City of East Providence, Rhode Island Local Hazard Mitigation Plan A Multi-Hazard Mitigation Strategy 2017 Ten Mile River, March 30, 2010. Photo: East Providence Planning Department East Providence Hazard Mitigation Committee East Providence Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2017 This page is intentionally left blank. 2 East Providence Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City of East Providence, Rhode Island Local Hazard Mitigation Plan City of East Providence Hazard Mitigation Committee Timothy Chapman, City Manager, Public Safety Director Oscar Elmasian, Fire Chief Christopher Parella, Police Chief Stephen Coutu, Public Works Director Erik Skadberg, P.E., City Engineer Tony Feola, School Department Safety and Security Officer Jeanne M. Boyle, Planning Director Wayne Barnes, Senior Planner, Deputy Emergency Management Agency Director East Providence City Council James A. Briden, Mayor Robert Britto, Assistant Mayor Anna M. Sousa Joseph A. Botelho, Jr. Brian J. Faria Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Jessica Henry, State Hazard Mitigation Officer Michelle Burnett, Chief of Planning, State NFIP Coordinator Christina Cosgrove, Cyber-Security Program Specialist Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Melissa Surette, Senior Planner, Risk Analysis Branch Maps Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency East Providence Planning Department GIS Shapefiles: Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS) 3 East Providence Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2017 State Hazard Mitigation Committee The State Hazard Mitigation Committee, overseen by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), was established to identify current hazard mitigation needs, to review project applications and set priorities, and to update recommendations. The committee consists of representatives of various state agencies, many of which are listed below, and meets quarterly. Rhode Island Building Code Commission Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council Rhode Island Department of Administration Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Rhode Island Department of Transportation Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office Rhode Island State Police University of Rhode Island ADOPTION Recommended for City Council Adoption by the Planning Board: November 14, 2016 Approved by the East Providence City Council: February 21, 2017 Adopted by the East Providence City Council: March 7, 2017 Please see Appendix G for Plan Adoption Documentation. 4 East Providence Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2017 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 7 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ..................................................................................... 10 Section 1.1- Hazard Mitigation and the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update ............................................... 10 Section 1.2 - Community Planning Area ................................................................................................. 11 Section 1.3 - NFIP Community Highlights ............................................................................................... 15 Section 1.4- Significant Natural Hazard Events since the Last Plan Update .......................................... 15 SECTION 2 – PLANNING PROCESS ............................................................................................................... 18 Section 2.1 - Purpose, Overview and Background .................................................................................. 18 Section 2.2 - Building Support: Community Involvement, Roles & Responsibilities .............................. 19 Section 2.3 - Discovery and Gathering of Resources .............................................................................. 21 Section 2.4 - Plan Maintenance .............................................................................................................. 21 SECTION 3 – HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT............................................................................................ 24 Section 3.1 - Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 24 Section 3.2 - Natural Hazard Analysis ..................................................................................................... 24 1. Hurricanes ....................................................................................................................................... 25 2. Tornados ......................................................................................................................................... 30 3. Severe Thunderstorms .................................................................................................................... 32 3a. Hail ................................................................................................................................................ 35 4. Nor’easters and Other Synoptic (Regional) Scale Storms ............................................................... 36 5. Snowstorms .................................................................................................................................... 38 6. Ice Storms ....................................................................................................................................... 40 7. Extreme Cold .................................................................................................................................. 42 8. Flooding ........................................................................................................................................... 43 9. Coastal Erosion ................................................................................................................................ 48 10. Dam Breach ................................................................................................................................... 49 11. Earthquakes .................................................................................................................................. 50 12. Wildfire .......................................................................................................................................... 54 13. Drought ......................................................................................................................................... 55 14. Extreme Heat ............................................................................................................................... 57 Section 3.3 - Vulnerability - Community Assets ...................................................................................... 58 Section 3.4 - Risk Analysis and Assessment Matrix................................................................................. 68 5 East Providence Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2017 SECTION 4 – CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT ....................................................................................................... 73 Section 4.1 - Purpose .............................................................................................................................. 73 Section 4.2 - Local Government Capabilities .......................................................................................... 73 Section 4.3 - Local Planning Integration and Regulatory Resources ....................................................... 74 Section 4.4 - National Flood Insurance Program and Community Rating System .................................. 79 Section 4.5 - Mapping Resources ............................................................................................................ 80 Section 4.6 - Other Accomplishments .................................................................................................... 80 Section 4.7 - Capability Needs ................................................................................................................ 80 SECTION 5 – MITIGATION STRATEGY .......................................................................................................... 82 Section 5.1 - 2010 Action Plan Status Report ........................................................................................ 82 Section 5.2 - 2016-2021 Action Plan and Mitigation Strategies ............................................................. 85 SECTION 6 – PLAN ADOPTION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION ..................................................... 94 Section 6.1 - Plan Adoption ..................................................................................................................... 94 Section 6.2 - Plan Implementation and Evaluation ................................................................................. 94 APPENDIX A. Critical Facilities Risk Mapping ............................................................................................. 95 APPENDIX B. Technical and Financial Assistance Resources ...................................................................... 97 APPENDIX C. Evidence of Public Outreach ................................................................................................ 103 APPENDIX D. City Emergency/Hazard Mitigation Committee Meeting Notes and Agendas ................... 113 APPENDIX E. References ..........................................................................................................................