Gloria 1985 1 Bob 1991 2 Floyd 1999 Tropical Storm Irene 2011 Tropical Storm Sandy 2012 Super Storm Probability of Future Events Amherst’s location in western Massachusetts reduces the risk of extremely high winds that are associated with hurricanes, although it can experience some high wind events. The probability of future events is estimated to be “low,” or between 1 and 10 percent in any given year. Impact A description of the damages that could occur due to a hurricane is described by the Saffir-Simpson scale, as shown below. Hurricane Damage Classifications Category Damage Description of Damages Wind Speed (MPH) 1 MINIMAL No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal flooding and minor pier damage. An example of a Category 1 hurricane is Hurricane Dolly (2008). 74-95 Very dangerous winds will produce some damage 2 MODERATE Some roofing material, door, and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, etc. Flooding damages piers and small craft in unprotected moorings may break their moorings. An example of a Category 2 hurricane is Hurricane Francis in 2004. 96-110 Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage 3 EXTENSIVE Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, with a minor amount of curtain wall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures, with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain may be flooded well inland. An example of a Category 3 hurricane is Hurricane Ivan (2004). 111-129 Devastating damage will occur 4 EXTREME
More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland. An example of a Category 4 hurricane is Hurricane Charley (2004). Catastrophic damage will occur 5 CATASTROPHIC Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required. An example of a Category 5 hurricane is Hurricane Andrew (1992). 157+ Catastrophic damage will In the event of a tropical storm or hurricane, the greatest risk to Amherst will be flooding of the Mill River in the northern section of the Town and Fort River in the south and eastern portions. Wind damage will be limited, but widely spread, perhaps including downed power and communications lines, but flooding damage will be more severe and focused on residential properties; the town’s transportation infrastructure and evacuation routes could also be impacted. The impact of hurricanes to the Town is estimated to be “critical,” with more than 25 percent of property in the affected area damaged or destroyed.
Water Sources Numerous locations in Amherst – primary reservoir varies based on season. #5 well is backup supply. Transfer Station On Past and Potential Hazards/Critical Facilities Map – 740 Belchertown Road Helicopter Landing Sites Hampshire College – College Drive and North/South Campus Drive Groff Park, Baseball Field – Off Mill Lane Amherst Regional High School – Parking Lot or Field UMass (Lorden) Playing Field – 150 Mullins Way Amherst Fire Department, Lot Behind North Station – 603 E. Pleasant Street Route 116 Bypass and Meadow Street – Intersection at Lights or Auction Barn Communications FCC Registered Cell Towers: 151 College Street 100 Observatory Road Rifle Club (Notch) – West Street St. Bridges Church Old Landfill Amherst College Pulpit Hill Road E. Pleasant Street Some towers on Umass campus FCC Registered Antenna Towers 740 Belchertown Road – 4 antennas on site [Below from the original plan:] Cell and radio towers throughout town Pulpit Hill Road Police – Umass library Fire – Mt. Lincoln Highway Dept. – 586 S. Pleasant Street Regional Middle School Fearing Street – Verizon switching facility South Prospect Street – Verizon switching facility Primary Evacuation Routes Route 9 (east/west) Route 116 (north/south) Bridges/Culverts Located on Evacuation Routes Bridges Evacuation Route Crosses Route 116, West Street Fort River
Table 4.1: Critical Facilities and Evacuation Routes Potentially Affected by Hazard Areas Hazard Type Hazard Area Critical Facilities Affected Evacuation Routes Affected Flooding (100-year) Meadow ST., W. Pomeroy Lane none Routes 9 and 116 Flooding (localized) W. Pomeroy, E. Hadley , State, Main, Summers, Meadow none Probably not Severe Snow/Ice Storm Varies—all over Town Possibly, but not at all likely possibly Hurricane/Severe Wind Varies—all over Town Possibly, but not at all likely possibly Wildfire/Brushfire Agriculture land none no Earthquake All over Possibly, but not at all likely yes Dam Failure Sunderland RD, E. Leverett RD, Russellville RD, Summer ST, Meadow ST none no Drought Town-wide none no Extreme Temperatures Town-wide (Past & Potential Hazards/Critical Facilities Map Located In Appendix D)
Work with Western Mass Electric Company to facilitate the underground placement of new utility in general and existing utility lines in locations where repetitive outages occur (as applicable). Thunderstorms / Severe Wind Triangle & East Pleasant Streets Spring Street Areas of new development Effective. Some burial of lines completed with MassWorks grant. New developments are required to place utility lines underground. Determine areas of repetitive outages to prioritize underground placement. Include maximum street grade standards in subdivision regulations. Floods Town wide Somewhat effective. Regulations are already there but have not been updated. Update street grade standards in subdivision regulations. Determine if existing generators at shelters are effective, replace if not effective. All hazards Town wide Effective. Police station (EOC) generator is due to be replaced. But all shelters are regional. None. Participate in the creation of a Regional Debris Management Plan. Floods Thunderstorms / Severe Wind Town wide Not effective. No regional debris management plan was developed. FEMA has developed agreements. Delete Evaluate critical facilities to determine if they are earthquake resistant. Earthquakes Town wide Not effective. No action taken. Delete. Retrofitting critical facilities to current seismic code is not cost effective. Increase enforcement of restrictions prohibiting residents from plowing snow into the road. Snowstorms Floods Town wide Not effective. Complaint-driven strategy. Delete. Difficult to enforce, and not a big problem.
Identify sources of funding for dam safety inspections. Dam Failure Town wide Effective. Funding was identified for the water enterprise dams. XX In regards to the Amherst Open Space and Recreation Plan, implement the goals and strategies dealing with protection of waterbodies and forestland. Flooding Town wide Effective. Delete. Duplicative with similar strategy above. Create Water Conservation Guidelines to use as an educational tool for Town residents. Drought Town wide Somewhat effective. Information sent every summer with compliance mailings. Provide more explicit water conservation information on town website. Revise Watershed Protection District definitions for clarification – utilize DEP model. Drought Watershed Protection Zones Effective. A new zone was implemented near Atkins Reservoir. XX Deleted Mitigation Strategies Several mitigation strategies listed in the 2010 version of the Amherst Hazard Mitigation Plan have been removed in this 5-year update. Strategies were deleted for one of two reasons:
1) They have been determined as no longer useful for mitigating a hazard. 2) They have been determined to be over-generalized and in need of being replaced by a more specific mitigation strategy. Description Hazards Mitigated Responsible Agency Reason for Deletion Determine if existing generators at shelters are effective, replace if not effective. All hazards ?? Completed. Evaluate critical facilities to determine if they are earthquake resistant. Earthquakes Building Dept. Not cost effective to retrofit facilities to current seismic code. Increase enforcement of restrictions prohibiting residents from plowing snow into the road. Police Dept. Police Dept. Not a problem, and difficult to enforce. Educate citizens living in the floodplain about the NFIP. Conservation Commission Floodplain Administrator Conservation Commission Floodplain Administrator Citizens through their banks, and awareness will be increased through 2016 re-mapping of Flood Conservation District by the Town. In regards to the Amherst Open Space and Recreation Plan, implement the goals and strategies dealing with protection of waterbodies and forestland. Flooding Conservation Commission Duplicative with another capability Implement the goals and strategies of the Amherst Open Space and Recreation Plan dealing with protection of floodplain, forests, and farmland. Flooding Conservation Commission Too general; to be revised.
Action Type Description Status Hazards Mitigated Responsible Agency Priority Cost Funding Source Timeframe Capability Identify potential land acquisition possibilities in areas subject to natural hazard impacts such as floods, or that provide natural mitigation services (such as wetlands), with the potential added benefit of creating wildlife corridors and restoring habitat. Land acquisition is ongoing as opportunities and funding arise. Floods Hurricanes Severe Thunderstorms / Wind Conservation Commission Planning Dept. High Medium State grants (LAND, PARC, etc.) CPA HMPG? Strategy Replace top priorities on culvert replacement list. ?? Floods Hurricanes Highway Dept. Medium High HMPG Private Development Town funds Strategy Revise site plan review criteria to incorporate green infrastructure, LID, and other best management stormwater practices. Occurring informally already, but practices are not codified. Goal is to require that stormwater be addressed on-site for all new development. Floods Hurricanes Drought Extreme Temperatures Planning Dept. Highway Dept. Medium Low Town funds Strategy Link flood hazard mitigation with new EPA MS4 stormwater permit. (???)
Strategy Conduct outreach to populations that may be unfamiliar with winter weather hazards (frozen ventilation issues), potentially by partnering with schools. Identify interpreters in the community that can help translate information in the event of a severe winter event. Some winter weather safety and preparation information is available on the town website, but not in the variety of languages spoken in Amherst. Snowstorms / ice storms ?? Medium Low Town funds Strategy Identify vulnerability to cellular infrastructure in town to natural hazards, and identify alternative methods of mass communication in the event of natural hazard emergencies. Not yet started. Snowstorms / ice storms Hurricanes Thunderstorms / severe wind ?? Low ?? Town funds EMPG Strategy Review existing town evacuation to identify vulnerabilities to various natural hazards and develop alternative plans as needed for different natural hazard scenarios. Evacuation are already in place, but have not been evaluated for vulnerabilities to different types of natural hazards. All hazards ?? Low Low Strategy [Specific infrastructure that has been damaged by natural hazard and is likely to be again]
Natural Hazards Research Center, U. of Colorado Searchable database of references and links to many disaster-related websites. Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Data by Year Hurricane track maps for each year, 1886 – 1996 National Emergency Management Association Association of state emergency management directors; list of mitigation projects. NASA – Goddard Space Flight Center “Disaster Finder: Searchable database of sites that encompass a wide range of natural disasters. NASA Natural Disaster Reference Database Searchable database of worldwide natural disasters. U.S. State & Local Gateway General information through the partnership. National Weather Service Central page for National Weather Warnings, updated every 60 seconds. USGS Real Time Hydrologic Data Provisional hydrological data Dartmouth Observatory Observations of flooding situations. FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program, Community Status Book Searchable site for access of Community Status Books Florida State University Atlantic Hurricane Site Tracking and NWS warnings for Atlantic Hurricanes and other links The Tornado Project Online Information on tornadoes, including details of recent impacts. National Severe Storms Laboratory Information about and tracking of severe storms. Independent Insurance Agents of America IIAA Natural Disaster Risk Map A multi-disaster risk map. Earth Satellite Corporation Flood risk maps searchable by state. USDA Forest Service Web Information on forest and land management.