CITY OF NEW HAVEN NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE Revised and Adopted on June 15, 2011 Prepared By New Haven City Plan Department 165 Church Street New Haven, Connecticut 06510 City of New Haven John De Stefano, Jr., Mayor CITY OF NEW HAVEN NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE Revised and Adopted on June 15, 2011 Prepared By: New Haven City Plan Department 165 Church Street New Haven, Connecticut 06510 City of New Haven John DeStefano, Jr., Mayor TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Background and Purpose ................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Documentation of the Planning Process............................................................................... 1-4 1.3 Hazard Mitigation Goals .....................................................................................................1-5 1.4 Identification of Hazards and Document Overview................................................................ 1-6 2.0 COMMUNITY PROFILE ....................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Physical Setting................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Existing Land Use.............................................................................................................. 2-4 2.3 Geology............................................................................................................................ 2-7 2.4 Climate .......................................................................................................................... 2-10 2.5 Population and Demographic Setting................................................................................. 2-12 2.6 Development Trends ....................................................................................................... 2-13 2.7 Governmental Structure................................................................................................... 2-16 2.8 Critical Facilities and Sheltering Capacity ........................................................................... 2-17 3.0 INLAND FLOODING ........................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Setting ............................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Hazard Assessment ...........................................................................................................3-3 3.3 Historic Record ................................................................................................................. 3-4 3.4 Existing Programs, Policies and Mitigation Measures............................................................. 3-5 3.5 Vulnerabilities and Risk Assessment .................................................................................... 3-6 3.6 Potential Mitigation Measures, Strategies, and Alternatives ................................................. 3-14 3.6.1 Prevention ......................................................................................................... 3-14 3.6.2 Property Protection ............................................................................................. 3-17 3.6.3 Emergency Services ............................................................................................ 3-17 3.6.4 Public Education and Awareness .......................................................................... 3-18 3.6.5 Natural Resource Protection................................................................................. 3-18 3.6.6 Structural Projects .............................................................................................. 3-19 3.7 Recommended Actions .................................................................................................... 3-20 4.0 COASTAL FLOODING......................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Setting ............................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Hazard Assessment ...........................................................................................................4-3 4.3 Historic Record ................................................................................................................. 4-3 4.4 Existing Programs, Policies and Mitigation Measures............................................................. 4-4 4.5 Vulnerabilities and Risk Assessment .................................................................................... 4-4 4.6 Potential Mitigation Measures, Strategies, and Alternatives ................................................... 4-9 4.6.1 Prevention ...........................................................................................................4-9 4.6.2 Property Protection ............................................................................................. 4-11 4.6.3 Public Education and Awareness .......................................................................... 4-11 4.6.4 Natural Resource Protection................................................................................. 4-11 4.6.5 Emergency Services ............................................................................................ 4-12 City of New Haven Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Revised and Adopted on June 15, 2011 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 4.6.6 Structural Projects .............................................................................................. 4-12 4.7 Recommended Actions .................................................................................................... 4-13 5.0 HURRICANES.................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Setting ............................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Hazard Assessment ...........................................................................................................5-1 5.3 Historic Record ................................................................................................................. 5-4 5.4 Existing Programs, Policies, and Mitigation Measures............................................................ 5-4 5.5 Vulnerabilities and Risk Assessment .................................................................................... 5-5 5.6 Potential Mitigation Measures, Strategies, and Alternatives ................................................... 5-9 5.6.1 Prevention ........................................................................................................... 5-9 5.6.2 Property Protection ............................................................................................... 5-9 5.6.3 Public Education and Awareness ............................................................................ 5-9 5.6.4 Emergency Services ............................................................................................ 5-10 5.6.5 Structural Projects .............................................................................................. 5-10 5.7 Recommended Actions .................................................................................................... 5-10 6.0 SEA LEVEL RISE................................................................................................................ 6-1 6.1 Setting ............................................................................................................................. 6-1 6.2 Hazard Assessment ...........................................................................................................6-1 6.3 Historic Record ................................................................................................................. 6-2 6.4 Existing Programs, Policies, and Mitigation Measures............................................................ 6-2 6.5 Vulnerabilities and Risk Assessment .................................................................................... 6-2 6.6 Potential Mitigation Measures, Strategies, and Alternatives ................................................... 6-2 6.7 Recommended Actions ...................................................................................................... 6-4 7.0 SUMMER STORMS & TORNADOES ...................................................................................... 7-1 7.1 Setting ............................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.2 Hazard Assessment ...........................................................................................................7-1 7.3 Historic Record ................................................................................................................. 7-4 7.4 Existing Programs, Policies, and Mitigation Measures............................................................ 7-6 7.5 Vulnerabilities and Risk Assessment .................................................................................... 7-7 7.6 Potential Mitigation Measures, Strategies, and Alternatives 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