HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B - Hazard Mitigation PlanEUGENE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Work Session: Discussion of the Eugene/Springfield Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Meeting Date: October 13, 2004 Agenda Item Number: B
Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Chuck Solin
www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5664
ISSUE STATEMENT
The cities of Eugene/Springfield have been involved in a planning effort to develop a Multi-Hazard
Mitigation Plan in an effort to maintain eligibility for pre- and post-disaster mitigation funding available
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
BACKGROUND
The President signed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) on October 30, 2000.
The law encourages and rewards local governments that are involved in mitigation planning. Building
on work that was begun following the floods of 1996, the City of Eugene applied for and received a
grant in FY02 to begin work on a mitigation plan and invited the City of Springfield to participate. The
plan has had initial FEMA review and only lacks adoption at the local level.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
This item directly relates to the council goal of a safe community.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
None, this is set for discussion only at this time. The plan will be submitted to the council in November
for adoption by resolution.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
None.
SUGGESTED MOTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Pages 4-1 through 4-5 Chapter 4.0 Plan Goals, Mitigation Strategies and Action Items
L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M041013\S041013B.doc
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Chuck Solin
Telephone: 682-5664
Staff E-Mail: chuck, r. solin~ci, eugene, or. us
L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M041013\S041013B.doc
ATTACHMENT A
4.0 Plan Goals, Mitigation Strategies and Action Items
4.1 Mitigation Plan Objectives
The overall purpose of the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area Hazard Mitigation Plan is to reduce the
negative impacts of future natural or anthropogenic disasters on the community. That is, the
purpose is to minimize the potential for deaths, injuries, damages, and economic losses and
disruption. Completely eliminating the risk of future disasters in the Eugene/Springfield Metro
Area is neither technologically possible nor economically feasible. However, substantially
reducing the negative impacts of future disasters is achievable with the implementation of a
pragmatic Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The primary objectives of this Hazard Mitigation Plan are:
1. Save lives and reduce injuries
2. Minimize damage to buildings and infrastructure, especially to critical facilities,
3. Minimize economic losses,
4. Decrease disruption of public services, businesses, schools, and families,
5. Protect the environment,
6. Foster public/private partnerships, and
7. Strengthen the social fabric and economic well-being of the Eugene/Springfield Metro
Area.
The Eugene/Springfield Metro Area has prepared this Hazard Mitigation Plan with these
important benefits in mind. Community involvement in both planning and implementing Hazard
Mitigation steps in the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area is essential for the success of this long
term effort. This Mitigation Plan is intended to be a catalyst to motivate the public sector, the
business community, and the public into giving of their time, energy and resources to implement
the mitigation actions deemed most important for the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area.
In addition, adoption of this Hazard Mitigation Plan will help the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area
meet regulatory requirements, including:
8. FEMA's (Federal Emergency Management Agency) mitigation planning requirements
so that the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area remains eligible for pre- and post-disaster
mitigation funding from FEMA,
9. FEMA's Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System guidelines, to help
minimize future flood insurance rates in the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area,
10. Oregon Emergency Management's mitigation planning evaluation criteria, and
11. Oregon's Goal 7 natural hazard planning guidelines.
Meeting these regulatory requirements is an essential step to facilitate implementation of
mitigation measures and in making progress towards achieving the primary objectives
summarized above.
4.2 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Strategies and Action Items
Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 4-1
There are some mitigation strategies and action items which apply to all of the hazards that pose
risks to the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area.
1. Develop categories of buildings and infrastructure at risk from most likely hazards and
prioritize mitigation projects to reduce the level of risk.
2. Identify and pursue funding opportunities to develop and implement specific mitigation
projects in the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area, including
a. FEMA pre-disaster and post-disaster mitigation programs,
b. Other Federal government programs, and
c. State, Lane County and the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area resources.
3. Develop incentives for businesses and residents to pursue hazard mitigation projects.
4. Strengthen emergency preparedness and response capabilities by incorporating the
hazard and risk information in the mitigation plan into emergency planning.
5. Consider the information, objectives, mitigation strategies and action items when
updating documents and programs.
6. Continue to meet FEMA's Community Rating System requirements for lower flood
insurance rates.
7. Enhance awareness of hazards by:
a. Maintaining the Mitigation Committee on an ongoing basis,
b. Encouraging public/private partnerships in mitigation actions,
c. Continuing education and outreach efforts.
8. Update Eugene and Springfield Emergency Operations Plans.
4.3 Hazard Specific Mitigation Strategies and Action Items
There are many other mitigation strategies and action items that are specific to each hazard.
There is a caveat with all of the following mitigation strategies and action items; unless otherwise
noted, they may only be implemented when funding has been identified.
4.3.1 Flooding Within FEMA-Mapped Floodplains
a. Complete the inventory of buildings and infrastructure within the 100-year
floodplains mapped by FEMA,
b. Collect elevation data for structures within the 100-year floodplain.
c. For structures which have experienced repetitive loss, encourage property
owners to explore mitigation alternatives with FEMA.
d. Encourage FEMA to update the Flood Insurance Study in areas where the
current study does not appear accurate (e.g., Amazon Creek, Cedar Creek and
McKenzie River).
Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 4-2
4.3.2 Flooding Outside of FEMA-Mapped Flood Plains
a. Maintain an inventory of locations in the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area
subjected to frequent storm water flooding,
b. The four locations in the Eugene/Springfield area with repetitive flooding and
significant damages or losses (road closures, property damage), determine
appropriate mitigation measures, and implement when federal funding is
available.
4.3.3 Winter Storms
a. Continue tree-trimming efforts especially for transmission lines feeding the
Eugene/Springfield Metro Area and trunk distribution lines within the
Eugene/Springfield Metro Area,
b. Educate private property owners about the dangers of vegetation near
distribution lines and service drops,
c. Encourage new development to include underground power distribution lines,
d. Consider upgrading lines and poles to improve wind/ice/tree loading capacity
and/or undergrounding for critical lines.
e. Consider adding interconnect switches to allow alternative power feed paths
and disconnect switches to reduce areas affected by future line failures,
f. Encourage critical facilities to have backup power and emergency operations
plans to deal with power outages.
4.3.4 Landslides
a. Encourage the State to complete the inventory of structures and infrastructure
in the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area subject to active landslides or high
landslide potential,
b. Continue to maintain appropriate regulation of steep slope development.
4.3.5 Wildland/Urban Interface Fires
a. Identify specific parts of the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area at high risk for
wildland/urban interface fires because of fuel loading, topography, and
prevailing construction practices,
b. Identify evacuation routes and procedures for high risk areas and educate the
public
c. Educate property owners on fire-safe construction practices for existing and
new construction in high risk areas.
d. On an annual basis, inform and encourage citizens in high risk areas to create
defensible space on their property and apply risk specific fire prevention
practices.
4.3.6 Earthquakes
Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 4-3
a. Continue to inventory commercial and public buildings in the Eugene/Springfield
Metro Area that may be particularly vulnerable to earthquake damage, including
(but not limited to) unreinforced masonry buildings and wood frame buildings.,
b. Educate and encourage residents and businesses in potentially vulnerable
buildings to undertake retrofits,
c. Consider seismic vulnerability assessments and develop mitigation strategies of
seismic retrofit of critical public buildings and critical utility infrastructure
identified as being particularly vulnerable.
4.3.7 Volcanic Hazards
a. Ensure that emergency planning appropriately addresses responses and public
notifications for ash fall events,
b. Encourage water treatment plant to evaluate its capability to deal with high
turbidity from ash falls and upgrade plants and emergency operations plans as
necessary.
c. Seek alternative sources of water supply not vulnerable to ash falls.
4.3.8 Dam Safety
a. Prepare high resolution, digitalized maps of dam failure inundation areas and
ensure that emergency planning appropriately addresses responses and public
notification for dam failures,
b. Encourage the Corps of Engineers to complete seismic vulnerability
assessments for the dams upstream of the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area and
to make seismic improvements, as necessary.
4.3.9 Disruption of Utility and Transportation Systems
a. Educate and encourage residents to maintain several days of emergency
supplies of food, water and medicines for power outages or road closures,
b. Ensure that emergency response plans appropriately address such events,
c. Encourage critical facilities to have appropriate backup power sources.
4.3.10 Hazmat Incidents
a. Ensure that first responders have site-specific knowledge of hazardous
chemical inventories in the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area, along with
appropriate response steps and equipment to deal with incidents,
b. Enhance emergency planning, emergency response, training and equipment to
address hazardous material incidents.
4.3.11 Terrorism
a. Encourage critical facilities to upgrade physical security, detection and
response capability, and cyber security.,
Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 4-4
b. Enhance emergency planning, emergency response, training and equipment to
address potential terrorist incidents.
The following tables contain summaries of long-term and short-term mitigation actions which
address multiple hazards and each of the specific hazards addressed in this plan.
Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 4-5