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North Adams Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan January 2021

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North Adams Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan January 2021 North Adams Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan January 2021 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………… 2 CHAPTER 2: PLANNING PROCESS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…........... 4 CHAPTER 3: RISK ASSESSMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….. 11 Inland Flooding……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………. 22 Severe Winter Storms …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….. 37 Droughts…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………. 44 Change in Average Temperatures/Extreme Temperatures…………………………………………………………………………………..…………………… 50 Tornadoes/High Wind……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….. 57 Landslides…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 61 Wildfires…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………. 69 Hurricanes/Tropical Storms………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 76 Other Severe Weather………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………… …. 82 Invasive Species…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….……………. 88 Vector-Borne Disease………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………. 97 Earthquakes………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………….100 Dam failure……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………….…… 106 Cyber Security…………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..………………………………………………………….… 113 CHAPTER 4: MITIGATION STRATEGY…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 116 CHAPTER 5: PLAN ADOPTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………. 127 CHAPTER 6: PLAN MAINTENANCE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….. 128 APPENDICES……………………………………………….…………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………….. 134 APPENDIX A: PLANNING MEETING DOCUMENTATION APPENDIX B: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DOCUMENTATION APPENDIX C: REQUEST FOR COMMENT FROM REGIONAL PARTNERS APPRENIX D: COMPLETED MITIGATION ACTIONS 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Purpose The purpose of hazard mitigation planning is to reduce or eliminate the need to respond to hazardous conditions that threaten human life and property. Hazard mitigation can be an action, activity, process, or physical project designed to reduce or eliminate the long-term risks from hazards. The City of North Adams Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (HMCAP) was prepared in order to meet the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44 CFR § 201.6 pertaining to local hazard mitigation plans. Title 44 CFR § 201.6(a)(1) states that “a local government must have a mitigation plan approved pursuant to this section in order to receive hazard mitigation project grants. A local government must have a mitigation plan approved pursuant to this section in order to apply for and receive mitigation project grants under all other mitigation grant programs.” As the HMCAP will illustrate, the City’s eligibility for FEMA’s hazard mitigation grants is crucial. The North Adams HMCAP also benefited from the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process, which enabled North Adams to integrate local effects of climate change into their hazard mitigation action plan. The City of North Adams laid out the following mission statement for their hazard mitigation and climate adaptation planning process: To identify risks and sustainable cost-effective actions to mitigate the impact of natural hazards in order to protect life, property and the environment in the City of North Adams. In accordance with Title 44 CFR § 201.6 the local mitigation plan is the representation of the City’s commitment to reduce risks from natural hazards, serving as a guide for decision makers as they commit resources to reducing the effects of natural hazards. Additionally, the HMP is meant to serve as the basis for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide technical assistance and to prioritize project funding. Background Location The City of North Adams is located in northern Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Settled in 1745, the Town was incorporated separately from Adams in 1878, and reincorporated as a City in 1895. Today, the City is bordered by the Town of Williamstown to the west, the Town of Adams to the south, the Town of Florida to the east, and the Town of Clarksburg to the north. Surrounded by the Green Mountain Range to the North, the Hoosac Range to the east, and Mount Greylock, the state’s highest peak, to the southwest, the City is endowed with a dramatic landscape. The strong physical barriers created by the terrain has constricted development of the City to the valley floor, meaning residential and commercial development and transportation networks have historically been sandwiched into the valleys, which are relatively narrow. Elevation ranges from 2,963 feet on Mount Williams to 609 feet along the Hoosic River near the Williamstown/North Adams line. Slopes of 15 percent and 2 greater account for approximately 20 percent of the land area, with relatively gentle terrain within the Hoosic River valley often exceeding slopes of 5–8 percent. Due to the surrounding terrain, North Adams is positioned in one of the most risk-prone areas in Berkshire County. In addition to steep terrain, the City is situated at the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Hoosic River – meaning City residents are no stranger to flooding concerns. The location additionally leaves the City more vulnerable to landslides. While steep slopes remain largely undeveloped due to their lack of stable soils, development occurs at the foothills of these mountains, and disturbance could cause other issues such as dam failure. Landslide are likely to have a much higher probability of occurrence as climate change projections for the region call for increases in both the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation events. According to MassGIS land use data (2005), 78 percent of land within the City is forested or consists of wetlands. Residential land uses occupy 9 percent of the total land and tend to be concentrated within the downtown area. Commercial uses (approximately 2 percent of land area) are typically focused in the downtown area along the Route 2 and Route 8 corridors. Neighborhood density information was also derived using MassGIS land use dataset last updated in 2005. High density neighborhoods are identified as areas where housing is located on lots smaller than ¼ acre. Medium density neighborhoods are defined as areas where housing is located on ¼ to ½ acre lots. Low density neighborhoods are areas where housing is located on ½ o 1 acre lots. Lastly, very low-density neighborhoods are areas where housing is located on lots greater than 1 acre in size in very remote rural housing. Refer to Figure 3.3 for a map of land use and residential density for the City of North Adams. Mitigation Planning This is the City of North Adam’s first hazard mitigation plan, and it is a single jurisdictional plan. The City of North Adams was not included in a regional hazard mitigation plan from 2012, however the Berkshire County Hazard Mitigation Plan provided a foundation and needed information for the North Adams Hazard Mitigation Plan. 3 CHAPTER 2: PLANNING PROCESS 44 CFR § 201.6(b) & 44 CFR § 201.6(c)(1) Introduction This chapter outlines the development of the City of North Adams HMCAP. It identifies who was involved in the process, how they were involved, and the methods of public participation that were employed. An open public involvement process during the drafting stage was essential to the development of the HMP. A discussion of how the community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process (44 CFR § 201.6(c)(4)(iii)) will be discussed in Chapter 4. The City retained the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to aid them in developing the HMCAP and the MVP Plan. The goal of the Committee’s work was to develop a set of Actions for addressing Priority Hazards, using the Community Resilience Building (CRB) Workshop process and methodology as a key stakeholder tool. BRPC works with all local agencies to guide development in Berkshire County. The North Adams Hazard Mitigation Plan is a compilation of data collected by BRPC, information gathered from the planning committee during meetings, and interviews conducted with key stakeholders outside of working meetings. The Plan reflects comments provided by participants and the public through the MVP planning process, the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee, local officials and citizens, neighboring towns, and ultimately MEMA and FEMA. Planning Meetings and Participation 44 CFR § 201.6(c)(1) During the planning process there was opportunity for public comment and opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies or partners involved in hazard mitigation activities, and agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses, academia and other private and non-profit interests to be involved in the planning process. Making the document available to the public for review meets requirements of 44 CFR § 201.6(b)(1), and solicitation of comment from neighboring towns meets requirements of 44 CFR § 201.6(b)(2), pertaining to involvement of regional partners in the planning process. See Appendices A through C for documentation. During the winter of 2019, North Adams began a joint planning
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