Windsor Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan June 2020 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION…………………….. Page 2 CHAPTER 2: PLANNING PROCESS………………. Page 3 CHAPTER 3: RISK ASSESSMENT………………….. Page 7 Inland Flooding Severe Winter Storms Droughts Change in Average Temperatures/Extreme Temperatures Tornadoes/High Wind Landslides Wildfires Hurricanes/Tropical Storms Other Severe Weather Invasive Species Earthquakes Dam failure Vector-borne disease Cybersecurity CHAPTER 4: MITIGATION STRATEGY………….. Page 106 CHAPTER 5: PLAN ADOPTION…………………….. Page 113 CHAPTER 6: PLAN MAINTENANCE……………… Page 114 APPENDICES ..................................................Page 115 APPENDIX A: MEETING DOCUMENTATION APPENDIX B: COMMUNITY RESILIENCE BUILDING WORKSHOP MATRICES APPENDIX C: WINDSOR CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET APPENDIX D: REQUEST FOR COMMENT FROM REGIONAL PARTNERS AND JURISDICTIONS Cover Photo Credit: Glenn Roy, Windsor resident, Conservation Commissioner, MVP Committee member 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Purpose The purpose of hazard mitigation planning is to reduce or eliminate the need to respond to hazardous conditions that threaten human life and property. Hazard mitigation can be an action, activity, process, or physical project designed to reduce or eliminate the long-term risks from hazards. The Town of Windsor, Massachusetts Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan (HMCAP) is prepared to meet the requirements of 44 CFR § 201.6 pertaining to local hazard mitigation plans. 44 CFR § 201.6(a)(1) states that “a local government must have a mitigation plan approved pursuant to this section in order to receive HMGP project grants. Furthermore, a local government must have a mitigation plan approved pursuant to this section in order to apply for and receive mitigation project grants under all other mitigation grant programs.” As the HMCAP will illustrate, Windsor’s eligibility for FEMA’s hazard mitigation grants is crucial. In addition to legal requirements, the Town of Windsor has laid out the following Mission Statement for their hazard mitigation and climate adaptation planning process: Mission Statement: To identify risks and sustainable cost-effective actions to mitigate the impact of natural hazards in order to protect life, property and the environment in Windsor, MA. The following goals are set forth in order to achieve this mission: 1. Identify the present and future risks that threaten life, property and environment in Windsor 2. Develop and implement sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally sound mitigation projects. 3. Protect lives, health, safety, and property of fulltime residents and seasonal visitors from the impacts of natural hazards. 4. Protect critical facilities and essential public services from disruption during or after hazardous conditions. 5. Promote the hazard mitigation plan and involve stakeholders to enhance the local capacity to mitigate, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of natural hazards. 6. Integrate the risks and mitigation actions identified through this planning process into all plans for the town and region and ensure its consideration in all land use decisions. In accordance with 44 CFR § 201.6 this local mitigation plan is the representation of Windsor’s commitment to reduce risks from natural hazards, serving as a guide for decision-makers as they commit resources to reduce the effects of natural hazards. Additionally, the HMCAP is meant to serve as the basis for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide technical assistance and to prioritize project funding. 2 Background Mitigation Planning The Town of Windsor was not included in the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan that was approved by FEMA Region I in 2012. Therefore, this Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan (HMCAP) is a new, single-jurisdiction plan. Locus The Town of Windsor is a small, rural community located in east-central Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. It borders the towns of Cheshire and Dalton to the west, Savoy to the north, Peru and Hinsdale to the south and Cummington, in Hampshire County, to the east. CHAPTER 2: PLANNING PROCESS 44 CFR § 201.6(b) & 44 CFR § 201.6(c)(1) Introduction This chapter outlines the development of the Town of Windsor HMCAP. It identifies who was involved in the process, how they were involved, and the methods of public participation that were employed. An open public engagement process during the drafting stage was essential to the development of the HMCAP. A discussion of how the community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance and implementation process (44 CFR § 201.6(c)(4)(iii)) will be discussed in Chapter 6. The Town of Windsor retained the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, an MVP and HM Provider, to aid them in developing a new, combined Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan that will meet the requirements of both MEMA for Hazard Mitigation Planning and the EOEEA for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness process. The goal of the Windsor Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Committee’s work was to develop a set of Actions for addressing Priority Hazards, using the Community Resilience Building (CRB) Workshop process and methodology as a key stakeholder tool. In addition, the Windsor MVP Committee met over the period of several months, to outline the major issue areas, utilizing the Hazard Mitigation Guidance documents. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission serves the 32 municipalities to guide planning and development across multiple disciplines for Berkshire County. BRPC also works with state and federal agencies to coordinate efforts to benefit the region. This Windsor Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan is a compilation of data collected by BRPC, information gathered from the planning committee during meetings and the MVP workshop and from public feedback at Public Review sessions, as well as one-on-one interviews conducted with key stakeholders outside of working meetings. 3 Planning Meetings and Participation 44 CFR § 201.6(c)(1) During the HMCAP planning process, there was opportunity for public comment and participation in the planning process by Windsor’s residents, as well as officials in neighboring communities, local and regional agencies and nonprofit partners involved in hazard mitigation activities, and state agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses and other private and non-profit interests. Windsor is a small town, where committees may be comprised of one or two people, and many people serve on multiple committees, most often on a volunteer basis. The following groups and representatives listed in Table 2.1 were active on the Windsor Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Committee: Table 2.1 Town of Windsor Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Committee Name Affiliation Doug McNally – Committee Co-chair Windsor Select Board, Windsor Planning Board, Windsor Broadband Committee, Berkshire Transportation Advisory Committee Jim Caffrey – Committee Co-chair The Trustees of Reservations, Westfield Wild & Scenic Committee Glenn Roy Windsor Conservation Commission John Denno Superintendent, Windsor Highway Dept. Kip Buoymaster Sergeant, Windsor Police Dept. Scott Eastwood Chief, Windsor Volunteer Fire Dept. & EMT Windsor Ambulance Service Michael Tirrell Resident, Police & Fire Depts. (Retired) Marc Volk Resident, Civil Engineer Allison Egan, Senior Planner Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, MVP Consultant Carolyn Massa, Senior Planner Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, MVP Consultant 4 Justin Gilmore, Transportation Planner Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, MVP Consultant team Peg McDonough, Planner Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, MVP Consultant team The central objective of the Community Resilience Building (MVP) Workshop process was to first review regional weather events from the past and climate change data and projections, then collect local data from attendees, and create a climate-related Natural Hazard Risk Matrix for the town, including a written Summary Climate Adaptation Report that: 1. Defined top local natural and climate-related hazards of concern; 2. Identified existing and future strengths and vulnerabilities; 3. Developed prioritized actions for the Community; 4. Identified immediate opportunities to collaboratively advance actions to increase resilience. Top Natural and Climate-Related Hazards Ice/Ice Storms, High Winds, Severe Storms, Heavy Rains, Extreme Temperature Fluctuations, Drought, Invasive Species The Community Resilience Building MVP workshops revealed that all Windsor residents are affected by and aware of how severe weather impacts the community. The discussions were detailed and wide-ranging, with many stories told about particularly severe storm and hazardous events that occurred over the past years. These discussions are summarized below. Categories of Concerns and Challenges Flooding & Damage to Roads, Bridges & Culverts MVP workshop participants universally cited the need for well-maintained roads, culverts and bridges to keep up with the impacts of severe weather. Flooding that washes over roads and makes them impassible, icy, muddy and rutted is a constant for many months of the year. Coordination with MA DOT was mentioned for State Rte. 9, since that main thoroughfare is so critical for circulation and is the main evacuation route for the Town and adjacent communities. Rte. 9’s heavy truck traffic, speeding and ongoing maintenance by the MA DOT is a concern. There are many miles