On Our "Virtual Route 66" : On Climate Change & Mitigation-Some #RandomThoughts

  

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative (NOAA) has forecasted a Wind Advisory in Orange County between 4 p.m. today, Monday, January 9 through 4 p.m. Tuesday, January 10. They are also forecasting 2-3 inches of widespread rain, with a Flood Watch between 2 a.m. through 10 p.m. Tuesday, January 10 in certain Orange County areas. Flash flooding occurs when too much rain falls too fast and too long for the ground to absorb all that water.

 

You can stay prepared ahead any of any possible flooding by following these recommended precautions:

• Be alert to signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.
• Don’t park your vehicle along canals, streams or other waterways.
• Avoid areas subject to flooding, including dips, low spots and ditches.
• Look out for rapidly rising water.
• If driving in heavy rain, look out for flooding at highway dips and bridge underpasses.
• Do not attempt to drive across a flooded road. The depth of the water is not always obvious, and the roadbed itself may be washed out under the water. Turn around and go another way.
• If a vehicle stalls in high water, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
• If you have experienced flooding in your residential area in the past, consider using sandbags to prevent flooding. Check your local city or visit the Orange County Fire Authority’s website for information on where to get free sandbags and sand.
• If you do not need to be on the road, please stay home until the flood advisory is lifted.
• For additional safety tips, please read this Flash Flooding fact sheet.

 

High winds may also cause power outages. Ways to be prepared include:

• Charging your mobile devices early and Plan for batteries and alternative power sources to meet your needs when the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank.
• Disconnecting appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges.
• Keeping freezers and refrigerators closed.
• If you rely on electricity for any medical needs, making a power outage plan for medical devices or refrigerated medicines.
• For additional power outage tips, please read this fact sheet.

 

Online resources:

• Receive emergency alerts from your city by visiting AlertOC.
• Visit the Ready OC website for information on how to create an emergency plan and an emergency kit.
• For more emergency tips, check out the CalHHS Emergency Resource Guide.

 

Important social media channels:

• OC Health Care Agency - @OCHealth on Twitter
• Orange County Fire Authority - @OCFireAuthority on Twitter
• Orange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Management Division / Orange County Emergency Operations Center - @OrangeCountyEOC on Twitter

  

For more information on cold weather safety, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/index.html.

 

Current weather information can be found here: NWS 7 Day Temperature Forecast

New Mitigation and Climate Action Planning Resources Available from the American Planning Association

FEMA’s National Mitigation Planning Program supports state, local, tribal and territory governments with risk-based mitigation planning to reduce or eliminate risks to life and property from natural hazards. The program focuses on building resilience through early and often stakeholder engagement, integration with community planning, and implementation of mitigation actions. For more information, visit Hazard Mitigation Planning | FEMA.gov. With support from FEMA’s Cooperating Technical Partners program, the American Planning Association (APA) produced the following mitigation and climate action planning resources. Explore these resources via the links below. PAS Memo 113: The Use of Foresight and Scenario Planning in Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Planning. Scenario planning can help planners make communities more resilient from future conditions; these conditions can include extreme weather and changing demographics. This PAS Memo offers guidance to planners on how to expand the use of foresight through exploratory scenario planning in both the hazard mitigation and climate adaptation fields. Planning Information Exchange Webinar: Foresight and Scenario Planning for Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation. Presented by APA during 2022 National Community Planning Month, the recording of this webinar defines the use cases for scenario planning for both hazard mitigation and climate adaptation 2022 Survey of State Planning Laws: Land Use, Hazard Mitigation and Climate Action. This story map summarizes key themes that emerged from the 2022 survey. The interactive maps allow users to view details on key laws that affect hazard mitigation and climate action planning for each state. For more resources that help communities integrate principles of hazard mitigation with planning efforts visit FEMA’s Implement, Integrate and Maintain Mitigation Planning Activities page.