Baldwin County, Alabama Flood Hazard Management Plan
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Baldwin County, Alabama Flood Hazard Management Plan Prepared by: Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Management Program Baldwin County Flood Hazard Management Plan Developed by Baldwin County with professional planning assistance from Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. SPECIAL THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Baldwin County Floodplain Management Planning Committee Name Representing Building Inspector Howell, Mike Baldwin County Building Inspection Department Nelson, Kim Baldwin County Building Inspection Department Hart, DJ Planning & Zoning Department Forsman, Jennifer Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency Summerville, Peggy Citizen Member Swann, Roberta Arena Citizen Member, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Sims, Mitchell Citizen Member Bush, Johnny Citizen Member Unincorporated Baldwin County, Alabama i Flood Hazard Management Plan December 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of flood hazard management planning is to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from flood hazards. Baldwin County, Alabama, has prepared this Flood Hazard Management Plan Update to better protect the people and property of the unincorporated areas of the County from the effects of flood hazard events. Every community faces different hazards and every community has different resources to draw upon in combating problems along with different interests that influence the solutions to those problems. Because there are many ways to deal with flood hazards and many agencies that can help, there is no one solution for managing or mitigating their effects. Planning is one of the best ways to develop a customized program that will mitigate the impacts of flood hazards while taking into account the unique character of a community. The plan provides a framework for all interested parties to work together and reach consensus on how to move forward. A well-prepared Flood Hazard Management Plan will ensure that all possible activities are reviewed and implemented so that the problem is addressed by the most appropriate and efficient solutions. It can also ensure that activities are coordinated with each other and with other goals and activities, preventing conflicts and reducing the costs of implementing each individual activity. Baldwin County followed the planning process prescribed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and this plan was developed under the guidance of a Floodplain Management Planning Committee (FMPC) comprised of representatives of County Departments, citizens and other stakeholders. The FMPC conducted a risk assessment that identified and profiled flood hazards that pose a risk to unincorporated Baldwin County, assessed the County’s vulnerability to these hazards, and examined the capabilities in place to mitigate them. The flood hazards profiled in this plan include: • Flood: 100-/500-year • Flood: Stormwater/Localized Flooding • Hurricane and Tropical Storms (including storm surge) • Coastal Bank Erosion • Dam/Levee Failure • Changing Future Conditions and Sea Level Rise This plan identifies activities that can be undertaken to reduce safety hazards, health hazards, and property damage caused by floods. Based on the risk assessment developed for each of the flood hazards identified above, the FMPC identified goals for reducing the County’s vulnerability to the hazards. The goals and objectives are summarized as follows: • Goal 1: Reduce the vulnerability of the people, property, environment, and economy of unincorporated Baldwin County to the impacts of flood hazards. Unincorporated Baldwin County, Alabama ii Flood Hazard Management Plan December 2018 • Goal 2: Strengthen protection critical facilities and infrastructure from flood hazards to create a safer, more sustainable community. • Goal 3: Increase citizen awareness and preparedness by providing information describing all types of flood hazards, flood insurance, methods for preventing flood damage, and how to respond. • Goal 4: Maintain and enhance the County’s ability to manage a comprehensive flood hazard program. To meet the identified goals, the plan recommends the mitigation actions summarized in the table on the following pages. The FMPC also developed an implementation plan for each action, which identifies priority level, background information, ideas for implementation, responsible agency, timeline, cost estimate, potential funding sources, and more. These additional details are provided in Chapter 4. The Baldwin County Flood Hazard Management Plan Update has been formally adopted by the associated County Commissions and will be updated within a five-year time frame. Unincorporated Baldwin County, Alabama iii Flood Hazard Management Plan December 2018 Table I. Mitigation Action Matrix Address Address Continued FMPC Goals Mitigation Action Current Future Compliance Priority Addressed Category Development Development with NFIP Strictly administer existing flood hazard regulations (Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance) and review said regulations High 1,2 X X X Prevention to determine their adequacy and whether revisions are needed. Provide annual notification of flood hazard determination Public service to lending institutions, insurance companies, real High 3 X X Education and estate companies and title insurance companies. Awareness Public Distribute outreach materials to floodplain residents at county High 3 X X Education and offices and special events. Awareness Develop Program for Public Information (PPI) to Increase citizen awareness and preparedness by providing information Public describing all types of flood hazards, flood insurance, High 3 X X Education and methods for preventing flood damage, and how to protect Awareness their property. Coordinate and consolidate outreach measures identified in the local hazard mitigation plan. In coordination with the Local Emergency Planning Emergency Committee (LEPC), prepare and adopt a local disaster High 1,2 X X Services recovery plan to aid in the recovery of flood hazard events. Continue to comply with the NPDES permitting requirements Med 1,2 X X Prevention and insist on compliance by the development community. Assure compliance with the existing stormwater and erosion control measures contained in the zoning and subdivision Med 1 X X Prevention regulations. Continue program to pave County dirt roads giving priority to Med 2 X X X Structural dirt roads with known erosion problems. Research the feasibility of establishing and funding a stream Natural maintenance and restoration program and pursue appropriate Med 1 X X X Resource action. Protection Continue participation in the CRS program to reduce flood Med 1,2 X X X Prevention hazards. Unincorporated Baldwin County, Alabama iv Flood Hazard Management Plan December 2018 Address Address Continued FMPC Goals Mitigation Action Current Future Compliance Priority Addressed Category Development Development with NFIP Continue to assist unincorporated areas to implement planning and zoning in accordance with the provisions of Act Med 1,2 X X Prevention No. 91-719, as amended. Assure compliance with the wetlands protection provisions contained in the zoning and subdivision regulations and utilize Med 1 X X Prevention the ADID study findings in the land development review process. Continue to review and comment upon ADEM and COE Med 4 X X X Prevention permit applications for dredge and fill. Continue participation in the FEMA hazard mitigation program Property Med 1 X X to purchase properties which repeatedly flood. Protection Natural Identify significant open space and wetland resources and Med 1 X X X Resource pursue public and private grants for purchase as appropriate. Protection Continue to coordinate flood hazard activities with state and federal environmental agencies including Health Department, Med 4 X X X Prevention ADCNR, ADEM, EPA, NRCS, FEMA, USFWS and COE. Continue to coordinate flood hazard activities with municipal Med 4 X X X Prevention governments involved in flood hazard management. Utilize the County's geographic information system (GIS) to Med 1,2 X X X Prevention identify and protect flood hazard areas. Maintain an inventory of county-maintained roads and bridges which become partially or wholly submerged during rainfall Med 2 X X X Prevention events. Research and evaluate the impact of a buyout only hazard Property mitigation program within the floodway and pursue Med 1 X X Protection appropriate action. Strengthen flood warning activities by developing programs including a flood threat recognition system, flood prediction Emergency Med 1,3 X X X models and a system to disseminate flood warnings to the Services public. Unincorporated Baldwin County, Alabama v Flood Hazard Management Plan December 2018 Address Address Continued FMPC Goals Mitigation Action Current Future Compliance Priority Addressed Category Development Development with NFIP Through continued coordination with US Fish and Wildlife and the Alabama Dept of Conservation & Natural Resources, Natural Baldwin County will continue to examine the appropriate use Med 4 X X X Resource of sediment-trapping vegetation, sediment mounds, etc., in Protection addressing the impacts of coastal erosion. Coordinate with the Baldwin County Local Hazard Mitigation Med 1,2,3,4 X X X Prevention Review location of repetitive loss properties, define repetitive loss areas (RL and neighboring properties), and develop Property Low 1 X X repetitive loss area analyses to provide more specific Protection guidance on how to reduce damage