How Menlo Park residents can lower hazard risks

The City of Menlo Park recently partnered with the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management to update the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan identifies hazards, evaluates local risks and prioritizes actions to protect people, property, infrastructure and essential services.

Menlo Park faces many types of natural and human-made hazards. Earthquakes are a big concern since the city is close to several major faults. Strong shaking could damage buildings, roads, bridges and utilities. Areas near the Bay with soft soils or artificial fill could also experience liquefaction, which means the ground can lose strength during an earthquake.

Flooding is another key risk for Menlo Park. Heavy rain, high tides and strong storms can raise water levels in San Francisquito Creek and Atherton Channel, overwhelm storm drains and impact low-lying neighborhoods. Major roads, utilities and other important infrastructure could also be affected. In the long run, rising sea levels may lead to more tidal flooding, make it harder for stormwater to drain and raise groundwater levels along the Bay shoreline.

The updated plan also covers severe weather, extreme heat, drought, wildfires and smoke, power outages, dam failures, cyber threats, terrorism, pandemics and other emergencies. Climate change can make many of these risks worse by causing higher temperatures, changing rainfall and rising sea levels.

Residents and businesses can lower their risks by learning about local hazards, securing their buildings and belongings, preparing emergency supplies, making communication and backup plans and signing up. Take a look at the Menlo Park Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.