Lackawanna County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update ... · Schedule - target completion dates Priority. Prioritization of mitigation actions: Based on Evaluation Criteria, taking

Lackawanna County 2020 Hazard Mitigation

Plan Update – Public Meeting

Vision Planning and Consulting

July 8th, 2020

To update the All-Hazards Mitigation Plan to improve Lackawanna County’s resistance to natural and man-made hazards, including flooding, by identifying actions to reduce the impact of various hazards to people and property.

Project Purpose

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Lackawanna County Department of Planning & Econ Development

Steering Committee Members Representatives from County Planning, Roads and Bridges,

Assessor’s Office, Engineer, the City of Scranton,Lackawanna River Conservation Assn., PennDOT, AmericanRed Cross, Regional Hospital of Scranton, GeisingerCommonwealth School of Medicine, andBorough/Township Managers/Supervisors, NeighboringCounties

Municipalities School Districts

Public PEMA; FEMA Region 3

Key Players

1. Reconvene previous Steering Committee and develop planning process (meetings)

2. Assess hazards, risks, vulnerability

3. Assess municipal capabilities Existing plans, programs, policies – capability questionnaire Plan integration – document reviews Local codes and zoning ordinances Current and proposed projects

4. Develop goals and objectives and mitigation actions Review existing goals and objectives Review existing mitigation actions (county

and municipalities) Develop new mitigation actions

Steps in the Planning Process

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Steps in the Planning Process

5. Write mitigation plan and prioritize projects (using Evaluation Criteria) Social Technical/Administrative Economic

6. Develop implementation planPrioritize Mitigation Actions Short-, medium-, or long-range Potential funding sources Responsible entities Target completion datesFive-Year Plan Maintenance Cycle

Plan Sections Updated/Updating current plan sections

Community Profile, Planning Process, HIRA, Capability Assessment

Mitigation StrategyPlan Integration Reviewed county plans and ordinances Developed recommendations for inclusion of Hazard Mitigation

Considerations into other County Plans HIRA• Completed HIRA chapter update and new maps developed• Municipal Hazard Area MapsMitigation Strategy Updated Goals and Objectives Updated in progress or ongoing mitigation actions Developed new County and Municipal actions

Progress to Date

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HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT

Definitions

• Asset - an object of value to a community• Hazard - a threat to an asset• Vulnerability - potential for loss• Risk - probability that a hazard event may occur• Mitigation - reducing the occurrence or the impact of a hazard event

County Hazards

Natural Hazards• Flooding (regional and

local annual events)• Winter Weather• Wind Events• Wildfires• Radon• Drought• Earthquakes• Land Subsidence• Landslides

Manmade Hazards• Hazardous Materials

Release• Levee Failure• Nuclear Release• Dam Failure• Infectious Disease

Outbreak/Pandemic

15 Hazards Identified and Evaluated

Hazard Ranking and PrioritizationTop 5 Hazard Priorities

1. Flooding2. Winter Weather3. Wind Events4. Hazardous Materials Release5. Wildfires

Hazard Ranking Criteria• Probability• Impact of Damages / Losses• Spatial Extents• Warning Time• Duration of Event

Hazard Risk Factors

Risk Factor (RF): Function of Probability, Impact, Spatial Extent, Warning Time, and

Duration

Risk Factor Scoring

RF ≥ 2.5 = High Risk Hazard

RF = 2.0 – 2.4 = Moderate Risk Hazard

RF < 2.0 = Low Risk Hazard

Historic Floodplain Areas (Pre

2020 Dfirm)

Structures and Critical Facilities in Floodplain by Municipality

Hazardous Materials Areas and

Sites

Mine Hazard Areas

Wildfire Vulnerability

Map

Structures and Critical Facilities in Potential Wildfire Areas

Municipal Hazard Areas

Municipal Hazard Areas

PLAN INTEGRATION/DOCUMENT REVIEW

Why Plan Integration? Two-way information exchange

Integrate HMP into other community plans, and vice versa

Compiles existing planning measures

Better defines roles of key players and agencies

Improves intergovernmental coordination

Plan Integration

Lackawanna County Plans and Ordinances• 2011 Lackawanna-Luzerne

Regional Plan

• Ransom Township MS4 Ordinance • Lackawanna County Stormwater

Management Ordinance

Plan Integration

Plan Integration

Plan Element Page Number Item Type Current Clause Recommendation

Land Use Plan

Transportation Plan

Housing Plan

Community Facilities Plan

Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan

Environmental Protection Plan

Utilities and Energy Conservation Plan

Resource Extraction Plan

2011 Lackawanna-Luzerne Regional Plan

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goals and ObjectivesPreventative MeasuresEnsure hazard mitigation goals and objectives areconsistent with goals of other plans and ordinances inthe county and municipalities

A1: Promote responsible growth and development via properenforcement and through the incorporation of hazard mitigationprincipals in municipal plans, and zoning, subdivision and landdevelopment, stormwater ordinances, and floodplain ordinances,as appropriate

A2: Incorporate hazard mitigation planning projects into capitalimprovement plans

A3: Continue to regulate development in conservation areas and withinfloodplains to prevent flood damage

A4: Work with municipalities to continue to be compliant with theNational Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through periodic trainingof municipal officials

A5: Better integrate plans and ordinances to ensure concurrency andharmony between them .

Goals and ObjectivesNatural Resources and Open Space ProtectionPromote sustainable development to improve the quality of life and safety or residents and visitors in Lackawanna County

B1: Ensure that existing drainage systems (pipes, culverts, andchannels) are adequate and functioning properly through regularmaintenance or upgrades

B2: Protect natural resources and open space, including parks andwetlands within the floodplain and watersheds.

Outreach and CoordinationPromote public understanding, support and involvement in hazard and flood mitigation related activities.

C1: Work with television, radio, and newspaper partners as well associal media and websites to promote public awareness on thepotential impacts of natural hazards and actions to reduce thoseimpacts

C2: Continue to conduct education campaigns and workshops topromote ‘safe’ development and other hazard mitigationprinciples.

Goals and ObjectivesProjectsEncourage municipal enforcement of high constructionstandards on structural projects to protect from allidentified hazards

D1: Minimize damage to critical facilities in high hazard areas, (i.e. 100-yearfloodplain, heavily forested areas, areas of geologic subsidence) and developmeasures to prevent or mitigate the effect of future damages.

Minimize structural damage caused by flooding, windevents, winter storms, transportation incidents, andwildfires;

D2: Encourage the removal or retrofit of repeatedly flooded structures to reduce theflood risk, and provide information or guidance on available resources.

D3: Encourage adherence to NFIP requirements/regulations.Other (Emergency Management)Ensure continuity of emergency management services and critical government services during hazard events.

E1: Ensure that hazards do not interrupt emergency response services andcritical functions.

E2: Identify safe and efficient evacuation routes for use during various hazardevents to ensure a safe and organized evacuation process.

Ensure timely delivery of mass care supplies and services within the County.

E3: Provide an adequate inventory of shelters and supplies for use during hazardevents

E4 Provide assistance for unmet needs identified during hazard events.

Ensure timely delivery of warning and information to county residents

E5: Continue to provide residents with adequate warning of potential hazardsthrough CodeRed, IPAWS, and other mass notification services.

HAZARD MITIGATION ACTION REVIEW

Mitigation Actions Develop Goals and Objectives

Prevention Property Protection Public Education and Awareness Natural Resources Emergency Services Structural Projects

Review/update existing mitigation actions Deferred Deleted Ongoing Completed Combined

Develop new mitigation actions

Implementation PlanUpdate Implementation Plan:

Project funding/funding sources How it will be administered by the county

(responsible entities) Schedule - target completion dates Priority

Prioritization of mitigation actions: Based on Evaluation Criteria, taking into account:

Social – life/safety impact Administrative – administrative/ technical

assistance Economic – project cost Other

Action Status Hazard Mitigated

Lead Agency for Implementation

1 Update the evacuation strategy for Lackawanna County and municipalities in conjunction with the Long RangeTransportation Plan. The Plan should include issues such as staging areas, feeding plan for displaced persons, signs, temporary housing, decontamination, and destination points such as shelters. Involve experts in emergency planning, transportation planning, and traffic engineering in developing the plan.

Carried Forward

All hazards County Emergency Management Agency

2 Continue to work with the Red Cross to conduct an annual assessment of existing shelters in the county to determine their condition and adequacy with respect to beds, etc. and determine which ones would need to be retrofitted. Identify additional locations that could be equipped and identified as shelters based on the needs and the population centers in the county. Red Cross has done evaluations in 2014 and renewed agreements with all shelters. All the shelters are in schools and there are renewed agreements with every shelter in the county.

Ongoing All hazards County EMA

3 Conduct a Commodity Flow Study for the County and its municipalities. Carried Forward

Hazardous Materials

County EMA

4 Identify a point-of-contact to property owners and municipalities who have flooding problems and provide advice to municipalities on the flood hazard, availability of flood insurance, flood protection, and stormwater management methods. Also provide inquirers with technical advice and information from the community's FIRM, RiskMAP\information, and FEMA's website on a property's location in a Special Flood Hazard Area, zone, and its base flood elevation.

Ongoing Flood

5 Encourage the individual municipalities to be firmly committed to continue compliance with the NFIP: a)Work with municipalities to encourage them to include language in their zoning ordinances to concur with the Model Floodplain Ordinance and the Subdivision/Land development Ordinance with respect to what is allowed in the floodplain.b) Conduct a training program for floodplain officials in the county and those who administer the floodplain ordinance in the municipalities to educate them on sound flood management principles.c) Regulate development and redevelopment through the adoption of provisions that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.d) Work with communities to ensure that there are no deficiencies when the Community Assistance Visits are conducted to ensure continued compliance.

Ongoing Flood County Regional PlanningCommission, CountyEmergency ManagementAgency

County Mitigation Actions Carried Forward from 2015 Plan

6 Develop stormwater management programs for the Borough of Dunmore and City of Scranton and transfer permitting, management, and maintenance to a single agency.

Ongoing Flood

7 Conduct an annual workshop to encourage regional cooperation between municipalities for multi-municipal planning to reduce the impact of hazard events on adjacent municipalities.

Ongoing All Hazards

8 Work with the municipalities to integrate the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan into the municipalities’ comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance by: a) encouraging them to include principles and strategies for safe development; b) Including language in the zoning ordinance to discourage development in the 100-year floodplain; and c) encouraging municipalities to include measures in their zoning ordinance to enhance the concept of defensible space practice; d) discourage development on permeable soils to reduce the impacts of drought; and e) best management practices in stormwater management.

Ongoing All Hazards

9 Promote denser development (small lot single family development) or cluster development to preserve environmentally sensitive areas (i.e., woodlands, wetlands, floodplains, or severely steep slopes).

Ongoing All Hazards

10 Develop a Source Water Protection Plan to properly utilize and protect ground water resources in Lackawanna County. Canceled Drought

11 Work with the City of Scranton and any municipality along large rivers and streams, to join the CRS by educating them on the benefits of CRS and also providing them with technical assistance.

Ongoing Flood

12 Work with the municipalities to identify a point of contact to perform an annual review of the mitigation actions for their municipality from this Hazard Mitigation Plan. Ongoing

All

County Mitigation Actions Carried Forward From 2015 Plan


13 Work with real estate agents, mortgage lenders, and homeowners to implement radon testing for new homebuyers. Investigate ways to education current homeowners on how to conduct radon testing, and methods to mitigate high levels of radon in households.

Ongoing Radon

14 Ensure all standards in the SALDO address the ability of emergency access and work with municipalities to address the accessibility issue for large pieces of equipment/vehicles in these forested areas.

Ongoing Wildfire

15 Develop outreach efforts to promote such items as noncombustible roof covering, fire safe construction, and the importance of clearing brush and grass away from buildings. Emphasize how the damage potential can be reduced by ensuring that structures are surrounded by defensible space or buffer zones (generally 30 to 100 feet and cleared of combustible materials).

Ongoing Wildfire

16 Encourage the adoption of building codes to require residential sprinkler systems installed in new construction Ongoing Wildfire

17 Identify areas where power lines can be buried underground in order to offer the security of uninterrupted power during and after storms. However, consideration needs to be made for maintenance and repair, particularly in cold climates where soil freezes.

Carried Forward Winter Weather

18 Ensure regular training in and compliance with all safety procedures and systems related to the manufacture, storage, transport, use, and disposal of hazardous materials.

Ongoing Hazardous Materials

19 Develop outreach programs to promote the importance of strengthening public and private structures against severe wind damage by encouraging wind engineering measures and construction techniques – structural bracing, straps and clips, anchor bolts, laminated or impact resistant glass, reinforced pedestrian and garage doors, window shutters, waterproof adhesive sealing strips, or interlocking roof shingles.

Ongoing Wind Events



20 Identify areas where power lines can be buried underground in order to offer the security of uninterrupted power during and after storms. However, consideration needs to be made for maintenance and repair, particularly in cold climates where soil freezes.

Ongoing Wind Events

21 Consider developing an ordinance to prioritize or control water use, particularly for emergency situations like fire fighting. Cancelled Drought

22 Earthquake hazards can be mitigated through land use planning. Communities can develop and distribute guidelines or pass ordinances that require developers/building owners to locate lifelines, buildings, critical facilities, and hazardous materials out of areas subject to significant seismic hazards. Particular consideration should be given to enforcing such ordinances in areas with steep slopes or subject to ground displacement, severe ground shaking, or liquefaction.

Ongoing Earthquake, Mine related hazards

23 Encourage annual inspections of all dams and levees to identify any structural defects. Ongoing Dam/Levee Failure

24 Continue to identify steep slope/high-risk areas in the comprehensive plan and develop guidelines or restricting new development in those areas. Restrict/limit industrial activity that would strip slopes of essential top soil and incorporate economic development activity restrictions in high-risk areas.

Ongoing Landslides

25 Consider introducing mandatory radon testing and a county real estate disclosure requirement for radon presence. Carry forward Radon

26 Review the SALDO and ensure all standards address the ability of emergency access based on radius and width of roadways. Determine size what it should be and approach townships to address accessibility issue with large pieces of equipment in these forest areas.

Combine with above

Wildfire



27 Conduct a structural assessment and engineering inspection of all County-owned critical facilities that have been identified in high hazard areas. The assessment should include the ability of each facility to sustain damage from any hazard event and recommendation of specific retrofitting measures in a technical report.

Carry forward All hazards

28 Encourage municipalities to reduce the vulnerability of critical facilities to wildfires by: increasing buffers and introducing defensible spaces; identifying farm roads, service roads, and other private access corridors in high hazard areas that could be used as fire breaks; and providing assistance to the County Emergency Management Agency to identify vulnerable structures (firewise communities).

Carry Forward/ Ongoing

Wildfire

29 Develop methods to secure funding to initiate a structural survey for 4 older communities in the County. The survey should involve an\ inventory of all pre-1970 buildings - age of structure, construction material, and structural flaws.

Carry forward All hazards

30 Designate specific locations throughout the County such as the County Emergency Management Agency, County Planning Department, municipal libraries, and events such as fairs to provide information to the public on flooding and other hazards. Encourage these locations to stock a variety of FEMA publications on various natural hazards and also the most recent FIRMs; also include information on the County's website and develop brochures on specific topics.

In Progress All hazards

31 Encourage the Flood POC to stay closely involved with the activities of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Delaware River Basin Commission by encouraging a staff member from the County Regional Planning Commission to be present at their meetings.

Ongoing Flood

32 Work with State agencies, professional organizations, real-estate agents, and non-government organizations to conduct an annual workshop at a key location in each Muni/county for private developers to involve them in hazard mitigation activities and educate them on 'safe' development principles that can be incorporated into their development proposals.

Cancel All hazards

33 Work with real estate agents throughout the county and encourage them to advise prospective property purchasers in flood prone and mine subsidence.

Ongoing Flood, Mine Related hazards

34 Monitor and evaluate mitigation actions annually and update the hazard mitigation plan every five years to reflect changes in development after a major hazard event.

Ongoing All hazards



New County Mitigation Actions

Action Hazard Mitigated

Lead Agency for Implementation

1 Conduct annual workshops/regular trainings and exercises with key Emergency Management stakeholders (municipal EM officials, local floodplain coordinators, local elected officials, etc.) and municipalities to educate them on various types of mitigation projects they could be undertaken to reduce risks to specific hazards.

All Hazards County Emergency Management Agency

2 Digitize data and records or other files into tables, databases, or GIS format for future use and analysis.

All Hazards County Department of Planning

4 Increase public awareness on wildfires by providing outreach and education on increasing buffers and defensible spaces to reduce vulnerability.

Wildfire DCNR – Forestry;County Emergency Management Agency

5 Compile a list of frequently flooded roads countywide, to prioritize repairs and replacements.

Flood County Engineer or County Roads/Bridges

7 Explore the use of traffic calming devices such as speed bumps, speed humps, traffic lights, and roundabouts at high volume intersections, near industrial/hazmat facilities, near schools, and in residential areas.

Transportation Hazards

County Department of Planning; PennDOT

8 Develop and distribute educational and informational materials twice a year, to include information on each county’s hazards and how to prepare before, during, and after hazard events.

All Hazards Lackawanna Hazards Coalition

9 Establish pre-disaster debris contracts and develop debris removal MOUs with appropriate local, county, and state agencies.


10 Develop and implement operational strategies and a Cistern Plan for dealing with rural water supply during protracted drought events.

Drought Conservation District

11 Continue to enhance and develop mutual aid agreements with neighboring counties and state partners for response and recovery efforts.


12 Conduct response training exercises for hazard events at least twice a year. All Hazards County Emergency Management Agency

13 Maintain requirements to continue recognition as a Storm Ready Community (by the National Weather Service StormReady® Program).


14 Utilize FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for sudden onset hazards such as tornados, thunderstorms, or flash floods.


15 Coordinate with County PIO, municipalities, and other stakeholders to develop a "pre-approved' set of releases to be disseminated to the public in a timely manner in the event of an emergency.


16 Purchase NOAA Weather Alert radios located in designated critical facilities across the County.

All Hazards Discuss Offline

17 Encourage local businesses and local industry owners to develop a business continuity plan and provide educational materials.

All Hazards Lackawanna Hazards Coalition; County Environmental OfficeEconomic Development

18 Develop and carry out a strategy to integrate the new 2020 FEMA Dfirms into this HMP Update within one years following the completion and release of the new 2020 Dfirm maps.

Flood Lackawanna Hazards Coalition

19 Explore ways to obtain and store personal protective equipment to protect essential workers and emergency service agencies from an infectious disease outbreak.

Infectious Disease County Emergency Management Agency

20 Educate county residents and emergency personnel on the potential risk of an infectious disease outbreak, and on safety and mitigation techniques to follow before, during, and after an infectious disease outbreak.

Infectious Disease County Public Information Officer; County Emergency Management Agency

21 Utilize tracking reports during the annual review process to identify potential barriers or hindrances to implementation of hazard mitigation activities and projects.

All Hazards Lackawanna Hazards Coalition


Action Hazard Mitigated Lead Agency for Implementation

22 Continue to educate homeowners on the potential risk of earthquakes and on safety techniques to follow during and after an earthquake.

Earthquake Lackawanna Hazards Coalition

24 Continue to educate homeowners on the potential risk of radon and safety techniques to follow before, during and after an radon hazard.

Radon Lackawanna Hazards Coalition

25 Continue to conduct routine inspections, regular maintenance, and annual tests on all emergency communications equipment, public address systems, and hazard alert sirens to ensure effective operation during an emergency event.

All Hazards 911 CenterDiscuss OfflineFlood sirens in Scranton

26 Ensure reconstruction activities are compliant with NFIP substantial damage/improvement requirements and existing codes.

Flood Local Levels/ Municipalities

27 In flooded areas, conduct rigorous sampling and analysis of public and private drinking water supply sources immediately after an inundating flood event and issue boil water advisories as needed.

Flood Private Water CompaniesEnvironmental OfficeConservation DistrictCounty Public Information Officer

28 Promote and offer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training/classes to increase the number of citizen responders in the municipalities.


29 Identify at-risk populations (elderly, homeless, persons with physical or mental disabilities) to various hazards and maintain records of vulnerable populations and the types of assistance needed before, during, or after a hazard.

All Hazards 911 Center keeps database


Action Hazard Mitigated Lead Agency for Implementation

• Finalize and Complete New Municipal Mitigation Actions

• Assemble Draft Report for Public Review and County Review

• Submission to PEMA/FEMA for Review

Next Steps

Thank You!Questions?

Documents

Lackawanna County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update ... · Schedule - target completion dates Priority. Prioritization of mitigation actions: Based on Evaluation Criteria, taking