TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request City Manger to work with the Aquarium of the Pacific, Port of Long Beach, SMG, DDR and other entities to develop a coordinated Emergency Disaster Preparedness plan for the shoreline area; and request City Manager assist with communicating the plan once it is developed and identify an appropriate City contact in the event of an emergency and for the purpose of ongoing planning.
DISCUSSION
The concept for a Shoreline Area Emergency Preparedness Plan originally arose from reviewing the risks of a disaster striking the Aquarium of the Pacific and its neighbors. It soon became apparent that the Aquarium, Convention Center, Shoreline Village and the Pike dining and entertainment areas would face some unique natural and man-made disaster risks.
These risks are the result of three basic facts. First, all the land in the Pike area is fill land, which means that in the event of a major earthquake affecting this region there is a high potential for liquefaction problems due to soil conditions. Secondly, the close proximity to the Port of Long Beach means that any major event at the Port will directly or indirectly impact the shoreline area. Third, the fact that the shoreline area often has a large attendance, is fairly open and easily accessible lend it to being a potential terrorism target, either directly or indirectly.
Consequently, given the geology, the businesses in the area and today's terrorist realities, one can appreciate the unique characteristics of the shoreline area and their need for special disaster planning considerations. Without adequate pre-disaster planning and preparation, the risks of serious human, animal and property damage only increase.
In discussing these issues with some of the local businesses, it became apparent that they were not prepared or communally infonned as to how to respond to a major disaster that might affect this area. The Aquarium decided to take the lead and fonned the Shoreline ...
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