TOWN OF BEDFORD NEW HAMPSHIRE

Town of Bedford, New Hampshire, Town Office Building

HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN MAY 2009

TOWN OF BEDFORD NEW HAMPSHIRE

HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN Adopted MAY 2004 Updated May 2009

Prepared by the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission

The preparation of this document has been financed in part by a grant from the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Safety, Office of 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 and its update:

Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan 2009 Update Committee Members

Rick Sawyer, Committee Chairperson, Planning Director

Karin Elmer, Planning Department

Mark Conrad, Chief Financial Officer, Bedford School District

Scott Wiggin, Fire Chief

David C. Bailey, Police Chief

Steve Crean, Dept. of Public Works

Emile Lacerte, Dept. of Public Works

Paul Belanger, Superintendent of Public Works

2004 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee Members

Nancy Larson, Committee Chairperson, Town Planner

Scott Wiggin, Fire Chief

Tim Mayes, Assistant Superintendent, Bedford School District

Paul Belanger, Superintendent of Public Works

Stephen Crean, Public Works Department

David C. Bailey, Police Chief

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Thanks also to: • The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Safety, Office of Emergency Management (NH OEM), which developed the New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, and • The Southwest Region Planning Commission, which developed Hazard Mitigation Planning for New Hampshire Communities. Both publications served as models for this plan.

“We will of course be there to help after disaster strikes, but as you all know, there’s no substitute for mitigation before it does.... As a poet once wrote, “the test of men lies in action.” We as emergency managers and first responders cannot afford to wait for action…. Through planning, mitigation, education, and cooperation, we can make sure our at-risk communities are prepared before the first drop of rain or gust of wind ever threatens our shores.”

—Joe Allbaugh, Director of FEMA, addressing the 2002 National Hurricane Conference

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Preface

Hazard mitigation planning is a relatively new field, spearheaded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the 1990’s 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. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, developed by FEMA, was intended to help both communities 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 is also in the process of updating the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps, as many communities have outdated maps that do not reflect the true extent of flooding potential.

In the future, a community’s eligibility for hazard mitigation funding will depend upon it having adopted a hazard mitigation plan that addresses these issues and updating it at least every 5 years. Mitigation measures contained within the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan may be sufficient to receive grant funding.

It is hoped that this document will be a good first step toward analyzing hazards in Bedford, forecasting where potential disasters might occur, and reducing their impact on people and the community

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ...... ii Preface...... iv Executive Summary...... viii

I. INTRODUCTION Natural Hazards and Their Consequences ...... 1 What Is Hazard Mitigation? ...... 2 Why Develop a Hazard Mitigation Plan? ...... 2 Benefits of Hazard Mitigation...... 3 Background: Bedford Hazard Mitigation Planning...... 3 Purpose...... 3 Authority...... 4 Scope of the Plan ...... 4 Methodology...... 4 Public Committee Meetings ...... 5 Coordination With Other Agencies and Individuals ...... 5 Existing Bedford Emergency Management Plan...... 6 State of New Hampshire Legislation Related to Master Plans ...... 6 Plan Development Steps 1-10...... 7 Hazard Mitigation Goals and Objectives for the State of New Hampshire...... 10

II. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT Location, Topography, Population, and Weather Conditions ...... 11 Principal Streams and Brooks ...... 12 Floodplains, Flood Problems, and Flood Protection Measures...... 12 Disaster Risk ...... 13 Vulnerability Assessment ...... 13 Flooding...... 14 Hurricanes...... 14 Debris-Impacted Infrastructure and River Ice Jams ...... 15 Erosion and Mudslides ...... 15 Rapid Snow Pack Melt ...... 15 Dam Breach or Failure...... 15 Tornadoes...... 15 Nor’easter, Ice Storms, Heavy Snowstorms...... 15 Forest Fires ...... 16 Earthquakes ...... 16 Downbursts, Lightning, Hailstorms, Landslides, Geomagnetism, Radon, Drought, Extreme Heat ...... 16

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Table of Contents (continued)

Current Land Development Trends in Bedford ...... 16 National Flood Insurance Program...... 17

Past and Potential Hazards and Critical Facilities ...... 19 A. Flooding...... 19 1. 100-Year Floodplain Events...... 19 2. Hurricanes...... 20 3. Debris-Impacted Infrastructure and River Ice Jams ...... 21 4. Erosion and Mudslides ...... 21 5. Rapid Snow Pack Melt ...... 22 6. Dam Breach or Failure...... 22

B. Wind...... 22 1. Hurricanes...... 22 2. Tornadoes...... 23 3. Nor’easters ...... 23 4. Downbursts...... 24 5. Lightning...... 24

C. Wildfire...... 25 1. Forest Fires/Grass Fires...... 25 2. Isolated Homes...... 25

D. Ice and Snow Events...... 26 1. Heavy Snowstorms...... 26 2. Ice Storms ...... 26 3. Hailstorms...... 27

E. Earthquakes ...... 28 1. Earthquakes ...... 28 2. Landslides ...... 28

F. Other Hazards...... 28 1. Geomagnetism...... 28 2. Radon...... 29 3. Drought ...... 29 4. Extreme Heat ...... 29

Critical Facilities...... 31 Areas at Risk ...... 33 Active Dams...... 39 Past and Potential Hazards Map ...... End of Section II Areas at Risk Map...... End of Section II Critical Facilities Map...... End of Section II Amoskeag Hydro Project Inundation Map...... End of Section II

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Table of Contents (continued)

III. EXISTING MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS Description of Existing Programs...... 40 Existing Protection Matrix-Explanatory Text ...... 43 Existing Protection Matrix–Summary Chart...... 44 Summary of Recommended Improvements...... 48

IV. NEWLY IDENTIFIED MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND CRITICAL EVALUATION Summary of New Strategies...... 49 Summary of Critical Evaluation Method ...... 51 Preliminary Prioritization...... 51

V. PRIORITIZED IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE AND FUNDING SOURCES Implementation Strategy for Priority Mitigation Actions...... 53 Summary of Grant Acronyms...... 56 Cost of Implementation...... 57

VI. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES REGARDING ADOPTION, EVALUATION AND MONITORING OF THE PLAN Adoption ...... 58 Monitoring, Evaluating & Updates: Continued Public Involvement ...... 58

LIST OF MAPS Location Map of Bedford, New Hampshire...... 10 Past and Potential Hazards Map ...... End of Section II Areas At Risk Map...... End of Section II Critical Facilities Map...... End of Section II Amoskeag Hydro Project Inundation Map...... End of Section II

APPENDICES A. Commercial Economic Impact Areas...... 60 B. Hazardous Material Facilities ...... 63 C. New Hampshire Dam Classification Schedule ...... 65 D. Definitions...... 67 E. Resources, Bibliography, Web sites...... 68 F. Technical and Financial Assistance for Hazard Mitigation...... 72 G. STAPLEE Criteria...... 80 H. BHMPC Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Attendance Sheets ...... 81 I. Documentation of Plan Adoption ...... 100 J. Past Prioritized Implementation Schedules and Funding Sources .....101 K. Town of Bedford Water Resources Plan...... 110

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Town of Bedford, New Hampshire Hazard Mitigation Plan Executive Summary

The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan 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

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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 Management 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) • Regulation of Travel Trailers and Motor Homes • 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 16 new or ongoing hazard mitigation strategies as follows: • Culvert and Bridge Inventory and Analysis • Culvert and Bridge Maintenance Program • Floodplain Information Website • Emergency Shelter Needs Coordination • Maintenance Program for Detention/Retention Ponds • Stormwater Drainge GIS Maps • Transportation Hazard ID System • Tree Maintenance Program • Distribution of Flood Mitigation Information • Acquisition of Needed New Cisterns and Maintenance of Existing • Acquire updated FIRMs/GIS data from FEMA • Develop an Early Warning System for 100 year Floodplain Residents • Update FIRM Maps with FEMA • Dam Release Inundation Mapping with GIS

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• River Stewardship Program • Purchase Flood-prone Properties and/or Development Rights

This plan is scheduled to be reviewed and updated on an annual basis by the Bedford Co-Emergency Management Director in coordination with the Bedford Town Council. The next review will be during 2011.

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SECTION I INTRODUCTION

“Plans are worthless. Planning is essential.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower

Natural Hazards and Their Consequences During the past couple of decades, the United States has suffered a record number of natural disasters. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused an estimated $25 billion in damage. The 1993 Midwest floods resulted in some $12-$16 billion in damage. The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused $20 billion in damage, and the 2002 summer flooding in central Texas topped $1 billion in damage. In New England, more than 100 natural disasters during the past quarter century have been sufficiently catastrophic to be declared “disaster areas” by the president, making them eligible for federal disaster relief. That’s about four major disasters per year. Nine out of ten of these disasters were the result of flooding. Much of this damage might have been averted with the implementation of foresighted hazard mitigation efforts.

Photo of four homes lost in Tennessee due to a mile-wide tornado during November 2002. Portions of the Midwest and South are assessing the damage from more than 70 tornadoes that touched down. The death toll stands at 35 throughout five states. President George W. Bush declared a major disaster for Tennessee, opening the way for the use of federal disaster funds to help meet the recovery needs of families and businesses devastated by the tornadoes. Mossy Grove, Tennessee, was among the hardest hit areas as 12 people were killed and the rural town was destroyed.1

Floods, tornadoes, winter storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires— natural disasters are part of the world around us. Their occurrence is inevitable.

1 FEMA photo courtesy of Jason Pack.

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These events can wreak havoc on the natural environment by uprooting trees, eroding riverbanks and shorelines, carving new inlets, and blackening forests. Yet the natural environment is amazingly resilient, often recuperating in a matter of days or weeks.

When these events strike the man-made environment, however, the result is often more devastating. Disasters occur when a natural hazard crosses paths with elements of the man-made environment, including buildings, roads, pipelines, or crops. When hurricanes tear roofs off houses, it is a disaster. When tornadoes ravage a town, it is a disaster. In addition, when floods invade low- lying homes, it is a disaster. If only undeveloped wetlands and floodplains were flooded, rather than homes and businesses, we would hardly take notice. The natural environment takes care of itself. The fabricated environment, in contrast, often needs some emergency assistance.

What Is Hazard Mitigation? Hazard mitigation is the practice of reducing risks to people and property from natural hazards. FEMA defines hazard mitigation as “any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards.”2 It includes both structural interventions, such as flood control devices, and nonstructural measures, such as avoiding construction in the most flood-prone areas. Mitigation includes not only avoiding the development of vulnerable sections of the community, but also making existing development in hazard- prone areas safer. For example, a community could identify areas that are susceptible to damage from natural disasters and take steps to make these areas less vulnerable. It could also steer growth to less risky areas. Keeping buildings and people out of harm’s way is the essence of mitigation.

Mitigation should not be seen as an impediment to growth and development. On the contrary, incorporating mitigation into development decisions can result in a safer, more resilient community, one that is more attractive to new families and businesses.

Why Develop a Hazard Mitigation Plan? The full cost of the damage resulting from natural hazards—personal suffering, loss of lives, disruption of the economy, loss of tax base—is difficult to measure. New Hampshire is subject to many types of natural disasters: floods, hurricanes, nor’easters, winter storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires, all of which can have significant economic and social impacts. Some, such as hurricanes, are seasonal and often strike in predictable locations. Others, such as floods, can occur any time of the year and almost anywhere in the state.

2 FEMA Federal Response Plan, 1996.

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Benefits of Hazard Mitigation Hazard mitigation offers many benefits for a community. It can: • save lives and property. A community can save lives and reduce property damage from natural hazards through identifying risks and taking action, such as elevating structures in the floodplain. • reduce vulnerability to future hazards. By having a mitigation plan in place, a community is prepared to take steps that will permanently reduce the risk of future losses. This opportunity is often lost when we build our communities without regard to natural hazards, or when we rebuild them after a disaster “just like they were before.” While it is natural to want to return things to the way they were, it is important to remember that, in many cases, the disaster would not have been as severe if a mitigation plan had been implemented. • facilitate post-disaster funding. By identifying and ranking recovery projects before the next disaster, a community will be in a better position to obtain post-disaster funding because much of the background work necessary for applying for federal funding will already be done. • speed recovery. By developing a mitigation strategy, a community can identify post-disaster mitigation opportunities in advance of a disaster and be ready to respond quickly after a disaster.

Background: Bedford Hazard Mitigation Planning The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mandated that all communities within the State of New Hampshire establish local hazard mitigation plans as a means to reduce future losses from natural or man-made hazard events before they occur. With funding from FEMA, the NHOEM provided funding to the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission to develop a local hazard mitigation plan for the Town of Bedford. SNHPC began working with Bedford representatives during September 2002 to produce a plan. SNHPC then began working with Bedford representatives again in 2008 to update the plan.

Purpose The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan serves as a strategic planning tool for use by the Town of Bedford in its efforts to reduce future losses from natural or man- made hazardous events before they occur. This plan may constitute a new section of the Bedford Master Plan, in accordance with RSA 674:2.

Authority This All-Hazard Mitigation Plan was prepared in accordance with the Town of Bedford’s Emergency Management Plan, effective October 2002, under the authority of the Planning Mandate of Section 409 of Public Law 93-288 as

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amended by Public Law 100-707, the Robert T. Stafford Act of 1988, and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan will be referred to as the "Plan." After a public hearing was held at the Bedford Town Meeting Room (BCTV) on March 10, 2004 the Bedford Town Council formally adopted this Plan on April 14, 2004. Documentation of the adoption of this Plan is provided in Appendix J. The Bedford Town Council adopted the update to this plan on May 13, 2009 (Anticipated).

Scope of the Plan The scope of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan includes the identification of natural hazards affecting the Town, as identified by the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee. The committee reviewed hazards in the following categories as outlined in the State of New Hampshire Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan:

A. Flooding (including hurricanes, 100-year floodplain events, debris- impacted infrastructure, erosion, mudslides, rapid snow pack melt, river ice jams, and dam breach or failure) B. Wind (including hurricanes, tornadoes, nor’easters, downbursts, and lightning) C. Fire (including grass fires, forest fires and issues such as isolated homes and residential areas) D. Ice and snow events (including heavy snowstorms, ice storms, nor’easters, and hailstorms) E. Earthquakes (including landslides and other geologic hazards related to seismic activity) F. Other events, such as geomagnetism, radon, drought, and extreme heat.

Methodology In September 2002, the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee (BHMPC) was formed to begin the initial planning stages of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan. The BHMPC developed the contents of the Plan using the ten-step planning process set forth in the Hazard Mitigation Planning for New Hampshire Communities handbook. The SNRPC also assisted the BHMPC in the development of this Plan. The Committee consisted of representatives from various local agencies, including the Bedford Town Planner, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Superintendent of Public Works, Public Works Department, Assistant Superintendent, Bedford School District, among other citizens who attended the meetings. The Committee held a total of five public meetings beginning in September 2002 and ending in November 2002 to collect information, compile the plan, and review the plan.

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Plan Update Methodology In September 2008, the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Committee was formed to begin updating the plan. The Update Committee used the same ten- steps for the planning process set forth in the Hazard Mitigation Planning for New Hampshire Communities handbook, as did the original Committee. Each section of the plan was reviewed and updated according to new information and the events of the past 5 years. The Update Committee consisted of representatives from various local agencies, including the Bedford Town Planner, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Public Works Department, and Bedford School District, among other citizens who attended the meetings. The Committee held a total of five public meetings beginning in October 2008 and ending in February 2009 to collect information, compile the plan update, and review the plan update.

Public Committee Meetings On the following dates, the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee held public meetings at the Bedford Town Offices: September 19, 2002, October 10, 2002, October 25, 2002, November 8, 2002, November 14, 2002 and March 18, 2004. All of the Committee’s meetings were posted in two public places as required by New Hampshire state law.

Minutes were kept for each meeting and brainstorming sessions were recorded. Each committee member received E-mail that contained minutes of the previous meeting and an agenda. The minutes are available to the public. Copies of some of the meeting agendas, minutes and attendance sheets are provided in Appendix I.

On the following dates, the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Committee held public meetings at the Bedford Town Offices for the plan update: October 9, 2008, November 13, 2008, December 11, 2008, January 15, 2009 and February 12, 2009.

Coordination with Other Agencies and Individuals Committee Chair Rick Sawyer contacted the following individuals and agencies for their input and comment on the plan:

• David Bailey, Chief of Police, Town of Bedford • Russell Marcoux, Town Manager, Town of Bedford • Paul Belanger, Superintendant/ Assistant Director of Public Works • Scott Wiggin, Fire Chief, Town of Bedford • Steve Crean, Waste Water Superintendent • Mark Conrad, Chief Finanical Officer, Bedford SAU#25

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Existing Bedford Emergency Management Plan The Town of Bedford last updated the Bedford Emergency Management Plan in October 2002. An update of this plan is currently in progress. This plan describes the preparedness activities to improve the Town’s ability to respond to an incident; the response activities, including rescue operations, evacuation, emergency medical care, and emergency personnel training; and recovery activities that begin after the disaster. Mitigation activities help to reduce or eliminate the damages from future disaster events, and can occur before, during and after a disaster. The Bedford Emergency Management Plan states in part: By recognizing that it is generally less expensive to mitigate the damaging effects of a disaster than it is to recover from them, the citizens of Bedford can provide themselves with a greater measure of safety and security…. The citizens would be receptive to initiating mitigation programs when the potential benefits are properly explained. Private companies, which might present potential hazards to the community, would cooperate with officials to plan for mitigating these hazards.3

State of New Hampshire Legislation Related to Master Plans During 2002, the State of New Hampshire adopted new legislation related to master plans that requires municipalities to “provide more definitive guidance in planning and managing future growth.” This new legislation allows a natural hazards section to be considered during the master planning process and incorporated into the master plan. The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan shall serve as a new section of the existing or future Bedford Master Plan. The new legislation, RSA 674:2 Master Plan; Purpose and Description, reads: The Master Plan may also include the following sections: …(e) A natural hazards section which documents the physical characteristics, severity, frequency, and extent of any potential natural hazards to the community. It should identify those elements of the built environment at risk from natural hazards as well as extent of current and future vulnerability that may result from current zoning and development policies.

It is anticipated that the Hazard Mitigation Plan will become a part of the Natural Hazards Chapter of the 2010 Master Plan update.

3 Town of Bedford Emergency Management Plan, Annex O, Mitigation, 2002. 95-96.

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Town of Bedford Water Resources Plan

The Town of Bedford’s Water Resource Plan, dated June 30, 2008, shall serve as an annex to the Town of Bedford’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Water Resource Plan was developed to complement and enhance the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan by “identifying, evaluating, and mapping water resource sites available to local and mutual aid fire personnel for fire fighting purposes.”4 Mitigation Action number 10, in Section V, describes the Town’s need to “plan for the acquisition of needed new cisterns and maintenance of existing cisterns.” The Water Resource Plan describes a more detailed plan for implementing this action item and shall be incorporated into the Hazard Mitigation Plan for further information.

Plan Development Steps To complete this Plan, the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee followed ten planning steps.

Step 1: Map the Hazards Committee members identified areas where damage from natural disasters had previously occurred, areas of potential damage, and man-made facilities and other features that were at risk for loss of life, property damage, and other risk factors. Base maps provided by SNHPC were used in the process. Summary maps illustrate past hazards as identified by the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee. In addition, a summary listing of “Areas at Risk” is presented at the end of Section II.

Step 2: Determine Potential Damage Committee members identified facilities that were considered to be of value to the Town for emergency management purposes; for provision of utilities and services; and for historic, cultural and social value. GIS-generated maps were prepared to show these critical facilities. In addition, a summary listing of “Critical Facilities” is presented at the end of Section II.

Step 3: Identify Plans and Policies Already in Place Using information and activities outlined in the handbook Hazard Mitigation Planning for New Hampshire Communities, the Committee and SNHPC staff identified existing mitigation strategies related to flood, wind, fire, ice and snow events, and earthquakes that are already being implemented by the Town. A summary chart is presented in Section III.

Step 4: Identify the Gaps in Protection and Mitigation Existing strategies were reviewed for coverage, effectiveness and implemen- tation, as well as need for improvement. Some strategies are contained in the

4 Town of Bedford Water Resource Plan. June 30, 2008.

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Emergency Management Plan and were reviewed as part of this step. A summary chart and the results of these activities are presented in Section III.

Step 5: Determine Actions to be Taken During an open brainstorming session, the Committee developed a list of other possible actions and strategies to improve Bedford’s response to hazardous events. New mitigation strategies to improve Bedford’s response to hazardous events were developed and later analyzed for effectiveness. These new strategies are shown in Section IV.

Step 6: Evaluate Feasible Options The Committee reviewed each of the hazard mitigation actions and strategies that were identified in the brainstorming session using the evaluation charts from Step 6 of the handbook. A total of 14 evaluation factors (e.g., damage reduction, environmental impact, social acceptability, financial feasibility, including the STAPLEE criteria) were used to evaluate feasible actions. Each mitigation action was then scored from (1) for Poor; (2) for Average; and (3) for Good and all scores were totaled for each strategy. The scores range from 33 for the lowest to 38 for the highest. The results of this analysis are shown in Section IV. A description of the STAPLEE criteria is found in Appendix G of the Plan. STAPLEE stands for: Social, Technical, Administrative, Political, Legal, Economic, Environmental.

Step 7: Coordinate with Other Agencies/Entities Rick Sawyer with the Bedford Planning Department contacted agencies with expertise in hazardous mitigation, as well as other agencies and individuals that should be involved during this planning process. A listing of these agencies and individuals can be found on page 5.

Step 8: Determine Priorities The Committee reviewed the preliminary prioritization list in order to make changes and determine a final prioritization for hazard mitigation actions. Recommendations were prepared for the Committee to review and prioritize. The priorities can be found at the end of Section V.

Step 9: Develop Implementation Strategy Using the chart provided under Step 9 in the handbook, the Committee created an implementation strategy that includes person(s) responsible for implementation (who), a schedule for completion (when), and a funding source or technical assistance source (how) for each identified hazard mitigation action. The implementation strategy can be found in Section V.

Step 10: Adopt and Monitor the Plan SNHPC staff compiled the results of Steps 1 to 9 in a draft document, as well as helpful and informative materials from the State of New Hampshire Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, which served as the model for the Bedford Hazard Mitigation

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Plan. The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee reviewed, revised and approved a draft of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan. A revised draft document was then submitted to the Bedford Town Council for its review. The plan shall be reviewed on an annual basis to be certain the goals and objectives are being met, and that the policies are being adopted. Section VI of the Plan details the adoption and monitoring requirements.

“... [M]itigation works. The Seattle-Tacoma area did not suffer significant losses [following the February 28, 2001, earthquake] because 20 to 30 years ago local leaders invested in its future by passing building codes and issuing municipal bonds that implemented solid protective measures.”

—Joe Allbaugh, Director of FEMA Congressional testimony, May 16, 2001

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HAZARD MITIGATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

The 2007 State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, which was prepared and is maintained by the New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management, sets forth the following hazard mitigation goals and objectives:

1. To improve upon the protection of the general population, citizens and guests of the State of New Hampshire, from all natural and man-made hazards.

2. To reduce the potential impact of natural and man-made disasters on the State’s Critical Support Services and Critical Facilities.

3. To reduce the potential impact of natural and man-made disasters on the State’s infrastructure.

4. To improve the State’s Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response and Recovery Capability.

5. To reduce the potential impact of natural and man-made disasters on private property.

6. To reduce the potential impact of natural and man-made disasters on the State’s economy.

7. To reduce the potential impact of natural and man-made disasters on the State’s natural environment.

8. To reduce the State’s liability with respect to natural and man-made hazards generally.

9. To reduce the potential impact of natural and man-made disasters on the State’s specific historic treasures.

10. To identify, introduce and implement cost effective Hazard Mitigation measures so as to accomplish the State’s Goals.

11. To address the challenges posed by climate change as they pertain to increasing risks in the State’s infrastructure and natural environment as resources allow

The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee concurs with and adopts these goals and objectives for the Town of Bedford, New Hampshire.

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SECTION II HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

Location, Topography, Population, and Weather Conditions The Town of Bedford is located in the south-central portion of the State of New Hampshire in Hillsborough County. Bedford is bordered by the Town of Goffstown to the north, the City of Manchester and the Town of Londonderry to the east, the Town of Merrimack to the south, and the towns of Amherst and New Boston to the west.

Bedford encompasses a total of approximately 32.8 square miles. It is located two miles southwest of the City of Manchester and about 15 miles north of the City of Nashua. During the U.S. Census 2000 the population of the Town was 18,274, representing a growth rate of almost 100% during the previous 20 years.

Primary highway access is provided in part by U.S. 293, along with N.H. Routes 114, 101 and 3, the F.E. Everett Turnpike.

Location Map of Bedford, New Hampshire5

Although Bedford is primarily a residential community, it has experienced significant commercial and industrial development. Since this type of development is expected to continue, Bedford can expect additional residential development as well.

5 Map courtesy Complex Systems Research Center.

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The Bedford area is located in a gently sloping low plateau that is characterized by stratified and unstratified material, consisting of silt, sand and gravel deposited by the meltwaters of a retreating glacial ice sheet. Along the streams, alluvial silt covers the glacial outwash deposits to form the floodplains. The soil texture in most places is a well-drained, moderately acid fine sandy-loam or loam. Elevations range from approximately 110 feet at the Merrimack River to 840 feet at Holbrook Hill, the highest point in Town.

The climate of Bedford is typical of the Merrimack Valley, with warm summers and cool winters. Temperatures during the month of July range from an average high of 80 degrees Fahrenheit to an average low of 55 degrees. Temperatures in January range from an average high of 30 degrees Fahrenheit to an average low of ten degrees. Prolonged periods of severe cold are rare. Average annual precipitation is 42 inches, of which approximately 15% is snow.

Principal Streams and Brooks The principal watercourse in the Town of Bedford is the Merrimack River, which originates at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire. Bowman Brook, Patten Brook and Pointer Club Brook are tributaries of the Merrimack River. Baboosic Brook originates in the Town of Amherst, flows through the southwest corner of Bedford, and continues in a southeasterly direction. Pulpit Brook, McQuade Brook and Riddle Brook are tributaries of Baboosic Brook.

Floodplains, Flood Problems and Flood Protection Measures The Hillsborough River floodplain ranges in width from 500 to 870 feet throughout the study area. This floodplain consists primarily of agricultural areas, with residential and commercial development. The floodplains of Baboosic Brook, Pointer Club Brook, Patten Brook, Bowman Brook, Riddle Brook, McQuade Brook, and Pulpit Brook range in width from 30 to 1,750 feet.

Major floods have occurred on the Merrimack River during the spring, fall and winter seasons. Some of the most severe flooding occurs in early spring because of snowmelt and heavy rains in conjunction with ice jams. Autumn is another critical season for flood danger because of heavy rainfall associated with storms of tropical origin. Minor flooding incidents in Bedford can occur at any time of the year, though, as heavy thunderstorms during the summer months can result in rapid runoff and flooding in the lower portions of the small streams.

Repeated damage to structures in the floodplains occurred in 1851, 1896, 1936, 1938, 1951, 1953, 1960, 2006 and 2007. The 1936 flood is the flood of record, with no estimate for the return frequency of this flood.

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Above the area there are six dams designed for flood control: the Franklin Falls Dam on the Pemigewassett River; the Edward McDowell Dam on Nubanusit Brook; the Blackwater Dam on the Blackwater River (flood control only); and two dams that control Hopkinton Lake, the Everett Dam on the Piscataquog River and Hopkinton Dam on the Contoocook River. Amoskeag Dam is located on the Merrimack River, and additional information about this dam is available in Section III of this plan. Although there are no flood control structures on the other streams in Bedford, Baboosic Brook does have significant natural storage near Baboosic Lake. This storage effectively reduces peak floods and attenuates flooding on Baboosic Brook.

Disaster Risk The Town of Bedford is susceptible to a variety of natural hazards including flooding, river ice jams, severe winter storms, and hurricanes. The following is an estimate of damage in dollars that may result when a natural hazard occurs in the Town.

Vulnerability Assessment In order to estimate the potential for monetary losses due to natural hazards in Bedford, each hazard was analyzed, with the results shown below. The data below was calculated using FEMA’s Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses, August 2001. While the tables in this publication were helpful, a modified variant was utilized based on the information and data available. For instance, an abbreviated inventory of assets was conducted instead of a detailed inventory, since building specific data is not yet available in a format that can be accurately queried to locate property specific information in a given hazard zone. Therefore, the losses below are calculated using available historical and current data to create an estimate for each hazard. Also, data that would provide estimates of future buildings, infrastructure and critical facilities in the identified hazard areas is not yet available. A Build-out Analysis is currently in progress for the Town through the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and is expected to be complete in 2009. Some of the historical, background and risk related information considered in the estimation process is described in the subsection entitled “Past and Potential Hazards and Critical Facilities.”

Human losses were not calculated during this exercise, but they could be expected to occur depending on the type and severity of the hazard. These figures exclude both the value of the land and the value of the contents of the

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structure. As of 2007, the value of all structures in the Town, including exempt structures such as schools and churches, was assessed at $3.13 billion.6

Flooding7 Up to $5 million As of 1995, the Town of Bedford had 79 residential structures and 10 other structures located in the floodplain. As of 2007 the Town had not updated these numbers in its Biennial Report to FEMA. In 2007 the estimated population in the floodplain was 286. In 2004, the average town-wide residential sales price was $414,881.8 The Town had 80 National Flood Insurance Program policies as of August 31, 2008, with 15 claims filed since 1978.9 The town has one commercial repetitive loss property since 1978 with losses totaling approximately $34,000.00.10 Repetitive loss areas are mapped on the Past and Potential Hazards Map at the end of this chapter. The land uses within this area are commercial, residential-agricultural, and a historic overlay district.

Assuming 50% of structures in the floodplain sustain 30% damage, the estimated cost of repairing or replacing these homes and other structures after a major flood event is approximately $5 million. This estimate assumes a one- or two- story house with a basement, and a flood depth of four feet. Infrastructure damage could also be extensive, including roads, bridges, utilities, towers, etc. If a major devastating flood were to occur, the damage to properties located within the floodplain could be expected to exceed this estimated amount. The cost- benefit ratio for these items makes it clear that Bedford will benefit greatly from any flood mitigation measures that will help to reduce the losses that typically occur during a major flood event.

Hurricanes Up to $22 million A major hurricane can cause significant damage to a community. Most of the damage from hurricanes is caused by high water and high winds. However, less damage could be expected to occur in Bedford, which is located inland, than in a more vulnerable coastal area. Assuming an assessed structural valuation of approximately $2.2 billion, damaging 1% of this community-wide assessed structural valuation could result in losses of up to $22 million. This does not include other damages expected to occur on public property within the community.

6 NH Department of Revenue. 2007 Equalization Reports. http://www.nh.gov/revenue/munc_prop/documents/tables_by_county_2007.xls 7 The most recent available data was used in estimating losses 8 Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, Real Estate Sales Tracking in the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission Region, Annual Report, 2004. 9 NFIP Web site data. 10 Data provided by FEMA

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Debris-Impacted Infrastructure and River Ice Jams $10,000 to $5 million Damage from these two hazards could be expected to occur not only on privately owned structures, but also on public property such as roads, bridges and culverts. An estimate of damage in dollars from this type of hazard can range widely depending on the nature and severity of the hazard. A small-to-medium- sized event could be expected to produce a loss from $10,000 to $5 million.

Erosion and Mudslides $25,000 to $75,000 Erosion and mudslide damage usually affects infrastructure such as roads and bridges, but can also affect individual structures and businesses. Since this hazard has not been widespread in Bedford, damages from this hazard should be minimal.

Rapid Snow Pack Melt $10,000 to $50,000 Dams, roads, bridges, and structures have been identified as being susceptible to rapid snow pack melt in Bedford.

Dam Breach or Failure $1.25 million to $3.75 million Bedford has 3 Class L (Low Hazard) Dams and 12 Class NM (Non-menace) Dams. The Amoskeag Dam, located in Manchester on the Merrimack River, poses a substantial threat to land in Bedford that is located in close proximity to the river, if the dam should breach or fail. A map produced by Public Service of New Hampshire in 1999 shows the probable extent of inundation waters if the dam does breach or fail. Damage estimates could be expected to be about 25-75 percent of the flooding estimate, $1.25 million to $3.75 million.

Tornadoes $500,000 to $15 million The Fujita Scale is used to determine the intensity of tornadoes. Most tornadoes are in the F0 to F2 Class, in a range that extends to F5 Class. Building to modern wind standards provides significant property protection from tornadoes; New Hampshire is located within Zone 2 for Design Wind Speed for Community Shelters, which is 160 mph. While it is difficult to assess the monetary impact a tornado may have on a community, the dollar range shown above indicates an approximation of what might be expected. Tornadoes rarely occur in this part of the country, so damage from this hazard would not be very likely.

Nor’easters, Ice Storms, Heavy Snowstorms $10,000 to $1 million Damage from nor’easters and ice storms varies greatly depending on the amount of snow and ice that accumulates during the storm. The ice storm of 1998 caused much damage to power lines, structures and the agricultural economy in northern New England and southeastern Canada, with $1.1 billion in insurance

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claims and 35 lives lost due to the storm. These types of storms in Bedford could be expected to cause damage ranging from a few thousand dollars to several million, depending on the severity of the storm.

Forest Fires $415,000 to $8.3million A forest fire can strike at any time, but may be expected to occur during years of drought. Presuming a small-to-medium-sized fire that destroys from one to 20- plus homes, damage from this hazard could be expected to range from $415,000 to $8.3 million. Other damage, such as utilities, is not included in this estimate.

Earthquakes $22 to $110 million Assuming a moderate earthquake occurs in Bedford where structures are not built to a high seismic design level and are mostly of wood frame construction, it is estimated that about 1% to 5% of the assessed structural valuation could be lost, including both partial and total damage.

Downbursts, Lightning, Hailstorms, Landslides, Geomagnetism, Radon, Drought, Extreme Heat No major damage is known to have occurred in the Town of Bedford related to these types of events, so no potential loss estimate has been prepared for these categories.

Obviously, all of the above figures are only estimates. The amount of damage from any hazard will vary from these figures depending on the extent and nature of the hazard that occurs.

Current Land Development Trends in Bedford Bedford’s current development trends show that most land in the Town is consumed by single-family residential uses. The following is a summary of Bedford’s development from the most recent Master Plan update 11: • Bedford’s overall land use development pattern remains mainly unchanged from 1990, but the pace of development has expanded considerably during the past ten years. The most significant change is the development of multi-family and condominium housing along the Route 3 corridor. • A dwindling supply of privately owned undeveloped land exists in Bedford. Approximately 4,200 acres of land have been taken out of undeveloped status since 1990.

11 Information from the Town of Bedford Strategic Master Plan Update, March 6, 2000.

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• Single family housing was the dominant type of development between 1990 and 1998, accounting for approximately 3,000 acres or 90% of all land developed during that time period. • 203 acres have been developed for commercial and industrial purposes during the last ten years. • The 2000 Master Plan update indicates that based on current zoning, 1,400 to 2,000 additional housing units could be constructed on the remaining residentially zoned land. Bedford could reach residential build-out in the next 11 to 16 years, if past rates of development continue. • Undeveloped commercial and industrial land totals about 305 acres. This land could accommodate an additional 2.1 million square feet of building space, which represents about a 20- to 25-year supply of land. • As Bedford continues to approach the limits of its developable land, it is likely that future development will be encountering more marginal land with greater development constraints. • Bedford’s projected level and rate of growth are likely to necessitate some expansion of services (police, fire, schools, etc.) if current levels of service are to be maintained in the future.

The Town of Bedford’s existing Zoning Ordinance, Floodplain Development Ordinance, Subdivision and Site Plan Review Regulations all work to minimize the impacts if not eliminate any development in the hazard areas. The land outside of the Special Flood Hazard Areas and areas of steep slopes related areas remain the preferred location of development in Bedford, both by the Town and Developers. Future development may increase pressure to utilize these hazard areas, despite their inherent risks, given the impending scarcity of land due to rapid growth and near build-out conditions. None-the-less, any proposed new developments or significant improvements in these zones would require variances from the zoning board of authority and the planning board. Given these review opportunities, the Town may assure that any future growth in the hazard zones is done in a manner that creates no additional hazard risks to the applicant or the surrounding area.

National Flood Insurance Program Bedford has been participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) since 1979. Flood Insurance Rate Maps and the Flood Boundary and Floodway Map, all bearing the effective date of May 2, 1994, are used for flood insurance purposes and are on file with the Bedford Planning Board, as are map updates. The Town of Bedford continues to implement and enforce their Floodplain Development Ordinance (Article 45-12), which regulates all new construction and substantial improvements within the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). The town also requires an elevation certificate when (1) a structure is built or substantially improved within a known flood zone, or (2) if the flood map shows

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a part of the lot within the flood zone and the certified foundation plan shows the house is located within the flood zone. The land surveyor must supply the footing elevation.

The Town is considering adding flood hazard information to their website at the present time, as well as developing a program to distribute flood hazard information to those that are in the SFHAs as well.

According to FEMA’s 1998 Biennial Report, there were approximately 79 residential structures located in the FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Areas, with a population of approximately 286, and 10 non-residential structures. The 2008 Biennial report still reports a population of 286 for the Special Flood Hazard Areas. The Town had 80 National Flood Insurance Program policies as of August 31, 2008, with 15 claims filed since 1978 totaling approximately $326,000.00 in losses paid to date.12 The town has one commercial repetitive loss property since 1978 with losses totaling approximately $34,000.00.13 Repetitive loss areas are mapped on the Past and Potential Hazards Map at the end of this section. The land uses within this area are commercial, residential-agricultural, and a historic overlay district.

12 NFIP Web site data. 13 Data provided by FEMA

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Past and Potential Hazards and Critical Facilities The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee identified past hazard events, which include flooding, wind, wildfire, ice and snow, and earthquake events. Other hazards include geomagnetism, radon, drought, and extreme heat. These hazards were identified in a brainstorming session with the Committee. Additionally, the State of New Hampshire Hazard Mitigation plan was consulted and any other supporting information was derived from the resources listed in the Appendices. The Past and Potential Hazards Maps at the end of this Section reflect the contents of this list. For each hazard the Committee reviewed background information; areas at risk; and the potential for the hazard to occur in the town as well as pose a risk or cause damage to structures, infrastructure or human life.

A. Flooding The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee reviewed the following kinds of hazards related to flooding:

1. 100-Year Floodplain Events Unlike many other New Hampshire communities, the Town of Bedford did not develop along the waterways. However, the rapid expansion of growth in the town is forcing development closer to the floodplains than ever before. As “[r]esidents moved to the floodplains… Such encroachment has led to problems… Flood safety is a great concern along these watercourses and can be greatly enhanced by flood hazard mitigation planning (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 12-13).”

“The goal of flood hazard mitigation… is to eliminate or reduce the long-term risks to human life and property from flooding by reducing the cause of the hazard or reducing the effects through preparedness, response and recovery measures. Hazard Mitigation is the only phase of emergency management that can break the cycle of damage, reconstruction and repeated damage (Ibid. p. 13).”

The major watercourse flowing through Bedford is Merrimack River, on the eastern border of Town. There are also several smaller streams including Bowman Brook, Tioga River, Pointer Club Brook (tributaries of the Merrimack River) and McQuaide, Baboosic and Riddle Brooks. Some of the more severe flooding in Bedford tends to occur in the early spring due to snowmelt, heavy rains and ice jams. Autumn is another time of critical concern with heavy rainfall and tropical storms. “Repeated damage to structures in the floodplains occurred in 1851, 1896, 1936, 1938, 1951, 1953, and 1960. The 1936 flood being the largest of record.” (Flood Insurance Study, Town of Bedford, NH, FEMA 1994, p. 4-5)

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Known flooding in Bedford has occurred at: • Palomino Lane near Whittemore Street • North of Boynton Street at the terminus of Woodbury Lane • Western most portion of Magazine Street • Riddle Brook along Meadow Road and east of Wallace Road

2009 Update: Known flooding between 2004-2009 has occurred at:

• Wendover and Oak Drive Culverts • Route 101 between Stowell Road and Twin Brook Lane • The intersection of Nashua and Wallace Road • The bridge on Stowell Road which sits on the town line • The area around Whippoorwill Lane • Chubbuck Road, just north of Magazine Street • Daniel Webster Highway, just south of Kilton Road • The area around North Amherst Road and Perry Road • Jenkins Road just south of Beals Road • The area around Catsby Lane and Pembroke Way • The area around Cambridge Road and Birkdale Road

Please see Past Hazards GIS map at the end of Section II for the locations of the above flood hazard areas.

All Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA’s) in the Town of Bedford are potentially at risk if a 100-year floodplain event occurs

Moderate probability for flooding to occur and cause damage in Bedford’s 100- year floodplain

2. Hurricanes Since 1635, twelve hurricanes have reached New Hampshire; in the years 1635, 1778, 1804, 1815, 1869, 1938, 1954 (2), 1960, 1985, 1991 and 1999 (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 56). The 1938 hurricane was a more notable event, causing damage, to strike Bedford and other towns in southern New Hampshire. Hurricanes Carol and Edna caused some damage in August and September of 1954. The most recent hurricanes were: September 1985 – Gloria, August 1991 – Bob, and September 1999 – Floyd. In all of these cases, trees and power lines came down, but there was not a lot of structural damage.

Potential effects of a hurricane include bad flooding & disrupted travel, runoff not handled adequately, and traffic at a standstill. Areas flooded include:

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Magazine Street; Meadow Road; Keene Street/Mack Street; and Palomino Lane. Please see GIS maps at the end of Section II for the location of the above hazards.

All areas of the Town of Bedford are potentially at risk if a hurricane reaches Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

Moderate probability for hurricanes to occur and cause flood damage in Bedford

3. Debris-impacted infrastructure and river ice jams Historically, many floods in Bedford have been due to snowmelt and heavy rains in conjunction with ice jams or debris-impacted infrastructure. Bridges, culverts and related roadways were identified as most vulnerable to ice jams and debris- impacted infrastructure, and are included on the Critical Facilities GIS maps.

If flooding occurs in the Town of Bedford, there is the potential for debris- impacted infrastructure and ice jams to cause damage. Vegetative debris is the main source of materials for impacts in Bedford (other than ice), though silt and soils are also a problem for the Town during hazard events.

All SFHA’s in the Town of Bedford are potentially at risk if there is an ice jam or debris-impacted infrastructure. Particular concern should be given to Route 101 and Moore’s Crossing Bridge (railroad and pedestrian).

Moderate to high probability for debris-impacted infrastructure or ice-jams to occur and cause damage in Bedford

4. Erosion and mudslides Stream bank erosion may eventually result in mudslides. Land in Bedford which has at least 15 percent slope, a vertical rise of 15 feet over a horizontal run of 100 feet, is scattered throughout the Town, usually occurring around the hills and streambanks. Areas of steep slopes in Bedford are shown on the Past and Potential Hazards GIS maps.

2009 Update: Known erosion/mudslide damage occurred at the following location between 2004-2009: • In the area of Chardonnay Terrace

All areas of steep slopes and erosion prone soils, as mapped in this Plan, are potentially at risk in the case of potential erosion and mudslide events.

Low probability for erosion and mudslides to occur and cause damage in Bedford

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5. Rapid snow pack melt Structures and improvements located on, along, or at the base of, steep slopes are most vulnerable to rapid snow pack melt. Again these areas can be seen on the GIS maps’ depiction of steep slopes. Past damage has occurred at North Amherst Road by the Town line, with accompanying rain.

All areas of steep slopes and erosion prone soils, as mapped in this Plan, are potentially at risk in the event of rapid snow pack melt.

Low to moderate probability for rapid snow pack-melt to occur and cause damage

6. Dam breach or failure All class S (Significant Hazard) and H (High Hazard) dams have the potential to cause damage if they breach or fail. Bedford has 12 Class NM “Non-menace” dams and only three dams rated L or “Low”, which would cause minimal damage if they fail. However, the Amoskeag Dam is located along the Merrimack River in Manchester. If this dam breaches or fails, the inundation area includes some sections of Bedford along the west side of the river. Please see the Areas at Risk Map and the Amoskeag Hydro Project Inundation Map, at the end of this section, for dam locations and impact areas. The dam classes are defined in Appendix C.

The SFHA’s in Bedford would be impacted by a dam breach.

2009 Update: Known Dam Breach or failure between 2004-2009: • Woodbury Estate Pond Dam – 116 South River Rd. • McQuade Brook Dam – Jenkins Road • Bowman Brook Dam – 71 Whipporwill Lane • Bedford Three Corners Dam – Pulpit Road

Low probability for dam breach or failure to occur and cause damage in Bedford

B. Wind The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee reviewed the following kinds of hazards related to wind:

1. Hurricanes Severe hurricanes reaching south-central New Hampshire in the late summer and early fall are the most dangerous of the coastal storms that pass through New England from the south. During a hurricane wind speeds may reach 250 miles per hour in a Category 5 hurricane, as measured on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Tropical depressions are considered to be of hurricane force

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when winds reach 74 miles per hour. Substantial damage may result from winds of this force, especially considering the duration of the event, which may last for many hours. Potential effects of hurricane force winds include fallen trees on roads and communication and power towers may fall. In the past the white pine trees off Boynton Street have been affected.

All areas of Bedford are at risk if a hurricane reaches Hillsborough County, NH.

Moderate probability for hurricane force winds to occur and cause damage

2. Tornadoes All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk for property damage and loss of life due to tornadoes. Between 1956 and 1995 there are 18 known tornadoes that have occurred in Hillsborough County. None of these are known to have had any effect in Bedford.

All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk if a tornado reaches the Town.

Low to moderate probability for tornadoes to occur and cause damage in Bedford

3. Nor’easters A Northeaster is “[a] large weather system traveling from South to North passing along or near the seacoast. As the storm approaches New England and its intensity becomes increasingly apparent, the resulting counterclockwise cyclonic wind, impacts the coast and inland areas from a northeasterly direction. The sustained winds may meet or exceed hurricane force, with larger bursts, and may exceed hurricane events by many hours in terms of duration. These storms have complex meteorological derivations (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 58).”

“Unlike the relatively infrequent hurricane, New Hampshire generally experiences at least one or two of these events each year with varying degrees of severity. These storms have the potential to inflict more damage than many hurricanes because … high winds can last from 12 hours to 3 days, while the duration of hurricanes ranges from 6 to 12 hours. Infrastructure, including critical facilities, may be impacted by these events, and power outages and transportation disruptions (i.e. snow and/or debris impacted roads, as well as hazards to navigation and aviation) are often associated with the event (Ibid.).”

Noted past damage: • A storm during March 1993 caused widespread damage • Icing and heavy snows during nor’easters cause power lines to go down

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All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk for property damage and loss of life due to “Nor’-easters.”

Moderate to high probability for nor’easters to occur and cause wind damage

4. Downburst “A downburst is a severe localized wind blasting down from a thunderstorm. These ‘straight line’ winds are distinguishable from tornadic activity by the pattern of destruction and debris. Depending on the size and location of these events, the destruction to property may be devastating. Downbursts fall into two categories. Microbursts cover an area less than 2.5 miles in diameter, and macrobursts cover an area at least 2.5 miles in diameter (Ibid. p. 59)”

All locations in Bedford are at risk for property damage and loss of life due to downbursts.

2009 Update: Moderate probability for downbursts to occur and cause damage in Bedford. Probability upgraded from low due to heightened hazard occurrences.

5. Lightning “During the development of a thunderstorm, the rapidly rising air within the cloud, combined with the movement of the precipitation within the cloud, causes electrical charges to build up within the cloud. Generally, positive charges build up near the top of the cloud, while negative charges build up near the bottom. Normally, the Earth’s surface has a slight negative charge. However, as the negative charges build up near the base of the cloud, the ground beneath the cloud and the area surrounding the cloud becomes positively charged. As the cloud moves, these induced positive charges on the ground follow the cloud like a shadow. Lightning is a giant spark of electricity that occurs between the positive and negative charges within the atmosphere or between the atmosphere and the ground. In the initial stages of development, air acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charges. However, when the potential between the positive and negative charges becomes too great, there is a discharge of electricity that we know as lightning (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 63).”

All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk for property damage and loss of life due to lightning. There have been no known damage from lightning in Bedford.

2009 Update: Moderate probability for lightning to occur and cause damage in Bedford. Probability upgraded from low due to heightened hazard occurrences.

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C. Wildfire The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee reviewed the following kinds of hazards related to wildfire:

1. Forest Fires/Grass Fires “Historically, large NH wildland fires run in roughly 50 year cycles. The increased incidence of large wildland fire activity in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s is thought to be associated, in part, with debris from the Hurricane of 1938. Significant woody ‘fuel’ was deposited in the forests during that event. Present concerns of New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Forests & Lands are that the Ice Storm of 1998 has left a significant amount of woody debris in the forests of the region as may fuel future wildfires (Ibid. p. 34).”

There are several areas, in the Town of Bedford, that are susceptible to wildfires, including: • All new developments (when trees are cut, soil dries leaving dead grass) • OHRV’s spark cause fires • Debris left from ice storms in 1998 • Holbrook Hill area has had forest fires • Pulpit Rock area has had forest fires • Ministerial Branch Area • Perry Road Area These areas have been identified on the Past Hazards GIS map.

2009 Update: Between 2004-2009 an increased Urban-Wildlife Interface was noted in the Town of Bedford for Wildfire Hazards.

Low to moderate probability for wildfires to occur and cause damage in Bedford

2. Isolated Homes “New Hampshire is heavily forested and is therefore exposed to this hazard … The proximity of many populated areas to the State’s forested lands exposes these areas and their populations to the potential impact of wildfire (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 34).”

There are several areas in Bedford with isolated residential areas and individual residential units, identified on the Past and Potential Hazards GIS Map and in the summary listing of “Areas at Risk” at the end of this section.

2009 Update: There are two isolated homes located on Pulpit Rd.

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Low probability for isolated homes to be damaged in Bedford

D. Ice and Snow Events The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee reviewed the following kinds of hazards related to ice and snow events:

1. Heavy Snowstorms “A heavy snowstorm is generally considered to be one which deposits four or more inches of snow in a twelve-hour period… A blizzard is a winter storm characterized by high winds, low temperatures, and driving snow- according to the official definition given in 1958 by the U.S. Weather Bureau, the winds must exceed 35 miles per hour and the temperatures must drop to 20°F (-7°C) or lower. Therefore, intense Nor’-easters which occur in the winter months are often referred to as blizzards. The definition includes the conditions under which dry snow, which has previously fallen, is whipped into the air and creates a diminution of visual range. Such conditions, when extreme enough, are called ‘white outs’ (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 69- 70).”

All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk for property damage and loss of life due to heavy snows. A major snow event typically occurs about every two years. High elevations in Town are especially susceptible to this hazard.

Moderate to high probability for heavy snow storms and nor’easters to occur and cause damage in Bedford

2. Ice Storms When a mass of warm moist air collides with a mass of cold arctic air, the less dense warm air will rise and the moisture may precipitate out in the form of rain. When this rain falls through the colder more dense air and comes in contact with cold surfaces, the latent heat of fusion is removed by connective and/or evaporative cooling. Ice forms on these cold surfaces and may continue to form until the ice is quite deep, as much as several inches. This condition may strain branches of trees, power lines and even transmission towers to the breaking point and often creates treacherous conditions for highway travel and aviation. Notwithstanding the unique beauty of such events, the weight of formed ice (especially with a following wind) may cause power and phone lines to snap and the towers that support them to fail under the load of ice and/or bending or broken tree limbs. Debris impacted roads make emergency access, repair and cleanup extremely difficult. The recent Ice Storm of January 1998 was not unique in either its spatial scope or its devastating consequences. A similar event in 1929 is believed to have been comparable to this event (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 80).”

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2009 Update: Bedford, including the rest of New Hampshire and much of the Northeast, experienced an intense ice storm from December 11-12, 2008. A major disaster declaration was declared for 10 counties in New Hampshire, including Hillsborough..The damage was widespread and approximately 400,000 residents of New Hampshire lost power from the storm. Restoring power to a majority of the State took approximately 14 days and in some extreme cases it took 17 days.

“It was absolutely unprecedented in devastation. Take the largest number of outages in any past storm, multiply that figure by three, and it still won't equal the outages in the 2008 ice storm.” PSNH spokesman, Matt Chagnon, went on to say that, “the response was as unprecedented as the storm itself. PSNH put 2,400 linemen to work. On average, they restored power to 28,000 customers a day.”14 The 2008 ice storm is believed to be the worst ice storm ever recorded in New Hampshire.

All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk for property damage and loss of life due to ice storms.

Moderate probability for ice storms to occur and cause damage in Bedford

3. Hailstorms “Hailstones are balls of ice that grow as they are held up by winds, known as updrafts, that blow upwards in thunderstorms. The updrafts carry droplets of supercooled water (at a below freezing temperature) but not yet ice. The supercooled water droplets hit the balls of ice and freeze instantly, making the hailstones grow. The faster the updraft, the bigger the stone can grow (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 67).”

“Most hailstones are smaller in diameter than a dime, but, stones weighing more than a pound have been recorded. Details of how hailstones grow are complicated but, the results are irregular balls of ice that can be as large as baseballs, sometimes even bigger. While crops are the major victims, hail is also a hazard to vehicles and windows. Hail damage events can be severe to persons, property, livestock and agriculture (Ibid).”

All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk from this hazard.

2009 Update: Low to Moderate probability for hailstorms to occur and cause damage in Bedford. Probability upgraded from low due to heightened hazard occurrences.

14 Sullivan, Margo. State, power companies explore ice storm response. 12/29/08. http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_364030134.html

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E. Earthquakes The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee reviewed the following kinds of hazards related to seismic events:

1. Earthquakes “A series of vibrations induced in the Earth’s crust by the abrupt rupture and rebound of rocks in which elastic strain has been slowly accumulating (Ibid p. 37).” “In general, New England is considered to have a moderate seismic vulnerability but a high seismic risk because of our built environment (Ibid p. 43).”

All areas of Bedford are potentially at risk for property damage and loss of life due to earthquakes.

Low to moderate probability for earthquakes to occur and cause damage

2. Landslides “Webster: ‘The sliding of a mass of soil, detritus or rock on or from a steep slope.’ More specifically, a landslide is the downward movement of slope forming materials reacting under the force of gravity including: mudflows, mudslides, debris flows, rockslides, debris avalanches, debris slides and earth flows. …Landslides may be formed when a layer of soil atop a slope becomes saturated by significant precipitation and slides along a more cohesive layer of soil or rock (Ibid p. 45).”

All areas of steep slopes in Bedford, as shown as part of the Past Hazards Map, are at risk for landslides. Past problems have occurred at the open quarry pits on Camp Road and at Back River Road and Sebbins Pond.

Low probability for landslides to occur and cause damage in Bedford

F. Other Hazards The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee reviewed the following kinds of hazards related to these events:

1. Geomagnetism The State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan defines geomagnetism as “…of, or pertaining to the Earth’s magnetic field and related phenomena. Large geomagnetic disturbances commonly known as magnetic storms, if global in scale, or as magnetic substorms if localized in scale and limited to night time high altitude auroral regions, are of particular significance for electric power utilities, pipeline operations, radio communications,

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navigation, satellite operations, geophysical exploration and GPS (global positional system) use.”

High-tension lines through town and communications towers are at risk in Bedford.

Low probability for geomagnetism to occur and cause damage in Bedford

2. Radon Radon is a radioactive gas with carcinogenic properties that occurs naturally. It has been identified as a problem in many New Hampshire communities. Typically the radon is fond in some metamorphic rocks in southeastern New Hampshire and may enter homes in a dissolved state through the drinking water from drilled wells. The NH Office of Community and Public Health Bureau of Radiological Health, as cited in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, reports nearly one third of New Hampshire homes have radon levels at or above the United States Environmental Protection Agencies “action level” of four picocuries per liter for at least a portion of the year.

All areas of Bedford should be considered at risk for radon. A number of homes are known to be effected by radon.

High probability for radon to occur and cause damage in Bedford

3. Drought New Hampshire has been under several drought warnings, including a drought emergency, during the past three years. While a drought is not as devastating as some other hazards, low water levels can have a negative effect on existing and future home sites, since many sites depend on groundwater for water needs. Additionally, the dry conditions of a drought may lead to an increase wild fire risk.

All areas of Bedford would be affected by a drought.

Moderate probability for drought to occur and cause damage in Bedford

4. Extreme Heat Extreme heat is an occasional and short-lived event in Southern New Hampshire. While there have been no extended periods of extreme heat in Bedford, the State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan notes the hottest summer of record as 1999. There were 13 days above 90 degrees, 5 days over 95 degrees and 2 days over 97 degrees.

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All areas of Bedford would be affected by extreme heat, in its event. Particular areas and populations at a greater risk are: • Elderly populations and day care centers, identified in the “Areas at Risk” listing at the end of this section; • Power system may become overburdened; • Communications negatively affected by power burden.

Low probability for extreme heat to occur and cause damage in Bedford

GIS-generated maps were prepared to illustrate Past and Potential Hazards, Areas at Risk and Critical Facilities as identified by the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee. These maps are included at the end of this section, following the summary listings of “Critical Facilities” and “Areas at Risk.”

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Town of Bedford, New Hampshire Critical Facilities The following are emergency equipment or areas that are needed to respond at the time of a natural disaster. Applicable hazard areas for each Critical Facility are keyed in parenthesis. Key (F) Located within the Special Flood Hazard Area and/or prone to flooding and damage due to 100-year floodplain events, ice jams, debris impacted infrastructure, hurricanes or rapid snow pack melt.

(S) Located on or adjacent to a Steep Slope and susceptible to damage in the event of erosion, mudslides or landslides.

(X) Located in or near a known past or potential wildfire location

(T) Susceptible to Town wide hazard risks such as wind damage from hurricanes, tornados, nor’easters, downbursts, lightning, heavy snow or ice storms or hailstorms.

Town Offices 24 North Amherst Road (F, T)

Safety Complex Police and Fire Departments 55 Constitution Drive (T)

Emergency Management Bedford Town Offices, 24 North Amherst Road 55 Constitution Drive (T)

Emergency Fuel Facilities Bedford Public Works, 19 Chubbuck Lane (T)

Public Works Garage

19 Chubbuck Lane (T) Bedford Fire Department, 55 Constitution Drive

Evacuation Routes • U.S. I-293 (F, S, T) • N.H. Route 101 (F, S, T) • N.H. Route 114 (F, S, T) • Route 3/F.E. Everett Tpke. (S, T)

Bridges (F, T) Bridges are shown on the Critical Bedford Public Works, 19 Chubbuck Lane Facilities Map at the end of this section.

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Back-up Electrical Generators 55 Constitution Drive, Back-up Independent Living: power available (T) • Carlyle Place, 40 Route 101 (S, T) • St. Elizabeth Seton Church and Assisted Living with Alzheimer’s: Rectory, 190 Meetinghouse Road, • Arbors of Bedford, Back-up power available (S, T) 70 Hawthorne Drive (T) • Bedford Middle/High School, 47 Nursing Homes: Nashua Road (T) • Ridgewood Center, 25 Ridgewood Road (T) Post Office • Harbor Side Healthcare, • 25 South River Road (T) 30 Colby Court (T) • Substation at Harvest Market, • Laurel Center, 209 Route 101 (F, T) 480 Donald Street (T) • Bedford Middle/High School, 47 Hospitals/Ambulance Nashua Road (T) In Bedford: Other locations: • Bedford Ambulatory Surgical • Safety Complex with tow-behind Center, 11 Washington Place (T) unit (T) In Manchester: • Public Works Garage with tow- • VA Medical Center, behind unit (T) 200 Springs Road • Riddle Brook School, • Elliot Hospital 230 New Boston Road, hook-up • Catholic Medical Center for portable generator (T) • Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Wireless Communication Facilities Center, 11 Washington Place15 (T) • Cell Tower, 37 Ridgewood Rd (T) • Lowes, 222 South River Road (T) • Cell Tower, 328 Route 101 (T) (S) • Cell Tower, Chestnut Drive Lot • Target, 220 South River Road (T) 20-22-9 (S, T) (S) • Cell Tower, 55 Constitution Drive • Bentley Commons, 66 Hawthorne (Safety Complex) (T) Drive (T) • Cell Tower, South River Road (T) • Country Inn and Suites, 250 • Flagpole Booster, 188 Rte 101 (F, T) South River Road (T) • Hannaford’s, 4 Jenkins Road (T) Radio Towers • Daniel Webster Animal Hospital, • Police Department, 5 Hawthorne Drive (T) 185 Pulpit Road (S, T) • Public Works Department, Shelters 19 Chubbuck Road (T) • Riddle Brook School, • Safety Complex, 230 New Boston Road (T) 55 Constitution Drive (T) • Safety Complex, • 233 South River Road (T) 15 Generator has limited capacity.

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Areas at Risk The following are emergency equipment or areas not needed to respond at the time of a natural disaster, but which could still be threatened if a natural disaster were to occur. Applicable hazard areas for each Critical Facility are keyed in parenthesis. Key (F) Located within the Special Flood Hazard Area and/or prone to flooding and damage due to 100-year floodplain events, ice jams, debris impacted infrastructure, hurricanes or rapid snow pack melt.

(S) Located on or adjacent to a Steep Slope and susceptible to damage in the event of erosion, mudslides or landslides.

(X) Located in or near a known past or potential wildfire location

(T) Susceptible to Town wide hazard risks such as wind damage from hurricanes, tornados, nor’easters, downbursts, lightning, heavy snow or ice storms or hailstorms.

Public Water Systems • 101 Plaza, Route 101 (F, T) • 32 Constitution Drive (S, T) • 35 Constitution Drive (S, T) • Animal Rescue League of NH, 545 Route 101 (S, T)

• Bainbridge Park, Bedford Area Work Center for PSNH 18 Constitution Drive (T) • PSNH, Bedford Area Work Center, 12 Bellemore Drive (F, T) • Bedford Presbyterian Church, 4 Church Road (F, T) • Bedford Village Morning School, 19 Ministerial Road (T) • Bedford Village Shops, Route 101 (T)

• Bedford West Convenience Bethany Covenant Church, 1 Covenant Way Center, Route 101 (F, T) • Bethany Covenant Church, 1 Covenant Way (S, T) • Camp Allen, Camp Allen Rd (S, T) • Camp Foster, Camp Allen Rd (S, T) • Camp Kettleford, Camp Allen Rd (S, T) • Dr. Dunn Dental Office,

Bell Hill Road (T) English Woods Water Pumping Station, White Ave.

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• Eastpointe Properties, • Beals Rd at McQuade Brook (F, T) 436 South River Road (S, T) • Catesby Lane (F, T) • English Woods (public water • Back River and Smith roads (F, T) service), White Avenue (F, T) • 184 Nashua Road (T, F) • Enviro-Tote Inc., 4 Cote Lane (T) • 136 Jenkins Road (Dam) (T, F) • Rt 101 by Twin Brook (T, F) Sewer Pumping Stations • 51 Wendover Way (T, F) • 43 Constitution Drive (T) • 47 Oak Drive (T, F) • 2 Village Inn Lane (T) • Whippoorwill Lane (T, F) • 169 South River Road (T) • Chubbuck Road (T, F) • Station Road, Lot 23-3-1 (F, S, T) • Moore’s Crossing Road, Privately Electrical Power Substations owned, not in operation (T) • Meetinghouse Road (F, S, T) • Commerce Drive, Lot 24-98-21 (T) • Moore’s Crossing (T) • 10 Iron Horse Drive (S, T) • 55 Station Road (T, F) • Crimson Glory Ln, Rose Hill (T) • 47 Nashua Road • 108 Liberty Hill

Water Pumping Stations • 103 County Road (T) • Donald Street (T)

Sewer Metering Station • South end of Alpine Street (T) Electrical Power Substation, Meetinghouse Road

Sewer Interceptor and Mains Schools • See Critical Facilities Map (T) • Memorial School, 55 Old Bedford Road (S, T) Gas Mains (see Critical Fac’s Map) • McKelvie School, • S. River Rd, County Rd, DW Hwy & 108 Liberty Hill Road (T) some branches off these roads (T) • Peter Woodbury School, 180 County Road (S, T) Major Highways/Roadways • Riddle Brook School, • U.S. I-293 (F, S, T) 230 New Boston Road (T) • N.H. 101 (F, S, T) • Supt. Office, 103 County Road (T) • N.H. 114 (F, S, T) • Lurgio Middle School / Bedford • Route 3/South River Road (S, T) High School, 47 Nashua Road(T)

Problem Culverts Child Care Centers • Meadow Road (F, T) • Bedford Mother’s Club School, 4 • Magazine Street (T) Church Road (T)

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• Bedford Village Morning School, Station Road (T) 19 Ministerial Road (T)

• Creative Growing Preschool, 11 Bell Hill Road (F, T) • Harmony Learning Center, 54 Constitution Drive (T) • Kinder Care Learning Center, 3 Upjohn Street (T) • Lamb’s Workshop, 1 Covenant Way (S, T) • Learning Adventures Early Childhood Center, 51 Old Bedford Road (S, T) Memorial School, 55 Old Bedford Road • Montessori School of Bedford, 24 Tirrell Hill Road (T) • My Second Home, 447 Donald Street (T) • Nanny Solution, Inc. (T) • New Morning School, 23 Back River Road (T) • New Morning School, Riddle Brook Elementary School, New

Boston Road (T) McKelvie School, 108 Liberty Hill Road • New Morning School, Memorial Elementary School, 55 Old Bedford Road (T) • New Morning School, Peter Woodbury School, 180 County Road (S, T) • Rainbowland Child Development Center, 3 Rundlett Hill Road (T)

Churches Peter Woodbury School, 180 County Road • St. Elizabeth Seton Church and

Rectory, 190 Meetinghouse Road (S, T) • Bethany Covenant Church, 1 Covenant Way (S, T) • Bedford Community Church, 56 Old Bedford Road (T) • Bedford Four Square Church,

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66 Hawthorne Drive (T)

Recreation Areas • Camp Allen (S, T) • Camp Kettleford (S, T) • Foster Day Camp (S, T) • McKelvie School(T)

Montessori School of Bedford, 24 Tirrell Hill Road

• Bedford Presbyterian Church, 4 Church Road (F, T) • Seventh Day Adventist Church, Back River Road (T)

Rainbow Child Development Center, Alzheimer’s Facilities 3 Rundlett Hill Road • Arbors of Bedford, 70 Hawthorne Drive South (T)

Nursing Homes • Harborside Healthcare- Northwood, 30 Colby Court (T) • The Laurel Center, 480 Donald Street (T) • Ridgewood Center, 25 Ridgewood (T)

• The Arbors of Bedford, Bedford Presbyterian Church, 70 Hawthorne Drive (T) Church Road

Independent Elderly Housing # of Units • Carleton Crossing, 28 10 Colby Court (S, T) • Pine Village Estates, 24 45 Ridgewood Rd. (T) • Briston Manor West 70 37 Ridgewood Road (T, S) St. Elizabeth Seton Church and Rectory, Assisted Living 190 Meetinghouse Road • Carlyle Place, 40 Route 101 (S, T) • Bently Commons,

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• Heritage Trail, Town of Bedford (T) • Earl Legacy Park, Town of Bedford (T) • Pulpit Rock Conservation Area, Town of Bedford (S, X, T) • Mueller Park (T)

Carleton Crossing,, 10 Colby Court

• Memorial Elem. School (S, T) • Joppa Hill Farm • Office Fields, SAU • Middle School and High School Fields • Peter Woodbury School (S, T) • Bedford Recreation Area (T) Carlyle Place Assisted Living, 40 Route 101

• Bedford Bluffs Inc. (T) • Manchester Country Club (T) • Reeds Ferry State Forest, • Ann DeNicola Memorial Playground • Bedford Center Park • Bedford Heritage Trail • Bedford Memorial Town Pool • Benedictine Park Briston Manor West Assisted Living, • Earl G. Legacy Park 37 Ridgewood • Goad’s Trail Conservation Property • Greenfield Farms • Little League Complex • McAfee Practice Field • Muller Park • Pulpit Rock Conservation Area • Riddle Brook School • Riley Field Complex

• Riverfront Recreation Area Manchester Country Club, 180 S. River Road • Van Loan Preserve Trail • Waterfowl Park • Riley Field, Nashua Road (T) • Bedford Pool & Bathhouse, Town of Bedford (T)

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Riley Field, Nashua Road

• Bedford Soccer League Fields (T) • Benedictine Land (T) • Ash Bog Trail (F, T) • Horseshoe Trail (T) • McAfree Farm Practice Field (T)

Unique or Historic Resources The following structures and places are unique or historic in Bedford: • Bedford Historic District, Town Center (F, S, T) • Town Hall (F, T) • Presbyterian Church (F, T)

Solid Waste/Municipal Recycling Facility/Transfer Station • Bedford Transfer Station, 77 Chubbuck Road (T) • Bedford Municipal Landfill, 77 Chubbuck Road16 (T)

16 Landfill capped in 1995.

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Active Dams (As of October 2008)17

See Appendix C for New Hampshire Dam Classification Schedule (F, T) Dam Map-Block-Lot Dam Name Waterway Type Owner Rating Street Address Bowman Brook Bowman Brook Concrete S.L. Realty L 12-32 Limited Partnership 121 S. River Road

Woodbury Estate Bowman Brook Concrete Coldstream Park L 12-30 Pond Condo 116 S. River Road

McQuade Brook McQuade Brook Earth Town of Bedford L N. Amherst Road, Dam Jenkins Road

Bowman Brook Bowman Brook Earth Gayle and Greg NM 1-79 Sicco 71 Whippoorwill Way

Galloway Pond N/A Earth Deane and John NM 10-46-6 Barton 12 Galloway Lane

Farm Pond McQuade Brook Earth Celine and Yvon NM 5-4 Baribeau 47 S. New Boston Road

Bowman Bark Mill Brook Concrete Pond Haven. NM 13-35 Brook Assoc. 40 Route 101

Jenkins Dam Patten Brook Concrete Michele and DennisNM 12-49 Piddy 148 Meetinghouse Road

Apple Orchards N/A Earth Benjamin Enter. NM Estate Dam

Burliegh Dam Riddle Brook Earth/ George & Sarah NM 14-50-14 (Vacant lot) Concrete Katis Riddle Drive

Stone Dam N/A Earth Laura and Paul NM 20-56 O’Donnell 19 N. Amherst Road

Golf Pond Patten Brook Concrete Manchester NM 22-52 Country Club 180 S. River Road

Recreation Riddle Brook Concrete Richard W. Jr. NM 26-12 Pond & Carlene Horne 121 Liberty Hill Road

Recreation N/A Earth/ Wayne Williams NM 27-38-10 Pond Concrete Rev. Trust 10 Maiden Lane

Stowell Pond Baboosic Brook Concrete Warren and Brian NM 41-12-6 A. Sealander 97 Stowell Road

Please see Appendix A for a list of the Commercial Economic Impact Areas and Appendix B for Hazardous Materials Facilities located in Bedford.

17 Dams not rated are not shown, nor are fire ponds or detention ponds.

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Map produced by SNHPC January 2009.

This map is designed as part of the Towns Hazard Mitigation Plan and is for planning purposes only. It is not to be used for legal boundary determinations or for regulatory purposes.

SECTION III EXISTING MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS

Description of Existing Programs The Town of Bedford has adopted several programs and ordinances for hazard mitigation. They are listed here.

Floodplain Development District (zoning) Floodplain Development District regulations apply to all lands designated as Special Flood Hazard Areas by FEMA in its Flood Insurance Study for the Town of Bedford, N.H., together with the associated Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated May 2, 1994. The Building Inspector shall review all building permit applications for new construction or substantial improvements to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding.

Elevation Certificates An Elevation Certificate is required when (1) a structure is built or substantially improved within a known flood zone, or (2) if the flood map shows a part of the lot within the flood zone and the certified foundation plan shows the house is located within the flood zone. The land surveyor must supply the footing elevation.

Excavation Regulations (Land Development Control Regulations) Excavation Regulations minimize safety hazards created by open excavations; safeguard the public health and welfare; preserve the natural assets of soil, water, forests, and wildlife; maintain aesthetic features of the environment; prevent land and water pollution; and promote soil stabilization.

Emergency Management Plan Bedford maintains an Emergency Management Plan. The latest update of this plan was conducted during October 2002. The plan describes the Town Departments’ duties as well as the personnel and equipment available during an emergency. The town is currently in the process of updating the plan.

Amoskeag Development Emergency Action Plan The Amoskeag Dam is located on the Merrimack River near the Amoskeag Bridge in Manchester. The Amoskeag Hydro Project Inundation Map indicates approximately one mile of shoreline in Bedford that could be affected if the dam fails. The Amoskeag Development Emergency Action Plan was last updated during December 2001. The dam is owned and operated by Public Service of New Hampshire. The inundation map is located in the pocket in the back cover of this document.

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Evacuation and Notification The Bedford Emergency Management Plan addresses evacuation procedures for emergency notification and routes to be taken.

State Dam Program Bedford maintains Low Hazard Class dams in coordination with the State Dam Program.

Road Design Standards (NH DOT and Local) Bedford maintains road design regulations (N.H. Department of Transportation standards) as part of the Town’s Subdivision Regulations. Land Development Control Regulations control the peak rate of discharge of storm water runoff from development under post-development conditions. The discharge shall not exceed that of the predevelopment condition unless it can be demonstrated that no off-site adverse impacts will result, or appropriate flowage easements have been secured.

New Hampshire Shoreland Protection Act The Shoreland Protection Act, adopted during 1994 and recently updated during 2008, establishes minimum standards for the future subdivision, use, and development of all shore lands within 250 feet of the ordinary high water mark. When repairs, improvements or expansions are proposed to existing development, the law requires these alterations to be consistent with the intent of the Act. The N.H. Department of Environmental Services is responsible for enforcing the standards within the protected shoreland, unless a community adopts an ordinance or shoreland provisions that are equal to or more stringent than the Act.

Best Management Practices The State has established Best Management Practices for erosion and sediment control. These BMPs are methods, measures or practices to prevent or reduce water pollution, including, but not limited to structural and nonstructural controls, operation and maintenance procedures, and other requirements and scheduling and distribution of activities. Usually, BMPs are applied as a system of practices rather than a single practice. BMPs are selected because of site- specific conditions that reflect natural background conditions.

Back-up Electrical Generators Back-up electrical generators are located at the Safety Complex, all nursing homes, the Middle/High school and the Department of Public Works. Riddle Brook School has a hook-up for a portable generator. The Safety Complex and the Department of Public Works also each have a tow-behind generator.

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Town Radio System The Central Dispatch Center is located at the Safety Complex, coordinating police, fire and public works, along with a Nextel wireless phone system.

Hazardous Materials Regulations The Town of Bedford enforces State of New Hampshire regulations regarding hazardous materials.

Regulation of Travel Trailers and Motor Homes The maximum stay allowed in travel trailers is 30 days per year, and the vehicle must be occupied by a non-paying guest.

International Building Code (IBC), Local Building Code and National Fire Protection Association Code (NFPA) The Town enforces the IBC, the local building code, and the NFPA Code. These codes regulate construction to assure the safety of building occupants post construction.

Steep Slopes and Class VI Roads Steep slopes in excess of 25% and Class VI roads are regulated by the Town’s Land Development Control Regulations.

Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning for Schools Procedures are based upon the guidelines presented to the school district by the N.H. Office of Emergency Management.

Wellhead Protection Program The Wellhead Protection Program includes a 75-foot protection area around the wellhead, per the N.H. Department of Environmental Services.

Wetlands Regulations The wetlands regulations contained within the zoning ordinance protects wetlands, and includes a 50-foot wetlands setback beyond the boundary of each wetland.

Hazmat Response The Hazmat response depends on continued reliance on mutual aid, and is guided by the SMART (Souhegan Mutual Aid Response Team) Committee.

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Existing Protection Matrix The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee has developed a summary matrix of existing strategies that support hazard mitigation efforts, which is presented on the following pages. This matrix, a summary of the preceding information, includes the type of existing protection (Column 1), a description of the existing protection (Column 2), the area of town affected (Column 3), the effectiveness and/or enforcement of the strategy (Column 4), the identified improvements or changes needed (Column 5) and the most recent updates (Column 6).

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Existing Protection Policies, Programs and Proposed Improvements for the Town of Bedford

TYPE OF EXISTING DESCRIPTION AREA OF EFFECTIVENESS IMPROVEMENTS 2009 Update PROTECTION TOWN AND/OR OR CHANGES COVERED ENFORCEMENT NEEDED (Funding Sources) Floodplain Development Guides development All lands • Building Inspector Dam release Dam release GIS mapping District (Zoning in the floodplain to prevent designated as • Planning Board mapping incomplete. Zoning Ordinance) increased risk to exist. bldgs special flood (Town and NH Ordinance updated in in the SFHAs. hazard by OEM) March 2007 FEMA

Elevation Certificates Required for Certificate of Floodplain Building Inspector None noted None noted Occupancy for all new areas construction/substantial improvements in SFHAs Wetland Regulations Protects wetlands and All lands • Building Inspector None noted None noted includes 50-foot wetlands • Planning and Zoning setback beyond the Board boundary of each wetland • Conservation Commission Emergency Management Describes Town dept’s & All areas of Last updated during None noted Update in Progress Plan personnel duties & Town 2002 equipment available during an emergency Evacuation and Evacuation procedures with All areas of Contained within EMP, None noted Update of EMP in Progress Notification emergency notification and Town last updated 2002 routes Page 44

TYPE OF EXISTING DESCRIPTION AREA OF EFFECTIVENESS IMPROVEMENTS 2009 Update PROTECTION TOWN AND/OR OR CHANGES COVERED ENFORCEMENT NEEDED (Funding Sources) NH State Dam Program Maintenance of Low Hazard All Low NH DES None noted None noted Class dams in coordination Hazard Class with the State Dam Program dams in Bedford Road Design Standards NH DOT standards and All new • Planning Board None noted None noted Town Land Development subdivisions • Dept. of Public Control Regulations Works Shoreland Protection Act Standards for use of all Merrimack • Planning and Zoning None noted None noted protected shorelands within River Board 250 feet of the ordinary high Sebbins Pond • NH DES water mark of state public waters Best Management State guidelines for sediment All areas of • State of NH None noted None noted Practices (BMPs) and erosion control; Town • Dept. of Public protection of natural Works environment & prevention • Planning & Zoning of potential damage due to Boards poor construction methods Generators Back-up electrical power for All areas of • Fire Dept. None noted Additional generation shelters, etc. Town • Dept. of Public needed at the high school. Works Coordination is in progress. Town Radio System Communications between All areas of Emergency personnel Upgrade radio Completed fire, police, emergency Town system services (Fire/Police/EMS Depts) Hazardous Materials State regulations All areas of Police, Fire None noted None noted Regulations administered by Town Town Departments Page 45

TYPE OF EXISTING DESCRIPTION AREA OF EFFECTIVENESS IMPROVEMENTS 2009 Update PROTECTION TOWN AND/OR OR CHANGES COVERED ENFORCEMENT NEEDED (Funding Sources) Motor Homes and Travel Can only be used 30 days All areas of • Planning Board None noted None noted Trailers year by a non-paying guest Town • Code Enforcement IBC, Local Building Codes Regulates construction of All areas of • Building Inspector None noted None noted and NFPA buildings and fire protection; Town • Code Enforcement set a minimum standard of • NFPA protection to building occupants Wellhead Protection Wellhead protected by a 75- All areas of Building Inspector None noted None noted Program foot radius to prevent Town contamination of drinking water sources Comprehensive Education for school All schools Free program offered • Complete • Established an Emergency Management teachers, administrators and by NH OEM development of emergency planning Planning for Schools children for emergency emergency plan committee and (CEMPS) situations • Training for completed a staff comprehensive security • (NH OEM) assessment Steep Slopes & Class VI Land Development Control Slopes • Town Council None noted None noted roads regulations Regulations set standards to considered • Planning Board prevent erosion, mudslides, over 25% and etc Class VI roads Haz-Mat Response Plan Continued dependence on All areas of Fire Department None noted None noted Committee mutual aid (SMART Mutual Town Aid Response Plan Committee ) Excavation Regulations Land Development Control All areas of • Planning Board None noted None noted Regulations set standards to Town • Code Enforcement minimize risks associated with excavation Page 46

TYPE OF EXISTING DESCRIPTION AREA OF EFFECTIVENESS IMPROVEMENTS 2009 Update PROTECTION TOWN AND/OR OR CHANGES COVERED ENFORCEMENT NEEDED (Funding Sources) Amoskeag Development Discusses area of shoreline Shoreline Public Service of New None noted None noted Emergency Action Plan potentially affected by adjacent to Hampshire breach or failure of dam Merrimack River as indicated on map Page 47

Summary of Recommended Improvements

The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee recommends the following improvements to existing mitigation programs18:

Floodplain Development Ordinance • Map of dam release waters on GIS from any upstream facilities to show the effects on Bedford.

2009 Update: Town has not had sufficient staff or resources to complete this in the past 5 years, but this is still an important project and the town will work to complete this by 2014. Maps done as part of the Amoskeag Development Emergency Action Plan are included as an attachment to this Plan.

Town Radio System • Upgrade the Town’s radio system.

2009 Update: Improvement completed

Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning for Schools (CEMPS) • Complete development of emergency plan. • Provide training for appropriate staff.

2009 Update: Improvement completed

18 More specific details on each recommended improvement can be found in Section V “Prioritized Implementation Schedule and Funding Sources.”

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SECTION IV NEWLY IDENTIFIED MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND CRITICAL EVALUATION

Summary of New Strategies The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee identified the following new mitigation strategies19:

• Coordination between School District and Emergency Services to determine further generation needs at emergency shelters

The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee identified the following mitigation strategies as ongoing20:

• Plan for the acquisition of needed new cisterns & maintenance of existing cisterns

• Implement culvert and bridge inventory & analysis, reporting conditions of each

• Develop culvert and bridge maintenance program to ensure the longevity of the infrastructure and minimize potential damage in the event of a disaster

• Develop a river stewardship program in coordination with other local communities in the Merrimack River Watershed area

• Develop maintenance program for detention/retention ponds& Identify locations of existing & potential new facilities as required to lessen clogging & flooding

• Develop early warning system for 100 year floodplain residents

• Develop storm water drainage maps for GIS applications

19 More specific details on each new hazard mitigation strategy can be found in Section V “Prioritized Implementation Schedule and Funding Sources.” 20 For past plan mitigation strategies and their updates see Appendix J

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• Develop a transportation hazard identification system for major routes(101/114/I-293) for future hazardous spill events/anticipate hazard contamination characteristics and area

• Acquire GIS data for floodplain mapping; FEMA/NFIP approved Digital FIRMS or GIS coverages by GRANIT Complex Systems Research Center, UNH

• Develop a tree maintenance program, minimize risk of unhealthy trees being blown over in wind events or swept by floods or landslides and creating damage to public utilities, homes and other structures/infrastructure

• Update Flood Insurance Rate Maps with FEMA to reflect current SFHA boundary, base flood elevations & other flood hazards, existing maps are dated May 1994

• Education for residents on flood mitigation by distributing information through either mailings, local newspaper articles or local access television programming, or other appropriate methods

• Develop a website for floodplain information, both general and town based info

• Purchase flood-prone properties and/or development rights, particulary in the Special Flood Hazard Areas and NFIP repetitive loss properties where possible

• Map, with GIS, inundation area resulting from dam breach or dam failure from any upstream facilities to show the effects on Bedford

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Summary of Critical Evaluation Initial selection of mitigation projects was based on filling in perceived gaps in hazard protection within the Town. The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee selected and reviewed each of the newly identified mitigation strategies and those improvements recommended in Column 6 of the Existing Protection Matrix summary chart. Using the following fourteen (14) criteria21, rating scores were assigned to each criterion based on (1) for Poor; (2) for Average; and (3) for Good. Total scores can range from a minimum of 14 to a maximum of 42. • Ability to reduce disaster damage • Ability to complete or be combined with other actions • Impact on the environment • Ability to meet regulations • Ability to save or protect historic structures • Ability to meet other community objectives • The duration of its implementation period • Social acceptability • Technical feasibility/potential success • Administrative workability • Political acceptability • Legal implementation • Economic impact • Required environmental approvals

Preliminary Prioritization The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee assigned the following scores to each of the above strategies for their effectiveness related to the critical evaluation factors listed above. The following groups the strategies into lists based on the type of protection offered and is in order of highest to lowest priority.

Score/Action Hazard(s) Preventative (35) Stormwater drainage maps for GIS applications Flooding (35) Transportation hazard identification system Hazardous spills (35) Tree maintenance program All (35) Enhance GIS for floodplain mapping Flooding (34) Update flood maps Flooding (33) Map inundation area on GIS system Flooding

21 These are derived from the STAPLEE method criteria. Explanation of STAPLEE is provided in Appendix G

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Property Protection (38) Culvert and bridge analysis Flooding (37) Culvert and bridge maintenance Flooding (35) Maintenance program for detention/retention ponds Flooding (34) Early warning system for floodplain residents Flooding (33) Develop a river stewardship program Flooding (33) Purchase flood-prone properties or development Flooding rights

Structural Projects (34) New cisterns/maintenance Fire

Emergency Services (35) Coordination for determining emergency shelter needs All

Public Information (36) Develop a Web site for floodplain information Flooding (35) Educate residents about flood mitigation Flooding

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SECTION V PRIORITIZED IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE AND FUNDING SOURCES

Implementation Strategy for Priority Mitigation Actions The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee created the following prioritized schedule for implementation of the 16 strategies:

Mitigation Action Who (Leadership) When (Deadline) How (Funding)22

Priority/Points

1. (38) Implement culvert and bridge inventory & analysis, reporting conditions of each DPW, NHDOT23 Ongoing DPW, NH DOT Cost/Benefit: An inventory and analysis of culvert conditions will allow the Town to decrease flooding and plan for culvert repair and replacement.

2. (37) Develop culvert and bridge maintenance program to ensure the longevity of the infrastructure and minimize potential damage in the event of a disaster DPW, NHDOT24 Ongoing DPW, NH DOT Cost/Benefit: Maintaining culverts will deter flooding and increase the life of the infrastructure for a number of years.

3. (36) Develop a website for floodplain information, both general and town based info Planning, Building, IT25 2014 Local, FEMA Cost/Benefit: A website is inexpensive to develop and can provide critical information to the public. This website can be developed by local staff with the assistance of FEMA.

4. (35) Coordination between School District and Emergency Services to determine further generation needs at emergency shelters School District, 2014 Town Budget Fire, Police Cost/Benefit: A meeting between the School District, Fire Department and Police Department is necessary to determine what the emergency shelter needs of the town are and for obtaining the necessary equipment to provide the town with emergency shelters that can function at full capacity should a situation arise for this need.

22 Grant source acronyms are listed at the end of this table. 23 N.H. Department of Transportation. 24 N.H. Department of Transportation. 25 Bedford Department of Information Technology.

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Mitigation Action Who (Leadership) When (Deadline) How (Funding)26

Priority/Points

5. (35) Develop maintenance program for detention/retention ponds & identify locations of existing & potential new facilities as required to lessen clogging & flooding DPW, Private Ongoing Local, Developers, Property Owners Cost/Benefit: Clogged ponds cause additional flooding, while proper maintenance reduces flooding.

6. (35) Develop storm water drainage maps for GIS applications DPW 2014 Local Cost/Benefit: Gives Town the ability to use existing GIS system to locate storm water drainage points.

7. (35) Develop a transportation hazard identification system for major routes (101/114/I- 293) for future hazardous spill events/ anticipate hazard contamination characteristics and area Police, Fire, NHDOT 5 Years Local, State Cost/Benefit: Hazardous spill events can be better managed through a system that identifies the hazard and predicts the hazard’s characteristics and potential contamination areas.

8. (35) Develop a tree maintenance program, minimize risk of unhealthy trees being blown over in wind events or swept by floods or landslides and creating damage to public utilities, homes and other structures/infrastructure DPW, PSNH27, NHDOT Ongoing Local, State, Private Cost/Benefit: Could be accomplished by Town workers, DPW within existing budget, along with other agencies.

9. (35) Education for residents on flood mitigation by distributing information through either mailings, local newspaper articles or local access television programming, or other appropriate methods Planning and Building Departments 5 Years Local Cost/Benefit: Local staff can develop program(s) for residents.

26 Grant source acronyms are listed at the end of this table.

27 Public Service of New Hampshire.

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Mitigation Action Who (Leadership) When (Deadline) How (Funding)28

Priority/Points

10. (32)29 Plan for the acquisition of needed new cisterns & maintenance of existing cisterns30 Fire, Planning Ongoing Local, Developers Cost/Benefit: Systematic approach will enable the Town to plan for cistern locations thus saving unnecessary expenditures.

11. (35) Acquire GIS data for floodplain mapping; FEMA/NFIP approved Digital FIRMS or GIS coverages by GRANIT Complex Systems Research Center, UNH Planning Department 2009 Local, GRANIT Cost/Benefit: Inexpensive method to incorporate floodplain mapping with other data layers; work can be done by in-house staff.

12. (34) Develop an early warning system for 100 year floodplain residents Police, Fire 5 Years Local, DPIG Cost/Benefit: Initial costs outweighed by ability to warn residents early and save lives.

13. (34) Update Flood Insurance Rate Maps with FEMA to reflect current SFHA boundary, base flood elevations & other flood hazards, existing maps are dated May 1994. Planning, FEMA 2010 FEMA, MM Cost/Benefit: Should be inexpensive since FEMA should participate; can develop public access to floodplain information.

14. (33) Map, with GIS, inundation area resulting from dam breach or dam failure from any upstream facilities to show the effects on Bedford31 DPW, 32 OEM33 15 Yrs Local, OEM, MM Cost/Benefit: Mapping of the inundation area will allow the Town to notify residents more rapidly of an impending disaster and save lives.

15. (33) Develop a river stewardship program in coordination with other local communities in the Merrimack River Watershed area Merrimack River Watershed Assoc. Ongoing MRWC, Town, NH DES Cost/Benefit: Stewardship of river shorelines allows the riverine system to function properly and helps prevent future flooding of the riverbanks, especially repetitive loss properties.

28 Grant source acronyms are listed at the end of this table. 29 Priority upgraded by committee vote after importance of completing this action was discussed. 30 See the Town of Bedford Water Resource Plan for more detailed recommendations with regard to implementing this action item 31 See Inundation Map in back pocket of this document. 32 Bedford Department of Public Works. 33 N.H. Office of Emergency Management.

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Mitigation Action Who (Leadership) When (Deadline) How (Funding)34

Priority/Points

16. (33) Purchase flood-prone properties and/or development rights, particularly in the Special Flood Hazard Areas and NFIP repetitive loss properties where possible Conservation Comm., Land Trust, Council Ongoing FEMA, PDM, FMAP, Local Cost/Benefit: Saves large sums in expenditures for damage to flood-prone properties.

Additional funding sources will be researched by the Town of Bedford as required to successfully implement the above mitigation actions. Grants will be particularly researched on a project by project basis to search out the best suited grant match.

Summary of Acronyms in the Prioritized Implementation Schedule: FEMA= Federal Emergency Management Agency FMAP= Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (see Appendix F) PDM= Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (see Appendix F) DPIG= Disaster Preparedness Improvement Grant (see Appendix F) MM= Map Modernization (see Appendix F) MRWC= Merrimack River Watershed Council OEM= Office of Emergency Management GRANIT= Geographically Referenced Analysis and Information Transfer System NH DOT= New Hampshire Department of Transportation DPW= Department of Public Works

34 Grant source acronyms are listed at the end of this table.

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Cost of Implementation The following table compares estimated costs of implementing each of the above prioritized mitigation actions. The actual final project budgets may exceed or be lower than the estimated cost, non-the-less, these figures are assumed to represent a generic project of its type. These figures are to serve as a comparative tool for project selection and planning purposes. Figures were derived from personal knowledge of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee, past project costs in the Southern New Hampshire region, and Internet searches for project costs from either Town requests for proposals or manufacturers’ specifications.

Cost Range

$10,000- $50,000- Project < $10,000 $50,000 $100,000 > $100,000 1. Culvert and Bridge Inventory X & Analysis 2. Culvert and Bridge X Maintenance Program 3. Website for floodplain info X 4. Emergency Shelter X Coordination 5. Detention/retention ponds X maintenance program 6. Stormwater drainage maps X 7. Transportation hazard Id X system 8. Tree maintenance program X 9. Education on flood mitigation X 10. New cisterns and maintenance X 11. Acquire updated FIRMs from X FEMA 12. Develop and early warning X system for floodplain residents 13. Update FIRMs with FEMA X 14. GIS Inundation area mapping X 15. Develop river stewardship X program 16. Purchase floodprone X properties

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SECTION VI ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES REGARDING ADOPTION, EVALUATION AND MONITORING OF THE PLAN

“Incorporating hazard mitigation considerations into the thought processes and decision making that comprise local planning reinforces community sustainability and strengthens community planning programs. It ensures that the community survives natural disasters so that it can grow and develop as it was envisioned.” — Michael J. Armstrong, Associate Director for Mitigation, FEMA

Adoption Upon notification that FEMA has approved this plan, the Bedford Town Council will hold a public hearing to formally adopt the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan as an official statement of Town policy. In the future, this plan may constitute a new section of the Bedford Master Plan, in accordance with RSA 674:2. As required by FEMA, the public hearing shall be held two weeks before this Plan is voted on by the Bedford Town Council and the public hearing shall be properly posted and advertised by the Town in accordance with New Hampshire state law. Documentation that the plan has been formally adopted by the Bedford Town Council is included in the Plan (see Appendix I).

Adoption of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan demonstrates the Town’s commitment to hazard mitigation. It also qualifies the community for federal, state and local funding and prepares the public for what the community can be expected to do both before and after a natural hazard disaster occurs.

Monitoring, Evaluating and Updates: Continued Public Involvement

The Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan shall be reviewed and updated annually to track progress in implementing the mitigation strategies and actions as well as updating the goals and objectives of the Plan. The Bedford Co-Emergency Management Director shall be responsible for initiating this review in coordination with the Bedford Town Council. The Committee and the Town Council shall seek to incorporate the Priority Mitigation Actions identified in the Priority Implementation Schedule of Section V of the Plan into other planning mechanisms, including the Town’s new Master Plan and Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

The public will continue to be invited and encouraged to be involved during this process and review meetings. All meetings involving implementation or

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updates of the plan shall be open to the public as is required by RSA 91-A and notice of the meeting will be posted at least 24 hours in advance in a minimum of two locations such as the Town Hall and Library. The meetings will also be publicized on the local access television station or local newspaper. To gain additional public involvement, draft copies of the amended Hazard Mitigation Plan will be made available at 2 public locations for review and comment. The document should be left for a minimum of 2 weeks and then all comments will be considered in drafting final revisions.

Changes should be made to the Plan to accommodate for actions that have failed or are not considered feasible after a review for their consistency with STAPLEE, the timeframe, the community’s priorities, and funding resources. Priorities that were not ranked high, but identified as potential mitigation strategies, should be reviewed as well during the monitoring and update of this Plan to determine feasibility of future implementation. In keeping with the process of adopting the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Plan, a public hearing to receive comment on the Plan maintenance and updating shall be held during the annual review period, and the final product will be to be adopted by the Town Council.

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APPENDIX A

COMMERCIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AREAS IN THE TOWN OF BEDFORD

The following list contains organizations and businesses with more than 25 employees:

Key (F) Located within the Special Flood Hazard Area and/or prone to flooding and damage due to 100-year floodplain events, ice jams, debris impacted infrastructure, hurricanes or rapid snow pack melt.

(S) Located on or adjacent to a Steep Slope and susceptible to damage in the event of erosion, mudslides or landslides.

(X) Located in or near a known past or potential wildfire location

(T) Susceptible to Town wide hazard risks such as wind damage from hurricanes, tornados, nor’easters, downbursts, lightning, heavy snow or ice storms or hailstorms.

Company Name Address • 101 Plaza (F, T) Route 101 • Acadia Insurance Co. (T) 23 Commerce Drive • AIG New Hampshire (T) 5 Bedford Farms • Allstate Insurance (T) 178 Route 101 • American Brokers Network Inc. (T) 167 South River Road • American Express Financial Advisors (F, S, T) 5 Kilton Road • Applebee’s (T, S) 224 S River Road • Arthur H. Lee Co. (T) 4 Cote Lane • AT&T (F, S, T) 5 Kilton Road • Baldwin & Clarke Co. (F, T) 116 South River Road #B • Bedford Ambulatory Surgical (T) 11 Washington Place • Bedford Commons OB-Gyn (T) 2 Riverway Place • Bedford Counseling Associates (T) 25 South River Road • Bedford Four Square Church (T, F) 12 Station Road • Bedford Grove Shopping Center (S, T) Route 3 and Colby Court • Bedford Mall (T) 73 S River Road • Bran Heating Supply (T) 26 South River Road • Bugaboo Creek (T, S) 218 South River Road • Carlyle Place (S, T) 40 Route 101 • Coastal Specialty Forest Products (T) 451 South River Road

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• Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Inc. (T) 1 Executive Park Drive #330 • Consolidated Electric Inc. (T) 27 Harvey Road • Continental PET Technologies (T) 7 Technology Drive • Country Inn & Suites (T) 250 S River Road • CR Sparks Restaurant (F, T) 18 Kilton Road • Credit Bureau Service of New Hampshire (T) 2 Executive Park Drive • CVS Pharmacy (F, T) 73 South River Road • Daniel Webster Animal Hospital (T) 3 Hawthorne Drive • Dean Kamen (S, T) 15 Westwind Drive • Dividers Plus Inc. (F, T) 548 Donald Street • DTI Technologies Inc. (T) 10 Commerce Park North • East Point Properties (S, T) 436 South River Road • East Point Technology Inc. (S, T) 436 South River Road • EBI Co. (F, S, T) 4 Bedford Farms • Eckman Construction Co. (T) 84 Palomino Lane #801 • Enviro-Tote Inc. (T) 4 Cote Lane • Expert Server Group (T) 318 South River Road • Fiberkraft Inc. (T) 25 Commerce Drive • Goffstown Truck Center (F, T) 1 White Avenue • Granite State Acoustics (T) 3 Chestnut Drive • Guardian Life Ins. Co. (F, T) 116 South River Road #B • Hampton Inn (T) 8 Hawthorne Drive • Hannaford (T) 4 Jenkins Road • Harborside Northwood (T) 30 Colby Court • Hartford Insurance Group (T) 2 Executive Park Drive • Hitchcock Clinic (T) 25 South River Road • Housing Finance Agency (S, T) 32 Constitution Drive • Infantine Insurance Inc. (S, T) 203 Meetinghouse Road • Interstate Electric Service (T) 15 Cote Lane • Keane Inc. (T) 2 Executive Park Drive • Kinko’s Copies (T) 3 Colby Court • LaMontagne Builders Inc. (T) 317 South River Road • Laurel Center (T) 480 Donald Street • Liberty Mutual Insurance (T) 10 Corporate Drive #100 • Lowe’s (T, S) 222 S River Road • Lucent Technologies (T) 47 Constitution Drive • Lurgio Middle School / Bedford High School 47 Nashua Road • Macy’s (T) 125 S River Road • Manchester Country Club (T) 180 South River Road • Marketing Connections NE (T) 10 Corporate Drive #206 • Marshall’s (F, T) 95 South River Road

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• Mass Mutual, the Blue Chip Co. (T) 2 Executive Park Drive #7 • McKelvie School (T) 108 Liberty Hill Road • Memorial Elementary School (S, T) 55 Old Bedford Road • Merchants Insurance Co. (S, T) 32 Constitution Drive • Nets Electronics Inc. (T) 2 Commerce Drive #102 • New England Interviewing Inc. (T) 124 S River Road • New Morning School (T) 23 Back River Road • Normandeau Associates Inc. (S, T) 25 Nashua Road • North American Mortgage Co. (T) 5 Bedford Farms • Norwood Real Estate (T) 116 S River Road • One Communications Corp. (T) 160 S River Road • Outback Steakhouse (T) 95 South River Road • Papa Gino’s (F, T) 95 South River Road • Peter Woodbury Elementary School (S, T) 180 County Road • Prudential Insurance Co. (T) 1 Executive Park Drive #100 • Public Service of New Hampshire (F, T) 12 Bellemore Drive • Riddlebrook Elementary (T) 230 New Boston Road • Ridgewood Center (T) 25 Ridgewood Road • Segway (T) 14 Technology Drive • State Farm Insurance (T) 160 South River Road • Stop & Shop (T) 7 Kilton Road • Target (T, S) 220 S River Road • Taylor Group (T) 2 Commerce Drive #110 • TF Moran Inc. (T) 48 Constitution Drive • The Spine Clinic (T, S) 4 Hawthorne Drive • U.S. Post Office (T) 25 South River Road • Vanasse Hangen Brustin Inc. (F, S, T) 6 Bedford Farms • Bedford Village Inn (T) 2 Village Inn Lane • Vista Foods (F, T) Route 101 • Wal-Mart (S, T) 17 Colby Court • Wayfarer Inn (F, T) 121 South River Road • Woodbury Court (T) Routes 3 and 101 • Yellow Freight System Inc. (F, T) 9 Cote Lane • Z-Flex US Inc. (T) 20 Commerce Park North

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APPENDIX B

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FACILITIES IN THE TOWN OF BEDFORD

Hazardous materials facilities in the Town of Bedford include active hazardous waste generators and above-ground storage tanks. As defined by the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, active hazardous waste generators may include businesses that produce household hazardous waste, or treat and store or dispose of hazardous waste, or be a waste handler or used oil marketer.

Active Hazardous Waste Generators • Baldassarre, Marshall A. DMD (T) 48 Riverway Place Unit 4 • Bedford Animal Hospital (S, T) 33 Old Bedford Road • Bedford Cleaners (F, T) 209 Route 101 • Bedford Commons Periodontics (T) 34 Riverway Place • Bedford Dental Care (T) 207 Meetinghouse Road • Bedford, DPW Town of (T) 19 Chubbuck Road • Bedford Podiatry Group (T) 21 Eastman Avenue • Bedford Presbyterian Church (F, T) 4 Church Road • Bedford Grove Plaza (S, T) River Road • Bedford Transfer Station (T) 77 Chubbuck Road • Boyd, Steiner DMDPA (S, T) 40 South River Road • Rite Aid (T) 1 South River Road • Flo Tech. Inc. (S, T) 10 Iron Horse Road • Chagnon, Jean DDS (T) 7 Technology Drive • Circle K (T) 2 Technology Drive • Circle K (T) 8 White Ave • Dalau Inc. (T) 10 Commerce Park Bldg. 7 • Dunn, Debra DDS (F, T) 4 Bell Hill Road • Eastern New England Hydraulics Inc. (T) 8 Cote Lane • Euro Cleaners (S, T) 7 Colby Court • Countryside Market (T) 381 Boynton Street • Gravel, Ward FDDSPA (T) 173 South River Road • Herrin, John R. DDS (T) 170 South River Road • Insty Prints of Bedford Inc. (T) 25 South River Road • Keystone Auto Industries (T) 548 Donald Street • Lindner Dental Assoc. PC (T) 72 South River Road • Macy’s (F, T) 125 South River Road • Manchester Country Club (T) 180 South River Road • McKinney, Timothy DDS PC (T) 169 South River Road • Microelectrodes Inc. (T) 40 Harvey Road • Mobil Oil Corp (T) 137 Route 101

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• N.H. Dept. of Transportation, District 5 (T) 16 Somerville Drive • Continental P.E.T. (T) 7 Technology Drive • Normandeau Associates Inc. (S, T) 25 Nashua Road • Photography by Dennis (T) 13 Curtis Lane • PSNH (F, T) 12 Bellemore Drive • Ravel, Murali R. DMD PC (T) 360 Route 101 • Roy, James N. DMD (T) 502 Riverway Place • Simpson, Earle W., MD (T) 40 South River Road • Stop & Shop Gas Station (T) 7 Kilton Road • TF Moran Inc. (T) 48 Constitution Drive • Technical Research & MFG Inc. (T) 280 South River Road • VIP Discount Auto Center (T) 89 Palomino Lane • Wal-Mart (S, T) 17 Colby Court • Worthin Mobil (T) 460 Route 101 West

Above-Ground Storage Tanks • Energy North (T) Somerville Drive • NH DOT PS 511 (T) 16 Somerville Drive • Continental PET Technologies (T) 7 Technology Drive • PSNH Meeting House Road Substation (T) Meeting House Road • PSNH Moore’s Crossing Road Substation (T) Moore’s Crossing

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APPENDIX C

NEW HAMPSHIRE DAM CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE

Non Menace (NM) structure means a dam that is not a menace because it is in a location and of a size that failure or misoperation of the dam would not result in probable loss of life or loss to property, provided the dam is:

• Less than six feet in height if it has a storage capacity greater than 50 acre- feet; or • Less than 25 feet in height if it has a storage capacity of 15 to 50 acre-feet.

Low Hazard (L) structure means a dam that has a low hazard potential because it is in a location and of a size that failure or misoperation of the dam would result in any of the following:

• No possible loss of life. • Low economic loss to structures or property. • Structural damage to a town or city road or private road accessing property other than the dam owner’s that could render the road impassable or otherwise interrupt public safety services. • The release of liquid industrial, agricultural, or commercial wastes, septage, Or contaminated sediment if the storage capacity is less than two-acre-feet and is located more than 250 feet from a water body or water course. • Reversible environmental losses to environmentally-sensitive sites.

Significant Hazard (S) structure means a dam that has a significant hazard potential because it is in a location and of a size that failure or misoperation of the dam would result in any of the following:

• No probable loss of lives. • Major economic loss to structures or property. • Structural damage to a Class I or Class II road that could render the road impassable or otherwise interrupt public safety services. • Major environmental or public health losses, including one or more of the following: • Damage to a public water system, as defined by RSA 485:1-a, XV, which will take longer than 48 hours to repair. • The release of liquid industrial, agricultural, or commercial wastes, septage, sewage, or contaminated sediments if the storage capacity is 2 acre-feet or more. • Damage to an environmentally-sensitive site that does not meet the definition of reversible environmental losses.

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High Hazard (H) means a dam that has a high hazard potential because it is in a location and of a size that failure or misoperation of the dam would result in probable loss of human life as a result of:

• Water levels and velocities causing the structural failure of a foundation of a habitable residential structure or commercial or industrial structure, which is occupied under normal conditions. • Water levels rising above the first floor elevation of a habitable residential structure or a commercial or industrial structure, which is occupied under normal conditions when the rise due to dam failure is greater than one foot. • Structural damage to an interstate highway, which could render the roadway impassable or otherwise interrupt public safety services. • The release of a quantity and concentration of material, which qualify as “hazardous waste” as defined by RSA 471-A:2 VI. • Any other circumstance that would more likely than not cause one or more deaths.

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APPENDIX D

DEFINITIONS

Areas at Risk: Those areas or facilities that would be threatened by a hazardous event such as schools, parks, commercial areas, day care facilities, and senior housing areas.

Critical Facilities: Those facilities that would be needed during a hazardous event, such as emergency medical services, law enforcement, electric generators, and emergency shelters.

Emergency Management Plan: A jurisdiction’s emergency management plan is typically designed to establish the procedures that will take place during an emergency and designate who will be responsible to perform those procedures.

GIS: Geographic Information Systems includes a form of mapping that enables users to easily locate physical attributes of a community such as dams, bridges, wetlands, steep slopes, etc. Much of the data for these maps is maintained by Complex Systems Research Center in Durham, N.H.

Hazard Mitigation: The practice of reducing risks to people and property from natural hazards. FEMA defines hazard mitigation as “any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards.”

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APPENDIX E

Resources, Bibliography, Websites

I. AGENCIES

New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management 271-2231 Federal Emergency Management Agency 617-956-7506 NH Regional Planning Commissions: Central NH Regional Planning Commission 226-6020 Lakes Region Planning Commission 279-8171 Nashua Regional Planning Commission 424-2240 North Country Council 444-6303 Rockingham Planning Commission 778-0885 Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission 669-4664 Southwest Region Planning Commission 357-0557 Strafford Regional Planning Commission 742-2523 Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission 448-1680 NH Executive Department: New Hampshire Office of State Planning 271-2155 NH Department of Cultural Affairs 271-2392 Division of Historical Resources 271-3483 NH Department of Environmental Services 271-4974 Air Resources 271-1370 Waste Management 271-2900 Water Resources 271-3434 Bureau of Dams 271-3406 NH Fish and Game Department 271-3511 NH Department of Resources and Economic Development 271-3556 Natural Heritage Inventory 271-2214 Division of Forests and Lands 271-2214 Division of Parks and Recreation 271-3556 NH Department of Transportation 271-3734 US Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 301-713-4000 National Weather Service; Gray, Maine 207-688-3216 US Department of the Interior US Fish and Wildlife Service 223-2541

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US Geological Survey 226-7800 US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service 223-6023

II. PUBLICATIONS

1. Community-Based Hazard Mitigation Planning: Lowering the Risks and Costs of Disasters; New England Training Workshop, 27 August 1998; sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency/Region I, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association.

2. Community Flood Mitigation Planning Guidebook; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

3. Federal Programs Offering Non-Structural Flood Recovery and Floodplain Management Alternatives; the Office of Management and Budget; June 1998

4. Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning: A Community Guide; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Environmental Management, Flood Hazard Management Program; June 1997

5. Hazard Mitigation Plan; Charlestown, Rhode Island; January 1997.

6. Hazard Mitigation Planning Handbook; Federal Emergency Management Agency; 1997.

7. Montpelier Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan; City of Montpelier Department of Planning and Development; May 1998.

8. National Mitigation Strategy: Partnerships for Building Safer Communities; Federal Emergency Management Agency; December 6, 1995.

9. Post-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance for State and Local Governments; Federal Emergency Management Agency, September 1990.

10. Protecting Business Operations: Second Report on Costs and Benefits of Natural Hazard Mitigation; Federal Emergency Management Agency; August 1998.

11. Reducing Losses in High Risk Flood Hazard Areas: A Guidebook for Local Officials; Federal Emergency Management Agency; February 1987.

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12. Texas Community Officials Primer on Floodplain Planning Strategies and Tools; Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission; June 1994.

13. The Local Mitigation Strategy: A Guidebook for Florida Cities and Counties; Florida Depart. of Community Affairs; April 1998.

III. WEBSITES

Sponsor Internet Address Summary of Contents Searchable database of Natural Hazards Research http://www.colorado.edu/litbase/hazards/ references and links to many Center, U. of Colorado disaster-related web sites. Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Hurricane track maps for http://wxp.eas.purdue.edu/hurricane Data by Year each year, 1886 – 1996 Association of state National Emergency emergency management http://nemaweb.org Management Association directors; list of mitigation projects.

NASA – Goddard Space Searchable database of sites Flight Center “Disaster http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/ndrd/disaster/ that encompass a wide range Finder: of natural disasters.

NASA Natural Disaster http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/ndrd/main/html Searchable database of Reference Database worldwide natural disasters. General information through U.S. State & Local Gateway http://www.statelocal.gov/ the federal-state partnership. Central page for National National Weather Service http://nws.noaa.gov/ Weather Warnings, updated every 60 seconds. USGS Real Time Hydrologic http://h20.usgs.gov/public/realtime.html Provisional hydrological data Data Dartmouth Flood Observations of flooding http://www.dartmouth.edu/artsci/geog/floods/ Observatory situations. FEMA, National Flood http://www.fema.gov/fema/csb.htm Searchable site for access of Insurance Program, Community Status Books Community Status Book Tracking and NWS warnings Florida State University http://www.met.fsu.edu/explores/tropical.html for Atlantic Hurricanes and Atlantic Hurricane Site other links Information and listing of National Lightning Safety http://lightningsafety.com/ appropriate publications Institute regarding lightning safety. NASA Optical Transient Space-based sensor of http://www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/otd.html Detector lightning strikes General hazard information LLNL Geologic & http://www-ep.es.llnl.gov/www-ep/ghp.html developed for the Dept. of Atmospheric Hazards Energy.

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Information on tornadoes, The Tornado Project Online http://www.tornadoroject.com/ including details of recent impacts. National Severe Storms Information about and http://www.nssl..uoknor.edu Laboratory tracking of severe storms.

Independent Insurance Agents of America IIAA http://www.iiaa.iix.com/ndcmap.htm A multi-disaster risk map. Natural Disaster Risk Map Flood risk maps searchable Earth Satellite Corporation http://www.earthsat.com/ by state. Information on forest fires USDA Forest Service Web http://www.fs.fed.us/lan and land management.

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APPENDIX F Technical and Financial Assistance for Hazard Mitigation ______This matrix provides information about key all-hazards grant programs from the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Education under which state, local, and tribal governments, first responders, and the public are eligible to receive preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and prevention assistance. It lists the purpose of the program and the website where additional information can be found.

Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Programs to prepare the Nation to address the consequences of natural and man- made disasters and emergencies.

Department of Border and State Homeland Security Grant Program This core assistance program provides funds to State Homeland Transportation www.ojp.usdoj.gov build capabilities at the state and local levels and to governments Security Security implement the goals and objectives included in state Directorate homeland security strategies and initiatives in the State Preparedness Report. Emergency Emergency Management Performance Grants To assist State and local governments in enhancing States with pass Preparedness www.fema.gov and sustaining all-hazards emergency management through to local and Response http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/index.shtm capabilities. emergency Directorate management organizations Emergency Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Local, State, and Preparedness www.usfa.fema.gov/grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response Regional Fire and Response http://www.firegrantsupport.com/afg/ needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency Departments Directorate medical services organizations. and agencies. Emergency State and Local Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) To improve emergency management and States; local Preparedness www.fema.gov preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, governments and Response http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/index.shtm sustainable, secure, and interoperable Emergency may be sub- Directorate Operations Centers (EOCs) with a focus on grantees of the addressing identified deficiencies and needs. State Emergency Citizen Corps To bring community and government leaders States with a Preparedness www.citizencorps.gov together to coordinate community involvement in pass through to and Response emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, local Directorate response and recovery. governments

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Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Department of Emergency National Fire Academy Training Grants To provide financial assistance to State Fire State fire Homeland Preparedness www.fema.gov Training Systems for the delivery of a variety of training Security and Response National Fire Academy courses/programs. organizations Directorate Emergency Emergency Management Institute Training Assistance To defray travel and per diem expenses of State, State, local, and Preparedness www.fema.gov local and tribal emergency management personnel tribal and Response who attend training courses conducted by the emergency Directorate Emergency Management Institute, at the managers Emmitsburg, Maryland facility; Bluemont, Virginia facility; and selected off-site locations. Its purpose is to improve emergency management practices among State, local and tribal government managers, in response to emergencies and disasters. Programs embody the Comprehensive Emergency Management System by unifying the elements of management common to all emergencies: planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Emergency Hazardous Materials Assistance Program (CERCLA Provide technical and financial assistance through State, local, and Preparedness Implementation) the States to support State, local and tribal tribal and Response governments in oil and hazardous materials governments, Directorate emergency planning and exercising. To support the state emergency Comprehensive Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) response Emergency Response – Capability Assessment committees, Program (CHER-CAP) activities. local emergency planning commissions Emergency Interoperable Communications Equipment Grant To provide governance, planning, training and N/A Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/index.shtm exercise, and equipment funding to States, and Response Territories, and local and tribal governments to Directorate carry out initiatives to improve interoperable emergency communications, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

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Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Department of Emergency Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program A cooperative agreement to enhance emergency State and local Homeland Preparedness www.fema.gov preparedness capabilities of the States and local governments Security and Response communities at each of the eight chemical agent and the general Directorate stockpile storage facilities. The purpose of the public in the program is to assist States and local communities in vicinity of the efforts to improve their capacity to plan for and eight chemical respond to accidents associated with the storage of agent stockpile chemical warfare materials. storage facilities. National Metropolitan Medical Response System To provide contractual funding to the 124 largest Local Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/mmrs metropolitan jurisdictions to sustain and enhance the governments Directorate integrated medical response plans to a WMD terrorist attack. Department of Office of State Domestic Preparedness Equipment Support Program Funding will be provided to enhance first responder State and local Justice Domestic http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/equipment.htm capabilities, and to provide for equipment purchases governments Preparedness and exercise planning activities for response to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) domestic terrorist incidents. Office of COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program To facilitate communications interoperability public Tribal, State, Community www.cops.usdoj.gov safety responders at the state and local level. and local law Oriented Police enforcement Services agencies (COPS) Department of Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund To continue to prepare our nation's public health Individuals, Health and www.hhs.gov system and hospitals for possible mass casualty families, Human Services events, and to accelerate research into new Federal, State, treatments and diagnostic tools to cope with and local possible bioterrorism incidents. government agencies and emergency health care providers Health State Rural Hospital Flexibility Program To help States work with rural communities and States with at Resources and www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov hospitals to develop and implement a rural health least one Services plan, designate critical access hospitals (CAHs), hospital in a Administration develop integrated networks of care, improve non- emergency medical services and improve quality, metropolitan service and organizational performance. region Page 74

Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Department of Health EMS for Children To support demonstration projects for the expansion State Health and Resources and www.hrsa.gov and improvement of emergency medical services for governments Human Services Services children who need treatment for trauma or critical and schools of Administration care. It is expected that maximum distribution of medicine projects among the States will be made and that priority will be given to projects targeted toward populations with special needs, including Native Americans, minorities, and the disabled. National Superfund Hazardous Substances Basic Research and Education To establish and support an innovative program of Any public or Institute of www.nih.gov basic research and training consisting of multi- private entity Health project, interdisciplinary efforts that may include involved in the each of the following: (1) Methods and technologies detection, to detect hazardous substances in the environment; assessment, (2) advance techniques for the detection, evaluation, and assessment, and evaluation of the effects of treatment of hazardous substances on humans; (3) methods to hazardous assess the risks to human health presented by substances; and hazardous substances; and (4) and basic biological, State and local chemical, and physical methods to reduce the governments amount and toxicity of hazardous substances. Centers for Immunization Research, Demonstration, Public Information and To assist States, political subdivisions of States, and States and Disease Control Education other public and private nonprofit entities to conduct nonprofits www.cdc.gov research, demonstrations, projects, and provide organizations public information on vaccine-preventable diseases and conditions. Centers for Surveillance of Hazardous Substance Emergency Events To assist State health departments in developing a State, local, Disease Control www.atsdr.cdc.gov State-based surveillance system for monitoring territorial, and hazardous substance emergency events. This tribal public surveillance system will allow the State health health department to better understand the public health departments impact of hazardous substance emergencies by developing, implementing, and evaluating a State- based surveillance system.

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Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Department of Centers for Human Health Studies, Applied Research and Development To solicit scientific proposals designed to answer State health Health and Disease Control www.atsdr.cdc.gov public health questions arising from situations departments Human Services commonly encountered at hazardous waste sites. The objective of this research program is to fill gaps in knowledge regarding human health effects of hazardous substances identified during the conduct of ATSDR's health assessments, consultations, toxicological profiles, and health studies, including but not limited to those health conditions prioritized by ATSDR. Department of Office of Safe Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools This grant program supports efforts by LEAs to School Districts Education and Drug free http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpemergencyresponse/index.html/ improve and strengthen their school emergency Schools management plans, including training school (OSDFS) personnel and students in emergency management procedures; communicating with parents about emergency plans and procedures; and coordinating with local law enforcement, public safety, public health, and mental health agencies. Department of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Increase state, local, territorial, and Native States, local, Transportation Hazardous Emergency Preparedness Training and Planning Grants American tribal effectiveness to safely and territorial, tribal Materials Safety http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/grants efficiently handle HazMat accidents and incidents; governments. Administration enhance implementation of the Emergency Planning (PHMSA) and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986; and encourage a comprehensive approach to emergency planning and training by incorporating response to transportation standards. Programs to coordinate Federal response efforts and to assists states, localities, and tribes in responding to disasters and emergencies. Department of Emergency Urban Search and Rescue To expand the capabilities of existing Urban Search 28 existing Homeland Preparedness www.fema.gov and Rescue Task Forces. US&R Task Security and Response Forces Directorate

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Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Programs to provide assistance to States, localities, tribes, and the public to alleviate suffering and hardship resulting from Presidentially declared disasters and emergencies caused by all types of hazards. Department of Emergency Individuals and Households Program To provide assistance to individuals and families Individuals and Homeland Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/assistance/process/guide.shtm who have been affected by natural or man-made Families Security and Response Presidentially declared disasters. Funding provided Directorate from the Disaster Relief Fund. Emergency Public Assistance To provide assistance to states, localities, tribes, and State, local and Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm certain non-profit organizations affected by natural tribal and Response or man-made Presidentially declared disasters. governments; Directorate Funding provided from the Disaster Relief Fund private non- profit organizations Emergency Fire Management Assistance Grant Program Provide funds to States, local, and tribal State, local and Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/fmagp/index.shtm governments for the mitigation, management, and tribal and Response control of wildland fires posing serious threats to governments Directorate improved property. Small Business Office of Disaster Loan Program To offer financial assistance to those who are trying Individuals, Administration Disaster http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/ to rebuild their homes and businesses in the families, private Assistance aftermath of a disaster. sector Department of Office for Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program To provide assistance programs for victims of mass Public and Justice Victims of http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/terrorism/ violence and terrorism occurring within and outside private Crime the United States and a compensation program for nonprofit victim victims of international terrorism. assistance agencies Programs to reduce or eliminate future risk to lives and property from disasters. Department of Emergency Hazard Mitigation Grant Program To provide assistance to states, localities, and tribes State, local, and Homeland Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/hmgp/index.shtm to fund projects that will reduce the loss of lives and tribal Security and Response property in future disasters. Funding is provides governments Directorate from the Disaster Relief Fund and administered by the states according to their own priorities. Emergency Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program This program provides funding for mitigation State, local, and Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pdm/index.shtm activities before disaster strikes. In recent years it tribal and Response has provided assistance for mitigation planning. In governments Directorate FY03, Congress passes a competitive pre-disaster mitigation grant program that will include project funding. Page 77

Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Department of Emergency Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA) The FMA program was created as part of the State, local and Homeland Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/fma/index.shtm National Flood Insurance Reform Act (NFIRA) of tribal Security and Response 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101) with the goal of reducing or governments Directorate eliminating claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).FEMA provides FMA funds to assist States and communities implement measures that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program. Emergency Repetitive Flood Claims Program (RFC) The Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) grant program State, local and Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/rfc/index.shtm was authorized by the Bunning-Bereuter- tribal and Response Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 governments Directorate (P.L. 108–264), which amended the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA) of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001, et al). Up to $10 million is available annually for FEMA to provide RFC funds to assist States and communities reduce flood damages to insured properties that have had one or more claims to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Emergency Severe Repetitive Loss Program (SRL) The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) grant program State, local and Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/srl/index.shtm was authorized by the Bunning-Bereuter- tribal and Response Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, governments Directorate which amended the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to provide funding to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to severe repetitive loss (SRL) structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Emergency Map Modernization This funding provides assistance to develop digital State, local and Preparedness http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/mm_main.shtm flood maps, support flood-mapping activities and tribal and Response expand the Cooperating Technical Partners Program governments Directorate to communities and regional entities. Programs to interdict potentially hazardous events from occurring Department of Centers for Immunization Grants To assist States and communities in establishing and States Health and Disease Control www.cdc.gov maintaining preventive health service programs to Human Services immunize individuals against vaccine-preventable diseases.

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Office/ Funding Agency Program Purpose Directorate Beneficiaries Other Department of NH Office of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program HUD provides flexible grants to help cities, State, local and Housing and Energy and http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/ counties, and States recover from Presidentially tribal Urban Planning declared disasters, especially in low-income areas, governments Development subject to availability of supplemental appropriations.

Mitigation Programs of Other NH State Agencies The following agencies of the state of New Hampshire are directly or indirectly involved in activities that include Hazard Mitigation Planning and/or program implementation:

• NH Department of Transportation Bureau of Repair and Maintenance • NH OSP/NFIP Program • NH OSP Coastal Program • NH DRED Division of Forests and Lands • NH DES Water Resources Division – Dam Safety Program • NH DES Wetlands Program • NH DES Shoreline Protection

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APPENDIX G

STAPLEE CRITERIA

STAPLEE is an acronym for a general set of criteria common to public administration officials and planners. It stands for the Social, Technical, Administrative, Political, Legal, Economic, and Environmental criteria for making planning decisions. Questions to ask about suggested actions include:

• Social: Is the proposed action socially acceptable to the community? Are there equity issues involved that would mean that one segment of the community is treated unfairly?

• Technical: Will the proposed action work? Will it create more problems than it solves?

• Administrative: Can the community implement the action? Is there someone to coordinate and lead the effort?

• Political: Is the action politically acceptable? Is there public support both to implement and to maintain the project?

• Legal: Is the community authorized to implement the proposed action? Is there a clear legal basis of precedent for this study?

• Economic: What are the costs and benefits of this action? Does the cost seem reasonable for the size of the problem and the likely benefits?

• Environmental: How will the action impact the environment? Will the action need environmental regulatory approvals?

Page 80

APPENDIX H

BHMPC Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Attendance Sheets

Page 81 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting

Meeting Number 1 October 9, 2008 9:00 – 11:00 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford, NH 03110

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Overview of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Process a. Purpose and benefits of Hazard Mitigation Plans b. Scope of work to be completed

3. Identify/Update Past and Potential Hazards a. Identify past hazard events in Bedford b. Map past hazard events and other areas of concern

4. Identify/Update Critical Facilities a. Definition of Critical Facilities, Areas at Risk, Commercial Economic Impact Areas and Hazardous Waste Sites b. Review Critical Facilities in current plan and identify those that are not listed or those that have changed

5. Review Repetitive Loss Properties a. Review Flood Hazard Areas for any change in the past 5 years b. Review Repetitive Loss Properties by type and estimate numbers located in identified flood hazard areas.

6. Agree on Next Committee Meeting Date, Time, Location

7. Questions? 8. Adjournment

Page 82 Town of Bedford, New Hampshire

Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting #1

October 9,2008 9:00 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford, NH 03 1 10

ATTENDANCESHEET

Position Title1 Name Department Affiliation E-mail & Phone

Page 83 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting Thursday October 9, 2008 9:00 a.m. Bedford Town Offices 24 North Amherst Road

Meeting 1 Notes

Prepared by Jillian Harris, Planner, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission

Meeting Number 1 was held for the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee on Thursday October 9, 2008. In attendance were Hazard Mitigation Committee members Rick Sawyer, Planning Department; Karin Elmer, Planning Department; Scott Wiggin, Fire Chief; Mark Conrad, Chief Financial Officer, School Dept.; David C. Bailey, Police Chief; Steve Crean, Public Works Department; Emile Lacerte, Public Works Department; and Jillian Harris from the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.

Harris noted that the Committee needed to elect a Chairman, and Rick Sawyer was selected as Chairman for the group.

Harris introduced information regarding the development of the current Hazard Mitigation Plan for the Town of Bedford, and information on the update process. Harris also stated that this update was being funded through NH HSEM with grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Harris handed out information for the group, including background on the Hazard Mitigation Planning process and update, Definitions of Essential Facilities, and Information on a new requirement for repetitive loss property data within the updated plan.

The meeting then focused on the Town’s past and potential hazards and critical faclities and updated the information from the past 5 years. Locations of new flood hazard areas were noted: • Wendover and Oak Drive Culverts • Rt 101 between Stowell Rd and Twin Brook Ln • The area around the intersection of Nashua and Wallace Rd • The area around the bridge on Stowell Rd which sits on the town line • The area around Whippoorwill Lane • Chubbuck Rd, just north of Magazine St. • Daniel Webster Highway, just south of Kilton Rd • The area around N Amherst and Perry Rd • Jenkins Rd just south of Beals Rd • The area around Catsby Ln and Pembroke Way

Page 84 • The area around Cambridge Rd and Birkdale Rd.

1 new Mudslide/Erosion site was noted: • In the area of Chardonnay Terrace

The following dams had a breach or failure: • Woodbury Estate Pond Dam – 116 S. River Rd. • McQuade Brook Dam – Jenkins Rd • Bowman Brook Dam – 71 Whipporwill Ln • Bedford Three Corners Dam – Pulpit Rd

The Committee then reviewed the Past and Potential Hazards in the current plan and updated the hazard risks for several of them.

The Committee will review the Critical Facilities in the current plan and bring revisions or additions to the next meeting.

The Committee reviewed and discussed the new Repetitive Loss Property data requirement and decided that Harris and the Chairman, Sawyer would get the necessary data for the updated plan.

It was decided that the next meeting date would be on Thursday November 13, 2008 at 9:00 am at the same location.

Meeting adjourned.

Page 85 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting

Meeting Number 2 November 13, 2008 9:00 – 11:00 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford, NH 03110

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Approve the Minutes of October 9, 2008 meeting

3. Review Past and Potential Hazards Draft a. Insert any missing information b. Questions, comments, suggested revisions

4. Review Critical Facilities in Bedford a. Review Critical Facility List

5. Review Goals and Objectives a. Revise Goals and Objectives as needed for plan update

6. Mitigation Strategy a. Review Existing Mitigation Strategies, Matrix and summary b. Review Newly Identified Mitigation Strategies

7. Questions?

8. Set next meeting date

9. Adjournment

Page 86 Page 87 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting Thursday November 13, 2008 9:00 a.m. Bedford Town Offices 24 North Amherst Road

Meeting 2 Notes

Prepared by Jillian Harris, Planner, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission

Meeting Number 2 was held for the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee on Thursday November 13, 2008. In attendance were Hazard Mitigation Committee members Rick Sawyer, Planning Department; Karen Elmer, Planning Department; Mark Conrad, Chief Financial Officer, School Department; Steve Crean, Public Works Department; Paul Belanger, Public Works Department; and Jillian Harris from the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.

Mr. Sawyer gave Ms. Harris revisions to the October 9, 2008 meeting minutes. The minutes were approved with revisions.

The committee reviewed the Past and Potential Hazards Chapter draft and Mr. Sawyer gave Ms. Revisions, which will be done between meetings. Paul Belanger will review the Past and Potential Hazards section between meetings and contact Ms. Harris with any necessary revisions from the Public Works Department.

The Committee reviewed the Critical Facilities section of the plan and Ms. Harris made note of changes, additions and revisions. Mr. Sawyer also gave Ms. Harris revisions to make in between meetings.

It was decided that a discussion of shelter needs would take place at the next meeting when the Police and/or Fire Chief was in attendance.

The Committee then moved on to review the Goals and Objectives. The current Goals and Objectives were reaffirmed for the plan update.

The Committee then reviewed the Existing and Newly Identified Mitigation Strategies in the current plan and noted necessary revisions. The Committee also noted whether strategies had taken place in the last 5 years and reasons why if they did not. It was decided that a discussion of the Town’s Radio system needs would take place at the next meeting when the Police and/or Fire Chief was in attendance.

The Committee discussed taking out the Terrorism Vulnerability Assessment portion of the current plan and also taking out the Critical Facilities picture appendix as well. The

Page 88 committee will discuss these 2 items when more members of the committee are present at future meetings.

It was decided that the next meeting date would be on Thursday December 11, 2008 at 9:00 am at the same location.

Meeting adjourned.

Page 89 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting

Meeting Number 3 December 11, 2008 9:00 – 11:00 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford, NH 03110

AGENDA 1. Call to Order

2. Approve the Minutes of the November 13, 2008 meeting

3. Review of plan updates from Meeting 2: • Section III : Existing Mitigation Strategies and Proposed Improvements • Section IV: Newly Identified Mitigation Strategies and Critical Evaluation (current plan updates moved to Appendix K) • Section V: Prioritized Implementation Schedule and Funding Sources (current plan updates moved to Appendix K)

4. Identify Gaps in Hazard Mitigation and Set Objectives for Future Mitigation Efforts • What hazards is Bedford particularly vulnerable to that could use additional mitigation efforts? • Were there events in the past 5 years that uncovered new or different hazards that need to be mitigated and planned for?

5. Brainstorming Alternatives • Brainstorm any new mitigation strategies that can be added

6. NFIP • Identify, analyze and prioritize actions related to continued compliance with NFIP

7. Questions?

8. Schedule meeting #4

9. Adjournment

Page 90 Town of Bedford, New Hampshire

Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting #3

December 11,2008 9:00 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford. NH 03 1 10

ATTENDANCESHEET

Page 91

Minutes of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting held on December 11, 2008 in the Bedford Town Offices, 24 N Amherst St, Bedford, New Hampshire

MEMBERS PRESENT David Bailey - Police Chief Mark Conrad - School District Rick Sawyer - Planning Karin Elmer - Planning Steve Crean - DPW Jillian Harris - Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.

MINUTES The committee reviewed the minutes from the November 13, 2008 meeting and made corrections. The minutes were approved with corrections.

REVIEW OF SECTIONS III, IV, V

Committee members reviewed updates to Sections III, IV, and V and offered comments and revisions. For the Dam Inundation GIS mapping, the committee decided to move this action among others to the Newly Identified Mitigation Strategies section of the plan update. Ms. Harris informed the committee that she was still waiting to receive the most recent inundation map from DES. The committee asked that she inquire as to whether the maps had been digitized already by PSNH as well.

BRAINSTORMING MITIGATION ACTIONS

The committee brainstormed new mitigation actions for the plan update. The committee discussed shelter and generator needs in regards to Riddle Brook School and the High School. A question as to the need for more generating capacity at the high school was raised and the committee included the following New Mitigation Action in the plan update: • Coordination between School District and Emergency Services to determine further generation needs at emergency shelters

The committee reviewed the previously identified mitigation actions and decided to include all the ongoing actions in the plan update for Newly Identified actions. The committee will make updates to the prioritization between this and the next meeting. Ms.

Page 92 Harris will email the committee the necessary worksheet in order to do this. Once responses are received, Ms. Harris will tabulate the results and the committee will review the newly prioritized actions at the next meeting.

NFIP

The committee discussed the Town’s actions related to compliance with NFIP. The Town continues to implement and enforce minimum floodplain management regulations that help mitigate the effects of flooding on new and improved structures in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). The town has adopted the most recent FIRM maps from FEMA and will adopt the updated ones when they become available. The Town is considering making a Flood Hazard section on the town website to provide the community with that information.

It was decided that the next meeting date would be January 8, 2008 at the same time and location.

Meeting adjourned.

Page 93 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting

Meeting Number 4 January 15, 2009 8:30 – 10:30 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford, NH 03110

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Approve the Minutes of December 11, 2008 meeting

3. Review • STAPLEE results for updated mitigation strategies

4. Update applicable hazard areas for each new Critical Facility

5. Review and update Adoption, Evaluation and Monitoring section

6. Review Appendices

7. Questions?

8. Schedule meeting #5

9. Adjournment

Page 94 Town of Bedford, New Hampshire

Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting #4

January 15,2008 8:30 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford. NH 03 110

ATTENDANCE SHEET

Page 95

Minutes of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting held on January 15, 2009 in the Bedford Town Offices, 24 N Amherst St, Bedford, New Hampshire

MEMBERS PRESENT David Bailey - Police Chief Mark Conrad - School District Rick Sawyer - Planning Karin Elmer - Planning Paul Belanger - DPW Scott Wiggin - Fire Chief Jillian Harris - Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.

MINUTES The committee approved the minutes from the December 11, 2008 meeting.

REVIEW OF STAPLEE RESULTS FOR SECTIONS IV,V

Committee members reviewed the Prioritized list of Mitigation actions from the results of the STAPLEE exercise. The following actions were removed from the list:

• Purchase additional snow removal equipment to cope with snow emergencies • Encourage the Conservation Commission to purchase flood-prone properties and permanently preserve these un-built lands

The committee requested that the Score numbers all be rounded to the nearest whole number. The committee decided to move the action “Coordination between School District and Emergency Services to determine further generation needs at emergency shelters” to priority number 4, moving it to the top of the actions that scored a 35. The committee also decided to move the action “Plan for acquisition of needed new cisterns and maintenance of existing cisterns” to priority number 10, as they felt that this action was important for the town to implement and should be higher on the priority list.

The committee then reviewed Sections IV and V and updated the Cost of Implementation table for each of the new mitigation strategies.

UPDATE APPLICABLE HAZARD AREAS FOR EACH NEW CRITICAL FACILITY

Page 96

The committee reviewed the “Critical Facilities” Section and updated the applicable hazard areas for each new critical facility that had been added to the plan. The committee also updated the applicable hazard areas for Appendix A and B.

REVIEW AND UPDATE ADOPTION, EVALUATION AND MONITORING SECTION

The committee reviewed Section VI and made no changes.

REVIEW APPENDICES

The committee reviewed the Appendices for necessary revisions. Ms Harris will update the standard appendices for revisions for the final review by the committee.

It was decided that Ms. Harris would email the final draft of the plan to the committee for their review and they would forward revisions to Ms. Elmer. The next meeting would take place between Ms. Harris, Mr. Sawyer and Ms. Elmer when the plan was ready for a final review in February.

Meeting adjourned.

Page 97 Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting

Meeting Number 5 February 12, 2009 10:00 – 11:00 am

Bedford Town Offices 24 N Amherst Road Bedford, NH 03110

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Approve the Minutes of the January 15, 2009 meeting

3. Review entire document for changes/additions/deletions a. Comments from the Committee b. Any additional items?

4. Next Actions a. Submission to NH HSEM and FEMA b. Following conditional approval from FEMA- public hearing and Board of Selectmen adoption- Approximately May 2009

5. Questions?

6. Adjournment

Page 98

Minutes of the Bedford Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting held on February 12, 2009 in the Bedford Town Offices, 24 N Amherst St, Bedford, New Hampshire

MEMBERS PRESENT Rick Sawyer - Planning Karin Elmer - Planning Jillian Harris - Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.

REVIEW OF FINAL DRAFT HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE

Mr. Sawyer and Ms. Elmer gave Ms. Harris revisions to the final draft of the Hazard Mitigation Plan update. Mr. Sawyer, Ms. Elmer and Ms. Harris reviewed those revisions that were sent by email by the committee. Ms. Harris will make revisions as necessary before sending out the Final Document to the committee and sending it to FEMA for review.

NEXT STEPS

Ms. Harris, Mr. Sawyer and Ms. Elmer discussed the next steps in the update process. Ms. Harris will send the final document to FEMA for conditional approval. Once conditional approval is received, Bedford can go through the adoption process and then receive final approval from FEMA. Ms. Harris anticipates going through the adoption process in May 2009. A tentative date of May 13, 2009 was discussed between Mr. Sawyer and Ms. Harris, depending on when conditional approval is received by FEMA.

Meeting adjourned.

Page 99

APPENDIX I

Documentation of Plan Adoption

Page 100

Appendix J

Past Prioritized Implementation Schedules and Funding Sources

Page 101

2004 Prioritized Implementation Schedule and Funding Sources

ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 1 Plan for the acquisition of Systematic 41 Fire, Planning 10-20 Yrs Local, Ongoing needed new cisterns & approach will Developers maintenance of existing enable the Town cisterns to plan for cistern locations thus saving unnecessary expenditures 2 Map, with GIS, inundation Mapping of the 40 OEM 20 Yrs Local, OEM, Incomplete due to area resulting from dam inundation area MM lack of staff and breach or dam failure from will allow the resources, action any upstream facilities to Town to notify listed under Existing show the effects on Bedford residents more Programs/Policies rapidly of an in Section III impending disaster and save lives 3 Develop culvert and bridge Maintaining 40 DPW, NHDOT 5 Yrs / Ongoing DPW, Ongoing maintenance system to culverts will deter Thereafter NHDOT ensure the longevity of the flooding and infrastructure and increase the life of minimize potential damage the infrastructure in the event of a disaster for a number of years

35 Ongoing actions added to Plan update and prioritized along with newly identified mitigation actions for the 2009 update, Section IV and V. Page 102

ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 4 Implement culvert and An inventory and 40 DPW, NHDOT 5 Yrs / Ongoing DPW, Ongoing bridge inventory & analysis of culvert Thereafter NHDOT analysis, reporting conditions will conditions of each allow the Town to decrease flooding and plan for culvert repair and replacement 5 Purchase additional snow Replacement of 40 DPW Ongoing Local, Completed and removal equipment to cope older equipment Grants Ongoing with snow emergencies will help the Town keep roads clear for emergency vehicles and save lives 6 Require secondary Environmental 40 Irving Oil, other (Private) Local, PRCR Facility has been containment for hazardous clean-up costs will private facility removed and is no spills that may occur at be considerably owners longer an issue Irving Oil on South River less if containers Road, as well as at other of oil or other potentially hazardous hazardous locations substances leak or spill from these containers 7 Develop a river Stewardship of 40 Merrimack Ongoing MRWC, Ongoing stewardship program in river shorelines River Watershed Town, NH coordination with other allows the riverine Council DES local communities in the system to function Merrimack River properly and Watershed area helps prevent future flooding of the riverbanks

Page 103

ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 8 Develop a public An inexpensive 40 Police, Fire 5 Yrs Local, State, Reverse 911, Public awareness program for way to let people CERT Broadcast, emergency management to know about Emergency Call include information emergency System distribution through either management in implemented mailings, local newspaper their community articles, local access as well as help television programming, or them prepare for other appropriate method an emergency 9 Purchase generators and Initial cost may be 40 Police, Fire, 10 Yrs Local, State, Ongoing update facilities for expensive, but the DPW Federal connection of emergency need for shelters power for Bedford Schools, with adequate to increase emergency facilities shelters outweighs cost of generators 10 Purchase fixed-facility Initial cost may be 40 Police, Fire, 10 Yrs Local, State, Ongoing generators for additional expensive, but the DPW Federal emergency shelter locations need for shelters with adequate facilities outweighs cost of generators 11 Purchase portable Initial cost may be 40 Police, Fire, 10 Yrs Local, State, Ongoing generators for additional expensive, but the DPW Federal emergency shelter locations need for shelters as is determined at the time with adequate of need facilities outweighs cost of generators

Page 104

ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 12 Develop maintenance Clogged ponds 40 DPW, Private 5 Yrs Local, Ongoing program for cause additional Developers, detention/retention flooding, while Property ponds& Identify locations proper Owners of existing & potential new maintenance facilities as required to reduces flooding lessen clogging & flooding 13 Develop early warning Initial costs 39 Police, Fire 10 Yrs Local, DPIG Reverse 911, system for 100 year outweighed by Ongoing floodplain residents ability to warn residents early and save lives 14 Develop storm water Gives Town the 39 DPW 2006 Local Ongoing drainage maps for GIS ability to use applications existing GIS system to locate storm water drainage points 15 Develop a transportation Hazardous spill 38 Police, Fire, 5 Yrs Local, State Incomplete, still a hazard identification events can be NHDOT viable project that system for major better managed needs to be done routes(101/114/I-293) for through a system and would give the future hazardous spill that identifies the town a better events/anticipate hazard hazard and assessment of the contamination predicts the types of products characteristics and area hazard’s and the quantities characteristics and that are traveling potential through the contamination community areas

Page 105

ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 16 Acquire GIS data for Inexpensive 38 Planning Completed Local, GRANIT Maps floodplain mapping; method to Department GRANIT received, FIRM FEMA/NFIP approved incorporate maps anticipated in Digital FIRMS or GIS floodplain early 2009 coverages by GRANIT mapping with Complex Systems Research other data layers; Center, UNH work can be done by in-house staff 17 Develop a tree maintenance Could be 38 DPW, PSNH, 5 Yrs to Local, State, Developed and program, minimize risk of accomplished by NHDOT develop/Ongoing Private ongoing unhealthy trees being Town workers, thereafter blown over in wind events DPW within or swept by floods or existing budget, landslides and creating along with other damage to public utilities, agencies homes and other structures/infrastructure 18 Update Flood Insurance Should be 38 Planning, FEMA Unknown FEMA, MM Anticipated in 2009 Rate Maps with FEMA to inexpensive since reflect current SFHA FEMA should boundary, base flood participate; can elevations & other flood develop public hazards, existing maps are access to dated May 1994 floodplain information

Page 106

ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 19 Relocate existing utilities Will reduce power 38 DPW, Planning, Unknown Local, Program not underground when and all utility Developers, developed by town appropriate as is communications companies Grants because funding determined by current and outages during sources are past damage anticipated to heavy snow and unavailable - be repetitive and create re- ice storms and responsibility falls occuring costs strong winds, but with utility could be quite companies expensive to implement 20 Purchase river gauges with A great resource 37 Army Corps of 10 Yrs State, FMAP, Already existing on transmitting capabilities for to determine river Engineers, DES Local the Merrimack. the Merrimack River height during Maintained by USGS potential floods or in partnership with times of high the Army Corps of water Engineers

21 Upgrade Town radio Needed for 36 Police, Fire 10 Yrs Local, State, Complete system to improve community safety COPS communication between and emergency fire, police, emergency management services among police, fire and ambulance; will save lives 22 Comprehensive Emergency NH OEM 36 Bedford School 2005 Provided by Complete Management for Schools provides District NH OEM (CEMPS) emergency preparedness training free of cost to schools

Page 107

ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 23 Amend Floodplain Local staff can 35 Planning and Completed Local Complete Ordinance to discourage develop required Building construction in the ordinances to Departments floodplain; enact discourage or end regulations more stringent construction in the than NFIP required floodplain ordinances 24 Education for residents on Local staff can 35 Planning and 5 Yrs Local Incomplete due to flood mitigation by develop Building staffing changes, distributing information program(s) for Departments add to current plan through either mailings, residents as new mitigation local newspaper articles or strategy local access television programming, or other appropriate methods 25 Develop a website for A website is 35 Planning, 2006 Local, FEMA Pending revised floodplain information, inexpensive to Building, IT maps both general and town develop and can based info provide critical information to the public. This website can be developed by local staff with the assistance of FEMA 26 Address the West Nile Addressing this 35 DPW 5 Yrs Local, State, Policy posted on Virus by developing an problem before Federal town website enforcement mechanism to the virus develops prevent stagnation in in mosquitoes can detention ponds and all save large street-mapped catch basins amounts of health care dollars

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ACTION # MITIGATION ACTION COST/BENEFIT PRIORITY WHO WHEN HOW 2009 UPDATE35 POINTS (LEADERSHIP) (DEADLINE) (FUNDING) 27 Purchase emergency Vehicles are 32 Fire, Police 5 Yrs Local, Complete vehicles and equipment initially expensive, Grants, (boats) to update & expand but can save lives Surplus existing during a hazard event 28 Purchase flood-prone Saves large sums 28 Conservation Unknown FEMA, Ongoing through properties and/or in expenditures Comm., Land PDM, Conservation development rights, for damage to Trust, Council FMAP, Local Commission particulary in the Special flood-prone Flood Hazard Areas and properties, NFIP repetitive loss especially properties where possible repetitive loss properties 29 Encourage the Saves large sums 28 Conservation Unknown FEMA, Ongoing Conservation Commission in expenditures Comm., Land PDM, to purchase flood-prone for damage to Trust, Council FMAP, Local properties and flood-prone permanently preserve these properties, un-built lands especially repetitive loss properties

Summary of Grant Acronyms in the Prioritized Implementation Schedule: FMAP= Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (see Appendix F) PDM= Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (see Appendix F) DPIG= Disaster Preparedness Improvement Grant (see Appendix F) PRCR= Petroleum Release Cleanup Reimbursement, NH Dept. of Environ. Services MM= Map Modernization (see Appendix F) CERT= Community Emergency Response Teams (see Appendix F) COPS= Office of Community Oriented Police Services, Interoperable Communications Technology Program (see Appendix F)

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Appendix K

Town of Bedford Water Resources Plan

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Town of Bedford Water Resource Plan

AN ACTION PLAN FOR IMPROVED EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR FIREFIGHTING IN BEDFORD, NH

Date: June 30, 2008

Prepared by the:

NH Rural Fire Protection Initiative, a project of North Country and Southern NH Resource Conservation & Development Area Councils 719 N. Main St., Room 220 Laconia NH 03246

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The following report is a collaborative effort between various entities. The representatives listed below comprise the core decision-making team responsible for this report and mutually agree on the plan’s contents:

RUSSELL MARCOUX RICK SAWYER TOWN MANAGER PLANNING DIRECTOR TOWN OF BEDFORD 24 NORTH AMHERST ROAD BEDFORD NH 03110

SCOTT WIGGIN, FIRE CHIEF BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT 55 CONSTITUTION DRIVE BEDFORD NH 03110

Technical resources and facilitation in the development of the plan was provided by:

PATRICIA TARPEY, PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR KARL BERARDI, FIELD TECHNICIAN NH RURAL FIRE PROTECTION INITIATIVE 719 N. MAIN ST. LACONIA NH 03246

The following local, state, and federal agencies and other interested parties were consulted and involved in the preparation of this report:

JOANNE BEAUDOIN, FIELD REPRESENTATIVE NH HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 33 HAZEN DRIVE CONCORD, NH 03305

ERIN SMALL USDA FOREST SERVICE WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST 719 NORTH MAIN ST. LACONIA NH 03246

BRAD SIMPKINS FOREST PROTECTION BUREAU NH DIVISION OF FORESTS AND LANDS P.O. BOX 1856 CONCORD NH 03302-1856

Funding for this plan was provided by a grant from the NH Bureau of Emergency Management with Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant funds from FEMA.

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PLAN CONTENTS

I. OBJECTIVES

II. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

III. COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND EXISTING SITUATION

IV. COMMUNITY BASE MAP

V. COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

VI. COMMUNITY WATER RESOURCE MAP

VII. MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION PLAN

VIII. EVALUATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

IX. APPENDICES

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I. OBJECTIVES The objective of the following report is to complement and enhance Bedford’s hazard mitigation plan by identifying, evaluating, and mapping water resource sites available to local and mutual aid fire personnel for fire fighting purposes. The plan will identify those areas of town currently lacking adequate water drafting facilities. In addition, planning assistance will include a review of a community’s current mitigation strategies and activities and an assessment of their emergency response capability, fire fighting capacity, water supply resources, community development patterns, and identification of areas at risk and will result in recommendations that will improve the community’s fire protection capability. Communities benefit as up-to-date rural Water Resource Plans provide a useful tool for planning emergency responses to rural fire situations, and are a framework for community planners to identify priority areas for future installations of water drafting facilities such as dry hydrants and cisterns. Functioning dry hydrants or cisterns in rural areas reduce fire department response time to fires potentially saving lives, reduce risk of injury, and reduce residential, commercial, and wildland property losses.

II. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

A representative from the NH Rural Fire Protection Initiative met with the Bedford Fire Chief, Scott Wiggin in November to ascertain the community’s interest in having a water resource plan done. Bedford’s Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved in April 2004 so it is due be updated with FEMA. One of the benefits of doing a water resource plan is that the mitigation actions are incorporated into the Hazard Mitigation Plan, which requires reviewing and updating the HMP.

Community Officials involved in the development and/or review of the water resource plan include:

Scott Wiggin, Fire Chief/EMD David Bailey, Police Chief/EMD Bob Young, Selectman and Planning Board Rep. Rick Sawyer, Planning Director

In addition to the above, the task force consulted with the U.S. Forest Service and the NH Division of Forests and Lands. Bedford is listed on the Federal Register as one of the communities at risk for wildfire in New Hampshire and therefore input was sought from the forest agencies. The “communities at risk” list includes communities with land adjacent to federal lands, which is the case in Bedford. Bedford has been included in this list due to a satellite tracking station located in New Boston and Amherst, which lies adjacent to west Bedford.

Erin Small US Forest Service

Brad W. Simpkins, Chief Forest Protection Bureau NH Division of Forests and Lands

Prior mapping and field evaluations had been done for the town in 2004. Karl Berardi, Field Technician/NC RC&D met with Chief Wiggin and two other fire department personnel on 11/28/07 to discuss incorporating the mapping work into a water resource plan. In February, the community questionnaire was received from the fire chief. Follow up discussions were had with the chief in regards to the previous mapping to ascertain if any changes had occurred. A meeting was held with Chief Wiggin on July 2, 2008 to review the draft water resource plan which was provided to the community officials for review on July 1, 2008.

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III. COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND EXISTING SITUATION

Community Profile County: Hillsborough Website: www.ci.bedford.nh.us

Regional Planning Commission: Southern NH Planning Commission Selectman Rep. to Planning Board: Bob Young Planning Board Rep. to Planning Comm. Harold Newbury Emergency Management Director: Fire Chief Scott Wiggin and Police Chief David Bailey

Community Size: Total Area (sq. miles): 32.8 sq. mi. Land Area: 32.5 sq. mi. Inland Water Area: 0.3 sq. mi. Population Density: 640.8 persons per square mile Resident Population Permanent: 20,986 (2006 est.) Seasonal:

Seasonal Population Change: (circle one) Less than 10% Less than 25% Less than 50% Greater than 50%

Please specify season with greatest impact: Community Development Patterns Number of Lots: Number of Structures: 6,401 Housing units Estimated Acres undeveloped: Areas of town being developed: West Bedford and South River Road Area # new building permits issued: 33 Permits Build out analysis done? Yes Subdivision Requirements for Fire Protection? Roads greater than 1000 ft. required to have fire suppression Road System: Miles of State & Local roads: ~4.4 mi. Interstate, ~29 mi. State, ~166 mi. Class V, ~15.5 mi. Class IV Class VI and Private 2.3 mi. Class VI, 14 mi Private Logging Unknown

Forested Lands within or bordering community Type (State, Federal, Local) Location # Acres Type of Vegetative Cover Town/Total Pulpit Rock Conservation Area Pulpit Road 350 Mixed (hardwood & softwood) Joppa Hill Farm Joppa Hill 190 Field and mixed forest Van Load Preserve No. Amherst Road 68 Mixed Benedictine Park Wallace Road 27 Fields and mixed forest Reed’s Ferry State Forest F.E. Everett Turnpike 122.5 Satellite Tracking Facility Chestnut Hill Rd., Amherst 2910 Mixed forest (Federal) Bradford Woods Open Space borders southeast boundary, 156 Mixed forest Merrimack

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Fire Protection Capability Assessment: Emergency Response Capability Type of Organization: Paid/ full time Paid/Part time Volunteer Combination (please describe) Full Time/ Call department

Number of Members: 29 full time, 10 call

Estimated number of fire responses per yr.: 538 fire calls/ yr.

Approximate number of training man-hours per year: 10/ person Would you consider recruitment/ retention to be a problem? Yes

How many fire stations in your community? One within a 5 mile radius of town? Five

Please list your Fire Apparatus. Type Age Pumping Capacity Water on Board Hose Carried Engine 1 2001 1750 gpm 1200 g. 1200’ Engine 2 1990 1500 gpm 1200 g. 1000’ Engine 3 1984 1000 gpm 2500 g. 1000’ Engine 4 1988 1250 gpm 750 g. 500’ Tanker 2 1979 400 gpm 3500 g. 0 Truck 1 1999 2000 gpm 400 g. 1000’

Does your department have written Standard Operating Procedures? Yes

Community Protection Class Rating: 5/9 Last time updated/reviewed? Jan 2005 Mutual Aid Response Towns: Manchester, Amherst, Goffstown, Merrimack, Litchfield

Forest Fire Warden Scott Wiggin, Fire Chief

Community Fire/Wildfire History: (include surrounding areas and historically significant fires) Date Location #Acres involved/ $$ damage Cause Fall 2007 Merrimack, NH 25 acs. Mixed cover Unknown Spring 2007 Bedford/ Manchester 14 acs. Train Spring 2005 New Boston 20+ acs. Controlled Burn

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Fire Fighting Capacity

What is the longest practical hose lay that 2,000 ft. can be achieved by your department?

Please note the most challenging area of West Bedford town regarding fire protection:

Please give estimates for the above location in case of a fire: - Time from alarm to establish a 12-15 minutes sustained fire flow of 250 gpm: - Time from alarm to achieve a 20-30 minutes sustained fire flow of 500 gpm

Methods used to achieve fire flow in this instance. Number of apparatus 6 Manpower 10 men Hose Laid 500’ Tanker Shuttle (miles) 2 miles

For the above incident please list the limiting factor(s) ie: grade, road conditions, distance, seasonal access, proximity of water source. Distance to water source and available tankers in the region

Water Supply Resources Please state the number of: Operating pressurized hydrants: 275 Non operational pressurized hydrants: None are out of service Operational dry hydrants: 34 Dry hydrants Non-operational dry hydrants 3 in need of repair

Are water resource sites used by your community currently mapped? Yes Are Flow Test, Maintenance Records kept on each site? (if applicable) Yes Dry hydrant/cistern installation and/or maintenance program? (please Yes provide copy)

Surface Water Availability (list significant waterbodies) Location Description /#acres Sebbins Pond Road Sebbins Pond/ 19.8 acres Joppa Hill Road Brown’s Pond/ 3.6 acres Meetinghouse Road Gerad Pond/ 3.0 acres Pulpit Road Pulpit Pond/ 4.67 acres Magazine St. Pond/ 4.4 acres Beaver Brook Rd. Pond/ 6.0 acres Ash Bog, Hardy Road Wetland/Bog - 126 acres Forms eastern boundary of Bedford Merrimack River

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Hazard Profiling and Identification of Areas at Risk

Do you have more than one “Problem Area?” please list: Area: Reasons: West Bedford Distance of travel and lack of water supply Joppa Hill Road

Please list any other special targets or hazards, and are they pre-planned? Propane Plant, Large Residential Structures

Please describe your mutual aid arrangement: (include a copy if available) Member of Souhegan and Border Area Mutual Aid

In your opinion has the area of wildland/urban interface increased? Yes, in the entire town where new Where? homes are being built in the forested areas.

If so, has this increase materially affected the strategy or tactics of the

fire department? How? Yes, higher concern when fire danger is elevated.

Regarding the Wildland/Urban Interface, please list the organizations with which your department collaborates or shares responsibilities: NH DRED (Div Forests and Lands)

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IV. COMMUNITY BASE MAP Base map identifying critical facilities and infrastructure (if available), conservation lands, roads, surface waters, and town boundaries overlaid on USGS Topographic 7.5’ series. (Larger map, 11x17, can be found in the appendix)

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MAP OF PAST HAZARDS FROM THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

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V. COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

Executive Summary Bedford is a relatively populated community ranking 12th among NH’s incorporated cities and towns. The 2006 U.S. Census estimates the population at 20,986; which with an area of 33.1 sq. mi. results in a population density of 640.8 persons per square mile. The following description of the community has been taken from the Hazard Mitigation plan completed in 2004. excerpted from Bedford’s Hazard Mitigation Plan: “Location, Topography, Population, and Weather Conditions The Town of Bedford is located in the south-central portion of the State of New Hampshire in Hillsborough County. Bedford is bordered by the Town of Goffstown to the north, the City of Manchester and the Town of Londonderry to the east, the Town of Merrimack to the south, and the towns of Amherst and New Boston to the west. Bedford encompasses a total of approximately 33.1 square miles. It is located two miles southwest of the City of Manchester and about 15 miles north of the City of Nashua. During the U.S. Census 2000 the population of the Town was 18,274, representing a growth rate of almost 100% during the previous 20 years. The Bedford area is located in a gently sloping low plateau that is characterized by stratified and unstratified material, consisting of silt, sand and gravel deposited by the meltwaters of a retreating glacial ice sheet. Along the streams, alluvial silt covers the glacial outwash deposits to form the floodplains. The soil texture in most places is a well-drained, moderately acid fine sandy-loam or loam. Elevations range from approximately 110 feet at the Merrimack River to 840 feet at Holbrook Hill, the highest point in Town. The climate of Bedford is typical of the Merrimack Valley, with warm summers and cool winters. Temperatures during the month of July range from an average high of 80 degrees Fahrenheit to an average low of 55 degrees. Temperatures in January range from an average high of 30 degrees Fahrenheit to an average low of ten degrees. Prolonged periods of severe cold are rare. Average annual precipitation is 42 inches, of which approximately 15% is snow. Principal Streams and Brooks The principal watercourse in the Town of Bedford is the Merrimack River, which originates at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire. Bowman Brook, Patten Brook and Pointer Club Brook are tributaries of the Merrimack River. Baboosic Brook originates in the Town of Amherst, flows through the southwest corner of Bedford, and continues in a southeasterly direction. Pulpit Brook, McQuade Brook and Riddle Brook are tributaries of Baboosic Brook.”

The Hazard Mitigation Plan identified wildfire as a moderate risk that could result in major values lost. It also referenced some areas that the committee considered isolated residential areas in the wildland/urban interface (WUI). excerpted from Bedford’s Hazard Mitigation Plan: “Forest Fires $400,000 to $3,200,000 A forest fire can strike at any time, but may be expected to occur during years of drought. Presuming a small- to-medium-sized fire that destroys from one to 20-plus homes, damage from this hazard could be expected to range from $400,000 to $3,200,000. Other damage, such as to utilities, is not included in this estimate.

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There are several areas, in the Town of Bedford, that are susceptible to wildfires, including: · All new developments (when trees are cut, soil dries leaving dead grass) · OHRV’s spark cause fires · Debris left from ice storms in 1998 · Holbrook Hill area has had forest fires · Pulpit Rock area has had forest fires” · Ministerial Branch Area · Perry Road Area These areas have been identified on the Past Hazards GIS map. Low to moderate probability for wildfires to occur and cause damage in Bedford

Isolated Homes “New Hampshire is heavily forested and is therefore exposed to this hazard. The proximity of many populated areas to the State’s forested lands exposes these areas and their populations to the potential impact of wildfire (State of New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan p. 34).” There are several areas in Bedford with isolated residential areas and individual residential units, identified on the Potential Hazards GIS Map and in the summary listing of “Areas at Risk” at the end of this section. There is one isolated home located on Pulpit Road. Low probability for isolated homes to be damaged in Bedford”

Four categories were assessed for fire protection capability: road system, fire fighting capacity, emergency response capability, and evacuation measures.

Road System – ~ 34 miles State roads, 178 miles local roads, 2.3 miles Class VI roads, 14 miles Private roads. Roads greater than 1000’ are required to have fire suppression.

Fire Fighting Capacity –. Bedford has 275 pressurized hydrants and 38 dry hydrants. The water resource map only shows the dry hydrants. Four (4) of the dry hydrants are in need of repair. In addition, there are 4 sites that the fire department uses as draft sources, which are recommended for development for dry hydrant installations and two potential sites that are recommended for development as drafting sources.

Emergency Response Capability – Bedford has a full time and on call fire department consisting of 29 full time members and 10 on call firefighters. The department has 4 engine trucks that combined carry 5600 gallons of water. In addition the department has a tanker truck with a 3500 gallon capacity, and a truck with a pumping capacity of 2000 gpm. The fire chief has indicated that recruitment/retention of fire fighters are issues for the department. There is 1 fire department in town, with 5 others within a 5 mile radius. Bedford belongs to two mutual aid organizations, which improves the emergency response. Bedford’s protection class rating is a 5/9 due to the 275 pressurized hydrants located in the most populated areas.

Evacuation Measures – Routes US293, NH Routes 114, 101, and 3, F.E. Everett Turnpike are the major evacuation routes. An Emergency Management Plan was completed in 2002.

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Existing Mitigation Strategies and Proposed Improvements Area of Enforcement Effectiveness Improvements or Existing Program or Activity Town Department Changes Needed Covered Needs to be updated. Hazard Mitigation Plan Town wide EMD Good Completed April 2004 See Mitigation Master Plan Town wide Planning Board Recommendations Emergency Management Town wide EMD Good Last updated 2002 Plan Road Design Standards - NH DOT Standards All new Planning Board - Town Land Good None noted subdivisions Public Works Development Control Regulations Slopes >25% Steep Slopes and Class VI Town Council Class VI Good None noted Roads Planning Board roads Subdivision Regulations Subdivisions Planning Board Good Constant review

Summary of Fire History of Community and/or Adjacent Lands**

Relative Frequency and Location infrequent, various

Common Causes lightning, train, human related

Values Lost unknown

Availability of Resources Fire Department, Mutual Aid

Lightning, fuel loads/debris on ground, daytime Factors Influencing Fire Probability population in flux northwest area of Bedford, airport access road implies Areas of Future Concern growth

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VI. COMMUNITY WATER RESOURCE MAP The Community Water Resource Map is the same as the Community Base Map but with existing and potential water drafting supply sites marked to identify current resources available to local and mutual aid fire personnel for fire fighting purposes.

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Water Resource Map (2) Depicting 2000 ft. radius around each water resource site (area of coverage fire hose can reach).

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Site Information Summary

Name of Site Site I.D.: Site Name: Location(road): Property Owner: Waterbody: Access: Fire_Load: Be1 Sebbins Pond Dry Hydrant 95 Sebbins Pond Drive Public Row Sebbins Pond Paved residential Be2 Herrod Drive Dry Hydrant 23 Herrod Drive Public Row Fire pond Paved residential Be3 Meadow Rd. Dry Hydrant 21 Meadow Rd. Unknown Fire pond Unpaved residential Be4 Barrington Dr. Cistern Barrington Dr. Unknown Cistern Paved residential Be5 Kamen Dry hHdrant Kamen Private Rd. N/F Kamen Private pond Paved residential Be6 Nashua Rd. Dry Hydrant 163 Nashua Rd. N/F Evans fire pond Paved residential Be7 Jenkins Rd. Dry Hydrant Jenkins Rd. Public Row fire pond Paved residential Be8 Colonel Daniels Cistern Colonel Daniels Drive Public Row cistern Paved residential Be9 Federation Hydrant 71 Federation Rd. Unknown private fire pond Paved residential Be10 Wentworth Dry Hydrant Wentworth Drive Public Row fire pond Paved residential Be11 Rt. 101 & Meetinghouse Rd. Rt. 101 corner of Meetinghouse Rd Public Row fire pond Paved residential Be12 Crickett Hill Dry Hydrant Crickett Hill Rd. Unknown fire pond Paved residential Be13 Twin Brook Dry Hydrants Twin Brook land Public Row fire pond(s) Paved residential Be14 Beech St. Dry Hydrant Beech St. Unknown fire pond Paved residential Be15 Proctor Rd. Dry Hydrant Proctor Rd. Public Row fire pond Paved residential Be16 Joppa Hill Rd. South DH Joppa Hill Rd. Unknown fire pond Unpaved residential Be17 Greely Hill Dry Hydrant 20 Greely Hill Rd. Unknown fire pond Paved residential Be18 Rice Lane Cistern Rice Lane Public Row cistern Paved residential Be19 Scott Rd. Dry Hydrant Scott Rd. Unknown fire pond Paved residential residences, Be20 Church Rd. Hydrant Church Rd. Public Row Unknown Paved church Coldstream Park Dry Business, Be21 Hydrant 116 S. River Road Coldstream Associates Bowman Brook Paved mercantile Be22 Hardy Rd. Pump Site Hardy Rd. at South Hills Rd. Public Row Unnamed brook Paved residential Be23 Beaver Brook Pump Site Beaver Brook Rd. Public Row McQuade Brook Paved residential Be24 Catesby Lane Dry Hydrant Catesby Lane Public Row fire pond Paved residential Be25 Stratford Cistern Stratford Lane Public Row Cistern Paved residential Be26 Lancaster Lane Dry Hydrant 27 Lancaster Lane Public Row fire pond Paved residential Corner Campbell Rd. & Pembroke Be27 Campbell Rd. Dry Hydrant Way Public Row fire pond Paved residential Be28 Brown's Pond Dry Hydrant Joppa Hill Rd. Public Row Brown's Pond Paved Residences Be29 Spartan Drive Dry Hydrant Spartan Drive Public Row fire pond Paved Residences

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Name of Site Site I.D.: Site Name: Location(road): Property Owner: Waterbody: Access: Fire_Load: Be30 Pulpit Road Dry Hydrant Pulpit Road @ boat launch Public Row Pulpit Pond Unpaved Residences Be31 Rachael Way Cistern Corner Rachael Way & Esther Drive Public Row cistern Unpaved Residences Be32 Normand Circle Dry Hydrant 20 Normand Circle Public Row fire pond Paved Residences Be33 Newfane Dry Hydrant Newfane Road Public Row fire pond Paved Residences Be34 Magazine St. Dry Hydrant 31 Magazine St. Public Row Unnamed pond Paved Residences Be35 Wallace Rd. Dry Hydrant Wallace Rd. & Magazine St. Public Row fire pond Paved Residences Be36 Wallace Rd. Dry Hydrant Wallace Rd. & Ministercal Rd. Public Row fire pond Paved Residences Be37 McAllister Road Dry Hydrant McAllister Road @ Public Row fire pond Paved Residences Whipporwill Lane Dry Be38 Hydrant Whipporwill Lane & Tirrell Hill Rd. Public Row Unnamed pond Paved Residences Corner Holbrook & Galloway Residences, Be39 Lane corner Holbrook & Galloway Lane Unknown Unnamed Paved school Be40 White Ave. Dry Hydrant White Ave. Public Row Unnamed pond Paved Residences Farm, Be41 Clark's Farm Dry Hydrant Wortherly Road N/F Clark fire pond Paved residences Be42 Meetinghouse Rd. Pond Meetinghouse Rd. Unknown Unnamed Paved Residences Be43 Birkdale Dry Hydrant Birkdale Drive Unknown private pond Paved Residences Residences, Be44 Riddle Brook N. Amherst Rd. & Wallace Rd. Public Row Riddle Brook Paved village Be45 Rt. 101 @ McQuade's Brook Rt. 101 Public Row McQuade Brook Paved Residences

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Site Information Summary

Water Est Site I.D.: Source: Hydrant type: Site situation: Est lift: Run: Comments: Future Plans: Be1 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant Steel 6" 12 90 unlimited water source Be2 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" Steel 7 35 dug fire pond Be3 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 8 80 Good access, dug fire pond Be4 Cistern Operational Dry Hydrant 8" 30000 gallons Be5 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" positive pressure private system Be6 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" 7 60 dug fire pond Be7 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 8" 6 30 Adjacent to municipal water source Be8 Cistern Operational Dry Hydrant 8" 30000 gal positive pressure, Be9 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" 10 controlled by low head Be10 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 7 40 spillway Be11 Pond Inoperative Dry Hydrant 6" steel 6 60 hydrant removed limited operational Be12 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" 12 100 recently repaired two hydrants one on each side of Be13 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant (2) 6" steel 8 40 twin connected fire ponds road Be14 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 8" steel 14 70 Be15 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 12 30 none Be16 Pond Inoperative Dry Hydrant 8" steel 10 80 Needs Repair Repair/Replace Hydrant System 8" steel, positive Be17 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant pressure 6 140 none Be18 Cistern Operational Dry Hydrant 8" steel 20 30,000 gallons none Be19 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 8" steel 12 60 none 6" positive Be20 Operational Dry Hydrant pressure unknown water source Be21 Stream Operational Dry Hydrant 6" Steel 10 40 Repairs underway (2008) None Be22 Stream Draft draft into stream Be23 Stream Draft draft into stream unlimited possible DH site Be24 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 7 40 none Be25 Cistern Operational Dry Hydrant 8" steel 30000 gallons none Be26 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 8" steel 8 100 unlimited none Be27 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 7 40 unlimited none Be28 Pond Inoperative Dry Hydrant 6" steel 6 40 Repair/Replace Repair/Replace Hydrant System 18 Page 128 WATER RESOURCE PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR IMPROVED EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR FIREFIGHTING

Water Est Site I.D.: Source: Hydrant type: Site situation: Est lift: Run: Comments: Future Plans: Be29 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 10 40 none Be30 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 8" steel 8 100 unlimited none Be31 Cistern Operational Dry Hydrant 8-6" 30000 gallons none Be32 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 8" steel 5 40 none Be33 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 10 40 none Be34 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 6 40 unlimited none Be35 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 6 110 Adequate none Be36 Pond Inoperative Dry Hydrant 6" steel 10 70 Repair/Replace Repair/Replace Hydrant System Be37 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 5 40 unlimited none Be38 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 6 60 unlimited none Be39 Pond Potential Dry Hydrant possible draft site unlimited possible DH site Be40 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 8 40 none Be41 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 4 25 none Be42 Pond Potential Dry Hydrant not presently used unlimited limited access, possible dh site Be43 Pond Operational Dry Hydrant 6" steel 6 40 unlimited limited access, no plans Be44 Stream Draft current draft site none Be45 Stream Draft current draft site none

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Selected Sites Identified for Hydrant Projects The sites identified for development of dry hydrant installations listed in the following table do not encompass all of the potential projects or sites which the town of Bedford should consider for improvement of water drafting facilities. The sites identified on the map below and in the following table represent those sites considered most important for immediate consideration due to either high population density, community development patterns, only a seasonal supply of water, or field site evaluations determined they would make good dry hydrant sites.

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VII. MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS Executive Summary The following recommendations were developed by the Rural Fire Protection Planning Team as a result of the Community Fire Protection Capability Assessment and field work site evaluations. The recommendations have been provided to the community to be incorporated into the Hazard Mitigation Plan, where they will be prioritized and an implementation strategy developed. The foundational information was gathered from the community’s Master Plan, hazard mitigation information, assessment of fire issues/needs survey, zoning regulations, fire dept. incident list and input from community officials and stakeholders.

Potential Program or Activity identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan as relates to rural fire events: 1. Plan for acquisition of needed new cisterns & maintenance of existing cisterns

Proposed Community Mitigation Actions Affected Potential Action Description of Potential Action Location Rationale Repair or replace existing dry hydrants at the following locations: Priority should be given to repairing or replacing existing Repair/replace Joppa Hill Rd. dry hydrants as being most cost Dry Hydrants B16: 24 Joppa Hill Road Wallace Road B28: Joppa Hill Road effective and to meet public B36: Wallace Road at Ministerial Rd. expectation.

Gather information relevant for hydrant construction; i.e. seasonal water level, Hardy Road These sites were considered to Beaver Brook be “good” or “possible” dry Investigate area available for apparatus, static lift Rd. hydrant sites and represent a possibility of etc. at: Wallace Rd/No. challenge to construct for installing B22: Hardy Road Draft Site Amherst Rd. variety of reasons. Site Dry Hydrant (s) B23: Beaver Brook Road Draft Site Southwest area selection will be determined B44: Riddle Brook at Wallace Road of Route 101 by complexity. B45: McQuade Brook at Route 101 Investigate possibility of establishing a Cistern or other alternative water Areas of concern identified by source: Holbook Hill Rd. Fire Dept. Due to elevation Install Cistern (s) Joppa Hill Rd. and distance from other water Holbrook Hill Pulpit Road sources cisterns may be Pulpit Road necessary. Joppa Hill Amend or include money in the Capitol Capitol Improvement Plan for water drafting Town wide Improvement Plan site development, fire equipment, and training

International Wildland/Urban Amendment of subdivision regulations Subdivision Interface Code 2006. i.e. Ch. 4 to require onsite water storage, Regulations for Town wide Wildland/Urban Interface Area minimum fire flow, fire breaks in Fire Protection Requirements (included in CD wildland/urban interface areas. with plan)

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Affected Potential Action Description of Potential Action Location Rationale The Master Plan is a guide and public record of the development principles for the town. The Water Resource Incorporate the Encourage referral to Water Resource Plan addresses strategies to be Water Resource Plan and maps by Planning Board when Town wide implemented that reflect Plan into the reviewing subdivision proposals changes in population or land Master Plan use, which may affect fire department strategy, particularly in regards to the wildland/urban interface (WUI) Implement program to provide training Fire Department to fire personnel on wildland fire Town wide Improved Emergency Response Training suppression, dry hydrant design, site evaluations of water resources, etc. Consider establishing driveway standards that address access by Reference NFPA 1: Uniform emergency vehicles. Driveway width, Fire Code and Driveway slope and overhead clearance are NFPA 1144: Standard for Town wide Standards examples of concern which can impede Protection of Life and Property emergency response to residential from Wildfire; 2002 edition homes in remote and difficult access areas. Educate homeowners on “Firewise Communities” program, promote Homeowner installation of fire ponds in remote Town wide Education areas and use of easements to Fire Dept. for access

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VIII. EVALUATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Evaluation Strategy In order to track progress on the recommended mitigation actions and the implementation strategy developed, it is recommended that the Town of Bedford review the water resource plan on an annual basis. This should be initiated by the Town Administrator/Manager or Emergency Management Director seeking input and updates from the Fire Department, Planning Dept. and Board of Selectmen, as well as inviting public comment. As priorities or funding resources may change, the plan should be amended to reflect those changes.

Sustainability Plan This plan will be adopted by the Board of Selectmen and become an addendum to the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Therefore procedures and mechanisms in place for updating, monitoring, and sustaining the Hazard Mitigation Plan will also apply to the Water Resource Plan.

It is also recommended that the Water Resource Plan be incorporated into the town’s Master Plan, as the mitigation strategies listed serve as recommendations to better enable the town to plan for future growth.

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IX. APPENDICES

A. OVERVIEW OF PROCESS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS

B. WATER RESOURCE MAPS

C. WATER RESOURCE SITE EVALUATION SHEETS

D. DRY HYDRANT DESIGNS

E. DRY HYDRANT INFORMATION

F. EASEMENT INFORMATION

G. NH D.E.S. WETLANDS INFORMATION

H. I.S.O. INFORMATION

I. WILDLAND/URBAN INTERFACE MITIGATION INFORMATION

J. REFERENCES

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