Pasadena city officials Tuesday will outline preparations for potentially severe winter weather, detailing plans to protect residents, roads, utilities and critical infrastructure during the coming storm season.
The city’s Municipal Services Committee will receive the informational report on El Niño preparation efforts during its 5 p.m. meeting at City Hall.
The weather pattern occurs when surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become warmer than usual.
That extra heat changes winds and atmospheric circulation, influencing weather around the world. In Southern California, El Niño increases the likelihood of a wetter winter and strong storms.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said last month in its diagnostic discussion there is a 69% chance the October-December season will exceed every El Niño on record dating to 1950.
“I asked for this agenda item because our residents and local business owners deserve to know that Pasadena is prepared,” said committee chair Justin Jones. “I’ve heard their concerns about what this El Niño season could bring over the last few months, and my priority is making sure our city is ready, our emergency response is fully coordinated, and our community and neighborhoods are informed.”
The presentation describes a coordinated response involving the Fire Department, Public Works Department and Pasadena Water and Power (PWP). Preparations include inspecting drainage systems, staging emergency equipment, trimming vegetation near power lines and strengthening protections around facilities near recent burn areas.
Public Works crews plan to clean and inspect catch basins, examine known problem drains and monitor hillside areas before, during and after storms. Crews would respond to debris flows, blocked drains and forestry hazards using city equipment.
The department also plans to stage K-rails, barricades, traffic cones, portable message boards and other equipment where conditions warrant. Road closures and detours would be coordinated with the police, fire and transportation departments.
City vehicles, pumps, generators, emergency lighting and other response equipment will be inspected and prepared before forecast storms. Public Works will also schedule standby crews, examine roofs and drains at city buildings and confirm that backup power systems are operational.
PWP plans targeted inspections of utility poles, transformers, crossarms and underground pumping equipment. The utility will accelerate vegetation trimming around critical high-voltage lines and maintain emergency inventories of equipment and replacement materials.
PWP will also inspect substations for potential flooding, focusing particularly on facilities near recent burn areas. The utility plans to review staffing levels, mutual-aid agreements and restoration priorities for hospitals and other essential services.
Water-system preparations include inspecting reservoirs and other critical facilities, maintaining K-rails and debris-flow protections, testing mobile generators and preparing spreading grounds to handle high stream flows. The utility may pre-fill reservoirs and stage crews when severe weather is forecast.
The city is also coordinating with the National Weather Service, Los Angeles County emergency and public works officials, neighboring cities and the American Red Cross. Those efforts include forecast calls, identification of vulnerable locations, emergency-alert planning, tabletop exercises and shelter training.
Residents are being urged to prepare to manage for 72 hours without assistance from first responders, assemble emergency kits, clear gutters and drainage areas, and assess their properties for possible flooding.
Sandbags are available at Pasadena fire stations 37 and 38. Residents are also encouraged to register for Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System notifications and determine their evacuation zones through Genasys Protect.
The city has held five Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes this year and will host a preparedness workshop Sept. 28 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Children ages 5 and older may attend with their parents. Additional Prepared Pasadena events are scheduled for Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.
The committee meeting will be held in the City Council chamber, Room S249, at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. The El Niño presentation is informational, but the committee may take action related to the item.
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