City of Wasilla Hazard Mitigation Plan (Phase I – Natural Hazards) Prepared by: Wasilla Planning Commission Mayor Dianne Keller Sandra Garley, City Planner City of Wasilla Hazard Mitigation Plan Table of Contents I. Introduction A. Purpose of the Plan…………………………………………………1 B. Methodology………………………………………………………..2 C. Authority to Implement……………………………………………..2 D. City of Wasilla Background and History…………………………...3 E. Development Trends ………………………………………………. 5 II. Adoption Process and Documentation A. Plan Development……………………………………………7 B. Adoption of the Plan…………………………………………7 III. Planning Process A. Accomplishing the Planning Process ………………………………8 B. Contributors………………………………………………………….9 C. Risk Assessment……………………………………………………..10 D. Identifying Critical Facilities………………………………………...11 E. Public Opportunity for Involvement…………………………………11 F. Review of Existing Plans………….………………………………....12 IV. Natural Hazards A. Summary of Assessment……………………………………………14 B. Profile and Vulnerability……………………………………………15 Earthquakes……………………………………………………..15 High Wind………………………………………………………17 Severe Weather………………………………………………….22 Wildland Fire……………………………………………………26 Urban Fire……………………………………………………….29 Epidemics……………………………………………………….31 Volcano………………………………………………………….33 Erosion…………………………………………………………..38 Wind Erosion……………………………………………………39 Water Erosion…………………………………………………...42 Flood…………………………………………………………….43 Tsunamis & Seiches……………………………………………..45 Landslides……………………………………………………….46 Permafrost………………………………………………………47 Land Subsidence………………………………………………...48 V. Technological Hazards A. Summary of Assessment…………………………………………….49 B. Profile and Vulnerability…………………………………………….50 VI. Goals, Objectives, and Mitigation Actions A. Specific Goals, Objectives and Actions………………………… 52 B. Five Year Action Plan……………………………………………..61 City of Wasilla Hazard Mitigation Plan VII. Implementation and Maintenance Procedures A. Implementation………………………………………………………66 B. Maintenance………………………………………………………….66 Appendices A. Glossary of Terms 68 B. Acronyms 89 C. List of Critical Facilities, Historic Sites, Emergency Shelters 92 D. CIP Projects List (pending approval of Hazard Mitigation Plan) 96 E. Maps 97 F. FEMA How to Determine Cost-Effectiveness of Mitigation Project 98 G. Documentation 99 H. Action Plan Implementation, Potential Funding Sources and Responsible Agencies ii City of Wasilla All Hazard Mitigation Plan Chapter I – Introduction A. Purpose of the Plan: This document is the first phase of a two part hazard mitigation plan development process for the City of Wasilla. The first phase covers natural hazards. In the fall of 2004, the City of Wasilla will begin the second part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan which addresses technological and man-made hazards such as railroad hazardous spills. It was felt that preparing the Hazard Mitigation Plan in two phases would be a more manageable task if the first phase was limited to natural hazards. The City has developed this Hazard Mitigation Plan to provide guidance for the city’s activities to ensure implementation of policies and projects that are the most effective and appropriate for mitigating natural and technological hazard events. A Hazard Mitigation Plan is a strategic planning guide prepared to fulfill the FEMA requirement under The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 322, Mitigation Planning enacted by Section 104 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) (P.L. 106-390). This initiative provides new and revitalized approaches to mitigation planning. Section 322 emphasizes the need for State, local, and tribal entities to closely coordinate mitigation planning and implementation efforts. As part of the process of implementing the DMA, FEMA prepared an Interim Final Rule to clearly establish the mitigation planning criteria for States and local and tribal governments. This Rule was published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2002, at 44 CFR Part 201. This plan will identify hazards; establish community goals and objectives and develop mitigation strategies and activities that are appropriate for the City of Wasilla. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), Section 322 (a-d), as implemented through 44 CFR Part 201.6 requires that local governments, as a condition of receiving federal disaster mitigation funds, have a mitigation plan that describes the process for identifying hazards, risks and vulnerabilities, identifying and prioritizing mitigation actions, encouraging development of local mitigation and providing technical support for those efforts. The purpose of this plan is to produce a program of activities through actions and projects that will best deal with the City’s hazard problems, while meeting other community needs. This plan will accomplish the following objectives consistent with FEMA planning process guidelines: • Describe the planning process to include public involvement; • Conduct an assessment of the risks; • Determine what facilities, or portions of infrastructure, are vulnerable to a disaster; • Develop a mitigation strategy to reduce potential losses and target resources; • Describe how the City will periodically evaluate, monitor maintain and update the plan; and, • Describe the process for implementing the plan after adoption by the Wasilla City Council and receiving FEMA approval . City of Wasilla Hazard Mitigation Plan B. Methodology The methodology used in developing the Wasilla Hazard Mitigation Plan consisted the following tasks. 1. Coordinate with other agencies and organizations 2. Solicit public involvement 3. Identify the probable hazards 4. Identify areas affected 5. Determine probability of occurrence 6. Review and analysis of possible mitigation activities 7. Set goals and identify potential action that would mitigate hazards 8. Submit draft to the State Hazard Mitigation Officer for Review 9. Adoption of the Plan by City Council following a public hearing 10. Implement the plan and evaluate actions 11. Review and update Plan and provide for plan maintenance The Wasilla Mitigation Plan summarizes the effects of hazards in the City of Wasilla such as: flooding, earthquake, fire and etc. and recommends mitigation strategies and activities. The also Plan contains a list of mitigation activities and projects and a brief rationale or explanation of how each activity or project contributes to the overall hazard mitigation strategy outlined in the plan. The mitigation plan will be reviewed annually, and updated every five years. In addition, the plan will be evaluated, as appropriate when a disaster occurs that significantly affects the City, whether or not it receives a Presidential Declaration. This evaluation and possible update will be completed as soon as possible, but no later than 12 months following the date the disaster occurs. Routine annual maintenance of the plan will include updating historical hazard information, completing hazard analysis and adding projects as new funding sources become available and removing projects from the Plan as they are accomplished. C. City of Wasilla – Authority to Implement The Wasilla Hazard Mitigation Plan includes action items that will implement specific goals and objectives. The City is empowered to act through its status as a first class city incorporated under Alaska State statutes and through AS Title 29, Municipal Government, including but not limited to: AS 29.05.030 Emergency Ordinances, which permits the declaration that an emergency exists along with a statement of facts supporting the declaration; AS 29.35.010 General Powers, which provides the authority to develop and enforce ordinances and to expend money for a community purpose, facility or service; AS 29.35.030 Eminent Domain, which authorizes the exercise of the powers of eminent domain to acquire property for public purposes; 2 City of Wasilla All Hazard Mitigation Plan AS 29.35.040 Emergency Disaster Powers, permits a municipality, after the declaration of a disaster area by the Governor or president, to participate in and provide housing, urban renewal, and redevelopment ; AS 29.35.055 Local Air Quality Control Program, which permit the establishment of a local air quality control program as provided in AS 46.14.400; AS 29.35.500 Hazardous Chemicals, Materials and Waste, which provides for reporting of hazardous chemicals, materials and waste by businesses and government agencies that are required to submit an inventory to Alaska State Emergency Response Commission; AS 29.40.040 Land Use Regulations, which provide for the adoption of a comprehensive plan as a basis for the regulation governing the use and occupancy of land; and AS 29.45.230 Tax Adjustments on Property Affected by a natural disaster, which provides for reassessment and reduction of taxes for property destroyed, damaged or otherwise reduced in value by a disaster. D. City of Wasilla – Background General location: The City of Wasilla is located midway between the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys in southcentral Alaska on the George Parks Highway at 61º 58’ North Latitude and 149º 43’ West Longitude. The City lies south of the Talkeetna Mountains and about 12 miles north of the Knik Arm on the Cook Inlet and is located along the Alaska Railroad main line from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Wasilla is approximately 43 miles north of Anchorage, about one hour’s drive depending on the time of year and weather conditions. The City boundaries encompass approximately 13 square miles of land and 0.7 square miles of water. Natural Environment: Wasilla is surrounded by the mountains in the Talkeetna