Dear City Council and Senior Staff,
Please see the below invitation. Council heard about the HayWired Scenario at a May 8, 2018 study session. Scientists have studied the faults extensively and determined that the Hayward fault will erupt next. Major (6.0 or greater) Hayward fault eruptions occur, on average, every 150 years. The last eruption was in 1868. We are overdue.
Unfortunately, the ConnectMenlo Geology, Soils and Seismicity document dismissed the Hayward fault because it does not lie under Menlo Park. However, the USGS believes a major eruption will affect Menlo Park. Transportation, water, communications and utility lifelines may also be severely impacted for days, weeks or longer. Aftershocks and fires typically follow earthquakes and some are predicted to become configurations. Again, the USGS warned the Council about the HayWired scenario on May 8, 2018. The update included a warning (by the City's designated Emergency Manager, a Fire District employee) about the threat of possible litigation should residents find out that the City did not do enough to protect residents. USGS scientists now know even more about impacts to Cities like Menlo Park and I'm confident that the USGS would be pleased to give Council an update on the HayWired Scenario and its impact to Menlo Park.
The City continues its building in a multi-hazard zone. District 1 will bear the brunt of the Hayward fault eruption to Menlo Park. Their soils are mostly in liquefaction zones (even now coming into District 2). Taller buildings (3 more more stories) require ladder trucks. And large buildings, like Facebook's, take more fire-fighting resources to put out. We are in a drought and the City lacks even a day's supply of stored water for medical, personal and fire-fighting. The Menlo Fire's Community Risk Assessment: Standards of Cover (2020) and conveyed that there might not be enough water for current development, let alone what's in the pipeline.
As the USGS says, "We can outsmart disasters" but we have to act! Council could start by re-evaluating the ConnectMenlo Program-level EIR in light of new information and/or omitted information in pre-cursor documents. At minimum, the building codes could be strengthened. MP has adopted the most current, but these are "life and safety" only. We could go beyond the basics. The residents need to be more prepared with emergency supplies, and a plan for possible evacuations and shelters. We need a whole community engagement approach to get ready!
Please also see an overview of national policy in the National Preparedness This gives a succinctly written overview with pages 1-13 particularly relevant. We are not following these guidelines with our current approach. A guiding principle is the one of a "whole community engagement" where the government works closely with community-based organizations. The Palo Alto Office of Emergency Services is a local best practice example. Individuals and volunteer-based groups can only do so much. We need effective leadership and authentic commitment from the local government. The City's Safety Element update could establish better goals (and action steps) like the Berkeley: Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element. Unfortunately, the City's Safety Element update process feels rushed with most of the focus going to the Housing Element.
Lynne Bramlett
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kara Gross >
Date: Fri, Sep 24, 2021 at 12:48 PM
Subject: Join Us! HayWired V3 Rollout, 10/21/21, 11 AM
To:
Volume 3 of the HayWired Scenario is now complete!
Join us on October 21 - after the Great ShakeOut - for a fast-paced day of presentations on the scenario, along with updates from partners who are using the findings in their work, and the rollout of the HayWired Scenario Exercise Toolkit. We will see how the scenario is being applied by earthquake researchers today, learn how its lessons are being communicated to the larger community, and cap off the day with an interactive social media experience.
Registration is open now for this online event. A flyer - including the draft agenda - is attached; more details will continue to be posted on the event webpage as we get closer.
Contact me with any questions, and we hope to see you next month!
Kara Gross
Director, Public Sector Climate Initiatives, Joint Venture Silicon Valley
Executive Director, Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance
408-204-1464
