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Residents urge Sierra Vista to plan for prolonged power loss and address speeding on Coronado
Summary
At the May 28 meeting, resident Doug Smith warned of intensifying solar activity and urged the city to consider EMP-hardened generators at well sites; Sharon Lake asked council to address speeding and street-racing on Coronado, citing a recent deadly crash and risks to children and elderly residents.
During the May 28 call-to-the-public, two residents pressed the council on separate public-safety concerns.
Doug Smith told the council he believes recent solar activity has escalated and poses a growing risk to the electrical grid. "We are now experiencing intensity of electromagnetic radiation that is above any records we've ever experienced," Smith said, urging the city to consider contingency planning for water supply if electricity is out for weeks. He recommended the city obtain multiple 6,000-watt pull-start generators and consult engineers about shielding generators from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects so well sites could continue to operate.
Sharon Lake spoke about traffic safety concerns on Coronado, a heavily traveled north–south street near the police station. She described frequent speeding, street-racing and heavy vehicles, said the area serves school buses and residents including many elderly people, and recounted a recent crash that killed two people. "We don't need to have any other victims," Lake said, and asked the council to help address the safety risks after reporting incidents to police.
Council members acknowledged both comments. Councilwoman Fay Jackson said the council would discuss water and contingency planning in response to Smith's remarks and noted familiarity with the Coronado traffic issues Lake raised.
Why it matters: Both public comments raised operational and safety vulnerabilities — emergency utility continuity and neighborhood traffic safety — that could require coordination across public works, police and emergency management.
