Pasadenans Invited to Dec. 1 El Niño Forum; Residents Urged to Prepare

Weather forecasters and scientists are predicting the upcoming El Niño weather pattern could bring severe storms that will impact Southern California with flooding, mud slides, wind damage, related power outages and property damage. The City is actively preparing to meet the challenges of El Niño and urges all residents and businesses to do the same.

The public can learn more about the expected El Niño weather system at a community forum beginning at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at the Pasadena Convention Center, Ballrooms B & C, 300 E. Green St. William Patzert, Ph.D., a Jet Propulsion Laboratory climate scientist, is keynote speaker. Officials from several City departments will present information. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The community forum, sponsored by Councilmember Steve Madison, will be broadcast live on KPAS, the City’s government TV station operated by Pasadena Media. In addition to live coverage, Pasadena Media will re-broadcast the forum several times on KPAS. KPAS is seen on Channel 3 by Charter subscribers and Channel 99 by AT&T U-Verse subscribers. It is streamed online at www.cityofpasadena.net/Media and www.pasadenamedia.tv.

The Dec. 1 meeting is the latest in a series of public meetings hosted by the City or City Council members. The City has also created a special website at www.cityofpasadena.net/Fire/ElNino with tips, preparedness, key phone numbers and sand bag info. Anyone of lives or works in Pasadena is urged to register their phones at www.cityofpasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS to receive emergency alerts.

The Cities of Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank also are working together to provide emergency preparedness info on a “Tri-Cities” website, www.elninoready.org. The cities are planning to send out mutual social media info via Twitter with the @VerdugoAlert handle, www.twitter.com/VerdugoAlert.

During the month of December, the public can visit new El Niño emergency preparedness displays at all 10 public library sites throughout Pasadena where you will be able to pick up a copy of the City’s El Niño Fact Sheet. (Copy attached to news release.) Additional information has been published in the last two issues of Pasadena In Focus, the City’s newsletter, including the November-December issue expected to be delivered to all homes and businesses the week of Nov. 30.

Other steps taken, or underway, by the City include cleaning out all storm drains, culverts and catch basins; completing a risk assessment on all City buildings and utilities, and expediting exterior repairs to City buildings. The City will conduct an emergency flood exercise for its Emergency Operations Center and staff in December and has augmented plans for any tree emergencies in town.

The City has stockpiled additional emergency supplies, including backup technology hardware, sand and sand bags; supplied Disaster Information Sites to operate at all Fire Stations; pre-approved contracts with vendors for additional clean-up help as needed; identified two new emergency evacuation shelter locations, and ensured the City’s radio communications system is fully operable.

Whether it’s an El Niño event, major earthquake or other disaster, all residents and businesses should have enough food, water and other emergency supplies to last from three days to a week, or longer, in response to a widespread emergency. It is not a matter of “if” but “when” a disaster will occur. All members of your family, including pets, need to be prepared at home, in the car, and at work.

Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit the City of Pasadena online at  www.cityofpasadena.net; follow the city on Twitter @PasadenaGov, www.twitter.com/pasadenagov, and like the City on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofpasadena. Or call the Citizen Service Center, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (626) 744-7311.