Orange County Water & Wastewater Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2024
Vulnerabilities/Impacts to Hazard Events The IRWD service area is approximately 181 square miles (approximately 20% of the planning area) of developed and undeveloped land. Over 425,000 residents live within the IRWD service area and due to the amount of employment within their service area, the daytime population increases to over 600,000 people. Exhibit O-11. IRWD Vulnerable Population Impacts Hazard Impact on IRWD Vulnerable Populations
All populations within IRWD’s service area that use the internet are equally vulnerable to this threat. Some populations that are unfamiliar with cyber security threats or the latest types of intrusion techniques may become victims of this activity. Wildfire threats along the eastern portion of the service area (foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains) and western areas within the Peralta Hills are considered fire prone. While some of these areas are undeveloped or sparsely developed the proximity of these areas to developed areas (wildland urban interface areas) increase the vulnerability to wildfire incidents. While all populations located in fire prone areas are vulnerable, key populations like senior citizens and those living in substandard structures (not meeting current fire codes) may experience greater impacts during a wildfire incident. All populations within IRWD’s service area are vulnerable to seismic shaking. The highest vulnerabilities exist for populations with older housing that doesn’t meet current seismic standards and/or renters that do not have control over repairs and mitigation projects to reduce seismically vulnerability. All populations within IRWD’s service area are vulnerable to extreme heat, especially those with no access to air conditioning such as populations living within older homes, manufactured/mobile homes, or the unhoused population. Populations in IRWD’s service area living in close proximity to active faults have a higher degree of vulnerability to these hazards. While IRWD has not analyzed the demographics of property owners living in these areas, it is safe to assume those living on fixed incomes, renters, and residents without disposable income will be impacted more severely by a fault rupture incident that damages their home or place of work. All populations in IRWD’s service area can be subjected to major windstorm events. For many of these residents and property owners’ impact may not be significant. However some populations may be impacted greatly if significant structural damage occurs that they cannot repair or the building becomes unsafe/uninhabitable. Drought does not directly impact populations within IRWD’s service area beyond potential restrictions in water usage and water rate increases. Residents within IRWD’s service area that are located on or at the base of hillsides have an increased vulnerability to landslides and mudflows. Structures housing vulnerable populations in these areas may experience moderate to severe damage, if landslides occur. Many of the properties located in landslide prone areas of the service area are higher value properties, suggesting that the property owners have financial resources available to make repairs if impacts occur. However, some residents in these areas are senior citizens that may not have the financial means to make
Human-Caused Hazards: Terrorism (Cyber Threat)
Wildfire
Seismic Hazards: Seismic Shaking
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat
Seismic Hazards: Earthquake Fault Rupture
Severe Weather: Windstorm
Severe Weather: Drought
Geological Hazards: Landslide and Mudflow
O-16
WSCP - 69
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