Letter: The time is now to plan for El Niño

Following most recent catastrophes there have been a lack of drinkable water and electricity. Electrical failures can affect drinking water sanitation. It may still come out of the tap, yet be contaminated. Are there communications for this eventuality? During a hurricane in New York there was a lack of accessible fuel for home generators. It seems everyone forgot gas stations needed electricity to pump gas. Reports indicate that we are in for one big record-breaking El Niño. Have we learned anything from the mistakes of others?

The city of La Cañada Flintridge is to be complimented for its reverse 911 program. The inventorying of resident needs when applied to priority of response will be a lifesaver. But, to date there seems to be a paucity of communicated contingency planning regarding community physical risks. Will any roads be washed away? What are the risks of broken gas and sewage lines? What are the evacuation plans or service to isolated parts of our community?

Will there be access to local supermarket inventories for any community nutritional deficits? If electricity fails, what are the resources for home, and responders’ generator fuel if the gas stations can not pump fuel? Will USC Verdugo Hills Hospital have access to additional generator fuel? Are there options for communication system failures if land lines and cellphones cannot be recharged?

Small things like parking your car can be important. During major storms cars should be backed into their driveways or garages. It makes less congestion when having to evacuate and keeps cars from floating down streets with any rushing currents, blocking evacuation and emergency responders. Those homes with low or ground-level vents should have vent covers to protect against flooding under the house floorboards.

I was the safety chairman of a major medical center that suffered extensive damage and operation deficits from the last earthquake. Yet it never made the news for failing to meet its mission. I can attest to the advantages of risk analysis, emergency planning, emergency resource availability and training.

I recommend an area-by-area risk analysis be performed in La Cañada Flintridge and contingency options be developed. After all, the life you save by planning now may be your own later on when the big rains come.

Jerome Berkman
La Cañada Flintridge