2.0 hazard identification and risk assessment · 2.0 hazard identification and risk assessment...

2016RichlandCountyHazardMitigationPlan 2-1

DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio

2.0HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONANDRISKASSESSMENTRichlandCountyhasexperiencedmanynaturaldisastersinthepastcentury,rangingfromtornadoesandblizzardstofloodsanddroughts.ThepurposeoftheHazardIdentificationandRiskAssessment(HIRA)istoidentifythenumberandfrequencyofdisastersinRichlandCountyandtherisktopeople,property,andstructuresthatthosehazardscause.Thisprocessallowsofficialsandresidentstobetterprepareforincidentswhentheyoccur.ThefirstsectionoftheHIRA,theCountyProfile,providesinformationaboutRichlandCountyanditsjurisdictions.IntheHazardIdentificationsection,eachhazardthatposesathreattoRichlandCountywillbediscussedindetail.Thefinaltwosections,VulnerabilityAnalysisandRiskAssessment,willexplaintherisksandvulnerabilitiesRichlandCountymustaddresstoprepareforandmitigatetheidentifiedhazards.2.1COUNTYPROFILERichlandCountyislocatedinnorthcentralOhio.ThecountywasfoundedonMarch1,1813.ThenameRichlandisderivedfromthefertilesoilintheregion;thisiswhatoriginallyattractedsettlerstothearea.ThecountyisborderedbyHuronCounty(north),AshlandCounty(east),KnoxCounty(south),MorrowCounty(southwest),andCrawfordCounty(west)andisgovernedbyathree-personBoardofCommissioners.OhioCongressionalDistricts7and12,OhioHouseDistrict2,andOhioSenateDistrict22,representthecountyatthefederalandstatelevels.2.1.1DemographicsThecurrentpopulation,accordingto2014USCensusestimates,is121,942.Thisrepresentsaslightdecreasefromthe2010Censusfigures.Thepopulationhasdecreasedconsistentlysince2000,adownwardtrendthatisexpectedtocontinueoverthenextseveraldecades.

Table2-1:RichlandCountyPopulationStatisticsStatistic Figure

LandArea 495sq.milesPopulation(2014Estimate) 121,942PopulationDensity 251.3persons/sq.mileFemalePopulation 49.2%MalePopulation 50.8%Populationunder18 21.8%Populationover65 16.3%White 86.5%AfricanAmericanorBlack 9.4%Other 4.1%NumberofHouseholds 48,211AverageHouseholdSize 2.40MedianHouseholdIncome $42,042HouseholdsBelowPovertyLevel 15.9%

2-2 2016RichlandCountyHazardMitigationPlan


WithinRichlandCounty,thereare54,275housingunits.Thehomeownershiprateis68.9%andthemedianvalueofowner-occupiedhousingunitsis$102,400.Multi-unithousingstructuressuchasapartmentbuildingsaccountfor19.5%ofallhousingunits.Thereareapproximately2,523mobilehomes.Themediangrossrentforalltypesofrentalpropertiesis$625permonthwhilethemediancosttoownahomeis$1,062permonth.TherearemanyspecialresidentialhousingfacilitiespresentinRichlandCounty.Asof2010,thetypesoffacilitiesandestimatednumberofresidentsineachtypeareasfollows:

Table2-2:SpecialHousingFacilitiesFacility ApproximatePopulation

StatePrisons 5,051Nursing/SkilledNursingFacilities 1,109College/UniversityStudentHouse 268OtherNon-InstitutionalFacilities 230Local/MunicipalJailsandConfinementFacilities 190AdultGroupHomes 99CorrectionalResidentialFacilities 95AdultResidentialTreatmentFacilities 67EmergencyandTransitionalShelters 66JuvenileResidentialTreatmentCenters 100JuvenileCorrectionalFacilities 26

2.1.2IncorporatedJurisdictionsRichlandCountyiscomprisedofthreecities,sixincorporatedvillages,eighteentownshipsandtwenty-oneunincorporatedneighborhoods.BellvilleThevillageofBellvilleislocatedinsouthernRichlandCounty,justnorthoftheKnoxCountyborder.Bypopulation,itisthesecondlargestvillageinthecounty.ClearForkCreekwindsthroughthequaintresidentialvillage,whichisthegatewaytothenearbyMohicanrecreationalarea.

Table2-3:BellvilleStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 1,918White 97.7%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.5%Other 1.8%NumberofHouseholds 826PersonsperHousehold 2.32Elevation 1,138feet



ButlerButler,oneofthesmallervillagesinRichlandCounty,islocatedinthesoutheastquadrant.StateRoutes95and97provideeasyaccesstothevillage.ClearForkSkiResortislocatedjustoutsidethevillagelimits.TheBaltimoreandOhioRailroad,oneoftheoldestrailroadsinthecountry,ranthroughthecounty;thetrackshavebeenconvertedintoapopularbiketrail,providingarecreationalresourceforresidentsandvisitors.

Table2-4:ButlerStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 933White 98.3%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.4%Other 1.3%NumberofHouseholds 362PersonsperHousehold 2.57Elevation 1,070feet

LexingtonLexingtonisthemostpopulatedofRichlandCounty’ssixvillages.Locatedinthewesternportionofthecounty,itissouthwestofMansfield,southoftheClearForkReservoir,andadjacenttoOntario.TheMid-OhioSportsCarCourse,whichhostsseveralhighprofileracingeventsthroughouttheyear,islocatedjustoutsidethevillageinTroyTownship.LexingtonisaccessibleviaStateRoutes42,97,288,and314;Interstate71islocatedjusttotheeastandalsoprovideseasyaccesstoLexington.

Table2-5:LexingtonStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 4,822White 96.3%BlackorAfricanAmerican 1.2%Other 2.5%NumberofHouseholds 1,970PersonsperHousehold 2.41Elevation 1,217feet

LucasLucas,thesmallestvillageinthecountybypopulation,islocatedineasternRichlandCounty,southofCharlesMillLakeandeastoftheSnowTrailsSkiResort.MalabarFarm,whereseveralscenesfromthe1994movieTheShawshankRedemptionwerefilmed,isnearby.Interstate71andStateRoutes39and603providehighwayaccesstothevillage.



Table2-6:LucasStatisticsStatistic Figure


MansfieldMansfieldisthelargestjurisdictioninRichlandCountyandservesasthecountyseat.ItislocatedmidwaybetweenColumbusandClevelandandranksasOhio’s19thlargestcity.Firstsettledin1808,Mansfieldbecameavillagein1828beforereachingcitystatusin1857.WhileallofRichlandCountyenjoysfertilefarmlandandrobustagriculturalproduction,Mansfieldbecameastrongmanufacturingandsteelproductioncenterbecauseofitsreliableaccesstorailroadandtrucktransportationroutes.Asthemanufacturingindustrydeclinedinthe1990’sandagainintheearly2000’s,thecitydiversifieditseconomytoincludemoreretail,education,serviceindustry,andhealthcareservices,includingtwohospitals.

Table2-7:MansfieldStatisticsStatistic Figure

LandArea 30.92sq.milesPopulation,2010USCensus 47,711White 72.2%BlackorAfricanAmerican 22.1%Other 5.7%NumberofHouseholds 18,179PersonsperHousehold 2.24MedianIncome $34,335PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 25.5%Elevation 1,240ft.

OntarioThecityofOntarioislocatedincentralRichlandCounty,justwestofMansfield.TheareawasfirstsettledbecauseofitslocationonthetrailthatconnectedMansfieldtoBucyrus.Originallyincorporatedasavillagein1958,Ontariotransitionedtocitystatusin2001.Ontarioisarapidlygrowingcommunity.MuchofRichlandCounty’sretailgrowthoverthelastdecadeislocatedinOntario.PeoplefromacrosstheareatraveltoOntariotopatronizestoresandrestaurants.



Table2-8:OntarioStatisticsStatistic Figure

LandArea 11.08sq.milesPopulation,2010 6,127White 90.8%BlackorAfricanAmerican 4.0%Other 5.2%NumberofHouseholds 2,588PersonsperHousehold 2.37MedianIncome $49,733PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 6.4%Elevation 1,358feet

PlymouthPlymouth,thethirdlargestvillagebypopulation,islocatedinnorthernRichlandCounty.ThevillageissituatedontheRichland-HuronCountyborder;asmallportionofthevillageisactuallylocatedinHuronCounty.StateRoutes61,98,and603providehighwayaccesstothevillage.PlymouthisnamedforPlymouthLocomotiveWorks,thecompanythatdesignedtheoriginalPlymouthautomobile.Althoughthecompanyclosedin1999,itslegacyliveson.

Table2-9:PlymouthStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 1,857White 97.6%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.3%Other 2.1%NumberofHouseholds 696PersonsperHousehold 2.67Elevation 1,017feet

ShelbyShelbyisthesecondlargestcityinRichlandCounty.Itwasfirstincorporatedasavillagein1853andachievedcitystatusin1921.Locatedinthenorthwestquadrantofthecounty,ShelbyissituatedalongtheBlackForkoftheMohicanRiver.Theriverflowsthroughthecenterofthecity,includingdowntownandseveralresidentialareas,makingShelbyhighlysusceptibletoflooding.BesidesMansfield,ShelbyistheonlyothercommunityinRichlandCountywithahospital.OhioHealthShelbyHospitalhasbeenservingtheareasince1921.ShelbyhasitsownpublichealthdepartmentthatoperatesindependentlyandinconjunctionwithRichlandPublicHealth.



Table2-10:ShelbyStatisticsStatistic Figure

LandArea 6.35sq.milesPopulation,2010 9,088White 97.3%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.2%Other 2.5%NumberofHouseholds 3,904PersonsperHousehold 2.30MedianIncome $40,967PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 15.2%Elevation 1,102feet

ShilohThevillageofShilohislocatedinthenorthernsectionofRichlandCountyalongStateRoute603.Whenthevillagewasformedin1852,itwaslocatedattheintersectionoftwomajorrailroadsandaprimaryroadconnectingthecitiesofTiffinandWooster.Today,CSXRailroadrunsthroughthecenterofthevillage.

Table2-11:ShilohStatisticsStatistic Figure


2.1.3TownshipsandUnincorporatedCommunitiesRichlandCountyisdividedintoeighteentownships.Eachtownshipanditspopulationaccordingto2010U.S.CensusfiguresislistedinTable2-12.

Table2-12:TownshipPopulationStatisticsTownship Population

BloomingGrove 1,204Butler 1,205Cass 1,647Franklin 1,721Jackson 3,552Jefferson 4,851Madison 11,168Mifflin 6,219Monroe 2,723Perry 1,456Plymouth 2,083Sandusky 993



Sharon 9,125Springfield 10,685Troy 7,000Washington 6,428Weller 1,780Worthington 2,868

NorthTownshipsThenorthtownshipsincludeBloomingGrove,Butler,Cass,Franklin,Jackson,Madison,Mifflin,Plymouth,Sharon,andWeller.Mostofthesetownshipsareprimarilyagricultural,withsignificantAmishpopulationandAmishbusinesses.Thelandisfertile,relativelyflat,andproductive.Amishbusinessesincludenurseries,mercantilestores,trades,andhomefurnishingproduction.Manypeoplehavebuiltnewerhomesinthetownshipsalongsidethefarmsteadsandolderhomes.SomeareasareseeingtheinfluxofMennonitefarmerswhoseproductionisonalargerscalethantheAmishandoftenspecializesinlargepoultryorswineproduction.MadisonandMifflinTownshipsaremoreresidentialandcommercialthantheothernorthtownships.LocatedadjacenttoMansfield,theseareashaveexperiencedcommercialdevelopmentasapartofurbangrowth.Onthenortheastsideofthecity,therearerestaurantsandstoresinadditiontomanufacturingandserviceindustries.Manysmallbusinessesexisthereandtherearesprawlingresidentialareasthatincludeeverypossiblekindofhousing,fromsingle-familyhomestomobilehomes,apartmentcomplexes,andcongregatelivingcenters.Thesetownshipsprovideservicesthatcloselyresemblethoseofalargevillageorsmallcity,includingfull-timepublicsafetyservicesandjurisdictionadministrators.SouthTownshipsThesouthtownshipsincludeJefferson,Monroe,Perry,Sandusky,Springfield,Troy,Washington,andWorthington.TheClearForkRiverrunsthroughthisarea,cuttingdeepintohillsandrockstocreateascenicandbeautifullandscape.Thesetownshipsfeaturemorerollingandhillyterrainthantheirnortherncounterpartsandtheyenjoybusinessesofamorecommercialnaturebecauseoftourismandcommercialdevelopment.Whilethereisalargeamountoffertileandproductivefarmland,thereisalsoenoughhillyareatomakesomefieldsdifficulttotill,encouraginglivestockproduction.MalabarFarm,SnowTrailsSkiResort,andothertouristattractionsoccupythisareaandbringthousandsofvisitorstotheareaeveryyear.GorgeoushomesgracethelandscapeintherollingterrainofthisveryruralsectionofRichlandCounty.Therearemanysmallbusinesses,privatefarms,andlarge-scalebusinessesthatemploysignificantnumbersofpeople.SanduskyandSpringfieldtownshipslaytothewestofMansfieldandholdagreatportionofthecommercialbusinessesinRichlandCounty.SpringfieldTownshipishometotheMansfieldshoppingmallaswellasahostofrestaurants,stripmalls,andindividualshops.Servicebusinesses,cardealerships,andothercommercialendeavorsfillthesoutherntownshipareawithjobs,productsandservices,andapopulationthatresidesineverykindofhousing



imaginable.Frompalatialsubdivisionstooldmanufacturedmodularhomes,thisisabusyareawithlotstoofferitsresidentsandvisitors.UnincorporatedCommunitiesRichlandCountyhas32unincorporatedcommunitiesandneighborhoodsthatarepepperedaroundthevarioustownships.Someexistbecausetheysitonanimportantcrossroadsbetweenotherpointsandsomearesimplyahighareawhereacollectionofhomeswentupinthecounty’sfoundingyears.Theyinclude:

• Adario• Alta• Amoy• Bangorville• Bethlehem• Coulter• Crimson• CullerMill• Darlington• EastMansfield• Epworth

• FlemingFalls• Ganges• HanleyVillage• Hastings• LincolnHeights• LittleWashington• Lockhart• London• Millsboro• Olivesburg• Pavonia

• Planktown• Rome• Shenandoah• SpringMill• Taylortown• VernonJunction• Washington• Windsor• WoosterHeights

2.1.4InstitutionsandSpecialFacilitiesRichlandCountyhasabundanteducationalandhealthcareresourcesavailableforresidents.TheavailabilityoftheseservicesimprovesthequalityoflifeforresidentsandcontributestotheeconomyofRichlandCounty.EducationRichlandCountyresidentshaveaccesstomanyeducationalinstitutionsacrossthecounty.Fromprimaryandsecondaryschooldistrictstopost-secondaryeducation,therearemultipleoptionstomeetthevariedneedsofresidents.Forprimaryandsecondaryeducation,thecountyisservedbytenpublicschooldistrictsandelevenprivate,parochial,orcharterschools.

Table2-13:RichlandCountySchoolsPublicSchoolDistricts Private/Parochial/CharterSchools

ClearForkValleyLocalSchoolDistrictCrestlineExemptedVillageSchoolDistrictCrestviewLocalSchoolDistrictLexingtonLocalSchoolDistrictLucasLocalSchoolDistrictMadisonLocalSchoolDistrictMansfieldCitySchoolDistrictOntarioLocalSchoolDistrict

DiscoverySchoolFoundationAcademyGOALDigitalAcademyMansfieldChoiceAcademiesMansfieldChristianSchoolMansfieldSeventh-DayAdventistSchoolSacredHeartSchoolSt.MarySchool(Mansfield)



PioneerCareerandTechnologyCenterPlymouth-ShilohLocalSchoolDistrictShelbyCitySchoolDistrict

St.Mary’sSchool(Shelby)St.Peter’sCatholicSchoolTempleChristianSchool

Post-secondaryeducationisavailablethroughNorthCentralStateCollegeandTheOhioStateUniversityatMansfield.PioneerCareerandTechnologyCenteralsoprovidescareerandtechnicaleducationtoadultstudentsinanon-residentialsetting.HealthcareTherearethreehospitalslocatedinRichlandCounty:OhioHealthMansfieldHospital,OhioHealthShelbyHospital,andKindredHospitalCentralOhio.OhioHealthMansfieldHospitalisafull-service326-bedmedicalfacilitythathasservedtheRichlandCountycommunitysince1915.Thehospitalprovidesacompleterangeofinpatientandoutpatientservices,treatingmorethan46,000patientsintheemergencydepartment,admitting13,000,andperforming8,000surgerieseveryyear.Becauseofitssizeandscopeofavailableservices,MansfieldHospitalistheprimarysourceofhospitalcareinRichlandCounty.OhioHealthShelbyHospitalisasmallerfacilitythatprovidesemergencycareandarangeofinpatientandoutpatientservices.KindredHospitalisa33-bedtransitionalcarehospital.Thisfacilityprovidescareforpatientsrequiringlongertermacutehospitalcare.Thecountyalsohas10licensednursinghomeswith934bedsand8licensedresidentialcarefacilitieswith644beds.Thesefacilitiesprovidehealthcareandhousingforelderlyindividuals,dementiapatients,andothersrecoveringfromshort-andlong-termillnessesandinjuries.2.1.5InfrastructureRichlandCounty’sinfrastructureprovidesresidents,workers,andvisitorswithcriticalaccessandservices.ThissectiondescribesRichlandCounty’stransportationandutilitysystems.TransportationRichlandCountyistraversedbymorethan1,500milesofroads.Ofthese,262milesareInterstate,U.Sroutes,orstatehighways;theremaining1,300milesarecounty,township,andmunicipalroadways.Thehighwaysystemisconsidered56.5%ruraland43.5%urban.Thecountyhas639bridgestructures.RichlandCountymaintains359bridgesandtheOhioDepartmentofTransportationmaintains211.Theremainingstructuresaremaintainedbylocaljurisdictionsorotheragencies.TherearethreeairportsinRichlandCounty.MansfieldLahmRegionalAirportprovidescargoandcharterservicebutnocommercialpassengerservice.Theairportisalsohometothe179thAirliftWingoftheOhioAirNationalGuard.TheShelbyCommunityAirportinShelbyandGalionMunicipalAirportarealsoavailableforpublicuse.



UtilitiesThevastmajorityofhomesinRichlandCounty,morethan83%,areheatedwithnaturalgasorelectricity.Theseservicesareprovidedbyavarietyofcompanies.ThePublicUtilitiesCommissionofOhio(PUCO)regulatesprivatecompaniesthatprovidepublicutilityservices.ThesecompaniesthatprovideserviceinRichlandCounty,alongwithmunicipalelectricutilities,areidentifiedinTable2-14.

Table2-14:RichlandCountyUtilityServiceProvidersElectricService NaturalGasService

ConsolidatedElectricFirelandsElectricNorthCentralElectricLickingRuralElectrificationOhioEdisonOhioPowerLucasVillage*PlymouthVillage*ShelbyCity*ShilohVillage**MunicipalElectricUtilities

ColumbiaGasofOhioNortheastOhioNaturalGasCorporationOhioCumberlandGasCompany

Theremainingpropertiesinthecountyareheatedbyothersources,including:

• Bottled,tank,orLPgas 7%• Coal,cokeorwood 4.6%• Fueloil,kerosene 4%• Solarenergyorotherfuel 0.7%• Nofuelused 0.2%

MunicipalsystemsprovidethemajorityofwaterandwastewaterserviceacrossRichlandCounty,eitherthroughdirectserviceorbycontractingwithaneighboringmunicipality.Intheunincorporatedareasofthecounty,individualwellsaretheprimarywatersource.RichlandPublicHealthprovidespermitsfortheseinstallations.RichlandCountyWastewaterprovidesservicetoapproximately4,700homesandbusinessinthecounty.TheseareprimarilylocatedalongtheI-71andStateRoute97corridorandinMadison,Mifflin,Jackson,andSpringfieldTownships.2.1.6TopographyRichlandCounty’slandscapefeaturesgentlyrollinghills.MuchofthecountyislocatedinthewesternfoothillsoftheAlleghenyPlateau.ThehighestelevationinRichlandCountyis1,510feet.ThispointislocatedinSpringfieldTownshipnearLexington-SpringmillRoadatAppleHillOrchards.InadditiontobeingthehighestpointinRichlandCounty,thislocationisthesecondhighestelevationinallofOhio.



Thecountyhasmorethan125differentsoiltypes.TheserichsoilsmakeagricultureasignificanteconomicfactorinthecountyandgiveRichlandCountyitsname.ThesoilsaregroupedintoelevenSoilAssociationsacrossthecounty.TheclimateofRichlandCountyisconsistentwithmostofOhio.Thehumidcontinentalclimatezonefeaturescoldwintersandhotsummers.Theaverageannualtemperatureis49.4°F.JulyisthewarmestmonthandJanuaryisthecoldest.Thecounty’saverageannualrainfallis44.21inchesandaveragesnowfallis51inches.LandUseAgricultureisthepredominantlanduseinRichlandCounty.Croplandandpasturesaccountfor46.83%ofalllanduse.Thecountyalsofeaturessignificantamountsofforestedland.Thisincludes1,154acresofstateparks,forests,naturepreserves,andwildlifeareas.

Table2-15:RichlandCountyLandUseLandUse Percentage

Cropland 40.44%Forest 38.96%Urban(Residential,Commercial,Industrial,Transportation,UrbanGrasses)

11.53%

Pasture 6.39%Wetlands(Wooded,Herbaceous) 2.32%OpenWater 0.36%Bare/Mines 0%

2.1.7WaterwaysandWatershedRichlandCountyispartofeightwatershedareas.Threeofthese,theHuron,Sandusky,andUpperVermilion,flownorthtoLakeErie.TheremainingfiveflowsouthtotheOhioRiver.TheseincludetheRockyFork,BlackFork,ClearFork,UpperKokosing,andUpperOlentangy.Table2-16providesacompletelistofthewatershedsinRichlandCounty.



Table2-16:RichlandCountyWatershedsWatershed OriginPoint EndPoint

Huron NorthernRichlandCountynearPlymouth

LakeErieatHuron

Sandusky WesternsideofRichlandCounty LakeErieatSanduskyUpperVermilion NortheasterncornerofRichland

CountyLakeErieatVermilion

RockyFork NearMansfield/Ontario JoinsBlackForkRivereastofLucasBlackFork NearMansfield/Ontario JoinsRockyForkRivereastofLucas

belowCharlesMillLakeClearFork RichlandandMorrowCounties JoinsBlackForknearLoudonville

andbecomesMohicanRiverUpperKokosing SouthernRichlandCountywestof

ButlerKokosingLake

UpperOlentangy SanduskyTownship OlentangyRiverSource:RichlandCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrict2.1.8RegulationTheRichlandCountyBoardofCommissionersestablishedtheRichlandCountyRegionalPlanningCommissionin1959forthepurposeofaddressingcountywideissuesrelatedtoinfrastructure,zoning,landuse,anddevelopment.Specificfunctionsoftheofficeincludecommunitydevelopment,landuseplanning,andtransportationplanning.FloodplainregulationsintheunincorporatedareasofthecountyareadministeredthroughRichlandCountySoilandWaterConservation.TheDirectorofthatdepartmentisthecounty’sdesignatedFloodplainAdministrator.Section3.0ofthecounty’sfloodplainregulations



designatesaFloodplainAdministratorandspecifiesthedutiesofthatoffice,whichincludeupdatingregulationsandenforcingsuchregulationsunderSection6.0.Additionally,theFloodplainAdministratorroutinelymonitorsfloodhazardareastoenforceregulationsandprovidecommunityassistance,suchasencouragingownerstomaintainfloodinsurancepolicies.EachincorporatedjurisdictionhasadesignatedFloodplainAdministratorwhomaintainsandenforcesfloodplainregulationswithineachjurisdiction.ThirteenofRichlandCounty’seighteentownshipshavezoningregulationsinplace.Thesetownshipsemploypart-timezoninginspectorstoadministertheirlocalzoningrequirements.AcompletelistofthezoningregulationstatusforeachtownshipisprovidedinTable2-17.

Table2-17:TownshipZoningStatusTownship ZoningStatus

BloomingGrove ZonedButler UnzonedCass UnzonedFranklin ZonedJackson ZonedJefferson UnzonedMadison ZonedMifflin ZonedMonroe ZonedPerry ZonedPlymouth UnzonedSandusky ZonedSharon ZonedSpringfield ZonedTroy ZonedWashington ZonedWeller ZonedWorthington Unzoned

2.1.9EconomyandDevelopmentRichlandCountyhasadiverseeconomybasedinthemanufacturing,agriculture,healthcare,andserviceindustries.Manufacturingdevelopmentoccurredintheindustrialrevolutionduetotheavailabilityofrailandtrucktransportation.Steelmills,secondaryautomanufacturing,andotherindustrialendeavorsenjoyedprosperitythroughaccessibilitytoColumbus,Cleveland,Dayton,andToledo.Asthepopulationgrew,servicesandgovernmentgrewaswellandprovidedevenmorejobsandopportunity.Theindustrialdownfallofthe1990shitRichlandCountyhard.Steelmillsclosedandsecondaryautopartsproductionshrank.JobsdisappearedanddevelopershadtofindotheropportunitiesforthepeoplewholivedandworkedinRichlandCounty.Theydiscoveredenhancedserviceindustries,healthcareandassociatedproductionofmedicaldevices,andenhancedgovernmenttoservetheexpandedpopulation.Asthecountymanagedthreatstoitsprosperity,new



successwasidentifiedandenjoyed.Becauseofthis,developmentofalltypeshasbeenstrongacrossthecountyinrecentyears.BusinessandIndustryRichlandCountyhasastronghistoryinindustrialproductionandinnovation.Thecountyisaworldwidecenterforpumpproductionandprovidessignificantresourcesforplasticsandsensorsmanufacturing.Thisstrongmanufacturingsectorformsthebasisofthecounty’seconomy.Alongwithagriculture,serviceindustries,education,andhealthcare,theRichlandCountyeconomyisgenerallystableanddiverse.Theeconomicdownturnexperiencedbymuchofthecountryinthelate2000shassincestabilized,leadingtoeconomicrecoveryformuchofthecounty.LocaleconomicdevelopmentorganizationssuchastheRichlandCommunityDevelopmentGroup,MansfieldEconomicDevelopmentDepartment,RichlandAreaChamberofCommerceandvariousjurisdictionChambersofCommercehaveworkeddiligentlytosupportthisrecoveryandfosterinnovationandnewbusinessgrowthinthecounty.In2014,RichlandCountyreported2,126activebusinessesand167businessstarts.EmploymentinRichlandCountyisattributedtomanyindustrialsectors.AverageemploymentforeachsectorislistedinTable2-18.

Table2-18:MajorEmploymentSectorsEmploymentSector AverageEmployment

Manufacturing 5,667Trade,Transportation,andUtilities 2,703LocalGovernment 2,509EducationandHealthServices 1,978LeisureandHospitality 1,549ProfessionalandBusinessServices 746Construction 569FinancialServices 400OtherServices 316NaturalResourcesandMining 238StateGovernment 131Information 102FederalGovernment 94

AccordingtotheRichlandCommunityDevelopmentGroup,themajoremployersinthecountyinclude:

Table2-19:MajorEmployersCompany Employment Product/Service City

OhioHealthMansfieldandShelbyHospitals

2,500 Healthcare Mansfield,Shelby

RichlandCountyGovernment 1,474 Government CountywideNewmanTechnology 1,100 Automotive MansfieldJayIndustries 943 Manufacturing MansfieldGorman-Rupp 809 Pumps Mansfield,Bellville



CenturyLink 800 Telecommunications MansfieldTherm-O-Disc 721 Thermostats MansfieldMansfieldCityBoardofEducation 700 Education MansfieldArcelorMittal 666 SeamlessSteelTube ShelbyMansfieldCorrectional(MANCI) 621 Corrections MansfieldCityofMansfield 575 Government MansfieldStoneridgeInc.(Hi-Stat) 500 Automotive LexingtonModernTool&DieCo.(MTD) 459 Distribution ShelbyRichlandCorrectional(RICI) 443 Corrections MansfieldMadisonLocalBoardofEducation 410 Education Mansfield

EmploymentstatisticshavesteadilyimprovedinRichlandCountysincetheeconomicdownturnof2008-2009.By2014,thecounty’sunemploymentratehaddroppedto6.4%.TheratehasremainedsteadyoverthelasttwoyearswithaFebruary2016unemploymentrateof6.5%

Table2-20:UnemploymentTrends 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Employed 51,900 52,000 51,000 50,300 51,200Unemployed 7,200 6,200 4,900 4,700 3,500UnemploymentRate 12.1% 10.6% 8.7% 8.6% 6.4%

AgricultureAgricultureisamajorcontributortoRichlandCounty’seconomy.Thecounty’s160,000acresoffarmlandaccountfor40%ofalllanduseinthecounty.Corn,soybeans,andwheatarethemostprevalentcrops.Thecountyalsohasseveralhundredacresoffruitandvegetablecrops.Livestockisanotherimportantsegmentoftheagricultureindustry.Cattle,dairycows,hogs,andpoultryarethelargestindividuallivestockenterprisesinthecounty.

Table2-21:AgricultureStatisticsStatistic Figure

TotalFarmAcreage 160,623NumberofFarms 1,010AverageFarmSize(acres) 159TotalCashReceipts $128,682,000ReceiptsperFarm $127,408CropReceipts $66,163,000Livestock/ProductReceipts $62,163,000

DevelopmentTrendsRichlandCountyisgrowinganddevelopinginavarietyofways.Whenquestionedaboutwhichkindsofbusinessestheyaretryingtoattract,mostdevelopersandofficialswilltellyou“allofthem”.WitheasyaccesstoColumbusandCleveland,RichlandCountyisanattractiveplacetolive.Schoolsareexcellent,theterrainisbeautiful,thepeoplearefriendlyandaccepting,andthecountyprovidesagreatplacetoraiseafamily.DevelopmentofficialshaveusedtheseadvantagestoattractskilledworkersofalltypesaswellasprofessionalsandentrepreneurswhocanbringnewbusinesstoRichlandCounty.Whilethepopulationhasdecreasedoverthe



pasttwodecades,thisisasmuchassociatedwiththedeathoftraditionalistandbabyboomergenerationsduetoagingasitiswitheconomicdownturn.Countyofficialsareproudoftheirretailopportunities.Ontario,Mansfield,andLexingtontoutmanyretailfacilitiesinanareawheremostfranchisedbusinesseshaveatleastoneoutlet,andmanysmall-townmom-and-popbusinessesco-existandsharetheprosperity.Residentsnolongerhavetotraveltothebiggercityforshopping,healthcare,orotherservices.Thethingstheyneedareavailablerightathome.Officialsintendtocontinuedevelopingretailtoserveaneven-largerarea,spillingintoadjacentcountiestofindcustomersandpatrons.Agriculturaldevelopmentisstrong.Corporateandindividualfarmersarebuildinglargeproductionfacilities,primarilyproducingpoultryandporkproducts.Livestockproductionisontheriseandagribusinessisgrowing.Farmserviceslikefertilizerproviders,implementdealers,andfuelsuppliersarepartofthetargetdevelopmentarea.AmishandMennoniteretailandservicebusinessesinthenorthernsectionofthecountyaregrowingaggressivelyaspeoplefromthelargecitiesandotherpartsofOhioflocktoRichlandandnearbycountiestopurchasetheirwell-made,high-qualityproductsandservices.Thistrendtopurchasehomemadepureproductsisconsumer-drivenanddevelopersupported.Extensiveeffortisbeingmadetoattractnewproductionandmanufacturingbusiness.Theoldsteelmillsandotherfactoriesaredifficultandcostlytoobliterate,withacresofthickconcretefoundationsandpartialfacilitiesstillstanding.Thesehalf-torndownpropertiespreventanewuserfromcomingtoRichlandCountyinsomecasesbecauseremovalofthefoundationswouldcostmillionsofdollarstosimplypreparethesite.However,developersareconcentratingonotherareasfornewdevelopment,existingavailablespacesforre-useandre-purpose,andadjacentundevelopedpropertyfordevelopment.WhiledeveloperswouldliketocreatethousandsofjobstomakeMansfieldprosperous,theyrealizethatbusinessesthatemploylessthan250workersmightbetherealanswer.Althoughneverturningawayaverylargebusinessrecruit,theyareputtingmosteffortsintomediumandsmallbusinessandindustrialdevelopmentandworkingtocreatenewjobsandopportunitiesforlocalresidentsthroughmultiplesuccessstories.RichlandCountydevelopersareworkingtoprovidesupportservices,healthcare,education,andgovernmentservicestothewholecommunity,andhopefullythatwholecommunitywillbecomelargereachyear.Theyhopetoenforce,improve,andenhancebuildingcodes,resources,andassistanceasawaytofacilitategrowth.Keepingeducationstrong,healthcareavailable,andsocialservicesadequateislistedaspartoftheirkeyinitiativesin2016andbeyond.



2.2HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONThissectionofHIRAdefineseachhazardthatcanimpactRichlandCounty,identifiesthelikelyrisks,andexamineshistoricalhazardeventsthathaveoccurredinthecounty.Thenaturalandtechnologicalhazardsassessedinclude:

• Algalbloom/waterquality• Climatechange• Damfailure• Drought/extremeheat• Earthquake• Erosion• Hazardousmaterialsspillorleak• Flood• Severethunderstorm• Tornado• Utilityorinfrastructuresystemfailure• Windstorm• Severewinterstormorblizzard

SomenaturalhazardswereexcludedfromthisplanbecausetheyposenorisktoRichlandCounty.Table2-22identifiesthesehazardsandexplainswhythehazardisnotrelevanttoRichlandCounty.

Table2-22:ExcludedHazardsExcludedHazard Justification

CoastalErosion NotacoastalcommunityCoastalFlooding NotacoastalcommunityInvasiveSpecies NotidentifiedasaconcernLandsubsidence NotidentifiedasaconcernMud/landslide ElevationnotconducivetothishazardTsunami GeographicallyimpossibleVolcano GeographicallyimpossibleWildfire Insufficientforestedarea

TounderstandtheriskposedbynaturalhazardsinRichlandCounty,itisimportanttodefinethecharacteristicsofeachhazard.Localhistoryisonefactorindeterminingthecounty’sriskforthesehazards.Thissectiondefineseachhazard,identifiesthemostsignificanteventsofeachtypetoimpactRichlandCounty,andprovidesasummaryofRichlandCounty’shistorywitheachincident.AcompletelistofhistoricaloccurrencesforeachnaturalhazardisprovidedinAppendixA:HazardandVulnerabilityData.HistoricalinformationwasobtainedfromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sNationalClimaticDataCenter(NCDC)andsupplementedwithinformationfromlocalofficials.



2.2.1AlgalBloomorWaterQualityThreatInlandlakesthatprovideawatersourceformanycountiesinOhiohavebecomecontaminatedbyalgaeoverthepastfewyears.LakeErie,thewatersourceformuchofnorthernOhiohasenduredperiodsofunacceptablemicrocystinandothercontaminantlevels,renderingthewatersuppliesunsafeforconsumptionforperiodsoftime.ThecurrenttheoryaboutthewatercrisisinOhioincludeshighphosphoruslevelsinagriculturalrunoffleechingintotheaquifers,inlandlakes,andnaturallakesascontaminantsthatcannotsimplybeboiledorfilteredoutofthesourcewater.WhileRichlandCountydoesnotobtainitswaterfrominlandlakesorLakeErie,itdoesobtainwaterfromwellsandriversthataresusceptibletothesamerunoffandenvironmentalcontaminantsasothersources.ItisnotknownifRichlandCountyissusceptibletoalgalbloomthreats.Studyisnecessarytodeterminethisandtherefore,atthistime,RichlandCountyhasincludedalgalbloom/waterqualitythreatsasapotentialhazard.Thecomingyearswillbeaperiodtostudytheissue,determinethecounty’svulnerabilitytowaterqualityconcerns,andidentifytheactualandcompletesourceofthecontamination.2.2.2ClimateChangeTheoryhasitthatclimatechange,specificallythewarmingoftheearthingeneral,iscausingmoreseverestormsandexaggeratednaturalhazards.Aswithalgalbloom,thefinalanswerforthispotentialthreatisstillinunderidentificationanddevelopment.Asarural,agriculturalarea,RichlandCountyofficialsseethecountyaslesscontributingtoglobalwarmingthanlargemetropolitanareas,butarenotwillingtosimplyshiftthecausetootheruncontrollablesources.Climatechangeeffectsimpactthelocalcommunitylevel;preventionofthoseoutcomesandchangestobusinessandresidentialpracticeswillcomeafteraperiodofexamination,study,andanalysis.RichlandCountywillagainlooktothefuturethroughalensofcommunityresponsibilityand,indoingso,willexaminethepresence,cause,andmitigationofclimatechangeonthelocalcommunityinthecomingyears.

2.2.3DamFailureAdamisanartificialbarrierbuiltacrossflowingwater.Thisbarrierdirectsorslowstheflowofwaterandoftencreatesalakeorreservoir.Adamisconsideredhydrologicallysignificantifithasaheightofatleast25feetfromthenaturalstreambedandastoragecapacityofatleastfifteenacre-feetoranimpoundingcapacityofatleast50acre-feetandissixfeetormoreabovethenaturalstreambed.Damsareconstructedforfloodcontrolpurposesortostorewaterforirrigation,watersupply,orenergygeneration.Theycanbecomposedofearth,rock,concrete,masonry,timber,oracombinationofmaterials.Leveesareembankmentsconstructedtopreventtheoverflowofariverandsubsequentfloodingofthesurroundingland.Theycanbebuiltusingearth,rock,orothermaterials.Leveesconstructedfromconcreteormasonrymaterialsarereferredtoasfloodwalls.Damfailureistheuncontrolledreleaseofthewaterheldbackbythedaminalakeorreservoir.Themajorityofdamshaveasmallenoughstoragevolumethatabreachorfailurewillhave



limitedimpactonthesurroundingcommunity.Butthefailureofalargedamcancausesubstantialfloodingdownstreamandleadtosignificantlossoflifeandproperty.Therearemanycausesofdamfailure,including:

• Sub-standardconstruction• Geologicalinstability• Spillwaydesignerror• Poormaintenance• Internalerosion• Extremeinflow• Earthquake

TheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesisresponsiblefordeterminingthehazardpotentialfordamsthroughtheirDamSafetyProgram.ODNRclassifiesdamsbasedonthisscale:

Classification DescriptionClassI Probablelossoflife,serioushazardtohealth,structuraldamageto

highvalueproperty(i.e.homes,industries,majorpublicutilities)ClassII Floodwaterdamagetohomes,businesses,industrialstructures(no

lossoflifeenvisioned),damagetostateandinterstatehighways,railroads,onlyaccesstoresidentialareas

ClassIII Damagetolowvaluenon-residentialstructures,localroads,agriculturalcrops,andlivestock

ClassIV LossesrestrictedmainlytothedamThereare15lowheaddamsinRichlandCounty.Table2-23listseachdamanditsclassification,accordingtotheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources.RichlandCountyhasnolevees.

Table2-23:LowHeadDamsDam Jurisdiction Classification

ShelbyUpgroundReservoirNo.2 SharonTownship IClearForkReservoirDam TroyTownship IShelbyUpgroundReservoirNo.3 CassTownship ICookePondNo.2Dam PlymouthTownship IICookePondNo.1Dam PlymouthTownship IIAhrensLakeDam TroyTownship IIPleasantValleyRanchLakeDam MonroeTownship IILakeMariaDam WashingtonTownship IIBollesLakeDam SpringfieldTownship IIIHutchinsLakeDam MonroeTownship IIIGoettlLakeDam MonroeTownship IIILakeTimberlin PerryTownship IIIGroggLakeDam MonroeTownship IIIPrestonLakeDam TroyTownship IIWaltonLakeDam SpringfieldTownship III



WhiletherearethreeClassIdamsinRichlandCounty,theriskoffailureisnegligible.AccordingtotheAssociationofStateDamSafetyOfficials,theyshownofailureofdamsinOhio.Inadamfailureincidentidentificationmapontheirwebsite,JamesS.HalgrenoftheOfficeofHydrologicDevelopmentoftheNationalWeatherServiceofNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationindicatesOhioisatlowriskfordamfailurebaseduponhistoricdata.StanfordUniversity’sNationalPerformanceofDamsProgramidentifiesnowrittenreportsofdamincidents,breaches,orfailuresinRichlandCounty.Thereisalessthan1%probabilityofadamincident.TheClearForkReservoirDamislocatedatthebaseoftheClearForkReservoirandupstreamfromtheVillageofLexington.WhileitliesinTroyTownship,itisownedbytheCityofMansfieldandthewatercontainedinitsuppliesthelocalwatersystem.Thedamis3,420feetwide,44feethigh,andhasastoragevolumeof26,532acre-feet.WaterflowssouththroughtheClearForkanditstributariesasitheadstotheMuskingumRiverWatershedandtheOhioRiver.Thisvulnerabledownstreamareaincludesabout25%ofthepopulationofLexingtonand10%ofthebusinessesinsidethevillagelimits.Overtherecentpastyears,thevillagehaspurposelydevelopednaturalhabitatandparkareasintheinundationzonetopreventlossesshouldanunlikelydamfailureoccur.Theyhavebuiltparkstructuressuchasshelterhousesandplaygroundequipmentspecificallytowithstandtheonslaughtoffloodwaterifheavyrainandriverinefloodingweretooccur,orifadamfailureweretohappen.Theyhaveinstalledpumpingstationstoassistinthemovementoffloodwaterfromthisareainthemostextremesituations.Thishassignificantlyreducedthevulnerabilityofthisareatofloodingforanyreason.ThelandareaimmediatelyadjacenttothedamisinTroyTownship;mostofthislandisnotsignificantlyvulnerablebecauseitisnaturalhabitatanddoesnothaveresidentialorcommercialdevelopment.Villageofficialshaveintentionallydevelopedsomeofthislandasnaturalhabitattoavoiddamageduetofloodwatersintheeventofdamfailureorifreleaseofdammedwaterbecamenecessary.Therefore,themajorityofstructuralfailuredamageswouldbeenduredbytheresidentialandcommerciallandownersinLexingtonandbytheVillageofLexingtonforinfrastructureandcriticalstructures.Map2-1identifiesthepotentialinundationzoneforthevillageofLexington.



Map2-1:ClearForkReservoirDamInundationZone-Lexington

TheShelbyUpgroundReservoir#2islocatedonthesouthsideoftheCityofShelby.UnliketheClearForkthatrunstothesouth,theBlackForkRivertakesanortherlypathwaythroughthecityanditsresidentialandcommercialzones.Becauseofthispathway,residentialandcommercialstructuresinsidethecitycouldbevulnerabletofloodingshouldtherebeasignificantbreechofthereservoir.Thisreservoiris4,840feetwide,48feethigh,andhasapondareaof28.2acres.Shouldthisreservoiroverfillandflood,theresidentialareabetweenthereservoirandtowncouldbeflooded.Moderatetoseverefloodingcouldaffectapproximately20%oftheresidentialpropertyand10%ofbusinesses.TheCityofShelbyhasremovedmanyresidentialandcommercialpropertiesthroughpreviousmitigationprojectsandcreatednaturalhabitatandparkareastopreventfloodlossesastheBlackForkRiverhashistoricallydamagedthesamearea.Therefore,flooddamageswouldbesomewhatmitigatedbecauseareservoirfailureandriverinefloodingcouldhaveverysimilarcharacteristics.TheareastillishometotheShelbyFireDepartmentbecausefundinghasnotbeenidentifiedtobuildastationoutsidethefloodzone.Thepolicedepartmentwasrelocatedtoanothersuitablestructureoutsidethefloodzone;however,noalternatelocationsuitableto



housefireapparatusandequipmenthasbeenidentified.Thecityadministrationcontinuesworktoidentifyandsecureanalternatesiteforthefiredepartment.Inthemeantime,thedepartmenthousespersonnelworking24-hourshiftsonthesecondfloorofthestationandcomputerandtechnicalequipmentiselevatedabovethefour-to-fivefootmarkwherefloodwatersgenerallyrise.Whilethebrickstructureissufferingsomewaterdamagefromtheflooding,thedepartmenthasmodifieditsstandardoperatingprocedurestoremoveapparatusandpersonnelearlyinasignificantraineventtoinsureavailabilitytothecommunityandprotectionofassets.TheBlackRiversplitsthecityinhalf,andwhenitfloods,safetyservicesmuststationassetsonbothsidesoftheriver.Thishasbeenwrittenintostandardoperatingproceduresforbothdepartments.Mostotherstructuresthataresusceptibletofloodinginthiszonehavebeenremoved;onlythosewherelandownerswereunwillingorineligibletouseacquisitionandrelocationfundingremain.Shelby’sReservoir#3isonthenorthsideofthecityandlocatedinareasoffarmlandandnaturalhabitatareas.ShouldthisClassIstructurefail,cropdamagescouldbesevere,dependingonthetimeofyear.IfthedamfailureduringtheagriculturalproductionseasonbetweenMayandOctober,theproductioncouldbeseverelyhampered.Anincidentatothertimesofyearwouldresultinlimitedloss.Giventhelimitedresidentialorcommercialdevelopmentinthisarea,losseswouldlikelybelessthanextensive.

Map2-2:ShelbyReservoir#3InundationZone



2.2.4DroughtandExtremeHeatAdroughtisadeficiencyofmoisturethatadverselyimpactspeople,animals,andvegetationoveranareaofsignificantsize.Becausedroughtisacreepingphenomenoncharacterizedbytheabsenceofwater,thereisnodefinedbeginningorend,noristhereastandardamountoftimerequiredforanextendeddryperiodtobeconsideredadrought.Itisconsideredadroughtwhenthedryperiodlastslongenoughtoimpacttheenvironmentandeconomyofaregion,typicallyaperiodofmonthsoryears.Therearefourcommontypesofdrought:

Type DescriptionMeteorological Basedonthedegreeofdryness(rainfalldeficit)andlengthofdry

periodHydrological Basedonimpactofrainfalldeficitsonwatersupplysuchasstream

flow,reservoirandlakelevelsandwatertabledeclineAgricultural Basedonimpactstoagriculturebyrainfalldeficits,soilwater

deficits,reducedgroundwater,andreservoirlevelsneededforirrigation

Socioeconomic Basedontheimpactofdroughtconditionsonsupplyanddemandofsomeeconomicgoods

DroughtseverityismeasuredusingthePalmerDroughtSeverityIndex(PDSI).ThePDSImeasuresdrynessbasedonrecentprecipitationandtemperaturestatistics.Droughtclassificationsareidentifiedinthechartbelow:

Measurement Description-4orless ExtremeDrought-4to-3 SevereDrought-3to-2 ModerateDrought-2to-1 MildDrought-1to-0.5 IncipientDrySpell-0.5to0.5 NearNormal0.5to1 IncipientWetSpell1to2 SlightlyWet2to3 ModeratelyWet3to4 VeryWet4ormore ExtremelyWet

Aheatwaveisaperiodofabnormallyhotandunusuallyhumidweather,typicallylastingfortwoormoredays.Thiscanbeanextendedperiodoftimewithhigherthannormaltemperaturesorashorterperiodoftimewithabnormallyhightemperatures.Regardlessofthelengthoftimeorexacttemperatures,heatwavesareasafetyhazardtoanyoneexposedtothehighheat.Peopleareatriskforheatexhaustionandheatstroke,whichcanbefatalinthemostseriouscases.Whenheatwavesareaccompaniedbydroughtconditions,thepotentialforaseriousnaturaldisasterincreases.Betweeninjuries,fatalities,andcrop/propertydamage,thesedisasterscansignificantlyimpacttheeconomyofaregion.



AveragetemperaturesandrainfallforMansfield,Ohio:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecAvg.High 33° 36° 46° 59° 69° 78° 82° 80° 73° 62° 49° 37°Avg.Low 18° 20° 28° 38° 48° 57° 61° 60° 53° 42° 33° 23°Avg.Precip. 2.87” 2.4” 3.39” 4.13” 4.53” 4.76” 4.37” 4.37” 3.31” 2.95” 3.82” 3.31”

Droughtandextremeheatarecountywidehazardsthatcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.HeatwavescanoccurinRichlandCountyandallofOhiobuttheyarerareandtypicallyshortinduration.Extremetemperaturesareconsideredanythingabove90degreesFahrenheit.InthehumidclimateofnorthcentralOhio,thesetemperaturesareoftenaccompaniedbyhighhumidity.Temperaturesrarelyexceedthemid-90s,althoughtheregiondoesoccasionallyexperiencetemperaturesof100degreesorslightlyhigher.Thesebriefheatwavesrarelylastmorethanafewdays.Aheatwavelastinglongerthanaweekisextremelyrare.TherearenodocumentedincidentsofextremeheatinRichlandCounty,perNCDCrecords.DroughtisnotcommoninRichlandCounty.Dryspellscanlastforseveralweeksbutmostmonthshavesufficientrainfalltosupportcropgrowthandhumansustenance.Droughtconditions,whentheydooccur,canhaveasignificantimpactontheagricultureindustrythatprevailsinthecounty.Whiledroughtisnotcommon,RichlandCountyhasbeenimpactedbyseveraldroughtsinrecentdecades.The1988-1989NorthAmericanDroughtfollowedamilderdroughtintheSoutheasternUnitedStatesandCaliforniatheyearbefore.ThisdroughtspreadfromtheMid-Atlantic,Southeast,Midwest,NorthernGreatPlains,andWesternUnitedStates.Itwaswidespread,unusuallyintense,andaccompaniedbyheatwavesthatkilledthousandsofpeopleandsubstantialnumbersoflivestocknationwide.Oneparticularreasonfortheseverityofthedroughtwasthefarmingoflandthatwasonlymarginallyarable.Anotherfactorwasthepumpingofgroundwaternearthedepletionmark.TheDroughtof1989destroyedcropsalmostnationwide.Lawnswentbrownandmanycitiesandjurisdictionsenactedwaterrestrictions.ThiscatastrophicdroughtcontinuedtoimpacttheMidwestandNorthernPlainsstatesduring1989.Thedroughtwasnotdeclaredoveruntil1990.Accordingtotheplanningteam,thisdroughtwasoneofthemostseveredroughtincidentsthattheycouldrecallimpactingRichlandCounty.Mostrecently,the2012NorthAmericanDroughtimpactedRichlandCountyandallofOhio.Thisincidentwasanexpansionofthe2010-2012UnitedStatesdroughtthatbeganinthespringof2012.LackofsnowfallintheUnitedStatescausedverylittlemeltwatertoabsorbintothesoil.ThedroughtincludedmostoftheUnitedStatesandallofOhio.ModeratedroughtconditionswereidentifiedinRichlandCountyandallofOhioinmid-Juneof2012.Thisdroughthasbeencomparedtosimilardroughtsinthe1930sand1950sbutdidnotlastaslong.Thedroughtcausedcatastrophiceconomicramifications.Accordingtomostmeasures,thisdroughtexceededthe1988-1989NorthAmericanDroughtinseverity,whichisthemostrecentcomparabledrought.WhilethisincidentsignificantlyimpactedmanyareasoftheMidwestand



WesternUnitedStates,planningteammembersdonotrecalltheeventbeingthatsevereinRichlandCounty.Accordingtothecommittee,theincidentwasmoreofaprolongeddryspellthanasignificantdrought.OnJuly30,2012,theGovernorofOhiosentamemorandumtotheUSDAOhioStateExecutiveDirectorrequestingprimarycountynaturaldisasterdeclarationsforeligiblecountiesduetoagriculturallossescausedbythedroughtandothernaturaldisastersduringthe2012cropyear.TheUSDAreviewedtheLossAssessmentReportsanddeterminedthatthereweresignificantenoughproductionlossesin85countiestowarrantaSecretarialdisasterdesignation.OnSeptember5,2012,RichlandCountywasincludedasoneofthedesignatedcounties.

Table2-24:Drought/ExtremeHeatHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries

AverageLoss/Incident

Drought 5 0 $7M 0 0 $1.4M(Crop)ExcessiveHeat 0 0 0 0 0 0

2.2.5EarthquakeAnearthquakeoccurswhentwoblocksofearth,calledplates,movepastoneanotherbeneathearth’ssurface.Thelocationwheretheplatesmeetiscalledafault.Theshiftingoftheplatescausesmovementalongthefaultline.Thismovementcanoftenbefeltinareassurroundingtheearthquake’sepicenterandcancausedamagerangingfrominsignificanttodevastating.Damagecausedbyanearthquakecanincluderattlingfoundations,fallingdebris,and,inthemostseverecases,topplingbuildings,bridges,andculverts.TheseverityofearthquakemovementismeasuredusingtheModifiedMercalliIndexscaleasdefinedbelow:

Intensity Shaking Description/DamageI NotFelt Notfeltexceptbyaveryfewunderespeciallyfavorableconditions.II Weak Feltonlybyafewpersonsatrest,especiallyonbuildingupperfloors.III Weak Feltquitenoticeablybypersonsindoors,especiallyonupperfloorsof

buildings.Manypeopledonotrecognizeitasanearthquake.Standingmotorcarsmayrockslightly.Vibrationssimilartothepassingofatruck.Durationestimated.

IV Light Feltindoorsbymany,outdoorsbyfewduringtheday.Atnight,someawakened.Dishes,windows,doorsdisturbed;wallsmakecrackingsound.Sensationlikeheavytruckstrikingbuilding.Standingmotorcarsrockednoticeably.

V Moderate Feltbynearlyeveryone;manyawakened.Somedishes,windowsbroken.Unstableobjectsoverturned.Pendulumclocksmaystop.

VI Strong Feltbyall,manyfrightened.Someheavyfurnituremoved;afewinstancesoffallenplaster.Damageslight.

VII VeryStrong Damagenegligibleinbuildingsofgooddesignandconstruction;slighttomoderateinwell-builtordinarystructures;considerabledamageinpoorlybuiltorbadlydesignedstructures;somechimneysbroken.



VIII Severe Damageslightinspeciallydesignedstructures;considerabledamageinordinarysubstantialbuildingswithpartialcollapse.Damagegreatinpoorlybuiltstructures.Fallofchimneys,factorystacks,columns,monuments,andwalls.Heavyfurnitureoverturned.

IX Violent Damageconsiderableinspeciallydesignedstructures;well-designedframestructuresthrownoutofplumb.Damagegreatinsubstantialbuildings,withpartialcollapse.Buildingsshiftedofffoundations.

X Extreme Somewell-builtwoodenstructuresdestroyed;mostmasonryandframestructuresdestroyedwithfoundations.Railsbent.

AccordingtotheOhioSeismicNetwork,seismicriskinOhioisdifficulttoevaluatebecauseearthquakesareinfrequent.Therecurrenceintervalisgenerallyverylong,sometimesspanninghundredsorthousandsofyears.Anotherfactorinearthquakeriskisthenatureofthegeologicmaterialsuponwhichastructureisbuilt.AccordingtotheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,“groundmotionfromseismicwavestendstobemagnifiedbyunconsolidatedsedimentssuchasthickdepositsofclayorsandandgravel.”Ohiohasexperiencedmorethan120earthquakessince1776.Whileonlyfourteenoftheseeventshavecauseddamage,thereisagreaterriskforearthquakesinOhiothanmostpeoplerealize.WestcentralandnortheastOhioaretheareasofOhiowiththehighestearthquakerisk.ThestrongestearthquakerecordedinOhiooccurredinShelbyCountyin1937andwasestimatedtohaveamagnitudeof5.5ontheRichterScale.ThisincidentcausedsomedamageinAnnaandsurroundingwestcentralOhiocommunities.ThesameareainOhiopreviouslyreportedearthquakeactivityin1875and1884.ThePomeroyarea,southeastofColumbus,experiencedanearthquakein1926,andresidentsinAnnafeltminorquakesin1930and1931,justafewyearspriortothe1937incident.Noneoftheseearthquakescausedwidespreaddamageordevastation.Theminorquakescausedshakingbuildings,crumblingmortar,andlimitedpropertydamage.Impactswereonlyfeltlocally;nostatewidedamageswerereported.ThreeminorearthquakeshavebeenrecordedinRichlandCounty.ThestrongestoftheseincidentswasclassifiedasIVontheModifiedMercalliIndex,indicatingonlylightshaking.Nootherincidentshavebeendocumented.Earthquakeisacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.

Date Time Latitude Longitude Richter ModifiedMercalli Source02/17/1927 05:00 40.7 82.5 3.1 IV NCE02/17/1927 06:30 40.7 82.5 2.5 II NCE01/12/1995 21:25 40.8 82.68 3.3 I USGS

2.2.6ErosionRichlandCountyroadwaysarevulnerabletobermerosion,erosionofthesupportforbridgesandculverts,andwashoutoflow-lyingsectionsofroadwaysandproperties.Thisiscausedbyrapidlyflowingwaterheavedoutofitsbanksasitrushesdownthewatershed.Thisriskismost



prevalentinthesouth-easternpartofthecounty,inLucas,Butler,andBellevillespecifically,andmostlyalongtheClearForkRiverbecauseitisonrockandwashesoutofitsbankswhenchallengedwithexcessiverunoff.Therivercannotcutdeeper,soitbreechesitsbanksandtakesalongwithitthebermsandbridgesupportbywayoferosion.Bellevilleencountersthistypeoferosiononaregularbasis.OnthenortheastsideofthevillagewhereSR97headstoButler,thepropertyoccupiedbyafuneralhomehaserodedawayafterpreviousstorms.Theslopingtotheriverallowedrunofftobarrelthroughthepropertyandittookwithittheberms,roads,andsoil.Asaresult,thepropertyownerandtheOhioDepartmentofTransportationmodifiedthesurfaceoftheroadtohavefarlessslope,reinforcedthebermsandsupportedthesoils,andtherebyprovidedasolutiontothatonesmallsectionofvulnerableroadway.ThesamesituationispresentalongSR97,SR36,andotherlocalroadsthatfollowtheClearForkRiver.Someprivatelyownedtrailsandroadwaysarevulnerabletowashingawayintimesofheavyrunoff.ThisisespeciallyprevalentinButler,Belleville,andLucas,andthesurroundingtownships.Specificpropertiesaresometimesset-asidefarmlandorrecreationalareassothereisnomitigationactionthatisnecessary.RichlandCountymustworktoidentifythespecificpropertiesatriskthroughstormwaterstudyandmustconductariskassessmenttodeterminethepotentiallossesfromthissituation.Theymustidentifytheareassothatnewhomesandbusinessesarenotbuiltinthewakeofthisvulnerabilitywithoutfirsttakingpreventiveactionintheprocessofdevelopment.2.2.7HazardousMaterialsIncidentAhazardousmaterialsspillorreleaseoccurswhenahazardoussubstancebreachesitscontainer.Thesesubstancesarestoredinnumeroustypesofcontainers,includingdrums,cans,jars,pipes,andothervessels.Somereleasesareincidentalandcanbesafelycleanedupbyon-sitefacilitypersonnel.Anincidentalreleasedoesnotthreatenthehealthorsafetyhazardtotheimmediateareaorgreatercommunitybecauseofthesmallquantitythatisreleased.Areleasethatrequiresactionbyfirstrespondersoragenciesoutsideofthespiller’sfacilityisconsideredanemergencyresponse.Everyhazardousmaterialisuniqueandcanhaveoneormoreoftheseproperties:toxic,flammable,explosive,corrosive.Whenahazardoussubstanceisreleasedintotheenvironment,itcannegativelyimpactthesafetyandhealthofthecommunitybycontaminatingtheair,water,and/orground.Toprotectthecommunity,evacuationfromthefacilityorareasurroundingthespillmaybenecessary.

Table2-25:HazardousMaterialClassificationsClass Description1 Explosives2 Gases3 Flammableliquidsandcombustibleliquid



4 Flammablesolid,spontaneouslycombustible,anddangerouswhenwet5 Oxidizerandorganicperoxide6 Poison(toxic)andpoisoninhalationhazard7 Radioactive8 Corrosive9 Miscellaneous

RichlandCountyhassignificantriskforhazardousmaterialsincidents.Thecountyishometomultiplemanufacturingandindustrialsitesthatmanufactureorutilizehazardoussubstances.Thesesubstancesarealsotransportedacrossthecountyonthemanyinterstate,state,andlocalroadwaysandraillines.AccordingtorecordsmaintainedbytheRichlandCountyLocalEmergencyPlanningCommittee,RichlandCountyhasexperiencedapproximately95hazardousmaterialsspillssince1999.Theseincidentsinvolvevehicleaccidentsonthemanyroadsorhighwaysinthecounty,equipmentfailureinoperationorduringdistributionofachemical(suchasagriculturalapplicationofchemicals),industrialspillsduringmanufacturing,failureofcontainerstoeffectivelyholdthesubstance,oraccidentalmishandlingofahazardoussubstance.Hazardousmaterialsincidentsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Heavilypopulatedjurisdictionsalonginterstatehighwaysareparticularlyvulnerabletothishazardbecauseoftheirproximitytothemajorhighwaysonwhichthesesubstancesaretransported.Accidentsonhighwaysandroadwayscancausethevehiclescarryingsubstancestooverturn,collidewithothervehicles,ortoigniteandburn.Therunoffasachemicalspills,thevaporsasachemicaldissipates,ortheflashpointandburningofasubstancecanexposethosenearbytoextremedangerfrombothtraumaandchemicalabsorption.Thesevehicleaccidentscompoundthevulnerabilitiesofpeopleandtheenvironmenttoincludebothtraumaticinjuryduetothecrashorkineticsoftheincident,andthenegativeeffectsofabsorbingthechemicalthatisthrownintotheatmosphereorsoils.Industrialandresidentialexposuretohazardoussubstancescanalsoinvolvebothtraumaandexposure.Mostincidentsinvolvethebreechofacontainerortheundesirablecombinationofchemicalsthatresultsinalethalsubstance.Thesespillsandleakscanoccurinbusinesses,homes,andindustriesoranywhereelsethathazardoussubstancesexist.Noinfalliblereportingsystemforhazardousmaterialsincidentsexistsanywhere.Manytimesincidentsofnon-lethalexposureareunrecognizedasanemergency.Oldthermometersaredroppedandmercuryisspilled,sweptup,andthrowningarbageunlessindividualsknowoftherisks.Theydonotalwaysknow,andthusthosekindsofincidentsgototallyunreported.Industrialreportingisgaugedbyregulation.Spillsinvolvingreportablequantitiesaredocumentedaccordingtoregulation.Smallerlesssignificantspillsoftengoundocumented



unlesssomeoneishurtandrequiresmedicalattention.Largeindustrialspillsandleaksareinvestigatedbylocalhazardousmaterialsteams,regulators,andgovernmentresponders.RichlandCountyhasapproximately15hazardousmaterialsresponsesperyear.Ofthese,approximately25%percentaresignificantspillsthatinvolveinjuriesandpropertydamage.2.2.8FloodAfloodisdefinedasanyhighflow,overflow,orinundationofwaterovertypicallydrylandthatcausesorthreatensdamage.Floodsoccursubsequenttometeorologicaleventssuchassubstantialprecipitation,thunderstormswithheavyrainfall,rapidsnowmelt,orextremewindeventsalongcoastalwaterways.Riverinefloodingoccurswhenariverorstreamrisestoanelevationthatcausestherivertooverflowitsbanks.Therisingwaterdamagesroadways,homes,buildings,andoccupiedspacesneartheoverflowingwaterway.Lowerlevelsofawatershedaremoresusceptibletothistypeoffloodingbecausethesewaterwaysreceiveallthewaterfromtheupperlevelsandareresponsibleforcarryingamuchhighervolumeofwaterthanthetributaries.Flashfloodsaretherapidandextremeflowofhighwaterintoanormallydryarea.Aflashfloodcanalsooccurwhenthereisarapidriseinthewaterlevelofastreamorcreekandthewaterrisesaboveapre-determinedfloodlevelwithinsixhoursofaprecipitationevent.Thistypeoffloodingoccurswhenthegroundistoosaturated,impervious,orflattodrainrainfallintowaterwaysthroughstormsewers,ditches,creeks,andstreamsatthesamerateastheprecipitationfalls.Worldwide,floodingisthemostcommonandcostlydisaster,resultinginsignificantlossoflifeandpropertyeveryyear.Floodshaveasubstantialimpactontheinfrastructureofaregion.Commoneffectsincluderoadwaybreeches,bridgewashouts,roadwaywashaway,andwater-coveredroadways.Asfloodwatermovesrapidlyandforcefully,itwashesawaythesurfaceandsub-surfaceofroads,causingholes,ruts,andotherproblemsforvehicles.Floodwaterthatisonefootdeep,sometimeslessdependingontheforceofthewater,isstrongenoughtocarryvehiclesawaywithoccupantsinside.Rescuersarepowerlessagainstrapid,risingwaterbecausetheyareunabletoexertenoughstrengthtocounteractthephysicsofmovingwater.Floodwatersseekthepathofleastresistanceastheytraveltolowerground,seepingintoandoccupyinganystructureinitspath.Basementsandlowerlevelsofbuildingscanbecomeinundatedwithfloodwater.Placingsandbagsalongtheexteriorofabuildingisonlyatemporarystopgap;iffloodwatersdonotrecedequickly,theforceofthewaterwillmovethroughthesandbagsandinfiltratethestructure.Theaftermathoffloodingcanbejustasdamaginganddangerousasthefloodingitself.Cleanupisoftenalong,protractedactivitywithitsownsetofhazards.Prolongedpoweroutagescauseissueswithrefrigerationandsanitation.Sewersystemscanbecomeinundatedwithfloodwaterandceasetofunctionproperly.Standingwaterbecomescontaminatedwith



householdandindustrialchemicals,fuel,andothermaterialsthathaveleakedintothewater.Allfloodwaterisconsideredcontaminated,eitherfromgermsanddiseaseorhazardousmaterials.Thiscreatesahazardforrespondersandresidentsthroughouttheinitialrecoveryphaseofthedisaster.Historically,floodinghasbeenamoderatetosevereriskforRichlandCounty.DatafromNCDCindicatesthecountyhasbeenimpactedby43floodeventssince1950,themajorityofthemflashfloods.Collectively,theseeventshavecaused$82,705,000inpropertydamageand$6,205,000incropdamage.RichlandCounty’sfloodriskishighbecausesomanywaterwaysflowthroughthecounty.TheBlackFork,RockyFork,andClearForkRiversallflowthroughthecentralportionofRichlandCounty.Sincethecountyisatthehighestpartofthewatershed,mostfloodingisduetoextremelyheavyprecipitationandrunoffwaterflowingtothewaterwaysquickly.Whenawaterwayisblockedbydebrisorsediment,theflowishampered.Someofthewaterwaysareonrockbedsandthequantityofwaterexceedsthecapacityoftherock-bottomstream.Asdevelopmenthasoccurred,theamountofabsorbingsoilhasdiminished;thereforerunoffbecomesexcessivebecausethereisinsufficientsurfacewherethewatercanbenaturallyabsorbedinthenecessaryquantity.TheworstfloodinRichlandCounty’shistoryoccurredonAugust21,2007.TheremnantsofTropicalStormErinmergedwithastationaryfront,producingheavyrainfallandcatastrophicfloodingovermuchofnorthwestandnorthcentralOhio.ThecitiesofMansfieldandShelbyandthevillageofBellvillesufferedthegreatestimpactfromthisstorm,whichproducedasmuchas7.5inchesofraininlessthantwelvehoursoveralreadysaturatedground.Acrossthecounty,100homesweredestroyed,250sustainedsignificantdamage,andmorethan1,500hadminordamage.Dozensofbusinessessufferedsignificantfloodlosses.ThemajorityofthisdamageoccurredinShelbyastheBlackForkbranchoftheMohicanRiverrapidlyoverfloweditsbanksandfloodedtheentiredowntownareaofthecity.DamagetomunicipalandschoolbuildingsinShelbytotaledmorethan$2,500,000.Thecourthousewasatotallossandthefiredepartmentandtwoschoolbuildingssustainedmajordamage.DozensofbusinessesalongMainandNorthGambleStreetswereseverelyaffected.Attheworstpointintheflood,rescuerswereforcedtouseboatsfromneighboringdepartmentstorescuepeoplewhobecametrappedintheirhomesasthewaterrose.ACoastGuardhelicopterrescuedseveralpeoplefromrooftops.InMansfield,thePostOfficefacilitywasseverelydamagedandmorethanadozenpeoplehadtoberescuedfromrapidlyrisingwaterattheintersectionofStateRoute13andUSHighway30.Onefatalitywasreportedwhenahomecaughtfireasaresultofflooddebrisignitingawaterheater.Intotal,thisincidentcaused$70,000,000inpropertydamageandanadditional$5,000,000incropdamage.Asaresultofthisincident,officialsinthecityofShelbyinitiatedacommunity-widemitigationefforttoacquireanddemolishhomesandbusinesseslocatedalongtheBlackForkRiverthatsustainedrepeatedflooddamage.Throughthecity’seffortsandfundingfromtheHazardMitigationGrantProgram,thecityhassuccessfullydemolished57repetitivelosspropertiesandtheownershaverelocatedtolessflood-proneareasofthecity.



Fouryearsafterthedevastating2007flood,RichlandCountywasonceagainimpactedbyasignificantfloodevent.ThevillageofBellvillewastheepicenterofthisincident.OnFebruary27,2011,heavyrainbegantofallovernortheastOhio.Thisstormdroppeduptothreeinchesofrainontopoftheteninchesofsnowfallalreadyontheground.Thefollowingday,temperaturesclimbedtonear50degrees,leadingtorapidsnowmeltontopoftheaccumulatedrainfallandcausingwidespreadflooding.Bellville,inthesouthernportionofRichlandCounty,wassurroundedbywater.AstheClearForkRiverflowedoutofitsbanks,thevillagebecameinaccessible.Dozensofroadswereclosedandmanyhomessustainedsignificantdamage.Theelementaryschoolandtownshipgaragewerealsoimpacted.InMansfield,floodwatersdamagedcommercialstructures,includingthePostOffice,andfirstrespondershadtorescueresidentswhobecametrappedinvehiclesandhomes.AcrossOhio,thisincidentcausedmorethan$30,000,000indamage;$2,000,000ofthatdamageoccurredinRichlandCounty.InJuly2013,RichlandCountywasonceagainimpactedbyaseriousfloodingevent.Fortwoweekspriortotheincident,theregionhadreceivedheavyamountsofrainfall.OnJuly8,athree-dayperiodofadditionalheavyrainfallbegan,droppingasmuchaseightadditionalinchesofraintofallonalreadysaturatedground.Asaresult,theBlackForkandClearForkBranchesoftheMohicanRiver,andtheirtributaries,roserapidlyandoverflowedtheirbanks.WidespreadfloodingoccurredinShelby,Mansfield,Lexington,Ontario,Butler,andBellville.Residentshadtobeevacuatedfromtheirhomesduetotherapidlyrisingwaterandbusinessesandresidentialpropertiessustainedminortomoderatedamage.InShelby,whichhadsufferedsignificantlyfromthe2007flood,thefiredepartmentwasforcedtorelocatewhentheirstationbecameinundatedwithfloodwater.Dozensofroadswereclosedandmanysustaineddamagefromtheforceofthefloodwater.Intotal,propertydamagesfromthismulti-dayraineventexceeded$3,000,000.Theagriculturecommunityincurredanadditional$100,000incroplosses.

Table2-26:FloodHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Flood 43 82.705M 6.25M 1 1 1.923M2.2.9SevereThunderstormAthunderstormisalocalstormproducedbyacumulonimbuscloudaccompaniedbythunder,lightning,and/orhail.Lightningisabrief,naturallyoccurringelectricaldischargethatoccursbetweenacloudandtheground.Hailisfrozenrainpelletsthatforminthehighercloudsandaccumulatesizeastheyreachthegroundasprecipitation.InthispartofOhio,thestateoftherainisdependentuponthehigherelevationtemperatures,thetemperatureoftheatmospherethroughwhichtheprecipitationfalls,andthetemperatureoftheground,allofwhichcanbesignificantlydifferentatanygiventime.Iftemperaturesclosetothegroundarewarm,thehailcanpartiallymeltandbecomesleet.Ifthesurfaceiscoldandtheairiscold,itfallsashail.



Frequentlytheupperatmosphereiscold,theairtheprecipitationfallsthroughiswarm,andthegroundiscold.Thisresultsinsmallsizedhail.RarelydoesOhiohavelargehailinRichlandCountybecausetemperaturesoftheairdonotsupporttheformationoflargehail.Hailcandamagebuildings,vehicles,andotherstructuresasitfalls,andthelargerthehail,thegreaterthedamage.Mostthunderstormsincludeheavyprecipitationbutnotmanyincludehailandlightning.Severethunderstormscanproduce,flashfloods,tornadoes,anddamagingwindsthatposesignificantrisktopeopleandpropertyinthearea.Athunderstormthatproducesatornado,windsof58mphorgreater,and/orhailwithadiameterofatleast1”,isconsideredaseverethunderstorm.Thesestormstypicallydevelopaspartofalargerstormfrontandareprecededandfollowedbyregularthunderstorms.RichlandCountyexperiencesmanythunderstormeventseveryyear.Mostofthesearenotsevereandincludeonlyheavyprecipitation,wind,andthunder.Thunderstormswithhailandlightningaremuchlessfrequentthanwindandheavyprecipitation.Thesestormsarerelativelyfrequentbutgenerallyresultinlittlepropertydamage.Althoughtheycanrangefromminortoseverebutrarelyexceedtheminorormoderatelevel.Thunderstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.AccordingtoNCDCrecordsdatingbackto1950,RichlandCountyhasexperienced239dayswiththunderstormevents.Ofthese,129incidentsresultedinsomepropertydamageand3causedcropdamage.Thunderstormswithhailaccountedfor97oftheseincidentsbutresultedinverylimitedpropertydamage.Lightningwasidentifiedasahazardonlyonce,causingmoderatedamage.OneofthemostdamagingthunderstormsofallincidentsrecordedinRichlandCountyoccurredonJune29,2012.Earlierintheday,alargederechosystemhaddevelopedoverIndiana.Thismassivestormmovedeastoverthecourseoftheday,strikingthesoutheastportionofthecounty.Windsashighas65mphdownedtreesandutilitylinesacrossthesouthernthirdofRichlandCounty.Dozensofhomesustainedsignificantroofandsidingdamagewhilefallingtreesandotherdebrisstruckothers.Thousandsofpeoplewerewithoutpower,manyforseveraldays.Recoveryeffortswerehinderedbyanongoingheatwave,whichsenttemperaturessoaringintotheupper90s.Intotal,RichlandCounty’spropertydamagetotaled$1,000,000.Cropdamageswerealsoextensive,althoughexactfigureswerenotavailable.Althoughnotassevereasthe2012incident,thecountyalsohadexperiencedadamagingseverethunderstormonMay21,2004.Hundredsoftreesweretoppledacrossthecountyasalineofseverethunderstormswith60mphwindgustscrossedthecounty.Lexington,inthesoutheast,wasthehardesthitarea.Accordingtoreports,acampgroundlost500treesandsuffereddamagetofourbuildings.AttheClearForkReservoir,another250treeswereuprooted.Damagetovehicles,homes,andbuildingswerereportedacrossthecounty.Propertylosstotalsforthisincidentexceed$700,000.OnAugust6,2000,thecityofMansfieldwastheepicenterforaseverethunderstormthatcaused$500,000inpropertydamageacrossthecounty.Thisstorm,characterizedbyadownburstwith80mphestimatedwinds,downedtreesacrossthecounty.Dozensofhomesweredamagedbyfallingtrees.Severalmanufacturingfacilitiessufferedsignificantroof



damage.InMadisonTownship,alargebarncollapsedfromthestorm’simpact,spreadingdebrisoveratwelve-acrearea.

Table2-27:SummaryofThunderstormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


SevereThunderstorm 361 $5.531M $170K 0 2 $15KHail 97 $227K $160K 0 0 $2KLightning 1 $25K 0 0 1 $25K

*Includesallincidentswiththunderstormwind,hail,and/orlightning.2.2.10TornadoAtornadoisanintense,rotatingcolumnofairthatprotrudesfromacumulonimbuscloudintheshapeofafunnelorropewhosecirculationispresentontheground.Ifthecolumnofairdoesnottouchtheground,itisreferredtoasafunnelcloud.Thiscolumnofaircirculatesaroundanareaofintenselowpressure,almostalwaysinacounterclockwisedirection.Tornadoesusuallyrangefrom300to2,000feetwideandformaheadofadvancingcoldfronts.Theytendtomovefromsouthwesttonortheastbecausetheyaremostoftendrivenbysouthwestwinds.Atornado’slifeprogressesthroughseveralstages:dust-whirl,organizing,mature,shrinking,anddecay.Onceinthematurestage,thetornadogenerallystaysincontactwiththegroundforthedurationofitslifecycle.Whenasinglestormsystemproducesmorethanonedistinctfunnelclouds,itisreferredtoasatornadofamilyoroutbreak.TornadomagnitudeismeasuredusingtheEnhancedFujitascale,abbreviatedasEF.TherankingsrangefromEF-0toEF-5andarebasedondamagescausedbythetornado.Priorto2012,theFujitascalewasusedtomeasuretornadodamageandwasabbreviatedF-1toF-2,dependingonthelevelofimpact.EF-Scale WindSpeed TypicalDamage

0 65–85mph Lightdamage.Peelssurfaceoffsomeroofs;somedamagetoguttersorsiding;branchesbrokenofftrees;shallow-rootedtreespushedover,

1 86–110mph Moderatedamage.Roofsseverelystripped;mobilehomesoverturnedorbadlydamaged;lossofexteriordoors;windowsandotherglassbroken.

2 111–135mph Considerabledamage.Roofstornoffwell-constructedhouses;foundationsofframehomesshifted;mobilehomescompletelydestroyed;largetreessnappedoruprooted;light-objectmissilesgenerated;carsliftedoffground

3 136–165mph Severedamage.Entirestoriesofwell-constructedhousesdestroyed;severedamagetolargebuildingssuchasshoppingmalls;trainsoverturned;treesdebarked;heavycarsliftedoffthegroundandthrown;structureswithweakfoundationsblownawaysomedistance.

4 166–200mph Devastatingdamage.Wholeframeandwell-constructedhouses



completelyleveled;carsthrownandsmallmissilesgenerated.5 >200mph Incredibledamage.Strongframehousesleveledofffoundationsand

sweptaway;automobile-sizedmissilesflythroughtheairinexcessof100meters;high-risebuildingshavesignificantstructuraldamage;incrediblephenomenawilloccur

Norating Inconceivabledamage.ShouldatornadowiththemaximumwindspeedinexcessofEF-5occur,theextentandtypesofdamagemaynotbeconceived.Anumberofmissilessuchasiceboxes,waterheaters,storagetanks,automobiles,etc.Willcreateserioussecondarydamageonstructures.

Tornadoesarethemostdamagingofallatmosphericphenomena.Whiletheirfrequencyislow,theprobabilityofsignificantdamageishigh.Becausetornadoesoccuraspartofastormsystem,theydonotstrikeasindependentincidents.Emergingoutofastormfrontorsupercell,thetornado,especiallywhenaccompaniedbyheavyrain,straight-linewind,lightning,andhail,canbeextremelydamaging.Effectsofatornadoincludeuprootedtrees,damagedordestroyedbuildings,andsmashedvehicles.Twistingandflyingdebristurnsintoprojectileweapons,whichcancauseinjuriesandfatalities.Ohioranksamongthetoptwentystatesininjuries,fatalities,andpropertydamagefromtornadoevents.WhiletornadoesdonotoccurfrequentlyinRichlandCounty,theseverityandimpactwhentheydohappencanbesubstantial.Thecountyhasexperienced26tornadoeventssince1950,accordingtoNDPCrecords,andhassufferedmorethan$9,800,000intotaldamages.ThemagnitudeofthetornadoeshasrangedfromF/EF0toF/EF2.EightincidentshavebeenmeasuredasF/EF0,elevenasF/EF1,andsevenasF/EF2.InRichlandCounty,tornadoesareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themapbelowidentifiesthelocationandmagnitudeoftornadoincidentsinthecountysince1950.Theaccuracyoftheinformationonthismapwasconfirmedbytwosources:NCDCandTornadoHistoryProject.com.Thisisthebestimageavailablefromthatwebsite.



Map2-3:TornadoHistory

ThemostdamagingtornadoinRichlandCounty’shistoryoccurredonJune22,1990.AnF2tornadoinitiallytoucheddowninMorrowCounty.ThestormthenmovedeastintoRichlandCounty,stayingonthegroundfornearly19milesuntilitreachedthesoutheastsideofLucas.ThetwisterthencrossedInterstate71nearBellville.Initswake,thetornadoleftdozensofdamagedhomes,barns,andoutbuildings.Propertydamagetotal$2,500,000.Onefatalitywasreported,althoughitisunclearofthefatalityoccurredinRichlandorMorrowCounty.Lessthenoneyearpriortothe1990incident,RichlandCountyhadbeenstruckbyanotherF2tornado.OnNovember15,1989,thisstorm,whichalsoimpactedthesoutheastareaofthecounty,originatedinsoutheastMorrowCountyandmovednortheastforapproximately23miles.ThetornadodissipatednearLexingtonbutnotbeforedowningtreesanddamaginghomes.InLexington,twohomesweredestroyed.Totalpropertydamagefortheincidentwas$2,500,000.

Table2-28:SummaryofTornadoHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Tornado 28 9.822M 0 0 14 350K2.2.11UtilityFailureWhileutilitysystemfailurescanoccurasaconsequenceofanaturaldisaster,breakdownofautilitysystemisalsoanindependenthazard.Whenthisoccurs,outagesaretypicallycausedbysystemoverloadorlackofimprovements,updates,andmaintenancetothesystem’sinfrastructure.Peopleandbusinessesrelyonelectrical,water,wastewater,heating/cooling,naturalgas,andotherfueldistributionsystemstoprovideessentialresourcesnecessaryto



supportbasic,dailyfunctions.Infrastructurelikewatertreatmentsystems,wastewatertreatmentfacilities,androads,bridges,andculvertsfailaswell.Sometimesthesupportstructuresfadeaway,themainworkingsystemsquit,orthestorageandtestingofcontentsfails.Sometimes,especiallyinthecaseofpotablewatersystems,testingmethodsdonotkeeppacewithdiagnosticandprocessneeds.Theeffectsofsysteminterruptionsandfailuresarefeltimmediately.Populationswithspecialneeds,includingchildren,theelderly,andthosewithseriousmedicalconditions,sufferthemostduringutilitysystemfailures.WhileRichlandCountyhasnotexperiencedthesefailuresonalargescale,therealizationispresenttorecognizethenegativeimpactofeconomicdownturnsoninfrastructureandutilityupkeepandimprovement.Thevariousjurisdictions,likemanyintheUnitedStatestoday,havenotbeenabletoimplementinfrastructureimprovementandreplacementprogramsthatareasaggressiveastheywouldlikethemtobe.Witheconomicchallengesandunemploymentwoes,therevenuegenerationthroughtaxesandotherincentiveshasnotexisted.Therefore,allinfrastructureisinworseconditionthanofficialswouldlike,andtheyrecognizethisasapotentialvulnerability.Throughearlyrecognitionandplanning,officialshopethattheycanavertanycostlyincidentsinthefuture.Includinginfrastructureandutilityfailureasapossibilityisconsideredthefirststeptowardprotectionandimprovement.Utilityfailuresdonotgenerallycausesignificantstructuraldamage.Thegreatestriskforphysicaldamagewouldresultfrombrokendistributionlineswithinfacilities.Brokenwaterlinesandwastewaterbackupscancausesignificantphysicaldamagetobuildings;gaslinebreaksthatcausefireswouldalsocontributetophysicaldamagefromutilityfailures.Thegreatestconcernwithutilityfailuresisthesignificanthardshipanddiscomforttheycauseforpeopleandpotentialimpactonthelocaleconomy.Ifbusinesseswereunabletooperateforseveraldaysorlongerbecauseofsystemfailures,thenegativeeffectwouldquicklyrippleacrossthecommunity.Utilitysystemfailuresareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.ThemostsignificantutilityfailuretoimpactRichlandCountythatwasnotthedirectresultofanaturaldisasteristhe2003NortheastBlackout.OnAugust14,2003,aseriesofelectricalgenerationfacilityfailuresinMichiganandOhioandthroughoutthenortheastregionoftheUnitedStatescausedmassivepoweroutagesthroughouttheentireregionandstretchingintoCanada.AcrossOhio,morethan500,000peoplelostpower.InRichlandCounty,poweroutagesaffectedresidentsacrosstheentirecounty.Outageswereclusteredaswellassporadic,affectingwholecommunitiesaswellasindividualresidenceshereandthere.Theweatherwasextremelyhotandelderlyandtheextremelyyoungsufferedfromlackofairconditioningandmedicalequipmentoperation.Businesseswereclosed,gaspumpsdidnotoperate,financialprocessingwasnotoperationalsoonlycashtransactionswerefeasible,andfoodcouldnotbepreparedorstoredsafely.TheincidentwassowidespreadthatRichlandCountyresidentscouldn’tescapeitswrathbydrivingtoColumbusorClevelandbecausethoseareaswereoutofpowertoo.Theoutagecouldnothavecomeatalessconvenienttime.Whiletherewerenodeathsorinjuriesdirectlyattributedtotheincident,manybusinessesclosed,losingrevenuesandfailingtoservecustomers.Manyindividualswhereinconveniencedand



suffereddiscomfortanddisruption.PowerwasrestoredtothecountybyearlyonAugust15,limitingtheamountofdamagetopeopleandpropertyandallowingarapidrecoverytobegin.Theharsh,exceptionallycoldwinterof2014causedashortageofpropanefuelacrossOhio.Becausedemandforpropaneandheatingoilwassignificantlyhigherthannormal,pricesskyrocketed,causinghardshipformanywithlimitedmeanstopaymoreforthiscriticalservice.InRichlandCounty,11%ofhomesutilizepropaneorheatingfuelastheirprimaryheatsource.Manyresidencesandbusinesseswereabletomaintainenoughfueltokeepfurnacesgoingwithconservativeconsumption.However,others’fueltanksrandryandtheywerewithoutheat,cookingfuel,hotwater,andotherfunctionsdependentuponpropaneorheatingoil.Forsomeelderlyanddisabled,thesimplefearofrunningoutwasdetrimentaltotheiremotionalwellbeing.Someresidentsandbusinessesdevelopedsecondaryfuelcontractswithalternatesuppliers;somesuppliersthatwerewell-stockedexpandedtheirservicetoincludeRichlandCounty,eventuallytakingrevenuesthatotherwisewouldhavegonetolocalbusinesses,andothersinstalledback-upstoragetanksandincreasedstockingcapacity.Othersworried.Ineithercase,therewerenodeathsdirectlyattributedtothisshortage,butmanyresidentsfeltfearandanguishasaresult.Inearly2005,raincombinedwithfallingtemperaturesandwindtocreateawinterymixoficeandblowingsnow.Therainfirstclungtotrees,buildings,androadwaysandthenbegantofreeze.Astheprecipitationcontinued,itformedamysticalgardenofice-ladenvegetation,utilitydistributionlines,androadways.Treesweredowned,utilitieswereinterrupted,andtheroadsweretoodangerousforrestorationcrewstoworkquicklyorefficiently.Hundredfootmaplesandoaksweredevastatedbytheiceandwind,fallingacrossroadsandontohomes.Businesseswereshutdownfortwotothreedays,powerwasoutinsomeareasforseveraldays,andlifewasinterruptedbythemagicalandmysticalbeautyoficecoveredRichlandCounty.Foodwasspoiled,businesseswerehalted,workerswerestranded,andactivitiesweretemporarilyabandoned.Theicestormof2005effectivelyshutRichlandCountydown.2.2.12WindstormAwindstormisaweathereventwithexceptionallystrongwindsbutlittletonoprecipitation.Windspeedinthistypeofeventtypicallyreachesatleast34mphbutcanbeanyspeedthatcauseslightorgreaterdamagetotreesandbuildings.Damagecanbecausedbygusts,whichareshortburstsofhigh-speedwind,orlongerperiodsofsustainedwind.Aderechoisaspecifictypeofwindstormthatiswidespreadandfastmoving.Thesestormscanproducedamagingstraight-linewindsoverextremelylargeareas,sometimesspanninghundredsofmileslongandmorethan100mileswide.Tobedefinedasaderecho,thestormmustproducedamageoveratleast240miles,havewindgustsofatleast58mphacrossmostofthestorm’slength,andmultiplegustsof75mphorgreater.Thedestructionproducedbyaderechocanbeverysimilartothatfromatornado.However,thedamagefromthistypeofstormgenerallyoccursinonedirectionalongastraightpath.



ThetopographyofnorthcentralOhiocanbevulnerabletodamagesfromhighwindsunaccompaniedbyanykindofprecipitation,makingwindstormsacountywidehazard.Allareasandjurisdictionscanbeaffectedbyseverewind.Therelativelylimitedchangeinelevationandlackofextensivewoodedcoverareaarenotadequatetoreducetheeffectsofstrongwindstorms.Althoughwindsinexcessof50milesperhourcanoccurasasolehazard,thisisuncommon.Mostofthetime,severewindsarepartofalargerstormsystem.Thewindoccurswhenprecipitationandunstableairmovesintothearea.Highwindsarefrequentlyaccompaniedbyheavyrain,hail,ice,snow,orthunderstorms.InRichlandCounty,wind-onlyincidentsdonotoccurfrequentlybuttheyareoftensevere.AccordingtoNCDCrecords,43windeventshavebeenrecordedsince1950,resultinginnearly$11,500,000inpropertydamageand$850,000incropdamage.AlthoughwindstormshavenottypicallycausedmassivedamageinRichlandCounty,therearetwonotableexceptions.Thecounty’smostsignificantwindeventoccurredonSeptember14,2008.AstheremnantsofHurricaneIkemovedfromtheGulfofMexicotowardsthenortheast,damagingwindswerereportedacrossmuchofOhio.InRichlandCounty,apeakwindgustof66mphwasmeasuredatMansfieldLahmAirport.Thestormcausedextensivedamagetotreesandutilitypoles.Massivepoweroutageswerealsoasignificantproblem.Atonepoint,15,000customerswerewithoutpower.Inpartsofthecounty,thepowerwouldstayoutformorethantendays.Propertydamagerangedfrommissingshinglesandshutterstoblownoutwindows.Travelacrossthecountywasdifficultinthestorm’saftermathbecausefallentreesanddebrisblockedsomanyroads.Becausethisincidenthappenedbeforemostcropswereharvested,cropdamagewasextensive;reportsindicatecropdamageofatleast$750,000.Propertydamageexceeded$8,000,000,makingthisincidenttheworstwindstorminRichlandCounty’shistory.LessthansixmonthsaftertheHurricaneIkestorm,anothersignificantwindstormoccurredasastrongcoldfrontmovedacrossthecountyonFebruary11,2009.Peakwindgustsrangingfrom60to66mphweremeasuredatmultiplelocationsinRichlandCounty.Highwindscontributedtoaten-cartrainderailmentbetweenShelbyandShiloh,anoverturnedtractor-traileronStateRoute13inShenandoah,andanotherinOntario.Poweroutageswerewidespreadandhundredsoftreesandutilitypolesweredowned.BetweenRichlandandneighboringAshlandCounty,25,000customerslostpower.Hundredsofhomessustaineddamage,rangingfrommissingshinglestodamagedsidingandgutters.PropertydamageinRichlandCountytotaled$1,500,000,asmallamountcomparedtothecollectivedamageincurredacrossallofnortheastOhio.

Table2-29:SummaryofWindstormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Windstorm 43 11.448M 855K 0 0 266K



2.2.13WinterStormAwinterstormisaweathereventthatincludesseveralwinterweatherhazardsandcandevelopanytimebetweenlatefallandearlyspring.Thesestormscanincludeanycombinationofextremelycoldtemperatures,wind,snowfall,sleet,ice,orrainwithtemperatureslowenoughtoformice.Ablizzardisaspecifictypeofwinterstormcharacterizedbysustainedwindsorfrequentgustsof35mphorgreaterandfallingorblowingsnowthatreducesvisibilitytolessthan¼mile;bothoftheseconditionsmustbepresentforatleastthreehourstobeconsideredablizzard.Periodsofextremelycoldweather,oftenincludingwindchillswellbelowzero,arealsoasignificanthazard.Thegreatestriskassociatedwithwinterstormsisthelossofutilities.Youngchildren,theelderlyandpeoplewithmedicalconditionsarethemostatriskforinjuryduetocoldorlimitedingressandegressduetosnow-blockedroadsanddrifting.Whenhazardouswinterstormspreventmedicalsupplies,food,andotheressentialsuppliesfromreachingtheirdestinationorpeopleareunabletotraveltopurchasethesenecessities,specialpopulationsendurethegreatestamountofhardship.Motorvehicleaccidentsalsoincreasewhenhazardousconditionsmaketraveltreacherous.Whilewinterstormsmaymakeresidentsuncomfortable,itisextremelyrareforcasualtiesorsignificantpropertydamagetooccurasaresult.Mostoutcomesareoftheinconvenienceordiscomforttype.Injuriesandfatalitiesthatresultfromtrafficaccidentsanddangerousroadconditionsaretheexception.SeverewinterweatherisariskinRichlandCountyandacrosscentralOhio.Mostareasofthestatearesusceptibletowinterstormsthatbringheavysnow,highwinds,ice,and/orextremecold.Thesestormsrangefromshort,mildburstsofsnowandicetoextremecoldsnapswithsignificantsnowfallthatlastseveraldays.InRichlandCounty,winterstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themostfrequentwinterstormsincludemultiplewinterweatherhazards,suchasiceandsnowfall.Theicebeginstoaccumulateastemperaturesfallbeforeturningtosnow,creatingalayeroficeunderthesnowfall.Theseicyconditionsmakeroadwaysslickanddangerous,increasingthepotentialforvehicularaccidents.Roadcrewsarechallengedtoclearsnowandicefromroadwaysandmaintainsafetransportationroutesforresidents.Iftemperatureshovernearthefreezingpoint,precipitationcanfreezeandaccumulateontreesandpowerlines.Ifwindskickup,thevulnerabilityofpowerlinesanddriftingofroadwaysisincreased.Thiscanleadtopoweroutagesifbranchesandlinesbreak.Theseconditionsaregenerallyshort-term,lastinglessthan24hours.Extremelycoldtemperaturescanoccurindependentofotherwinterweatherhazards,butthisisinfrequent.Whenextremelycold,sub-zerotemperaturesdooccur,theyaretypicallybrief,lastingonetotwodays.Theseincidentsareinconvenienttoresidentsandbusinessesbutrarelycausephysicaldamagetobuildingsorinfrastructure.RichlandCountyexperiencesmultiplewinterweathereventseveryyear.Theseincidentsarerarelysevereenoughtocausepropertydamage.Whilepeoplemightbeinconveniencedbymostwinterstormevents,rarelydotheseincidentscausesignificant,widespreadpropertydamage.Icestormsarerarebut,whentheydooccur,cancausemajordamage.AccordingtoNCDCrecords,RichlandCountyhasexperienced46winterstormeventssince1950.



Collectively,theseincidentshavecaused$36,000,000inpropertydamage.Threeincidentsincludedicestormeventsandaccountforapproximatelyhalfofthetotalpropertydamages.Extremecoldincidentsaremuchlessfrequentanddamaging,occurringonlyseventimesandaccountingforlessthan$150,000intotaldamage.Again,theseincidentsaregenerallymoreinconvenientanddisruptivethantheyaredamaging.Whilebusinessesmaycloseandappointmentsmaybemissed,theeffectsareshort-termandlastlessthanadayortwoinmostincidents.LikemanycountiesinnorthernOhio,oneofthemostsignificantwinterstormstoimpactRichlandCountyistheBlizzardof‘78.OnJanuary26,1978,thishistoricstormproducedseventeeninchesofsnowacrossthecounty,ontopofthetwelveinchesalreadyontheground.Extremelylowtemperaturesandsustainedwindsof50to70mphcombinedtocreateblizzardconditionsthatcausedsignificantdamageandhardshipacrossthecounty.Localsnowremovalequipmentwasnotadequatebecauseoftheextremevolumeofsnow;onlywhentheNationalGuardbroughtinheavy-dutyequipmentwereroadwaysabletobecleared.Becauseofthis,schoolsandbusinesseswereclosedfornearlyaweek.Manypeoplesufferedfromfood,medication,andsupplyshortages,astheywerenotpreparedtobeintheirhomesforsolong.Scatteredutilityoutagesacrosstheareaalsocausedhardship,althoughthesewerenotwidespread.Inareaswherepowerwasout,familieswithfireplaces,wood-burningstoves,andalternateheatsourcesopenedtheirhomestoneighborsandwelcomedtravelerswhobecamestrandedonroadways.Whilethecountyhasexperiencedmanywinterstormeventssince1978,thisincidentcontinuestobethestormagainstwhichallothersaremeasured.RichlandCountywasdevastatedbytwowinterstormincidentsthatoccurredwithinatwo-weekspanoftimeinDecemberof2004andJanuary2005.OnDecember22,2014,asnowstormcomparabletotheBlizzardof1978impactedallofnorthernOhio.Thefirstwaveofthestormbroughtheavysnowfall,nearlytwofeetinsomeareas,andhighwinds.IntheearlyhoursofDecember23,snowfalltransitionedtofreezingrain.RichlandCountyreceivedahalf-inchoficeontopoftwentyplusinchesofsnow.Travelwastreacherousasroadcrewsstruggledtokeepupwiththerapid,heavysnowfallandiceaccumulation.Isolatedpoweroutageswerealsoreported.Lessthantwoweekslater,beforethecommunityhadrecoveredfromthefirstincident,RichlandCountywashitwithamassiveicestorm.AprolongedperiodoffreezingrainonJanuary5,2005slowlymadeitswayacrossOhio.TheInterstate71andU.S.Route30corridorswerethehardesthitwithsomeareasreportingonetothreeinchesoficeaccumulation.Acrosstheninecountyregionimpactedbythisstorm,nearly80%ofcustomers,almost1,000,000people,werewithoutpower.InRichlandCounty,localgovernmentagenciesincluded$6,000,000incleanupcosts.PropertydamagefromtheDecember22incidentwas$8,400,000;theJanuary5icestormcausedanadditional$18,300,000inpropertydamage.Collectively,RichlandCountysuffered$27,000,000indamageinthisbrieftwo-weektimespan.Althoughnotnearlyasdamagingasthe2004-2005incidents,RichlandCountywasaffectedbyanothersignificantwinterstormonMarch7,2008.Intensesnowfallonthe7thandintoMarch8ledtoaccumulationneartwentyinches.MansfieldLahmAirportreported19.7inches.High



windsandblowinganddriftingsnowmadetraveltreacherousandmanyhighwayaccidentswerereported.RichlandCountyreported$2,400,000inpropertydamagefromthisincident.

Table2-30:SummaryofWinterStormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


WinterStorm* 46 $35.719M 0 0 3 $776KIceStorm 3 $18.4M 0 0 0 $6.1MExtremeCold 7 $150K 0 0 0 $21K

*Includesallincidentswithblizzardconditions,extremecold,icestorm,andwinterstorm.2.3VULNERABILITYANALYSISRichlandCountyisvulnerabletotheeffectsofwind,water,andextremetemperaturefluctuations.Localcommunitiesandstructuresexperiencesomelevelofdamagefromthisincidentseveryyear.Whilestormsdonottypicallycausewidespreaddevastation,theydocausesignificantshort-termdisruptionsofdailylifeandcauseenoughdamagetopropertiestobemeasurable.ThissectionwilldescribethetypeandextentofdamageRichlandCountytypicallyexperiences.2.3.1JurisdictionalVulnerabilityDuringtheprocessofupdatingthecounty’shazardmitigationplan,theHazardMitigationplanningteamassessedalldisastertypesforpossibility,probability,magnitude,andseverity.Whiletheydevelopedacountywideprioritizationforplanningpurposes,eachjurisdictionissomewhatuniqueinitsvulnerabilitytodisasters.Thecountywidemitigationstrategieswerebaseduponthevulnerabilitiesoftheentirecountyaswellasthoseassociatedwiththeunincorporatedareasliketownshipsandruralneighborhoods.RichlandCountyRichlandCounty’sprimaryconcernisflooding.Themostcommontypeisflashfloodingcausedbyrapidandheavyprecipitationoricemelt,poorabilityofwaterwaystocarrythewaterawayduetodebrisorrockbottomsthatmakedrainagecapacityexpansiondifficult,orinabilityofstormsewerstokeepupwiththedownpoursandrunoff.Withseveralwatershedsacrossthecounty,stormwaterheadsvariousdirectionsthroughavarietyofriversandtributaries.Atthetopofthewatersheds,elevationworkstotheadvantageofRichlandCountyasgravityhelpsdraintheareasolongasthewaterwaysareopenandflowing.Thecountyispronetorainfallthatlastsforseveraldaystoaweek,stormsthatcarryalotofwaterthatfallsrapidlyandharshly,andheavyicemeltfromtrees,vegetation,andaggressivelytiledfarmfields.BecauseRichlandCountyistheretailandservicecenterforthegreaterMansfieldarea,wideexpansesofconcreteandpavementexistthroughoutthecounty.Manyoftheseparkinglotsandcommercialpropertiesdonotutilizepermeablepavement,sotheconcreteandasphaltpreventabsorptionofprecipitationintothesoils.Inmostcasesdetentionpondshavebeendeveloped



tocompensateforthis,butinsomeinstances,thepondsarenotadequatereservoirsofthewater.Thecountyisalsopronetoutilityoutagesandinfrastructurefailure.Withavarietyofdistributionsystemsandsuppliers,therearehundredsofmilesofabovegroundutilitylinesthatcrossthetownships,villages,andcities.Althoughnewconstructionisrequiredtoburyutilitylines,manydevelopedareasstillhaveabovegroundlinesinstalledmanyyearsago;thisputsallofthoseareasatriskforoutages.Whenpoweroutagesoccur,financialtransactionscannotbecompleted,fuelandotheritemscannotbepurchased,andthecountyshutsdownfortheduration.Medicalequipmentlackstheelectricityneededtofunctionandfurnacesorairconditionersareoutofservicefortheduration.Inconvenience,interruption,andinabilitiesprevail.Mostcriticalfacilitieshavegeneratorpowerbutalternatepowersuppliesarenotcommonlyavailabletomanybusinesses,services,andhomes.Properinstallationofgeneratorsisrequiredtopreventdamagesandback-flowofenergyintothepowerdistributionsystem,resultingindangerouscircumstanceswhenpowerisrestored.RichlandCountyiscrossedbyamazeofstatehighwaysandcountyroads.PlacedstrategicallybetweenColumbusandCleveland,ColumbusandSandusky(LakeErie),ColumbusandToledofromnorthtosouthandbetweenLima,Akron,YoungstownandDaytonandCincinnatifromeasttowest,RichlandCountyseesatremendousamountofcommercialhighwaytrafficonanygivendayoftheyear.Semi-trucks,trailers,specialtankers,hoppers,andboxtruckstraversethecountycarryinghazardoussubstancesfromonepointtoanother.Atanytime,avehicleaccidentcancausealeakorspillofthesechemicals.Additionally,awidevarietyofindustriesinRichlandCountyutilizehazardouschemicalsaspartoftheirindustrialprocess.Trucksandtrainshaulthosechemicalstoandfrombusinessesinconjunctionwithhighwayhaulers.Spillsandreleases,andtheassociatedinjuriesanddamages,arethethirdbiggestconcernforRichlandCounty.Winterstormsrankasthefourthhighestriskinthecounty.Intheruralareasandsmallcommunities,thistranslatestoblowinganddriftingsnowthatmakesroadwaysdifficulttokeepopenandpowerlinesvulnerabletodamage.Whenroadsareclosed,deliveryoffuelstofarmsandruralhomesisinterrupted.WinterstormsinOhiooftenincludeiceasahazardwhenprecipitationbeginstofallwithtemperaturesabovefreezingandcontinuesastemperaturesplummet.Icedamagespowerlinesandfurtherimpedeshighwaytravel.WinterstormsdonotlastmorethanafewdaysinOhio,butfortheshortduration,systemsandservicescanbeinterruptedandineffective.SeverethunderstormsrankedasthefifthmostconcerningincidentforRichlandCounty.Hail,lightning,winds,andheavyraincropupquicklyandsometimeswithoutnotice.Windcandestroycrops,homes,businesses,andvegetation.Roadscanbeblockedbyfallentreesanddownedpowerlines,andhomesarestrickenbythesamethreats.Haildamagesanythinginitspathway,harmingroofs,vehicles,andbuildings.WindwithoutheavyprecipitationorrotationiscommoninOhio,andranksasthesixthriskinRichlandCounty.Straight-linewindsflattenwheatandcornfields,destroytrees,anddamage



residences.Livestockcanbecaughtupinthestormsbecausetheylackshelterinthepastureareas.Homesaredamagedwhensiding,roofs,andwindowsaredestroyedbywind.Tornadofollowswindstormsinthecounty’sriskassessment.Manyhomesarewithoutbasements,builtonslabsorcrawlspaces,andresidentshavenowheretogoduringtornadothreats.Multiplefamilyhomes,apartments,high-riseresidences,andmobilehomesareparticularlyatriskwhentornadoeshit.ErosionistheoutcomeoffloodinginRichlandCountyasitwashesawaybermsofroadsandmodifiestheriverandstreambanksthroughgradualdeterioration.Homesbuiltalongwaterwayscanfindthefoundationslowlyerodingaway,eventuallyplacingtheentirestructureatriskofcollapse.Roads,bridges,andculvertsarecompromisedasthesub-structuralsoilsarewashedawayandtheinfrastructurebecomesunstableandwashesaway.Roadscrumbleandculvertsdisappear.Erosionrankedeighthonthecounty’slistofhazards.Thecountyisnotespeciallyvulnerabletoearthquake,droughtandextremeheat,ordamfailure.Whilethesehazardshavesomelimitedpotentialtooccur,theywouldbeassessedasrareincidents.RichlandCountydoesnothavehistoryof,noristheremuchexpressedconcern,overanyofthesehazards.Whilethedigitalprojectionsofearthquakedamagearehorrendousassumingaworst-casescenario,thelikelihoodofasevereearthquakeislowenoughthatminimalconcernwasexpressed.Droughtandheatextremesarerareincidentsthatarelowontheseveritylist.Watersuppliesareample,andfarmlandiswithinreachofpondsandotherwatersourceswithalltherivers,streams,andditchesthatcrossthecounty.Damfailureispossible,andsomedamsareinobviousneedofrepair,butnoneofthemareinproximitytoheavilypopulatedareasatthesametimetheyareinpoorcondition.Thesethreerisksarecountedasnumbersnine,ten,andelevenonthelistofhazards.Roundingoutthebottomofthelistarealgalbloomandclimatechange.Whileneitheroftheseareanactualhazard,perse,theybothcontributetoariskofunsafepotablewatersuppliesandincreasedseverityofstormscombinedwithaless-safeenvironment.RichlandCountyneedstostudytheserisksanddeterminetheactualthreatstothecounty.Recognitionisthefirststeptowardmitigatingarisk,andRichlandCountyhasrecognizedtheissues.Insummaryandreview,RichlandCountyranksitshazardsfrommost-threateningtoleastthreateninginthisorder:flood,utility/infrastructurefailure,hazardousmaterialsspillorrelease;winterstorm,severethunderstorm,windstorm,tornado,erosion,earthquake,droughtandextremeheat,damfailure,algalbloom,andclimatechange.BellvilleTheClearForkRiverwindsitswaythroughBellevilleonthesouthsideofMansfield.LocatedjusteastofI-71,thevillageisfrequentlythevictimofflashflooding,riverineflooding,andwashedawayroadsandculverts.ThewideningofInterstate71afewyearsagohasdumpedadditionalrunoffwaterontothevillagebecausegravitationaldrainageintheareanaturallymoveswaterfromthehighwaytowardthevillage.TheClearForksitsonastonebase,and



thereforedoesnotdigitswaydeepertoincreasecapacity,butinsteadmoveslaterallytowidenitself.Indoingso,propertiesthatincludehomes,businesses,andcriticalfacilitiesaresubjectedtoextensiveflooding.ThereisonehomethatfloodsandiscompletelycutofffromaccesstostreetsbytherisingClearFork,andthereareafewotherhomesthatexperiencefloodinginthelivingarea.Noneareconsideredrepeatedlossstructures.AsstatehighwayswindintoBellevillealongtheriveranditstributaries,theengorgedrivercoversthemwithwaterandisolatestheresidentsandworkersofthisquaintOhiovillageforseveraldays,oruntiltherainstops.Bellevillemustinstantlybecomeveryself-sufficientuntiltheseroadsdrainandre-open,aprocessthatcantakedays.UtilityoutagesarecommoninBelleville.Sixtoeighttimesayearthepowerisoutfortwelvetotwenty-fourhours.Mostproblemsareinsubstationsandotherdistributionlinesoutsidethevillageandresidentsarelefttofendwithoutelectricityonaregularbasis.Somefacilitieshavegeneratorsbutothersdonot.Mostcriticalfacilitiesareprotectedbyalternatepowersourcesbutchurchesandotherbuildingsputintoemergencyusestilllackgenerators.Bellevilleexperiencesseverestorms,boththunderstormsandblizzards.Heavyhail,strongwinds,andlightningcanbeapartofthosestorms.Tornadoesarenotcommon,butthevillagehasbeenhitbytheminthepast.Winterstormscanbeginwithrain,sleet,andiceandendwithdeepanddriftingsnow.Again,accesstotheworldoutsidebecomesproblematicasroadsareblockedandresidentsareisolated.Sheltercanbeaproblemforhomeswithoutbasementswhentheseverewindssetinandpeoplehavenowheretogoforsafety.Bellevilleismostdamagedbywind,water,anderosion.Evacuation,utilityoutages,andisolationarecommondifficultiestheyendureandresolve.ButlerThevillageofButlersitstuckedinavalleyneartheClearForkRiverasitwindstothesoutheastandcontinuesdownthewatershed.Butlerisaverysmallcommunity,buttoutsbig-scaleresiliencyandself-sufficiencyinthewakeofdifficulty.Becauseitsitsslightlylowerthanothercommunities,itisprotectedfromwindmorethanothervillages.Theystillgethailandheavyrainandhave,onoccasion,beenexposedtoatornadoortwo.TheClearForkswellsbeyonditsbanksandthevillageisvulnerabletoseriousfloods.Somehomesfloodandothersbecomeisolatedbyfloodwaters;manyhomeshavenobasementssoshelteringisproblematicwhenwindsdostrike.TherearehazardousmaterialsthreatsinButlerduetoseveralundergroundstoragefacilitiesfornaturalgasandpetroleumproducts,ownedbymajorpipelineoperatorsanddistributors.Afireorexplosioncouldbedevastatingundertheperfectconditions.Thereissufficientwaterintheaquifersservingthevillage,andwaterisstoredinelevatedtanksandissourcedfromwells.



Butlerhasplannedforthesethreats,andhasagreementswiththeirschoolsandotherfacilitiesforshelteringandservingdisplacedpeople.Thesmallvillageisafriendlyplacewhereneighborstakeinneighborsasneeded.LexingtonLexingtoncombinesthehistoricalRichlandCountywiththenewRichlandCountyinacommunitythathustlesandbustleswithinitiativeandself-sufficiency.Lexingtonisvulnerabletoseverefloodingfromheavyrainandrunoffaswellaserosionandhazardousmaterialsrisk.ThecommunitywouldbeinundatedwithwaterifthenearbyClearForkdamweretofail.Aworst-casescenarioinvolvesheavyrainanddamfailureforthiscommunity.Manyflooddamageriskshavebeeneliminatedashomesandotherstructureswereremovedfromrepeatedfloodpropertiesandreplacedwithparksandnaturalhabitat.HousingdevelopmentsaregrowinginLexington,buthavebeenkeptfromconstructioninsidehigh-riskareaspronetoflooding.Someareasareequippedwithpumpstoaidthedrainageeffortsandtokeepthewatermovingasnecessary,evenuphillthroughtherollingterraininthevillage.Anotherworst-casescenariowouldinvolveutilityfailure.Planningteammembersfeltthataslongasthepowerstaysintact,thevillagecanrespondtoanykindofdisaster.Powerismoredependabletodaythanafewyearsago,andcreditisgiventotheelectricityprovidersforupgradingtheirdistributionlines.Shelteringandsafeareasareproblematicbecausemanyresidencesarebuiltwithoutbasements.LucasThevillageofLucasliesinrollingterrainalongtheRockyFork.Aswatersrageafterfloods,erosionofriverandditchbanksisproblematic,andbermsandculvertsarecompromisedastheyareslappedwithfloodwaterfromtheriver.Roadsareatriskofwash-awayandthevillagecanbecomeisolatedduetothisthreat.Mosthomesandcriticalfacilitiesareelevatedtoavoidflooding.Thereisatleastonehomethatissubjecttorepeatedloss.Structuresthatarenotelevatedmaybesubjecttomoderatefloodingandlossofuse.Replacementandimprovementstostormsewershashelpedthevillagelimitdamagesandkeepupwithheavyprecipitationanddrainageoverthepastseveralyears.FallendebrisandtreelimbsareaproblemforLucasbecausetheyblockroadwaysandbecomedebristhatclogstheriversandditches.Windstormsaregenerallycostlyanddamaging.Constantupkeepandclearingtakesplace,butthepresenceofmanyoldtreesandwoodedterrainmakesitnearlyimpossibletokeepupwithallofit.Steepinclinesonsomestreetsandpropertiesinthevillagemakeitdifficulttomaintainvegetationanddrainagewhenrunoffrushesthroughthepathofleastresistanceseveraltimesayear.Thisleadstofrequentstreetandinfrastructurerepairandcostlymaintenance.Thegullieshavepreventedsomeresidentialbuildinginthevillagebecausethewashoutsweretoosevere.Retentionbasinshavebeeninstalledbutnotinsufficientquantitytomakeallareassuitablefordevelopment.



Lucasisvulnerabletowinddamagesduetostormsandtornadoes,andduetothetreesandlandscapeinthearea.Constantclearingandtrimmingisneededtokeepthemfromfallingandfromcausingpoweroutagesandstructuraldamage.MansfieldThecityofMansfieldisthemostpopulatedjurisdictioninthecountyandservesasthecountyseat.Itishometotwohospitalsandseveralcongregatehomes,mostlyforelderlyanddisabledpersons.Thereareadozenormorenursinghomes,twodialysiscenters,aveteran’sfacility,otherhealthcarefacilities,andurgentcareandsurgicalcentersinthecity.Therearetwomobilehomeparksandafewindividualhomesusedtohousedisabledindividualsunder24-hourcareintheirresidence.ThecityexperiencessignificantfloodingoftheRockyForkRiveranditstributaries,someofitriverineaswaterwaysbreechtheirbanksandsomeofitflashfloodingaswatercannotbecarriedawayasfastasitfalls.Thereisconsiderablefloodplaindesignatedwithinthecitylimits.Toby’sRunfrequentlybreechesitsbanksduringheavyrain.Debriscollectionandsedimentbuild-upcausestheflowtobehamperedandthewatercannotgetawayfastenough.Additionallythearea’sstormsewershaveinsufficientcapacityandthefloodingoccursasstormsewersbackup.Insomecases,thestormsewershavebeenvideo-recorded,anditisdocumentedthatthefloodingisduetoinadequatestormsewercapacity.Asaresult,asectiononthenorthsideofthecityfloodsfrequentlyforabriefperiodoftime.ThisincludestheUSPostOfficewhichhasbeenunderseveralfeetofwaterinpaststorms,losingallvehiclestofloodingin2007,andseveralotherbusinessesandresidences.Thereareseveralhomesthatarebuiltintheareathatfloodanytimethereisheavyrainfall.Thehomesareowner-occupied,donotsitinafloodplain,arenotNFIPeligiblebecausethefloodingisstormsewercaused,andtheproblemiscurrentlysolution-challenged.Thesepropertyvaluesarelowasaresult,andaredecreasingeveryyearbecausethefloodingcontinues.Thefloodinghasmadethepropertiesunmarketableandunabletobesold,yetsubjecttorepeateduninsurableloss.Thiscatch-22dilemmaremainsunsolved.SeveralsmallbusinessesonthenorthsideofMansfieldsufferrepeatedflooding.Afewofthebusinessescontinuetooperate,butsomehavebeenabandonedduetothefloodingissues.Oneofthebusinesseshasfueltanksontheproperty,whichareatextremeriskforbeingwashedawayasToby’sRunragesthroughtheareaandwashesawaywhateverisinitspath.Othermobilehomesandsingle-familyresidenceshavebeenabandonedandarenowconsideredblightedstructures.Somesectionsofkeyhighwaysandroadsfloodwithevenmoderateprecipitationandwithheavyprecipitationbecometotallyimpassableforextendedperiodsoftime.ManyofthesesectionsofroadareonthenorthsideofthecitybyToby’sRun.In1998,amotoristdiedtrappedintheirvehicleinoneoftheunderpassesinthecitybecauserescuerscouldnotgettotheminatimelyfashionduetofloodedstreets.



Thepredominantpresenceofpavementnegativelyimpactsthedrainageofprecipitationinthecity.Existingbusinesses,abandonedfactories,foundries,steelmills,andextensiveacresofparkinglotsalldiminishtheamountofpermeablesoilstoabsorbprecipitation.Retentionanddetentionpondshelpcontainexcesswaterbutwerenotrequiredatthetimemanybusinessesandotherfacilitieswerebuilt.Theabandonedpropertiesaretooexpensivetocleanupandremovetheconcrete,sothelackofabsorptivesurfacesisasignificantproblem.Thecityaddressesthisthroughbuildinganddevelopmentregulations.Mansfieldhasadifficulttimeclearingstreetsofsnowandiceduringblizzards.Theyhaveinadequatestaffandinsufficientequipmenttogainaccesstothewholecityinashorttime,sowhenseverewinterstormsoccur,thestreetclosuresexistforseveraldays.Withseveraloverpassesandunderpasses,road-clearingfailuresleavemotoristsstranded,cloggingupthedeliveryofgoodsandservicestothepeopleofMansfield.Thelossincommerceaffectsthefinancialwellbeingofcitymerchantsandbusinessowners,interruptsbusinessandservices,andclosesschoolsandothercriticalfacilitiesforaperiodoftime.Mansfieldisvulnerabletowinddamageandhail,ice,andsleet.Manypowerlinesareaboveground,andaresusceptibletodamagesduringwindstorms,iceandsleet,andhail.Linesareburiedinnewsubdivisions,butolderneighborhoodsstillhaveexposeddistributionlines.OntarioThecityofOntarioiswherethemosteconomicdevelopmentistakingplace,andistheretailandbusinesscenterofthecounty.OntarioisjustwestofMansfieldandmostofthecityisconsumedbyvariousbusinesses.Ontarioexperiencesflashflooding.BecausethecityisrelativelynewascomparedtoMansfield,thestormsewersarelargerandmoreadequatetohandlethetypicalrunoff.Businesseshavealsobeenbuiltrecentlyenoughthatbuildingcodesandsiterequirementsforcedthoseretentionanddetentionponds,permeablepavement,andpumpingofstormwateraspartofthedevelopment.Thereisonewetlandareathatispartofacommercialpropertythatexperiencesfloodingasastandardconsequenceofrain.Thepropertyisconsideredawetland,sothereisnoactualuseimpairmentwhenitfloods.Stormsewershavebeenexpandedtodecreasetheflooding.Ontariohasaggressivelyclearedstreamsandwaterwaysofdebris.AttheverytopofboththeClearForkRiverandBlackForkRiverwatersheds,Ontariohaslimitedvulnerabilitytoresidentialflooding.Thereisonehomethatexperiencesregularfloodingandhasbeensoldandre-soldnumeroustimes.Thecityinstalledapumpstationtohelpremovestormwater,butthefloodingstilloccursinheavyprecipitation.Ontariohasawidearrayofresidentialhousing,includingsingle-andmulti-familyhousing,grouphousing,andhousingfordisabledandelderly.ThereisagreatdealofrentalpropertyinOntario.Mostofitisrecentlyconstructedaccordingtoreasonablebuildingcodesand



constructionpracticesbutmanystructuresarebuiltonslabsandlackbasementsorsaferooms.ThereisstudenthousingbeingbuiltinOntariothatismulti-storyandlacksastormcenter.Businesseswithflatroofsareatriskforheavysnowfallasmid-Ohiosnowisgenerallyheavyandwet.Thesestructurestendtobethe“super-store”typefacilitiesandroofsarevulnerabletocollapse.Buildingcodesandregulationsarestrictlyenforced,helpinglessenthisvulnerability.PlymouthThevillageofPlymouthrisksisolationfromsuppliersandnecessitiesinthefaceoffloods,blizzards,tornadoes,windstorms,andotherweatherincidentsthatblockroadwaysandlimitaccess.AhazardousmaterialsincidentononeoftheseveralhighwaysthatconvergeinPlymouth’stownsquareisariskthatcouldcausemajorevacuationanddisruption.Plymouthwouldhavetoshelteritsresidentsifhomeswereevacuated,powerwasoutforanextendedperiodoftime,orifroadswereclosedleadingtoandfromthevillage.Inrecentyearstheyhavegoneuptosixdayswithoutelectricity.Whenthishappensduetosnowandwind,thevillageiswithoutadequategeneratorstokeepresidentswarmandsafe.Theyhavechurchesandschoolswherepeoplecanstay,buttheyhavenoalternatepowersource.Whiletheyhaveavillagepowerdistributionsystem,thepowerissuppliedbyAEPandthevillageisonthefarendoftherepairgrid.Plymouthishistoricallyrestoredtopowerlast.AfewhomesrestinafloodplaininPlymouthanddofloodregularly.Theyhavebeensubjecttohighwindsandtornadoasapartofseverestorms,resultingindownedtreesanddamagedhomes.Treesareplentifulanddebrismanagementbecomesproblematicafteraseverestorm.ShelbyThecityofShelbyissplitdownthecenterbytheBlackForkRiverandexperiencesseverefloodingseveraltimeseachdecade.Thefloodingisduetoexcessiveprecipitation,icemeltandjamsalongtheriverthatimpedetheflowofthewater,orheavyrainandrunoffthatcausesflashflooding.Theriverbreechesitsbanksandfloodstheentiredowntownarea,inundatingthehistoricalfirestationwithapproximatelyfivetosixfeetofwater.ThisfirestationisthethirdoldestfunctioningstationintheUnitedStates,andwatermarksareobviousatfourtosixfeetupthewalls.Thebrickwallsthatarerepeatedlyexposedtoragingfloodwaterarecrumblingontheinsideandoutsideofthestructure.Whenthewaterrises,thedepartmentmustbereadytorelocateimmediately,splittingresourcestoplacehalfoneachsideoftherivertoguaranteearesponsetoalllocationswithincitylimits.Otherbuildingsintheareafloodaswell,gettingfourtofivefeetofwaterattimesinthefunctionalspaceofthestructure.Thesebuildingsincludebusinesses,churches,governmentbuildings,criticalfacilities,andhomes.Inadditiontothisbusinessandinstitutionaldisplacement,floodinghasdestroyedmanyresidencesinShelby.Atthistime,thecityhasacquiredanddemolishedalmostsixtyhomesandbusinesses,takingthemoutofharm’swayandontosaferground.Somepropertiesarestillatriskbutareownedbyindividualswhoareemployedbythecity,andthereforearenot



eligibleforacquisitionanddemolitionfunding.Thesehomescontinuetofloodandtheresidentsareforcedtoabsorbtherepaircostsforpropertieswithnoresalevalue.Shelbymusthavefunctionalevacuationplansaswellasshelteringcapacitytohousedisplacedresidentsandworkers.Theymusthavedependablealarmgaugesandwarningsystemstoadviseresidentsofimmediatethreats.Theymusthaveinplaceaneffectiveandefficientinitialresponsetoflooding.Shelbyisvulnerabletowinddamagefromstraightlineandrotationalwind.Foliageandtreesmakeiceanunwelcomeconsequenceduringcoldermonths,andhighwindswithrainduringwarmermonths.Downedtrees,debristhatgetsintotheriverandcausesblockages,andtreesthatfallonstreetsarecommon.Severethunderstorms,severewinterstorms,andtornadoesareallpossibleandcancauseutilityoutagesandroadclosures.Ragingwatercanwashoutbermsandculverts,anddiminishthesafetyofroadsandstreetsinShelby.ShilohThevillageofShilohisaverysmallcollectionofhomesinnorthcentralRichlandCounty.Atraintrackgoesrightthroughthemiddleoftown,andtheyarevulnerabletohazardousmaterialsreleasesifaderailmentoraccidentweretooccur.Ontheotherhand,thetrainhasahistoryofbringingmuchneededsuppliestothetown,asoccurredduringtheBlizzardof’78.Shilohispronetoicedamageandpoweroutages.Theyareasmallcommunityandsitrelativelyfaroutinthecountryside.OutagesareconsideredtobelowerimpactinShilohduetothelowpopulationandlackofmanymajorcriticalfacilities.Theyhavesomegenerators,butconsiderlackofpoweroneoftheirrisks.Shilohhaslostseveralhomestotornadodamageinthepastanddoesregularlyexperiencetornadowarnings.Floodingoccursprimarilyinbasementsinhomes,buttheydoexperienceheavyprecipitationandhighwinds.Somehomeswithoutbasementslackshelterandtherearefewplacesinthevillagetouseasashelter.Becausethewatershedsplitsabout150feetoutsidethevillageborder,theysitattheverytopofthewatershedandarenotparticularlysusceptibletofloods.Erosionduetohighwindsandrapidlydrainingfloodwaterisavulnerabilitythevillagewouldliketoaddress.2.3.2FloodplainMappingandtheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramRichlandCountybegantheirfloodplainmodernizationwithODNRinFiscalYear2007.ThisprocessbeganwithascopingmeetingheldonJune26,2007andculminatedwiththerevisedmapsbeingformallyadoptedbythecountyonApril4,2011.Table2-31providesNationalFloodInsuranceProgramstatusforcommunitiesinRichlandCountyfromtheFEMACommunityStatusBookReportforOhio.Map2-5identifiesthefloodhazardareasinRichlandCounty.



Table2-31:NationalFloodInsuranceProgramParticipation

CommunityInitFHBMIdentified

InitFIRMIdentified

CurrEFFMapDate

Reg-EmerDate

DoesNotParticipate

RichlandCounty 02/24/1978 04/02/1991 04/04/2011 04/02/1991 Bellville 08/01/1975 03/16/1989 04/04/2011 03/16/1989 Butler 07/25/1975 11/15/1989 04/04/2011 11/15/1989 Lexington 10/18/1974 09/28/1975 04/04/2011 09/28/1979 Lucas 04/05/1974 09/01/1993 04/04/2011(M) 09/01/1993 Mansfield 05/17/1974 01/03/1986 04/04/2011 01/03/1986 Ontario 04/05/1974 04/04/2011 04/04/2011(M) 01/30/1984 Plymouth 05/03/1974 04/04/2011 04/04/2011(M) 04/04/2011 Shelby 11/09/1973 03/02/1989 04/04/2011 03/02/1989 Shiloh NoSFHA X



Map2-4:RichlandCountyFloodHazardAreas

Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS,FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, EsriJapan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, MapmyIndia, ©OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

Flood Area1 PCT ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD HAZARD

0.2 PCT ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD HAZARD

FLOODWAY

Richland County

Richland County Flood Hazard Layer



2.3.3FederalDisasterDeclarationsRichlandCountyhasbeenincludedinthirteenfederaldisasterandemergencydeclarations.Table2-32identifiestheseincidents.

Table2-32:FederalDisasterDeclarationHistoryDR/EMNumber DeclarationDate IncidentType

DR-90-OH January23,1959 FloodDR-167-OH March24,1964 Flood,SevereStormDR-266-OH July15,1969 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoEM-3055-OH January26,1978 WinterStormDR-796-OH July17,1987 Flood,SevereStormDR-870-OH June6,1990 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-1227-OH June30,1998 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-1484-OH August1,2003 Flood,SevereStorm,Tornado,WindEM-3198-OH January11,2005 WinterStormDR-1580-OH February15,2005 Flood,Mudslide,WinterStormEM-3250-OH September13,2005 HurricaneKatrinaEvacuationDR-1720-OH August27,2007 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoEM-3286-OH April24,2008 WinterStorm

RichlandCountydoesnothavealonghistoryoffederaldisasterdeclarationsorfinancialassistance.WhiletheStateofOhiohasalongercomprehensivelistofincidentsthandisplayed,RichlandCountyescapeddamagesinmanyoftheincidentsthathaveimpactedOhioovertheyears.Thecounty’smostrecentdeclarationwasreceivedinthespringof2008followingaseriesofwinterstorms.2.3.3RepetitiveandSevereRepetitiveLossStructuresAcrossRichlandCounty,dozensofstructuresexperiencerepetitivefloodloss.Table2-33liststherepetitivelossstructuresthathavebeenidentifiedthroughlossclaims.Table2-34listssevererepetitivelossinformationforRichlandCounty.

Table2-33:RepetitiveLossProperties

Community Number Type Losses BuildingPayments

ContentsPayments

TotalPayments

RichlandCounty 3 Residential 7 $70,719.81 - $70,719.81 1 Non-Residential 2 $9,637.10 $320.81 $9,957.90Bellville 7 Residential 20 $340,524.98 $45,911.87 $386,436.85 2 Non-Residential 6 $52,141.45 $131,310.66 $183,452.11Butler 1 Residential 2 $5,527.56 - $5,527.56 0 Non-Residential 0 - - -Mansfield 2 Residential 5 $29,247.67 - $29,247.67 10 Non-Residential 21 $873,150.94 $501,068.58 $1,374,219.52Ontario 0 Residential 0 - - - 1 Non-Residential 3 $6,670.97 $1,494.84 $8,165.81Shelby 16 Residential 48 $825,547.65 $244,688.93 $1,070,236.58 4 Non-Residential 8 $149,171.17 $750.33 $149,921.50



CountyTotal 29 Residential 82 $1,271,567.67 $290,600.80 $1,562,168.47 18 Non-Residential 40 $1,090,771.63 $643,945.21 $1,725,716.84

Table2-34:SevereRepetitiveLossProperties

Community Number Type Losses BuildingPayments

ContentsPayments

TotalPayments

Bellville 1 Residential 4 $104,950.48 $25,048.13 $129,998.61 0 Non-Residential 0 - - -Additionalornewlyidentifiedrepetitiveand/orsevererepetitivelossstructuresmaystillexistinRichlandCounty,especiallyaschangesinfloodplainmappinghaveoccurred.Unidentifiedstructuresmaynowfallinsidethefloodplainduetochanges.Ifthesestructureshavenotbeenimpactedbyrecentfloodingevents,theymaybeunknowntolocalofficials.2.3.5LossEstimatesToestimatedisasterlosses,adamageprofilethatconsidersthepotentialimpactandlossfromeachhazardwasdeveloped.ThisinformationhelpsdetermineRichlandCounty’svulnerabilitytoeachspecifichazard.OnekeyfactorinestimatinglossisanassessmentofnumberofstructuresinRichlandCounty.Thisnumberisestimatedtobe56,000buildings.Approximately92%aretheseareresidential,whichaccountsfor68%ofthetotalbuildingvalue.Theaggregatereplacementvalueofthesepropertiesis$9,994M.Table2-35identifiesRichlandCounty’sbuildingexposurebyoccupancytype.

Table2-35:RichlandCountyBuildingExposurebyOccupancyOccupancy Exposure($1000) PercentofTotal

Residential 6,772,406 67.8%Commercial 1,897,319 19.0%Industrial 796,158 8.0%Agricultural 46,618 0.5%Religion 257,877 2.6%Government 85,351 0.9%Education 139,266 1.4%Total $9,994,955 100.0%

Withinthese56,000buildingsareessentialfacilitiesthatprovidecriticalhealth,safety,andcommunityservices.TheessentialfacilitiesinRichlandCountyinclude:

• Hospitals–2• HospitalBeds–383• FireStations–19• PoliceStations–9• Schools–60



DroughtDamageProfileRichlandCountyrarelyexperiencesdroughtconditions.Theregionoccasionallysuffersfromslight,short-liveddryspellsandperiodsofdecreasedprecipitationduringthegrowingseason.Withamoderatehumidcontinentalclimate,theregiondoesnotturnaridatanytime.Thereisnohistoryofextendeddroughtsthatwouldimpacthumanlifeorcausephysicalpropertydamage.RichlandCounty’sgreatestvulnerabilitytodroughtisareductionincropyields.Thereisnohistoryofreducedyieldsformorethanasinglegrowingseasonnoristheredocumentationofextensivecroplossesinexcessofasinglecropyear.Precipitationpatternscontributetohigherorloweraverageyieldsduetoslightdrynessorlateplantingand/orharvestduetoexcessiverainfall.Forthepurposeoflossestimates,themajorcashgraincropsthatconstitutethemajorityofRichlandCounty’sagricultureproductionwereconsidered.Productionlivestockcouldberaisedandsoldinspiteofdroughtandothercashcrops,suchasfruitsandvegetables,areoftenheavilyinsured.Whilemostfarmerspurchasecropinsuranceforallcrops,includinggrain,itisnotpossibletodetermineifallcropsinRichlandCountyareinsured.Table2-36identifiesanticipatedlossfromadrought,assumingtotalcroplossconditionsforthemostprevalentcropsproducedinthecounty;datawascompiledbasedoninformationfromtheUSDANationalAgricultureStatisticsService.

Table2-36:DroughtVulnerabilityAssessmentCommodity Acres Productions(Bu) CurrentPrice Value

Soybeans 44,500 2,143,000 $9.90 $21,215,700Corn 33,000 5,130,000 $3.57 $18,314,100WinterWheat 5,000 335,000 $4.41 $1,477,350

EarthquakeDamageProfileEarthquakesaregeologicallypossiblybutnotcommoninRichlandCounty.Thecountyhasexperiencedseveralminorearthquakesinthatpast,althoughthesehaveallbeenveryminorandnoincidentshavebeendocumentedinmorethantwentyyears.Assuch,thereislittledatatosupportcommittingextensiveresourcestoearthquake-proofingbuildingsandotherstructures.Becauseofthelowriskandhighcostofimplementingmitigationstrategiesrelatedtoearthquakerisk,theplanningteamdidnotidentifyanysuchactions.Astheyarrivedatthisdecision,theplanningteamdidreviewprojectedlossestimatesfora5.4magnitudeearthquakewithanepicenterinMansfield.Theseestimates,generatedbytheHAZUSlossestimationtool,helpedthecommitteemakeaninformeddecisionofRichlandCounty’searthquakerisk.Table2-37includesthevulnerabilityanalysismadeavailabletothecommittee;adetailedexplanationofpotentialearthquakedamageinRichlandCountyisincludedinAppendixA.



Table2-37:EarthquakeScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 6,033 $1,021,004,023Non-Residential 3,057 $604,904,133CriticalFacilities 137 $27,108,886Totals 9,227 $1,653,017,043

FloodDamageProfileFlooddamageinRichlandCountycouldpotentiallyincludedamageanddestructiontoresidentialandnon-residentialstructures,publicinfrastructure,andcrops.Damagetoresidentialstructureswouldincludesingle-familyhomes,multi-unitresidentialbuildings,manufacturedhomes,andcongregatelivingfacilities.Non-residentialdamageswouldpotentiallyaffectbuildingsusedformanufacturing,producthandling,transportation,warehousing,retail,business,andindustryalongwiththecapitalequipmentandinventoryassociatedwiththoseuses.Agriculturalstructuresimpactedwouldincludebarnsusedforlivestock,equipment,workspace,andcommoditystorage,aswellasthecontentsofthosebuildings.Thecontentsofagriculturalbuildingswouldtypicallyconstitutebusinessassetssuchasproductionanimals,equipment,andmachinery.At-riskcriticalfacilitieswouldincludegovernment,nonprofit,andeducationalinstitutionssuchasfirestations,policestations,hospitals,offices,schools,maintenancebuildings,andthecapitalcontentsofthosestructures.Damagewithintheaffectedstructurescouldincludestandingwaterinbasementsand/orfirstfloorsanddamagetoallcontentsonthesefloors,includingflooringmaterials,walls,furniture,andothercontents.Hazardouschemicalsarealsoariskforresidentsandfirstrespondersassubstancesspillorleakintofloodwater.Inadditiontothesedamages,floodwatersalsocauseroadsandstreetstoflood,requiringjurisdictionofficialstocloseroadsforsafetyreasons.Thisrestrictstravelacrossthecounty,whichinturnimpactsbusinessesandcommerceasgoodsareunabletobedelivered,customerscannotreachstores,andemployeesareunabletotraveltowork.Thisperiodofbusinessshutdownisgenerallyconfinedtofloodplainareasandlastsforonetotwodaysaftertherainfalleventends.ToanalyzeRichlandCounty’svulnerabilitytoflooddamage,a100-yearfloodeventwassimulatedusingtheHAZUSlossestimationtool.Table2-38includestheprojectedexposuretothishazardforresidential,non-residential,andcriticalbuildings.Additionaldataontheimpactofa100-yearfloodonRichlandCountycanbefoundinAppendixA.

Table2-38:100-YearFloodScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 2,767 $491,007,000Non-Residential 3,711 $657,008,000CriticalFacilities 193 $33,681,000Totals 6,671 $1,181,696,000



TornadoDamageProfileTornadoescanoccuranywhereinRichlandCountyandtheareasarealluniversallyvulnerabletotornadodamage.Becauseoftheflatopenterraininthenorthwestandsouthwestquadrants,thereislittlechangeinelevationorlandscapethatwouldcauseatornadotoslowdownorbreakapart.However,tornadoesinOhiodonotreachamagnitudethatcomparesto“TornadoAlley”inthemid-west;theytendtobreakapartbeforetheywidenandstrengthen.RarelyanEF3orEF4willdevelop,butthatisnotcommonandmostfrequentlyhappensintheextremewestandnorthwestcounties,notRichlandCounty.Evenso,mostOhiotornadoesareanEF2orless.WhenRichlandCountydoesexperienceatornadoevent,themagnitudeistypicallyanEF1incidentwithmoderatedamagelimitedtoarelativelysmallgeographicalarea.InRichlandCounty,thereareapproximately2,523mobilehomes.Thisaccountsfor4.7%oftheresidentialstructuresinthecounty.Mobilehomesaremorevulnerabletowinddamagebecausetheyarelesssecuredtothegroundthanbuildingswithfoundations,havenobasementorsub-terrainlevel,andarelighterweightandmadeoflesswindresistantmaterialthanconstructedhomes.Mobilehomesarescatteredthroughoutthecounty,eitherindividuallylocatedorwithinamobilehomepark.Thevulnerabilitydoesnotchangedependentonthelocation.Otherresidentialpropertiesaregenerallyconstructedusingwood,concrete,brick,andstone.Manyhomesareolderandwereconstructedusinglimestoneandothermasonrymaterials.Thesehomesarebuiltontraditionalfoundationswithbasementsorcrawlspaces.Somenewerhomesareconcreteslabconstructionwithoutbasementsorcrawlspaces.Thesehomesaremostpronetosuperficialdamage,roofdamage,andtreesfallingonthemduringtornadoesandseverewindstorms.Onoccasionaruralhomewithpropanegasorheatingoilforfuelwillbefound,andthatpropaneorfueloiltankmaybeatriskfordamageduringtornadoorhighwind.Thisisnotcommonbecausemostofthecountyisservedbynaturalgasproviders.Commercialbuildingsareconstructedofconcrete,brick,concreteblock,stone,andwood.Theyaregenerallybuiltonconcreteslabswithstructuralsupporttrussesandpitchedroofconstructiontofacilitatesnowandicemeltandrunoff.Flatroofbuildingssuchasshoppingcentersandbig-boxtyperetailstoresaresusceptibletoheavysnowinblizzardconditions;thereisnoidentifiablehistoryofroofcollapseincidentsduetosnoworicewiththeexceptionofacoupleincidentsduringasevereblizzardinOntarioabouttenyearsago.TheincidenceoftornadoesinRichlandCountyisinfrequent.Tornadowarningsareissuedseveraltimeseachyear,mostofteninthespringandearlysummer,ascoldandwarmfrontsclash,creatingturbulentweather.ThereisnodocumentationofatornadostrikingRichlandCountyanyearlierintheyearthanAprilorlaterthanJuly,althoughitispossiblefortornadoestooccuratothertimesoftheyear.TothenorthofRichlandCounty,tornadoeshavestruckNWOhioduringthemonthofNovemberin2004duringanabnormallywarmweatherpattern.PropertydamagefromtornadoesinRichlandCountygenerallyincludesdamagedroofs,guttersanddownspouts,sidingandwindowdamage,downedtrees,andtheoccasionalcomplete



destructionofawholebuilding.Mobilehomesaredamagedordestroyedinthemostseriousoutbreaks,andvehiclescanbetossedfromonespottoanother.Outbuildings,barns,andstoragebuildingscanbedamagedbecausethesestructuresarelessresistanttowinddamageandarefrequentlybuiltonconcreteslabsordirtfoundations.Manyoutbuildingsareofapolebuildingconstruction,andaresusceptibletowinddamage.Atanygiventime,therearemanyvehiclesontheroadinRichlandCounty,andthosevehiclesaresubjectnotonlytodamagestothevehicle,butalsoinjuryanddeathoftheoccupants.TodemonstrateRichlandCounty’svulnerabilitytotornadoes,anEF2tornadowitha½milewidthwassimulatedfromthevillageofLexingtontotheI-71/StateRoute13interchange.Byanalyzingthestructureslocatedinthisareaandtheirvalue,thevulnerabilityanalysiswasinTable2-39developed.Map2-6identifiestheimpactareaforthisscenario.

Table2-39:TornadoScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysis

BuildingType NumberofBuildings ExposureResidential 614 $108,962,360Non-Residential 366 $64,536,570CriticalFacilities 147 $25,887,970Total 1,127 $199,386,900

WindStormDamageProfileInrecentyears,RichlandCountyhasexperiencedseveralhighwindevents.InSeptember2008,HurricaneIkeimpactedOhioasapost-tropicalwindstormandRichlandCountysufferedpoweroutagesandpropertydamage.ThesouthwestandcentralregionsofOhioweremostseriouslyaffectedbythiswindstorm,butnorthcentralOhiowasalsointheimpactzone.Powerlinesweredownedandutilityoutagesoccurred,althoughinfarlowernumbersthanthehardesthitareasofsouthernOhio.Ingeneral,windincidentsarelikelytooccurandRichlandCountycouldeasilybeintheimpactzone.Damageswouldbesimilartothatofatornadoincident,aspreviouslydescribedbutmaybeslightlymorewidespreadandinvolvemoreacreageoffarmcrops.

Table2-40:WindStormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 491 $87,170,000Non-Residential 293 $51,676,000CriticalFacilities 118 $20,711,000Totals 902 $159,557,000

SevereThunderstormDamageProfileThunderstormsareafrequenthazardinRichlandCounty;thecombinationofhail,lightning,precipitation,andwindcausedbythunderstormscaninflictdamageacrossanyareaofthecounty.Whilethunderstormsarefrequent,theyaretypicallymoreofaninconveniencethanaseverelydamagingincident.Ararelightningboltmaydestroyanelectricaltransformer,strikeabuilding,causeafire,orhitatreeanddamagesomethingthetreefallson.Rarelyarepeople



strandedoutsideduringseverelightningandatriskforelectrocutionalthoughitispossible.Itdoesnothappenfrequentlybecauseshelterisrelativelyavailableatamoment’snotice.MostlightningcausedelectrocutionsthatoccurinOhiotakeplaceonagolfcoursewherepeoplecannotseekshelterrapidly,oronaworkorrecreationsiteinaremotearea.Hailisafrequentcomponentofthesestorms,damagingvehicles,roofs,andbuildingsiding.Hailusuallycomesinburstsandhasalocalizedareaofimpact,sotheoveralldamagesarenotextensiveinspiteofspecificpropertydamagebeingserious.Moreseveredamage,includinglossofproperty,andlifeiscertainlypossible,butstatisticsindicatethefrequencywithwhichthathappensisextremelylow.Trafficaccidentscanoccurduetoseverethunderstormswhensuddenonsetstormcellswithheavyprecipitationpopupsuddenlyandmotoristsaresurprisedbyaunanticipatedflashfloodonroadwaysorproperties.Theycandriveintothewater,notrealizingtheroaddeteriorationunderthewaterorthedepthandstrengthofthewater,andgetsweptaway.Someoccupantsmaydrown,othersarerescued,butthevehiclesandpropertyinthemaretotallydestroyed.Damagingstraight-linewindsfrommicroburstsanddownburstscanbeapartofseverethunderstorms.Thesehighwindscandoasmuchdamageasatornado,comparativelymeasuredinafashionsimilartotheEFtornadoscale.Theonlydifferenceisthatthewindisnotrotational.Thewinddoes,however,flattencrops,houses,andotherstructures;totallyobliteratetreesandothervegetation;andcausedestructiontohomesandotherbuildings.Straight-linewindscandevastateacommunity.Whenthunderstormsareaccompaniedbytornadoes,damagefromthetornadoesislikelytobemoresignificantthanthatcausedbythethunderstorm,i.e.therain,hail,andlightning.Whetherstraightlineorrotational,windisasignificantandfrequentthreatinRichlandCountyanditsvillages,cities,andtownships.Thevulnerabilityassessmentthatcorrespondstothisthreatfollows.

Table2-41:SevereThunderstormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 92 $16,344,000Non-Residential 56 $9,689,000CriticalFacilities 21 $3,883,000Totals 169 $29,916,000



Map2-5:AreaofImpactforTornado,SevereThunderstorm,andWindStormDamageProfile

WinterStormDamageProfileWinterstormscandamageeverypropertyinRichlandCounty.Heavysnowfall,ice,blowinganddriftingsnow,andhazardousroadconditionscanoccuranywhere.Inwinterstormeventswithsignificantamountsofice,heavysnowfall,orhighwinds,thepotentialforpoweroutagesmakestheentirepopulationvulnerable.Inmostneighborhoods,electriclinesareabovegroundandsusceptibletodamage.Inafewnewlydevelopedneighborhoods,utilitylinesareburiedbutthisaffectsaverysmallpercentageofthepopulation.MajorsupplylinesareabovegroundastheyenterRichlandCountyfromthegenerationplants;therefore,powertothesubstationsisvulnerabletowindandheavysnowandiceeveniftheresidentiallinesarenot.Apoweroutagefromawinterstormorblizzardishighlylikely.ToanalyzeRichlandCounty’svulnerabilityduringablizzard,theimpactofastrongblizzardonthecityofOntariowassimulated.ThisjurisdictionishighlypopulatedandisalsotheeconomiccenterofRichlandCounty.Theareaisheavilypopulatedwithretailstores,restaurants,medicaloffices,andotherservicebasedbusiness.Thesetypesof“bigboxstore”structuresaremoresusceptibletodamagefromheavysnowfallbecauseoftheirflatroofconstruction.Damageanddestructiontothesetypesoffacilitieswouldalsoimpacttheeconomyofthecounty.Thesebusinessessupportmuchofthecommercethattakesplaceandemploythousandsofpeople.

¯0 2,000

Feet

LegendMissing Auditor Data

Tornado Path

Roads

Municipal Corporations

Selected Parcels

Parcels



Shouldthesebusinessesbeforcedtocloseastheyrecoveredfromasignificantblizzard,theimpactonthecountywouldbesignificant.TheestimatedlossesdetailedinTable2-42representaworst-casescenarioforablizzardinRichlandCounty.Thevastmajorityofwinterweatherincidentswillcauseconsiderablylessdamage.Forthepurposeofmitigationplanning,however,theplanningteamfeltitwasimportanttoexaminethemaximumimpactthishazardcouldcause.

Table2-42:WinterStormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 293 $51,903,820Non-Residential 1,013 $19,922,851CriticalFacilities 75 $12,998,830Totals 1,381 $84,825,501

Map2-6:AreaofImpactforWinterStormVulnerabilityAnalysis

¯

0 1,000

Feet

LegendBlizzard Area

Roads

Missing Auditor Data

Municipal Corporations

Blizzard_Parcels

Parcels



2.4RISKASSESSMENTBasedonthishazardandvulnerabilityinformation,RichlandCountyhasriskfordamagefromavarietyofdisasters.Todeterminethecounty’slevelofrisk,eachhazardwasevaluatedandscoredbasedoncommoncriteria.Thecriteriaincludedfrequency,responseduration,speedofonset,magnitude,andimpactonbusinesses,people,andproperty.Table2-43describestheoverallscaleusedtoscoreeachhazard.Table2-44providesdetailsonscaleusedtomeasuremagnitude.Thecompositescoresforeachhazardandtheirrespectiverankareidentifiedintable2-45.

Table2-43AssessmentScale

Score Frequency ResponseDuration

SpeedofOnset Magnitude Business

ImpactHumanImpact

PropertyImpact

1 None <½Day >24Hours Localized <24Hours Minimum <10%2 Low <1Day 12-24

HoursLimited 1Week Low 10-25%

3 Medium <1Week 6-12Hours

Critical 2Weeks Medium 25-50%

4 High <1Month <6Hours Catastrophic >30Days High >50%5 Excessive >1Month

FrequencyHazardeventsthatoccurregularlyareahigherriskthanthosethatoccurinfrequently.

• 1=None/Oncein100years• 2=Low/Oncein50years• 3=Medium/Oncein25years• 4=High/Oncein1-3years• 5=Excessive/Morethanannual

ResponseDurationResponsedurationisdefinedastheamounttimetheresponsetoaparticularhazardisanticipatedtolast.

• 1=Lessthan½day• 2=Lessthan1day• 3=Lessthan1week• 4=Lessthan1month• 5=Morethan1month

SpeedofOnsetSpeedofonsetaddressestheamountofadvancewarningacommunityhasbeforeeachhazardoccurs.

• 1=Morethan24hours• 2=12-24hours• 3=6-12hours• 4=Lessthan6hours



MagnitudeMagnitudeisratedusingstandarddamagescalessuchastheEnhancedFujitaScale,orthroughdevelopmentofalocalcomparativescalethatiscomparableindamagesatlikelevelsusingtheestablisheddamagescales.Somescalesfromothergeographicregions,suchastheNorthEastSnowIndexScale,wereusedasmodelstodevelopacomparativetoolinRichlandCounty.

Table2-44:MagnitudeScale

Score Tornado Windstorm Flood Earthquake Drought WinterStorm

1 EF-0/1 <65mph Minor <5.9 D-0VeryDryD-1Moderate

<8”snow

2 EF-2 65-75mph Moderate 6.0-6.9 D-2Severe 8-12”snow3 EF-3 76-85mph Significant 7.0-7.9 D-3Extreme 12-16”snow4 EF-4/5 >86mph Major >8.0 D-4Exceptional >16”snow

BusinessImpactBusinessimpactreferstothepotentialeconomicimpactahazardeventislikelytohaveonacommunity.Thedefinitionofeachscorereferstotheamountoftimecriticalfacilitiesarelikelytobeshutdownintheimpactedcommunity.

• 1=Lessthan24hours• 2=1week• 3=Atleast2weeks• 4=Morethan30days

HumanImpactHumanimpactisdefinedasthenumberoflivespotentiallylostforaparticularhazard.

• 1=Minimum/Minorinjuries• 2=Low/Someinjuries• 3=Medium/Multiplesevereinjuries• 4=High/Multiplefatalities

PropertyImpactPropertyimpactisdefinedasthenumberamountofpropertypotentiallylostduringagivenhazardevent.

• 1=Lessthan10%damaged• 2=10-25%damaged• 3=25-50%damaged• 4=Morethan50%damaged



Table2-45:RiskAssessment

Hazard Freq

uency

Respon

se

Duration

Spee

dof

Onset

Magnitude

Busine

ss

Impa

ct

Hum

an

Impa

ct

Prop

erty

Impa

ct

Score RankFlood 4 4 3 4 3 2 3 23 1Utility&InfrastructureFailure

4 3 4 4 2 1 2 20 2

HazardousMaterialSpill

5 3 4 3 2 1 1 19 3

WinterStorm 5 2 3 3 2 1 2 18 4SevereThunderstorm 5 2 3 2 2 1 2 17 5Windstorm 4 3 3 2 2 1 2 17 6Tornado 2 3 4 2 2 2 1 16 7Erosion 5 4 2 2 1 0 1 15 8Earthquake 1 3 4 0 2 2 2 13 9Drought/ExtremeHeat 4 4 1 0 1 1 1 12 10Dam/LeveeFailure 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 11 11AlgalBloom 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 12ClimateChange 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 13

2.0 hazard identification and risk assessment · 2.0 hazard identification and risk assessment...

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