LINCOLN, RI 2016 UPDATE NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN STRATEGY FOR REDUCING RISKS FROM NATURAL HAZARDS THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Town of Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan - 2016 Update Page ii Town of Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan 2016 Update Strategy for Reducing Risks from Natural Hazards Created by: The Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Committee ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Members of the Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Committee Brian Sullivan – Lincoln Police Chief Ernest Lacombe – Lincoln EMA Director Ronald K. Gagne, Sr. – Lincoln Rescue Deputy Chief Michael Gagnon – Public Works Director Albert V. Ranaldi, Jr. – Lincoln Town Planner Roger Pierce – Building Official Leslie Quish – Town Engineer Margaret Weigner – Lincoln Town Planner’s Assistant ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Committee would like to acknowledge the support of Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond, the Lincoln Town Council, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for their guidance throughout the latest plan update. Originally Adopted by the Lincoln Town Council: April 19, 2005 Updated: May 2016 Town of Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan - 2016 Update Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 1 ADOPTION RESOLUTION .......................................................................................................................... 2 Section 1– Hazard Mitigation Background .................................................................................................... 3 Section 1.1 – Introduction to Hazard Mitigation in the Town of Lincoln ....................................................... 3 Section 1.2 Community Profile of the Town of Lincoln ................................................................................. 4 Section 1.3 Significant Events since the last plan update ............................................................................... 7 Section 2 Planning Process ............................................................................................................................. 8 Section 2.1 Purpose, Overview, and Background ........................................................................................... 8 Section 2.2 Building Support: Community Involvement, Roles, and Responsibilities ................................... 8 Section 2.3 Understanding the Community’s Risks........................................................................................ 9 Section 2.4 Updating the Mitigation Strategy ................................................................................................10 Section 2.5 Plan Implementation & Maintenance ..........................................................................................10 Section 3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment ..................................................................................12 Section 3.1 Defining Risk ..............................................................................................................................12 Section 3.2 Hazards .......................................................................................................................................12 3.2a Hazard Identification ......................................................................................................................12 3.2b. Hazards Excluded from the Risk Assessment ...............................................................................14 3.2c. Hazard Profiles ..............................................................................................................................14 Section 3.3 Vulnerability ...............................................................................................................................30 3.3a Population at Risk ...........................................................................................................................38 3.3b Property at Risk ..............................................................................................................................38 3.3c Estimating Potential Losses ............................................................................................................39 3.3d Future Development Trends ...........................................................................................................40 3.3e Preservation of Wetlands ................................................................................................................41 3.3f Risk Assessment Matrix ..................................................................................................................41 3.3g Maps ...............................................................................................................................................45 3.3h Risk Summary ................................................................................................................................45 Section 4 Capability Assessment ...................................................................................................................45 Section 5 Mitigation Actions .........................................................................................................................50 Section 5.1 Goals ...........................................................................................................................................50 Section 5.2 Methodology ...............................................................................................................................50 Section 5.3 Previous Actions .........................................................................................................................54 Section 5.4 Action Plan .................................................................................................................................55 Section 6 Moving Towards a More Resilient Lincoln ...................................................................................83 APPENDIX A – State and Non-State Owned Bridges in the Town of Lincoln ............................................85 APPENDIX B Technical and Financial Assistance for Mitigation ...............................................................86 APPENDIX C – Existing Protection Systems – State and Federal ...............................................................89 APPENDIX D- Public Meeting Notices…………………………………………………………………….87 Town of Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2016 Update Page i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The intent of this Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan update is to serve as a blueprint for coordinating and implementing mitigation programs and projects. It provides a list of hazards that are of concern to the Town of Lincoln, mitigation goals, and related actions. Hazard mitigation planning is a process in which hazards are identified and profiled, people and facilities at risk are assessed for threat and vulnerability then mitigation actions are developed. The result of the process is an integrated and coordinated effort to mitigate hazards. The expected outcome of all actions of the Town of Lincoln’s 2016 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (HMP) is to lessen the impact of damage caused by natural hazards to life, the economy, infrastructure or our ability to continue to operate as a community and town. The purpose of the 2016 HMP Update is to document these actions and determine priorities and implementation efforts. Specifically, the Lincoln HMP Committee’s planning process consisted of several elements: the utilization of the expertise of eight different departments, the review of existing data and research into the history of hazard events in Lincoln. The public was invited to participate in the planning process through the Town of Lincoln’s website and at public meetings of the Lincoln Town Council. The process was implemented by the Lincoln HMP Committee, which set out to: identify and profile natural hazards; assess vulnerability; set local hazard mitigation goals and strategy; and plan for future maintenance of the Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. The 2016 update to the 2005 HMP, identifies eight natural hazards and 23 mitigation action items. Each action item is listed under an identified vulnerable area. The natural hazards that this plan will address over the next five years are (listed in order of impact and then frequency of occurrence): Hurricane/Nor’easter Heavy Rains/Flooding Snowstorm Hail Wind Event Lightning Earthquake Wildfire Town of Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan - 2016 Update Page 1 Town Council 100 Old River Road Lincoln, RI 02865 ADOPTED RESOLUTION 2016-17 Resolution to Adopt the Lincoln Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2016 WHEREAS, the Town of Lincoln recognizes the threat that natural hazards pose to people and property within our community; and WHEREAS, the Town of Lincoln has prepared a multi-hazard mitigation plan, hereby known as the Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2016 in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000; and WHEREAS, the Lincoln Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2016 identifies mitigation goals and actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property in Lincoln from the impacts of future hazards and disasters; and WHEREAS, adoption by the Town Council demonstrates their commitment to hazard mitigation and achieving the goals outlined