1.0 Flooding will Persist, but Disasters and Hazards can be Avoided

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CHAPTER 1 Intrductin 1.0 Flding will Persist, but Disasters and Hazards can be Avided This is the third editin f the Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan.

1 CHAPTER 1 Intrductin 1.0 Flding will Persist, but Disasters and Hazards can be Avided This is the third editin f the Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan. It is prduced t address the adverse impacts f flding, the mst prevalent natural hazard that affects the cunty. The plan is the result f a 10-Step planning prcess t identify lng- and shrt-term strategies t reduce r alleviate the lss f life, persnal injury, prperty damage, and envirnmental impacts that can result frm flding. These strategies include planning, plicy changes, prgrams, prjects, and ther activities that can mitigate the impacts f flds. The respnsibility fr fld hazard mitigatin lies with many, including private prperty wners, business, industry, and lcal, state and federal gvernment. This plan specifically cvers unincrprated Thurstn Cunty. Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan

2 What s the difference between preparedness, respnse, and mitigatin? Using fld as an example Preparedness: activities such as planning r staging f supplies r persnnel in anticipatin f an emergency. Preparedness invlves rescue training, maintaining equipment, and prcuring supplies - knwing that respnse effrts will be necessary in the future. Respnse: actins taken during an emergency t prtect life and prperty such as sandbagging, perfrming rescue r evacuatin peratins, pumping water t prtect assets, r prviding emergency shelters t displaced residents. Mitigatin: actins that reduce the demand fr preparedness and respnse activities by minimizing the impacts f flding. Mitigatin activities may include elevating r remving structures in areas that peridically experience flding. Mitigatin can als regulate future develpment in areas that are prne t flding and thereby prevent future lsses. When hazards affect areas that are undevelped r uninhabited by peple, destructin may ccur within the natural envirnment, but such events are rarely characterized as disasters. When flds adversely affect develped areas, the impacts t the safety and security f peple, prperty, and infrastructure can be great. Such flds ften lead t a state f emergency, frce evacuatins, and result in a Federal Disaster Declaratin. Thurstn Cunty has received multiple disaster declaratins: Between 1965 and 2016, Thurstn Cunty received 22 federal disaster declaratins. 16 declaratins were attributed t fld-related disasters. Only 147 cunties r U.S. Census designated places have received 20 r mre federal disaster declaratins; nly fur percent f cunties r U.S. places share this distinctin. As f 2016, eight cunties in Washingtn State have experienced 20 r mre disaster declaratins. T learn mre abut the plan s mitigatin strategy read: CHAPTER 3 Mitigatin Strategy: Gals, Objectives, and Initiatives Thurstn Cunty has the 5th highest rate f declaratins in the state. Recvery frm prlnged disruptins are cstly t cmmunities, the state, and the federal gvernment. Hazard mitigatin attempts t break the disaster cycle by identifying and implementing sustained actins that eliminate lng-term risks t life and prperty. 1-2 Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan 2017

1.1 Fld Hazards in the Pacific Nrthwest Washingtn State s prnunced muntainus terrain and immediacy t the vast Pacific Ocean strngly influences the dynamics f Thurstn Cunty s weather and hydrlgic

3 1.1 Fld Hazards in the Pacific Nrthwest Washingtn State s prnunced muntainus terrain and immediacy t the vast Pacific Ocean strngly influences the dynamics f Thurstn Cunty s weather and hydrlgic cycle. Western Washingtn frequently experiences intense seasnal precipitatin events knwn as atmspheric rivers. A strng atmspheric river can transprt a clumn f water vapr rughly equivalent t 7.5 t 15 times the average flw f water at the muth f the Mississippi River and is the surce f between 30 and 50 percent f Western Washingtn s precipitatin. annual Thurstn Cunty s majr rivers and streams can swell frm prlnged events. precipitatin Back t back years f higher than nrmal precipitatin r extreme strm events als cntributes t grundwater flding, a less-knwn but widespread prblem in Thurstn Cunty. High grundwater flding is particularly prblematic in areas with glacial till depsits, where water tables rise, and standing water accumulates with n utlets t readily drain t. The future climate f the Puget Sund Regin is frecast t experience warmer and wetter winters and a change in the timing f the regin s hydrlgical cycle. Climate change is likely t generate mre frequent and intense strms, resulting in mre frequent flding thrughut the lwlands. As high tides cmbine with sea-level rise, lwer elevatin castal areas are likely t experience mre frequent episdic flding. T learn mre abut fld hazards view: CHAPTER 2 Risk Assessment Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan

4 1.2 Fld Mitigatin Prgrams Numerus state and federal prgrams and regulatins prmte fld hazard mitigatin planning. Ntable amng these are tw prgrams f the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): the Natinal Fld Insurance Prgram (NFIP) and the Cmmunity Rating System (CRS). These prgrams prvide benefits in the frm f reduced fld insurance csts fr cmmunities that meet minimum requirements fr fldplain management. Thurstn Cunty participates in bth the NFIP and the CRS. COMMON FLOOD TERMS AND ACRONYMS This plan uses several technical terms and acrnyms: NFIP FEMA CRS FIRM SFHA Natinal Fld Insurance Prgram The Federal Emergency Management Agency, part f the Department f Hmeland Security. Thurstn Cunty is lcated in FEMA Regin X which cvers Alaska, Idah, Oregn, and Washingtn. Cmmunity Rating System Fld Insurance Rate Map; published by FEMA and prvided t cmmunities Special Fld Hazard Area; the fldplain delineated n the FIRM as A Znes and V Znes. Thurstn Cunty designates ther SFHAs nt cvered by FEMA. The cunty prepared fld hazard mitigatin plans in 1999 and in Given the many changes in land develpment, new data, and ther cnditins since then, as well as evlving lcal, state and federal regulatins and prgrams, the cunty has updated its fld plan as a current tl fr fld preparedness and fld hazard mitigatin. Elements and strategies in this plan were selected because they meet varius state r federal prgram requirements as well as the needs f Thurstn Cunty and the peple wh live, wrk, and spend time here. This plan identifies resurces, infrmatin, and strategies fr reducing risk frm fld hazards. It will help guide and crdinate mitigatin activities. The plan was develped t meet these bjectives: Meet the needs f Thurstn Cunty as well as state and federal requirements Meet planning requirements under the CRS prgram t allw Thurstn Cunty t maintain its CRS rating. Crdinate existing plans and prgrams s that high-pririty initiatives and prjects t mitigate pssible disaster impacts are funded and implemented 1-4 Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan 2017

5 Create a linkage between the fld hazard mitigatin plan and established plans f Thurstn Cunty s that they can wrk tgether t achieve successful mitigatin All residents and businesses f Thurstn Cunty are the ultimate beneficiaries f this plan. Participatin in develpment f the plan by key stakehlders helped ensure that utcmes will be mutually beneficial. The plan s gals and recmmendatins can lay grundwrk fr the develpment and implementatin f lcal mitigatin activities and partnerships. 1.3 Cmmunity Rating System (CRS) Participatin Benefits The pririty fr this plan is t benefit residents, businesses, the envirnment, and the ecnmy f Thurstn Cunty by prviding prtectin against the hazards psed by ptential flding. In additin, the cunty develped the plan t fllw as clsely as feasible the guidelines fr fld planning by FEMA fr the CRS Prgram and by Washingtn State fr the Fld Cntrl Assistance Accunt Prgram (FCAAP). CRS is a natinal prgram develped by FEMA t establish creditable criteria fr cmmunity activities and prgrams that g beynd the minimum requirements fr participatin in FEMA s Natinal Fld Insurance Prgram. CRS has 19 credited activities. Amng these is the develpment f a cmprehensive fldplain management plan. In additin t develping a fld plan, Thurstn Cunty annually certifies t the Insurance Services Office (ISO), a FEMA designee, that validates that fld mitigatin prgrams are still in place. Verificatin site visits ccur every 3 t 5 years and are a cmprehensive review, by the ISO, f the cunty s varius fld management effrts within each f the fllwing activities: Mapping and fld data Managing new develpment t minimize future fld damage Reducing fld lsses t existing develpment Imprving emergency preparedness and respnse Implementing public infrmatin activities Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan

6 Credit is awarded t CRS cmmunities based n their demnstrated level f effrt. A rating f 1 thrugh 10 is assigned t a cmmunity based n its verall credit calculatin and its achievement f certain prerequisites with 1 being the best and 10 meeting the basic CRS enrllment requirements. Fr class ratings 9 thrugh 1, a five percent accumulative discunt is applied t fld insurance premium hlders within the cmmunity fr each class achieved. In Octber 2016, Thurstn Cunty dcumented sufficient credit and met the minimum prerequisites t achieve a Class 2 rating. There are nly six Class 2 r better cmmunities in the natin, three f which are King, Pierce, and Thurstn Cunty. Thurstn Cunty s Class 2 rating entitles fld insurance plicy hlders in the FEMA 100-year Special Fld Hazard Areas (SFHA) a 40 percent discunt n their premiums and a 10 percent discunt applicable t all ther fld plicies. As f 2016, Thurstn Cunty s enrllment in CRS has resulted in the fllwing fld insurance savings: Ttal Savings in FEMA Special Fld Hazard Area: $132,599 Ttal Savings fr all Thurstn Cunty: $140,244 Average Annual Plicy Savings in Special Fld Hazard Area: $ Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan 2017

7 1.4 Cmmunity Rating System Steps fr Cmprehensive Fldplain Management Planning Develping a cmprehensive fldplain management plan is amng the activities that a cmmunity must cmplete t earn CRS credits tward reduced fld insurance rates. T earn such credit, the cmmunity s plan must include at least ne item frm each f 10 steps specified in the 2017 Natinal Fld Insurance Prgram Cmmunity Rating System s Crdinatr s Manual (see Appendix B fr details): Phase I Planning Prcess: Step 1, Organize Step 2, Invlve the public Step 3, Crdinate Phase II Risk Assessment: Step 4, Assess the hazard Step 5, Assess the prblem Fr mre infrmatin abut these planning steps, see: CHAPTER 4 Plan Develpment Prcess Phase III Mitigatin Strategy: Step 6, Set gals Step 7, Review pssible activities Step 8, Draft an actin plan Phase IV Plan maintenance: Step 9, Adpt the plan Step 10, Implement, evaluate and revise 1.5 Plan Organizatin This fld hazard mitigatin plan is rganized int 7 Chapters: Chapter 1 Intrductin Chapter 2 Fld Risk Assessment Chapter 3 Mitigatin Strategy: Gals, Objectives, and Initiatives Chapter 4 Plan Prcess and Develpment Chapter 5 Plan Implementatin and Maintenance Chapter 6 Cmmunity Prfile Chapter 7 Capability Assessment Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan

8 The appendices prvided at the end f the plan include infrmatin r explanatins t supprt the main cntent f the plan: Appendix A Glssary Appendix B CRS Planning Requirements Appendix C Public Outreach Infrmatin Appendix D Annual Prgress Reprt Template 1-8 Thurstn Cunty Fld Hazard Mitigatin Plan 2017

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND CRS Origins Organizations Involved in the Mitigation Planning Effort...

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND CRS Origins Organizations Involved in the Mitigation Planning Effort... SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION... 1-1 1.1 BACKGROUND... 1-1 1.1.1 CRS Origins... 1-1 1.1.2 Organizatins Invlved in the Mitigatin Planning Effrt... 1-2 1.1.3 Multiple Agency Supprt fr Hazard Mitigatin... 1-2 1.2