Sounding Off:

Newport Beach resident Richard Flory, in his recent Sounding Off (“City should be prepared for big crowds,” Thursday) expressed the views held by many residents regarding the city’s ability to handle large crowds on the Balboa Peninsula.

He correctly pointed out the ongoing difficulties in that part of town caused by “visitors” intent on borrowing the ambience of this almost perfect place.

Cars, bicycles, skaters, trash, parking violations and rude people are all the issues residents deal with almost every summer day.

The issue was exacerbated weeks ago when the huge waves at the Wedge drew thousands of gawkers, apparently intent on seeing another person get pounded to death on the rocks, as happened early in the “Weekend of Waves.”

I agree with Flory and others who expressed concern about their ability to get to and from their homes. However, I think he’s missing the bigger issue here — what do you do in the event of a major natural event, such as an earthquake and/or tsunami?

I’ve seen the charts displaying the areas of the city that would be in jeopardy if a significant tsunami were to occur.

As you might expect, it encompasses virtually all low-lying areas — basically, every bit of sand in the city. The entire Balboa Peninsula, from the harbor entrance to the Santa Ana River mouth, is especially vulnerable. That includes all the islands in the harbor, too.

I also viewed the chart that describes the tsunami evacuation routes — and laughed. I read the evacuation folder prepared by the city for residents and visitors — and stopped laughing.

If — and that’s a big if — there is sufficient warning of a tsunami, the roads from the tip of the peninsula to the Arches Bridge would be impassable.

Even if all lanes were used for outbound traffic, it’s unlikely that every person on the peninsula could be evacuated in time — it would take hours.

Sure, the folks on the inland side of Pacific Coast Highway would have a chance to get to higher ground, but the folks on the peninsula would be in big trouble.

Quite honestly, I’m not sure there is a solution to this problem. It’s hard enough for emergency vehicles to transit the peninsula on busy summer days and nights, much less manage a major evacuation. However, I think it’s important for the leaders of Newport Beach to take another look at this issue and try to develop a workable solution — or be honest with the residents of the peninsula if there is none.

GEOFF WEST is a Costa Mesa resident.