Westminster, Massachusetts Hazard Mitigation Plan June 2021 Hazard Mitigation Plan Westminster, Massachusetts Prepared by: BETA GROUP, INC. Prepared for: Town of Westminster June 2021 Hazard Mitigation Plan Westminster, Massachusetts TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Federal Disaster Mitigation Act .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Hazard Mitigation Plan Purpose ......................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Planning Process ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2.1 Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Team ............................................................................................. 1 2.2 Planning Process Summary ................................................................................................................. 2 2.3 Public Participation ............................................................................................................................. 2 3.0 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness .................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Community Resilience Building Workshop ......................................................................................... 3 4.0 Community Profile .................................................................................................................................. 4 4.1 Geography .......................................................................................................................................... 4 4.2 Climate ................................................................................................................................................ 4 4.3 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 4 4.4 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................... 4 4.5 Historic Properties .............................................................................................................................. 5 5.0 Critical Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................. 5 6.0 Risk Assessment ...................................................................................................................................... 9 6.1 Overview of Hazards and Impacts ...................................................................................................... 9 6.2 Flood Related Hazards ...................................................................................................................... 10 6.2.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 10 6.2.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 10 6.2.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 11 6.2.4 Dam and Dam Failure ................................................................................................................ 11 6.3 Hurricanes and Tropical Storms ....................................................................................................... 13 6.3.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 13 6.3.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 14 6.3.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 15 6.4 Nor’easter ......................................................................................................................................... 15 6.4.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 15 6.4.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 15 6.4.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 17 6.5 Earthquake ........................................................................................................................................ 17 6.5.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 17 i Hazard Mitigation Plan Westminster, Massachusetts 6.5.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 19 6.5.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 20 6.6 Landslide ........................................................................................................................................... 20 6.6.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 20 6.6.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 21 6.6.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 21 6.7 Snow & Blizzard ................................................................................................................................ 21 6.7.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 21 6.7.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 22 6.7.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 22 6.8 Ice Storms ......................................................................................................................................... 23 6.8.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 23 6.8.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 23 6.8.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 23 6.9 Wildfires ............................................................................................................................................ 23 6.9.1 Hazard Overview ....................................................................................................................... 23 6.9.2 Significant Hazard Events .......................................................................................................... 24 6.9.3 Hazard Location ......................................................................................................................... 24 6.10 Thunderstorms ............................................................................................................................... 24 6.10.1 Hazard Overview ..................................................................................................................... 24 6.10.2 Significant Hazard Events ........................................................................................................ 25 6.10.3 Hazard Location ....................................................................................................................... 25 6.11 Tornadoes ....................................................................................................................................... 25 6.11.1 Hazard Overview ..................................................................................................................... 25 6.11.2 Significant Hazard Events ........................................................................................................ 27 6.11.3 Hazard Location ....................................................................................................................... 28 6.12 Drought ........................................................................................................................................... 28 6.12.1 Hazard Overview ..................................................................................................................... 28 6.12.2 Significant Hazard Events ........................................................................................................ 29 6.12.3 Hazard Location ....................................................................................................................... 30