Hazard Mitigation Planning Review Guide to Create the Plan in Accordance with the Process As Shown in Figure 2-1 Below

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Hazard Mitigation Planning Review Guide to Create the Plan in Accordance with the Process As Shown in Figure 2-1 Below C AMERON C OUNTY H AZARD M ITIGATION P LAN PLANNING PARTNER: CITY OF HARLINGEN Preparing for a Sustainable Future for Human Life and Property A PPROVED: M AY, 2015 For more information, visit our website at: www.co.cameron.tx.us Written comments should be forwarded to: H2O Partners, Inc. P. O. Box 160130 Austin, Texas 78716 [email protected] www.h2opartnersusa.com T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Section 1 - Introduction Background ....................................................................................................................................1-1 Scope .............................................................................................................................................1-2 Purpose ..........................................................................................................................................1-3 Authority ........................................................................................................................................1-3 Summary of Sections.......................................................................................................................1-4 Section 2 – Planning Process Plan Preparation and Development .................................................................................................2-1 Review and Incorporation of Existing Plans ......................................................................................2-5 Public and Stakeholder Involvement ...............................................................................................2-8 Section 3 – County Profile Overview ........................................................................................................................................3-1 Population and Demographics .........................................................................................................3-2 Future Development .......................................................................................................................3-3 Section 4 – Risk Overview Hazards Identification .....................................................................................................................4-1 Natural Hazards and Climate Change ...............................................................................................4-3 Overview of Hazard Analysis ..........................................................................................................4-4 Building Values ..............................................................................................................................4-5 Section 5 – Flood Hazard Description ..........................................................................................................................5-1 Location .........................................................................................................................................5-4 Extent ............................................................................................................................................5-8 Historical Occurrences .................................................................................................................. 5-11 Probability of Future Events .......................................................................................................... 5-15 Vulnerability and Impact .............................................................................................................. 5-15 NFIP Participation ........................................................................................................................ 5-16 Cameron County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Page 2 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Flood Risk Reduction and Education ............................................................................................. 5-17 Prioritizing Mitigation Actions ...................................................................................................... 5-18 Repetitive Loss ............................................................................................................................. 5-18 Section 6 – Drought Hazard Description .........................................................................................................................6-1 Location .........................................................................................................................................6-2 Extent ............................................................................................................................................6-2 Historical Occurrences ....................................................................................................................6-3 Probability of Future Events ...........................................................................................................6-5 Vulnerability and Impact ................................................................................................................6-6 Section 7 – Extreme Heat Hazard Description .........................................................................................................................7-1 Location .........................................................................................................................................7-1 Extent ............................................................................................................................................7-1 Historical Occurrences ....................................................................................................................7-4 Probability of Future Events ...........................................................................................................7-7 Vulnerability and Impact ................................................................................................................7-7 Section 8 – Hurricane Wind Hazard Description .........................................................................................................................8-1 Location .........................................................................................................................................8-1 Extent ........................................................................................................................................ 8-2 Historical Occurrences ....................................................................................................................8-3 Probability of Future Events ...........................................................................................................8-8 Vulnerability and Impact .............................................................................................................. 8-10 Cameron County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Page 3 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Section 9 – Tornado Hazard Description .........................................................................................................................9-1 Location .........................................................................................................................................9-2 Extent ............................................................................................................................................9-3 Historical Occurrences ....................................................................................................................9-5 Probability of Future Events ......................................................................................................... 9-10 Vulnerability and Impact ............................................................................................................... 9-10 Section 10 – Severe Thunderstorm Hazard Description ....................................................................................................................... 10-1 Location ........................................................................................................................................ 10-1 Extent .......................................................................................................................................... 10-1 Historical Occurrences ................................................................................................................... 10-3 Probability of Future Events ......................................................................................................... 10-6 Vulnerability and Impact .............................................................................................................. 10-6 Section 11 – Hail Hazard Description ....................................................................................................................... 11-1 Location ........................................................................................................................................ 11-1 Extent .......................................................................................................................................... 11-2 Historical Occurrences .................................................................................................................. 11-2 Probability of Future Events ......................................................................................................... 11-5 Vulnerability and Impact .............................................................................................................. 11-5 Section 12 –
Recommended publications
  • Observation and a Numerical Study of Gravity Waves During Tropical Cyclone Ivan (2008)
    Open Access Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 641–658, 2014 Atmospheric www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/641/2014/ doi:10.5194/acp-14-641-2014 Chemistry © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. and Physics Observation and a numerical study of gravity waves during tropical cyclone Ivan (2008) F. Chane Ming1, C. Ibrahim1, C. Barthe1, S. Jolivet2, P. Keckhut3, Y.-A. Liou4, and Y. Kuleshov5,6 1Université de la Réunion, Laboratoire de l’Atmosphère et des Cyclones, UMR8105, CNRS-Météo France-Université, La Réunion, France 2Singapore Delft Water Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore 3Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales, UMR8190, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, Université Versailles-Saint Quentin, Guyancourt, France 4Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Chung-Li 3200, Taiwan 5National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Australia 6School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, Australia Correspondence to: F. Chane Ming ([email protected]) Received: 3 December 2012 – Published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss.: 24 April 2013 Revised: 21 November 2013 – Accepted: 2 December 2013 – Published: 22 January 2014 Abstract. Gravity waves (GWs) with horizontal wavelengths ber 1 vortex Rossby wave is suggested as a source of domi- of 32–2000 km are investigated during tropical cyclone (TC) nant inertia GW with horizontal wavelengths of 400–800 km, Ivan (2008) in the southwest Indian Ocean in the upper tropo- while shorter scale modes (100–200 km) located at northeast sphere (UT) and the lower stratosphere (LS) using observa- and southeast of the TC could be attributed to strong local- tional data sets, radiosonde and GPS radio occultation data, ized convection in spiral bands resulting from wave number 2 ECMWF analyses and simulations of the French numerical vortex Rossby waves.
    [Show full text]
  • The Influences of the North Atlantic Subtropical High and the African Easterly Jet on Hurricane Tracks During Strong and Weak Seasons
    Meteorology Senior Theses Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects 2018 The nflueI nces of the North Atlantic Subtropical High and the African Easterly Jet on Hurricane Tracks During Strong and Weak Seasons Hannah Messier Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/mteor_stheses Part of the Meteorology Commons Recommended Citation Messier, Hannah, "The nflueI nces of the North Atlantic Subtropical High and the African Easterly Jet on Hurricane Tracks During Strong and Weak Seasons" (2018). Meteorology Senior Theses. 40. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/mteor_stheses/40 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Meteorology Senior Theses by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Influences of the North Atlantic Subtropical High and the African Easterly Jet on Hurricane Tracks During Strong and Weak Seasons Hannah Messier Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa Alex Gonzalez — Mentor Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa Joshua J. Alland — Mentor Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York ABSTRACT The summertime behavior of the North Atlantic Subtropical High (NASH), African Easterly Jet (AEJ), and the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) can provide clues about key physical aspects of a particular hurricane season. More accurate tropical weather forecasts are imperative to those living in coastal areas around the United States to prevent loss of life and property.
    [Show full text]
  • Area Plan Ffys 2017 – 2019
    Area Plan FFYs 2017 – 2019 301 W. Railroad Street 956-682-3481 lrgvdc.org Lower Rio Grande Valley 1 Table of Contents Authorized Signature Form ............................................................................................................ 3 Area Plan Narrative ........................................................................................................................ 4 Environmental Overview ............................................................................................................ 5 Community Assessment ........................................................................................................... 5 Organizational Structure .......................................................................................................... 9 Service Delivery System, System Design, Program Development, and Innovation ............. 10 Regional Needs Summary ......................................................................................................... 14 Local Strategies Supporting Program Goals and State Strategies ............................................ 16 Section A. Area Agency on Aging Administration .............................................................. 16 Section B. Long-term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Services .................................................... 20 Section C. Access and Assistance Services .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Section D. Services to Assist Independent Living ...............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Hurricane Harvey Oral History Project Shelby Gonzalez HIST 5370
    Hurricane Harvey Oral History Project Shelby Gonzalez HIST 5370 December 9, 2017 Hurricane Harvey Oral History Collection PROJECT TITLE: “Hurricane Harvey Oral History Project” NARRATOR: Dr. Kelly Quintanilla DATE OF INTERVIEW: November 6, 2017 INTERVIEWER NAME: Shelby Gonzalez DATE and LOCATION OF ITNERVIEW: Dr. Quintanilla’s office, Corpus Christi Hall at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas. President of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), Dr. Kelly Quintanilla is one of many persons being interviewed for the “Hurricane Harvey Oral History Project” being conducted by Graduate Students in good standing in the History Master’s Program at TAMU-CC. Dr. Quintanilla explains to us the policies and procedures she followed to prepare the university and students for the possibility of Hurricane Harvey making landfall in Corpus Christi, Texas. This project was turned into the Hurricane Harvey Oral History Collection, which explores, uncovers, and highlights the lives of residents from South Texas who experienced Hurricane Harvey. The collection was created in an effort to ensure that the memories of those affected by the hurricane not be lose, and to augment the Mary and Jeff Bell Library’s Special Collections and Archives Department records. The collections contains interviews from residents of Port Aransas, the President of TAMU-CC,… (will be continued) 1 Dr. Kelly Quintanilla Narrator Shelby L. Gonzalez History Graduate Program Interviewer November 6, 2017 At Dr. Quintanilla’s office Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, Texas SG: Today is November 6, 2017. I am here with the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi President, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 8 Hazard Analysis
    Appendix 8 Hazard Analysis Introduction This appendix includes several components. First is an overall discussion of the Hazard Analysis modeling effort, describing the surge (ADCIRC) and wave (WAM, STWAVE) modeling. That first section is followed by a subsidiary section labeled Appendix 8-1 that defines the many acronyms used in the modeling discussion. This is followed by a major section labeled Appendix 8-2 consisting of the Whitepaper of Donald T. Resio, ERDC-CHL, which forms the basis of the storm statistics and JPM methods discussed in the main body of the report. Owing to its prominence in the discussion, it has, for convenience, been referred to as R2007. Note that R2007, itself, includes several appendices; these are identified as Appendices A-G within Appendix 8-2. Finally, a discussion of the rainfall model is included here as Appendix 8-3. Hazard Analysis The hazard analysis required for the risk assessment was based upon the hurricane modeling conducted by a team of Corps of Engineers, FEMA, NOAA, private sector and academic researchers working toward the definition of a new system for estimating hurricane surges and waves. Following is a discussion of the processes used by this team and the steps taken by the risk team to incorporate the results into the risk analysis. The hurricane hazard definition required as input to the risk analysis involved several steps: 1. Selection of the methodology to be used for estimating surges and waves 2. Determination of hurricane probabilities 3. Production of the ADCIRC grid models for the different HPS configurations. 4. Production of the computer system for development of the large number of hydrographs required by the risk model.
    [Show full text]
  • Ch 5. the Atmospheric Environment Observed at Big Bend National
    Final Report — September 2004 5. THE ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT OBSERVED AT BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK DURING THE BRAVO STUDY The BRAVO Study intensively researched the properties of the particulate matter, atmospheric optics, meteorology, and air pollutant emissions of the study area during July through October 1999. The study also explored transport and diffusion by injecting perfluorocarbon tracers into the atmosphere at specific locations. Findings produced by these multiple experiments concerning the environment around Big Bend National Park and throughout the study area are summarized in this chapter. Some of these findings were carried into the source attribution analyses that are described in Chapters 10 and 11, while others advanced scientific understanding for future application. More detail on many of these studies and their results is provided in published papers and reports that are cited in the text; some of the reports are in the Appendix. 5.1 Particulate Matter Characterization by the Routine Measurement Network As described in Section 3.3, the BRAVO Study included an extensive network of particulate matter samplers that routinely collected 24-hour and 6-hour samples over the four-month study period. This section summarizes findings derived from the routine measurements concerning the temporal and spatial characteristics of the study area particulate matter and its composition. 5.1.1 Particulate Matter Temporal and Spatial Characteristics Evaluation of BRAVO Study particulate matter sample composition and temporal variation found similar behavior at groups of adjacent sampling sites in the study domain. The map in Figure 5-1 shows the grouping of sampling sites that this evaluation suggested. To provide a manageable description of the study period aerosol, concentration measurements at sites within each group were averaged together.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary of 2002 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Activity And
    SUMMARY OF 2002 ATLANTIC TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY AND VERIFICATION OF AUTHORS' SEASONAL ACTIVITY FORECAST An Early Summer Successful Forecast of an Inactive Hurricane Season - But the Many Weak, Higher Latitude Tropical Storms That Formed Were Not Anticipated (as of 21 November 2002) By William M. Gray1, Christopher W. Landsea,2 and Philip Klotzbach3 with advice and assistance from William Thorson4 and Jason Connor5 [This verification as well as past forecasts and verifications are available via the World Wide Web: http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/] Brad Bohlander or Thomas Milligan, Colorado State University Media Representatives (970-491-6432) are available to answer questions about this verification. Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 Phone Number: 970-491-8681 2002 ATLANTIC BASIN SEASONAL HURRICANE FORECAST Tropical Cyclone Parameters Updated Updated Updated Updated Observed and 1950-2000 Climatology 7 Dec 5 April 2002 31 May 2002 7 Aug 2002 2 Sep 2002 (in parentheses) 2001 Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Totals Named Storms (NS) (9.6) 13 12 11 9 8 12 Named Storm Days (NSD) (49.1) 70 65 55 35 25 54 Hurricanes (H)(5.9) 8 7 6 4 3 4 Hurricane Days (HD)(24.5) 35 30 25 12 10 11 Intense Hurricanes (IH) (2.3) 4 3 2 1 1 2 Intense Hurricane Days (IHD)(5.0) 7 6 5 2 2 2.5 Hurricane Destruction Potential (HDP) (72.7) 90 85 75 35 25 31 Net Tropical Cyclone Activity (NTC)(100%) 140 125 100 60 45 80 VERIFICATION OF 2002 MAJOR HURRICANE LANDFALL FORECAST 7 Dec 5 Apr 31 May 7 Aug Fcst.
    [Show full text]
  • June Is a Month Full of History and Celebrations
    This Month: Celebrating June Father of Flag Day Food Bank RGV Valley Birding JDA Academic Honors Gerald Sneed, Wildlife Hurricane Season Begins TSA Captains Leaving RGV June 2017 The Little Paper You’ll Want To Keep & Share Vol. 4 No. 1 The Valley Spotlight Is Celebrating Its Fourth Birthday! This issue marks the beginning of our fourth year of pub- We also say a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have lishing The Valley Spotlight! With much gratitude, we thank enjoyed reading The Valley Spotlight for the past three years. all of the individuals and businesses in the Rio Grande Valley Without YOU, there would be no reason to continue. - So with great enthusiasm and joy, we begin Volume 4 and tributions in writing stories and articles. look forward to many more to come. June is a Month Full of History and Celebrations On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Al- On June 8, 1874, Apache leader Cochise On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova, lied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of died on the Chiricahua Reservation in south- eastern Arizona. After a peace treaty had been in space as her Soviet space- Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, broken by the U.S. Army in 1861, he waged war against the Tyuratam launch site. the operation a crusade in which, “we will settlers and soldiers, forc- She manually controlled the accept nothing less than full victory.” ing them to withdraw from spacecraft completing 48 or- southern Arizona. In 1862, bits in 71 hours before land- he became principal chief ing safely.
    [Show full text]
  • A Classification Scheme for Landfalling Tropical Cyclones
    A CLASSIFICATION SCHEME FOR LANDFALLING TROPICAL CYCLONES BASED ON PRECIPITATION VARIABLES DERIVED FROM GIS AND GROUND RADAR ANALYSIS by IAN J. COMSTOCK JASON C. SENKBEIL, COMMITTEE CHAIR DAVID M. BROMMER JOE WEBER P. GRADY DIXON A THESIS Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in the Department of Geography in the graduate school of The University of Alabama TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA 2011 Copyright Ian J. Comstock 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT Landfalling tropical cyclones present a multitude of hazards that threaten life and property to coastal and inland communities. These hazards are most commonly categorized by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Potential Disaster Scale. Currently, there is not a system or scale that categorizes tropical cyclones by precipitation and flooding, which is the primary cause of fatalities and property damage from landfalling tropical cyclones. This research compiles ground based radar data (Nexrad Level-III) in the U.S. and analyzes tropical cyclone precipitation data in a GIS platform. Twenty-six landfalling tropical cyclones from 1995 to 2008 are included in this research where they were classified using Cluster Analysis. Precipitation and storm variables used in classification include: rain shield area, convective precipitation area, rain shield decay, and storm forward speed. Results indicate six distinct groups of tropical cyclones based on these variables. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the faculty members I have been working with over the last year and a half on this project. I was able to present different aspects of this thesis at various conferences and for this I would like to thank Jason Senkbeil for keeping me ambitious and for his patience through the many hours spent deliberating over the enormous amounts of data generated from this research.
    [Show full text]
  • Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1997
    2012 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW VOLUME 127 Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1997 EDWARD N. RAPPAPORT Tropical Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center, NOAA/NWS, Miami, Florida (Manuscript received 12 June 1998, in ®nal form 5 October 1998) ABSTRACT The 1997 Atlantic hurricane season is summarized and the year's tropical storms, hurricanes, and one sub- tropical storm are described. The tropical cyclones were relatively few in number, short lived, and weak compared to long-term climatology. Most systems originated outside the deep Tropics. Hurricane Danny was the only system to make landfall. It produced rainfall totals to near 1 m in southern Alabama and is blamed for ®ve deaths. Hurricane Erika was responsible for the season's two other fatalities, in the coastal waters of Puerto Rico. 1. Introduction This is one of the smallest contributions (by percentage) on record by tropical waves. On average, about 60% of A sharp drop in tropical cyclone activity occurred in tropical cyclones originate from tropical waves (Pasch the Atlantic hurricane basin from 1995±96 to 1997 (Ta- et al. 1998). ble 1). Only seven tropical storms formed in 1997, and Historically, many of the strongest Atlantic tropical just three of those reached hurricane strength (Table 2). cyclones develop from tropical waves between the coast This also represents a considerable reduction from the of Africa and the Lesser Antilles in the August±Sep- long-term averages of ten tropical storms and six hur- tember period. Such tropical cyclone formation appears ricanes. The months of August and September were par- to be related to 1) the wave's ``intrinsic'' potential for ticularly quiet.
    [Show full text]
  • ANNUAL SUMMARY Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2003
    1744 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW VOLUME 133 ANNUAL SUMMARY Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2003 MILES B. LAWRENCE,LIXION A. AVILA,JOHN L. BEVEN,JAMES L. FRANKLIN,RICHARD J. PASCH, AND STACY R. STEWART Tropical Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center, NOAA/NWS, Miami, Florida (Manuscript received 30 April 2004, in final form 8 November 2004) ABSTRACT The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season is described. The season was very active, with 16 tropical storms, 7 of which became hurricanes. There were 49 deaths directly attributed to this year’s tropical cyclones. 1. Introduction hurricane, and Isabel’s category-2 landfall on the Outer There were 16 named tropical cyclones of at least Banks of North Carolina brought hurricane conditions tropical storm strength in the Atlantic basin during to portions of North Carolina and Virginia and record 2003, 7 of which became hurricanes. Table 1 lists these flood levels to the upper Chesapeake Bay. Elsewhere, tropical storms and hurricanes, along with their dates, Erika made landfall on the northeastern Mexico’s Gulf maximum 1-min wind speeds, minimum central sea Coast as a category-1 hurricane, Fabian was the most level pressures, deaths, and U.S. damage. Figure 1 destructive hurricane to hit Bermuda in over 75 yr, and shows the “best tracks” of this season’s storms. Juan was the worst hurricane to hit Halifax, Nova The numbers of tropical storms and hurricanes dur- Scotia, in over 100 yr. ing 2003 are above the long-term (1944–2003) averages This season’s tropical cyclones took 49 lives in the of 10 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development and Economic Impacts to the State of Texas From
    THE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS TO THE STATE OF TEXAS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF INTERSTATE 69 Gregory Jason Pettibon, B.B.A. Problem in Lieu of Thesis Prepared for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS December 2002 APPROVED: Terry Clower, Major Professor and Graduate Advisor Bernard Weinstein, Department Chair David Hartman, Dean of the School of Community Service Neal Tate, Dean of the Robert B. Toulouse School of Graduate Studies Pettibon, Gregory Jason, The Development and Economic Impacts to the State of Texas from the Construction of Interstate 69. Master of Science (Applied Economics), December 2002, 60 pp., 16 tables. Regional population growth and increasing trade with Mexico are creating severe traffic congestion along Interstate 35 and at the Laredo bridge crossings. The construction of a new Interstate Highway 69 has been offered as one solution to this problem. This analysis examines the economic impacts of building Interstate 69 and its potential impact on job creation in the counties along its projected path. Using the IMPLAN input-output modeling system, construction of Interstate 69 will support $4.2 billion in economic activity in the counties through which it will pass. More importantly, based on an analysis of Interstate 27 in west Texas, it can be projected that Interstate 69 will spur a 2% gain in regional employment above any usual economic growth. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................... 1 The Problems Facing Transportation in Texas and Possible Solutions NAFTA Strains on the Texas Transportation Infrastructure Laredo Bridge Issues and Freight Crossing Texas Population Growth Impacts on Interstate 35 Population Characteristics and Trends Along Interstate 35 Interstate 69 Population Characteristics and Trends Along Interstate 69 Implication of the Study 2.
    [Show full text]