The Great Wave Heading for Los Angeles

If you were a child of the 1990s, or you were raising a child in the 1990s, you might just get a rush of nostalgia from the image below:

That’s right—it’s your friends from the Nickelodeon show “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.” This animated series ran for four seasons, delighting monster-loving kids everywhere. These crazy characters went on mega escapades, screaming and causing screams along the way. They lived under a city dump, and their daily shenanigans often involved the dirtiest places, spaces, and things. In fact, you can even watch Krumm and Ickis surf on sewage waste in the Annual Riding of the Great Wave surfing competition. The adventure!

Of course, you can imagine the risks one would face that involve surfing a wave of sewage. But, our team of experts is less concerned about the chances of that happening. Instead, we’re concerned about the Great Wave that’s heading to the California—specifically, Los Angeles—in the coming years. That’s right: Los Angeles is preparing for a surge of people and, as a result, a surge of everything that will come along with them.

In 2026, Los Angeles will host the FIFA World Cup. In 2028, Los Angeles will host the summer Olympics. And with those events, millions of people will flood the streets—and millions of pounds of sewage will flow through the sewer system and millions of pieces of trash will need to be collected and processed.

The city is assessing its risks: how will its current systems, both sanitation and all others, fair under the literal weight of millions of additional people in the city? Every aspect of accommodating fans and spectators, from infrastructure to sanitation to transportation, is being assessed by city leaders. Take, for instance, the ‘Twenty Eight by ‘28’ initiative introduced by Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2017 that outlines 28 infrastructure projects for the city to complete by 2028. Though the project is not meeting the city’s hopes, the initiative, and others like it, will be essential if the city hopes to be successful in 2026, 2028, and beyond. Through these initiatives, Los Angeles aims not only to host successful events but also to leave a lasting positive impact on the city and its communities. These efforts reflect lessons from past events, such as the profitable 1984 Olympics, and adapt them to modern challenges and opportunities.

The risks associated with hosting the Olympics and an organization’s need to prepare for future risks share key similarities in terms of complexity, uncertainty, and the necessity for comprehensive, forward-thinking strategies. Both situations require robust planning, resource allocation, and adaptability to successfully manage challenges and capitalize on opportunities. If you are concerned about your organization’s ability to host your future Olympic-like initiatives, call RiskVersity. Our team is at the ready to help you think about the future and make changes now that will allow for your organization to expand, respond, and be prepared for whatever Great Wave is heading your way.

Cover image from the LA Sanitation Department website