Executive Summary
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of hazard mitigation is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards. Pearl River County and the other participating jurisdictions developed this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) update to make the County and its residents less vulnerable to future hazard events. Similar to the 2004 LHMP, this plan was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 so that Pearl River County would be eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs as well as lower flood insurance premiums (in jurisdictions that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System). The County followed a planning process prescribed by FEMA, which began with the formation of a hazard mitigation planning committee (HMPC) comprised of key county, city, and district representatives and other stakeholders. The HMPC conducted a risk assessment that identified and profiled hazards that pose a risk to Pearl River County, assessed the County’s vulnerability to these hazards, and examined the capabilities in place to mitigate them. The County is vulnerable to several hazards that are identified, profiled, and analyzed in this plan. Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, severe weather, and tornadoes are among the hazards that can have a significant impact on the County. Based on the risk assessment, the HMPC identified goals and objectives for reducing the County’s vulnerability to hazards. The four goals of this multi-hazard mitigation plan are: To enhance planning capabilities within the county including developing and sharing data information across jurisdictions; To adopt new tools and policies, both regulatory and non-regulatory to create a more hazard resistant community; To establish Intra-agency and intergovernmental cooperation and relationships to address existing hazardous situations and to avoid future problems that may cross jurisdictional boundaries; To provide educational outreach so people can adopt practices that will help protect themselves and their property. To meet identified goals and objectives, the plan recommends 32 mitigation actions, which are summarized in the table that follows. This plan has been formally adopted by the County and the participating jurisdictions and will be updated every five years at a minimum. Pearl River County FINAL i Local Hazard Mitigation Plan August 2011 Mitigation Actions New Action/2005 Action Lead Jurisdiction Action Goal #1 To enhance planning capabilities within the County including developing and sharing data information across jurisdictions File an Amendment to the Community Rating City of Picayune New System Application Requesting Additional CRS Credit to Further Lower the City‟s NFIP CRS Application Request Funding to Prepare a Repetitive Loss City of Picayune New Plan for the City, Identifying and Cataloging all Repetitive Loss properties, Ownership and Whether or not Owner is Interested in Mitigation Activities. Develop a Stormwater Management Plan for County, Picayune, Poplarville 2005 Pearl River County Develop a Capital Improvement Program that County, Picayune, Poplarville 2005 Includes drainage Continue Stream Protection and Preservation County, Picayune, Poplarville 2005 Programs to Protect Riparian Areas Continue Program to Preserve Green Space County, Picayune, Poplarville 2005 Establish a Policy of Extra-Territorial Review of County 2005 Subdivisions Adjacent to Jurisdictional Boundaries to Ensure a Comprehensive Review of Cumulative Impacts within Watersheds Goal #2 To adopt new tools and policies, both regulatory and non-regulatory to create a more hazard resistant community Adopt the 2006 Version of the International City of Picayune New Building Codes Develop and Adopt a Flood Ordinance for the City of Poplarville New City of Poplarville Establish a Comprehensive Drainage Model County, Picayune, Poplarville 2005 Provide Easily Accessible Tax Map Information County, Picayune, Poplarville 2005 to Municipalities and the County, Insurance Agents, Realtors, Banking Interests and Individuals Provide Updated Information to the U. S. Army County, Picayune, Poplarville 2005 Corps of Engineers Through a Grant Program Entitled Planning Assistance to States Pearl River County FINAL ii Local Hazard Mitigation Plan August 2011 New Action/2005 Action Lead Jurisdiction Action Establish Pre-Disaster Maintenance County 2005 Procedures for Rights of Way along County Roadways The County will Establish and Adopt a Policy County 2005 on Maintaining Drainage Ways. This Policy Will Include Regularly scheduled Maintenance and the Establishment of a Written Tracking Policy Continue an Ordinance and Policy to County 2005 Determine and Require the Correct Size Culvert Establish a Policy of Extra-Territorial Review of County 2005 Subdivisions Adjacent to Jurisdictional Boundaries to Ensure a Comprehensive Review and cumulative Impacts on the Watershed Follow Through with Alligator Branch County 2005 Improvements Reduce the Number of Repetitive Loss County 2005 Properties within the County by Elevating Properties and Where Elevation Is Not Possible, Purchase Properties at Owner‟s Request Minimize Damage to Structures Through Code County 2005 Enforcement Adopt and Implement a Regulation Requiring County, City of Picayune 2005 Building Owners to Retrofit their Structures for Flood Damage, if the Structure‟s Insured Loss Exceeds 50% or More of the Structure‟s Value Goal #3 To establish Intra-agency and intergovernmental cooperation and relationships to address existing hazardous situations and to avoid future problems that may cross jurisdictional boundaries Reduce the number of Repetitive Loss City of Picayune New Properties by Requesting Grant Funding to Acquire or to Mitigate Additional Repetitive Loss Structures. Establish a Formal Policy to Invite Countywide County New Staff to Attend Site Plan review for Projects that are Immediately Adjacent to the Jurisdiction or Will Impact the Jurisdiction Pearl River County FINAL iii Local Hazard Mitigation Plan August 2011 New Action/2005 Action Lead Jurisdiction Action Through a Cooperative Effort with Emergency County New Management Officials in South Louisiana, Establish and Man First Responder Shelter to House Personnel and Parking Space for Necessary Equipment until the Emergency has Passed and Personnel and Equipment can be Returned to Louisiana. Also Establish and Man an Information Center to Returning Evacuees where Evacuees Can Temporarily Remain Until it is Safe to Return to Their Homes Goal #4 To provide educational outreach so people can adopt practices that will help protect themselves and their property Establish Monthly Educational Programs for County, Poplarville and Picayune 2005 Local Governments and Staff Continue Outreach to the Community, County 2005 Including Local Officials about the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Requirements of Elevation and Elevation and Purchase Programs Establish Hazard Mitigation Library in the County, Poplarville, Picayune 2005 Public Library Develop a Brochure “Hazards in Pearl River County 2005 County” That Will Detail Hazards within the County Develop Three Programs for „Focus on Pearl County 2005 River County:” on WRJW Establish a Speakers Forum County 2005 Establish a Disaster Preparedness Booth at County, Picayune 2005 the Blueberry Festival and the Picayune Street Fair Encourage the Chambers of Commerce, County 2005 PRCDA, and Civil Defense to Develop a Program on Business Continuity Planning for Businesses. Advise School Officials and Teachers of County, Picayune 2005 Availability of Educational Materials for Children Pearl River County FINAL iv Local Hazard Mitigation Plan August 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapters 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1.1 1.1 Purpose ..................................................................................................................1.1 1.2 Background and Scope .........................................................................................1.1 1.3 Community Profile................................................................................................1.2 1.3.1 Overview of the Community ....................................................................1.2 1.3.2 Topography and Climate...........................................................................1.5 1.3.3 History.......................................................................................................1.5 1.4 Economy ...............................................................................................................1.6 1.4.1 Early Economic Development ..................................................................1.6 1.4.2 Current Economic Trends .........................................................................1.8 1.4.3 Population Growth ..................................................................................1.10 1.4.4 Historic Natural Disasters .......................................................................1.11 1.5 Plan Organization................................................................................................1.13 2 WHAT’S NEW ....................................................................................................................2.1 2.1 What’s New in the Plan Update ............................................................................2.2