May 18, 2015 (Final Draft Plan) TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH Hazard Mitigation Plan Middleborough Town Hall Nickerson Avenue Middleborough, MA 02346 This Page left Intentionally Blank 2 Middleborough Hazard Mitigation Plan Draft 12/13/11 rev. 10/23/13 rev. 5/18/15 Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 3 Chapter One: Introduction and Planning Process .......................................................................... 5 Development of the First Mitigation Plan .................................................................................. 6 2015 Plan Update Process and Public Involvement ................................................................... 6 Review of Existing Reports and Plans ........................................................................................ 7 Review of Draft HMP by MEMA and FEMA............................................................................ 8 2015 Plan Changes from 2004 Plan ............................................................................................ 8 Chapter Two: Profile of the Community ........................................................................................ 9 Geography, Geology, Topography, and Climate ........................................................................ 9 Political Structure...................................................................................................................... 10 Population Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 11 Transportation Network ............................................................................................................ 15 Land Use: Housing, Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. ..................................................... 19 Economic Development ............................................................................................................ 23 Utilities ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Chapter Two Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 26 Chapter Three: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment ....................................................... 29 Flood Related Hazards: ............................................................................................................. 29 Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and High Wind Events ................................................................ 42 Tornadoes .................................................................................................................................. 46 Thunderstorms .......................................................................................................................... 48 Nor’easters, Winter Storms, and Ice Storms ............................................................................. 49 Wildfire ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Drought ..................................................................................................................................... 55 Geologic Hazards ...................................................................................................................... 57 Chapter Four: Existing and Ongoing Mitigation Activities .......................................................... 63 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participation ......................................................... 63 Current Mitigation Actions ....................................................................................................... 65 Chapter Five: Mitigation Actions Town of Middleborough ......................................................... 71 Goals of Middleborough’s Hazard Mitigation Strategy ........................................................... 71 Proposed Mitigation Actions and Implementation ................................................................... 71 Chapter Six: Maintenance and Implementation ............................................................................ 81 Appendix 1 – Existing Reports and Documents: .......................................................................... 84 3 Middleborough Hazard Mitigation Plan Draft 12/13/11 rev. 10/23/13 rev. 5/18/15 Appendix 2 – Planning Process Documentation: .......................................................................... 87 Appendix 3 – Maps ..................................................................................................................... 189 Tables Table 1 – Middleborough’s 2010 Population, Land Area, and Density ....................................... 12 Table 2 - SRPEDD Population Projections by Community 2000-2030 ....................................... 12 Table 3 - Nursing and Residential Homes in Middleborough ...................................................... 14 Table 4 - DPW 2015 Pavement Management Report: Public/Private Road Miles ...................... 17 Table 5 - Land Use Classifications and Areas, MassGIS Data ..................................................... 20 Table 6 - Building Permits 2003 - 2013 ........................................................................................ 20 Table 7 - Employment by Industry in Middleborough ................................................................. 24 Table 8 - Largest Employers in Middleborough ........................................................................... 24 Table 9 - Utilities within Middleborough ..................................................................................... 26 Table 10 - Cell Towers and Antennae within Middleborough ..................................................... 26 Table 11 - Dam Hazard Potential .................................................................................................. 30 Table 12 - Taunton River Historical Crests .................................................................................. 32 Table 13 – 2013 Assawompsett Pond Target Water Levels by Season ........................................ 34 Table 14 – Dams in the Town of Middleborough ......................................................................... 39 Table 15 - Road Closure Locations Due to Flooding in March 2010 ........................................... 41 Table 16 - History of Southern New England Hurricanes ............................................................ 43 Table 17 - Saffir-Simpson Scale for Hurricanes ........................................................................... 45 Table 18 - Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale .................................................................... 47 Table 19 - Tornadoes 1950 - 1995 Plymouth County ................................................................... 48 Table 20 - Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale ................................................................................ 50 Table 21- Eleven High-Impact Snowstorms That Affected the Northeast Urban Corridor. ........ 51 Table 22 - Ice Storm Events .......................................................................................................... 52 Table 23 - Vegetative Coverage in Southeastern Massachusetts .................................................. 53 Table 24 - Drying Hours to Reach Flammability ......................................................................... 55 Table 25 - Richter Scale ................................................................................................................ 59 Table 26- Vulnerability Assessment for Town of Middleborough ............................................... 61 Table 27 - Current Mitigation Actions: Town of Middleborough ................................................ 65 Table 28 - Proposed Mitigation Actions: Town of Middleborough ............................................. 73 Figures Figure 1: SRPEDD Population projections for Region 1990-2030 .............................................. 12 Figure 2: Transportation Network ................................................................................................ 15 Figure 3: Community Character ................................................................................................... 21 Figure 4: Assawompsett Pond Complex Watershed ..................................................................... 33 Figure 5: Monthly Tropical Cyclone Distribution ........................................................................ 44 Figure 6: Tropical Cyclone Frequency ......................................................................................... 44 Figure 7: Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area Trail/Road Map .......................................... 54 Figure 8: Historic Groundwater Levels, MA LKW-14, Lakeville MA ........................................ 56 4 Middleborough Hazard Mitigation Plan Draft 12/13/11 rev. 10/23/13 rev. 5/18/15 Chapter One: Introduction and Planning Process Middleborough is a predominantly rural community with a classic New England downtown as well as having a long history of being a regional industrial center since colonial times. The landscape features cranberry bogs, natural wooded areas, and low-density residences in the outlying areas; higher density