Top 5 Disasters
Do you know which types of disasters affect Orange County the most and how to prepare for them?
Orange County has a mild climate and generally stable weather. However, like all of Southern California, Orange County is in a seismically active area and is prone to flash floods, landslides and fire. Coastal communities could be exposed to a tsunami.
Every year California experiences approximately 500 earthquakes that are large enough to be detected and felt by local residents. Since Orange County has a number of seismic faults, earthquakes are almost an expected part of living here. Residents should be prepared by identifying safe places in each room of their homes and taking other precautions such as securing furniture and checking for gas leaks.
Learn more:
- Watch videos of earthquake simulations, sign up for an annual earthquake drill and check out regional hazard maps at The Great California Shakeout.
- Get the latest statistics on earthquakes at the Southern California Earthquake Data Center and check out their latest video.
- Prepare your home by noting earthquake precautions at Ready.gov’s Earthquake section.
- Review the latest on Orange County earthquakes from the Orange County Register Earthquake Central.
- Sign up for earthquake alerts at United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Tell the U.S. Geological Survey if you’ve felt an earthquake
- Download the American Red Cross Earthquake Tip Sheet to learn what to do before, during, and after an earthquake
- Be informed about earthquake faults in Orange County by downloading the California Fault Activity Map
Wildfires are among Orange County’s leading disasters because the terrain is prone to brush fires in the hot summer months when vegetation is dry. Residents in all sections of the county should take steps to make their homes less vulnerable to wildfires.
Consider retrofitting your home with ignition resistant features that can mean the difference between a few repairs and a complete rebuild after a fire. Clear vegetation in a 100-foot radius around your home, make sure the garden hose can reach any room and cover your chimney, vents and rain gutters with metal mesh or screens to prevent embers from spreading.
Learn more:
- Check out the OC Fire Watch program for volunteer information, motorist safety tips and more.
- Visit the Orange County Register’s Fire Central section for up-to-date fire news and an interactive map.
- Download the Orange County Fire Authority’s free Wildfire Action Plan.
- Find a detailed list of ways to prepare your home or business for fire at Ready.gov’s Fire section.
- Get fire-prevention tips, a list of fire-safe hotels and free fire-safety publications at the U.S. Fire Administration.
- Learn how you can protect your home in 3 simple steps with Cal Fire’s Ready, Set, Go!
- Get Outside, Stay Outside if there’s a fire in your home and how to best plan your escape from National Fire Protection Association.
Flooding is one of Orange County’s most likely disasters. Flash floods can strike any time with little or no warning turning Orange County streets and freeways can into rivers within seconds. Most flash flooding is caused by heavy rains concentrated over the same area and also from run-off from local hillsides and clogged storm drains.
Learn more:
- Get flood system inspection reports, river conditions and monthly drought updates at California’s Department of Water Resources.
- Learn about flood programs, Santa Ana River Project and Orange County Flood Control District at Orange County Flood Control Division.
- Follow recent national flooding and river news at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Find flooding readiness tips, flood hazard terms and ways to protect your home at Ready.gov’s Flood section.
- Learn more about flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program.
Landslides, also known as mudslides or debris flow, occur frequently in Orange County.
These disasters can be caused by a variety of factors including earthquakes, storms and fires. Landslides can occur quickly, often with little notice, and the best way to prepare is to stay informed about changes in and around your home that could signal that a landslide is likely to occur.
Also exercise caution when traveling through areas where mudslides have recently occurred because of heavy debris, mud and flooding.
Learn more:
- Download a Southern California landslides report with maps and resources.
- Get a list of home protection measures against landslides at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Tsunamis are series of traveling ocean waves of extremely long length generated by disturbances associated with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean floor. Both types of tsunamis, remote and local, have affected California.
Remote tsunamis have been the most frequent to hit California and are generated by earthquakes off the coasts of Japan, Alaska, Hawaii and Chile. The most significant remote tsunami to hit southern California was in 1960, when an 8.6 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile generated a tsunami that caused major damage to the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors.
Local tsunamis are generated off the coast of Southern California. Since 1800, only four locally generated tsunamis have been observed.
Learn more:
- Watch tsunami videos at USC’s Tsunami Research Center.
- Download a tsunami preparedness fact sheet from the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.
- Read about tsunamis in Southern California at the San Diego State University’s Geological Sciences Department blog.
- Get tsunami maps, facts and tips from the State of California website.