Snohomish County Hazard Mitigation Plan Online At
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Hazard Mitigation Plan September 2015 Update Summary Volume 1 Risk Assessment Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes Snohomish County Emergency Management Snohomish County HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN SUMMARY September 2015 Prepared for: Snohomish County 3000 Rockefeller Avenue M/S 307 Everett, WA 98201 Prepared by: Institute for Hazards Mitigation Planning and Research Department of Urban Design and Planning University of Washington P.O. Box 355740 Seattle, WA 98195-5740 View the Snohomish County Hazard Mitigation Plan online at http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/2429 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PROJECT MANAGER Dara Salmon, Emergency Program Manager Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) 720 80th Street SW, Building A, Everett, WA 98203 Phone: (425)388-5071; Fax: (425) 423-9152; Email: [email protected] ADDITIONAL DEM STAFF — Jason Biermann, Director — Tammy Jones, HLS Regional Grants Coordinator — Nicki Everett, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator OTHER COUNTY STAFF — Clay White, Former Planning & Development Services Director — Steve Thomsen, Public Works Director — Mary Hurner, Public Works, Surface Water Management, Senior Planner — David Wilson, Public Works, Surface Water Management, Engineer III — Gi-Choul Ahn, Public Works, Surface Water Management, Principal GIS Analyst — Sheila Hagen, Public Works, Surface Water Management, Senior GIS Analyst — Meghan Jordan, Public Works, Communications Specialist II — Deb Harvey, Public Works, Graphics Specialist II CONSULTANTS — Heidi Kandathil, Project Manager, University of Washington — Bob Freitag, Principle Investigator, University of Washington — Jamie Mooney, Coastal Planner, University of Washington — Jonathan Olds, Associate Planner, University of Washington SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The development of this plan would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment to this process by the Snohomish County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee, other Planning Partners, and the people of Snohomish County. The dedication of time to this process is greatly appreciated. Also, all who participated in the public process are commended for their participation in this planning effort. Table of Contents Executive Summary................................................................................................. 1 What Is the Hazard Mitigation Plan? ............................................................................................................................. 1 Plan Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Hazards of Concern ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 Risk Assessment ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 County-Wide Hazard Mitigation Strategies ................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................... 9 Why Prepare This Plan? ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Planning Partners........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Plan Guiding Principle, Goals, and Objectives ............................................................................................................. 11 Hazards Covered by Plan ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Hazard Mitigation Initiatives ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Where to Find Detailed Plan Documentation? ............................................................................................................ 15 Chapter 2: Snohomish County Profile ................................................................... 17 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Geographical Setting ................................................................................................................................................... 18 Climate ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Demographics .............................................................................................................................................................. 20 Economy ...................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Vulnerable Populations ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 3: Climate Change Considerations for Hazard Mitigation ........................ 25 What Is Climate Change? ............................................................................................................................................. 25 How Climate Change Affects Hazard Mitigation ......................................................................................................... 26 Future Climate Change Impacts in the Pacific Northwest ........................................................................................... 26 Responses to Climate Change ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Potential Climate Change Impact on Hazards ............................................................................................................. 31 SNOHOMISH COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN, SUMMARY | SEPTEMBER 2015 UPDATE − i − Chapter 4: Avalanche ............................................................................................ 33 General Background .................................................................................................................................................... 33 Hazard Profile .............................................................................................................................................................. 33 Exposure and Vulnerability .......................................................................................................................................... 35 Scenario ....................................................................................................................................................................... 36 Issues ........................................................................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 5: Dam Failure ......................................................................................... 39 General Background .................................................................................................................................................... 39 Hazard Profile .............................................................................................................................................................. 40 Exposure and Vulnerability .......................................................................................................................................... 42 Scenario ....................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Issues ........................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 6: Earthquake .......................................................................................... 47 General Background .................................................................................................................................................... 47 Hazard Profile .............................................................................................................................................................. 48 Exposure and Vulnerability .......................................................................................................................................... 56 Scenario ....................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Issues ........................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Chapter 7: Flood ................................................................................................... 63 General Background ...................................................................................................................................................