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City of City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: December 6, 2011
Agenda Item: /1—A
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ken Semko, Emergency Manager
Subject: Tsunami Response Plan
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Review and comment on the Tsunami Response Plan
2. Direct staff to proceed with the implementation of the Tsunami Response Plan
Executive Summary
The Tsunami Response Plan is a comprehensive action plan to guide the community
and City staff through a three step process to minimize the loss of life, casualties and
property damage in the event a tsunami impacts Santa Monica. The three steps of
notification, evacuation and communication are summarized in this report and fully
explained in the Plan.
The report also discusses Santa Monica's vulnerability to a tsunami event and the
public outreach efforts, which the Office of Emergency Management will conduct during
implementation of the plan.
Following review and feedback from Council, staff recommends implementation of the
Tsunami Response Plan.
Background
Recent tsunami events around the world serve as a reminder of the need for an
effective tsunami response plan. Tsunamis, though infrequent in the State of California,
are highly dangerous and can potentially cause the loss of life and property damage.
California is at risk of tsunami damage from events that happen within a few minutes of
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warning or several hours of warning. In Santa Monica, the identified tsunami inundation
zone (see Attachment B) could potentially be at risk.
The tsunami inundation zone in Santa Monica has been identified as:
1. All beaches;
2. The area north of the Santa Monica Pier below the Bluffs (including Palisades
Beach Road and the Annenberg Beach House) to the northern border of the City;
3. South of the Pier, all areas east up to 4th street, and south to the Venice border.
The majority of Santa Monica is well protected from the devastating effects witnessed in
other parts of the world. The height of the bluffs north of the Santa Monica Pier and the
distance between the ocean and development south of the Santa Monica Pier provides
Santa Monica with a natural, geologic buffer from significant impacts of a tsunami. The
identified inundation zone for Santa Monica has been developed in an abundance of
caution with the most current scientific and geologic data available. The expected
"worst case" scenario of a tsunami in Santa Monica would likely result in damage to the
homes and businesses north of the Santa Monica Pier, below the bluffs. All areas
above the bluffs in Santa Monica are not expected to be impacted by the effects of a
tsunami due to the height of the bluffs. South of the Santa Monica Pier, experts with the
National Weather Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
California Geological Survey, California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA)
and University of Southern California (USC), state that there could be "ankle deep water
on Main Street south of Pico Blvd ". The City of Santa Monica evacuation plans would
extend up to 4th street to ensure protection of life and property.
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Discussion
Notification
There are two types of tsunami events that may impact Santa Monica. A near source
tsunami is described as a seismic event where the origin is close to the City. This type
of seismic event can produce a tsunami in a matter of minutes without warning. In the
case of a near source tsunami, the seismic event will serve as the warning.
A distant source tsunami is an event where the tsunami is generated from distances up
to several thousands of miles from Santa Monica. The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami
Warning Center (WC /ATWC) monitors seismic activity and sea level variations
worldwide to determine whether or not a tsunami has been generated. If a tsunami is
generated the information is immediately transmitted to local officials through telephone
calls to public safety communication centers, police and fire, as well as calls to the
Office of Emergency Management and other public safety personnel, to prepare for the
event. Additionally, email notifications may be received from the WC /ATWC and the
Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management.
Depending on the distance, there will likely be several hours in which to prepare for the
event. In this case, communication and evacuation procedures can be put into effect to
ensure the safety of the community.
Evacuation
The Santa Monica Police Department would be responsible for evacuation within the
tsunami inundation zone. The Police Department would utilize an appropriate tsunami
evacuation response based on the severity of the tsunami event. The community would
follow posted evacuation routes out of the inundation zone. Evacuation route maps
would be made readily available to residents and businesses immediately following
implementation of the Tsunami Response Plan.
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Communication
Primary means of communication would include utilization of the City of Santa Monica's
Alert Notification system, SM Alerts. SM Alerts is capable of disseminating thousands
of notifications in a short period of time. The SM Alerts system contains a data base of
all landline telephone numbers in the City of Santa Monica. In the event of a citywide
emergency, SM Alerts would be able to notify all contact numbers at once. SM Alerts
also contains a public web portal where residents, business owners, employees and
visitors can register for alerts by going to www.smalerts.net, creating an account and
inputting contact information for receiving notifications via outside of the City landline,
cell phone, text message and email.
Additionally, the Police Department would supervise the deployment of all available City
vehicles with public address systems, bullhorns, and sirens to notify those located within
the designated tsunami inundation zone. Door to door notifications by public safety
personnel may also be conducted.
Coordinated public information notification would be conducted citywide utilizing existing
local media sources and contacts. These resources include local and regional media
outlets, online media sources, social media outlets, radio and television including (City
TV Channel 16) and AM Radio KRS 1680.
Public Outreach
If the Council supports implementation of the Tsunami Response Plan, staff will begin
an extensive public outreach campaign to educate all those who live, work and visit
Santa Monica, about overall tsunami risk and the newly adopted plan. Outreach efforts
would also include the distribution of information and accompanying materials through
local print and web media. Staff would also begin the installation of tsunami evacuation
route signage in the City's tsunami inundation zone.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There are no immediate budget/financial impacts to proceeding with the Tsunami
Response Plan. There will be nominal expenses for the production of public education
materials. These costs have been accounted for in the Office of Emergency
Management's 2011 -2012 Fiscal Year budget. All signage is provided by the State of
California, at no cost to the City of Santa Monica.
Prepared by: Ken Semko, Emergency Manager
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
Attachments:
A. City of Santa Monica Tsunami Response Plan
B. Tsunami inundation zone, evacuation route and sign location maps
C. "How to Survive a Tsunami" Brochure
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Additional attachments
available for review in the
City Clerk's Office.