California Prepares for Potential Flooding

Due to the potential for flooding, mud flows and debris in and around recent wildfire fire burn areas, the Governor in California has directed his Office of Emergency Services (OES) to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and prepare to help local agencies if assistance from the state is needed for expected rains. READ MORE

OPINION
HAZUS.org has it doubts if CA OES, the CA Department of Water Resources and CA local agencies are making the best use of HAZUS-MH to assess flood mitigation strategies and to be prepared for response activities when flooding does occur.

Vista Postpones Discussion on Fire Risk Map to 2009

November 10, 2008

The City of Vista has postponed the discussion to adopt CalFire’s (California's fire and forestry agency) fire hazard map at its November 18 City Council meeting and instead will address the issue early next calendar year. The Vista Fire Department will take time to re-examine CalFire’s map to confirm that the high hazard designations are accurate. Due to concerns from the community regarding the fire designations, the fire department will review the map based on citizen input gathered during its November 8 and 10 community meetings. A state law requires CalFire to design a fire map that indicates fire risk throughout the state. The fire hazard severity zone map assigns three levels of fire danger ---- moderate, high and very high ---- to properties throughout the county. Cities are directed, under state code, to adopt the fire risk map to allow municipalities to require better fire construction techniques and materials for new homes built in fire-prone areas.


Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps and data can be found here...
http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fhsz_maps/fhsz_maps_sandiego.php


Contact:
Gary Fisher
Department:
Fire Department
Phone:
Phone: 760.726.1340 ext. 2101
Release Date:
November 10, 2008

California Using HAZUS to Evaluate Hospital System Safety

The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) has implemented a new voluntary program to re-evaluate the seismic risk of California hospital buildings classified as Structural Performance Category (SPC-1). These buildings are considered hazardous and at risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake and must be retrofitted, replaced or removed from providing acute care services by 2013. OSHPD is using HAZUS to reassess the seismic risk of SPC-1 buildings. Those buildings that are determined to pose a low seismic risk may be reclassified to SPC-2. The SPC-2 buildings would have until 2030 to comply with the structural seismic safety standards. Participation in the HAZUS program is optional for hospital owners wishing to have their SPC-1 building(s) re-evaluated. For more info, click here...

California Hospital Association press release, click here...

To read an August 23rd San Diego Union-Tribune article about this program , click here...

Welcome to the San Diego HAZUS User Group

Efforts are underway to organize the San Diego HAZUS User Group. The San Diego HUG supports HAZUS Users throughout the greater San Diego region and is one of four California HUGs.

To see how you can participate in the development of the San Diego HUG contact the San Diego HUG Coordinator or HAZUS.org.