Pasadena State of Emergency Update
The Pasadena Police Department has surveyed major streets for fallen trees, downed power lines and damaged facilities.
Of 200 buildings in Pasadena damaged by the wind storm, 42 units have been red-tagged – 40 units in one building alone – and six have been yellow-tagged. Residents of red-tagged units have been evacuated. Thirty-six residents are at a temporary shelter at Robinson Park Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave. California Assemblyman Anthony Portantino graciously provided lunch to the families today. The local Red Cross is assisting at the shelter.
Lamanda Park Branch Library and Hill Avenue Branch Library have sustained downed trees and minor damage. All Pasadena public libraries are closed today; it will be determined later today if libraries will open tomorrow.
Public schools, Maranatha High School, Pasadena City College, Fuller Theological Seminary and Northwest College are closed today; closures tomorrow will be announced.
The Pasadena Fire Department responded to wind-related fire incidents in the 100 block of Penn Street where a house fire resulted in four injuries; the 1200 block of Hudson Avenue where 40 residents were evacuated due a large tree falling into the structure; and the 900 block of Del Mar Boulevard where seven residents were evacuated due to a structure fire. The injured residents were transported to a local hospital.
Four hundred fifty public street trees are down or damaged. This figure does not include trees in parks and Brookside Golf Course, where assessments are not complete. The Pasadena Public Works Department is being assisted by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to clear downed trees in the public right of way.
By 11 a.m. today 30 percent of major streets had been cleared of fallen trees and other debris. Crews expect to complete the work on major streets by the end of the day today. All but eight of 106 impact traffic signals have been restored to normal operations.
Power is being restored to customers throughout Pasadena. Currently about 3,791 customers – about six percent – are without power; at 9 a.m. more than 5,000 were without power.
Pasadena ARTS buses are not running today. Dial-A-Ride is available only for non-emergency medical appointments.
Animal control through the Pasadena Humane Society is taking care of animals that are loose as a result of downed fences.
On-street parking regulations are not being enforced today except in Red Flag restricted areas, red curbs, loading zones and disabled parking spaces. Enforcement of overnight parking restrictions will be suspended tonight except in Red Flag areas.
The Pasadena Public Health Department encourages anyone who has been clearing debris to make sure they have up-to-date Tetanus shots from the department at 1845 N. Fair Oaks Ave. or a private physician.
The Pasadena Fire Department encourages everyone to make sure their disaster preparedness kits are updated and to have fresh batteries in flashlights.
If power goes out, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve perishables.
A local state of emergency was declared early this morning and the Emergency Operations Center was activated overnight.
Pasadenans are advised to stay home if possible until the wind situation improves because some roads are impassable and many trees remain fragile throughout the community. Many streets are barricaded due to fallen trees and/or downed power lines.
The Zero Waste Strategic Plan workshops, the World AIDS Day event and the General Plan workshop in Spanish scheduled for today have been canceled.
City officials urge people not to call 9-1-1 or other emergency numbers unless you have a life-threatening emergency. Do not approach or attempt to move downed power lines. Pasadena Water and Power crews are responding as quickly as possible; they are not responding to downed cable TV lines.
Two information phone lines have been established for the public to report fallen trees and downed power lines – (626) 564-0199 and (626) 564-0299 – and the city website at www.cityofpasadena.net is being updated as necessary. Additional updates will be provided throughout the day. Pasadena residents and others who want to sign up for local alerts can go to www.cityofpasadena.net/fire/PLEAS or www.nixle.com.
