2018 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE – COVENTRY, RI 2018 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Town of Coventry, Rhode Island PREPARED FOR Town of Coventry, RI Town Hall 1670 Flat River Road Coventry, RI 02816 401-821-6400 PREPARED BY 101 Walnut Street PO Box 9151 Watertown, MA 02471 617.924.1770 ADOPTED FEBRUARY 2018 2018 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Coventry, RI This Page Intentionally Left Blank. Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Plan Purpose .................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Hazard Mitigation and Benefits .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Goals.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Background .................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 History .................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Demographics ................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Government ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Land Use Patterns ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 Public Safety ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Roads and Bridges ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Utilities .............................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Forest and Open Space .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Water Resources ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Cultural and Historic Resources .............................................................................................................................. 11 Development Trends Since the 2010 Plan .......................................................................................................... 12 Planning Process ..............................................................................................................................................13 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Coventry Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee ................................................................................................................ 13 The Planning Process ............................................................................................................................................................... 14 Public Input.................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Natural Hazards ...............................................................................................................................................19 Hazards of Concern .................................................................................................................................................................. 19 High Winds ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Dam Failure ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Flooding (Riverine and Urban/Street) .................................................................................................................. 28 Hurricanes (Tropical Cyclones) ................................................................................................................................ 33 Nor’easter ........................................................................................................................................................................ 37 Ice Storm .......................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Snow Storm ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Hail ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Lightning .......................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Brushfire ........................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Drought ............................................................................................................................................................................ 50 Extreme Temperatures ............................................................................................................................................... 53 Tornadoes ........................................................................................................................................................................ 55 i Table of Contents Earthquake ...................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Climate Change.......................................................................................................................................................................... 60 Risk Assessment ...............................................................................................................................................62 Facilities Inventory .................................................................................................................................................................... 62 Hazard Mitigation Mapping ................................................................................................................................................. 63 Fiscal Impact Analysis .............................................................................................................................................................. 63 Built Environment ...................................................................................................................................................................... 66 Population Impact Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 67 Natural Environment ................................................................................................................................................................ 68 Vulnerability of Future Structures ....................................................................................................................................... 68 Community Assets Matrix ...................................................................................................................................................... 69 Programmatic Capabilities .............................................................................................................................73 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 73 Primary Plans, Regulations, and Departments .............................................................................................................. 73 Coventry Comprehensive Plan ...............................................................................................................................