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Hazard Mitigation 6 State of New Hampshire, Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, Executive Summary: October 2000 Edition State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan October 2000 Edition Ice Storm – January 1998, FEMA DR-1199-NH Rt. 175A Holderness – Plymouth October 1995 Prepared by the New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management 107 Pleasant Street Concord, New Hampshire 03301 (603) 271-2231 1 State of New Hampshire, Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, Executive Summary: October 2000 Edition Table of Contents Table of Tables 4 Table of Maps 4 Table of Graphs 4 Table of Figures 4 Introduction 5 Authority 6 Definition of Hazard Mitigation 6 Purpose 6 Scope of the Plan 6 Overall Goals and Objectives of the State of New Hampshire 7 Disaster Declarations: An Overview 8 Presidential Disaster Declarations January 1, 1965 to December 31, 1998 9 State of N.H. Major Disasters and Emergency Declarations 1/1/82 to 10/21/98 10 Plan Sections: (Including Hazard Definitions and Vulnerability Assessments) I. Flood, Drought, Extreme Heat and Wildfire A. Flooding 12 1. Riverine Flooding: Heavy Rains and/or; 13 a. Debris Impacted Infrastructure 12 b. Rapid Snowpack Melt 15 c. River Ice 16 d. Dam Failure 17 NH Dam Safety Strategic Hazard Mitigation Overview 19 2. Coastal a. Excessive Stormwater Runoff 20 b. Storm Surge 20 c. Tsunami 22 3. New Hampshire Flood History 23 4. New Hampshire Strategic Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan Overview 29 B. Drought 30 New Hampshire Strategic Drought Mitigation Plan Overview 31 C. Extreme Heat 32 New Hampshire Strategic Extreme Heat Hazard Mitigation Plan Overview D. Wildfire 34 NH DRED Strategic Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Initiatives 34 Phragmites Australis 35 NH Strategic Phragmites Australis Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Plan Overview 36 2 State of New Hampshire, Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, Executive Summary: October 2000 Edition II. Geologic Hazards A. Earthquake 37 B. Landslide 45 C. Subsidence 47 D. Tsunami 48 E. Volcanism 49 F. Geomagnetism 50 G. Radon 51 New Hampshire Strategic Geologic Hazards Mitigation Plan Overview 53 III. Severe Wind A. Tornado 54 B. Hurricane 56 C. Nor’easter 58 D. Thunderstorm Related 1. Downburst 59 2. Lightning and Thunder 62 3. Hailstorms 67 New Hampshire Strategic Severe Wind Hazard Mitigation Plan Overview 68 IV. Winter Weather A. Heavy Snow Storms and Nor’easters 69 B. Blizzard 71 C. Ice Storm 80 D. Snow Avalanche 81 New Hampshire Strategic Winter Weather Hazards Mitigation Plan Overview 83 Risk Analysis 84 Data Assessment 103 Capability Assessment 104 Plan Implementation and Maintenance 130 Table of Plan Section Appendices 132 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 134 Plan Contributors 135 Index of Useful Websites 138 Hazard Mitigation Goals and Objectives of the State of N. H. 139 (See last Tab following page 139 of this document) (Including Sections I. – IV. and IAHMTR Recommendations from DRs: 876 - Flood, 923 - Flood, 917- Severe Wind, 1077 - Flood, 1144 - Flood, 1199 – Ice Storm, 1231 - Flood and 1305 - Flood) Plan Annexes: Resource Profile Annex and Earthquake Historical Reference Papers Annex 3 Table of Maps State of New Hampshire, Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, Page Executive Summary: October 2000 Edition Introduction Region I. Presidential Disaster Declarations 8 Table of Tables Presidential Disaster Declarations by State/County 9 Page Presidential Disaster Declarations 1975-95 by State 11 Introduction State of NH Major Disaster and 10 Section I Flood etc. Emergency Declarations NH Climate / Rainfall origins 12 Costliest U.S. Hurricanes: 1990-94 11 Major River Basin Watersheds in New Hampshire 12 New Hampshire Coastal Zone 20 Section I Flood etc. Survey of Great Tsunamis 22 NHDES-WRD Dam Classification Schedule 18 June 1998 Rainfall Map 28 NH Flood History 23 Palmer Drought Forecast, July 24,1999 30 Recent New Hampshire Drought History 31 Palmer Drought Severity Index - 1965 31 Extreme Heat Data: Concord NH, 1960-94 33 Drought Plans in Effect by State - 1992 31 Summary of State Wildfire Burns 34 Severity &Areal Extent of Extreme Summer Heat in U.S. 32 Section II Geologic Section II Geologic Seismic Risk Map of the U.S. 37 NE Earthquake w/magnitude 4.2 or > 1924-1989 37 Seismic Events in the Northeast U.S., 1638 – 1995 38 New England States Historical Earthquakes 37 Epicenters:4.0/+ Earthquake Events Since 1975 39 Earthquakes Adjacent to New Hampshire with 37 New England Seismic Network Station Locations 39 Magnitude 4.5 or greater - 1924-1989 Maximum Experienced Intensities in the Northeast 42 4.0 > Earthquake Events Since 1975 in the NE 39 Historic Earthquake Locations, Eastern U.S. 42 The Relationship Between Richter 41 Landslide and Debris Flow Potential 46 and Modified Mercalli Intensity Landslide Incidence and Susceptibility 46 New England Seismic Hazard 43 NH Radon Data by Community 52 NH Indoor Radon Test Results 52 Section III Severe Wind Total Number of Tornadic Events per 55 Section III Severe Wind one degree of latitude and longitude 1954-83 Tornadic Events by County – F2 or Greater 54 Wind Zones in the United States 55 Fujita Scale 54 Tornado Activity in the United States 55 Hurricanes Impacting on NH – 1635–1991 56 1938 Hurricane Path 57 Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale 56 Landfalling Hurricanes for Coastal Counties 57 U.S. Hurricane Landfalls 57 NOAA Weather Radio Signal Coverage in NH 59 (Categories 1-5) 1900–1994 Areal Extent and Severity of Lightning Hazard 62 Dolan-Davis Nor’easter 58 based on mean annual lightning strike density 1948-97 NH Downburst Activity 59 & 61 Annual Frequency of Hailstorms in the United States 67 Classification Scale Section IV Winter Weather Section IV Winter Weather Northeast Snowstorm Events >25cm by Month 69 History of Snowstorms in the NE U.S. 72 Northeast Mean Seasonal Snowfall 71 Return Periods for Large Ice Storms 80 1998 Ice Storm (Forest) Damage in NH 79 Recent History of Significant 80 Areas Exposed to High Snow Avalanche Risk 82 New Hampshire Ice Storms Risk Analysis Risk Analysis NH Major River Basin Watersheds 87 State of New Hampshire Electric Utility Franchise Areas 88 NH Population by County 85 NH Essential Facility Numbers by County 88 Capability Assessment NH Natural Hazards Vulnerability Overview 89 Number of Households in the Floodplain 110 Capability Assessment Open HMGP Accounts 107 Total HMGP Funds Available to NH 107 Table of Graphs Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants to NH 111 CDBG / Unmet Needs Funding 1997-1999 115 Introduction Page Resource Profile Annex Index 118 FEMA Region I Disasters by Type 8 U.S. Disasters by Type 9 Total Insured Losses from Disasters 1989-95 11 Section I Flood etc., Table of Figures NH Ice Events by River (CRREL Database*) 16 NH Ice Events by Community (CRREL*) 16 Page Timing of NH Ice Events by Month (CRREL*) 16 Section II Geologic Heatwaves per Year 33 Epicenter – Wave Front: directions of vibrations 40 # of Days 90 Degrees of Above 33 Section III. Severe Wind # of Days 95 Degrees or Above 33 (Hail) Supercell Inflow Winds 67 Section II Geologic Northeaster United States Modified Mercalli 44 Section IV. Winter Weather Intensity Attenuation Curves Factors Contributing to Heavy Snowfall 70 U.S. Hurricane Landfalls, 1900-1994 57 Along the Northeast Coast Airflow Through a Northeast Storm 70 Risk Analysis NH Population Change 1960-97 by County #1 85 Risk Analysis NH Population Change 1960-97 by County #2 86 Vulnerability and Risk 84 4 NH Population Change 1960-97 (Overall) 86 State of New Hampshire, Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, Executive Summary: October 2000 Edition “The Plan is nothing, planning is everything” (General Dwight David Eisenhower) The Editor would like to take this opportunity to offer his sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this planning process. (Please see Contributors List, pages 135 through 137) Introduction In July, 1998, upon the Declaration of DR-1231-NH (a Flood event), FEMA Region I Mitigation Division staff and the New Hampshire State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) conducted an assessment of New Hampshire’s existing Hazard Mitigation planning tools and determined that there was not a viable plan in place which would satisfy the requirements of Section 409 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act. An eight-month planning effort was undertaken and a Plan was produced. The State’s Plan exists in four bound volumes appended with seven Inter-Agency Hazard Mitigation Team Reports and copious technical papers (i.e., as to the Region’s flood, seismic, hurricane etc. vulnerability and associated risk), and two Annexes, including an Annex of Hazard Mitigation Resource Profiles, each outlining the capacity of various Federal, State and private agencies that support the State’s Hazard Mitigation initiatives (See pages 132 – 133 for Tables of Plan Appendices and page 118 for an index of Resource Profiles). This document is intended to make the concepts and data contained in the Plan more accessible (and portable) in addition to satisfying the essential requirements of 44 CFR, Section 206.405. The initial edition of this Plan was presented to FEMA on April 1, 1999. As per CFR 206:405, and subsequent to DR 1305-NH, the State submitted this updated edition on October 22, 1999. This submission is filed with FEMA Region I as an update to the State Plan as prescribed by 44 CFR Subpart M, Section 206.405 (a) (4). The Planning effort of the State is an ongoing process and the Plan is considered to be a “living document.” The appendices of the expanded Plan will continue to be refined, upgraded and amended as pertinent material is forthcoming. Any Hazard Mitigation Planner is encouraged to contact John Shaughnessy, Plan Editor, at NHOEM for a copy of the expanded Plan and access to the appendices and Resource Profiles. John J. Shaughnessy, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Editor NHOEM, 107 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 Voice: (603) 223-3637 or 271-2231 or (800) 852-3792 Fax: (603) 225-7341 TDD: (603) 271-2254 [email protected] This document is available on the NHOEM website: www.nhoem.state.nh.us/mitigation This Publication will be made available in alternative formats upon request.
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