Res20 15910 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Impacts of Climate Change on Redwood City Figure 6: Average Percent Burned Area in Redwood City for 2070 III wil �:L—niY + ` ti f, ln1 i i x r � l i u { L ii A l i Redwood City's Farm Hill district was built in woodland that is vulnerable to wildfire. Some of the landmarks vulnerable to wildfire in the Farm Hill district include Canada College, Easter Cross, Edgewood Park, Canyon Inn and the City's Fire Station 12 located on Jefferson Avenue. CalFire has designated much of the district as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ). In this zone, Redwood City has 4,877 people, 1,174 buildings and an assessed $1,815,748,914 at risk of wildfire. While a wildfire in the Farm Hill district has a high chance of occurring in any given year, predicting when a wildfire will occur isn't possible. Some of the factors that could cause a wildfire are: equipment use, power lines/electric power, and other factors as small as cigarette butts. Drought or high winds could radically enhance a wildfires destructive potential as well. Redwood City recognizes the severity of this problem and coordinating with the County and other agencies under the San Mateo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan so that in the event of a wildfire, Redwood City residents are as safe as possible. The City has also been conducting public outreach on wildfire risk, the wildland-urban interface, and defensible space. Included in this Plan is a measure for a microgrid demonstration project to promote community resilience in response to the threat of wildfires and power shutdowns. Increased Frequency and Intensity of Storms The Bay Area's largest winter storms will likely become more intense, and potentially more damaging, in the coming decades. Flooding is a substantial threat in San Mateo County and is expected to increase as a result of climate change. According to # flood modeling that integrates the impacts of sea -level rise and ` inland flooding throughout the County, a flood with a one percent chance of occurring in 2030 would increase to a two percent }� chance of occurring under 2070 climate conditions. The higher probability of extreme flooding means that creeks and municipal —= • storm sewers are more likely to be overwhelmed, potentially resulting in damage to infrastructure and even loss of life. The largest individual storms are becoming more intense with climate change. In addition, more frequent "whiplash" events that swing from extremely dry to extremely wet conditions in California could become the new normal. City of Redwood City Climate Action Plan 29