HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-19-2004-8aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 19, 2004
Action Agen a
Item No. -q
SUBJECT: Orange County Hazard Mitigation Plan -Public Hearing and Decision
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S):
Draft Resolution of Adoption
Revised Orange County Hazard
Mitigation Plan (under separate cover)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig N, Benedict, ext 2592
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To hold a public hearing and consider adoption of the Orange County Hazard
Mitigation Plan,
BACKGROUND: In June 2001, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 300:
An Act to Amend the Laws Regarding Emergency Management as recommended by the
Legislative Disaster Response and Recovery Commission, Among other provisions, the bill
requires that local governments have an approved hazard mitigation plan which includes a
community assessment and mitigation strategy in order to receive state public assistance funds,
Participating municipalities would be part of the county-wide plan to aid in coordination and
consistency.
The towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough decided to participate with Orange County to produce
a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, The Town of Chapel Hill opted to produce its own,
separate plan. Staff from the participating municipalities and Orange County Planning and
Inspections and Emergency Management Departments (the "Hazard Mitigation Team") met on
numerous occasions to develop the draft plan. In 2002, the draft plan was twice brought before
the Board of County Commissioners --once for public hearing and once for adoption.
Subsequently, the State did not accept the plan because it was waiting for further guidance
from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regarding Federal Requirements for
hazard mitigation plans.
In early 2004, the State received new information from FEMA and developed more specific
requirements for local governments to follow in compiling their hazard mitigation plans. The
State imposed a deadline of November 1, 2004 for local governments to submit adopted plans.
The State also asked local governments to submit draft plans for adequacy review prior to
asking local governing bodies to adopt the plans, The Hazard Mitigation team, comprised of the
staff mentioned above, has worked closely with the State reviewers to produce a plan that has
been preliminarily approved by the State, pending adoption by the local governing bodies of
Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough.
Although the format of the revised plan is similar to the plan approved by the BOCC in 2002,
new material has been added in response to the expanded State requirements. The following
list outlines the major changes from the 2002 version:
• Introduction: Public Involvement and National Flood Program and National Community
Rating System sections were added.
• Hazard Identification and Analysis: This section was almost completely rewritten and
detailed histories and analyses of the various types of hazards were added.
• Vulnerability Assessment: Property valuation information, a Hazard Vulnerability
Summary table, a Critical Facilities assessment, and a general population analysis were
added.
• Mitigation Strategies: This section was expanded to better address concerns raised by
the State.
• Adoption: This section was expanded to include additional narrative on the adoption
process,
• Implementation and Future Review: This section was rewritten and expanded to address
State comments.
• Appendix A (Maps): Additional maps were added.
• Appendix B (Orange County efforts currently underway that affect natural hazard
mitigation): This section was expanded.
• Appendix F was added to better document the opportunity for public participation in the
plan formulation process.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with the conduct of this
public hearing or approval of the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
RECOMMENDATION(S): Following closure of the public hearing, the Administration
recommends that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the Orange County Hazard
Mitigation Plan and direct staff to submit it to the State in compliance with the November 1,
2004 deadline.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ORANGE COUNTY
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 300 "An Act to Amend
the Laws Regarding Emergency Management as Recommended by the Legislative Disaster
Response Commission"in .June of 2001 that among other provisions requires local
governments to have a hazard mitigation plan approved prior to November 1, 2004 in order to
receive state public assistance funds; and
WHEREAS, in October of 2000 the President of the United States signed into law the "Disaster
Mitigation Act of 2000" (PL 106-390) to amend the "Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
EmergengyAcf of 1988"which among other provisions requires local governments to adopt a
mitigation plan in order to be eligible for hazard mitigation funding; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management is assisting local
governments in the formulation of hazard mitigation plans; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Planning Department and Emergency Management Services
have worked closely with representatives from the Towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough to
develop amulti-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management has conducted a review of
the Hazard Mitigation Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners of Orange County
hereby adopt the "Orange County Hazard Mitigation Plan"as approved by the North Catalina
Division of Emergency Management.
This, the 19th day of October, 2004.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Donna Baker
Clerk to the Board
COUNTY SEAL