Appendix N Benton County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (2019) Benton County, Washington Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan 2019 Revision Benton County Emergency Management 651 Truman Avenue Richland, WA 99352 (509) 628-2600 Prepared By Northwest Management, Inc. This Page Intentionally Left Blank Benton County, WA Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan i Foreword Benton County Emergency Services is dedicated to the protection of life, property, economic and environmental resources throughout Benton County. Seeking to inform and educate citizens, provide training and resource coordination and ultimately reduce the vulnerability of Benton County citizens through comprehensive disaster planning and mitigation. “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 Benton County, Washington Hazard Mitigation Plan was updated in 2017-19 by the Benton County NHMP planning committee in cooperation with Northwest Management, Inc. of Moscow, Idaho. This plan satisfies the requirements for a local natural hazard mitigation plan under 44 CFR Part 201.6, in addition this plan fully integrated the processes of FEMA’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan as outlined in the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. Full integration was accomplished through the creation of a single committee that through a collaborative process provided oversight and expertise to the entire planning process. 1 Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Local Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance.” July 1, 2008 2019 Revision Benton County, WA Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan ii Table of Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................... i Approval Letter from FEMA .................................................................................................. iv Adoption Resolutions ........................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Plan Overview ...................................................................................................... 1 Overview of this Plan and its Development .............................................................................................. 1 Planning Philosophy and Goals ................................................................................................................. 2 Chapter 2: Planning Process ................................................................................................. 13 Documenting the Planning Process ........................................................................................................ 13 Chapter 3: Hazard Profiles ................................................................................................... 19 Floods ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 Wildfire ................................................................................................................................................... 26 Drought ................................................................................................................................................... 88 Severe Weather ...................................................................................................................................... 90 Earthquake .............................................................................................................................................. 92 Landslide ............................................................................................................................................... 100 Volcano ................................................................................................................................................. 103 Chapter: 4 Community Profiles and Risk Assessments ........................................................ 106 Benton County Profile ........................................................................................................................... 107 Benton County Hazard Annex ............................................................................................................... 115 City of Kennewick Profile ...................................................................................................................... 148 Kennewick Hazard Annex ...................................................................................................................... 149 City of Richland Profile .......................................................................................................................... 165 Richland Hazard Annex ......................................................................................................................... 167 City of Prosser Profile ............................................................................................................................ 183 Prosser Hazard Annex ........................................................................................................................... 185 City of West Richland Profile ................................................................................................................ 200 West Richland Hazard Annex ................................................................................................................ 201 Benton City Profile ................................................................................................................................ 217 2019 Revision Benton County, WA Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan iii Benton City Hazard Annex .................................................................................................................... 218 Chapter 5: Mitigation Strategies ........................................................................................ 233 Mitigation Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................... 233 Mitigation Action Items (MAI) .............................................................................................................. 236 Appendix A: Forms ............................................................................................................ 259 Mitigation Action Implementation Worksheet ..................................................................................... 259 Mitigation Action Progress Report Form .............................................................................................. 260 Plan Update Evaluation Worksheet ...................................................................................................... 261 Appendix B: Capabilities Assessment ................................................................................. 263 Benton County Capabilities Assessment ............................................................................................... 263 Kennewick Capabilities Assessment ..................................................................................................... 269 Richland Capabilities Assessment ......................................................................................................... 273 Prosser Capabilities Assessment ........................................................................................................... 279 West Richland Capabilities Assessment ................................................................................................ 285 Benton City Capabilities Assessment .................................................................................................... 291 Appendix C: Documentation of Participation ..................................................................... 295 Documentation of Committee Participation ........................................................................................ 295 Documentation of Public Involvement ................................................................................................. 306 Appendix D: NFIP Status Letter for Benton County ............................................................. 311 Appendix E: 2018 Benton County CWPP MAI’s ............................................................ 312 Appendix F: Lists of Figures and Tables .............................................................................. 317 List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................ 317 List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... 319 How to Cite this Document: ............................................................................................... 323 2019 Revision Benton County, WA Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan iv Approval Letter from FEMA This heading is a place holder for the final plan approval letter from FEMA. Adoption Resolutions This heading is a place holder for the adoption resolutions that will be signed by each jurisdiction