VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR 2026 GENERAL ELECTION 

SIERRA MADRE DECLARES EL NIÑO EMERGENCY 


Approves $100,000 in Storm Preparedness Funding 

VOLUME 20 NO. 42SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026 
By Kevin McGuire 

With another potentially dangerous winter 
storm season approaching, the Sierra 
Madre City Council unanimously approvedtwo resolutions on Tuesday, October 13,
declaring a threatened local emergency andallocating $100,000 to help the City respondto potential flooding, mudslides, and debrisflows associated with the developing 2026–
2027 El Niño weather pattern. 

Resolution No. 26-93 establishes a local 
emergency declaration in anticipation of 
severe winter weather, while Resolution No. 
26-94 authorizes a $100,000 supplementalappropriation from the City's General Fund 
Reserve for storm-related supplies, materials,
equipment, and emergency services. 

City Manager Michael Bruckner presentedthe recommendations during the meeting,
based on a staff report prepared by Fire ChiefBrent Bartlett. 

The actions follow a statewide emergencyproclamation issued by Gov. Gavin Newsomon September 21 and a similar declarationby Los Angeles County, which the Board ofSupervisors ratified on September 29, 2026. 

Bruckner told the Council that at least 10 
California cities and eight counties had 
already taken formal emergency actions 
related to the anticipated El Niño event,
including Malibu, Rancho Palos Verdes, andMonterey Park. "The common approach hasbeen to prepare before a significant stormoccurs rather than wait until an emergency isalready underway," Bruckner said. 

Eaton Fire Increases Storm Concerns 

Sierra Madre faces particular risks because itsits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains,
where steep terrain and natural drainagepatterns can contribute to flash flooding,
landslides, and debris flows. Those concernsintensified following the January 2025 EatonFire, which destroyed vegetation in portionsof the watershed above the community. 

Heavy rainfall in February 2025 sent 
mud, rocks, and debris into parts of SierraMadre, damaging homes and vehicles,
forcing road closures and evacuations, andplacing significant demands on emergencypersonnel. 

Wildfire-damaged hillsides are particularlyvulnerable to erosion and debris flows 
because burned vegetation and altered 
soil conditions can increase runoff duringheavy rainfall. These risks can persist forseveral rainy seasons as vegetation and soilconditions recover. 

According to Bartlett's report, another 
season of severe or prolonged storms could 
result in localized flooding, blocked streets,
fallen trees and power lines, damage to publicinfrastructure, interruptions to water andsewer services, and additional evacuations.
Bruckner used the analogy of building Noah’sArk to say that Sierra Madre is preparing forheavy rain events, if they should come. 

The City Manager emphasized that SierraMadre's location and proximity to the Eaton 
Fire burn scar make advance preparationespecially important. He also noted thatrainfall the week before the Council meetingreminded everyone that the rainy season wasalready beginning. 

Emergency Funding Intended for ImmediateResponse 

Although the Council approved $100,000in emergency funding, Bruckner clarifiedthat the money would not necessarily be 
spent immediately. Councilmember EdwardGarcia asked whether the appropriation 
would support additional evacuation 
planning and public education or primarilyfund responses to storm damage. 

Bruckner explained that the appropriationwould be reserved for situations requiringadditional resources, such as clearing debrisbasins after heavy rainfall or installingprotective barriers, such as K-rails, in 
vulnerable neighborhoods. 

"This would be a responsive fund,” Brucknerstated, noting that the City isn’t just goingto go out and “buy a bunch of stuff.” Forexample, the City could use the funding to 
remove debris from a basin after a storm 
if additional rainfall is forecast, reducingthe risk of overflow or further damage. TheCity could also install additional concreteK-rail barriers in canyon areas or otherlocations experiencing runoff and debris-
flow problems. 

The emergency declaration would also 
provide an administrative framework forcoordinating with Los Angeles County, theCalifornia Governor's Office of EmergencyServices, neighboring communities, utilityproviders, and emergency contractors.
Under Sierra Madre Municipal Code Section2.08.140, the City Council may proclaim 
a local emergency, or the threatened 
existence of one, when potentially dangerousconditions could exceed the capabilities of 
normal municipal services. The declarationdoes not mean that a major disaster iscurrently occurring. Instead, it recognizesthe possibility of severe conditions and allowsthe City to prepare before an emergencydevelops. 

State law requires the Council to review thecontinuing need for the declaration at leastonce every 60 days and terminate it whenemergency conditions no longer warrant it. 

Council Discusses Evacuation Planning 

During the discussion, Garcia raised 
concerns about whether Sierra Madre has 
a sufficiently detailed evacuation plan,
particularly for neighborhoods that couldbecome difficult to access during severestorms or other emergencies. He praised theCity's emergency personnel for their responseduring the Eaton Fire but suggested thatadditional planning and public educationcould improve future evacuations. "We dida pretty good job during Eaton Fire, but wecould always improve on that," Garcia said. 

The councilmember specifically mentionedemergency notification systems, includingNixle, Genasys Protect, and Smart911,
and questioned whether the City could domore to educate residents about evacuation 
procedures and how warnings are 
communicated. 

Mayor Kristine Lowe suggested considering 
a separate, more comprehensive evacuation-
planning initiative, potentially using grantfunding rather than the City's General Fund. 
Bruckner noted he and Chief Bartlett had 
already discussed the issue and that it was 
among the responsibilities being consideredfor an incoming deputy chief. 

Mayor Lowe also recommended exploringnew ArcGIS geographic information systemsoftware that could (continued on pg. 4) 

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND 
KILLED ON TUESDAY BY 
METRO TRAIN IN PASADENA 

(CNS) - One person was struck and killed by a Metro train 
in Pasadena, officials said Tuesday. The pedestrian was 
struck by an A Line train on the tracks south of the Fillmore 
Station near the intersection of Glenarm Street and Arroyo 
Seco Parkway, a Metro spokesperson said.

 Pasadena Fire Department personnel responded to the 
scene and confirmed the fatality, officials said.

 A bus bridge was set up between the Filmore and South 
Pasadena stations to transport passengers. The 75 passengers 
who were on the train at the time were safely evacuated. No 
further injuries were reported.

 Service between the Filmore and South Pasadena stations 
was temporarily halted following the collision. 

Trains heading to Long Beach were turning back at South 
Pasadena and trains heading to Pomona-North were turning 
back at Filmore Station. A Line service resumed with no 
interruptions as of 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

 ''Metro reminds all riders to stay behind the yellow safety 
line, remain aware at rail stations and never walk on or near 
train tracks, even when they are designated as safe crossings,'' 
Metro said in a statement.

 No further information on the cause of the pedestrian's 
death or their identity was immediately available at press 
time 


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