CRERPA Natural Hazards Mitigation Project Overview

In 1999, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (DEP/FEMA) gave a presentation to representatives from the 9 towns in the CRERPA region about Nautal Hazard Mitigation Planning. This meeting was to encourage each town to take advantage of the 75% grant funding available to the towns with a 25% match from the town.

Within the State of Connecticut, only several municipalities had availed themselves of the funding. Future funding for hazard mitigation projects was contingent on adoption of a municipal Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. In an effort to move mitigation planning forward, CRERPA asked if natural hazard mitigation planning could be done on a regional level. DEP/FEMA indicated that this would be an excellent way to help the towns, with the agency providing the 25% matching funding.

In 2001, CRERPA began the process of meeting the guidelines set by FEMA for Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning. The components were to include: a Regional Risk and Vulnerability Assessment with individual town assassments; a Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan; and nine individual town Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans. The Risk and Vulnerability Assessment was completed in 2003 and forwarded to the First Selectman in each of the nine towns.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR READING DOCUMENT

The Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP) is written to both represent regional cooperation and recognize individual town concerns and goals for natural hazard mitigation. This NHMP contains the following sections:
Preface 1 - this Introduction page
Preface 2 - the Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for natural hazards that may affect the region and flood analysis for each municipality
Preface 3 - the Regional Overview for Mitigation of natural hazards which reviews potential regional hazards and introductory methods for regional cooperation to mitigate these natural hazards
The Individual Town Mitigation Plan provides an individualized mitigation plan for natural hazards that might affect the town with various options
Appendix I - Repetitive Loss Properties reviews properties within each town which are subject to repeated loss from flood damage and options for mitigation to reduce damage
Appendix II - Goals and Implementation lists mitigation options that have been reviewed by each town to reduce loss of life and property witin that town. Many of these recommendations will also improve the community rating system within the community to lower flood insurance costs
Appendix III - HAZUS Hurrican Loss Estimate is a level one review for potential costs for damage and recovery from a category three hurrican for each town
Appendix IV - Public Outreach Methodology lists bulletins, notices, meeting minutes etc. as towns provide additional town specific notices and public outreach opportunites. This list is maintained on a regional basis.
Appendix V - References and Literature Review is a bibliography used in the development of the NHMP in addition to references cited in Appendix II for each town.

For additional questions for your town or the region, please call CRERPA at 388-3497. Project Coordinator - Jean Davies Town Specific: Essex, Deep River, Chester, Killingworth - Jean Davies Town Specific: Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton - Torrance Downes Town Specific: Old Lyme, Lyme - Linda Krause