Hazard Mitigation Plan
Pierce County, Wisconsin
Page 1 Plan Updated – August 2019
EPTEC, INC Lenora G. Borchardt 7027 Fawn Lane Sun Prairie, WI53590-9455 608-358-4267 [email protected]
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...... 3 Acronyms ...... 7 Introduction and Background ...... 10 Previous Planning Efforts and Legal Basis ...... 11 Plan Preparation, Adoption and Maintenance ...... 15 Physical Characteristics of Pierce County ...... 20 General Community Introduction ...... 20 Plan Area ...... 20 Geology ...... 21 Topography ...... 22 Mississippi River ...... 23 Climate ...... 23 Hydrology ...... 27 Soil Types ...... 38 Wetlands ...... 39 Land Use ...... 41 Vegetation ...... 41 Demographics ...... 43 Human Settlement Patterns...... 43 Population ...... 44 Transportation Network ...... 45 Land Use and Development Trends ...... 46 Public Safety Support ...... 49 Archaeological and Historical Resources ...... 52 Hazard Analysis and Previous Mitigation Projects ...... 55 All Hazards ...... 62 Vulnerability ...... 62 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 63 Drought and Dust Storms ...... 68 Physical Characteristics ...... 68 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 70 Vulnerability ...... 72 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 73 Earthquakes ...... 75 Physical Characteristics ...... 75 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 77 Vulnerability ...... 80 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 80 Flooding and Dam Failure ...... 81 Physical Characteristics ...... 81 Watersheds ...... 90 Floodplain Regulations ...... 93 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 93
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Vulnerability ...... 96 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 98 Forest and Wildfires ...... 105 Physical Characteristics ...... 105 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 106 Vulnerability ...... 106 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 108 Landslide ...... 110 Physical Characteristics ...... 111 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 113 Vulnerability ...... 114 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 114 Severe Temperatures ...... 116 Characteristics ...... 116 Physical Characteristics: Heat ...... 116 Physical Characteristics: Cold ...... 117 Frequency of Occurrence: Heat ...... 119 Frequency of Occurrence: Cold ...... 120 Vulnerability ...... 121 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 122 Storms: Hail ...... 123 Physical Characteristics ...... 124 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 124 Vulnerability ...... 126 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 127 Storms: Lightning ...... 128 Physical Characteristics ...... 128 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 129 Vulnerability ...... 129 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 130 Storms: Thunderstorms ...... 131 Physical Characteristics ...... 131 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 132 Vulnerability ...... 133 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 133 Storms: Tornadoes and High Winds...... 134 Physical Characteristics ...... 135 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 138 Vulnerability ...... 139 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 142 Storms: Winter ...... 146 Physical Characteristics ...... 146 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 147 Vulnerability ...... 148 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 149 Utility Failure ...... 150
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Physical Characteristics ...... 150 Frequency of Occurrence ...... 151 Vulnerability ...... 152 Hazard Mitigation Strategies...... 153 Appendix A: Maps ...... 155 Map of County Municipal Divisions ...... 155 Wisconsin Total Severe Weather Events ...... 156 Soils Types ...... 157 Median Date of Last Freeze ...... 158 County First Response Districts ...... 160 Wisconsin’s Regional & County/Local HazMat Response Teams ...... 161 Pierce County Sites of Contaminated Soil/Groundwater ...... 163 Earthquakes in Wisconsin ...... 169 Erosion Areas in Wisconsin ...... 170 Wisconsin Total Flood Events ...... 172 County Watersheds ...... 173 Pierce County Floodplain ...... 175 Pierce County Dams ...... 176 Wildfire Communities-at-Risk ...... 177 Wildfire Communities-at-Risk Composite Map ...... 178 Wildfire Communities-at-Risk Municipal Map ...... 179 Landslide Incidence and Susceptibility ...... 180 Karst Potential ...... 181 Wisconsin Heat Wave Events...... 182 Wisconsin Heat Wave Days ...... 183 Wisconsin Heat Wave Deaths ...... 184 Wisconsin Hail Events ...... 185 Wisconsin Lightning Events ...... 186 Wisconsin Severe Thunderstorm Winds ...... 187 Wisconsin 100+ mph Thunderstorm Wind Events ...... 188 Wisconsin Hurricane-force (74+ mph) Thunderstorm Winds ...... 189 Wisconsin Tornado Events ...... 190 Wisconsin Average Snowfall ...... 191 Wisconsin Blizzard Events ...... 192 Wisconsin Extreme Cold Events ...... 193 Wisconsin Ice Storm Events ...... 194 Wisconsin Winter Storm Events ...... 195 Electric Transmission Lines ...... 196 Electrical Substations ...... 197 Wastewater Facilities ...... 198 Natural Gas Pipelines ...... 199 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence...... 200 Appendix C: Plan Adoptions ...... 210 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies ...... 212 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies ...... 238 Appendix F: Community Input ...... 261
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation ...... 279 Appendix H: Inter-Revision Updates ...... 292
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Acronyms
ACE Army Corps of Engineers ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ARC American Red Cross ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Services ASCS Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service ASL Above Sea Level ASPR Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs
CAD Computer Aided Dispatch CAR Communities at Risk CBRNE Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive CDBG Community Development Block Grant CERT Community Emergency Response Team CFR Code of Federal Regulations CI City CO County COAD Community Organizations Active in Disaster COOP/COG Continuity of Operations & Continuation of Government CTH County Highway
DFIRM Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map DHS U.S. Department of Homeland Security DNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources DOD U.S. Department of Defense DOJ U.S. Department of Justice DOT Department of Transportation DPW Department of Public Works DTM Digital Terrain Maps
EAP Emergency Assistance Program or Emergency Action Plan EF Enhanced Fujita Scale EHS Extremely Hazardous Substance EM Emergency Management EMS Emergency Medical Services EMT Emergency Medical Technician EOC Emergency Operations Center EOP Emergency Operating Procedure EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
F Fahrenheit or Fujita Scale
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FCC Federal Communications Commission FCIC Federal Crop Insurance Corporation FD Fire Department FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FIRMS Flood Rate Insurance Maps FMA Flood Mitigation Assistance FOIA Freedom of Information Act FOUO For Official Use Only FSA Farm Service Agency
GIS Geographic Information System
HazMat Hazardous Materials HazMit Hazard Mitigation HAZUS Hazards United States HAZUS-MH Hazards United States Multihazard HMGP Hazard Mitigation Grant Program HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HVA Hazard Vulnerability Analysis HWY Highway
ICS Incident Command System
LCD Pierce County Land Conservation Department LE Law Enforcement LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee LIDAR Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging LM/Z Pierce County Land Management/Zoning Department LPDM Lagrangian particle dispersion
MABAS Mutual Aid Box Alarm System MAP FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning MHz Megahertz MMI Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale MOU Memorandum of Understanding MPH Miles Per Hour MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
NFIA National Flood Insurance Act NFIF National Flood Insurance Fund NFIP National Flood Insurance Program NFPA National Fire Protection Association NIDIS National Integrated Drought Information System NIMS National Incident Management System NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
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NRP National Response Plan NWS National Weather Service
OJA Office of Justice Assistance
PA Public Address (System) PDM Pre-Disaster Mitigation PGA Peak Ground Acceleration PH Public Health PSA Public Service Announcement POW Plan of Work
RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service RES1 Single Family Dwelling RES2 Manufactured Housing RFC Repetitive Flood Claims
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act SBA Small Business Administration SMART Spatial Management, Analysis and Resource Tracking SPI Standardized Precipitation Index SRL Severe Repetitive Loss STH State Highway SWAT Special Weapons and Tactics
TN Township
UASI Urban Area Security Initiative UC Unified Command USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture USFS U.S. Forestry Service USGS U.S. Geological Survey USH U.S. Highway UW University of Wisconsin UW Ext University of Wisconsin – Extension Office UWRF University of Wisconsin – River Falls
VHF Very High Frequency VI Village VOAD Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
WEM Wisconsin Emergency Management WISP Wisconsin Irrigation Scheduling Program
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Introduction and Background
The Pierce County Hazard Mitigation Plan is intended to provide strategies for reducing susceptibility to future damages to public and private infrastructure in the county. The Pierce County Emergency Management Office completed the original hazard mitigation plan in 2006 and applied for and received hazard mitigation update planning grants in 2010 and 2016. This grant program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs - Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM). The procedures utilized in preparing this plan are based on guidance provided by FEMA and WEM and should therefore be considered consistent with the requirements and procedures in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.
Section 409 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-228, as amended) is the impetus for involvement of state and local governments in evaluating and mitigating natural hazards as a condition of receiving federal disaster assistance. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rules for implementing Section 409 are in 44 CFR Part 206 Subpart M.
Section 409 states that the county is obligated to try to reduce damage susceptibility to any hazard that has received relief funding in the past. Developing a hazard mitigation plan provides an opportunity for communities to meet this requirement by developing strategies for reduction of potential losses from future natural disasters. Hazard mitigation planning is the process of developing a set of actions designed to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards and their effects. Completion of this plan should put Pierce County in an advantageous position when competing for pre- and post-disaster mitigation project dollars because projects have been pre-identified. The cooperation of government, private and volunteer agencies is essential in mitigation efforts and over the long term it is hoped that implementation of this plan will save taxpayer dollars because less money is needed for post-disaster recovery activities. Furthermore, mitigation planning measures incorporated in economic or community development goals support more comprehensive and effective government. This plan evaluates the risks that all natural
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hazards pose to the citizens and property of Pierce County by presenting:
• A profile and analysis of past hazardous events
• An assessment of vulnerability of community assets
• Potential hazard mitigation strategies
• Methods for building community support and ensuring plan adoption
Plan Overview
The Pierce County Hazard Mitigation Plan provides background information on Pierce County and identifies those hazards that have occurred or could occur in the county. It includes a description of each hazard, its frequency of occurrence, appropriate actions in case of emergency and possible steps to mitigate the hazard. These hazards are the basis for the development of all county emergency plans.
A well-prepared plan allows emergency management to act swiftly and efficiently in the event of a hazard, reducing the damage and the cost incurred from displacing residents and businesses. Hazard mitigation activities will be emphasized in the plan as a major component of overall emergency management. The plan is intended to provide strategies for reducing future damages to public and private infrastructure in the county, including flood damage along the Mississippi, St. Croix, Kinnickinnic, Big, Trimbelle, Rush and Eau Galle River; and Isabelle and Plum Creek.
Previous Planning Efforts and Legal Basis
The Pierce County Emergency Management Office has completed and regularly updates a hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA). The HVA identifies all likely natural and technological hazards that might or have occurred within the county and is based on the State of Wisconsin’s HVA. The local HVA does not generally include detailed mitigation strategies for the identified hazards.
There have also been plans and ordinances completed by individual Pierce County departments or municipalities, some of these were used as reference materials for this plan, including:
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Pierce County 1 Part III, Chapter 180 Public Health Nuisances and Human Health Hazards Part IV, Chapter 240 Zoning Part IV, Chapter 241 Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation Part IV, Chapter 242 Shoreland Zoning
City of Prescott 2 Chapter 259 Building Construction Chapter 341 Housing Standards Chapter 384 Mining, Nonmetallic Chapter 500 Stormwater Management and Erosion Control Chapter 510 Subdivision of Land Chapter 600 Floodplain Zoning Chapter 620 Shoreland-Wetland Zoning Chapter 635 Zoning
City of River Falls 3 Title 15 Buildings and Construction Title 17 Zoning Title 16 Subdivisions
Town of Clifton 4 3-2013 Nonmetallic Mining Licensing 2002 Town of Clifton Zoning Ordinance
Town of Ellsworth 5 2008-1 Building Code Ordinance 2008-5 Town Building Information Permit Ordinance 2009-1 Comprehensive Plan 2009-2029 2013-1 Nonmetallic Mining Licensing Ordinance
Town of El Paso 6 2001-01 Building Code Ordinance 2009-2 Comprehensive Plan
1 https://ecode360.com/PI1852 2 https://www.ecode360.com/PR2989 3 https://library.municode.com/wi/river_falls/codes/code_of_ordinances 4 http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Clifton%20Township/Clifton_Ordinances.htm 5 http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Ellsworth_Township/Ellsworth%20Ordinances/Ordinances.htm 6 http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/El_Paso_Township/El_Paso_Ordinances/El_Paso_Ordinances.htm
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Town of Gilman 7 2008-02 Ordinance for Adoption of Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code
Town of Hartland 8 2004-02 WI Uniform Dwelling Code 2009-04 Comprehensive Plan
Town of Oak Grove9 2009-03 Adoption of Comprehensive Plan 2009-02 Resolution on Building Code Fee Schedule
Town of River Falls10 2018-1 Non-Ferrous Metallic Ming Ordinances 2016-B Resolution Adopt Chapter 17.06 and Corresponding Zoning Map as Certified by DATCP on February 19, 2016
Town of Rock Elm11 2014-03 Addendum to Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Agreement 2013-2 Resolution Adopting the pierce County All Hazards Mitigation Plan
Town of Salem12 2004-1 Adoption for the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code 1-2007 Amendment No. 1-2007 to Ordinance No. 2004-1
Town of Spring Lake13 2012-002 Town of Spring Lake Subdivision Ordinance Adopted June 8, 2010 Comprehensive Plan (unnumbered ordinance) Town of Trenton14
7 http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Gilman_Township/Gilman_Ordinances.htm 8 http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Hartland_Township/Hartland_Ordinances.htm 9http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Oak_Grove_Township/Oak_Grove_Ordinances_Resolutions/Ordinances.ht m 10 https://www.riverfallstown.com/ordinances-resolutions/ 11http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Rock_Elm_Township/Rock_Elm_Ordinances.htm 12http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Salem_Township/Salem_Ordinances.htm 13http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Spring_Lake/Spring_Lake_Signed_Subdivision_Ord2012.pdf and http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Land%20Management/Comprehensive_Plan/Comp_Plan_Final/Town_Comp_Plans/Spring_Lake%20_C omp_Plan.pdf 14 http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Municipal%20Government/Trenton/Trenton_Ordinances.htm
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2016-31 Licensing of Nonmetallic Mining Sites and Operations 2014-25 Blasting Ordinances 2014-24 Amendment to Comprehensive Plan- Nonmetallic Mining Operations 19 Adopt Comprehensive Plan 2008-18 Subdivision Ordinances 14 Building Code 13 Hazard Mitigation
Village of Ellsworth 15 Chapter Fourteen Building Code Chapter Fifteen Historic Preservation Chapter Thirty Rules, Regulations and Charges, Wastewater Collection and Treatment System Chapter Forty-Five Land Division and Subdivision Regulations Chapter Forty-Nine Floodplain Zoning
Village of Spring Valley16 Chapter 10 Building and Building Regulations Chapter 14 Floods Chapter 58 Zoning
Note that no online ordinances are available for the Towns of Diamond Bluff, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Trimbelle, and Union and the Villages of Bay City, Elmwood, Maiden Rock and Plum City.
The local HVA serves as the starting point for the hazard mitigation plan. Other data on historical events is gathered from the National Weather Service’s storm report database, recent news reports, local resources (e.g., website; local community ordinances; local plans such as the comprehensive plan, stormwater management plans, etc.), the FEMA Region V mitigation survey and from the memories of the local planning team members. Team members are presented with this data and asked to rank their concern (likelihood of future occurrences and amount of disruption/damage should it occur) on a five-point scale (very high, high, medium, low, very low). From that, team members, members of the community,
15 http://www.villageofellsworth.org/ordnances.htm 16 http://springvalleywi.com/ordinances-2/
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survey respondents and other planning participants are asked to determine hazard mitigation strategies that might benefit their communities. Local existing plans are referenced again at this time, with the members and authors of these plans (e.g., comprehensive, stormwater management) serving as core members of the workgroup committee. The selected mitigation strategies are recorded and detail in each chapter as well as in the table in Appendix D.
Mitigation strategies are reviewed over the five years of the plan’s life by the leadership staff from the applicable departments (e.g., Emergency Management, Sheriff’s Office/Communications, Highway, Land and Water Conservation, Planning, Zoning) with the elected leaders from the jurisdictions to triage projects and determine what can and should be done within the planning period. These options are usually discussed in open meetings prior to implementation, as required by Wisconsin state law. The determining factor for most projects is obviously budget availability. The units of government have several options for funding implementation including grants, special taxing authority (for the project and/or any matching funds), general purpose revenue from existing budgets and regulatory authority, which can be used to require that an individual or business complete the project using their funds. The units of government use or improve, if necessary, the mechanisms described above to ensure the implementation of hazard mitigation ideas.
Plan Preparation, Adoption and Maintenance
The Pierce County Emergency Management Director contracted with Emergency Planning, Training and Exercise Consulting (EPTEC, Inc.) to draft this plan. A Hazard Mitigation Committee was organized to oversee the completion of this plan. The committee members include:
▪ Gary Brown, Pierce County Emergency Management Director ▪ Hank Zwart, City of Prescott DPW ▪ Robert Funk, City of Prescott Police Department ▪ Jon Aubart, City of River Falls Police Department ▪ Amy Peterson, City of River Falls Community Development ▪ Mike Stifter, City of River Falls Operations ▪ Tony Steiner, City of River Falls Community Development ▪ Tom Foley, City of River Falls Fire Department ▪ Scott Gavin, City of River Falls Fire Department
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▪ Kevin Westhuis, City of River Falls Utility ▪ Scott Bangert, City of River Falls Police Department ▪ Jeff Rixmann, River Falls EMS ▪ Chad Johnson, Pierce County Highway ▪ Nancy Hove, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office ▪ Brad Roy, Pierce County Zoning ▪ Andy Pichotta, Pierce County Land Management ▪ Jayne Brand, City of Prescott ▪ Delton Hoyt, Village of Elmwood Police Department ▪ John DuBois, Village of Spring Valley Police Department ▪ Melissa Atherton, Village of Bay City ▪ Shaunie King, Village of Bay City ▪ Kirk Heusinkuelt, Village of Bay City ▪ Jerry DeWolfe, Village of Ellsworth ▪ Jeff Doughty, Village of Plum City ▪ Michele Burg, Village of Plum City ▪ Amy Wayne, Village of Elmwood ▪ Shirley Gilles, Village of Maiden Rock ▪ Lenora Borchardt, EPTEC, INC (Contractor)
An informational brochure was created and copies were distributed throughout the community at local community gathering points such as municipal halls, libraries, etc. Meetings were held with chief elected officials from the municipalities to explain and gather input regarding the program (e.g., previous occurrences, mitigation strategies.) The FEMA Region V survey was sent to the clerk and chief elected official of every municipality (town, village and city) as well as key county departments (e.g., planning, highway) for completion; surveys were received back from county offices and the incorporated municipalities as well as many of the unincorporated towns. The compiled results of the surveys, along with the cover letter, are in Appendix G.
The committee met several times, first to evaluate and incorporate input from local officials and then to review and provide input on the progress of the plan. A public notice was placed in the newspaper to invite members of the public, local officials, academia and business and industry leaders to review the plan. Comments received were reviewed by the workgroup and incorporated as appropriate. A working draft of the draft plan was distributed to the County Emergency Management Directors from the contiguous counties (i.e., St. Croix, Pepin and Dunn Counties) and they were asked for input and if they would like to participate in the completion of the plan. A copy of the mitigation brochure and a list of meeting
Page 16 Physical Characteristics dates and informational sessions to gather public and official input can be viewed in Appendix G.
The Pierce County Hazard Mitigation Plan Workgroup reviewed the past events records (generally gathered from the National Weather Service) and a consensus was reached on the anticipated probability of future events. This probability was designated as “very high,” “high,” “medium,” “low” or “very low” by the workgroup based on their evaluation and experience with the data.
The workgroup also, after reviewing the draft plan, selected the potential mitigation projects, which are listed in Appendix D (Summary of Mitigation Strategies), and discussed in more detail in each chapter’s Hazard Mitigation Strategies section. The workgroup participants were given the Mitigation Ideas: Possible Mitigation Measures by Hazard Type (Mitigation Ideas, FEMA-R5, 9/02) booklet as an aid to generating ideas. All of the ideas generated during the workgroup meetings were incorporated into the plan and can be found in the Hazard Mitigation Strategies section of each chapter and are summarized in Appendix E. Based on the information collected, each of these projects was assigned a “very high,” “high,” “medium,” “low” or “very low” priority based on the workgroup’s internal consensus assessment during a discussion of the balances of risk, reward, cost effectiveness (cost benefit) and likelihood of local will and funding (local or grant) to complete the strategy.
The municipal leaders were briefed regarding the need to formally adopt this plan as a prerequisite for future mitigation funding eligibility. A draft was sent to Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) for review and tentative approval. Based on WEM’s comments, a final draft plan was completed and forwarded to FEMA for determination of approvability. Once deemed approvable by FEMA, a general meeting was held to review the plan with members of the public, local officials, academia and business and industry leaders. Information and adoption paperwork were provided to the municipal leaders advising them of the need to formally adopt this plan as a prerequisite for future mitigation funding eligibility.
A resolution also has been passed by the Pierce County Board; the Cities of Prescott and River Falls; the Villages of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City and Spring Valley and each of the 17 to adopt the plan. Note that this plan does include considerations for all of the City of River Falls even though a portion of the city is in St. Croix County. Scanned copies of the
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adoption resolutions can be found in Appendix C. The final plan has been submitted to WEM for review and certification and notice of acceptance has been received of FEMA plan approval as of XXX.
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires the monitoring, evaluation and updating of the hazard mitigation plan every five years. This hazard mitigation plan is designed to be a “living” document and therefore will be reviewed and updated within five years from its approval date. The Pierce County Hazard Mitigation Plan Workgroup will provide leadership and guidance throughout the plan’s life cycle (i.e., monitoring, evaluating and updating). Updates will allow municipal leaders and the public to provide input into the process. The public will be notified of this opportunity via public notices.
The process for integrating hazard mitigation actions into other planning mechanisms will be led by the County Emergency Management Director. As he receives information between the five-year update periods (e.g., comprehensive or capital improvement plans) that might be included, it will be added to Appendix H: Inter-Revision Updates. Pierce County Emergency Management maintains responsibility and is the point of contact for all issues (e.g., monitoring, updating and evaluating the effectiveness) regarding this plan. Municipalities can contact the County Emergency Management Director to add updated local information to Appendix H at any time. Furthermore, the county Emergency Management Director may solicit updates from the plan’s stakeholders (county offices, municipalities, the public, etc.). The solicitation would seek to determine if there are new elements for the mitigation plan as well as any plans (new or updates) in which the mitigation plan can and/or will be used as a source plan. Comments will be received and discussed at the county’s Emergency Management committee meeting. Note that after a disaster, the Emergency Management committee may also meet to discuss mitigation strategies that might be applicable. These same stakeholders will be invited to fully participate in the five-year plan update, which will be detailed in the updated plan documents and will fully conform to FEMA’s requirements.
During the plan’s lifecycle, the county and incorporated municipalities will consider the strategies listed in Appendix D as they annually prioritize “regular” maintenance projects, as they set their annual budgets, after a disaster period and as grants become available that might help off-set the costs of some of the strategies listed within the plan. The latter will be instigated by notice of these
Page 18 Physical Characteristics opportunities by the County Emergency Management Director. These projects will be reported in the annual letter to the County Emergency Management Director. The Director will keep and compile the inter-revision data for inclusion in the five-year update, which will be coordinated through County Emergency Management beginning at least 18 months prior to expiration and at which time they will report on their progress towards meeting the hazard mitigation goals. The update will bring together many of the same workgroup members as well as any new stakeholders (e.g., elected officials, businesses, academia, members of the public) who respond to the invitation to participate and have an interest in mitigation planning. Pierce County Emergency Management will also refer to this plan in their emergency preparedness activities.
The plan participants also recognize this document as an important planning tool within the community and will use this plan as a reference as they complete and update community ordinances and other planning such as zoning, shoreland, floodplain, wetland, park and recreation, sustainability, and farmland preservation. They will also refer to it as they are involved in the planning and other preparedness activities of the municipalities. Many of these plans are on a regular updating cycle and as emergency management is notified that they are up for renewal, they will provide any relevant planning materials (from the hazard mitigation plan and any additional information received since the plan’s approval). It should be noted that this plan was cross-referenced in the Pierce County Outdoor Recreation Plan (v 2018) and by the Village of Maiden Rock in their development planning; it will be cross-referenced in the next update of the comprehensive plan, which will begin in 2021.
Municipalities with planning departments are also encouraged to refer to the mitigation plan in their zoning updates, flood and shoreland planning and in their comprehensive plans. After this plan has passed its reviews from Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is approved, the county and its municipalities will have working copies.
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Physical Characteristics of Pierce County
General Community Introduction
Pierce County contains Native American village sites that date back 1,000 years to the Oneota culture and contains one of the highest concentrations (nearly 700) of Indian mounds in Wisconsin. It was explored during the 1670’s by Father Louis Hennepin and French traders. The first settlement was made at Prescott, the junction of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, in 1827. The county was created in 1853, and while generally not timbered, logging was carried out in the Rush, Eau Galle and Kinnickinnic River Valleys. By 1855, the count was settled for farming and dairy cattle were introduced. Rich fertile soils with a minimum amount of clearing required made the land ideal for rapid development. Wheat, corn and oats became the principal field crops. Excellent river transportation provided ready means of moving farm products to market. Ellsworth was established as the county seat and became the initial population center of the county.
Plan Area
Located in the west central part of the state, Pierce County forms the “chin” of the Indianhead – a term identified with northwestern Wisconsin in various advertising, promotional and other activities. It is located on the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. These two rivers and the Chippewa River comprise the basin drainage system of the county.
Pierce County lies within the western geographical province. This is a thoroughly dissected highland with little surface relief. Stream erosion and glacial deposition have resulted in surface irregularities especially noticeable in the hilly belt adjoining the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers. A majority of the upland is smooth plain or low plateau. Since all of Pierce County has been glaciated, its relief has been decreased by glacial deposition.
Pierce County is bordered on the east by Dunn and Pepin Counties, on the south by Pepin County, on the west by the Mississippi River and on the north by St. Croix County. It is approximately 576.49 square miles making it the 51st (out of 72) largest county in Wisconsin.
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In Wisconsin, there are three types of sub-county, full-service local government units: towns, which are unincorporated, and villages and cities, which are incorporated. Pierce County contains the Cities of Prescott and River Falls; the Villages of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City and Spring Valley and the Towns of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle and Union. (See Appendix A for a map of Pierce County.) The County and all municipalities have adopted the updated plan. (Copies of the adoptions can be found in Appendix C.)
Geology
Pierce County is in a region of older glacial drift thought to be laid down by the first substage of the Wisconsin Glacier. This is evidenced by weathered drifts, lack of lakes and undrained depressions and lack of moraines. Deposits of glacial drift leveled areas and left it less rugged than before glaciation. Glacial abrasion and subsequent wind action resulted in deep deposits of loess in parts of the county.17
The soils and topography of the county have been influenced greatly by present rocks and minerals. Pre-Cambrian granite underlies the entire county. Various rock formations on top of the granite progress from the oldest at the bottom to the youngest at the top. The Prairie du Chien dolomite and Franconia sandstone are the main formations composing the uplands. They dip south and southwest at a low angle, approximately nine feet per mile.18
At one time, the upper cap of Galena-Black River limestone formed a continuous surface formation over the county. After geological erosion, the limestone was deeply dissected and worn away. It now occurs as remnant caps on higher ridges in the northwestern part of the county. In most places, it underlies a shallow loess-mantled layer of blue-gray plastic shale.19
The most recent deposits are from the Pleistocene age and include glacial till, loess and alluvial sands and gravels. Surface deposits can reach a maximum depth of 200 to 250 feet but are in general
17 Martin, 1932 18 Martin, 1932 19 Haszel, 1968
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less than 100 feet.20 Loess deposits formed from glacial abrasion cover most of the county and range in depth from about two to eight feet.21
Topography
Wisconsin lies in the upper Midwest between Lake Superior, the upper peninsula of Michigan, Lake Michigan and the Mississippi and Saint Croix Rivers. Its greatest length is 320 miles, greatest width 295 miles for a total area 56,066 square miles. Glaciation has largely determined the topography and soils of the state, except for the 13,360 square miles of driftless area in southwestern Wisconsin. The various glaciations created rolling terrain with nearly 9,000 lakes and several areas of marshes and swamps. Elevations range from about 600 feet above sea level along the Lake Superior and Lake Michigan shores and in the Mississippi floodplain in southwestern Wisconsin to nearly 1,950 feet at Rib and Strawberry Hills.
The Northern Highlands, a plateau extending across northern Wisconsin, is an area of about 15,000 square miles with elevations from 1,000 to 1,800 feet. This area has many lakes and is the origin of most of the major streams in the state. The slope down to the narrow Lake Superior plain is quite steep. A comparatively flat, crescent-shaped lowland lies immediately south of the Northern Highlands and embodies nearly one-fourth of Wisconsin. The eastern ridges and lowlands to the southeast of the Central Plains are the most densely populated and have the highest concentration of industry and farms. The uplands of southwestern Wisconsin west of the ridges and lowlands and south of the Central Plains make up about one-fourth of the state. This is the roughest section of the state, rising 200 to 350 feet above the Central Plains and 100 to 200 feet above the Eastern Ridges and Lowlands. The Mississippi River bluffs rise 230 to 650 feet. 22
Western Pierce County, north of Ellsworth, is very distinct due to its irregular limestone hills and ridges. The uplands between Prescott and River Falls are smooth.
Some of the most striking topographic features in Pierce County are the gorges created by the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
20 Weidman and Schultz, 1915 21 Haszel, 1968 22 http://www.uwex.edu/sco/state.html
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The gorge of the Mississippi near Prescott is approximately 1.25 miles wide with bluffs rising 230 feet above the flood plain. Stream channels, some extending across the county, have carved out deep valleys, or coulees, ranging in depths from 50 to 300 feet. The streambeds have not been reduced to low gradients yet, but the drainage pattern is mature.23 The lowest valley bottoms usually range between 680 feet along the Mississippi River to 900 feet up its tributaries.
The altitudes within the county peak at 1,200 feet on the main upland and descend toward the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers.
Mississippi River
A unique geographic feature of the Mississippi River Region is the river itself. The river and its tributaries are a major influence on the lifestyle of the people in the region. The river affects people not only in where they live but in how they live. Although there are fewer people today making a living off the river than in years past, the river does influence recreational activities and the tourism economy of the area. It also affects locations of roads, industries and communities.
In years past, the river was a major mode of transportation and having access to the river was important to the growth of communities. Today the major means of transportation have become the highways, changing the influence of the rivers on communities.
Climate
The Wisconsin climate is typically continental with some modification by Lakes Michigan and Superior. Winters are generally cold and snowy and summers are warm. About two- thirds of the annual precipitation falls during the growing season; this is normally adequate for vegetation although there are occasional droughts. The climate favors dairy farming and the primary crops are corn, small grains, hay and vegetables. Storm tracks generally move from west to east and southwest to northeast.
23 Whitson, et al, 1930
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The average annual temperature varies from 39oF in the north to about 50oF in the south with statewide extreme records of 114oF (Wisconsin Dells, 7/13/1936) and minus 55oF (Couderay, 2/2/1996 and 2/4/1996). During more than one-half of the winters, temperatures fall to minus 40oF or lower and almost every winter temperatures of minus 30oF or colder are reported from northern stations. Summer temperatures above 90oF average two to four days in northern counties and about 14 days in southern districts. During marked cool outbreaks in summer months, the central lowlands occasionally report freezing temperatures.
The freeze-free season ranges from around 80 days per year in the upper northeast and north-central lowlands to about 180 days in the Milwaukee area. The pronounced moderating effect of Lake Michigan is well-illustrated by the fact that the growing season of 140 to 150 days along the east-central coastal area is of the same duration as in the southwestern Wisconsin valleys. The short growing season in the central portion of the state is attributed to a number of factors, among them an inward cold air drainage and the low heat capacities of the peat and sandy soils. The average date of last spring freeze ranges from early May along the Lake Michigan coastal area and southern counties to early June in the northernmost counties. The first autumn freezes occur in late August and early September in the northern and central lowlands and in mid-October along the Lake Michigan coastline; however, a July freeze is not entirely unusual in the north and central Wisconsin lowlands.
The long-term mean annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 34 inches over most of the Western Uplands and Northern Highlands, then diminishes to about 28 inches along most of the Wisconsin Central Plain and Lake Superior Coastal area. The higher average annual precipitation coincides generally with the highest elevations, particularly the windward slopes of the Western Uplands and Northern Highlands. Thunderstorms average about 30 per year in northern Wisconsin to about 40 per year in southern counties and occur mostly in the summer. Occasional hail, wind and lightning damage are also reported.
The average seasonal snowfall varies from about 30 inches at Beloit to well over 100 inches in northern Iron County along the steep western slope of the Gogebic Range. Greater average snowfall is recorded over the Western Uplands and Eastern Ridges than in the adjacent lowlands. The mean dates of first snowfall of consequence (an inch or more) vary from early November in
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northern localities to early December in southern Wisconsin counties. Average annual duration of snow cover ranges from 85 days in southernmost Wisconsin to more than 140 days along Lake Superior. The snow cover acts as protective insulation for grasses, autumn seeded grains, alfalfa and other vegetation.
Climatological data for the Pierce County area is summarized in “Surface Water Resources of Pierce County.”24 The county has an average annual precipitation of about 29 to 30 inches with the majority (65%) occurring during the growing season (May through September.) There is slightly less rain, averaging 20-30 inches, in a thin band of land next to the Mississippi River. Runoff is the part of precipitation that appears in surface streams and averages six to eight inches per year.
The average seasonal snowfall varies from about 30 inches at Beloit to well over 100 inches in northern Iron County along the steep western slope of the Gogebic Range. Greater average snowfall is recorded over the Western Uplands and Eastern Ridges than in the adjacent lowlands. The mean dates of first snowfall of consequence (an inch or more) vary from early November in northern localities to early December in southern Wisconsin counties. Average annual duration of snow cover ranges from 85 days in southernmost Wisconsin to more than 140 days along Lake Superior. The snow cover acts as protective insulation for grasses, autumn seeded grains, alfalfa and other vegetation.25
The average growing season is defined as the number of days following the last 32oF freeze in the spring through the beginning of fall. Pierce County’s growing season averages 145 days with a range of 131 to 180 days. Pierce County’s median date of last frost in the spring is May 6th and the median date of the first frost in the fall is September 30th.
24 DNR, 1971 25 http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/
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Climate Normals Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Ave Daily High 21.5 28.1 40.4 57.6 70.4 79.0 83.7 80.8 71.5 59.9 41.5 25.7 (F°) Ave Daily Low 2.0 7.7 20.8 34.0 46.0 55.1 60.0 57.2 48.3 37.6 24.2 8.9 (F°) Growing Degree 0 1 25 139 338 502 640 574 343 171 22 1 Days Heating Degree 1649 1319 1066 573 245 59 14 30 175 507 963 1479 Days Cooling Degree 0 0 0 0 34 122 227 154 22 5 0 0 Days Ave Precipitation 0.99 0.83 1.93 3.05 3.91 4.38 4.34 4.02 3.95 2.56 1.87 1.26 (")
Ave Snowfall (") 13.1 9.2 12.0 2.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 6.2 12.7 Data from the weather station at Ellsworth 1 E, latitude 44°44' N, longitude 92°28' W, elevation 1030 ft. 26
Climate Normals and Growing Season Summary27
In 2012, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health (BEOH) was
26 http://www.wisconline.com/counties/pierce/climate.html 27 Data Provided by the Midwestern Regional Climate Center https://mrcc.illinois.edu
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awarded a grant to study and prepare for anticipated climatic effects of the public's health. The Wisconsin Climate and Health Profile Report highlights evidence-based data related to extreme weather events, corresponding health outcomes and the development of projects and best practices to adapt to and prepare for future extreme weather events.
Over the past 60 years Wisconsin has become warmer and wetter, especially during the winter months. Evidence and research drawn from the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) suggest that climate-sensitive human health impacts will likely be affected by precipitation changes, heat extremes, drought, winter weather changes, disease vectors, surface water and groundwater. Those most vulnerable to these changes include the very young, elderly, persons with chronic disease (e.g., asthma), persons of low socio-economic status, persons with mental health issues and those who are socially isolated.
Possible impacts during the four seasons include:
• Spring - More frequent and intense rain events may lead to more flooding with health impacts such as stress and mental health disorders; foodborne and waterborne illnesses; injuries; drowning; and death. • Summer - Southern Wisconsin may experience approximately 28 more days exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Health impacts can include heat stress, respiratory disease, allergic reactions and death. • Fall - Extended periods of warming could case more drought with health impacts including water and food insecurity; respiratory distress; allergic reactions; and death. • Winter - Warmer winters might cause more ice, sleet and rain. Health impacts may include traffic accidents, power outages, injuries and death.28
Hydrology
The land in Wisconsin drains into Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. The Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers form most of the western boundary. About one-half of the northwestern portion of the state is drained through the
28 Wisconsin Climate and Health Profile Report, 2014, WI Department of Health Services, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/P0/P00709.pdf
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Chippewa River, while the remainder of this region drains directly into the Mississippi or St. Croix Rivers and into Lake Superior. The Wisconsin River has its source at a small lake nearly 1,600 feet above mean sea level on the Upper Michigan boundary and drains most of central Wisconsin. Most of its tributaries also spring from the many lakes in the north. Except for the Rock River, a Mississippi River tributary which flows through northern Illinois, eastern Wisconsin drains into Lake Michigan.
Most of the streams and lakes in the state are ice-covered from late November to late March. Snow covers the ground in practically all the winter months except in extreme southern areas. Flooding is most frequent and most serious in April due to the melting of snow and spring rains. During this period, flood conditions are often aggravated by ice jams which back up the flood waters. Excessive rains of the thunderstorm type sometimes produce tributary flooding or flash flooding along the smaller streams and creeks. 29
Groundwater reservoirs are recharged by direct precipitation. Spring is a prime time for recharge because evapotranspiration is low and melting snow and rainfall infiltrate and percolate the water table on unfrozen ground. Fall is another prime time for high recharge. During the summer, groundwater levels drop because precipitation is lower causing losses to evaporation and transpiration to exceed precipitation. In addition, groundwater is lost to surface waters by discharge in the form of springs.30 The winter period normally lacks infiltration because of frozen ground.
Soil types and the geology have an influence on the surface and groundwater conditions. Approximately 75% of the land in Pierce County is classified as having silt loam soil while an additional 12% is classified as tough stony land with little or no soil cover. These soils do not provide good circumstances for springs or a good base flow for streams.
The most important water-bearing horizon is the Upper Cambrian sandstone formation but other formations furnish water where conditions are favorable. Good spring sources are found in the contact zone of the Prairie du Chien dolomite and the underlying Upper Cambrian sandstone. Springs are a
29 http://www.uwex.edu/sco/state.html 30 DeVaul, 1967.
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source of many of the streams in the county and many of them flow directly into stream bottoms.31
Within Pierce County, there are six different watersheds, all of which flow into the Mississippi River drainage system, along with a multitude of lakes and rivers, some of which are classified as trout streams by the Wisconsin DNR.32
The major watershed is the Mississippi River Watershed and the minor watersheds are the Kinnickinnic River, the Trimbelle River and Isabelle Creek, the Rush River, the Plum City and the Eau Galle River Watersheds. (See Appendix A for a map of county watersheds.) There are 38 lakes in Pierce County covering a total of 6,016 acres (9.4 square miles.) There are also seven rivers that flow in the county (i.e., Big, Eau Galle, Kinninkinnic, Mississippi, Rush, St Croix, Trimbelle - See Appendix A for a map of county waterways) and 67 flowing springs identified by the DNR in Pierce County.33 Of these, ten had a flow of 50 to 100 gallons per minute, six had flows of 100 to 200 gallons per minute and ten had flows of 200 or more gallons per minute. The remaining 41 springs had flows of less than 50 gallons per minute. The survey included springs having at least a trickle of flow and which were separated from the main stream. It did not include spring seepage directly into streams.
Groundwater resources constitute an extremely valuable element of the natural resource base of Pierce County. The groundwater reservoir not only sustains lake levels and provides the base flow of streams in the county but also comprises a major source of water for domestic, municipal and industrial water users. Like surface water, groundwater is susceptible to depletion in quantity and to deterioration in quality.
Wisconsin is a state with a large quantity of groundwater and is a critical resource both statewide and within the county. It is the main source of drinking water for 70% of Wisconsin residents and 95% of Wisconsin communities. From 1979 to 2005, total water use in Pierce County has increased from 4.2 million gallons per day to 4.7 million gallons per day. The increase in total water use is due primarily to an increase in irrigation and industrial uses. The proportion of county water use supplied by
31 Weidman and Schultz, 1915 32 https://dnr.wi.gov/water/default.aspx 33 “Springhead and Spring Pond Survey” by the Conservation Department, 1959
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groundwater has consistently been greater than 97% from 1979-2005.34
The state has nearly 11,500 public water systems which meet the daily water needs of about 4 million people. Public water systems that are owned by a community are called municipal water systems and Pierce County has seven: 35 • Bay City Waterworks • Ellsworth Waterworks • Elmwood Waterworks • Maiden Rock Waterworks • Prescott Waterworks • River Falls Waterworks • Spring Valley Waterworks
In addition to the public water systems, about 850,000 private wells provide drinking water to Wisconsin's population. Unlike public water systems, protection and maintenance of a private well is largely the responsibility of homeowners.
Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for most Pierce County residents, conveyed through private wells or municipal water systems. As with 70% of the state, the sand and gravel aquifer are the main source of groundwater. This aquifer includes primarily glacial deposits of unconsolidated sand and gravel. It is not a continuous layer, but rather is deposited in lenses or layers of sand and gravel interspersed with other fine-grained or low permeability deposits. As a result, well yields vary and depend primarily on the permeability and thickness of the sand and gravel at a particular location. The Status of Groundwater Quantity Report states that groundwater in general is abundant in Pierce County.36
Pierce County obtains all of its domestic drinking water from groundwater sources, including both municipal and private wells. Recharge of the County’s aquifers is derived almost entirely from locally occurring precipitation, giving our citizens control over, and responsibility for, their groundwater. Ways to protect groundwater include:
• Wellhead Protection Plans and Ordinances: Wellhead protection plans are developed to achieve groundwater
34 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/index.html 35 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/watersystems.html 36 WDNR, 1997
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pollution prevention measures within public water supply wellhead areas. A wellhead protection plan uses public involvement to delineate the wellhead protection area, inventory potential groundwater contamination sources, and manage the wellhead protection area. All new municipal wells are required to have a wellhead protection plan. A wellhead protection ordinance is a zoning ordinance that implements the wellhead protection plan by controlling land uses in the wellhead protection area. Five of the seven municipal water systems in Pierce County (i.e., Bay city, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Prescott, River Falls) have a wellhead protection plan and four of the seven (i.e., Bay City, Elmwood, Prescott, River Falls) have a wellhead protection ordinance.
• Animal Waste Management Ordinances: Most Wisconsin counties, including Pierce County, have adopted an animal waste management ordinance that applies to all unincorporated areas of the county (areas outside of city and village boundaries). While the purposes of such ordinances vary among counties, a key purpose is often to protect the groundwater and surface water resources. This is accomplished by regulations such as:
o Permitting of animal waste storage facilities; o Permitting of new and expanding feedlots; o Nutrient management; o Prohibiting: ▪ Overflow of manure storage structures; ▪ Unconfined manure stacking or piling within areas adjacent to stream banks, lakeshores, and in drainage channels; ▪ Direct runoff from feedlots or stored manure to waters of the state; ▪ Unlimited livestock access to waters of the state where high concentrations of animals prevent adequate sod cover maintenance.
• Nitrate - Aquifers that are close to the land surface have limited natural protection which makes them vulnerable to pollution. From 1990-2006, 85% of 379 private well samples collected in Pierce County met the health-based drinking water limit for nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). 220 of the samples tested between 2-10 mg/L (parts per million), indicating that
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land use had affected groundwater quality. An additional 56 (or 15%) of the samples exceeded the 10 mg/L federal maximum contaminant level (MCL).
In 2006, the Wisconsin DNR and DATCP reported that NO3- N is the most widespread groundwater contaminant in Wisconsin and that the nitrate problem is increasing both in extent and severity with 80% of nitrate inputs originate from manure spreading, agricultural fertilizers, and legume cropping systems. Septic systems can also be a significant nitrate source in densely populated areas, areas where fractured bedrock is near the surface, or areas with coarse- textured soils. Additionally, concentrations of NO3-N in private wells frequently exceed the drinking water limit. For example, in 2005 11.6% of 48,818 private wells exceeded the nitrate limit.
Land use affects nitrate concentrations in groundwater with a study of over 35,000 private well samples being three times more likely to be unsafe to drink due to high nitrate in agricultural areas, especially those with sandy areas/highly permeable soils, than in forested areas. Groundwater with high nitrate from agricultural lands is more also more likely to contain pesticides than groundwater with low nitrate levels.
• Pesticides - A pesticide is any substance used to kill, control or repel pests or to prevent the damage that pests may cause. Included in the broad term “pesticide” are herbicides to control weeds, insecticides to control insects, and fungicides to control fungi and molds. Pesticides are used by businesses and homeowners as well as by farmers, but figures for the amounts and specific types of pesticides used are not generally available on a county-by-county basis. A 2005 report indicates that approximately 13 million pounds of pesticides are applied to major agricultural crops in Wisconsin each year, including over 8.5 million pounds of herbicides, 315,000 pounds of insecticides, one million pounds of fungicides, and 3 million pounds of other chemicals (this last category applied mainly to potatoes). The report also shows that herbicides are used on 100% of carrots for processing, 99% of potatoes, 98% of cucumbers for processing, 98% of soybeans, 97% of field corn, 89% of snap beans for processing, 87% of sweet corn, and 84% of green peas for processing. Insecticides
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are used on 97% of potatoes, 96% of carrots, and 88% of apples. Fungicides are used on 99% of potatoes, 88% of carrots, and 89% of apples.
A 2002 study estimated that 52% of private drinking water wells in the region of Wisconsin that includes Pierce County contained a detectable level of an herbicide or herbicide metabolite. Pesticides occur in groundwater more commonly in agricultural regions, but can occur anywhere pesticides are stored or applied. There are 2,410 acres of land within the county that are in an atrazine prohibition area (See the shaded box in the map below).37
• Arsenic - Arsenic is an element that occurs naturally in some of Wisconsin’s aquifers and may contaminate well water drawn from those aquifers. It is a particular problem in parts of the Fox River valley of northeastern Wisconsin. However, arsenic has been detected in wells in every county in Wisconsin, and arsenic concentrations greater than the drinking water limit of 10 μg/L (micrograms per liter, or parts per billion) have been documented in 51 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Of the 10 water samples analyzed for arsenic in Pierce County, four (40%) have detectable arsenic and one (10%) is greater than the recently reduced drinking water limit of
37 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/atrazine.html
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10 μg/L. Most private wells in the county have unknown arsenic levels.
• Contaminated Groundwater and/or Soil - Properties that were or are contaminated with hazardous substances can be found using the WDNR's Bureau for Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS).38 Pierce County has 14 open leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites which have contaminated soil and/or groundwater with petroleum, which includes toxic and cancer-causing substances. However, given time, petroleum contamination naturally breaks down in the environment. There are 15 environmental repair (ERP) sites which are sites other than LUSTs that have contaminated soil and/or groundwater. Examples include industrial spills or dumping, buried containers of hazardous substances, and closed landfills that have caused contamination. There are also seven spill sites.
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) - There are two concentrated animal feeding operations (i.e., greater than 1,000 animal units) in Pierce County.39 CAFOs are required under their Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permits to practice proper manure management and ensure that adverse impacts to water quality do not occur. Permit applicants must submit detailed information about the operation, a manure management plan, plans and specifications for all manure storage facilities, and a completed environmental analysis questionnaire. Once a WPDES CAFO permit is issued, operators must comply with the terms of the permit by following approved construction specifications and manure spreading plans, conducting a monitoring and inspection program, and providing annual reports. Other potential groundwater contaminants from agriculture include fertilizers and pesticides. Large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are used
38 https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Brownfields/botw.html 39 https://www.dnr.state.wi.us/topic/AgBusiness/data/CAFO/cafo_cty.asp?CountyChoice=Pierce&Submit=Submit
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when fields are planted continuously with corn, and they can leach into groundwater as nitrate.40
• Licensed Landfills and Superfund Sites – There are no licensed landfills or Superfund sites in Pierce County. In 1980, Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as the Superfund law. The Superfund law created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries, which went into a trust fund to help pay for cleaning up abandoned or uncontrolled waste sites. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the Superfund trust fund and works closely with state and local governments and tribal groups to remediate sites that may endanger public health or the environment. The contamination at many of these sites was created years ago when environmental regulations were virtually nonexistent and companies dumped or emitted hazardous materials freely into the environment. Years later the threat to humans and the ecosystems remains so great that the sites need to be cleaned up.
Since much of this contamination was caused many years ago, it can be hard to find the parties responsible, or the parties responsible may be unwilling or unable to pay for the cleanup. In these cases, the Superfund trust fund can be used to pay for most of the cleanup process. States must pay for a portion of such cleanups. CERCLA also provides EPA with enforcement tools to compel those responsible for causing the contamination to pay for the cleanup, including the issuance of administrative orders. If the trust fund is used, then EPA and the state may go to court to recover their expenditures from those who are responsible.
• Cleanup -
▪ Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award - The Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program was created in response to enactment of federal regulations requiring release
40 https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/AgBusiness/CAFO/
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prevention from underground storage tanks and cleanup of existing contamination from those tanks. PECFA is a reimbursement program returning a portion of incurred remedial cleanup costs to owners of eligible petroleum product systems, including home heating oil systems. As of May 31, 2007, $5,119,926 has been reimbursed by the PECFA fund to clean up 64 petroleum-contaminated sites in Pierce County. This equates to $130 per county resident, which is greater than the statewide average of $264 per resident. ▪ Nitrate Removal Systems – No municipal water systems in Pierce County have spent money to reduce nitrate levels. As of 2005, over 20 municipal water systems in Wisconsin have spent over $24 million reducing nitrate concentrations in municipal water systems.
WDNR’s Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters Program provides a designation for Wisconsin's cleanest waters. An outstanding resource water is defined as a lake or stream that has excellent water quality, high recreational and aesthetic value, high quality fishing and is free from point source or non-point source pollution. An exceptional resource water is defined as a stream that exhibits the same high-quality resource values as an outstanding resource water but that may be impacted by point source pollution or that may have the potential for future discharge from a small sewer community. Outstanding resource waters in Pierce are the Kinnickinnic River from the Powell Dam to the St. Croix River. Exceptional resource waters in Pierce are:41 • Big River: Class I Portion (From BN Railroad trestle upstream to Autumn Road @ T26N R19W S14 NW) • Cady Creek: From CTH "P" upstream • Creek 11-3 T27N R19E: All • Rush River: Town road in S28 T25N R16W upstream • St. Croix River: All
41 http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/SurfaceWater/oerw/orwerw_county.pdf
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• Trimbelle River: All
Pierce County contains parts of six watersheds (Wilson Creek, Eau Galle River, Kinnickinnic River, Trimbelle River and Isabelle Creek, Plum Creek, and Rush River) contributing to two basins which feed the Mississippi River drainage area. • St. Croix River Basin: This basin contains the extreme northwestern tip of the county and is a special area of the state with abundant streams, lakes and wetlands, rich forests and farmlands, wildlife and fisheries, making it a popular recreational destination and location for living. The River begins in Upper St. Croix and Namekagon Lake and drains through diverse ecological landscapes. Starting with the northwest lowlands and north central forests and moving through the northwest sands and farm forest transition, the basin ends in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape.
These five ecological landscapes present different management challenges and opportunities. Loss of large industrial forest block ownership in the north is a major concern, as are changes in agricultural practices in the western prairie and farm-forest transition landscapes. Agricultural changes include more row crops and a switch from small dairy farming to large confined animal feeding operations which enhance concerns over barnyard runoff, streambank erosion and manure management. Also, St. Croix and Polk Counties face problems associated with rapid growth and development stemming from the St. Paul- Minneapolis Metropolitan Area and struggle to maintain the area's rural and agricultural features.
The basin is rich in water: groundwater, rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. Our lakes and rivers are under tremendous development pressure and this will likely increase as the human population continues to grow and settle in this area. Development along lakeshores is one of the state's fastest types of developments and the basin is no exception. Home building is also occurring along rivers and streams in part due to the dwindling supply of available lakes. Increasing runoff and
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habitat loss from development degrades water and eliminates or divides contiguous habitat needed by fish and wildlife.42
• Lower Chippewa River Basin: Most of the county is in this basin. The area downstream from Eau Claire on the Chippewa River and downstream from Menomonie on the Red Cedar contains more rare species (125) and more native prairie (25% of the state total) than any area of comparable size in Wisconsin. These unique natural resources led to the establishment of the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area by the DNR Board and the Governor. This designation is designed to preserve and protect the most unique and sensitive areas with outright acquisition, easements or voluntary management. The biological diversity remaining in the area is a testament to the land stewardship that has been a tradition for generations. As land changes hands, this project will help assure that this land stewardship continues on select sites.
Soil Types
The soil of Pierce County (see Appendix A: Maps) is similar to that found throughout Wisconsin. Many of the soils of Wisconsin are young soils: entisols and inceptisols. Mature soils include mollisols, alfisols and spodosols. Histosols occur in wetland areas. Soils denoted with the suffix "p" are most likely to include mollisols and soil group J includes most of the histosols. Alfisols dominate in areas originally covered by deciduous forest, spodosols in coniferous areas. Steep slopes are more likely to consist of less-developed soils since erosion strips away material nearly as fast as soil can develop.
Most of Pierce County’s soils are of mineral origin but a few are organic. Each soil type owes its existence to a multitude of geomorphic processes, the most important of which is glacial activity. Loess is the parent material for most of Pierce County’s surface soils. Other parent materials include till, material weathered from bedrock and alluvial materials. The mineral content of the soil is reflected in the high total alkalinity of the waters.
42 https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/watersheds/basins/stcroix/
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A Pierce County soil survey, the “Soil Survey of Pierce County, Wisconsin,”43 was prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service44 and can provide very specific details on the county’s soil types.
Wetlands
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Pierce County has approximately 7,397 acres of wetlands (approximately 2.0% of its total area). This is 0.1% of the total statewide acreage of wetlands.45
From the sedge meadows of southern Wisconsin to the spruce bogs in the north, wetlands cover a wide array of landscapes. They share in common the ability to support aquatic or "water loving" plants, and provide habitat for more species of plants and animals than any other type of landscape in Wisconsin. Habitat is not their only functional value. Wetlands can also store water to prevent flooding, purify water, protect lake and stream shores from eroding and provide recreational opportunities for wildlife watchers, anglers, hunters and boaters.46
Because wetlands provide many benefits to the environment, several municipal, state and federal ordinances/regulations protect wetland areas. The basic concept associated with these laws is that wetland areas on any property cannot be disturbed without a permit. Wetlands store flood waters and filter water from precipitation before it enters lakes and streams. Some wetlands also recharge local groundwater aquifers. By slowing water movement, wetlands reduce the likelihood that heavy rainfall or spring snowmelt will cause erosion and flooding. Wetlands retain eroded soil and hold nutrients that would otherwise promote excessive weed growth and algae blooms in lakes and streams. These nutrients, when held in the wetlands, produce a heavy growth of vegetation that provides nesting sites, food and cover for waterfowl, small mammals and many other types of wildlife. Wetlands also provide recreational opportunities for humans (wildlife observation, hiking, hunting, etc.)
43 https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/wisconsin/WI093/0/Pierce_WI.pdf 44 http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/ 45 http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Wetlands/acreage.html 46 http://dnr.wi.gov/wetlands
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There are three basic factors in determining whether or not a property is a wetland:
o The presence of water at, near or above the surface (hydrology). o Water present long enough to sustain aquatic plant life (hydrophytic vegetation). o Soils indicative of wet conditions (hydric soils).
Figuring out what is or is not a wetland can be extremely confusing if you only associate “wetlands” with the presence of water. It is possible that a property could have standing water for a portion of the year and still not be a wetland and it is also possible that a true wetland with all three of the above characteristics may never have water present above the land surface.
Wetlands perform an important set of natural functions, which make them particularly valuable resources lending to overall environmental health and diversity. Some wetlands provide seasonal groundwater recharge or discharge. Those wetlands that provide groundwater discharge often provide base flow to surface waters. Wetlands contribute to the maintenance of good water quality, except during unusual periods of high runoff following prolonged drought by serving as traps, which retain nutrients and sediments, thereby preventing them from reaching streams and lakes. They act to retain water during dry periods and hold it during flooding events, thus keeping the water table high and relatively stable. They provide essential breeding, nesting, resting, and feeding grounds and predator escape cover for many forms of fish and wildlife. These attributes have the net effect of improving general environmental health; providing recreational, research and educational opportunities; maintaining opportunities for hunting and fishing and adding to the aesthetics of an area.
Wetlands pose severe limitations for urban development. In general, these limitations are related to the high-water table and the high compressibility and instability, low bearing capacity and high shrink-swell potential of wetland soils. These limitations may result in flooding, wet basements, unstable foundations, failing pavements and failing sewer and water lines. Moreover, there are significant and costly onsite preparation and maintenance costs associated with the development of wetland
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soils, particularly in connection with roads, foundations and public utilities.
There are two main levels of jurisdiction (often overlapping) concerning wetlands in Pierce County are the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and municipal zoning agencies. The Land Use Planning and Zoning Department has jurisdiction over wetlands in county zoning plans while wetlands within city or village boundaries are also subject to the appropriate municipality’s regulations.
Land Use
The land in Pierce County consists of farmland, shoreland and forests as well as commercial, residential and industrial land. The total land area is 375,990 acres. Of the total land area in Pierce County, 67% is classified as farmland and 17% as commercial forest.
Pierce County has sought to meet the problems of shoreland development and to preserve its water and shoreland for future generations. As the population increases, certain problems arise including water pollution, overcrowding, unwise development and the destruction of fish and wildlife habitat and of natural beauty. A shoreland-zoning ordinance approved by the Department of Natural Resources has been adopted by Pierce County and an administrator for these laws has been appointed.
Natural areas in the county are the Kinnickinnic State Park in the northwest portion of the county on the Mississippi River and the Nugget Lake County Park in the east central section of the county.
Crushed limestone, industrial sands, sand and gravel are the important minerals quarried in Pierce County.
Vegetation
Sugar maple, basswood and elm trees can be found throughout the county. In the western third and southeast corner oak
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savanna is mostly found. Along the Mississippi River in the southeast there are willow, soft maple and ash trees.47
47 http://www.wisconline.com/counties/pierce/index.html
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Demographics
Human Settlement Patterns
The first evidence of human settlement in the Mississippi River Region was approximately 11,000 years ago, following closely the withdrawal of the Wisconsin glacier. These earliest known “Paleo-Indians” were hunter-gatherers that traveled in small nomadic family groups. This Ice Age era was known geologically as the Pleistocene period.
The area now included in Pierce County was purchased from the Native Americans in 1937. It initially became part of St. Croix County but by legislative action, Pierce County was formed in 1853. The county seat was first established in Prescott and was moved to Ellsworth in 1860. The county was named in honor of Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth president of the United States.48
Early settlers, primarily German, Swiss and Norwegian, found Pierce County’s soils highly desirable for agriculture.49 Oak openings and prairies were plentiful and made planting easy. Wheat was a staple crop that could be depended upon for good yields.50 Grain was shipped down the Mississippi River from Prescott. Flour ground from wheat took the prize at the 1855 World’s Fair in Paris.51 By 1880 nearly 75% of the land area was devoted to wheat production but due to the ravages of the cinch bug in later years, the wheat acreage was reduced. The trend toward livestock and dairying soon developed and the cooperative creamery became the economic institution of the area.
More recently, as the price of land near the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN has increased; there has been a population increase on the western side of Pierce County (i.e., River Falls, Oak Grove, Clifton, Trimbelle, Trenton.) As an example, there have been two 100+ unit subdivisions completed in River Falls and in 1996, 60% of all residents commuted to the Twin Cities for work. In general, the municipalities impacted by
48 Wisconsin Department of Resource Development, 1962 or 1963 49 Holmes, 1944 50 Whitson, et al, 1930 51 Western Historical Company, 1881
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this high rate of growth have and employ comprehensive growth plans.
The eastern side of the county is still primarily agricultural and is growing at a much slower rate than the western side.
Population
In recent decades, the Pierce County population has increased slightly. In the 2010 U.S. Census, the county was home to 41,005 people and according to the 1 July 2017 U.S. Census Bureau estimate52, there were 41,901 people residing in Pierce County for an increase of 2.2%.
According to the 2012-2016 U.S. census estimate, there were 15,101 households in Pierce County with an average of 2.53 people per household. The 2012-2016 U.S. census numbers indicate that the median household income was $64,364 and that the per capita income is $30,009. Approximately 8.1% of the people live below the poverty line. The 2017 census estimate also indicated that there were approximately 16,590 housing units within the county as of 1 July.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the majority of people in Pierce County reported that they were white (95.9%) with 94.2% stating they were white alone. People of Hispanic or Latino origin were counted as a subcategory of those reporting that they were white. Those reporting as two or more races were 3.5%. American Indians account for 0.5% of the population of Pierce County. Black or African American alone was 0.8% and Asian alone was 1.2%. There are no Native American tribal lands located within Pierce County.
Other miscellaneous demographic information reported by the census bureau is detailed below. These figures identify potential needs for special consideration in a disaster response or in recovery operation planning and implementation.
• People under 5 years old: 5.0% • People under 18 years old: 20.8% • People over 65 years old: 14.3% • Females: 50.2%
52 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/dashboard/piercecountywisconsin,US/PST045217
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• Foreign born: 1.5% • People with a disability, under 65 years old: 6.6%
The county contains the Cities of Prescott and River Falls and the Villages of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City and Spring Valley. There are also 17 towns including Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle and Union.
Transportation Network
To help for current and future traffic conditions, it is useful to categorize roads based on their primary function. Arterials accommodate the efficient movement of vehicles, while local streets provide the land access function. Collectors serve both local and through traffic by providing a connection between arterials and local roads. The map in Appendix A shows the various roads in the county and how they are classified according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT):
Interstate Highways • None Principal Arterial • State Highway 10 • State Highway 29 • State Highway 35 • State Highway 63 • State Highway 65 • State Highway 72 • State Highway 128 Major Collector • County Highways B, C, CC, EE, F, G, P, S, T, U
All other public roads in the county that are not classified by the WisDOT are considered to be local roads.
Pierce County has a good transportation network and has maintained these roads along with others to provide a safe and efficient transportation system. With continued maintenance, these roads will continue to serve the population effectively.
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Land Use and Development Trends
Pierce County is primarily a mixed-use community in the west- central portion of the state. The county has some natural areas that will not be developed and some rural farming areas as well as suburban areas of higher development that comes from the outgrowth of the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area. The county was experiencing growth at a higher rate to demographically similar Wisconsin counties until the economic “Great Recession” that began in 2008, which slowed growth although that trend is reversing. As of the time of this plan, it is expected that growth trends will mirror the recovery of the general national, state and regional economy.
Current land use is variable and includes residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, wetlands, woodlands and unused rural/open lands. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (WDOR) tax assessment data classifies the land use in Pierce County as follows53:
• Agricultural (Includes WDOR categories of Forest, Agricultural Forest and Other) - Lands devoted primarily to agriculture, small-scale agricultural forestation and lands that are producing, or are capable of producing, commercial forest products (as defined by State of Wisconsin Statute 70.05) and other supporting activities. Also includes lands containing dwelling units and related improvements associated with agricultural use. This category does not include forests or woods that are in parks or that are not being forested under WDOR definitions. • Residential - Lands containing dwelling units and related improvements not associated with agricultural use. • Commercial - Lands, including improvements, devoted primarily to commercial operations, including, but not limited to dining, lodging, and retail sales establishments. • Manufacturing - Lands, including improvements, devoted primarily to manufacturing and industrial operations, including, but not limited to, assembling, processing, and fabricating.
53 https://www.revenue.wi.gov/SLFReportsassessor/2017socPIEf.pdf
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• Undeveloped - Lands generally unfit for any of the aforementioned uses, including, but not limited to, parks, hunting grounds, wetlands, ponds, gravel pits, and road rights of way.
Land Uses Changes Based on 2017 WDOR Pierce County Tax Assessment Data54
Land Use 2016 Equalized 2017 Equalized Percent Category Value Value Change Agricultural $33,256,700 $33,875,500 2% Agricultural $71,236,900 $70,985,400 0% Forest Forest $54,882,200 $50,113,200 -9% Residential $2,377,293,100 $2,534,396,400 7% Commercial $313,023,500 $319,087,300 2% Manufacturing $42,117,500 $55,642,200 32% Undeveloped $15,995,300 $15,160,300 -5% Other $126,558,900 $133,056,900 5% Total $3,034,364,100 $3,212,317,200 6%
The mission of the Piece County Land Use and Planning Department is: “To promote a higher quality of life for current and future residents of Pierce County through the exercise of sound planning and zoning by administering and enforcing county land use plans, the zoning and subdivision code and other development regulations in a fair, efficient, effective and professional manner.”55 To that end, the following projects were identified for future development within the county:
• City of Prescott: o The Eagle Ridge Business Park is a 90-acre business park designed for commercial and industrial uses. The park is located to the north of US HWY 10 and East of Hwy 29 and is owned by the city. The infrastructure to support the park was installed off of Hwy 29. There is also a private developer who own ten acres in the business park and about another 90 acres south of Highway 10.
54 https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/EQU/2017-expeqv.aspx 55 http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Land%20Management/Land_Management_Main.html
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o The Great Rivers Subdivision is a 200-acre subdivision east of Prescott on Hollister Avenue. The development is all residential although there have been inquiries about including assisted living housing. 40 acres has been platted and the infrastructure is installed. • City of River Falls o There is development being considered in the Industrial Park (St. Croix Co.) as well as in the White Tail Ridge, Sterling Ponds, High View Meadows, and the Mann Valley subdivisions. These are residential and mixed-used properties and there are several hundred acres of property that may come under development. DeSenctis Park is a residential development of approximately 20 homes near another high-density residential area. o Work is scheduled to occur at the interchange at the "jug handle" of 35 & 65 and on Division by the hospital. o Work is being discussed with the Wisconsin DOT regarding road improvements on Hwy 29 from Cemetery Road south. o A new police department facility is being built that will be separate from the fire and EMS department facilities. The new police department will also house the municipal emergency operations center (EOC). o A new water tower going in by Whitetail Corp Park (St. Croix Co.) to increase water pressure for fire protection.
When queried, the Pierce County Planning and Zoning Department and the incorporated municipalities reported no large development projects (i.e., all development was small or individual projects.) The County Highway Department had no new construction planned but had some smaller reconstruction/repair projects planned. While these new construction projects represent growth in the county, the expectation is that land use will be permitted and managed to ensure that hazards, particularly drainage issues that can lead to flooding, will have mitigation measures built in (e.g., proper flow infrastructure, ponds). There was no belief in the workgroup that these growth areas were unusually hazard-prone.
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Public Safety Support
The Pierce County Dispatch Center is the 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and Dispatch Center for Pierce County. The communications center is staffed with trained dispatchers and is managed as part of the Sheriff’s Office.
The departments listed below provide ongoing training to their staff and participate in periodically scheduled disaster exercises with area hospitals, other emergency medical services, law enforcement, fire services and emergency management.
Medical
The Pierce County Office of Emergency Management, city and county emergency services responders, hospital emergency staff and various departments have developed medical and mass casualty plans. These plans will be used in the event of a disaster. There are no hospitals in Pierce County56; hospitals that primarily service the county’s residents are in River Falls (i.e., the part of the city that is in St. Croix County), Red Wing, Durand, Baldwin, Hastings and Menominee. For additional services, patients may be sent to Eau Claire and/or the Twin Cities (i.e., Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN.) These hospitals will coordinate with responding agencies to ensure the best utilization of services and the least injury or loss of life from a disaster situation. It should also be noted that area hospitals have reciprocal verbal agreements for transferring critical patients during a disaster.
Pierce County relies primarily on volunteers to staff pre-hospital emergency medical services. (See County First Responder Districts Map in Appendix A for district boundary details.) Pre- hospital medical units57 and their staffing are listed below:
• Ellsworth Area Ambulance Service - License Level: Paramedic • Elmwood Area Ambulance Service - License Level: Emergency Medical Technician • Maiden Rock-Plum City-Stockholm EMS - License Level: Emergency Medical Technician
56 https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/guide/hospitaldir.pdf 57 https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ems/provider/pierce.htm
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• Pierce County Sheriff's Office TEMS Team - License Level: TEMS Team • River Falls Area Ambulance Service - License Level: Paramedic with Critical Care Endorsement • Spring Valley Area Ambulance - License Level: Emergency Medical Technician • Lund – First Responder District
Each of these departments provides monthly training to their staff. Pierce County Emergency Management participates in disaster exercises with area hospitals at least once every biennium as required by the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program. County emergency medical technicians, ambulances, police, county sheriff’s deputies and volunteers participate in these and other periodically scheduled exercises.
Fire Service
Pierce County is served by the following fire departments:58
• Bay City Fire Department • Elmwood Fire Department • Prescott Fire Department • River Falls Fire Department • Lund Fire Department
Refer to Appendix A for a map of the fire districts in Pierce County.
Law Enforcement
The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in the county and is responsible for the protection of life and property within the boundaries of Pierce County. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement service to unincorporated areas of the county or to those jurisdictions that do not maintain full time police service. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department patrols the County. The Cities of Prescott and River Falls and the Villages of Ellsworth,
58 https://www.firedepartment.net/directory/wisconsin/pierce-county
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Elmwood and Spring Valley have full-time law enforcement officers. The University of Wisconsin – River Falls also has a police department to cover their facilities.59 Also, the Wisconsin State Patrol provides limited coverage from their northwest region office in Eau Claire.60
It has been proven that early access to defibrillation is one of the key factors for increased survival from a heart attack and several bioterrorism agents may cause cardiopulmonary compromise. As a result, homeland security dollars have provided each police department in the county with Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and training to use the equipment. It was also recognized that good communication with field law enforcement officers is critical for receiving timely incident information, especially as it relates to terrorist acts. As a result, Mobile Data Communicators (MDCs) have also been provided as follows:
• Prescott: 1 AED; 1 MDC
• River Falls: 5 AEDs; 1 MDC
• Ellsworth: 2 AEDs; 1 MDC
• Elmwood: 1 AED; 1 MDC
• Spring Valley: 1 AED; 1 MDC
Special Teams
Hazardous materials (HazMat) response is performed by Type II and Type III Teams in the Northwest Task Force. 61 Wisconsin Emergency Management contracts and manages twenty-two Regional Hazardous Materials Response Teams. The teams are divided into Task Forces: Northeast Task Force, Northwest Task Force, Southeast Task Force and the Southwest Task Force. These Task Forces are then divided into Type I, Type II and Type III teams, all with complimentary capabilities and training requirements.
59 https://wilenet.org/html/directory/Law%20Enforcement%20Directory%202018-02-15.xlsx 60 http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/about-wisdot/who-we-are/dsp/dsp-regions-map.pdf 61 http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov/training/docs/Regional_Hazardous_Materials_Resp_Teams_Map.pdf
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The Wisconsin Hazardous Materials Response System may be activated for an incident involving a hazardous materials spill, leak, explosion, injury or the potential of immediate threat to life, the environment, or property. The Wisconsin Hazardous Materials Response system responds to the most serious of spills and releases requiring the highest level of skin and respiratory protective gear. This includes all chemical, biological, or radiological emergencies.
Local (County) Hazardous Materials Response Teams respond to chemical incidents which require a lower level of protective gear but still exceed the capabilities of standard fire departments. Forty counties, not including Pierce County, currently have Level 4 Hazardous Materials Response Teams. Those teams may provide assistance to surrounding counties and are approved by the Local Emergency Planning Committees. 62
Archaeological and Historical Resources
The National Register of Historic Places includes a listing of locations in Pierce County.63 As mitigation projects are considered, the county is committed to ensuring that archaeological and historical sites are preserved.
Historic Sites64
Historic Site Name Street Address Municipality
Diamond Bluff Site- Address Restricted Diamond Mero Mound Group/ Bluff Mero Archeological District
Freeman, Roscius S. 220 N. Third Street River Falls and Lydia R., House
Glen Park Municipal 355 Park Street River Falls
62 http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov/epcra/hazmat.asp 63 https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/wi/pierce/state.html 64 http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.do?searchtype=natreghome
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Swimming Pool
Glen Park Suspension End of W. Cascade River Falls Bridge Avenue
Mero Archeological Address Restricted Diamond District Bluff
Miller, H.S., Bank 223 Broad Street Prescott
North Hall-River Falls University of Wisconsin River Falls State Normal School
Pierce County 411 W. Main Street Ellsworth Courthouse
Smith, Daniel, House 331 N. Lake Street Prescott
South Hall, River Falls 320 E. Cascade Avenue River Falls State Normal School
According to the report, “Archaeological Investigations in the Trumpter Valley Project Area, Pierce County, Wisconsin,”65 Pierce County has several Native American burial mounds along the Mississippi River. In the Town of Oak Grove, a professional archaeological survey was conducted at the Trumpeter Valley Project site. This site, slated for development as homes and a golf course, contained five pre-identified archaeological sites and five potential historical sites. The sites include: • Site Pi-51: includes at least 14 conical earthen mounds on a bluff top overlooking the Mississippi River • Site Pi-85: a site in the uplands between two small coulees and east of the Mississippi Valley that contained a few prehistoric artifacts and debris attributable to the Late Archaic and Late Woodland period • Site Pi-86: covers approximately 630 square meters in an upland setting in the Big River Valley. The site contained a thin scatter of lithic debris and fragments of stone tools. • Site Pi-89: contained a scatter of historic debris (i.e., glass, stoneware, earthen ware) from a 19th century
65 Roland L. Rodell, December 1989
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house and property that covers 2500 square meters on a high portion of ground in an upland setting overlooking the Big River Valley • Site JAB-14: is a potential linear mound on a bluff top overlooking the Big River Valley • Several historic building locations with three located on Site Pi-89, two structures in the Big River Valley and two along the Mississippi River at the opening of a small valley at Smith Landing
Also, in the Town of Trenton (T25N, R18W; East of Highway K and North of Highway 35) there are three Indian burial mounds. All of these sites have been reported to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and are protected sites. If there is concern that a mitigation project will impact one of these or any other identified or suspected archeological site, the county will work with the proper authorities to ensure that all applicable laws and regulations are followed.
The Wisconsin Historical Society maintains a list of archaeological sites and cemeteries known as the Archaeological Site Inventory Database (ASI); this list is available to governmental agencies upon request. These sites cover an extended period of time, and include campsites/villages/communities, cabins/homesteads, sugar mapling sites, cemetery/burial/ mounds, trading/fur posts, mill/sawmills and kilns.
All of these sites have been reported to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and are protected sites. If there is concern that a mitigation project will impact one of these or any other identified or suspected archeological site, the county will work with the proper authorities to ensure that all applicable laws and regulations are followed.
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Hazard Analysis and Previous Mitigation Projects
The following sections identify those hazards that have occurred or could occur in Pierce County. Each includes a description of a hazard and its frequency of occurrence. Also included is a section that describes the general vulnerabilities of the community and its infrastructure to each particular type of hazard. More detailed and specific analyses will be conducted as projects are identified for inclusion in grant applications. As part of the application process, the methodology of data collection and future development patterns will be addressed. Estimates of potential dollar losses and the methodology used to arrive at those estimates will also be described during this application process.
Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) completed and regularly updates the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was last revised in October, 2016. This plan describes the hazards that have occurred or are most likely to occur within the state and includes the frequency of occurrence, potential impacts and suggested actions to mitigate the hazard. This plan is the basis for the development of all emergency management plans and is distributed upon revision to county emergency government directors and other stakeholder agencies.
The Pierce County Emergency Management Director develops and annually updates a listing of all hazards that have occurred or could occur within the county. This listing includes the definition, frequency of occurrence and actions to mitigate the hazard. In general, the threat of most hazards is consistent throughout the county.
For this plan the Pierce County Hazard Mitigation Plan Workgroup reviewed the past events records and an internal workgroup consensus was reached on the anticipated probability of future events. This probability was designated as “very high,” “high,” “medium,” “low” or “very low” by the workgroup based on their evaluation and experience with the data.
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Hazard Likelihood of Severity of Effects if It Does Occurrence* Happen* Drought/Dust Storm Medium Ag – Medium Other - Low Earthquake Low Low
Flood – Flash Flood Very High Very High & River Flood
Flood – Dam Break High High
Forest Fire Very Low Low
Wildfire Low Low
Landslide Medium Miss. River Area – High Other Areas - Low Karst High Low
Severe Heat: Medium Heat: Ag-High; Other – Medium Temperatures Cold: Medium Cold: People – Medium; Property - Low
Hail High Property – High Injury/Death – Low
Lightning High Rural – Medium Urban – Low
Thunderstorm High High
Tornado & Derecho High High (High Wind)
Winter Storm (Snow Medium Medium & Ice)
Utility Failure Medium Low
The emphasis in the following sections is on mitigation activities for each hazard as a major component of overall emergency
Page 56 Hazard Analysis management. Mitigation or prevention activities reduce the degree of long-term risk to human life and property from natural and man-made hazards. The cooperation of government, academia, the private sector and volunteer agencies is essential in mitigation efforts. Pierce County Emergency Management is committed to working with municipalities and the private sector to ensure that county mitigation information is shared and it is incorporated into their planning as appropriate.
Each community will be given a copy of the plan to use as a reference during their own preparedness activities (i.e., planning, training, permitting, zoning.) Communities that have their own comprehensive plan will reference this mitigation plan and its contents in the next scheduled plan update. Municipalities that do not have comprehensive plans either are under the purview of and request assistance from Pierce County or have their own planning departments. Members of the County Planning and Zoning Department and municipal planning departments were included on the Hazard Mitigation Workgroup and are aware of the benefits and requirements to using this plan as they go about their preparedness activities. At this time, general themes and ideas from the previous mitigation plan were included as the county and municipalities discussed the updates of the applicable coordinating plans (e.g., comprehensive, flood, storm water) but there are no direct examples of text or specific ideas that can be listed as having come from the hazard mitigation plan.
Pierce County and its municipalities have a history of identifying, planning and completing hazard mitigation projects including these, which received supplemental funding: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) Projects: • EAP#09-03 Pierce County, Pierce County $560,083 Rehab housing units, street repair • Contract 87195-25 10/16/98-6/30/99 Ellsworth, Town, Pierce County $36,457 Private bridge replacement It was noted by the workgroup that there are several opportunities for grant funding from various federal and state resources including: • HMGP - The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is authorized by Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended. The key purpose of HMGP is to ensure that the opportunity to take critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life
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and property from future disasters is not lost during the reconstruction process following a disaster. HMGP is available, when authorized under the Presidential major disaster declaration, is available in all areas of the state following a Presidential disaster declaration. 66 o Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Projects Funded in Pierce County ▪ 1993 DR-994-WI: Pierce, County $6,000,000 Acquisition of 67 residential structures, 3 commercial structures, and 3 vacant parcels (local match provided by CDBG additional $187,989 provided by program revenue) ▪ 1998 DR-1238-WI: Darlington City flood- proofing partially funded by DR-994 grant ▪ 2012 DR-4076-WI: River Falls, City of, Pierce County $666,471 Construction of one community safe room at a mixed-use local park. Project was closed in 2018. ▪ 2012 DR-1966-WI: UW-River Falls, Pierce $19,473 Plan is approved
• PDM - The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program is authorized by Section 203 of the Stafford Act, 42 USC. 5133. The PDM program is designed to assist States, Territories, tribal governments, and local communities to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program to reduce overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events, while also reducing reliance on Federal funding from future major disaster declarations. 67 o Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Projects and/or Plans Funded in Pierce County68 ▪ 2003 Pierce County: $48,000 New plan is approved ▪ 2007C: UW-River Falls, Pierce County $24,990 New plan is approved
66 http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program 67 http://www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program 68 Note that several grants to the State of Wisconsin/WEM are listed when searching for Pierce County projects. These state projects are deemed as benefiting the state’s counties but are not listed in this plan because they were not directly received by the county.
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▪ 2010C: Pierce County, Pierce County $22,373 Update is approved
• FMA - The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program is authorized by Section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended with the goal of reducing or eliminating claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) program has the goal of reducing flood damages to individual properties for which one or more claim payments for losses have been made under flood insurance coverage and that will result in the greatest savings to the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF) in the shortest period of time. 69 o Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Projects Funded in Pierce County70 ▪ FY95-0033 River Falls, City $374,000 Repair road embankment/retaining wall along North Main Street
• 406 Mitigation – The Public Assistance-Section 406 Mitigation Funding may be considered by FEMA in a federal disaster declaration to fund mitigation measures to a public facility damaged by the event that enhance the facility's ability to resist similar damage in future events. This funding is authorized under Section 406 of The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and provides discretionary authority to fund mitigation measures in conjunction with the repair of the disaster-damaged facilities, which usually present themselves during the repair efforts. The mitigation measures must be related to eligible disaster- related damages and must directly reduce the potential for future similar disaster damages to the eligible facility. This work is performed on the parts of the facility that were actually damaged by the disaster and the mitigation provides protection from subsequent events. Mitigation measures must be determined to be cost-effective, technically feasible, and in compliance with statutory, regulatory, and executive order requirements. In addition, the measure cannot cause a
69 http://www.fema.gov/flood-mitigation-assistance-program 70 Note that several grants to the State of Wisconsin/WEM are listed when searching for Pierce County projects. These state projects are deemed as benefiting the state’s counties but are not listed in this plan because they were not directly received by the county.
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negative impact to the facility's operation, surrounding areas, or susceptibility to damage from another hazard. 71
• CDBG – The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Assistance provides flexible grants to help cities, counties, and states recover from Presidentially-declared disasters, especially in low-income areas, subject to availability of supplemental appropriations. In response to disasters, Congress may appropriate additional funding for the CDBG program as disaster recovery grants to rebuild the affected areas and provide crucial seed money to start the recovery process. Since CDBG Disaster Recovery assistance may fund a broad range of recovery activities, HUD can help communities and neighborhoods that otherwise might not recover due to limited resources. Disaster Recovery grants often supplement the disaster programs of FEMA, the SBA, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (i.e., these funds can be used for the local matching requirement of other federal grants). 72
• Municipal Flood Control Grant Program - This Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant is available to all cities, villages, towns, tribes, and metropolitan sewerage districts. Assistance is provided with items such as the acquisition of property, vacant land, structure removal, flood proofing, administrative support, and others. 73 o Municipal Flood Control Grant Program Projects Funded in Pierce County
▪ 2006-07 MFC-47271-06 Prescott, City, Pierce $171,998.30 Elevations, property owner died, not completed
• Dam Removal Grant Program - This Wisconsin DNR grant is available to all cities, villages, towns, tribes, and
71 http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit/hazard-mitigation-funding- under-section-406-0 72http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/communitydevelopment/pro grams/drsi 73http://dnr.wi.gov/Aid/MunFloodControl.html
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metropolitan sewerage districts and provides 100% of eligible project costs up to a maximum of $50,000 to remove a dam. Assistance is provided with items such as: the acquisition of property, vacant land, structure removal, flood- proofing, administrative support, and others. 74
74 http://dnr.wi.gov/aid/damremoval.html
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All Hazards
One of the bedrock principles of emergency management is to approach issues from an all-hazards perspective. This is generally very cost effective because it accomplishes preparedness and/or mitigation goals for many types of disasters with one resource. Some of the all hazards mitigation projects that Pierce County would like to accomplish are detailed in the following sections.
The planning committee also used the all hazards approach to identify mitigation goals for the county and all of its municipalities. The purpose of the hazard mitigation plan is to identify hazard areas, to assess the risks, to analyze the potential for mitigation and to recommend mitigation strategies where appropriate. Potential mitigation projects will be reviewed using criteria that stress the intrinsic value of the increased safety for people and property in relation to the monetary costs to achieve this (i.e., a cost-benefit analysis). With that in mind, the overall planning goals for the entire plan, as listed by the mitigation planning committee were:
o Objective 1: To preserve life and minimize the potential for injuries or death. o Objective 2: To preserve and enhance the quality of life throughout Pierce County by identifying potential property damage risks and recommending appropriate mitigation strategies to minimize potential property damage. o Objective 3: To promote countywide planning that avoids transferring the risk from one community to an adjacent community, where appropriate. o Objective 4: To identify potential funding sources for mitigation projects and form the basis for FEMA project grant applications.
Vulnerability
Perhaps the largest risk that falls under the all-hazards banner is public alert and notifications limitations. Pierce County has generally good siren coverage in the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant and there are locations with a lack of coverage in the rest
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of the county. While there are other means of notification (NOAA Weather Alert radios, broadcast media), Pierce County has some citizens involved in outdoor labor (e.g., farming) that rely on sirens for timely notification of impending disasters. The lack of sirens could impact safety by not providing the citizens timely and adequate alert and notification of impending disasters and the actions that can be taken to help protect themselves, their families and their property.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
In general, most of the projects that can be done with current budgetary dollars are not capital improvement projects and are not very expensive. Projects that require significant outlays of dollars are, for the most part, grant-dependent. Since the profile (e.g., economic, geographic) of an area may change between the identification of a project in this plan and the availability of grant funds, projects will be identified within the plan and be slated for detailed study and analysis at such time as grants become available. The detailed study will identify the types and numbers of existing and future structures, the potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures and the lead agency or department who will manage the project. At that point, grant- eligible projects will be evaluated using the appropriate grant criteria for factors such as:
▪ Overall benefit to the community
▪ Economic feasibility (i.e., a cost-benefit analysis)
▪ Compliance with environmental, social justice and other laws
Most of the hazard mitigation strategies listed below are not “bricks and mortar” changes. Rather, they are enhancements to computer and radio equipment and plans that allow better communication with the public in times of crisis and therefore do not reduce effects for existing or future buildings and infrastructure.
Warning and Communication Plans
Warning and communications plans are vital in a time of crisis to reduce property damage and human casualties. An advance
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plan allows the appropriate authorities to perform their emergency duties in an efficient manner.
Pierce County will maintain the following:
• Facilities, systems and procedures to activate warning and communication capabilities,
• Systems to support communications, including:
o Sirens to warn the public
o Telephone and radio to notify public personnel
o Local television, radio and newspaper to spread warning information
o Local law enforcement, fire and rescue communications
o An emergency communications center,
• Pierce County Sheriff’s office to receive and distribute warning information to the public and emergency management agencies.
During an emergency, the general public receives information by sirens, NOAA weather radio, local broadcast or printed media, door-to-door notification by emergency services personnel and a mobile public address system. It should be noted that the ability to use the NOAA weather radio system for an expanded list of emergency messages is a positive move that makes this alert and warning tool even more valuable. As a result, Pierce County will continue to promote increased use of these radios among the public.
Methods for notification of the functional and access needs populations include door-to-door warnings, foreign language media messages and closed-caption television messages. Other notices and procedures can be found in Pierce County’s Emergency Operations Plan which is reviewed and updated on a regular schedule.
Pierce County should be capable of the following:
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• Disseminate emergency warning and notification to the public though its county-wide warning systems;
• Support emergency management operations;
• Provide adequate warning and communication systems;
• Plan for alternative means and resources in the event of a warning or communication system breakdown.
Pierce County will prepare facilities, systems and procedures to activate warning and communication. During an emergency, Pierce County will deliver prompt and accurate warnings to businesses and residents. Strategies to help ensure that this goal is achieved include:
Pierce County:
• Continue to promote the increased use of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios
• Change out all radio equipment (including towers) that has reached its “end of life”. This is an estimated $1.5 million project.
• Work with partners (City of River Falls, UW-River Falls, Prairie Island Nuclear Plant) to increase cell phone data to the Everbridge reverse emergency notification system. The service was changed from City Watch to Everbridge in 2016. Everbridge makes emergency notifications. Database is now home phone numbers and some cell phones. Ongoing costs covered by four partners & new partners may be added. Can text and e-mail. Linked to ArcView. Some floodplain information is in there for localized flooding from Rush River and Trimbelle Creek
• Get dual band radios to work on both VHF and 800mHz (MN is 800mHz) for river border communities.
• Update the nomographs used for the Highway Department’s engineering projects to assist with mapping accuracy. The current ones are from the 1970’s.
• Tie communications at St. Croix to simulcast to all fire responders.
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• Use the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for road change advisories.
• Incorporate IPAWS for location-specific messaging and work towards the goal of linking to social media.
City of River Falls
• Evaluate options for upgrading the weather siren system.
• Partner to continue to make the Everbridge system more robust with soliciting cell phone numbers.
• Complete all recommended/required classwork to be fully NIMS compliant.
• Purchase and install back-up generator for the radio tower used by the DPW, PD, FD, and EMS.
City of Prescott
• Re-evaluate siren sounding protocols to provide better local soundings. • Evaluate siren coverage areas in expansion/new developments to ensure adequate coverage.
Village of Ellsworth
• Continue required ongoing education to ensure NIMS compliance.
Village of Plum City
• Continue required ongoing education to ensure NIMS compliance.
Website
Geographic information system (GIS) mapping data is available from the Pierce County website. There is also a disaster webpage. In recognition of the importance of this communication tool, especially in pre-planning activities, offices will review their web pages to ensure that important information and links for general preparedness topics are available. The
Page 66 All Hazards county, the City of Prescott and the Villages of Ellsworth and Spring Valley will also work to publicize their website so that people know to go there for information.
Page 67 Drought and Dust Storms
Drought and Dust Storms
Two types of drought occur in Wisconsin: agricultural and hydrologic. Agricultural drought is a dry period that reduces crop yields. Hydrologic drought is a dry period of sufficient length and intensity to affect lake and stream levels and the height of the groundwater table. These two types of drought may, but do not necessarily, occur together.
Agricultural drought in a Wisconsin corn field in 2012.
Dust storms result from a combination of high winds and dry, loose soil conditions. While high winds and periods of drought have each occurred in Pierce County, there has never been a recorded dust storm event. Since natural hazards that have occurred in the past are more likely to occur in the future, it is unlikely that a dust storm event will occur in Pierce County. This assertion is further bolstered by the fact that there is very little irrigation done within the county and that the soils in Pierce County are not prone to blowing. While there are concerns about topsoil erosion and some mitigation activities may be planned that would reduce the effects of these types of events, they will not be a major focus of this plan.
Physical Characteristics
The understanding that a deficit of precipitation has different impacts on groundwater, reservoir storage, soil moisture, snowpack and stream flow led to the development of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in 1993. The SPI quantifies the precipitation deficit for multiple time scales. These time scales reflect the impact of drought on the
Page 68 Drought and Dust Storms
availability of the different water resources. Soil moisture conditions respond to precipitation anomalies on a relatively short scale. Groundwater, streamflow, and reservoir storage reflect longer-term precipitation anomalies. For these reasons, the SPI is calculated for 3-, 6-, 12-, 24- and 48- month time scales.
The SPI calculation for any location is based on the long-term precipitation record for a desired period. This long-term record is fitted to a probability distribution, which is then transformed into a normal distribution so that the mean SPI for the location and desired period is zero. Positive SPI values indicate greater than median precipitation and negative values indicate less than median precipitation. Because the SPI is normalized, wetter and drier climates can be represented in the same way and wet periods can also be monitored using the SPI.
The classification system shown in the SPI values table (below) defines drought intensities resulting from the SPI. The criteria for a drought event are also defined for any of the time scales. A drought event occurs any time the SPI is continuously negative and reaches an intensity of -1.0 or less. The event ends when the SPI becomes positive. Each drought event, therefore, has a duration defined by its beginning and end and an intensity value for each month that the event continues. The positive sum of the SPI for all the months within a drought event can be termed the drought’s “magnitude.” Current SPI maps for the United States can be found online.75
SPI Values76 2.0+ Extremely wet 1.5 to 1.99 Very wet 1.0 to 1.49 Moderately wet -0.99 to 0.99 Near normal -1.0 to 1.49 Moderately dry -1.5 to -1.99 Severely dry -2.0 and less Extremely dry
The Palmer Index is an older scale and is used more often by governmental organizations. It is effective in determining long- term drought (i.e., over several months) and is not as good with
75 https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/drought/nadm/indices/spi/div#select-form 76 https://drought.unl.edu/ranchplan/DroughtBasics/WeatherandDrought/MeasuringDrought.aspx
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short-term forecasts (i.e., weeks.) It uses a zero as normal; drought is shown in terms of negative numbers and excess moisture is reflected by positive figures. The future incidence of drought is highly unpredictable and may also be localized, making it difficult to determine probability with any accuracy.
Drought conditions may vary from below-normal precipitation for a few weeks to a severe lack of normal precipitation for several months. Drought primarily affects agricultural areas because the amount and timing of rainfall has a significant impact on crop production. The severity of a drought cannot therefore be completely measured in terms of precipitation alone but must include crop yields.
Frequency of Occurrence
Drought is a relatively common phenomenon in Wisconsin and has occurred statewide in 1895, 1910, 1939, 1948, 1958, 1976, 1988, 1992, 2003, 2005 and 2012. The 1976 drought received a Presidential Emergency Declaration with damage to 64 Wisconsin counties, including Pierce. Estimated losses of $624 million primarily affected the agricultural sector. Reports show that Pierce County was as affected as the rest of the state in this drought, receiving money for emergency feed programs for livestock and for increased fire protection of its wilderness areas. It should be noted that only 19% ($119,434,924) of this loss was compensated by any federal program.
The 2012 heat wave resulted in significant droughts across more the half the country as well as increases in heat related illnesses and deaths. July, 2012 was the hottest month in US history, eclipsing the record set during the heart of the Dust Bowl in 1936. The worst of the heat was in the Midwest, the Plains and along the Eastern Seaboard. Most of the contiguous U.S. had record and near-record warmth for the seven-month period, except the Pacific Northwest, which was near average. The August 7, 2012 Drought Monitor map shows 52.27% of the United States and Puerto Rico in moderate drought or worse with Pierce County in the D1 – Moderate Drought category.77
77 2012 Heat & Drought Federal Report, HHS ESF 8, UPDATE #2, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
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The Palmer Index chart for the years between January, 1895 and September, 2018 in West Central Wisconsin, which includes Pierce County follows:78
As can be seen from the frequency table above, Pierce County regularly experiences drought to at least a moderate level two to three times every ten years. While drought is a regular occurrence, it is generally very difficult to predict with any accuracy but according to the Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan, “the NWS and National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) are improving methodology to accurately forecast drought conditions. Both organizations use a
78 http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/clim-watch/graphics/pdsi-ts-04-l.gif
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combination of current and historical precipitation, stream flow, ground water, and crop data to perform short-term and long- term forecasts.”79
On July 15, 2005, the Governor declared a drought emergency for the entire state of Wisconsin. This declaration, the first since August 2003, allowed farmers access to additional water for crop irrigation. The summer of 2012 was also extremely hot and dry across much of the United States, including Wisconsin. The National Weather Service has no recorded drought events and zero dust storms for Pierce County between 1 January 1950 and 31 July 2018.80
Considering past occurrences, it can be surmised that Pierce County has a medium probability of drought occurrence in the future and the likelihood of damage due to drought is considered medium for agricultural losses and low for other types of losses. The probability of dust storm and damages due to dust storms would be very low.
Vulnerability
Droughts and dust storms could impact Pierce County disproportionately because a large portion of the land area is used for agricultural activities. Drought generally impacts farm output by reducing crop yields and the health and product output (e.g., milk) of livestock. As a result, a drought will seriously impact the economy of the entire county. Dust storms impact farms in the long term by blowing away the top levels of soil, which are the richest. This could economically impact the county by reducing its long-term viability for farming. The concern for agricultural losses due to drought is difficult to estimate because each incident will impact the county differently based on the length of the drought, when it occurs in the planting season and which crops were planted in various locations in that particular season but one can see, by looking at the agricultural statistics listed below, that this sector is an important part of the Pierce County economy and that the losses could be staggering: • Average size of farms: 177 acres
79 State of Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan, p. 3-100 80 https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN
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• Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $47,900 • Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $164.88 • The value of livestock, poultry and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 66.94% • Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 54.25% • Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 18.98 • Corn for grain: 59,019 harvested acres • All wheat for grain: 530 harvested acres • Soybeans for beans: 24,868 harvested acres • Vegetables: 105 harvested acres • Land in orchards: 136 acres81
Drought is also a major risk factor for wildfire and can reduce the amount of surface water available for recreational activities (e.g., boating, fishing, water skiing) and for wildlife. This is important because, for example, low water levels can lead to an outbreak of disease (e.g., botulism) in migratory bird pools.
Prolonged drought can also impact the groundwater reserves. This can reduce the ability of the municipal water services and rural individuals on wells to draw adequate fresh water. This may especially impact rural homeowners who tend to have wells that are not drilled as deeply as municipal wells. In Pierce County, the population that lives outside of the cities and villages are generally on well water. There could be a safety risk during dust storms if they are severe enough to reduce the visibility of the roadways for drivers.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of drought and dust storm mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost-effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events.
Some Pierce County communities have adopted water usage regulations during drought conditions but in general, mitigation
81 http://www.city-data.com/county/Pierce_County-WI.html
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strategies for periods of drought include preparing informational releases and plans for farmers and homeowners that can be used if needed.
Pierce County farmers can contact the Pierce County University of Wisconsin Extension Office and the local offices of the Department of Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for information and guidance related to drought and dust storms. Information is available in display racks and online. Various federal and state publications are available regarding ground water movement, the hydrologic cycle and irrigation methods. These agencies are also the lead agencies for obtaining emergency food and water supplies for agricultural use and for providing information regarding crop insurance.
Municipalities and the county will work together to ensure that drought considerations are included in emergency plans and will provide emergency information to homeowners as needed.
The hazard mitigation strategies listed above primarily involve providing information on water conservation measures to farmers and the public. Water conservation will ensure that the resource is available for critical residential, business and agricultural uses (drinking, food irrigation, manufacturing, firefighting) and good farming practices may help prevent erosion of the rich topsoil found in Pierce County. Since drought and dust storms are not hazards that affect buildings or traditional infrastructure (e.g., bridges, culverts) these strategies did not need to be designed to reduce damages to existing or future buildings and infrastructure.
Page 74 Earthquakes
Earthquakes
An earthquake is a shaking or sometimes violent trembling of the earth which results from the sudden shifting of rock beneath the earth’s crust. This sudden shifting releases energy in the form of seismic waves (wave-like movement of the earth’s surface.)82
Physical Characteristics
Earthquakes can strike without warning and may range in intensity from slight tremors to great shocks. They can last from a few seconds to over five minutes and they may also occur as a series of tremors over a period of several days. The actual movement of the ground during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of injury or death. Casualties usually result from falling objects and debris because the shocks have shaken, damaged or demolished buildings and other structures. Movement may trigger fires, dam failures, landslides or releases of hazardous materials that compound an earthquake’s disastrous effect.
Earthquakes are measured by two principle methods: seismographs and human judgment. The seismograph measures the magnitude of an earthquake and interprets the amount of energy released on the Richter Scale, a logarithmic scale with no upper limit. For example, an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter Scale is ten times more powerful than a 5.0 and 100 times more powerful than a 4.0. This is a measure of the absolute size or strength of an earthquake and does not consider the effect at any specific location. The
82 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/earthquake_guide.pdf
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Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale measures the strength of a shock at a particular location (i.e., intensity.)
A third less often used way of measuring an earthquake’s severity involves comparing its acceleration to the normal acceleration caused by the force of gravity. The acceleration due to gravity, often noted “g,” is equal to 9.8 meters per second. Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) measures the rate of change of motion relative to the rate of acceleration due to gravity and is expressed as a percentage. These three scales can be roughly correlated, as expressed in the table that follows:83
Earthquake PGA, Magnitude and Intensity Comparison Table PGA Magnitude Intensity Description [MMI] [ %g] [Richter] [MMI] <0.17 1.0 - 3.0 I I. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions. 0.17 - 1.4 3.0 - 3.9 II - III II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. III. Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated. 1.4 - 9.2 4.0 - 4.9 IV - V IV. Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At night, some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing cars rock noticeably. V. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop. 9.2 - 34 5.0 - 5.9 VI - VII VI. Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight. VII. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken. 34 - 124 6.0 - 6.9 VII - IX VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned. IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations. >124 7.0 and higher VIII or higher X. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations. Rails bent. XI. Few, if any [masonry] structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Rails bent greatly. XII. Damage total. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects thrown into the air.
83 Wald, Quitoriano, Heaton and Kanamori, 1999
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Most of Wisconsin’s occurrences have not been severe, with only one registering 5.1 on the Richter Scale.
Frequency of Occurrence
Earthquakes that have affected Wisconsin from 1899 to 1987 are listed in the table that follows. The most severe earthquake in Wisconsin was the record earthquake of 1811, centered along the New Madrid Fault. Most earthquakes that do occur in Wisconsin are very low in intensity and can hardly be felt. These very minor earthquakes are fairly common, occurring every few years. Events of moderate magnitude have occurred in locations in Illinois and Michigan. Those and other stronger earthquakes centered in other parts of the country have been felt primarily in Southern Wisconsin.
Date Location Latitude Longitude Maximum Magnitude North West Intensity 10/12/1899 Kenosha 42o 34’ 87o 50’ II 3.0 3/13/1905 Marinette 45o 08’ 87o 40’ V 3.8 4/22/1906 Shorewood 43o 03’ 87o 55’ II 3.0 4/24/1906 Milwaukee 43o 03’ 87o 55’ III -- 1/10/1907 Marinette 45o 08’ 87o 40’ III -- 5/26/1909 Beloit 42o 30’ 89o 00’ VII 5.1 (max) 10/7/1914 Madison 43o 05’ 89o 23’ IV 3.8 5/31/1916 Madison 43o 05’ 89o 21’ II 3.0 7/7/1922 Fond du Lac 43o 47’ 88o 29’ V 3.6 10/18/1931 Madison 43o 05’ 89o 23’ III 3.4 12/6/1933 Stoughton 42o 54’ 89o 15’ IV 3.5 11/7/1938 Dubuque 42o 30’ 90o 43’ II 3.0 11/7/1938 Dubuque 42o 30’ 90o 43’ II 3.0 11/7/1938 Dubuque 42o 30’ 90o 43’ II 3.0 2/9/1943 Thunder Mountain 45o 11’ 88o 10’ III 3.2 5/6/1947 Milwaukee 43o 00’ 87o 55’ V 4.0 1/15/1948 Lake Mendota 43o 09’ 89o 41’ IV 3.8 7/18/1956 Oostburg 43o 37’ 87o45’ IV 3.8 7/18/1956 Oostburg 43o 37’ 87o45’ IV 3.8 10/13/1956 South Milwaukee 42o 55’ 87o52’ IV 3.8 1/8/1957 Beaver Dam 42o 32’ 98o48’ IV 3.6 2/28/1979 Bill Cross Rapids 45o 13’ 89o46’ -- <1.0 MoLg 1/9/1981 Madison 43o 05’ 87o55’ II -- 3/13/1981 Madison 43o 37’ 87o45’ II -- 6/12/1981 Oxford 43o 52’ 89o39’ IV-V -- 2/12/1987 Milwaukee 42o 95’ 87o84’ IV-V -- 2/12/1987 Milwaukee 43o 19’ 87o28’ IV-V -- 6/28/2004 Troy Grove, IL 41o 46’ 88o91’ IV 4.2
Page 77 Earthquakes
Also, in Wisconsin, a 2012 article published in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel discussed an incident in Waupaca County that was not an earthquake as traditionally discussed and understood. This episode is highlighted in this plan because it was widely reported in the state and could be a concern for Pierce County citizens:84
A 1.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded at 12:15 a.m. March 20 beneath Clintonville, according to the National Earthquake Information Center. The center is operated by the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. Geological Survey said several days of booms and vibrations that rattled windows and nerves last week likely were caused by a swarm of small earthquakes. Scientists at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey in Madison said the low-intensity seismic activity could have been produced by a phenomenon known as postglacial rebounding. Granite bedrock beneath eastern Waupaca County is slowly adjusting to a great weight being lifted off it when the last glacier melted more than 10,000 years ago. As the granite stretches, rising only a few millimeters a year, it can crack to relieve pressure, according to David Hart, a geophysicist at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. As it cracks, one piece slides or shifts places, releasing enough energy to create a seismic wave that rises to the surface. There is no known geologic fault beneath central Wisconsin so the postglacial rebounding is the only thing stretching the bedrock crust in the state, Hart said. This phenomenon was widely reported in local, state and national news and drew interest from the public.
The nearest major active fault is the New Madrid Fault, stretching along the central Mississippi River Valley in Missouri. In recent years, considerable attention has focused on seismic activity in the New Madrid seismic zone that lies within the central Mississippi Valley, extending from northeast Arkansas through southeast Missouri, western Tennessee and western Kentucky to southern Illinois. Scientists at the Center for
84 http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/rumbling-booming-resumes-in-clintonville-6e4p9o8- 144653925.html
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Earthquake Information have computed a set of probabilities that estimates the potential for different magnitude earthquakes to occur at the New Madrid Fault. Even an 8.3 magnitude earthquake at the New Madrid Fault, however, would cause only minor damage in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin. At this time, it is not possible to predict the exact date, duration or magnitude of an earthquake.
As seen on the map in Appendix A, the earthquake threat to Pierce County is considered very low (the 50-year acceleration probability is 2%.) Minor damage (e.g., cracked plaster, broken windows) from earthquakes has occurred in Wisconsin but most often the results have been only rattling windows and shaking ground. There is little risk except to structures that are badly constructed. Most of the felt earthquakes reported have been centered in other nearby states. The causes of these local quakes are poorly understood and are thought to have resulted from the still-occurring rebound of the earth’s crust after the retreat of the last glacial ice. The likelihood of damage from an earthquake is also very low.
Page 79 Earthquakes
Vulnerability
Any impact in the community from earthquake would likely be due to a few broken windows and personal effects that fell in the earthquake. The damage to critical infrastructure and buildings would be negligible although there could be indirect effects from any unlikely losses to the electrical grid, transportation routes/goods shipments and pipelines.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
Since Pierce County is not likely to suffer directly from a severe earthquake and the community impacts are not considered significant, mitigation planning for this hazard is not necessary. If there is ever a need, obviously emergency resources will be mobilized but the goal for this section of the plan is therefore to educate on the very low risks of earthquake damage in Pierce County.
Page 80 Flooding and Dam Failure
Flooding and Dam Failure
Flooding is defined as a general condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land (i.e., the floodplains) caused by the overflow of inland waters or the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. Floodplains are the lowlands next to a body of water that are susceptible to recurring floods.85
Floods are common in the United States, including Wisconsin, and are considered natural events that are hazardous only when adversely affecting people and property.
Physical Characteristics
Major floods in Wisconsin usually have been confined either to specific streams or to locations that receive intense rainfall in a short period of time.
Flooding that occurs in the spring due to snow melt or during a period of heavy rain is characterized by a slow buildup of flow and velocity in rivers and streams over a period of days. This buildup continues until the river or stream overflows its banks, for as long as a week or two, then slowly recedes. Generally,
85 FEMA, August 2001
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the timing and location of this type of flooding is fairly predictable and allows ample time for evacuation of people and property. An example of this type of flooding can be seen in this picture taken in the August 2010 flooding by 410th Avenue:
For prediction and warning purposes, floods are classified by the National Weather Service into two types: those that develop and crest over a period of approximately six hours or more and those that crest more quickly. The former are referred to as "floods" and the latter as "flash floods". Flash flooding occurs solely from surface run-off that results from intense rainfall. Flash flooding occurs less frequently in Wisconsin than flooding associated with spring snow melt but it is unpredictable. An example of flash flooding can be seen in the following two pictures from the River Falls area in the heavy rains of May, 2001:
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Generally, the amount of damage from flooding is a direct consequence of land use. If the ground is already saturated, stripped of vegetation or paved, the amount of run-off increases, adding to the flooding. Generally, the sandy, stony, silty soils in Pierce County are less prone to flooding than the heavier clay soils that can be found in other parts of the state. There is concern regarding the loss of topsoil and erosion due to flooding.
Terms commonly used when referring to flooding are "100-year flood" and "flood plain." A "100-year flood" is defined as a flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in magnitude in any given year.
Flood Probability Terms Table86
Flood Recurrence Percent Chance Intervals of Occurrence Annually
10 year 10.0%
50 year 2.0%
100 year 1.0%
500 year 0.2%
86 State of Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan, 4-28.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), working with local zoning offices, has designated flood plain areas as those places where there is the greatest potential for flooding. Flooding may also occur due to a dam breach or overflow. Dams are barriers built across a waterway to store, control or divert water; a dam failure is a failure of the dam that causes downstream flooding. Failures may be caused by technological events (e.g., materials failure) or by natural events (e.g., landslide, earthquake) with flooding being the most common result.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Dam Safety Program there are approximately 3,800 dams in existence in the State of Wisconsin. Since the late 19thcentury, more than 700 dams have been built, then washed out or removed. Since 1967, approximately 100 dams have been removed. Almost 60% of the dams in Wisconsin are owned by a former company or private individual, 9% by the State of Wisconsin, 17% by a municipality such as a township or county government and 14% by other ownership types.
The federal government has jurisdiction over most large dams in Wisconsin that produce hydroelectricity - approximately 5% or nearly 200 dams. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulates the rest of the dams. A dam with a structural height of over 6 feet and impounding 50 acre-feet or more, or having a structural height of 25 feet or more and impounding more than 15 acre-feet is classified as a large dam. There are approximately 1,160 large dams in the State of Wisconsin.
Pierce County has an estimated 700 – 800 small, uncontrolled agricultural dams. Of that number, 98 dams are included in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) database:87
Official Dam Name Dam (Popular Name) Size Latitude Longitude Owner Waterway Name JUNCTION FALLS (UPPER CI of RIVER KINNICKINNIC) LARGE 44.8552009 -92.6335264 FALLS KINNICKINNIC POWELL FALLS (LOWER CI of RIVER KINNIKINNIC) LARGE 44.8509263 -92.6389934 FALLS KINNICKINNIC PLUM CREEK 19 LARGE 44.5664 -92.13872 PIERCE CO LCD TR PLUM CREEK
87 https://dnr.wi.gov/damsafety/damSearch.aspx
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PLUM CREEK 3 LARGE 44.687305 -92.1895188 PIERCE CO LCD TR PLUM CREEK PLUM CREEK 2 (NUGGET LAKE DAM) LARGE 44.66745 -92.20466 PIERCE CO LCD PLUM CREEK BAY CITY 1 LARGE 44.6218391 -92.5080733 PIERCE CO LCD TR MISSISSIPPI HG ARMBRUSTER GROUP LARGE 44.7119195 -92.5956406 PRIVATE TR-TRIMBELLE EUGENE HELMUELLER GROUP LARGE 44.599957 -92.16226 PRIVATE TR PLUM CREEK PETERSON BETLACH GROUP LARGE 44.8364792 -92.6538217 PRIVATE TR KINNICKINNIC SITZ, THOMAS D LARGE 44.835829 -92.4931518 PRIVATE TR TRIMBELLE STICHT, CRAIG LARGE 44.5818641 -92.2859549 PRIVATE TR RUSH EAU GALLE (LAKE ARMY CORPS GEORGE) LARGE 44.85671 -92.23822 OF ENG. EAU GALLE RIVER CERNOHOUS CI OF RIVER NONNAVTR DETENTION BASIN LARGE 44.85809 -92.6051082 FALLS KINNICKINNIC TR-LITTLE TRIMBELLE COULSON LARGE 44.723044 -92.494703 CREEK SWENSON, ROGER LARGE 44.8613472 -92.4866864 PRIVATE TRIMBELLE RIVER HOIKKA, JOHN G. LARGE 44.7108839 -92.6398398 PRIVATE NON NAV UNNAMED NONNAV TR-MORGAN HAGLUND, DENNIS LARGE 44.6102817 -92.2800747 COULEE C KEMMERER, NONNAV TRIB BERNARD LARGE 44.6861011 -92.6141712 PRIVATE MISSISSIPPI R. ROBEY, DONOVAN NO.1 LARGE 44.8082117 -92.4910651 PRIVATE TR-TRIMBELLE RIVER ROBEY, DONOVAN NO.2 LARGE 44.8079312 -92.4929132 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY ROBEY, DONOVAN NO.3 LARGE 44.8077818 -92.495555 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY INTERMITTENT TR- HUPPERT LARGE 44.7182405 -92.6324479 PRIVATE WIND RIVER GILLES LARGE 44.6590367 -92.1557687 PRIVATE TR-PLUM CREEK LOCK & DAM NO 3 ARMY CORPS (RED WING DAM) LARGE 44.6120973 -92.6100671 OF ENG. MISSISSIPPI DONALD BUTEL (SCS DESIGNED) SMALL 44.771425 -92.353765 PRIVATE RUSH CR. SPRING VALLEY VI OF SPRING (STOCKMAN, REX) SMALL 44.842483 -92.236727 VALLEY EAU GALLE RIVER
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CERNOHOUS DETENT. LOWER BASIN CI OF RIVER (LOWER BASIN) SMALL 44.857314 -92.6076637 FALLS DRY RUN BAIER, DONALD SMALL 44.7274675 -92.1752335 PRIVATE TR-MISSOURI CREEK BAUER, HAROLD C SMALL 44.6362582 -92.3645732 TR-CRYSTAL SPRING GANSLUCKNER, BRUNO SMALL 44.6412939 -92.2267154 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY CROWNHARDT, TR-LITTLE TRIMBELLE JAMES SMALL 44.7110352 -92.4978001 PRIVATE RIVER GERSMEHL, DALE SMALL 44.5816778 -92.2701168 PRIVATE TR-PINE CREEK KEMMERER, JOHN SMALL 44.6811874 -92.6090393 PRIVATE TR-MISSISSIPPI RIVER KINNEMAN, ROY SMALL 44.6876886 -92.5968159 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY KRINGS, JAMES SMALL 44.6942886 -92.1568152 PRIVATE TR-PLUM CREEK LARSON, BERNARD SMALL 44.6615511 -92.2985261 PRIVATE TR-RUSH RIVER LARSON, LLOYD SMALL 44.6300209 -92.2945719 TR-RUSH RIVER LARSON, LYLE SMALL 44.6239177 -92.2997948 TR-RUSH RIVER TR-FOLEY BRANCH OF LARSON, LYLE SMALL 44.6263305 -92.2980477 RUSH RIVER MATZEK, NORMAN SMALL 44.6871305 -92.6337854 PRIVATE TR-MISSISSIPPI RIVER MCCORMACK, TR-LITTLE TRIMBELLE LAWRENCE D. SMALL 44.6417284 -92.5305057 PRIVATE CREEK MCDONOUGH SR, WAYNE SMALL 44.6798019 -92.1930415 PRIVATE TR-PLUM CREEK MOST. GEORGE SMALL 44.7359602 -92.7414291 PRIVATE TR-MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEIDERHAUSER, WILLARD SMALL 44.6407989 -92.3079402 PRIVATE TR-RUSH RIVER NELSON, GLENN SMALL 44.7853422 -92.1598434 PRIVATE TR-EAU GALLE RIVER PLACE, TED JR. SMALL 44.6681765 -92.6108254 PRIVATE TR-MISSISSIPPI RIVER POWERS, BRUCE SMALL 44.6043286 -92.3614006 PRIVATE TR-RUSH RIVER SARNSTROM, DALE SMALL 44.6589859 -92.5778713 PRIVATE TR-TRIMBELLE RIVER SHOMMER, RICHARD SMALL 44.6937194 -92.5818734 PRIVATE TR-TRIMBELLE RIVER WOOD, VINCENT SMALL 44.7492548 -92.2575061 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY BATES, BERNARD SMALL 44.7552273 -92.1688514 PRIVATE TR-EAU GALLES RIVER TR-LITTLE TRIMBELLA CROWNHART, R.W. SMALL 44.7156187 -92.5076651 PRIVATE CREEK DOSDALL, ALBERT SMALL 44.6553587 -92.5900803 PRIVATE TR-TRIMBELLA CREEK GILLES, ALFRED SMALL 44.6404654 -92.1757563 PRIVATE TR-PLUM CREEK GLAMPE, IRVIN SMALL 44.7288756 -92.1632778 TR-MISSOURI CREEK TR-RUSH COULEE HERBISON, JAMES SMALL 44.6218697 -92.2119314 BRANCH OF PLUM HINES, ELDON SMALL 44.7118144 -92.2960103 PRIVATE TR-BRUSH CREEK
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KNUTSON, KENNETH SMALL 44.8073672 -92.4310529 PRIVATE TR-RUSH RIVER LANGER, LAWRENCE SMALL 44.738014 -92.3057837 PRIVATE TR-CAVE CREEK LARSON, LYLE SMALL 44.6226271 -92.3070035 TR-RUSH RIVER LANTZ, GEORGE W. SMALL 44.7454545 -92.3998083 PRIVATE LOST CREEK LUNDGREN, LAVERN SMALL 44.79624 -92.1718238 PRIVATE TR-EAU GALLE MULHERON, CLAIR SMALL 44.7439503 -92.1619522 PRIVATE TR-EAU GALLE RIVER TR-SPRING MISSOURI O’CONNELL, VINCENT SMALL 44.71564 -92.1982485 PRIVATE CREEK PLUMBO, PHILLIP SMALL 44.6242578 -92.3742569 PRIVATE TR-RUSH RIVER RADKEY, GERALD SMALL 44.7937462 -92.4803104 PRIVATE TR-GOOSE CREEK RICHARDSON, ROBERT J. SMALL 44.8207419 -92.260198 TR-RUSH RIVER ROBEY, DONOVAN SMALL 44.8078672 -92.5007107 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY SAGSTETTER, AMBROSE SMALL 44.7241042 -92.2007937 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY SPINDLER, HUBERT SMALL 44.6283897 -92.2599535 PRIVATE TR-RUSH RIVER VAN DUREN, KENNETH D. (DAVE FLORNESS) SMALL 44.598 -92.3985364 PRIVATE TR-LAKE PEPIN WITTIG, JOE SMALL 44.6370125 -92.2382769 PRIVATE TR-WILDCAT COULEE NELSON, MILLARD SMALL 44.6109542 -92.3188711 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY BAY CITY 10 (PIERCE COUNTY LCD) SMALL 44.6115718 -92.4932881 ISABELLE RIVER BAY CITY 3 (PIERCE COUNTY LCD) SMALL 44.6023431 -92.4728541 TR-ISABELLE RIVER BAY CITY 2 (PIERCE COUNTY LCD) SMALL 44.6093632 -92.485299 ISABELLE RIVER GAGNIER, DENNIS SMALL 44.7454076 -92.7231975 PRIVATE DRY RUN BESKAR, NORMAN J. SMALL 44.7430834 -92.7151342 PRIVATE DRY RUN COULEE KING, EDWARD (CARL AND AGNES BERGER) SMALL 44.5911341 -92.1420096 NO WATERWAY HOFFMAN, LOWELL SMALL 44.6417883 -92.1426942 PRIVATE PORCUPINE CREEK KOEHLER, DAVID SMALL 44.7267926 -92.2345091 PRIVATE PLUM CREEK SORENSEN, NORMAN SMALL 44.5797707 -92.3625771 NO WATERWAY POSTON, ROGER SMALL 44.7590954 -92.5665117 PRIVATE NO WATERWAY HOSCHEIT, EARL SMALL 44.7272852 -92.7172936 PRIVATE TR MISSISSIPPI RIVER JOHNSON, LEROY SMALL 44.6908123 -92.5428694 TR TRIMBELLE CREEK LOWER DAM AT MARTEL (MARTEL) SMALL 44.834789 -92.399051 PRIVATE RUSH RIVER EL PASO GRIST MILL SMALL 44.789047 -92.365985 PRIVATE RUSH RIVER FOREST MILL SMALL 44.719116 -92.575973 TRIMBELLE RIVER
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RUSH RIVER POWER SMALL 44.749860 -92.335198 RUSH RIVER TRIMBELLE SMALL 44.719532 -92.580634 PRIVATE TRIMBELLE RIVER MARTEL SMALL 44.843643 -92.396785 PRIVATE RUSH RIVER GREENWOOD SMALL 44.861606 -92.624697 KINNICKINNIC RIVER SOUTH FORK CASCADE SMALL 44.853520 -92.637505 PRIVATE KINNICKINNIC RIVER CLIFTON SMALL 44.831071 -92.733187 KINNICKINNIC RIVER - NONNAV TRIB TO RUSH STICHT A (STICHT) SMALL 44.5898374 92.2841848 PRIVATE RIVER LARRY WEBB SMALL 44.81487 -92.1656 HERBERT BENNETT UNK 44.853538 -92.475974 PRIVATE TR-TRIMBELLE RIVER EATON DAM SMALL UNKNOWN UNKNOWN PRIVATE NON-NAVIGABLE
Most of these dams are small, privately-owned, mill-type dams that are under the jurisdiction of the DNR. Structure #2 (Nugget Lake Dam) is an alarmed and monitored dam in the Town of Union that is upstream from the Village of Plum Creek. It is considered a high-hazard but managed dam; the other dams in Pierce County are considered low-hazard. Pierce County has one electric power generating dam in River Falls and there is one Army Corps of Engineers earthen dam in Spring Valley (on the border with St. Croix County.) These dams are monitored and maintained regularly. The Spring Valley earthen dam is the largest in the Midwest and it has a park and pool downstream (below.)
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There are no dams in other counties that pose a significant flooding risk to the citizens of Pierce County.
One potential effect of flooding is erosion. Erosion is defined as the removal of soil by the force of waves, currents and/or ice at a lakeshore or stream bank or by the power of wind or water on open land. Erosion is a natural process that can be accelerated by natural disasters (e.g., flooding, heavy rains, strong winds, drought) or by human activity (e.g., removal of plants/trees, tilling.) Because of the many waterways in Pierce County, there is concern about ensuring the stabilization of the shorelines. Prescott completed some shore work to protect the streambanks near homes on the St. Croix River and other areas of concern are being monitored. This monitoring will continue and will be especially focused after heavy rains and flash flooding. If problems are found, mitigation activities will be explored to stabilize the shores. An example of erosion can be seen in this picture of the August, 2010 flooding in El Paso:
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Watersheds
Pierce County has six watersheds. They are:
• Kinnickinnic River Watershed
• Trimbelle River and Isabelle Creek Watershed
• Rush River Watershed
• Plum Creek Watershed
• Eau Galle River Watershed
• Wilson Creek Watershed
The maps in Attachment A show the watershed boundaries and 100-year flood plains for the entire county. Following is a brief description of each watershed:
Kinnickinnic River Watershed 88
The Kinnickinnic River Watershed is located in St. Croix and Pierce Counties and is 13,189 acres in size. It includes 283 miles of rivers and streams, 508 acres of lakes and 1308 acres of wetlands. The watershed is dominated by agriculture (57%) and grassland (22%), and is ranked high for nonpoint source issues affecting streams, lakes and groundwater.
Trimbelle River and Isabelle Creek Watershed 89
The Trimbelle River and Isabelle Creek Watershed drains 221 square miles in Pierce County. The character of this watershed has changed dramatically from pre-settlement times to the present. Forested acreage was dramatically reduced from 96% to less than one-quarter of the watershed area. As in the Rush River Watershed, increased runoff rates have led to reduced infiltration of precipitation and thus decreased stream habitat and increased water temperatures. Historic forest cover contributed to greater rates of infiltration, allowing greater spring flow to streams. This watershed contains almost 63 miles of
88 https://dnr.wi.gov/water/watershedDetail.aspx?key=924697 89 https://dnr.wi.gov/water/watershedDetail.aspx?key=924656
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trout streams, some of which are either threatened or could be improved. There are no lakes in this watershed, except for backwaters found along the Mississippi River.
Land use in the Trimbelle River and Isabelle Creek Watershed is dominated by agriculture with 61% of land devoted to farmland. Only a quarter of the watershed’s area remains under forest cover. Open water, wetlands, and suburban areas encompass most of the remaining area in the watershed with eight percent, three percent, and two percent, respectively. Grasslands make up one-half of a percent of the watershed’s total area, while urban land use is minimal with only about one- quarter of a percent.
The Trimbelle River and Isabelle Creek Watershed is listed as a high priority overall for nonpoint source (NPS) pollution due to its listing as a high priority for groundwater and stream NPS pollution.
Rush River Watershed 90
The Rush River watershed comprises 245 square miles in Pierce and St. Croix counties. Agriculture is the major land use affecting surface waters in this watershed. The comparison of current land use to original vegetation shows a significant conversion of prairie and forests to cropland and pasture. This land use conversion has led to a larger volume of runoff and less infiltration of precipitation. There are no lakes of sufficient size in the watershed.
Road flooding at Hwy 10 and County A.
90 https://dnr.wi.gov/water/watershedDetail.aspx?key=924655
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Plum Creek Watershed 91
A major shift from forest to agriculture occurred in the Plum Creek watershed since the original surveys of the mid-1800s. The effect on water quality is evident in eroding streambanks and the loss of in-stream habitat for aquatic organisms. Increasing concern about the water quality of Nugget Lake has raised local awareness of impacts on surface water quality in this watershed. A small portion of the Tiffany State Wildlife Area on the west side of the Chippewa River is in the Plum Creek Watershed. The majority of this wildlife area lies within the Bear Creek Watershed on the east side of the Chippewa River.
Eau Galle River Watershed 92
The Eau Galle River watershed is approximately 171,440 acres in size and consists of 519 miles of streams and rivers, 252 acres of lakes and 3,943 acres of wetlands. The watershed is dominated by agriculture (40%), forest (34%) and grassland (23%) and is ranked high for nonpoint source issues affecting streams and groundwater.
Wilson Creek Watershed 93
The 245-square mile Wilson Creek watershed contains many sources of polluted runoff documented to harm surface waters. The main problem in this watershed is streambank pasturing, which degrades in-stream habitat and increases the levels of bacteria in the stream. Streambank grazing may also contribute to increased stream temperatures by reducing the amount of shade. The Red Cedar River below Lake Menorninee supported blue sucker (threatened), crystal darter (endangered), American eel (special concern in Wisconsin), and lake sturgeon (protected) 20 to 30 years ago. There is no recent data on all these species. Fish managers observed numerous bluesucker in the fragmented limestone area of the lower Red Cedar River in 1992 (Izngel 1994).
91 https://dnr.wi.gov/water/watershedDetail.aspx?key=924645 92 https://dnr.wi.gov/water/watershedDetail.aspx?key=924646 93 https://dnr.wi.gov/water/watershedDetail.aspx?key=924805
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Floodplain Regulations
Floodplain regulations have been in place in the cities, towns and villages of Pierce County for many years. The Department of Natural Resources requires that each municipality approve regulations that meet DNR guidelines. These regulations and guidelines result from the value of Wisconsin lakes and waterways and a desire to preserve them and to protect the people who reside near them. Unregulated development can lead to loss of lives and property during floods.
Chapter 614, Laws of Wisconsin 1965, requires counties to adopt regulations giving all lands within 300 feet of navigable rivers or streams protection from haphazard development. Under this legislation, Pierce County has adopted a zoning ordinance which gives a measure of protection to watersheds. The law protecting flood plains was created to meet the following objectives:
• Reduce the hazards to life and property from flooding.
• Protect flood plain occupants from a flood which is or may be caused by their own land use, which is or may be undertaken without full realization of the danger.
• Protect the public from the burden of extraordinary financial expenditures for flood control and relief.
Encroachment on flood plains, including structures or fill, reduces the flood-carrying capacity.
Frequency of Occurrence
Wisconsin has experienced several major floods during the last two decades. The 1973 and 1986 floods revealed that no flood plains or urban areas in Wisconsin can be considered safe from damages. Mill-dams have developed leaks on occasion but have not caused any flooding problems.
Pierce County does have a history of flooding problems, especially along the Mississippi River. Pierce County has been included in nine Presidential Disaster Declarations requests for flooding, the most recent of which are listed below:
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• FEMA-DR-1284-WI: On August 16, 1999, the President declared a major disaster as a result of high winds and severe storms that occurred July 4, 1999 to July 31,1999. The declaration was granted for Public Assistance.
Following are some pictures from a 2001 flooding event:
Trenton Island–WI Back Channel Area
Trenton Island home
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Bay City area flooding
The following list summarizes repetitive loss properties in Pierce County as listed by the National Flood Insurance Program through 31 July 2018:
• 6 repetitive loss properties in Hager City
o 2 Non-Residential
o 4 Single Family Homes
• 4 repetitive loss properties in Prescott (Single Family Homes)
• 2 repetitive loss properties in the Town of Trenton
o 1 Assumed Condo
o 1 Single Family Home
• 1 repetitive loss property in the Town of Martell (Single Family Home)
• 1 repetitive loss property in Plum City (Single Family Home)
• 1 repetitive loss property in an unincorporated area of Pierce County (Single Family Home)
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Tables showing the flood and flash flood events recorded by the National Weather Service can be found in Appendix B. A careful review of the geography and history of flooding in Pierce County leads to the conclusion that there is a very high probability of flooding in the future and a very high probability of damage and losses due to flooding. This flooding could occur due to urban stream flooding, flash flooding or, less likely, due to a dam failure.
Vulnerability
After flooding, caused either by a storm or dam failure, there is often damage. Potential vulnerabilities due to flooding events can include flooded public facilities and schools, many of which are the community’s shelters needed when individual housing is uninhabitable. Utilities are also vulnerable in floods, which can bring down electric lines/poles/transformers, telephone lines and can disrupt radio communications. The loss of communications can impact the effectiveness of first response agencies, which need to communicate via two-way radio to mount emergency response and recovery activities. The public media communications utilized by emergency managers to provide timely and adequate emergency public information can also be impacted.
Residential structures may suffer from flooded basements, damaged septic systems and damaged functionals (e.g., HVAC systems, clothes washers and driers.) Homes may also be impacted by sewer back-up and, if the home is not properly cleaned after a flood, bacterial growth and mold may impact the home’s air quality and cause illness among the occupants.
Businesses can suffer building and equipment damage similar to homes. Businesses may lose expensive product stored in basement or other low areas as well as the ability to operate from their facility. If the facility must close, its owners and employees will most likely suffer economic hardships beyond what their personal losses may have entailed. Agricultural business losses involve the loss of standing crops and harvests that are damaged by flooded storage facilities in the immediate time period. On a longer time scale, the erosion of rich topsoil by floodwaters can degrade the land and impact future crop yields.
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Perhaps one of the most expensive types of flood damage is that to roadways, which are washed out, inundated and/or covered by debris, blocking access to emergency and general public traffic. An example of roadway damage can be seen in this picture from the August, 2010 flooding (650th St. north of 780th Ave.):
Wisconsin Emergency Management provided a flood analysis for Pierce County using HAZUS-MH MR3 (July, 2007). The full report can be found in Appendix F. The program was used to estimate the damages for a 100-year flood event in Pierce County. An estimated 38 buildings will be damaged totaling in $27 million in building losses and $70 million in total economic losses. The total estimated number of damaged buildings, total building losses and estimated total economic losses are shown in in the table below:
Total Total Estimated Total Building General Building Economic Total Damaged Loss X Occupancy Exposure Loss X Buildings Buildings 1000 X 1000 1000 Agricultural 0 0 $56,200 $1,447 $367 Commercial 62 0 $293,125 $15,306 $3,763 Education 2 0 $59,860 $370 $55 Government 4 0 $17,239 $1,093 $132 Industrial 10 0 $97,637 $15,718 $3,341 Religious/Non- 1 0 $45,460 $1,699 $217 Profit Residential 11,241 38 $2,175,703 $34,256 $19,288 Total 11,320 38 $2,745,224 $69,889 $27,163
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The HAZUS-MH analysis also identified critical/essential infrastructure that could be subject to flooding, as detailed below:
At Least At Least Building Loss of Class Moderate Substantial Count Use Damage Damage
Care Facilities 5 1 0 0 EOC 0 0 0 0 Fire Stations 8 0 0 0 Police Stations 10 1 0 0 Schools 31 1 0 0 Total 54 3 0 0
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
Pierce County is committed to remaining compliant with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and all other state and federal laws. According to the NFIP, the following communities participate in the program. Notes to the side indicate information from the communities regarding their understanding of their participation.
• Pierce County
• City of Prescott – has an updated floodplain ordinance and acknowledges participation in the NFIP
• City of River Falls – has an updated floodplain ordinance and acknowledges participation in the NFIP
• Village of Bay City - has a floodplain ordinance and acknowledges participation in the NFIP
• Village of Ellsworth – is listed by FEMA as a program participant
• Village of Elmwood - has a floodplain ordinance and acknowledges participation in the NFIP
• Village of Maiden Rock – has a floodplain ordinance and acknowledges participation in the NFIP
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• Village of Plum City – is listed by FEMA as a program participant
• Village of Spring Valley - has a floodplain ordinance and acknowledges participation in the NFIP
There are no areas in Pierce County which have had special flood areas identified by FEMA but are not in the NFIP program. One hazard mitigation strategy selected is to inform the public about the availability of flood insurance; this task will be carried out by the County Emergency Management Office.
The plan is intended to identify areas that are particularly susceptible to flooding, assess the risks, analyze the potential for mitigation and recommend mitigation strategies where appropriate. The goals of this plan are:
• Goal 1: To reduce, in a cost-effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events. Another part of this goal is to promote safety and health in areas that have been or are prone to be flooded. • Goal 2: To preserve and enhance the quality of life throughout Pierce County by identifying potential property damage risks and recommending appropriate mitigation strategies to minimize potential property damage during/due to flooding. • Goal 3: To promote countywide planning that avoids transferring the risk from one community to an adjacent community. • Goal 4: To ensure that all communities in Pierce County participate in the NFIP so that all county residents have access to affordable flood insurance coverage. • Goal 5: To identify potential funding sources for mitigation projects and form the basis for project grant applications through FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and/or Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs.
Short term actions that can lessen the effects of flooding include:
• Issuance of early warnings through flood advisory bulletins,
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• Dissemination of instructions to the public through the media,
• Preparation of congregate care facilities,
• Evacuation of people and property.
Temporary protective measures such as sandbagging, protection of buildings and other structures and cut-off of gas and electricity may also be implemented. Presently, Pierce County maintains a limited stock of sandbags to assist with flood containment.
The current emphasis in flood mitigation is on long-range actions. Such actions include the adoption of proper flood plain zoning ordinances and land use planning. There are several communities within the county that participate in a Smart Growth Comprehensive planning process. The county should become involved with these communities and their processes to ensure data sharing and consistency among the communities and to ensure that mitigation ideas are incorporated into the plan. The Land Management and Zoning Department, along with its municipal partners where applicable, may apply for grant funding, as appropriate, to help defray costs.
There is a need for review and updating of some of the flood- related data, information and projects in the county including:
• Ensure that plans are reviewed and updated regularly and incorporated into local comprehensive planning process.
• Acquire new topographical maps for the entire County with two (2) foot contour intervals.
• The Land Management/Zoning Department will engage a study to update hydrology data. As funds allow, high priority watersheds will be looked at in conjunction with St Croix County. Update website to show floodplain and Mississippi River boundary areas on the county website. Encourage villages and cities to work with the county to show their floodplains on an interactive website.
• Complete highway road projects that help mitigate flood damage
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. • CTH E- S of 690th
• CTH Y- N of 870th
• 465th Ave- El Paso
• Pre-identifying infrastructure (roads, bridges, culverts, shoulders) prone to flooding and directing current and future budgetary dollars towards making the infrastructure disaster- resistant as it is scheduled for routine maintenance and that maintenance is performed.
• City of Prescott
o Connect the automatic flood surge alarm in CI of Prescott to NWS, USGS, and the City and add it as a prediction site.
o Front St between Walnut and Ash has a rip-rap area which currently comes up and undermines the street and side walk. They will evaluate options (rip rap, cement wall, etc.) for mitigation opportunities.
o Lake Street - Put in storm sewers to manage current water and tie into existing to handle future development. Water is infiltrating, is going from home to wastewater treatment plant. This is not compliant with the DNR regulations. City has ordinance to put valve in stop flow (will cause issues). Some options include increasing pipe size or buyouts. May increase beach erosion.
o Create areas of expansion that are disaster-resistant naturally or include hazard mitigation strategies to reduce the susceptibility to future disaster damages to include the eight (8) acres left in business park, the Great Rivers subdivision, and the north-south corridor to connect Highways 25 to 29.
o Address issue of flooding under the emergency underpass. Possibly drive in pilings so road can be widened. This is the only egress for 40 condos and three marinas (which are busy in the summer) and about 200 boat slips. A solution needs to be
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negotiated out by the city, USACE, DNR and BNSF Railroad and the regulating agencies.
o Elevate power line and back-up generator at main lift station at Front Street next to the river. Structure needed for generator; if it is elevated, needs to be enclosed to be storage for booming equipment.
o Remove and rebuild retaining walls at Lake Street in for utility and road construction. People were allowed to build retaining walls in the slope preservation area for the St. Croix scenic waterway. Walls have to come out for utility and road construction; will have to rebuild retaining walls.
o Determine potential solutions for flood issues that occur at the Lake Street lift station. The Lake Street lift station gets all the water from the whole collection area. When it floods, old infrastructure is in the water table and water flows in through the cracks, overwhelming the system.
• City of River Falls:
o Complete studies and modeling for stormwater engineering/projects.
o Continue the studies, modeling, planning and implementation of the Kinni Corridor Plan, a 6-7 mile river stretch. Potential projects include possible buyouts, stormwater management infrastructure, placing a tornado shelter and continuing flood water management project. There are two FERC-licensed dams (Junction Falls and Powell Falls) that are integral to this project, both are 117 years old but have recently been redone.
• Village of Plum City
o Test sediment trap at the care center and conduct ongoing maintenance. The care center added assisted living. 4-5” of rain-washed debris that clogged the culvert and washed mud into a few houses. Cleaned up and the culvert cleared. Happened again a couple months later but a tree blocked a culvert. VI put in sediment trap but have
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not had rain to test. Ongoing maintenance will be needed.
• Village of Bay City
o Explore options to fix storm drain including Saratoga Park
o Explore options to fix drainage pipe on Hwy. 35 south of 150th on railroad right-of-way.
It has been shown that flood plain management reduces the cost of damages attributed to flooding. The Pierce County Zoning Department enforces county zoning ordinances related to flood plains.
The Pierce County Highway Department plans to work with the municipal public works departments to pre-identify areas, particularly roads, shoulders, culverts, etc. that are prone to damage due to flooding events. These areas of concern will be evaluated and mitigation strategies and potential funding sources will be identified. If any project appears as if it might pass the criteria for application, grant funding will be requested. The others will be considered for improvements during the regular budget cycle as the community can afford it.
FEMA and WEM have been working with Pierce County to offer to buy out property owners in the Trenton Island, Bay City and Prescott. These areas have been especially hard-hit by flooding of the Mississippi River. Several properties have been purchased and converted to open land as is required by the program. There are other properties that could choose to be converted under the program; the county will continue to be available to offer information and assistance as requested.
The Pierce County Emergency Management Office disseminates public information materials related to flooding and will continue to have printed information as well as links to applicable sites on their webpage.
Pierce County has a history of expensive damages to buildings and infrastructure due to floods. In addition to the strategies listed above that deal with public information and planning, the community can make current and future buildings and infrastructure more disaster-resistant by:
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• Using its maps and hydrology studies to ensure that properties at risk are identified and, as available, appropriate grants are sought and secured to mitigate losses. Good data also ensures that decision-makers can create and enforce appropriate zoning and/or building regulations to make any new structures disaster-resistant.
• Target old structures for buy-out and convert the land to open, public lands. This also eliminates future damages by preventing building on this land.
o City of River Falls:
▪ Downtown area next to river from Walnut to St. Croix.
▪ North Interceptor sewer project next to river. Doing relocation with land acquisitions from bridge by Paulson Rd. to wastewater plant.
• Pre-identifying infrastructure (roads, bridges, culverts, shoulders) prone to flooding and directing current and future budgetary dollars to making the infrastructure disaster-resistant as it is scheduled for routine maintenance.
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Forest and Wildfires
Wildfire (fires in forested, open, and/or agricultural land) season in Pierce County begins in March and continues through November, although fires can occur at any time during any month of the year. The fall season carries the highest risk of cropland fires (fields are stubble) while the spring season is riskiest for grassland fires (before new growth develops). Generally speaking, however, fires are more likely to occur whenever vegetation is dry as a result of a winter with little snow or a summer with sparse rainfall.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for forest fire protection on approximately 18 million acres of forest and wild land in Wisconsin. The U.S. Forest Service maintains forest fire protection on two million acres of this land while local fire departments retain responsibility for the remaining wooded acreage.
Physical Characteristics
The Wisconsin DNR has previously reported that approximately 1,500 fires annually burn over 5,000 acres of the land that they protect; over 90% of these fires are human-caused. It should be noted that these figures do not include areas of the state where a local fire department has primary responsibility for service.
Page 105 Forest and Wildfires
The Kinnickinnic State Park and the Nugget Lake County Park are the only natural areas in Pierce County. Local fire departments are responsible for fire protection in these open acreage areas.
Frequency of Occurrence
While the total number of open fires in Wisconsin has decreased over the years, the potential danger to lives and property remains due to the increased encroachment of development into previously open lands. Overall, the probability for a forest fire in Pierce County is very low and the probability of a wildfire is low. The probability of damage from forest or wildfire is also considered low. There have been no forest or wildfire events recorded since 1950 by the National Weather Service.
Vulnerability
Forest and wildfires can impact the ecology of the open lands. Pierce County, which has only two natural park areas, would not be greatly impacted by a wildfire although a disruption from fire could erase the usability of this habitat for wildlife and/or recreational purposes for many years.
In 2003, the National Association of State Foresters produced a Field Guidance for Identifying and Prioritizing Communities-at- Risk (CAR). The purpose of the guide was to provide states with a nationally consistent approach for assessing and displaying the risks to communities from wildfire. The DNR, in cooperation with its federal and tribal partners, began working on the statewide assessment of Communities-at-Risk in 2004.
Communities-at-Risk is a model to identify broad areas of the state that are at relatively high exposure to resource damage due to wildfire. Results of the model can then be used by local governments developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) and by the DNR to reduce local risks of wildland fire by prioritizing hazard mitigation and fire protection efforts.
The approach used in this risk assessment model is based on the “Methodology” section of the NASF Field Guidance
Page 106 Forest and Wildfires document which recommends assessing and mapping four factors: ▪ Historic Fire Occurrence ▪ Hazard ▪ Values Protected ▪ Capabilities
Modifications to this methodology were made to fit the GIS mapping data layers available for Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR uses three factors to assess Communities-at-Risk to wildfire damage: ▪ Hazard – the relative likelihood that an ignited wildfire will achieve sufficient intensity to threaten life or property based on land cover type and historic fire regime. ▪ WUI (Values at Risk) – the relative vulnerability of each 2000 census block to wildfire damage based on housing density and spatial relationship with undeveloped vegetation based on housing density and proximity to vegetation (Wisconsin’s Wildland-Urban Interface). Wisconsin’s WUI was layered with a weighted vegetation layer to accentuate proximity to flammable vegetation. ▪ Ignition Risk – the relative likelihood of a wildfire ignition within a given 30-m pixel based on historic fire occurrence, population density and proximity to a potential ignition source.
Models were developed in GIS to create statewide grids representing each of the three weighted {Hazard (40%), WUI (30%) and Risk (30%)} inputs. This composite grid represents communities-at-risk (CAR) on a 0-9 scale of threat, with zero representing no threat and nine a very high threat. The data was then represented by municipal civil divisions (MCDs), which are city and village boundaries. Quantitative markers were assigned for five threat levels: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high and those MCD’s determined to have a high or very high threat of wildfire were considered CARs. 337 communities met the requirements for being “at risk.”
Communities in Wisconsin vary considerably in size. This is particularly evident in a north-south pattern, with larger more rural towns in northern Wisconsin and smaller, more urban towns in southern Wisconsin. Because of this variation in size, the potential for missing areas of high risk due to smoothing out by other parts of the town was greater for larger towns. For this reason, WI DNR incorporated a “Community of Concern”
Page 107 Forest and Wildfires
category to identify those towns that have portions of their town in high risk of wildfire but were not otherwise included as a Community-at-Risk. A Community of Concern was determined to be an area of at least two contiguous square miles at high or very high risk; 237 communities were named as Communities of Concern.94
As can be seen on the map in Appendix A, in Pierce County, one community, the Village of Maiden Rock, was identified as a Community-at-Risk – High and one community, the Town of Oak Grove, was identified as a Community-of-Concern. 95
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
Government at all levels is developing mitigation programs in fire control and firefighting tactics with the goal of protecting lives and property from loss due to forest and wildfire. Local fire departments attend regular trainings on fire-fighting tactics to keep their skills honed. The County Emergency Management Office assists local departments and their staff with available grant applications for training, exercising, equipment and planning as able and requested.
The emergency management office also partners with the local fire departments to provide information about fire safety and other mitigation strategies (e.g., protecting structures from wildfires, obtaining burn permits), especially during Fire Safety Week in October of each year. Additionally, during Fire Safety Week: the Ellsworth Fire Department delivers pizza and checks smoke detectors and changes batteries, they have 4th grade fire safety presentations and bring out their fire/smoke house for Open Houses.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides annual training for firefighters in the spring. The DNR does not have a forestry office in Pierce County and also does not pre-stage resources (e.g., rangers, equipment, supplies) there. If there was a large wildfire for which local firefighters would request state assistance, the DNR may be able to provide
94 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan. 95 https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestFire/documents/communitiesAtRiskWildfire.pdf
Page 108 Forest and Wildfires limited assistance based upon their deployment level at that time.
Pierce County has also invested in Bullberry navigational software. Fire departments can go onto website and it maps from their home station to the location of the fire. This works countywide and the entire county is being mapped into the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.
The City of Prescott would like to address the concern about dead-ed hydrants (flow and pressure) and railroads sparking in dry areas. They would like more training, exercising, and improved equipment to assist with fighting fires on the bluffs.
The hazard mitigation strategies listed above primarily involve providing information on general fire safety measures to the public for residential and commercial structures and providing ongoing training to the firefighters who fight these types of fires. These measures provide basic fire safety information but, since Pierce County has few forested areas (primarily parks and other non-inhabited recreational areas) and most open areas are utilized for agriculture with no buildings or infrastructure on them, there is no need to have measures designed to reduce damages to existing or future buildings and infrastructure.
Page 109 Landslide
Landslide
The term landslide includes a wide range of ground movement such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows. Although gravity acting on an over-steepened slope is the primary reason for a landslide, there may be other contributing factors. Factors likely to be seen in Pierce County include:
• erosion by rivers creating over-steepened slopes • rock and soil slopes being weakened through saturation by snowmelt or heavy rains • excess weight from the accumulation of rain or snow, stockpiles of rock or ore, waste piles or from man-made structures stressing weak slopes to failure 96
96 http://landslides.usgs.gov/html_files/nlic/page5.html and https://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Landslide
Page 110 Landslide
Physical Characteristics
Landslides may include any combination of natural rock, soil or artificial fill and are classified by the type of movement and the type of material. The types of movement are slides, flows, lateral spreads and falls and topples; a combination of two or more landslide movements is a complex movement: • Slides: straight or rotating downward displacements along one or more failure surfaces of soil or rock as a single intact mass or a number of pieces • Flows: a rapid, downhill mass movement of a “slurry” comprised of loose soil, rocks, organic matter, air and water • Lateral spreads: large movements of rock, fine- grained soils or granular soils distributed laterally • Falls and Topples: masses of rocks or material that rapidly detach from a steep slope or cliff that free-fall, roll or bounce.
Almost any steep or rugged terrain is susceptible to landslides under the right conditions. The most hazardous areas are steep slopes on ridges, hills and mountains; incised stream channels and slopes excavated for buildings and roads. Slide potentials are enhanced where slopes are destabilized by construction, heavy rainfall, floods or river erosion. Debris flows generally occur during intense rainfall on water saturated soil. Surface runoff channels along roadways and below culverts are common sites of debris flows.
Landslides often occur together with other major natural disasters thereby exacerbating relief and reconstruction efforts: • Floods and landslides are closely related and both involve precipitation, runoff and ground saturation that may be the result of severe thunderstorms • Landslides into a reservoir may indirectly compromise dam safety or a landslide may even affect the dam itself. • Wildfires may remove vegetation from hillsides, significantly increasing runoff and landslide potential.
Page 111 Landslide
Landslide from fire damage in CO97
Sinkholes can form naturally in areas with karst geology (i.e., areas with limestone or other bedrock that can be dissolved by water.) As the limestone rock under the soil dissolves over time from rainfall or flowing groundwater, a hollow area may form underground into which surface soil can sink. Sinkholes also can be caused by human activity such as collapsed, abandoned underground mines. Even though sinkholes have not been a factor in any natural disaster, identifying areas with karst conditions is important for not only public safety and protection of structures but because karst features provide direct conduits to groundwater. Areas with karst conditions are vulnerable to groundwater contaminants from pollutants entering a sinkhole, fissure or other karst feature.
Enlarged fracture in Brown County, WI98
97 http://landslides.usgs.gov/html_files/landslides/slides/slide15.htm 98 http://www.uwex.edu/wgnhs/enlargedjoint.htm
Page 112 Landslide
Frequency of Occurrence
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, landslides are a widespread geologic hazard, occurring in all 50 states where they cause on average $1 to $2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities annually. Landslides pose serious threats to highways; railroads and structures that support fisheries, tourism, timber harvesting, mining and energy production. Expanding urban development and other land uses have increased the incidence of landslide disasters in the United States.
Even though there have been no recent reports of landslide in Pierce County, Wisconsin Emergency Management has determined that Pierce County has a high susceptibility and a moderate incidence of landslide with the area along the Mississippi River having the highest potential (See the map in Appendix A.) Unfortunately, this is in area where there is significant development is occurring, especially in the northernmost section. This leads to a rating of a moderate likelihood of a landslide in the Mississippi River area and a low likelihood in the rest of the county. In the moderate belt, there is a moderate to high probability of damage due to a landslide.
The karst potential map in Appendix A shows that Pierce County has a mixture of deep and shallow karst features throughout the entire county. The presence of this geologic feature supports the high probability of complications (e.g., sinkholes, fissures to groundwater) to residents. The good news is that the complications due to karst geology have a low probability of causing significant damage, injury or death.
Sinkhole in Monroe County, WI99
99 http://www.uwex.edu/wgnhs/cavesink.htm
Page 113 Landslide
Vulnerability
The most likely consequences of landslides in Pierce County are blocked road and railways due to rocks, soil and debris. Structures built on eroding bluffs may also be damaged or destroyed by the loss of their foundations during a landslide. This has happened to several homes in other Wisconsin counties along the Mississippi River.
Cincinnati, Ohio100
Karst geology, which has been identified in Pierce County, can lead to sinkholes under structures such as homes, businesses, roadways and railroads causing economic losses and possible injury to residents and the community. It is also important to note that the majority of citizens in Pierce County rely on private well water systems that can be contaminated by hazardous materials finding direct paths through the karst features into groundwater supplies.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of landslide mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost- effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events. Although the physical cause of many landslides cannot be removed, geologic investigations, good engineering practices and effective enforcement of land-use management regulations can reduce landslide hazards. Karst features should be considered in land use planning, stormwater management and hazardous materials planning to avoid possible damage to structures due to sinkholes or contamination of groundwater. Pierce County will continue to work with its municipal partners to
100 http://landslides.usgs.gov/html_files/landslides/slides/slide8.htm
Page 114 Landslide ensure that areas at risk of landslide and karst-related complications are identified and mitigation strategies are employed as appropriate. This will include evaluating areas with known karst geological features for new fissures and ensuring that direct access to the water table (i.e., without filtering through the soil) is not opened in a fissure.
This coordination and cooperation among the private sector and various state, county and municipal planning and zoning departments will reduce effects on existing and future buildings and infrastructure by ensuring that safety is regulated and engineered into them.
Page 115 Severe Temperatures
Severe Temperatures
Characteristics
Temperature extremes can cause disruption of normal activities for the population, property loss and even the loss of life, especially among the more vulnerable members of our population such as children and the elderly.
Physical Characteristics: Heat
Heat emergencies are a result of the combination of very high temperatures and very humid conditions.
The Heat Index estimates the relationship between these two conditions and reports them as a danger category, as can be seen in the following table.101
Heat Index and Disorders Table Apparent Danger Category Heat Disorders Temperatures [°F] IV Extreme Heatstroke or sunstroke imminent. >130 Danger III Danger Sunstroke, heat cramps, or heat 105-130 exhaustion likely; heat stroke
101 FEMA, 1997; NWS, 1997
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possible with prolonged exposure and physical activity. II Extreme Sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat 90-105 Caution exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and physical activity. I Caution Fatigue possible with prolonged 89-90 exposure and physical activity.
The major risks to people due to extreme heat are:
• Heatstroke – a potentially lethal medical emergency where the ability of a person to thermo-regulate is compromised resulting in the rise of the body’s core temperature to above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Heat Exhaustion – a less threatening medical condition where the victim complains of dizziness, weakness and/or fatigue. The victim may have a normal or slightly elevated temperature and usually can be successfully treated with fluids.
• Heat Syncope – a sudden “faint” or loss of consciousness usually brought on by exercising in warmer weather than one is accustomed to, usually no lasting effect.
• Heat Cramps – muscular cramping brought on by exercising in warmer weather than one is accustomed to, no lasting effect.
Extreme heat conditions may also affect pets and livestock, decreasing agricultural output by the latter. Crops may suffer reduced yield due to extremely hot conditions.
Physical Characteristics: Cold
Wind chill is a relationship between wind and cold that is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. As the wind speed increases, heat is drawn from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually core body temperature. The following table illustrates this relationship.102
102 https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-wind-chill-chart
Page 117 Severe Temperatures
The major risks to people due to extreme cold are:
• Hypothermia – occurs when, due to exposure to cold, the body is unable to maintain its proper core temperature. It may occur in temperatures above freezing and may lead to death.
• Frostbite – describes local cooling, usually to an extremity, which occurs when exposure to cold air or liquid causes constriction of the blood vessels. There are three degrees of frostbite:
o Frostnip – brought on by direct contact with a cold object or exposure to cold air or water. Tissue damage is minor and response to treatment is usually very good.
o Superficial Frostbite – involves the skin and subcutaneous layers
o Freezing – is deep frostbite in which the skin, subcutaneous layers and deeper structures (e.g., muscles, bone, deep blood vessels, organ membranes) of the body are affected and can become frozen.
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• Chilblains - lesions that occur from repeated/chronic exposure of bare skin to temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
• Trench foot – a condition that occurs when the lower extremities remain in cool water for a prolonged period of time.
Frequency of Occurrence: Heat
Wisconsin has been affected by several bouts of extreme heat including during the Dust Bowl period from 1934-1936. Other heat events occurred in 1979, 1995, 2001, 2011 and 2012.
Tables showing the excessive heat and heat events recorded by the National Weather Service in Pierce County 103 can be found in Appendix B.
It should be noted that during the summer of 2012 much of the country, including Pierce County, experienced a heat wave, resulting in significant droughts across more the half the country as well as increases in heat related illnesses and deaths. July was the hottest month in US history, eclipsing the record set during the heart of the Dust Bowl in 1936. The worst of the heat was in the Midwest, the Plains and along the Eastern Seaboard. Most of the contiguous US had record and near-record warmth for the seven-month period, except the Pacific Northwest, which was near average.
With the increase in heat-related illnesses comes an increase in emergency department (ED) admission across the country. Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke were the most common cause for patients’ heat-related ED admissions. Most heat-related visits occurred in patients between the ages of 19 and 70. In Wisconsin, there were ten confirmed and possibly 12 heat-related deaths.104
103 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN 104 2012 Heat & Drought Federal Report, HHS ESF 8, UPDATE #2, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Page 119 Severe Temperatures
According to the State of Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan, extreme heat is the number-one weather killer in Wisconsin with most of the heat deaths attributed to major heat waves. As can be seen by the historical tables, Pierce County, like the rest of the state, is likely to experience extreme heat events every two to three years with extended, major heat waves occurring about every two decades. The workgroup therefore felt that there was a medium likelihood of occurrence in any given year. The committee also felt that the loss of property, primarily crop and livestock output has a high likelihood of occurring in a drought year. The loss of life or injury to people has a medium likelihood of occurrence for the general population but the committee recognized that the likelihood increases for certain populations such as the elderly, chronically ill, children, those who work outdoors and those with limited financial resources (i.e., to pay for heating and air conditioning).
Frequency of Occurrence: Cold
Wisconsin regularly has extreme cold temperatures as part of its winter climate. Tables that outline extreme cold/wind chill and cold/wind chill events which have been recorded by the National Weather Service in Pierce County105 can be found in Appendix B.
49 & 105 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN
Page 120 Severe Temperatures
The data shows there are few years where a cold event does not occur in Pierce County and extreme cold happens once or twice, on average, per decade. After examining this data, the workgroup believed that cold and/or extreme cold has a medium likelihood of occurrence in any given year. Since there are no crops out during the winter and most properties (homes, businesses, barns) are insulated for this climate, the loss of property due to temperature extremes is low although individuals may suffer damage due to water main breaks and other such problems. They further believed that the loss of life or injury to people has a medium likelihood of occurrence among the general population when there are cold/extreme cold weather events. Again, the workgroup recognized that people who work outdoors, who have limited financial resources, the elderly, the young and the chronically ill have a higher risk profile.
Vulnerability
There has been a trend toward higher temperatures that is expected to continue. As with drought, periods of high temperatures can cause decreased poultry and bovine production rates, which impacts the economy of the community’s agricultural base.
More frequent and longer sub-zero stretches have been noted during the winter. These, coupled with concerns about utility failures, can disrupt agriculture, particularly with water supply disruption and with wind chill effects posing a risk to livestock and farmer health. Temperature extremes also pose significant problems for functional needs populations such as the elderly, the young, and the disabled. The primary general effects of extreme cold consist of water lines and mains freezing and breaking, disrupting water supply; shutting down of rural bus lines due to safety risks for children; and school closings, most often due to wind chill concerns.
Vulnerability to temperature extremes is generally assessed on an individual basis with the most vulnerable sections of our community’s population having the greatest risk. These people may include the elderly, the very young and the chronically ill. People from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, especially those listed in the categories above, are even more
Page 121 Severe Temperatures
vulnerable since they are least able to afford the cost of adequate heating or air conditioning systems.
The Pierce County social services agencies are aware of many of these people who reside in our communities and they, along with the public health department, have plans and access to economic assistance programs to help these people in times of concern.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of severe temperature mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost-effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events. Temperature extremes are difficult for a community to mitigate and the risks are to the health and safety of citizens, animals and crops. There are no strategies that need to be employed to reduce damages to buildings and infrastructure.
The Pierce County Emergency Management Office participates in the statewide public information campaigns for Winter and Heat Awareness Weeks each year and provides links to personal preparedness information on its website.
Page 122 Storms: Hail
Storms: Hail
Studies of thunderstorms indicate that two conditions are required for hail to develop: sufficiently strong and persistent up- draft velocities and an accumulation of liquid water in a super- cooled state in the upper parts of the storm. Hailstones are formed as water vapor in the warm surface layer rises quickly into the cold upper atmosphere. The water vapor is frozen and begins to fall; as the water falls, it accumulates more water vapor. This cycle continues until there is too much weight for the updraft to support and the frozen water falls too quickly to the ground to melt along the way. The graphic below depicts hail formation:106
Injury and loss of life are rarely associated with hailstorms, however extensive property damage is possible, especially to crops.
106 Source: NWS, January 10, 2003
Page 123 Storms: Hail
Physical Characteristics
Hail may be spherical, conical or irregular in shape and ranges in size from barely visible particles to grapefruit-sized dimensions. Hailstones equal to or larger than a penny are considered severe.
• Hail Size Estimates107 Size Inches in Diameter Pea 1/4 inch Marble/mothball 1/2 inch Dime/Penny 3/4 inch Nickel 7/8 inch Quarter 1 inch Ping-Pong Ball 1 1/2 inch Golf Ball 1 3/4 inches Tennis Ball 2 1/2 inches Baseball 2 3/4 inches Tea cup 3 inches Grapefruit 4 inches Softball 4 1/2 inches
Hail falls in swaths that can be from twenty to one hundred miles long and from five to thirty miles wide. A hail swath is not a large continuous path of hail but generally consists of a series of hail cells that are produced by individual thunderstorm clouds traveling in the same area.
Frequency of Occurrence
Hailstorms usually occur from May through August and Wisconsin averages two or three hail days per year. According to the Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan, from 1982 – 2012, Pierce County reported 91 hail events but fortunately none have led to loss of life or injury. Pierce County, as can be seen in the map in Appendix A, has some of the highest probability of hail occurrence in Wisconsin. As a result, the likelihood of damage due to hail is considered high but injury is considered low.
107 NWS, January 10, 2003
Page 124 Storms: Hail
The following picture shows hail damage to an apartment building’s siding and windows and vehicle rear window that occurred in River Falls during a severe storm in May, 2001:
Most hail damage occurs in rural areas because maturing crops are particularly susceptible to bruising and other damage caused by hailstones. The four months of hailstorm activity correspond to the growing and harvesting seasons for most crops. A table showing the hail events recorded by the National Weather Service in Pierce County108 can be found in Appendix B.
It should be noted that this table represents only the hail incidents reported to the National Weather Service. One limitation of the source data is that it showed no property or crop loss, death or injury while it is likely that there was some loss incurred.
After a careful review of the data by the workgroup, it was believed that there has been more accurate record-keeping and recording since the 1990s but that the table also shows an increasing frequency in the occurrence of hailstorms, with Pierce County having a hailstorm usually at least once per year. With that understanding, it was decided that the probability of hail is high.
108 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN
Page 125 Storms: Hail
Vulnerability
NWS loss tables show that crop/property damage has ranged from $20 million (2004) to $4.5 million (2000). Hail, typically occurring in conjunction with thunderstorms and lightning, can damage many types of infrastructure. Public and private vehicles (e.g., campers, boats, cars, trucks) are liable to have their windshields cracked, bodies dented and paint damaged as a result of hail. This damage can occur, depending on the size of the hail, whether the vehicle is moving through the storm or is stationary. Hail on the roadway can also cause vehicles to slide off the road. Vehicle damage and iced roadways are of particular concern when you consider the need for emergency vehicles such as police cars, fire trucks and ambulances to quickly move to assist victims in a disaster.
Hail can also damage critical infrastructure such as street signs, electric lines/poles/transformers, telephone lines and radio communication equipment. These pieces of infrastructure are needed by both first response agencies and the general community to ensure safe transport; warm, safe homes and good internal and external communications abilities.
Residential and business properties are liable to receive damage to signs, siding, billboards, trees and windows. Manufactured housing is particularly vulnerable to damage due to its lower construction standards.
Hail can be particularly damaging to agricultural concerns, including farm buildings, standing crops and livestock. As described previously, the agricultural sector is an important economic driver in Pierce County. Hail is a localized phenomenon and it would be difficult to estimate losses but there have been two events ranging from $4.5 million in crop loss (2000) to $20 million in property loss (2001) and the potential is much greater with over 84,000 acres in harvested cropland with an average value of $164.88 per acre.
The State of Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan reported that from 1994 – 2010, Pierce County has experienced 39 hail events with a reported property loss of $24.4 million and crop damages of $5.625 million for a total of over $30 million in that 17-year period. This further works out to almost $770,00 per hail event and an estimated future annual loss of $1.76 million. The figures place Pierce County as the fourth highest county in
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the state (out of 72) with the highest reported crop damages and eighth highest county when estimated future annual losses are considered.109
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of mitigating for hail is to reduce the amount of financial loss due to these events. Insurance is the most widely used adjustment for crop and property damages due to hail. Hail crop insurance is available from two sources: commercial stock and mutual companies and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Farmers rarely purchase insurance coverage up to the full value of the losses that would result from a severe hailstorm.
The Pierce County U.W. Extension Office distributes information on various hail insurance options. In the event of major damage, a team composed of county and federal agricultural agency representatives and the county emergency management director have primary responsibility for assessing and documenting hail damage.
The Pierce County Emergency Management Office provides hail information to the public as part of the spring severe weather awareness week. The office also provides information about hail on the website and in display racks. Federal emergency assistance is available in the form of low-interest loans when a Presidential Disaster is declared or when the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) declares that a county is eligible for aid. Damage from hailstorms alone is generally not extensive enough to invoke a disaster declaration.
The hazard mitigation strategies listed above primarily involve providing information on safety measures and insurance to the public for agricultural concerns and residential and commercial structures. These measures provide basic safety information but, since there is little one can do to prevent hail damage, these measures will do little to reduce damages to existing or future buildings and infrastructure but the recommended insurance may make recovery easier.
109 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan pp. 3-26 to 3-30
Page 127 Storms: Lightning
Storms: Lightning
Lightning is a phenomenon associated with thunderstorms: the action of rising and descending air separates and builds-up positive and negative charge areas. When the built-up energy is discharged between the two areas, lightning is the result.110
Formation of Lightning
Lightning may travel from cloud to cloud, cloud to ground, or if there are high structures involved, from ground to cloud.
Physical Characteristics
The temperatures in a lightning stroke rise to 50,000o (Fahrenheit). The sudden and violent discharge which occurs in the form of a lightning stroke is over in one millionth of a second.
Lightning damage occurs when humans and animals are electrocuted, fires are caused by a lightning stroke, materials are vaporized along the lightning path or sudden power surges cause damage to electrical or electronic equipment. Lightning, an underestimated hazard, kills more people in an average year than hurricanes or tornadoes.
110 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research [UCAR]
Page 128 Storms: Lightning
Frequency of Occurrence
Nationwide, forty-five percent of the people killed by lightning have been outdoors, about sixteen percent were under trees, six percent were on heavy road equipment and thirty-three percent were at various unknown locations. Less than ten percent of the deaths involved individuals inside buildings; these deaths were primarily due to lightning-caused fires.
Wisconsin has a high frequency of property losses due to lightning. Insurance records show that annually one out of every fifty farms have been struck by lightning or had a fire which may have been caused by lightning. Generally, rural fires are more destructive than urban fires because of limited lightning protection devices, isolation, longer response times and inadequate water supplies. Pierce County has a high probability of lightning occurrence; the likelihood of damage due to lightning is considered medium for the more rural areas of the county and low for the more urban areas of the county. This was determined by recognizing that while lightning usually happens in conjunction with thunderstorms, and that Wisconsin and Pierce County generally have several severe thunderstorms per summer, the specific location of a lightning strike is small when compared to the size of the county overall, which moderates its likelihood in any given location.
A table showing the lightning events recorded by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Pierce County111 can be found in Appendix B. This table from the NWS is obviously not reporting all of the incidents of lightning strikes but those with notable/reportable losses from the past and can reasonably be inferred to show that there is exposure to potential future losses.
Vulnerability
Lightning, which often occurs in conjunction with thunderstorms and hail, can damage many types of infrastructure such as electric lines/poles/transformers, telephone lines and radio communication equipment. These pieces of infrastructure are needed by both first response agencies and the general community to ensure safe transport; warm, safe homes and good internal and external communications abilities.
111 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN
Page 129 Storms: Lightning
Residential and business properties are liable to receive damage either as a result of a lightning strike causing a fire or other type of direct damage or by overloading electronic equipment (e.g., computers, televisions) that have not been properly connected to a surge protector. This latter concern is especially important to business and government, which in modern America rely on computers and other electronic equipment to manage the large amounts of data manipulated in our information-based economy.
Lightning can damage agricultural concerns including farm buildings, standing crops and livestock. It is also one of the major sources of ignition for forest and wildfires.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of lightning mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost- effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events. The two primary ways to effectively reduce lightning losses are modifying human behavior and protecting structures (e.g., using fire resistant materials in building construction). The use of fire-resistant materials will make existing buildings and future construction less likely to catch fire or will minimize fire damage and spread due to lightning strike. Surge protectors limit data losses.
The Pierce County Emergency Management Office has awareness and educational materials in a display rack and online that inform the public of safety procedures to follow during a lightning storm. Severe summer weather safety information is also emphasized during Tornado Awareness Week.
Page 130 Storms: Thunderstorms
Storms: Thunderstorms
There are three distinct stages of development for thunderstorms (birth, growth, maturity) each of which can be seen in the following schematic. 112
In the first stage of development, an updraft drives warm air up beyond condensation levels where clouds form.
The second stage of development occurs as levels of water vapor in the expanding cloud rise past saturation and the air cools sufficiently to form solid and liquid particles of water. At this point rain or snow begins to fall within the cloud.
A thunderstorm's mature stage is marked by a transition of wind direction within the storm cells. The prevailing updraft which initiated the cloud’s growth is joined by a downdraft generated by precipitation. Lightning may occur soon after precipitation begins. Hail and tornadoes may also develop during this stage.
Physical Characteristics
A thunderstorm often is born, grows, reaches maturity and dies in a thirty-minute period. The individual thunderstorm cell often travels between thirty and fifty miles per hour. Strong frontal
112 National Weather Service - Flagstaff
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systems may create one squall line after another, each composed of many individual thunderstorm cells. These fronts can often be tracked across the state from west to east with a constant cycle of birth, growth, maturity and death of individual thunderstorm cells.
Frequency of Occurrence
Thunderstorm frequency is measured as the number of days per year with one or more incidents. There are approximately 100,000 thunderstorms in the United States every year and approximately 10% of those are considered severe (i.e., has at least ¾” hail, winds of at least 58 mph or a tornado). Most Wisconsin counties, including Pierce County, average between 30 and 40 thunderstorm days per year although a portion of southwestern and south-central Wisconsin average 40 to 50 thunderstorm days per year. In Pierce County there are typically several severe thunderstorms per year. Thunderstorms can occur throughout the year with the highest frequency during the months of May through September. The majority of storms occur between the hours of noon and midnight.
The probability of thunderstorms occurring in Pierce County is high as these storms usually occur one or more times each year during the summer in Wisconsin and Pierce County. Damage from thunderstorms usually is a result of the hail, lightning, damaging winds and/or flash flooding that can occur as part of the storm. The likelihood of damage from these causes is discussed in the appropriate chapters, although one can see from the historical data in Appendix B, property and crop damage occurs frequently in thunderstorms and can range from $1,000 to $12 million (1998) per storm with combined property and crop damages in the $5,000 - $20,000 range being the most common.
Tables showing the thunderstorm events that have been recorded by the National Weather Service in Pierce County can be found in Appendix B. 113
113 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN
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Vulnerability
Thunderstorms, which often produce hail and lightning and may occasionally spawn tornadoes, high wind storms or flash flooding, can damage many types of infrastructure. Pierce County’s thunderstorm vulnerabilities due to associated hail, lightning, winds and flood waters are discussed in the other hazard chapters of this plan.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of thunderstorm mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost-effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events. The Pierce County Emergency Management Office has developed severe weather safety information that it disseminates to the public in a display rack and online with the goal of protecting the lives and property of citizens. During Tornado Awareness Week there is extensive media coverage of safety tips. Additionally, the department assists the National Weather Service (NWS) in conducting tornado spotter training programs and in organizing local tornado spotter networks. The communities would also like to work with their special events fair/festival boards, as requested, to create emergency plans in case of bad weather.
The damage to buildings and infrastructure in a thunderstorm is generally caused by components of the storm such as hail, flooding, lightning or wind. A discussion of strategies to reduce effects on existing and future buildings and infrastructure is discussed in the chapters that discuss each of these components in detail.
Page 133 Storms: Tornadoes and High Winds
Storms: Tornadoes and High Winds
A tornado is a violently rotating funnel-shaped column of air. The lower end of the column may or may not touch the ground. Average winds in the tornado are between 173 and 250 miles per hour but winds can exceed 300 miles per hour. It should also be noted that straight-line winds may reach the same speeds and achieve the same destructive force as a tornado.
A derecho is a widespread, long-lived, violent, convectively- induced straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast- moving band of severe thunderstorms usually taking the form of a bow echo. Derechos blow in the direction of movement of their associated storms; this is similar to a gust front except that the wind is sustained and generally increases in strength behind the "gust" front. A warm weather phenomenon, derechos occur mostly in summer, especially July, in the northern hemisphere. They can occur at any time of the year and occur as frequently at night as in the daylight hours.
The traditional criteria that distinguish a derecho from a severe thunderstorm are sustained winds of 58 mph during the storm as opposed to gusts, high and/or rapidly increasing forward speed and geographic extent (typically 250 nautical miles in length). In addition, they have a distinctive appearance on radar (bow echo); several unique features, such as the rear inflow
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notch and bookend vortex and usually manifest two or more downbursts. There are four types of derechos: 114
• Serial: Multiple bow echoes embedded in a massive squall line typically around 250 miles long. This type of derecho is usually associated with a very deep low. Also because of embedded supercells, tornadoes can easily spin out of these types of derechos.
• Progressive: A small line of thunderstorms take the bow- shape and can travel for hundreds of miles.
• Hybrid: Has characteristics of a serial and progressive derechos. Hybrid derechos are associated with a deep low like serial derechos but are relatively small in size like progressive derechos.
• Low Dewpoint: Occurs in an environment of comparatively limited low-level moisture, with appreciable moisture confined to the mid-levels of the atmosphere.
Serial Derecho Progressive Derecho
Physical Characteristics
Tornadoes are visible because low atmospheric pressure in the vortex leads to cooling of the air by expansion and to condensation and formation of water droplets. They are also visible as a result of the airborne debris and dust in its high
114 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derecho
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winds. Wind and pressure differential are believed to account for ninety percent of tornado damage in most cases. Because tornadoes are associated with storm systems, they usually are accompanied by hail, torrential rain and intense lightning.
Tornadoes typically produce damage in an area that does not exceed one-fourth mile in width or sixteen miles in length. Tornadoes with track lengths greater than 150 miles have been reported although such tornadoes are rare.
Tornado damage severity is measured by the Fujita Tornado Scale, which assigns an “F” (“Fujita”) value from 0 – 5 to denote the wind speed.
The Fujita Tornado Scale115 Category Wind Description of Damage Speed F0 40-72 mph Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; break branches off trees; push over shallow- rooted trees; damage to sign boards. F1 73-112 mph Moderate damage. The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane speed. Roof surfaces peeled off; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off roads. F2 113-157 mph Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated. F3 158-206 mph Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; cars lifted off ground and thrown. F4 207-260 mph Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown off; cars thrown and large missiles generated. F5 261-318 mph Incredible damage. Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distance to disintegrate; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100- yards; trees debarked.
On 1 February 2007, the National Weather Service began rating tornadoes using the EF-scale. It is considerably more complicated than the F-scale and it will allow surveyors to create more precise assessments of tornado severity. Below is a comparison between the Fujita Scale and the EF Scale:
Fujita Scale Derived EF Scale Operational EF Scale F Fastest ¼ 3 Second EF 3 Second EF Number 3 Second Number mile (mph) Gust (mph) Number Gust (mph) Gust (mph) 0 40-72 45-78 0 65-85 0 65-85 1 73-112 79-117 1 86-109 1 86-110 2 113-157 118-161 2 110-137 2 111-135 3 158-207 162-209 3 138-167 3 136-165 4 208-260 210-261 4 168-199 4 166-200 5 261-318 262-317 5 200-234 5 Over 200
115 FEMA, 1997
Page 136 Storms: Tornadoes and High Winds
Example of tornado damage south of Ellsworth (2001)
Downburst Characteristics
Downburst damage is often highly localized but resembles damage caused by a tornado. In some cases, even an experienced investigator cannot identify the nature of a storm without mapping the direction of the damaging winds over a large area. There are significant interactions between tornadoes and nearby downbursts.
A classic downburst example occurred on July 4, 1977 when a severe thunderstorm moved across Northern Wisconsin. Extensive areas of tree and property damage, somewhat like a tornado, were reported. After an aerial survey was completed, mapping both direction and F-scale intensity of the damaging winds, it was determined that no evidence of a tornado was found anywhere within the path of the damage swath, which was 166 miles long and 17 miles wide. The survey revealed that there were scattered local centers from which straight-line winds diverged outward. These local wind systems were identified as downbursts with at least 25 specific locations recognized by the low-flying aircraft.
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Frequency of Occurrence
Wisconsin lies along the northern edge of the nation's tornado belt, which extends north-eastward from Oklahoma into Iowa and across to Michigan and Ohio. Winter, spring and fall tornadoes are more likely to occur in southern Wisconsin than in northern counties.
Wisconsin's tornado season runs from the beginning of April through September with the most severe tornadoes typically occurring in April, May and June. Tornadoes have, however, occurred in Wisconsin during every month of the year. Many tornadoes strike in late afternoon or early evening but they do occur at other times. Deaths, injuries and personal property damage have occurred and will continue to occur in Wisconsin.
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Tornado damage from Plum City (2001)
Tables showing the frequency of high winds, funnel clouds and tornadoes as reported by the National Weather Service can be found in Appendix B.116 The probability of Pierce County being struck by a tornado or high winds in the future is high and the likelihood of damage from future incidents is also high. All parts of Pierce County are equally susceptible to tornadoes.
Vulnerability
Injury to people is a primary concern in tornado and high wind events. Two of the highest risk places are mobile home parks and campgrounds; Pierce County has several of each type of property. Both have high concentrations of people in a small area, generally have structures that provide less protection than standard construction homes and generally do not provide storm shelters. Other places of concern during these types of events include critical emergency facilities such as hospitals and public works/highway garages, police stations and fire departments, which contain equipment and services needed by the public after a tornado.
116 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN
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Mobile Home Parks 117118
Park Name Location
St. Croix Terrace Mobile Home Sales & Prescott Park
Bay City Trailer Park Bay City
Elmwood Mobile Home Park* Elmwood
Evergreen Estates Ellsworth
Plum City Mobile Home Park Plum City
Valley Courts Spring Valley Spring Valley Projects # * Not accepting new homes and was Spring 2007. # Are in the same area but are split into two courts by a ravine.
Campgrounds 119
Campground Name Location
Pierce County Fairgrounds Ellsworth
Island Campground Hager City
Mr. Sippi Yacht Brokerage Bar Hager City
St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park Prescott
Hoffman City Park River Falls
Bay City Camp Ground Bay City
Hide-a-way Campground Lounge Bay City
Village Park Maiden Rock
Nugget Lake County Park Plum City
117 https://www.mobilehome.net/mobile-home-park-directory/wisconsin/county/pierce-county 118 https://www.mhvillage.com/Communities/MobileHomeParks.php?State=WI&County=Pierce 119 http://www.hikercentral.com/campcounty/Wisconsin_Pierce.html
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Highland Ridge Main Spring Valley
Highland Ridge Equestrian Spring Valley
Schools, in addition to holding children, are the major type of structure used as community disaster shelters and their loss might therefore affect the community on several levels (e.g., the death or injury of children, the loss of a community housing shelter.) School gymnasiums are often the specific location of the community shelter but they are especially vulnerable in tornadoes because the large-span roof structure is often not adequately supported.
Community infrastructure such as power lines, telephone lines, radio towers and street signs are often vulnerable to damage from tornadoes and high winds and can be expensive to replace. The loss of radio towers that hold public safety communications repeaters can adversely impact the ability of first responders to mount an effective response and damage to towers that hold public media equipment may adversely impact the ability to distribute adequate public information.
Residential property is likely to have siding and roofing materials removed, windows broken from flying debris and garages blown down due to light construction techniques. Perhaps one of the largest types of loss on private property is due to tree damage, which is generally not covered by federal disaster assistance.
Business properties are at risk for having damage to infrastructure including signs, windows, siding and billboards. Agricultural buildings, such as barns and silos, are also generally not constructed in a manner that makes them wind resistant, which can lead to the loss of livestock and harvest. Standing crops are also at risk from high winds and tornadoes.
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An example of tornado damage from southeast of Ellsworth (2001) The State of Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan reports that in the 19 tornadoes experienced by Pierce County from 1950-2010, they had no deaths, six injuries and a total of just over $3.8 million in damages with an average of over $200,000 per event. The planners estimated future annual losses at approximately $62,500. (Note all amounts in 2008 dollars.)120
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of tornado and high wind mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost-effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events. Pierce County has a history of damage to buildings and infrastructure due to tornadoes and high winds. Some strategies below will deal with public information and alert and notification while others will enable the community to make current and future buildings and infrastructure more disaster-resistant by enacting more “bricks and mortar” solutions.
An effective warning system is the single most important resource for alerting the public to a tornado hazard, which is critical to the main goal of saving lives and reducing property losses. Forecasting of tornadoes is difficult, however, because of the suddenness of their onset, their relatively
120 State of Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan, pp. 3-50 through 3-56.
Page 142 Storms: Tornadoes and High Winds short duration, the extreme variability of a tornado striking area, limited knowledge of tornado dynamics and the limitations of the weather observation system. Tornado sirens are municipally owned and maintained in Pierce County although some are activated by the county. The Emergency Management Office promotes the use of NOAA weather radios for public alert and notification. The office also continues to evaluate various technologies to determine if they can be effectively integrated into the county’s alert and notification systems.
During the past several years, there has been a statewide Tornado Awareness Week in late March or April. Media information packets are distributed to reemphasize and alert the public to tornado warning procedures. Pierce County and many of the municipalities actively promotes tornado safety public information as well as other summer severe weather public awareness and educational efforts, including applicable links on the county website. Pierce County also assists the National Weather Service with sponsoring tornado spotter training for key first responders and in organizing local tornado spotter networks.
As part of the tornado preparedness program, the county plans to work with the municipalities to identify governmental and private buildings that can be used as tornado shelters. The City of River Falls EOC is a shelter for a trailer park, which is not an optimal situation and should be revisited. Also, the county is moving to a new building with no shelter for the public. There should be a discussion on the use of the old buildings and exploring tornado shelters for Ellsworth (about 50 homes).
Another selected strategy is identifying and constructing tornado shelters in mobile home parks and campgrounds as grant funding is available. The U. S. Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) may be an avenue to achieve the necessary funding. If grant funding is not available, park owners will be encouraged to plan shelters on their properties:
• City of River Falls: o Create a safe room for tornado/high wind protection for DeSenctis Park, a residential
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development of approximately 20 homes near another residential area with high density. o Create a safe room for general community use at the PD. o Add a shelter in the Kinni corridor. o Future consideration will be given to a shelter at Cudd’s Court Trailer Home park (60 units) or requiring straps. Uniform code requires tie downs but court is grandfathering them out of the requirement.
• Village of Elmwood: Village campground (Butternut Park) has no shelters (~15 sites). Explore options. Bathrooms are concrete; no window. • Village of Maiden Rock: Village Campground has no shelters (8-15 sites). Explore options. • Village of Bay City o Bay City Village Hall is no longer a shelter (not insurable). o Trailer Park (on Oakhill Rd, 61 sites) and slab homes (~20) have no shelter. o Village campground has no shelters (35 sites). Explore options (CDBG). • Village of Plum City o There are about 13 privately-owned homes on Court Road. Their plan was to go into basement of the library but that is locked now. May go to senior center. Explore options. • Village of Ellsworth o There are about 30 homes off of Cairns Street. Residents can go to the fairgrounds but that is not optimal. Explore options. • City of Prescott o People from about 80 trailers shelter at St. Croix Terrace. This is not a low-income population.
Most municipalities in Pierce County have adopted the state’s uniform building codes. Pierce County would like to encourage the enforcement of these local building codes that improve a current or future structure’s ability to
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withstand greater wind velocities. This should be facilitated by the fact that in late 2003, the Governor signed a law requiring municipalities to use a uniform building code inspector.
The mitigation planning workgroup recognizes mobile home parks and campgrounds are particularly vulnerable locations for people and property during a tornado. To help mitigate the danger, the county plans projects that include:
• Providing information to builders and owners of manufactured and mobile homes regarding the use of tie- downs with ground anchors. These relatively inexpensive strategies reduce the damage to these homes in lower F-scale tornadoes. Finally, to help protect farm buildings from damage and to help prevent topsoil erosion due to high winds over open fields, the Land Conservation Department will continue to provide information about planting windbreaks upon owner request.
Page 145 Storms: Winter
Storms: Winter
Due to its position along the northern edge of the United States, Wisconsin, including Pierce County, is highly susceptible to a variety of winter weather storm phenomena.
Picture of snow drifts after the “Groundhog Day Blizzard” in 2011.
Physical Characteristics
The National Weather Service descriptions of winter storm elements are:
• Heavy snowfall - Accumulation of six or more inches of snow in a 12-hour period or eight or more inches in a 24-hour period. • Blizzard - An occurrence of sustained wind speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour (mph) accompanied by heavy snowfall or large amounts of blowing or drifting snow. • Ice storm - An occurrence when rain falls from warmer upper layers of the atmosphere to the colder ground, freezing upon contact with the ground and exposed objects near the ground. • Freezing drizzle/freezing rain - Effect of drizzle or rain freezing upon impact on objects with a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
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• Sleet - Solid grains or pellets of ice formed by the freezing of raindrops or the refreezing of largely melted snowflakes. This ice does not cling to surfaces. • Wind chill - An apparent temperature that describes the combined effect of wind and low air temperatures on exposed skin.
In Wisconsin, the winter storm season generally runs from November through March and Wisconsin residents are most familiar with heavy snowstorms, blizzards, sleet and ice storms. The majority of Wisconsin snowfalls are between one and three inches per occurrence, although heavy snowfalls that produce at least ten inches may occur four or five times per season. Northwestern Wisconsin encounters more blizzards than the southeastern portions of the state.
Damage from ice storms can occur when more than half of an inch of rain freezes on trees and utility wires, especially if the rain is accompanied by high winds. Another danger comes from an accumulation of frozen rain pellets on the ground during a sleet storm, which can make driving hazardous.
Frequency of Occurrence
Annual snowfall in Wisconsin varies between thirty inches in southern counties to one hundred inches in the north. Pierce County averages between 36 and 48 inches of annual mean snow depth in most of the county but a small section in the central portion of the county averages between 48 and 72 inches. Storm tracks originating in the southern Rockies or Plains states that move northeastward produce the heaviest precipitation, usually six to twelve inches. Low-pressure systems originating in the northwest (Alberta) tend to produce only light snowfalls of two to four inches. Snowfalls associated with Alberta lows occur more frequently with colder weather.
Although massive blizzards are rare in Wisconsin, blizzard-like conditions often exist during heavy snowstorms when gusty winds cause blowing and drifting of snow. For example, near blizzard conditions existed in Wisconsin in February, 2011 when record snowfalls were recorded in many areas and very strong northeast winds were gusting from 45 to 60 mph for an extended period of
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time. While Pierce County was not in the band of heaviest snow in this storm, Pierce County has the conditions that may spawn such storms.
Both ice and sleet storms can occur at any time throughout the winter season from November to April. Ice storms of disastrous proportions occurred in central Wisconsin in February 1922 and in southern Wisconsin in March 1976. A Presidential Disaster Declaration occurred as a result of the 1976 storm. Utility crews from surrounding states were called in to restore power, which was off for up to ten days in some areas. Other storms of lesser magnitude caused power outages and treacherous highway conditions.
Tables showing winter storm statistics as reported by the National Weather Service can be found in Appendix B.121 The tables show that there is little property damage but this does not take into account the public costs of managing the snow and ice as well as the costs of managing utility repair to power, telephone and water lines.
The probability that there will be severe winter storms in Pierce County is medium and the likelihood that those storms will cause significant damage is also medium.
Vulnerability
Winter storms present a serious threat to the health and safety of affected citizens and can result in significant damage to property. Heavy snow or accumulated ice can cause the structural collapse of homes, commercial buildings and agricultural structures; down power lines or isolate people from assistance or services by impeding transportation by the general public, emergency responders and public transportation resources.
The loss of electrical service and/or the blocking of transportation routes can adversely affect the ability of commercial enterprises to conduct business. This economic injury can affect both the business owner and employees unable to work during this period.
121 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=55%2CWISCONSIN
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Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of winter storm mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost- effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events.
Communities prepare for severe winter weather by ensuring that plowing and sanding equipment is operational and available to handle potential emergencies. Funding is budgeted for the overtime hours of extra personnel but in a large emergency this may not be adequate. Redundant communication modes (e.g., radio, telephone) exist between government, police, fire, EMS, hospitals and highway departments. The Pierce County Emergency Operations Plan provides for coordination of public safety support agencies such as the American Red Cross and for resource acquisitions during winter emergencies.
Winter safety information is prepared and distributed to the media and the public by the Pierce County Emergency Management Office and some of its municipal partners during Winter Awareness Week in November. An informative article on plowing procedures in the Highway Annual Message began in 2010. Preparedness information is also available from display racks in the courthouse and the website. During a storm, the public is advised to monitor local radio, television and NOAA weather alert radios for up-to-date forecasts.
The hazard mitigation strategies listed above primarily involve providing information on general safety measures to the public. These measures provide basic safety information but, since the response to winter storms is primarily a government and/or corporate function comprised of tasks such as clearing roads of snow and ice and repairing downed utility lines, there are few measures that can be employed to reduce damages to existing or future buildings and infrastructure.
Page 149 Utility Failure
Utility Failure
A utility emergency is a disruption to the building services, usually defined as electrical power, water, natural gas and/or sewage, that restricts the ability of people to safely occupy the facility. Electrical power or natural gas outages are often caused by a fuel shortage caused by an oil embargo, power failure or natural disaster. Disruptions to the water and sewage systems are often the direct result of a natural disaster (e.g., flooding) or are indirect losses due to another failure (e.g., a power outage disrupts the pumping of water and/or sewage).
Physical Characteristics
Modern society is very dependent on electrical power for normal living and is therefore quite disrupted by loss of power. Most power outages last about fifteen minutes to one hour. If longer, the utilities will inform the local news media of the anticipated duration of the outage. Thunderstorms with lightning can also cause power failure.
Fuel shortages can be caused by localized imbalances in supply. Labor strikes, severe cold weather or snowstorms also can cause a local shortage.
Utility providers to Pierce County include:
• Electricity: Xcel Energy, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services and the City of River Falls
• Natural Gas: WE Energies, Xcel Energy
• Telephone: SBC, Spring Valley, CenturyTel and Hager Telecom
• Cable: US Cable
Water/Sewer: Each municipality (i.e., city or village) has its own municipal provider. 90% of the county relies on individual wells and septic systems for service.
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Electrical substation
Thunderstorms with lightning are a possible cause of power failure. Fuel shortages can be caused by localized imbalances in supply. Labor strikes, severe cold weather or snowstorms also can cause a local shortage.
The water and sewage systems are most often a function of a municipal system and are usually found in more urbanized areas. Rural water is often provided by individual wells found on each property and sewage is managed by a septic system, also found on each individual property. Both municipal and individual systems are vulnerable to flooding, which can overwhelm the sewage systems and contaminate both municipal and private wells. Both types of systems are also vulnerable to electrical power loss because the electrical system powers the pumps and lift stations that move and treat the water and sewage.
Frequency of Occurrence
Pierce County has an estimated five short power outages (i.e., lasting less than six hours) per year but does not have a history of extended power outages. The possibility always exists that a man- made or natural disaster could affect the power system for an extended period of time. Due to the mostly rural nature of Pierce County, brown-outs (i.e., times when, because of high power demand, areas are purposefully turned off of the power grid) are not a strategy used by the power companies that provide service.
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In general, Pierce County has a medium likelihood of utility failures with a low risk of damage, death or injury due to a loss. Obviously, power outages are more likely to occur and the severity is greater in areas of higher human population (i.e., urban areas) but the loss of power to rural customers, while affecting fewer people, generally lasts longer and can be as life-threatening, especially if a person with special needs (e.g., the elderly, the young, those on special medical equipment) is involved.
Vulnerability
The failure of a utility to function can have wide-ranging impact in Pierce County. People, especially special needs populations, in residential properties may not be able to safely live in their homes because of inadequate heat, the inability to cook, the inability to manage waste, etc. Businesses, including the utilities themselves, may lose money due to the inability to produce goods and services for which they can bill, and they may be non-operational due to damaged infrastructure, which can be very expensive to replace and/or repair. Critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and governmental facilities may not be able to operate or may have to operate at a reduced capacity due to the loss of utility services. EPCRA facilities may not be able to adequately control and contain their chemicals and there may be a release of hazardous materials that can impact people or the environment.
Agricultural assets may be impacted by the loss of utilities because animals require fresh water, extreme temperatures reduce the production volume of and products such as milk may not be able to be properly stored. Modern farms also require on a large amount of automation for feeding, watering and managing the wastes of the facility.
Finally, transportation on roadways may become unsafe due to the loss of directional and street lights.
It should be noted that the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant is directly across the Mississippi River in Minnesota and there are electrical transmission lines from the plant to Wisconsin that pass- through Pierce County.
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Hazard Mitigation Strategies
The goal of utility failure mitigation activities is to reduce, in a cost- effective manner, the loss of lives and property due to these events. Pierce County has worked directly with the utility companies and emergency management responders in formulating emergency management plans. During a fuel or power shortage, residents, schools, industry and businesses will be asked to take measures to conserve fuel. If the fuel shortage reaches a critical stage, all non- essential facilities will be closed down and contingency plans will be put into effect.
In the event of a prolonged power outage Pierce County has generators available to provide power for radio communication and EOC operation. Evacuation and shelter arrangements have been prepared in case of a severe power outage. It should be noted that schools are often top choices as community disaster shelters but few of the county’s schools have back-up generators.
The City of River Falls has a municipal power company that services its residents. The city’s power lines were all above ground, making them vulnerable a variety of hazardous weather events (e.g., windstorms, tornadoes, ice storms.) The city has buried 70% of its power lines but what remains above ground is critical infrastructure, feeding the hospital and UWRF, but it is cost prohibitive to replace. This community is also one of the most rapidly growing communities in the county and has enacted an ordinance to require underground power lines in all new subdivisions to make them more disaster-resistant. The city also has several other planned mitigation strategies to help their efficiency in case of utility failure including:
• The DPW, PD, and FD/EMS do not have generators, making it difficult to open doors, use mapping, access emergency computer data in an outage. They are exploring generators and/or external power panels for temporary mobile generator hook-ups for the public infrastructure. They also need to have portable generators for lift station and wells.
• Evaluate trees for the Emerald Ash Boarer. Consider smart planting for shade, wind break, carbon capture for replacement. About 30% in parks and right-of-way so projects should ensure that trees do not impact above-ground power lines.
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• Add fiber optics to every city structure in town.
• Update SCADA, the data control system that manages utilities, for electric, water and wastewater.
• Evaluate >50kw solar project where people can purchase a panel for power with an 18-year payback. Evaluating solar, wind, hydro. No expansion currently but possibility explore options for working with a solar firm.
Village of Plum City: • Upgrade wastewater treatment plant. Plant is 40 years old; upgrade/new equipment needed.
Village of Ellsworth: • Install a panel on the substation. A squirrel got into the substation and took out the power. Sucker trucks had to be used to draw down the lift station. Could also use generators.
Page 154 Appendix A: Maps
Appendix A: Maps
Map of County Municipal Divisions
Page 155 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Total Severe Weather Events
Page 156 Appendix A: Maps
Soils Types122
122 Soils of Wisconsin compiled by F. D. Hole, 1973; Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Map, scale (approx.) 1: 3,150,000.
Page 157 Appendix A: Maps
Median Date of Last Freeze123
123 https://www.weather.gov/images/mkx/climate/springlastfreeze.png Page 158 Appendix A: Maps
Median Date of First Freeze124
124 https://www.weather.gov/images/mkx/climate/FallFirstFreeze.png Page 159 Appendix A: Maps
County First Response Districts
Page 160 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin’s Regional & County/Local HazMat Response Teams125
125 http://www.wsfca.com/files/cache/c1e510bdc2d15a686a3e1793a4418804.jpg Page 161 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Hazardous Materials Response Teams126
126 http://www.emergencymanagement.wi.gov/training/docs/County_Hazardous_Materials_Resp_Teams_Map.pdf Page 162 Appendix A: Maps
Pierce County Sites of Contaminated Soil/Groundwater127
127 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/brrts.html Page 163 Appendix A: Maps
Pierce County Nitrate-Nitrogen Concentrations128
128 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/nitrate.html Page 164 Appendix A: Maps
Pierce County Groundwater Contamination Susceptibility129
129 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/susceptibility.html Page 165 Appendix A: Maps
Pierce County Atrazine Prohibition Areas130
130 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/atrazine.html Page 166 Appendix A: Maps
Percentage of Private Wells with Detectable Herbicides or Herbicide Metabolites (2001)131
131 https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/pierce/pesticidestate.html Page 167 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Railroads and Harbors132
132 http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/rail/railmap.pdf Page 168 Appendix A: Maps
Earthquakes in Wisconsin 133
133 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2008, page 4-105
Page 169 Appendix A: Maps
Erosion Areas in Wisconsin134
134 Wisconsin Emergency Management, State Hazard Mitigation Plan Page 170 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Annual Precipitation135
135 http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/climate/wipcpn.gif Page 171 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Total Flood Events136
136 Wisconsin Emergency Management, State Hazard Mitigation Plan Page 172 Appendix A: Maps
County Watersheds137
137 https://dnrmaps.wi.gov/H5/?Viewer=SWDV&runworkFlow=search¶m=WSHED,wshed_code,LC04
Page 173 Appendix A: Maps
County Watersheds138
138 https://dnrmaps.wi.gov/H5/?Viewer=SWDV&runworkFlow=search¶m=WSHED,wshed_code,LC04
Page 174 Appendix A: Maps
Pierce County Floodplain
Page 175 Appendix A: Maps
Pierce County Dams139
139 http://maps.dnr.state.wi.us/imf/dnrimf.jsp?site=SurfaceWaterViewer
Page 176 Appendix A: Maps
Wildfire Communities-at-Risk140
140 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Page 177 Appendix A: Maps
Wildfire Communities-at-Risk Composite Map 141
141 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Page 178 Appendix A: Maps
Wildfire Communities-at-Risk Municipal Map142
142 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Page 179 Appendix A: Maps
Landslide Incidence and Susceptibility143
143 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2008, page 4-131
Page 180 Appendix A: Maps
Karst Potential144
144 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2008, page 4-132
Page 181 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Heat Wave Events
Page 182 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Heat Wave Days
Page 183 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Heat Wave Deaths
Page 184 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Hail Events
Page 185 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Lightning Events
Page 186 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Severe Thunderstorm Winds
Page 187 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin 100+ mph Thunderstorm Wind Events
Page 188 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Hurricane-force (74+ mph) Thunderstorm Winds
Page 189 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Tornado Events
Page 190 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Average Snowfall
Page 191 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Blizzard Events
Page 192 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Extreme Cold Events
Page 193 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Ice Storm Events
Page 194 Appendix A: Maps
Wisconsin Winter Storm Events
Page 195 Appendix A: Maps
Electric Transmission Lines145
145 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan
Page 196 Appendix A: Maps
Electrical Substations146
146 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan
Page 197 Appendix A: Maps
Wastewater Facilities147
147 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan Page 198 Appendix A: Maps
Natural Gas Pipelines148
148 Wisconsin State Hazard Mitigation Plan Page 199 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
BLIZZARD Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 1/29/1996 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 1/29/1996 0 0 0 0
COLD/WIND CHILL Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 01/31/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 02/01/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 01/15/97 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 02/10/08 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 02/19/08 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 01/15/09 0 0 0 0
DENSE FOG Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 11/19/07 0 0 0 0
DROUGHT Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY No Reported incidents
EXCESSIVE HEAT PIERCE COUNTY 07/18/11 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 07/20/16 0 0 0 0
EXTREME COLD/WINDCHILL PIERCE COUNTY 01/05/14 0 0 0 0 Page 200 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
PIERCE COUNTY 01/27/14 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 01/17/16 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/18/16 0 0 0 0
FLASH FLOOD Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage RIVER FALLS 07/08/05 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 10/04/05 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 08/13/09 0 0 $1,000,000.00 0 ELLSWORTH 06/26/10 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 06/26/10 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 06/26/10 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 08/10/10 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 08/10/10 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 08/10/10 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 07/19/17 0 0 0 0
FLOOD Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 04/04/97 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 04/06/97 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 04/01/01 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 05/01/01 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 03/30/05 0 0 0 0 MOEVILLE 09/23/10 0 0 0 0
FUNNEL CLOUD Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PLUM CITY 05/09/01 0 0 0 0 MARTELL 06/04/16 0 0 0 0
HAIL Diameter Property Crop Location Date (Inches) Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 04/23/90 1 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 06/12/90 0.75 0 0 0 0
Page 201 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
PIERCE COUNTY 09/09/90 1.75 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 09/09/90 2.75 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 05/27/91 1 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 06/17/92 1.75 0 0 0 0 TRIMBELLE 04/26/94 1.25 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 04/26/94 1.25 0 0 0 0 BELDENVILLE 04/26/94 1.25 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 07/05/94 1 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 07/14/95 0.88 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 07/14/95 0.88 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/26/96 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 06/26/96 0.75 0 0 0 0 HAGER CITY 06/29/96 0.75 0 0 0 0 BAY CITY 06/29/96 0.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 10/16/96 0.88 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 10/16/96 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/07/97 0.88 0 0 0 0 OLIVET 06/07/97 1 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 03/29/98 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 03/29/98 1 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/07/00 0.88 0 0 0 $4.5M BAY CITY 07/07/00 1 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 08/01/00 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 08/26/00 1.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 08/26/00 1.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 11/01/00 0.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/01/01 1.25 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 05/01/01 1.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/01/01 2.75 0 0 $20M 0 ELLSWORTH 06/11/01 2.5 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/11/01 1.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/11/01 2 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 06/17/01 1.25 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 06/18/01 0.88 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 04/18/02 1 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 04/18/02 1 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 06/25/02 0.75 0 0 0 0 OLIVET 07/30/02 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 07/30/02 0.88 0 0 0 0 HAGER CITY 07/30/02 0.75 0 0 0 0 Page 202 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
RIVER FALLS 04/18/04 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 04/18/04 1 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 05/09/04 1 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 05/09/04 1 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 07/31/04 1 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 08/08/04 0.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/07/05 0.88 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/07/05 0.75 0 0 0 0 HAGER CITY 06/08/05 1 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/24/05 1.75 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 06/24/05 1 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/08/05 0.88 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 09/21/05 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSOWRHT 05/29/06 0.75 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 07/24/06 1.75 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 07/24/06 2 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 08/24/06 1.75 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 08/24/06 2.5 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 08/24/06 2.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/20/07 1.25 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/20/07 1.25 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/20/07 0.88 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/20/07 0.75 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 06/20/07 1.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 07/26/07 0.75 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 09/13/07 0.88 0 0 0 0 EAST ELLSWORTH 07/19/08 1.25 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 08/04/08 1.25 0 0 0 0 TRIMBELLE 08/13/08 0.88 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 06/17/09 1 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT J. A. 06/17/09 0.75 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 07/24/09 1 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 04/09/11 0.75 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 04/10/11 1 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 05/22/11 1 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 05/22/11 1.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/30/11 0.88 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 05/26/12 1 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 05/26/12 1.75 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 05/26/12 1.25 0 0 0 0 Page 203 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
PRESCOTT 06/19/12 1.25 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/26/13 0.75 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 08/06/13 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 05/07/14 0.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/07/14 0.75 0 0 0 0 ESDAILE 06/26/13 1.5 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORHT 05/03/15 0.75 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 10/17/16 0.88 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 04/09/17 1 0 0 0 0 TRIMBELLE 04/15/17 1 0 0 0 0 BELDENVILLE 04/15/17 0.75 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 04/15/17 0.75 0 0 0 0
HEAT Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 07/23/99 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 07/29/99 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 07/31/01 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 08/01/01 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 08/04/01 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 07/31/06 0 0 0 0
HEAVY RAIN Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PRESCOTT 08/07/09 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 08/08/09 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 08/13/09 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 08/13/09 0 0 0 0 SALEM 08/13/09 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 08/10/10 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/06/15 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/06/15 0 0 0 0
HEAVY SNOW Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 01/18/96 0 0 0 0
Page 204 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
PIERCE COUNTY 03/24/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 11/20/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 11/23/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/14/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/23/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 01/12/00 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 02/07/01 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 03/12/01 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 11/09/06 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 01/14/07 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 03/31/08 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 04/01/08 0 0 0 0
HIGH WIND Death Injurie Property Crop Location Date KTS s s Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 10/29/96 50 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 04/07/01 53 0 0 $1M 0 PIERCE COUNTY 04/18/04 59 0 0 0 0
ICE STORM Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 01/17/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 11/15/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 01/04/98 0 0 0 0
LIGHTNING Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage RIVER FALLS 10/16/96 0 0 0 0 COUNTY WIDE 08/09/05 0 0 0 0
STRONG WIND Property Crop Location Date KTS Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 12/22/04 35 ES 0 0 0 $100.00
Page 205 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
THUNDERSTORM WIND Property Crop Location Date KTS Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 06/12/90 52 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 06/12/90 0 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 08/06/90 0 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 09/09/90 0 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 05/28/91 0 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 05/28/91 0 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/30/94 75 0 0 $500.00 $500.00 RIVER FALLS 05/19/96 75 0 $1M $0.00 HAGER CITY 06/29/96 70 0 $3.5M 0 0 ELLSWORTH 07/13/97 55 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 05/30/98 60 0 $300,000.00 0 0 PRESCOTT 05/30/98 65 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 05/30/98 65 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/30/98 75 0 0 0 0 DIAMOND BLUFF 06/25/98 61 0 $75,000.00 0 0 ESDIALE 06/25/99 61 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/25/99 60 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/25/99 60 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 06/06/99 50 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 07/30/99 50 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/07/00 55 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/01/01 60 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/09/01 64 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 06/11/01 50 0 0 0 0 ELLSOWRTH 06/11/01 65 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 06/11/01 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 09/11/02 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 09/01/02 55 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/09/02 55 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/09/04 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/09/04 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 05/30/04 50 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 07/21/04 52 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 10/29/04 55 0 0 0 0 BAY CITY 06/08/05 52 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 06/20/05 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/20/05 52 0 0 0 0 Page 206 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
ELLSWORTH 06/24/05 52 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/24/05 52 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 06/24/05 52 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 06/27/05 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/27/05 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/29/05 52 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 06/29/05 52 0 0 0 0 BAY CITY 08/09/05 52 0 0 0 0 HAGER CITY 05/29/06 50 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 08/24/06 60 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 10/03/06 55 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 03/25/07 50 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 06/07/07 52 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 08/11/07 60 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 08/13/07 52 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 08/13/08 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 08/28/07 52 0 0 0 0 SPRING VALLEY 07/19/08 62 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/25/08 56 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 07/25/08 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 07/25/08 55 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 07/25/08 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/25/08 54 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 07/25/08 54 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 07/25/08 56 0 0 0 0 SNOWS CORNER 08/13/09 52 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT JACQUES 06/25/10 52 0 0 0 0 ARP MADIEN ROCK 06/26/10 52 0 0 0 0 OLIVET 07/14/10 56 0 0 0 0 EL PASO 07/14/10 56 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 07/17/10 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS ARPT 08/08/10 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/23/11 50 0 0 0 0 TRIMBELLE 07/30/11 56 0 0 0 0 HAGER CITY 07/30/11 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/13/12 52 0 0 0 0 BAY CITY 08/03/12 52 0 0 0 0 BELDENVILLE 05/19/13 52 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 06/26/13 50 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 08/06/13 52 0 0 0 0 Page 207 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
BAY CITY 05/08/14 52 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 05/08/14 52 0 0 0 0 SPRINGVALLEY 07/18/15 56 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 07/18/15 56 0 0 0 0 ELMWOOD 06/10/16 56 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 06/10/16 52 0 0 0 0 MAIDEN ROCK 06/10/16 52 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 07/05/16 52 0 0 0 0 PRESCOTT 07/05/16 56 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 07/05/16 56 0 0 $50,000.00 0 ESDAILE 07/05/16 56 0 0 0 0 R.W. REG.AIRPORT 07/05/16 50 0 0 0 0 REGIONAL AIRPORPLUTPLUM CITY 07/05/16 65 0 0 $200,000.00 0 ELLSWORTH 07/12/16 63 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 07/23/16 56 0 0 $20,000 0 PRESCOTT 07/23/16 56 0 0 $5,000 0 ELLSWORTH 08/10/16 56 0 0 $5,000 0 EL PASO 08/10/16 52 0 0 $20,000 0
TORNADO Property Crop Location Date Strength Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 06/12/90 F1 0 1 $250,000.00 0 ELLSWORTH 05/01/01 F0 0 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH 09/05/04 F0 0 0 0 0 RIVER FALLS 06/11/05 F0 0 0 0 0 ESDAILE 08/19/09 EF0 0 0 0 $10,000.00 BELDENVILLE 07/14/10 EF2 0 0 $500,000.00 0 ELPASO 07/14/10 EF2 0 0 $600,000.00 0 PRESCOTT 07/07/14 EF0 0 0 0 0 PLUM CITY 07/05/16 EF0 0 0 0 0 BELDENVILLE 06/28/17 EF1 0 0 0 0 STEARNS 5/26/2015 EF0 0 0 0 0
WINTER STORM Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 3/8/1998 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 1/2/1999 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 3/8/1999 0 0 0 0 Page 208 Appendix B: Frequency of Occurrence
PIERCE COUNTY 1/3/2000 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 2/17/2000 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 4/7/2000 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 1/6/2005 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 1/22/2005 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 2/16/2006 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 2/25/2007 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 4/11/2007 0 0 $10,000 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/1/2007 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 1/29/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 2/5/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 2/17/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 3/21/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 11/30/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/1/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/8/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/18/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/20/2008 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 2/21/2009 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/8/2009 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 1/7/2010 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 3/2/2012 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 1/30/2013 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 3/5/2013 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 12/22/2013 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 2/1/2015 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 3/22/2015 0 0 0 0
WINTER WEATHER Property Crop Location Date Deaths Injuries Damage Damage PIERCE COUNTY 02/08/96 0 0 0 0 PIERCE COUNTY 10/12/09 0 0 0 0
Page 209 Appendix C: Plan Adoptions
Appendix C: Plan Adoptions
This plan update was approved by both Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The plan has been adopted by Pierce County and its major municipal bodies including the City of Prescott and the Villages of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City and Spring Valley This plan was also adopted by the City of River Falls, which straddles the Pierce and St. Croix County line. The Towns of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle and Union also adopted this plan. Scanned copies of those municipalities that adopted this plan follow.
Page 210 Appendix C: Plan Adoptions
Page 211 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Previous Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
All Hazards Continue to promote the increased Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of Annually promoted at booth at County use of National Oceanic and Dept Prescott, River Falls; Fair Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) annual VIs of Bay City, Radios promoted at community events weather radios budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, throughout the year. Will continue Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; doing. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Continue to add/update Emergency Covered by EM Dept As needed Medium Pierce Co. Updated info on flood resources. Management Department links on the Dept VIs of Spring Updated links for nuclear power plant existing county web site (e.g., NMC, annual Valley and and other links, as well. ARC, FEMA, WEM) especially budget Ellsworth Links and information updated and focusing on preparedness bulletins. provided. Will continue doing. Publicize the website to show the community what is there. VI of Plum City The Village has no website. Will add information if village does start a site.
Ongoing City Ongoing Medium CI of Prescott City website upgraded. Can make new budget Administration pages for emergencies. Done, will continue/ongoing maintenance.
$4,000 PD 2012 High Using Nixle but not full participation yet. Still using, will continue encouraging participation. Page 212 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Previous Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Evaluate options for upgrading the $70,000 Administration 2012 High CI River Falls Current sirens are old (from the weather siren system. 1980’s) and they need repair or upgrading. Three need to be narrow banding, four need to be replaced. The city power plant was the primary activation site but it went to the University of WI-River Falls (UWRF) as a temporary location. The city needs a permanent city site (UWRF is not a permanent solution and the county cannot do it).
Narrow banding done on schedule. Replaced 1200 S. Main siren. Remainder being handled in upcoming capital budgets. Will continue to evaluate needs for new sirens for growth. Carry forward with timetable of 5 years and unknown cost.
Plum City has a siren with manual activation by the fire department. Was updated with radio control unit so that the county could set it off. Cost was appx. $2K. Complete a survey of the siren $22,000 EM Dept 2013 High Pierce Co. North end siren in Ellsworth needs coverage in the 10-mile PINGP EPZ updating. New assisted living facility and install any needed sirens. nearby.
This was completed by the county and VI of Ellsworth in 2017 at a cost of appx. $8K. Will be removed. Upgrade communications capabilities $1.5 million Sheriff’s Office 2012-2017 High Pierce Co. Have two VHF channels for LE. Some in law enforcement from analog to municipalities have not purchased digital digital and no FDs have digital. System Page 213 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Previous Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
is running on parallel w/ analog, so user can call in digital or analog and it is repeated in the same way, Won’t compel departments to switch. Works well. Hope over time all will migrate to digital, but it is more expensive.
No current funding and will be dropped going forward.
$10,000 Administration 2013 CI River Falls Most daily use radios for PD, FD, EMS have gone narrow band digital. Next five years will do Public Works & utilities; waiting for fee. Completed by the city and will be removed. Provide the capability for the 9-1-1 Costs Sheriff’s Office 2012-2017 High Pierce Co. Completed in two stages. Added Center to locate emergency calls unknown. trunks, mapping software and lines. coming in from cellular telephones. PSC grant Next Generation- internet protocol possible Completed in 2013 and will be system. Landline and cell phone still removed. need to be worked out. City Watch can make emergency Pierce Co, Sheriff’s Office Ongoing Medium Pierce Co, UWRF, Ongoing costs covered by four notifications. Putting in floodplain info, UWRF, CI of CI of River Falls partners. Maybe new partners added. downstream from dams, etc. to do. River Falls and Prairie Island Can text and e-mail. Linked to Database is now home phone and Prairie Nuclear Plant ArcView. number and now soliciting cell Island phones. Soliciting cell phones on Nuclear City of River Falls completed and will county homepage to get info. Plant. be removed from the list of communities.
The service has been changed to Everbridge in December 2016. Soliciting cell phone data continues / database of home phones/ some floodplain information is in there for Page 214 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Previous Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
localized river flood (Rush River and Trimbelle Creek). These efforts are ongoing and will be carried forward. Wrote Aid to Firefighter Grant (AFG) $1.2 million VI Spring 2012-2015 High Pierce Co; CIs of • Would improve communication for a simulcast system. Have one Valley Fire Prescott, River Falls; considering terrain. transmit point but new system would Department; VIs of Bay City, • Benefits every fire department, use all towers to transmit all pages. Sheriff’s Office Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum emergency medical service, law Would be VHF and transmit analog City, Spring Valley; enforcement and department of and digital. TNs of Clifton, public works. Diamond Bluff, • Award 18 months. Three years to Ellsworth, El Paso, spend. Probably has a match. Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Completed in 2014-2015 and will be Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, removed. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Get Flash upgrade to make existing As grants EM 2012-2017 Medium Pierce Co; CIs of County continues to make required P25 compliant radios able to access available Dept./Sheriff’s Prescott, River Falls; upgrades but much of the work is WISCOM trunking system. Office VIs of Bay City, complete. Will drop this going forward. Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Get dual band radios to work on both Amount to EM 2012-2017 Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Will be used by CIs of River Falls and VHF and 800mHz (MN is 800mHz) be Dept./Sheriff’s Prescott, River Falls; Prescott; VI of Ellsworth, PC Sheriff’s Page 215 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Previous Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
for river border communities determined Office VIs of Bay City, Office, fire departments, emergency Ellsworth, Elmwood, medical services and PC Highway. Maiden Rock, Plum Approximately 75 radios for City, Spring Valley; supervisory personnel TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Have at least one mobile or portable Gilman, Hartland, but more are needed. Some need to Isabelle, Maiden be upgraded. Will be ongoing and Rock, Martell, Oak carried forward. Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Complete all recommended/required WEM Administration Jan 2013 Medium CI River Falls • All Emergency Medical Service classwork to be fully NIMS compliant. training and Fire Department personnel grants taking ICS 100 and 200 and IS received 700 classes. • Fire Department officers will be taking ICS 300 and 400 classes • Public Works and Utilities personnel will bring all training standards up to date.
Completed and ongoing – will be carrying forward to cover new trainees.
VI of Plum City Both villages have gone thru and Ellsworth continuing education training for NIMS compliance. Will be ongoing for new trainees. Reevaluate siren sounding protocols Covered by EM Dept/ 2012 Medium CI Prescott • Currently, manually set off, often to provide better local soundings. Dept Prescott Fire before or after the county siren annual Department goes off. budget • Want to ensure that sirens are not sounded off too much so that Page 216 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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citizens become complacent.
Some sirens in the nuclear plant warning area can be sounded by the county. The siren at the fire hall is manual - need to look at possibility of activating remotely from the PD. Will be carried forward, adding an additional measure to look at extending to the Pine Ridge area and the southern part of town; and to conduct a siren study. The timeframe will be changed to 5 years. Explore options of how to sound Covered by VI President 2012 High VI Maiden Rock • Maiden Rock has one fire siren at siren. Dept Fire Department. Last year, they annual merged with Ellsworth Fire budget Department. Unknown who sounds siren (local activation). • May put in radio receiver.
Local activation is possible but was connected to county dispatch. There are issues with reliability (does not often work) and there have been tech issues. System is tested on the first Wednesday of the month at 1300 hours. Testing and maintenance of the system will be ongoing but this item will be considered complete and dropped for the future plan. Do a root cause analysis and address Covered by Department of 2012 High VI Elmwood Elmwood has two sirens sounded by concerns of citizens claiming that Dept Public Works County. they cannot hear the sirens. annual budget Completed and will be removed. Evaluate siren coverage areas in Covered by CI of Prescott Ongoing Low CI Prescott As expansion of city moves South and Page 217 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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expansion/new developments to Dept East, CI of Prescott may need to ensure adequate coverage. annual include more sirens as part of budget developers’ agreement.
Some sirens in the nuclear plant warning area can be sounded by the county. The siren at the fire hall is manual - need to look at possibility of activating remotely from the PD. Will be carried forward, adding an additional measure to look at extending to the Pine Ridge area and the southern part of town; and to conduct a siren study. The timeframe will be changed to 5 years. Drought and County should be prepared to provide Covered by UW-Ext./FSA As needed Low Pierce Co; CIs of Extension responds with websites with Dust Storms information to farmers during times of Dept Prescott, River Falls; resources ready. drought annual VIs of Bay City, budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Completed but ongoing and will be Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; carried forward. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Inform farmers on purchasing crop Covered by FSA/UW-Ext. Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of All handled by private insurers. FSA insurance Dept Prescott, River Falls; has list and is lead. Extension has link annual VIs of Bay City, on site to insurance. budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; Completed but ongoing and will be Page 218 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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TNs of Clifton, carried forward. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Prepare/publicize water usage Covered by Municipal As needed Low Pierce Co; CIs of All municipalities linking. EM and regulations for non-farm areas during annual Admins Prescott, River Falls; extension have links for municipalities. drought budget VIs of Bay City, Will forward information to all Ellsworth, Elmwood, municipalities for their websites. Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, The City of River Falls maintains an Diamond Bluff, odd/even watering schedule year- Ellsworth, El Paso, round (not just for droughts) Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Completed but ongoing and will be Rock, Martell, Oak carried forward. Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Forest Fires Continue to provide outreach efforts Costs vary Local Fire Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of • When anyone orders pizza during and Wildfires to homeowners on protecting homes Departments Prescott, River Falls; fire safety week in October, the and structures from wildfires VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth Fire Department delivers Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum the pizza and checks smoke City, Spring Valley; detectors and changes batteries. TNs of Clifton, • 4th grade fire safety presentations Diamond Bluff, during annual Fire Safety Days. Ellsworth, El Paso, • Open houses with public Gilman, Hartland, information/educational material at Isabelle, Maiden the fire stations Rock, Martell, Oak Page 219 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Activities completed and will continue. Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Provide ample training for volunteer Costs vary Local Fire Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of • DNR and Chippewa Valley fire fighters for larger fires Departments, Prescott, River Falls; Technical College completed EM Dept. VIs of Bay City, several ICS/NMS courses. Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum • Annual training with DNR every City, Spring Valley; spring as well as monthly training TNs of Clifton, at the fire departments. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Activities completed and will continue. Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Install Bullberry navigational software Covered by LM/Z Dept., 2013 Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Fire departments can go onto website for the county and municipal annual with SO, EM Prescott, River Falls; and it maps from their home station to emergency responders. budget and local FDs VIs of Bay City, the location of fire. Will work Ellsworth, Elmwood, countywide once the whole county is Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; mapped and in the CAD system. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, The county does an annual fire drill in Ellsworth, El Paso, county buildings, typically in October Gilman, Hartland, but done in November in 2017. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak A Fire Grant application was submitted Grove, River Falls, but the grant was not awarded. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, In dispatch center and Sheriff’s Union Department squads. Not in all fire and EMS vehicles. Will carry forward. Page 220 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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Flooding and *Ensure that plans are reviewed and Covered by Engineering Ongoing Medium CI River Falls • Flood ordinances were updated Dam Failure updated regularly Dept • Flood maps are updated, annual modernized and adopted budget • Erosion, sediment and stormwater management plans are reviewed and updated regularly. Have included design standards.
New FIRMS adopted in 2009 with many amendments. Ongoing map and plan maintenance; continuing to review amendments. Will be adding a measure to consider having a flood engineering study done. Complete a local comprehensive May apply LM/Z Dept., 2012-2017 Medium Pierce Co; VIs of VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, plan. Update and maintain over time. for a comp. VIs of Bay Bay City, Ellsworth, Plum City and Spring Valley have planning City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden comprehensive plans and flood plans grant to Elmwood, Rock, Plum City, completed. Ellsworth: the Spring Valley; TNs assist with Maiden Rock, of Clifton, Diamond comprehensive plan is due in the next costs Plum City, Bluff, Ellsworth, El few years; will cross-list with the Spring Valley Paso, Gilman, hazard mitigation plan. Plum City Hartland, Isabelle, participates in county efforts. Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, VI of Maiden Rock completed their 10- River Falls, Rock year comprehensive plan in 2012 and Elm, Salem, Spring will ensure HazMit planning is cross Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union referenced in next update.
Plan adopted by County Board in 2017. *Acquire new topographical maps for Current LCD Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Not completed. Grant dependent and the entire County with two (2) foot estimate is Prescott, River Falls; there is no money available. Cost contour intervals $1M to $1.5 VIs of Bay City, estimate reduction (from $22M) is due million. Ellsworth, Elmwood, to technological advances. Maiden Rock, Plum Page 221 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Carry forward- LIDAR maps were Diamond Bluff, flown in 2015. Orthos flown every Ellsworth, El Paso, couple of years. Project nearly Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden complete in 2017. Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union *Engage a study to update hydrology Cost to be LM/Z Dept. Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of • As money allows, high priority data Determined Prescott, River Falls; watersheds are being looked at in VIs of Bay City, conjunction with St. Croix County. Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum • In 2009 sent small hydrology City, Spring Valley; studies to FEMA. Some accepted TNs of Clifton, and were used to update flood Diamond Bluff, maps. Some did not meet FEMA’s Ellsworth, El Paso, criteria. Gilman, Hartland, • Will do small studies as needed, Isabelle, Maiden but would like to have large scale Rock, Martell, Oak study of it. Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trying to use LIDAR to update D-Firm Trenton, Trimbelle, updates 2017-2019. Rolled together Union with updating of website to show floodplain and Mississippi River boundary areas.
Pierce Co; CI of Update website to show floodplain Cost to be LM/Z Dept. 2012 Low • Will continue to investigate and Mississippi River boundary areas determined (county); Prescott; TNs of Clifton, Diamond options to ensure accurate info is on the county website. Encourage Ongoing available. villages and cities to work with the for munis Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, • Can be currently requested by county to show their floodplains on an citizens by visiting the Land interactive website also. Hartland, Isabelle, Page 222 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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Maiden Rock, Management/Zoning Department. Martell, Oak • CI of Prescott will include Grove, River Falls, floodplain information on website Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Website update is done but old Trenton, topographical maps were used to Trimbelle, Union update FIRMS and is less accurate now than before the update. Want to use new LIDAR for accuracy. *Update the floodplain zoning Covered by LM/Z Dept. As needed Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Last updated in 2011 when Wisconsin ordinances as needed. Dept Prescott, River Falls; DNR changes were published. annual VIs of Bay City, budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Done but new update needed in 2018 Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; – Carry forward. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union *Will continue to explore if residents Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of FEMA's PDM & FMA grants are express an interest in flood mitigation Dept Prescott, River Falls; potential funding sources for buyout. measures (e.g., buyouts, elevations, annual VIs of Bay City, Some buyouts have already occurred floodproofing, etc.) countywide but budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, in the area but there has been no Maiden Rock, Plum especially focusing on the Trenton City, Spring Valley; additional interest expressed and Island, Bay City and Prescott areas. TNs of Clifton, previous funding has lapsed. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Will be carried forward as efforts are Gilman, Hartland, continued. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Plum City has a flash flooding risk from Grove, River Falls, Page 223 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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Rock Elm, Salem, the loss of the Nugget Lake dam and Spring Lake, there have been no projects proposed Trenton, Trimbelle, to mitigate that hazard. Union
*Provide information to citizens about Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of Will continue to promote at fairs, etc. the purchase of flood insurance Dept Prescott, River Falls; annual VIs of Bay VIs of Bay City, VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, budget City, Ellsworth, Ellsworth, Elmwood, and Spring Valley link will be made Maiden Rock, Plum Elmwood, City, Spring Valley; available on website. Maiden Rock, TNs of Clifton, Plum City, and Diamond Bluff, Information provided at events and on Spring Valley Ellsworth, El Paso, websites. Will be carried forward as Gilman, Hartland, efforts continue. The Villages of Isabelle, Maiden Maiden Rock and Plum City do not Rock, Martell, Oak have websites and will be removed Grove, River Falls, from the list above. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Work with the municipal Departments Covered by County 2013-2017 High Pierce Co; CIs of of Public Works to identify areas Dept Highway Prescott, River Falls; prone to road flooding and discuss annual Department VIs of Bay City, mitigation strategies and funding budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum sources City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Complete highway road projects that Varies by Diamond Bluff, help mitigate flood damage. project Ellsworth, El Paso, • CTH E- S of 690th Gilman, Hartland, Reevaluate drainage area and land Isabelle, Maiden use. Reevaluate hydraulic opening of Rock, Martell, Oak structure. Not completed, will carry Grove, River Falls, forward. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, • CTH J- 690th Ave Trenton, Trimbelle, Box culvert scheduled for replacement Union in 2014. Reevaluate drainage area. Page 224 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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Completed and will be removed.
• CTH N- El Paso Mitigation options restricted by topography. Nothing can be done; it is a low spot and cost-prohibitive. Will be removed.
• CTH QQ- S of STH 29 Mitigation options restricted by topography. Nothing can be done; it is a flat spot and cost-prohibitive. Will be removed.
• CTH Y- N of 870th Reevaluate drainage area and land use. Reevaluate hydraulic opening of structure. Carry forward, will be evaluated at time of replacement.
• USH 63- Martell Bridge scheduled for replacement in 2013. Is in STP bridge project for reconstruction. Completed in 2013. Will be removed.
• 465th Ave- El Paso 2022 Medium Bridge to be submitted to STP Bridge program for reconstruction. Is in STP bridge project for reconstruction in 2022. Install erosion control measures at $20,000 Public 2012-2017 Medium CI of Prescott This was completed by 2014 and will the public beach. Works/Parks be removed. Create and maintain Emergency $85,000 LCD Ongoing High Pierce Co; CIs of Plans reviewed, trained and exercised Action Plan (EAP) for all county dams Prescott, River Falls; in an ongoing basis. VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Activities completed as noted above Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; and ongoing – carry forward. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Page 225 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Explore options for getting boat $30,000 Pierce Co 2012 Low Pierce Co, VI of Was scheduled for 2004, but the access into Nugget Lake Parks with VI Plum City contractor backed out. Dredging of Plum City completed in 2014 and will be Administration removed. Plum City was not involved. Buyout land on Trenton Island is $250,000 Parks 2012-2017 High Pierce Co; CIs of • County bought land WI DOT being upgraded for new boat launch Prescott, River Falls; 2012. for Sheriff’s Office. VIs of Bay City, • Will tear out old landing and build Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum new landing which will be better City, Spring Valley; for winter launches, larger boats, TNs of Clifton, aid with all Fire Departments’ Diamond Bluff, drafting water from landing and Ellsworth, El Paso, Sheriff’s Office law enforcement of Gilman, Hartland, boats. Isabelle, Maiden • Ellsworth Fire Department will Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, have a boat at Red Wing, MN Rock Elm, Salem, Airport Fire Department and can Spring Lake, launch from there. Trenton, Trimbelle, • Pierce County received a port Union security grant that bought a couple of boats and a hazmat trailer in that area. Can easily get hazmat equipment down to boat.
Boat launch completed and is available to the public. Will be removed. *Red Wing, MN is installing an Seeking EM Dept 2012 High Pierce Co, VIs of Conference of Mississippi River Page 226 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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automatic flood surge alarm that will FEMA Bay City, Maiden communities, including St Croix and sound at the NWS. Pierce County grants for Rock; TNs of Pierce Counties, to discuss issues. CI may help with ongoing maintenance initial costs Trenton, Isabelle, of Prescott and TNs of Oak Grove and cost. Maiden Rock. Diamond Bluff affected. Done and being removed – not helping with costs.
*Connect the automatic flood surge Medium CI of Prescott It is currently a manual system and alarm in CI of Prescott to NWS, needs to be upgraded to monitor. USGS, and the City and add it as a Have one at Hastings, MN (on the MS prediction site. River) and one at St. Croix but none at the confluence. Carrying forward with a new timetable of 2022; adding cost share with NWS, USGS and city; connecting the alarm to NWS and USGS; and with DPW being the responsible management. Evaluate options (rip rap, cement FEMA Public Public Works 2017 Low CI of Prescott • Area currently has a rip rap which wall, etc.) for mitigation measures at Assistance comes up and undermines the Front St between Walnut and Ash. street and sidewalk. • Area is on the Mississippi River and includes a boat launch.
Nothing has been done, will be carrying forward with a new timetable of 2022 and changed to a medium priority. *VI of Plum City will explore flood VI President 2012 High • Floods all houses when it backs mitigation options for the southern up. area of Cty S to Cty U bridge (Rush • Dry runoff area and Class 2 trout Coulee). stream. Berm put in to protect trailer court and widened to flow water through more quickly. There will be ongoing maintenance to keep clean but this Page 227 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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item will be removed as the village has done everything they can. Evaluate options regarding the $60,000- Administration 2018 High VI of Spring Valley • The Army Corp of Engineers have certification/ decertification of the levy 80,000 indicated that they may decertify in Spring Valley. the levy in Spring Valley at some point in the next few years. The Village of Spring Valley notes this fact but further notes that the cost of recertifying the levy in such a case is prohibitive. If such decertification becomes a real possibility, then Spring Valley will explore the recertification of the then de-certified levy, resources permitting. • If there is no certification, the houses will be in floodplain and will need to get flood insurance. • Currently there is no funding available.
Has been decertified since 2017 and did not redo due to lack of funding. Put one corner of property into floodplain so did not meet CBA. Will be removed.
Plum City: Care center added assisted living. 4-5" of rain-washed debris that clogged the culvert and washed mud into a few houses. Cleaned up and cleared culvert. Happened again a couple of months later but a tree blocked a culvert. VI put in sediment trap. Haven't had rain to test. Keep Page 228 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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an eye on it. Will need ongoing maintenance. Will be added to strategy table at a cost of $60K, very high priority and the city's DPW will be responsible. Explore installing manhole covers Public Works 2013 Med/ VIs of Maiden State code says you cannot require and backfill valves particularly for Low Rock, Spring backfill valves. flood-prone areas Valley and Bay City Evaluations have been made in all three villages and this item will be removed. Note that some locked manhole covers exist in Bay City. Replace bridge at 400th St & N St $500K Public Works 2017 Very Pierce County US Hwy 10 washed out 7/2016 - High replaced with improved structure 9/2017. Covered by STP. Was not in original plan but has been completed. Build large storm water pond to $500K Public Works 2014 CI Prescott Was not in original plan but has been collect water from northeast portion of completed. city. Landslide and Work with municipalities to identify Covered by LCD Ongoing Low- Pierce Co; CIs of For damage, LCD will identify Erosion and create mitigation strategies for Dept High Prescott, River Falls; groundwater contamination from karst landslide and karst threats annual VIs of Bay City, geological features or road damage budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, from landslide. High priority for Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; groundwater protection. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Completed and ongoing maintenance Ellsworth, El Paso, will continue – carry forward. Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Storms: Hail, Place thunderstorm, hail and lightning Covered by EM Dept and Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Page 229 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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Lightning and safety materials in county display Dept municipal Prescott, River Falls; Maiden Rock and Spring Valley all Thunderstorms rack, on the website and during annual admins VIs of Bay City, linking to ARC. severe weather week. budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum VI of Plum City (no website) getting City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, hard copies. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Activities completed as noted above Gilman, Hartland, and will continue – carry forward. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union County should be prepared to provide Covered by FSA/UW Ext Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of All handled by private insurers. FSA information regarding the purchase of Dept Prescott, River Falls; has list and is lead. Extension has link crop insurance annual VIs of Bay City, on site to insurance. budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; Activities completed as noted above TNs of Clifton, and will continue – carry forward. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Storms: Promote the planting of windbreaks to Costs vary LCD Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of Brochures and staff guidance will be Tornadoes and protect farm buildings & open fields Prescott, River Falls; available upon landowner request High Winds from high winds VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Activities completed as noted above Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; and will continue – carry forward. TNs of Clifton, Page 230 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Conduct weather spotter training for Covered by Administration Ongoing High CI of River Falls PD, FD, EMS and Utility staff go key first responders. Dept through weather spotter training as annual part of their initial training when hired. budget Training has been completed as available and will continue. Explore alternatives to increase Costs vary EM Dept 2012 Medium Pierce Co; CIs of • City Watch, weather radios, sirens severe weather warning (e.g., Prescott, River Falls; are options. tornado sirens, call-out phone bank.) VIs of Bay City, • Nuclear sirens can be set off by Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum county dispatch. Activation City, Spring Valley; devices run off same Sheriff’s TNs of Clifton, Office tower. Want to increase Diamond Bluff, redundancy. Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, City Watch/Everbridge not used for Isabelle, Maiden weather warning. Back-up for nuclear Rock, Martell, Oak plant sirens. People have their own Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, weather app. Will be removed. Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Identify county and municipal Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of The CI of River Falls EOC is a shelter buildings that can provide protection Dept Prescott, River Falls; for trailer park. This is not an optimal to the public in the event of a tornado annual VIs of Bay City, situation and should be revisited. warning. Place information on the budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Will be carrying forward. Maiden Rock, Plum website. City, Spring Valley; Page 231 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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$80,000- UWRF 2014 High TNs of Clifton, 100,000 Diamond Bluff, UWRF applied for and received Ellsworth, El Paso, funding to create two safe buildings for Gilman, Hartland, tornado shelters on the campus. They Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak are training people on the shelter Grove, River Falls, locations and procedures. Rock Elm, Salem, Done and will be removed. Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, County is moving to a new building Union with no shelter for the public. Discussion on old buildings? Explore tornado shelter for Ellsworth (about 50 homes). Identify and construct tornado Costs vary. EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Utilize Department of Commerce’s shelters in areas where deficient FEMA and Prescott, River Falls; CDBG for funding assistance. especially in mobile home parks and CDBG VIs of Bay City, campgrounds. grants are Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum options. City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, $600,000- CI of River As grants High Diamond Bluff, • The city is applying for a grant to 800,000 per Falls available Ellsworth, El Paso, create a storm sheltering safe shelter Gilman, Hartland, room in Hoffman Park in 2013 Isabelle, Maiden with future priorities at Glen Park Rock, Martell, Oak and DeSanctis Park. / Hoffman Grove, River Falls, Park completed with a 12.5% Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, community match. Glen Park Trenton, Trimbelle, completed in 2018 with a 25% Union community match. We will add a shelter in the Kinni corridor & PD/FD and the DeSanctis Park project idea is being carried forward. • Future consideration will be given to a shelter at Cudd’s Court Trailer Home park (60 units) or requiring Page 232 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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straps. Uniform code requires tie downs but court is grandfathering them out of the requirement. / Being carried forward.
VI of Spring Valley will explore with Army Corps tornado shelters for VI of Spring 2013 Med/ Highland Park Campground. (50-100 Valley High sites) / Feds said no money available - will put up signs and can go to village. Will be removed.
VI Campground (Butternut Park) has no shelters (~15 sites). Explore VI of Elmwood 2013 Medium options. / Still exploring - bathrooms Clerk are concrete / no window. Will carry forward.
Vi Campground has no shelters (8-15 sites). Explore options. / Will continue VI of Maiden 2013 Medium efforts and carry forward. Rock Bay City Village Hall is no longer a shelter (not insurable). Trailer Park (on VI of Bay City 2013 High Oakhill Rd, 61 sites) and slab homes Clerk (~20) have no shelter. Vi Campground has no shelters (35 sites). Explore options (CDBG). / Will continue efforts and carry forward. Encourage builders and owners of Covered by CI of Prescott Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of CI of Prescott putting information on manufactured and mobile homes to Dept Prescott, River Falls; website. use tie-downs with ground anchors. annual VIs of Bay City, budget Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum Ellsworth, City, Spring Valley; Maiden Rock, and Spring Valley Page 233 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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Elmwood, TNs of Clifton, putting information on website. Maiden Rock, Diamond Bluff, Plum City, and Ellsworth, El Paso, VI of Plum City (no website) getting Spring Valley Gilman, Hartland, hard copies. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Village of Maiden Rock also has no Rock Elm, Salem, website and will be noted. Completed Spring Lake, in 2017 and will continue. Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Promote tornado awareness, Covered by EM Dept and Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Done during tornado awareness week including home safety measures Dept municipal Prescott, River Falls; in April. (include website.) annual admins VIs of Bay City, budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, CI of Prescott putting information on Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; website. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Ellsworth, El Paso, Maiden Rock, and Spring Valley Gilman, Hartland, putting information on website. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak VI of Plum City (no website) getting Grove, River Falls, hard copies. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Village of Maiden Rock also has no Union website and will be noted. Activities completed annually and will continue with use of websites, social media and fliers. Storms: Winter Promote winter hazards awareness, Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Done during winter weather including home and travel safety Dept Prescott, River Falls; awareness week in November. measures (including website.) annual VIs of Bay City, budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, CI of Prescott putting information on Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; website. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Page 234 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
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Ellsworth, El Paso, Maiden Rock, and Spring Valley Gilman, Hartland, putting information on website. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak VI of Plum City (no website) getting Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, hard copies. Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Village of Maiden Rock also has no Union website and will be noted. Activities completed annually and will continue with use of websites, social media and fliers. Provide informative article on plowing Covered by Co Hwy with Ongoing Med/ Pierce Co; CIs of Annual Message began in 2010. It will procedures from Hwy budget Village and Low Prescott, River Falls; be put it on county website in the Town Admins VIs of Bay City, future. Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum Low City, Spring Valley; Towns will discuss putting notice in tax TNs of Clifton, bill. Explore. Diamond Bluff, Medium Ellsworth, El Paso, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Gilman, Hartland, Maiden Rock, and Spring Valley Isabelle, Maiden putting information on website. Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, VI of Plum City (no website) getting Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, hard copies. Trenton, Trimbelle, Union These activities are completed annually and will be ongoing – carry forward. Severe Continue public informational Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Articles submitted regularly included to Temperatures campaigns about severe weather on budget Prescott, River Falls; countywide Shopper. the website and during Winter and VIs of Bay City, Heat Awareness Weeks. Ellsworth, Elmwood, CI of Prescott putting information on Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; website. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Page 235 Appendix D: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Previous Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Ellsworth, El Paso, Maiden Rock, and Spring Valley Gilman, Hartland, putting information on website. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak VI of Plum City (no website) getting Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, hard copies. Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, These activities are completed Union regularly and will be ongoing – carry forward. Utility Failure Bury above-ground power line in the Cost to be CI of River As grants Medium CI of River Falls • River Falls supplies its own City of River Falls determined Falls available power. at time of • 75-80% of the cable is funding underground. Nine years ago, it was about 60% underground. What remains aboveground is critical infrastructure (feeds the hospital and UWRF) but is cost- prohibitive to replace. • Will be burying more cable to Habitat Village from Maple St. to MM in 2013. Continuing. • Per ordinance, all new subdivisions have to bury their electrical cable. Continuing
Currently 70% of the cable is underground. Utilities are burying all new lines. Redundancy is through a loop feed to hospital.
Review power needs for emergency $30,000- CI of River As funding High CI of River Falls • Public Works, PD, FD/EMS do not operations and provide 50,000 Falls available have generators making it difficult generators/hook-ups as needed to to open doors. Cannot maintain critical infrastructure. equipment, use computers for mapping, etc. / Will be carrying Page 236 Appendix D: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Previous Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
forward. • Have portable generators for lift station and wells. / Completed and will be removed. • On hold for local funding, has been on city budget but remains unfunded due to budget constraints. Upgrade wastewater treatment plant $50,000 CI of River 2013 High The generator is no longer able to generator to manage increased load Falls power everything due to building requirements. addition.
Completed and will be removed. Remake water, sanitary, sewer and UWRF/CI of 2013 High The wire underground and rotting and storm drain systems for Cascade River Falls needs to be replaced. Ave. Completed and will be removed.
Upgrade Ellsworth substation. Unknown Xcel Energy 2017-2018 High VI of Ellsworth Was not in original plan but has been completed.
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Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
All Hazards Continue to promote the increased Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of Annually promoted at booth at County use of National Oceanic and Dept Prescott, River Falls; Fair Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) annual VIs of Bay City, weather radios budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Continue to add/update Emergency Covered by EM Dept As needed Medium Pierce Co. Updated info on flood resources. Management Department links on the Dept VIs of Spring Updated links for nuclear power plant existing county web site (e.g., NMC, annual Valley and and other links, as well. ARC, FEMA, WEM) especially budget Ellsworth focusing on preparedness bulletins. Publicize the website to show the community what is there. VI of Plum City The Village has no website. Will add information if village does start a site.
Ongoing City Ongoing Medium CI of Prescott City website upgraded. Can make new budget Administration pages for emergencies.
$4,000 PD Ongoing High Using Nixle but not full participation yet. Will continue encouraging participation. Page 238 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Evaluate options for upgrading the Unknown Administration 2024 High CI River Falls Current sirens are old (from the 1980s) weather siren system. and they need repair or upgrading. The city power plant was the primary activation site but it went to the University of WI-River Falls (UWRF) as a temporary location. The city needs a permanent city site (UWRF is not a permanent solution and the county cannot do it). Will continue to evaluate needs for new sirens for growth. Continue to add cell data to system. Pierce Co, Emergency Ongoing Medium Pierce Co, CI of The service was changed from City UWRF, CI of Management River Falls, UWRF Watch to Everbridge in 2016. River Falls and Prairie Island Everbridge makes emergency and Prairie Nuclear Plant notifications. Database is now home Island phone numbers and some cell phones. Nuclear Ongoing costs covered by four Plant. partners & new partners may be added. Can text and e-mail. Linked to ArcView. Some floodplain information is in there for localized flooding from Rush River and Trimbelle Creek. Get dual band radios to work on both Amount to EM Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Will be used by CIs of River Falls and VHF and 800mHz (MN is 800mHz) be Dept./Sheriff’s Prescott, River Falls; Prescott; VI of Ellsworth, PC Sheriff’s for river border communities determined Office VIs of Bay City, Office, fire departments, emergency Ellsworth, Elmwood, medical services and PC Highway. Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; Approximately 75 radios for TNs of Clifton, supervisory personnel. Have at least Diamond Bluff, one mobile or portable but more are Ellsworth, El Paso, needed; some need to be upgraded. Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Page 239 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Complete all recommended/required WEM Administration Ongoing Medium CI River Falls • All Emergency Medical Service classwork to be fully NIMS compliant. training and Fire Department personnel grants taking ICS 100 and 200 and IS received 700 classes. • Fire Department officers will be taking ICS 300 and 400 classes • Public Works and Utilities personnel will bring all training standards up to date.
VI of Plum City Ongoing education/training for current and Ellsworth personnel and new trainees. Reevaluate siren sounding protocols Covered by EM Dept/ 2024 Medium CI Prescott • Currently, manually set off, often to provide better local soundings. Dept Prescott Fire before or after the county siren annual Department goes off. Some sirens can be budget sounded by the county. • Want to ensure that sirens are not sounded off too much so that citizens become complacent. • The siren at the fire hall is manual – need to look at the possibility of activating remotely from PD. • Look at extending to the Pine Ridge area and the southern part of town; and conduct a siren study. Evaluate siren coverage areas in Covered by CI of Prescott 2024 Low CI Prescott As expansion of city moves South and expansion/new developments to Dept East, CI of Prescott may need to ensure adequate coverage. annual include more sirens as part of budget developers’ agreement. • The siren at the fire hall is manual – need to look at the possibility of activating remotely from PD. Page 240 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
• Look at extending to the Pine Ridge area and the southern part of town; and conduct a siren study. Change out all radio equipment (end $1.5M Pierce County Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Doing some outlying towers now and of life). Prescott, River Falls; others later. VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Purchase and install back-up Unknown CI of River 2024 Medium Ci of River Falls generator for radio tower for DPW, Falls PD, FD and EMS (EMS by River Falls). Update nomographs used for Unknown CI of River 2024 Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Nomographs used for highway highway engineering to assist with Falls Prescott, River Falls; engineering are from the 1970s. mapping accuracy. VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Page 241 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Tie communications at St. Croix to $50-75K CI of River 2018 Very Pierce Co; CIs of The equipment is there, just need to simulcast to all fire responders. Falls High Prescott, River Falls; connect. VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Use the Sheriff’s Department Covered by Highway Dept. Ongoing High Pierce Co; CIs of Facebook page for road change Dept & Sheriff Dept. Prescott, River Falls; advisories. annual VIs of Bay City, budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Incorporate IPAWS for location- Covered by EM & Sheriff 2018 High Pierce Co; CIs of specific message and link to social Dept Dept. Prescott, River Falls; VIs of Bay City, Page 242 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
media eventually. annual Ellsworth, Elmwood, budget Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Drought and County should be prepared to provide Covered by UW-Ext./FSA As needed Low Pierce Co; CIs of Extension responds with websites with Dust Storms information to farmers during times of Dept Prescott, River Falls; resources ready. drought annual VIs of Bay City, budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Inform farmers on purchasing crop Covered by FSA/UW-Ext. Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of All handled by private insurers. FSA insurance Dept Prescott, River Falls; has list and is lead. Extension has link annual VIs of Bay City, on site to insurance. budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Page 243 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Prepare/publicize water usage Covered by Municipal As needed Low Pierce Co; CIs of All municipalities linking. EM and regulations for non-farm areas during annual Admins Prescott, River Falls; extension have links for municipalities. drought budget VIs of Bay City, Will forward information to all Ellsworth, Elmwood, municipalities for their websites. Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, The City of River Falls maintains an Diamond Bluff, odd/even watering schedule year- Ellsworth, El Paso, round (not just for droughts) Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Forest Continue to provide outreach efforts Costs vary Local Fire Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of • When anyone orders pizza during and Wildfires to homeowners on protecting homes Departments Prescott, River Falls; fire safety week in October, the and structures from wildfires VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth Fire Department delivers Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum the pizza and checks smoke City, Spring Valley; detectors and changes batteries. TNs of Clifton, • 4th grade fire safety presentations Diamond Bluff, during annual Fire Safety Days. Ellsworth, El Paso, • Open houses with public Gilman, Hartland, information/educational material at Isabelle, Maiden the fire stations Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Page 244 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Provide ample training for volunteer Costs vary Local Fire Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of • DNR and Chippewa Valley fire fighters for larger fires Departments, Prescott, River Falls; Technical College completed EM Dept. VIs of Bay City, several ICS/NMS courses. Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum • Annual training with DNR every City, Spring Valley; spring as well as monthly training TNs of Clifton, at the fire departments. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Install Bullberry navigational software Covered by LM/Z Dept., 2024 Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Fire departments can go onto website for the county and municipal annual with SO, EM Prescott, River Falls; and it maps from their home station to emergency responders. budget and local FDs VIs of Bay City, the location of fire. Will work Ellsworth, Elmwood, countywide once the whole county is Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; mapped and in the CAD system. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, The county does an annual fire drill in Ellsworth, El Paso, county buildings, typically in October. Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Still needs to be installed in all fire and Rock, Martell, Oak EMS vehicles (already in dispatch Grove, River Falls, center and Sheriff Dept. vehicles. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Address the concern about dead-end Unknown Prescott FD 2024 Medium CI of Prescott Determine how to fight fire on hydrants (flow and pressure); and bluffs. Include training, exercise, railroads sparking dry areas. and equipment on improvements. Page 245 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Flooding and *Ensure that plans are reviewed and Covered by Engineering Ongoing Medium CI River Falls • Flood ordinances were updated Dam Failure updated regularly Dept • Flood maps are updated, annual modernized and adopted budget • Erosion, sediment and stormwater management plans are reviewed and updated regularly. Have included design standards. • Consider having a flood engineering study done. • New FIRMS adopted in 2009 with many amendments.
Complete a local comprehensive May apply LM/Z Dept., Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; VIs of VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, plan. Update and maintain over time. for a comp. VIs of Bay (each plan Bay City, Ellsworth, Plum City and Spring Valley have planning City, Ellsworth, has a 10- Elmwood, Maiden comprehensive plans and flood plans grant to Elmwood, year life Rock, Plum City, completed. Spring Valley; TNs assist with Maiden Rock, cycle) of Clifton, Diamond costs Plum City, Bluff, Ellsworth, El VI of Ellsworth plan is due in the next Spring Valley Paso, Gilman, few years; will cross-list with the Hartland, Isabelle, hazard mitigation plan. Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, VI of Plum City participates in county River Falls, Rock efforts. Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union VI of Maiden Rock completed their 10- year plan in 2012 and will ensure hazard mitigation planning is cross- referenced in the next update.
Comprehensive plan was adopted by the County Board in 2017. *Acquire new topographical maps for Current LCD Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of LIDAR maps were flown in 2015. the entire County with two (2) foot estimate is Prescott, River Falls; Orthos are flown ever couple of years. contour intervals $1M to $1.5 VIs of Bay City, Grant dependent and there is no million. Ellsworth, Elmwood, money available. Cost estimate Page 246 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Maiden Rock, Plum reduction (from $22M) is due to City, Spring Valley; technological advances. Project TNs of Clifton, nearly complete in 2017. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union *Engage a study to update hydrology Cost to be LM/Z Dept. Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of • As money allows, high priority data. Update website to show Determined Prescott, River watersheds are being looked at in floodplain and Mississippi River Falls; VIs of Bay conjunction with St. Croix County. boundary areas on the county City, Ellsworth, • In 2009 sent small hydrology website. Encourage villages and Elmwood, Maiden studies to FEMA. Some accepted cities to work with the county to show Rock, Plum City, and were used to update flood their floodplains on an interactive Spring Valley; TNs maps. Some did not meet FEMA’s website also. of Clifton, criteria. Diamond Bluff, • Will do small studies as needed, Ellsworth, El but would like to have large scale Paso, Gilman, study of it. Hartland, Isabelle, • Trying to use LIDAR to update D- Maiden Rock, Firm updates 2017-2019. Rolled Martell, Oak together with updating of website Grove, River Falls, to show floodplain and Mississippi Rock Elm, Salem, River boundary areas. Spring Lake, • Will continue to investigate Trenton, options to ensure accurate info is Trimbelle, Union available. • Can be currently requested by citizens by visiting the Land Management/Zoning Department. • CI of Prescott will include Page 247 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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floodplain information on website • County website update was done (2012) but old topographical maps were used to update FIRMS and is less accurate now than before the update. Want to use new LIDAR for accuracy. *Update the floodplain zoning Covered by LM/Z Dept. As needed Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Last updated in 2011 when Wisconsin ordinances as needed. Dept Prescott, River Falls; DNR changes were published. New annual VIs of Bay City, update needed in 2018. budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union *Will continue to explore if residents Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of FEMA's PDM & FMA grants are express an interest in flood mitigation Dept Prescott, River Falls; potential funding sources for buyout. measures (e.g., buyouts, elevations, annual VIs of Bay City, Some buyouts have already occurred floodproofing, etc.) countywide but budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, in the area but there has been no Maiden Rock, Plum especially focusing on the Trenton City, Spring Valley; additional interest expressed and Island, Bay City and Prescott areas. TNs of Clifton, previous funding has lapsed. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Plum City has a flash flooding risk from Gilman, Hartland, the loss of the Nugget Lake dam and Isabelle, Maiden there have been no projects proposed Rock, Martell, Oak to mitigate that hazard. Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Page 248 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Trenton, Trimbelle, Union *Provide information to citizens about Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of Will continue to promote at fairs, etc. the purchase of flood insurance Dept Prescott, River Falls; annual VIs of Bay VIs of Bay City, VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, budget City, Ellsworth, Ellsworth, Elmwood, and Spring Valley link will be made Maiden Rock, Plum Elmwood, City, Spring Valley; available on website. Maiden Rock, TNs of Clifton, Plum City, and Diamond Bluff, Spring Valley Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Work with the municipal Departments Covered by County 2013-2017 High Pierce Co; CIs of of Public Works to identify areas Dept Highway Prescott, River Falls; prone to road flooding and discuss annual Department VIs of Bay City, mitigation strategies and funding budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum sources City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Complete highway road projects that Varies by Diamond Bluff, help mitigate flood damage. project Ellsworth, El Paso, • CTH E- S of 690th 2022 Medium Gilman, Hartland, Reevaluate drainage area and land Isabelle, Maiden use. Reevaluate hydraulic opening of Rock, Martell, Oak structure. Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, • CTH Y- N of 870th 2022 Medium Spring Lake, Reevaluate drainage area and land Trenton, Trimbelle, use. Reevaluate hydraulic opening of Union structure. Will be evaluated at time of replacement.
• 465th Ave- El Paso 2022 Medium Bridge to be submitted to STP Bridge Page 249 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
program for reconstruction. Is in STP bridge project for reconstruction in 2022. Create and maintain Emergency $85,000 LCD Ongoing High Pierce Co; CIs of Plans reviewed, trained and exercised Action Plan (EAP) for all county dams Prescott, River Falls; in an ongoing basis. VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union *Connect the automatic flood surge Seeking DPW 2022 Medium CI of Prescott It is currently a manual system and alarm in CI of Prescott to NWS, FEMA needs to be upgraded to monitor. USGS, and the City and add it as a grants for Have one at Hastings, MN (on the MS prediction site. initial costs; River) and one at St. Croix but none at cost-share the confluence. Connect alarm to with NWS NWS and USGS. and USGS Evaluate options (rip rap, cement FEMA Public Public Works 2022 Medium CI of Prescott • Area currently has a rip rap which wall, etc.) for mitigation measures at Assistance comes up and undermines the Front St between Walnut and Ash. street and sidewalk. • Area is on the Mississippi River and includes a boat launch. Lake Street - Put in storm sewers to $100K/Land DPW 2024 High CI of Prescott Water is infiltrating, is going from home manage current water and tie into $500K to wastewater treatment plant. This is existing to handle future not compliant with the DNR development. regulations. City has ordinance to put valve in stop flow (will cause issues). Page 250 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Some options include increasing pipe size or buyouts. May increase beach erosion. Create areas of expansion that are Unknown CI of Prescott 2024 Medium CI of Prescott disaster-resistant naturally or include hazard mitigation strategies to reduce the susceptibility to future disaster Want to expand to the east about 150 damages. acres.
• 8 acres left in business park. Have 200 acres but opened 40 for building.
29-10 is platted; want to do 35 to 10. • Great Rivers subdivision
N-S corridor to connect 25 to 29. Address issue of flooding under the Unknown CI Admin & 5 years Very CI of Prescott This is the only egress for 40 condos emergency underpass. Possibly DPW High and three marinas (which are busy in drive in piling so road can be the summer) and about 200 boat slips. widened. Solution needs to be negotiated out by city, USACE, DNR and BNSF Railroad and the regulating agencies. Elevate power line and back-up ~$100K DPW 5 years High CI of Prescott Structure needed for generator; if it is generator at main lift station at Front elevated, needs to be enclosed to be Street next to the river. storage for booming equipment. Remove and rebuild retaining walls at Unknown CI of Prescott 2015-2022 High CI of Prescott People were allowed to build retaining Lake Street in for utility and road walls in the slope preservation area for construction. the St. Croix scenic waterway. Walls have to come out for utility and road construction; will have to rebuild retaining walls. Determine potential solutions for flood Unknown DPW 5 years High CI of Prescott The Lake Street lift station gets all the issues that occur at the Lake Street water from the whole collection area. lift station. When it floods, old infrastructure is in Page 251 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
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the water table and water flows in through the cracks, overwhelming the system. Test sediment trap at the care center $60K DPW Ongoing Very VI of Plum City The care center added assisted living. and conduct ongoing maintenance. High 4-5” of rain-washed debris that clogged the culvert and washed mud into a few houses. Cleaned up and the culvert cleared. Happened again a couple months later but a tree blocked a culvert. VI put in sediment trap but have not had rain to test. Ongoing maintenance will be needed. Evaluate the potential for buyouts with property owners and grant- funding agencies:
• Downtown area next to river Unknown CI of River 2024 High CI of River Falls from Walnut to St. Croix. Falls
• N Interceptor sewer project Unknown CI of River 2024 High CI of River Falls next to river. Doing relocation - Falls land acquisitions from bridge by Paulson Rd. to wastewater plant Complete studies and modeling for Unknown CI of River 2024 High CI of River Falls stormwater engineering/projects. Falls Continue the studies, modeling, Unknown CI of River 2024 High CI of River Falls Potential project includes possible planning and implementation of the Falls buyouts, stormwater management Kinni Corridor Plan, a 6-7 mile river infrastructure, placing a tornado stretch. shelter and continuing flood water management project. There are two FERC-licensed dams (Junction Falls and Powell Falls) that are integral to this project, both are 117 years old but have recently been redone. Page 252 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Explore options to fix storm drain VI of Bay DPW & VI 2023 Medium VI of Bay City Have limestone grout that is 50+ years including Saratoga Park. City Clerk old and needs to be fixed. Explore options to fix drainage pipe VI of Bay DPW & VI 2021 High VI of Bay City Creates big hole that people fall in. on Hwy. 35 south of 150th on railroad City Clerk right-of-way. Landslide and Work with municipalities to identify Covered by LCD Ongoing Low- Pierce Co; CIs of For damage, LCD will identify Erosion and create mitigation strategies for Dept High Prescott, River Falls; groundwater contamination from karst landslide and karst threats annual VIs of Bay City, geological features or road damage budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, from landslide. High priority for Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; groundwater protection. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Storms: Hail, Place thunderstorm, hail and lightning Covered by EM Dept and Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Lightning and safety materials in county display Dept municipal Prescott, River Falls; Maiden Rock and Spring Valley all Thunderstorms rack, on the website and during annual admins VIs of Bay City, linking to ARC. severe weather week. budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; VI of Plum City (no website) getting TNs of Clifton, hard copies. Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Page 253 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
County should be prepared to provide Covered by FSA/UW Ext Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of All handled by private insurers. FSA information regarding the purchase of Dept Prescott, River Falls; has list and is lead. Extension has link crop insurance annual VIs of Bay City, on site to insurance. budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Storms: Promote the planting of windbreaks to Costs vary LCD Ongoing Low Pierce Co; CIs of Brochures and staff guidance will be Tornadoes and protect farm buildings & open fields Prescott, River Falls; available upon landowner request High Winds from high winds VIs of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Conduct weather spotter training for Covered by Administration Ongoing High CI of River Falls PD, FD, EMS and Utility staff go key first responders. Dept through weather spotter training as annual part of their initial training when hired. budget
Page 254 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Identify county and municipal Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of The CI of River Falls EOC is a shelter buildings that can provide protection Dept Prescott, River Falls; for trailer park. This is not an optimal to the public in the event of a tornado annual VIs of Bay City, situation and should be revisited. warning. Place information on the budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum website. City, Spring Valley; County is moving to a new building TNs of Clifton, with no shelter for the public. Diamond Bluff, Discussion on old buildings? Explore Ellsworth, El Paso, tornado shelter for Ellsworth (about 50 Gilman, Hartland, homes). Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Identify and construct tornado Costs vary. EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Utilize Department of Commerce’s shelters in areas where deficient FEMA and Prescott, River Falls; CDBG for funding assistance. especially in mobile home parks and CDBG VIs of Bay City, campgrounds. grants are Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum options. City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, $600,000- CI of River As grants High Diamond Bluff, • Create a safe room for 800,000 per Falls available Ellsworth, El Paso, tornado/high wind protection for shelter Gilman, Hartland, DeSenctis Park, a residential Isabelle, Maiden development of approximately 20 Rock, Martell, Oak homes near another residential Grove, River Falls, area with high density. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, • Create a safe room for general Trenton, Trimbelle, community use at the PD. Union • Add a shelter in the Kinni corridor. • Future consideration will be given to a shelter at Cudd’s Court Trailer Home park (60 units) or requiring straps. Uniform code requires tie downs but court is grandfathering Page 255 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
them out of the requirement.
VI of Elmwood 2024 Medium VI Campground (Butternut Park) has Clerk no shelters (~15 sites). Explore options. Bathrooms are concrete; no window.
VI of Maiden 2024 Medium VI Campground has no shelters (8-15 Rock sites). Explore options.
VI of Bay City 2024 High Bay City Village Hall is no longer a Clerk shelter (not insurable). Trailer Park (on Oakhill Rd, 61 sites) and slab homes (~20) have no shelter. Vi Campground has no shelters (35 sites). Explore options (CDBG).
VI of Plum City 2024 Medium About 13 privately-owned homes on -High Court Road. Plan was to go into basement of library but that is locked now. May go to senior center. Explore options.
VI of Ellsworth 2024 Medium About 30 homes off Cairns Street. Can go to fairgrounds but not optimal. Explore options.
CI of Prescott 5 years High Shelter at St. Croix Terrace. Not low Admin income. 80 trailers. Encourage builders and owners of Covered by CI of Prescott Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of CI of Prescott putting information on manufactured and mobile homes to Dept Prescott, River Falls; website. use tie-downs with ground anchors. annual VIs of Bay City, budget Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood Maiden Rock, Plum Ellsworth, City, Spring Valley; and Spring Valley putting information Elmwood, TNs of Clifton, on website. Page 256 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Maiden Rock, Diamond Bluff, Plum City, and Ellsworth, El Paso, VI of Plum City (no website) getting Spring Valley Gilman, Hartland, hard copies. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Promote tornado awareness, Covered by EM Dept and Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Done during tornado awareness week including home safety measures Dept municipal Prescott, River Falls; in April. Activities will continue with the (include website.) annual admins VIs of Bay City, use of websites, social media and budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, fliers. Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, CI of Prescott putting information on Diamond Bluff, website. Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood Isabelle, Maiden and Spring Valley putting information Rock, Martell, Oak on website. Grove, River Falls, Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, VI of Plum City (no website) getting Trenton, Trimbelle, hard copies. Union Storms: Winter Promote winter hazards awareness, Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Done during winter weather including home and travel safety Dept Prescott, River Falls; awareness week in November. measures (including website.) annual VIs of Bay City, Activities will continue with the use of budget Ellsworth, Elmwood, websites, social media and fliers. Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; TNs of Clifton, CI of Prescott putting information on Diamond Bluff, website. Ellsworth, El Paso, Gilman, Hartland, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood Isabelle, Maiden and Spring Valley putting information Rock, Martell, Oak on website. Grove, River Falls, Page 257 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, VI of Plum City (no website) getting Trenton, Trimbelle, hard copies. Union Provide informative article on plowing Covered by Co Hwy with Ongoing Med/ Pierce Co; CIs of Annual Message began in 2010. It will procedures from Hwy budget Village and Low Prescott, River Falls; be put it on county website in the Town Admins VIs of Bay City, future. Ellsworth, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum Low City, Spring Valley; Towns will discuss putting notice in tax TNs of Clifton, bill. Explore. Diamond Bluff, Medium Ellsworth, El Paso, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood Gilman, Hartland, and Spring Valley putting information Isabelle, Maiden on website. Rock, Martell, Oak Grove, River Falls, VI of Plum City (no website) getting Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, hard copies. Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Severe Continue public informational Covered by EM Dept Ongoing Medium Pierce Co; CIs of Articles submitted regularly included to Temperatures campaigns about severe weather on budget Prescott, River Falls; countywide Shopper. the website and during Winter and VIs of Bay City, Heat Awareness Weeks. Ellsworth, Elmwood, CI of Prescott putting information on Maiden Rock, Plum City, Spring Valley; website. TNs of Clifton, Diamond Bluff, Vis of Bay City, Ellsworth, Elmwood Ellsworth, El Paso, and Spring Valley putting information Gilman, Hartland, on website. Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Martell, Oak VI of Plum City (no website) getting Grove, River Falls, hard copies. Rock Elm, Salem, Spring Lake, Trenton, Trimbelle, Union Utility Failure Bury above-ground power line in the Cost to be CI of River As grants High CI of River Falls • River Falls supplies its own Page 258 Appendix E: Summary of Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
City of River Falls determined Falls available power. at time of • 70% of the cable is underground. funding What remains aboveground is critical infrastructure (feeds the hospital and UWRF) but is cost- prohibitive to replace. Utilities are burying all new lines. Redundancy is through a loop feed to hospital. • Will be burying more cable to Habitat Village from Maple St. to MM in 2013. • Per ordinance, all new subdivisions have to bury their electrical cable. • UWRF is doing a large UWRF infrastructure project over the next five years that will bury more line. Review power needs for emergency $30,000- CI of River As funding High CI of River Falls • Public Works, PD, FD/EMS do not operations and provide 50,000 Falls available have generators making it difficult generators/hook-ups as needed to to open doors. Cannot maintain critical infrastructure. equipment, use computers for mapping, etc. • On hold for local funding, has been on city budget but remains unfunded due to budget constraints. Emergency generators for public Unknown CI of River As funding Medium CI of River Falls buildings including the new PD, the Falls available FD/EMS building and the PW garage. Evaluate trees for the Emerald Ash Unknown CI of River As funding Medium CI of River Falls About 30% in parks and right-of-way. Boarer. Consider smart planting for Falls available shade, wind break, carbon capture for Make sure trees do not impact above- replacement. ground power lines. Page 259 Appendix E: Report on Previous Plan Mitigation Strategies
Summary of Mitigation Strategies Hazard Type Mitigation Measures Costs of Responsible Project Project Community(ies) Comments Project Management Timetable Priority Benefitting
Add fiber optics to every city structure $250K CI of River 2018 High CI of River Falls in town. Falls Update SCADA for electric, water and $300K CI of River 2018 High CI of River Falls SCADA is the data control system that wastewater. Falls manages the utilities. Evaluate >50kw solar project where $750K CI of River 2024 High CI of River Falls Evaluating solar, wind, hydro. No people can purchase a panel for Falls expansion currently but possibility power with an 18-year payback. explore options for working with a solar firm. Upgrade wastewater treatment plant. Unknown VI of Plum City 2019 High VI of Plum City Plant is 40 years old; upgrade/new equipment needed. Install a panel on the substation. Unknown VI of Ellsworth Ongoing Low VI of Ellsworth A squirrel got into the substation and took out the power. Sucker trucks had to be used to draw down the lift station. Could also use generators.
EM Dept. = Pierce County Emergency Management Department FSA = Federal Farm Service Agency LCD = Pierce County Land Conservation Department LM/Z = Pierce County Land Management/Zoning Department
* Supports the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) goals.
Page 260 Appendix F: Community Input
Appendix F: Community Input
Pierce County believes in the importance of gathering public input from interested parties in the community. To achieve this goal, the Emergency Management Office took every opportunity available to utilize various methods to publicize the opportunity for people to participate in the planning process and to gather input from interested parties. The table that follows outlines the major opportunities that were created to discuss the plan. The table includes dates of workgroup meetings, meetings with public officials and media opportunities.
DATE SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY
6/30/17 Hazards survey sent to each town, village and city with the request that they discuss it and return the data.
6/30/17 Press release inviting people to participate in the planning process
6/30/17 Invitation to each town, village and city elected official to participate in the process.
10/19/17 Introduce the hazard mitigation plan update process, the plan and discuss mitigation strategies with the Pierce County Towns Association.
10/31/17 Workgroup meeting with the City of River Falls
10/31/17 Workgroup meeting with the City of Prescott
11/1/17 Workgroup meeting with county department leaders
11/1/17 Workgroup meeting with all of the villages
11/20/18 Workgroup meeting with Ellsworth and Plum City
XXXX Provision of the plan to the contiguous counties for comment.
XXXX Final press release to area papers and legal public notice in paper of record.
Page 261 Appendix F: Community Input
XXXX Emergency Management provided each municipality with a draft plan for elected official and public review. Pierce County as well as every city, village and town in the county placed discussion about and adoption of the HazMit plan on a public agenda (in accordance with Wisconsin’s Open Meeting laws) and then publicly discussed and adopted the plan in open session.
Page 262 Appendix F: Community Input
Date: 30 June 2017 To: Town, Village or City Leader County Department Manager From: Gary Brown, EM Director Re: Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Plan
Pierce County, like the rest of the State of Wisconsin, is vulnerable to a variety of disasters. Wisconsin has incurred disaster-related damages totaling nearly $3 billion in the last three decades, with almost half of that occurring in the 1990s alone. These losses can be reduced through mitigation activities. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on mitigation, $2 to $3 in future damages can be avoided. Hazard mitigation breaks the cycle of damage and repair.
Mitigation actions reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. These preventative actions can be simple such as elevating a furnace in a basement that sometimes has water on the floor. Mitigation can also have a comprehensive approach such as relocating buildings out of the floodplain or strengthening critical facilities to prevent wind damage and provide stronger shelter.
In an effort to better prepare Pierce County to manage its vulnerability to disaster Pierce County Emergency Management applied for and received a PDM planning grant. This goal of this grant is to complete an approvable plan, which will serve as a roadmap that outlines potential cost-effective hazard mitigation activities, some of which might be available for future grant funding.
The plan is designed to look at the risks and vulnerabilities that the county faces from natural disaster and to highlight mitigation strategies that might reduce future losses to life and property. As part of this planning process, I need your help.
The first step is asking that you please place an item on your next municipal meeting agenda to complete the attached survey. This very short survey will help us to identify the concerns that you have in your municipality and to capture ideas that you have for making your community safer and more disaster resistant. Please return your completed surveys to me at the address listed above by September 30th.
After receiving your surveys, the information will be incorporated into the draft plan, which is being guided by a workgroup of interested agencies and public members. I would like to extend an offer for anyone from your leadership
Page 263 Appendix F: Community Input council, your municipal staff or your general community to contact me if they would like to join the workgroup.
Finally, after the workgroup has a final draft, we will be sending copies of the plan to each of you for final review and adoption. It is important to note two things:
• Adoption of this plan will not cost your community anything. You will not be committing to completing any of the projects listed; instead it is a list of triaged ideas that can be accomplished should the funding and will to complete them become available. • If you do not adopt this plan, your community will not be eligible to apply for and receive mitigation project funding in the future.
Let me thank you in advance for the assistance that you are providing. This small investment of your time will help make our community a safer, healthier and more disaster-resistant community for years to come.
If you are interested in more information about the plan or would like to provide input into the plan, please feel free to contact me at 715-273-6751.
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30 June 2017
For More Information, Contact Gary Brown (715-273-6751) For Immediate Release
Pierce County Received Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Planning Grant
(Pierce, WI) Pierce County, like the rest of the State of Wisconsin, is vulnerable to a variety of disasters. Wisconsin has incurred disaster-related damages totaling nearly $3 billion in the last three decades, with almost half of that occurring in the 1990s alone. These losses can be reduced through mitigation activities. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on mitigation, $2 to $3 in future damages can be avoided. Hazard mitigation breaks the cycle of damage and repair.
Mitigation actions reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. These preventative actions can be simple such as elevating a furnace in a basement that sometimes has water on the floor. Mitigation can also have a comprehensive approach such as relocating buildings out of the floodplain or strengthening critical facilities to prevent wind damage and provide stronger shelter.
In an effort to better prepare Pierce County to manage its vulnerability to disaster, Gary Brown, Pierce County Emergency Management Director, applied for and received a Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) planning grant. This goal of this grant is to complete an approvable plan, which will serve as a roadmap that outlines potential cost-effective hazard mitigation activities, some of which might be available for future grant funding.
The plan is designed to look at the risks and vulnerabilities that the county faces from natural disaster and to highlight mitigation strategies that might reduce future losses. As part of this planning process, Brown is assembling a workgroup to review and guide the planning activities. The workgroup is reviewing initial background information about Pierce County and has begun identifying strategies that might help.
Brown stated, “I am very excited about this part of the planning process. The input from the workgroup can have long-lasting impacts, making Pierce County safer and more disaster resistant.”
FEMA has recognized the importance of having members of the community involved in the process and Brown would like to ensure that all interested
Page 265 Appendix F: Community Input members of the community have an opportunity to provide input into the plan. If you are interested in more information about the plan or would like to provide input into the plan, please contact Gary Brown at 715-273-6751.
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Page 268 Appendix F: Community Input
PIERCE COUNTY NATURAL HAZARDS PREPAREDNESS AND MITIGATION QUESTIONNAIRE
1. In the past five years, has your community experienced a natural disaster such as a severe windstorm, flood, wildfire, earthquake, etc.? • No: ✓ Village of Maiden Rock
If YES, which of these natural disasters occurred? (Please check all that apply.) When event last occurred: More than Event 5-15 years Within past year 1-5 years ago 15 years Never ago ago Drought C. of River Falls 2007 V. of Elmwood V. of Bay City T. of Martell V. of Plum City T. of River Falls
Dust Storm C. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Elmwood V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls
Earthquake C. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Elmwood V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls
Flood Pierce Co Land Mgmt. Pierce Co Land Mgmt. V. of Plum City C. of River Falls Dept. Dept V. of Elmwood T. of Union T. of Union V. of Bay City V. of Plum City T. of River Falls (July T. of Martell 2010) T. of Spring Lake T. of Union Lakeshore V. of Bay City C. of River Falls V. of Elmwood Erosion V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls
Landslide/ Pierce Co Land Mgmt. V. of Elmwood C. of River Falls V. of Bay City Debris Flow Dept V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls (July T. of Spring Lake 2010) T. of Union
Wildfire C. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Elmwood V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls
Windstorm/ Pierce Co Land Mgmt. C. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Elmwood Page 269 Appendix F: Community Input
Tornado Dept V. of Plum City T. of River Falls (2010) T. of Martell T. of Spring Lake T. of Union Severe Winter Pierce Co Land Mgmt. T. of Martell V. of Plum City V. of Bay City Storm Dept C. of River Falls T. of Spring Lake V. of Elmwood T. of Union T. of River Falls (2009,2010)
Other: V. of Plum City (severe T. of River Falls erosion on Plum Creek & Chery St) Other: T. of River Falls
2. For which of the following natural disasters do you think your community is at risk? (Check the appropriate box for each hazard.) Extremely Somewhat Very Concerned Concerned Not Concerned Event Concerned Concerned Drought C. of River Falls T. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Ellsworth V. of Elmwood V. of Maiden Rock V. of Plum City T. of Martell
Dust Storm C. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Ellsworth V. of Elmwood V. of Maiden Rock V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls
Earthquake C. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Ellsworth V. of Elmwood V. of Maiden Rock V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls
Flood Pierce Co Land V. of Bay City C. of River Falls Mgmt. Dept V. of Ellsworth T. of River Falls V. of Elmwood T. of Spring Lake V. of Maiden T. of Union Rock V. of Plum City T. of Martell
Lakeshore V. of Bay City V. of Maiden C. of River Falls V. of Ellsworth Erosion Rock V. of Elmwood V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of River Falls Page 270 Appendix F: Community Input
Landslide/ Pierce Co Land V. of Maiden Rock C. of River Falls T. of River Falls V. of Bay City Debris Flow Mgmt. Dept V. of Elmwood V. of Ellsworth T. of Spring Lake V. of Plum City T. of Martell
Wildfire T. of River Falls C. of River Falls V. of Bay City V. of Ellsworth V. of Elmwood V. of Maiden Rock V. of Plum City T. of Martell
Windstorm/ T. of River Falls Pierce Co Land V. of Ellsworth V. of Bay City Tornado T. of Spring Lake Mgmt. Dept V. of Elmwood V. of Maiden T. of Union C. of River Falls V. of Plum City Rock T. of Martell
Severe T. of River Falls Pierce Co Land V. of Bay City V. of Ellsworth Winter Mgmt. Dept V. of Elmwood C. of River Falls V. of Maiden Storm/ Ice T. of Union Rock Storm V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of Spring Lake
3. Has your community had damage to facilities or infrastructure (e.g., roads, public buildings, utilities?) County ▪ Roads, bridges – Land Management Dept. Cities ▪ Some minor damage (water) from heavy rain to buildings, sewer system & roads – City of River Falls Villages ▪ Roads, campground and parks during flooding – Village of Bay City ▪ 8-24-06 we had golf ball sized hail – Village of Elmwood ▪ Yes, in various years for various reasons – Village of Maiden Rock ▪ Public buildings (wind); roads (flooding) – Village of Plum City Towns ▪ Yes – Town of Martell ▪ 010 – roads, bridges – Town of River Falls ▪ Yes, washing out roads and culverts – Town of Spring Lake ▪ Yes, roads – Town of Union
4. What facilities or infrastructure in your community do you think are especially vulnerable to damage during a natural disaster? County ▪ Roads, bridges, power lines – Land Management Dept.
Page 271 Appendix F: Community Input
Cities ▪ Possible vulnerability to River Falls Hospital/Clinic/Nursing Home due to potential culvert obstruction causing pooling of water – City of River Falls Villages ▪ Water tower, pump house – Village of Bay City ▪ Above ground water reservoir and flooding into the sewer mains – Village of Elmwood ▪ Roads, village streets; sewer lift stations; village wellhouse – Village of Maiden Rock ▪ Hardware store, Feed mill, Public Safety building, Waste Water Treatment Plant/dome, Public Library, Senior Citizens Building – Village of Plum City Towns ▪ Bridges and roads – Town of Martell ▪ Utilities, roads, bridges, recycling center buildings, Town Hall – Town of River Falls ▪ Washing out of roads due to the hills in Spring Lake – Town of Spring Lake ▪ Yes – township hill roads – Town of Union
5. How important do you think each of the following projects are in mitigating (i.e., lessening the impacts of) a natural disaster in your community?
Very Somewhat Not Very Not Project Neutral Important Important Important Important Protecting Pierce Co Land V. of Bay City V. of Maiden private Mgmt. Dept V. of Elmwood Rock C. of River Falls V. of Plum City property T. of River Falls T. of Martell T. of Spring Lake T. of Union Protecting C. of River Falls T. of Martell critical V. of Bay City T. of Spring V. of Elmwood Lake facilities V. of Maiden Rock (hospitals, fire V. of Plum City stations, etc.) T. of River Falls T. of Union
Preventing Pierce Co Land V. of Bay City V. of Maiden development Mgmt. Dept T. of River Falls Rock C. of River Falls T. of Spring in hazard V. of Elmwood Lake areas V. of Plum City T. of Martell T. of Union
Enhancing the C. of River Falls Pierce Co Land V. of Bay City function of V. of Elmwood Mgmt. Dept T. of Spring Page 272 Appendix F: Community Input natural V. of Plum City V. of Maiden Rock Lake features T. of Martell T. of River Falls T. of Union (streams, wetlands) Protecting C. of River Falls Pierce Co Land V. of Bay City historical and V. of Elmwood Mgmt. Dept V. of Maiden T. of Martell V. of Plum City Rock cultural T. of River Falls T. of Union T. of Spring landmarks Lake Promoting Pierce Co Land T. of River Falls V. of Maiden T. of Martell cooperation Mgmt. Dept Rock C. of River Falls T. of Spring among public V. of Bay City Lake agencies, V. of Elmwood citizens, non- V. of Plum City profit T. of Union organizations and businesses Protecting and Pierce Co Land T. of Martell T. of Spring reducing Mgmt. Dept Lake C. of River Falls damage to V. of Bay City utilities V. of Elmwood V. of Maiden Rock V. of Plum City T. of River Falls T. of Union
Strengthening Pierce Co Land V. of Bay City T. of Spring emergency Mgmt. Dept V. of Maiden Rock Lake C. of River Falls T. of Martell services V. of Elmwood T. of River Falls V. of Plum City T. of Union
6. What ideas do you have for your community to mitigate natural disasters?
County ▪ Sheriff Dept. response team and evacuation equipment – Land Management Dept. ▪ Everbridge Alert system (reverse 911) – Land Management Dept. ▪ Local fire departments response – Land Management Dept. Cities ▪ Storm Water Management, ongoing training for staff, update of uniform building codes – City of River Falls Villages ▪ Listen to what other communities have done when it does happen. Cannot prevent it. – Village of Ellsworth ▪ We could add more storm sewer catch basins, water collection ponds, and water gardens – Village of Elmwood Page 273 Appendix F: Community Input
▪ Follow guidelines set up by Pierce County. If village had lots of available funds, improving lakeshore and park area to prevent future flooding and damage to property – Village of Maiden Rock ▪ Having a natural disaster plan using Fire & EMS services and public awareness; keeping buildings, parks and roads in good repair to minimize potential hazards – Village of Plum City Towns ▪ None – Town of Martell ▪ Working with other towns in the county to develop a county-wide plan – Town of River Falls ▪ Replace old road culverts with new larger culverts – Town of Spring Lake ▪ By the county, township and community working together – Town of Union
7. Do you have any community building projects (e.g., subdivisions, office/industrial parks, roads) slated to be built in the near future? If so, what is the project called and what is its location?
County ▪ Communication Systems – Everbridge development – Land Management Dept. ▪ Bridge replacement on County Road F over Kiwwi River Cities ▪ Habitat for Humanity Development; Sterling Ponds Industrial Development; Radio Road/Hwy 35 interchange; Cascade Ave reconstruction project; redevelopment of retail/grocery store complex – City of River Falls Villages ▪ None – Village of Bay City ▪ No – Village of Ellsworth ▪ New wastewater treatment facility at current location. New Public Works facility at a location to be determined – Village of Elmwood ▪ Not any identified at this time – Village of Maiden Rock ▪ No – Village of Plum City Towns ▪ No – Town of Martell ▪ Not at this time – Town of River Falls ▪ No – Town of Spring Lake ▪ We are constantly working on improving our roads – Town of Union
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OCTOBER 19, 2017 – TOWNS ASSOCIATION MEETING
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NOVEMBER 1, 2017
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Appendix F: Community Input
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation
Pierce County Vulnerability Report149 Identify Hazards
Eight detailed Flood Insurance Studies were prepared for the incorporated areas of Spring Valley, Ellsworth, River Falls, Elmwood, Maiden Rock, Plum City, WI and unincorporated areas of Pierce County, created on dates ranging from 1982 through 2002.
Pierce County which is located in west-central Wisconsin encompasses an area of 592 square miles. The county’s boundary includes the Mississippi River to the west, which is also the principal flood source in Pierce County. Other flood sources include the Rush, Eau Galle, Big, Kinnickinnic Rivers and Isabelle Creek.
Like most areas, flooding in Pierce County is usually caused by intense rainstorms and/or spring snow melts. Of recent flood events Pierce County has received Presidential Disaster Declarations in 1998 for severe storms, heavy rain and flooding but has not had any since.
According to the Flood Insurance Study for the village of Ellsworth, flood protection measures are not known to exist within the study area. Equations have been developed by the USGS to estimate the magnitude and frequency of floods for streams in Wisconsin.
HAZUS-MH Hazard Analysis Flood analysis for Pierce County was performed using HAZUS-MH MR3 released in July 2007. The bundled aggregated general building stock was updated to Dun & Bradstreet 2006. Building valuations were updated to R.S. Means 2006. Building counts based on census housing unit counts are available for RES1 (single-family dwellings) and RES2 (manufactured housing) instead of calculated building counts.
The site-specific inventory (specifically Schools, Hospitals, Emergency Operation Centers, Fire Stations and Police Stations) was updated using the best available statewide information.
HAZUS-MH was used to generate the flood depth grid for a 100-year return period calculated for 1 square mile drainage areas. The riverine model was determined from a user provided USGS 30m DEM and peak discharge values obtained for 19 reaches tabulated in the 1993 Pierce County Flood Insurance Study.
Figure 1 depicts the flood boundary from the HAZUS-MH analysis. The majority of damages due to flooding occur along the Mississippi River in the southern part of the county.
149 HAZUS-MH report for Pierce Co. provided by Wisconsin Emergency Management, Oct. 2012.
Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation
Figure 1: Pierce County HAZUS-MH Analysis (100-Year Flood)
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation HAZUS-MH Aggregate Loss Analysis
HAZUS-MH was used to estimate the damages for a 100-year flood event in Pierce County. An estimated 38 buildings will be damaged totaling in $27 million in building losses and $70 million in total economic losses. The total estimated number of damaged buildings, total building losses, and estimated total economic losses are shown in Table 1.
HAZUS-MH estimates 2 census blocks with losses exceeding $1 million. The distribution of losses is shown in Figure 2.
HAZUS-MH aggregate loss analysis is evenly distributed across a census block. Census blocks of concern should be reviewed in more detail to determine the actual percentage of facilities that fall within the flood hazard areas. The aggregate losses reported in this study may be overstated. Examples are provided in Figure 3.
Table 1: Pierce County Total Economic Loss - 100-Year Flood
Total Estimated Total Damaged Building Total Economic Building Loss General Occupancy Total Buildings Buildings Exposure X Loss X 1000 X 1000 1000
Agricultural 0 0 $56,200 $1,447 $367 Commercial 62 0 $293,125 $15,306 $3,763 Education 2 0 $59,860 $370 $55 Government 4 0 $17,239 $1,093 $132 Industrial 10 0 $97,637 $15,718 $3,341 Religious/Non-Profit 1 0 $45,460 $1,699 $217 Residential 11,241 38 $2,175,703 $34,256 $19,288 Total 11,320 38 $2,745,224 $69,889 $27,163
The reported building counts should be interpreted as degrees of loss rather than as exact numbers of buildings exposed to flooding. These numbers were derived from aggregate building inventories which are assumed to be dispersed evenly across census blocks. HAZUS-MH requires that a predetermined amount of square footage of a typical building sustain damage in order to produce a damaged building count. If only a minimal amount of damage to buildings is predicted, it is possible to see zero damaged building counts while also seeing economic losses.
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Figure 2: Pierce County Total Economic Loss - 100-Year Flood
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Figure 3a: Flood Damage Exposure in Ellsworth
Figure 3a shows census blocks overlaid with the flood boundary and orthophoto of Ellsworth. Census block 550939603003005 has an estimated building loss of over $1 million with a combined replacement cost $2.7 million. Although the orthophoto shows significant flooding in this census block, very few buildings are at risk.
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Figure 3b: Flood Damage Exposure in Spring Valley
Figure 3b shows census blocks overlaid with the flood boundary and orthophoto of Spring Valley. Census block 550939601003004 has an estimated building loss of $558,000 with a combined replacement cost $1.8 million. However, the orthophoto shows this area to be mainly forest, with no buildings in the calculated flood boundary.
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation HAZUS-MH Essential Facility Loss Analysis
An essential facility would encounter many of the same impacts as any other building within the flood boundary. These impacts include: structural failure, extensive water damage to the facility, and loss of facility functionality (i.e. a damaged police station will no longer be able to serve the community).
The HAZUS-MH analysis identified 1 care facility, 1 police station, and 1 school that may be subject to flooding. A list of the essential facilities within Pierce County is included in Tables 2 and 3. A map of essential facilities potentially at risk to flooding is shown in Figure 4.
Table 2: Pierce County Essential Facility Loss - 100-Year Flood
At Least At Least Class Building Count Moderate Substantial Loss of Use Damage Damage
Care Facilities 5 1 0 0 EOC 0 0 0 0 Fire Stations 8 0 0 0 Police Stations 10 1 0 0 Schools 31 1 0 0 Total 54 3 0 0
Table 3: Pierce County Damaged Essential Facilities
Facility Name
Plum City Care Center Spring Valley Police Department UW-River Falls*
* Essential Facilities that may be outside of the 100-year flood boundary according to orthophoto interpretation or address verification.
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Figure 4: 100-Year Flood Boundary Overlaid with Essential Facilities
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Figure 4b: 100-Year Flood Boundary Overlaid with Essential Facilities
Essential facility locations were imported from the best available statewide sources. Some instances have been observed where HAZUS-MH reports a site within the flood plain that cannot be confirmed by the corresponding orthophoto in Figure 4b. The essential facility damages reported by HAZUS- MH may be overstated.
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation HAZUS-MH Shelter Requirement Analysis
HAZUS-MH estimates the number of households that are expected to be displaced from their homes due to the flood and the associated potential evacuation. HAZUS-MH also estimates those displaced people that will require accommodations in temporary public shelters. The model estimates 515 households will be displaced due to the flood. Displacement includes households evacuated from within or very near to the inundated area. Of these 494 people (out of a total population of 36,804) will seek temporary shelter in public shelters.
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation HAZUS-MH State Property Loss Analysis
The flood boundaries were overlaid with the State of Wisconsin property boundaries as provided by the Department of Natural Resources. Table 4 provides a list of state properties impacted by the flood boundary. Figures 5a and 5b show examples of the inundated areas.
Table 4: Pierce County State Property Flood Inundation
Percent Acres Inundated State Property Inundated
Pierce Co Islands Wildlife Area 83% 896 Kinnickinnic State Park 13% 179 Plum Creek Watershed 23% 170 Statewide Natural Area 31% 143 Statewide Habitat Areas 61% 106 Statewide Habitat Areas 38% 65 Statewide Habitat Areas 38% 65 Stream Bank Protection Fee Program 16% 46 Stream Bank Easement Program 61% 45 Statewide Wildlife Habitat 23% 26 Stream Bank Protection Fee Program 7% 20 Stream Bank Easement Program 10% 7 Stream Bank Easement Program 9% 6 Lower St Croix State Park Riverway 2% 4 Gift Lands 2% 3 Statewide Natural Area 1% 3 Statewide Natural Area 1% 3 Statewide Natural Area 0% 2 Stream Bank Protection Fee Program 1% 2 Stream Bank Protection Fee Program 1% 2 Statewide Natural Area 0% 0
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Figure 5a: Boundary of 100-Year Flood Overlaid with State of Wisconsin Properties
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Appendix G: Flood Mitigation Supporting Documentation Figure 5b: Boundary of 100-Year Flood Overlaid with State of Wisconsin Properties
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Appendix H: Inter-Revision Update Appendix H: Inter-Revision Updates
This plan will undergo major revisions every five years per the FEMA requirements. Pierce County has recognized that there may be information that should be added to the plan between the five-year updates but that the costs of continuous updates, printing and distribution can be excessive. This section is designed to hold that information that is gathered between the five-year updates. It is felt that only having to reproduce and distribute one section between updates will lessen the costs to the county.