AGENDA DATE: 10/3/2018
TITLE:
Title
Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Review and approval of Plan, including recommended goals and action items for Albemarle County
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Graham, Benish
PRESENTER (S): Billie Campbell (TJPDC), Wood Hudson (TJPDC), David Benish
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 set out requirements for State and local plans to coordinate mitigation planning and implementation efforts. The purpose of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) is to prepare for natural disasters before they occur, thus reducing loss of life, property damage, and disruption of commerce. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires such a plan as a condition for eligibility in certain mitigation grant programs.
The Regional NHMP includes all jurisdictions in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District - Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, Greene County, Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Nelson County, and the Towns of Scottsville, Stanardsville, Louisa, and Mineral. The original Plan was adopted by all jurisdictions in 2006; the Plan was updated in 2012, with FEMA approval on July 30, 2012 and formal adoption by all localities completed in December 2012. This is the five-year update.
TJPDC has been working with localities in the region to develop the five-year update of the Regional NHMP, and an NHMP working group was established to assist the TJPDC in the Plan update. Albemarle County has been represented on the working group by David Benish and staff from the Charlottesville-Albemarle-UVA Emergency Communications Center, Allison Farole and Kirby Felts (up to her departure on June 30, 2017).
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment: prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs; Natural Resources Stewardship: Thoughtfully protect and manage Albemarle County’s ecosystems and natural resources in both the rural and development areas to safeguard the quality of life of current and future generations
DISCUSSION: This is the second five-year update of the Regional NHMP. The full Regional NHMP as submitted to VDEM for review is posted on the TJPDC web site at <http://tjpdc.org/environment/draft-hazard-mitigation-plan-2017/>. A summary of the Plan, including a listing of all actions included for Albemarle County and the Town of Scottsville, is attached to this staff report (Attachment A), along with a resolution to be adopted by the Board (Attachment B). VDEM and FEMA have deemed the Plan to be satisfactory with no changes recommended.
The plan review and update process included:
• hazard identification and analysis
• vulnerability assessment
• capabilities assessment
• mitigation strategy development, and
• public and agency comment and input.
The results of these processes are documented and summarized in the Plan and an overview will be presented by staff at the meeting.
Many of the mitigation goals/strategies are reflective of efforts, initiatives, or recommendations documented in other County or agency plans or programs. Some of the mitigation strategies in this regional Plan are provided at a relatively high or broad level recognizing there are other supporting documents/plans providing supporting direction (for example, implementing the water supply plan recommendations and the stormwater management plan/programs).
BUDGET IMPACT: The Regional NHMP identifies estimated costs and funding methods for the proposed mitigation actions. Funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant Program require an adopted NHMP.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment B) adopting the Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (Attachment A).
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Summary, Albemarle and Scottsville
B - Resolution