2023 Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Progress Report
| Ta A.5 MITIGATION STRATEGY | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action # | Action Description | Hazard(s) Addressed | Goal & Objective Addressed | Priority | Lead Agency / Department | Potential Funding Source | Implementation Timeline | 2023 Implementation Status Comments |
| CUR1 | Establish appropriate buffers/setbacks between critical facilities and other uses that may be incompatible | All Hazards | 2.1 | High | Planning | General Fund | On going | Currituck participated in DCM’s Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) which included a detailed Risk & Vulnerability Assessment of critical assets (see final report link). |
| CUR2 | Maintain partnerships with adjacent counties and municipalities to leverage and share resources. | All Hazards | 2.2 | Moderate | Emergency Management | General Fund | On going | Continuous - county-to-county mutual aid agreement |
| CUR3 | Encourage clustering of residential lots outside of hazard areas in subdivision design/review and discourage development intensity and infrastructure improvements in known hazard areas | All Hazards | 3.1 | Moderate | Planning | General Fund | On going | This is somewhat addressed by ordinance language but will be reinforced by policies in the new Land Use Plan. Imagine Currituck, the new Land Use Plan, Adopted June 20, 2022, includes an Action for UDO AMENDMENT CC-ACT-29 “Prioritize preservation of open space near marshes and special flood hazard areas to allow for inland retreat of coastal marshes and wetlands.” The new Land use plan will soon be certified by DCM. |
| CUR4 | Encourage development away from high-risk and vulnerable areas and establish redevelopment standards that decrease hazard risk | All Hazards | 3.1 | High | Planning | General Fund | On going | We allow higher density development as an incentive for developers to place special flood hazard area portions of large tracts in perpetual conservation. The new Coastal Resilience Tool, created for Currituck County by The Nature Conservancy, is used during subdivision review to encourage development away from high-risk areas. |
| CUR5 | Install back-up generators at the Historic County Courthouse and the fuel farm. | All Hazards | 2.2 | Moderate | Emergency Management | HMGP Grant | 0-1 years | The generator at the historic courthouse has been installed. The generator at the fuel farm had to be rebid. |
| CUR6 | Enhance existing and/or implement new groundwater lowering systems in low-lying coastal areas. | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 1.2 | Moderate | Stormwater Service Districts/ Engineering | Service District Taxes | 3 years for Ocean Sands | An additional pump is being installed in the Whalehead Subdivision and will be completed by December. As of July 1, 2023, the Ocean Sands Stormwater District is now paying increased taxes for additional revenue to fund the groundwater lowering system. The project will also be split into smaller more affordable phases to provide an earlier start date. |
| CUR7 | Support individuals and Homeowners Associations in acquiring funding for green stormwater infrastructure to mitigate nuisance flooding. | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 1.2 | Moderate | Soil & Water Conservation Board, Planning, Cooperative Extension | General Funds and Grants | On going | Currituck County was awarded $248,000 through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Stream Flow Rehabilitation Program. The County continues to use this money to improve drainage infrastructure. |
| CUR8 | Preserve natural environmental features to naturally absorb water run-off and serve as wind buffers | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm, Severe Weather | 3.2 | Moderate | Planning | General Fund | On going | Our Unified Development Ordinance contains provisions for preserving existing vegetation for buffers as well as preservation of wetland areas. Our stormwater manual contains water quality standards as well. |
| CUR9 | Retain vegetation and require buffers in areas adjacent to wetlands, water bodies and Maritime forests | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm, Severe Weather | 3.2 | Moderate | Planning | General Fund | On going | This is ongoing through a combination of wetland buffers, implementation of CAMA regulations, and heritage tree protection standards. |
| CUR10 | Evaluate allocating a portion of occupancy tax toward the dune protection program and shoreline restoration, and expand extent of the dune protection program to include grant support of sand fencing. | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm, Severe Weather | 3.2 | High | Planning | Occ Tax | On going | The county is offering yearly dune vegetation and sand fence cost share programs. The county has recently increased funding for this program to $20,000. |
| CUR11 | Work to pursue shoreline stabilization projects and regular shoreline monitoring. | Coastal Hazards | 3.3 | Moderate | Engineering | General Funds | On going | The 3-year shoreline study has been completed and presented at a Board of Commissioners retreat. The results will be used by the board to develop a beach management plan. |
| CUR12 | Currituck Sound Coalition partners collaborate to implement projects, research and other planning initiatives that advance the goals of the Marsh Conservation Plan to reduce the impacts of threats to the marshes in the Currituck Sound, while also benefiting the multifaceted conservation targets. | Coastal Hazards | 3.3 | Moderate | Audubon, Planning, GIS, Soil & Water Conservation | General Funds | On going | Coalition meetings are held quarterly. Audubon Pine Island Marsh Restoration Planning Project is in the process of designing project sites within the Currituck sound to address the following: increase resilience of existing marshes to sea level rise and other climate change impacts while reducing flood and storm surge impacts to nearby communities and infrastructure. Pilot projects include: a living shoreline with soft sill, Christmas tree breakwater, thin layer placement (TLP) for marsh restoration. |
| CUR13 | Encourage linkage of existing and future open space areas to implement greenways throughout unique geographies of the county. | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm, Severe Weather | 3.3 | Moderate | Planning | No funding needed | On going | In partnership with The Nature Conservancy the county is testing out utility of a Green Space Dashboard. |
| CUR14 | Seek funding for public hazard mitigation projects. | All Hazards | 1.2 | Moderate | Emergency Management | Grant | On going | Grant writing and monitoring added to Soil & Water admin position. Also monitoring EPA flood reduction grants. County has signed agreements with State for the State centric plan. The state will now handle all contract work and county EM will now be the liaison between homeowner and state. State has bids out for contractors to lift each of the houses. Very slow process. |
| CUR15 | Continue to support efforts for planning, design, and construction of the Mid-County bridge project. | All Hazards | 3.3 | Moderate | Planning | NC Turnpike Authority | On going | Planning staff is working on terminus designs and studying impacts to properties on both sides of the bridge. Funding allocated in STIP for FY18, awaiting Record of Decision which should be issued spring/summer 2018. |
| CUR16 | Identify bridges for retrofitting. | All Hazards | 1.2 | High | Planning | NCDOT | On going | Ongoing. Continuing to work with DOT to maintain roadways and the Wright Memorial Bridge. |
| CUR17 | Secure funding, design, and construct an EOC/Public Safety Facility | All Hazards | 3.3 | High | Engineering/Emergency Management | General Fund/Grant | Complete | The new Public Safety Building is complete and operational. |
| CUR18 | Maintain and work to improve radio communications and technology throughout public safety programs | All Hazards | 4.2 | High | Public Safety Agencies | General Funds and Grants | On going | This project is still in process. Updates to the microwave system will be worked on first. Waiting on proposal from vendor. |
| CUR19 | Provide continuous training and information for first responders in hazard response. | All Hazards | 4.1 | High | Public Safety Agencies | General Funds and Grants | On going | Ongoing |
| CUR20 | Coordinate response to bridge incidents for the Wright Memorial Bridge | Transportation Infrastructure Failure | 4.1 | High | Public Safety Agencies | General Funds/Grants | On going | This exercise is complete and continuous, planning will improve response. |
| CUR21 | Educate the public and inform them of the benefits of participation in the Fire Wise program. | Wildfire | 1.1 | High | Emergency Management | Grant | On going | We have 3 communities that are in the Firewise program: Pine Island, Currituck Club, Point Harbor . We met with each community at the end of April to renew their certifications. |
| CUR22 | Educate homeowners and builders on the benefits of sprinkler systems in residential structures. | Wildfire | 1.1 | Moderate | Fire Marshal/Planning | General Fund | On going | Ongoing through the fire marshal and planning department. The County is periodically conducting citizen academy sessions where planning processes and building codes are discussed with developers, contractors, and the general public. Residential sprinkle systems are included in these sessions. |
| CUR23 | Increase public awareness and understanding of the locations and proper way to dispose of hazardous waste | Hazardous Materials Incident | 1.1 | Moderate | Public Works | General Fund | On going | PW continues to sponsor an annual household hazardous waste day. Hazardous waste day is now advertised in the Focus on Currituck publication and on social media platforms. Participation continues to increase. |
| CUR24 | Periodically survey the public to evaluate if public outreach efforts are effective in identifying potential flood hazards, public concern, and ways to mitigate against hazards | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 1.1 | Moderate | Planning | General Fund | On going | Tailoring future outreach projects using survey results. |
| CUR25 | Develop a joint public outreach document that addresses all hazards (published by the Planning and Emergency Management Departments) | All Hazards | 1.1 | High | Planning/Emergency Management | General Fund | On going | The planning department and the emergency management department publish documents in the "Focus on Currituck" publication. The new outreach brochure, created as a joint effort by Currituck and Dare Counties through our CRS user’s group, addresses all hazards. |
| CUR26 | Evaluate effectiveness of Currituck's warning systems | All Hazards | 1.1 | High | Emergency Management | General Fund | On going | Number of individuals registering for Currituck Alert provides a baseline for effectiveness of mass notification. Planning a campaign to increase awareness of ENS and increase number of subscribers. Registrations still rising. Utilizing social media and Focus on Currituck publication to increase awareness. |
| CUR27 | Educate and assist vulnerable populations in developing personal preparedness plans. | All Hazards | 1.1 | High | Emergency Management | General Fund | On going | Continuous |
| CUR28 | Partner with other County Departments, State, local agencies to educate and inform vulnerable populations about special needs registry with Social Services through community outreach (survey, website, social media, water bill) | All Hazards | 1.1 | High | DSS, EM, PIO | General Fund | On going | Continuous |
| CUR29 | Create curriculums for all hazards preparedness to better educate the public | All Hazards | 1.1 | High | Emergency Management | General Fund/Grants | less than 5 years | Emergency Management is working on this action as budget and staffing allows. |
| CUR30 | Continue to educate elected officials and the public on the need for and benefits of sustained shoreline management strategies. | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm, Severe Weather | 1.1 | High | Planning | General Fund | On going | Staff continues to share information with elected officials and the public. |
| CUR31 | Educate property owners on the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains, watersheds, and other natural/coastal areas. | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 3.2 | Moderate | Planning | General Fund | On going | This is included in the new outreach brochure. |
| CUR32 | Educate the development and agricultural communities as well as the public on the impacts of turbidity on floodplain/natural areas and mitigating best management practices | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 3.2 | Moderate | Soil & Water Conservation Board, Planning, Cooperative Extension | General Fund | On going | The Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Cooperative Extension continue to work on this action as time and budget allows. |
| CUR33 | Develop outreach materials and offer training on Low Impact Development (LID) best management practices that can be distributed to the public and engineering communities. | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 3.2 | High | Soil & Water Conservation Board, Planning, Cooperative Extension | General Fund | less than 5 years | The stormwater manual addresses this. Training has not been offered yet. Progress on this action has been hindered by staffing and budget constraints. |
| CUR34 | Send targeted outreach on flood risk, preparedness, insurance and mitigation options to repetitive loss property owners | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 1.1 | High | Planning | General Fund | 1 year | All repetitive loss properties received a copy of our outreach brochure which addresses these concerns. |
| CUR35 | Send targeted outreach on flood risk, preparedness, insurance, and mitigation options to pre-FIRM property owners | Coastal Hazards, Flood, Hurricane & Tropical Storm | 1.1 | High | Planning | General Fund | 1 year | The County is hoping to develop a new letter to be sent to all pre-FIRM property owners in the near future. Working to get more outreach funding included in the budget. |
