This paper presents a risk assessment for El Dorado Hills, California, evaluating natural, chemical, and man-made hazards that threaten community safety. Natural risks—including earthquakes, tornadoes, and weather—are analyzed relative to national averages. Chemical risks focus primarily on naturally occurring asbestos in soil and ambient air, particularly near the West Bear Mountains Fault Zone. Man-made risks encompassing wildland fires, residential/commercial fires, and air pollution are examined in detail. The assessment concludes that while most risk factors remain favorable compared to national averages, wildland fires, air pollution, and asbestos contamination warrant targeted mitigation efforts by the El Dorado Fire Department and other municipal entities.
El Dorado Hills, California, faces several risks that must be mitigated. The El Dorado Fire Department is one of the entities with the task of mitigating such risk, as it serves as an all-risk entity in the city. Increasingly, fire and police departments have integrated their services to best protect and serve the communities within which they function. This risk assessment focuses on determining the probability of certain risks and making recommendations regarding measures that should be implemented to mitigate them. El Dorado Hills is subject to natural, chemical, and man-made risks.
Natural risks include earthquakes, tornadoes, and weather events. The most significant natural risk is earthquakes. The estimated risk of earthquakes for the El Dorado Hills region is about 90 percent of the national average. The risk posed by tornadoes and weather is minimal, at only 15 percent and 5 percent of the national average, respectively (PropertyMaps.com).
The climate in the region is very mild, with the average temperature during July at 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the coldest in January being 39 degrees Fahrenheit. There is therefore little danger of weather-related problems for inhabitants of the community. The average yearly rainfall is below the national average (38.64 inches) at 24.61 inches. There is no risk from rain or hail, and the mild climate presents favorable conditions for residents overall.
The most significant chemical risk for El Dorado Hills is naturally occurring asbestos (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010). Asbestos occurs naturally in ultramafic rock formations throughout El Dorado County, California, and specifically in El Dorado Hills. In the city, asbestos has been found at the West Bear Mountains Fault Zone, which runs north to south through the county.
According to the EPA, asbestos has been found present in soil and ambient air in El Dorado Hills by means of both investigations and visual inspection. Specifically, such investigations focused on a residential area on Woedee Drive at Oak Ridge High School. It was recommended that mitigation activities be used to address asbestos contamination on the campus. A further recommendation could be that locations across the city be investigated for likely asbestos contamination and the risk of human exposure.
Man-made risks are significant and include fire and pollution. Fire can occur in residential, commercial, or wildland form. Fire occurs as a result of human error at home or in the workplace. Wildland fires can start as a result of unsupervised campfires, burning matches, or live cigarettes (El Dorado Hills Fire Dept, 2010). Because the rainfall per year for the area is fairly low, wildland fires are a significant risk. This risk is, however, lowered by the fact that wind poses no significant risk. The lack of very strong winds provides the possibility that the fire department can control a wildland fire fairly easily should it be detected in time.
Residential and commercial fires pose a lesser risk because these are generally mitigated by prevention and warning measures such as smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers within the home or workplace. Furthermore, nearly constant human presence in residential and commercial areas also lowers the risk of such fires.
The risk of pollution is also relatively high, with air pollution at 81 percent of the national average. This is a significant man-made problem, with motor vehicles, factories, and other commercial establishments contributing to it. Air pollution is the most significant pollution risk in the community. Air pollution can lead to significant health problems, such as exacerbating existing asthma problems or increasing the risk of developing breathing and lung conditions.
"Priority risks and mitigation strategy summary"
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