Los Angeles, California Evacuation Routes

Los Angeles sits atop multiple active faults including the San Andreas (overdue for M7.5+), Northridge blind thrust, and others. A major quake could cause widespread building collapse, fire, and infrastructure damage.

Santa Ana winds drive catastrophic wildfires through the urban-wildland interface. Woolsey (2018), Station (2009), and Thomas (2017) fires demonstrated the extreme risk. Millions live in high-fire-risk zones.

A distant-source tsunami from Alaska, Cascadia, or trans-Pacific source could impact the LA coast with 4-5 hours warning. Local submarine landslide could generate waves with much less warning.

Post-fire debris flows are extremely dangerous in hillside communities. Rain on burned slopes creates fast-moving mudflows (as in Montecito 2018). Saturated hillsides also slide independently.

Heat waves are intensifying in the LA Basin. Inland valleys reach 110F+. Power grid strain during heat events can cause rolling blackouts affecting millions.

Wildfire smoke, temperature inversions, and vehicle emissions create hazardous air quality. During fire season, AQI can exceed 500 (hazardous). Inland valleys trap pollution.