Hazard Mitigation Plan Pierce County, Wisconsin Page 1 Plan Updated – August 2019 EPTEC, INC Lenora G. Borchardt 7027 Fawn Lane Sun Prairie, WI53590-9455 608-358-4267 [email protected] Page 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ 3 Acronyms ........................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction and Background ........................................................................................ 10 Previous Planning Efforts and Legal Basis ......................................................... 11 Plan Preparation, Adoption and Maintenance .................................................... 15 Physical Characteristics of Pierce County ..................................................................... 20 General Community Introduction ........................................................................ 20 Plan Area ............................................................................................................ 20 Geology .............................................................................................................. 21 Topography ........................................................................................................ 22 Mississippi River ................................................................................................. 23 Climate ............................................................................................................... 23 Hydrology ........................................................................................................... 27 Soil Types ........................................................................................................... 38 Wetlands ............................................................................................................ 39 Land Use ............................................................................................................ 41 Vegetation .......................................................................................................... 41 Demographics ............................................................................................................... 43 Human Settlement Patterns................................................................................ 43 Population .......................................................................................................... 44 Transportation Network ...................................................................................... 45 Land Use and Development Trends ................................................................... 46 Public Safety Support ......................................................................................... 49 Archaeological and Historical Resources ........................................................... 52 Hazard Analysis and Previous Mitigation Projects ........................................................ 55 All Hazards .................................................................................................................... 62 Vulnerability ........................................................................................................ 62 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................... 63 Drought and Dust Storms .............................................................................................. 68 Physical Characteristics ..................................................................................... 68 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................... 70 Vulnerability ........................................................................................................ 72 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................... 73 Earthquakes .................................................................................................................. 75 Physical Characteristics ..................................................................................... 75 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................... 77 Vulnerability ........................................................................................................ 80 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................... 80 Flooding and Dam Failure ............................................................................................. 81 Physical Characteristics ..................................................................................... 81 Watersheds ........................................................................................................ 90 Floodplain Regulations ....................................................................................... 93 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................... 93 Page 3 Acronyms Vulnerability ........................................................................................................ 96 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................... 98 Forest and Wildfires .................................................................................................... 105 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................... 105 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................. 106 Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 106 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................. 108 Landslide ..................................................................................................................... 110 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................... 111 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................. 113 Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 114 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................. 114 Severe Temperatures .................................................................................................. 116 Characteristics .................................................................................................. 116 Physical Characteristics: Heat .......................................................................... 116 Physical Characteristics: Cold .......................................................................... 117 Frequency of Occurrence: Heat ........................................................................ 119 Frequency of Occurrence: Cold ........................................................................ 120 Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 121 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................. 122 Storms: Hail ................................................................................................................. 123 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................... 124 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................. 124 Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 126 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................. 127 Storms: Lightning ........................................................................................................ 128 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................... 128 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................. 129 Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 129 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................. 130 Storms: Thunderstorms ............................................................................................... 131 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................... 131 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................. 132 Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 133 Hazard Mitigation Strategies............................................................................. 133 Storms: Tornadoes and High Winds............................................................................ 134 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................... 135 Frequency of Occurrence ................................................................................