Hardin County, Iowa Hazard Mitigation Plan 2011 - 2016 Submittal Date: June 17, 2011 Approval Date: TBD Plan Prepared By: Region 6 Planning Commission 903 E Main Street Marshalltown, IA 50158 This is a multi-jurisdictional multi-hazard plan written Plan Authors: in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulation, Alyson Lutz, Planner Title 44, Part 201 pending FEMA approval. Alicia Rosman, Planner Cover Art: American Legion building roof collapsed after heavy hail storms ripped through Eldora, Iowa on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. (Matthew Putney / Courier Photo Editor) Table of Contents Special Thanks…………………………………………………………………………………4 Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………….5 Prerequisites……...…………………………………….………………………………………………………..7 Chapter 1: Introduction………………………………………………………………………..12 Chapter 2: Hazard Mitigation Planning Process…………………………………………16 Chapter 3: Planning Area……………………………………………………………………30 3.1 - Planning Area Profile………………………………………………………………………..30 3.2 - Jurisdiction Descriptions and Capabilities……………………………………………….61 Chapter 4: Risk Assessment……………………………………………………………………………110 4.1 - Hazard Identification………………………………………………………………………….111 4.2 - Hazard Profiles…………………………………………………………………126 4.3 - Hazard Ranking………………………………………………………………163 4.4 - Vulnerability Assessment………………………………………………….168 4.4.1 - Vulnerability……………………………………………………………….169 4.4.2 - Community Assets…………………………………………………191 4.4.3 - Repetitive Loss Properties……………………………………………………………….222 Chapter 5: Mitigation Strategy………………………………………………………………………………..222 5.1 - Goals, Mitigation Actions, and Evaluation……………………………………………………223 Chapter 6: Plan Maintenance Process…………………………………………………………….292 6.1 - Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan……………………………………………..292 6.2 - Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms……………………………..294 6.3 - Continued Public Involvement…………………………………………………………………………….294 Chapter 7: Recommendations………………………………………………………………………..295 2 *Continue to next page for Appendices Appendices A: Resolutions for Adoption B: Community Inventories C: Kick off Meeting Materials D: Countywide Meeting #1 Materials E: Countywide Meeting #2 Materials F: Countywide Hazard Mitigation Action List G: STAPLEE Evaluations H: Public Comment Documentation I: Ground Transportation Commodity Flow Study J: Articles on Eldora Hail Storm 3 Special Thanks A special thank you goes out to all those involved in the creation of the Hardin County Multi- Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. These participants include: Hardin County Planning Team; Hardin County Supervisors, especially Jim Johnson; Hardin County Emergency Management Coordinator, Doug Riggs; and Staff of the Region 6 Planning Commission. Without the hard work and dedication of these people’s time and effort, this plan would not be a reality. It now serves as documentation of the will of the people of Hardin County to protect the lives and physical assets in their area. 4 Executive Summary This multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan is being submitted to FEMA by the Region 6 Planning Commission in Marshalltown, Iowa on behalf of one of its four jurisdictional counties, Hardin County. This plan defines hazards as- “any source of danger that threatens humans, property, and the environment” (FEMA 385-2/August 2001, Page iii) - and hazard mitigation planning - a proactive approach to prepare individual Hardin County jurisdictions for hazards that could affect them. The entire mitigation process is outlined, including the steps of organizing community resources, risk assessment and mitigation strategy, writing the plan, community comment period, submitting the plan, plan approval and adoption, and finally plan implementation by jurisdictions and counties. One of the most important steps is the risk assessment and mitigation strategy in which countywide meetings attended by each participating jurisdiction were held. Asset mapping, identifying critical facilities and vulnerable populations, as well as establishing goals and prioritizing mitigation actions are all exercises the participants completed to help determine the needs of each jurisdiction. The planning authors completed background research to produce a profile of Hardin County, which is the entire planning area. Information including location, demographics, housing, transportation, and economic conditions gives a statistically detailed depiction of the planning area. Similar data is presented for the individual jurisdictions of Hardin County, along with even more detailed information of the area including local government, services provided, resources employed, and previous mitigation efforts taken at the city level. Six school districts are also included in the planning area; profiles include enrollment and school building locations. In the Risk Assessment chapter, every hazard that could possibly affect Hardin County is identified and profiled with the information of its description, historical occurrence, probability, vulnerability of the county, the maximum extent of its possible destruction, severity and speed of onset included. Based on the frequency and/or impact of each of these descriptors, the hazards are ranked with the highest, severe winter storms being the biggest threat to Hardin County. The individual jurisdiction’s assets and vulnerable populations (identified at the countywide meetings) are displayed in the plan in order to gauge what/who needs priority when a hazard strikes. City facilities, grocery stores, and elderly and disabled populations are the most frequently identified as critical facilities and vulnerable populations. With these elements, along with the severity of the different hazards gauged, the vulnerability across all individual jurisdictions is calculated the highest rated hazard being severe winter storms. Though all jurisdictions of Hardin County are affected by several hazards, none are of particular priority in the plan. None of the jurisdictions have repetitive loss properties identified by Iowa Homeland Security. 5 The mitigation strategy produced by each jurisdiction takes into account their risk assessment and vulnerability to hazards to create goals with subsequent projects that will help reach those goals. Some of the most popular goals include protecting the health and safety of residents, minimizing losses to structures, educating citizens of the dangers of hazards, and continuity of operations of the jurisdictions and county. Projects identified to help achieve those goals include the installation of safe rooms, purchase of generators, elevation of roads, and the creation of emergency contact sheets and procedures. Projects are evaluated and ranked to set their priority to each community using the STAPLEE evaluation method. It is of the utmost importance that the maintenance and update of this plan continues in order to carry on proactive efforts in all jurisdictions of the planning area regarding hazards. Incorporating the plan and its ideals into everyday legislation, decisions and planning will ensure that hazards are considered in the future development and operations of cities. The opportunities of annual meetings to monitor and evaluate the plan, as well as publicizing success stories of projects, will keep the public involved and informed of what hazard mitigation can and is doing for their jurisdiction. Recommendations made by the plan authors give final input and advice on the smooth running and implementation of the goals set forth by each jurisdiction. 6 Prerequisites 44 CFR Requirement §201.6(c)(5): [The local hazard mitigation plan shall include] documentation that the plan has been formally adopted by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan (e.g., City Council, County Commission, Tribal Council). For multi-jurisdictional plans, each jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan must document that it has been formally adopted. Note to reviewers: When this plan has been reviewed and approved pending adoption by FEMA Region VII, the adoption resolutions will be signed by the participating jurisdictions and added to Appendix A. The following 18 jurisdictions participated in the creation of this plan. Two jurisdictions have adopted the multi-jurisdictional plan and the other 16 jurisdictions will adopt within a year of the plan’s approval. Refer to Figure 1 for a map of the jurisdictions included in this plan. o City of Ackley o City of Radcliffe o AGWSR Community School District o City of Alden o City of Steamboat Rock o Alden Community School District o City of Buckeye o City of Union o BCLUW Community School District o City of Eldora o City of Whitten o Eldora-New Providence o City of Hubbard o Hardin County Community School District o City of Iowa Falls (Unincorporated) o Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District o City of New Providence o Iowa Falls Community School District The City of Owasa was invited to participate in this plan process but did not respond to the invitation. The planning boundary for this multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan includes all of the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Hardin County, Iowa, except the City of Owasa. All of the school districts and associated buildings that are located in Hardin County are included in the planning boundary. Refer to Figure 1 on the next page. 7 Figure 1: Hardin County Participating Jurisdictions *Please note that the Ackley-Geneva and Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock Community School Districts consolidated in 2001 to become the AGWSR Community School District, which is presented as such in this plan.