Reso 2021-113 Adopt 2021 CAP and Addendum to 2035 General Plan

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3. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment The energy delivery system is especially vulnerable to windstorms, which can damage transmission lines or cause Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. Windstorms can also damage warehouses that hold harmful materials and prevent people from traveling to work, which can affect important economic drivers in the City. Increased Rate of Wildfires Wildfires are a regular feature of the landscape in much of California. They can be sparked by lightning, malfunctioning equipment, vehicle crashes, or many other causes. Warmer temperatures, an increase in drought conditions, and extreme wind events are likely to create more fuel for fires in natural and rural areas, leading to a greater chance that a spark will grow into a potentially dangerous blaze. Climate change is also expected to extend the fire season throughout much (or even all) of the year. The City of San Leandro is adjacent to thousands of acres of potentially flammable coastal scrub and forested space. Figure 9 shows the fire hazard severity zones in San Leandro, which include very high fire hazard severity zones along the eastern edges of the Bay-0- Vista neighborhood and the Daniels Drive area. Because wildfires burn the trees and other vegetation that help stabilize a hillside and absorb water, more areas burned by fire may also lead to an increase in landslides and debris flows. According to Cal -Adapt, the annual average area burned by wildfire in the region is projected to experience a modest increase. Historically, the annual average area burned in Alameda County was approximately 4,020 acres. According to Cal -Adapt, under the higher emissions scenario, this could increase to an average annual burn area of approximately 4,600 acres. Although most of this increased wildfire activity is unlikely to occur in San Leandro itself, San Leandro residents will still be impacted by smoke from wildfires in other parts of the county or the state. Wildfires expose people and property to flames, increasing the risk of injury, death, and property damage or destruction. The smoke from wildfires increases air pollution levels and creates a significant health risk in the region, particularly under weather conditions that prevent smoke from clearing, such as those during the Lightning Complex fires in 2020. Most of the populations within San Leandro are highly or severely vulnerable to wildfire and heavy smoke scenarios, which can aggravate asthma and respiratory conditions as well as cause long-term health issues. Planned PSPS events to prevent wildfires have already impacted persons who depend on electricity for air conditioning, medically necessary equipment, or mobility, as well as destabilized low-income households unable to change routines. Essential roadways, such as evacuation routes and single -access roads, can be blocked by wildfire flames or debris, making it difficult for residents to evacuate and emergency San Leandro 2021 Climate Action Plan Page 57