In 2021, the Town contracted with Fehr & Peers to conduct an evacuation study. Fehr & Peers has conducted similar work in the state, including a recent study in Rancho Cucamonga. They are now working on a similar study in Marin County. 

In addition to staff management of the project, two members of the Emergency Preparedness Committee have worked with the consultant on the study and provided the public with opportunities to comment on the ongoing project.

On August 4, 2022, the Emergency Preparedness Committee recommended the Town Council adopt the Evacuation Study.

The study was reviewed and adopted  by the Town Council on August 10, 2022. The study will be incorporated in the ongoing Safety Element update (Fehr & Peers is also serving on the consulting team for the Safety Element update)

You may also wish to review the following documents:

• Town Council meeting staff reports on the award of the contract from September 2021 here
• Power point from Wildfire Preparedness Committee discussion in August 2021 here
• Power point from Fehr & Peers presentation to the Emergency Preparedness Committee here
• Presentation to the Wildfire Preparedness Committee in February 2022 here

• Addendum to Study Draft Housing Element Sites

Should you wish to learn more about Wildfire Evacuations in Portola Valley, please click here; a message from the Emergency Preparedness and Wildfire Preparedness Committees from May 2021 on evacuations is available here, and a message about town-wide drills from the Fire Chief, Committee Chairs, the Sheriff’s Office and Town staff from August 2021 is here.