Whittier Narrows Dam: Managing Risk Thru Communication: A Partnership Between USACE and The City of Pico Rivera

ABSTRACT ONLY - Whittier Narrows Dam, owned and operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, is the centerpiece of flood risk infrastructure within Los Angeles County. Located in the nation’s most populous county, Whittier Narrows Dam provides flood risk reduction benefits to approximately 1 million people within 25 municipalities. USACE is currently designing for a modification to address both stability concerns and a hydrological deficiency. This significant project is scheduled to be completed within 4-5 years. Communication plays an important role in supporting meaningful dialogue with those who collectively work to manage flood risk, plan for, and respond to emergencies, as well as increasing awareness of the importance dams play in people’s lives.Communicating to a large, ethnically diverse population in an urban setting with considerable competing priorities (earthquakes, drought, fires, congestion, affordability) is no small task. USACE continually seeks opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue with elected officials, emergency planners and responders, as well as the public at large. Along the way, USACE formed a valuable and important partnership with the City of Pico Rivera, located immediately downstream of the dam and situated within the highest risk areas due to both spillway releases and breach waters. City officials quickly grasped the importance of engaging in meaningful dialogue to improve their emergency preparedness and increase the understanding of the importance Whittier Narrows Dam plays in the continued health of their community. This foresight led to innovative communication and multimedia strategies employed by Pico Rivera. The City wanted to give its residents this vital information given urgency to address the identified deficiencies. Providing real time updates from USACE through Social Media platforms, or timely updates through newsletters, provides City residents with the most accurate information available which is crucial in a time when everyone is receiving information from unofficial sources that is often exaggerated creating unnecessary panic. This presentation will highlight how the partnership continues to play a vital role in helping manage flood risk and sharing the importance of dams in our society.