TOWN OF OXFORD NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE, 2014 Original Plan Adopted October 30, 2006 Plan Update Prepared February 24, 2014 Plan Update Adopted July 2, 2014 MMI #1452-11 Prepared for the: TOWN OF OXFORD, CONNECTICUT Emergency Services Department Oxford Town Hall 486 Oxford Road Oxford, CT 06478-1298 (203) 888-9090 www.oxford-ct.gov The preparation of this report has been financed in part through funds provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection under a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The contents of this report reflect the views of the Town of Oxford and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The report does not constitute a specification or regulation. Prepared by: MILONE & MACBROOM, INC. 99 Realty Drive Cheshire, Connecticut 06410 (203) 271-1773 www.miloneandmacbroom.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & CONTACT INFORMATION This plan update was prepared under the direction of the Town of Oxford. The following individual should be contacted with questions or comments regarding the plan: Chief Scott Pelletier Emergency Management Director, Local Coordinator Emergency Services Department Town of Oxford 486 Oxford Road Oxford, CT 06478-1298 (203) 888-9090 Phone (203) 888-2136 Fax [email protected] This Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update could not have been completed without the time and dedication of the additional following individuals at the local level: Mr. George Temple, First Selectman Ms. Anna Rycenga, Zoning Enforcement Officer Mr. Wayne Watt, Director of Public Works Ms. Kathleen O’Neill, Grant Administrator Mr. Andrew Ferrillo, Inland Wetlands Officer Mr. Gordon Gramolini, Building Official Mr. Bill Johnson, Planning and Zoning Commission Mr. Samuel Gold, Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley The consulting firm of Milone & MacBroom, Inc. (MMI) prepared the subject plan update, building upon the initial work completed by DELTA Environmental Services, Inc. in 2006. Since that time there have been many changes regarding planning requirements for local natural hazard mitigation plans. Thus, this plan has been significantly reformatted and updated from the original plan. The following individuals at MMI may be contacted prior to plan update adoption with questions or comments regarding the plan update using the contact information on the title page or the electronic mail addresses below: Mr. David Murphy, P.E., CFM Mr. Scott Bighinatti, CFM Associate Environmental Scientist [email protected] [email protected] NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE OXFORD, CONNECTICUT FEBRUARY 2014 AK-1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Town of Oxford, Connecticut Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update The primary purpose of a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (the Plan) is to identify natural hazards and risks, existing capabilities, and activities that can be undertaken by a community to prevent loss of life and reduce property damages associated with identified hazards. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires local communities to have a FEMA-approved mitigation plan in order to be eligible to receive Pre-Disaster Mitigation program grants and post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds under the Hazard Mitigation Assistance program. Oxford first developed a Plan in 2006. Oxford has vulnerability to an array of natural hazards including inland flooding; high winds associated with hurricanes, summer storms, tornadoes, and winter storms; hail and lighting during summer storms; ice and snow during winter storms; earthquakes; dam failure; and wildfires. This Plan discusses each of these natural hazards in detail with the understanding that a particular hazard effect (e.g., high winds) can be caused by a variety of hazard events (e.g., hurricanes and winter storms). Recent disasters have revealed that while local sheltering capacity is adequate, the existing emergency operations center is inadequately sized. Oxford is an important regional supply distribution point such that improvements are regionally important. In addition, an improved location for storing emergency food supplies and equipment is needed. Existing capabilities to mitigate and respond to natural hazards are considered generally effective for the current level of funding allotted. Floods are likely to occur every year from a variety of natural hazards, although damaging floods have a lower chance of occurrence. Flooding along the Housatonic River and the Little River are of greatest concern to the community. A variety of actions including improved regulations, completion of mitigation projects, and joining FEMA’s Community Rating System are recommended to improve Oxford’s understanding of, and response to, flooding events. FEMA’s HAZUS-MH loss estimation software was used to determine potential damages from a 1% annual chance event; such an event could cause more than $8 million in damages along the Housatonic River in Oxford. Regarding other hazards, damaging winds are less likely to occur each year but upon occurrence will impact the entirety of Oxford. A recreation of the 1938 Hurricane in HAZUS-MH suggests that a repeat event would cause more than $14 million in damages to the community. Winter storms are also a major concern in the community. Suggested actions include improving tree-trimming capabilities and communications with the local electric utility. Earthquakes are a relatively minor concern. However, the worst-case scenario earthquake is expected to cause approximately $17 million in damages to Oxford based on HAZUS-MH modeling. The final two hazards evaluated include dam failure and wildfire. Many dams exist in Oxford, with the Stevenson Dam being the most prominent. One suggestion from residents is for the Town to coordinate releases from dams in advance of a major storm event. Oxford is considered to be a low-risk area for wildfires with the exception of State Forest lands located throughout the community. Suggested actions for mitigating each hazard are summarized in Section 10 and ranked on the basis of a STAPLEE analysis. The Emergency Management Director is the Local Coordinator of this plan and is responsible for implementing suggested actions and performing an annual review of the Plan and each suggested action. The Plan needs to be updated again within five years of its approval date by FEMA. NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE OXFORD, CONNECTICUT FEBRUARY 2014 ES-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & CONTACT INFORMATION .............................................................. AK-1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... ES-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................ TC-1 LIST OF ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................................... AC-1 LIST OF PLAN UPDATES .................................................................................................................... PL-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION & IMPLEMENTATION 1.1 Background and Purpose .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Hazard Mitigation Goals ............................................................................................................... 1-4 1.3 Identification of Hazards and Document Overview ..................................................................... 1-5 1.4 Documentation of the Planning Process ....................................................................................... 1-9 1.5 Coordination with Neighboring Communities ............................................................................ 1-14 1.6 Summary of Previous Suggested Actions and Plan Implementation .......................................... 1-14 1.7 Implementation Strategy and Schedule ....................................................................................... 1-16 1.8 Progress Monitoring and Participation ....................................................................................... 1-18 1.9 Updating the Plan ........................................................................................................................ 1-19 2.0 COMMUNITY PROFILE 2.1 Physical Setting ............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Existing Land Use ......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Geology ......................................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.4 Climate .......................................................................................................................................... 2-8 2.5 Drainage Basins and Hydrology ................................................................................................... 2-8 2.6 Population and Demographic Setting ........................................................................................... 2-9 2.7 Development Trends ..................................................................................................................... 2-9 2.8 Governmental Structure .............................................................................................................