City of Augusta, Georgia and the cities of Hephzibah & Blythe Hazard Mitigation Plan A Plan to Reduce the Impacts of Natural Hazards City of Augusta 530 Greene Street Augusta, GA 30911 706/821-1155 City of Blythe 294 Church Street Blythe, GA 30805 706/592-6255 City of Hephzibah 2530 Highway 88 Hephzibah, GA 30815 706/592-4423 FFFeeebbbrrruuuaaarrryyy 222000000666 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose & Authority.................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 The Planning Process................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2.1 Planning Committee Participants.................................................................... 1-1 1.2.2 Step-by-Step Process....................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.3 Committee Meetings....................................................................................... 1-4 1.3 Organization of the Plan ............................................................................................ 1-4 1.4 The Planning Area ..................................................................................................... 1-5 1.4.1 Geography & Climate ..................................................................................... 1-6 1.4.2 Population & Economy................................................................................... 1-6 1.4.3 Land Use & Growth........................................................................................ 1-8 1.4.4 Building Inventory........................................................................................ 1-11 1.4.5 Critical & Essential Facilities ....................................................................... 1-14 1.5 Hazard Summary ..................................................................................................... 1-15 1.5.1 Hazard History.............................................................................................. 1-17 1.5.2 Weather-Related Deaths................................................................................1-19 1.5.3 Losses Due to Major Disasters...................................................................... 1-19 1.5.4 Relative Ranking of Hazards ........................................................................ 1-20 1.6 Mitigation Goal........................................................................................................ 1-21 1.7 Multi-Jurisdictional Considerations......................................................................... 1-24 1.8 Public Involvement .................................................................................................. 1-24 1.8.1 Public Meetings............................................................................................. 1-24 1.8.2 Public Awareness of Flood Hazards ............................................................. 1-26 1.8.3 Communicating about Hazards..................................................................... 1-28 1.9 Adoption, Implementation, Reporting, Evaluation & Revision .............................. 1-29 2. Natural Hazards, Risks and Vulnerabilities................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Floods and Related Hazards....................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Events, Frequency & Probability.................................................................. 2-11 2.1.2 Assets Exposed & Potential Losses .............................................................. 2-11 Augusta Hazard Mitigation Plan (February 2006) i 2.1.3 Land Use and Development Trends.............................................................. 2-22 2.1.4 Multi-Jurisdictional Differences................................................................... 2-23 2.1.5 Summary: Exposure to Flood Hazards ........................................................ 2-23 2.2 Wind Hazards...........................................................................................................2-24 2.2.1 Events, Frequency & Probability.................................................................. 2-26 2.2.2 Assets Exposed & Potential Losses .............................................................. 2-30 2.2.3 Land Use and Development Trends.............................................................. 2-32 2.2.4 Multi-Jurisdictional Differences................................................................... 2-32 2.2.5 Summary: Wind Hazards ............................................................................. 2-32 2.3 Severe Winter Storms .............................................................................................. 2-33 2.3.1 Events, Frequency & Probability.................................................................. 2-34 2.3.2 Assets Exposed & Potential Losses .............................................................. 2-34 2.3.3 Land Use and Development Trends.............................................................. 2-35 2.3.4 Multi-Jurisdictional Differences................................................................... 2-35 2.3.5 Summary: Winter Storms............................................................................. 2-35 2.4 Drought ................................................................................................................... 2-36 2.4.1 Events, Frequency & Probability.................................................................. 2-36 2.4.2 Assets Exposed & Potential Losses .............................................................. 2-38 2.4.3 Land Use and Development Trends.............................................................. 2-38 2.4.4 Multi-Jurisdictional Differences................................................................... 2-38 2.4.5 Summary: Drought....................................................................................... 2-39 2.5 Urban Wildland Interface Fire................................................................................. 2-39 2.5.1 Events, Frequency & Probability.................................................................. 2-39 2.5.2 Assets Exposed & Potential Losses .............................................................. 2-41 2.5.3 Land Use and Development Trends.............................................................. 2-43 2.5.4 Multi-Jurisdictional Differences................................................................... 2-44 2.5.5 Summary: Urban Wildland Interface Fire.................................................... 2-44 3. Technological Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability........................................................... 3-1 3.1 Hazardous Materials.................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1 Events, Frequency & Probability.................................................................... 3-2 3.1.2 Assets Exposed & Potential Losses ................................................................ 3-2 3.1.3 Land Use and Development Trends................................................................ 3-5 ii Table of Contents 3.1.4 Multi-Jurisdictional Differences..................................................................... 3-5 3.1.5 Summary: Hazardous Materials..................................................................... 3-5 4. Natural Hazards: Mitigation Actions ........................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Flood Hazards............................................................................................................ 4-2 4.1.1 Identification & Analysis of Range of Mitigation Options............................. 4-2 4.1.2 Existing Policies, Regulations, Ordinances & Land Use................................ 4-3 4.1.3 Existing Flood Mitigation Initiatives .............................................................. 4-3 4.1.4 Mitigation Actions.......................................................................................... 4-8 4.2 Wind Hazards...........................................................................................................4-15 4.2.1 Identification & Analysis of Range of Mitigation Options........................... 4-15 4.2.2 Existing Policies, Regulations, Ordinances & Land Use.............................. 4-15 4.2.3 Mitigation Actions........................................................................................ 4-16 4.3 Winter Storms .......................................................................................................... 4-17 4.3.1 Identification & Analysis of Range of Mitigation Options........................... 4-17 4.3.2 Existing Policies, Regulations, Ordinances & Land Use.............................. 4-17 4.3.3 Mitigation Action.......................................................................................... 4-17 4.4 Drought ................................................................................................................... 4-18 4.4.1 Identification & Analysis of Range of Mitigation Options........................... 4-18 4.4.2 Existing Policies, Regulations, Ordinances & Land Use.............................. 4-18 4.4.3 Mitigation Action.........................................................................................