Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan - County of Santa Clara

CHAPTER TWO: PREPARATION
A. Threats Facing the County
This section of the Emergency Operations Plan consists of a series of threat summaries based
upon a Santa Clara Operational Area hazard analysis. This hazard analysis was conducted by
Office of Emergency Services staff, providing a description of the local area, risk factors and
the anticipated nature of situations, which could threaten or occur in Santa Clara County. The
following identified threats are discussed:
• Major Earthquake
• Wildland Urban/Interface Fire
• Extreme Weather
• Public Health Emergency
• Technological and Resource Emergency
• Hazardous Material Incident
• Terrorism
• Flood
• Landslide
It is important to note that these hazards are not mutually exclusive hazards. One or more of
these events may be taking place simultaneously. Specific actions to be accomplished in
response to these incidents are contained in the Checklists that are separate from this plan.
Santa Clara County, also referred to as “South Bay” or “Silicon Valley,” is located at the
southern end of the San Francisco Bay and encompasses 1,312 square miles. The Santa Clara
Valley runs the entire length of the County from north to south, ringed by the rolling hills of the
Diablo Range on the east, and the Santa Cruz Mountains on the west. Salt marshes and
wetlands lie in the northwestern part of the county, adjacent to the waters of San Francisco Bay.
The County’s population of nearly 1.7 million (as of the 2000 Census Bureau report) is one of
the largest in the state and is the largest of the ten Bay Area counties. Its population constitutes
about one fourth of the Bay Area’s total population. There are 15 cities including; Campbell,
Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill,
Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale ranging from Palo
Alto to the north, to Gilroy in the south. San Jose is the largest city in the County, with a
population of nearly 900,000 and is the administrative site of County Government. A
significant portion of the County’s land area is unincorporated ranch and farmland. Nearly
92% of the population lives in cities.
The local industry of the County of Santa Clara is dominated by the technology sector.
Computer software and hardware manufacturing, wholesale and services in particular are some
of the largest industry segments in terms of both annual receipts and employees.
The County has three main interstate highways; 280, 680, and 880, one U.S. Route (101), and
the following CA State Routes; 9, 17, 82, 85, 87, 130, and 237. Mass transit in the County
includes: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) which includes a light rail
service, Caltrain, Amtrack, and ACE Train. Airports include: Norman Y. Mineta International
Airport, Moffett Federal Airfield, and three County airports: Reid Hillview, Palo Alto, and
South County.
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