2019 Update Strategy for Reducing Risks From
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Strategy for Reducing Risks From Hazards in Middletown, Rhode Island: A Multi-Hazard Mitigation Strategy, 2019 Update Town of Middletown, RI Strategy for Reducing Risks From Hazards in Middletown, Rhode Island: A Multi-Hazard Mitigation Strategy, 2019 Update Acknowledgements Gina Raimondo Governor Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Marc Pappas Director Authors Town of Middletown Local Hazard Mitigation Committee Town of Middletown Planning Board Adopted by Middletown Town Council November 18, 2019 Approved by FEMA January 23, 2020 2 3 Additional Acknowledgements Mitigation planning has been successfully initiated in Middletown with continuing support and resources provided by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. The guidance and assistance provided by the Rhode Island State Hazard Mitigation Committee is essential for implementing the strategy presented in this plan. Middletown is also grateful for the efforts of the Town Planning Board, the Emergency Management Agency, and the Local Hazard Mitigation Committee in preparing this plan. Middletown Town Administrator Middletown Planning Department Shawn Brown Ronald Wolanski, Director of Planning & Economic Development Rita Lavoie, Principal Planner & GIS Manager Middletown Town Council Kevin Proft, Principal Planner Robert Sylvia, President Paul Rodrigues, Vice-President Local Hazard Mitigation Committee Terri Flynn Ronald Wolanski, Planning Rick Lombardi Rita Lavoie, Planning Theresa Santos Kevin Proft, Planning Dennis Turano Peter Faerber Jr., Fire Chief/EMA Director Barbara VonVillas Thomas O’Loughlin, Director of Public Works Timothy Beck, Police/EMA Deputy Director Will Cronin, Public Works Warren Hall, Engineering Jack Kane, Building & Zoning Official 4 State Interagency Hazard Mitigation Committee The role of the Rhode Island State Interagency Hazard Mitigation Committee (SIHMC) is to review, grade and prioritize all hazard mitigation activities and grants that come through the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). This committee is also responsible for reviewing and approving revisions and updates to the state hazard mitigation plan (§409 Plan). Chris Albert Joseph Bucci Peter Ginaitt Nicole Alexander-Scott Edward Capone Russ Godin Ernie Allen Steven Cascione Alicia Good Peter Alviti Michael Casey Carol Grant Dave Aucoin Janet Coit Terry Gray Scott Avedisian Bob Cooper Caitlin Greeley Jim Ball Kathy Crawley Chris Hatfield Brian Balukonis Teresa Crean Peter Healey Susan Barker Ryan Curtis Melinda Hopkins Wayne Barnes Brian Daniels John Kennedy Nicole Belk Michael DiBiase John Kennelly Mark Bennett Warren Ducharme Stephen King Gardner Bent Sue Earley Anne Kirori Benny Bergantino Jeffrey Emidy Seth Klaiman Ellen Berggren Chris Fox Christopher Kearns Veronica Berounsky Edward Fratto Thomas Kogut Kerry Bogdan Janet Freedman Nicholas Larmore Greg Bonynge Grover Fugate Gary Lataille Jim Boyd Randall Galpin Peter LePage Laura Bozzi Peter Gaynor Dawn Lewis Karen Bradbury Alan Gillespie John Leyden 5 Lawrence Macedo Brett Smiley Raymond Marshall Stephen Soito Mike McCallan Dinalyn Spears Tracy McCormick Monica Staaf Ernest McKenney Greg Stewart Timothy McLaughlin Jonathan Stone Alysia Mihalakos Laura Sullivan Kara Morris Melissa Surette Erin Norris Brian Tardiff Shaun Orourke Erica Tefft Paula Pallozzi Michael Tondra Bill Patenaude Erik Ulmen Spencer Peck Dave Vallee Jamie Pereira Phou Vongkhamdy Daniel Porter Henry Walker Denise Poyer Michael Walker Christine Quigley Matt Walsh Samantha Richer Jen West Susan Roberts Christopher Rolleston Pam Rubinoff Shannon Ruff Peder Schaefer John Shea Philip Sheridan Anthony Silva 6 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 10 1.1 MIDDLETOWN’S GOAL AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................... 11 1.2 A LOOK AT MIDDLETOWN ...................................................................................................... 11 1.3 PLANNING PROCESS .................................................................................................................. 16 2.0 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION & RISK ASSESMENT ................................................................... 23 2.1 HAZARD PROBABILITY ............................................................................................................. 24 2.2 MIDDLETOWN: HAZARDS AND HAZARD HISTORY ....................................................... 27 2.2.1 SEVERE WEATHER ............................................................................................................... 27 2.2.2 HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS ........................................................................ 32 2.2.3 FLOODING .............................................................................................................................. 40 2.2.4 WILDFIRE AND CONFLAGRATION ................................................................................ 46 2.2.5 DROUGHT ............................................................................................................................... 48 2.2.6 GEOLOGIC HAZARDS- EARTHQUAKES ........................................................................ 50 2.2.7 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ................................................................................................. 51 2.2.8 TERRORIST EVENTS ............................................................................................................. 54 2.2.9 CLIMATE CHANGE .............................................................................................................. 56 2.3 CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT........................................................................................................ 60 2.3.1 PLANNING EFFORTS ........................................................................................................... 60 2.3.2 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................... 61 2.3.3 GIS CAPABILITIES ................................................................................................................. 62 2.3.4 PUBLIC WORKS ..................................................................................................................... 63 2.3.5 NATIONAL GRID .................................................................................................................. 63 2.3.6 MODELING TOOLS ............................................................................................................... 64 3.0 ASSESSING VULNERABILITY ....................................................................................................... 64 3.1 SEVERE WEATHER .................................................................................................................. 65 3.2 HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS ........................................................................... 65 3.3 FLOODING ................................................................................................................................. 67 3.4 WILDFIRE AND CONFLAGRATION ................................................................................... 70 7 3.5 DROUGHT .................................................................................................................................. 70 3.6 GEOLOGIC HAZARDS - EARTHQUAKES .......................................................................... 71 3.7 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS .................................................................................................... 71 3.8 TERRORIST EVENTS ................................................................................................................ 71 3.9 POPULATION AT RISK ........................................................................................................... 72 3.10 POTENTIAL LOSSES TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY ......................................................... 73 3.11 CLIMATE CHANGE ............................................................................................................... 74 3.1 RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX – VULNERABLE AREAS ........................................................ 78 4.0 MITIGATION ACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 83 4.1 ACTION PLAN .............................................................................................................................. 84 4.2 ACTIONS CATEGORIZED BY HAZARD ADDRESSED ...................................................... 105 4.3 ACTION PLAN SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 107 5.0 PLAN MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................................. 110 5.1 IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................................................... 110 5.2 MONITORING ............................................................................................................................. 110 5.3 EVALUATION ............................................................................................................................. 111 5.4 REVISIONS ................................................................................................................................... 111 5.5 INCORPORATION INTO EXISTING PLANNING