Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan
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UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN PPRREE--DDIISSAASSTTEERR MMIITTIIGGAATTIIOONN PPLLAANN December 2010 Prepared By: Prepared For: BSV, LLC University of New Mexico 4109 Whistler Ave NW Scholes Hall Albuquerque, NM 87114 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN (This page intentionally left blank) ii BSV, LLC December 2010 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN ADOPTION BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO (UNM) iii BSV, LLC December 2010 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN (This page intentionally left blank) iv BSV, LLC December 2010 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY During the late 1990’s, in partnership with six major universities, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) developed the Disaster Resistant University (DRU) Program. At that time, FEMA officials recognized the major role universities played in both the structure and stability of the local economy within which they operated, and postulated that the result of a hazard impact that forced one of these institutions to close would have a dramatic negative effect on the surrounding community. Universities are unique organizations that not only serve their communities and states, but also the local government which has invested significant economic and social capital in them. Hazard Mitigation is defined as any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long- term risk to human life and property from hazards. Hazard Mitigation Planning is the process through which natural hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts of those hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate strategies that would lessen the impacts are identified, prioritized, and implemented. Hazard Mitigation Planning is required for state and local governments to maintain their eligibility for PDM and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs (HMGP). More importantly, this plan and planning process lays out the strategy that will enable the University of New Mexico (UNM) to become less vulnerable to future disaster losses. The University has prepared this PDM pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, PL 106-390 390 and established regulations at 44 CFR Part 201.6 (hereafter referred to as DMA 2000). This plan documents the UNM PDM planning process, identifies natural hazards and associated risks of concern to UNM, and identifies UNM’s hazard mitigation strategy to make UNM less vulnerable and more disaster resistant and sustainable. Information in the plan can also be used to help guide and coordinate mitigation activities, local policy decisions and the direction of future land use for the University. This PDM plan has been developed for the UNM main campus (Albuquerque), the four branch campuses (Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, and Valencia) and the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Facility located in Socorro, New Mexico, to identify the hazards that each faces and assess the vulnerability to the potential event. Hazards, whether they are technological or natural, affect campuses with varying frequency sometimes causing death and injury, other times imposing monetary losses and disruption of the University’s mission as an educational institution. Losses can be measured in missed educational class time, faculty and student departures, decreases in research activity and funding, and increases in insurance premiums. Losses can be substantially reduced or eliminated through comprehensive pre-disaster planning and mitigation actions. Top hazards with the potential to affect the UNM Main and Branch Campuses (in order based on assessment) include: v BSV, LLC December 2010 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN Thunderstorms/including lightning and hail Winter Storms High Wind Extreme Heat Tornado Flooding Wildland/Urban Interface Fires Other hazards profiled in this plan, but deemed to be low risk with low probability are not addressed by mitigation actions at this time include: Earthquakes Drought Land Subsidence Expansive Soils Landslides Volcano Dam Failure The PDM Advisory Committee (PDMAC) identified goals, objectives and projects to mitigate the effects natural hazards would have on the UNM campus and branch campuses. Important mitigation projects included: Provide assistance to other jurisdictions to support their mitigation efforts in the community in mitigating the effects of natural hazards. Identify and Prioritize Potential Stormwater Drainage Projects Emergency Management Mitigation Measures in response to a natural hazard – Evaluate Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Planning and Conduct Evacuation Training and Drills Reduce Vulnerabilities of Main and Branch Campus Buildings and Utilities from severe weather - Reduce Impacts to Buildings from Trees and Landscaping Reduce fuel loads and create perimeter fire protection around all University facilities that are located in rural areas across New Mexico. Develop a mechanism to track natural hazard damage to determine trends and assess enhanced development on future projects Install seismic gas shut-off valves on University buildings with natural gas and propane connections that are determined “most vulnerable”. vi BSV, LLC December 2010 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN Install a comprehensive communication system with secure access for natural disaster notification. Provide assistance to New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NMDHSEM) with updating and enhancing the HAZUS- MH database for New Mexico Fund a Disaster Recovery-Site development and Construction Plan to develop a Disaster Recovery Site for UNM Form a committee that addresses campus-wide hazards and facilities mitigation needs and prioritizes capital facility needs for submittal to the Capital Planning Committee and inclusion in the UNM Capital Projects Plan Continue to define, identify and track hazardous materials and their locations across UNM to mitigate potential secondary damages caused by natural hazards Create a public awareness/education program, which identifies educational resources and training opportunities campus wide. Provide multi-lingual, multicultural and multi-media crisis communication and education designed to reduce hazard risk in formats readily accessible and available to all members of the UNM community This PDM Plan will be adopted by the President of UNM, at which time UNM will be eligible for PDM grant funding for eligible mitigation projects through the State of New Mexico and FEMA. The campus PDM Plan will be updated every five years. The plan review will identify new mitigation projects and evaluate mitigation projects and existing programs at the University of New Mexico. vii BSV, LLC December 2010 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN (This page intentionally left blank) viii BSV, LLC December 2010 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS ADOPTION BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO (UNM) ....................................... iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ..............................................................................................xi DISTRIBUTION LIST .....................................................................................................xv INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 1 - UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PROFILE ............................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 - THE PLANNING PROCESS .................................................................. 28 CHAPTER 3 – PROGRAM INTEGRATION .................................................................. 36 CHAPTER 4 – HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ANALYSIS .............................. 38 Thunderstorms .......................................................................................................... 42 Winter Storms ............................................................................................................ 48 High Wind .................................................................................................................. 52 Extreme Heat ............................................................................................................. 56 Tornadoes ................................................................................................................. 60 Floods ........................................................................................................................ 67 Wildland/Urban Interface Fires .................................................................................. 80 Earthquakes .............................................................................................................. 96 Drought .................................................................................................................... 106 Land Subsidence ..................................................................................................... 112 Expansive Soils ......................................................................................................