Mitigation and Community Sustainability Virginia Mitigation Summit, 2004

Presentation Overview Sustainability and Hazard Mitigation PlanningSustainability and Hazard Mitigation Planning Opportunities for SuccessOpportunities for Success –Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 –Post-disaster window of opportunity –Case study #1 - Town of Boone, NC –Case study #2 - City of Kinston, NC The Future of Hazard Mitigation: Challenges and OpportunitiesThe Future of Hazard Mitigation: Challenges and Opportunities

Sustainability and Hazard Mitigation Planning Sustainability Defined –Benefits include: Environmental Economic Social Hazard reduction (hazard mitigation/safe growth) –Self reliance –Political will –Salience of hazards

Opportunities for Success: Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 History of the Disaster Mitigation Act –Stafford Act –Un-obligated HMGP funds –Rewarding proactive planning at the state and local level –Reducing repetitive disaster losses –Project emphasis

Hazard Mitigation Planning Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Assessment Capability Assessment Mitigation Strategy Planning Process

Mitigation Planning and Sustainability Importance of Policy –Land use –Floodplain management Multi-Objective Planning –Improving the livability of your community –Enhancing the regulatory standing of mitigation Creating a Mitigation Ethic –Institutionalizing mitigation into daily governmental activities –Building capability –Public participation –Garnering political support –Self reliance

Opportunities for Success: Post- Disaster Assistance Funding Identified Sustainability Objectives –Housing –Economic development –Environmental –Recreational opportunities Disasters as an Entitlement Post Disaster Window of Opportunity

Case Study #1: Boone, North Carolina

Anne Marie and Elizabeth Drive Project Moderate income residential area Since 1977, sixteen flood events required evacuation 50% of the homes located in the floodway National Guard Armory Elizabeth Drive Anne Marie Drive Glenstone Health Care South Fork New River Winkler Creek Middle Fork New River Hunting Lane

Solutions to Repetitive Flood Losses Remapping of floodplain (risk assessment) Structural (detention, levees, channel improvement) Property protection (dry/wet flood proofing, elevation, relocation, or acquisition) Multi-Objective planning approach –Sustainability

Funding Sources Federal Emergency Management Agency –Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) –HMGP Planning Initiative –Section 406 Public Assistance Program –Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA) Town of Boone Boone Housing Authority State of North Carolina Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) –Housing Development Program –Urgent Needs Program –Community Revitalization Program –Disaster Recovery Initiative North Carolina Finance Agency (NCHFA) First Time Home Owners Program

Buyout Strategy Options: –Acquisition / demolition –Identify appropriate reuse Fire and Rescue Training Shortage of Recreational Space Affordable Housing Needs

White Laurel Development Developed by Northwest Housing Authority, a non- profit, private corporation focusing on affordable housing. Phase I of White Laurel: 42 rental units for low income residents. Phase II of White Laurel: 20 single family homes for low to moderate income families.

Measuring Success in Boone

Summary Identified a serious and life threatening problem (hazard assessment) Updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (risk assessment) Developed community support (capability assessment and public participation) Identified multiple funding sources (mitigation strategy) Implemented project in a way that meets multiple needs (mitigation strategy) –Affordable housing –Recreational facilities –Alternative transportation

Case Study #2: Kinston, North Carolina

2 Major Flood Events in 3 Years Hurricane Fran (1996) –25-year flood event –93 homes destroyed or sustained major damage –Lack of affordable housing Hurricane Floyd (1999) –50 to 100-year flood event (locally) –Over 400 homes destroyed or sustained major damage

Greater Kinston Smart Growth Plan adopted October GTP Kinston 1= primary 2=secondary 3=long term Flood “Buyout” areas

Infill Housing Sites

Post-Floyd Recovery Temporary Building Moratorium –evaluate base flood information (hazard and risk assessment) –Conduct damage assessment (hazard assessment) –Formulate mitigation and recovery strategy Housing emphasis Revised Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (mitigation strategy – policy) –2 foot freeboard –No new construction in the 100-year floodplain

Hazard Mitigation and Sustainable Recovery Relocating an estimated 1,750 residents from special flood hazard areas to higher ground Removing sewer lines & facilities from floodplain –Waste water treatment plant relocation Replacing lost tax base via infill development Enhancing tax base by higher reinvestments elsewhere within the city Creating open space and enhancing recreational opportunities Improving water quality in Neuse River

The Future of Hazard Mitigation: Challenges and Opportunities Linking Practice and Benefits –Accreditation –Accountability Standardization of Mitigation Planning Multi-objective Planning –Natural and human-caused hazards –Measuring success –Land use and “safe growth” –Use of existing planning tools Creating a Mitigation Ethic in Your Community