Town of Bedford New Hampshire Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2015
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
TOWN OF BEDFORD NEW HAMPSHIRE Town of Bedford, New Hampshire, Town Office Building HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE 2015 TOWN OF BEDFORD NEW HAMPSHIRE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN Update 2015 Prepared by the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission 438 Dubuque Street Manchester, NH 03102 The preparation of this document has been financed in part by a grant from the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Acknowledgements The Bedford Town Council would like to thank the following people for contributing their time and effort to complete the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan – Update 2015: Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2015 Committee Members Rick Sawyer, Planning Director, Bedford Planning and Zoning Department Karin Elmer, Planner 1, Bedford Planning and Zoning Department Dawna Duhamel, Chief Financial Officer, Bedford School District Scott Wiggin, Chief, Bedford Fire Department Michael Bernard, Patrol Lieutenant, Bedford Police Department Steve Crean, Environmental Coordinator, Bedford Dept. of Public Works Emile Lacerte, Asst. Highway Superintendent, Bedford Dept. of Public Works Michael McLaughlin, Engineer, Bedford Dept. of Public Works Thanks also to: • The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NH HSEM), which developed the New Hampshire Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, and • The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook prepared by FEMA, March 2013. Both publications served as models for this plan. Preface Hazard mitigation planning is a new field, spearheaded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the 1990s after Hurricane Andrew caused more than $20 billion dollars in damage across several southern states. That event resulted in 54 fatalities and the disruption of millions of lives. Since that time many more natural disasters have caused great losses in the United States, including Hurricane Katrina and most recently, Hurricane Sandy. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, developed by FEMA, was intended to help both local governments and states prepare for, and deal with, such disasters. While New England normally does not have hurricanes of Andrew’s magnitude, this area does experience many types of natural disasters that cost both lives and money. These disasters and other natural hazards occur during all four seasons in the Northeast: winter ice, snow, and nor’easters; spring flooding; summer downbursts and thunderstorms; and fall hurricanes. Planning to make a community disaster-resistant before these events occur can help save lives as well as homes and infrastructure. FEMA has several programs designed to strengthen the nation’s disaster resistance by reducing risks, changing conditions and behaviors before a disaster to protect lives and prevent the loss of property. FEMA has several programs designed to strengthen the nation’s disaster resistance by reducing risks, changing conditions and behaviors before a disaster to protect lives and prevent the loss of property. FEMA has also recently updated the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps, as many communities had outdated maps that did not reflect the true extent of flooding potential. A community’s eligibility for hazard mitigation funding depends upon having adopted a FEMA approved hazard mitigation plan and updating it at least every five years. Mitigation measures contained within the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2015 may be sufficient to receive grant funding. It is hoped that this document will be a productive first step toward analyzing hazards in Bedford, forecasting where potential disasters might occur, and reducing their impact on people and the community. Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………..……………………………………..I PREFACE……………………………………………………………..……………….II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………..…………...V SECTION I – INTRODUCTION…………………………………………..……………..1 Natural Hazards and Their Consequences…………………………..…….…..1 What is Hazard Mitigation?..................................................................................2 Why Develop a Hazard Mitigation Plan?...........................................................2 Benefits of Hazard Mitigation…………………………………………..………2 Background: Bedford Hazard Mitigation Planning…………………..………3 Purpose……………………………………………………….……………..4 Authority……………………………………………………………………4 Scope of the Plan…………………………………………………………...4 Plan Update Methodology………………………………………………..4 Town of Bedford 2013-2014 Hazard Mitigation Committee Members………………………………………………………….…………5 Public Outreach Process and Public Committee Meetings…………….5 Coordination with Other Agencies and Individuals……………………5 Existing Bedford Emergency Operations Plan………………………….6 State of New Hampshire Legislation Related to Master Plans………..6 Capital Improvements Plan………………………………………………6 Town of Bedford Water Resources Plan…………………………………7 Plan Development Steps…………………………………………………..8 Town of Bedford, New Hampshire……………………………………………..10 Hazard Mitigation Goals and Objectives………………………………………10 SECTION II – HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT….…11 Location, Topography Population, and Weather Conditions………….…...11 Principal Streams and Brooks…………………………………………...12 Floodplains, Flood Problems and Flood Protection Measures…...….12 Disaster Risk………………………………………………………...………….14 Vulnerability Assessment……………………………………………………..14 Current Land Development Trends in Bedford…………………………….18 National Flood Insurance Program…………………………………………..19 Natural Hazards…………………………………………………………..……22 A. Flooding………………………………………………………………22 B. Wind…………………………………………………………………..31 C. Wildfire……………………………………………………………….37 D. Ice and Snow Events…………………………………………...……39 E. Earthquakes…………………………………………………………..43 F. Other Hazards………………………………………………………..46 Critical Facilities……………………………………………………………….50 Areas at Risk……………………………………………………………………53 SECTION III – EXISTING MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS………………………………………………………………….60 Existing Protection Matrix………………………………………………62 Summary of Recommended Improvements………………………….68 SECTION IV – NEWLY IDENTIFIED MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND CRITICAL EVALUATION…………………………………………………………………….76 SECTION V – PRIORITIZED IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE AND FUNDING SOURCES………………………………………………………………………….81 Cost of Implementation…………………………………………………84 SECTION VI – ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES REGARDING ADOPTION, EVALUATION AND MONITORING OF THE PLAN………………………………...86 APPENDIX A – COMMERCIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AREAS IN THE TOWN OF BEDFORD APPENDIX B – HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FACILITIES IN THE TOWN OF BEDFORD APPENDIX C – NEW HAMPSHIRE DAM CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE APPENDIX D – DEFINITIONS APPENDIX E – RESOURCES, BIBLIOGRAPHY, WEBSITES APPENDIX F – TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HAZARD MITIGATION APPENDIX G – STAPLEE CRITERIA APPENDIX H – BHMPC MEETING AGENDAS, MINUTES, AND ATTENDANCE SHEETS APPENDIX I – DOCUMENTATION OF PLAN ADOPTIONS APPENDIX J – PAST PRIORITIZED IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULES AND FUNDING SOURCES APPENDIX K – TOWN OF BEDFORD WATER RESOURCES PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2015 has been developed to help Bedford become a disaster-resistant community by taking measures to reduce future losses from natural or man-made hazardous events before they occur. The plan was developed by the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee (BHMPC), made up of community members and Town officials. Natural hazards are addressed as follows: A. Flooding B. Wind C. Wildfire D. Ice and Snow Events E. Earthquakes F. Other Hazards The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee also identified critical facilities and areas at risk. Critical Facilities: Areas at Risk: • Town Offices • Public Water/Sewer Systems • Safety Complex (Fire and • Dams Police) • Electrical Power Substations • Emergency Operations Center • Highways/Roadways • Emergency Fuel Facilities • Problem Culverts • Back-up Electrical Generators • Schools • Post Office • Day Care Centers • Public Works Garage • Churches • Emergency Shelters • Alzheimer’s Facilities • Evacuation Routes • Elder Care Facilities • Bridges • Recreation Areas • Hospitals/Ambulance • Historic or Unique Resources • Wireless Communication • Solid Waste/Municipal Facilities Recycling/Transfer Station • Radio Towers • Commercial Economic Impact Areas • Hazardous Materials Facilities Existing Hazard Mitigation Strategies The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee identified existing strategies related to hazard mitigation as follows: • Floodplain Development District (Zoning) • Elevation Certificates • Wetlands Regulations • Emergency Operations Plan • Evacuation and Notification • State Dam Program • Road Design Standards (state and local) • Shoreland Protection Act • Best Management Practices • Back-Up Electrical Generators • Town Radio System • Hazardous Materials Regulations (state and local) • International Building Code and Local Building Code • Wellhead Protection Program • Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning for Schools (CEMPS) • Steep Slopes and Class VI Roads (Land Development Control Regulations) • Hazmat Response • Excavation Regulations (Land Development Control Regulations) • Amoskeag Development Emergency Action Plan New Mitigation Programs and Policies The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee identified the following new or ongoing hazard mitigation strategies: • Enhanced community notification program. • Continue to encourage proper identification with house numbering for emergency services. • Continue to participate in the Southern New Hampshire Regional Community Preparedness Program (SNHRCPP).