Glendale (PDF) - Hazard Mitigation Web Portal - State of California

Natural Hazards Mitigation PlanCity of Glendale, CaliforniaSection 2 – Community Profile250,000Table 2.3: Historic and Projected Population in Glendale(2005 estimated by California Department of Finance; Source: U.S. Census)200,000150,000100,00050,00001910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2005(est)An increase in population creates more community exposure in the face of natural hazards, andchanges how agencies prepare for and respond to natural hazards. For example, more peopleliving at the wildland/urban interface, such as in the Verdugo Hills of Glendale, can increase therisk of wildland fire. This increased potential for wildfires results from the fact that most firesare caused by human activities, and as there are more people living and playing in the interface,there are more opportunities for fires to get started. At the same time, a larger number ofpeople at the wildland/urban interface means that more people are exposed to and can thereforebe injured by fire, and there is also an increased potential for property damage.Urban/wildland fires are not the only concern in Glendale. In the 1987 publication, FireFollowing Earthquake issued by the All Industry Research Advisory Council, CharlesScawthorn explains how a post-earthquake urban conflagration would develop. Theconflagration would be started by fires resulting from earthquake damage, but made muchworse by the loss of pressure in the fire mains, caused by either lack of electricity to powerwater pumps, and/or loss of water pressure resulting from broken water mains. Furthermore,increased density can affect risk. High-density housing increases the chances of fire spreadingfrom one structure to the next. Also, narrow streets in residential areas (and especially in thehillside areas) are more difficult for emergency service vehicles to navigate, and the higher ratioof residents to emergency responders affects response times.Natural hazards do not discriminate, but the impacts in terms of vulnerability and the ability torecover vary greatly among the population. According to Peggy Stahl of FEMA’sPreparedness, Training, and Exercise Directorate, 80 percent of the disaster burden falls on thepublic, and a disproportionate percentage of the burden is placed upon special needs groups,including the elderly, women, children, minorities, and the poor. As the recent eventsassociated with the hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast have shown, vulnerable populations,including seniors, disabled citizens, women, and children, as well as those people living inpoverty, are often disproportionately impacted by natural hazards.Present-day Glendale is a racially and ethnically diverse community, (see Table 2.4 below). Forthe 2000 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau introduced new racial categories, which allowed2006 PAGE 2 - 7