FERRY COUNTY, WASHIN GTON NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2018 REVISION FINAL DRAFT Prepared By Northwest Management, Inc. 2 Foreword “Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. Mitigation activities may be implemented prior to, during, or after an incident. However, it has been demonstrated that hazard mitigation is most effective when based on an inclusive, comprehensive, long-term plan that is developed before a disaster occurs.”1 The previous version of the Ferry County, Washington Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan was developed in 2004 by the Ferry County MHMP Planning Team in cooperation with GeoEngineers, Inc. of Spokane, WA. In 2008, Ferry County contracted Northwest Management, Inc. (NMI) to update the plan. The 2008 updated plan was never officially approved or adopted. The county received funding in 2017 to update the hazard mitigation plan. The 2018 update process was conducted by NMI in collaboration with Ferry County Emergency Management and the Planning Team. The updated document is now referred to as the Ferry County, Washington Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and includes the Community Wildfire Protection Plan update. This Plan satisfies the requirements for a local hazard mitigation plan and a flood mitigation plan under 44 CFR Part 201.6 and 79.6. 1 Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Local Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance.” July 1, 2008. 3 This page will house the FEMA plan approval letter once this plan is approved 4 This page was intentionally left blank. 5 Table of Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Section 1 – Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Overview of this Plan and its Development .............................................................................................................................. 8 Goals and Guiding Principles ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Section 2 – Community Profile........................................................................................................ 13 Ferry County Characteristics ....................................................................................................................................................... 13 Description of the Region .............................................................................................................................................................13 Natural Resources ...........................................................................................................................................................................17 Jurisdictional Overviews ................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Republic ..............................................................................................................................................................................................22 Ferry County Public Hospital District.......................................................................................................................................23 Ferry County Public Utilities District ........................................................................................................................................24 Ferry County Conservation District ..........................................................................................................................................25 Northeast Tri-County Health District .......................................................................................................................................26 Section 3 – Planning Process ........................................................................................................... 27 Documenting the Planning Process .......................................................................................................................................... 27 The Planning Team .........................................................................................................................................................................27 Description of the Planning Process .........................................................................................................................................27 Planning Team Meetings...............................................................................................................................................................30 Public Involvement .........................................................................................................................................................................30 Documented Review Process ......................................................................................................................................................35 Section 4 – Risk Assessment ............................................................................................................ 36 Hazard Summary .............................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Hazard Risk Profiles ......................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Flood ....................................................................................................................................................................................................39 Earthquake ........................................................................................................................................................................................45 Landslide ............................................................................................................................................................................................51 Severe Weather ................................................................................................................................................................................57 Drought ...............................................................................................................................................................................................66 Wildland Fire ....................................................................................................................................................................................70 Section 5 – Mitigation Strategy ....................................................................................................... 83 Planning Philosophy and Goals .................................................................................................................................................. 83 Ferry County Planning Philosophy............................................................................................................................................83 Jurisdictional Planning and Mitigation Goals .........................................................................................................................83 Administration and Implementation of Action Items ...................................................................................................... 99 Prioritization of Action Items ......................................................................................................................................................99 Jurisdictional Mitigation Strategies .......................................................................................................................................100 Proposed Fuel Reduction Planning Areas ............................................................................................................................ 112 Section 6 – Plan Maintenance ....................................................................................................... 114 6 Plan Monitoring and Maintenance .........................................................................................................................................114 Annual Review Agenda ............................................................................................................................................................... 114 Five Year Re-evaluation Agenda ............................................................................................................................................. 114 Continued Public Involvement ................................................................................................................................................ 115 Mechanisms to Incorporate Mitigation Strategies ..........................................................................................................115