Councilman Bill Rosendahl has motioned for a feasibility report in regard to the installation of emergency tsunami sirens along the coast of Los Angeles. It sure couldn’t hurt to have them, and the lives that it could save would be worth the cost!
From Councilman Rosendahl:
Following the December 2004 Sumatran earthquake and resulting tsunami, the City Council directed the Emergency Management Department to collaborate with City departments and other local, state and federal agencies to ensure that the City was prepared for a tsunami.
A task force was established and a report drafted which included various recommendations. Those included a public education campaign, development of a tsunami plan, placement of signage and brochures. The report further emphasized the vulnerability of low lying coastal areas in the City, specifically Venice and the coastline of West Los Angeles, and to that end, tsunami warning signs have been installed throughout Venice and the coastline of West Los Angeles.
More recently, the events in Japan have again brought this issue to the forefront and the City needs to continue its work to diligently inform the public about what to do in the event of an earthquake and resulting tsunami. A tsunami warning siren that sounds along the entire coastline would also be helpful in an emergency situation and it is imperative that we work to install one in order to alert all residents and tourists visiting the coast.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council request the Chief Legislative Analyst and the City Administrative Officer to report on the feasibility of installation of an emergency tsunami siren along the coast, as well as the costs associated with this siren and possible funding sources.
