STRATEGY FOR REDUCING RISKS FROM NATURAL HAZARDS TOWN OF GLOCESTER, RHODE ISLAND 2018 Prepared for: Town of Glocester, RI 1145 Putnam Pike Chepachet,RI 02814 Prepared by: Dorian Boardman Boardman Ecological Services STRATEGY FOR REDUCING RISKS FROM NATURAL HAZARDS IN GLOCESTER, RHODE ISLAND Glocester Town Council George O. Steere, Jr., President Edward C. Burlingame, Vice President Walter M. O. Steere, III William E. Reichert Patricia Henry Members of the Glocester Natural Hazard Mitigation Committee Gerry Mosca, Emergency Management Director Karen Scott, Town Planner Chief Joseph DelPrete, Chief of Police Robert Dauphinais, Chepachet Fire Department Chief Richard Waterman, Harmony Fire Department Chief Ken Johnson, Building/Zoning Official Gary Treml, Director of Public Works Diane Brenna, Finance Director Heidi Blank, Glocester GIS Specialist Dorian Boardman, Boardman Ecological Services This project was made possible by the commitment of the Glocester Natural Hazard Mitigation Committee and leadership and support from the Glocester Town Council President and Town Council. This commitment, leadership, and support will result in better preservation and enhancement of the quality of life, property, and resources of the Town of Glocester. RI Emergency Management Agency Peter T. Gaynor, Director Melinda Hopkins, State Hazard Mitigation Officer State Assistance The project has moved forward thanks to the support and resources provided by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) with special acknowledgement to Melinda Hopkins, State Hazard Mitigation Officer. iii | P a g e iv | P a g e Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... VII LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. VIII SECTION 1.0 – BACKGROUND ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 What Mitigation Can Do for Glocester ................................................................................. 1 1.2 Glocester’s Mission Statement .............................................................................................. 1 1.3 Goals ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Community Planning Area .................................................................................................... 2 a. Location, Geography and Land Use................................................................................... 2 b. Demographics .................................................................................................................... 3 c. Housing .............................................................................................................................. 5 d. Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................... 5 d. Community Development and Development Trends ........................................................ 6 e. Historic and Natural Resources .......................................................................................... 6 f. Commerce, Industry, and Academic .................................................................................. 8 1.5 Significant Events Since the last Plan Update ....................................................................... 9 SECTION 2.0 – PLANNING PROCESS .................................................................................. 12 2.1 Purpose, Overview and Background ................................................................................... 12 2.2 Building Support: Community Involvement, Roles and Responsibilities ........................... 12 a. Glocester Natural Hazard Mitigation Committee ............................................................ 12 b. Additional Stakeholders ................................................................................................... 14 c. Public Participation .......................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Understanding the Community’s Risk ................................................................................ 15 a. Discovery and Gathering of Resources ............................................................................ 15 b. Review of Information with Stakeholder and Public Exchange ...................................... 15 SECTION 3.0 – RISK ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................... 19 3.1 Defining Terms and Methodology ...................................................................................... 19 3.2 Natural Hazards ................................................................................................................... 20 a. Natural Hazard Identification ........................................................................................... 20 b. Hazards Excluded from Risk Assessment ....................................................................... 21 c. Glocester’s Natural Hazard Profiles ................................................................................. 24 d. Risk Assessment .............................................................................................................. 25 e. Ranking Methodology ...................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Natural Hazard Profiles ....................................................................................................... 26 a. Heavy Rains and Riverine Flooding ................................................................................. 26 b. Dam Failure/Breach ......................................................................................................... 33 c. Hurricane .......................................................................................................................... 38 v | P a g e d. Thunderstorms including wind, lightning and hail .......................................................... 42 e. Snow and Ice Storms ........................................................................................................ 50 f. Extreme Temperatures ...................................................................................................... 58 3.4 Vulnerability to Natural Hazards ......................................................................................... 60 a. Demographics ................................................................................................................... 60 b. Population Density ............................................................................................................ 60 c. Population Growing Trends .............................................................................................. 61 d. Visitors .............................................................................................................................. 61 e. Mobile Homes ................................................................................................................... 61 f. Access and Functional Needs ........................................................................................... 62 g. Child Care Facilities ......................................................................................................... 62 h. Campgrounds - RIDEM and Private ................................................................................. 63 i. Economy ........................................................................................................................... 63 j. Assets/Receivables ............................................................................................................ 64 k. Built Environment: Existing Structures ............................................................................ 65 l. Critical Facilities and Infrastructure Systems ................................................................... 65 m. Transportation Infrastructure ............................................................................................ 66 n. Historic and Cultural Resources ....................................................................................... 67 o. Animal Shelter .................................................................................................................. 67 p. Limitations on Future Development ................................................................................. 67 q. Land Use in Flood Zones .................................................................................................. 68 r. Open Space ....................................................................................................................... 68 s. Natural Environment ......................................................................................................... 69 3.5 Risk Analysis and Assessment Matrix ................................................................................ 71 a. Methodology and Vulnerability Summary....................................................................... 71 SECTION 4.0 – CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 78 4.1 Purpose ...............................................................................................................................