Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan 1.0 Introduction 1.0 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND The Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan of 2018 is an update of the previously updated plan in 2013. Mitigation planning regulations mandate jurisdictions to update the Hazard Mitigation Plan every five years from the date of FEMA approval; this is essential for determining the effectiveness of programs, reflecting changes in the land development or programs affecting mitigation priorities. By updating the plan, local communities can also determine the strengths and weaknesses of the plan and what elements may need to be changed. PLAN AUTHORITY In response to continuing large-scale federal outlays of disaster funds to states and communities, during the decade of the 1990’s Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA, 2K), which required counties to formulate a hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible for mitigation funds made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Section 322 of the Robert T. Stafford Act requires that all states and local jurisdictions develop and submit Mitigation Plans designed to meet the criteria outlined in 44 CFR Parts 201 and 206. PURPOSE The purpose of the mitigation plan is to identify risks and vulnerabilities from hazards that affect Jefferson County to prevent or reduce the loss of life and injury and to limit future damage costs by developing methods to mitigate or eliminate damage from various hazards. SCOPE The Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan follows a planning methodology that includes public involvement, a risk assessment for various identified hazards, an inventory of critical facilities and at-risk residential areas, a mitigation strategy for high-risk hazards, and a method to maintain and update the plan. 1 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan 1.0 Introduction UPDATES TO THIS PLAN Where appropriate, each section in this plan includes a brief description of how the section was updated and improved since 2013. COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM Jefferson County is one of the five counties in West Virginia that participate in the Community Rating System (CRS), along with Berkeley, Hampshire, Morgan, and Putnam Counties. As such, this hazard mitigation plan follows the necessary steps for CRS planning. The following table illustrates how this hazard mitigation plan and CRS planning are cross-referenced with the regulatory guide and the corresponding section of this plan. CROSS REFERENCE OF CORE REQUIREMENTS: HMP AND CRS Local Mitigation Planning Corresponding CRS Planning Steps Regulatory Guide Handbook Task Section(s) in This Plan Task 1: Determine the Planning Step 1: Organize Section 1.0 area and Resources Introduction Task 2: Build the Planning Team 44 CFR §201.6 (b)(2) 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(1) Task 3: Create an Outreach Step 2: Coordinate 44 CFR §201.6 (b)(2) Strategy 44 CFR §201.6 (b)(1) 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(4)(iii) Task 4:Review Community Step 3: Coordinate 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(3) Capabilities 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(3)(ii) 44 CFR §201.6 (b)(3) Task 5: Conduct a Risk Step 4: Assess the hazard 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(2)(iii) Section 2.0 Risk Assessment Step 5: Assess the 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(2)(i) Assessment problem 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(2)(ii) 44 CFR §201.6 (d)(3) Task 6: Develop a Mitigation Step 6: Set Goals 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(3)(i) Section 3.0 Action Plan Strategy Step 7: Review possible 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(3)(ii) activities 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(3)(iii) Step 8: Draft and action 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(4)(ii) plan 44 CFR §201.6 (d)(3) Task 7: Keep the Plan Current Step 10: Implement, 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(4)(i) Section 4: Plan evaluate, revise 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(4)(iii) Maintenance Task 8: Review and Adopt the Step 9: Adopt the plan 44 CFR §201.6 (c)(5) Section 5: Appendices Plan Task 9: Create a Safe and Step 10: Implement, Resilient Community evaluate, revise 2 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan 1.0 Introduction 1.1 THE PLANNING PROCESS An open public involvement process is essential to the development of an effective plan. In order to develop a more comprehensive approach to reducing the effects of natural disasters, the planning process shall include: (1) An opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval; §201.6(b) and (2) An opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation §201.6(c)(1) activities, and agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses, academia and other private and non-profit interests to be involved in the planning process; and (3) Review and incorporation, if appropriate, of existing plans, studies, reports, and technical information. [The plan shall document] the planning process used to develop the plan, including how it was prepared, who was involved in the process, and how the public was involved. This plan was developed in accordance with Part 201.6 of Section 322 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as enacted by Section 104 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. Several resources were used during the development of the plan, including the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS or DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (USDHS/FEMA, 2013), the governing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations. 1.1.1 Plan Update Process of 2018 This section describes the process by which Jefferson County updated the 2018 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan. With approval of the Jefferson County Commission, Jefferson County Homeland Security and Emergency Management (JCHSEM) contracted the services of JH Consulting, LLC (the consultant) and work began in February of 2018. JCHSEM contacted the planning committee once again, which had been meeting annually throughout the previous five years, to come together and begin the update process. The committee held four in-person meetings and one teleconference call between February and May of 2018; however, the committee remained in constant contact with the consultant during that time. The following table lists the committee members that participated; members represent a wide variety of agencies and organizations that came together to update the plan. These members completed a variety of tasks throughout the process, detailed in Section 1.1.2 Committee Meetings. In the last column, the table indicates how the partner participated in the planning process. The numbers correspond to the following descriptions. 1. Attended at least one committee meeting. 3 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan 1.0 Introduction 2. Provided information to JCHSEM or the consultant directly via email or phone conversation. 3. Posted one or both of the online public surveys on their social media or website. 4. Completed one or all of the tasks during committee meetings. 5. Attended the public meeting. COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION Agency/Organization Type Representative(s) Participation American Red Cross Volunteer Organization Clair Brendel City of Charles Town Jurisdiction Seth Rivard City of Ranson Jurisdiction Andy Blake City of Ranson Police Department City Department William Roper First Energy Private Sector Thomas Butcher Good Shepherd Inter-Faith Private Sector Paula Marrone-Reese Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Government Organization Ryan Levins Harpers Ferry Police Department City Department J.D. Brown Independent Fire Company Town Department Ed Smith JC Chamber of Commerce County Government John Sherwood JC Community Organizations Active NGO John Sherwood in Disasters (COAD) JC Emergency Communications County Government Jeff Polczynski JC Emergency Services Agency County Government Ed Hannon Monte Conner Allen Keyser JC Engineering Department County Government Mason Carter JC Planning and Zoning County Government Jennie Brockman JC Sheriff’s Department County Government Pete Dougherty JC Homeland Security and County Government Steve Allen Emergency Management Brandon Vallee JC Development Authority County Government Matt Coffey Nicolas Diehl JC Health Department County Government Kaitlin Lacey JC Commission County Government Jane Tabb JC GIS County Government Jessica Gormont Jefferson County LEPC Organization John Sherwood Kent Cartridge Private Sector Alan Corzine Douglas Dockeney National Weather Service Federal Department Christopher Strong Region 9 Planning and Development Bill Clark Council Matt Pennington Rep. Alex Mooney’s Office Federal Government Stephen Smooth Chad Story Shepherd University Education Sector Holly Frye John McAvoy Shepherdstown Fire Department City Department Pete Kelley Shepherdstown Water City Department Frank Welch Town of Bolivar Town Government Jerry Powell US Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Agency Karin Christensen WV Health Department State Department Monica Whyte WVU Medicine Private Sector Donnie Grubb 4 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan 1.0 Introduction In addition to the previous, JCHSEM also provided the opportunity for other agencies and organizations to participate; however, these organizations did not attend meetings or calls. American Public University, education sector Bakertown Fire Company, town department Blue Ridge Fire Company, town department Charles Town Utilities, city department CSX, economic sector Friendship Fire Company, town department Harpers Ferry Water Works, city department Hollywood Casino, economic sector Jefferson County Board of Education, county agency Jefferson County Maintenance Department, county agency Jefferson County Public