown whether Torrance’s hazardous material facilities are located in these neighborhoods, although all residents near hazardous material facilities face an increased risk to this hazard regardless of socioeconomic conditions.
Torrance has 17 critical facilities located near hazardous material facilities. These critical facilities , which have an increased risk of hazardous material–related emergencies, provide a wide range of functions. The types and priorities of critical facilities near hazardous material facilities, as well as their distance to the nearest hazardous material facility, are shown in Table 20.
Figure 4 shows the 1,000-foot buffer around hazardous material facilities and the critical facilities within these buffers. 339
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50 Table 20: Critical Facilities at Risk of Hazardous Materials by Type and Priority
Facility Type
Number of Facilities at Risk
Within 100 Feet Within 1,000 Feet Not at
Risk
Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 1 *
Bridges 0 2 0 0 12
Government facilities 1 1 0 1 41
Schools 0 7 0 0 38
Transportation routes 0 0 0 0 2
Utilities 0 2 3 0 25
Total 1 12 3 1 118
* The only critical facility within the 1,000-foot hazardous material facility buffer is a Priority 1 facility 340
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51 Figure 4: Hazardous Material Sites Near Critical Facilities
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53 Flood
Hazard Description
Flood events occur when normally dry land is partially or complete covered by water, which can happen in a number of different ways. The water levels in bodies such as lakes and creeks can r ise high enough to overtop the water body’s banks, usually due to intense precipitation, causing the water to flow into nearby low -lying areas. Precipitation can also be heavy enough so that soil cannot absorb it fast enough, or storm drains cannot carry all the water away, causing water to build up on the surface (ponding). Very high tides or the winds of a strong storm system can force the water in oceans and bays onto the shore, a condition called coastal flooding. Flood events can also happen when infrastructure fails, such as a burst water tank or collapsed dam. Some flood events are the result of multiple factors.
Regardless of the cause of flooding, these events can damage buildings by the force of the rushing water itself or by large debris carried along in the floodwaters. Flood events can wash away soils, making foundations weaker and increasing the risk that structures may collapse. Flood events also create the risk of personal injury or drowning, particularly in the event of flash floods that may occur too fast for people to escape from. Flood events are frequent in California and have been the cause of more disaster declarations than any other type of emergency situation except for fires (Cal OES 2013a).
Location and Extent
The risk of flooding is highest in low -lying areas, particularly those adjacent to water bodies or flood control channels.
Areas downstream of dams may also be at risk from flooding in the event of dam failure. Flood risks are usually described in years, e.g., 100-year or 500-year flood events. A 100-year flood event is one that has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year, while a 500-year flood event has a 0.2 percent chance (1 in 500) of happening in a given year. 1 The areas within these flood risk zones are called the floodplain. The boundaries of the floodplains are established by FEMA and are re-evaluated as the need arises (USGS 2015b).
In Torrance, the main area at risk of flooding is the western half of the Madrona Marsh nature preserve, which lies partly in the 100-year floodplain and partly in the 500-year floodplain. Some land north of the nature preserve across Plaza del Amo is within the 500-year floodplain, and a block of land northeast of the preserve (bordered by Plaza del Amo, Del Amo Circle East, West Carson Boulevard, and Madrona Avenue) is within the 100 -year floodplain. Elsewhere in the city, the areas around the intersections of California Street and Alaska Avenue and of Amsler Street and Dormont Avenue are both in the 100-year floodplain, as is part of an undeveloped area near the intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and Via Valmonte. Some land west of Crenshaw Boulevard between 235th and 237th Streets is within the 500-year floodplain, as are parts of the St. Lawrence Martyr School along the city’s border with Redondo Beach. Torrance’s beaches also are at
1 A 100-year or 500 -year flood event has a 1 percent or 0.2 percent chance, respectively, of occurring in any given year. However, these are long-term averages and do not necessarily mean that these events occur only once every 100 or 500 years. It is possible to have multiple 100-year or 500-year flood events in a short period of time, even in the same year. The specific severity of a 100 -year or 500-year flood event also changes as flood risks are re-evaluated (USGS 2015b). 343
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54 risk of coastal flooding, but beachside development is outside of both the 100-year and 500-year floodplains. Figure 5 shows the flood hazard zones in Torrance.
Hazard History
While flooding has been an occasional hazard in the Los Angeles Basin, it has been mostly limited to the areas near major natural rivers such as the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa Ana Rivers. A seri es of major flood events in the first half of the 1900s sparked the beginning of widespread flood control efforts, including the channelization of the area’s major rivers. These efforts have reduced the frequency and severity of flood events although they have not removed the risk of flood entirely, as Los Angeles County still saw 32 declared flood-related disasters between 1950 and 2012 (Cal OES 2013a).
Torrance, which is not located near the major waterways of the Los Angeles Basin, has largely been free of significant flood events. Localized flooding has occurred occasionally, particularly prior to the construction of modern storm drains and water retention basins (Torrance 2004).
Risk of Future Hazards
Localized flooding is likely to continue to occur in the future, especially during significant storm events. Major storms in California are frequently the result of meteorological phenomena called atmospheric rivers, which are narrow bands of very most air which in effect act as pathways for heavy precipit ation. Although these storms make up a relatively small number of weather systems that affect the western United States, they typically cause 30 to 50 percent of all precipitation in the area (NOAA 2015d). Another type of event, the El Niño Southern Oscill ation (ENSO, or El Niño), can cause more intense storms and higher levels of precipitation in the western United States, especially in Southern California. Although Torrance does not have a history of significant flooding, a particularly severe storm or series of intense storms may cause more widespread flooding emergencies.
Torrance is also at risk of flooding from infrastructure failure. The Walteria and Ben Haggot Reservoirs, both owned by the City, are two buried water storage facilities with a combined capacity of 28.7 million gallons located along Crenshaw Boulevard near the city’s border with Rolling Hills Estates. The failure of one or both facilities could create flooding in the area below the reservoirs (Torrance 2004). The prime risk of infrastructure failure to either reservoir is a significant earthquake, although the most likely outcome is cracks in the reservoirs that cause leaks and some localized flooding.
However, a significantly strong earthquake could cause catastrophic failure o f the reservoir walls. This “worst -case” scenario would drain the reservoirs in as little as 18 minutes and could inundate 215 acres. The inundation zone includes numerous residential and commercial properties, as well as the southeast portion of Torrance Municipal Airport (Torrance 2008a).
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57 Climate Change Considerations
Although research on the subject is ongoing, there is a chance that climate change may increase the severity of intense storms. Some studies indicate that, while the number of atmospheric river storms in Southern California will remain unchanged, the storms themselves will become 10 to 20 percent more intense (Oskin 2014), increasing the flood risk from an individual storm event. It is not yet clear if climate change will have any impact on the frequency or severity of ENSO- related storm events.
Somewhat counterintuitively, climate change can also exacerbate flood risks by causing more frequent droughts.
Drought conditions cause soil to harden and become less permeable, leading to increased flooding when precipitation does occur because the soil cannot absorb water as easily. Studies expect that precipitation levels will dec rease throughout much of California (CNRA and Cal OES 2012) and that the overall likelihood of extreme droughts is likely to increase (Williams et al. 2015). These increases in drought conditions are likely to make soil less permeable for longer and more frequent periods, which could exacerbate flash flood conditions. A similar trend has already emerged as more land has been covered with impermeable surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, causing water to run off or pool rather than being absorbed. As a resu lt, localized flooding would be significantly more common in Torrance and other parts of the urbanized Los Angeles Basin without extensive storm drains and flood control infrastructure (Torrance 2004).
Vulnerability Assessment
The flood risk in Torrance in limited to specific areas, as previously discussed. Elderly or disabled individuals or persons without access to a private vehicle within the flood hazard zone may face an increased vulnerability to flood events, as they may have difficulty evacuating if floodwaters rise high enough. Lower-income residents or renters may also be more vulnerable to flood events, as they may lack financial resources or sufficient control over their residences to install flood-resistant features. There are no critical facilities within Torrance’s flood hazard zones. As of March 2016, Torrance had 283 policies enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), with premiums totaling $116,090 annually and insurance in force totaling $84,518,500. According to FEMA, four claims have been submitted totaling $10,089 in losses. The City of Torrance has no repetitive or severe repetitive loss properties within its boundaries.
Diseases and Pest Management
Hazard Description
In urbanized areas such as Torrance, the primary threats from diseases and pest management –related hazards are to human health and street trees. In some instances, people or plants may be infected by a disease-causing organism called a pathogen (e.g., a bacteria or virus), which may bring on sickness. Some pests may not actually cause diseases, but they may cause damage or injury through other means.
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58 The main human health concerns in Torrance are easily contagious diseases or infections, which could spread quickly through the community and cause significant harm. This includes pandemics, which are infectious diseases that spread throughout a wide region and often require substantial resources to slow or halt. Influenza (the flu) is one of the most widespread of these potentially serious diseases. It can happen at any time of the year, although most cases occur in the winter. It is spread through the air (usually by coughing or sneezing) or by touching surfaces contaminated with the flu virus. The symptoms of the flu can include fever, fatigue, congestion, aches, and gastrointestinal distress. Although often relatively mild, the flu can be severe, particularly for young children, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems. There have been numerous flu pandemics throughout hi story, including the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic that killed 20 to 100 million people (Nature 2016) and the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic that killed up to 575,000 people (CDC 2012). Other diseases have historically caused pandemics or pandemic concerns in the United States, including cholera, measles, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
West Nile virus (WNV) is another disease which poses a public health concern in California, although it is not contagious.
It is spread by mosquitoes when the mosquitoes bite an infected bird and then bite a person. The virus has no observable impact on 80 percent of people, while 20 percent will experience symptoms such as a fever, headache, or other symptoms similar to a cold or mild flu. For less than 1 percent of infected persons, the virus can cause severe neurological issues and may lead to death or permanent impairment (CDC 2015).
The Zika virus emerged as a global health concern in 2015. Zika is transmitted primarily through mosquitos, although it can also be transmitted through sexual activity and by infected pregnant mothers to their children. Like WNV, most people infected with Zika have no symptoms, and symptoms that do develop are often mild and can include fever, aching, and a rash. Children born to pregnant mothers with Zika may have microcephaly and other malformations of the brain.
Street trees may also be threatened by diseases or pests, which may weaken or kill the trees. Affected trees may no longer provide shade or other landscaping ben efits and may be more susceptible to toppling over or broken branches, which can damage property and cause injury or death. Insects called aphids are among the most common type of pest.
Swarms of aphids suck the sap from a tree’s tissues, weakening it by depriving it of resources, and potentially introducing pathogens or other pests that may further damage the tree. Other insects, as well as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, may infect street trees and cause potentially widespread damage if not controlled. Trees stressed by drought conditions may be more vulnerable to infection.
Location and Extent
Areas at risk of disease are not limited to any one part of Torrance, but diseases instead may affect any part of the community. The impacts of any disease may be more severe in some parts of the community with a greater proportion of vulnerable residents. Species of trees that are more vulnerable to infection or pest infestation may be more common in specific parts of Torrance, although the entire community is generally at risk from these hazards. 348
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59 Hazard History
There is no specific history of disease or pest management –related hazards in Torrance. Los Angeles County generally sees some severe flu cases each year, although the number varies significantly. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, Los Angeles County saw 129 flu deaths and 219 further cases requiring intensive care (CDPH 2014). During the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, the Los Angeles area saw 494 deaths for every 100,000 people, lower than many other American cities (University of Michigan n.d.). Regarding pest management issues, the City is monitoring pests that impact city trees. One in particular that affects eucalyptus trees—the red gum lerp psyllid—is a known vector that causes stress on trees, which can contribute to higher tree mortality.
Risk of Future Hazards
It is likely that various infections and pest infestations will continue to be an issue in Torrance. The flu will likely continue to be the most prominent significant disease in the community, as the virus changes rapidly and has proven impossible thus far to eradicate, although basic hygiene substantially reduces the odds of being infected, and vaccines that provide protection against the most common flu strains are widely available. WNV has proven similarly difficult to eradicate, although it rema ins fairly rare and can be constrained by reducing the risk of mosquito bite by using insect repellents, using screens and protective clothing, and draining pools of stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. Regular inspections of street trees and selecting disease-resistant species can help reduce the loss of vegetation from pest infestation.
Climate Change Considerations
There is no clearly identified link between climate change and the flu, although changes in animal migration patterns may affect mutation of the flu virus. WNV may be spread more easily as the climate changes, as warmer temperatures are expected to expand the months when mosquitoes are most active, creating more opportunities for the disease to spread. Warmer temperatures may facilitate the spread of various pests that may affect trees and other vegetation. As climate change makes drought conditions more frequent, vegetation may also be weakened as a result of drought stress, increasing susceptibility to infestations.
Vulnerability Assessment
Disease and pest management hazards pose the greatest risk to elderly residents, young children, and immunocompromised individuals, as these persons are most likely to be severely affected by various pathogens.
However, all residents may be affected by d iseases, particularly influenza and other diseases that pose a risk of causing pandemics. Landscaping at critical facilities may be affected by plant diseases or pests, but buildings and structures themselves are not affected by disease and pest management hazards. 349
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60 Geologic Hazards
Methane
Hazard Description
Methane (CH4) is a colorless, odorless gas that is the simplest of a group of molecules called hydrocarbons, which includes other materials such as petroleum, benzene, and propane. Methane occurs naturally primarily by the decomposition of organic materials in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment, although it can also be produced artificially through various processes. It is the primary component of natural gas, a valuable fuel source, and so is often found in high concentrations in the soil in areas with natural gas deposits. Methane is also commonly found near petroleum deposits.
Despite its usefulness, methane can pose a substantial health and safety hazard. Although methane i tself is nontoxic, it is an extremely flammable gas, and potentially explosive in certain concentrations. A sufficiently high concentration of methane in the air may displace oxygen, creating a risk of asphyxiation if methane levels rise high enough. The g as can seep out from the ground into the surface, posing risks in areas above methane -containing soils. It can be trapped underneath impervious surfaces such as roadways, or in enclosed underground areas such as basements or tunnels, potentially allowing concentrations to rise to dangerous levels if the gas is not vented out.
Location and Extent
Methane-containing soils are usually associated with oil and gas deposits, both of which are found in Torrance. The Torrance Oil Field lies under the middle of the city, in an area roughly north of Lomita Boulevard and south of the main railway lines which run through the community (Torrance 2010b). This area is more likely to contain methane-containing soils, although such land may be found beyond the boundaries of the Torrance Oil Field and methane seeps are not present throughout the entire field. The pressure of the Torrance Oil Field is lower than other fields in the Los Angeles region, so extensive testing has not been conducted throughout the area. Any methane seeps in the area are believed to be small (Torrance 2008b).
Hazard History
Torrance has no history of methane -related emergencies. There have been emergency situations in some nearby communities, including a 1985 department store explosion in Los Angeles’ Wilshire/Fairfax neighborhood approximately 13 miles north of Torrance. This event, which severely damaged the store and sent 23 people to the hospital, was caused by accumulated methane in a storage room (Hamilton and Meehan 1990). Buildings throughout Torrance, including multiple public schools, have methane ventilation systems to prevent gases from building to dangerous concentrations (Kuzina 2010).
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61 Risk of Future Hazards
Methane leaks are a natural geologic feature in Torrance and so are likely to continue in the future, although the severity of the seepage may change depending on the type and volume of oil and natural gas extraction activities carried out at the Torrance Oil Field. Other local and regional activities may also influence the rate of seepage.
Climate Change Considerations
Although methane is a greenhouse gas and contributes to climate change, the effects of climate change are not expected to have any impact on the rate of methane seepage.
Vulnerability Assessment
The threat from methane-containing soils varies throughout the community, as some specific locations face an increased threat. Lower-income residents and renters in the threat zones for these hazards may not have the financial capacity or the control over their facilities to install features that make buildings resistant to these hazards. Because methane - containing soils have not been mapped in the community, it is unknown which critical facilities are at risk from methane.
Expansive Soils
Hazard Description
Expansive soils are those which contain high levels of materials that can absorb large amounts of water, such as certain types of clay. When the ground is wet, these materials absorb water and swell, and then shrink as they dry out. This process can exert significant force on structures, and over repeated cycles of expansion and contraction this force can be sufficient to crack foundations, floors, and other ground-level or subterranean structures. Cracks may form in expansive soils when they are dry, potentially creating a safety hazard.
Location and Extent
Expansive soils in Torrance are concentrated in two areas of the city: (1) northern Torrance, encompassing the area north of 190th Street and east of Hawthorne Boulevard; and (2) the southern part of the community, including the area south of Lomita Boulevard and east of Hawthorne Boulevard. An adjacent area, bounded by Pacific Coast Highway, Hawthorne Boulevard, Lomita Boulevard, and Calle Mayor High School, is in a study zone for expansive s oils, although these soils may not be present in this area. Figure 6 shows the location of expansive soil areas in Torrance.
Hazard History
The presence of expansive soils in Torrance has caused occasional damage to structures that were not built to be resilient to these soils. In southern Torrance, residents have noticed the effects of expansive soil since homes were constructed in 351
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62 the 1960s. Damages to these structures are not necessarily linked to a specific event. However, the problems may be exacerbated as a result of drought conditions, as occurred in the late 1980s (Schoch 1990).
Risk of Future Hazards
The community’s expansive soils will continue to swell and contract as they get wet and then dry out, potentially causing damage.
Climate Change Considerations
It is possible that expansive soils may be affected by climate change, as climate change is expected to bring on more frequent drought conditions and may also cause more intense storms. These more extreme conditions may exacerba te the expansion and contraction of expansive soils.
Vulnerability Assessment
The risk of expansive soils varies depending on specific location. Lower-income residents and renters in the risk area for expansive soils may be more vulnerable to this hazard, as they may be unable to retrofit their buildings to resist the forces created by the swelling and contraction of expansive soils. Expansive soils are also a threat to 40 different critical facilities, as shown in Table 21.
Table 21: Critical Facilities at Risk of Expansive Soils by Type and Priority
Facility Type
Number of Facilities at Risk Not at
Risk Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 No Priority Given Bridges 0 8 0 0 6
Government facilities 3 1 0 10 30
Schools 0 14 0 0 31
Transportation routes 0 0 0 0 2
Utilities 0 3 1 0 26
Total 3 26 1 10 95
Landslides
Hazard Description
Landslides occur when the soils on a hillside become unstable and slide down toward the base of the slope. This movement can damage or destroy structures built on or in the soil, and cause damage to objects in the path of the 352
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63 landslide. While landslides are often thought of as fast -moving events, they may unfold slowly over the course of days, weeks, months, or even years, depending on the conditions of the hillside and the factors causing the slide. The overall risk of a landslide is determined by the types of materials that make up the slope and the steepness of the hill.
Many different events may trigger a landslide, but earthquakes and moisture are the most common. Earthquake-induced landslides happen when ground shaking or liquefaction causes the soil to become loose, or when ground shaking or fault rupture fractures the rocks that make up a slope. In either instance, the earthquake creates enough instability in the slope that it begins to slide. In a moisture-induced landslide, precipitation, irrigation, or another water source causes the soil to become waterlogged. If the soil absorbs enough water, it can lose its stability and slide. Water can also erode the base of a slope, causing material farther up on the hill to slide. A type of landslide called lateral spreading can occur in areas prone to liquefaction, when liquefied soils become fluid enough to slide down very minor slopes.
Location and Extent
In Torrance, the areas with an elevated landslide risk are along the southern border of the community along the base of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The vast majority of these landslide areas are south of Pacific Coast Highway. The shores of Walteria Lake, north of Pacific Coast Highway, are also at risk from landslides (CGS 1999b, 1999c). Outside of these areas, there is also a risk of lateral spreading on soils that are prone to liquefaction. Figure 7 shows the landslide hazard area in Torrance.
Hazard History
Torrance has seen occasional landslides in the southern parts of the community along the sea cliff and the base of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Two substantial landslides have occurred in recent history. In 1986, a landslide near Vista Largo and Via Corona caused severe damage to two homes, which were demolished as a result. A 1998 landslide near Carolwood Lane and Singingwood Drive affected the backyards of 24 homes (Torrance 2004, 2008c).
Risk of Future Hazards
Landslides are likely to continue to occur occasionally in Torrance. Increased development activities at the top or base of landslide-prone slopes, including construction activity in the Palos Verdes Peninsula communities above Torrance, may exacerbate landslide risks.
Climate Change Considerations
Landslides may be affected by the increased risk of flooding brought on by climate change, as soil subject to heavy rains may be more prone to sliding. However, more research is likely needed to determine the specific effects of climate change on landslide risks.
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64 Vulnerability Assessment
The landslide risk area in Torrance, as previously mentioned, is located along the base of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
While there is no evidence that this area is more or less vuln erable than the rest of Torrance, some residents in this area may be unable to retrofit their homes to be more resilient to landslides (often due to limited financial resources or renting their home), so they may be disproportionally affected by landslides. There is one critical facility, a Priority 2 utility facility, in the landslide hazard zone.
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65 Figure 6: Expansive Soil Hazard Area
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69 MITIGATION STRATEGY
Introduction
The City’s Hazard Mitigation Strategy is made up of individual measures that collectively reduce the impacts of hazard events on individuals, private and public property, critical facilities, natural ecosystems, and important services within the community. It serves as a long -term blueprint to reduce the potential vulnerabilities discussed in the Vulnerability Assessment section of each hazard p rofile. Some of the mitigation measures in the strategy are based on the City’s previous LHMP, updated as appropriate to reflect additional information or changing conditions. Other measures are new, intended to fill gaps in the previous Plan or to address new concerns since the previous Plan was adopted.
Capabilities Assessment
As part of developing the Hazard Mitigation Strategy, the Planning Team prepared a Capabilities Assessment, intended to identify existing local agencies, personnel, tools, technology, funding sources, and policies and programs that can support hazard mitig ation activities. The Capabilities Assessment helps summarize the current condition of hazard mitigation activities for the City of Torrance by showing what resources currently exist for hazard mitigation. This assessment also helps identify gaps that can be filled by the new mitigation measures contained in this Plan. Table 22 shows the results of the Capabilities Assessment.
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program
In 1968, the US Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Participation in the NFIP by a community is voluntary; however, in order to receive funding from FEMA, a community is required to participate in the program. The City of Torrance participates in the NFIP. Division 7, Chapter 9 – Flood Hazard Insurance, of the Torrance Municipal Code, identifies the requirements and provisions that apply to all areas of special flood hazards within the City. This section of the municipal code establishes a development permit process for flood hazard areas, designates a floodplain administrator for the City, and establishes standards for construction within flood hazard areas. This code section was recently updated in August 2016.
The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary part of the NFIP that seeks to coordinate all flood-related activities, reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance rating, and promote public awareness of flood insurance by creating incentives for a community to go beyond minimum discounts. CRS ratings are on a 10 -point scale (from 10 to 1, with 1 being the best rating), with residents of a community who live in FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Areas receiving a 5 percent 359
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70 reduction in flood insurance rates for every class improvement in the community’s CRS rating. The City of Torrance does not currently participate in the CRS.
Measure Development
FEMA requires local governments to consider the benefits and costs (both monetary and non -monetary) of potential hazard mitigation measures and to determine whether these benefits exceed the cost. Loca l governments are not required to calculate specific dollar values for the monetary benefits and costs, although they may choose to do so. When analyzing potential measures for inclusion in an LHMP, local governments should use the following criteria at a minimum during the evaluation:
The frequency and severity of individual hazard types, and the vulnerability of the community to these hazards. The injuries, damages, or other impacts reduced or avoided by the measure. The number of people, properties, services, or other assets that the measure benefits. The critical facilities that the measure benefits, including the number of facilities and their importance. Any environmental benefits or negative consequences resulting from the measure.
The Planning Team excluded measures that did not have adequate benefits for the community as determined by these criteria.
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Resource Name Type of
Resource Ability to Support Mitigation Web Address
City of Torrance Resources
General Plan
Plan
Resource
The City’s General Plan is a blueprint for the community. It is the main policy document that guides a variety of activities, including development and land uses, parks and recreation, environmental protection and natural resources, public safety, transportation, housing, and noise. The data and mitigation strategy from this LHMP can be incorporated into the General Plan.
http://www.torranceca.gov/8691.htm
Land Use Plan
Policy
Resource
The Land Use Plan is Division 9 of the City’s Municipal Code and serves as the primary tool to implement the City’s General Plan. It establishes land use regulations and development standards for the community. Some mitigation measures in this LHMP can be integrate d into the zoning code as changes to existing standards.
http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/
Torrance
Building Code
and Standards
Policy
Resource
The Building Code and Standards is Division 8 of the City’s Municipal Code. It contains numerous codes and ordinances that establish standards for new construction and significant renovations in Torrance. Some mitigation measures in this LHMP can be included in the Building Codes and Standards for Torrance as new standards or modifications to existing ones.
http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/
Torrance
Urban Water
Management
Plan
Plan
Resource
The Urban Water Management Plan guides and informs how the water supplied by the City’s municipal system is sourced and used. It includes a summary of potential water shortages as an effect of droughts and contains information about water conservation activities and potential other water sources. Mitigation measures that affect water issues can be included in updates to the Urban Water Management Plan.
https://www.torranceca.gov/PDF/Fina
lTorrance2010UWMP_07-28-11.pdf
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Resource Ability to Support Mitigation Web Address
Capital
Improvement
Projects
Plan
Resource
Capital Improvement Projects are upgrades to public facilities and infrastructure which the City has prioritized and allocated funding to. This includes upgrades to roadways and streetscapes, water and wastewater infrastructure, and bridges. The LHMP may recommend certain projects or types of projects to be included in the list of Capital Improvement Projects.
http://www.torranceca.gov/3239.htm
Fire Department
Personnel
Resource
The City’s Fire Department provides prevention and response activities for fires, hazardous material releases, rescue operations, and emergency medical services.
The LHMP mitigation measures may direct the Fire Department to establish new programs or modify existing ones.
http://www.torranceca.gov/108.htm
Office of
Emergency
Services
Personnel
Resource
The City’s Office of Emergency Services conducts a variety of emergency preparation, response, and recovery activities. This includes issuing alerts and notifications, providing emergency training to City staff and community members, and managing disaster service volunteer programs. Measures in the LHMP may establish new programs for the Office of Emergency Services or modify existing ones.
http://www.torranceca.gov/TPD/Disas
terPreparedness.htm
Community
Development
Department
Personnel
Resource
The City’s Community Development Department is responsible for all planning and building-related activities. This includes reviewing and permitting building and development projects, conducting environmental review, addressing housing issues, and preparing planning documents. The LHMP may direct the Community Development Department to implement specific mitigation measures.
http://www.torranceca.gov/111.htm
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Resource Ability to Support Mitigation Web Address
Public Works
Department
Personnel
Resource
The City’s Public Works Department maintains and improves City -owned infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals, water infrastructure, and sewer and storm water infrastructure. It also provides water, wastewater, and sanitation services to the community. The LHMP may establish new or modified mitigation measures related to these issues that are the responsibility of the Public Works Department.
http://www.torranceca.gov/96.htm
General Services
Department
Personnel
Resource
The City’s General Services Department is responsible for a number of support activities for City staff, including maintaining City-owned buildings. The department is therefore one of the agencies responsible for hazard mitigation activities that pertain to critical facilities.
http://www.torranceca.gov/107.htm
Community
Services
Department
Personnel
Resource
The City’s Community Services Department manages City parks and a number of other facilities that are designated as critical facilities. The LHMP may direct this department to implement hazard mitigation activities to strengthen the resilience of new or existing critical facilities that fall under the department’s jurisdiction.
http://www.torranceca.gov/3737.htm
City Manager’s
Office
Personnel
Resource
The City Manager’s Office coordinates all high-level municipal activities, including emergency preparedness through the Office of Emergency Services. The City Manager’s Office may have responsibility over mitigation activities that pertain to high-level strategic planning.
http://www.torranceca.gov/55.htm
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County and Regional Agencies
Los Angeles
The County Office of Emergency Management coordinates emergency preparation activities across all jurisdictions in Los Angeles County. It also provides a variety of training and education programs. Measures in the LHMP may direct the City to coordinate with the County Office of Emergency Management on appropriate issues.
County Office of
Emergency
Technical
Resource http://www.lacoa.org/aboutoem.html
Management
The All-Hazard Mitigation Plan is the hazard mitigation plan for Los Angeles Los Angeles County. While it only applies to the unincorporated areas of the county and not County All-
Hazard
Plan
Resource
to incorporated communities such as Torrance, the plan serves as an important source of technical information. It also allows for increased coordination between http://lacoa.org/PDF/hazmitgplan.pdf Mitigation Plan Los Angeles County and the City of Torrance on hazard mitigation activities, which the LHMP may expand upon.
The Metropolitan Water District provides water to local governments and private Metropolitan water companies across a wide swatch of Southern California, including in Water District of
Southern
Technical
Resource
Torrance. As part of these duties, the district is responsible for planning for changes in water availability and use, as may be brought on by drought or other http://www.mwdh2o.com/ California conditions. The LHMP may direct the City to work with the district on drought - related mitigation activities.
South Coast Air
Quality
Management
District
Technical
Resource
The South Coast Air Quality Management District is responsible for enforcing air quality standards in some regions of Southern California, including in Torrance.
Airborne releases of hazardous or potentially hazardous materials fall under the district’s jurisdiction. The LHMP may direct the City to work with the dist rict on applicable hazardous material–related matters.
http://www.aqmd.gov/
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State and Federal Resources
California Office
of Emergency
Services
Technical
Resource
The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) provides guidance and resources on hazard mitigation planning for jurisdictions in California. It also issues notifications on funding opportunities, inc luding funding for hazard mitigation activities.
http://www.caloes.ca.gov/
California Multi-
Hazard
Mitigation Plan
Plan
Resource
The Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan is California’s plan for identifying hazards and developing effective responses. The plan is an important source of information on hazards in the state, and it provides opportunities for local governments to coordinate their actions with state programs.
http://hazardmitigation.calema.ca.gov
/plan/state_multi-
hazard_mitigation_plan_shmp
National Oceanic
and
Atmospheric
Administration
Technical
Resource
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the national agency that provides information and forecasts on science related to climate, weather, and oceans. The National Weather Service (NWS) is part of NOAA. The agency serves as a source of data on weather -related hazards an d the effects of climate change.
http://www.noaa.gov/
Federal
Emergency
Management
Agency
Technical
Resource
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides guidance, direction, and best practices on hazard mitigation planning. It also offers a variety of grant funding programs to support hazard mitigation activities.
http://www.fema.gov
California
Department of
Transportation
Technical
Resource
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has jurisdiction over state- designated highways in Torrance, many of which function as important evacuation routes. The City can work with Caltrans on efforts to make these highways more resilient to natural hazards.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/
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76 Resource Name Type of
Resource Ability to Support Mitigation Web Address
Private Resources
California Water
Service
Technical
Resource
California Water Service (Cal Water) provides water service to part of Torrance, primarily the western side of the community, through its Hermosa-Redondo and Dominguez districts. Like the City, Cal Water is required to prepare an Urban Water Management Plan to address water sources and use. Through the Urban Water Management Plan and other activities, Cal Water is a key partner in drought mitigation actions.
https://www.calwater.com/about/dist
rict-information/rd/
Southern
California Edison
Technical
Resource
Southern California Edison (SCE) is the electrical provider for Torrance and owns the electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure in the community. As such, SCE is an important partner for the City to help make electrical infrastructure more resilient to hazard events. The City can also work with SCE on increased energy independence so as to make the community less vulnerable to service outages or disruptions.
http://www.sce.com
Southern
California Gas
Company
Technical
Resource
The Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas or SCG) provides natural gas service to Torrance and owns the associated infrastructure. The City can partner with SCG to harden natural gas infrastructure against hazard events and to support energy conservation activities that reduce vulnerability to service interruptions.
https://www.socalgas.com/
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77 STAPLE/E
The Planning Team discussed potential hazard mitigation measures using the STAPLE/E (Social, Technical, Administrative, Political, Legal, Economic, and Environmental) criteria. Under the STAPLE/E evaluation, these seven considerations are taken into account when considering potential courses of action, such as a hazard mitigation measure.
This process helps to ensure that the mitigation measures included in the City of Torrance LHMP are equitable and feasible, least damaging, and provide the maximum benefit to the community given Torrance’s sp ecific conditions and requirements. Measures that fail one or more of the evaluation criteria are not necessarily excluded from the LHMP, but this does indicate the presence of barriers that may hinder implementation, and at a minimum should be taken into account.
The Planning Team did not conduct a formal and complete STAPLE/E analysis for potential mitigation measures, but the team did discuss how STAPLE/E would be used when applying for grant funding to implement the mitigation measures after the LHMP is adopted. The Planning Team also considered how the mitigation measures in the LHMP could be evaluated under STAPLE/E, intending that there be a more complete STAPLE/E analysis during the preparation and submittal of grant applications. Table 23 shows the STAPLE/E criteria.
Relative Cost Estimates
To meet the cost estimation requirements of the hazard mitigation planning process, the Planning Team did identify relative cost estimates based on their understanding of the mitigation action intent and experience developing programs/implementing projects as identified or similar in nature. The cost estimates were categorized into three categories based on the City’s typically cost criteria used for budgeting purposes. These categories are as follows:
Low ($) : Below $40,000
Medium ($$): $40,001 – $150,000
High ($$$): Greater than $150,001
Hazard Prioritization
During Meeting 3 of the Hazard Mitigation Planning process, the Planning Team discussed a series of proposed mitigation actions and identified necessary revisions, new actions, or proposed deletions to the initial list based on a variety of factors (political, financial, feasibility, etc…). As part of this discussion the Planning Team discussed many factors such as relative costs and the ability for the Ci ty to successfully implement the proposed actions, which assisted many of the department personnel participating to understand the opportunities and constraints associated with future implementation. Upon completion of this discussion Planning Team members were asked to identify their six preferred mitigation actions using a sticky dot exercise.
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78 Issue Criteria
Social
Is the measure socially acceptable to city residents? Would the measure treat some individuals unfairly?
Could the measure reasonably cause potential social disruption?
Technical
Is the measure likely to reduce the underlying risk from a hazard, or will it only reduce the symptoms or consequences of the risk?
Will the measure create more problems or exacerbate existing ones? Is the measure the most useful course of action to address the risk, given the goals of the City and community members?
Administrative
Does the City have the administrative capabilities to implement the measure? Are City staff available to coordinate and lead implementation of the measure, or alternatively could the City reasonably hire staff for these duties?
Does the City have sufficient technical support, staff, and funding for measure implementation?
Are there administrative barriers to implementation?
Political
Is the measure politically acceptable to the City and to other jurisdictions present within the city’s borders?
Do community members support beginning and/or continuing measure implementation?
Legal
Does the City have the authority to implement the measure and enforce it as needed? Are there potential legal consequences or barriers that could reasonably hinder or prevent measure implementation?
Could the measure reasonably expose the City to potential legal liabilities for any action or lack of action as a result of measure implementation?
Could the measure reasonably face legal challenges?
Economic
What are the monetary costs of the measure, and do these costs exceed the monetary benefits?
What are the start-up, maintenance, and administrative costs associated with the measure? Has funding for the measure been secured, or alternatively is a potential funding source available?
How will the measure affect the City’s financial capabilities? Will the measure reasonably place any potential burden on the local economy or tax base? What are the budgetary and revenue effects of the measure to the City, if any?
Environmental
How will the measure reasonably affect the environment? Will the measure need environmental regulatory approvals? Will the measure meet local, regional, state, and federal environmental regulatory requirements?
Will the measure reasonably potentially affect any endangered, threatened, or otherwise sensitive species or species of concern?
Their votes were based on their understanding of the Staple/E criteria discussed during the meeting, their understanding of the proposed mitigation actions developed by the planning team, and their desire to identify key Table 23: STAPLE/E Criteria
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79 projects that they determined to be important to their department or the City as a whole. Once complete, the votes for each action were tallied and categorized into high, medium, and low categories as follows:
Low Priority – 0 Votes
Medium Priority – 1 to 2 Votes
High Priority – 3 or more Votes
While this exercise helped the Planning Team to identify relative priority, they were also instructed that these priorities should be revisited (and updated as necessary) on an annual basis as they monitor and implement the plan.
Hazard Mitigation Actions
Based on the criteria and process discussed above, the hazard profile descriptions (including the vulnerability assessments), and the Capabilities Assessment, the Planning Team developed a list of mitigation actions to reduce the risk from natural hazards in Torrance. These actions collectively form the Hazard Mitigation Strategy. Table 24 shows the proposed mitigation actions, the responsible City department, potential funding source(s), target completion date, relative cost estimate, and priority. Actions are organized by the applicable hazard or hazards. 369
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81 Table 24: City of Torrance Hazard Mitigation Actions
Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
All Hazards
1.1 Provide information about reducing the risk from disasters to residents and businesses through mailers, in -person meetings and events, local media, online and social media, and other methods as appropriate. Ensure that information is easy to understand and available in widely spoken
languages within the city.
Police
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Medium
priority
1.2 In collaboration with community groups and residents, develop “shelter in place” fact sheets outlining what
residents should do during shelter in place situations.
Distribute fact sheets to all Torrance mailing addresses and make available online.
Police
General Fund
Grant funding
December
2018
$
High
priority
1.3 Coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and Los Angeles County to support a unified approach to reducing risks in the South Bay area and the wider Los Angeles metropolitan region.
Police
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Low priority
1.4 Coordinate with other agencies that provide important services in the community (e.g., school districts, hospitals, utility companies, telecommunication companies) to avoid siting key community facilities in hazard-prone areas. If this is unavoidable, work with owners to reduce the risk from these hazards for new facilities.
Police
General Fund
Grant funding
Service fees
Ongoing
$
Low priority
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82 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
1.5 Work with other agencies that provide important services in Torrance to identify existing vulnerable facilities and to retrofit or replace facilities to reduce vulnerabilities.
Community
Development,
Emergency
Services, Public
Works
General Fund
TBD
$$$
Low priority
1.6 Continue to monitor the results of federal, state, and regional inspections of railroads, pipelines, and other infrastructure. Incorporate the results of inspections into future emergency planning activities.
Fire
General Fund
Ongoing
$
Low priority
1.7 Conduct hazard assessments for all new proposed City facilities and infrastructure early in the design process, and redesign facilities and infrastructure as needed to reduce vulnerability from any relevant hazards.
General
Services
General Fund
Grant funding
TBD
$$
Low priority
1.8 Regularly assess the vulnerability of City -owned critical facilities, and retrofit or replace facilities as appropriate to reduce risks.
General
Services
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Service fees
Ongoing
$$$
Low priority
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83 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
Bond financing
1.9 When upgrading or retrofitting City facilities, integrate features to improve resiliency to applicable hazard events.
General
Services
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
TBD
$$$
Low priority
Grant funding
Service fees
1.10 Evaluate the backup power needs for all appropriate critical facilities. Install or upgrade backup power
systems as needed, emphasizing the use of renewable
energy generation and storage systems. Explore
establishing a microgrid for critical facilities.
General
Services
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Service fees
December
2021
$$$
High
priority
1.11 Protect and restore natural habitats to provide hazard mitigation benefits, and integrate natural systems into the built environment as appropriate to help reduce
hazard risks.
Community
Development
Bond financing
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
Ongoing
$$
Low priority
1.12 Ensure that the City’s water interconnections with California Water Service (Cal Water) and the City of Lomita are resistant to hazard conditions and sufficient to meet Torrance’s needs during emergency conditions. Retrofit or replace interconnections as appropriate, and explore
opportunities to add new interconnections to other water agencies.
Public Works
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Service fees
TBD
$$$
Low priority
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84 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
1.13 Work with developers and property owners to design and publicize examples of buildings with
hazard-resistant features.
Community
Development
Development fees
General Fund
Ongoing
$
Low priority
1.14 Train plan review staff to be aware of strategies to enhance building resiliency to hazards and to encourage applicants to incorporate these strategies into plans.
Community
Development
Development fees
General Fund
Ongoing
$
Low priority
1.15 Work with appropriate federal, state, and regional agencies and institutions to improve understanding of
future hazard locations, frequency, and severity,
especially hazards that may be affected by climate
change.
Police
General Fund
TBD
$
Low priority
1.16 Incorporate information about hazards and hazard
mitigation strategies contained in the Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into the Torrance General Plan, the
Torrance Municipal Code, and other planning efforts
and City documents as appropriate.
Community
Development,
Emergency
Services
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Medium
priority
1.17 Continue to improve and refine the risk assessment for Torrance, including risks of injury or death, property
damage, loss of important services, and other threats to personal health and well-being
Police
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Medium
priority
1.18 Regularly monitor funding opportunities for hazard mitigation activities, and pursue appropriate funding
sources that become available.
Police
General Fund
Ongoing
$ High
priority
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85 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
1.19 Continue to improve the City’s emergency alert sirens and other notification systems to ensure that emergency
notifications are distributed in a timely and
easily- understood manner to all community members in
all parts of Torrance.
Police
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$$
Low priority
Drought
2.1 Partner with the Metropolitan Water District and evaluate long-term water availability for the community. In
particular, consider the risks of increased drought
frequency and severity as a result of climate change.
Integrate the results of this analysis into future water management planning efforts.
Public Works
General Fund
Service fees
Ongoing
$
Low priority
2.2 As feasible, construct planned wells and resolve any water quality issues at existing wells to maximize groundwater production within the City’s adjudicated right. Ensure that all groundwater production is maintained at a sustainable level.
Public Works
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Service fees
TBD
$$$
Medium
priority
Bond financing
2.3 Explore constructing new water storage facilities, or expand the storage capacity of existing facilities, to
maximize water availability during an emergency
situation.
Public Works
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
TBD
$$$
Low priority
Service fees
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86 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
2.4 Work with California Water Service (Cal Water) to provide free or low -cost water audits to Torrance residents and businesses.
Public Works
General Fund
Grant funding
Service fees
Ongoing
$
Low priority
2.5 Promote Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
programs to Torrance residents and businesses as a
way to finance water efficiency retrofits, and distribute information about other financing mechanisms and
available rebates.
City Manager
General Fund
Ongoing
$$
Low priority
2.6 When c reating new landscaped areas or renovating
existing ones, choose plant species that require little or no irrigation to the extent possible.
Public Works
General Fund
Improvement District
funds
TBD
$
Medium
priority
2.7 Publicize information on water conservation
techniques through print media, television, online and in social media, in -person events and workshops, and
other methods as appropriate.
Public Works
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Low priority
Seismic Hazards
3.1 Maintain and regularly update records of seismically vulnerable structures in the community, such as soft
first- story buildings or unreinforced masonry structures.
Community
Development
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$ High
priority
32 Incentivize or require that seismically vulnerable
buildings be retrofitted to improve resilience to seismic events, and develop financing mechanisms to help
property owners support retrofits.
Community
Development
Bond financing
Development fees
Grant funding
Ongoing
$$
Low priority
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87 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
3.3 When retrofitting existing City facilities or constructing new ones, design structures to still be usable following a major seismic event to the extent possible, rather
than designing only to minimize injury to occupants.
General
Services
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
Grant funding
Ongoing
$$$
High
priority
3.4 Install and maintain film on windows in City facilities to reduce injury from broken glass, and encourage private
property owners to use similar features.
General
Services
General Plan
Grant funding
TBD
$
Low priority
3.5 Use flexible piping to the extent feasible for new water and wastewater pipes.
Public Works
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Plan
Grant funding
Service fees
TBD
$
Low priority
Extreme Weather
4.1 Designate facilities throughout Torrance as cooling centers to provide relief during extreme heat events, set to automatically open when temperatures reach a certain level. Ensure that facilities are available in all parts of the city. Distribute infor mation about the availability of cooling centers to community members, and alert
community members when cooling centers are open.
Community
Services
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Medium
priority
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88 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
4.2 Train City outdoor workers, including landscaping,
construction, and recreation staff, in reducing the risk from extreme heat and how to provide emergency first aid to persons suffering from heat -related conditions. Work with local businesses and community groups to encourage providing similar training to private sector employees.
Public Works
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Low priority
4.3 Design new and substantially retrofitted public spaces to increase the use of shade trees or shade structures, high- reflectivity surfaces, and other features to reduce the urban heat island effect. Encourage private landowners to incorporate these features into new or substantially
retrofitted developments.
General
Services
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
Development fees
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
TBD
$$
Low priority
4.4 In coordination with community organizations, provide increased outreach and check-ins to vulnerable
individuals during extreme temperatures, including
elderly residents, homeless individuals, and socially
isolated persons.
City Manager
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Low priority
4.5 Continue to support weatherization of older homes
and those occupied by lower-income persons.
Community
Development
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
Ongoing
$
Low priority
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89 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
4.6 Encourage new and significantly retrofitted buildings to use wind-resistant design features such as interlocking shingles, reinforced doors, and laminated or
impact- resistant glass.
Community
Development
Development fees
General Fund
Ongoing
$$
Low priority
4.7 In coordination with SCE, identify and strengthen or replace utility poles that may be old, damaged, or
otherwise vulnerable to high winds. Support efforts to
underground power lines where feasible.
City Manager
General Fund
Ongoing
$$$
Medium
priority
Hazardous Materials
5.1 Support efforts to require the use of stronger storage containers for hazardous materials, including
aboveground storage tanks and freight cars.
City Manager
General Fund
Ongoing
$ High
priority
5.2 Coordinate with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and hazardous material facilities to ensure prompt and accurate distribution of information to emergency
staff and members of the public in the event of a
hazardous material release.
City Manager
General Fund
Ongoing
$
Medium
priority
5.3 Establish and publicize additional collection sites for hazardous materials, including electronic waste, and
conduct educational campaigns to raise awareness on
the safe use and disposal of household hazardous
materials.
Public Works
General Fund
Grant funding
TBD
$
Low priority
5.4 Expand community outreach, training, and exercises
surrounding large hazardous materials generators
within the city and in surrounding areas.
City Manager
General Fund December
2017
$$$ High
priority
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90 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
Floods
6.1 Use low-impact development (LID) strategies in City - maintained landscapes, roads, and parking lots to
reduce runoff and erosion during flood events.
Public Works
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
TBD
$
Low priority
6.2 Encourage or require the use of LID strategies on new or significant renovations to private parking lots, plazas, or other large open areas.
Public Works
Development fees
General Fund
Improvement District
funds
Ongoing
$
Low priority
6.3 Identify areas where ponding frequently occurs during heavy rainfall, and install new drains or upgrade
existing ones to reduce ponding.
Public Works
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
TBD
$$$
Medium
priority
6.4 Ensure that City-owned water reservoirs and storage tanks are extensively reinforced to minimize the risk of failure.
Public Works
Bond financing
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Service fees
December
2021
$$$
High
priority
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91 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
6.5 Ensure that an adequate supply of sandbags is available to Torrance residents and businesses, including
prefilled sandbags for individuals who may have
difficulty filling their own.
Public Works
General Fund
Ongoing
$
Low priority
Diseases and Pest Management
7.1 To the extent possible, replace vulnerable street trees and landscaping with plant species that are more resistant to infection.
Public Works
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
Ongoing
$$
Low priority
7.2 In coordination with the Los Angeles County West Vector Control District, distribute information about reducing the risk of vector-borne diseases, particularly mosquito-borne diseases.
Public Works
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Low priority
7.3 Continue to identify and repair areas of standing water at City facilities, including in maintenance yards and
landscaped areas.
Public Works
General Fund
Ongoing
$
Low priority
7.4 Continue to monitor the status of mosquitoes at Madrona Marsh. Conduct abatement activities and/or close the
marsh to members of the public as necessary.
Community
Services
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Low priority
7.5 Work with local and regional health care authorities to provide information on contagious diseases and to
make vaccines and other forms of preventive care
widely available.
City Manager
General Fund
Grant funding
Ongoing
$
Low priority
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92 Mitigation Action Responsible
Department(s)
Potential Funding
Source(s)
Target
Completion
Date
Relative
Cost
Estimate
Priority
Geologic Hazards
8.1 Plant and maintain vegetation along cliffs and slopes to hold soil together and reduce the potential for
landslides.
Public Works
Abatement District
funds
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
TBD
$$
Low priority
8.2 Evaluate installing landslide nets, walls, or other protective measures along roadways in landslide-prone
areas.
Public Works
Abatement District
funds
Capital Improvement
Plan
General Fund
Grant funding
Improvement District
funds
TBD
$$
Low priority
8.3 Continue to require new construction in landslide - prone areas to prepare geologic studies, stabilize
slopes, and incorporate design features to reduce the
risk of landslides.
Community
Development
Development fees
General Fund
Ongoing
$
Low priority
Low ($) : Below $50,000
Medium ($$): $50,001 – $150,000
High ($$$): Greater than $150,001
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Final Plan
93 PLAN MAINTENANCE
It is vital that the City of Torrance LHMP remain up to date, so as to best ensure that the community is protected against hazard events based on the most recent scientific information and best practices. A current LHMP also makes the City eligible for federal and state funding to support hazard mitigation activities. The Plan is organized so that individual sections can be easily upgraded and incorporated into the LHMP as needed, rather than updating the entire Plan.
This chapter discusses the process for reviewing and updating the Plan to ensure it remains actively used, relevant and appropriate to the community, and consistent with applicable state and federal requirements. It describes how the City will incorporate the mitigatio n measures discussed in the previous chapter into existing City programs and planning mechanisms. This chapter also discusses how the City will make public participation a key component of the Plan maintenance, implementation, and update process.
Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan
Coordinating Body
The City of Torrance Planning Team is responsible for maintaining this Plan and updating it as needed. The City’s Police Department is the primary municipal department responsible for this process, under the direction of the Emergency Services Coordinator (ESC) or other appropriate staff member. The ESC or their designee will serve as the LHMP project manager and will coordinate maintenance of the Plan, conduct the formal review process, and direct the Plan updates.
The project manager will assign tasks, which may include collecting data, developing new or updated mitigation measures, updating sections of the Plan, and presenting the Plan to others. Other key departments on the Planning Team are:
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Manager
City Treasurer
Communications and Information Technology
Community Development
Community Services
Finance
Fire
General Services
Human Resources
Police
Public Works
Transit
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94 All Planning Team members are responsible for implementing and evaluating the Plan as appropriate.
Evaluation
When the Plan is not being updated, the Planning Team should meet at least once each year to focus on the timing of implementing the mitigation measures, evaluating the measures that are currently being implemented and determining if they are successful, revising priorities as necessary, and integrating the m itigation measures into other planning documents. These annual meetings will begin in the 2017 calendar year. To the extent possible, the meetings should be timed with the overall department planning and budgeting process as part of the City’s budget development.
When evaluating the Plan and the hazard mitigation measures, the Planning Team should consider the following items:
Any hazard events that have occurred in Torrance in the previous year, and the impact of these hazards on the community.
Mitigation measures that have been successfully implemented. Mitigation measures that were scheduled for implementation, but were not implemented. The implementation schedule for future mitigation measures, and whether it is appropriate and feasible to adjust the schedule. This includes identification of completion dates for actions that are identified as TBD. Any issues not covered by existing mitigation measures that could be addressed by new or revised measures. Any potential or observed changes in funding opportunities, including grants, which can support mitigation activities.
New scientific or mapping data related to the hazards discussed in the Plan. Any other planning programs or initiatives that involve hazard mitigation and are applicable to Torrance.
The Planning Team will summarize the results of this annual evaluation in a progress report for City department heads and the Torrance City Council. The progress report will also be posted to the City’s website and distributed through other means and to the media as appropriate. Members of the public will have opportunities to comment on the progress report.
Method and Schedule for Plan Updates
Title 44, Section 201.6(d)(3) of the Code of Federal Regulations requires that local hazard mitigation plans be rev iewed, revised as needed, and resubmitted to FEMA for review and approval every five years in order for communities to remain eligible for the benefits under the Disaster Mitigation Act, as discussed in Chapter 1. The City of Torrance will seek to maintain a five -year update schedule from the date of this Plan’s adoption, in order to maintain eligibility for these benefits. The update process should begin no later than four years after the Plan is adopted, allowing a year for the new 384
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95 plan to be updated, reviewed, and adopted before the older Plan expires. The update process is set to begin in 2020, one year before the expiration of this Plan. The update process may be accelerated as circumstances require, including under the following conditions:
A Presidential Disaster Declaration for Torrance or any area that includes Torrance A hazard event resulting in a loss of life in Torrance
The update process will add new planning methods, demographic data and community information, hazard data and events, vulnerability analyses and climate change considerations, mitigation measures and best practices, and other new information as warranted. This process will ensure that the Plan remains current. The Planning Team will determine specific needs for the update as part of the annual review, although the update should follow the following guidance:
Involve at least one member from each City department in the Planning Team. Contact local agencies and other applicable stakeholders at the beginning of the process to gauge their interest and involve them in the update process.
Review and update the hazard profiles and vulnerability assessments to be consistent with best available information and best practices.
Update and improve hazard mapping and critical facility analyses. Review and revise mitigation measures to address items that have been completed, deferred, cancelled, or revised due to an updated vulnerability assessment or new policies in other City documents. Send the draft updated Plan to the appropriate external agencies. Make the draft updated Plan available for public comment prior to adoption. Transmit the draft updated Plan to Cal OES and FEMA for review and approval. Adopt the final updated Plan within one year of the commencement of the update process.
Adoption
The Torrance City Council is responsible for adopting the updated Plan. Adoption should occur once every five years, and as mentioned above should occur within one year of the commencement of the update process, before the current Plan expires. Adoption should happen after FEMA notifies the City that the Plan is Approved Pending Adoption. Once the City Council adopts the LHMP, the City of Torrance Police Department will transmit the adopted Plan to FEMA. 385
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96 Implementation
This Plan’s effectiveness depends on how effectively the mitigation measures it contains are implemented.
Implementation activities include incorporating the mitigation measures into existing City plans, policies, programs, and other mechanisms. The City has prioritized the Plan’s mitigation measures and identified those that will be implemented through existing mechanisms as the resources to do so become available.
The LHMP project manager is responsible for implementing, coordinating, promoting, and maintaining this Plan through all appropriate mechanisms. The project manager is also responsible for facilitating implementation of the Plan and meetings related to Plan maintenance. While the Planning Team is collectively responsible for implementation and evaluation of the Plan, specific mitigation measures fall under the responsibility of the lead department(s) identified for each measure.
The City of Torrance General Plan is an integral partner of this Plan, particularly the Safety Element, which provides a high-level framework for the City’s hazard mitigation and preparedness. This Plan allows the City to expand upon the policies in the Safety Element and other applicable sections of the General Plan. The General Plan and this LHMP work together to help r educe the impacts of hazards on human health and safety activities, public and private property, the environment, and key services. Many of the mitigation measures will be implemented as part of programs created or guided by the General Plan and other adopted plans.
Continued Public Involvement
When the LHMP is evaluated, the City will continue to inform members of the public about City actions and the status of the process through the City’s website and other appropriate media. Copies of the annual progress report will be distributed to members of the public for review and comment. When the LHMP is updated, the Planning Team will develop a revised public involvement strategy that reflects the needs and capabilities of Torrance at that time. This strategy shall, at a minimum, include direction on the use of the City of Torrance’s website, local media outlets, and other appropriate information systems such as social media.
Point of Contact
The City of Torrance Fire Department is responsible for preparing future updates of the Torrance LHMP.
Jeffrey Snoddy, Emergency Services Manager, (310) 781-7048, [email protected] 386
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Belgium, D. 1998. “Mobil Refines Its Image.” The Los Angeles, January 11. http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jan/11/local/me-7318.
Broder, J. M. 2003. “Freak Storm Leaves Los Angeles Under a Foot of Hail.” The New York Times, November 13. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/13/national/13CND-SNOW.html.
CalEPA (California Environmental Protection Agency). 2016. “Cortese List: Section 65962.5(a).” http://www.calepa.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/CorteseList/SectionA.htm.
California Natural Resources Agency. 2014. Safeguarding California: Reducing Climate Risk. http://resources.ca.gov/docs/climate/Final_Safeguarding_CA_Plan_July_31_2014.pdf.
Cal OES (California Office of Emergency Services). 2013a. California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. http://hazardmitigation.calema.ca.gov/plan/state_multi-hazard_mitigation_plan_shmp. ———. 2013b. Contingency Plan for Extreme Cold/Freeze Emergencies: A Supporting Document to the California State Emergency Plan. http://www.caloes.ca.gov/PlanningPreparednessSite/Documents/ExtremeCold- FreezeContingencyPlan2013.pdf.
———. 2016. “Spill Release Reporting.” http://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/fire-rescue/hazardous- materials/spill-release-reporting.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 2012. “First Global Estimates of 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Mortality Released by CDC-Led Collaboration.” http://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/pandemic-global-estimates.htm. ———. 2015. “West Nile virus.” http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/.
CDPH (California Department of Public Health). 2013. Preparing California for Extreme Heat: Guidance and Recommendations.
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/CCDPHP/Documents/Preparing_California_for_Extreme_Heat.pdf. ———. 2014. Influenza and Other Respiratory Diseases, Surveillance Report: 2013–2014 Season. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Documents/Year%20End%20Flu%20Summary_2013- 2014_10202014_final.pdf.
CEC (California Energy Commission). 2009. Estimating the Mortality Effect of the July 2006 California Heat Wave. http://www.energy.ca.gov/2009publications/CEC-500-2009-036/CEC-500-2009-036-D.PDF. 387
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98 ———. 2014a. California Operational Power Plants [data table]. http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/powerplants/Power_Plants.xlsx. ———. 2014b. Energy Infrastructure Maps of California – Area Enlargements. http://energy.ca.gov/maps/infrastructure/3part_enlargements.html. ———. 2014c. Map of Major Natural Gas Pipelines in California. http://energy.ca.gov/maps/infrastructure/natural_gas.html. ———. 2015. Statewide Operational Substations [data table]. http://energy.ca.gov/maps/powerplants/Operational_Substations.xlsx. ———. 2016. “Cal-Adapt.” http://www.cal-adapt.org.
CGS (California Geological Survey). 1998. Seismic Hazard Zone Report for the Torrance 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, Los Angeles County, California. http://gmw.consrv.ca.gov/shmp/download/evalrpt/tor_eval.pdf. ———. 1999a. State of California Seismic Hazard Zones: Inglewood Quadrangle [map]. http://gmw.consrv.ca.gov/shmp/download/quad/INGLEWOOD/maps/ozn_inglw.pdf. ———. 1999b. State of California Seismic Hazard Z ones: Torrance Quadrangle [map]. http://gmw.consrv.ca.gov/shmp/download/quad/TORRANCE/maps/ozn_tor.pdf. ———. 1999c. State of California Seismic Hazard Zones: Redondo B each Quadrangle [map]. http://gmw.consrv.ca.gov/shmp/download/quad/REDONDO_BEACH/maps/ozn_redob.pdf.
CNRA and Cal OES (California Natural Resources Agency and California Office of Emergency Services). 2012. California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide: Understanding Regional Characteristics. http://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/adaptation_policy_guide/.
The Daily Breeze staff. 2015. “ExxonMobil Refinery incidents over years include fires, explosions.” The Daily Breeze, March
1. http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20150301/exxonmobil-refinery-incidents-over-years-include- fires-explosions.
Dettinger, M. 2012. “Cl imate change, extreme precipitation, and atmospheric rivers.” Department of Water Resources Workshop: Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Southern California Floods . http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/dwr_extremes_wkshop_jan2012-MikeDettinger131.pdf.
DTSC (California Department of Toxic Substances Control). 2016a. “Halbert’s Lumber, Inc. (19240022).” http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report.asp?global_id=19240022. ———. 2016b. EnviroStor Cleanup Sites [data file]. http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/data_download.asp.
———. 2016c. EnviroStor Hazardous Waste [data file]. http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/data_download.asp. 388
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99 DWR (California Department of Water Resources). 2016. 2016 Drought Contingency Plan. http://www.water.ca.gov/waterconditions/docs/2016-DroughtContingencyPlan-CVP-SWPOperations-Feb- Nov_1.19.16-FINAL.pdf.
EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). 2016a. “EPA Superfund Program: Montrose Chemical Corp., Torrance, CA.” https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0900993 ———. 2016b. “EPA Superfund Program: Del Amo, Los Angeles, CA.” https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0901293.
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). 2013. Local Mitigation Planning Handbook. http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1910-25045-9160/fema_local_mitigation_handbook.pdf. ———. 2016. Tornado. http://community.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/be-smart.
Fovell, R. G. 2004. The 12 November 2003 Los Angeles Hailstorm. http://www2.mmm.ucar.edu/mm5/workshop/ws04/Session3/Fovell.Robert.pdf. ———. 2014. The Santa Ana Winds FAQ.
http://people.atmos.ucla.edu/fovell/ASother/mm5/SantaAna/santa_ana_faq.html.
Hamilton, D. H., and R. L. Meehan. 1990. Cause of the 1985 Ross Store Explosion and Other Gas Ventings, Fairfax District, Los Angeles.
ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/oil/publications/Roberti%20Study%20&%20Task%20Force%20Report/API%20pap er.pdf.
Harkin, M. E. 2004. Reassessing Revitalization Movements: Perspectives from North American and the Pacific Islands. http://muse.jhu.edu/books/9780803203884.
Kuzina, R. 2010. “High methane gas levels found in soil at Hull Middle School.” Daily Breeze News, July 14. http://www.dailybreeze.com/article/ZZ/20100714/NEWS/100718348.
LACOA (Los Angeles County Operational Area). 2012. History of Extreme Cold in Los Angeles County Operational Area. http://www.lacoa.org/PDF/HazardsandThreats/Extreme%20Cold/COUNTY%20OF%20LOS%20ANGELES%20 HAZARDS%20AND%20THREAT%20-%20EXTREME%20COLD%20HISTORY.pdf. ———. n.d. Extreme Heat History. http://lacoa.org/PDF/HazardsandThreats/HAZARDS%20AND%20THREAT%20- %20EXTREME%20HEAT%20-%20HISTORY.pdf.
The Long Beach Press-Telegram staff. 2007. “Toxic fumes leak in L.A.” The Long Beach Press-Telegram. March 23, http://www.presstelegram.com/article/ZZ/20070323/NEWS/703239904. 389
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The Los Angeles Times staff. 2015. “South Bay oil refineries: A history of destructive explosions.” The Los Angeles Times, February 18. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-south-bay-oil-refineries-history-explosions- 20150218-story.html.
Los Angeles County. 2012. Hazards and Threats – Tornadoes and Twisters. http://www.lacoa.org/PDF/HazardsandThreats/HAZARDS%20AND%20THREAT%20-TORNADOES%20- %20FUNNEL%20CLOUDS%20-%20WATERSPOUTS%20-%20HISTORY.pdf.
Nature. 2016. “Web Focus: 1918 influenza pandemic.” http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/1918flu/index.html.
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2006. A Recommendation for an Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF- Scale). http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/EFScale.pdf. ———. 2015a. Severe Weather Database Files: Hail [data file]. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/index.html#data.
———. 2015b. Severe Weather Database Files: Damaging Wind [data file]. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/index.html#data.
———. 2015c. Severe Weather Database Files: Tornadoes [data file]. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/index.html#data.
———. 2015d. “Atmospheric River Information Page.” http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/atmrivers/.
———. 2016. Severe Weather 101: Tornado Basics. http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/.
NRC (National Research Council Committee on Natural Disasters). 1985. The Los Angeles, California. Tornado of March 1, 1983.
Oskin, B. 2014. “ ‘Atmospheric Rivers’ to Soak California as Climate Warms.” Live Science, December 22. http://www.livescience.com/49225-atmospheric-rivers-double-climate-change.html.
Pacific Institute. 2014. What is Drought? http://www.californiadrought.org/drought/what-is-drought/.
SCEDC (Southern California Earthquake Data Center). 2013. “Palos Verdes Fault Zone.” http://scedc.caltech.edu/significant/palosverdes.html.
Schoch, D. 1990. “Homes Cracking Up in ‘Shaky Acres’.” The Los Angeles Times, December 9. http://articles.latimes.com/1990-12-09/local/me-8540_1_southwood-riviera-home.
Stein, G. 1990. “Release of Vapors Injures 3 at Mobil.” The Los Angeles Times, June 14. http://articles.latimes.com/1990- 06-14/local/me-missingmobil_1_hydrofluoric-acid-alkylation-unit-mobil-spokesman-jim-carbonetti.
SWRCB (California State Water Resources Control Board). 2016a. Cleanup Sites [data file]. http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/data_download.asp. ———. 2016b. Permitted Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) [data file]. http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/data_download.asp. 390
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Torrance, City of. 2004. City of Torrance Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
———. 2008a. City of Torrance General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report: Chapter 5.8, Hydrology and Water Quality. http://www.torranceca.gov/pdf/gp_drafteir/Ch%2005-08%20HYD.pdf. ———. 2008b. City of Torrance General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report: Chapter 5.7, Hazards and Hazardous Materials. http://www.torranceca.gov/pdf/gp_drafteir/Ch%2005-07%20HAZ.pdf. ———. 2008c. City of Torrance General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report: Chapter 5.5, Geology and Soils. http://www.torranceca.gov/pdf/gp_drafteir/Ch%2005-05%20GEO.pdf. ———. 2009. City of Torrance General Plan Update: Appendix G – Technical Background Report. http://www.torranceca.gov/pdf/gp_drafteir/Appendix%20G.pdf. ———. 2010a. City of Torrance General Plan: Chapter 1, Land Use Element. http://www.torranceca.gov/PDF/1_Land_Use_Element.pdf.
———. 2010b. City of Torrance General Plan: Chapter 4, Safety Element. https://www.torranceca.gov/PDF/4_Safety_Element.pdf.
———. 2015a. City of Torrance, California, Comprehensive Annual Financial Report: Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015. http://www.torranceca.gov/PDF/2014-15_CAFR_3.pdf.
———. 2015b. Coping with California’s Drought. https://www.torranceca.gov/Documents/Ad-DBConservationDrought5- 20-15.pdf.
———. 2016a. 2015 Urban Water Management Plan, City of Torrance. http://www.torranceca.gov/PDF/UWMPTorrance2015FinalDraft2016-07-13.pdf ———. 2016b. Water Services. http://www.torranceca.gov/1846.htm.
University of Michigan. n.d. “Influenza Encyclopedia – The American Influenza Epidemic of 1918–1919: Los Angeles, California.” http://www.influenzaarchive.org/cities/city-losangeles.html.
USBR (US Bureau of Reclamation). 2016. SECURE Water Act Section 9503(c) – Reclamation Climate Change and Water 2016. http://www.usbr.gov/climate/secure/docs/2016secure/2016SECUREReport.pdf.
US Census Bureau. 2013. Primary Language Code List.
https://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/language/about/02_Primary_list.pdf. ———. 2014a. 2010 – 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S0101: Age and Sex [data table].
———. 2014b. 2010 – 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table DP02: Selected Social Characteristics in the United States [data table].
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———. 2014c. 2010 – 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics in the United States [data table].
———. 2014d. 2010 – 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics in the United States [data table].
———. 2014e. 2010 – 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001: Race [data table].
———. 2014e. 2010 – 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03002: Hispanic or Latino Origin by Race [data table].
———. 2014e. 2010 – 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B16001: Language Spoken at Home by Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 Years and Over [data table]. ———. 2016. “On The Map.” http://onthemap.ces.census.gov/.
USCSB (US Chemical Safety Board). 2016. “US Chemical Safety Board Finds Multiple Safety Deficiencies Led to February 2015 Explosion and Serious Near Miss at the Exxon Mobile Refinery in Torrance, California.” http://www.csb.gov/us-chemical-safety-board-finds-multiple-safety-deficiencies-led-to-february-2015- explosion-and-serious-near-miss-at-the-exxon-mobil-refinery-in-torrance-california/.
US Drought Monitor. 2016. U.S. Drought Monitor Classification Scheme. http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/aboutus/classificationscheme.aspx.
USGS (US Geological Survey). 2009a. “ShakeMap: Newport-Inglewood 6.9.” http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/sc/shake/Newport_Inglewood6.9_se/. ———. 2009b. “ShakeMap: Palos Verdes 7.1.”
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/sc/shake/Palos_Verdes7.1_se/. ———. 2014. Magnitude/Intensity Comparison. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/mag_vs_int.php.
———. 2015a. The Third California Earthquake Rupture Forecast: Google Earth file with fault probabilities [kmz file]. http://www.wgcep.org/ucerf3.
———. 2015b. “Floods: Recurrence intervals and 100-year floods.” http://water.usgs.gov/edu/100yearflood.html.
Vives, R. and V. Rocha. 2015. “Refinery explosion dust poses hazard; facility had 2 serious violations.” The Los Angeles Times, February 20. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-exxon-mobil-refinery-explosion-20150220- story.html.
Williams, A. P., R. Seager, J. T. Abatzoglou, B. I. Cook, J. E. Smerdon, and E. R. Cook. 2015. “Contribution of anthropogenic warming to California drought during 2012 –2014.” Geophysical Research Letters , 42(16): 6819 – 6828.
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WRCC (Western Regional Climate Center). 2012. “Torrance AP, California: Period of Record General Climate Summary – Temperature.” http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliGCStT.pl?ca8973. ———. 2015. “Torrance AP, California: POR – Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes.” http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi- bin/cliFTrec.pl?ca89
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APPENDIX A
PROJECT MEETING MATERIALS
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Kick-off Meeting | January 14, 2016
Included Materials
1. Meeting overview
2. Meeting agenda
3. Data collection packet
4. Meeting presentation
5. Public engagement strategy
6. Draft survey
7. Hazards worksheet
8. Mitigation actions tracker
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City of Torrance: Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Project Overview
The City of Torrance is initiating a planning effort to prepare a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).
This plan serves as the City’s five-year strategic plan to analyze and mitigate natural hazards in the community. Preparation of the LHMP increases the City’s eligibility for future disaster mitigation and post-disaster grant funding from FEMA.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
DMA 2000 (Public Law 106-390) provides the legal basis for FEMA mitigation planning requirements for State, local and Indian Tribal governments as a condition of mitigation grant assistance. DMA 2000 amended the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by repealing the previous mitigation planning provisions and replacing them with a new set of requirements that emphasize the need for State, local, and Indian Tribal entities to closely coordinate mitigation planning and implementation efforts. The requirement for a State mitigation plan is continued as a condition of disaster assistance, adding incentives for increased coordina tion and integration of mitigation activities at the State level through the establishment of requirements for two different levels of state plans. DMA 2000 also established a new requirement for local mitigation plans and authorized up to 7 percent of HMGP funds available to a State for development of State, local, and Indian Tribal mitigation plans.
Completion and acceptance of the City’s LHMP by FEMA opens up access to the following competitive FEMA grant programs for the next 5 years:
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM)
Under these programs up to 75% of the cost of an implementation project could be covered by a FEMA grant.
Preliminary Goals of the Project
At the kick-off meeting, the project team will have the opportunity to discuss and confirm project goals. Based on guidance from the City’s 2004 Hazard Mitigation Plan, preliminary goals for the HMP to consider include the following:
Protect life and property by making homes, businesses, infrastructure, critical facilities, and other property more resilient to hazards. Reduces losses and repetitive damage from chronic hazards.
Improve hazard assessment information to focus new development away from at-risk areas and to encourage preventative measures for existing development in vulnerable areas. Create education and outreach programs to increase public awareness of hazard risks.
Provide information on tools, partnerships, and funding to help implement hazard mitigation efforts. Support public participation in developing hazard mitigation strategies. 397
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Conduct hazard mitigation planning along with watershed planning, natural resource management, and land use planning, to protect life, property, and the environment. Protect, restore, and enhance natural systems to provide natural hazard protections. Improve participation between public agencies, citizens, non-profit organizations, businesses, and industry. Encourage leadership on hazard mitigation in both the public and private sectors.
Coordinate hazard mitigation planning with emergency operation plans and procedures.
Involve non-profit organizations, businesses, and industry to strengthen emergency operations.
Project Objectives
Drawn from the preliminary goals identified above, the following project objectives have been drafted. Each objective has a corresponding question that will help refine the Plan’s approach .
A. Continued coordination with key stakeholders and other agencies, including surrounding communities.
a. Who are key stakeholders to contact?
B. A flexible and engaging public outreach campaign.
a. What are the lessons learned from previous outreach events? C. A more effective and up-to-date approach to reducing the risk from hazards. a. What hazard mitigation efforts have been successful or unsuccessful in the past? D. Address aging infrastructure and critical facilities issues to reduce/minimize future hazards and disasters.
a. What facilities and infrastructure are at risk in your opinion? Torrance Hazard Mitigation Planning Team
This core team of City staff members will participate in actively reviewing and commenting on the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The following is a listing of City departments and external stakeholders that should be involved. At least one staff member from each department should be in attendance for any meetings scheduled for the project.
City of Torrance Building and Safety
Department
City of Torrance Office of the City Manager
City of Torrance Disaster Council
City of Torrance Economic Development
Department
City of Torrance Emergency Preparedness
(E-Prep)Team
City of Torrance Finance Department
City of Torrance Fire Department City of
Torrance GIS
City of Torrance Hazard Mitigation
Advisory Committee
City of Torrance Community Development
Department
City of Torrance Police Department
City of Torrance Public Works Department
City of Torrance Community Services
City of Torrance Environmental Services
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Critical Facilities
See attached Data Collection Packet
Engagement Strategy
See attached Engagement Strategy
Hazards of Concern Prioritization
See Hazards Ranking Worksheet
Schedule
Task Anticipated Deadline
Conduct meeting #1 January 14, 2016
Preparation of Draft Online Survey January 14, 2016
City Review of Draft Online Survey January 28, 2016
Online Survey collection February 2016
Conduct meeting #2 February 2016
Conduct Meeting #3 March 2016
Preparation of Administrative Draft LHMP April 2016
City Review of Administrative Draft LHMP May 2016
Preparation of Draft LHMP June 2016
City Review/Approval of Draft LHMP June 2016
Public Review Period for Draft LHMP July 2016
Cal OES/FEMA Review of Draft LHMP August 2016
Preparation of Final LHMP TBD
Public Hearings TBD
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LHMP Kick - off Meeting Sign-in Sheet
January 14, 2015
,
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Kick-off Meeting
January 14, 2016 | 10:00 am
Agenda
1. Introductions (5 minutes)
2. Project Goals & Expectations (10 minutes)
3. Staffing & Communication Protocols (5 minutes)
4. Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Overview (20 minutes)
5. Engagement & Outreach (20 minutes)
a. LHMP Planning Team
b. Public survey
6. Data Collection & Critical Facilities
a. Hazards of concern (20 minutes)
b. Critical facilities (15 minutes)
c. Hazard Prioritization (15 minutes)
7. Work Plan & Schedule Review (10 minutes)
a. Overview of work program, key tasks, and schedule
b. Wrap-up and next steps
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1 City of Torrance
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Data Collection
1) GIS Data
GIS layers for the following data will be needed for analyses and mapping:
Locations of critical facilities and assets
City limits
Streets and highways
Land use designations
Earthquake shaking zones
Liquefaction zones
Tsunami hazard zones
Landslide risk zones
Flood zones (including 100-year and
500-year floodplains)
Location of hazardous materials
facilities
Dam inundation zones
Other hazard risk zones
Please provide GIS layers to [email protected]. If the files are too large to email, contact Aaron Pfannenstiel at 909.918.2998 for access to our FTP site. Please feel free to provide any other data layers you would like us to include in the analysis or feel would be useful.
2) Hazards
The following hazards were identified in the draft LHMP. Please confirm that these hazards are still present in the community.
Earthquakes (including liquefaction)
Flooding
Landslides
Public health emergencies (pandemics)
Severe weather (winds/tornadoes)
Tsunamis
Technological/Human caused hazards
(hazardous materials)
If other hazards have appeared in the community since 2004, or if the definitions of the above hazards should be expanded, please list them or explain below.
3) Critical Facilities and Assets
Facility Name
Address
Building
Replacement
Value
Contents
Replacement
Value
City Facilities
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2 City Hall 3031 Torrance Blvd.
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3 City of Torrance: LHMP Data Collection Packet
Facility Name
Address
Building
Replacement
Value
Contents
Replacement
Value
City Hall North Wing 3031 Torrance Blvd
Library 3301 Torrance Blvd.
Southeast Library 23115 S. Arlington
Personnel Office Bldg. 3231 Torrance Blvd
Civic Center-Police Facility 3300 Civic Center Dr.
Cable Communication 3350 A Civic Center
Dr.
Fire Station #1 1701 Crenshaw Blvd.
Fire Test Pit 25135 Robinson Way
Fire Station #2 25135 Robinson Way
Fire Training Tower 25135 Robinson Way
Fire Station #4 5205 Calle Mayor
Fire Station #5 3940 Del Amo Blvd.
Historical Museum 1345 Post Avenue
No. Torr. Library 3604 W. Artesia
Walteria Library 3815 W. 242nd
Street
Henderson Library 4805 Emerald Street
Airport Control Tower 25301-25311
Aeroway
Pump Bldg. #1 174th & Yukon
Pump Bldg. #2 174th & Yukon
Water Pump Bldg. Crenshaw & Crest
Bartlett Center 1318 Cravens Avenue
Delthorne Park Rest Room 3401 Spencer Street
Recreation Bldg. 3624 W. Artesia
Restrooms & Storage 3624 W. Artesia
Mcmaster Park Bldg. 3624 W. Artesia
Switchhouse & Storage 3624 W. Artesia
Swimming Pool 3331 Civic Center
Civic Center Bath House 3331 Torrance Blvd.
Attic Teen Center 2320 W. Carson
Scout Center 2365 Plaza Del Amo
Walteria Rec. Bldg. 3855 W. 242nd St.
Picnic Area Shelter 3855 W. 242nd
Street
Walteria Maint. Bldg. 3855 W. 242nd St.
Walteria Park Restroom 3855 W. 242nd St.
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Facility Name
Address
Building
Replacement
Value
Contents
Replacement
Value
Sea Aire Recreation Bldg. 22730 Lupine Drive
Sea Aire Maint. Bldg. 22730 Lupine Drive
Restroom & Storage 19501 Inglewood
Ave.
La Romeria Rec. Bldg. 19501 Inglewood Ave
Community Center/Tillum 3612 W. Artesia
El Nido Rec. Bldg. 18301 Kingsdale
El Nido Restrooms Showers 18301 Kingsdale
El Nido Restroom & Storage 18301 Kingsdale
Switchhouse 18301 Kingsdale
Recreation Center 3341 Torrance Blvd.
Joslyn Center 3335 Torrance Blvd.
Hickory Park Restrooms 2850 232nd Street
Victor Park Restrooms 4727 Emerald St
Victor Park Shelter 4727 Emerald St.
El Retiro Library 126 Vista Del Parque
El Retiro Rec. Bldg. 126 Vista Del Parque
El Retiro Restroom 126 Vista Del Parque
El Retiro Rotary Bldg. 126 Vista Del Parque
El Retiro Rotunda And Picnic Shelter 126 Vista Del Parque Alta Loma Recreation 26126 Delos Drive
Alta Loma Restroom 26126 Delos Drive
Wilson Park-Garage 2300 Crenshaw Blvd.
Yard 25640 Crenshaw
Blvd.
Fire Station #3 3535 W. 182 St.
Sur La Brea Restrooms 23610 Cabrillo
Avenue
Sur La Brea Rec. Center 26310 Cabrillo
Avenue
Columbia Park Restrooms 190th & Prairie
Picnic Canopy 4045 190th
15 Executive T-Hangars- 2735 B -P 3239 Airport Drive
36 Medium T-Hangars- 2719 F-N; 2723 E-
M
3239 Airport Drive
271 Small T-Hangars- Numbers/Map On
File
3239 Airport Drive
Public Works Garage-Bus Servicing 20500 Madrona Ave.
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5 City of Torrance: LHMP Data Collection Packet
Facility Name
Address
Building
Replacement
Value
Contents
Replacement
Value
Public Works Garage-Service Center 20500 Madrona Ave.
Fire Station #6 21401 Del Amo Circle
Volunteer Center 1230 Cravens
Building #1 20500 Madrona
Building #2 1520 Greenwood Ave
Building #3 1520 Greenwood
Ave.
Computer Equipment 3031 Torrance Blvd
Theater 3330 Civic Center Dr.
Cultural Arts Marketing Room 3330 Civic Center
Drive
Cultural Arts Building 3330 Civic Center
Drive
Cultural Arts Children Arts Building 3330 Civic Center
Drive
Office, Garage, Storage 2223-2227 Border
Ave.
Clubhouse 25924 Rolling Hills Rd
Dee Hardison Sports Center 2400 Jefferson
Nature Center 3201 Plaza Del Amo
City Yard 20500 Madrona
Downtown Pcc 1215 El Prado
Water Pumps Elm & Sierra
Well #7/Water Pumping Station 2223 Border Ave.
Calle Mayor Water Pump Station 5205 Calle Mayor
Vista Del Parque Sewer Pump Station 168 Vista Del Parque General Aviation Center 3301 Airport Drive
Vista Montana Water Pump Station 4249 Vista Montana
Water Facility - 200' E. Of Palos Verdes
Blvd.
5210 Sepulveda
Cypress St. Pump Station Cypress & Sepulveda
Huber Ave. Pump Station 24011 Huber
Pennsylvania Ave. Pump 23507 Pennsylvania
Walteria Water Pump Station 25640 Crenshaw
Water Reservoir Crenshaw & Crest
Cal Water Well* 502 Calle De Arboles
Walteria Stormwater Pump Station Skypark &
Hawthorne
Amie Stormwater Pump Amie & Spencer
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6 City of Torrance: LHMP Data Collection Packet
Facility Name
Address
Building
Replacement
Value
Contents
Replacement
Value
El Dorado Stormwater Pump El Dorado & Maple
Madrona Marsh Stormwater Pump Maple & Sepulveda
Pioneer Stormwater Pump Pioneer & Challenger
Doris Way Stormwater Pump Station 23042 Doris Way
237th Street Stormwater Pump Station 237th & East Of Telo Mwd Connection T-1* 190th St & Western
Ave
Mwd Connection T-5* Walnut & Pacific
Coast Hwy
Mwd Connection T-6* Walnut & 234th St.
Mwd Connection T-7* Walnut & Pacific
Coast Hwy
Mwd Connection T-8* Sepulveda Ave. &
Western Ave.
Tmwd Water Well* 2332 Abalone Ave.
Tmwd Emergency Connection* Ellinwood &
Sepulveda Ave.
Tmwd Emergency Connection Walnut & Sepulveda
Ave.
Tmwd Emergency Connection* Pennsylvania Ave. &
239th St.
Tmwd Emergency Connection* Arlington Ave &
239th St.
405 Fwy/Artesia Overpass & Ramps* Artesia Blvd. & I405
Fwy
405 Fwy/Crenshaw Overpass & Ramps* Crenshaw Blvd. &
I405 Fwy
405 Fwy/Prairie Overpass* Prairie Ave. & I405
Fwy
405 Fwy/Rbb Overpass & Ramps* Redondo Beach Blvd.
& I405 Fwy
405 Fwy/Van Ness Overpass* Van Ness Blvd. &
I405 Fwy
405 Fwy/Western Overpass & Ramps* Western Ave. & I405
Fwy
405 Fwy/Yukon Overpass* Yukon Ave. & I405
Fwy
Railroad Bridge - Crenshaw Blvd.* Crenshaw Blvd. &
Dominguez
Railroad Bridge - Hawthorne/190th St.* Hawthorne & 190th 407
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7 City of Torrance: LHMP Data Collection Packet
Facility Name
Address
Building
Replacement
Value
Contents
Replacement
Value
Del Amo Extension Maple To Crenshaw
Pedestrian Bridge Prairie & 187th St
Historic Bridge Torrance & Western
Pedestrian Bridge 4801 Pacific Coast
Hwy
Railroad Bridge 190th St./Hawthorne
Railroad Bridge Prairie / Mobil
Schools
Arlington Elementary 17800 Van Ness Ave
Ascension Elementary 17910 Prairie
Carr Elementary 3404 W. 168th St
Casmir Middle 17220 Casmir
Children's Center 4120 W 185th St
Edison Elementary 3800 W 182nd St
Hamilton Adult 2606 W 182nd St
Lincoln Elementary 2418 W 166th St
Magruder Middle 4100 W 185th St
North High School 3620 W 182nd St
School Of Life Elem/Middle 18090 Prairie Ave.
St. Catherine Elem/Middle 3846 Redondo Beach
Blvd
Yukon Elementary 17815 Yukon Ave.
Anza Elementary 21400 Ellinwood
Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Blvd
Burt Lynn Middle 5038 Halison
Jefferson Adult 21717 Talisman
South Bay Academy 4400 Del Amo Blvd
St. James Elementary 4625 Garnet
Towers Elementary 5600 Towers
Victor Elementary 4820 Spencer
West High School 20401 Victor
Kinder Care Center 1520 Greenwood
Fern Elementary 1314 Fern Ave
First Lutheran Elementary 1725 Flower St
Madrona Middle 21364 Madrona
Nativity Catholic Elem/Middle 2371 Carson St
Socalroc 2300 Crenshaw
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8 City of Torrance: LHMP Data Collection Packet
Facility Name
Address
Building
Replacement
Value
Contents
Replacement
Value
Sherry High School 2600 Vine St
Torrance Adult 2291 Washington
Torrance Elementary 2125 Lincoln
Torrance High School 2200 Carson St
Arnold Elementary 4100 W 227th St
Calle Mayor Middle 4800 Calle Mayor
Newton Adult 23751 Nancy Lee
Richardson Middle 23751 Nancy Lee
Riviera Elementary 365 Paseo De Arena
Seaside Elementary 4651 Sharynne
South High School 4801 Pacific Coast
Hwy
Adams Elementary 2121 W 238th St
Hickory Elementary 2800 W 227th St
Hull Middle 2080 W 231st St
Levy Adult 3420 W 229th St
Walteria Elementary 24465 Madison St
Wood Elementary 2250 35th
St
If any facilities should be added or removed, please explain. The Citymay wish to consider adding key non-government facilities, such as hospitals.
4) Recent Disasters
Please provide information about any disasters that occurred since the 2004 LHMP wasadopted.
In any of the recent disasters, were critical facilities damaged or destroyed? If so, please provide information below.
Facility Type of Disaster Description of Damage
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9 City of Torrance: LHMP Data Collection Packet
Facility Type of Disaster Description of Damage
5) Annexations and Current Projects
Describe any recent, ongoing, or planned future annexations. Discuss any large construction projects in the community that are under construction, approved, or otherwise planned.
6) Emergency Responders
Please describe any mutual aid agreements the City is committed to.
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City of Torrance
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Project Kickoff
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Meeting Objectives
Goals,
expectations,
and schedules
Staffing and
communication
protocols
Plan
development
process
Public outreach
and
engagement
Critical
facilities
Hazard
prioritization
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Project Goal and Objectives
Create a LHMP to
identify and address
hazards
Achieve
certification by
FEMA for
hazard
mitigation
funding
Meet
requirements of
the California
Government
Code
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Responsibilities
• Facilitate the
process
• Provide technical
expertise
• Do the heavy work
• Participate
• Make final decisions
• Ensure plan is
feasible and meets
needs
• Provide local insight
Your job Our job
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Data Needs
Every person can provide vital data
GIS data (City facilities and hazards)
Information and experience about past events
Institutional knowledge
If you have useful data, please contact
Aaron Pfannenstiel
(909) 919-2998
[email protected]
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INTERNATIONAL
Goals for Hazard Mitigation
Planning
We Make a Difference
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LHMP Goals
From the City’s 2004 Hazard Mitigation Plan:
Make structures
more resilient
Improve hazard
assessments
Create education
and outreach
efforts
Support the local
environment
through hazard
planning
Improve public and
private
participation
Coordinate hazard
planning and
emergency
operations
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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
(LHMP) Development
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418
Plan Development Process
Hazard profiles
Mitigation strategies
Risk and vulnerability
assessment
Action plan and
implementation
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Plan Process – Hazard Identification and
Risk Assessment
Describe all hazards that affect the community.
Provide rationale for excluding recognized hazards.
Past
events Extent
Location
Hazard
profile
Chance of
future
events
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Plan Process – Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability Assessment
Impacts of each hazard
Vulnerability to each hazard
Repetitive loss properties
Potential dollar losses
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421
Plan Process – Mitigation Strategies
Goals
• Overarching
objectives
Strategies
• Comprehensive,
specific actions
Action plan
• Prioritizes
actions
• Includes
responsibilities
and cost-benefit
review
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LHMP Requirements
We Make a Difference
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Plan Requirements – Mitigation
Strategies
Strategy identifies existing authorities, policies,
programs, and resources to mitigate hazards
Includes description of participation in National Flood Insurance Program
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Plan Requirements
Must describe:
How the plan was prepared
Who was involved
Opportunities for public and stakeholder involvement Review and inclusion of existing plans, reports,
studies, etc.
Continual public participation
Monitoring and updating of the plan
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Plan Requirements - Stakeholders
Local and
regional hazard
mitigation
agencies
Agencies that
regulate
development
Neighboring
communities
Stakeholders
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Plan Requirements - LHMP Planning
Team
Agency representativesto advise and contribute to
plan preparation
Three LHMP Planning Team meetings:
• Meeting 1 – Review and discuss hazard mitigation
process, and prioritization of hazards
• Meeting 2 – Review and discuss risk assessment,
mitigation goals, and actions discussion
• Meeting 3 – Review and discuss draft mitigation
action prioritization, implementation, and
monitoring.
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Plan Requirements – Planning Process
LHMP Planning Team
City of Torrance Building and
Safety Department
City of Torrance Office of the City
Manager
City of Torrance Disaster Council
City of Torrance Economic
Development
Department
City of Torrance Emergency
Preparedness (E-Prep)Team
City of Torrance Finance
Department
City of Torrance Fire Department
City of Torrance GIS
City of Torrance Hazard Mitigation
Advisory Committee
City of Torrance Community
Development Department
City of Torrance Police
Department
City of Torrance Public Works
Department
City of Torrance Community
Services
City of Torrance Environmental
Services
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INTERNATIONAL
Engagement and Outreach
We Make a Difference
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Public Outreach Strategy – Online Survey
Awareness of potential hazards
Preventative/resiliency actions
Insurance status
Current state of readiness
Special needs
Hazard education and training
Impacts of past hazards
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430
Hazard Identification and
Prioritization
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431
FEMA-Suggested Hazards
Avalanche Flood Seismic hazards
Climate change Geological hazards Severe winter storm
Coastal erosion Hailstorm Tornado
Coastal storm Hazardous materials Tsunami
Dam failure Human-caused hazards Volcano
Disease/pest
management Hurricane Wildfire
Drought Land subsidence Wind
Earthquake fault rupture Landslide and mudflow Windstorm Expansive soils Liquefaction
Extreme heat Sea level rise
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Relevant Hazards
Avalanche Flood Seismic hazards
Climate change Geological hazards Severe winter storm
Coastal erosion Hailstorm Tornado
Coastal storm Hazardous materials Tsunami
Dam failure Human-caused hazards Volcano
Disease/pest
management Hurricane Wildfire
Drought Land subsidence Wind
Earthquake fault rupture Landslide and mudflow Windstorm Expansive soils Liquefaction
Extreme heat Sea level rise
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Hazards in Draft Plan
Earthquakes and liquefaction
Flooding
Landslides
Public health emergencies (pandemics)
Severe weather (wind/tornadoes)
Tsunamis
Technological/human-caused hazards (hazardous
materials)
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Past Hazard Events
Long Beach earthquake, 1933
Localized flooding, up to 1950s
Intense storms and flooding, 1983
Landslides, 1986 and 1998
Exxon refinery explosion, 2015
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Hazard Prioritization
Four criteria [Weightings]
Probability (likelihood of
occurrence) [2.0]
Location (size of potentially
affected area) [0.8]
Maximum Probable Extent
(intensity of damage) [0.7]
Secondary Impacts
(severityof impacts to
community) [0.5]
Each criteria is judged on a
scale of 1-4
Every criteria has an
Importance Score
(weighing)
Affects the influence of an
individual criterion
Criteria and Importance
values are combined to
calculate a Total Score
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(3)
(2)
Score Example: Drought
Location
Weighing: 0.8
Negligible
(1) Limited (2) Significant Extensive
(4)
Location score = 0.8 x 4 = 3.2
Primary
Impact
Weighing: 0.7
Weak (1) Moderate Severe (3)
Extreme
(4)
Primary impact score = 0.7 x 2 = 1.4
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(2)
(1) (3)
Score Example: Drought
Probability
Weighing: 2.0
Unlikely (1) Occasional Highly
Likely (4)
Location score = 2.0 x 4 = 8
Secondary
Impact
Weighing: 0.5
Negligible Limited (2) Moderate High (4)
Primary impact score = 0.5 x 3 = 1.5
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Likely (3)
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Impact
Score Example: Drought
Impact score: 3.2 + 1.4 + 1.5 = 6.1
Total Score
Total Score: 6.1 x 8 = 48.8
Low: 0-12 Medium:
12.1-42
Probability
Score
(6)
Impact Score
(5.1)
Secondary Impact
Score (1.5)
Primary Impact Score
(1.4)
Location Score
(3.2)
High:
42.1 and up
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INTERNATIONAL
Critical Facilities
We Make a Difference
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Critical Facilities
Facilities that provide
key services to City
residents and
businesses
• Can be owned by the
City, other government
agencies, or private
groups
Possible examples
• City Hall
• Fire stations
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Airport control tower
• Community centers
• Water wells and pumps
• Freeway overpasses
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Critical Facilities
Risk assessment looks at what facilities are in
hazard zones.
• Considers their replacement cost and value to the
community.
Mitigation strategies reflect vulnerabilities of
critical facilities.
• Strengthen existing vulnerable facilities.
• Avoid building new ones in at risk-areas.
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Next Steps
We Make a Difference
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Task Timeframe
Conduct meeting#1 January 14, 2016
Preparation of Draft Online Survey January 14, 2016
City Review of Draft Online Survey January 28, 2016
Online Survey collection February 2016
Conduct meeting#2 February 2016
Conduct Meeting#3 March 2016
Preparation of Administrative Draft LHMP April 2016
City Review of Administrative Draft LHMP May 2016
Preparation of Draft LHMP June 2016
City Review/Approval of Draft LHMP June 2016
Public Review Periodfor Draft LHMP July 2016
Cal OES/FEMA Review of Draft LHMP August 2016
Preparation of Final LHMP TBD
Public Hearings TBD
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Questions/Comments?
Aaron Pfannenstiel
[email protected]
909-918-2998
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City of Torrance
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan - Public Engagement Strategy
FEMA requires an open public involvement process during the development of local hazard mitigation plans. Jurisdictions such as Torrance must document the opportunities for public engagement both during the initial drafting stage of the plan and prior to plan approval. The following outreach task will meet FEMA requirements while providing a meaningful opportunity for public input. This recommended approach provides an opportunity to engage local residents along with those from neighboring communities, agencies, businesses, and other organizations.
Online Survey regarding Hazards
Survey Period: February 2016
The Michael Baker International team proposes the development of an online survey that can be distributed online to respondents of the City’s choice enlisting input on the hazard mitigation planning process. This survey will be developed online using SurveyMonkey, allowing respondents to answer questions regarding hazards and hazard -related issues in the City.
Michael Baker recommends posting the survey during the month of February to allow for public comment. This provides residents an ongoing opportunity to provide input on hazards during plan development. Following the close of the survey, Michael Baker will download survey results and provide a tabulated summary of responses for inclusion as an appendix in the LHMP.
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2016 City of Torrance Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey
I. Introduction
Dear Community Member,
The City of Torrance, in an effort to continually protect and serve its customers, is conducting a local effort to prepare a Hazard Mitigation Plan. This plan identifies natural hazards throughout the City and assesses the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and facilities to these hazards. Using this understanding, the plan lists potential actions to reduce risk and future damage.
Is your home or office building susceptible to damage from earthquakes, floods, or fire? Do you want to recover more quickly from disasters and prevent future damage from these and other natural hazards? Your participation in this survey can make the City more resilient to disasters. Your responses to this survey will inform the plan preparation. Thank you for your time and cooperation to respond to the brief survey below.
II. Hazard Awareness
1. Please indicate whether you live or work in City of Torrance a. I live in City of Torrance
b. I work in City of Torrance
c. I live and work in City of Torrance
d. Neither apply to me, but I am interested in the City’s resiliency
2. What is the ZIP Code of your home?
3. Have you been impacted by a disaster in your current residence? a. Yes
b. No
4. If you answered yes to the previous question, please select the type of disaster that you have been impacted by (select all that apply).
a. Earthquakes
b. Flooding
c. Landslides
d. Extreme heat
e. Fire
f. Severe weather
g. Exposure to hazardous materials
Please list any additional hazards that have previously impacted your neighborhood or home.
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2 City of Torrance – Hazards Survey
5. The following hazards could potentially impact the City. Please mark the THREE (3) hazards that are of most concern to your neighborhood or home.
a. Dam failure
b. Flooding
c. Severe weather (high winds, hail, heavy rain, etc.)
d. Earthquakes
Please list any additional hazards that present a threat to your neighborhood or home.
6. The planning team is using various data sources to identify hazards in your community; however, some of these data sources do not provide local data at a general City-wide level. Are there any small-scale issues, such as ponding at a certain intersection during rain, that you would like the planning team to consider?
a. I am not aware of any local hazards
b. I am aware of local hazards
If you are aware of such hazards, please provide as much detail as possible, including location and type of hazard.
7. If you are a homeowner, do you have adequate homeowners insurance to cover the hazards that could impact your home?
a. Yes, my insurance coverage should be adequate.
b. No, I don’t believe my insurance coverage would be adequate for a major disaster. c. Unsure.
d. I do not have an insurance policy.
e. Not applicable; I rent my current residence.
8. If you rent your residence, do you have renters insurance? a. Yes
b. No
c. Not applicable; I own my residence.
9. Do you have flood insurance for your home?
a. Yes, I own my home and have flood insurance.
b. Yes, I rent my home and have flood insurance.
c. No, but I am interested in reviewing flood insurance options (http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/).
10. Please note any additional insurance you have for your home or property.
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3 City of Torrance – Hazards Survey
11. Have you done anything to your home to make it less vulnerable to hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and fires? Do you plan to?
a. Yes, I have taken action to make my home less vulnerable to hazards. b. I have not taken action to make my home less vulnerable to hazards, but do plan to. c. No, I have not and do not place to take action to make my home less vulnerable to hazards.
12. If a severe hazard event occurred today such that all services were cut off from your home (power, gas, water, sewer) and you were unable to leave or access a store for 72 hours, which of these items do you have readily available?
a. Potable water (3 gallons per
person)
b. Cooking and eating utensils
c. Can opener
d. Canned / nonperishable foods
(ready to eat)
e. Gas grill / camping stove
f. Extra medications
g. First aid kit / supplies
h. Portable AM/FM radio (solar
powered, hand crank, or batteries)
i. Handheld "walkie-talkie" radios
(with batteries)
What else do you have in your emergency kit?
j. Important family photos /
documentation in a water- and
fireproof container
k. Extra clothes and shoes
l. Blanket(s) / sleeping bag(s)
m. Cash
n. Flashlight (with batteries)
o. Gasoline
p. Telephone (with batteries)
q. Pet supplies
r. Secondary source of heat
For more information on preparing an emergency kit, please visit: http://m.fema.gov/build-a-kit
13. Are you familiar with the special needs of your neighbors in the event of a disaster situation (special needs may include limited mobility, severe medical conditions, memory impairments)? a. Yes
b. No
14. Are you a trained member of your Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)? a. Yes
b. No, but I would like to learn more about CERT.
c. No, I am not interested in being a trained CERT member.
For more information about CERT, please visit: www.citizencorps.gov/cert.
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4 City of Torrance – Hazards Survey
15. How can the City help you become more prepared for a disaster? (choose all that apply) a. Provide effective emergency notifications and communication. b. Provide training and education to residents and business owners on how to reduce future damage.
c. Provide community outreach regarding emergency preparedness. d. Create awareness of special needs and vulnerable populations. e. Other (please specify)
If you do NOT work in the City of Torrance, please skip to question 19.
16. What is the ZIP code of your workplace?
17. Does your employer have a plan for disaster recovery in place? a. Yes
b. No
c. I don't know
18. Does your employer have a workforce communications plan to implement following a disaster so they are able to contact you?
a. Yes
b. No
III. Recommendations and Future Participation
19. Please list any studies you are aware of conducted in the City or the region regarding the risk of future hazard events (e.g., mining impact studies, dam inundation analyses).
20. Would you like tor eview and comment on the draft of the 2015 City of Torrance Hazard Mitigation Plan?
a. Yes; please notify me using my contact information in the next question. b. No
21. If you would like to be notified of future opportunities to participate in hazard mitigation and resiliency planning, please provide your name and e-mail address. If you do not have an e-mail address, please provide your mailing address.
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5 City of Torrance – Hazards Survey
Full Name:
E-Mail Address:
Street Address:
City, State, Zip:
22. Please provide us with any additional comments/suggestions/questions that you have regarding your risk of future hazard events.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. If you have any questions, or if you know of other people/organizations that should be involved, please contact Aaron Pfannenstiel at [email protected].
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City of Torrance
Hazard Ranking Tool
Definitions
Importance
The importance of each category is a weight
assigned to each category. In the default
setting of this tool, probability is weighted more
highly than other categories. The user can
define these weights based on the relative
importance of these categories to the
community for its decision making process.
Probability
The probability of a hazard occurring should
be based on estimated likelihood of
occurrence from historical data. These
definitions are from FEMA in the Local
Mitigation Planning Workbook, March 2013.
This tool assigns numeric values to each level
of probability.
Definitions:
Unlikely: Less than 1 percent probability of
occurrence in the next year or a recurrence
interval of greater than every 100 years.
Occasional: 1 to 10 percent probability of
occurrence in the next year or a recurrence
interval of 11 to 100 years.
Likely: 10 to 90 percent probability of
occurrence in the next year or a recurrence
interval of 1 to 10 years.
Highly Likely: 90 to 100 percent probability of
occurrence in the next year or a recurrence
interval of less than 1 year.
Potential Hazards*
Avalanche
Climate Change
Coastal Erosion
Coastal Storm
Dam Failure
Disease/Pest Management
Drought
Earthquake Fault Rupture
Expansive Soils
Extreme Weather
Extreme Heat
Flood
Geological Hazards
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Location
Based on size of geographical area of
community affected by hazard. Definitions are
from the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning
Handbook, March 2013.
Definitions:
Negligible: less than 10 percent of planning
area or isolated single point occurrences
Limited: 10 to 25 percent of the planning area
or limited single point occurrences
Significant: 25-75 percent of planning area or
frequent single-point occurrences
or consistent single-point occurrences
Maximum Probable Extent (Impact)
Based on percentage of damage to typical
facility in community. Definitions are from the
FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Handbook,
March 2013.
Definitions:
Weak: Limited classification on scientific scale,
slow speed of onset or short duration of event,
result in little to no damage.
Moderate: Moderate classification of scientific
scale, moderate speed of onset or moderate
duration of event, resulting in some damage
and loss of services for days
fast speed of onset or long duration of event,
Extreme: Extreme classification on scientific
scale, immediate onset or extended duration
of event, resulting in catastrophic damage
and uninhabitable conditions.
Hail
Hazardous Materials
Human-Caused Hazards
Hurricane
Land Subsidence
Landslide and Mudflow
Liquefaction
Lightning
Sea Level Rise
Seismic Hazards
Severe Wind
Severe Winter Weather
Storm Surge
Tornado
Tsunami
Volcano
Wildfire
*Adapted from FEMA Local Mitigation
Planning Handbook, March 2013
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Secondary Impacts
Based on estimated secondary impacts to
community at large. These impacts are not
from FEMA but constitute important impacts
that ripple through communities.
Definitions:
Negligible: no loss of function, downtime,
and/or evacuations
Limited: minimal loss of function, downtime,
and/or evacuations
Moderate: some loss of function, downtime,
and/or evacuations
High: major loss of function, downtime, and/or
evacuations
Hazard Planning Consideration
Hazard planning consideration is a numerical
score calculated for each hazard. This score
enables users to rank the potential impacts of
hazards and get a sense for their relative
dangers. These values are not derived from
FEMA guidance but have been widely used in
hazard planning.
Each hazard is scored along four categories
on a scale of 1-4. These values are then
multiplied by the importance assigned to each
category.
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Overall Importance
The overall importance of a hazard is a
summary descriptor use defined by the FEMA
Local Mitigation Handbook. There are no
numeric ratings assigned to the overall
importance of a hazard though these
designations are roughly equivalent to the
numeric scoring used in this tool.
Definitions:
Low: Two or more criteria fall in the lower
classifications or the event has a minimal
impact on the planning area. This rating is
sometimes used for hazards with minimal or
unknown record of occurrences or for hazards
with minimal mitigation potential.
Medium: The criteria fall mostly in the middle
ranges of classifications and the event's
impacts on the planning area are noticeable
but not devastating. This rating is sometimes
used for hazards with a high extent rating but
very low probability rating.
High: The criteria consistently fall in the high
classifications and the event is likely/highly
likely to occur with severe strength over a
significant to extensive portion of the planning
area.
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HAZARD RANKING WORKSHEET - City of Torrance DATE: 1/14/2016
Hazard Type
Probability
Impact
Total Score Hazard Planning
Consideration Location Primary
Impact
Secondary
Impacts
Drought 4 4 4 4 64.00 High
Seismic Hazards 4 4 4 4 64.00 High
Earthquake Fault Rupture 4 2 4 4 51.20 High
Hazardous Materials 3 4 3 3 40.80 Medium
Severe Wind 3 4 3 2 37.80 Medium
Extreme Weather 2 4 4 4 32.00 Medium
Flood 4 2 2 2 32.00 Medium
Disease/Pest Management 3 2 2 2 24.00 Medium
Geological Hazards 2 2 3 3 20.80 Medium
Probability Secondary Impacts
Based on estimated likelihood of occurrence from historical data Probability Score
Based on size of geographical area of community affected by
Affected Area Score
Negligible 1
Limited 2
Significant 3
Extensive 4
Maximum Probable Extent (Primary Impact)
Based on estimated secondary impacts to community at
large
Impact
Negligible - no loss of function, downtime, and/or
evacuations
Limited - minimal loss of function, downtime, and/or
evacuations
Moderate - some loss of function, downtime, and/or
evacuations
High - major loss of function, downtime, and/or
evacuations
Total Score = Probability x Impact, where:
Probability = (Probability Score x Importance)
Impact = (Affected Area + Primary Impact + Secondary Impacts), where:
Affected Area = Affected Area Score x Importance
Primary Impact = Primary Impact Score x Importance
Secondary Impacts = Secondary Impacts Score x Importance
Hazard Planning Consideration
Score
1 2
3 4
Total Score Range Distribution Hazard Level
Based on percentage of damage to typical facility in community Impact
Score
0.0 12.0
9 Low
Weak - little to no damage 1 12.1 42.0 6 Medium
Moderate - some damage, loss of service for days 2 42.1 64.0 3 High Severe - devastating damage, loss of service for months 3 Extreme- catastrophic damage, uninhabitable conditions 4
The probability of each hazard is determined by assigning a level, from unlikely to highly likely, based on the likelihood of occurrence from historical data. The total impact value includes the affected area, primary impact and secondary impact levels of each hazard. Each level's score is reflected in the matrix. The total score for each hazard is the probability score multipli ed by it's importance factor times the sum of the impact level scores multiplied by their importance factors . Based on this total score, the hazards are separated into three categories based on the hazard level they pose to the communities: High, Medium, Low.
Importance
2.0 Importance
0.5 Importance
0.7 Unlikely 1
Occasional 2
Likely 3
Highly Likely 4
Location Importance
hazard 0.8
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HAZARD RANKING WORKSHEET - City of Torrance DATE: 6/14/2016
Hazard Type
Probability
Impact
Hazard Planning
Consideration Location Primary Impact Secondary
Impacts
Drought Highly Likely Extensive Extreme High
Seismic Hazards Highly Likely Extensive Extreme High
Earthquake Fault Rupture Highly Likely Limited Extreme High Hazardous Materials Likely Extensive Severe Moderate
Severe Wind Likely Extensive Severe Limited
Extreme Weather Occasional Extensive Extreme High
Flood Highly Likely Limited Moderate Limited
Disease/Pest Management Likely Limited Moderate Limited Geological Hazards Occasional Limited Severe Moderate
Hazard 10
Hazard 11
Hazard 12
Hazard 13
Hazard 14
Hazard 15
Hazard 16
Hazard 17
Hazard 18
Probability Importance Maximum Probable Extent (Primary Impact) Importance Based on estimated likelihood of occurrence from historical data 2.0 Based on percentage of damage to typical facility in community 0.7 Score Probability Score Impact
1 Unlikely 1 Weak
2 Occasional 2 Moderate
3 Likely 3 Severe
4 Highly Likely 4 Extreme
Location Importance Secondary Impacts Importance
Based on size of geographical area of community affected by hazard 0.8 Based on estimated secondary impacts to community at large 0.5 Score Affected Area Score Impact
1 Negligible 1 Negligible
2 Limited 2 Limited
3 Significant 3 Moderate
4 Extensive 4 High
Low
Medium
High
Overall Importance (Based on overall hazard to community) Minimal impact on the planning area. Hazards have minimal or unknown record of occurrences or minimal mitigation potential.
Event's impacts on the planning area are noticeable but not devastating. Hazards with a high extent rating but very low probability rating.
Event is likely/highly likely to occur with sever strength over a significant to extensive portion of the planning area. 457
457
Multi-Hazard Action Items Status
Protect Life and Property
Implement activities that assist in protecting lives by making homes, businesses, infrastructure, critical facilities, and other property more resistant to natural hazards.
Reduce losses and repetitive damages for chronic hazard events while promoting insurance coverage for catastrophic hazards.
Improve hazard assessment information to make recommendations for discouraging new development and encouraging preventative measures for existing development in areas vulnerable to natural hazards.
Public Awareness
Develop and implement education and outreach programs to increase public awareness of the risks associated with natural hazards.
Provide information on tools, partnership opportunities, and funding resources to assist in implementing mitigation activities.
Natural Systems
Balance watershed planning, natural resource management, and land use planning with natural hazard mitigation to protect life, property, and the environment.
Preserve, rehabilitate, and enhance natural systems to serve natural hazard mitigation functions.
Partnerships and Implementation
Strengthen communication and coordinate participation among and within public agencies, citizens, non-profit organizations, business, and industry to gain a vested interest in implementation.
Encourage leadership within public and private sector organizations to prioritize and implement local, county, and regional hazard mitigation activities.
Emergency Services
Establish policy to ensure mitigation projects for critical facilities, services, and infrastructure.
Strengthen emergency operations by increasing collaboration and coordination among public agencies, non-profit organizations, business, and industry.
Coordinate and integrate natural hazard mitigation activities, where appropriate, with emergency operations plans and procedures.
458
458
If completed or in progress, what has been completed?
459
459
If not started or abandoned, why?
460
460
# Mitigation Action Items
Natural Hazard: Earthquake
Short Term #1 The City shall monitor ongoing research on faults in the area.
Short Term #2 Continue to upgrade and enforce building codes for the design of new construction that resists seismic activity and geologic hazards.
Long Term #1 Encourage education and information dissemination to reduce the risk of non-structural and structural earthquake hazards in homes, schools, businesses, and government offices.
Long Term #2 Protection of life and property from fire, geologic, and seismic hazards.
Long Term #3 To provide the Citizens of Torrance with the safe disposition of hazardous waste.
Long Term #4 To mitigate property loss and death. Provide for uninterrupted services and continuation of government after a seismic event.
Natural Hazard: Landslide
Short Term #1 Improve knowledge of landslide hazard areas and understanding of
vulnerability and risk to life and property in hazard-prone areas.
Short Term #2 Improve soil stability through vegetation placement and management plans.
Long Term #1 Limit activities in identified potential landslide areas through regulation and public outreach.
Natural Hazard: Floods
Short Term #1 City Staff shall monitor the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System that monitors, via a computer system the pressure, flow, and water level of the above-ground tanks, reservoirs, water retention bases, and water pipelines in the City.
Short Term #2 Engage in Community Outreach and Education.
Long Term #1 Enhance and update data and mapping for flood prone information within the City, as needed, which includes surface water drainage obstructions.
Long Term #2 Capital Improvement Plan updating
Natural Hazard: Multi Hazard
Short Term #1 Integrate the goals and action items from the City of Torrance Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan into existing regulatory documents and programs, where appropriate.
Short Term #2 Identify and pursue funding opportunities to develop and implement local and City mitigation activities
Short Term #3 Develop inventories of City facilities and infrastructure.
Long Term #1 Continue multi-hazard approach to disaster planning and mitigation.
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461
Coordinating Organization Status
Community Development/Building and Safety
Building and Safety
Emergency Services Coordinator
Fire Department
Fire Department/Public Works
General Services/CIT/Police Department
Community Development Department
Building and Safety
Community Development Department
Water Department
Street Department/Emergency Services Coordinator
Building and Safety
Public Works
Community Development Department
Emergency Services Coordinator
General Services/Public Works
City Emergency Preparation Team
462
462
If completed or in progress, what has been completed?
463
463
If not started or abandoned, why?
464
464
Project Meeting 2 | May 5, 2016
Included Materials
1. Meeting presentation
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465
City of Torrance
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Meeting # 2
May 5, 2016, 10:00 am, EOC
Agenda
1. Review of Hazard Profiles
2. Hazard Prioritization
3. Review of Risk Assessment
4. Review of Social Vulnerability
466
466
•
City ofT orra nce Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
LHMP Meeting #2 Attendee Sign-In Sheet (May 5, 2016)
Department Telephone Email
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