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R2004-168 10-11-04 RESOLUTION NO. R2004-168 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, ADOPTING A COMPREHENSIVE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. WHEREAS, The City of Pearland, Texas has experienced natural hazards that result in public safety hazards and damage to private and public property; and WHEREAS, the hazard mitigation planning process set forth by the State of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offers the opportunity to consider natural hazards and risks, and to identify mitigation actions to reduce future risk; and WHEREAS, the State of Texas is providing federal mitigation funds to support development of the mitigation plan; and WHEREAS, a Hazard Mitigation Plan has been developed by the Mitigation Planning Committee; and WHEREAS, the Hazard Mitigation Plan includes a prioritized list of mitigation actions including activities that, over time, will help minimize and reduce safety threats and damage to private and public property, and WHEREAS, a public meeting was held on May 12, 2003, to introduce the planning concept and to solicit questions and comment; and a public meeting was held on October 29, 2003, to present the Plan and request comments, as required by law now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS: Section 1. The Hazard Mitigation Plan is hereby adopted as an official plan of the City of Pearland, TX. RESOLUTION NO. R2004-168 Section 2. The City offices identified in the Plan are hereby directed to pursue implementation of the recommended high priority activities that are assigned to their agencies. Section 3. Any action proposed by the Plan shall be subject to and contingent upon budget approval, if required, which shall be at the discretion of the City Council, and this resolution shall not be interpreted so as to mandate any such appropriations. Section4. The City of Pearland Emergency Management Department designated to coordinate with other offices and shall periodically report on the activities, accomplishments, and progress, and shall prepare an annual progress report to be submitted to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Water Development Board. The status reports shall be submitted by October 1 of each year. Section 5. The City of Pearland Emergency Management Department is designated to maintain this plan to include annual progress meetings with the Mitigation Planning Committee and a comprehensive plan review and update every five years. PASSED, APPROVED and day of October , A.D., 2004. ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: D~k'R~II~ M. COKER CITY ATTORNEY ADOPTED this the 11th TOM REID MAYOR • , Exhibit i Resolution No. R2004-168 J • • City of Pearland . Texas • • Hazard Mitigat• ion Plan 1.16 oliiip®� 1 w • • e WA T ' _ TEXAA - - Table of Contents Executive Summary vii Resolution of Adoption xi Part 1. Introduction 1-1 1.1 Introduction 1-1. 1.2 Authority 1-1 1.3 Planning Area 1-1 1.4 Geography, Climate, and Population 1-1 1.4.1 Population and Growth 1-3 1.4.2 Special Consideration Communities 1-5 1.5 Planning Committee Membership 1-5 1.6 Acknowledgments 1-6 1.7 Key Terms 1-7 1.8 Acronyms 1-8 1.9 References 1-8 . Part 2. Introduction to Mitigation Planning 2-1 2.1 Introduction 2-1 2.2 The Mitigation Planning Process 2-2 - 2.3 Public Involvement_in Mitigation Planning __ __ ______ 2-4 2.3.1 Public Work Session at City Council 2-4 2.3.2 Public Questionnaire 2-5• . 2.3.3 Final Public Meeting 2-6 2.3.4 Public Session of City Council 2-8 2.4 • The State Mitigation Plan 2-8 2.5 Federal Mitigation Planning Requirements 2-10 . Part 3. Mitigation Goal Statements 3-1 3.1 . Introduction 3-1 3.2 Pearland's Short-Term Goals 3-2 . . 3.3 Pearland's Mitigation Goal 3-2 . 3.4 State of Texas Mitigation Goals 4 3.5 FEMA's Mitigation Goal 1 N City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - e,� / 1 k PIAMTV Part 4. Hazards in Pearland 4-1 4.1 Introduction 44-1 4.2 Overview of Risks 4-2 4.2.1 Weather-Related Deaths 4-2 4.3 Public Awareness of Hazards &Risk 4-4 4.4 Overview of Pearland's Natural Hazards History 4-5 4.5 Losses Due to Major Disasters 4-8 • 4.6 Hazards Other than Flood 4-9 4.6.1 High Winds/Tornadoes 4-10 4.6.2 Extreme Heat 4-13 4.6.3 Drought 4-14 4.6.4 - Wildland Fire 4-16 4.6.5 Winter Storm 4-16 4.6.6 Hazardous Materials 4-17 4.6.7 - Pipelines 4-20 4.6.8 Seismic/Earthquakes 4-21 4.6.9 Landslides 4-25 4.6.10 Terrorism 4-25 4.6.11 Hurricane 4-25 Part 5. Flood Hazards in Pearland 5-1 5.1 Flood Hazards: Overview 5-1 5.1.1 Defining Flood Hazards 5-1 5.1.2 Subsidence-Related Flooding 5-5 5.1.3 Dams and Flooding 5-6 . . 5.2 Flood Risks—Buildings 5-6 • 5.3 Flood Risks—Public Buildings 5-12 5.4 Flood Risks—Roads 5-16 5.5 Flood Risks—Hazardous Materials • 5-21 5.6 Flood Risks—Local Drainage 5-22 5.7 Summary: Exposure.to Flood Risks 5-23 s = �l µ Table of Contents, Part 6. Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards 6-1 - 6.1 Pearland Government Structure 6-1 6.2 Emergency Response 6-2 6.3 Communicating about Hazards 6-3 6.4 How the City Addresses Hazards 6-5. 6.4.1 Regulating Development 6-5 6.4.2 Hazards Other than Flood 6-8 • 6.4.3 Flood Hazards 6-10 6.5 Continued Compliance with the NFIP 6-15 6.6 Ongoing and Previous Mitigation Initiatives 6-17 6.6.1 Clear Creek Improvements 6-18 6.6.2 . Evaluation of Detention 6-19 6.6.3 Drainage Maintenance 6-20 6.6.4 Regional Stormwater Detention • 6-20 6.6.5 Corrigan Subdivision Drainage 6-21 . 6.6.6 Floodplain Acquisitions 6-22 6.6.7 Public-Private Partnerships 6-22 6.7 Natural Resources 6-23 Part 7. Mitigation Actions _7-1 7.1 Identifying Priority Actions 7-1 7.2 Mitigation Actions 7-1 7.3 Links to Mitigation Goal Statement 7-6 Part 8. Texas Agencies, Organizations & FEMA Programs 8-1 8.1 Overview 8-1. . 8.2 Texas Division of Emergency Management 8-1 8.3 Texas Water Development Board 8-1 8.4 Texas Commission"on Environmental Quality 8-2 8.5 . FEMA National Flood Insurance Program 8-2 8.6 FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs 8-3 111 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) ems, rS . Part 9. Implementation 9-1 9.1 Distribution 9-1 . • 9.2 Implementation 9-1 9.3 Monitoring &Progress Reports 9-•1 9.4 Revisions 9-2 Appendices • A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes A-1 B. Public Outreach Materials [Questionnaire, Comments Received] B-1 C. Periodic Progress Reports C-1 Tables 1-1 Parcels (improved and unimproved) 1-4 1-2 Employment,by Industry 1-4 3-1 Pearland's Goals for 2003-2004 3-2 4-1 Texas Weather-Related Deaths 4-3 4-2 Hazard Summary 4-3 4-3 Natural Hazard Events and Declared Major Disasters in Brazoria County 4-5 4-4 Buildings/Infrastructure 4-10 5-1 Buildings and Estimated Values 5-7 5-2 NFIP Policies,Claims and Repetitive Loss Properties 5-8 5-3 Locations Posted with Flood Warning Signs 5-18 5-4 DEM 21: Vulnerability and Risk Assessment . . Worksheet for Flood Hazard 5-25 6-1 Buildings Permits and Development Permits (2000,2001,2002) 6-7 6-2 Number of All Inspections (2001,2002) . 6-8 . 7-1 Linking Actions to Hazards 7- 7-2 High Priority Mitigation Actions 7-2 • • 7-3 Medium and Low Priority Mitigation Actions 7-4. 7-4 Linking Mitigation Goals &Actions 7-5 iv Table of Contents • Maps . . 4-1 Pipelines Through Pearland 4-17 5-1 Flood Hazards in the Community 5-3 5-2 NFIP Policies, Claims,Repetitive Loss Properties 5-9 5-3 At-Risk Public Buildings 5-13. 5-4 Flooded Road Hazards 5-19 5-5 Hazardous Materials 5-23 Figures 1-1 City of Pearland 1-2 1-2 Vicinity Map: State of Texas 1-2 2-1 Public Meeting Notices Published in the Reporter News on October 15 and 29,2003 2-7 4-1 . Basic Wind Speed: Texas 4-9 4-2 Tornado Activity in the U.S. 4-10 10 - 4-3 U.S. Seismic Hazards 4-16 5-1 Fire Station#2,Reinforced Walls 5-16 -- --- -- 5-2 Cabinet on Elevated Concrete Blocks 5-16 5-3 Flood Hazard Chart for Cars 5-17 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - Executive Summary The City of Pearland, TX undertook development of this Hazard Mitigation-Plan ("the Plan") because of increasing awareness that natural and man-made hazards, especially flood hazards, may affect many people and property in the area. The Plan is a requirement associated with receipt of certain federal mitigation grant program funds administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Water Development Board. In addition, the Plan is a pre-qualification of eligibility for other mitigation funds. The Plan was prepared by a Mitigation Planning Committee composed of staff representatives from: Water and Sewer,Emergency Management Engineering/Floodplain Management, Community Services, Projects, Parks and Recreation, Administration, Grants, Street Maintenance, and Finance. Other city staff contributed. A representative the Texas Water Development Board(TWDB) attended several of the planning meetings. State and federal agencies were notified and invited to attend. - The City of Pearland has experienced number of flood events, most resulting in localized damage. Some of the worst flooding has occurred around Clear Creek and Mary's Creek,but other waterways within the . City have also risen out of their backs and have flooded homes. Most creeks in the City have some existing buildings that are at-risk to flood damage. Nearly 17% of all buildings in the City are prone to some _ degree of flooding. Located in close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico,the City is also . exposed to Hazardous Materials risks along major routes used to transport various chemicals associated with petroleum production. A major rail system(Santa Fe Railway) and a major state highway(SH 35) cross the City. It is well known that both of these transportation routes are heavily used to transport hazardous materials; SH 35 is reported to carry more HazMat traffic than any other highway in the State - 111 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - vu lott This Hazard Mitigation Plan.sets the stage for long-term disaster resistance through identification of actions that will, over time, reduce the exposure of people and property to natural hazards. Sections of the Plan: _• - Provide overviews of the hazards that threaten the City, • Characterize the people and property that are exposed to some risk due to those hazards, • Outline the planning process, • Describe how hazards are recognized in the City's normal processes. and functions, and • Identify the priority of mitigation action items. It is estimated that nearly 2.500 buildings and many more parcels of undeveloped land in the City are located within areas shown on flood hazard maps prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There are 6,400 buildings in Pearland that are insured through the National Flood insurance Program, (a number that exceeds the total number of buildings that plot as being "in" the mapped floodplain,see Table 5-2). This is an indication that many homeowners outside the - floodplain are aware of the flooding risks throughout the area and have chosen to carry flood insurance even though it is not required While flooding has occurred in several locations, severe flooding Clear Creek has caused repetitive and substantial damage to homes in the along----- this creek. Clear Creek is a multi jurisdictional watershed, draining portions of Brazoria, Galveston, Harris, and Fort Bend County, and many cities, including Houston and Pearland. The City has received mitigation grant funds to support acquisition and demolition of many'homes in the • along Clear Creek. viii Executive Summary. The citizens of the City will benefit from the Plan in that actions proposed . for implementation over the next 5- 10 years will reduce exposure to hazards. Three high-priority actions that will directly benefit citizens are: • • Development of a communications plan will improve interactions with the public,both before and after floods. • Increase flood predictive capability for streams and creeks that affect the City (stream gages) and coordinate with Harris County Flood Control District. • Continued efforts to identify and implement mitigation options in high-risk areas will reduce future losses. A public City Council work session was held near the beginning of the mitigation planning process to introduce the City's citizens and leadership to the concept of mitigation planning and to invite public comment. The final draft plan was presented at another public meeting and was made available for comment on the City's web site, in City facilities, and in public libraries. The final Plan was presented at a public meeting of the City Council on xxxx, xx 2004, effectively immediately. Copies of the adopted plan are available for review at the City of Pearland Office of Emergency Management located at 2010 Old Alvin Rd, Pearland TX 77581. • II City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) ix - Resolution of Adoption Resolution of Adoption(page 1) Per the State's recommendation, we are waiting until the plan is approved by the State and FEMA before taking to City Council for adoption. Copy of executed resolution provided after adoption. • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) xi.. - ----- ------- ------------- fCr.�F a' A t=z • Resolution of Adoption.(page 2) • • • Copy of executed resolution provided after adoption • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • _ Resolution of Adoption® _ Part 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction The City of Pearland, TX undertook development of this Hazard Mitigation Plan("the Plan")because of increasing awareness that natural and man-made hazards, especially flood hazards, may affect many people and property in the area. The Plan is a requirement associated with receipt of certain federal mitigation grant program funds administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Water Development Board. In addition, the Plan is a pre-qualification of • eligibility for other mitigation funds. 1.2 Authority The City Manager and the Administration Department were designated by the City Council to coordinate with other appropriate departments and agencies to facilitate the development of the Plan in conformance with state and federal guidelines. The Plan was prepared pursuant to the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program(44 CFR 78.6), the Hazard Mitigation and Pre-Disaster Mitigation Programs (44 CFR Parts 201 and 206), and the process outlined in materials prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Community Rating System of the National Flood Insurance Program. 1.3 Planning Area Most of the City's 44 square miles lie in northern Brazoria County with portions extending into Harris and Fort Bend Counties. The City of Pearland Hazard Mitigation Plan is prepared for the entire City. As of 2002,the geographic boundaries of the City are as shown in Figure 1-1. 1.4 Geography, Climate, and.Population The City of Pearland is located in southeast Texas, about 14 miles southeast of downtown Houston(Figure 1-2). Ground surface elevations, - across the City vary from 31 feet to 65 feet above mean sea level. However, only minimally perceptible gradient changes are found along major drainage ways: .Soils are mostly in the Lake Charles clay and Bernard clay loam complexes. Typical of the region,the dark gray soils 11 S City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - ----- _ ____ _ _ _ ------- --- -•-----_ ,,,,-Lirr'•-, ,/,-6.).--,„ ,,:•..,0-1,.., , 4 livi•-6,12.11\I 67, \'''' '. ./.-;i:-:•"1'41.110/. --.° , .....li..- are poorly drained, limiting private septic systems and increasing storm • . . . water runoff • . • ' . trogiala— City of Pearland t......m.,,,,, Beltway 8 BoStw —y B EoStPra,y C *-.A.,-...,..-- -- --- ' .-,':w01,-ct-','4:E,c..,,,,f. ,-,_-,- - .., •-1 L f.—Et -- . - u. . „„tr,,,,,,..,..",.......,.., ,,..2,,,..,,,,,,„...,„ L.. • .... __ --sb,.*;k7ici4*— .{--,,..,?4,,.:..-4..,c- (a 6 g t 8 ' f " g • V M ) i 0 rd i / . ,, F. • N'tc,'— 'a /1 r r ---,,,,, . 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City of Pearland. • I - •- ---- - --- --- ---- _ _ City of Pearland . Ihnik misinimmommilliiidPilli imENNIEN11111.1111111111:111! illimisimmill111111 "II! . . . in•wilum•ip,ow.....gm,.. Ilipti_dumminiiiiimi,‘,T.,..40 - ^ 1"9111ImitiliCA#47#v*fildpit IL'Iki -1111•0"imisTek. rAW 1- r im„mL,,sElfikir 40,111111 6.0,.. .7r,911111glitilt....4...drskilitelp,w. ,,,,, anigrea.-9., ,e_20.,t,1401..0,-, . . ... .......... .. ... ... ._ jrsaj ,"..la.,-,:,.'n ...,•-i‘:.;- . ... . :. 1 •Iin oio.;,,,,,f44.:1, taxamia . _„, , ,-,-J-.,..,. , . _ .. --,--.--,--;: ,1,,..,:,,..i,-. „!,.1,..4.,:.?:zy.,.,:ks::,,s,,wv 4 ...44 ,,,, . .,.: ,:, -:,,,.!-4,,,:-;,,,,:,,,-z;:-_,,..„,-,,;;,,,,_,,i,,,,,,,--„ ,,,7.,,,,,,.„.„,,,,, qg it.-..„,,,,,$,,:m1-4S. diyjimizap;treptkot•e3,;::-.--?:::-.,-.-,,,-.:-:-.0:'4::. '-'- :-.":.:.--.-..-•,-,.;"-`,7-.'2'4,,t'.',,. ..., .- . , : ...- .‘• -- .: .-....,. .7' - Figure 1-2. Vicinity Map: State of Texas. '-. ...: __. • . _ _ ._:, ,„ _ • _•- : 1-2. - • Part 1: Introductionll - - • . - •- . . , . . ., . The climate of the region is humid subtropical, with hot summers and mild winters. The area is typically sunny and mild with an average annual temperature of 68.9 degrees. The climate during the summer is moderated by prevailing cool southeasterly winds from the Gulf of Mexico. Summers are long with high daytime and moderate nighttime temperatures. Normally, the winters are short and mild. The average minimum January temperature is in the low 40's. During December, January, and February, the winds are generally northerly, but during the balance of the year southerly winds predominate. Generally, the heaviest precipitation occurs during thunderstorms in the spring, summer, and fall, and often is associated with tropical systems and hurricanes moving through the region. Rainfall averages about 48 inches per year and, although generally evenly distributed, the heaviest occurs in late spring or early fall. 1.4.1 Population and Growth Pearland is the fastest growing city in Brazoria County, positioned on a --------- ---- ------ growth curve that extends well into the 21st century. The estimated population for the year 2000 was 37,640, a 101%increase since 1990 (U.S. Census Bureau). This growth was substantially higher than that of Brazoria County as a whole, which experienced a 26%increase. — According to the 2000 Census, Pearland had the 6th highest percent increase from 1990 among Texas cities with populations of at least 35,000. Pearland, which is home to nearly one-sixth of Brazoria's 241,767 residents, is now the most populated city in Brazoria County with an average density of 932 persons per square mile(statewide average is 79.6 persons per square mile). The Texas Department of Human Services reports 973 births and 268 deaths in 2001. . The City's 2001 population is estimated at 40,700. The long-term rapid- population increase contributes to development pressure and has the potential for long-lasting impacts on the quality of life. . S City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) -1-3 Table 1-1 shows the number of residential, non-residential, and City- owned parcels of land, distinguished between vacant and improved. Table 1-1 Parcels (improved and unimproved). Residential Non- City Owned Total Residential Vacant Parcels 165 3,942 234 4,341 Improved Parcels 13,573 855 26 14,454 Total 13,738 4,797 260 18,795 Based on the results of the 2000 census, the City estimates over 13,500 housing units (up from almost 7,000 in 1990). The bulk of homes are less than 15 years old. This is notable because the City began managing mapped floodplain areas in 1985, thus homes in flood hazard areas should be reasonably protected through elevation. In 2000, the median value of owner-occupied housing units was $ 117,700. According to U.S. census data,Pearland's housing and population doubled between 1990 and 2000. Growth within Pearland is projected to continue at a strong pace over the next decade. Clearly this growth can increase the people and property at risk from hazards. Section 5 provides an estimate of the annual dollar value of loss to future development from relevant hazards. The City of Pearland strictly enforces their floodplain ordinance, with its one-foot freeboard requirement, and requires all new construction to be designed and constructed for 110 mile per hour wind loads, which significantly reduce the potential impact to new . development from hazards that have had the highest historical impact on property. The information provided in Table 1-2,based on labor force figures, indicates that employment is not dominated by any single industry. Pearland's 2001 estimated unemployment rate of 3.6% was below Brazoria County's estimated 5.3%, below the State's estimated 4.9% and ` below the national estimated 5.4%unemployment rate. 1-4 _ _ Part 1: Introduction, Table 1-2 Employment,by Industry. . Industry Percentage Executive&Managerial 13.83% Professional Specialty. 13.84% Technical 5.04% Sales 14.12 Admin Support 16.68% Service 9.33% 1.4.2 Special Consideration Communities For the purpose of this plan, the City of Pearland is not a"special consideration community." The federal government defines special consideration communities to be those with 3,000 or fewer individuals that is a rural community, and is not a remote area within the corporate boundaries of a larger community. The City noted that just over 1200 residents (3.4%)were living at or below the poverty level according to the 2000 Census data. In 1998, the"federal poverty level"was defined as __ annual incomes of$8,040 (individual) and$16,450 (family of four). 1.5 Planning Committee Membership The following City departments and offices are designated members of the.Mitigation Planning Committee: • Water and Sewer—Responsible for the installation of new water and - sewer lines within the City limits. Involved in major construction of line extensions and replacement and concrete replace due to utility work. . • Emergency Management—Responsible for prevention,emergency response coordination, and emergency medical care.• . Engineering/Floodplain Management—Responsible for engineering planning,design, and construction administration for street;storm drainage, water, and sewer projects. Conduct engineering review of subdivision plats and plans and building site plans; conduct construction inspection. In the Extraterritorial Jurisdictional area, City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004). 1 5 conduct plan review and construction inspections of subdivision improvements. • Community Services—Responsible for oversight of the following City departments and functions: grants,planning and zoning, building codes, community development, animal control, and human resources • Projects—Responsible for project management and oversight of all City Council approved projects including roads,bridges, and public buildings. • Parks and Recreation—Responsible for maintenance and operations of City parks and for planning and executing community events. • Administration—Responsible for general management and oversight of the City's day-to-day operations. • Grants—Responsible for obtaining, administering, and executing grants. • Street Maintenance—Responsible for maintaining approximately 185 miles of streets, 300 miles of ditches, and 3,000 regulatory and directional signs.:• Finance—Responsible for City finance and procurement.. The following agencies were notified, invited to participate, and asked to review and comment on the Plan: • Texas Division of Emergency Management • Texas Water Development Board • Federal Emergency Management Agency—Region VI • Texas Parks &Wildlife • Texas General Land Office • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality • Brazoria Drainage District No.4 1.6 Acknowledgments - The Plan was supported by two planning grants provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Water Development Board. . Pearland appreciates the advice and encouragement of both agencies. - 1-6 - Part 1 Introduction, The City of Pearland's Hazard Mitigation Plan was facilitated by Donald R. Ward&Associates, Naples,FL, with support from RCQuinn Consulting, Inc., Annapolis, MD. 1.7 Key Terms For the most part,terms used in the Plan have the meanings that are commonly associated with them: • Disaster means the occurrence of widespread or severe damage, • injury, loss of life or property, or such severe economic or social disruption that supplemental disaster relief assistance is necessary for the affected political jurisdiction(s)to recover and to alleviate the damage,loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby(DEM). • Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA)coordinates the federal government's efforts to plan for,respond to,recover from, and mitigate the effects of natural and man-made hazards. • Flood Insurance Rate Map(FIRM) is prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to show Special Flood Hazard Areas;this map is the basis for regulating development according to the Regulations for Flood Plain Management. • Floodplain: See"Special Flood Hazard Area(SFHA)"below. • Hazard is defined as the natural or technological phenomenon, event, or physical condition that has the potential to cause property damage, infrastructure damage, other physical losses, and injuries and fatalities. • Mitigation is defined as actions taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to life and property from hazards. Mitigation actions are intended to reduce the need for emergency response—as opposed to improving the ability to respond. • National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP),located within • FEMA,is charged with preparing FIRMs,developing regulations to guide development, and providing insurance for flood damage. • Risk is defined as the potential losses associated with a hazard. Ideally,risk is defined in terms of expected probability and frequency of the hazard occurring,people and property exposed, and potential consequences. • Special Flood Hazard Area(SFHA) or Floodplain is the area adjoining a river, stream, shoreline, or other body of water that is . subject to partial or complete inundation. The SFHA is the area City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 1-7 - --- -------- - 13 rwf�V4< predicted to flood during the 1% annual chance flood, commonly called the"100-year"flood. 1.8 Acronyms • The following acronyms are used in the document: • CRS—Community Rating System(NFIP) • DEM—Texas Division of Emergency Management • FEMA—Federal Emergency Management Agency • FIRM—Flood Insurance Rate Map • FIS—Flood Insurance Study • • FMA—Flood Mitigation Assistance(FEMA) . GIS—Geographic Information System • HMGP—Hazard Mitigation Grant Program(FEMA) • NFIP—National Flood Insurance Program(FEMA) . NOAA—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . SFHA—Special Flood Hazard Area • TCEQ—Texas Commission on Environmental Quality • TWDB—Texas Water Development Board - - - -- -- - . BDD#4—Brazoria Drainage District No. Four • GCCDD—Galveston County Central Drainage District 1.9 References American Society of Civil Engineers. 2002. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures(SEI/ASCE 7-02). Reston,VA. • Federal Emergency Management Agency. Various Panel Dates. Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Washington, DC. [Available for public review at the Pearland Engineering Services Department] Federal Emergency Management Agency. 1997. Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Risk Assessment. Washington, DC. Online at - http://www.feina.gov/mit/tsd/ft_mhira.htm 1-8 Part 1 Introduction National Oceanographic and Atmospheric.Administration, National Climatic Data Center(U.S.Local Storm Reports). Online at http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/extremes.html. • Accessed June 19, 2003. Pearland, City of. 2004. Emergency Management Plan for the City of Pearland. Slade, R.M., and Patton, J. Major and Catastrophic Storms and Floods in Texas (U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 03-193). Online at http://www.floodsafety.comlUSGSdemo/patton.htm#1. Accessed June, 2003. Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management. State of Texas Emergency Management Plan(2001 Revision). Austin, TX. Available online at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management. State of Texas Hazard Assessment(2000). Austin, TX. Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management. State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan(2000 Revision). Austin, TX. Available online at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management. State of Texas Mitigation Handbook(DEM 21), (June 2002). Austin, TX. Available online at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem. • • Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management. Online at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem Accessed 2002/2003. Texas Environment Center. Online at http://www.floodsafety.com. Accessed January, 2003. • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 1-9 Part 2 Introduction to Mitigation Planning 2.1 Introduction • An important step in the lengthy process of improving resistance to • hazards is the development of a hazard mitigation plan. The Pearland Hazard Mitigation Plan was prepared in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, advice from the Texas Division of Emergency Management,and the Texas Water Development Board(TWDB), and steps outlined in guidance documents for the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System(see Section 2.4). The Hazard Mitigation Plan serves several purposes. It sets the stage for long-term disaster resistance through identification of actions that will, over time, reduce the exposure of people and property to hazards. In addition, the City will be seeking recognition under the NFIP's Community Rating System, and the Plan will provide additional credit. Further, the Plan may establish eligibility for certain mitigation grant funds. Sections of the Plan provide overviews of the natural hazards that threaten the City, the people and property exposed to those hazards, the planning process, how hazards are recognized in the City's normal processes and functions, and priority mitigation action items. The hazards summary and disaster history help to characterize future-hazards. When taking into account,the magnitude of past events, the number of people and properties affected, and the severity of damage, flood hazards clearly are the most significant natural hazard to threaten Pearland. Therefore, this Plan concentrates primarily on flood hazards. . This Plan acknowledges that many buildings.were built before the creation of the National Floodplain mapping system. Current regulations require new development to recognize reasonably anticipated flood hazards. Older buildings, then, may reasonably be expected to sustain more property damage than new buildings. I City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 2-� e -- 2.2 The Mitigation Planning Process Pearland followed a well-established planning process to develop this Hazard Mitigation Plan and to fulfill multiple requirements. Five • meetings of the Mitigation Planning Committee were held (summary notes from meetings are in Appendix A): • November 19,2002. Overview of the mitigation planning process, prevalent natural hazards,losses and costs associated with events, discussion of opportunities for public comment, introduction to examples of mitigation actions. • February 4,2002. Review roles and responsibilities, overview of number of buildings (public/private)that are"in"the floodplain, discussion on ways the City communicates with the public, discussion on what we know about flood (and other)hazards and how we will learn more, drafting a mitigation goal statement, discussion on possible mitigation actions • April 1,2003. Brainstorming session to review potential mitigation actions, formally agree to the mitigation goal statement,review the preliminary.GIS maps, discussion of schedule and task for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements, -_ _ _ review of brochure draft material. . May 22,2003. Review of new GIS material, discussion and review interview notes,review mitigation action ranking and cross check with components of the goal statement, discussion of mitigation action assignments,funding and other limitations,political/citizen —— - — acceptance,review public information material,review public_ _ _— _- questionnaire draft and determine appropriate distribution, overview of regulations and ordinance evaluation, discussion of schedule and tasks for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements. • October 6,2003. Overview of Work Session held with City Council,Review updated timeline for completion and adoption of plan,brainstorming session linking mitigation actions to elements of the mitigation goal statement,review of maps to be included in the final plan,review communication brochures for public outreach. The overall mitigation planning process, summarized below, was - - facilitated by a mitigation planning consultant: - • Get Organized: Pearland's Administration Department was charged by the City Council with coordinating a committee comprised of City departments that are responsible for permits,'` �_2. Part 2: Introduction to Mitigation Planning, subdivision approvals, community development,parks and recreation,roads and bridges maintenance,public facilities, and emergency management. • Coordinate: Prior to the first Committee meeting, the following agencies were notified of the planning activity and invited to participate: — Texas Division of Emergency Management,Texas Water Development Board,and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality(which coordinates the National Flood Insurance Program). — FEMA Region VI,U.S.Army Corps of Engineers-Galveston District,and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. • Identify Hazards: Interviews were conducted to understand how members of the Committee perceive the impacts past events have had and how hazards are incorporated into routine responsibilities (detailed notes on the interviews are on file with the City). Maps can be used to show hazard-prone areas when hazards are defined with sufficient detail to show spatial or geographic differences in impact. Flood hazards are the most easily identified, due to the availability of Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the City. There are - - not enough geographic differences within the City to suggest that . .-- -- -- high winds or tornadoes might affect one area more severely or more frequently than other areas. There are no dams within the City or outside the City that affect the City's watersheds,therefore, dam failure is not a threat. Hazardous materials are generally confined to fixed facilities or within defined transportation corridors;thus,maps can be prepared to show anticipated impact areas. • Review How Hazards are Addressed: During interviews with the_ Mitigation Planning Committee representatives,the roles of each. program were described with respect to whether and how hazards are included in routine functions. The results are summarized in Section 6. Particular attention was paid to administration of the Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance(No.532-2),the Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 27), and Storm Drainage Design Criteria— Storm Drainage Design Requirements. • Assess Risks: For the purpose of this Plan, site-specific and detailed risk assessments were not prepared. The best floodplain mapping information available is from the Flood Insurance Study and associated Flood Insurance Rate Maps,dated 1999. The City had a digital version of its floodplain map prepared as an overlay for the property parcel map. This digital layer is used in the City's • Geographic Information System. - ,- - . 3 •City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 2 ------ ----------- - - e % r'r 0,1 E • Create Goal Statement: The mitigation goal statement was discussed during the second meeting of the Committee, and approved at the third meeting. • Review Mitigation Actions: A list of tentative mitigation actions was prepared based on meetings and interviews as well as knowledge of successful actions implemented in other communities. The list was distributed to the Committee and discussed in some detail during the third meeting. Minor changes were made and a revised list was distributed to the Committee, and members were asked to indicate priorities (Drop,No Opinion, Low, Medium,High) based on their program's functions and priorities. The priorities were compiled into the list shown in Part 7. • Draft Action Plan: Information collected and notes from meeting discussions were compiled into a format designed to fulfill various planning requirements. The draft was circulated to Mitigation Planning Committee members and electronic copies were provided to adjacent communities and pertinent state and federal agencies. Comments were collected and incorporated and a final draft was circulated. • Hold Public Meetings: In September 2003,the draft Hazard Mitigation Plan, including proposed mitigation actions, was made — __ available for public review. A public meeting was held on October 29,2003 to address any public comments or questions on the draft — plan. The final Plan was presented for adoption at the XX, 2004 City Council Meeting. • Adopt.Plan: A copy of the resolution of adoption is bound into this Plan. 2.3 Public Involvement in Mitigation - Planning Consistent with the City's standard objective to inform and involve citizens, and to fulfill the public involvement requirements of the mitigation planning programs, the City solicited input and notified and - invited residents to review the Plan and attend a public meeting. 2.3.1 Public Work Session at City Council Two City Council public work sessions were held during the planning process, on May 12, 2003 and October 6, 2003. The work session on -- May 12th included an overview of the mitigation planning process and progress to date. As with all work sessions, this meeting was open to the 2-4' Part 2: Introduction to Mitigation Planning, Part 4 Hazards in Pearland A Little History about a Growing City The City of Pearland began as a small railroad switching station in the years after the Civil War. Platted in 1894,the town drew a number of businesses and families from all over the world,spurred by newspaper ads touting "perfect climate...is fertile and easily cultivated.." Then,the Great Hurricane of 1900 miraculously spared the lives of the town's residents,but threw them into total poverty by destroying businesses, homes,and farms. Many families left,taking the railroad's offer of a free trip out of town. The handful that remained dug in and turned the town around after years of struggle Today,their descendents carry on this legacy,overcoming adversity and teaching newcomers that building towards a future is done by planning in the present based on lessons learned in the past. www.ci.pearland.tx.us 4.1 Introduction As part of its efforts to support and encourage hazard mitigation initiatives, the Texas Division of Emergency Management prepared an - assessment of hazards that have caused or have the potential to cause disaster situations in communities throughout the State of Texas. Results of the study are found in the State of Texas Hazard Assessment(2000). Other public sources of information provide some information about natural hazards and past events. Of the 67 Presidential Disaster Declarations that Texas received between 1961 and 2002, 37 were for floods, 14 for tornadoes, 11 for hurricane/tropical storms, one for winter storm, and four were designated"other." The following subsections provide an overview of past hazard events and . - associated losses. Natural hazards other than flood hazards that are deemed pertinent to Pearland are described, along with summary statements about exposure to risks associated with those hazards. Because flooding poses the most significant risk in Pearland, Part 5 outlines flood hazards, past flood events, and summaries of the people and property that are at-risk. City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004)_ 4-1 ------------- ----------- 4.2 . Overview of Risks Damage and losses (including physical damage, indirect and economic - - losses, and injuries and deaths) that are associated with hazards result when an event affects areas where people and improved property are located. After hazards are identified, then estimates of how exposed . people and property are (how "at-risk") can be prepared, especially if the hazards can be characterized by areas on a map. When the full range of possible natural and man-made hazards is reviewed, it becomes apparent that some events occur frequently and some are extremely rare. Some hazards impact large numbers of people to a limited degree, while others may cause very localized but very significant damage. As described in Section 5.1, floods and flash floods have historically caused the most property damage in Pearland. Between 1950-2002,the City of Pearland area experienced 97 severe thunderstorms (10 of which had greater than 50 knot winds), 33 - tornadoes, 9 severe droughts, 76 hail storms (25 of which had greater then - ---- ------ - - 1" diameter hail), 1 hurricane, 5 tropical storms, 6 extreme heat waves, and 41 floods/flash floods. A number of these events caused property damage and loss of life.(Reference NOAA database and"Major and Catastrophic Storms and Flooding in Texas", by Raymond M. Slade, Jr. and John Patton, U.S.G.S. Open=file Report 03-1 - ----- 4.2.1 Weather-Related Deaths - The National Weather Service maintains data on weather-related deaths. Summary statistics for the State of Texas based on those data are - provided in Table 4-1. Because the reporting periods are different, - percentages, not actual numbers, are provided. Jeff, this text and the following table are misplaced. Table 4-2, taken from the Emergency Management Plan for the City of Pearland. (approved in 2004), is an overview of the likelihood of occurrence and the estimated magnitude of impacts to public health, safety, and property for various hazard types. Part 4. 4-2 • Hazards in Pearland, - Table 4-1 Texas Weather-Related Deaths • (as percent of all weather-related deaths). • Statewide Brazoria Hazard COunty/Pearland (1989-2000) (1989-2002) Flood/Flash Flood 35% 1% Tornado 10% 0% Lightning S% 1% Winter Storm/Ice Storm 6% 4% Extreme Heat 34% 56% Severe Thunder Storm 4% 1% Hurricane/Tropical Storm 3% 37% The following table is an overview of the likelihood of Occurrence and the estimated impact to public health, safety, and property for various. hazard types. Table 4-1 was taken directly from the City of Pearland's Basic Emergency Management Plan approved by Texas DEM in 2003. As indicated in the Sample Planning Notes for the Basic Plan information in this summary is based on a Hazard Analysis conducted by the City of Pearland's Emergency Management Department. The likelihood of a hazard occurring is categorized as Unlikely, Occasional, Likely, or Highly Likely based on historical data and, in the absence of historical _ data, estimates. Table 4-2 Hazard Summary. • Likelihood of Estimated Impact on Estimated Impact Occurrence* Public Health&Safety on Property Hazard Type: (See below) Limited Moderate Major Limited Moderate Major l'INaturaf 3 s. --u a u °. MF }'?'r..,L- 6 .,...,._ ..v.,. :.>. ._....... fix .. $ tic �� µ::.se Drought Occasional ** Earthquake Unlikely N/A N/A a . Flash Flooding Highly Likely �— ~► _ Flooding(river or tidal) Highly Likely 4— 4 Hurricane Highly Likely . . 1 1 4--*Subsidence Occasional — Tornado Occasional Wildfire Unlikely • N/A. City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) . - e1j t 1 ,,-.rsca'c-./ Table 4-2 Hazard Summary: Likelihood of Estimated Impact on Estimated Impact Occurrence* Public Health&Safety on Property Hazard Type: (See below) Limited Moderate Major Limited Moderate Major Winter Storm Unlikely N/A N/A _chnolo r „1 ,....._ .a _. _g .. .r` Dam Failure Unlikely N/A N/A Energy/Fuel Shortage Unlikely N/A N/A Hazmat/Oil Spill(fixed site) Highly Likely 4114-110" H Hazmat/Oil Spill(transport) Highly Likely �'—� �, Major Structural Fire Occasional —♦ Nuclear Facility Incident Unlikely N/A N/A Water System Failure Unlikely N/A N/A Security_.. .L ., Civil Disorder Unlikely - N/A Enemy Military Attack Unlikely N/A N/A Terrorism Unlikely N/A N/A * Likelihood of Occurrence: Unlikely, Occasional, Likely, or Highly Likely ' ** Note: the estimated impact for drought is focused on crop damage, not building damage 4.3 Public Awareness of Hazards & Risk The public becomes aware of local hazards in a number of ways. For example, public awareness of flood hazards is enhanced during the following activities: • Buying property in a floodplain triggers the federal requirement to obtain flood insurance when obtaining a federally insured and regulated mortgage. Federally insured and regulated mortgage lenders are required to make homebuyers purchase flood insurance if the building is located in a mapped flood hazard area. Buyers are supposed to be notified well in advance of closing. • Applying for permits leads to a determination that the property or construction site is within a mapped floodplain and therefore subject to floodplain management requirements. • When flooding occurs the news media frequently carries stories about travel hampered by flooded roads and homes damaged by floodwaters. Research has shown that many flood victims themselves tend to discount the likelihood that flooding will occur - - = again. This tendency is attributed to a general lack of understanding . - _ of probability(see Comparing Risks,below). All too often,people - 4-4 Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, - interpret the phrase"100-year storm"to mean that it only occurs once every 100 years,rather than that such an event has a 1-in-100 chance of happening each year. FEMA reports that,based on insurance statistics, a building in the floodplain is five times more likely to be damaged by flood than to sustain major damage by fire. • Flood warnings reach the public as regional warnings from the National Weather Service. Comparing Risks - What's the chance that in the next year; a person whose house is in the floodplain will: • Be involved in a car accident? 3 chances in 100• • Be in 100-year flood? I chance in 100 • Have a car stolen? 1 chance in 300 • Be a victim of robbery? 1"chance in 1,000` • ■ Have a residential fire?:4 chances in10,000' - www floodsafety com a project of the Texas Environmental Center 4.4 Overview of Pearland's Natural Hazards History — - - Numerous federal agencies maintain a variety of records regarding losses associated with natural hazards. Unfortunately, no single source is considered to offer a definitive accounting of all losses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency maintains records on federal expenditures associated with declared major.disasters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service collect data on losses during the course of some of their ongoing projects and studies. Additionally, the National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanographic &Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) collects and maintains certain data in-summary format, indicating injuries, deaths, and costs. The basis of the cost estimates, however, is not identified (Reference: NOAA, online). I City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) In the absence of defmitive data on some of the natural hazards that may. occur in Pearland, illustrative examples are useful. Table 4-3 provides brief descriptions of particularly significant natural hazard events occurring in the City's recent history. Data on Presidential Disaster Declarations characterize some natural disasters that have affected the area. In 1965, the federal government began to maintain records of events determined to be significant enough to warrant declaration of a major disaster by the President of the United States. Presidential Disaster Declarations are made at the county level and are not specific to any one city. It should be noted that not all disaster declarations for Brazoria County affected the City of Pearland. However, as of 2003, ten such disasters had been declared in Brazoria County and are identified in Table 4-3. Declared disasters that directly affected Pearland are noted. Table 4-3 Natural Hazard Events and Declared Major Disasters in. - - -- -- Brazoria County. Date&Disaster(DR) I Nature of Event July 11, 1973 Severe Storm and Flooding(Limited damage in the City). DR 398 Clear Creek,Chigger Creek,Cowards Creek,and Mary's Creek flooded due to protracted rains.The storms responsible for the rains also triggered tornadoes within the area The flooding event inundated roads within the City. - July 28, 1979 Storms and Flash Floods: (265 flood insurance claims in the DR 595 City) Tropical Storm Claudette formed in the Central Atlantic the morning of July 15, 1979.It never reached hurricane intensity as it wandered across the northern Caribbean, and the Gulf of • Mexico 10 days,making landfall near Port Arthur the evening of the 24th. The storm veered left and stalled over Alvin,TX the evening/early morning hours of the 25th/26th.This was a weak tropical storm,and went through the"Core Rain"phase during that period.An observer 3.2 miles northwest of Alvin reported 8.0"in one 4-hour period. Alvin recorded the maximum 24-hour rainfall on record for the United States of 43 in. September 25, 1979 Severe Storm and Flooding. (146 flood insurance claims in DR 603 the City). Torrential rains caused Clear Creek to overflow.its banks.Many streets and homes within the City were flooded. August 19, 1983 Hurricane Alicia. (172 flood insurance claims in the City) DR 689 Category 3 hurricane which caused$3.0 billion damage/costs and 21 deaths statewide. 4-6 Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, Table 4-3 Natural Hazard Events and Declared Major Disasters in Brazoria County. • Date&"Disaster(DR) Nature of Event April 12,1991 Severe Storms,Tornadoes,and Flooding—(limited damage DR 900 in the City) December 26, 1991 Severe Thunderstorms. (Limited damage in the City) DR 930 'Christmas Flood".This was not a historic event in terms of large rainfall totals. But in terms of total rain volume that fell from the sky in one event,this certainly was one of the largest in Texas recorded history,if not the largest.Thousands of previously unsuspecting home owners were flooded as Oyster Creek became several miles wide in Brazoria County where five • hundred homes suffered serious flood damage. February 25, 1993 Tornado. The public reported a tornado near the grade school at Southdown and Highway 288. This tornado was 100 yards wide and caused about$5,000 in damages. April 25, 1993 Hail. A SkyWarn spotter reported golf ball-size hail on the east side of Pearland. The hail was 1.75"in diameter and caused $5,000 in damages. October 18, 1994 Severe Thunderstorms and Flooding. (344 flood insurance DR 1041 claims in the City). Disastrous flooding passed down Cypress. and Spring Creeks,the W and E Fork San Jacinto Rivers, producing a record elevation in Lake Houston by nearly 3 feet. Three hundred forty thousand cfs passed over the emergency spillway down the San Jacinto River below Lake Houston.The Houston Chronicle listed 15,775 homes damaged-3,069 destroyed-22 flood related deaths along these streams.Some homes flooded to the roofs of two story homes.—IA Only July 21, 1995 Heat Wave. Heat Advisories were issued covering all of Southeast Texas for an eight day period.Overnight lows hovered around 80 degrees,while afternoon highs were near 100 each day.The afternoon heat indices ranged from 105-115 degrees. Approximately 200 people reported signs of heat stress or exhaustion.There were also two deaths reported due to the excessive heat. April—May 1996 Drought. Continuation of drought conditions from April. May, normally one of the wettest months, had very little rainfall across Southeast Texas.Many stations actually received less than 0.10 of an inch of rain during May.The effects on agricultural products continued to worsen with many spring crops being lost due to lack of rainfall. Property damage for Southeast Texas this month were$10 million,agricultural losses$50 million. September 23, 1998 Severe Storm and Flooding-:Tropical Storm Francis(10 DR 1245 flood insurance claims in the City).—Tropical Storm Frances, and a localized thunderstorm that followed later in the same month, resulted in widespread flooding.The Harris County Area including the City of Pearland,received a Presidential disaster declaration for this storm event. " IA Only III City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) • =a Ica Table 4-3 Natural Hazard Events and Declared Major Disasters in • - Brazoria County. - • Date&Disaster(DR) Nature of Event May 20,2000 Thunderstorm. Severe wind damage at Clover Field.Two airplane hangars,8 trailers, 1 helicopter, and an unknown number of small airplanes overturned or destroyed. Large awning and billboard down at FM 518 and SH 35.Large trees and power lines down in the Pearland area. There was over$1 M in property damage. June 9, 2001 Severe Storm and Flooding-Tropical Storm Allison(741 DR 1379 flood insurance claims in the City). Tropical Storm Allison produced flooding throughout Southeast Texas, Louisiana,and across the eastern United States. Rainfall rates in the Houston area exceeded both the 100 and 500-year rainfall rates resulting in over 50,000 homes flooded. Damages were estimated at$5 Billion and prompted a Presidential disaster declaration for 30 counties in Texas.The City of Pearland experienced devastating flooding from this storm April 8, 2002 Flash Floods. Heavy rains caused street flooding in the neighborhood of Corrigan. Many roads in this neighborhood were impassable. There was$5,000 in property damage. • September 26, 2002 Tropical Storm Fay(Limited damage in the.City) DR 1434 4.5 Losses Due to Major Disasters No definitive record exists of all losses—public and private—due to — disasters for Pearland. For the United States as a whole, estimates of the __ total public and private costs of natural hazards range from$2 billion to over $6 billion per year. Most of those costs can only be estimated. In most declared major disasters, the federal government reimburses 75% of the costs of cleanup and recovery, with the remaining 25% covered by the state and affected local jurisdictions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's estimate of its expenditures in the State of Texas for flood disasters alone for the period from 1991 through 2001 exceeds $6.8 billion. This period includes Tropical Storm Allison, which inflicted damages in excess of$1 billion statewide. These costs,which do not include costs incurred by other federal agencies or by state and local agencies, include those associated with: 4-8'- Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, • Public assistance for debris removal,emergency services,roads and bridges, flood control facilities,public buildings and equipment, public utilities, and parks and recreational facilities. • Assistance paid out for individual and family grants, emergency food and shelter, and other assistance to individuals. • Funds set aside to support hazard mitigation grants. Despite the high costs of public assistance paid out in the State of Texas, the City of Pearland has not received any payments to pay for repair of • public infrastructure and public buildings. The only public assistance payments received covered debris removal and staff overtime. The City of Pearland has received federal hazard mitigation funds to support mitigation initiatives: • $300,000 for buyouts of homes damaged in 1994(DR 1041) (see Section 6.6.6); • $7.65 million for buyouts of homes damaged in 2001,by Tropical Storm Allison(DR 1379) (see Section 6.6.6); and • $37,425 in Flood Mitigation Assistance program funds to support development of the flood mitigation plan and$7,500 in Pre-Disaster - - Mitigation planning funds to expand this effort to satisfy all of FEMA's planning requirements. 4.6 Hazards Other than Flood The Mitigation Planning Committee considered hazards that may affect Pearland. For the most part,hazards other than flooding are not considered to be significant risks. The following sections describe these other hazards and how they have affected Pearland. _ 0 Table 4-4 identifies the total number and estimated value of buildings/infrastructure within Pearland. • e City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) " P 1 Table 4-4 Buildings/Infrastructure. Type Number of Structures/Estimated Value People 37,640* N/A Residential Buildings 13,573 $1.588B** Commercial Buildings 855 $66.5MM** Public 26 $29.6M*** Buildings/Infrastructure *Based on 2000 U.S.Census Data **Data obtained from Central Appraisal District ***Value based on insured value of City owned structures 4.6.1 High Winds/Tornadoes Several meteorological conditions can result in winds severe enough to cause property damage. High winds have been associated with extreme hurricanes traveling inland, tornadoes, and locally strong thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are the by-products of atmospheric instability, which promotes vigorous rising of air particles. A typical thunderstorm may cover an area three miles wide. The National Weather Service considers a thunderstorm"severe" if it produces tornadoes, hail of 0.75 inches or more in diameter, or winds of 58 miles per hour or more. Structural wind damage may imply the occurrence of a severe thunderstorm. Figure 4-1 shows the"basic wind speed" map from the International Building Code. This map is used to design buildings to withstand reasonably anticipated winds in order to minimize property damage (reference: ASCE 2002). The City falls within the area where the "design wind" speed is 110 miles per hour. Tornadoes pose a significant threat to life and safety in Pearland. The National Weather Service defines a tornado as a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from the base of a thunderstorm. Tornadoes can form any time of the year;but the season of greatest activity runs from March to August. 4-10 . Part 4: Hazards in Pearland. - Huai ■111111111111111 iii■i■y 4>r•�rj 1�H■ta`a ■i■■i■i■■■■■M/TAIlIr wag � ii 'IOWlag.111101****151‘t"TiOititalit* #11111MitA0tNI tAraiiilar-Irre IIIra^ ► I�t 1It 1101, 4 . � 4 �i��■mirnp:: i `taa(63) ta(e3) to >�.�44t.4`. 1Special Wind Reglen,milllet';` Naos: ,g, t 1aVpudaaarmainalralupn3+ a od go0 wmnd above ground for Etpoesro C category. 'Pall 2 Linear Interpolation between wind contours le / ��, permitted 90(40) )r1 3,blonde end coastal areas outside the last contour shall use the last wind egad contour 100(45) 130(69) of the coastal area. 4.Mountaincue login,gorges,ocean 110(49)120(s4) prortwntorlee,end epaClal wind regions shall be esaedned for unusual wind conditions. FIGURE e•1. 0A0I0 WINO.W1E)—WESTERN OW,OF ME ICO HURRICANE 004smNa Figure 4-1. Basic Wind Speed: Texas. Figure 4-2 illustrates the frequency of tornado strikes in the U.S. per 1,000 square miles. With an average of 153 tornadoes touching down • each year, Texas is considered the U.S. "tornado capital." While Texas tornadoes can occur in any month and at all hours of the day or night, they occur with greatest frequency during the late spring and early summer months during late afternoon and early evening hours. Northern Texas is most vulnerable,but the area around Pearland experiences considerable activity. -- — TORNADO ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES* .,.^. Summary Per 1,00E Square Miles ato.. P.011 :10 IVIIISI I,.. .....n �r ...m r..• 0 s ...pm" To rnlruam e1 Rercorded s Toroee pe Z a = 1,00E Sq.Ml. ALASKA °Y 0<t m<<r ... t•6 O O g-10 - uma t1-ts - - - uAERTO F 5ur0A GUd, • on NOM Storm preo✓abn Center Valletta ... PI1Efit0 WCA.wNOea WL.1ND5 - • Figure 4-2. Tornado Activity in.the U.S. . City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 1 `��4 k per) \ \ 'J k3C In Pearland,most wind damage has been limited to downed trees, blocked roads, and disabled power lines. Since 1989, in the Brazoria region there have been no weather-related deaths associated with tornadoes, and only 2% were associated with lightning and severe thunderstorms combined. The building code administered by the City requires all new construction to be designed and constructed for 110 mile per hour wind loads. All people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. Within the City of Pearland, High Winds/Tornadoes risks to people and property cannot be distinguished by area; the hazard is reasonably predicted to have uniform probability of occurrence across the entire City. As listed in Table 4-x, all people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. To estimate potential dollar value of losses to existing building, the City - of Pearland evaluated the prior loss data from the National Climatic Data Center, (http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/extremes.html). This data indicated that between 1950 and 2002, there has only been one tornado that has touched down within the City. This tornado caused an estimated$5,000 in damage. This data further indicates that between --- -- 1950 and 2002 there have been seven damaging high wind events.within Pearland that have caused an estimated$538,000 in damage. Dividing this prior loss by the span of years in which this loss was incurred, it is estimated that the City of Pearland has a potential annual loss from high winds/tornadoes of$10,442. The following approach was used to estimate the potential losses to new future buildings. As indicated in Table 4-x,total City of Pearland building values are estimated at $1.68 billion. Using historical loss data, it is estimated that these $1.68 billion in buildings will experience annual losses in the amount of$10,422, which is .0006% annual estimated • damage. Given that there is no way to predict the geographic location of high winds/tornadoes, existing and new construction are at equal risk. Therefore, it is estimated that there will be .0006% of new building values damaged on an annual basis as a result of this hazard. It should be 4-12 Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, noted that the City requires all new development to be designed and constructed for 100 mile per hour wind loads. Therefore, given that the • majority of historical damage within the City has been from high wind events with less than 110 mile an hour winds, it is likely that this estimate of damage to future buildings is on the high side. 4.6.2 Extreme Heat • Extreme heat kills by pushing the human body beyond its limits. Under normal conditions, the body's internal thermostat produces perspiration that evaporates and cools the body. However, in extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for several weeks are defined as extreme heat. Humid or muggy conditions, which add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a "dome" of high atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground. Excessively dry and hot conditions can provoke dust storms. Most heat disorders occur because the victim has been overexposed to heat or has over-exercised for his or her age and physical condition.Other — — conditions that can induce heat-related illnesses include stagnant atmospheric conditions and poor air quality. In Pearland and the surrounding area, numeious heat-related deaths have occurred. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot summers and frequent, prolonged heat waves. Many of these deaths are likely to have occurred in more rural areas of Brazoria County(and thus outside the City of Pearland) where there are a greater number of homes without air conditioning. A member of the public highlighted that there was a prolonged heat wave in July of 1980 that affected the City. This event is not listed in the NCDC database of extreme events. City • of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 4-13 - --------- iajC+� ii :w--f 44\ ti Within the City of Pearland, Extreme Heat risks to people and property cannot be distinguished by area;the hazard is reasonably predicted to . • have uniform probability of occurrence across the entire City. As listed in Table 4-4, all people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. To estimate potential dollar value of losses to existing building, the City . of Pearland evaluated the prior loss data from the National Climatic Data Center, (http://lwfncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/extremes.html). This data indicated that between 1950 and 2002,there were six extreme heat events that affected the entire County, to include the City of Pearland. None of these events caused any property damage. Due to the fact that there is no record of any historical building damage as a result of extreme heat, the estimated annual dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to extreme heat is zero. - - • 4.6.3 Drought • Drought is generally defined as a condition of climatic dryness severe- enough to reduce soil moisture and water supplies below the requirements necessary to sustain normal plant, animal, and human life. In Texas, drought is often defined in terms of agricultural and hydrologic drought: • Agricultural drought is considered a dry period of sufficient duration - and intensity that crop and animal agriculture are markedly affected. • Hydrologic drought is considered a long-term condition of abnormally dry weather that ultimately leads to the depletion of surface and ground water supplies. During hydrologic drought, a significant reduction in flow of rivers, streams, and springs is notable. Texas is divided into ten climatic divisions that range from substantially heavy precipitation through semi-arid to arid climates. Most of Texas is prone to periodic droughts of differing degrees of severity. One reason is the state's proximity to the Great American Desert of the southwestern United States. In every decade of this century, Texas has fallen victim to one or more serious droughts. The severe-to-extreme drought that 4=14 = Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, affected every region of the state in the early to mid-1950s was the most. serious in recorded U.S. history. • In Pearland, drought periods were experienced in 1996, 1998, and 2000. The 1996 drought affected the entire state. Its impacts were greatest on major population centers, prompting water conservation and reduction measures over an extended period. The Texas Agricultural Extension Service projected a$4 billion statewide economic loss as a result of the 1996 drought. In the Southeast Texas area, damage from the extended drought reached record proportions as many crops were completely lost and large numbers of animals were sold because of lack of grass. In the Southeast Texas region, property damage was estimated at $10 million and agricultural losses were estimated at $100 million. Specific numbers for Pearland are not available. Within the City of Pearland, Drought risks to people and property cannot be distinguished by area; the hazard is reasonably predicted to have uniform probability of occurrence across the entire City. As listed in Table 4-4, all people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. To estimate potential dollar value of losses to existing building, the City of Pearland evaluated the prior loss data from the National Climatic_Data- Center, (http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/extremes.html). This data indicated that between 1950 and 2002,there were nine severe drought events that affected the County as a whole, to include the City of Pearland. The nine events caused$23,000,000 in property damage across the entire County. There was no property damage as a result of drought reported for the City of Pearland. Due to the fact that there is no record of any historical building damage as a result of drought,the estimated annual dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to drought is zero. III City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - 4-15 - -- - -- ---- - sijadrt 4.6.4 Wildland Fire. The U.S. Department of the Interior has developed the Wildland Fire Assessment System Web site to communicate information to the public via the Internet. Web visitors can view real-time maps showing potential for fire on any given day, including satellite-derived "greenness" maps. Parts of Texas face major wildfire problems each year. The risk is increased and compounded by increasing development within the zone commonly referred to as the "urban-wildland interface." Within this zone of natural landscape,buildings become additional fuel for fires when fires do occur. Most wildland fires are man-caused and occur in the interface of developed lands and forest and range lands. In particular, the dry conditions, high temperatures, and low humidity that characterize drought periods set the stage for wildfires. In 1998, in what is considered the worst wildfire in state history, wildfires throughout the State burned a total of 422,939 acres and threatened 4,031 structures. In Pearland, because there is little urban-wildland interface, there is - --- -- - _________ limited risk for wildfires. The Mitigation Planning Committee staff determined that there have been no wildfires within the City in recent memory. A member of the public highlighted that there have been small brush and grass fires in the City over the past couple of decades. To estimate potential dollar value of losses to existing building, the City of Pearland evaluated the prior loss data from the National Climatic Data Center, (http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/extreines.html). This data indicated that between 1950 and 2002,there were no wild fire events that affected the County or the City of Pearland. Due to the fact that there is no record of any historical building damage as a result of wild fire, the estimated annual dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to wild fire is zero. . 4.6.5 Winter Storm Winter storms in Texas, although not as numerous or severe as in the. northern states, do occur often enough and with sufficient severity to be a 4-16 s Part 4: Hazards in Pearlandi threat to people and property. Generally, the winter storm season in Texas runs from late November to mid-March, although severe winter • weather has occurred as early as October and as late as May in some areas. On average, central Texas is affected by one to two winter storms each year. In Pearland, where the climate is subtropical, winter storms of such severity that property damage results are extremely rare. The Texas Department of Transportation has posted a number of bridges to warn drivers that icy conditions may occur. The Mitigation Planning Committee staff determined that there has been no damage associated with winter storms in recent memory. A member of the public highlighted that a winter storm in the late 1970's caused pipes to freeze and burst in several areas of the City. Within the City of Pearland, Winter Storm risks to people and property cannot be distinguished by area;the hazard is reasonably predicted to have uniform probability of occurrence across the entire City. As listed_ __. in Table 4-4, all people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. To estimate potential dollar value of losses to existing building, the City of Pearland evaluated the prior loss data from the National Climatic Data ___________ Center, (http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/extremes.html). This data indicated that between 1950 and 2002,there was one winter storm event (an Ice Storm in January of 1997) that affected the County as a whole, to include the City of Pearland. This event caused no building damage anywhere in the County. Due to the fact that there is no record of any historical building damage as a result of winter storms, the estimated annual dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to winter storms is zero. 4.6.6 Hazardous Materials Hazardous materials are chemical substances that,if released or misused, can pose a threat to health or the environment. Hazardous materials__ . e City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 4-17 L 1 incidents are most often caused by transportation accidents or industrial chemical accidents. A natural disaster such as flooding might also result •• in spills. Hazardous materials come in many forms, such as explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons, and radioactive materials. Since their chemical properties vary significantly, an incident could be obvious (e.g., airborne plume,spill on the ground, bad smell) or not readily apparent (e.g.,beneath the surface of the ground, no odor or color). . Hazardous material incidents are one of the most common technological threats to public health and the environment. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ)is the state's lead agency in the response to most hazardous substance spills, certain island oil spills, and spills of other substances that cause pollution or damage to the environment. TCEQ maintains a database of all hazardous substance incidents reported by the state. TCEQ statewide data for the years 1993 to 1997 reveal that • - an average of 1,282 hazardous material incidents were reported each year. An analysis of TCEQ data indicates that the number of incidents reported - is declining, probably because manufacturers, users, and transporters of hazardous materials are becoming more aware of the financial and political costs of hazardous materials incidents. Roughly 65% of all incidents occur at fixed facilities, and some 25% involve highway, rail, — — -- water, or pipeline transportation. The remaining 10% involve other_______ situations or undetermined causes. In Pearland, Emergency Services coordinates planning and response for hazardous materials incidents with Brazoria County Local Emergency Planning Council, Houston Fire Department, and Harris County. The City's HAZMAT response plan is in Annex Q of the City's Emergency Management Plan. There are 32 fixed sites in the City where hazardous materials are used. . Transportation of hazardous materials poses a daily threat, given that the Burlington National Santa Fe Railroad and State Highway 35 run through the middle of the City and both are major transportation routes. 4 18t Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, The following is a list of HazMat incidences that have occurred within or just outside the City in recent years: • • Third Coast fire occurred May 2001, involving a large chemical plant fire near SH 288 just outside the City. • Tanker truck caught fire while unloading in Rosharon— 10 miles outside of the City. • Entegris, a large industrial company,was cleaning out drains and dumped acid into the stormwater management system—killing wildlife near the dump site. • A site on East Industrial is a State-designated superfund site where abandoned storage tanks with HazMat material have been found. • In 1990, a large fire broke out at a package and solvents plant on Mykawa Rd. (solvents and chemicals). • The Harkey Road site is located at 17111 Harkey Road in an unincorporated section of Brazoria County, approximately 2 miles south of the City.The site, approximately 2/3 acre in size, is - . currently abandoned and fenced with posted warning signs consists of Lots 4 and 5 in Hasting Acres.The description of the site is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the Hazard Ranking System(HRS). The site was formerly owned by the late George Hastings and Nola Hastings. The contaminant is — lead,believed to be from lead-acid battery chips placed on the property to backfill low areas.Between August 2000 and January 2001, a site investigation was conducted by the TNRCC. One mobile home, one utility shed and one propane tank were removed from the fenced area. In early 2002 the TNRCC project manager - reported that cleanup was complete, and conditions at the site met residential cleanup standards. No further remedial action was planned for the Harkey Road site. For additional information on this site.please visit http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us . /permitting/remed/superfund/harkey.html. . In Pearland, in close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, is exposed to risks along major routes used to transport various chemicals associated with • petroleum production. A major rail system(Santa Fe Railway) and a major state highway(SH 35) cross the City. It is well known that both of these transportation routes are heavily used to transport hazardous . materials; SH 35 is reported to carry more HazMat traffic than any other highway in the State ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - tit AN As stated earlier in this section, there are 32 fixed sites in various locations throughout.the City where hazardous materials are used(see Map 5-5). Further and the Burlington National Santa Fe Railroad and State Highway 35, major Hazmat transportation routes, run through the middle of the City. Given these facts and the fact that the entire City is only 44 square miles in size, it is estimated that all people and property within the City are at relatively the same degree of risk from Hazardous Materials. See Table 4-4 for an overview of people and assets at risk. .I To estimate potential dollar value of losses to existing building, the City of Pearland evaluated prior loss data as reported by City officials and data from TCEQ. This data indicated that between 1950 and 2004,there has been one hazmat incident within the City that have caused building damage. This was the 1990 fire in a package and solvents plant on Mykawa Rd.. This event caused an estimated$100,000 in building damage and may not have been a direct result of hazardous materials. Due to the fact that there is very limited historical building damage as a result of hazardous materials; the estimated annual dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to hazardous materials is near zero. 4.6.7 Pipelines Throughout the Texas Gulf Coast Plain are numerous pipelines that transport crude oil, natural gas, and various petrochemical products: Pipelines are at risk for cracking or breaking, releasing potentially harmful chemicals into the environment. With the number or pipelines. that intersect with the floodplain, flooding might also result in damage to pipelines. In Pearland,numerous pipelines cross under the City, transporting crude oil, natural gas, and various petrochemical products. The heaviest concentration is in the southeastern part of the City, especially near Dixie Farm Road. Pipelines and the potential environmental impacts of a break, leak, or explosion are a real concern to City officials and residents of Pearland. Map 4-1 shows the locations of pipelines within the City. In the late '70s, an explosion resulted from a 36"natural gas pipeline at Stone - 4-20 Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, -, and Max Road; no injuries were reported. Significant risk is present despite over 20 years without a reported incident. As stated earlier in this section, numerous pipelines cross under the City, transporting crude oil, natural gas, and various petrochemical products (see Map 4-1). Given this fact and the fact that the entire City is only 44 square miles in size, it is estimated that all people and property within the City are at relatively the same degree of risk from pipelines. See Table 4- 4 for an overview of people and assets at risk. To estimate potential dollar value of losses to existing building, the City of Pearland evaluated prior loss data as reported by City officials. This data indicated that over the past 20 years, there have been no pipeline incidents within the City that have caused building damage. Due to the fact that there is no historical building damage as a result of pipelines, the estimated annual dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to pipelines is near zero. 4.6.8 Seismic/Earthquakes An earthquake is a sudden motion or trembling caused by an abrupt release of accumulated strain on the tectonic plates that comprise the Earth's crust. Ground motion may be vertical or horizontal shaking. Figure 4-3 presents the general "earthquake risk" map prepared by the -- U.S. Geological Survey. It shows relative risk to compare seismic risks across the country. Most °' � .. of Texas, °� may', including ,: 1 .)__ Air to j �, 61 dd„ p- r �kirrurr ar,.;,• .( Pearland, is i , ' �� o� � . �3� T I �t f r " � :r f Hlgiesi and designated the c % 0 l(1� X �' lowest hazard3* rating. = "� ;V of SgB s-i6 - •`FLU„ r S r- F4 ` In Pearland, seismic risks to *avast Hazard f c. people and Figure 4-3.. U.S. Seismic Hazards e City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(Juhe 2004) ri ar Ad`,'f '• property cannot be distinguished by area;the hazard is reasonably. predicted to have uniform probability of occurrence (extremely rare) across the entire City. As listed in Table 4-4, all people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. • Due to the extremely low probability of an earthquake within the City of Pearland and the fact that there is no record of any historical building damage as a result of seismic activity in the City, the estimated dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to earthquakes is zero. • • = 4_11 - Part 4 Hazards in Peariand1 I. }.._�., �,.Fy ,-A. + IS 15 t! e,?\ .r - .jFc -i ,,,I -- w j L Krap, a s f R't „s r r d' `+ w r 'S- '+67 �/ t,om, f., .. t t X �? } r ,t� bt r ° 411� r t a wit t" N.V m C '-,a, / G r ,x 8' {. ct fj l,114,.. r t n s, W ;, v rn,. nm 'E rrratil l'Al t+ .rr © , 5 `� �j i",v '' 5 r Yt411' r y L �Lr'•'"+ _'rM~s t. + / t�.,e- �• Q. �,.` '7 + ti; F I�i^rug r r i"�Mf l ..:'' f7. / QQ �r ^t'c,8,, 'i:1 �y Y - - „.� / i. X i'i . ;,.. to '] .56 A 5 l;,1 r` 1 Z ~^� ��LCJ��H�LJsI '�, E${ 0g: :n rr4�uu�n. 2., ;9 p_tiol la 1 s _ mill u� +'. / x ), os' 4l i� t �: + t ° ,,,.. •bus rutAlli r v, C '?. 4-2 a _ - >3 : B �I 14 m i� iiirAmruu iur►rt 4-4 s!lf, ,. a: -� y { 3e AI 'Mier cr i DZ.13 l' LS' .-':-F-,!--]ffiLkgrfa ati , • , s:•was ` ?Ai ` , r L �- r.on /1 1 r~ lama I gm ,! , yt\.✓ . i t . ., ; `F`"' `;�.' '1 ' Pipelines Through Pearland - y. '; f �:I flood Plain MaJor Roads �''I r 1 { q Limps Centergnes • �* /�i '1 i/ � •.`-•1 EW —_._ DrPalnage W r<�i E County Pipeline tnrnelib mile tt ,r r i3 !4 , 4. �, lib �Ti 4 r _ • ' / `'�` ° .r..® .«® o ors..�� { ;• • 11 'I 1 4.6.9 Landslides The term landslide is used to describe the downward and outward movement of soils and rocks moving down a slope under the force of gravity. Landslides include mudflows, mudslides, debris flows, rock falls, rock slides, debris avalanches, debris slides, and earth flows. Most landslides are associated with heavy, prolonged rains which saturate soils. In 1997, the U.S. Geological Survey published a national map to illustrate . landslide risk areas. The map combines past incidents with a measure of "susceptibility", defined as the "probable degree of response of rocks and soils to natural or artificial cutting or loading of slopes, or to anomalously high precipitation." The entire Texas coastal plain, including Pearland, is shown has having had less than 1.5% of its land area affected by movement of soils on slopes (no planning period is identified). In Pearland,landslide risks to people and property cannot be distinguished by area;the hazard is reasonably predicted to,have uniform probability of occurrence (extremely rare) across the entire City. As listed in Table 4-4, all people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. Due to the extremely low probability of a landslide within the City of Pearland and the fact that there is no record of any historical building damage as a result of landslides in the City, the estimated dollar value damage to existing or future buildings due to earthquakes is zero. 4.6.10 Terrorism • The threat of terrorism has received significant media attention during the last few years. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, have heightened public concern and awareness about terrorism. Terrorism is the use of force or violence against people or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for the purposes of intimidation, coercion, or ransom. The effects of terrorism can vary _ significantly, from loss of life and injuries to property damage and - 0 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) disruptions in services such as electricity, water supply, public transportation, and communications. Terrorist attacks can take a wide variety of forms, and can affect a small area(e.g., a building), or a large area(e.g., disrupted services for an entire city). Historically, bombings • have been the most frequently used terrorist method in the United States. In Pearland, the City's Emergency Services has performed tabletop training exercises for responding to technological threats from terrorism— this training was performed in accordance with State of Texas guidelines. In addition, the City recently received a grant for approximately $134,000for training and equipment. Being in close proximity to the City. of Houston and two major airports increases the vulnerability to terrorist incidents. Possible attack targets are broadly characterized as including freeways, airports, utilities, and chemical/industrial plants in the Houston and Pearland area. Pipelines, water treatment facilities, sewer treatment facilities, and other public facilities also are potential targets. Therefore, specific data on the vulnerability of these public facilities is not made available to the public. Within the City of Pearland,terrorism risks to people and property cannot be distinguished by area;the hazard is reasonably predicted to have uniform probability of occurrence (extremely rare) across the entire City. - As listed in Table 4-4, all people and assets are considered to have the same degree of exposure. Given the lack of observed historical loss data from terrorism within the City of Pearland, no estimate of potential loss to existing or future buildings is available. . 4.6.11 Hurricane A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. Hurricane winds blow in a large spiral around a relative calm center known as the "eye." The "eye" is generally 20 to 30 miles wide, and the storm may extend outward 400 miles. As a hurricane approaches land, the skies will begin to darken and _- winds will grow in strength, often accompanied by torrential rains, high .4-26 Part 4: Hazards in Pearland, _ xP z • Create Goal Statement: The mitigation goal statement was discussed during the second meeting of the Committee, and approved at the third meeting. • Review Mitigation Actions: A list of tentative mitigation actions was prepared based on meetings and interviews as well as knowledge of successful actions implemented in other communities. The list was distributed to the Committee and discussed in some detail during the third meeting. Minor changes were made and a revised list was distributed to the Committee, and members were asked to indicate priorities (Drop,No Opinion, Low, Medium,High) • based on their program's functions and priorities. The priorities were compiled into the list shown in Part 7. • Draft Action Plan: Information collected and notes from meeting discussions were compiled into a format designed to fulfill various planning requirements. The draft was circulated to Mitigation Planning Committee members and electronic copies were provided to adjacent communities and pertinent state and federal agencies. Comments were collected and incorporated and a final draft was _ _ circulated. • Hold Public Meetings: In September 2003, the draft Hazard Mitigation Plan, including proposed mitigation actions,was made available for public review. A public meeting was held on October 29, 2003 to address any public comments or questions on the draft plan. The final Plan was presented for adoption at the XX, 2004 City Council Meeting. . • Adopt Plan: A copy of the resolution of adoption is bound into this Plan. 2.3 Public Involvement in Mitigation Planning Consistent with the City's standard objective to inform and involve . . citizens, and to fulfill the public involvement requirements of the mitigation planning programs, the City solicited input and notified and invited residents to review the Plan and attend a public meeting. 2.3.1 Public Work Session at City Council Two City Council public work sessions were held during the planning process, on May 12, 2003 and October 6, 2003. The work session on May 12th included an overview of the mitigation planning process and progress to date. As with all work sessions, this meeting was open to the Part 2: Introduction to Mitigation Planning, public and a notice of the meeting was posted on the City's website and at City Hall. Specific items covered in this work session presentation included: • How and why the City is undertaking the mitigation planning process; • • Overview of Pearland's natural hazards; • Draft mitigation actions under consideration by the planning committee; • Proposed public involvement; and • The schedule for completion. The work session on October 6, 2003 included an overview of the planning process, progress to date, a summary of public questionnaire responses, and an overview of the prioritized mitigation actions. As with all work sessions, this meeting was open to the public and a notice of the meeting was posted on the City's website and at City Hall. Specific items covered in this work session presentation included: • • How and why the City is undertaking the mitigation planning process; • The planning process; • Summary of public involvement; • - Overview of public questionnaire responses; • Overview of the prioritized mitigation actions; and - • The schedule for completion. 2.3.2 Public Questionnaire A questionnaire to solicit input from citizens about hazards and .- mitigation ideas was prepared and distributed to over 4,000 addresses of people in the mapped floodplain and those who have reported flooding and drainage problems. The questionnaire was posted on the City's web page (Appendix B, including a summary of responses). Two-hundred eighty-two homeowners returned completed questionnaires. Highlights of the most frequent responses include: • Drainage/storm sewer backups as a significant contributor to flooding. Respondent's recommendations include improving. S City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) = 2-5 - -- ------------ - - - ------- ------ - /�$'a^•;;-?.may ft%;FIE .... r1 drainage beyond current needs and keeping all ditches and creeks cleaned. • Street flooding as a significant problem. • New home developments are being built higher than older, established neighborhoods, and there is a concern the City is allowing too much. It was stated that both of these concerns are • contributing to flooding. Respondent's recommendations include enforcing zoning and regulations to prevent overbuilding and to reduce new home building permits. • HazMat accidents are a significant potential hazard. This concern was furthered with the concern that City roads may be too congested to handle an evacuation. • Increased traffic in the City is a hazard that has increased in severity in recent years. • Sewers backup during most heavy rains. • Recommend cleaning/dredging Clear Creek. • Most all respondents stated they are aware of the City's floodplain permitting requirements.. 2.3.3 Final Public Meeting The Pearland, TX, Hazard Mitigation Plan(Public Review Draft) was presented to the public at a meeting held on October 29, 2003. Notices of the meeting were published in the Reporter News: A notice of the final public meeting was published in the Legal Notice section on October 15;- - --- and on October 29, a four-column notice was published in the main section of the Reporter News (Figure 2-1). Prior to the-meeting, copies.of the Public ReviewDraft were made available to the public in City of Pearland offices and at the Pearland - Branch of the Brazoria County public library, Tom Reid Building. In addition, it was posted online at http://www.ci.pearland.tx.us. One member of the public and one member of the press attended this meeting. Comments received are summarized below: • Pearland should have included a member of the public on the planning committee; • There was not sufficient public notice prior to this public meeting; - 2-6 ' Part 2: Introduction to Mitigation Planning, _ • NOTICE OF PUBLIC - MEETING CITY OF PEARLAND - -• . There was a major heat wave in July of 1980 that HAZARD MITIGATION . - should be included in the hazard history.section; PLAN • • Grass fires have occurred within the City; A public meeling w11 beheld,October 29th;et p.m.until 9 • p.m., in the Community There was a winter storm in 1978 that damaged Center, located at. 3519;. pipes around the City. Liberty.Oche to•ieviem rbe draft Hazards Mitigation Plan recently prepared by the City of Pearland. The draft plan. Notice of Public Meeting 1, may be reviewed by down•. • I I loading from the link 'at• City of l earland Hazard Mitigation Plan 11 www.ci.poarland.tx.us.. • Copies are also available for 1 A public meeting trill he held October 29tL.at 7 p.m.mud 9 p•m.,in the Community Center.located:d 35s_3 review at the tollowl. loco• pitied:.Drive to r_viete the draft llae:adsn Mitigation Winn to eully ptepa ted by the City or Pea?and nit drat: following I Unit may be reviewed by downloading limn tto link at rn w.ei.ptad;md.ta.u5.Copies are also available for 110115: 1 r_eit, i the following lea tints: • • Pearl:nd Library•3522 Liberty Drive Peariand Library City Secretary's Office•3519 Liberty Drive 3522 Liberty Drive . • City Ssccetants attim Emergency Management•2010 Old Alvin Road 3519 Liberty Drive_ • 'I'1 uc phut provides tot neervanM or natural h:rm:uds in the City,smmnarized pant hazard event.,describe,heu Emergency Manag- the City Nem:el/e.s rmd addros3re h ie n it ii tie development pnxt:,ant other City funetiens,.tot sot=for an 2010 Old Alvin Road 1 l.teiun age,,aa.The ncii,:n>.nr.intended to:e,lu:.:the huts-t:nn Mont,:pct.<of i1tnrttina nod now hirards on the 'City and iix citizens 1:letnl:cis of the nubile ant ettz t tap::d to attend.especially lhose with property located in .. tle,,l-poste area,. The plan •provides:-en Cult dare the,ppt/riunity in eonrment on the plan:tail proposed action agenda.Comments should be taxed overview of natural hazards to Cindy Ale:da M t'28l)652.pith.'.,or ntaile.l to het aiteniinn at Cily Hall,3319 Liberty Doris,Pearland,Texas in the City,summarized past• • In3s1. hazard events, describes After crniidcnirien❑reitmmel it toil ooviets by the Texas Diaitini nr l:nvisency Management.the final ham. hazard qty 12CUgt1Ra5 8f16 • • ,. and niitig noon plan will he presented to dm cu.Couucil fur adoptiset..lamrhhis year or early next year. • addresses hazards in the. • • .--Questions ab • out the plan should be directed to: development' process :and — - I Mitigation Plan Consultant,Jeff Ward other City functions,and sets • ' • for an action agenda..Tbe. 866 465-7105 (toll free number) red costherengdintended - 0 s I jeffreys«ard((J.)carthlink.net. of Ileoding and other hazards I i .r^ _.______.__�`__— --1 on the City and its citizens. Figure 2-1. Public Meeting Notices Published in Members.of the public'are_ encouragedto attend,eve- . the Reporter News on October 15 and 29,2003. located l daily those with ad•prone creasy These comments were taken into account when Citizens have the opportunity • to comment on the plan and preparing the final plan and where relevant were proposed action agenda.,. Comments shoulri bp.hayed . incorporated into the draft. Due to the concern to Cindy koala at(281)852% • regarding public participation and the small turnout at on at citmyiiaa is ueey this meeting, the Cityagreed to keep the public Drive, Pearland, .:;Texas g 17.881. comment process for the draft plan open another two Alter cansideralign`of_con' weeks. An article prepared by the meeting attendee moms•;and;tovtew,•by,the' • texas Dlv}sron i trnergeni y: i from the press appearedn the Houston Chronicle Managomenl,.iha final tiaz•.. and mitigation.plan_• ..bo informing people that the draft was available for presented to the Cily Council . public review and comment through November 14, for adoption tatnc tkus iaac ac, early next year y 2003. At the end of this period, only one additional Questions.about the.'plai . public.comment was received. should. be directed to • Mitigation Plan Consultant Jell Ward at 866.465.7105 • (toll free,numbot) ,or jet . . freysward@earihlink.not + - • - ®• City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) • • � 7 _ m 2.3.4 Public Session of City Council The Hazard Mitigation Plan was presented for adoption during the XX, 2004 public session of the City Council and adopted effective XX, 2004. The Emergency Management Department was directed to forward the Plan to the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Division of Emergency Management for appropriate review and action. 2.4 The State Mitigation Plan The State of Texas has long been aware that it is exposed to a variety of natural hazards. Of particular concern are flood hazards associated with thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tropical storms. The State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan (January 2000; accessible online at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem) was reviewed and is summarized below. Originally prepared by the Texas Division of Emergency.Management to fulfill the requirements set forth by Congress in the Stafford Act (Section 409), the State's Hazard Mitigation Plan will be reviewed and revised to satisfy new planning requirements prompted by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The State's plan acknowledges that people and property in Texas are at risk from a variety of hazards that have the potential to cause-widspread _ - loss of life and damage to property, infrastructure,and the environment. The plan"establishes hazard mitigation goals, strategies, and specific measures designed to reduce the occurrence or severity of the consequences of hazards.". It also documents procedures for implementation and administration of certain mitigation grant programs. The State Hazard Mitigation Team is designated to coordinate and influence mitigation and is composed of several agencies that participate on the Emergency Management Council. Primary agencies are the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;Texas Parks and Wildlife Department;Texas Department of Environmental Quality (formerly the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission);Texas Department of Transportation, General Land Office;Railroad 2-8 - Part 2: Introduction to Mitigation Planning, Commission of Texas;Texas Department of Insurance; Texas Forest Service;Texas Engineering Extension Service; and Texas Division of Emergency Management. Brief summaries of each of these primary agencies are provided, noting key natural hazard mitigation measures associated with each agency. For the most part, existing measures are ongoing agency functions and responsibilities. As currently structured,the State's Hazard Mitigation Plan contains attachments outlining specific strategies for dealing with hazards related to floods, wildfires, and tornadoes. Strategies particularly pertinent to local jurisdictions are described below: • Flood Mitigation. Eleven percent of the state's land area is mapped as flood-prone, with an estimated 675,000 households located in these areas. Mitigation recommendations include: - Passage by the Texas Legislature of new laws that create/mandate sound floodplain management by all political subdivisions: - That all owners of dams, levees, floodwalls and other protective works conduct studies to evaluate effectiveness and soundness and to incorporate evacuation and warning into operations plans. - Implementation of a statewide information and education program, with local emphasis, to address sale of flood insurance and public awareness. - Seek broader authority to protect,restore, and preserve natural and cultural floodplain resources. • Wildfire Mitigation. In an average year, 1.5 million acres burn in • Texas. Many areas are vulnerable to wildfire during dry years,. although those with very sparse vegetation are less likely to burn due to low quantities of fuel. Mitigation recommendations include: - Development of a statewide wildfire reporting system. - Establishment of mutual aid agreements and improvements in training. - Installation of automated weather systems at key locations. - Assistance to rural communities via centralized purchasing and development of dry hydrants. • • Tornado Mitigation. Texas tornadoes occur with greatest frequency_during the spring and early summer months, with the ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Miti ation Plan(June 2004) -; - erg • majority occurring in April,May, and June. Mitigation recommendations include: - Promotion of expanded normal peril and windstorm insurance. - Promotion of enhanced public awareness. • - Adoption and enforcement of building codes and/or design criteria, especially for shelters in public facilities, schools, and mobile home parks. - Enhancement of warning capabilities to ensure that+90% of the state's population receives accurate and timely warnings to allow adequate response. 2.5 Federal Mitigation Planning Requirements Requirements for mitigation planning are set forth in four programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These are described below. Although slightly different, all programs outline the same basic planning process (described in Section 2.1). The Pearland Plan is intended to satisfy the basic requirements each of the four programs: • Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. To qualify to receive grant . funds to implement projects such as acquisition or elevation of flood-prone homes,local jurisdictions must prepare a mitigation plan. The plan must include specific elements and be prepared following the process outlined in the NFIP's Community Rating-System. • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. By November 2004, to qualify for post-disaster mitigation funds, local jurisdictions must adopt a mitigation plan that is approved by FEMA. • Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. By November 2003,to qualify for pre-disaster mitigation funds, local jurisdictions must adopt a mitigation plan that is approved by FEMA. • • NFIP's Community Rating System(CRS). The CRS offers recognition to communities that exceed minimum requirements of • the National Flood Insurance Program. Recognition comes in the form of discounts on flood insurance policies purchased by citizens. The CRS offers credit for mitigation plans that are prepared according to a multi-step process. 2-10-. Part 2::Introduction to Mitigation Planning' Part 3 Mitigation Goal Statements • 3.1 Introduction In 1997, the City Council established a broad vision statement to guide its long-term and short-term actions: • Pearland Vision Statement Pearland,Texas is identified as one of the most livable places in the United States in 2020. This feat is accomplished through a public-private partnership of citizens and:-, institutions who selflessly commit their time,energy,and resources toward achieving this common goal. This family-oriented,Gulf Coast city manages its growth thi-61.4h-;:s. proactive involvement of citizens who are committed to improving their quality of life and preserving their community values. • Pearland offers a vigorous,diversified economy solidly based upon a pro-growth business environment,a highly skilled and motivated workforce,and an - • environmentally friendly industrial base. It is an economy that offers a full spectrum of retail,health,transportation and business services that meet all the needs of the community. The community boasts of one of the highest per capita incomes in the state. The community provides a wide range of attractive and affordable housing in some of America's best planned neighborhoods. These developMents offer many recreational amenities which blend in aesthetically with the environment and are , • conveniently accessible by a modern thoroughfare plan. • • , " • Pearland's local government sets a national standard in providing open,inclusive,.• _ and equitable government grounded in consensus planning. This government is proactive in ensuring that Pearland's citizens enjoy an attractive,safe,and wholesome environment where the quality of life is second to none. Based upon its"good-partner" approach to economic development,the city is exemplary in attracting industry that makes a positive contribution to the tax base and the quality of the community's business portfolio. Recognizing that education is the key that unlocks the benefits of future growth and••.•. development,the citizens of Pearland maintain an interactive communication network among parents,teachers,administrators,and community leaders;maintain relationships with business to ensure educational objectives are meeting industrial requirements;and offer a world class educational system that utilizes the most • progressive communication and computing technologies in teaching,training,and re- training students and Workers of all ages in the community. , • - _ . • The citizens of Pearland recognize that their future Will always lie with themselves. They know that the present is built upenthe'past7 Recognizing that the culture of the community is grounded in the traditional values Of being good neighbors and good citizens,they are committed to preserving those values in the face of a changing world.'They,support each other in timeS;61-tieed and celebrate in each other's •success. They open their civic organizations,churches,schools and neighborhoods newcomers as sources of new ideas,knowledge,and friendships. The diversity of the community provides for a wide range of activities and organizations for residents to involve themselves. When it comes to accomplishing community projects they believe their individual efforts will be maximized through collective Therefore;the residents are committed to working.tngetherto plan the future, . ‘,. II City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) • \ �'=t G 0 3.2 Pearland's Short-Term Goals In January 2003, the City Council established a series of eight goals for 2003-2004. Three goals (and supporting objectives) were identified as high priorities: Bond Program Implementation, Flooding and Drainage, and Managing Growth. The remaining goals were not prioritized, and included Fiscal Responsibility, Codes and Ordinances,Infrastructure, Additional Mobility, and Communications. As outlined in Table 3-1,the Flooding and Drainage goal is supported by five specific objectives (see Section 6.6 for current status). Other goals and objectives also are related to growth and exposure to hazards. Table 3-1 Pearland's Goals for 2003-2004. Goals and Objectives Goal#2: Flooding and Drainage Objective 1 —Continue lobbying for Clear Creek improvements through a coalition with the City of Friendswood, BDD#4,and GCCDD. Objective 2—Evaluate detention and other requirements for new development to determine if additional provisions should be added,or if current requirements should be modified. Objective 3—Determine causes and evaluate solutions for new drainage problems in areas that did not previously experience drainage difficulties. Objective 4-Improve maintenance of detention ponds and City-controlled secondary ditches. Work with BDD#4 to clearly define maintenance . -. . ._- responsibilities of each entity for drainage facilities in the City. Objective 5—Evaluate the feasibility of drainage impact fees to fund additional detention and drainage facilities. Goal#3: Managing Growth Objective 1—Develop a Unified Development Code that incorporates all development-related ordinances of the City. Objective 3—Employ a consultant to update the land use ordinance and subdivision regulations to reflect the current wishes of the community. Goal#5: Codes and Ordinances Objective 1 —Review all City Ordinances for timeliness,relevance,and enforceability. - 3.3 Pearland's Mitigation Goal State and federal guidance and regulations pertaining to mitigation planning require the development of.a mitigation goal statement that is 3-2 Part 3: Mitigation Goal Statements, consistent with other goals, mission statements and vision statements. The Mitigation Planning Committee reviewed FEMA's national . mitigation goals, Pearland's Vision Statement,the City Council's goals, several examples of goal statements from other states and communities, and the State of Texas Mitigation Goal. The committee also considered information about natural hazards that may occur in the City and their potential consequences and losses. The final mitigation goal statement is as follows: The City of Pearland Mitigation Goal Statement The goal of this plan is to support the City of Pearland's efforts to protect the community's health, safety, and welfare by identifying, and increasing:. public awareness of natural and man-made hazards, and mitigating risks due to those hazards without creating new problems. The Mitigation Planning Committee discussed the value of making the goal statement broad enough to allow for a more comprehensive interpretation of its phrasing, for example: • "Protect health, safety, and welfare"is broad enough to include the - - — — -- -- - - concept of applying development controls (permits) in floodplains, to include building according to regulations that reduce the potential for damage. The phrase is also broad enough to include undertaking projects intended to deal with specific properties, such as administering grants for acquisition,protecting park buildings, or working with others if a structural flood control project is deemed appropriate. • "Public Awareness"can include helping citizens to understand hazards, to know how to respond when asked to evacuate, to learn how to protect themselves and their property, to understand the value of flood insurance, and to obtain and comply with permit. • requirements. City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 3 3 ; • R e"Fths�, - 3.4 State of Texas Mitigation Goals The Texas Division of Emergency Management (DEM) is designated by the Governor as the state's coordinating agency for disaster preparedness, emergency response, and disaster recovery assistance. DEM also is tasked to coordinate the state's natural disaster mitigation initiatives and administer grant funding provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A key element in that task is the preparation of the State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan (Rev 2, 2000). The State's plan includes a series of mitigation goals, as follows: Texas State Mitigation Goals • Reduce or eliminate hazardous conditions that cause loss of life, • Reduce or eliminate hazardous conditions which inflict injuries; " • Reduce or eliminate hazardous conditions which cause property damage; and _ _ • Reduce or eliminate hazardous conditions which degrade important natural resources Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan(2000) 3.5 FEMA's Mitigation Goal FEMA's mitigation strategy is set forth in a document originally prepared • in the late 1990s. This strategy is the basis on which FEMA implements mitigation programs authorized and funded by the U.S. Congress. The national mitigation goal statement is as follows: • To engender fundamental changes in perception so that the public demands safer environments in which to live and work; and • To reduce,by at least half, the loss of life, injuries,economic costs, and destruction of natural and cultural resources that result from• natural disasters. 3-4 Part 3: Mitigation Goal Statements _ winds, and storm surges. A single hurricane can last for more than 2 weeks over open waters and can run a path across the entire length of the Eastern Seaboard. While coastal counties are exposed to storm surge • flooding, inland area experience flooding due to intense and prolonged rainfall. August and September are peak months during the hurricane season that lasts from June 1 through November 30. • In Pearland,the risks associated with hurricanes are due to high winds (Section 4.6.1) and riverine flooding (Section 5). Due to its distance from the Gulf Coast, storm surge is not a hazard for the Cit of Pearland. • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 4-27 Part 5 Flood Hazards in Pearland 5.1 Flood Hazards: Overview Floods have been and continue to be the most frequent, destructive, and costly natural hazard facing the State of Texas. Ninety percent of the • State's damage reported for major disasters is associated with floods. Records indicate that the streams draining Pearland have flooded throughout the City's history. Most recently, since 1990 Pearland has been impacted by three significant flood events (1994, 1998, and 2001). Figures maintained by the National Climatic Data Center and the Centers for Disease Control indicate that Texas leads the country with more flood-related deaths than any other state(Table 4-1). Deaths due to floods, tropical storms and flash floods accounted for 38% of all weather- related deaths statewide, and 38% in the Brazoria County/Pearland area. 5.1.1 Defining Flood Hazards When rainfall runoff collects in rivers, creeks, and streams and exceeds the capacity of channels, floodwaters overflow onto adjacent lands... Floods result from rain events, whether short and intense or long and - - - gentle. In recent years, most flooding in Pearland has been associated with storms that originate as hurricanes and tropical storms that subsequently move inland. Flood hazards are categorized as follows: • Flash floods not only occur suddenly,but also involve forceful flows that can destroy buildings and bridges,uproot trees, and scour out new channels. Most flash flooding is caused by slow-moving thunderstorms,repeated thunderstorms in a local area, or heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms. Although flash flooding occurs often along mountain streams, it is also common in urban areas, where much of the ground is covered by impervious surfaces and drainageways are designed for smaller flows. Flood Insurance Rate Maps typically show the 1%-annual-chance(100-year) floodplain for waterways with at least 1 square mile of drainage area. The flood hazard areas for waterways with less than one square mile of drainage area typically are not shown. • Riverine floods are a function of precipitation levels and water runoff volumes, and occur when water rises out of the banks of the waterway. Flooding along waterways that drain larger watersheds often can be predicted in advance, especially where it takes 24 hours or more for the flood crest(maximum depth of flooding)to pass. In Pearland,riverine flooding is caused by large rainfall systems and e City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) i - ( . p 77 VIM thunderstorm activity associated with seasonal cold fronts. These systems can take as long as a day to pass, giving ample opportunity for large amounts of rain to fall over large areas. The Flood Insurance Rate Maps show the 1%-annual-chance floodplains. • Urban drainage flooding occurs where development has altered hydrology through changes in the ground surface and modification of natural drainageways. Urbanization increases the magnitude and frequency of floods by increasing impervious surfaces,increasing the speed of drainage collection,reducing the carrying capacity of the land, and, occasionally, overwhelming sewer systems. • Localized urban flooding is not usually shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps in areas with less than one square mile of contributing drainage area. The Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) prepared by FEMA offer the best overview of flood risks. FIRMs are used to regulate new development and to control the substantial improvement and repair of substantially damaged buildings. Map 5-1* shows the extent of mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas (i.e., the100-year floodplain) in the City of Pearland. At 9.85 square miles, the SFHA makes up 22.3%of the City's total land area of 44 square miles. The revised Flood Insurance Study(FIS), dated September 22, 1999, covers Brazoria County and its incorporated municipalities, including the City of Pearland. It compiles all previous flood information into the — countywide format and includes data collected on numerous waterways. The FIS indicates that riverine flooding results primarily from overflow of the streams and drainage ditches caused by rainfall runoff,ponding, and sheet flow. Storms occurring during the summer months are often associated with tropical storms moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Thunderstorms are common throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. The frequent hurricanes and tropical storms interrupt the summer with high winds,heavy rainfalls, and high storm surges. • *Maps included in this Plan are available for viewing at the City of Pearland GIS Department. The scale required for hardcopy maps does not allow sufficient detail to '' show all of the elements described in this section. _ 5-2 Part 5: Flood Hazards in Pearland, n • G el ty. su c^. "Rt eq e �r en. - e .+ Y' '�` y e 1._ ,,�a yl t"„c t „, Sant 1`, t��zielia ‘.. .. r Mr -S-,S P 4t r[zf vi, e: e Y , ,vA k�. r yt „ k M M S !Y coW y § t� ; ` *it A ,e• re: art!., Esa ? t • d it i:` 'rli t i 1!' *-4:,,e -n s "ce ..,t. Q r-.j{ t 8.,� .;,�r u�C yt i} X ,f r' Y .. .0 ®g ' e " . Y ..Vp } t , " I. i t rail 1.1. !4 ,, 9�4:mid ..!' , /� III -,,, ,. n1e Btu' .{ , 1 ,��tl�ut ►pttt n.. / , �., �-�° ;I';; � YJ�lllht►ui►ttt, i a: u.. 11111Pr1111111blAit'",,*,4-, tot �• �'�� ]� Ir35 4t, Waa 1 ®4t /°� e�il p• MIA, �� Wl sx.,.s ',,. __L air ��„ • ` . ' z y e ?J titta I ; . ,g��B=J, r`a r '*1 •.� w g ` O4 t �P 'an a —II 1 ,'i{��' e, of, 4 h' } !.!i „t .,� k wsa Mtn il dlj ., 1�� u;nn111"I"1" .�\`, , iiiil 6. ! •7 Iiiiiq �, N wJ r i � 1 y i ,, o K. a , litlitk-,'4.=_,I,..-:.:',4 , 11 •: waa cI W ll t 1 4 ' 1 r.i. 1 f Ii ., ' k 0` " ,, ., 11,_•!0►_ 4PN Map 5-1 -,b . �� Flood Hazards in the Community 1 11 -ar kw hb".a,iv4 r _,_,"i1 Flood Rain Valor Roads , y i f's I I thy Clerks Centerlines W o.,R p' r,, • 'q'' • •.'' apill4 / 0 } v'• County ,Itrl,egmis,me I' r I • ; I Maps for the portion of the City that is in Brazoria County are dated 1999; maps for the portion of the City that is in Harris County are dated 2000. Clear Creek, along the City's northern boundary, is being studied and new flood maps are expected (see Section 6.6.1). FEMA's maps for the City of Pearland show flood zones: • AE Zones along rivers and streams for which detailed engineering methods were used to determine Base Flood Elevations. AE Zones (or A1-30 Zones) are shaded in gray. Four waterways are mapped • using detailed methods and have designated floodways: Clear Creek, Cowart Creek,Hickory Slough, and Mary's Creek. • B Zones and Shaded X Zones, which are areas of"moderate" flood hazard, typically associated with the 500-year flood (or 0.2% annual chance). • C Zones and Unshaded X Zones are areas of"minimal"flood hazard, typically considered to be"out of the floodplain." Although local drainage problems and ponding may still occur, these minor flood problems typically are not shown on the FIRM. 5.1.2 Subsidence-Related Flooding Brazoria County and incorporated communities in the region are affected by land subsidence. Land subsidence is defined in the Flood Insurance Study as "the lowering of the ground as a result of water,oil, gas extraction, as well as other phenomena such as soil compaction, decomposition of organic material, and tectonic movement." Most City residents get their water supply from one of nine City-owned wells. A few residents, primarily in recently annexed areas, are on private wells. The City also purchases treated surface water from the City of Houston. Removal of groundwater may have contributed to subsidence within the City. Due to subsidence, some or all of the benchmarks used to develop the base flood elevations on the FIRM are no longer accurate. Periodically, - the federal government relevels some benchmarks to determine new elevations above datum;however, not all benchmarks are releveled each time. Relatively extensive relevelings were performed in 1978, 1987, and - 1995. • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 5'� , \ The following passage, "Effects of Land Subsidence", is taken from the Brazoria County Flood Insurance Study Report dated September 22, 1999: "The prevalence of land subsidence in the study area complicates the determination of the amount a given property lays above or below the base flood elevation. 'Complicating factors include determining which benchmark releveling to use to determine a property elevation and possible changes in flood hazards as a result of subsidence. Changes in flood hazards, caused by changed hydrologic and hydraulic conditions, could include increases or decreases in(1) depths of flooding, (2)the amount of land inundated, and(3)the intensity of wave action in coastal areas. The nature and extent of possible flood-hazard changes are different depending on the type of flooding (riverine, coastal, or combined riverine and coastal) present." To account for the increased future flood hazard, the FIS text recommends that"consideration should be given to setting the lowest- floor elevation above the base flood elevation by an amount associated with potential increases in flood depths as a result of past and future subsidence." The City is pursuing long-term contracts to purchase treated surface water to reduce it reliance on groundwater. 5.1.3 Dams and Flooding - FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintain the National Inventory of Dams (1998), a database of high and significant hazard dams. For the most part, data are provided by state agencies responsible for regulation and inspection of dams or by the Corps of Engineers. Based on that inventory, there are no high hazard dams that affect the watersheds in or draining through the City of Pearland. 5.2 Flood Risks — Buildings Pearland has had maps showing flood-prone areas for many years, and now utilizes a tool called Geographic Information System(GIS)to - develop more specific information about flood-prone buildings The tool that makes this possible is the GIS computer software application that Part 5. Flood Hazards rds in Pearland, relates physical features on the ground in mapping applications and analyses. In Pearland, the GIS functions are located in the Projects Department. The Pearland GIS maintains and accesses numerous digital map products and electronic data files. Among the data and maps is a digital map of the floodplain prepared as an overlay for the property parcel maps (derived from the Flood Insurance Rate Maps). Other GIS layers include City boundaries, waterways and watershed boundaries, and "footprints" of buildings and other facilities, from which a wide variety of maps can be prepared. There are two ways to characterize buildings subject to flooding: • Using GIS to compare the flood map with the locations of buildings yields an estimate that 2,118 residential buildings and 351 non- residential are located"in"the 100-year floodplains of Pearland. Therefore, not counting buildings that are susceptible but that are outside of the mapped floodplain, approximately 17% of all buildings in the City are prone to some degree of flooding. U.S. Census data are used to develop"average"values for residential buildings ($117,000), yielding estimates of the total value of buildings that plot within the mapped floodplain(Table 5-1). • Flood insurance policies and claims information can be used to identify buildings in mapped floodplains (where lenders require insurance) and where flooding has occurred(where owners are _ sufficiently concerned that they purchase flood insurance even if not required). This characterization of flood risk is described in the following text. Table 5-1 Buildings and Estimated Values. . Residential I Non-Residential/Public Total number of 13,573 $1.588B 881 $96.1M* buildings Number of buildings 2,118 351 in the floodplain** $247.8M ° $38.3M* (as%of total bldgs) (15.6%) - (39.8 ) *Average commercial building values,from City tax roles,times number of buildings. **Not including buildings known to be flood-prone that are outside of the mapped floodplain _ ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 5-T NFIP Policies In-Force. Data provided by FEMA indicate that as of December 31, 2002, federal flood insurance policies were in-force on 6,419 buildings in Pearland (a number that exceeds the total number of buildings that plot as being "in" the mapped floodplain, see Table 5-2). This is an indication that many homeowners outside the floodplain are aware of the flooding risks throughout the area and have chosen to carry flood insurance even though it is not required. These insurance policies are administered by the National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP). This represents a dollar value of property and contents coverage in excess of $1 billion. The locations of buildings with flood insurance are shown on Map 5-2. It is notable that 5,557 points are shown (the remaining 862 locations were unable to "geocode" with sufficient accuracy to allow them to be mapped). Table 5-2 NFIP Policies, Claims and Repetitive Loss Properties. NFIP Policies* NFIP Claims* NFIP Repetitive Losses* -- ---- - -- Geocode"in"the - - - - 1,160 344 150. floodplain Geocode"out"of the 4,397 562 79 floodplain Totals 5,557 906 229 *Not including records that do not geocode with sufficient accuracy - For the most part, two factors prompt people to purchase flood insurance —when mortgage lenders require it and when actual flood damage makes it clear to homeowners that a building is, indeed, located in a flood-prone, area. Thus, the number and distribution of flood insurance policies is one way to characterize potential risk throughout the City. • 5-8 Part 5: Flood Hazards in Pearland, • • , vx ' i J� jEay�r� i Lf . gga ,f4/aa'��3.. :aF�w�1.,r.. t,}!`,,," s T r icarti`n}t r"t^f. ,e K� P''' ,.* n I 1 4:>•.a °i '•4er, , 1.t '<d,>; .y l�- t.^- r�'-7 :1 3- __ - h,;t.It i �'4 I 1 t-�+e k � .-3 a"�{. 'R---t•4t4•'-''•nJ @ ° 1 -' { r 3 W I 1 rf�v i ff I.e ,t's:•, h �.(','r 4 1;t 1 r 3 }:.a l z } a;;u 3 ._ 1,7 11 " -• ` .- I ,�1� i i > v rLkr � - €,i• �n / •• IX F a J 1" Y`� �"� �" Itoltu d a twit ) ' � R i !F'y � l£ b s �. 1N - 0 I Ii; 1444` �i a �r� .t - 1 IIZ ` ; ";..� aT� r z -- ' I '� • N t I - -- ' - al`• . C ' �- �. • .b1 } �• ,l -,a, .`'l � ( r , # tt )6} c • � / " 1� L R • a r"n ` l /AiaktIl a. al r t>" J 1,, ::a / " ' • • • 11• .. n -. v f}' i -.e „0 3,'--_03 Iy - t y ✓ - • i`_} ' F� - _t]: I I 'I 4 i. 7 •• M -^ -- . y •f.�l 4.{•'11..0 �� - • •'h1`A F`,�,. I • • r 1 ` • L ry� I r ' 1 may`/ i -L _ tt• I ��¢,, • 11 t't�{i _ _'"Y} •fir /, \ 's, '', CD o #y� r I�f r r\' 4 V' ' -��"1 ---5`` II 1 I � L \r:'; j, 4. !. 'r •i i ati -� I/ / i 1 -,' tom] 4F ' :7;,.- }' _ J LSa '; -5.: I < / •i c.'11. • �•I .i.I 1'. ,'i Lr l�r mil- •{ f t I _�'! y rvt lI7-yj,---' \/�✓•'l"'4 � -�.�-,--�f a::; �:,...:I F-�` ��• L ,�`• --` a / - ✓ '" Map 5-2 i ! 1' ' 1• ti „1i N.N, NFIP Policies,Claims,Repetitive Loss Properties y \ f1 O 1- �- i'5,\ r" r\L.1:\ Sid an Flood Plain Major Roads I• • NFIP-RL 150 94• ut �) / a I City Limits ---- Centerlines NFIP-Claims 344 665 1 —� county a NFIP-Policies 1,160 5,263 � fri / ��, �.,' �.�s 1i • • • • • • I. I' • NFIP Claims Paid. Between 1978 and December31, 2002, 1,894 flood insurance claims were paid on 1,009 buildings in Pearland, many.of which are not"in" the mapped floodplain (Table 5-2). It appears that the vast majority of these claims were for residential properties. The locations of most of these properties are shown on Map 5-2 (103 locations were unable to "geocode" with sufficient accuracy to be mapped). Total claims paid for building and contents payments exceed $41 million. NFIP Repetitive Loss Properties. Map 5-2 also shows the locations of "repetitive loss properties" in Pearland. In recent years, FEMA has focused considerable attention on this subset of insured buildings. These properties have received two or more claim payments of at least $1,000 over a ten-year.period. For Pearland,FEMA's database identifies 252 properties as "repetitive loss properties" of which 54 are included in FEMA's Target Group (as before, 16 locations were unable to "geocode" . with sufficient accuracy to be mapped). Collectively, they have received claim payments nearing $21 million(includes payments for building damage and contents damage). _ Because the data provided by FEMA do not detail the actual number and amount of past claims, no conclusions can be drawn regarding whether specific mitigation measures would be effective. For example, a property that has received a number of claim payments not much higher than $1,000 would be considered an unlikely candidate for mitigation using public funds. It may, however,be an excellent candidate for damage- reduction actions taken by the owner. . As shown on Map 5-2,there are a number of clusters of NFIP policies and claims, and many areas without data points. A review of this map yields the following observations: • Many homes in the Corrigan subdivision have experienced . repetitive flood looses. The City is implementing a mitigation project to help alleviate flooding in Corrigan. This project will divert the rainfall runoff from north of Broadway around Corrigan by constructing a by-pass channel that will take the flow directly to - Mary's Creek; construct a barrier north of Corrigan to prevent off- - • site sheet flow from entering Corrigan from that direction;construct City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 5-i 1�f \(r,`010f7;; a barrier to prevent water from Mary's Creek from backing up in Corrigan; Realign the Corrigan Ditch outfall into an existing pumped detention facility and retaining the internal Corrigan rainfall • runoff; and construct internal street and drainage improvements to provide capacity for higher intensity storm events and provide • overland sheet flow paths to the Corrigan Ditch. • Homes in the Northeast section of the City, along Clear Creek, have experienced repetitive flooding. The City continues to lobby for Clear Creek improvements through a coalition with the City of Friendswood,BDD#4, and GCCDD. • Pearland continues to evaluate both structural and non-structural solutions to the flood prone areas within the City-these areas include many properties on the NFIP "repetitive loss property" last: 5.3 Flood Risks — Public Buildings V The City of Pearland owns eleven buildings and many parcels of land in various locations throughout the City(Map 5-3). City facilities are described below along with notes regarding flood exposure. Even though the map indicates floodplain locations, no facility is exposed to significant flood damage. Wastewater Treatment Plant. The City of Pearland owns four wastewater treatment facilities and associated sewage collection systems, shown on Map 5-3 and described below: . • • Longwood Water—built in 1965,expanded in 1985,and again in . 2000. After Tropical Storm Allison flooding around the plant was 5-6"in depth,but no flooding occurred in the plant and there were no service disruptions. There is an emergency response plan. Primary emergency generator for backup power and a contract with an environmental contractor for emergency response for spills. • Chlorine and SO2 are stored on-site. • -" 5-12 Part 5: Flood Hazards in Pearland® • i 1' ' • I -'-' '—'- i . :::.CVNI1M41 . .1.-';,-.1.-4? l',,t1..,ftr: .',1': ....-., ,r,•• *.•.,_ , 0 „ .'''.1.:*':•'•*1-'1.-'Cr._'*'''',f.:fl''''',41' li\-Zilill''""..r.... -— t—r, At-Risk Public Buildings 5-3 0(4, .< -,,,,T,-,...,,,,-,,,,y ..„,.,.,y 1 i dets",_, .11,-....-- ri-..,_ •,,e,,,..,',:,74., r ;-,,8 ' 1 '! 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''I 48,,,ii_,,,_4 :7 cr.-1P,01 d; ' •I."'Y.it-0;/:'fig. ni imam El' - 1 '" 'i gi.e i'lliV-1 ,,,i4-4,-:: , 7•,- 0111 =111. grangamil I k 0..,,, t -13 , ks'1.1-.1ft': ;6••!;:i', LEirats''''.: in MUM lErl,. .„-16:-.7-411111.11/ Ict „ ir, • c.:, • rodolinlin 1 I Z ' C , . " 1 7 ' i 1 (I) UAW. "--'... 'I':'''''''''''';':;:::'':: ''''''''''.;:;:''''''''::. :- '''''''''''::-::/J,:'; '''''':,::-.1-::FA,•''' 1 I 0 . ,/.,i:, ., : :7,,,,,x,:566111- ,,.., ,,„.).:.:.:,, !,far‘..;•7`: -., : ' 1 - 11:1 it ift I il row -.1.1 a : •, al;I; ' ; I ! 1 ift lirir" 14 I../ I I ;MINIM MOM ' iffitrat isnot , . . 4040w, , ,111,11 , , i tw..,,,,.., 1 cakan , %•rsollib ; - Main Roads itt A - Centerlines W NV E V 44'N lam Flood Phi, 5 ,I, City Limits dr City Buildings , I 4 ,el; a6 E=1 County wee -r ' - 11111, :t' 1 0 025 05 1 1 11 .., I Ii / - . 1 I „ . . : I t , I I, . ' I ' i I . I 1 I :I I • Barry Rose Water—built in 1965,expanded in 1985, and again in 2000. No prior disruption of service. There is an emergency response plan. Primary emergency generator for backup power and a contract with an environmental contractor for emergency response for spills. Chlorine and SO2 are stored on-site. • Southwest Environmental Center(SWEC)—began service on April 26, 2000. This plant has its own self-contained generator and has experienced no disruption of service. Emergency support is provided under a contract with Gardener environmental. The facility is a chemical-free plant. • Shadow Creek Ranch(Northwest Environmental Center)—This plant is due to come on-line in July 2003. This plant has its own self-contained generator and is a chemical-free plant. The only flood damage reported occurred at the Green Tee Number 1 air- lift station during Tropical Storm Allison. The City submitted a request for Public Assistance for the damage; the request was denied because it was determined that the station was leaking prior to the flood. Water Supply Facilities. The City owns four water towers and nine water supply wells that provide the majority of the water to City residences and businesses. None of these facilities are in the floodplain. Public Schools. The Pearland Independent School District owns the City's 17 public schools. In addition, the Alvin Independent School District is constructing an elementary school in the far west portion of the City. Based on a review of the FIRM, of the 17 schools, 15 are in Zone X. The only addresses that fall in or near the 100-year floodplain are 4717 and 4719 Bailey Road, which are the Pearland Ninth-Grade Center and Pearland Junior High South,respectively. Both of these schools are located on the same large campus and were built just 2 or 3 years ago. The school buildings themselves were permitted as being in the 100-year floodplain and are elevated at least one foot above the base flood elevation. City Buildings. City buildings and facilities have sustained limited _ _ damage due to flooding in the past. Interviews with staff resulted m the - following characterizations of past events: • 5-15 ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) • Fire Station#2 floods often, with water in and around the building. Tropical Storm Allison resulted in the most significant flooding recorded, at only 2-feet deep. This is an unmanned fire station— • equipment storage only. As shown in Figure 5-1 the lower 2-feet of the exterior walls have been reinforced;Figure 5-2 shows that a storage cabinet is raised on two rows of concrete blocks. When heavy rains are forecasted,personnel move the emergency equipment to high ground away from the station. No permanent physical damage has been experienced during prior flood events. The fire station is in the 100-year floodplain on panel number 45 of the City's FIRM's. The BFE is approximately between elevation 48.8 and48.9 (1978 Datum Adjustment) across the site. This fire station is on the outer fringes of the floodplain and depth of flooding is not anticipated to be too great. The fire station has an estimated/insured value of$90,000. • A concession stand in Centennial Park received minor flooding during Tropical Storm Allison,but did not sustain structural damage. y 7 v(d '.' 4 1- tom- 1 - '4!s:t Figure 5-2. Cabinet Elevated __._. Q *� ' on Concrete Blocks Figure 5-1. Fire Station#2, tivt 4 :� Reinforced Walls. fi ;Ww ytk _ ,.y'ys'e f iP 4f�'. t , ,as ty � 54 4. • 5.4 Flood Risks — Roads Nationwide, flooded roads pose the greatest threat to people during floods. Most of the more than 200 people who die in floods each year Part 5: Flood Hazards in Pearlandi lost when they try to drive across flooded roads. Driving into water is the number one weather-related cause of death in Central Texas. Statewide, between 1960 and 1996, 76% of flood-related deaths were vehicle-related (Texas Environmental Center,online). As illustrated in Figure 5-3, flood hazards for cars vary with both velocity and depth of floodwaters. Many cars will float in less than 24 inches of water. Fast-moving water can quickly wash cars off the road or wash out a low section of road. Although most roads in Pearland are unlikely to have deep or fast-moving water during flood conditions up to the level of the 100-year flood, many are still known to flood regularly. The City has approximately 303 miles of road: • 270 miles are City-owned; 54.3 miles in the mapped floodplain; • 33 miles of road and 5 large bridges are State-owned, including the following roads: SH 35;FM 518;FM 1128;FM 865; SH 288; and ' FM 2234. - Flood Hazard Chart for Cars 4 3.5 --- - -----1HIGl DANGER-ZONE; - _ _. - . i I o G 2.5 � am. �:J1J -44 O ; � �n� rlt O I.5 _ p.ArdpgA i. 0-4 i.,.a, 3 YYq {- : • G 1 - - 0.5 - * ' • [It-ZONE 0 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 VELOCITY(fps) . SOURCE:USER,'Dowashram Hazard Classification Guidelines,'1988 '• - - Figure 5-3. Flood Hazard Chart for Cars. City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) ;-5;17 Table 5-3, prepared by Pearland's Road and Bridge Maintenance, lists roads and intersections that where flood warning signs are placed due to frequent flooding (also see Map 5-4). Table 5-3 Locations Posted with Flood Warning Signs. Flood-Prone Roads Apple Springs&Mclean Neches River&Fite Rockland&S. Hatfield Carmona&S. Hatfield Corrigan&W.Broadway Piper&W.Broadway Piper&Fite Cedar&Orange Cedar&Cherry Willow&Orange Willow&Cherry Mykawa&Orange Mykawa&Broadway Mykawa&Cherry Cherry&Pear. Cherry&Peach Austin&Jasmine Francis&Woody Francis&W Broadway Halbert&Woody Halbert&W Broadway Cunningham&Woody Cunningham&W Broadway Lynn&Woody Lynn&W Broadway Plum&Briar Circle Plum&Linwood Oaks Plum&Yupen Circle . Wheat Ridge&Robinson , Union Valley&Robinson Bishopton&Robinson Union.Valley.&Lethbridge Glastonbury&Robinson Regal Oaks&E Broadway Patricia&E Broadway County Club&E Broadway Country Club&Golf Crest Golf Crest&Kil Kenny Golf Crest&Green Tee Yost&Sleepy Hollow Taylor&Sleepy Hollow Creek Ridge&McGinnis -- - -- Sleepy Hollow&Rip Van Washington Irving&Rip Van Dixie Hollow&N.Dixie Winkle Winkle Farm Sleepy Hollow&Elm Wood Creek&Washington Wood Creek&Winding • Hollow Irving Creek -- - - ------- ------------ Mykawa&Clear Creek- Crain&Washington Irving Hamm&Lazy Creek - - --- Bridge ' Mykawa&Knapp Rd. Ryan Acres When building new state roads or upgrading existing roads,the Texas Department.of Transportation considers the NFIP's floodplain and floodway requirements to evaluate the impact of new and replacement structures. The City considers floodplain and floodway impacts in its planning and design for City roads. Developers must satisfy the City's drainage criteria and other aspects of road designs in order for the City to • accept ownership. Specific to reducing flood risks, the low chord of any. new bridges must be at least one-foot above the Base Flood Elevation. • • ;54.8,: Part 5: Flood Hazards in Pearland® ' • . , . • , • i• . • • • ,. . , . 1 . • ..., . , . . . . ' . . ,1' 1 . . . . • , 1 . . . • . ,. .. . , , 1 . . i . •tr.,N . .: s< Flooded Road Hazards 54 • kiWtit.4*,zA, , if..5.-.,,,,A alii..i7",-..._0...=w41-4111k,.1.-.....0 . . 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' . • • . •i 1 • Replacing roads and bridges damaged or washed out by floods costs . millions of dollars each year. If the damage is caused by a presidentially declared disaster,FEMA may pay up to 75% of the repair or replacement costs, with the remaining 25% covered by the state and local governments. The full costs of a damaging event that is not declared a major disaster must be borne by the state and local communities. TXDOT inspects state bridges for structural integrity and to determine if erosion is a risk. Where erosion has been identified, stabilization measures have been put into place. City roads and drainage structures have sustained only limited erosion damage due to flooding, even during Tropical Storm Allison. Staff interviews resulted in the following characterizations of past road flooding: • There was some erosion to the wooden bridge into Centennial Park as a result of Tropical Storm Allison;the erosion and the bridge • were repaired by Brazoria Drainage District No.4. • Debris collects at bridges during major storms; TXDOT cleans bridges on state roads,Brazoria Drainage District No.4 and/or City are responsible for debris clearance at other bridges. 5.5 Flood Risks - Hazardous Materials When floodwaters affect locations where hazardous materials are stored or used, the stage is set for potential effects that go far beyond the physical onsite damage. Certain materials are reactive in water.and others may pose health and safety risks if distributed downstream by rising waters. Another potential hazard is the stores of chlorine used at the City's water treatment plants, some of which are located adjacent to the mapped floodplain. The database of the locations of hazardous materials,when plotted on the FEMA flood map, indicates 18 locations of hazardous materials that plot as within the mapped floodplain or within a`1,000-foot _ buffer around the floodplain boundary(Map 5-5 .; Sites within the buffer ® City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) `5-21 --- -------- ------- -------- e 4111, • ri /.,1 are shown in part to account for uncertainties in the geocoding of the physical locations of the materials. Despite the apparent risk, there have yet been no reported hazardous materials incidences related to flooding. Depending on the nature of the hazardous materials and the facilities containing them, it may be appropriate for facility owners to examine the potential for damage under reasonably anticipated flood conditions. In addition, owners may find it. • prudent to examine the sites to determine if it is appropriate and feasible to provide protection measures to minimize risks. 5.6 Flood Risks — Local Drainage • Many areas and streets experience accumulations of rainfall that are slow to drain away, which may cause disruption of normal traffic, soil erosion, and water quality problems. Local drainage problems contribute to the frequency of flooding, increase ditch maintenance costs, and are perceived to adverselyaffect the qualityof life in some neighborhoods. - - - - --- As outlined in Section 3.2, the City Council has identified flooding and- drainage as a high priority goal and a number of supporting objectives are intended to help identify solutions. Section 6.6 addresses each objective in more detail. Many areas prone to shallow, local drainage flooding are not shown on the City's Flood Insurance Rate Maps. One measure of the magnitude of this problem is the number of flood insurance policies in-force on buildings that are outside of the mapped floodplain. Local drainage • . flooding throughout the Corrigan Subdivision is a problem, even during frequent rain storms (see Section 6.6). It is a concern because access for emergency services (fire, emergency medical) can be limited. While the depth of water generally is relatively shallow, a number of homes have been flooded repetitively and are identified by FEMA as "repetitive loss properties." _ • 5-22 Part 5: Flood Hazards in Pearland® • - 5.7 Summary: Exposure to Flood Risks As described in Section 5.3, digital maps of the floodplain are used for flood hazard identification and assessments of risk. The data, combined with the footprint information for buildings, allow determination of residents and assets of the built environment that are "at risk" only by identifying whether such assets are"in" or"out"of the flood hazard area. 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For the purpose of this table, number of people per home is based on the U.S. Census value of 2.82 occupants per household for Pearland. Special facilities include fire stations and schools (nursing homes and day care centers are not identified in the City's GIS). Table 5-4 DEM 21: Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Worksheet for Flood Hazard. Total People(estimate) 5,833 Housing 2,054 Commercial Facilities 491 City-Owned Buildings 1 Critical Facilities 0 Special Facilities(schools;fire stations) 1 Infrastructure&Lifelines TBD HazMat sites(incl 1000'buffer) 16 • • • -522 6;7, Part 5: Flood Hazards in Pearland® Part 6 Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards 6.1 Pearland Government Structure The City of Pearland is governed by the Council/Manager form of • government in accordance with the Home Rule Charter adopted by the voters in February, 1971. The City Council is the legislative and policy- making body of the City. It consists of the Mayor and 5 members elected at-large for 3-year, staggered terms. Elections are held annually the first Saturday in May. The Mayor and Council provide community leadership, develop policies to guide the City in delivering services and • achieving community goals, and encourage citizen awareness and involvement. In addition to the Council/Manager structure,the City government is organized into the following departments (www.ci.pearlaand.tx.us): Administration, Animal Control, City Secretary, Community Development, Economic Development, Planning, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Parks &Recreation, Projects,Public Affairs, and Public Works. With respect to planning for_ • and responding to natural hazard events, the key elements of the City's -- organization are: • Administration—Day-to-day management and oversight of City departments. _ • Emergency Services—maintains the Office of Emergency Management,Fire Marshals Office and Emergency Medical Services. Responsible for maintaining the City's Emergency Management Plan in accordance with State and Federal standards. Responsible for the Emergency Operations Center. Facilitates coordination of emergency response to disasters and conducts disaster training exercises. The Fire Marshal is also the Emergency Management Coordinator. The Fire Marshals Office is responsible for fire prevention fire code enforcement, fire/arson investigation, and environmental code enforcement. The Fire Marshal also • oversees the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Medical Services. • Community Development—responsible for code enforcement, permit and inspections, and planning and zoning. This department is responsible for enforcing specific city ordinances related to dangerous or substandard buildings,environmental health issues and zoning laws. • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) "'61 47, • Engineering Services—provides engineering planning, design, and construction administration for street, storm drainage, water, and • sewer projects in Pearland, in addition to providing technical support to other City departments. The department also provides engineering review of subdivision plats and plans, building site plans for proposal inside the City limits and review and construction inspections of subdivision improvements within the City and the ETJ. The department maintains record drawings of construction improvements and topographic maps. • Projects—management and oversight of all projects approved by the City Council, including roads,bridges, and public buildings. • Public Works—consists of administration, streets and drainage, water and sewer construction and wastewater treatment. Streets& Drainage maintains approximately 185 miles of streets and 300 miles of ditches (cleaning 70-80 miles each year). During times of emergency the department is responsible for opening shelters and procuring food. The Pearland Planning and Zoning Commission is composed of seven members appointed by the City Council. It is an advisory board to the City Council on land use matters and also is the final decision-making authority on matters related to subdivision plat approval. The Commission's fundamental powers include: • Amend, extend and add to the master plan for the physical development of the City; • Recommend, approve or disapprove plats of proposed subdivisions submitted in accordance with city ordinances; • Recommend to the City Council the approval or disapproval of proposed changes in the zoning plan; • Make and recommend to the City Council for adoption,plans for the clearance and rebuilding of slum districts and blighted areas; • Recommend to the City Council the amendment,extension and revision of the building code; and • Submit annually a prioritized list of recommendations for capital improvements. 6.2 Emergency Response The City's Emergency Services Department is responsible for _. coordinating emergency management and response, with the Fire • 6=2 Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards Marshall serving as the Emergency Management Coordinator. The City maintains an emergency management plan that is due to be reviewed and updated in 2003-2004. Due to the number of new City staff, it is important that all appropriate personnel be trained. Pearland has early warning capability. Citizens and the City rely mostly on local weather, which is reported to be very capable. The City pays for a weather service that sends weather updates and alerts to Emergency • . Services. Emergency Services sends daily weather update emails to all - City Departments. There is a project on the books to install stream gauges and link these gauges into adjacent County early warning systems. As of early 2003, the City also has reserve 911 capability for public notification of hazardous circumstances Relative to disasters, the following highlights were reported: • City emergency management personnel participate in hurricane exercises. • Four schools and the City's recreation centers may be used for' shelters; the primary shelter is stocked with blankets and cots. _____ _ ___ • After Tropical Storm Allison, shelter was made available by opening two recreation centers; sheltering was provided for more than two weeks. • • Flood rescue efforts are supported by two 6x6 trucks and flat bottom boats. 6.3 Communicating about Hazards The City of Pearland actively communicates with its residents using a variety of media, each of which have been used to convey information, including content about hazards: • The quarterly newsletter Pearland in Motion,is mailed to every address in town. This large-format, full color newsletter regularly reports on the City's activities,progress on various initiatives, and conveys information important to the residents. The Spring 2003 issue outlined the City Council's goals for 2003-2004(see Section 3.2),reported on the City's recent receipt of an environmental award for managing stormwater to prevent non-point-source pollution,the annual Household Hazardous materials Collection Day, and the =. . II City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) `6-3 City's efforts to ensure long-term water supply. Flood issues have periodically.been addressed in quarterly newsletter. . • The City's web site posts information about activities and upcoming events. The City's regulations are posted and public access to GIS maps is provided. To support the mitigation planning effort, a public questionnaire was posted so that citizens could report on hazards and ideas for reducing future losses (see Appendix B). • The Streets &Drainage page on the City's web site includes answers to typical questions posed by citizens regarding street flooding and drainage. • Residents with Internet access may submit suggestions, questions, information requests and complaints to the City using the "Community Action Center Online Request Form." Complaints and reports of flooding/drainage problems have been submitted online. • The local government public access channel is accessible to residents who subscribe to Time Warner Cable. Council meetings and other public meetings are shown on this channel. In addition, after major flooding, the City posts information slides.to include information of the City's post-disaster permit requirements. • The local AM radio station broadcasts emergency information on an as-needed basis—AM 740. • The City hangs banners across gateway entrances to the City to inform the public about upcoming events and public meetings. After Tropical Storm Allison, banners alerted residents about public -- — meetings. • Door hangers and targeted direct mailings have been used after floods to inform people of their post-flood responsibilities;the mailing list is considered to be comprehensive, including addresses in the floodplain and other homes that have flooded. • After.Tropical Storm Allison and other significant flood events, City" officials met with citizens to answer questions,address concerns, and share information. • . .i '6-4- Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards Survey about Communication:with Residents Completed in 2001, a survey was conducted to. .' evaluate methods of communicating,with residents Among the results: Where Pearland residents get information about the City: • • 48% look at the City's website. • 46% look at the cable TV channel. ■ 80% look at utility bill stuffers. • 45%get information from a newspaper or Pearland In Motion Internet Interest: si 53% indicated interest in receiving e mailed information • 43% would use it to obtain a building permit T ■ 58% would use it to report service requests (including drainage complaints) 6.4 How the City Addresses Hazards Members of the Mitigation Planning Committee were interviewed to gain an understanding of awareness of hazards and how they are addressed, and to gather information about damage associated with past hazard events. Minutes of committee meetings are in Appendix A. Ordinances and documents were reviewed to identify specific provisions pertinent to Pearland's hazards (report on file with the Administration Department). 6.4.1 Regulating Development The City of Pearland regulates development in a well-planned manner that is consistent with the City's vision for its future. As a fast-growing • community, the City is committed to developing to serve the best interests of all citizens. City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) Creation of Unified Development Code and Permitting Protocol ` • : With the assistance of a consultant, in 2003-2004 the City is evaluating its ordinances and processing. procedures to achieve improved coordination and to ensure that the City's goals are met. Comprehensive Plan of the City of Pearland (September 13, 1999). State of Texas statutes require that in order for a city to regulate the use of land (zoning) within its corporate limits, a comprehensive plan must be prepared to demonstrate the city's overall development goals, objectives, policies, and criteria for physical growth. The plan is a decision-making tool to help staff evaluate proposals for new land use. It is a flexible document that can be evaluated and adjusted for changing conditions that - - - ----- occur over time within the City. • Land Use & Urban Development Ordinance No. 509-H(revised April - 22,2002). The purpose of the ordinance is to "zone the entire area of the city of Pearland into districts in accordance with a comprehensive plan ______.__ -_ - for the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the general public." Building Code. The 1997 edition of the Southern Building Code, with • revisions, was adopted in 1998. In 2002,the City adopted the International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings. As of mid-2003,the City has not received a Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) rating. S 6-62, Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards, . Citizens Code Advisory.Committee Appointed by the City Council to consider the City's land use plan and subdivision regulations, this committee held its first meeting on May 20, 2003 and expects to make a recommendation:by Mid-2004. • The City of Pearland has experienced significant growth in recent years, especially in residential construction. In the most recent 3-year period, the City has issued an average of 1,200 single-family permits per year (Table 6-1). Table 6-1 Buildings Permits and Development Permits (2000,2001,2002). Year I Single Family I Multi-Family Commercial I Total 2000 818 1 17 836 - ---- - - - _. 2001 1,243 . 0 20 1,263 2002 1,430 0 29 1,459 Staff Capabilities The City employs five building inspectors, three • plans examiners, and three code enforcement officers,_ all are certified or licensed by the State Inspections. Pearland conducts inspections of all permitted development. A series of inspections is conducted on every building, ranging from foundation and framing, to electrical, plumbing, and fire code inspections. As a consequence of recent growth,the total number of - inspections has risen significantly in recent years (Table 6-2). City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) tei With regard to floodplain development, elevations of fill pads in subdivisions are checked as part of the grading inspection. Elevation . Certificates are collected before the CO is issued for buildings in the SFHA. Table 6-2 Number of All Inspections (2001, 2002). Year I Number of Inspections 2001 9,211 2002 28,781 6.4.2 Hazards Other than Flood As part of its rules for regulating growth,the City recognizes the importance of certain measures to limit damage and exposure of citizens to high winds hazards, incidents involving pipelines, hazardous materials, and drought. Insured City Buildings The City maintains;property insurance coverage on its buildings to cover damage due to structural fire, wind and li ghtnang(other than flood) The City carries $35 5M of insurance for all City owned buildings/fatalities ($29.7M)and contents High Wind Hazards. The City of Pearland is located in the area of the State in which the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association functions as the insurer of last resort for wind and hail coverage when other insurers exclude coverage for those perils from homeowners and other property policies. In order for new construction or modifications to existing structures to qualify, inspections must be performed by inspectors from the Texas Department of Insurance or licensed professional engineers - 6-8 Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards. who are appointed by the Department. Several inspections may be performed to determine compliance with the wind provisions of the buildings code, and a certificate of compliance is issued. Pearland addresses wind hazards through the building code and land use regulations: • The building code administered by the City requires all new construction to be designed and constructed for 110 mile per hour wind loads at three second gusts. 89hus buildings constructed after his level of protection ts e part of the building code since 1989; date are expected to be resistant to wind damage. • The Land Use&Urban Development Ordinance(Sec.24.8) requires that ground siconstructed e n and installed to withstand a roof line, are to bedesigned, wind pressure of not less than thirty (30)pounds per square foot per sign face. • The Land Use&Urban Development Ordinance(Sec.28.4) specifies that the right to a nonconforming applicable ferminates if a ordinance and - - structure becomes substandard under any pp the cost of placing it in lawful conformance exceeds fifty(50) percent of the replacement cost of the structure on the date that it was determined to be substandard. Pipeline Hazards. The City's Subdivision Ordinance, at Sec. 27-4, requires the building setback lines be delineated. When residential lots are crossed by or come within 100 feet of any existing oil or gas d record pipeline or pipeline easement,the subdivider is required to ex waiver and hold harmless agreement that includes the following: "the City of Pearland considers building near such pipeline or pipeline • • easement to have certain inherent dangers, including but not limited to, explosion and release of noxious, toxic and flammable substances." Hazardous Materials. The Fire Marshal's responsibilities include the . annual inspection of fixed sites that store,handle or process h z hazardous . materials and explosives. Facilities are required to comply` appropriate sections of the City Code of Ordinances, Standard Fire Prevention Code,National Fire Protection Association Standards, and Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco &Firearms Regulations. Annex Q of r City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004), 9 r! tK City's Emergency Management ement Plan addresses the local plan for • Hazardous Material Incident and Oil Spill response. Drought. The City of Pearland prepared a drought contingency plan, which is posted on the City's web page. The purpose of the plan is to conserve the available water supply and to protect the integrity of water supply facilities. The plan places emphasis on domestic water use, sanitation, and fire protection, and protection of public health, welfare, and safety. To minimize the adverse impacts of water supply shortage or other water supply emergency conditions, the City adopted regulations and restrictions on the delivery and consumption of water. Certain non- essential uses are regulated and may be curtailed during times of water shortage or other emergency water supply conditions. Violators may be assessed penalties. 6.4.3. Flood Hazards The City of Pearland administers a suite of regulations and ordinances that combine to comprehensively regulate flood hazard areas to minimize exposure of people and property(Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance (No. 532-2), dated October 9,2000, and Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 27), dated May 25, 2001). Administration of these provisions is the joint responsibility of the City's Floodplain Manager (in the Engineering Department) and the Building Code Official (in the Community — Development Department). In approved subdivisions that include floodplain areas, a development permit is issued for construction of individual homes. The minimum elevation approved as part of the subdivision approval is verified by the building plans reviewers. Further, subdivision plats are checked for special notes, even if them is no floodplain within the subdivision. 6-10,; Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards Floodplain Administrator The City's Assistant Engineer, 'a registered Professional Engineer, is designated as the City's floodplain administrator. He has been involved in floodplain management since 1974 and has been the . . City of Pearland's floodplain manager since.1997 Processing Floodplain Development Proposals. Most homes built in the floodplain are slab-on-grade, elevated by the placement of a minimum quantity of fill. Elevation Certificates are required before the slab is poured as part of the Form Frame inspection. The City's regulations require that the lowest floor, including basement,be at least one-foot above the Base Flood Elevation. The City's standard procedure for determining the extent of the mapped_ — - — -- flood hazard area"on the ground" is to measure off of the centerline of the waterway shown on the FIRM and apply that distance to the applicant's site plan. Where Base Flood Elevation are shown,there is no _-- cross check with the topography. For regulatory purposes the City strives to superimpose the site plan on top of the effective floodplain map. The floodplain maps are either on 1973 adjusted datum(Clear Creek only) or 1978. adjusted datum(all remaining streams). The site plan maps may be on various datum adjustments and are submitted by numerous different surveyors and engineers. If for example the floodplain boundary measured from the paper copy of the floodplain map is 200 feet south of the centerline of Clear Creek that is what is used for regulation. If the applicant submits a topographic that indicates the 100-year water surface elevation only extends 180 south of Clear Creek the City can not accept this information unless it is m the form of an approved Letter of Map Revision(LOMR). Following this II City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 4 6 11 _ ems- c,(4 8 1 `(-7fn 711 process ensures the City is consistent with the procedures in place for LOMR's. Reviewing and Approving Subdivisions. Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 27;print date May 25, 2001) outlines the requirements for the design, review and approval of subdivisions within the City and the area designated as the extra-territorial jurisdiction(within 5 miles of the corporate limits). Preliminary plans (plat plans) are required to show waterways, drainage structures, and the flood elevations and boundaries of flood-prone areas (including floodways). If the proposal includes fills or other structure elevating techniques, levees, channel modifications,or other methods to overcome flood or erosion-related hazards, they must be designed in compliance with the City's base flood elevation standards and the City's flood hazard prevention requirements. The subdivision ordinance includes a strong link to the floodplain management ordinance. For lots that are affected by the floodplain, each recorded plat indicates the proposed location of the building and identifies the required lowest floor elevation. When permit applications for individual buildings are received, the building permit includes the - elevation requirements specified on the plat. The City conducts an inspection of subdivision grading and drainage work to determine compliance with the grading plan. At this time, elevations of the fill pads for proposed buildings in flood hazard areas are checked for the proper elevation. Permitting for Substantial Improvements. Every application for renovation, improvement, or repair of existing buildings is checked by City staff to determine if the building is located in the mapped flood hazard areas. The City's Floodplain Manager must review and sign-off on any permits on existing, flood-prone buildings. Applicants are required to submit the value of work proposed. For applications in the floodplain, that value is compared to the assessed value as a screening for whether the proposed work constitutes a substantial improvement (50%or more of market value). 6-12 Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards, After Tropical Storm Allison, the City sent notices to all damaged homes to inform owners of the requirement to obtain a permit before starting repairs. 114 homeowners that experienced flood damage as a requested of Tropical Storm Allison requested permits. Home inspections were conducted upon request,to help homeowners decide appropriate repairs. Manufactured Home Parks. Two existing manufactured home parks are partially located within mapped flood hazards areas;Magnolia Place and Country Meadows. Permits are required to place new units or to replace existing units, and the requirement to elevate the units is imposed and Elevation Certificates are required. In addition, ground anchors are required to provide stability and to resist overturning during high wind conditions. Manufactured Housing • According to 2000 census data, there are 1,225 mobile homes in the City _ ■ Of these, 152 units appear to be located in flood hazard areas ---------- Requiring Stormwater Management. The City is actively involved in _ _ _ _ _ addressing stormwater problems (see Section 6.4) and applies requirements on new development to control increases in runoff. Small developments with little opportunity for on-site detention may be allowed to purchase capacity in the City's regional detention facilities. The City's Storm Drainage Design Criteria and Design Requirements (September 2000) is a sophisticated manual that outlines criteria and requirements in considerable detail. Notably, it provides clear explanations and guidance for the various requirements, especially describing the differences related to drainage area. Highlights of selected- provisions include: • The criteria for newly designed areas provide protection of habitable - - - areas from flooding by large events through application hcation of drainage_ enhancements enhancements (including storm sewers,roadside ditches, open - r _ 111 613 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004)` ir LYia(, 1* channels, detention and overland(sheet)runoff). The combined system is intended to prevent flooding of houses by extreme events up to the level of a 100-year storm. • Short-duration street ponding is anticipated and part of the overall drainage capacity. It is recognized that storm sewers and ditches are designed as a balance of"capacity and economics," and that capacity is intended for"less intense,more frequent rainfalls". • Fill placed in the 100-year flood plain as designated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map below the 100-year base flood elevation shall be mitigated by removal of like amount of compensating cut in the • vicinity of the fill. All runoff impacts created by development shall be mitigated to the equivalent of pre-project runoff rates. • For drainage through existing developed areas,requires assessment of the hydraulic gradient for the 100-year flow, and if the gradient is "at or below one foot below the floor levels of adjacent existing habitable structures" no improvements to the existing system are required. • All open channels are to be designed to contain the runoff from the - 100-year frequency storm within the right-of-way,except where channel improvements are necessary to offset increased flows from a proposed development. In those cases,the 100-year flood profile under existing conditions of development should not be increased. -- • New driveway culverts must be accompanied by evidence that they will handle flow without increasing flooding. For detention system designs,review and approval is contingent upon assurances that(a) adequate storage is available for necessary- peak flow reduction; (b)performance over the expected life of- - project; (c)provisions for funding maintenance; and(c)maintenance will be performed for long-term operations. On-site and off-site detention facilities may be proposed. Design Rainfall:Events For.Brazoria County and Pearland, the 24 hour design'rainfalls (not adjusted areally) 100 year rainfall ■ 10 year rainfall $3" ,■ 2 ear raanfall, 5.25" Part 6: Pearland's Capability '6'`14�• to Address Hazards, 6.5 Continued Compliance with the NFIP Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program is important to the City of Pearland and over 6,000 of its residents. This is evidenced by the City's commitment to regulating development and redevelopment,by its adoption of provisions that exceed the minimum requirements, and by its active pursuit of mitigation opportunities. The City is firmly committed to continued compliance with the NFIP. Pearland satisfied requirements for initial participation in the NFIP and joined the Emergency Program in 1978. Upon issuance and final approval of the Flood Insurance Rate Map in July 1984, the City joined the Regular Program. The effective Flood Insurance Rate Map for Pearland has been revised a number of times to reflect more detailed information and changes to the floodplain, and is now used as the minimum flood hazard area within which development must conform to floodplain management regulations. • Regulations Review. A review of the City's floodplain regulations and subdivision standards was prepared and City staff were interviewed. The review, on file with the Administration Department, was performed to ensure continued compliance with the NFIP and to identify opportunities to clarify regulatory language. The regulations are consistent with the NFIP. The findings suggest the following: • Minor revisions could remove language not pertinent to Pearland (e.g.,related to coastal floodplains, AO Zones); • Clarification of provisions related to substantial improvement and substantial damage may improve administration; • Using the boundaries of the SFHA to determine regulated areas, regardless of the relationship of topography and the Base Flood Elevation,may overlook some low areas; and • If a builder changes a building design after approval of the subdivision plat(on which BFE and lowest floor elevations are specified); current processing procedures may not ensure that the City's floodplain manager reviews the changes. However,there is no indication that this situation has occurred in the past., _.-- - - 615 - - • _ 0 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) r` f7 'rm.r,.' Land Use & Urban Development Ordinance No. 509-H(revised April 22,2002). The ordinance provides for and defines the Floodway District, but it is not in use as of mid-2003. The Land Use Plan is a map that • shows future land use by color comparison; the mapped floodplain is not delineated as a separate land use. A separate report on the flood provisions of the ordinance is on file with the Administration Department. Community Assistance Visit. The final determination of a 1999 Community Assistance Visit was that "the City has an excellent floodplain management program." The Community Rating System. The review of the floodplain regulations also served to identify measures adopted by Pearland that may qualify for credit under the NFIP's Community Rating System(CRS). The CRS is intended to recognize and encourage management of flood hazard areas above the minimum requirements of the NFIP. The CRS- offers discounts on the cost of federal flood insurance to those citizens who reside within recognized communities. The City completed and submitted a CRS application in mid-2003. A verification visit was completed on November 11, 2003, and the City anticipates entering the CRS program sometime in 2004. Based on 2004 Repetitive Loss data, there are 252 RL properties within the City, making Pearland a Repetitive Loss Category C. Of the 252 repetitive loss properties, 54 are included in FEMA's Target Group. Nationwide, the average NFIP premium for $100,000 in coverage property in A Zones and AE Zones is on the order of$500. Thus, in communities with a 5% CRS discount, policyholders see, on average, annual savings of$25. The cost of the average B, C, and X Zone policy is $150;thus policyholder savings in these zones outside of the 100-year floodplain would be only$7.50 per year. Regardless of the CRS discount available in A and AE Zones, which goes up in 5-percent increments,the discount on B, C, and X Zones is capped at 5%. For the City of Pearland's residents, cost savings due to the CRS discount can be estimated. It is important to note that the total number of flood - insurance policies exceeds the number of buildings within the mapped 6-16 Part 6. Pearland's Capability to Addres s Hazards, flood hazard area. Therefore, for the purpose of this estimate, a CRS discount of only 5% is assumed to apply to all policies. As of December 2002,the NFIP reports that 6,419 flood insurance policies are in force in Pearland and policyholders pay almost$2 million per year in premiums. Therefore, a 5% discount would yield a total savings for property owners of about $100,000 each year. An independent report identifying possible points based on the City's current program, as well as a number of reasonable and feasible additional activities that may qualify for CRS points,is on file with the Administration Department. The following are the key opportunities: • Floodplain ordinance requires the lowest floor, including basement, to be elevated at least one-foot above the Base Flood Elevation. • Floodplain ordinance requires that all fill places in the floodplain be mitigated by compensating cut so that no increase in flood levels results. • New development is required to provide on-site management of increased runoff associated with the 100-year storm(or contribute to regional detention). • Significant efforts related to drainage maintenance and - - - improvements are underway. • More than 90 homes have been acquired and demolished to provide open space. _ • Significant public information efforts provide opportunities to continue to reach out to residents about flood hazards,mitigating damage, and flood insurance. 6.6 Ongoing and Previous Mitigation Initiatives Dealing with flood hazards, the most significant natural hazard in Pearland, is not a new proposition for the City. Indeed, as described in Section 3.2, several of the City's goals and objectives for 2003-2004 are directly related to flooding and drainage. Those objectives and specific studies and projects are described in the following subsections. = C17 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) -- -- -- ------ tj IZ^//\ k-k1C140,1 6.6.1 Clear Creek Improvements Under Goal#2 for 2003-2004, the Pearland City Council established its first objective: Continue lobbying for Clear Creek improvements through. • a coalition with the City of Friendswood, BDD#4, and GCCDD. In support of this goal, on June 16, 2003,the City Council adopted Resolution No. R2003-84 supporting the request made by Congressman Tom DeLay that funding be reinstated in the 2004 federal budget to provide for general evaluation review of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Clear Creek Project. Clear Creek is a multi-jurisdictional watershed, draining portions of Brazoria, Galveston, Harris, and Fort Bend County, and many cities, including Houston and Pearland. The Creek forms most of Pearland's northern border and, as demonstrated by past flood events, is a significant source of repetitive and severe flood damage. The following summary of the Clear Creek Project is prepared from material available online at www.clearcreekproject.com: - - • The Galveston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is engaged in a complete re-evaluation of flood damage reduction measures for Clear Creek. The study has expanded well beyond what was formerly planned for only the main stem of the Creek. At the request of the local sponsors, six tributaries were added to the investigation so that the watershed could be more thoroughly— - -_-_. -. _.-- understood. Three other agencies representing constituents within the watershed are co-sponsoring the new study. These sponsors include the Harris County Flood Control District, Galveston County, and Brazoria Drainage District Number Four. • Significant progress has been made since June 2002 and a number of project milestones have been reached. Baseline data compiled includes hydraulic/hydrologic information and Geographic Information system mapping of roads,FEMA floodplains,habitat types, wetlands and biological areas,elevations and contours, stream cross-sections, cultural resources,recreational facilities, census information, and structural inventory information. Work on the • Environmental Impact Statement has progressed, and data collection necessary to establish an environmental baseline is complete.• _ • - During the coming year, the Study Team will continue with hydraulic and hydrologic analysis of the 20 flood damage reduction Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards© 6-18 : measures that have been identified, and economic and"benefits-to- cost" analyses will be performed for each measure. Environmental mitigation and eco-restoration actions necessary to offset project • impacts will also be evaluated. • The new study, expected to be completed in 2005, will completely re-evaluate options for a federally funded flood control plan that developed many years ago. The original plan included deepening and widening Clear Creek. Numerous alternatives have been • suggested by both project sponsors and private citizens, including combinations of channelization,bypass channels, and floodwater detention areas. Importantly, non-structural options such as buying out frequently flooded homeowners,raising structures,improving flood warnings, and strengthening local floodplain regulations are also being considered. Another Clear Creek initiative involves preparation of new floodplain studies under the umbrella of the Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project for the portion of the City that lies within Harris County. The City has entered into a Community Partner Memorandum of Agreement. with FEMA in which they have agreed to work with FEMA in the flood _ hazard identification process and to identify and prioritize its flood mapping needs and develop a digital flood maps for areas of the City that are within Harris County. New floodplain maps, expected to be • presented in early 2004, are expected to show higher flood elevations than shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map. The Project's web page (www.tsarp.com) posts a series of questions and answers about flood insurance and how changes in the flood maps may affect property owners. 6.6.2 Evaluation of Detention The City is evaluating the effectiveness of its stormwater detention requirements for new development to determine if revisions are appropriate. The drainage manual may be revised. An inventory of detention ponds has been prepared and an inspection program was initiated in June 2003. e City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) ------- ry a 9.�-'�-� 6.6.3 Drainage Maintenance The City of Pearland and the Brazoria Drainage District#4 are responsible for public drainage infrastructure in the area. BDD#4 and the City's Streets and Drainage Department and the Parks Department coordinate to maintain drainage ditches and the City is working to formalize inspection and maintenance procedures, and to clarify areas of responsibility. At this time: • BDD#4 is responsible for major drainage ditches, sloughs, and creeks; • Streets and Drainage is responsible for ditches in front of houses and along City streets, although it has limited capability(equipment and manpower) so BDD4 often provides assistance upon request; • Parks typically mows the ditches when time and manpower allow; and • The City has recently instituted a detention pond inspection program. 6.6.4 Regional Stormwater Detention The City currently has five regional stormwater detention sites and one in the planning stages. All sites are designed with 50% capacity to manage - runoff from existing development and 50% capacity to manage increases anticipated due to future development. The sites are: • David L. Smith detention located on Clear Creek in Northeast---- - - _ _.__ . ___— Pearland contains approximately 204 acre-feet of stormwater detention. • Southwest Environmental Center detention located on Mary's Creek contains approximately 366 acre-feet of stormwater detention. • Independence Park detention located on Mary's Creek in East Pearland contains approximately 34 acre-feet of stormwater . detention. • West Mary's Creek detention located on Mary's Creek in W.Central Pearland contains approximately 600 acre-feet of stormwater detention. • Collen Detention located on Hickory Slough in W.Central Pearland contains approximately.30 acre-feet of stormwater detention. . •6-20 Part 6: Pearland s Capability to Address Hazards" Shadow Creek Ranch development also has a regional component. This site is privately owned and maintained and is being built in phases. 6.6.5 Corrigan Subdivision Drainage The Corrigan subdivision is located in a large shallow bowl that suffers frequently from inadequate drainage. During major storm events over the Mary's Creek watershed, water from the creek"backs up" into Corrigan by way of the Corrigan Ditch, overflowing into the streets since the elevations are below Bt±h. Not only does the Corrigan Ditch provide a path for flooding from Mary's Creek, the floodwater flows around and across the streets throughout Corrigan. The area also floods during intense, localized rainfall due to inadequate capacity in the main outfall channel(Corrigan Ditch), inadequate storm sewer capacity, and limited flow paths for sheet flow. "Nuisance" flooding caused by heavy localized rainfall events is generally limited to street flooding for one to two hour periods. Occasionally, both types of flooding occur simultaneously, causing significant flooding. • As shown on Map 5-2, many homeowners_in Corrigan have obtained NFIP flood insurance policies and several are listed by the NFIP as have received repetitive flood claims. To address the frequent flooding in Corrigan,the City of Pearland's— — Program Manager for Mobility and Drainage Program has concluded that general improvements are necessary and may cost an estimated $10-11 million. The project, which has been designed and funded in the 2001 bond election(with subsequent additional incremented funding) includes the following elements: • Diverting the rainfall runoff from north of Broadway around Corrigan by constructing a by-pass channel that will take the flow directly to Mary's Creek; • Constructing a barrier north of Corrigan to prevent off-site sheet flow from entering Corrigan from that direction;• • Constructing a barrier to prevent water from Mary's Creek from backing up in Corrigan; 6-21` City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - - -------- -- ---- -- rxwxw Est . • Realigning the Corrigan Ditch outfall into an existing pumped detention facility and retaining the internal Corrigan rainfall runoff; and • Constructing internal street and drainage improvements to provide capacity for higher intensity storm events and provide overland sheet flow paths to the Corrigan Ditch. 6.6.6 Floodplain Acquisitions Prompted by significant flooding in 1994, which resulted in Presidential Declaration DR1041, the City initiated acquisition of a number of flood- damaged homes. A Hazard Mitigation Grant Program(HMGP) grant of $300,000 was awarded through the Texas Division of Emergency Management for the acquisition and removal of three substantially damaged properties. The City provided the 25% non-federal match. Tropical Storm Allison(DR 1379) caused near-record flooding and damage, prompting a new effort to acquire flood-damage homes. An HMGP grant of$7,650,000 was awarded for the acquisition of 89 homes. Subsequently, the City initiated an HMGP application to "fast track"--- - - - -- acquisition of homes damaged by the flood. Two separate acquisition and relocation programs were initiated, one by the properties located in the part of the City that is in Brazoria County. The other effort, undertaken with the Harris County Flood Control District, was for properties located the portion of the City that is in Harris County. As a condition of the mitigation grants,the acquired lands must be retained as open space. Consequently, the City maintaining the vacant lots through a mowing contract to provide 39 mows per lot,per year. Due to this high, on-going cost,the City is exploring compatible uses by adjacent property owners in exchange for maintenance. In addition, where there are four or more contiguous lots,the City is working with the neighborhood associations to explore re-use as neighborhood parks. 6.6.7 • Public-Private Partnerships The City of Pearland has not formed any public-private partnerships that are related to natural hazards and hazard mitigation. rgira Part 6: Pearland's Capability to Address Hazards - ------ --------------- - - ----------- ---- 6.7 Natural Resources The City of Pearland values its open space and encourages protection of trees and wetlands in its development processes. The approval process for subdivisions within the City and the area designated as the extra- territorial jurisdiction(within 5 miles of the corporate limits) requires developers to delineate waterways, drainage structures,the boundaries of flood-prone areas (including floodways). Activity proposed within wetland areas must be approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Open space is addressed in the subdivision ordinance: • Sec. 27-4(E)Public Use and Service Areas—the City may require up to 10% of gross area or water frontage for park, school or recreational purposes. • Sec.27-11 Parkland Dedication—sites for park and recreation purposes to be recorded; locations to be approved by the Parks and Recreation Director(ratio of one acre of park for every 100 dwelling units). Area to be appropriate in area, shape and_terrain for intended park uses. Pipeline easement shall not be considered part of park dedication; other easements or detention ponds may be acceptable. City may elect to accept a fee as alternate to dedication, in whole or in part,to maximize accessible locations. Pearland Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance (OrdinanceNo. 1108).This document was adopted July 2003. The City Council of Pearland determined that the urban forest is of great value in the maintenance of public health and welfare; the urban forest can aid in the conservation of vital energy resources and natural resources and in the preservation of the'City's heritage and quality of life. Seeking to balance • the benefits of protecting and preserving trees with the rights of individual property owners, the Council determined that the best approaches for accomplishing numerous benefits involves the preservation or replacement of existing trees that may be removed by the following methods: (i) avoid tree,damage(including removal) whenever • feasible; (ii) mitigate damage when it occurs; (iii)require on-site replace- ment of trees that must be removed, and(iv)require off-site replacement; - of trees that cannot be replaced on-site, either by direct planting or _ through a "tree trust". Excepted activities include public utility work if it ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) ;4*• • C takes place in dedicated and accepted easements, right-of-way and floodways; and removal of trees which pose a hazard or harm(with appropriate documentation and approval by the City). • City Projects &:Environmental Compliance Capital projects that impact wetlands or remove trees must satisfy the same mitigation requirements imposed on private development projects • • 6-24•, Part 6: Peariand's Capability to Address HazardsI Part 7. Mitigation Actions 7.1 Identifying Priority Actions Throughout the planning process, the Mitigation Planning Committee discussed hazards, the number of people and types of property that are exposed, and the development review process. Based on a review of the background materials and the Committee's understanding, 27 potential actions were identified, circulated, reviewed, and prioritized. Of these 27 draft mitigation action items, several were combined and/or slightly modified. Factors that influenced prioritizing included the Committee's review of available information on flood hazards, other hazards, past hazard events, the number of people and types of property exposed to those hazards, and the elements of the development approval process. High priority was placed on those actions that are considered consistent with current City policies, those that are technically feasible and have high political and social acceptance, and those that can be achieved using existing authorities,budget levels, and staff. Composites were made of the priorities indicated by each Committee member in the context of his or her agency's responsibilities. This analysis initially yielded eight high-priority actions and five medium- priority actions; subsequent discussions resulted in further refinement of the list. -- -- — — — — 7.2 Mitigation Actions • Table 7-1. identifies the link between mitigation actions and identified hazards. Table 7-2 identifies each high priority mitigation action and - identifies the proposed lead office and support assignments, priority level, and timeframe. The proposed timeframes are consistent with the five- year review cycle required for this Plan. For each high priority action, the Committee identified the lead office, characterized anticipated support by elected officials and the community at-large, discussed funding limitations and status, and developed a qualitative statement regarding _ cost effectiveness. In this context,the cost of accomplishing the action , - was compared to the perceived benefits, including community-wide 7-1 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) _ - - - - -- safety. Note: Mitigation action items pertain to both current and future development as well as infrastructure, as applicable, within the City of Pearland. Table 7-1 Linking Actions to Hazards Estimated Probability of Annual$ Hazard Occurrence* Damage** Action Item(s) Floods High High 1,2a,2b,3,4,5,6, M1, M2, M3,M4,L1,L2 Winter Storm Hazards Low Low 2a, 5,6,M4 High Wind Low Low 2.a, 5,6,M1,M2,M4 Hazards/Tornadoes Drought Medium Low 2a, 5,6, M4 Wildland Fire Low Low 2a, 5,6,M4 Hazardous Materials Low Low 2a, 5,6,M4,L1 Seismic Hazards N/A N/A (Earthquakes) Landslides N/A N/A Terrorism Low Low 2a, 5,6,M4 *Based on Historical Occurrences as indicated in section 5 **Based on calculated estimate of annual damage Less than$250,000 annual estimate of damage=Low Less than$1,000,000 annual estimate of damage=Medium Greater than$1,000,000 annual estimate of damage=High Medium priority actions and low priority actions (Table 7-3) are. scheduled for further consideration when the City undertakes the comprehensive review. Lead offices and other factors will be discussed. and documented during the Plan revision. At that time, it is expected that new actions will be identified and a process to prioritize all remaining actions will be undertaken. An updated version of this table will be included in periodic progress reports submitted to the Texas Division of Emergency Management,the Texas Water Development Board, and FEMA. Part 7: Mitigation Actions, Table 7-2 High Priority Mitigation Actions. Mitigation Actions&Notes on Implementation • HIGH PRIORITY: Time Period(2003—2008) Action#1: Improve Regulatory and Administrative Capability a.Formalize inspection procedures,specifically for flood b.At least one staff member should have training specific to making substantial damage determinations c.Standardize procedures and worksheets for handling substantial improvement and substantial damage Lead: Building Official Lead Office Support: City Engineer,Permits,Inspections Support Strong support(improves consistency;maximizes eligibility for ICC and grants) Within existing budget: Status&Funding Notes a. Incorporate in on-going review of permit procedures b. Training available from State/FEMA. r c. Tailor materials available in FEMA manuals. Very cost effective due to long-term improvement of non- Cost Effectiveness2 conforming buildings and protecting the City's"good standing"with the NFIP. Action#2: Public Information • a.Develop communications plan to increase internal and public communication capability—pre-and post-disaster b.Periodic informational mailings to SFHA property owners(flood insurance,importance of maintaining drainage,flood safety,easy mitigation measures,permit requirements) _ _ Lead: Public Affairs Lead Office Support: Mayor's office;multiple agencies Support Strong support Within existing budget: Status&Funding Notes — — — a.Materials developed as part of mitigation plan —- Very cost effective due to increased public awareness and Cost Effectiveness consistency of City's messages to citizens,especially post- flood. Action#3: Flood Warning a.Increase flood predictive capability for streams and creeks that affect the City(stream gages), coordinate with Harris County Flood Control b.Augment Reverse 911 System to notify floodplain occupants of pending conditions Lead: a. City Engineer Lead Office b. Emergency management . Support: City Engineer,GIS,and EM Support Strong Support Requires budget request if evaluation determines that additional stream gages are required(initial costs and Status&Funding Notes maintenance) Initial stream gages are induced in FY04 budget 'Estimate of community support(elected officials and citizens). ` - •- - 2 Based on qualitative assessment of cost/effort and long-term benefits. ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 73 _ f I�ji 71, Table 7-2 High Priority Mitigation Actions. Mitigation Actions&Notes on Implementation Cost Effectiveness Very cost effective,especially after initial investment. Action#4: City-Owned Buildings/Infrastructure a.For public buildings that are in the SFHA and based on preliminary evaluations,conduct more detailed assessment of full range of ways to minimize damage(retrofit floodproofing,use of flood- resistant materials,elevate utilities,etc.);determine appropriateness of flood insurance b.Sanitary water treatment plants,if in SFHA,examine for measures to preserve functioning and protect property/contents;if not already in place,prepare response plans for pending flooding c.For sewage pump stations located in high-risk areas,develop floodproofing plans Lead: Public Works Lead Office Support: Risk management and Parks&Recreation Support Moderate support(no prior damage suggests relatively low risk) Initial evaluations are within existing budget;if reasonable Status&Funding Notes protective measures are found to be appropriate,budget request will be necessary. Cost Effectiveness Unknown(will be a function of degree of exposure) Action#5: Coordinated Emergency Management Train all department heads and appropriate other personnel about the Emergency Management Plan-roles and responsibilities pre-and post-event. Lead: Emergency Management Lead Office Support: Mayor's Office Support Strong Support May be within existing budget if existing training modules Status&Funding Notes from FEMA can be deployed locally. Cost Effectiveness Very cost effective Action#6: Mitigation Projects a. Develop procedures to quickly identify mitigation projects and seek funding(from RSDE and -- ---- HMGP application development,identification of reuse(recreation,reforestation,wetlands mitigation required by capital projects),through maintenance of purchased/demolished properties). b. Continue to pursue cost effective flood mitigation projects(elevation,buyout,local drainage and storm water detention projects);apply for federal funding,as appropriate c. Continue to pursue cost effective mitigation projects for other natural hazards that may impact the City of Pearland d. Collect"sunny day"data for at-risk buildings to have available for quick post disaster recovery and mitigation grant application development e. Lead: Administration Lead Office Support: City Engineer,Grants Support Strong Support • • 7-4 Part 7: Mitigation Actions, Table 7-2 High Priority Mitigation Actions. Mitigation Actions&Notes on Implementation • • Limited funds for mitigation projects in FY04 Operating Budget • On-gong joint projects with BDD#4 • Pending Grant Application with Corps of Eng.(section Status&Funding Notes 205) • Recent Bond election included funds for Mitigation projects • Implementation of additional projects(above those already approved and funded)will require grant award Cost Effectiveness Will need to be evaluated on a project-by-project basis Table 7-3 Medium and Low Priority Mitigation Actions. Mitigation Actions&Notes on Implementation MEDIUM PRIORITY: Time Period(2008+) M1. Public-Private Partnership • _ Sponsor building code training(available from code organizations)for local engineers,architects, contractors,home improvement contractors(with emphasis on wind and flood provisions) M2. Road Safety Based on existing knowledge of roads that flood frequently: a. If considered critical for emergency response,explore options to upgrade. b. If predicted to have more than 2'of water(especially long duration),explore options to upgrade M3. Shelter Survey If not already done,request county/state evaluation of identified shelters for resistance to wind& flood M4. Training and Certification Establish training requirements,minimum job skill base,and certification requirements for all City positions requiring hazard preparation and response. Mitigation Actions&Notes on Implementation LOW PRIORITY: Time Period(2008+) -L1. Identify whether hazardous materials handlers/waste sites are in the mapped floodplain;if flood-prone,notify company and encourage protective measures and response plan for flood L2. Require designated floodplain manager position to be a Texas Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). • • I City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) --- ------- ----- --- -- - -- - --- ----- - — �I4� .zts, 7.3 Links to Mitigation Goal Statement The City of Pearland Mitigation Goal Statement The goal of this plan is to support the City of Pearland's efforts to protect the community's health,'; safety, and welfare'by identifying, and increasing public awareness of natural and man-made hazards, and mitigating risks'due to those hazards without creating new problems:.; Table 7-4 shows how the proposed actions listed in Section 7.1 directly support the City's Mitigation Goal Statement. A number of actions individually support more than one element of the goal. Table 7-4 Linking Mitigation Goals & Actions. Element of Goal Statement Actions Relating to Goal Protect public health,safety and welfare 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 Increasing public awareness of hazards 2, 3, 6 Mitigating risks due to those hazards 1 2 3 4,5, 6 • • • 7-6 P art 7 •M� tigation Actions, Part 8. Texas Agencies, Organizations & FEMA Programs 8.1. Overview Mitigation of flood hazards traces its roots to Congressional deliberations. about how to address continued and repetitive flood disasters throughout • the first half of the 20`h Century. The National Flood Insurance Program, authorized in 1968, prompted state and local government actions primarily intended to recognize and account for flood hazards in decisions on local development. It was not until 1988 that the concept of mitigation planning was articulated in a statute, known as "Section 409" planning. In 2000,the statute was revised under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. At the federal level, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administers mitigation programs that foster planning and project implementation to address existing risks. At the state and regional levels, several agencies and organizations sponsor programs that bear on hazard mitigation. The following sections provide an overview of existing Texas agencies, organizations, and programs addressing hazard mitigation. 8.2 Texas Division of Emergency Management The Texas Division of Emergency Management (DEM) (www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem) is designated by the Governor as the state's coordinating agency for disaster preparedness, emergency response; an disaster recovery assistance. DEM is also tasked with coordinating the state's natural disaster mitigation initiatives, chairing the State Hazard Mitigation Team, and maintaining the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan. DEM fosters local mitigation planning and . • administers Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 8.3 • Texas Water Development Board. The Texas Water Development Board(TWDB; www.twdb.state.tx.us) administers a variety of programs related to water. The TWDB is the agency charged with statewide water planning and administration of fmancial assistance programs for the planning, design, and construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) • water conservation projects. TWDB administers funding from FEMA under the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program(see Section 8.8). 8.4 Texas Commission on Environmental • Quality The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ; www.tceq.state.tx.us) is a diversified agency dealing with permitting, licensing, compliance, enforcement,pollution prevention, and educational programs related to preservation and protection of air and water quality and the safe disposal of waste. Related to mitigation of natural hazards are TCEQ programs that deal with drought, dam safety, and flood control and floodplain management. TCEQ is designated by the Governor as the State Coordinating Agency for the National Flood Insurance Program. In this capacity, the agency assists communities with floodplain mapping matters and interpretation and enforcement of local floodplain management regulations. • 8.5 FEMA National Flood Insurance Program In 1968, Congress authorized FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for two primary purposes: (1) to have flood-prone property owners contribute to their own recovery from flood damage through an insurance program; and (2)to guide development such that it is less prone to flood damage. To facilitate implementation, the NFIP created Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that,based on best available information and engineering methodologies, show areas subject to flooding by the 1- • percent-annual chance flood(also called the"100-year flood"). Communities use the maps to guide and regulate development. Citizens and insurance professionals use the maps to determine insurance needs. It is notable that, whereas flood insurance claims are paid when damage is • sustained from any qualifying flood event, federal disaster assistance is available only after a flood is determined to be a"major disaster." A • major disaster exceeds state and local capabilities. In addition, disaster grants to individuals and families are limited to approximately$14,000 (average payment is $6,000). Therefore, owners of insured buildings that _ Part 8: Texas Agencies,Organizations&FEMA Programs, are in areas known to flood,especially as shown on FIRMs, are protected fmancially as long as they carry sufficient flood insurance coverage. Additional information on flood insurance coverage for property owners and consumers is available online at www.fema.gov/nfip. Basic federal flood insurance helps pay for property damage and loss of contents. Under certain circumstances—for example, if flood damage causes "substantial damage" — an additional mitigation claim payment is available to help owners bring buildings into compliance with NFIP flood protection standards (as of May, 2003,this additional payment is capped at $30,000). In addition, compliance is required when a building is substantially improved (includes repair of substantial damage). Substantial improvement is defined as improvements valued at 50% or more of the building's market value before improvement. Flood Insurance in Texas (as,of 12/2002) With 459,462 NFIP policies in force.-(10% of all policies nationwide), Texas ranks second among all states in number of flood insured properties (Florida is#1). Property owners in Texas have received over 129,600 claim payments totaling $2.56 billion: only Louisiana has had more claims paid. Sour ce NFIP Statistics online at,www fema.gov/nfip • 8.6 FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs In 1988, Congress authorized the first grant program intended to help local jurisdictions and states mitigate the effects of natural hazards. From time to time, additional funds have been authorized by Congress, although generally they are intended to achieve similar purposes and are administered in the same manner. ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) - - ------ -- - ;i tz �. li\D; Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program(PDM) Authorized by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program funds are expected to be appropriated each year to support a grant program that is funded regardless of disaster experience. As of mid-2003,the regulations for the program were not promulgated, although they are expected to be similar inmost respects to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program(below). The most significant difference will be that the funds made available will not be allocated by the state immediately after a disaster,but awarded on a nationwide, competitive basis. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) First authorized in 1988, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program(HMGP) funds become available after major disasters. The amount of funding is • determined as a percentage of certain types of federal assistance (e.g., emergency support, assistance to repair public infrastructures, and assistance to individuals and families). HMGP provides.up to 75% of eligible costs,the remaining 25% must come from other, approved sources that may include, including in-kind and property owner contributions. Eligible grantees include local jurisdictions and certain private non-profit organizations. Eligible projects must solve a given hazard problem, be cost effective, conform with environmental regulations,meet all applicable codes and standards, and be supported by state and local mitigation plans. For the most part,HMGP funds have been used by local jurisdictions to address flood hazards, primarily through acquisition of flood-prone houses and land. Other eligible projects have included elevation-in-place of flood- ' • prone houses, floodproofing of public infrastructure, floodproofmg of non-residential buildings, and drainage improvements. Flood Mitigation Assistance Program(FMA) Specifically authorized by Congress in 1994 to fund projects that are"in • - the best interests of the NFIP,"the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA) is funded each.year by Congress, regardless of disaster declarations. Funds are available to support planning, technical assistance, and projects. In recent years, considerable focus has been on_ • -8-4— Part 8: Texas Agencies,Organizations&FEMA Programs" projects that address properties known as "repetitive loss properties." These are properties that have received two or more flood insurance claim payments above a certain value. States receive an annual share of funds • from FMA that can be used for acquisition/demolition of flood-prone buildings; elevation-in-place, relocation, or floodproofmg of structures (including public structures); and minor flood control projects that do not duplicate activities of other federal agencies. • 111 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) -� Part 9 Implementation 9.1 .. Distribution The City of Pearland Hazard Mitigation Plan will be posted on the City's Web site and notices of its availability will be distributed to the following: • The federal and state agencies that were notified and invited to participate in Plan development(see Sec. 1.3); • Adjacent counties and cities; • Citizens who attended public meetings and provided contact information; and • The organizations, agencies, and elected officials who received notices of public meetings. 9.2 Implementation Through the mitigation planning process, the Pearland Departments that are involved in managing hazards and implementing measures to minimize future risk considered a range of mitigation actions. High. priority actions were identified and prioritized, and are shown in Table • 7-2. For each mitigation action, Table 7-2 identifies the lead agency, support agencies, priority level, and time period for implementation. Each lead agency is responsible for factoring the action into its work plan and schedule over the indicated time period. Annual reports on the status of — implementation, including obstacles to progress, will be submitted by lead Departments to the Pearland Emergency Services Department. 9.3 Monitoring.& Progress Reports As part of its responsibilities as described under Annex P of the Pearland Emergency Management Plan, the Hazard Mitigation Coordinator is charged with monitoring and preparing progress reports. The Hazard Mitigation Coordinator will note progress made on the mitigation action items listed in Table 7-2 in annual progress reports and record such progress in Appendix C. To this end, the Hazard Mitigation Coordinator may convene a meeting of the appropriate City Departments to discuss . and determine progress, and to identify obstacles to progress, if any. A City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) In addition to the scheduled reports,the Hazard Mitigation Coordinator. . will convene meetings after damage-causing natural hazard events to review the effects of such events. Based on those effects, adjustments to the mitigation priorities listed in Table 7-2 may be made or additional event-specific actions identified. Such revisions shall be documented as outlined in Section 9.4. 9.4 Revisions Revisions that warrant changing the text of this Plan or incorporating new information may be prompted by a number of circumstances, including identification of specific new mitigation projects, completion of several mitigation actions, or requirements for qualifying for specific funding. Minor revisions may be handled by addenda. Major comprehensive review of and revisions to this Hazard Mitigation Plan will be considered on a five-year cycle. Adopted in 2003, the Plan will enter its next review cycle sometime in 2007, with adoption of revisions anticipated in 2008. The Mitigation Planning Committee will be convened to conduct the comprehensive evaluation and revision. Pearland will involve the public in the plan maintenance process and during the major comprehensive review to the Plan in the same ways used during the original plan development. The public will be notified when the revision process is started and provided the opportunity to review and comment on changes to the plan and priority action items. It is expected that a combination of informational public meetings, surveys and • questionnaires, draft documents posted on the web site, and public • Council meetings will be undertaken. :9=2 Part'9: Implementation, Appendix A Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting#1 (November 19, 2002) The City of Pearland Texas has begun a mitigation planning initiative. The Mitigation Planning Committee (Committee)is composed of members from appropriate agencies(list follows). The Committee convened on November 19,2002 for the first meeting to review and address the following: 1. What is mitigation planning and why the City is undertaking this task. It is understood that the Plan will further build on federal and State efforts to reduce the effects of natural hazards;a new federal- level planning requirement was briefly described by FEMA. 2. The planning process was outlined: identify hazards;identify what is at risk;evaluate current policies and procedures;evaluate what else can be done(or can be done differently). 3. Overview of common natural hazards: flood(from all sources,including hurricane,heavy rain,dam break),high wind,winter storms 4. Less common natural hazards: wild fires,earthquake(The City of Pearland has low seismic risk). 5. Hazardous materials considered where location intersects with natural hazard(i.e.,within flood hazard area). 6. Overview of disasters in the United States: occur in every state;nearly all jurisdictions have flood hazards;winter storms affect more people than floods;earthquakes are the most costly. 7. Uncounted costs of disasters: small events do not qualify for federal financial assistance;grants do not cover all costs;loan repayment costs far exceed insurance costs. 8. Define hazard identification&risk assessment: where do hazards occur,with what severity and frequency,and what is likely to be damaged. 9. Overview of the City's hazards: a. Location specific: mapped floodplains;hazardous materials b. Citywide: high wind;winter storm 10. Introduction of need for a mitigation goal;to be compatible with other City goals 11. Overview and examples of mitigation actions: a. Programmatic and planning b. Public infrastructure and buildings c. Public information d. Projects 12. Review steps in the mitigation planning process: a. Field visit to damage/vulnerable locations b. Interview each department c. Discuss opportunities d. Prioritize mitigation actions e. Get public input(process is still to be determined) f. Prepare,review and adopt plan • 13. Schedule: o Target is to complete the plan by July 31,2003. This will require three to four more committee meetings. The next meeting will be preceded by in-depth interviews with representatives from each department and pertinent program. - o Second meeting of the Committee—Mid-January. All committee members will be given appropriate advance notice of the meeting time and place once it is finalized. The following table lists the members of the Committee. They will participate in Committee'meetings, gather and provide information to the consultant,review interim materials and drafts of the Plan,and evaluate potential mitigation actions in the context of their department's capabilities and responsibilities as well as the overall and long-term benefits of the City. - • ®City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 7.. E.T- IVARatii Area of Name Organization Responsibility Phone. "Email Address " Bill Eisen City of Pearland City Manager— (281)652-1663 beisen@ci.pearland.tx.us • Administration Executive Support Chris Kidwell City of Pearland Performance (281)652-1622 ckidwell@ci.pearland.tx.us Administration Measurement Mary Ross City of Pearland Finance (281)652-1672 mross@ci.pearland.tx.us Cindy Alcala City of Pearland Grant (281)652-1751 calcala@ci.pearland.tx.us Grants Administration Michael City of Pearland GIS (281)652-1693 mmasters@ci.pearland.tx.us Masters Projects • • Alan Mueller City of Pearland Deputy City (281)652-1650 amueller@ci.pearland.tx.us Administration Manager Jerry Burns City of Pearland Public Works (281)652-1914 jburns@ci.pearland.tx.us Edward Hersh City of Pearland Parks and (281)652-1674 ehersh@ci.pearland.tx.us Recreation Tobin Maples City of Pearland Executive Director (281)652-1759 tmaples@ci.pearland.txus Community Services Andy Gallagher City of Pearland . Floodplain (281)652-1649 agallagher@ci.pearland.tx.us Engineering Manager • Jeff Ward Donald R.Ward& Consultant (941)514-1801 jeffreysward@earthlink.net Assoc. The City of Pearland,Office of Emergency Management,was unable to attend this meeting due to schedule conflicts,but should be at the next committee meeting. The following agencies were notified and invited to participate: • Texas Department of Emergency Management • Texas Water Development Board(will be invited to next committee meeting) • FEMA Region VI The following organizations will be invited to the next committee.meeting: ▪ The City of Friendswood " • Harris County Meeting Discussions The majority of the meeting encompassed a presentation informing the committee members why they were developing the plan and preparing them for the role they will plan in the plan development. Future meetings . will be much more interactive. During and after the presentation,discussion centered around two general areas. Public buildings—it was pointed out that there may be one fire station and the police station located in the floodplain. During the data gathering process,we will confirm the location and address any potential risk/mitigation alternatives. _ A=2;�; Appendix A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes Hazardous materials—this appears to be the biggest"non-flood"related risk in the City. The risk,as discussed,is three-fold. 1)Hazardous storage within the City that may be in flood-prone areas;2)Hazardous materials that are transported through the City,via rail;and 3)Oil pipelines that run through and near the City. During the data gathering process,we will confirm the location and address any potential risk/mitigation alternatives. Next Steps As discussed above,the next meeting will be preceded by in-depth interviews with representatives from each department and pertinent program. These interviews will address each how the interviewee's job is affected by disasters in the area,their responsibility pre-and post-disaster,and their recollection of the historical disaster losses within the City. Second meeting of the Committee will be help in mid-January. City of Pearland TX Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) A3 A .rs �`'fTx / Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting#2 (February 4, 2003) The.Committee convened to review and address the following agenda items: 1. Mitigation Planning Overview • 2. Discussion: Ways the City communicates with the public 3. Discussion: What we know about flood(and other)hazards and how we will learn more 4. Discussion: Overview of how hazards are factored into each department's responsibilities 5. Discussion: Drafting a mitigation goal statement 6. Discussion: Begin talking about possible mitigation actions City of Pearland Planning Committee Membership The following members of the Committee were in attendance: Name Department Email Phone Alcala, Cindy Grants CindyAlcala/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1751 Burns,Jerry Public Utilities Jerry Burns/COP @ci.pearland.txus (281)652-1914 Chapman, Steve Emergency Mgmt Steve Chapman/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1950 Gallagher,Andy Floodplain Mgmt Andy Gallagher/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1649 Maples,Tobin Community Services Tobin Maples/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1759 DelaMater, Rich Projects Mueller,Alan Administration Alan Mueller/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1650 Ross,Mary Financial Mary Ross/COP@ci.pearland.txus (281)652-1672 Mr.Bill Eisen City Manager Bill Eisen/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652- 6 Chris Kidwell Analyst Chris KidweIVCOP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1622 Jeff Ward Consultant jeffreysward@earthlink.net (239)514-1801 The following non-committee members attended: Name Organization Area of Responsibility Phone - - Gilbert Ward TWDB FMA Grants Mgmt (512)463-6418 Don Ward Consultant Sr.Plan development Consultant (239)566-3230 • Meeting Discussions The meeting was opened with round the table introductions. The committee was reminded that this committee meeting is for group discussion,not formal presentations. • Mitigation Planning Overview An overview of the planning process was provided as a reminder to all committee members and meeting participants of why we are developing a plan. The group was reminded that we are concurrently developing both a Comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Flood Mitigation Plan. There will only be one final plan(a Comprehensive Plan)developed and submitted to fill both FMA and HMGP requirements. • Discussion: Ways the City communicates with the public - The City publishes a quarterly newsletter,Pearland in Motion,that is mailed to every address in town. - The City maintains a web site with up to date information about current and upcoming events. A=4 t Appendix A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes, - There is a local Government public access channel available to City residents that have Time Warner Cable. - 'The City has a local AM radio station that broadcasts emergency information on an as needed basis. - The City recently completed a survey of Pearland residents on their view of the effectiveness of various communication channels. The results of this survey will be reviewed as part of this planning process. - The City uses road banners to inform the public of upcoming events and public meetings. These banners were used post-Tropical Storm Allison to inform residents of Public meetings. - Marques from various businesses throughout the City are used inform the public of upcoming events and public meetings. - Door hangers and targeted direct mailing are used after floods to inform people of their • responsibilities post-disaster. Pearland has a fairly comprehensive mailing list of flood prone properties. - The City has had discussions about implementing a reverse 911 system. - After major flooding events,City officials have met with Home Owner Associations to answer questions and address concerns. ■ Discussion: What we know about flood(and other)hazards and how we will learn more. The City-wide map,provided by GIS,was reviewed. The map shows the floodplain,which is a makes up approximately 20%of the Cities total land area. The City has requested additional information from FEMA and the State regarding location and amount of paid claims and grants from prior flood events. Once these data are received they will be geo-located on the map. Statistics about hazard history within the City of Pearland were reviewed: -- 1,900 paid flood insurance claims; - $41.2M in paid claims; - 6,275 policies in force throughout the City; - The policyholders,almost exclusively residential,pay over$2M per year in policy premiums; - Eleven public buildings in the City,only one has experienced any prior damage. This one is Fire Station#2 on McClean Rd.that has flooded at least twice in the past. The committee was informed that interviews have been conducted with five City Department heads with several more interviews scheduled over the next couple of days. From these interviews and discussions during the committee meeting,the following past hazard events were identified: - Chemical Plant Fire just outside the City limits - Severe wind damage associated with prior storm events - Natural Gas line explosion in the late 70's off of Stone Road in which several people died - Solvent and Chemical fire at a plant on McCowen Road - Third Coast Fire in 2000 - Several Flood events to include Tropical Storm Allison from which the City purchased 89 homes under an HMGP grant. - Entegris Industrial company was cleaning out their drains and dumped hazardous materials into storm water management system. Incident required Hazmat company to complete the clean up. Many animals local to the storm water management system were killed - There is a site on East Industrial that is going to be designated a superfund site due to contaminated storage tanks found on site. . An overview of the hazard history data indicates Brazoria County has had ten presidential disaster declarations: • SEVERE STORMS &FLOODING 7/11/1973 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) 4+t b:�M:Ar�tS_ • STORMS &FLASH FLOODS 7/28/1979 • • SEVERE STORMS &FLOODING 9/25/1979 • HURRICANE ALICIA 8/19/1983 • SEVERE STORMS,TORNADOES &FLOODING 4/12/1991 • SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS 12/26/1991 • SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODING 10/18/1994 • SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING 9/23/1998 (TROPICAL STORM FRANCES) • SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING 6/9/2001 _(TROPICAL STORM ALLISON) • TROPICAL STORM FAY 9/26/2002 In addition to known past hazards,committee members offered a list of potential future risks that are of concern: - The Burlington Northern Santa Fe runs through the middle of the City and carries a great deal of hazardous materials. Committee members raised the concern of a potential train derailment and the impacts associated with such an event. - State Highway 35 also runs through the middle of the City and is a hazardous material transport. route. Committee members raised the concern of a potential truck accidents and hazardous material spills. - There are numerous pipelines that run under the City carrying a variety of hazardous materials. There has been one previous gas pipeline break within what is now the City limits killing approximately eight people. - The City is in the flight path of both Hobby and Ellington Airfields and there is a concern over potential plane crashes. - Heliport within the City limits that Ferries workers back and forth to oil rigs in the Gulf. - There are four large water treatment plants in the City:Longwood;Barry Rose;SWEC;Shadow.--- Creek Ranch;All plants are either in or adjacent to the 100-floodplain. • Discussion: Overview of how hazards are factored into each department's responsibilities Prior and after the meeting,several department heads were interviewed to discuss ways hazards are addressed by their programs,how their departments have been impacted by past disasters,and to get ideas for Mitigation Actions that may prevent future loss of life and property damage. Detailed notes on each of the interviews will be provided to the committee members in the near future. • Discussion: Drafting a mitigation goal statement Before the meeting a handout with background information on mitigation goal statements was provided to help facilitate the discussion. This handout included the concept behind a goal statement,FEMA and the State of Texas'mitigation goal,and examples of local mitigation goal statements form other jurisdictions local plans. After some discussion,the committee converged on one of the examples as being close to what they believe should be the goal. Committee members provided recommended revisions to the example and the following draft goal statement was developed: A-6-*- Appendix A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting , Minutes "The goal of this plan is to protect the community's health,safety,and welfare by identifying,and increasing public awareness of,natural and man-made hazards,and mitigating risks due to those hazards without creating new problems." " This draft goal statement will be sent to committee members in a separate communication for review and comment. ■ Discussion: Begin talking about possible mitigation actions. There was open discussion about possible mitigation actions. A summary of the ideas follows: - Central 800 number where City residents can call for information about recovery,cleanup, mitigation,and post-disaster permits. - Joint information and communications group within the city(for all City • Departments/Programs which are effected by or respond to disasters). - Joint disaster response training for all City Departments/Programs which are effected by or respond to disasters - Increase capability to communicate with the public post-disaster,and pre-disaster. - Gather detailed information on structures in high-risk damage centers to have available when a disaster strikes,both for recovery,permitting,and grant application development. - Increase predictive capability on those flooding sources where there is currently little advanced notice. - Revise/update the Emergency Management Plan and ensure that all department heads are aware of their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster. The City is currently completing regional detention projects that are designed to alleviate some localized flooding. — Committee meeting number 3 is tentatively scheduled for Mid to late March. • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) vMPADI Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting#3 (April 1, 2003) The Committee convened to review and address the following agenda items: • Brainstorming session to review potential mitigation actions • • Formally agree to the mitigation goal statement • Review the preliminary GIS maps • Discuss the schedule and task for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements • Review brochure draft material • • City of Pearland Planning Committee Membership The following members of the Committee were in attendance: Department Email Phone Alcala,Cindy Grants Cindy Alcala/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1751 Chapman,Steve Emergency Mgmt Steve Chapman/COP @ci.pearland.txus (281)652-1952 Gallagher,Andy Floodplain Mgmt Andy Gallagher/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1649 DelaMater,Rich Projects Mueller,Alan Administration Alan Mueller/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1650 Ross,Mary Financial Mary Ross/COP@ci.pearland.txus (281)652-1672-- ----- Mr. Bill Eisen City Manager Bill Eisen/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1663 Chris Kidwell Analyst Chris Kidwell/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1622 -- - Jeff Ward Consultant jeffreysward@earthlink.net (239)514-1801 Meeting Discussions. The meeting was opened with round the table introductions. The committee was reminded that this committee meeting is for group discussion,not formal presentations. • Brainstorming session to review potential mitigation actions—the team reviewed a list of potential mitigation actions that had been derived from data collected during the last two committee meetings and the functional interviews. Due to time constraints, there was little discussion on the mitigation actions. It was agreed that the actions would be forwarded to the committee for review, comment, and ranking. This list was forwarded on 10 April 2003. • Formally agree to the mitigation goal statement—A recommended change to the mitigation goal statement was discussed. The committee agreed on the recommended change and formally agreed to the following mitigation goal statement: • "The goal of this plan is to support the City of Pearland's efforts to protect the community's health, safety, and welfare by identifying, and increasing public awareness of, natural and man-made hazards, and mitigating risks due to those hazards without creating new problems." _ • • + ug-= Appendix A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes I • Review the preliminary GIS maps-the majority of the meeting was spent on this agenda item. The following maps were developed by GIS; • Drainage System • Hazardous Materials • Flooded Road Hazards • At-Risk Public Facilities/Properties • NFIP Policies, Claims, Repetitive Loss Properties • During the review, the committee made recommendations on color coding changes, • legends, and missing data. This data will be provided to GIS for review and update. Overall the maps were very impressive and well received by the committee. • Discuss the schedule and task for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements—the committee discussed the schedule for completion. Bill Eisen asked if we would be ready to hold a work session with the Council the second week of May. The schedule for this meeting is being finalized. It is anticipated that the next committee meeting will be the week of 17 May. An updated schedule for completion of all tasks will be provided to the committee for review in the near future. • Review brochure draft material—Due to time constraints,the draft public communication brochures were not reviewed. They will be provided to the committee for review at the next committee meeting. • • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) e — — ,_,s'inl". e.,, . .:Lr Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting#4 (May 22, 2003) The Committee convened to review and address the following agenda items: • GIS—review new material • Discuss/Review Interview Notes • • Review Mitigation Action Ranking and cross check with components of the Goal Statement; discuss assignments,funding and other limitations,political/citizen acceptance • Review Public Info Material . • Questionnaires and distribution • Handouts • Overview of regulations and ordinance evaluation • Discuss the schedule and tasks for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements City of Pearland Planning Committee Membership The following members of the Committee were in attendance: Department Email Phone - ---= Alcala, Cindy Grants Cindy Alcala/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1751 Chapman, Steve Emergency Mgmt Steve Chapman/COP©ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1952 Gallagher,Andy Floodplain Mgmt Andy Gallagher/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1649 Burns,Jerry Public Utilities Jerry Burns/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1914 Maples,Tobin Community Services Tobin Maples/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1759 Mueller,Alan Administration Alan Mueller/COP @ci.pearland.tx.us- - (281)652-1650--- - — Ross,Mary Financial Mary Ross/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1672 Mr.Bill Eisen City Manager Bill Eisen/COP@oi.pearland.tx.us - (281)652-1663 Chris Kidwell Analyst Chris KidwelVCOP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1622 Jeff Ward Consultant jeffreysward@earthlink.net (239)514-1801 Rebecca.Quinn Consultant rcquinn@earthlink.net (410)267-6968 Meeting Discussions The meeting was opened with round the table introductions. The committee was reminded that this committee meeting is for group discussion,not formal presentations. • GIS—review new material—The committee was informed that the GIS department was provided additional data and clarification on the maps reviewed in committee - meeting#3. The GIS department is able to provide a breakout of non-residential vacant and improved properties—it was previously reported that this data was not available. Additional data on flood prone roads and HazMat sites the City is watching . was provided and will be included on future maps. - - ,-- }A=10r Appendix A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes a - - - • Discuss/Review Interview Notes-each member of the committee was asked to provide a brief overview of two or three key points from there departments point of view. In addition, each committee member was asked to point out one or two items from the interview notes of other departments that they found interesting or that taught • them something new. Notes from these discussions were captured and added to the interview notes. • Review Mitigation Action Ranking and cross check with components of the Goal Statement; discuss assignments,funding and other limitations,political/citizen acceptance-due to the fact that all committee members had not yet provided their rankings, we used two actions as examples of this process. It was agreed that the • consultants would complete this exercise for all remaining mitigation actions (once ranking was complete) and would provide the list to the committee for review, discussion, and concurrence. All rankings were completed the day after the committee meetings and the draft rankings with cross check will be sent to the committee members in the near future. • Review Public Info Material • Questionnaires and distribution-All committee members were provided with the draft public questionnaire and it was reviewed briefly. It was decided that the - - committee members would provide any recommended changes to Jeff Ward by Close of Business on May 30`h. Once received, the recommended changes would be incorporated and the questionnaires would be sent via the quarterly Pearland-in- Motion due out in early June. • Handouts-Example handouts were provided to Cindy who will be sending them to the appropriate people for review and comment. • Overview of regulations and ordinance evaluation-Rebecca Quinn gave an overview of the review she has completed thus far on the various regulations and ordinances.-In general,her evaluation is positive with minor inconsistencies between documents --- noted thus far. A formal staff report will be provided near plan completion. • Discuss the schedule and tasks for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements-the following timeline was tentatively agreed to. If there is difficulty along the way meeting any of the council dates, the committee will decide whether or not the timeline needs to be changed. A request for extension to the PDM and TWDB/FMA plan development grants will be forth coming. It was decided with the questionnaire, one public meeting to review and comment on the draft plan would be sufficient. • • Action Approx Date Brief Description By Mid-June DWA Complete Draft and disseminate to committee End of June Committee/DWA Review and comment on Draft Plan#1 (due June 30). Address comments and prepare Public Review Draft to forward to Commissioners Court. City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) A-11, • 7 A g L Action Approx Date By Brief Description July 14 COP/DWA Obtain Council approval to release draft Plan for public • review and comment. Week of July 14 COP/DWA Submit to adjacent communities,state agencies,others for comment. 2-3 weeks before COP Issue press release, notice, mailings about availability of public meting Public Review Draft(web, libraries,City offices)and final public meeting. Week of 4 Aug COP/ Conduct public meeting to present plan and proposed Committee/DWA priority actions. Final Committee Meeting(review public comments and comments received from State;confirm priority actions; approve preparation&submission of Final Plan to Court) Mid-Aug DWA Summarize comments submitted in writing and circulate comments to Committee. Prepare Final Plan. Late Aug COP, DWA Prepare resolution for adoption and memorandum requesting adoption by Council Aug 25 COP Council Adopt the Final Plan Sep DWA Prepare final files and deliverables -A-12w Appendix A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes, - . . Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting#5 (October 6, 2003) The Committee convened to review and address the following agenda items: ' • Overview of Work Session • Review updated timeline • Linking Mitigation Goals to Actions • Review of Maps • • Communication Brochures The following members of the Committee were in attendance: • Department Email Phone Cindy Alcala Grants Cindy.Alcala/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1751 Steve Chapman Emergency Steve.Chapman/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1952 Management Andy Gallagher Floodplain Andy.Gallagher/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1649 Management Jerry Burns Public Utilities Jerry.Burns/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1914 Tobin Maples Community Tobin.Maples/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1759 Services Alan Mueller Administration Alan.Mueller/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1650 Mary Ross Financial Mary.Ross/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1672 Bill Eisen City Manager Bill.Eisen/COP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1663 Chris Kidwell Analyst Chris.Kidwel]JCOP@ci.pearland.tx.us (281)652-1622 Jeff Ward Consultant jeffreysward@earthlink.net (239)514-1801 -- Gilbert Ward from the Texas Water Development Board also attended the meeting. Meeting Discussions The meeting was opened with round the table introductions. The committee was reminded that this committee meeting is for group discussion,not formal presentations. The following are highlights of the discussions on each agenda item. • Overview of Work Session—A City Council work session was held on the evening of October 6. The Council was briefed on the current status of the plan and was asked to approve the draft plan for public review. After a short question and answer session,the Council approved the release of the public review draft. • Review updated timeline—with recent changes on the date and time of the Council Work Session, and to allow enough time for public review,the timeline for completion of the plan was revised and reviewed with the committee. Please reference the approved,revised timeline below. • • 11 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) A-13 --- : _ City of Pearland Hazard Mitigation Plan, Timeline(as of 9/26/2003) ;Approx Date Action By Brief Description October 6,2003 COP/DWA Obtain Council approval to release draft Plan for public review and comment. Week of Oct 6,2003 COP/DWA Submit to adjacent communities,state agencies,. others for comment. October 7,2003 Committee/DWA Committee Meeting(confirm priority actions; approve release of plan for public review) 2-3 weeks before public COP Issue press release,notice,mailings about availability • meting of Public Review Draft(web,libraries,City offices) and public meeting. October 29,2003 COP/ Conduct public meeting to present plan and proposed Committee/DWA priority actions. Early Nov,2003 DWA Summarize comments submitted in writing and circulate comments to Committee. Prepare Final Plan. Mid November,2003 Committee/DWA Provide Committee overview of public comments; approve preparation&submission of Final Plan to Council) November 28,2003 COP,DWA Prepare resolution for adoption and memorandum requesting adoption by Council Dec 8,2003 COP Council Adopt the Final Plan Dec 31,2003 DWA Prepare final files and deliverables ■ Linking Mitigation Goals to Actions—the committee reviewed the mitigation goal statement and evaluated each proposed mitigation action item to ensure each action met one or more elements of the mitigation goal statement. The following table is the result of this discussion. Table 7-3 Linking Mitigation Goals&Actions. Element of Goal Statement Actions Relating to Goal Protect public health, safety and 1, 3, 4, 5,6 . welfare Increasing public awareness of 2, 3,6 hazards Mitigating risks due to those 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 hazards �A=14x Appendix A. Mitigation Planning Committee Meeting Minutes,'' The committee reviewed each of the high priority action items to ensure all required data were provided. Updates provided during this review will be captured in the draft plan. • Review of Maps—the committee decided to remove Map 5-2 from the draft plan as the sheer number of data points on the map made it unreadable and confusing. Text will be added in place of this map. • Communication Brochures—the committee reviewed the two communication flyers. With the exception of a change to a phone number,the flyers were approved by the committee. The flyers will be finalized once City Council members have had an opportunity to comment. The committee unanimously approved the release of the draft plan for public review. The draft plan will be made available to the public the week of 13 October and a public meeting is scheduled for 29 October from 7 p.m.to 9 p.m.at the community center. Cindy Alcala has the lead on preparing for this public meeting (location and publicity). • • • City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) A-15 Appendix B Public Outreach Materials Questionnaire & Summary of Comments -/ �' TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT FLOODING la. T"6 AND OTHER HAZARDS IN THE CITY OF N- ti\ PEARLAND AND SHARE YOUR IDEAS ABOUT *fr' rt REDUCING FUTURE DAMAGE ' The City of Pearland has secured grant funding from state and federal sources to prepare a plan to help address damage from hazards and safety risks. Part of our planning process is to utilize this questionnaire to collect information about hazards in your community. As you will notice, the majority of questions are related to flooding, since this has historically been the hazard with the greatest impact on the City. However, we are interested in your assessment of all hazards and their historical and future potential impacts. Your input is an important part of the planning process.We will hold a public meeting to present the draft plan during Summer 2003. At that time you will learn about mitigation planning and proposals. You can help us now. We would like to learn about problems you may have had at your home or business.. Please take a few minutes and answer the following questions. OUR QUESTIONS YOUR ANSWERS 1. Please review the list of ❑ Flood ❑Tornado and High Wind hazards to the right. Please let us know which hazards you ❑ Wildland Fire ❑ Urban Fire think are significant threats in ❑ Hail ❑Transportation Accident Pearland by marking the boxes: ; V =Very significant ❑ Winter Storm ❑ Utility Outage } ❑ Hazardous Materials ❑ Train Derailment S = Significant or ❑ Terrorism ❑ Drought and Extreme Heat somewhat significant ❑ Pipeline Accident N =Not a threat in Pearland 2. Is there another hazard not listed above that you think is a • wide-scale threat to Pearland or your neighborhood? • 3. Has any hazard in your neighborhood increased in severity in recent years? Please explain: • 4. Do you own or rent? Own Rent . 1 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) �tCFAlk ter, OUR QUESTIONS YOUR ANSWERS 5. How would you describe your On a crawlspace ❑ On a slab ❑ Manufactured Home home? On wood pilings or block piers 0 Has a basement I don't know Other: 6. Is your home in the floodplain? Yes No Don't.know 7. What is the source of flooding? Name of stream or river Poor drainage (standing water, overflowing ditches) 8. If your home has actually List dates: flooded, when did it happen? 9. Describe the damage. 10. Have you done anything to your Please describe: home to reduce future damage? • 11. In the last flood, did you have Yes No flood insurance? 12. Do you now have flood Yes No insurance? 13. If you don't have flood insurance, why not? 14. Is your business or place of_- Yes No Don't know work in the floodplain? 15. If it has actually flooded, describe the damage. 16. Please list roads where you've • seen flooding. 17. Describe other flooding problems you know about (such as flooded septic fields, water wells, etc.) 18. Please give us your ideas to • reduce the impacts of hazards. -,B:72- Appendix B. Public Outreach Materials OUR-QUESTIONS' YOUR ANSWERS 19. Do you know about City Yes, I know about permits. permits? A permit is required if you want to: Please send me more information (address below). • Build a new building (even a garage or shed); ' build an addition to an existing building, make renovations/repairs. Summary of Comments Submitted in Response to Questionnaire: • Drainage/storm sewer backups as a significant contributor to flooding. Respondent's recommendations include improving drainage beyond current needs and keeping all ditches and creeks cleaned. • Street flooding as a significant problem. • New home developments are being built higher than older, established neighborhoods,. and there is a concern the.City is allowing too much new development(residential and commercial). It was stated that both of these concerns are contributing to flooding. Respondent's recommendations include enforcing zoning and regulations to prevent overbuilding and to reduce new home building permits. • HazMat accidents are a significant potential hazard. This concern was furthered with the concern that City roads may be too congested to handle an evacuation. • Increased traffic in the City is a hazard that has increased in severity in recent years. • Sewers backup during most heavy rains. • Recommend cleaning/dredging Clear Creek. • Most all respondents stated they are aware of the City's floodplain permitting requirements. • 111 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) -•-B-3 Appendix C Periodic Progress Reports Annual status reports will be prepared, reviewed by the appropriate City officials, and forwarded to the Texas Division of Management and the Texas Water Development Board. . " The reports will be noted below and copies will be inserted in this appendix. Comprehensive review and revisions to the Hazard Mitigation Plan will be considered on a 5-year cycle. Date of Progress Report Summary of Progress Accomplished • • • • 111 City of Pearland,TX: Hazard Mitigation Plan(June 2004) C-1-