Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

10 Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan November 2014 2020PageTABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction SECTION 1 Planning Process SECTION 2 Community Profile SECTION 3 Hazard Identification SECTION 4 Hazard Profiles SECTION 5 Vulnerability Assessment SECTION 6 Capability Assessment SECTION 7 Mitigation Strategy SECTION 8 Mitigation Action Plan SECTION 9 Plan Maintenance SECTION 10 Plan Adoption APPENDIX A FEMA Review Tool APPENDIX B Approval Letters … … … … … … APPENDIX C Public Outreach APPENDIX D Fact Sheet APPENDIX E Public Survey APPENDIX F Meeting Files APPENDIX G Community Wildfire Protection Plans APPENDIX H Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2020PageIntroduction SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION This section provides a general introduction to the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan It consists of the following five subsections ? 11 Background ? 12 Purpose ? 13 Scope ? 14 Authority ? 15 Summary of Plan Contents 11 Background Natural hazards , such as winter storms , floods , and tornadoes , are a part of the world around us Their occurrence is natural and inevitable , and there is little we can do to control their force and intensity We must consider these hazards to be legitimate and significant threats to human life , safety , and property The Cape Fear Region is located in the western part of North Carolina and includes the counties of Chatham , Lee , Harnett , Johnston , Moore and the municipal governments within those counties This area is vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards such as winter storms , severe thunderstorms , and floods It is also vulnerable to human - caused hazards , including chemical releases and hazardous material spills These hazards threaten the life and safety of residents in the Cape Fear Region and have the potential to damage or destroy both public and private property , disrupt the local economy , and impact the overall quality of life of individuals who live , work , and vacation in the region While the threat from hazardous events may never be fully eliminated , there is much we can do to lessen their potential impact upon our communities and our citizens By minimizing the impact of hazards upon our built environment , we can prevent such events from resulting in disasters The concept and practice of reducing risks to people and property from known hazards is generally referred to as hazard mitigation FEMA Definition of Hazard Mitigation " Any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long - term risk to human life and property from hazards " Hazard mitigation techniques include both structural measures such as strengthening or protecting buildings and infrastructure from the destructive forces of potential hazards and non - structural measures such as the adoption of sound land use policies and the creation of public awareness programs It is widely accepted that the most effective mitigation measures are implemented at the local government level , where decisions on the regulation and control of development are ultimately made A comprehensive mitigation approach addresses hazard vulnerabilities that exist today and in the foreseeable future Therefore , it is essential that projected patterns of future development are evaluated and considered in terms of how that growth will increase or decrease a community's overall hazard vulnerability A key component in the formulation of a comprehensive approach to hazard mitigation is to develop , adopt , and update a local hazard mitigation plan A hazard mitigation plan establishes the broad Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 1 - 1 2020PageIntroduction community vision and guiding principles for reducing hazard risk , and further proposes specific mitigation actions to eliminate or reduce identified vulnerabilities Each of the five counties and their municipal jurisdictions participating in the development of the Cape Fear Hazard Mitigation Plan have an existing hazard mitigation plan that has evolved over the years , as described in Section 2 Planning Process This regional plan draws from each of the County plans to document the region's sustained efforts to incorporate hazard mitigation principles and practices into routine government activities and functions At its core , the Plan recommends specific actions to minimize hazard vulnerability and protect residents from losses to those hazards that pose the greatest risk These mitigation actions go beyond simply recommending structural solutions to reduce existing vulnerability , such as elevation , retrofitting , and acquisition projects Local policies on community growth and development , incentives for natural resource protection , and public awareness and outreach activities are examples of other actions considered to reduce the region's vulnerability to identified hazards The Plan remains a living document , with implementation and evaluation procedures established to help achieve meaningful objectives and successful outcomes over time 111 The Disaster Mitigation Act and the Flood Insurance Reform Act In an effort to reduce the Nations mounting natural disaster losses , the US Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 DMA 2000 in order to amend the Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act Section 322 of DMA 2000 emphasizes the need for state , local and Tribal government entities to closely coordinate on mitigation planning activities and makes the development of a hazard mitigation plan a specific eligibility requirement for any local or Tribal government applying for federal mitigation grant funds These funds include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program HMGP and the Pre - Disaster Mitigation PDM program , both of which are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security Communities with an adopted and federally approved hazard mitigation plan thereby become pre - positioned and more apt to receive available mitigation funds before and after the next disaster strikes Additionally , the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 PL 108 - 264 created two new grant programs , Severe Repetitive Loss SRL and Repetitive Flood Claim RFC , and modified the existing Flood Mitigation Assistance FMA program One of the requirements of this Act is that a FEMA - approved Hazard Mitigation Plan is now required if communities wish to be eligible for these FEMA mitigation programs However , as of early 2014 , these programs have been folded into a single Flood Mitigation Assistance FMA program This change was brought on by new , major federal flood insurance legislation that was passed in 2012 under the Biggert - Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act PL 112 - 141 This act made several changes to the way the National Flood Insurance Program is to be run , including raises in rates to reflect true flood risk and changes in how Flood Insurance Rate Map FIRM updates impact policyholders The Biggert - Waters Act further emphasizes Congress ' focus on mitigating vulnerable structures The Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan has been prepared in coordination with FEMA Region IV and the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management NCEM to ensure that the Plan meets all applicable FEMA and state requirements for hazard mitigation plans A Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool , found in Appendix B provides a summary of federal and state minimum standards and notes the location where each requirement is met within the Plan 12 Purpose The purpose of the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan is to Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 1 - 2 2020PagePage pageNumber5Introduction • Complete update of existing Plan to demonstrate progress and reflect current conditions ; • Increase public awareness and education ; • Maintain grant eligibility for participating jurisdictions ; and • Maintain compliance with state and federal legislative requirements for local hazard mitigation plans 13 Scope The focus of the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan is on those hazards determined to be " high " or " moderate " risks to the Cape Fear Region , as determined through a detailed hazard risk assessment Other hazards that pose a " low " or " negligible " risk will continue to be evaluated during future updates to the Plan , but they may not be fully addressed until they are determined to be of high or moderate risk This enables the participating counties and municipalities to prioritize mitigation actions based on those hazards which are understood to present the greatest risk to lives and property The geographic scope ie , the planning area for the Plan includes the counties of Chatham , Lee , Harnett , Johnston , and Moore as well as their incorporated jurisdictions Table 1 - 1 indicates the participating jurisdictions Table 1 - 1 Participating Jurisdictions in the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Chatham County Goldston Siler City Pittsboro Harnett County Angier Erwin Coats Lillington Dunn Johnston County Archer Lodge Pine Level Benson Princeton Clayton Selma Four Oaks Smithfield Kenly Wilson's Mill Micro Lee County Broadway Sanford Moore County Aberdeen Robbins Cameron Southern Pines Carthage Taylortown Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 1 - 3 2020PagePage pageNumber6Introduction Foxfire Village Vass Pinebluff Whispering Pines Pinehurst 14 Authority The Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan has been developed in accordance with current state and federal rules and regulations governing local mitigation plans and has been adopted by each participating county and local jurisdiction in accordance with standard local procedures Copies of the adoption resolutions for each participating jurisdiction are provided in Appendix A The Plan shall be routinely monitored and revised to maintain compliance with the following provisions , rules , and legislation • Section 322 , Mitigation Planning , of the Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act , as enacted by Section 104 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 PL 106 - 390 ; • FEMAs Final Rule published in the Federal Register , at 44 CFR Part 201 2016 for local mitigation planning requirements ; • Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 PL 108 - 264 and Biggert - Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 PL 112 - 141 15 Summary of Plan Contents The contents of this Plan are designed and organized to be as reader - friendly and functional as possible While significant background information is included on the processes used and studies completed ie , risk assessment , capability assessment , this information is separated from the more meaningful planning outcomes or actions ie , mitigation strategy , mitigation action plan Section 2 , Planning Process , provides a complete narrative description of the process used to prepare the Plan This includes the identification of participants on the planning team and describes how the public and other stakeholders were involved It also includes a detailed summary for each of the key meetings held , along with any associated outcomes The Community Profile , located in Section 3 , provides a general overview of the Cape Fear region , including prevalent geographic , demographic , and economic characteristics In addition , building characteristics and land use patterns are discussed This baseline information provides a snapshot of the planning area and helps local officials recognize those social , environmental , and economic factors that ultimately play a role in determining the region's vulnerability to hazards The Risk Assessment is presented in three sections Section 4 , Hazard Identification ; Section 5 , Hazard Profiles ; and Section 6 , Vulnerability Assessment Together , these sections serve to identify , analyze , and assess hazards that pose a threat to the Cape Fear Region The risk assessment also attempts to define any hazard risks that may uniquely or exclusively affect specific areas of the Cape Fear Region The Risk Assessment begins by identifying hazards that threaten the region Next , detailed profiles are established for each hazard , building on available historical data from past hazard occurrences , spatial extent , and probability of future occurrence This section culminates in a hazard risk ranking based on conclusions regarding the frequency of occurrence , spatial extent , and potential impact highlighted in each of the hazard profiles In essence , the information generated through the risk assessment serves a critical function as the participating jurisdictions in the Cape Fear Region seek to determine the most appropriate mitigation actions to pursue and implement - enabling them to prioritize and focus their Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 1 - 4 2020PagePage pageNumber7Introduction efforts on those hazards of greatest concern and those structures or planning areas facing the greatest risk s The Capability Assessment , found in Section 7 , provides a comprehensive examination of the Cape Fear Region's capacity to implement meaningful mitigation strategies and identifies opportunities to increase and enhance that capacity Specific capabilities addressed in this section include planning and regulatory capability , staff and organizational administrative capability , technical capability , fiscal capability , and political capability Information was obtained through the use of a detailed survey questionnaire and an inventory and analysis of existing plans , ordinances , and relevant documents The purpose of this assessment is to identify any existing gaps , weaknesses , or conflicts in programs or activities that may hinder mitigation efforts and to identify those activities that should be built upon in establishing a successful and sustainable local hazard mitigation program The Community Profile , Risk Assessment , and Capability Assessment collectively serve as a basis for determining the goals for the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan , each contributing to the development , adoption , and implementation of a meaningful and manageable Mitigation Strategy that is based on accurate background information The Mitigation Strategy , found in Section 8 , consists of broad goal statements as well as an analysis of hazard mitigation techniques for the jurisdictions participating in the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to consider in reducing hazard vulnerabilities The strategy provides the foundation for a detailed Mitigation Action Plan , found in Section 9 , which links specific mitigation actions for each county and municipal department or agency to locally assigned implementation mechanisms and target completion dates Together , these sections are designed to make the Plan both strategic , through the identification of long - term goals , and functional , through the identification of immediate and short - term actions that will guide day - to - day decision - making and project implementation In addition to the identification and prioritization of possible mitigation projects , emphasis is placed on the use of program and policy alternatives to help make the Cape Fear Region less vulnerable to the damaging forces of hazards while improving the economic , social , and environmental health of the community The concept of multi - objective planning was emphasized throughout the planning process , particularly in identifying ways to link , where possible , hazard mitigation policies and programs with complimentary community goals related to disaster recovery , housing , economic development , recreational opportunities , transportation improvements , environmental quality , land development , and public health and safety Plan Maintenance , found in Section 10 , includes the measures that the jurisdictions participating in the Cape Fear Regional plan will take to ensure the Plan's continuous long - term implementation The procedures also include the manner in which the Plan will be regularly evaluated and updated to remain a current and meaningful planning document Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 1 - 5 2020PagePage pageNumber8Planning Process SECTION 2 PLANNING PROCESS This section describes the planning process undertaken to develop the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan It consists of the following eight subsections ? 21 Overview of Hazard Mitigation Planning ? 22 History of Hazard Mitigation Planning in the Cape Fear Region ? 23 Preparing the Plan ? 24 The Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team ? 25 Community Meetings and Workshops ? 26 Involving the Public ? 27 Involving the Stakeholders ? 28 Documentation of Plan Progress 44 CFR Requirement 44 CFR Part 2016 c 1 The plan shall include documentation of the planning process used to develop the plan , including how it was prepared , who was involved in the process and how the public was involved 21 Overview of Hazard Mitigation Planning Local hazard mitigation planning is the process of organizing community resources , identifying and assessing hazard risks , and determining how to best minimize or manage those risks This process culminates in a hazard mitigation plan that identifies specific mitigation actions , each designed to achieve both short - term planning objectives and a long - term community vision To ensure the functionality of a hazard mitigation plan , responsibility is assigned for each proposed mitigation action to a specific individual , department , or agency along with a schedule or target completion date for its implementation see Section 10 Plan Maintenance Plan maintenance procedures are established for the routine monitoring of implementation progress , as well as the evaluation and enhancement of the mitigation plan itself These plan maintenance procedures ensure that the Plan remains a current , dynamic , and effective planning document over time that becomes integrated into the routine local decision - making process Communities that participate in hazard mitigation planning have the potential to accomplish many benefits , including • saving lives and property , • saving money , • speeding recovery following disasters , • reducing future vulnerability through wise development and post - disaster recovery and reconstruction , • expediting the receipt of pre - disaster and post - disaster grant funding , and • demonstrating a firm commitment to improving community health and safety Typically , communities that participate in mitigation planning are described as having the potential to produce long - term and recurring benefits by breaking the repetitive cycle of disaster loss A core assumption of hazard mitigation is that the investments made before a hazard event will significantly reduce the demand for post - disaster assistance by lessening the need for emergency response , repair , Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 1 2020PagePage pageNumber9Planning Process recovery , and reconstruction Furthermore , mitigation practices will enable local residents , businesses , and industries to re - establish themselves in the wake of a disaster , getting the community economy back on track sooner and with less interruption The benefits of mitigation planning go beyond solely reducing hazard vulnerability Mitigation measures such as the acquisition or regulation of land in known hazard areas can help achieve multiple community goals , such as preserving open space , maintaining environmental health , and enhancing recreational opportunities Thus , it is vitally important that any local mitigation planning process be integrated with other concurrent local planning efforts , and any proposed mitigation strategies must consider other existing community goals or initiatives that will help complement or hinder their future implementation 22 History of Hazard Mitigation Planning in the Cape Fear Region Each of the five counties participated in this Plan has a previously adopted the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan The participating municipalities for each plan , are listed below • Chatham County o Town of Goldston o Town of Pittsboro o Town of Siler City • Harnett County o Town of Angier o Town of Coats o City of Dunn o Town of Erwin o City of Lillington • Johnston County o Town of Archer Lodge o Town of Benson o Town of Clayton o Town of Four Oaks o Town of Kenly o Town of Micro o Town of Pine Level o Town of Princeton o Town of Selma o Town of Smithfield o Town of Wilson's Mills • Lee County o Town of Broadway o City of Sanford • Moore County o Town of Aberdeen o Town of Cameron o Town of Carthage o Village of Foxfire Village o Town of Pinebluff o Village of Pinehurst Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 2 2020Page0Planning Process o Town of Robbins o Town of Southern Pines o Town of Taylortown o Town of Vass o Village of Whispering Pines The Plan was developed using the multi - jurisdictional planning process recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA For this plan , all the aforementioned jurisdictions have joined to form a regional plan All the jurisdictions that participated in previous planning efforts have participated in the development of this regional plan 23 Preparing the Plan Jurisdictions are required to update their hazard mitigation plans every five years so the jurisdictions can remain eligible for federal mitigation funding To simplify planning efforts for the jurisdictions in the Cape Fear Region , Chatham County , Harnett County , Johnston County , Lee County , and Moore County decided to join to create the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan This allows resources to be shared amongst the participating jurisdictions and eases the administrative duties of all the participants by combining five existing county planning efforts into one multi - jurisdictional plan To prepare the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan , AECOM was hired as an outside consultant to provide professional mitigation planning services Kelly Keefe from AECOM served as the lead planner for this project Per the contractual scope of work , the consultant team followed the mitigation planning process recommended by FEMA Publication Series 386 and Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide and recommendations provided by North Carolina Division of Emergency Management NCEM mitigation 1 planning staff The Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool , found in Appendix B , provides a detailed summary of FEMA's current minimum standards of acceptability for compliance with DMA 2000 and notes the location where each requirement is met within this Plan These standards are based upon FEMA's Final Rule as published in the Federal Register in Part 201 of the Code of Federal Regulations CFR The planning team used FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide October 2011 for reference as they completed the Plan The process used to prepare this Plan included twelve major steps that were completed over the course of approximately ten months beginning in November 2019 Each of these planning steps illustrated in Figure 2 - 1 resulted in critical work products and outcomes that collectively make up the Plan Specific plan sections are further described in Section 1 Introduction Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 3 2020Page1Planning Process Figure 2 - 1 Mitigation Planning Process for the Cape Fear Region 24 The Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team In order to guide the development of this Plan , the participating jurisdictions Chatham County , Harnett County , Johnston County , Lee County , and Moore County and participating municipal jurisdictions created the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team The Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team represents a community - based planning team made up of representatives from various county departments , municipalities , and other key stakeholders identified to serve as critical partners in the planning process Beginning in November 2019 , the Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team Planning Team members engaged in regular discussions as well as local meetings and planning workshops to discuss and complete tasks associated with preparing the Plan This working group coordinated on all aspects of plan preparation and provided valuable input to the process In addition to regular meetings , committee members routinely communicated and were kept informed through an e - mail distribution list Specifically , the tasks assigned to the Planning Team members included • participate in Planning Team meetings and workshops • provide best available data as required for the risk assessment portion of the Plan Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 4 2020Page2Planning Process • provide information that will help complete the Capability Assessment section of the plan and provide copies of any mitigation or hazard - related documents for review and incorporation into the Plan • support the development of the Mitigation Strategy , including the design and adoption of regional goal statements • help design and propose appropriate mitigation actions for their department agency for incorporation into the Mitigation Action Plan • review and provide timely comments on all study findings and draft plan deliverables • support the adoption of the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Table 2 - 1 lists the members of the Planning Team who were responsible for participating in the development of the Plan Although all Mitigation Planning Team members could not be present at every meeting , coordination was ongoing throughout the entire planning process In particular , the towns of Cary , Goldston , Pittsboro , Broadway , Kenly , Micro , Princeton , Selma , Smithfield , Broadway , Sanford , Cameron , Carthage , Pinebluff , Robbins , Southern Pines , Taylortown and Vass participated in the planning process through emails and phone conversations and in direct contact with Chatham , Johnston , Harnett , Lee , and Moore as proxies Also , these jurisdictions were provided planning process materials during the planning process Table 2 - 1 Members of the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team NAME DEPARTMENT AGENCY Lee Barbee Town of Clayton , Fire Chief Scot Brooks Moore County , Emergency Manager Landon Chandler Harnett County Planning , Senior Planner Debra Ensminger Moore County , Zoning Administrator Josh Holloman Johnston County LEPC , EMS Chief Kevin Hubbard Johnston County Emergency Services , Fire Marshal Bryan Phillips MCDPS , Director Shane Seagroves Lee County , Fire Marshal Jay Sikes Harnett County Planning , Manager of Planning Services Sandy Wood Johnston County , Emergency Management Representative Zach Shean Harnett County , Emergency Management Coordinator Colby Sawyer Chatham County , Emergency Management Specialist Greg Frank Harnett County , Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator Jonathan Pope Johnston County , Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator Theresa Thompson Moore County , Planning Supervisor Valerie Brookens Town of Wilson Mills , Planning Administrator Brenda Allen Johnston County , Emergency Management Technician Benjamin Rodriquez Johnston County , Emergency Management Assistant Edwardine Marrone FEMA FIT - NC Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 5 2020Page3Planning Process NAME DEPARTMENT AGENCY John Mello NCEM Hazard Mitigation Planner Kimberly Pickett Town of Benson , Assistant Town Manager Snow Bowden Town of Erwin , Town Manager Elizabeth Jernigan Town of Clayton , Administrative Coordinator Joshua Perry Town of Lillington , Planner & Building Inspector Martha Garris Town of Four Oaks , Town Clerk Pauline Yetchum Town of Four Oaks , Deputy Clerk Been Wooten NCEM George Adler City of Dunn , Planning Director Aaron Bullard Lee County , Fire Inspector Bob Kissinger Village of Whispering Pines , Public Works Director Brannon Barbee Town of Pine Level , Fire Chief Mike Gordon Town of Archer Lodge , First Town Administrator Ashley Lassiter Johnston County , Personal Property Manager Rhoda Noris GIS Letitia Jones Johnston County , GIS Phillis Richards Johnson County , Emergency Manager Bradley Kinlaw Harnett County , Emergency Services Ryan Arbenson Johnston County Sheriff's Office , Lieutenant Jacazza Jones NCEM Hazard Mitigation Ronnie Padgett Johnston County Area Transit System JCATS , Fleet Supervisor Jay Sikes Harnett County , Development Services Julie Maybee Town of Archer Lodge , Town Planner Lisa Kivett Foxfire Village , Zoning Administrator Darryn Burich Village of Pinehurst , Planning Inspections Director Matthew Boone City of Dunn , Assistant Manager Nick Holcomb Town of Coats , City Manager Carlton Cole Village of Pinehurst , Fire Chief Pauline Ketchum Town of Four Oaks , Town Clerk Chad Shue Foxfire Village , Chief of Police Gerry Vincent Town of Angier , Town Manager Philip Richardson Town of Aberdeen , Fire Chief Jack Meadows Town of Siler , Planning Director Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 6 2020Page4Planning Process NAME DEPARTMENT AGENCY Served as the County's main Point of Contact Table 2 - 2 lists points of contact for several of the jurisdictions who elected to designate their respective county officials to represent their jurisdiction on the planning team , generally because they did not have the time or staff to be able to attend on their own Although these members designated county officials to represent them at in - person meetings , each was still contacted throughout the planning process and participated by providing suggestions and comments on the Plan via email and phone conversations Table 2 - 2 Members Designating Representatives to Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team DEPARTMENT AGENCY TITLE County Proxy Town of Cary , Mayor Chatham County Town of Goldston , Mayor Chatham County Town of Pittsboro , Town Manager Chatham County Town of Kenly , Mayor Johnston County Town of Micro , Town Manager Johnston County Town of Princeton , Town Administrator Johnston County Town of Selma , Town Manager Johnston County Town of Smithfield , Fire Chief Johnston County Town of Broadway , Mayor Lee County City of Sanford , Mayor Lee County Town of Cameron , Mayor Moore County Town of Carthage , Town Clerk Moore County Town of Pinebluff , Chief Building Moore County Inspector Town of Robbins , Interim Town Moore County Manager Town of Southern Pines , Senior Planner Moore County Planning Director Town of Taylortown , Mayor Moore County Town of Vass , Mayor Moore County 241 Multi - Jurisdictional Participation The Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan includes five counties and thirty - two incorporated municipalities To satisfy multi - jurisdictional participation requirements , each county and its participating jurisdictions were required to perform the following tasks Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 7 2020Page5Planning Process • Participate in mitigation planning workshops ; • Identify completed mitigation projects , if applicable ; and • Develop and or update and adopt their local Mitigation Action Plan Each jurisdiction participated in the planning process and has developed a local Mitigation Action Plan unique to their jurisdiction Each jurisdiction will adopt their Mitigation Action Plan separately This provides the means for jurisdictions to monitor and update their Plan on a regular basis 25 Community Meetings and Workshops The preparation of this Plan required a series of meetings and workshops for facilitating discussion , gaining consensus and initiating data collection efforts with local government staff , community officials , and other identified stakeholders More importantly , the meetings and workshops prompted continuous input and feedback from relevant participants throughout the drafting stages of the Plan The following is a summary of the key meetings and community workshops held during the development of the plan update In many cases , routine discussions and additional meetings were held by local staff to accomplish planning tasks specific to their department or agency , such as the approval of specific mitigation actions for their department or agency to undertake and include in the Mitigation Action Plan NOVEMBER 21 , 2019 First Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team Meeting - Johnston , NC Ms Kelly Keefe , Mr Brent Edwards , and Ms McKenzie Houston from AECOM led the meeting of the Planning Team and began by having attendees introduce themselves The attendees included representatives from various departments and local jurisdictions within each of the counties participating in the plan update Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe then provided an overview of the items to be discussed at the meeting and briefly reviewed each of the handouts that were distributed in the meeting packets agenda , presentation slides , GIS data inventory , and Public Participation Survey Following the overview , Mr Edwards , Ms Keefe , and Ms Houston led the group in an " icebreaker " exercise to introduce meeting participants to various mitigation techniques He briefly explained the six different categories of mitigation techniques emergency services ; prevention ; natural resource protection ; structural projects ; public education and awareness ; and property protection Each attendee was then given 20 in mock currency and asked to " spend " their mitigation money as they personally deemed appropriate among the six mitigation categories Money was " spent " by placing it in cups labeled with each of the mitigation techniques The results of the exercise were • Flood 260 • Hurricane 225 • Severe Weather 150 • Winter Weather 90 • Hazardous Material 75 • Tornado 70 • Drought Extreme Heat 50 • Wildfire 45 • Dam Levee Failure 20 • Earthquake 0 Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 8 2020Page6Planning Process Following the icebreaker exercise , Mr Edwards reviewed the key objectives of the project which are to • Complete update of existing plans to demonstrate progress and reflect current conditions ; • Increase public awareness and education ; • Maintain grant eligibility for participating jurisdictions ; and • Maintain compliance with State and Federal requirements Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe discussed the expiration dates for the previous plan and presented a list of all the participating jurisdictions He confirmed the list of participating jurisdictions with the meeting attendees Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe then explained the mitigation planning process and specific tasks to be accomplished for this project , including the planning process , risk assessment , capability assessment , mitigation strategy , mitigation action plan and plan maintenance procedures For the risk assessment portion of the process , Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe asked each county to designate a point person to coordinate the gathering of GIS data required for the analysis The project schedule was presented , and Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe noted that the ten - month schedule provided ample time to produce a quality plan and meet state and federal deadlines The project staffing chart was presented to demonstrate the number of experienced individuals that will be working on this project Ms Keefe reviewed the roles and responsibilities of AECOM , the County's leads , the participating jurisdictions and other stakeholders The presentation concluded with a discussion of the next steps to be taken in the project development He encouraged meeting participants to distribute the Public Participation Survey An online version of the public survey was also made available and each jurisdiction was encouraged to make the link to the survey available on their local websites Ms Keefe stated that the next Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meeting would be scheduled for January of 2020 to discuss the findings of the risk and capability assessments and begin proposing mitigation actions Ms Keefe asked each jurisdiction to review their existing mitigation actions in preparation for the next meeting JANUARY 29 , 2020 Mitigation Strategy Meeting - , Moore , NC Ms Keefe and Mr Edwards initiated the meeting with a review of the meeting handouts , which included an agenda , presentation slides Mr Edwards reviewed the project schedule and stated that a draft of the Hazard Mitigation Plan would be presented to the Planning Team in June Mr Edwards with AECOM then presented the findings of the risk assessment He reviewed the Presidential Disaster Declarations that have impacted the region He then explained the process for preparing Hazard Profiles and discussed how each hazard falls into one of four basic categories Atmospheric , Hydrologic , Geologic , and Other He indicated that each hazard must be evaluated and formally ruled out if it is not applicable to the study area , even where it seems obvious such as in the case of volcano Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe reviewed the Hazard Profiles , and the following bullets summarize the information presented • DROUGHT • EXTREME HEAT • SEVERE WEATHER • TORNADOES Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 9 2020Page7Planning Process • HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS • WINTER STORM • EARTHQUAKES • LANDSLIDE There have been no recorded landslide events in the Cape Fear Region Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe asked the Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team to provide local information on landslide events , if available None were available Hazard will not be considered in this update Future occurrences are unlikely • DAM FAILURE • FLOOD • HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS • WILDFIRE • TERROR THREAT • NUCLEAR ACCIDENT In concluding the review of Hazard Profiles , Mr Edwards stated if anyone had additional information for the hazard profiles , or disagreed with any of the data presented , they should call or email him with their concerns The results of the hazard identification process were used to generate a Priority Risk Index PRI , which categorizes and prioritizes potential hazards as high , moderate or low risk based on probability , impact , spatial extent , warning time , and duration The highest PRI was assigned to Severe Weather , followed by Flood , Hurricane , , and Tornado Mr Edwards and Ms Keefe presented the Capability Assessment Findings AECOM has developed a scoring system that was used to rank the participating jurisdictions in terms of capability in four major areas Planning and Regulatory ; Administrative and Technical ; Fiscal ; Political Important capability indicators include National Flood Insurance Program NFIP participation , Building Code Effective Grading Schedule BCEGS score , Community Rating System CRS participation , and the Local Capability Assessment Survey conducted by AECOM Mr Edwards reviewed the Relevant Plans and Ordinances , Relevant Staff Personnel Resources , and Relevant Fiscal Resources All these categories were used to rate the overall capability of the participating counties and jurisdictions Most jurisdictions are in the limited to moderate range for Planning and Regulatory Capability and for Fiscal Capability There is variation between the jurisdictions for Administrative and Technical Capability , mainly with respect to availability of planners and staff skilled in GIS Based upon the scoring methodology developed by AECOM , it was determined that over half of the participating jurisdictions have moderate capability to implement hazard mitigation programs and activities and each county has a high overall capability Mr Edwards then advised the group that the next meeting would involve discussing the mitigation strategy in greater detail , so the planning team should begin to think about actions related to each of the above categories and prioritizing those actions He then thanked the group for taking the time to attend and the meeting was adjourned MAY 28 , 2020 Mitigation Strategy Meeting - Virtual , NC Mr Edwards and Mrs Keefe began the meeting by reviewing the notes for the meeting including proposed goals for the regional plan , mitigation actions from each county , and mitigation action worksheets for collecting information for any new mitigation actions Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 10 2020Page8Planning Process Mr Edwards and Mrs Keefe with AECOM then reviewed the findings of the risk assessment since many of the stakeholder's present had not been able to attend the previous meeting He focused in on two hazards that had been deemed to be high risk hazards at the previous meeting flood and hurricane tropical storm Mr Edwards then discussed the results of the public participation survey that was posted on several of the participating counties ' and municipal websites As of the meeting date , 138 responses had been received Based on preliminary survey results , respondents felt that hurricane posed the greatest threat to their neighborhood , followed by tornado , and severe weather Mr Edwards gave an overview of Mitigation Strategy Development and presented the proposed goals for the regional plan based on a review of the goals in the previous plan The Planning Team accepted the proposed goals for the regional plan Mr Edwards then provided an overview and examples of suggested mitigation actions specifically tailored for Chatham , Harnett , Johnston , Lee , and Moore Counties Mr Edwards then asked each county , and the municipalities to provide a status update for their existing mitigation actions completed , deleted , to be continued , in progress or deferred by June 25 , 2020 Mr Edwards also discussed the Mitigation Action Worksheets to be completed for any new mitigation actions and requested that all worksheets be returned by June 25 , 2020 Mr Edwards and Mrs Keefe thanked the group for taking the time to attend and the meeting was adjourned 26 Involving the Public 44 CFR Requirement 44 CFR Part 2016 b 1 The planning process shall include an opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval An important component of the mitigation planning process involved public participation Individual citizen and community - based input provides the entire planning team with a greater understanding of local concerns and increases the likelihood of successfully implementing mitigation actions by developing community " buy - in " from those directly affected by the decisions of public officials As citizens become more involved in decisions that affect their safety , they are more likely to gain a greater appreciation of the hazards present in their community and take the steps necessary to reduce their impact Public awareness is a key component of any community's overall mitigation strategy aimed at making a home , neighborhood , school , business or entire city safer from the potential effects of hazards Public involvement in the development of the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan was sought using two methods 1 public survey instruments were made available in hard copy and online ; and 2 copies of the draft Plan deliverables were made available for public review on county and municipal websites and at government offices The public was provided two opportunities to be involved in the development of the regional plan at two distinct periods during the planning process 1 during the drafting stage of the Plan ; and 2 upon completion of a final draft Plan , but prior to official plan approval and adoption In addition , a public participation survey discussed in greater detail in Section 261 was made available during the planning process at various locations throughout Chatham , Harnett , Johnston , Lee , and Moore Counties and on county and municipal websites Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 11 2020Page9Planning Process Each of the participating jurisdictions will hold public meetings before the final plan is officially adopted by the local governing bodies These meetings will occur at different times once FEMA has granted conditional approval of the Plan Adoption resolutions will be included in Appendix A 261 Public Participation Survey The Planning Team was successful in getting citizens to provide input to the mitigation planning process through the use of the Public Participation Survey The Public Participation Survey was designed to capture data and information from residents of the Cape Fear Region that might not be able to attend public meetings or participate through other means in the mitigation planning process Copies of the Public Participation Survey were distributed to the Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Team to be made available for residents to complete at local public offices A link to an electronic version of the survey was also posted on each county's and municipal websites There was a total of 152 surveys completed by the public Of those 152 surveys , here are some key facts • 86 of residents have experienced or been impacted by a disaster o Hurricane was the most common at 86 with Dam Levee Failure at the least common at only 1 • 54 of the residents stated they were very concerned about their community being impacted by Hurricane and 86 stated they were not concerned about Earthquake • When asked which assets are most important 85 said Fire , Police and EMS stations , and Hospitals and Medical Facilities • 91 stated that protecting critical facilities hospitals , police stations , fire stations , etc is most important for planning against natural hazards • 68 of the residents stated that the internet social media is the best way for them to receive information about natural hazards 60 also stated internet web pages , mobile messages alerts and mail were the best ways • Only 3 of the residents live in a floodplain • 37 of the residents have lived in the Cape Fear area for 20 years or more A detailed summary of the survey results including questions and charts and copy of the survey are provided in Appendix F 27 Involving the Stakeholders 44 CFR Requirement 44 CFR Part 2016 b 2 The planning process shall include an opportunity for neighboring communities , local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities , and agencies that have the authority to regulate development , as well as businesses , academia and other non - profit interests to be involved in the planning process The Planning Team encouraged more open and widespread participation in the mitigation planning process The Region also went above and beyond in its local outreach efforts through the design and Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 12 2020Page0Planning Process distribution of the Public Participation Survey This opportunity was provided for local officials , residents , businesses , academia , and other private interests in the Cape Fear in Region to be involved and offer input throughout the local mitigation planning process 28 Documentation of Plan Progress Progress in hazard mitigation planning for the participating jurisdictions in the Cape Fear Region is documented in this plan update Since hazard mitigation planning efforts officially began in the participating counties with the development of the initial Hazard Mitigation Plans in the late 1990s and early 2000s , many mitigation actions have been completed and implemented in the participating jurisdictions These actions will help reduce the overall risk to natural hazards for the people and property in the Cape Fear Region The actions that have been completed are documented in the Mitigation Action Plan found in Section 9 In addition , community capability continues to improve with the implementation of new plans , policies and programs that help to promote hazard mitigation at the local level The current state of local capabilities for the participating jurisdictions is captured in Section 7 Capability Assessment The participating jurisdictions continue to demonstrate their commitment to hazard mitigation and hazard mitigation planning and have proven this by developing the Planning Team to update the Plan and by continuing to involve the public in the hazard mitigation planning process Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 - 13 2020Page1Community Profile SECTION 3 COMMUNITY PROFILE This section of the Plan provides a general overview of the Cape Fear Region It consists of the following four subsections ? 31 Geography and the Environment ? 32 Population and Demographics ? 33 Housing , Infrastructure , and Land Use ? 34 Employment and Industry 31 Geography and the Environment The Cape Fear Region is located in central North Carolina , mostly in the Piedmont region but also partially in the Inner Coastal Plain region The region is also situated between the Triad and Triangle , two of the state's three largest centers of population and commerce For the purposes of this plan , the Cape Fear Region includes Chatham , Harnett , Johnston , Lee , and Moore Counties and their respective municipalities An orientation map is provided as Figure 3 - 1 The Cape Fear Region offers many recreational opportunities and tourist attractions including the Cape Fear River , Jordan Lake Recreation Area , Raven Rock State Park , regional parks , and numerous golf courses and resorts and horse farms Residents are able to enjoy the predominately rural character of the region and small - town atmosphere while still being able to access the conveniences of being located close two major metropolitan areas Over the past 30 years , there has also been steady growth in the retiree population as retirees , attracted to the quality of life through golf , horse country , and recreation , choose to relocate to the Cape Fear Region The total land area of each of the participating counties is presented in Table 3 - 1 Table 3 - 1 Total Land Areas of Participating Counties County Total Land Area Chatham County 682 square miles Harnett County 595 square miles Johnston County 791 square miles Lee County 255 square miles Moore County 698 square miles Source United States Census Bureau According to the State Climate Office of North Carolina , the Cape Fear Region enjoys a moderate climate that is characterized by short winters and hot , humid summers Precipitation is generally well distributed throughout the year and annual totals average 48 inches The region is partially protected by mountain ranges from masses of cold air , which flow southward from Canada during winter From December to February , the average high temperature ranges from the lower to upper 50s and low temperatures average around 30 ° F However , the temperature drops to 10 ° F or 12 ° F about once during an average winter over central North Carolina The mountains also act as a barrier preventing most wintery precipitation from entering the region , and snow and sleet is usually light and occurs on average once or twice per year Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 3 - 1 2020Page2Community Profile In spring , temperatures begin to rise and the increase in average temperature is greater in May than in any other month In general , the days are warm , and the nights are cool during the spring months Average high temperatures increase from the 60s in March to the upper 70s and lower 80s in May There is a similar increase in average low temperatures , which are in the upper 30s in March and climb to the mid 50s in May Additionally , tornadoes are most likely early in the spring , however North Carolina is outside the principal tornado area of the United States Tropical air over the region brings warm temperatures and rather high humidity during the summer Average high temperatures range from the mid - 80s to lower 90s and low temperatures average in the 60s Summer precipitation is normally the greatest and July is the wettest month Summer rainfall is also the most variable , and daily showers as well as periods of one to two weeks without rain are both common Thunderstorms are also common events in the region during the summer months Autumn is the season typified by the most rapidly changing temperature The drop - off is greatest in October and continues through November Average high temperatures begin in the lower 80s in September and fall to the low to mid 60s by November Average lows also drop significantly from 60 ° F to about 38 ° F from September to November Autumn is the driest season and November is the driest month in the region Figure 3 - 1 Cape Fear Region Orientation Map Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 3 - 2 2020Page3Community Profile 32 Population and Demographics Moore County is the largest participating county in the region by land area , and Harnett County is the largest county by population Between 2000 and 2010 , all of the participating counties experienced population growth Johnston County had the most significant growth with a 385 increase Population counts from the US Census Bureau for 1990 , 2000 , and 2010 for each of the participating counties are presented in Table 3 - 2 Table 3 - 2 Population Counts for Participating Counties 1990 Census 2000 Census 2010 Census Change Jurisdiction Population Population Population 2000 - 2010 Chatham County 38,759 49,329 63,505 287 Harnett County 67,822 91,025 114,678 260 Johnston County 81,306 121,965 168,878 385 Lee County 41,374 49,040 57,866 180 Moore County 59,013 74,769 88,247 180 Source United States Census Bureau Based on the 2010 Census , the median age of residents of the participating counties ranges from 335 to 450 years The racial characteristics of the participating counties are presented in Table 3 - 3 Generally , whites make up the majority of the population in the region accounting for over two - thirds of the population Table 3 - 3 Demographics of Participating Counties Native American Hawaiian Black or Indian or or Other Two or Persons of African Alaska Pacific Other More Hispanic White , American , Native , Asian , Islander , Race , Races , Origin , Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent percent Percent Jurisdiction 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 Chatham County 760 132 05 11 00 73 19 130 Harnett County 683 209 12 09 01 55 31 108 Johnston County 742 151 06 06 00 75 20 129 Lee County 669 200 07 08 00 91 24 183 Moore County 804 134 08 09 01 27 17 60 Hispanics may be of any race , so also are included in applicable race categories Source United States Census Bureau Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 3 - 3 2020Page4Community Profile 33 Housing , Infrastructure , and Land Use 331 Housing According to the 2010 US Census , there were 211,242 housing units in the Cape Fear Region , the majority of which are single family homes or mobile homes Housing information for the four participating counties is presented in Table 3 - 4 As shown in the table , Moore County has a slightly higher percentage of seasonal housing units compared to the other counties Table 3 - 4 Housing Characteristics of Participating Counties Housing Units Housing Units Seasonal Units , Median Home Value Jurisdiction 2000 2010 Percent 2010 2006 - 2010 Chatham County 21,358 28,753 11 193,900 Harnett County 38,605 46,731 06 123,500 Johnston County 50,196 67,682 06 136,200 Lee County 19,909 24,136 06 127,800 Moore County 35,151 43,940 43 186,900 Source United States Census Bureau 332 Infrastructure Transportation There are several major highways that cross the Cape Fear Region Interstate 95 is one of two interstates that pass directly through the Cape Fear Region , traversing northeast to southwest through Dunn , Benson , Four Oaks , Smithfield , Selma , Kenly , and the easternmost corner of the region The second interstate that passes through the region is Interstate 40 , which travels northwest to southwest along the southwest edge of Johnston County Interstate 73 also serves the region and runs north to south along the westernmost border of the region US Route 1 connects the region to Wake County and the Triangle , passing northeast to southwest through Chatham , Lee , and Moore Counties US - 70 also connects the region to Wake County and the Triangle , traversing northwest to southeast through Johnston County US - 421 is another important highway which links the region to the Triad , crossing northwest to southeast through Chatham , Lee , and Harnett Counties The major north - south thoroughfare in the region is US - 15 which enters Chatham County and runs through Lee County on into Moore County The major east - west thoroughfare is US - 64 which traverses Chatham County , again connecting the region to the Triangle Additionally , in Harnett County , Highway 210 runs between Angier and Lillington and south into Fayetteville There are also several designated scenic byways in the Cape Fear Region , including Devil's Stompin ' Ground Road in Chatham and Moore Counties , Pottery Road and Sandhills Scenic Drive in Moore County , Averasboro Battlefield Scenic Byway in Harnett County , and Blue - Gray Scenic Byway in Johnston County Raleigh - Durham International Airport RDU is the nearest commercial airport to the Cape Fear Region The airport currently offers daily direct flights to 39 domestic and international cities The RDU airport is about 50 miles from the center region An additional relief airport , Raleigh Exec , is also located a few miles northeast of Sanford in Lee County to provide additional capacity to the RDU airport Additional general aviation airports servicing the Cape Fear Region include the Harnett Regional Jetport , Johnston County Airport , Moore County Airport , and Siler City Municipal Airport Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 3 - 4 2020Page5Community Profile Utilities Electrical power in the Cape Fear Region is provided by one public utility , several electricity cooperatives , and several municipalities in Johnston County Duke Energy Progress serves major portions of all five counties in the region The electricity cooperatives servicing the region include Central Electric Membership Corporation in Chatham , Harnett , Lee , and Moore Counties ; Randolph Electric Membership Corporation in both Chatham and Moore Counties ; South River Electric Membership Corporation in Harnett County ; South River Electric Membership Corporation , Tri - County Electric Membership Corporation , and Wake Electric Membership Corporation in Johnston County ; and Pee Dee Electric Membership Corporation in Moore County The Towns of Benson , Clayton , Selma , and Smithfield are all members of the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Association and are affiliated with ElectriCities of North Carolina ; as such , they provide municipally owned and operated electric service to their residents Water and sewer service is provided by many of the municipalities as well as Chatham , Harnett , Johnston , and Moore Counties in the Cape Fear Region Although some areas do require the use of wells and septic systems , much of the region is covered under either municipal or county providers Community Facilities There are a number of public buildings and community facilities located throughout the Cape Fear Region According to the data collected for the vulnerability assessment Section 641 , there are 91 fire stations , 44 police stations , and 194 public schools located within the study area There are several medical care facilities located in the Cape Fear Region The largest is Moore Regional Hospital , a 395 - bed acute care hospital , in Pinehurst which serves as the referral center for a 15 - county region in North Carolina The Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield , the Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford , and the Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn are three additional acute care hospitals with 199 beds , 137 beds , and 101 beds , respectively There are also three smaller hospitals ; Good Hope Hospital located in Erwin , Central Harnett Hospital located outside of Lillington , and Chatham Hospital located in Siler City There are also numerous parks and recreational areas in the Cape Fear Region These include the Cape Fear River Trail Park , the Neuse River Greenway Trail , Jordan Lake Recreation Area , Raven Rock State Park , White Pines Nature Preserve , Weymouth Woods - Sandhills Nature Preserve , and Clemmons Educational State Forest , as well as numerous other parks , golf courses and resorts , and horse farms These facilities offer recreational opportunities to the region's residents and many visitors each year 333 Land Use The Cape Fear Region is experiencing growth and development due to its proximity to the major metropolitan areas in the Triangle and Triad As shown in Figure 3 - 1 above , there are many incorporated municipalities located throughout the study area which make up most of the area's population The incorporated areas are also where many businesses , commercial uses , and institutional uses are located Land uses in the balance of the study area generally consist of