Essay Sample on LA's Population and Natural Disasters

Introduction

The current population of Los Angeles California is 3,990,456 million, which is approximated to be 3.99 million. Los Angeles, which is normally referred to as L.A., is the most heavily populated city in California as well as the second city in popularity in the United States after New York. Los Angeles is also a combined statistical area and a global city, which is the third-largest in the earth after the first one, Great Tokyo, and the second one New York. Besides, Los Angeles has been growing very fast in the country for the past centuries (Fernandez-Ardevol, 2012). However, its growth has slowed a little bit for the last decade. The city is incredibly diverse since it holds people from all 140 countries, since speaking different languages. The largest ethnic group in Los Angeles Is Mexicans with 31.9 of the overall population, then followed by Salvadorans and Guatemalans with 6% and 3.6%, respectively. The Mexicans, which involves the Latinos population spread throughout Los Angeles, but mostly concentrated in the East. Besides, the largest Asian ethnic groups in the city are Filipinos and Koreans, representing 3.2% and 2.9%, respectively. These are mostly concentrated in the town of Korea and Filipino town, respectively. The city also involves 1.8% of Chinese people who live beyond the limit required in the city ((2020).

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The Thais and Cambodians live in Thai town and China town within the city and the Japanese that accounts for up to 0.9% of the overall population in the city. These Japanese primarily live in little Tokyo in the downtown of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is also a relevant home for the relatively Middle East population, which mostly contains Iranians and Armenians. Furthermore, the population of African Americans in Los Angeles is most dense in the Southern part of the city, particularly In the Crenshaw and Watts's neighborhood (Fernandez-Ardevol, 2012). Having the substantial immigration of Mexico and Central America, Hispanics and Latinos have already outnumbered the population of the black people in the city. However, this population of the black people I the town was higher than the population of Hispanics before the nineteenth century.

Hazards That Put the Los Angeles California at Risk and Their Prioritization

Los Angeles is prone to a higher figure of both human-made and natural threats, but it is mainly susceptible to the effects of destructive flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, and mudslides. Due to the many threats that the city faces, it has been found essential for it to be ready, hence avoiding overstating the residents. The critical part of disaster preparedness is aware of the hazard kinds as well as disasters that the residences can be subjected to (Waugh & Streib, 2006). Below are the hazards and the prioritization of identifying them.

Earthquakes

Los Angeles California is positioned at incredibly high risk of experiencing earthquakes by the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The city experiences the most damaging and frequent earthquakes. However, the public, as well as policymakers, are provided with precise knowledge of the natural hazards as well as offers comprehensive real-time monitoring of earthquakes by the United States' Geological Survey (USGS). Various system faults running in the city can lead to different types and sizes of earthquakes. In return, various constructions are retrofitted to survive harsh shaking.

Fire

Fire is enormously powerful and spreads within 30 seconds, with the temperature reaching up to 600 degrees. It also produces harmful gases and heat, which leads to the deaths of individuals easily than flames do. In Los Angeles, wildfires and residential fires are part of lives daily. Therefore, it is necessary to have a familiar strategy to be implemented in cases of the occurrences of fire. A residential fire contributes to a third in contributing to accidental deaths at homes, as well as the loss of millions of dollars properties. Most of the fires occurrences in homes are caused by smoking carelessly, cooking, faulty heating as well as arson.

Nevertheless, fire-related damages and deaths are avoided by having a proper system of smoke alarm or residential sprinklers. It is also essential for residents from Los Angeles to check the smoke alarms regularly to ensure that they are functioning appropriately. Besides, Los Angeles has a fire department- the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) that enhances fire avoidance through enhancement as well as education program (L.A. Emergencies and Threats | Emergency Management Department, 2020). Through this, the inspectors of LAFD work with business executives and homeowners to ensure that its fire code has been followed.

Harsh Flooding and Weather

Los Angeles area is a semi-desert of canyons, mountains, ravines as well as vast basins. The occurrence of these features in the community can form disasters when main high winds, thunderstorms, or other and weather strikes. Flooding commonly occurs in valleys and mountain passes, and mudslides on hillsides with few types of vegetation. The creek beds in Southern California, the dry rivers as well as deep slots canyons are very hazardous for individuals faced by moving flash floods. Most of the floods in Los Angeles happen after heavy rains, melting of winter snows, and during tropical storms. The USGS has created an awareness program in educating people on avoiding severe weather and flooding.

Land Slides

Heavy rains, erosion, and other aspects play a great role in landslides in Los Angeles. Most of the landslides occur during earthquakes, severe storms, wildfires, and volcanoes, thus causing deaths and severe injuries. Heavy rains in the community are also responsible for debris and mudflows, making the ground to move very quickly. The main factor that contributes to landslides in Los Angeles is its mountainous terrain (Increasing the Resilience to Natural Hazards in Southern California, 2020). Landslides disastrous damage to the natural environment, as well as affects agricultural productivity adversely. Human beings in the country have been encouraged by USGS to actively practice in activities like afforestation, reduce mining activities, and proper irrigation.

Hurricane

These are great storms that form in the Gulf of Mexico, eastern Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean as well as the Caribbean Sea. They carry heavy rains and high winds, which are very dangerous. Besides, they can have a lot of heat as power from the sea. Los Angeles is commonly stroked by about five hurricanes, whereby two are major measuring a category three on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Therefore, they can be costing more damage to the community. Consequently, it is essential to follow the storm course in evacuating it (Comfort, 2016).

Why Los Angeles Community Needs to Improve Its Resilience

There is a need for any community to be prepared in tackling any problems that it is likely to face. Taking a situation in Los Angeles, the community is at high risk of experiencing catastrophic losses emanating from natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, floods, among others. When these hazards occur, the effects are devastating people lose lives, buildings are destroyed, businesses may be interrupted, and infrastructure damaged. As a result, a lot of money is needed in helping restore the situation. There is also the tendency of natural hazards leading to the emergence of secondary hazards; for instance, earthquakes can lead to fires and landslides. It is therefore essential for policymakers to make a decision regarding hazards and how to handle such situations; this will also mean that investigation to be conducted to ensure such conditions are mitigated and strategies are in place (Waugh & Streib, 2006).

There will also be a need to ensure resources are set aside that will be used in case the hazards take place. Strategies on resilience will ensure that the Los Angeles community is well prepared should the natural disasters occur; this will ensure that anything that may take place in the community is well guided and the community can easily handle. Resilience will exceed disaster preparedness; it will provide a plan for a safer environment, economy protection, inclusive institutions, and strengthen the infrastructure. Resilience will also ensure that the Los Angeles community is well prepared and have plans in place should the hazards take place since people will be prepared for the shocks and stresses that come with hazards. Events likely to threaten or weaken the residents of Los Angeles will become easy to deal with when the community is resilient (Mayor Eric Garcetti Releases 'Resilience Strategy' to Combat Natural Disasters, Unexpected Changes, 2020). There will also be commitment and collaboration among the community; this will ensure that the Los Angeles community can live safely and stronger. People will also become self-sufficient as they are well prepared, and then the situation will become easy to restore.

References

Comfort, L. (2016). Building community resilience to hazards. Safety Science, 90, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2015.09.031

Fernandez-Ardevol, M. (2012). Older population and mobile communication in Los Angeles. Preliminary results of a case study. IN3 Working Paper Series. doi: 10.13140/2.1.2716.1929

Increasing the Resilience to Natural Hazards in Southern California. (2020). Retrieved 15 January 2020, from https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3037/

L.A. Emergencies and Threats | Emergency Management Department. (2020). Retrieved 15 January 2020, from https://emergency.lacity.org/la-emergencies-and-threats

Mayor Eric Garcetti Releases 'Resilience Strategy' to Combat Natural Disasters, Unexpected Changes. (2020). Retrieved 15 January 2020, from https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/los-angeles-mayor-eric-garcetti-releases-strategy-to-combat-natural-disasters/139403/

Waugh Jr, W. L., &Streib, G. (2006). Collaboration and leadership for effective emergency management. Public administration review, 66, 131-140.doi: 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006. 00673.x