Mitigation Strategy

The primary goal of the joint town/county mitigation strategy within the next 10 years is to reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and economic costs caused by natural and manmade hazards.  This strategy proposes nine major elements and five major goals, spanning a continuum that ranges from research to the formulation and implementation of policy and further hazard mitigation. These elements are:

Implementation of the strategy will require increased local funding as well as funding from state and federal sources in the form of grants. Without appropriate funding most, if not all, mitigation goals and proposals that require expenditures will not be able to be accomplished. Accomplishment of these recommendations is largely dependant upon funding being available from federal, state, local and private resources. Upon approval of this mitigation plan, work will begin to analyze each recommendation for a number of issues (i.e. feasibility, cost, legal, etc.). It is likely that these recommendations will test the limits of the fiscal and political willingness to implement them. Implementation will also require better coordination among levels of government, and partnerships between government, the public, and  private sector businesses.  This cooperation will encourage innovative programs and incentives for hazard planning,  adoption of loss reduction measures, and implementation of new technology.  Specifically, this strategy recommends the following goals:

Mitigation Goals
(also see Goals - Detailed in this document)

• expansion of  emergency response forces,

• formation of a cooperative hazard mitigation program to integrate hazard mitigation into new developments, commercial districts, land use planning, growth planning, infrastructure and other initiatives,

• to prevent, through ordinance, the construction or occupancy of facilities that will house or are likely to house extremely hazardous substances as defined in S.A.R.A. Title III.

• to maintain a standing hazard mitigation task force (interagency and inter-jurisdictional working group) to serve as a technical extension of the various planning boards,

• to conduct hazard mitigation research into residential or commercial construction projects that are proposed for areas within 50 yards of the 1 percent (100 year) flood plain and report findings to the respective planning board, as appropriate or requested, (see below)

• to request developers of projects that exceed twenty five (25) residential structures or exceed five (5) commercial occupancies, proposed for locations within one-half (1/2) mile of a US or NC highway, complete a hazard mitigation plan that includes evacuation routes, evacuation time line estimates for additional traffic, environmental / infrastructure impact, that in addition to current environmental impact requirements shall include water run off, water and sewer impacts, law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical service impacts and additional daily traffic impacts. (see below)

• to provide for "zero development" for any new commercial, residential, or livestock housing construction inside the established 100 year flood plain. (see below)

• to provide stand-by emergency generators with transfer switch and a 72 hour fuel capacity at all critical facilities by the year 2015. (see below)

• to provide a stand-by emergency generator with transfer switch and a 72 hour fuel capacity at any new critical facility constructed, remodeled or reconstructed after January 1, 2005. (see below)

• to require the owner of any existing health care facility, assisted living facility, skilled care facility or other such health care or geriatric care facility that operates twenty-four (24) hours, seven (7) days a week, with greater than ten (10) resident clients, to install a full capacity, stand-by emergency generator with transfer switch and a 72 hour fuel capacity at any such facility on or prior to January 1, 2010. (see below)

• to require the owner/developer of any health care facility, assisted living facility, skilled care facility or other such health care or geriatric care facility that operates twenty-four (24) hours, seven (7) days a week, with greater than ten (10) resident clients, to install a stand-by emergency generator with transfer switch and a 72 hour fuel capacity at any such facility who's construction begins on or after January 1, 2005. (see below)

• to seek voluntary implementation of commercial and residential wind resistant structures.

• to retrofit or relocate residential structures currently located in the 100 year flood plain to a base elevation one (1) foot above the flood plain.

• to retrofit all critical facilities to reduce collapsing materials such as light fixtures, ceiling tiles, shelves or other unsecured material.

• to request Duke Energy install both audible and visual warning devices for flood gate opening and dam breach at Oxford Dam.

Table MS 1
Mitigation Goals Priority

Action Plans

Real-Time Monitoring:

In the preparedness, response and recovery phases of a comprehensive emergency management program is an opportune time to conduct real-time monitoring of mitigation efforts. This project proposes that this monitoring is an effective tool to immediately improve upon current mitigation programs and future programs that may be impacted.

Information Collection, Interpretation, and Dissemination:

One of the keys to a successful implementation of a hazard mitigation strategy is information. Without information and the dissemination of that information planners, managers, elected officials, the public and private industry will not be able to make effective hazard mitigation decisions. Currently the ability of planners to implement mitigation is hampered by the ability of all involved agencies town and county to automatically communicate and coordinate plans. Whether this is a plat submitted for development, a new commercial district or proposed road and street additions.

Guidelines and training:

The establishment of guidelines that will be used in a joint town/county mitigation plan and the training of personnel in those guidelines is perhaps one of the more important projects that will be carried out. This will take a tremendous cooperative effort on behalf of all participants at an unprecedented level. Joint guidelines that are transparent to jurisdictional boundaries is desired. With the ever expanding jurisdictional boundaries of the municipalities, through annexation, it is imperative that clear understanding of guidelines that are used by both the municipality and the county in such joint efforts be conveyed to managers, planners, inspectors, mapping, addressing, emergency management and ,when appropriate, emergency response personnel.

Public Awareness and Education:

Alexander County and the municipalities carry out a large number of hazard mitigation, public education projects. Current mitigation efforts in public awareness and education can be found in the "Current Mitigation Measures" section of this plan. Each is identified by hazard and the multitude of efforts that are carried out by both the public and the private sector. This particular portion of the mitigation strategy however; deals with new initiatives that are proposed, planned, recommended or at least recommended for further examination.

Implementation of Loss Reduction Measures:

The implementation of this mitigation strategy is dependant upon several factors. Perhaps most important is funding. Historically the municipality and the county have relied on funding from state and federal sources to implement mitigation measures. This may not be possible in future efforts. Each agency, determined to be responsible for a project or portion of that project, must be innovative and cost effective in its recommendations. Recommendations that require implementation by ordinance will be required to follow the same due process afforded to any ordinance addition or modification. These require public hearings and each agency, determined to be responsible for such recommendations must be prepared to justify the recommendation. Public education and awareness prior to implementation is essential, as well as public support for mitigation measures.

Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery:

See the Alexander County Emergency Operations Plan. This plan has been formally adopted by the county and by the municipalities in accordance with NCGS 166A. This plan, along with procedures can be viewed by the public at website www.co.alexander.nc.us or the Alexander County Public Library. This has already been accomplished with the updates to the county Emergency Operations Plan conducted by all response and coordination agencies for all jurisdictions. The updated county EOP will be available for inspection on or before June 1, 2004.

Goals - DETAILED

Goal:    Expansion of  emergency response forces

The implementation of this mitigation strategy is dependant upon several factors. Perhaps most important is funding. Historically the municipality and the county have relied on funding from general revenue to implement expansions of emergency services response forces. Each agency, determined to be responsible for a project or portion of that project, must be innovative and cost effective in its recommendations.  Public education and awareness prior to implementation is essential, as well as public, elected official  and administrative support for this goal.

Goal: Formation of a cooperative hazard mitigation program to integrate hazard mitigation into new developments, commercial districts, land use planning, growth planning, infrastructure and other initiatives.

Goal: Retrofit or relocate residential structures currently located in the 100 year flood plain to a base elevation one (1) foot above the flood plain and participate in available buy-out programs.

This goal may seem a low priority project to some officials. However, a recent count of structures inside the 100 year flood plain indicates that flooding could occur of such a magnitude to cause a significant impact on citizens that are effected. The state of North Carolina is familiar with "buy out" programs in flood plains and flood prone areas. Federal and state officials feel that by (1) removing people from the hazard and (2) preventing citizens from placing themselves (intentionally or not) in harms way, this reduces the cost to Alexander County, the State and the Federal Government and saves lives. By further enacting a "zero" tolerance for persons desiring to build in the floodplain and prohibiting development in those areas, Alexander County better prepares itself to reduce or eliminate the loss of life and habitable property. This goal is entirely dependant upon state and federal funding and the ability to provide adequate public information to citizens that may be effected. This will be a difficult goal to obtain, if not impossible without state and federal monetary commitments.

Goal: Retrofit all critical facilities to reduce collapsing materials such as light fixtures, ceiling tiles, shelves or other unsecured material.

The implementation of this mitigation strategy is dependant upon several factors. Perhaps most important is funding. Historically the municipality and the county have relied on funding from general revenue to implement capital improvements, repairs to government structures and other critical facilities. Each agency, determined to be responsible for a project or portion of that project, must be innovative and cost effective in its recommendations. This includes the possibility of funding under hazard mitigation grant programs that may be available. Public education and awareness prior to implementation is essential, as well as public, elected official  and administrative support for this goal.

Goal: Request Duke Energy install both audible and visual warning devices for flood gate opening and dam breach at Oxford Dam.

Goal: Seek assistance from NC DOT and other agencies to improve drainage on Muddy Creek tributary.