MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

1
MONTGOMERY COUNTYHAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
A STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING COMMUNITIES FROM
NATURAL DISASTERS
2
OVERVIEW

• Why develop a County hazard mitigation plan?
• Planning Process
• Plan Background
• Plan Components
• Plan Contents
• Plan Goals
• Hazards/Risk Assessment
• Mitigation Strategies
• Local Responsibilities
• Questions Feedback

3
MITIGATION DEFINED

• Mitigate To make or become milder, less
  severe.
• Hazard Mitigation Any action taken to eliminate
  or reduce the loss of life or property as the
  result of a disaster event.

4
CATEGORIES OF MITIGATION
Inform people how to avoid damages.

• Prevention
• Property Protection
• Natural Resource Protection
• Emergency Services
• Structural Projects
• Public Information Education

5
WHY DEVELOP A MITIGATION PLAN?

• Required by Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
  (Stafford Act amendments)
• Communities must have approved plan in place in
  order to receive HMGP funds
• Plan approved by November 1, 2004

6
WHY DEVELOP A COUNTY-WIDE MITIGATION PLAN?

• To evaluate community hazards and risks
• Determine mitigation needs and capabilities
• Provide mitigation solutions
• Guides post-disaster recovery
• Focus community mitigation efforts
• Helps educate community leaders and citizenship
• To maintain eligibility for HMGP assistance

7
WHY DEVELOP A COUNTY-WIDE MITIGATION PLAN?

• HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS
• Helps Educate Community
• Officials, Public Partners
• Helps Develop More Effective Community Policies
• Offers Flood Mitigation Plan
• Credit for FMA CRS Programs
• NOAA/NWS StormReady Credit
• Force Multiplies Other Grants
• (NRCS/DNR/COE/CDBG)
• Helps Place Mitigation Projects in the Budget
  Cycle
• Helps Keep Projects
• Spending on Track

8
WHY DEVELOP A COUNTY-WIDE MITIGATION PLAN?

• Simply stated to make the next disaster event
  as uneventful as possible.

9
MITIGATION PLANNING PROCESS HOW DO WE PREPARE A
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN?

• Involve Community Stakeholders
• 1. Establish planning team composed of
  representation from county agencies and
  participating municipalities
• Assess/analyze the hazards, vulnerabilities
  capabilities
• Collect existing information from local, state
  and federal governments
• Conduct surveys, review existing plans and
  databases
• Organize information and prepare initial
  assessment
• Schedule county/city meetings to review
  assessment
• Determine community capabilities and gaps
• Identify top concerns and opportunities for
  mitigation

10
HSD PLANNING PROCESS HOW DO WE PREPARE A HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN?(continued)

• Establish and prioritize community hazard
  mitigation goals.
• Determine mitigation objectives, actions and
  strategy
• Officially adopt, implement monitor the plan
• 1. Refine plan
• 2. Seek local adoption of plan
• 3. Gain state and federal approval of plan
• 4. Monitor plan over time and make changes
  as necessary

11
MC HSD PLANNING PROCESSGENERAL PRINCIPLES

• Rely on local expertise and information
• Involve local officials
• Review and use information in existing plans
• Build on current initiatives and groups
• Coordinate with EMG/LEPC/other emergency services
  groups
• Utilize GIS mapping at MC and other local, state
  and federal agencies

12
Countys Legislative Districts Zip Codes
13
Incorporated Municipalities located in Montgomery
County
14
HM Plan Background

• Montgomery County develops Regional Hazard
  Mitigation Plan in 1990
• In June 2000, County Council formally adopts HM
  Plan as Annex Z to County EOP
• Federal Government adopts Disaster Mitigation Act
  of 2000 (DMA 2000)
• MC OEM leads development of County HM Plan in
  compliance with DMA 2000

15
Background (Cont.)

• Draft HM Plan submitted to State MEMA for review
  and comments received back in February 2005
• State revisions incorporated into 2nd County
  Draft HM Plan
• 2nd Draft HM Plan duplicated and distributed to
  Countywide stakeholders

16
PLAN COMPONENTS

• Development and implementation of a formal
  planning process, including documentation of the
  planning process, in accordance with 201.6(c)(1)
  of the Final Rule of the Disaster Mitigation Act
  of 2000

17
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)
COMMUNITY PROFILE
History of development Geography and
climate Geology Government Demographics Economy
and employment Key facilities Transportation and
utilities Emergency services Schools and
universities Medical services
Recreational facilities Building and fire
codes Floodplain management NFIP
participation Other community plans Land use
information Development trends Public
awareness Community partnerships Maps of
commercial and residential areas
18
Montgomery County Fire Corporations
19
Montgomery Countys Police Districts
20
Recreation Regions in Montgomery County
21
Montgomery Countys High School Service Areas
22
Montgomery Countys Public Library Service Areas
23
Montgomery Countys Election Districts
24
Montgomery Countys Snow Removal Districts
Routes
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PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)
Written assessment of the natural hazards that
can affect the participating jurisdictions,
including a description of the hazards, their
location, extent, previous occurrences and
probability of future events
26
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Assessment of the capabilities of participating
  jurisdictions to prepare for, respond to and
  mitigate disasters

27
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Written assessment of the vulnerability of the
  participating jurisdictions to the hazards that
  may affect them

28
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Analysis of land uses and development trends

29
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Description of mitigation goals to reduce or
  avoid long-term vulnerabilities to identified
  hazards

30
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Identification and analysis of mitigation
  actions and projects

31
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Development of a mitigation strategy and action
  plan to prioritize, implement and administer
  mitigation strategies

32
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Development of a process to monitor, evaluate
  and update the mitigation plan within a five-year
  cycle

33
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Description of a process to allow participating
  jurisdictions to incorporate the requirements of
  the mitigation plan into other planning
  mechanisms, i.e., comprehensive or capital
  improvement plans

34
PLAN COMPONENTS(continued)

• Documentation of plan adoption by participating
  jurisdictions

35
County Mitigation Plan Goals

• Protect Life and Property
• Institutionalize Hazard Mitigation Planning in
  Continuity of Government
• Community Education
• Environmental Protection Development
• Emergency Services
• Inter-jurisdictional Community Partnerships
• Plan Monitoring, Maintenance Implementation

36
Mitigation Plan Contents

• Section 1 Introduction
• Section 2 Mitigation Plan Foundation and
  Development
• Section 3 Geography, Climate, Demographics,
  Economy
• Section 4 Geopolitical Profiles,
  Responsibilities and Authorities

37
Mitigation Plan Contents (Cont.)

• Section 5 Hazard Identification Risk
  Assessment
• Section 6 Vulnerability Assessment and Risk
  Analysis
• Section 7 Regional Mitigation Strategy
• Section 8 Appendices

38
Montgomery County Geography

• MC covers 507 square miles
• Marylands most populous county
• MC consists of 97.7 land and 2.3 water
• Part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan
  Area and NCR

39
Montgomery County Topography

• Elevation ranges from 52 feet above sea level
  near D.C. line to 850 feet above sea level in
  northern part of the county near Damascus
• Consists of small rolling hills
• One-third of County is open space, including
  farmland and more than 28,000 acres of parkland
  and green space

40
Montgomery County Agricultural Preservation
41
Montgomery County Soils 1996
42
County Demographics

• Total Population 931,000
• Housing Units 334,632
• Average Age 37.3 years
• Age Distribution 25.7 under 18
• 62.1 from 18-64
• 12.3 65 or
  older

43
County Demographics(Reference pg. 3-50 HM Plan)

• Municipality Population of County Pop.
• Gaithersburg 52,613 6
• Rockville 47,388 5.4
• Takoma Park 17,299 2
• Barnesville 161 .02
• Brookeville 120 .013
• Chevy Chase 2,726 .3
• Chevy Chase Village 2,500 .3
• Chevy Chase Sec. 3 946 .1
• Chevy Chase Sec. 5 801 .08
• Chevy Chase View 1,012 .11

44
County Demographics (Cont.)

• Municipality Population of County Pop.
• Friendship Heights 4,512 .5
• Garrett Park 917 .1
• Glen Echo 242 .03
• Kensington 1,873 .2
• Laytonsville 277 .03
• Martins Additions 480 .05
• North Chevy Chase 1,707 .19
• Oakmont 145 .02
• Poolesville 5,151 .6
• Somerset 1,124 .13
• Washington Grove 515 .06

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County Natural Hazards(MC EOP Annex BP-1)

• Hurricanes/Tropical Storms
• Thunderstorms/Hail/Lightning
• Floods/Flash Flooding
• Windshear and Severe Windstorms
• Tornadoes
• Blizzards/Ice Storms
• Droughts
• Earthquakes

46
Hurricanes/Tropical Storms

• Moderate Risk in Montgomery County
• Hurricane Season June 1 November 30
• Most hurricanes reaching Maryland are usually
  downgraded to tropical storms
• High Hazard Impact Areas Include one mobile
  home park in the County and mobile homes located
  on individually-owned tracts of land scattered
  throughout County

47
Locations of single-family, mobile homes in
Montgomery County
48
Hurricanes/Tropical Storms(Risk Assessment)

• Critical Facilities (police fire stations,
  hospitals, schools)
• Generally built to resist at least a Category 1
  Storm, in compliance with BOCA building codes
• Windows are most vulnerable parts of critical
  facilities (not shuttered or boarded)

49
Hurricanes/Tropical Storms(Risk Assessment)

• Potential Damage Losses Prolonged power
  outages present serious problems for special
  needs populations (evacuations, sheltering,
  re-locations)
• Population, People, and Residences exposed to
  High Winds causing the greatest property loss

50
Hurricane Isabel Types of 911 Related Calls
Wires Down, Transformer, Structure Hit, Etc.
51
Hurricane Isabel 693 Hurricane Related, 911
Calls from 9/18/2003 to 9/20/2003
52
Floods/Flash Flooding

• Analysis shows County at risk for flash floods,
  riverine floods and dam failure
• Lowest Elevation 10 feet, at the extreme
  southern area along the Potomac River
• Highest Elevation 855 feet in Damascus
• Flash Floods caused by torrential rainfall over
  short duration
• Riverine Flooding caused by moderate to heavy
  rainfall over long duration or snow melt

53
Floods/Flash Flooding(Risk Assessment)

• County receives torrential rainstorms in all
  seasons of the year
• Greatest incidence occurs during spring and early
  summer months
• In winter months and early spring, snow melt
  presents hazard, especially riverine flooding in
  Potomac River basin along southwestern Montgomery
  County

54
Floods/Flash Flooding(Risk Assessment)

• County areas of greatest flooding risk are
  located within 100-year flood plain and 500-year
  flood plain
• 100-year flood plain includes Potomac River and
  22 watersheds in County
• FEMA only requires plans based on the 100-year
  flood inundation

55
Montgomery County Watersheds
56
Floods/Flash Flooding(Risk Assessment)

• County records do not show any critical
  facilities within the floodplain
• FEMA floodplain maps indicate discrepancy since
  several County facilities in Hyattstown are shown
  within floodplain
• Vulnerabilities identified for people,
  agriculture and natural resources
• Potential damage to underground Metro tunnels and
  stations

57
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

• FEMA Mitigation Division manages NFIP
• 840 flood insurance policies in Montgomery
  County, including Gaithersburg, Rockville and
  Brookeville
• Most repetitive loss properties are fishing
  cabins along the Potomac River in Whites Ferry,
  and belong to the National Park Service

58
Blizzards/Ice Storms

• The Washington Metro Area is located in a classic
  meteorological battle zone especially in the
  winter months
• The battle pits dry Arctic air which plunges
  south out of Canada against comparatively warm
  moist air from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of
  Mexico
• This can result in a wintry mix forecast with a
  combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain

59
Blizzards/Ice Storms

• The areas fiercest winter storms are Noreasters
• Forms along the coast and have strong northeast
  winds generated ahead of the storm as air
  circulates in a counterclockwise direction around
  the storm center
• Noreasters can produce snowfall rates up to 4
  inches per hour, while 30-40 mph winds can pile
  snow in five to ten foot drifts

60
Presidents Day Snowstorm 2/14/03 2/18/03
61
Blizzards/Ice Storms(Risk Assessment)

• High Risk of Snow Emergencies for Montgomery
  County and region
• Based on previously federally declared disasters
  and impact to government services, businesses and
  schools
• Risk to Critical Facilities is low due to
  Countys building codes

62
Blizzards/Ice Storms(Risk Assessment)

• Most vulnerable asset is the electrical
  distribution system (i.e., Power Lines)
• Overhead wires easily damaged by wind and ice
  causing widespread outages which impact many
  residents and businesses
• Extended loss of electrical power can overtax
  generators used by critical and at-risk
  facilities
• Potential damage and losses to vehicles and
  people involved in collisions

63
Tornadoes

• Montgomery County increasingly vulnerable to
  effects of tornadoes
• The 1990s and early 21st century have produced a
  rash of tornadoes in Maryland
• The County is in a relative lower-risk area,
  just to the south of Loudon/Frederick line and
  just north of St. Marys/Anne Arundel line

64
Tornadoes(Risk Assessment)

• Montgomery County has a composite risk of
  Medium-High
• Property damage will be greater in urban or
  suburban sections of the County, as opposed to
  agricultural areas
• There is one mobile home park located in
  Germantown, MD
• Currently, building and construction codes in the
  County offer minimal protection from winds and
  other damaging effects of a tornado

65
Tornadoes(Risk Assessment)

• There is limited tornado-resistant construction
  in Montgomery County
• Property damage and losses could be staggering
• Southern section of the County, and the areas of
  concentration around I-495, I-270 and U.S. Route
  29 with dense commercial and retail development
  are vulnerable

66
Tornadoes(Risk Assessment)

• Other vulnerable area is section of MD Route 355
  from the D.C. border through Germantown
  (Wisconsin Avenue, Rockville Pike, Hungerford
  Drive, Frederick Road)
• Population, People and Residences are most at
  risk of personal injury or death due to Countys
  residential density (76 people per square mile in
  Poolesville area to 26,444 per square mile in
  Friendship heights)

67
Droughts

• Montgomery County has two different sources of
  water availability and usage
• Lower 2/3 of the County (from Germantown, up to
  Damascus proper, down to Gaithersburg and east
  through Olney to Burtonsville proper) supplied by
  either the Potomac River or the Patuxent River

68
Droughts

• Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSCC)
  provides water delivery service
• City of Rockvilles Department of Public Works
  Utilities Division, and the Town of Poolesville
  have independent water supply systems
• Droughts have caused water disruptions in the
  past

69
Droughts(Risk Assessment)

• Composite risk for drought is low in Montgomery
  County
• However, drought is classified in the high risk
  category due to past federally declared disasters
  for agriculture
• Since 2001, the area has experienced one of the
  three worst droughts in the last century

70
Droughts(Risk Assessment)

• The northern tier of Montgomery County is at
  greatest risk due to its reliance on groundwater
  and wells
• Only 2 County public schools are on wells
  (Laytonsville Elementary School and Monacacy
  Elementary School)
• No significant impact to County critical
  facilities

71
Droughts(Risk Assessment)

• No significant impacts to County population,
  people or residences
• Potential damage to Agricultural and Natural
  Resources is high
• Long-term consequences of a prolonged drought of
  more than 2 years could result in a 50-70 loss
  of agricultural production (or 120 million in
  losses)

72
Earthquakes

• Montgomery County is considered to be a low to
  moderate risk area for an earthquake
• There has never been a reported earthquake here
• In Maryland, overall there have been 62 recorded
  earthquakes since 1758

73
Earthquakes(Risk Assessment)

• Little to no potential damage and losses to
  population, people and residences
• If risk increases someday, urban areas would have
  the greatest destruction due to structural fires,
  building collapse and debris, and road
  (transportation infrastructure) damage caused by
  the earthquake

74
Mitigation Strategies

• Public Education
• Web Site for Mitigation
• Coordinated Public Relations Campaign
• Code Changes for Building
• Changing of Laws to Protect Residents After
  Disasters
• Traffic Planning for Cities and Businesses

75
Mitigation Strategies (Cont.)

• Developing Public/Private Partnerships
• Streamlining Emergency Communications
• Eliminating Threats
• Planning and Analyzing Current Emergency
  Procedures
• Identification of potential mitigation projects
  for infrastructure

76
Mitigation Strategies Hurricanes

• Public Education
• NFIP Participation
• Zoning and Building Codes
• Traffic Management
• Expanded Damage Assessment Capability
• LEPC Partnerships
• Hurricane Exercises

77
Hurricanes Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Establish alternative emergency notification
  systems for special needs populations
• Establish protocols for pre-disaster messages and
  Public Information System
• Coordinate with Volunteer Center to provide
  enhancements for Neighbors Helping Neighbors
  Program
• Coordinate with Volunteer Center and HSD/OEM to
  provide 4-Wheel transportation for essential
  workers to hospitals and nursing homes

78
Hurricanes Proposed High- Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Coordinate with Volunteer Center and Health and
  Human Services to provide transportation to
  dialysis centers for at-risk patients
• Include municipalities and utilities in
  functional and full-scale hurricane exercises

79
Mitigation Strategies Flooding

• Zoning
• Stormwater Management Regulation
• Public Education
• Floodplain Building restrictions
• Municipalities Adopt County Floodplain
  Restrictions
• Subdivision Controls
• Building Code
• Capital Improvement Projects
• Support of the NFIP

80
Example of Approved 2005 HMGP Project

• County DEPs Montclair Manor Flood Mitigation
  Project construction of a levee to protect 12
  townhouses and flood proofing 2 single-family
  homes in Wheaton
• Project cost 1,589,034
• Federal share 1,191,775
• State share 397,259
• County share 198,629

81
Example of DPWTs CIP Projects That Might Be Used
For HMGP or PDM

• Storm Drainage Assistance Program
• Eldrid Dr. Johnson Avenue Storm Drain
• Linden Lane Brookville Rd. Storm Drain
  Improvements
• Manor Park Drive Storm Improvements
• Primrose St. Connecticut Avenue to Newsland St.
  
• ________
• DPWTs Website

82
Flooding Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Continuation of on-going philosophies and
  programs to prohibit new development within
  recognized flood zones
• Acquire existing properties within known flood
  zones
• Pursue mitigation projects that divert water,
  such as culverts in areas that frequently flood

83
Flooding Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Update listing of roads that frequently flood and
  identify mitigation projects to reduce flooding
• Work with FEMA and MEMA to have inaccuracies in
  flood plain maps corrected
• Coordinate with Maryland-National Capital Park
  and Planning Commission to identify recreational
  park areas that are subject to frequent flooding,
  and identify mitigation strategies where
  appropriate

84
Flooding Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Update emergency notification lists in Emergency
  Action Plans for all high priority dams in the
  County
• Establish emergency notification lists for dams
  and water facilities which are not mandated to
  have Emergency Action Plans
• Establish alternative emergency notification
  systems for special needs populations

85
Flooding Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Establish protocols for emergency messages for
  flooding events update templates for press
  releases in the County EOC
• Review authorities and update authorization lists
  for issuing EAS messages
• Coordinate with Police and Local Fire Rescue
  Departments to share information about roads and
  access areas that frequently flood, and improve
  notification procedures for evacuations in high
  water areas
• Review Fire and Rescue procedures for handling
  citizen inquiries about flooded basements and
  update information on website

86
Mitigation Strategies Blizzards/Icestorms

• Building Codes (County adopts International
  Building Code)
• Snow removal on Emergency Routes
• Support to power company crews
• Snow removal in neighborhoods
• Public Information and Outreach
• Volunteer Programs

87
Blizzards/Icestorms Proposed High-Priority
Mitigation Strategies

• Establish alternative emergency notification
  systems to notify special needs populations
• Establish protocols to be used for pre-disaster
  messages and Public Information System
• Review authorities and update authorization lists
  for issuing EAS messages
• Coordinate with Volunteer Center to provide
  enhancements for Neighbors Helping Neighbors
  Program to assist home bound individuals to get
  essential medications, supplies, etc.

88
Blizzards/Icestorms Proposed High-Priority
Mitigation Strategies

• Coordinate with Volunteer Center and OEM to
  provide 4-Wheel transportation for essential
  workers to hospitals and nursing homes
• Coordinate with Volunteer Center and Health and
  Human Services to provide transportation to
  dialysis centers for at-risk patients
• Municipalities Coordinate with State Highway
  Administration and County to ensure emergency
  snow routes are quickly cleared Use newsletters,
  e-mail, and other methods to notify residents of
  snow removal activities and safety messages

89
Mitigation Strategies Drought

• Statewide Water Conservation Plan (exists since
  May 2001)
• Tracking Consumption Rates (through a current
  WSSC Total Water management Study)

90
Drought Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Develop a County comprehensive Drought
  Vulnerability Assessment Program, establishing
  criteria or triggers for drought-related actions
• Develop early warning system
• Develop monitoring program
• Monitor vulnerable public water suppliers
• Coordinate with State and adjacent jurisdiction
  to develop strategies for regional water
  management during drought

91
Drought Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Coordinate with MWCOG jurisdictions to develop
  strategies for regional and multi-state water
  management during drought
• Initiate an aggressive Public Awareness/Education
  Program and organize drought information meetings
  for the public and the media
• As part of a Public Awareness/Education Program,
  implement water conservation awareness programs

92
Drought Proposed High-Priority Mitigation
Strategies

• Establish a drought information center
• Develop and promulgate a Countywide Drought
  Contingency Plan, that will
• -- Evaluate worst-case drought scenarios
• -- Recommend that water suppliers develop
  
• drought plans
• Establish a natural hazard mitigation council

93
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
IN THE PLANNING PROCESS?

• Communities need to
• Provide information to MC HSD/OEM planning staff
  on any existing plans
• Assist with the hazard analysis and disaster
  history
• Assist in the preparation of the plan and goals
• Review the plan and analysis
• Host community/public input meetings and review
  information
• Adopt final plan

94
WHAT SHOULD A COMMUNITY DO AFTER THE PLAN IS
ADOPTED?

• The community should
• Implement selected strategies within the plan as
  resources are available.
• Incorporate plan ideals into future planning
  efforts, i.e. comp plan, infrastructure plan,
  building codes, etc.
• Engage in a process to update the plan every five
  years.

95

• QUESTIONS
• FEEDBACK

96
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS AFTER MEETING

• Call Kathy Talbott, HSD/Office of Emergency
  Management, 240-777-2326 or 240-777-2300
• or e-mail her at
• Kathy.talbott_at_montgomerycountymd.gov OR
• Miguel.ascarrunz_at_montgomerycountymd.gov
• Thank you for
  attending.