Florecita Voluntary Evacuation Lifted

As of 11 a.m. today an advisory for voluntary evacuation of the Florecita neighborhood in Pasadena has been lifted.

Residents of the area may return to their homes and are advised to monitor local television and radio news and the city website for updates.

All Pasadena residents and businesses should review their personal, family and workplace emergency plans and make sure their emergency preparedness kits are up to date. More information about disaster preparedness can be found here or by calling the Pasadena Fire Department at (626) 744-7276.

Smoke and ash from the Station Fire are particularly heavy today, so everyone is advised by the Pasadena Public Health Department to avoid outside activity, especially elderly residents, children, people who have heart or respiratory health issues, and those whose immune systems are compromised.


Photo: Crown City News Blog

Voluntary Evacuation of Pasadena Neighborhood

Residents of the Florecita neighborhood in the far northwestern portion of Pasadena have been advised to evacuate their homes on a voluntary basis. (Florecita is way up near the top of the red area on the map above.)

The streets are Florecita Drive, Florecita Way, Florecita Lane, Florecita Terrace and Crestford Drive.

All residents of this District 1 neighborhood are strongly encouraged to pack important personal belongings and vital records, and go to another location away from potential fire hazards. Do not wait for a mandatory evacuation order!

There is no imminent danger for this neighborhood at this time, but a shift in weather patterns could create a hazard situation.

Pasadena fire engines and personnel are waiting nearby to protect homes and other structures if the need arises.

Any resident of the neighborhood who does not have an alternative place to go, such as a friend’s or relative’s home, can go to an evacuation site that has been established at Jackson Elementary School, 593 W. Woodbury Dr. in Altadena. The American Red Cross Pasadena-Pomona Valley Chapter is staffing the site and the Pasadena Humane Society has set up a portable animal shelter for pets.

Periodic media briefings will be conducted at the evacuation site by Los Angeles County Fire Department and Pasadena Fire Department.

See this page of our city website for more information about evacuation.

Earthquake!

Zack Stromberg, my graphic designer in the Public Affairs Office, was giving me an update on a project. Suddenly there was a jolt, and then the building began gently, ever so gently, swaying.

Had the earthquake hit prior to the seismic retrofit of Pasadena City Hall, it would have been horrible. But I'm happy to say the retrofit worked and all those base isolators did their job.

We were evacuated immediately. We headed down the stairs to the Garfield side of the building and then across the street, which is the standard evacuation for earthquakes, fires and other incidents. Some departments go to the northwest corner of Garfield and Holly, and other departments go the southwest corner where the Robinson Memorial (lovingly called "the heads") is located.

Before I show you evacuation photos, is your earthquake kit in order? How about your family emergency plan? Explore our Emergency Preparedness web page and get a move on!

Here are city employees beginning to gather at the northwest corner:


I was among the employees who gathered at the southwest corner:


Here's Zack, Barney Melekian, a constituent, our Public Affairs summer intern in the blue with her arm over her head, Assistant City Manager Julie Gutierrez with her back turned, Councilwoman Margaret McAustin, the mayor's executive assistant Lorain Nagahiro, and City Clerk's Office executive secretary Kathy Vandervort with her back turned.


It doesn't show up very well in this photo, but there are etchings on the backs of "the heads" that represent the accomplishments of Jackie and Mack Robinson who grew up in Pasadena. If you've never walked over and looked around the entire installation, I highly recommend it!


Pasadena Fire Department arrived to do an inspection of the building to ensure it was safe to reoccupy. Once they gave the high sign, an hour after we evacuated, we went back to work.