MITIGATION STRATEGY

3.4.1 Local Hazard Mitigation Goals Check state checklist

Mitigation goals were derived through public participation in the planning process. Workgroup committees met in each county evaluating hazards and risk for each local jurisdiction. After the significant hazards were profiled, specific problem areas and projects to alleviate the effects of flooding, severe storms/tornadoes, winter storms and landsliding were identified. As these project lists grew, and projects could be grouped into categories, committee members began discussing commonality of problems and broader solutions that would affect numerous site-specific problems. The CVADD staff complied a listing of solutions and actions and presented it to all workgroup committees for approval and additional comments. This section presents the goals all jurisdictions have agreed upon, along with the objectives to achieve each goal. Following the goals is a chart to summarize which hazards are affected by each goal. Finally, there is a listing of goal specific actions related to the hazards.

Goal #1

Enhance existing or design new policies that will reduce the potential effects of hazards without hindering other community goals.

Objectives

1.1 Increase control over development in the floodplain to ensure lives and property are not at risk to future flood conditions and discourage growth in environmentally-sensitive areas.

1.2 Reevaluate building codes and land use planning to reduce future damage from natural hazards.

Goal #2

Protect the Cumberland Valley region’s most vulnerable populations, buildings, and critical facilities through the implementation of cost-effective and technically feasible mitigation projects.

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2.1 Maximize the use of available hazard mitigation grant programs and other funding sources to protect the Cumberland Valley Area Development District’s most vulnerable populations and structures. 2.2 Decrease the number of FEMA-identified “repetitive loss

properties.”

Goal #3

Protect public health, safety and welfare by increasing the public awareness of existing hazards and by fostering both individual and public responsibility in mitigating risks due to those hazards.

Objectives

3.1 Increase the level of knowledge and awareness for Cumberland Valley Area Development District residents on the hazards that routinely threaten the area and educate property owners on the affordable, individual mitigation and preparedness measures.

3.2 Increase effectiveness of and participation in NFIP/CRS through enhanced floodplain management activities.

These goals are related to multiple hazards, which may be seen on the chart below. These explanations will be expanded further in Section 3.4.3.

Table 3.4.1.1

Hazards Goal 1 Goal 2 Goal 3

Landslide X X Severe Storm/ Tornado X X Flood X X X Winter Storm X

Goal Specific Actions Related to Hazards

This is an explanation of the correlation of each goal and the hazard that it affects.

Goal 1 includes a review of existing and new policies. The following are actions related to each hazard affected:

?? Review budgets for mitigation projects and allot funds for such projects.

?? Prevent future flood losses by stronger enforcement of NFIP ordinances.

Designate someone other than judge executive/mayor for the floodplain coordinator position.

?? Regulate tree maintenance by ensuring proper trimming especially before winter storm season.

Goal 2 consists of listing mitigation projects. The following are actions related to each hazard affected:

?? Projects for warning citizens during tornadoes include installation of siren systems.

?? Projects to mitigate flooding include creating/widening channels so waters have a more direct outlet into streams from cities and communities.

?? Other flooding projects include acquisition/relocation of designated repetitive loss properties and other flood prone properties.

Goal 3 increases public awareness. The following are actions related to each hazard affected:

?? Provide education materials on landslides when citizens apply for building permits.

?? Provide community education upon installation of siren systems and routinely afterwards.

?? Provide information on the need for flood insurance along with supporting statistics and benefits of NFIP participation.

Following is a table with the number of policies in each jurisdiction and the number of estimated households in the floodplain for each. It is evident that only a small number of persons who need this insurance have it. Additionally, listed in the following table are the numbers of repetitive loss properties that have flood insurance. Data is not available for the number of homes with repetitive loss that do not have flood insurance.

Table 3.4.1.2 Community Households in Floodplain Policies Repetitive Loss Properties Bell County 126 148 15 Middlesboro 609 227 24 Pineville 156 24 3 Clay County 285 34 2 Manchester 27 5 1 Harlan County 258 491 15 Benham 46 5 0 Cumberland 53 85 1 Evarts 132 36 0 Harlan 179 30 2 Loyall 170 44 1 Lynch 167 10 0 Wallins 70 27 0 Jackson County 86 9 0 McKee 11 12 1 Knox County 450 70 5 Barbourville 522 44 1 Corbin 187 59 1

Laurel County Unk. Non-part. --

112 Brodhead 10 Non-part. -- Livingston 7 1 0 Mt. Vernon 25 0 0 Whitley County 1493 36 0 Corbin --- -- 0 Williamsburg 105 23 0

All of the information for the table above is from the NFIP office in Kentucky’s Division of Water.

3.4.2 Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Measures

This section identifies, evaluates and analyzes a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce the effects of each hazard identified in the Risk Assessment, with particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure. These actions are based on the evaluation of the risk assessment and in compliance with the mitigation goals and objectives in Section 3.4.1.

Mitigation measures are continuous in many of the CVADD jurisdictions. It is common to replace washed out culverts with oversized culverts. In some areas, all county roads are asphalt. NFIP is strongly enforced in certain areas. Through the process of developing this plan, all three jurisdictions, which were not currently members of NFIP, have taken action toward becoming members of the NFIP. London has become a participant; Laurel County is in the process of becoming a participant; and Brodhead has arranged to have the NFIP Coordinator speak at a city council meeting.

There are a number of mitigation projects that have been financed by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The following table is a summary of these projects that are ongoing in the Cumberland Valley Region since 1995.

Table 3.4.2.1 Jurisdiction

Project

Type Area (if known)

Purchased

Units Project Cost Project Date

Bell County Acquisition Arjay 13 $270,456 1995

Bell County Acquisition Arjay/Pineville 20 $376,632 1995

Bell County Acquisition Fourmile 21 $764,990 current

Harlan County Acquisition Brown Lane, Hwy 421, Hwy 119 20 $1,040,960 current

Knox County Drainage Barbourville, Knox St/Allison Ave $235,000 1992

Barbourville Sirens 2 $35,471 current

Corbin Sirens 3 $51,099 current

Middlesboro Drainage Downtown $326,524 2000

Corbin Sirens 3 ? application in process

Corbin Acquisition ? ? application in process

Following is a list and description of the mitigation actions and techniques that have been considered by the workgroup committees. The available mitigation options are: