TANEY COUNTY Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan For Taney County, Missouri and its Incorporated Communities June 2005 TANEY COUNTY Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan For Taney County, Missouri and its Incorporated Communities Branson ♦ Bradleyville ♦ Bull Creek ♦ Forsyth Hollister ♦ Kirbyville ♦ Merriam Woods Rockaway Beach ♦ Taneyville June 2005 Taney County Commission 901 S. National Avenue Emergency Management Taney County Courthouse Springfield, MO 65897 221 Jefferson Road P.O. Box 1086 (417) 836-6900 Branson, MO 65616 Forsyth, MO 65653 (417) 334-3440 smcog.missouristate.edu (417) 546-7204 Taney County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Table of Contents Table of Contents Executive Summary.......................................................................................................vii Part 1: Introduction.....................................................................................................1-1 Purpose of Plan..............................................................................................................1-1 Plan Organization and Content......................................................................................1-2 Assurance Statements of Compliance with FEMA.........................................................1-3 Basis for Planning Authority...........................................................................................1-3 Plan Adoption.................................................................................................................1-4 Participants and Jurisdiction Represented.....................................................................1-4 Plan Preparation Methodology and Schedule................................................................1-4 Acknowledgements........................................................................................................1-7 Part 2: Community Profile..........................................................................................2-1 Location..........................................................................................................................2-1 Development History......................................................................................................2-2 Form of Government......................................................................................................2-2 Physical Characteristics.................................................................................................2-3 Physiography and Geography..................................................................................2-3 Hydrology and Drainage ..........................................................................................2-4 Climate and Weather ...............................................................................................2-7 Soils .........................................................................................................................2-7 Significant Natural Communities ..............................................................................2-8 Demographics................................................................................................................2-9 Population Trends ....................................................................................................2-9 Age Characteristics ................................................................................................2-11 Race and Ethnicity .................................................................................................2-12 Income Characteristics...........................................................................................2-12 Educational Attainment ..........................................................................................2-13 Household Characteristics .....................................................................................2-13 Economy, Employment, and Industry ..........................................................................2-14 Labor Force Characteristics ...................................................................................2-14 Primary Industries ..................................................................................................2-15 Access to Employment: In-commuting and Out-commuting ..................................2-16 Land Use......................................................................................................................2-17 Existing Land Use Patterns....................................................................................2-17 Public Land/Use Areas...........................................................................................2-18 Development Trends....................................................................................................2-20 Housing........................................................................................................................2-20 Transportation Infrastructure........................................................................................2-22 Roads.....................................................................................................................2-22 Airports...................................................................................................................2-22 Public Transportation .............................................................................................2-23 Railroads ................................................................................................................2-23 MoDOT Maintenance Facilities ..............................................................................2-23 Utilities..........................................................................................................................2-25 Water Supply/Services...........................................................................................2-25 Wastewater Treatment Systems ............................................................................2-25 June 2005 i Taney County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Table of Contents Solid Waste Disposal .............................................................................................2-26 Electric Service ......................................................................................................2-26 Telephone Service .................................................................................................2-27 Natural Gas Service ...............................................................................................2-27 Underground Utilities..............................................................................................2-27 Key Community Facilities and Services.......................................................................2-27 Law Enforcement ...................................................................................................2-27 Fire Protection........................................................................................................2-28 911 Emergency Communications ..........................................................................2-28 Medical Facilities....................................................................................................2-29 Ambulance Service ................................................................................................2-30 Other Key Facilities/Services .................................................................................2-30 Government Owned Buildings .....................................................................................2-32 Centers of Large Population Concentration.................................................................2-35 Schools ..................................................................................................................2-35 College of the Ozarks.............................................................................................2-36 Child Care Centers.................................................................................................2-37 Residential Care Facilities......................................................................................2-38 Senior Centers .......................................................................................................2-38 Commercial/Recreation Centers ............................................................................2-38 Major Employers ....................................................................................................2-39 Flood Plain Management/Wetlands .............................................................................2-42 Wetlands ................................................................................................................2-42 National Flood Insurance Program ........................................................................2-42 Environmental Concerns..............................................................................................2-43 Hazardous Materials Sites .....................................................................................2-43 Endangered Species....................................................................................................2-43 Historic Properties and Archeological Sites .................................................................2-44 Community Plans.........................................................................................................2-45