Glendale (PDF) - Hazard Mitigation Web Portal - State of California
Glendale (PDF) - Hazard Mitigation Web Portal - State of California
Glendale (PDF) - Hazard Mitigation Web Portal - State of California
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Natural <strong>Hazard</strong>s <strong>Mitigation</strong> PlanCity <strong>of</strong> <strong>Glendale</strong>, <strong>California</strong>Section 8 – Floodsreview <strong>of</strong> a development request. Coordination between FEMA and local planning jurisdictionsis the key to making a strong connection with GIS technology for the purpose <strong>of</strong> flood hazardmapping.FEMA and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), a private company, haveformed a partnership to provide multi-hazard maps and information to the public via theInternet. ESRI produces GIS s<strong>of</strong>tware, including ArcViewC9 and ArcInfoC9 . The ESRI website has information on GIS technology and downloadable maps. The hazards maps providedon the ESRI site are intended to assist communities in evaluating geographic information aboutnatural hazards. Flood information for most communities is available on the ESRI web site.Visit www.esri.com for more information.<strong>Hazard</strong> Assessment<strong>Hazard</strong> Identification:<strong>Hazard</strong> identification is the first phase <strong>of</strong> flood-hazard assessment. Identification is the process<strong>of</strong> estimating: 1) the geographic extent <strong>of</strong> the floodplain (i.e., the area at risk from flooding); 2)the intensity <strong>of</strong> the flooding that can be expected in specific areas <strong>of</strong> the floodplain; and 3) theprobability <strong>of</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong> flood events. This process usually results in the creation <strong>of</strong> afloodplain map. Floodplain maps provide detailed information that can assist jurisdictions inmaking policies and land-use decisions.Flood <strong>Hazard</strong> Mapping for the City <strong>of</strong> <strong>Glendale</strong>:On May 7, 1976 the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) issued a Flood <strong>Hazard</strong> Boundarymap for the City <strong>of</strong> <strong>Glendale</strong>. However, a study <strong>of</strong> Verdugo Wash conducted in 1978 for the LosAngeles County Department <strong>of</strong> Public Works (LACDPW) showed that the channel couldaccommodate the estimated peak flows everywhere, except in the area immediately north <strong>of</strong>where Verdugo Wash joins the Los Angeles River. In fact, this area is known to flood regularlyduring winter storms (refer to following sections for further information on this). Based on theinformation provided by the LACDPW, stating “that for all practical purposes no part <strong>of</strong> thecommunity would be inundated by the base flood; that is, a flood having a one percent chance <strong>of</strong>being equaled or exceeded in any given year,” and therefore, that the entire community wouldbe classified as Zone C (area <strong>of</strong> minimal flood hazards where the purchase <strong>of</strong> flood insurance isnot mandatory), the Flood <strong>Hazard</strong> Boundary Map was rescinded by FIA on November 15, 1979.On a letter dated August 31, 1984, FEMA again informed the City that no Special Flood<strong>Hazard</strong> Areas were present within the corporate limits <strong>of</strong> the city at that time, and thus that theCity was placed in Zone D, which has no mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements. Asa result, there are no flood insurance rate maps for the city <strong>of</strong> <strong>Glendale</strong>, and <strong>Glendale</strong> is notlisted in FEMA’s Community Rating System. [The Community Rating System (CRS) is asystem for crediting communities that implement measures to protect the natural and beneficialfunctions <strong>of</strong> their floodplains, as well as managing their erosion hazard.] Although, there areno FIRM maps for the city, and <strong>Glendale</strong> is not currently listed in FEMA’s CRS <strong>of</strong> cities, theCity <strong>of</strong> <strong>Glendale</strong> has participated as a regular member in the NFIP since August 31, 1984 (CityID No. – 065030). Since the City is a participating member <strong>of</strong> the NFIP, flood insurance isavailable for individuals to purchase voluntarily. There is, however, a 30-day wait period afterthe policy is issued before the coverage becomes effective.Since these analyses were conducted, however, there has been substantial development in thehills <strong>of</strong> <strong>Glendale</strong>, increasing run<strong>of</strong>f into the city’s storm drains and flood-conveyance system.The studies also did not consider the impacts that debris flows could have on the city. Duringthe past 80 years, the Los Angeles County Department <strong>of</strong> Public Works (LACDPW) and theUS Army Corps <strong>of</strong> Engineers have constructed several detention or debris basins in the San2006 PAGE 8- 17