Photograph of Mayor Don Pellegrino, Fire Chief Jerry Gardner, Arcadia Police Department Capt. Gordon Schneiders going over plans of new emergency dispatch and 9-1-1 communications center during groundbreaking ceremonies held last week.
Arcadia has a new emergency notification system called Alert Arcadia. Anyone can sign up to receive messages via phone voice mail, e-mail, and/or text.
Arcadia stresses emergency preparedness ACTION. ACTION stands for Arcadians Caring Together Improves Our Neighborhoods. The purpose of the Emergency Preparedness Program is to prepare and respond effectively to major emergencies by establishing and maintaining an emergency management system which coordinates preparedness, response and recovery phases for natural and technological disasters and national security emergencies.
Arcadia declares fiscal emergency. Budget cuts may hurt city services. After an analysis of expenditures and revenues, Arcadia City Council adopted Resolution 7242 and declared a fiscal emergency.
Don Alcorn, a 20-year veteran of the Arcadia Police Department, has been named to the new post of Emergency Services Coordinator by the Arcadia City Council. Alcorn's job is to prepare an emergency plan that will cover any aspect of any possible disaster, from earthquake to fire to nuclear disaster.
Arcadia wants you to be prepared for any disaster or emergency. September is National Preparedness Month. Every household should have a disaster kit (food, water, medications, flashlight, and a multi-tool).
Power still out in parts of Pasadena. The California Emergency Management Agency's acting secretary Mike Dayton is touring the cities most impacted by the windstorm. His visit is considered a precursor to a state declaration of emergency, which would pave the way for state and federal assistance. Arcadia City Manager Don Penman said damage to public buildings and recovery efforts are expected to top $2 million, and that damage to private property could run several million more.
Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) has proposed legislation to improve emergency and disaster preparedness by California's public utilities. Recent windstorm disaster highlighted the need to be better prepared.
State official views damage caused by last week's windstorm. California Emergency Management Agency's acting secretary Mike J. E. Dayton toured 8 San Gabriel Valley cities that were hardest hit, including Altadena, Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Temple City, San Gabriel and Alhambra, to assess the damage. He will determine whether state or federal assistance may be applicable.
The Community Hotline, a 24-hour, seven-day-a week emergency crisis intervention telephone service, is primarily for adolescents and young adults in Arcadia and neighboring communities. The problems it deals with are mainly drug and alcohol related. Executive director is the Rev. Bob Johnson, youth minister of the Arcadia Presbyterian Church. The number to call is 574-0600.
The windstorm that hit San Gabriel Valley on November 30-December 1 leaves lessons. Utilities and city officials study what went wrong to be better prepared in future emergencies and disasters. Southern California Edison (SCE) restored power to the last of its 433,925 customers by Thursday--one week after the storm--and is now the subject of public criticism and a probe by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for "prolonged power outages." Crews in Pasadena and surrounding cities are still clearing the streets.
The Arcadia Police Department's non-emergency business telephone numbers have been changed to the following: Front desk, 570-5150; Administrative offices, 574-5178; Investigation division, 574-5160. The change is due to the switch to Pacific Bell Centrex System which gives priority to emergency services in the event of an emergency.
Concerned horse owners will make an effort to get the Arcadia City Council to extend an emergency moratorium, stopping any new subdivision in their area until a petition they presented to the council can be considered.