Prolonged heat spells. Ferocious wildfires. Extended droughts. Atmospheric rivers that erode hillsides, damage roadways and flood homes. Coastal erosion from storms and rising tides.
These are extreme weather incidents that many scientists attribute to climate change. The out-of-whack global climate powered by greenhouse gases, mostly from fossil fuel emissions, is making its mark on various communities in Los Angeles County.
In a motion approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this week, L.A. County’s Department of Public Works has been given a hands-on assignment: Alert unincorporated communities subject to climate damage and begin building resiliency, such as stronger flood control and water capture systems, flood-resistant roads and online mapping dashboards to prepare residents for climate change events.
“L.A. County is exposed to more natural hazards as compared to any other county in the United States,” said Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose district stretches from the beaches of Malibu, through the fire-prone Santa Monica Mountains to the hotspot suburbs of the San Fernando Valley.
Horvath said heat storms have made their mark in the San Fernando Valley. On Sept. 6, 2020, the mercury rose to 121 degrees, melting asphalt and endangering lives of those without shade or air conditioning. Hot winds have fanned wildfires into more extreme events, including the Woolsey fire five years ago that burned 96,949 acres, destroyed 1,643 structures, killed three people and required the evacuation of more than 295,000 people.
“I’d like to see more engineered projects, and also using new technologies such as cool pavement. But also employing natural solutions by addressing inequities in tree canopies,” she said. “It is now time to act with specific plans to keep communities safe and resilient.”
The motion creates a task force led by Public Works, including the county’s Chief Sustainability Officer, as well as…
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