WASHINGTON COUNTY ME HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2018 REVISION Washington County Emergency Management Agency 28 Center Street Machias, Maine 04654 Washington County Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2018 Update Table of Contents 1. Overview Population .............................................................................................................. 1-1 County Government ............................................................................................... 1-3 Local Units of Government ..................................................................................... 1-3 Business and Economy .......................................................................................... 1-4 2. Plan Adoption Multi-Jurisdictional Adoption ................................................................................... 2-1 Resolutions............................................................................................................. 2-3 3. Planning Process Planning Process ................................................................................................... 3-1 Hazard Mitigation Outreach Efforts ......................................................................... 3-2 Hazard Mitigation Survey ............................................................................ 3-2 Kick-Off Meeting (April 6 and 7, 2017) ........................................................ 3-2 Flood Insurance Open House (May 8 and 9, 2017) ..................................... 3-3 Planning Meeting (July 26, 2017) ................................................................ 3-3 Public Comment and Review Session (December 7, 2017) ........................ 3-4 Summary of Local Participation .............................................................................. 3-5 Opportunity for Neighboring Communities, Regional Agencies ............................... 3-6 4. Risk Assessment Introduction............................................................................................................. 1-1 Climate and Geography .......................................................................................... 4-1 Temperature ..................................................................................................... 4-2 Precipitation ...................................................................................................... 4-2 Prevailing Winds ............................................................................................... 4-2 Topographical Features .................................................................................... 4-3 Climate Variation .................................................................................................... 4-3 Temperature Changes ...................................................................................... 4-3 Precipitation Changes ....................................................................................... 4-4 Sea Level Rise ................................................................................................. 4-6 Description of Hazards ........................................................................................... 4-7 Description of Hazards Potentially Affecting Washington County............................ 4-7 Hazards Profiled in this Plan ................................................................................... 4-8 Hazards not Profiled in this Plan ............................................................................. 4-8 Rating of Hazards ................................................................................................. 4-10 Severe Winter Storms .......................................................................................... 4-11 General Definition ........................................................................................... 4-11 Types of Winter Storms in Washington County ............................................... 4-11 Location of Hazard.......................................................................................... 4-11 Extent of the Hazard ....................................................................................... 4-12 Previous Occurrences .................................................................................... 4-12 Probability of Occurrence ................................................................................ 4-15 i Flooding ............................................................................................................... 4-16 General Definition ........................................................................................... 4-16 Types of Flooding in Washington County ........................................................ 4-16 Location of Flooding Hazard ........................................................................... 4-17 Extent of the Hazard ....................................................................................... 4-18 Nature of Coastal Erosion ............................................................................... 4-18 Dam Failure Risk ............................................................................................ 4-19 Extent of the Hazard other than Dam Failure .................................................. 4-20 Previous Occurrences .................................................................................... 4-22 Probability of Occurrence ................................................................................ 4-23 Severe Summer Storms ....................................................................................... 4-24 General Definition ........................................................................................... 4-24 Types of Severe Summer Storms ................................................................... 4-24 Location of Hazard.......................................................................................... 4-24 Extent of the Hazard ....................................................................................... 4-25 Previous Occurrences .................................................................................... 4-25 Probability of Occurrence ................................................................................ 4-27 Wildfire ................................................................................................................. 4-28 General Definition ........................................................................................... 4-28 Types of Wildfires ........................................................................................... 4-28 Location of Hazard.......................................................................................... 4-28 Extent of the Hazard ....................................................................................... 4-29 Previous Occurrences .................................................................................... 4-29 Probability of Occurrence ................................................................................ 4-29 Assessing Vulnerability: Overview ........................................................................ 4-30 Vulnerability of Washington County to Each Hazard ............................................. 4-30 Impacts of Each Hazard on Washington County ................................................... 4-31 Repetitive Loss Properties .................................................................................... 4-32 Assessing Vulnerability: Identifying Structures ...................................................... 4-32 Vulnerability of Existing Buildings, Infrastructure, Critical Facilities ....................... 4-32 Critical Facilities ................................................................................................... 4-34 County Asset Inventory ........................................................................................ 4-35 Vulnerability of Future Buildings, Infrastructure, Critical Facilities ......................... 4-36 Assessing Vulnerability: Estimating Potential Losses ........................................... 4-39 Severe Winter Storms .......................................................................................... 4-39 Flooding ............................................................................................................... 4-42 Severe Summer Storms ....................................................................................... 4-43 Wildfires ............................................................................................................... 4-45 Assessing Vulnerability: Analyzing Development Trends ...................................... 4-46 Impacts of Hazards on Future Development ......................................................... 4-49 Multi-Jurisdictional Risk Assessment .................................................................... 4-50 Municipal Base Maps ........................................................................................... 4-51 ii 5. Mitigation Strategies Mitigation Strategy .................................................................................................. 5-1 C1. Existing Authorities, Policies, Programs and Resources .................................. 5-2 C2. Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program ..................................... 5-5 C3. Goals ..............................................................................................................