Final Walton County Post Disaster Redevelopment Plan Plan Design Enable 05094 | DV | 12 WALTON COUNTY POST‐DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN Section 1: Introduction Section 2: Planning Process Section 3: Vulnerability Identification Section 4: Institutional Capacity Assessment Section 5: Local Plan Integration Section 6: Outreach and Coordination Strategy Section 7: Finance Strategy Section 8: Recovery and Redevelopment Strategy Section 9: Recovery and Redevelopment Action Plan Section 10: Plan Implementation and Maintenance Procedures Appendix A: Supplemental Materials TABLE OF CONTENTS MAY 2012 WALTON COUNTY POST‐DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION This section provides a general introduction to the Walton County Post‐Disaster Redevelopment Plan (PDRP). It consists of the following five subsections: Background Purpose Scope Authority Summary of Plan Contents Background When Walton County first began to explore developing a PDRP, there was a state requirement in place that all coastal counties must develop a PDRP. The County took the steps needed to secure funding to develop this plan and received two grants that were used to develop this PDRP in order to comply with the state requirements. The grant funds came to Walton County through the State of Florida in the form of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP). Regulations that require PDRPs have since been repealed, but the importance of developing a plan that addresses post‐disaster redevelopment still remains relevant and the need for PDRPs has been evidenced in communities across the country that have been drastically impacted by natural hazards. The County remained committed to their effort and this plan is the result of many hours of hard work and dedication by County staff and stakeholders. The plan will help ensure long‐term sustainability and guide Walton County through pre‐disaster planning and post‐disaster implementation. The Statewide PDPR Initiative is still supported by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM). The initiative has included researching development lessons learned through previous disasters, applying this research during the drafting of a long‐term redevelopment planning process, and testing the planning process through a series of pilot projects. Walton County used the examples and lessons learned by the Pilot Communities to develop their PDRP. The PDRP Guidebook, which is the culmination of all of the efforts associated with the PDRP Pilot Project and is the latest addition to the Best Practices Series published by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, served as a tremendous resource in the development of this plan. Walton County is located on the Florida Panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico. The County boasts 26 miles of beaches (16 of which are certified blue wave beaches) that attract thousands of visitors each year and have influenced population and development to concentrate in the southern portion of the County. Over the past decade, the County has experienced a high rate of growth. According to the US Census Bureau, the 2010 population was 55,043 people, an increase of 35.6% since 2000. This number only accounts for permanent residents and the County has also seen an increase in the size of the annual seasonal population. Walton County is vulnerable to a variety of natural hazards, including hurricanes and coastal storms, severe thunderstorms and tornados, coastal and riverine erosion, sinkholes, floods, and wildfires. In recognition of this vulnerability, Walton County leaders and staff members embarked on planning process to develop a PDRP designed to help the County address the complications that can arise following a disaster as the community SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 1‐1 MAY 2012 WALTON COUNTY POST‐DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN attempts to rebuild. By developing a PDRP, Walton County hopes to be better prepared for the tough long‐term recovery and redevelopment period that could face the County following a major disaster. Purpose The purpose of this plan is to provide Walton County with a single reference for guiding action and decision making during the difficult long‐term disaster recovery period and to detail the actions that can be taken before a disaster occurs to speed the recovery and redevelopment process. Walton County officials recognize the importance of the citizens and businesses within the county. Without them, the County cannot function. The PDRP will be used to ensure that mechanisms, plans, policies, and procedures that facilitate the return of citizens and businesses to the County following a disaster are in place before a disaster occurs. Therefore, Walton County officials want to make certain that this plan is not perceived as an anti‐redevelopment plan intended to take the place of existing planning documents developed by the County, namely the Comprehensive Plan. Walton County officials also want to ensure that the rebuilding that occurs following a disaster is done in a manner consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and incorporates hazard mitigation techniques, where possible. Scope This plan was developed to cover the unincorporated areas of Walton County, although portions of the plan describe and provide information on the incorporated jurisdictions within the County, including: City of DeFuniak Springs City of Freeport Town of Paxton Authority While there is no longer a state requirement to develop a PDRP, Florida Statutes 163.3177 and 163.3178 require that local governments pay great attention to the protection of coastal resources in all forms. In addition, Walton County has stated their intention to develop a PDRP in their Comprehensive Plan (Objective C‐2.4) and in their Local Mitigation Strategy. Summary of Plan Contents The remaining contents of this plan are designed and organized to be as reader‐friendly and functional as possible. While significant background information is included on the process used to develop the plan and studies completed (i.e., Vulnerability Assessment and Capacity Assessment), this information is separated from the more meaningful planning outcomes or actions (i.e., the Recovery and Redevelopment Strategy, and the Recovery and Redevelopment Action Plan). Section 2, Planning Process, provides a complete narrative description of the process used to prepare the plan. This includes the identification of who was involved, who participated on the Stakeholder Group, and how the public and other stakeholders were involved. It also includes a detailed summary for each of the key meetings held along with any associated outcomes. SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 1‐2 MAY 2012 WALTON COUNTY POST‐DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN The Vulnerability Identification, located in Section 3, provides an assessment of the potential impact of the various hazards to which Walton County is vulnerable and evaluate how this vulnerability could impact recovery. The first objective of this section is to identify the natural hazards that could impact the County. The second objective is to identify and analyze those elements within the County that are particularly vulnerable to the identified natural hazards that could impact the breadth and speed of recovery following a disaster. The Vulnerability Identification was used by Walton County officials to determine the post disaster recovery strategy and to identify recovery and redevelopment actions to include in the plan. The Institutional Capacity Assessment, found in Section 4, provides a comprehensive examination of the Walton County’s capacity to implement a meaningful recovery and redevelopment strategy and identifies existing opportunities to increase and enhance that capacity. Specific capabilities addressed in this section include planning and regulatory capability, staff and organizational (administrative) capability, technical capability, fiscal capability, and political capability. The purpose of this assessment is to identify any existing gaps, weaknesses or conflicts in programs or activities that may hinder the long‐term recovery and redevelopment period for the County, and to identify those activities that should be built upon in establishing a successful and sustainable Recovery and Redevelopment Strategy. The Vulnerability Identification and Institutional Capacity Assessment collectively serve as a basis for determining the goals for Walton County’s Post Disaster Redevelopment Plan, each contributing to the development, adoption and implementation of a meaningful Recovery and Redevelopment Strategy that is based on accurate and relevant background information. Section 5, Local Plan Integration, includes a review of post‐disaster redevelopment‐related plans, policies, and programs already in place as well as the identification of any gaps, shortfalls, or weakness that may hinder a successful post‐disaster redevelopment operation. The review focuses on the following Walton County documents: Local Mitigation Strategy, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Land Development Code, and Comprehensive Plan. Additional documents were also reviewed to provide insight to unique hazards, emergency debris management, regional concerns, and economic development. Outreach and Coordination Strategy, located in Section 6, provides information on how Walton County staff will collect and disseminate long‐term recovery information after a disaster. Clear communication of recovery and redevelopment information is imperative to the successful recovery of Walton County residents and business