This summary-level information is intended to help in your search for a Manhattan Beach home. It is not a substitute for the disclosure statements required for real estate transactions.

All things considered, Manhattan Beach is a pretty safe place to live.

To help keep it safe, a Hazard Mitigation Plan was prepared for Manhattan Beach in November, 2008. Click Here to read the full plan. In that plan the following natural hazards were analyzed:

• Tsunami – low probability
• Landslide – low probability
• Flood – moderate probability
• Earthquake – moderate probability

Other hazards (windstorm, drought, terrorism, hazardous materials, and urban fire) were also evaluated. Hazards of those types were judged to be unlikely to overwhelm the city’s ability to respond effectively.

Tsunami

The probability of a tsunami hitting Manhattan Beach is extremely low. But a sharp, local earthquake could generate a significant wave that would inundate part of our beach front area.

Landslide

There have been no significant landslides in Manhattan Beach. However, the Manhattan Beach General Plan identifies the north end of Sand Dune Park as being the only area in the City that may be prone to landslides due to unstable soils.

Flood

No portions of Manhattan Beach lie within a federally designated flood zone but, two types of flooding are possible. Areas with elevations under 100 feet are at risk of coastal flooding. Other low-lying areas may experience localized, urban flooding under severe storm conditions. For normal rainstorms, the city’s drainage system prevents flooding. The Manhattan Beach General Plan contains a map of flood areas.

Earthquake

Like most of the Los Angeles area, Manhattan Beach is susceptible to earthquakes. No surface faults are known to pass through Manhattan Beach, but other active faults can cause shaking severe enough to damage structures. Manhattan Beach building codes are intended to minimize damage to structures from earthquakes. Ground shaking may also result in liquefaction, when wet granular soils change from a solid state to a liquid state. According to maps from the Division of Mines and Geology of the California Department of conservation, the city has two liquefaction zones, Sand Dune Park and the beach west of the Strand. Neither of these areas is zoned for development.

Radon

This colorless, odorless radioactive gas results from the natural decay of uranium. The “Radon Potential Zone Map for Southern Los Angeles County, California”, 2005, by the California Geological Survey shows Manhattan Beach as having a low potential for indoor radon in hazardous quantities. Click here for map.

Airport

Although the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is nearby, the City of Manhattan Beach is not located within an Airport Influence Area, as defined by the State of California.

Neighboring Industries

Occasional noise and emissions occur from the Chevron Refinery and the El Segundo Power Generation facility in El Segundo. This mainly affects residences near the northern border of Manhattan Beach. The Manhattan Beach General Plan has more information.