Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Regional Commission th 400 Quincy St., 8 Floor, Hancock, MI 49930 906-482-7205 [email protected] News Release Release Date: September 30, 2020 Media Contact: Rachael Pressley, Assistant Regional Planner 906.482.7205 ext. 116 [email protected] Keweenaw County Hazard Mitigation Plan available for review The Keweenaw County Office of Emergency Measures and the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) have recently made updates to the Keweenaw County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Hazard mitigation is any action taken before, during or after a disaster to eliminate or reduce the risk to human life and property from natural, technological, or human-related hazards. The plan’s purpose is to identify hazard risks throughout the county and to become better prepared for them. The draft of the Keweenaw County 2020-2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update will be available through October 30, 2020 for public review and comment prior to plan adoption by all local governments at regular meetings. A formal public hearing will also be held at a County Board meeting to be announced. Copies of the plan draft will be available at WUPPDR (400 Quincy St.) in Hancock and at the Keweenaw County Clerk’s Office (5095 4th St.) in Eagle River, and; online at www.wuppdr.org. Written comments will be considered by WUPPDR in cooperation with Keweenaw County and local governments, as appropriate. Comments must be received by October 30, 2020 and may be mailed to WUPPDR, 400 Quincy St., 8th Floor, Hancock, MI 49930 or emailed to Rachael Pressley, Assistant Regional Planner, at [email protected]. ### 2020-2025 Keweenaw County Hazard Mitigation Plan [DRAFT] PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK Keweenaw County Hazard Mitigation Plan Table of Contents SECTION 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 2 Scope ................................................................................................................................... 3 Authority ............................................................................................................................. 3 SECTION 2: Planning Process .................................................................................................... 4 Overview of Hazard Mitigation Planning ........................................................................... 4 History of Hazard Mitigation Planning Keweenaw County ............................................... 5 Preparing the 2020 Plan ...................................................................................................... 5 The Planning Team ............................................................................................................. 7 Local Planning Team Meetings .......................................................................................... 9 Involving the Public .......................................................................................................... 10 Involving Stakeholders ..................................................................................................... 11 SECTION 3: Community Profile .............................................................................................. 12 Geography, Environment, and Land Use .......................................................................... 12 Population and Demographics .......................................................................................... 17 Housing and Infrastructure ............................................................................................... 19 Employment and Industry ................................................................................................. 23 Police, Fire, and Emergency Services ............................................................................... 24 Critical Facilities and Cultural Assets............................................................................... 26 Disaster Declarations ........................................................................................................ 33 SECTION 4: Hazard Identification .......................................................................................... 34 SECTION 5: Hazard Analysis ................................................................................................... 40 Study Area ........................................................................................................................ 40 Natural Hazards: Weather Hazards ................................................................................... 40 Extreme Temperatures ................................................................................................ 41 Fog .............................................................................................................................. 44 Hail .............................................................................................................................. 45 Ice and Sleet Storms.................................................................................................... 48 Lightning ..................................................................................................................... 49 Severe Winds .............................................................................................................. 50 Snowstorms and Blizzards .......................................................................................... 54 Tornadoes .................................................................................................................... 56 Hydrological Hazards ....................................................................................................... 60 Dam Failures ............................................................................................................... 61 Riverine and Urban Flooding...................................................................................... 62 Shoreline Flooding and Erosion.................................................................................. 65 Drought ....................................................................................................................... 67 Ecological Hazards ........................................................................................................... 68 Wildfires ..................................................................................................................... 69 Invasive Species .......................................................................................................... 72 iii Keweenaw County Hazard Mitigation Plan Geological Hazards ........................................................................................................... 77 Earthquakes ................................................................................................................. 77 Subsidence (Ground Collapse) ................................................................................... 78 Technological Hazards: Industrial Hazards ...................................................................... 81 Scrap Tire Fire ............................................................................................................ 82 Structural Fires ............................................................................................................ 82 Hazardous Materials: Fixed Site Incident ................................................................... 84 Hazardous Materials: Transportation Accident .......................................................... 86 Petroleum and Natural Gas Incidents ......................................................................... 87 Infrastructure Hazards ....................................................................................................... 90 Infrastructure Failures and Secondary Technological Hazards .................................. 90 Transportation Accidents ............................................................................................ 92 Human-Related Hazards ................................................................................................... 94 Civil Disturbances ....................................................................................................... 94 Public Health Emergencies ......................................................................................... 96 Sabotage and Terrorism ............................................................................................ 100 SECTION 6: Risk Assessment ................................................................................................. 103 Differential Vulnerability................................................................................................ 103 Hazard Priority Risk Index and Ranking ........................................................................ 108 PRI Results................................................................................................................ 111 SECTION 7: Hazard Mitigation ............................................................................................. 115 Overview