PSC - Item 3D - Attachment A - Tropical Storm Hilary After Action Report
City of Rosemead – Hurricane Hillary After Action Report 1
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
TROPICAL STORM HILARY
After Action Report
August 18 – 21, 2023
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Summary……………………………………………………………. Page 3
Response Activities ………………………………………………. Page 4
Emergency Operations Center ……………………...... Page 4
Operational Area Response and Recovery System.. Page 4
Alert and Communications……………………………... Page 4
Response Efforts….………….……………………………………... Page 5
Response Activites….…..….……………………………………... Page 5
Lesson Learned ……………………………………………………. Page 7
Attachments ….…………………………………………………… Page 8
A – Press Release (08-17-23)…………………………...... Page 9
B – Press Release (08-18-23)…………………………...... Page 10
C – Press Release (08-19-23)…………………………...... Page 11
D – Briefing Notes………………………………………...... Page 13
E – Draft of the Resolution to Tropical Storm Hilary … Page 14
F – Draft of the Staff Report to Tropical Storm Hilary).. Page 15
G – State of Emergency Executive Order…………...... Page 16
H – County Proclamation Order…………..................... Page 21
I – CRMs for clean-up efforts ……..……..................... Page 22
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SUMMARY
Incident Background
Hurricane Hilary is expected to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening
flooding” to Baja California and the Southwestern U.S., including Southern
California. Much of the impact of the storm, including heavy rainfall and high
winds.
Thanks to modern satellite and radar technology, Southern California was
prepared for Hurricane Hilary. At one point, Hurricane Hilary was a major
Category 4 hurricane. This hurricane could have produced winds from 130-156
mph that could cause catastrophic damages. The hurricane lost its strength
and eventually made landfall as a tropical storm. Though Hurricane Hilary was
downgraded to a tropical storm, that didn’t mean Southern California should
take Hilary any less seriously. Tropical storms have enormous amounts of water
and flooding becomes a real threat.
Below is the timeline of the Hurricane Hilary from the National Weather Service:
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – Hilary has the potential to bring impacts to the
Baja California Peninsula and portions of the southwestern United States as the
earliest reasonable time on August 20, 2023. Although it is too soon to determine
the location and magnitude of rainfall and wind impacts. The storm will produce
heavy rain, winds, storm surges, and waves. The wind speed probabilities are >=
39 mph.
Thursday, August 17, 2023 - Heavy rainfall in association with Hilary is expected to
impact the Southwestern United States from Friday through early next week,
peaking on Sunday and Monday. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated
amounts in excess of 8 inches, will be possible across portions of southern
California and southern Nevada.
Friday, August 18, 2023 - Heavy rainfall associated with Hilary may produce
areas of flash flooding and result in landslides over portions of the Baja California
Peninsula from late today into late Sunday. Rainfall impacts from Hilary within
the Southwestern United States are expected to peak this weekend into
Monday. Flash, urban, and arroyo flooding is expected with the potential for
significant impacts.
The threat of hurricane-force wind impacts is increasing along the west-central
coast of the Baja California Peninsula, where a hurricane watch is in effect.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin across the southern portion of
the Baja California Peninsula later today and then spread northward through
the weekend.
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Saturday, August 20, 2023 – Hurricane Hilary has been downgraded to a Tropical
Storm Hilary. Expected to bring rainfall, high winds, and the potential for
localized and flash floods.
Sunday, August 21, 2023 – Hurricane Hilary moved into Southern California as a
tropical storm Sunday evening, bringing heavy rainfall after making its way up
Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, where it made landfall late Sunday morning,
The storm prompted officials at the National Hurricane Center to issue tropical
storm warning for most of Southern California.
Monday, August 22, 2023 - Rainfall will be diminishing across coastal Southern
California on Monday. Additional rainfall totals of up to an inch are possible.
Hilary is expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches across
portions of southeast California and southern Nevada through Monday, with
isolated storm total amounts up to 12 inches. Continued flash and urban
flooding are expected.
RESPONSE ACTIVITIES
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
The City of Rosemead did not activate its Emergency Operation Center; staff
were closely monitoring the weather situation and were on standby in the event
that the EOC is to be activated to support the response and recovery efforts
from the storm.
Operational Area Response and Recovery System (OARRS)
OARRS is a web-based information reporting and notification system used by
jurisdictions and agencies in the Los Angeles County Operational Area to
convey conditions and operational status because of an incident, emergency,
or disaster. The City of Rosemead has provided situational awareness to OARRS.
Beginning Friday, August 18, 2023 through Monday, August 22, 2023, Public
Safety staff activated the Hurricane Hilary and provided a jurisdiction situational
awareness to County OEM.
Alert and Communications
To ensure the community had up-to-date information on Hurricane Hilary press
releases and notifications were posted and shared on social media platforms -
City website www.cityofrosemead.org, Nixle, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
In addition, the City website had a page dedicated to Hurricane Hilary.
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RESPONSE EFFORTS
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Public Safety staff attended a forecast briefing by the National Weather
Service
Press release – Tropical Storm Advisory for the City of Rosemead
Social media – outreach to the community
Storm drains cleared by Public Works
Public Works staff placed on standby.
Public Safety staff placed on standby
Friday, August 18, 2023
Public Safety staff attended a forecast briefing by the National Weather
Service
Public Safety staff participated in LASD coordinating calls for emergency
response.
Press release – Tropical Storm Watch for the City of Rosemead
Social media – outreach to the community
Website – TS Hilary alert page created with rolling updates.
Public Safety staff logged in to the County OARRS system for situational
awareness and emergency response.
Text message thread established for Rosemead Executive Team, PW
Manager, PS Manager, PS Supervisor, LASD, and LAFD to coordinate
response.
Public Safety staff requested additional homeless outreach by LA CADA
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Public Safety staff attended a forecast briefing by the National Weather
Service
Press Release – Tropical Storm Warning for the City of Rosemead
Social media/website – outreach to the community
Public Safety staff confirmed SPA 3 emergency homeless shelter in Duarte
(Pamela Park)
Public Safety staff updated situational awareness in OARRS
Public Safety staff prepared a Resolution declaring a local emergency
(pending necessity)
o City Manager can declare emergency; Council ratification in seven
days
Public Safety staff confirmed deployment of LASD and LAFD resources
Public Works staff placed flood warning signs south of Romona
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Public Safety staff attended a forecast briefing by the National Weather
Service
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Public Safety staff patrolling City to report issues as they arise, will continue
through overnight hours
o Minor reports of fallen tree branches and one inoperative traffic
light
Public Works staff monitoring storm drains, crew on standby through
overnight hours to respond to issues as they arise
Parks restrooms closed
Activities at Garvey Gym and Rosemead Aquatic Center cancelled
Rosemead Community Recreation Center and Garvey Center operating
normally, closing at 3 pm
LASD reports no storm-related incidents in Rosemead as of 2:00 PM
LAcFD reports no storm-related incidents in Rosemead as of 2:00 PM
SCE reported 31 localized outages in LA County, impacting 4,800
customers; no outages were reported in Rosemead.
An hourly sitrep starting at 5:30 – 9:30 pm was sent to Tropical Storm Hilary
Task Force – Mayor Ly, Executive Management Team, Public Works
Manager, Public Safety Manager, Public Safety Supervisor, Chief of Police
(LASD), Assistant Fire Chief (LAFD) of real-time incidents.
Monday, August 21, 2023
LAcFD reports minor incidents of trees down and wires down.
LASD reports down trees.
City Manager reports the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hilary.
Approximately 30 trees were damaged (approximately two trees were
uprooted and 28 tree branches fell, no property damage was reported)
and two street signal lights were inoperable flashing red.
Public Safety staff and Public Works staff will continue to inspect facilities
and drive throughout the city for further assessment.
Debrief Meeting scheduled at 1 p.m. with the Tropical Storm Hilary Task
Force.
RECOVERY ACTIVITIES TO DATE
Below are the City of Rosemead recovery actions taken:
Clean up efforts by Public Works staff of fallen trees
Submit to Los Angeles County OEM Recovery of Rosemead’s Initial
Damages Estimate (IDE) from the TSH. Submitted for debris removal and
staff time under Category A of the IDE.
Public Assistance (PA) Program
The Los Angeles County OEM, Recovery Unit invited cities to submit an Initial
Damage Estimate for pre-qualification for possible reimbursement.
City of Rosemead – Hurricane Hillary After Action Report 7
LESSON LEARNED
Strength
Multi-agencies were in preparation for Hurricane Hilary that includes, the
Los Angeles County Office of Emergency (OEM), the National Weather
Service, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles
County Fire Department, LA County Public Works Department, etc.
The City made a good effort to respond to Tropical Storm Hilary.
A Group text was created for better communication, coordination, and
collaboration.
Public Works Staff started to mitigate potential hazards by cleaning storm
drains and putting up flood signs in areas known to flood during rainy
seasons.
Field responders (PW and PS) were all fueled by Saturday, August 19th.
Public Works and Public Safety staff patrolling the cities throughout the
storm event.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded and helped
block traffic while the clean-up efforts were in progress.
Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel responded and assisted
with the calls related to TSH.
Press releases and notifications in real-time.
The City website had a pop-up feature for easy access to information
pertaining to TSH.
Mayor Ly requested a conference call for updates and to support to City
staff and community.
CERT Members and HAM Operators on standby to assist if needed.
Weakness
Sands and sandbags were limited supplies and/or depleted by Saturday
evening throughout Los Angeles County.
Information for the unhoused was slow to share with the cities and
transportation was not provided for the unhoused to go to the nearest
shelter.
Opportunities
The perfect storm to get our residents and businesses to realize the
importance of being self-sufficient and to be prepared in a
disaster/emergency by having basic essential supplies at home.
Threat
The hourly changes in the path and strength of the storm.
Economic growth and loss of income could be compromised.
People's lives could be impacted by the destruction in the aftermath of
the storm.
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ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Press Release (08-17-23) Tropical Storm Advisory
Attachment B: Press Release (08-18-23) Update Tropical Strom Watch
Attachment C: Press Release (08-19-23) Update Tropical Strom Updates
Attachment D: Briefing Note
Attachment E: Draft of the Resolution to Tropical Storm Hilary
Attachment F: Draft of the Staff Report to Tropical Storm Hilary
Attachment G: State of Emergency Executive Order
Attachment H: Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Proclamation to Proclaim
a Local Emergency
Attachment I: CRMs for service requests for clean-up efforts of fallen trees and
debris
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