TOWN OF NEW BOSTON, NH - SNHPC

1 town OF NEW boston , NH New boston town Hall HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2011 town OF NEW boston , NEW HAMPSHIRE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2011 Prepared by the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission The Preparation of this document has been financed in part by a grant from the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Acknowledgements Appreciation is extended to the following people for contributing their time and effort to complete the New boston Hazard Mitigation Plan: 2010 New boston Hazard Mitigation Committee Members Nicola Strong - Planning Coordinator, Chair Dan MacDonald - Fire Chief, EMD Burton Reynolds - town Administrator Chris Krajenka - Police Chief Dwight Lovejoy - Selectman Ed Hunter - Building Inspector Russ Boland - Fire Inspector Tori Underwood - Asst.

2 Principal, NBCS Thanks also to: The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Safety and Emergency Management, Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NHHSEM), which developed the New Hampshire Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; The Southwest Region Planning Commission, which developed Hazard Mitigation Planning for New Hampshire Communities; and The Bedford, Derry, Goffstown, Hooksett, Manchester and New boston Hazard Mitigation Committees and their respective Hazard Mitigation Plans. All the above publications served as models for this plan. "We will of course be there to help after disaster strikes, but as you all know, there s no substitute for mitigation before it As a poet once wrote, "the test of men lies in action.

3 " We as emergency managers and first responders cannot afford to wait for Through planning, mitigation, education, and cooperation, we can make sure our at-risk communities are prepared before the first drop of rain or gust of wind ever threatens our shores." Joe Allbaugh, Director of FEMA, addressing the 2002 National Hurricane Conference i ii Table of Contents Executive Summary .. vi I. Natural Hazards and Their Consequences ..1 What is Hazard Mitigation?..2 Why Develop a Hazard Mitigation Plan? ..3 Benefits of Hazard Mitigation ..2 Background ..3 Purpose ..3 Authority ..3 Scope of the Plan ..4 Plan Update Plan Update Public Committee Meetings ..5 Coordination with Other Agencies and Individuals ..5 State of New Hampshire Legislation Related to Master Plans.

4 5 New boston Emergency Operations Plan ..6 Plan Development New boston Hazard Mitigation Committee Members ..8 Overall Hazard Mitigation Goals and II. AZARD IDENTIFICATION & POTENTIAL RISK H Location, Topography and Weather Conditions ..9 Current Development Disaster Vulnerability National Flood Insurance Past Hazards, Potential Hazards and Critical A. Flooding ..18 1. Hurricanes ..18 2. 100- year Floodplain 3. Debris-Impacted 4. Erosion and Mudslides ..19 5. Rapid Snow Pack 6. River Ice 7. Dam Breach and Failure ..20 B. Wind ..20 1. Hurricanes ..20 2. Tornadoes ..20 3. Nor -Easters ..21 iii4. Downbursts ..21 Table of Contents (continued) 5. Lightning ..21 C. 1. Forest Fires and Grass Fires ..22 2. Isolated Homes ..22 D. Ice & Snow Events.

5 23 1. Heavy Snow Storms ..23 2. Ice Storms ..23 3. Nor -Easters ..24 4. Hailstorms ..24 E. Earthquake ..25 1. 2. Critical Facilities Summary Listing ..26 Areas at Risk Summary Listing ..27 1. Potential Hazards Map ..End of Section II 2. Evacuation Routes of Section II 3. Past Hazards Map ..End of Section II 4. Critical Facilities Map ..End of Section II III. Existing Mitigation Strategies & Proposed Improvements 29 Review of Existing Description of Existing Programs ..30 Summary of Recommended Existing Protection Matrix [ explanatory text ] ..33 Existing Protection Matrix Summary Chart ..35 IV. Newly Identified Mitigation Strategies & Critical Evaluation 39 Summary of New Strategies ..39 Summary of Critical Evaluation ..40 Preliminary Prioritization.

6 41 V. Prioritized Implementation Schedule & Funding Sources 43 Implementation Strategy for Priority Mitigation Actions - Summary Cost of Implementation ..46 VI. Administrative Procedures Regarding Adoption of the Plan 49 Adoption ..49 Monitoring, Community Involvement, and Updates ..49 iv Table of Contents (continued) Appendices Appendix A- List of Contacts, Resources and Websites ..51 Appendix B- Technical and Financial Assistance for Hazard Mitigation ..55 Appendix C- Dams in New Appendix D- 2003 Identified Mitigation Strategies Appendix E- Preliminary Hazard Mitigation Strategies STAPLEE Scores ..70 Appendix F- NBHMPC Meeting Agendas, Notes and Attendance Appendix G- Documentation of Public Hearing and Plan BIBILIOGRAPHY 96 vNew boston Hazard Mitigation Plan Executive Summary The New boston Hazard Mitigation Plan serves as a means to reduce future losses from natural and/or man-made hazard events before they occur.

7 The New boston Hazard Mitigation Committee developed the Plan. Natural hazards are addressed as follows: Flooding Wind Wildfire Ice & Snow Events Earthquake The New boston Hazard Committee identified Critical Facilities and Areas at Risk . Highlights of these features include: Critical Facilities Shelters & Historical Facilities Transportation Routes Substations Fire Service Facilities Law Enforcement Facilities Schools/Day Care Centers Areas at Risk Isolated Homes Dams Bridges Problem Culverts Large Employers Recreational Facilities The New boston Hazard Mitigation Committee identified existing hazard mitigation programs as follows: Floodplain Development Ordinance town Adopted Building Codes Piscataquog River Management Plan Wetlands Conservation District Road Design Standards Non-Residential Site Plan Review Regulations Groundwater Resource Conservation District Forestry & Conservation District Shoreland Protection Act town Radio System Emergency Back-up Power Water Resources Management Plan Best Management Practices Ordinance to Regulate Removal of Earth Products Hazardous Materials Regulations Wetlands and Stream Corridor Conservation District Piscataquog River Management Plan Stormwater Management Regulations New boston CERT vi Newly identified hazard mitigation strategies were listed by the New boston Hazard Mitigation Committee.

8 Seasonal articles in local newspapers Update the School Evacuation Plan on an annual basis Keep town and snow removal equipment in good repair Local sheltering Plan Work with CERT on needed training and supplies Review and benefit analysis of expanding the Central School backup generator capabilities Review and needs analysis of providing the New boston town Hall with a backup generator Complete radio interoperability for police, fire and highway dept Complete and implement Wildfire Mitigation Resource Plan Provide information on brush pits and chimney fires Building code standards for light frame construction, especially for wind-resistant roofs Install river gauges at vulnerable locations on Piscataquog River Evaluation and strategy development for the transfer station non-stop operation Provide information on how to turn off water, gas and electricity and drain pipes at home or work Backup generator for library Require all culvert replacement and other road projects to be conducted in accordance with NFIP standards Requiring new subdivisions to space buildings, provide fire breaks, on-site water storage, wide roads.

9 Multiple access Establish a local tree maintenance program to clear trees and hanging limbs from roadways Participate in the Community Rating System Provide information regarding landscaping to keep bushes and trees away from structures Zoning districts to reflect fire risk zones Provide information on sealing inside and outside of storm windows and check seals in spring and fall/install storm windows Develop an inventory and maintenance program for detention ponds in subdivisions Family and/or company severe weather action plan & drills Review and needs analysis for upgrading the Highway Department s generator system Maintain lists of non-compliant and submit-to-rate structures in the FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Areas Insulate low income homes This Plan is scheduled to be reviewed and updated on an annual basis by the Emergency Management Director in coordination with the Board of Selectmen.

10 Vii viiiSection I INTRODUCTION Natural Hazards and Their Consequences During the past decade, the United States has suffered a record number of natural disasters. From January 5 to 9, 1998, the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada were struck by a devastating ice storm. The storm was compounded by heavy rains that caused flooding as well as accumulation of over three inches thick in some areas. Over 40 deaths were attributed to the storm and millions lost power, some for several weeks. Storm damage has been estimated at over $3 April 2007 Floods, New boston , NH From May 11 to May 18, 2006, New Hampshire was hit by one of the worst floods in recent history. Manchester and other areas along the Merrimack and Piscataquog Rivers faced significant flooding and property damage and dams across the region were severely strained.