AGENDA #4e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan Adoption
DATE: June 10, 2002
The attached resolution would adopt the Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan as necessary for the Town to remain eligible for State and federal disaster relief funds.
The draft Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan was presented at a Public Hearing on May 13, 2002. There were no comments at that hearing.
A copy of the draft document was also submitted to the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management for review and comment. The only comments we received were from the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, and these comments have been incorporated into the final document. The comments requested more detail concerning responsibility and for a scheduling of mitigation activities. These items were satisfactorily addressed as follows:
Staff Response: “Hail Storm” was added to Table 1, page 7.
Staff Response: Section VIII., Mitigation Strategy, page 26, local responsibility has been listed at the Town Departmental level and Target Establishment Dates have been listed or addressed. The responsible departments listed under “existing programs” are those departments that are currently responsible for those programs and the target establishment dates either depend upon available resource ,are currently under Council consideration or June 2005. Listed under “new programs”, the responsibility is listed at the departmental level and the target establishment date as resources become available or June 2005.
It is important to note that the target establishment date of June 2005 is just that, a “target”, not a mandated deadline. A three year period was selected as a reasonable time-frame to strengthen or establish programs, which also are dependant upon other factors, such as available resources.
Staff Response: Section IV. Plan Evaluation was added which notes that mitigation strategies should be reviewed and reassessed every 2 years or immediately following a natural disaster, whichever comes first.
The proposed final version of the Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan is presented tonight for adoption by the Town Council. The color maps provided in the draft document presented at the May 13 Public Hearing have not been changed, and only black-and-white copies of those maps are being provided tonight, because of reproduction costs.
Adoption of a Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan is necessary for two primary reasons:
1) State law requires that local governments in North Carolina adopt an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan no later than August 1, 2002 in order to remain eligible for disaster relief funds.
2) By identifying and mitigating potential hazards, the Town could expect to reduce or eliminate some exposures and costs associated with disaster response and recovery.
In addition to allowing the Town to remain eligible for disaster relief funds, the proposed hazard mitigation plan would provide a planning document that describes potential hazards, vulnerabilities and mitigation activities to reduce short-term and long-term risks to life and property. Hazard mitigation planning is an essential part of creating and maintaining a sustainable community by meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
As described in the May 13, 2002 report to Council, the Town of Chapel Hill has a history of weather related events that have resulted in significant hazards including property damage, commerce interruptions, reductions in public services, impacts on quality of life and expenses (both public and private) for recovery efforts.
The plan takes a comprehensive look at the Town’s current programs, policies and regulations that are related to hazard mitigation, describes the effectiveness of that program or policy and offers additional/supplemental mitigation options for consideration. The plan suggests that mitigation efforts can be effectively improved by strengthening current programs, policies and regulations in addition to creating some new ones.
The Mitigation Strategies section of the plan describes actions the Town may wish to pursue if adequate funding opportunities become available, including disaster relief funds from the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NCDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The hazard mitigation plan for Chapel Hill is required by law for the Town to remain eligible to receive State and Federal disaster relief funds and provides a dynamic planning document that identifies hazards, vulnerabilities and mitigation activities to reduce short-term and long-term risks to human life and property.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopt the attached resolution establishing a Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan as endorsed by the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.
ATTACHMENTS
1.) Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan (begin new page 1).
2.) Letter of plan approval from the NC Division of Emergency Management (p. 41).
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AS REQUIRED BY STATE SENATE BILL 300 IN ORDER TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR STATE AND FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING (2002-06-10/R-5)
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to remain eligible for State and federal disaster relief funds in the event of a declared disaster in Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the Council recognizes the value of having a plan in place for identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating potential and real hazards that could affect Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the Town has prepared a Hazard Mitigation Plan and has revised the Plan as suggested by the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management following its presentation at a Public Hearing on May 13, 2002 and its submittal to the State and to Town Departments for review and comment; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management has endorsed the proposed Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council herewith adopts the Town of Chapel Hill Hazard Mitigation Plan as presented on June 10, 2002.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Manager to periodically review and to present for Council approval proposed revisions to the Plan as new data and information become available, as mitigation measures are achieved, and as mitigation strategies evolve.
This the 10th day of June, 2002.