2020 Bureau County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Prepared by: North Central Illinois Council of Governments www.ncicg.org 2020 Bureau County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Prepared by: North Central Illinois Council of Governments 613 West Marquette Street Ottawa, Illinois 61350 www.ncicg.org May 2020 Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... ES-1 – ES5 Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1-1 Background ............................................................................................................................................ 1-1 County Demographics .......................................................................................................................... 1-4 Participating Communities and Local Match ........................................................................................ 1-5 Planning Process ................................................................................................................................... 1-6 Public Participation ............................................................................................................................... 1-7 Mitigation Team ..................................................................................................................................... 1-9 Community Risk Assessments ............................................................................................................ 1-10 Mitigation Strategies and Priority ....................................................................................................... 1-10 Plan Management ................................................................................................................................ 1-11 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................... 1-12 Building Resilience ............................................................................................................................. 1-13 Funding For Implementation .............................................................................................................. 1-14 References ........................................................................................................................................... 1-14 Chapter 2: Hazard Profiles .................................................................................................................... 2-1 Thunderstorms ...................................................................................................................................... 2-1 Lightning ....................................................................................................................................... 2-3 Hail ............................................................................................................................................... 2-4 Tornadoes ...................................................................................................................................... 2-6 Dangerous Winds ....................................................................................................................... 2-13 Heavy Rain and Flooding ................................................................................................................... 2-13 Riverine Flooding ....................................................................................................................... 2-15 Overbank Flooding ........................................................................................................ 2-15 Flash Flooding ............................................................................................................... 2-16 Levee and Dam Failures ................................................................................................ 2-16 Ice Jams.......................................................................................................................... 2-17 Urban Drainage .................................................................................................................................... 2-18 Basement Flooding and Backups ................................................................................................ 2-18 Agricultural Drainage ......................................................................................................................... 2-19 Flood Designations .............................................................................................................................. 2-20 Flooding Fatalities ............................................................................................................................... 2-21 Winter Storm Events ............................................................................................................................ 2-22 i Drought ............................................................................................................................................... 2-26 Extreme Temperatures (Heat and Cold) ............................................................................................. 2-32 Landslides ........................................................................................................................................... 2-34 Wildfires ............................................................................................................................................. 2-36 Earthquakes ......................................................................................................................................... 2-36 Natural Hazard Risk Levels ................................................................................................................ 2-41 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 2-42 References ........................................................................................................................................... 2-42 Chapter 3: Vulnerability Assessment .................................................................................................... 3-1 Properties .............................................................................................................................................. 3-1 Floods .................................................................................................................................................... 3-3 Repetitive Loss Properties .................................................................................................................... 3-4 Local Drainage Problems ...................................................................................................................... 3-6 Thunderstorms ...................................................................................................................................... 3-7 Lightning ............................................................................................................................................... 3-7 Hail ........................................................................................................................................................ 3-8 Tornadoes .............................................................................................................................................. 3-8 Winter Storms and Extreme Cold ......................................................................................................... 3-9 Drought and Extreme Heat ................................................................................................................. 3-11 Earthquakes ......................................................................................................................................... 3-13 Local Area Assessment ........................................................................................................................ 3-14 References ............................................................................................................................................ 3-15 Chapter 4: Preventive Measures ........................................................................................................... 4-1 Building Codes ....................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Manufactured Housing Regulations ...................................................................................................... 4-3 Land Use Planning, Zoning, and Subdivision Regulations ................................................................... 4-4 Comprehensive Plans ................................................................................................................... 4-4 Zoning Ordinances ....................................................................................................................... 4-5 Subdivision Regulations .............................................................................................................. 4-5 Floodplain Management ......................................................................................................................