Alice Sarkisian Wessen

What can we expect this winter? (Mudslides?)

The entirety of this outstanding blog may be found here: http://inthewatershed.org/2009/10/07/what-can-we-expect-this-winter/

Before the spring wildflowers, our foothill communities may be suffering from mudflows this winter. The USGS just released its assessment based on two scenarios, a gentle, sustained 12-hour rain and a hard 3-hr rain storm. In both of the scenarios, the USGS predicts that Pacoima Canyon, Big Tujunga Canyon, the Arroyo Seco, the West Fork of the San Gabriel River and Devils Canyon would have an 80% risk of mudflows. This risk includes the basins that are tributaries to each of these canyons, too. Our geomorphology works against us here. To quote the USGS report: “The high probabilities from basins burned by the Station fire reflects the combined effects of the steep slopes throughout the area and extensive areas burned at high and moderate severities.” To my surprise, a gentle soaking rain could actually generate more of a hazard than the short duration hard rain, and it looks like the communities of La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge will suffer the most, potentially. The USGS report suggests that Altadena will be spared mudflow hazards because the major drainages that burned, El Prieto and Millard, drain into the Devil’s Gate Reservoir. Remember, these are the results of modeling and real life experiences will be different. The 28-page report is available on the USGS website. You can also listen to an interview by KPCC’s Larry Mantle with Lucy Jones.

This is the bad news. The good news is that we have this information in advance of the winter rains so people can plan. For an unfortunate few, their homes are reported to be at so much risk they’ve been advised to install plywood on the windows and get out when it rains, according to the article in the Los Angeles Times. The County Flood Control District and Department of Public Works staff are working overtime to reduce the hazards by cleaning out all of the 28 debris basins, including expanding some of them. They have been holding frequent meetings for emergency response personnel in the foothills to plan and coordinate. And they have been meeting with communities and individuals to assess risks and draw up plans for protection. You can learn more at the County’s website.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Oct. 13-17, 2009 at Loma Alta Park, Altadena

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training

Co Sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation

Download CERT-2009-LOMA ALTA Altadena) COURSE FYLER

FOUR  WEEKNIGHTS  AND ONE  FULL SATURDAY

CERT is scheduled for the evenings of October 13 - 16, 2009, and all day on Saturday, October 17.

DATES:    Oct. 13-17, 2009

SCHEDULE:     Oct. 13-16   6:30 –9:30pm and  Oct. 17 8:00am—4:00pm

LOCATION: LOMA ALTA PARK, 3330  N.  LINCOLN AVE., ALTADENA, CA

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to:

*Manage utilities and put out small fires*

*Treat the three medical killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock*

*Provide basic medical aid*

*Search for and rescue victims safely*

*Organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective*

*Collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts*

 

ALL CLASSES MUST BE ATTENDED TO RECEIVE A COURSE CERTIFICATE

 

Space is limited!

Register for this FREE COURSE ONLINE at

www.rcpi-ca.org or call (323) 526-5015

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF' S DEPARTMENT 

Course facilitated by the:

Community/Law Enforcement Partnership

Programs Unit and the Regional Community

Policing Institute-California

 

 

 

Chaney Millard Fire Council work is in full swing (http://chaneymillard.org/fsc2.html)

As announced at the Chaney-Millard Neighborhood meeting on July 20th, the Chaney Millard Fire Safe Council has received a grant for the Fire Safe Clearing House.

Here is a brief review of the history and nature of this project:

Several years back Congress voted to make grant moneys available to rural communities which are threatened by wildfires on neighboring federal lands. In 2007 several Chaney Millard neighbors formed a volunteer organization "Chaney Millard Fire Safe Council" and applied for a federal grant. Total requested from the Fire Safe Clearing House was: $133,100.00 plus over $60,000.00 in matching funds from local sources. Chaney Millard was fully funded.

We are now working on phase one of the project!

This includes an assessment of the properties of Chaney Trail/Alzada/Jaxine/Millard Canyon Cabins. The assessment will determine which trees and vegetation pose the most danger from fire. Recommendations will be made as to what, if any, should be trimmed, removed or replaced. These will be recommendations only as the changes will ultimately be the property owner's decision. Grant funds will be available to assist land owners in removing or replacing trees and plants at no cost to the owner in the most vulnerable zones.

J. Lopez from the L.A. County Fire Department will conduct property assessments free of charge starting now through the end of the summer/ beginning of fall.

The Chaney Millard Fire Safe Council

http://chaneymillard.org/fsc2.html