2019 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
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2019 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Prepared on Behalf of the Municipalities of the MetroCOG Region Draft to DEMHS: May 13, 2019 Draft to FEMA: July 2, 2019 Approved Pending Adoption: July 12, 2019 Adopted: July 18, 2019 FEMA Approval: ________, 2019 Acknowledgements MetroCOG thanks its member communities for their participation in this Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. The time and dedication shown by local staff in advancing natural hazard mitigation efforts is significant and has helped create a more resilient region. MetroCOG also thanks the local boards, commissions, and general public who provided valuable insight into their communities. Project Staff for Plan Update MetroCOG 1000 Lafayette Boulevard Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 203-366-5405 info *at* ctmetro.org Matt Fulda Patrick Carleton Meghan Sloan Executive Director Deputy Director Planning Director 203-366-5405 x28 203-366-5405 x26 203-366-5405 x23 mfulda *at* ctmetro.org pcarleton *at* ctmetro.org msloan *at* ctmetro.org Municipal Contacts / Local Coordinators City of Bridgeport Town of Easton Town of Fairfield Lynn Haig, AICP Captain Richard Doyle Emmeline Harrigan, AICP, CFM Director of Planning, Office of Emergency Management Director Assistant Planning Director Planning & Economic Development 225 Center Road Plan & Zoning Department 999 Broad Street Easton, CT 06612 725 Old Post Road Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-268-4111 Fairfield, CT 06824 203-576-7221 rdoyle *at* eastonct.gov 203-256-3050 lynn.haig *at* bridgeportct.gov eharrigan *at* fairfieldct.org Town of Monroe Town of Stratford Town of Trumbull Chris Nowacki Jay Habansky, AICP William Maurer, P.E., LS Director of Public Works Planning & Zoning Administrator Town Engineer 7 Fan Hill Road 2725 Main Street, Rooms 113 & 118 5866 Main Street Monroe, CT 06468 Stratford, CT 06615 Trumbull, CT 06611 203-452-2814 203-385-4017 203-452-5050 cnowacki *at* monroect.org jhabansky *at* townofstratford.com wmaurer *at* trumbull-ct.gov -and- -and- Scott Schatzlein, P.E. Susmitha Attota, AICP Town Engineer Town Planner 203-452-2809 (203) 385-4017 sschatzlein *at* monroect.org sattota *at* townofstratford.com Consultant Team Milone & MacBroom, Inc. The Nature Conservancy David Murphy, P.E., CFM, Associate Adam Whelchel, Ph.D. Manager of Water Resources Planning Director of Science 99 Realty Drive 55 Church Street, Third Floor Cheshire, CT 06410 New Haven, CT 06510 203-271-1773 x295 203-568-6270 dmurphy *at* mminc.com awhelchel *at* tnc.org Notice to Readers This document was prepared under a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Points of view or opin- ions expressed in this document are those of MetroCOG and its member communities and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. CONTENTS 1. Purpose & Regional Overview 1.1 Authority | 1-1 1.2 Background | 1-2 1.3 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan | 1-3 1.4 Profile of the MetroCOG Region & Jurisdictions | 1-3 1.5 Land Use | 1-13 1.6 Development Trends | 1-14 2. Planning Process 2.1 Review of Existing Plans | 2-1 2.2 Review of Municipal Websites | 2-8 2.3 Government Structure |2-10 2.4 Planning Teams | 2-15 2.5 Conservation Technical Advisory Committee | 2-17 2.6 Hazard Mitigation Workshops | 2-17 2.7 Community Outreach | 2-25 3. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 3.1 General Description of Region | 3-1 3.2 Natural Hazards | 3-13 3.3 Loss Estimates | 3-18 3.4 Hazard Profile – Hurricanes and Tropical Storms | 3-19 3.5 Hazard Profile – Inland Flooding | 3-29 3.6 Hazard Profile – Coastal Flooding | 3-40 3.7 Hazard Profile – Sea Level Rise | 3-45 3.8 Hazard Profile – Winter Storms | 3-48 3.9 Hazard Profile – Summer Storms and Tornadoes | 3-52 3.10 Hazard Profile – Earthquakes | 3-58 3.11 Hazard Profile - Dam Failure | 3-61 3.12 Hazard Profile - Wildfires | 3-66 3.13 Hazard Summary | 3-68 4. Mitigation Strategies 4.1 Problem Statements | 4-1 4.2 Vision, Goals & Objectives | 4-13 4.3 Development of Hazard Mitigation Strategies | 4-15 4.4 Regional Actions | 4-19 4.5 Review of Prior Hazard Mitigation Actions | 4-23 5. Implementation 5.1 Adoption & Responsibilities for Implementation | 5-1 5.2 Planning Mechanisms | 5-2 5.3 Progress Monitoring, Public Participation and Plan Maintenance | 5-2 5.4 Community Rating System Program | 5-2 5.5 Mitigation Actions for Each Community | 5-4 5.6 Implementation Capabilities | 5-6 5.7 Technical & Financial Resources | 5-29 Purpose & 1 Regional Overview The purpose of the multi-jurisdic- tional update to the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) is to reduce the loss of life, personal injury and damage to property, infrastructure and natural, cultural and economic resources from a natural disaster in the Greater Bridgeport Region. The The components of the Plan include: Plan emphasizes actions that can • Identification of natural hazards that could occur be implemented now to reduce or in the region – inland flooding, coastal flooding, prevent damage from a future natu- hurricanes, sea level rise, summer storms, winter ral disaster. The assessments and storms (ice and blizzards), tornadoes, earthquakes, evaluations are based on extensive wildfires, and dam failure; • Evaluation of vulnerabilities to structures and data collection and outreach efforts populations; to obtain information on the physical • Assessment of current mitigation measures in- setting of the region, existing haz- cluded in the 2014 NHMP to determine which have ards, and the occurrence, frequency, been implemented and whether or not they have duration and potency of probable been effective in reducing vulnerabilities and risks; • Identification and evaluation of potential miti- hazards. gation measures that could be implemented to reduce risks and vulnerability; • Development of response strategies to address hazard mitigation; and • Recommendations for future mitigation actions. 1.1 Authority The Plan is authorized under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA), also known as the 2000 Stafford Act amendments. The purposes of the DMA are to establish a national program for pre-disaster mitiga- tion and streamline administration of disaster relief. The Act encourages the develop- ment of disaster preparedness and mitigation plans and the implementa- tion of measures to reduce the effects of natural hazards. Under DMA, communities are required to develop and submit a Natu- ral Hazard Mitigation Plan as a condition of eligibility for certain funding opportunities offered by the Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency (FEMA), including the Pre-Disas- 1-1 ter Mitigation (PDM) Program and post-disaster the significant coastal flooding of October Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). and November 2018. • The plan incorporates a new exposure analysis that tabulates parcels and structures 1.2 Background exposed to the risks profiled in the plan. This plan update builds on the 2014 Update • The plan adds “Fact Sheets” to make the to the original 2006 NHMP for the former Greater document livelier and give community plan- Bridgeport Regional Planning Area, developed in ners the flexibility to pull stand-alone pages cooperation with the City of Bridgeport and the out of the plan document when pursuing Towns of Easton, Fairfield, Monroe and Trumbull. specific projects, grants, etc.: The consulting firm of Milone & MacBroom, Inc. » Regional Challenges: Intense Precipitation was hired to provide technical assistance and con- » Regional Challenges: Sea Level Rise duct required vulnerability and risk assessments. » Regional Challenges: Coastal Flooding The NHMP for the former Greater Bridgeport area » Regional Challenges: Repetitive Loss was adopted and approved by FEMA in January Properties 2007. Subsequent to its adoption, the Plan was » New Initiative: Regional Framework for amended to include the NHMP for the Town of Coastal Resilience Stratford (Annex, 2008). » New Initiative: Resilient Bridgeport » New Initiative: Connecticut State Collages FEMA requires that all local and multi-jurisdic- and Universities Hazard Mitigation Plan tional (regional) plans be updated every five years » New Initiative: Hazardous Spills at Busi- to remain valid. The original NHMP for the Greater nesses Bridgeport Region expired on January 29, 2012. » New Initiative: Risks to Historic Resources A NHMP Update was prepared by the Greater » New Initiative: Municipal Separate Storm- Bridgeport Regional Council and was approved by water System (MS4) FEMA on July 22, 2014 with an expiration date of » New Initiative: Low Impact Development July 2019. Since the time the NHMP Update was (LID) for Rural Resiliency adopted, the Greater Bridgeport Regional Council » New Initiative: Sustainable CT has been renamed the Connecticut Metropolitan » Mitigation Successes: Property Acquisi- Council of Governments (MetroCOG), with the tions in Trumbull composition of member municipalities unchanged. » Mitigation Successes: Microgrids » Mitigation Successes: Fairfield Green Changes to Planning Process and NHMP Infrastructure Document • The plan describes new Community Resil- ience Building (CRB) workshops conducted Numerous modifications were incorporated for five of the six communities. The Work- into the update of the NHMP. The following is a shops included Chief Elected Officials, list of the key changes. Each is addressed in the Board/Commission members, municipal staff appropriate section of the document. and other local and regional stakeholders. • The current version of HAZUS-MH was • With the completion of new CRB workshops,