MEETING NOTES

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Meeting Armstrong County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) Planning Team Kickoff Meeting

Date March 14, 2018 Time 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Location Belmont Complex, 415 Butler Road, Kittanning, PA

Attendees

Bill Hamilton, Director, Armstrong County Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Becky Feracioly, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Armstrong County DPS

Janet Talerico, Executive Director, Area Agency on Aging

Thomas Swisher, Program Manager, Armstrong County Planning Department

Bill Rupert, Sheriff, Armstrong County

Roger McMillen, Director, Armstrong County Public Works Department

Alfred Kammerdifner, Boggs Township

Bill Headley, Burrell Township

Lori Headley, Burrell Township

David Kunkle, Supervisor, Burrell Township

Ron Shellhammer, Supervisor, Burrell Township

Raynette Boyer, Dayton Borough

Edith R. Steffy, Dayton Borough

Dave Stewart, Supervisor, East Franklin Township

Jennifer Redwick, Elderton Borough

Mary Alice Bryant, Council Member, Ford City Borough

Carol Fenyes, Council President, Ford City Borough

Tyson Klukan, Council Member, Ford City Borough

Melanie Zeubrzuski, Council Member, Freeport Borough

Earl Kline, EMC, Kittanning Borough

Don Palmer, Supervisor, Manor Township

Robert Southworth, Supervisor, Manor Township

Michael D. Tharan, Council Vice President, South Bethlehem Borough

Dennis B. Shaffer, Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC), West Franklin Township and Worthington Borough

Henry Mores, Councilman, West Kittanning Borough

George Kerr, Council Member, Worthington Borough

Tyler Wolfe, Safety Coordinator, ACMH Hospital

Diane Faletti, Office Manager, West Hills Area Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA)

West Crawford, Armstrong Power, LLC

Douglas Spicuzza, Project Manager, Woodard & Curran

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Corey Giles, Senior Environmental Coordinator, EQT Corporation

Daniel Christy, Operations Manager, Citizens Ambulance Service

Dan Felack, Lower Kiski Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Task Force 340

Steven Warheit, Chief, Freeport Fire Department

Tony Subbio, Project Manager, Tetra Tech

Discussion Points This section summarizes each discussion point addressed during the Planning Team Kickoff Meeting.

Introductions Mr. Hamilton welcomed attendees to the meeting and the planning process. Attendees introduced themselves

and indicated which organization they represented.

Planning Process Mr. Subbio discussed the planning process to be used to update the HMP. He explained that the process begins

with examining the following hazards of concern for Armstrong County, as identified in the 2014 HMP:

Natural Hazards Human-made Hazards

Drought Building or Structure Collapse

Earthquake Dam Failure

Flooding/Flash Flood/Ice Jam Drowning

Hurricane/ Tropical Storm/ Nor’easter Environmental Hazards – Hazardous Materials

Invasive Species Levee Failure

Landslide Terrorism

Pandemic Transportation Accidents

Radon Exposure Urban Fire and Explosion

Subsidence/Sinkhole Utility Interruption

Tornado/Windstorm

Wildfire

Winter Storm

Mr. Subbio described the Evaluation of Identified Hazards and Risk Worksheet that was distributed to the

attendees. This worksheet captures information from each municipality regarding changes in each municipality’s

vulnerability to the hazards of concern, and asks respondents to identify additional hazards to be considered.

Mr. Subbio asked each attendee to take a few minutes to complete the worksheet before moving on.

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Mr. Subbio then discussed the process that will be used in assessing the County’s vulnerability to certain

hazards when updating the hazard profiles and the specific scenarios. The following scenarios will be examined

using Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazards U.S. (HAZUS) software:

• Earthquake: the 500- and 2,500-year Mean Return Period (MRP) events

• Flood: the 1-percent annual chance flood

• Wind: the 100-year and 500-year MRP events

The next step in the planning process is to update the capability assessments of the County and each

municipality. A Capability Assessment Survey was distributed to the attendees to collect information regarding

their planning and regulatory, administrative and technical, financial, and education and outreach capabilities.

Mr. Subbio reviewed each capability category with the attendees.

Once the risk assessment and capabilities assessments are updated, they will be discussed with the Planning

Team and general public at a public meeting.

Mr. Subbio next discussed updating the mitigation strategy, which will consist of reviewing the existing goals and

objectives, determining the status of mitigation actions from the 2014 HMP, and identifying new mitigation actions

to include in the updated HMP. Mr. Subbio reviewed the Mitigation Strategy 5-Year Mitigation Plan Review

Worksheet with attendees. The worksheet collects stakeholders’ input on the goals and objectives from the 2014

HMP, and provides an opportunity for municipalities to describe the progress made on implementing their

mitigation actions since the HMP was last approved. Each municipality is asked to describe the status of each

mitigation action that applies to that jurisdiction. Mr. Subbio told the attendees about a mitigation strategy

workshop that will be conducted during the planning process to help stakeholders identify mitigation actions to

include in the HMP.

Mr. Subbio also discussed the layout of the HMP. The risk assessment, capabilities assessment, and mitigation

strategy would each be included as a section of the HMP. Other sections include the County Profile,

documentation of the planning process, and the plan maintenance section. The County Profile will be updated to

include the latest demographic, economic, land use, hydrologic, and critical facility information.

The draft HMP will be presented to the Planning Team for review and comment. Tetra Tech will incorporate any

changes identified by the Planning Team. The draft HMP will then be posted for a period of 30 days, after which

a public meeting will be held to collect and review feedback on the HMP. Tetra Tech will address any suggested

changes, and will submit the HMP to PEMA and FEMA for formal review. After review comments are received,

Tetra Tech will make any required changes and resubmit the HMP, as necessary, until FEMA grants it

“approvable pending adoption” (APA) status.

Mr. Subbio explained that FEMA cannot approve the HMP until the County and at least one participating

municipality formally adopt the HMP. FEMA grants APA status to let the communities know that the HMP will be

approved once it is adopted, so that the communities do not adopt the HMP only to have to re-adopt it after any

changes are made.

Once the HMP secures APA status, the County and the municipalities will formally adopt the updated HMP. The

County and municipalities will then begin the implementation process, which will include conducting regular

meetings of the Planning Team and other stakeholders, and implementing specific actions and projects.

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Review Schedule Mr. Subbio reviewed the following project schedule with attendees:

• The risk assessment and capabilities assessment will be updated by May 2018.

• The Planning Team Meeting to review the risk assessment and capabilities assessment will be held once the assessments are complete, likely in late May 2018.

• The mitigation strategy will be updated by mid-July 2018.

• The HMP will be drafted by mid-August 2018, and submitted to PEMA for review at the end of August 2018.

• The HMP will be submitted to FEMA for review in late September 2018.

• Depending on the length of the FEMA review process, Tetra Tech estimates that the HMP will receive APA status by December 2018.

Next Steps Mr. Subbio requested that relevant documents (such as comprehensive plans, capital improvement plans,

floodplain management ordinances, etc.) be sent to him. Municipalities will complete the three worksheets and

provide them to Mr. Subbio or Ms. Feracioly. Tetra Tech will complete the risk assessment and post the draft

hazard profiles to the project website. Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Feracioly, and Mr. Subbio thanked attendees for their

time and participation.

1

Armstrong CountyHazard Mitigation Plan (HMP)

UpdatePlanning Team Kickoff Meeting

Agenda

Introductions

Planning Process

Schedule Review

Next Steps

Questions

Introductions

Name

Organization

Focus and Concerns

Planning Process

Update the Risk Assessment

Update the Capabilities Assessment

Update the Mitigation Strategy

Update Other Sections of the HMP

Submit the HMP for Review

Adopt the HMP

Implement the HMP

Update the Risk Assessment

Hazards from the 2014 HMP

Natural Hazards Human-Caused Hazards

Drought Building or Structure Collapse

Earthquake Dam Failure

Flooding/Flash Flood/Ice Jam Drowning

Hurricane/ Tropical Storm/ Nor’easter

Environmental Hazards – Hazardous Materials

Invasive Species Levee Failure

Landslide Terrorism

Pandemic Transportation Accidents

Radon Exposure Urban Fire and Explosion

Subsidence/Sinkhole Utility Interruption

Tornado/Windstorm

Wildfire

Winter Storm

Update the Risk Assessment

Update Hazard Profiles

– Events since September 2013

– Robust hazard descriptions

– Incorporate historic structures/areas

– Improved vulnerability assessments

HAZUS-MH Analysis

– Earthquake – 500-year and 2,500-year Mean Return Period (MRP) event

– Flood – 1 percent annual chance floodplain

– Wind – 100-year and 500-year MRP events

2

Update the Capabilities Assessment

Planning and Regulatory Capability

Administrative and Technical Capability

Financial Capability

Education and Outreach

Overall Self-Assessment of Capability

Capability Assessment Survey

Planning Team Meeting (open to the public) to Review Risk and Capabilities Assessments

Update the Mitigation Strategy

Review Goals and Objectives

Determine Status of Mitigation Actions

Identify New Mitigation Actions/Projects

Conduct Mitigation Strategy Workshop

Update Other Sections of the HMP

County Profile

– Update data

Planning Process

– Documentation of the update process

Plan Maintenance

– Incorporating into other plans as well as determining ways to incorporate other plans into the updated HMP

Submit the HMP for Review

Review Draft with Planning Team

30-day Public Comment Period

Conduct Public Meeting to Review the Draft

Submit for Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Review

– 14 to 28 days

Submit for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review

– 45 days

“Approvable Pending Adoption” Status

Adopt the HMP

County and at Least One Participating Municipality

FEMA Approval

Adoption Deadline

Implement the HMP

Planning Team Meetings

Stakeholder Meetings

Implement Mitigation Actions and Projects

– Integrate actions where appropriate

3

Schedule Review

Risk Assessment

– February–May 2018

Capabilities Assessment

– February–May 2018

Mitigation Strategy

– February–July 2018

Draft Plan by mid-July 2018

Submit to PEMA in late August 2018

Submit to FEMA in mid-September 2018

“Approvable Pending Adoption” in December 2018

Next Steps

Document Request

Complete Municipal Worksheets

Update the Risk Assessment

Questions?

Thank you for your time!

Contacts

Becky Feracioly

rjferacioly@co.armstrong.pa.us

(724) 548-3368

Tony Subbio

tony.subbio@tetratech.com

(717) 545-3580

AGENDA

ARMSTRONG COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE Planning Team Kickoff Meeting

Wednesday, March 14, 2018 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.

1. Introductions

2. Planning Process a. Update the Risk Assessment b. Update the Capabilities Assessment c. Update the Mitigation Strategy d. Update Other Sections of the HMP e. Submit the HMP for Review f. Adopt the HMP g. Implement the HMP

3. Schedule Review

4. Next Steps

5. Questions

Armstrong County HMP Update 2018

Project Schedule Task Timeframe

Project Management

• Monthly status reports provided to the County by the first Friday of each month

• Quarterly progress reports submitted to PEMA

• Project Closeout Meeting upon the HMP receiving “approvable pending adoption” status from FEMA, anticipated in December 2018

Task 1: Organize Resources

• LPT members identified by February 2, 2018

• Initial LPT Meeting conducted on March 14, 2018

• Outreach to stakeholders conducted throughout the planning process

Task 2: Review and Incorporate Plans

• Conducted from Kick-off through June 29, 2018

Task 3: Conduct Capability Assessment

• Conducted from project kickoff through May 18, 2018

Task 4: Conduct Risk Assessment

• Conducted from project kickoff through May 18, 2018

Task 5: Review the Capability Assessment and Risk Assessment

• Public meeting conducted on or about May 23, 2018

Task 6: Develop Mitigation Strategy

• Mitigation strategy workshop conducted on or about June 20, 2018

• New strategy developed by July 13, 2018

Task 7: Define Plan Maintenance

• Defined by July 13, 2018

Task 8: Prepare the Updated HMP Draft

• Plan updated by July 13, 2018

Task 9: Review and Finalize the Updated HMP Draft

• Public comment period: July 16 – August 15, 2018

• Public meeting conducted on or about August 16, 2018

• Draft HMP finalized by August 24, 2018

Task 10: Submit the Updated HMP Draft for Formal Reviews

• Plan submitted to PEMA on or about August 28, 2018

• PEMA Review Period: August 29 – September 14, 2018

• Plan submitted to FEMA Region III on or about September 21, 2018

• FEMA Review Period: September 24 – November 9, 2018

• Conference call to discuss FEMA comments conducted on or about November 16, 2018

• Update and resubmit draft HMP to FEMA Region III by November 26, 2018

Task 11: Facilitate Adoption of the Updated HMP

• Final plan delivered to County and PEMA upon plan receiving “approvable pending adoption” status – estimated to be in December 2018