FEMA Region X – Risk MAP Discovery Interview
Lower Willamette - Tualatin Watersheds
City of North Plains, Oregon
August 10, 2012, 9:00am Pacific Time
City of North Plains
Blake Boyles – Public Works Director
Oregon DLCD
Steve Lucker – State Risk MAP Coordinator
FEMA Region X
Dave Ratté – Regional Engineer
Jennifer Monroe – Risk Analyst
STARR (FEMA Contractor)
Becca Croft – Interviewer
Keith Botchie – GIS Specialist
Jennifer Anticknap – Recorder
The following information was collected during the Interview. Unless otherwise noted, all comments are
from the City of North Plains representative.
I.
Contacts
 The contact list was updated to include M. DeBry, the City Manager/Planner for the City
of North Plains. Ms. DeBry should be copied on all project correspondence to the City of
North Plains.
STARR (K. Botchie) reviewed the GIS data that has been collected for the city of North Plains and
explained the types of additional data that could be beneficial to the project: parks, environmentally
sensitive areas, critical habitats, building footprints, parcels, topographic data (LiDAR, etc.).
II.
III.
Topography, LiDAR, and GIS
 All GIS data for the City of North Plains is managed by the Metro Regional Land
Information System.
Planning
 North Plains participates in the regional hazard mitigation plan with Washington County.
The plan is in the process of being updated.
 The City is considering putting out a Request for Proposals to earthquake proof their
water supply. Mr. Boyles to check with the regional emergency manager to see if this
activity has been or will be included in the regional mitigation plan update.
 The Jessie Mays Community Center is the designated shelter.
 There is a new interchange currently being constructed in the city at US 26 and Glencoe
Road. The ODOT project is expected to take two years to complete and recently started.
The project will replace a 72-inch culvert with a bridge. The project is expected to
relieve flooding south of Commercial Street.
Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette - Tualatin Watersheds
City of North Plains – August 10, 2012

IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Page 2 of 4
One of the city’s major employers, the lumber mill (employing approximately 150
people), is located in the floodplain. There is an approximate 8 foot embankment along
that protects the area north of Commercial Street, south of the railway. The flow of the
water through this area is slow and the community is not worried about bank erosion in
this area. D. Ratté noted that this area may be useful to see on a site visit.
Earthquakes
 There are no fault lines identified within the city and there is no past earthquake
damage.
 As noted above, the City is considering a Request for Proposals to earthquake proof
their reservoir/water supply system. Protecting their water supply in the event of an
earthquake is a concern.
Wildfires
 There is low risk of wildfire hazard. The community is surrounded by agricultural land.
 The city of North Plains is in Washington County Fire District #2.
Landslides
 There is no concern of landslides in the city. There is approximately 10 feet of elevation
difference between one side of the city and the other, with the city being approximately
a mile across.
Severe Storms
 In 2009, a heavy snow and quick thaw contributed to flooding in the city. Damage from
this event was restricted to a culvert leading to a private property at the end of 314th
Avenue (unnamed tributary to McKay Creek). A volume of water was so large passing
through the culvert that it turned the 72-inch culvert inside-out. A FEMA grant was used
to replace the culvert.
 The 2009 snow event also resulted in the community having to plow city streets every
day for four (4) days. The storm caused traffic congestion but there were no significant
impacts to the community as most residents have 4-wheel drive vehicles and county and
state roads were readily accessible.
 Major power outage resulting from a major transformer blowing up and destroying the
station (station identified on map), was caused by a tree limb during a storm event. The
City opened the Emergency Management Operations center and opened the Jessie
Mays Community Center as a shelter. Power was out from 12-14 hours, generators
were brought in. The community knew to go to the Community Center as it was one of
the only buildings in town with back-up power.
 North Plains is involved in the system to notify of residents of storms that will scroll
across the TV.
 During an event, a big screen TV is placed outside the library that broadcast events and
emergency notifications. The library is located on Commercial Street and visible to
those passing by.
Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette - Tualatin Watersheds
City of North Plains – August 10, 2012
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
Page 3 of 4
Flooding
 There are no repetitive flood loss structures in the city.
 There are businesses and structures in the SFHA without flood insurance (S. Lucker).
There have not been any problems with flooding, even for buildings in the SFHA. Mr.
Boyle pointed out that the lumber mill (employing approximately 150 people) is in the
floodplain. Two structures in the middle of the floodplain at the end of Hillcrest Street
did not get wet during the 1996 flood, which was the worst flood the city has
experienced. Water did not come up to the asphalt of the parking lot.
 The flood of 1996 was the worst flood the city has experienced.
 Northeast of the North Plains, along McKay Creek and Jackson Creek were the
hardest hit areas. This area is mostly farmland/parkland so impacts to residents
were minimal.
 Flooding along unnamed tributary to McKay Creek, along the north and west
side of the city, caused businesses to shut down for several days while waters
rose and receded, no damage was noted.
 There were no flood damages to homes noted as a result of this event.
 There is an area on the northwest side of the city, along the unnamed Tributary to
McKay Creek, which floods even if there is “a drop of rain”. The county is aware of the
problem but is waiting for a development/subdivision to go in. The area will be elevated
with fill. Improvements to the county road should include raising the road grade.
 The City believes that the current maps do not depict flooding northwest of the city
(along the unnamed tributary to McKay Creek).
Levees
 There are no levees within the city.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
 Two environmentally sensitive areas were captured. A wetland area in the north east
portion of the city and an area south of Pacific Street the City recently acquired to
preserve and create green space/trails/pathways. Riparian areas that need protecting
were identified during the planning process for the pathway.
Communications and Outreach
 Floodplain Administrators for the City of North Plains are B. Boyle and M. DeBry.
 There is a floodplain process and permitting in place. M. DeBry does the permitting.
 The City does encourage CERT training and does hold emergency management
practices/drills.
 A newsletter informing residents of hazards and how they can protect themselves is
sent out monthly with the water bill. The hazard information varies by season.
 The City sets up information tables at local events. Recently participated in National
Night Out and Public Works had a table of information regarding the benefits of
backflow preventer values, etc. Last year the table focused on Emergency
Management. Each year the information is different.
Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette - Tualatin Watersheds
City of North Plains – August 10, 2012



XII.
Page 4 of 4
The City provides sand bags to residents from October to May.
North Plains is interested in templates/tools/kits that could aid in their outreach efforts.
City Council meetings occur twice per month, 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month, and
would be a venue for status updates regarding this project.
 The City is open to future calls and will work to schedule Discovery meeting.
Other
 The last week of September may not work for having a Discovery Meeting in the area.
There is a statewide conference, the League of Oregon Cities, and many of the
communities in the Portland Metro area will be attending, as will the City of North
Plains representatives.
 The City of North Plains inquired if the urban growth boundary would be useful and is
able to make that boundary available.