Laserfiche WebLink
Public Review Draft <br />Page 42 San Leandro 2021 Climate Action Plan <br />Many industrial centers are within the bayshore flooding area. 48 SLR can inundate the foundations <br />of buildings or cause more frequent flooding, causing the release of harmful chemicals used in <br />industrial processes. <br />Water and wastewater services can be disrupted from SLR. The Water Pollution Control Plant <br />(WPCP) is within the 2050 SLR area. Pumps and control panels that are not waterproofed or salt- <br />resistant could fail or be damaged by SLR. Failure of these treatment plant components could cause <br />the sewer systems to back up and potentially contaminate streams and potable water systems with <br />raw sewage. Saltwater inundation can exacerbate wet weather flows caused by stormwater and <br />bayshore flooding, preventing the system from functioning properly. 49 <br />Wetlands included in the herbaceous ecosystem will be inundated by rising sea levels. The wildlife <br />habitat, passive recreation, and flood protection that these ecosystems provide may not be able to <br />be sustained. 50 <br />Persons experiencing homelessness, persons without access to lifelines, or persons with limited <br />income or access to resources may be more likely to live in low-lying areas or less- resilient <br />structures, and therefore are highly vulnerable to SLR and associated bayshore flooding. <br />Severe Storms <br />Severe storms include windstorms, hail, lightning, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall. Severe <br />weather is usually caused by intense storm systems, although some types of strong winds can <br />occur without a storm. The connection between climate change and severe storms is not as well <br />established as other exposures, but new evidence suggests that severe storms may occur more <br />often and become more intense than in the past.51 Severe winds—over 50 to 60 miles per hour but <br />up to 100 miles per hour—can damage or destroy buildings and infrastructure. Hail can damage <br />buildings and plants (and in extreme cases injure people), and lightning can spark fires, injure <br />people, or cause fatalities. Heavy rainfall, which is characterized by rainfall amounts that exceed <br />normal levels, can lead to flooding throughout San Leandro. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are <br />the most common types of severe weather in the City. <br />The most vulnerable to severe weather are persons experiencing homelessness; those who may <br />live in less structurally resilient buildings, such as households in poverty and undocumented <br />persons; and those who may have difficulty preparing for or responding to severe weather due to <br />mobility or language barriers. These populations include linguistically isolated populations, persons <br />living on single-access roads, persons with chronic illnesses and/or physical disabilities, and <br />seniors living alone. <br />The energy delivery system is especially vulnerable to windstorms, which can damage transmission <br />lines or cause Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. Windstorms can also damage <br />warehouses that hold harmful materials and prevent people from traveling to work, which can affect <br />important economic drivers in the City. <br />86