NORTHWEST ALABAMA MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN A HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA COUNTIES COLBERT, FRANKIN, MARION AND WINSTON AND ELIGIBLE JURISDICTIONS December 1, 2014 Table of Contents Section 1 Hazard Mitigation Plan Background 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Authority 1.3 Funding 1.4 Scope 1.5 Purpose Section 2 Northwest Alabama Regional Profile 2.1 Geology 2.2 Transportation 2.3 Social and Economic Characteristics 2.4 Utilities 2.5 Current and Future Development Trends Section 3 Planning Process 3.1 Multi-Jurisdictional Plan Adoption 3.2 Multi-Jurisdictional Planning Participation 3.3 Hazard Mitigation Planning Process 3.4 Public and Other Stakeholder Involvement 3.5 Integration with Existing Plans Section 4 Risk Assessment 4.1 Hazard Identification and Description 4.2 Probability of Future Hazards 4.3 Extent of Hazards by Jurisdiction 4.4 Previous Occurrences 4.5 Impact of Hazards by Jurisdiction 4.6 Probability of Future Occurrence by Jurisdiction 4.7 Vulnerability Overview 4.8 Vulnerability Synthesis and Overall Risk Section 5 Mitigation Plan 5.1 Mitigation Planning Process 5.2 Mitigation Goals 5.3 Mitigation Strategies Overview 5.4 Capabilities Assessment for Local Jurisdictions 5.5 Mitigation Strategies by Local Jurisdiction Section 6 Plan Maintenance Process 6.1 Planning cycle 6.2 Procedures 6.3 Implementation through Existing Programs 6.4 Continued Public Involvement Section 1 – Hazard Mitigation Plan Background Section Contents 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Authority 1.3 Funding 1.4 Scope 1.5 Purpose 1.1 Introduction The Northwest Alabama Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is a multi- jurisdictional plan that details natural hazards that threaten local jurisdictions in several northwest Alabama, specifically Colbert, Franklin, Marion and Winston counties and the municipalities and other jurisdictions found therein. This plan fulfills the requirements set forth by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000). DMA 2000 requires jurisdictions to create a hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible for mitigation grants made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Although the northwest Alabama region is diverse in terms of development and physical geography, the hazard profiles of the counties are very similar. Counties with higher population may face greater vulnerability, but the risk of impact is largely the same. Communities in each county must contend with localized threats from flooding, wildfire or landslides as well as those events with no geographic limitations such as winter storms and tornadoes. Likewise, the goals and mitigation strategies of urban and rural areas have not differed greatly. Additionally, the local emergency management agencies of the counties in the region have responsibility for both urban and rural areas of varying population density. Whether an urbanized county or a rural one: the hazard and risk profiles and mitigation techniques are very similar for each community across the region. Due to these similarities, a multi-jurisdictional approach has significant advantages for hazard mitigation planning processes, local mitigation strategies, and plan implementation. 1.2 Authority Section 409 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Management Assistance Act (Public Law 93-228, as amended), Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations, as 1 amended by Part 201 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, requires that all state and local jurisdictions develop a hazard mitigation plan as a condition of receiving federal disaster assistance. These plans must be approved by FEMA and updated every five years. 1.3 Funding Funding for the Northwest Alabama Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan was made available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), under the President’s Disaster Recovery Declaration 1971 (DR 1971). Supplemental funding was supplied by the county commissions of Colbert County, Franklin County, Marion County, and Winston County, and the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments. 1.4 Scope The Northwest Alabama Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is a mitigation framework for all incorporated and unincorporated counties in the multi-jurisdictional planning area of Northwest Alabama, which includes Colbert, Franklin, Marion, and Winston Counties. The plan addresses all natural hazards that are identified by FEMA, and hazards that may affect the northwest Alabama region are analyzed for all jurisdictions. Short and long term goals for mitigation are developed for Colbert, Franklin, Marion, and Winston Counties and mitigation strategies are identified for participating jurisdictions. Responsibility for implementation of strategies is discussed and possible funding sources are identified. 1.5 Purpose The Northwest Alabama Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is an effort to evaluate and identify all natural hazards which may affect the region. It presents mitigation strategies that address the hazards identified and is one of many steps that local jurisdictions will take to provide a safer environment for residents. 2 Section 2 – Northwest Alabama Regional Profile Section Contents 2.1 Geology 2.2 Transportation 2.3 Social and Economic Characteristics 2.4 Utilities 2.5 Development Trends 2.1 Geology Geology describes the rock formations that are essential to the characteristics of a place. Geology is a central feature in determining the types and quantities of soils in an area, the topography of the location, and the amount of ground and surface water. In turn, these factors influence the geology of the location, as they affect changes in the structure of rock formations. The State of Alabama is divided into five geologic provinces- the Coastal Plan, Piedmont, Valley and Range, Cumberland Plateau, and Highland Rim. These provinces are determined by the characteristics of their underlying rock formations such as rock types, geologic structure, physiography and water bearing properties. Most of Colbert County is located in the Highland Rim province, but areas northwest and southwest in these counties are in the Eastern Coastal Plain province. The Highland Rim is characterized by Mississippian era limestone, which is subject to dissolution potentially creating cracks, fissures and sinkholes. Franklin County is divided between three provinces, the Highland Plain in the northeast, and Cumberland Plateau and East Gulf Coastal Plain. The underlying limestone of the Highland Plain is susceptible to dissolution. Marion County is divided between East Gulf Coastal Plain in the west and Cumberland Plateau in the east. Winston County rests entirely within the Cumberland Plateau. Geologic conditions and drainage patterns largely 3 determine susceptibility to sinkholes. 4 2.2 Transportation Northwest Alabama is connected to the rest of the State, the Southeastern United States, and the nation by a series of major roadways. The transportation network centers on the system of highway connections to the nation’s interstate highway system. Interstate 22 crosses diagonally east to west from Birmingham to Olive Branch, Mississippi southeast of Memphis. Interstate 65 runs east of the region north to south and is connected to the region by I-22 in Birmingham (an interchange that is under construction) and Highway 157 from the Shoals to Cullman, Alabama. Highway 72 is another important route, entering the state in from Mississippi at the Colbert County line and continuing north across the Tennessee River in the Shoals before travelling east to Athens and I-65. U.S. Highway 43 is a major north to south connection between the Tennessee state line and the Marion County line in Winfield. Highway 43 touches on more communities in northwest Alabama than any other highway. Meanwhile, smaller highways cross it east to west or branch off to form major collectors and rural arterials. These include Highway 13, which connects Phil Campbell to Haleyville to I-22 in Walker County and Highway 278 from Hamilton to Double Springs and I-65. The region is also home to several airports. The Muscle Shoals Regional Airport is the largest airport and the only one to offer commercial flights daily. Hamilton, Russellville, and Haleyville each have airports offering hangar service and private flights. Several private airports and landing strips are also found in the region. Railroads carrying freight across the region traverse north and south as well as east and west. A Norfolk Southern line enters Colbert County from Mississippi parallel to the Tennessee River and continues east through the Shoals, where it branches south and eventually connects to Birmingham, and east to Decatur, where it branches north and south, east and west. The north- south Norfolk Southern line from the Shoals travels through each county of the region before merging into an east-west line of the Burlington Santa Fe Railroad and connecting to Birmingham. The Burlington Santa Fe Railroad enters the state in Lamar County and sweeps through the southern edge of Marion County near Guin and Winfield. Finally, minor lines serve the Port of Florence (Tennessee Southern Railroad) and the City of Red Bay (Belmont Railroad). The region lacks passenger rail transportation. 5 2.3 Social and Economic Characteristics Although the region is interconnected, the population and economy is best described at the county level. The total population for the region is approximately 141,000 people. Population by jurisdiction is provided in Section 4, Table 4.7.2. The majority of regional employment