Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
Page 1 of 37
I. Documentation of the Planning Process
The four phases of Emergency Management are: (1) Mitigation: Any sustained action
taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from a hazard event.
Mitigation, also known as prevention, encourages long-term reduction of hazard
vulnerability. The goal of mitigation is to save lives and reduce property damage.
Mitigation can accomplish this, and should be cost effective and environmentally sound.
This, in turn, can reduce the enormous cost of disasters to property owners and all levels
of government. In addition, mitigation can protect critical community facilities, reduce
exposure to liability, and minimize community disruption. (2) Preparedness: Plans and
preparations made to save lives and property and to facilitate response operations. (3)
Response: Actions taken to provide emergency assistance, save lives, minimize property
damage, and speed recovery immediately following a disaster. (4) Recovery: Actions
taken to return to a normal or improved operating condition following a disaster.(FEMA)
These are the basic building blocks that the Hocking County Emergency Management
Agency (HCEMA) follows to protect lives and property, and to reduce economic loss
and any future damages that the county may endure. HCEMA has taken on the task of
participating in the Fiscal Year 2003 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Planning Initiative. A
plan will be developed to address mitigation for natural hazards in Hocking County. This
document will identify natural hazard risks in Hocking County, along with possible
mitigation activities in order to eliminate and/or lessen damages associated with these
disasters.
This plan was established by following the rules and regulations of the Federal Register
under 201.6 Local Mitigation Plans. The plan was then revised following suggested
guidelines in the Ohio planning guidebook interim guidance document, prepared by the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Emergency Management
Agency (Ohio EMA). The CORE group members were active in developing this plan.
The most current information available was used and dates are noted with the statistics.
Information in this document is subject to change (new buildings/structures, updated
statistics etc.) and will be implemented into the plan when available.
Hocking County was awarded a grant in the amount of $19,471.00 to develop a PreDisaster Mitigation Plan for natural hazards. A local match of $6,490.00 is required.
The plan must be completed prior to November, 2004, to maintain eligibility for Stafford
Act disaster assistance.
Various agencies and departments contributed information to the Plan. Some of the
agencies include but are not limited to: Hocking County Regional Planning Office,
Hocking County Auditors’ Office, Hocking County Mapping and Drafting Department,
Hocking County Engineer, Hocking County EMA, Hocking County Sewer Department,
ODNR-Division of Forestry, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, Hocking County
Commissioners, Township Trustees and Clerks, Logan Mayor, Logan City Water and
Sewer Departments, Logan-Hocking School District, Hocking Soil and Water
Conservation District, Hocking County Health Department, Ohio EPA, The Ohio State
University Extension, Fire Departments, Hocking County Firefighters Association,
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Logan Hocking Chamber of Commerce/Hocking County Community Improvement
Corporation, Hocking Hills Tourism Association, Murray City Mayor, and Laurelville
Village Council.
A. CORE GROUP
Bob Burris, Hocking County Regional Planner, Barbara Bunthoff, Hocking County EMA
Director, Gary Starner, Hocking County Commissioner, and Debbie Later, Hocking Soil
and Water Conservation District Program Administrator, met and selected a list of CORE
committee members to be included in the development of the Natural Hazard Mitigation
Plan (NHMP). The group was formed based upon the information and knowledge that
was needed to develop the NHMP. The following individuals are experts in their fields
with the knowledge and leadership needed to help organize the plan. These committee
members will offer insight into the problems and concerns that Hocking County is faced
with. The CORE Group included the following members:
Barbara Bunthoff …………………………………............Hocking County EMA Director
Robert Burris, P.E…..…………..……………..Hocking County Regional Planning Office
Audie Wykle………...Appalachia Ohio Alliance Advisory Committee Technical Advisor
Gary Starner………...…………………………………….Hocking County Commissioner
Allan Johnson………...…………...Hocking Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)
Debbie Later………………………………………………………………Hocking SWCD
Clark Sheets, Jr.………………………………Hocking SWCD/Marion Township Trustee
Bob West……….............................………………….………..Laurelville Village Council
Roger Shaw………….….…..…………………………………………………...Developer
Don Davis…….……….…………………..…...……The Ohio State University Extension
Steve Williams………………..…………………………………………………Ohio EPA
Mark Samuels…….…….…………..…………………………..…The Logan Daily News
Sharon Koon……..……………………………………………Murray City Village Mayor
Steve Stirn……………….……………….Logan-Hocking School District Superintendent
Bill Rinehart……...Logan-Hocking Chamber of Commerce/Hocking County Community
Improvement Corporation
Ray Dennis…..…………….……………………..…..Hocking County Health Department
Mike Walsh…………….…..…………………………….……….Mayor of City of Logan
Dave Glass…………………………………………………Hocking State Forest Manager
In addition to the Core Group listed above, Trustees or Clerks from nine of the eleven
townships participated in one or more of the Core Group meetings. The jurisdictions’
information was provided through their representatives on the Core Group. All
Township Trustees and Clerks were invited to all Core Group Meetings by individual
personal letters sent to their homes.
Bob Miller, President of the Hocking County Fire Fighters’ Association, which
represents all fire departments in Hocking County (including volunteer fire departments)
was invited to the meetings and attended or had a representative attend the meetings and
gave input into the plan on behalf of all the fire departments.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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Local businesses and companies were represented through the Logan-Hocking Chamber
of Commerce/Hocking County Community Improvement Corporation representative.
Educators were represented through the Logan-Hocking School District Superintendent
or his representative. The Appalachia Ohio Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated
to the stewardship of Appalachia Ohio and the cultural heritage of its people, was
represented on the Core Group by Audie Wykle, their Advisory Committee Technical
Advisor. The Hocking Soil and Water Conservation District, whose staff worked on the
research and writing of this plan and was represented by two Board Members on the Core
Group, is a non-profit government agency with a Board of Supervisors who are elected
by the public to represent them in charting the course for soil and water conservation and
natural resources management. The representatives mentioned in this paragraph were
invited to all Core Group Meetings, by personal letter.
We held four Core Group Meetings during the development of the Draft Plan and all
jurisdictions were invited. The local newspaper was invited to all meetings and all
meetings were open to the public. A representative of the newspaper attended some of
the meetings.
Representatives of the Hocking SWCD and Hocking County Regional Planning Office
met with Dave Glass, ODNR-Division of Forestry, Hocking State Forest Manager, on
May 26, 2004, and discussed in detail the wildfire strategies for both hazards and training
for the County.
A public review of the proposed plan was held on December 15, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 3
p.m., at the Hocking County Emergency Operations Center, 52 East Second Street,
Logan, Ohio. All Core Group Members, Township Trustees and Clerks, Logan City
Mayor, Murray City Village Mayor, Laurelville Village Mayor, and surrounding
jurisdictions through the Athens, Fairfield, Perry, Pickaway, Ross and Vinton County
Emergency Management Agencies were invited by personal letters. The public was
notified by a public meeting notice in the Logan Daily News, as well as a personal
invitation to Mark Samuels, Editor/Publisher of the Logan Daily News. These letters
were mailed November 24, 2004. A request for the public notice to be published was emailed to Mark Samuels, Editor/Publisher of the Logan Daily News on November 24,
2004, and again on December 9, 2004. The public review meeting was also discussed
with Logan Daily News reporter Jeremy Hauck on December 13, 2004, and an article
was on the front page of the Logan Daily News on December 14, 2004. Notice of the
public review was posted on the bulletin boards at the Hocking County Courthouse,
Hocking County Emergency Operations Center and Hocking Soil and Water
Conservation District.
Hocking County Regional Planners Robert Burris and Audie Wykle, attended the
Hocking County Township Trustees Association Meeting on December 20, 2004. They
reviewed and discussed the Hocking County Natural Hazards Mitigation Draft Plan.
They passed out resolution forms to the townships present and requested that they adopt
the plan for their townships and return the resolution to the Hocking Soil and Water
Conservation District so it could be included in the plan.
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Timeline for Preparing the Plan
The PDM Planning timeline was used in preparing the Hocking County Pre-Disaster
Mitigation Plan.
8/8/03 – 12/1/03
Implementation Meetings
Start Planning Process
Form Core Group
2/1/05 - 5/1/05
Public Meeting
FEMA Review Draft
Write and Adopt Final Plan
12/1/03 – 8/1/04
Hazard Identification
Hazard Profile
Risk Assessment
Vulnerability/Loss Estimate
Start Draft Plan
5/1/05 thru 8/8/05
OEMA Review/Final FEMA
Approval/Closeout
8/1/04 – 2/1/05
Setting Goals
Identifying Activities
Developing Action Plans
FEMA Review HA
Finish Draft Plan
8/8/05
Grant Closed
Core Group Meetings
Grant Implementation Meeting–October 10, 2003, Hocking County Natural Hazard
Mitigation Planning
The Grant Implementation meeting was held October 10, 2003. The Hocking County
Emergency Management Agency will contract with the Hocking Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD) and the Hocking County Regional Planning Office for
support on preparing the Mitigation Plan. The Hocking County Regional Planning Office
will oversee the project and the Hocking SWCD will conduct the research. Brigitte
Bouska, State Pre-Disaster Mitigation Coordinator for Ohio EMA, provided a detailed
description of the planning and grant process, presented the guidebook and the Natural
Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP). Barb Bunthoff, Hocking County EMA Director,
Robert Burris, Hocking County Regional Planner, and Debbie Later, Hocking Soil and
Water Conservation District (SWCD) Program Administrator attended. It was agreed
Barb Bunthoff would complete the W9 forms and submit a resolution to the
Commissioners for Approval. A Mitigation Planning Workshop was scheduled for
November 13, 2003.
Core Group Members were discussed among the group and with input from Hocking
County Commissioner Gary Starner. The Core Group members were selected as listed
later in this document. It was agreed to invite all Township Trustees and Clerks as well
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
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as Village and City Mayors to all meetings. The first Core Group Meeting was scheduled
for October 23, 2003, at 3 p.m. at the EOC Conference Room at 52 East Second Street in
Logan. The Hocking SWCD sent out a letter to all Core Group Members, Township
Trustees and Clerks, and Village Mayors notifying them that we are in the process of
writing a Mitigation Plan for Hocking County and asking them to become involved and
help with the project.
Meeting 1 – October 23, 2003 – Initial Core Group/Hazard Identification Meeting
The purpose for this meeting was to meet and familiarize the Core Group with the
purpose, process and objectives for writing the plan and to begin to identify hazards in
the county. Eighteen Core Group Members, etc. attended the meeting.
Barb Bunthoff, Hocking County EMA Director, explained that we can do absolutely no
mitigation in the County if we do not get this plan completed. She explained that if an
entity does not want to participate, they will have to pass a resolution that they don’t want
to participate and then that entity will have to write their own plan in order to get
mitigation funding.
Robert Burris explained the steps of the hazard identification process are: identify,
profile, inventory assets, estimate of losses, and prioritize things we can do to minimize
loss.
Robert Burris led the group in Identifying the Hazards by using Worksheet #1. Task A The following hazards were identified as hazards that may occur in Hocking County:
Dam Failure
Landslide
Drought
Severe Winter Storm
Earthquake
Tornado
Expansive Soils
Wildfire
Extreme Heat
Wind Storm
Flood
Insect Damage
Hail Storm
Thunder Storm.
Land Subsidence
Work Sheet #1 Task B - The most prevalent hazards in our county were identified as
follows:
Dam Failure
Severe Winter Storm
Drought
Wildfire
Extreme Heat
Wind Storm
Flood
Thunder Storm.
Land Subsidence
The group discussed past hazards that have occurred in the county and identified possible
sources of information on these occurrences.
The next meeting scheduled is the Mitigation Planning Workshop on November 13,
2003, at 1:00 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center in Logan.
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Meeting 2 – November 13, 2003 – Mitigation Planning Workshop
The Mitigation Planning Workshop was held at the Emergency Operations Center
Conference Room with 20 Core Group Members, Township Trustees and Clerks, etc.
attending. Rick Warren gave the presentation.
Meeting 3 – February26, 2004 – Core Group Meeting
This meeting was held at the Keynes Building Conference Room located at 88 South
Market Street in Logan. It was originally scheduled for the EOC Conference Room but
had to be moved at the scheduled meeting time due to a scheduling conflict with the
room. Attendees were notified as they entered the EOC that the meeting had been moved
to the Keynes Building just across the alley. Fifteen Core Group Members, Township
Trustees and Clerks, etc. attended. Robert Burris conducted the meeting.
The purpose of this meeting was to select the most prevalent natural hazards, look at
damage factors associated with these hazards, and discuss possible mitigation projects.
The group discussed principal areas where the damages occur and estimated dollar values
for property in these areas. This information was further discussed at the April 21 Core
Group Meeting and the information gathered as these two meetings will be addressed
later in this plan.
Meeting 4 – April 21, 2004 – Core Group Meeting
This meeting was held at the EOC Conference Room in Logan with 12 Core Group
Members, Township Trustees and Clerks, etc. attending. The meeting was conducted by
Robert Burris.
The purpose of this meeting was to further discuss principal areas where damages occur,
estimated dollar value and to begin discussing and selecting possible projects for the
major hazards.
Meeting 5 – December 15, 2004 – Public Review Meeting
This meeting was held at the EOC Conference Room in Logan with 13 Core Group
Members, Township Trustees and Clerks, etc. attending. The meeting was conducted by
Robert Burris.
The purpose of this meeting was to give the core group, townships, and jurisdictions, as
well as the public, a chance to review the second draft of the Hocking County Natural
Hazard Mitigation Plan and give their input. Robert Burris explained the purpose of the
plan and the process of the development of the plan. He also explained that it had been
submitted to the state for review and we received their comments on November 5, 2004.
Robert Burris and Audie Wykle reviewed the plan’s contents and discussed the
mitigation strategies.
Barbara Bunthoff noted that mitigation buyouts can only be done immediately after an
emergency declaration. Barbara Bunthoff, Hocking County EMA Director, noted that
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Salt Creek Township should be mentioned in the plan because they have had more
declarations for flooding than any other township, and the roads need elevated and
culverts need resized. She also requested that information be added concerning the snow
in 1993 and 1994. She has a list of emergency declarations for Hocking County that she
will provide so they can be added to the plan.
Don Davis, of The Ohio State University Extension, suggested reconsidering including
insect damage in the plan due to the threat of Gypsy Moth, Emerald Ash Borer and the
new problems with oak trees and the affect these could have on tourism in the county.
Don Davis also suggested encouraging the Ohio Department of Transportation to elevate
low places in the state highways to increase access for emergency vehicles during
flooding. Two areas where this is an issue during flooding is State Route 93 South and
North.
Eugene Taulbee, Falls Township Trustee, reported that they are having problems with
beaver dams causing flooding and damage to some of their roads and requested that they
be added to Mitigation Strategy number 10.
D. Jurisdictions
The Jurisdictions that participated in the NHMP were:
Hocking County
Village of Laurelville
Village of Murray City
City of Logan
Benton Township
Falls Township (includes Falls Gore Township)
Good Hope Township
Green Township
Laurel Township
Marion Township
Perry Township
Salt Creek Township
Starr Township
Ward Township
Washington Township
Village Mayors agreed to participate in the planning process. A letter was sent out
stating the following:
We are in the process of writing a Mitigation Plan for Hocking County. The Hocking
County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has received a grant to write the plan.
The Hocking County EMA has contracted with Bob Burris and Audie Wykle of the
Hocking County Regional Planning Office to oversee the project and the Hocking Soil
and Water Conservation District to do the research and write the plan. We are asking you
to become involved and help with this project by sitting on the Core Group. It is
important to have a wide variety of participation in the group.
This project is very crucial for the county because after 2005, if we do not have a
Mitigation Plan in place, all entities in the county will not be eligible for FEMA funding
or any mitigation work. This would also include funding for any disasters (natural or
manmade) such as flooding, tornadoes, etc.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
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We have scheduled the first meeting for the Core Group for Thursday, October 23, 2003,
at 3 p.m. in the Emergency Operations Center Conference Room located at 52 East
Second Street, Logan. Please plan to attend.
Each township, village or city will need to come up with a project for their jurisdiction,
so if funding becomes available, the project is planned and ready to be implemented.
(Robert Burris, Hocking County Regional Planner)
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
A. Community Profile
Hocking County Ohio, was formed from parts of Athens, Fairfield and Ross Counties by
an act of the Ohio Legislature on March 1, 1818. As new counties were formed, the
boundaries of Hocking County changed until 1850, when the current boundaries were
established.
Hocking County is located in the southeastern part of Ohio. It is bounded on the north by
Perry and Fairfield Counties, on the west by Pickaway and Ross Counties, on the south
by Vinton County, and on the east and southeast by Athens County. Hocking County has
an area of 269,440 acres, or 421 square miles. The population in 2000 was 28,241. The
County Seat of Hocking County is Logan.
The primary land use in Hocking County is woodland. Forest land comprises
approximately 198,854 acres, or about 74 percent of the total land in the county.
Recreation and tourism are also very important land uses in the county. The Hocking
Hills had 2,021,126 people visit in 2003 (Logan Daily News 2/27/04). The county has
Hocking Hills State Park (which contains many different parks), Hocking Hills State
Forest, Tar Hollow State Park, Wayne National Forest, and Clear Creek Metro Park.
These parks and forests cover approximately 39,617 acres (ODNR brochures, US Forest
Service, and Hocking County Plat Book). U.S. Route 33 and State Routes 56, 78, 93,
180, 216, 278, 312, 327, 328, 374, 595, 664, 668, and 678 along with the Hocking River
run through the county. With the scheduled opening of the U.S. Route 33/Lancaster ByPass, the County has and will continue to see major population growth and development.
Residential growth will likely occur along the U.S. Route 33 corridor. Flood Plain
regulations will prohibit development in any flood prone areas. Based on census data, the
population of Hocking County is growing at less than 1 percent. Probably no more than
1 (20 to 30 lot) subdivision will be approved per year. Subdivisions are regulated by the
City and County Planning Commissions. (See Exhibit H for a table of existing land use
densities in the identified hazard areas.)
Hocking County has a continental climate characterized by wide annual and daily ranges
in temperatures. Winters are cold and snowy. Summers are warm and humid and are
occasionally marked by very hot days. Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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The normal annual precipitation is adequate for all the crops commonly grown in the
county. The growing season in the valleys differs slightly from that on the ridgetops. In
the winter, the average temperature is 32 degrees F, and the average daily minimum
temperature is 21 degrees. The lowest temperature on record, which occurred on January
28, 1963, is -27 degrees. In the Summer the average temperature is 71 degrees, and the
average daily maximum temperature is 85 degrees. The highest recorded temperature,
which occurred on July 14, 1954, is 104 degrees. The average annual rainfall is about 40
inches. Heavy rains, which occur at any time of the year, and severe thunderstorms in
summer cause flash flooding, particularly in narrow valleys. Thunderstorms occur on
about 45 days each year. The average seasonal snowfall is about 30 inches. The
prevailing wind is from the northwest. Average wind speed is highest, 8 miles per hour,
in spring.
(Soil Survey of Hocking County, Ohio, USDA Soil Conservation Service, Sept. 1989;
Ohio Department of Transportation; and World Climate.Com)
Roads – Total 794.38 miles
State Roads …………………………………………………………………164.81 miles
County Roads…………………………………………………………….....213.70 miles
Township Roads…………………………………………………………….415.87 miles
Infrastructure/Bridges/Roads:
Bridges
Total number of bridges within the county……………………………………………..272
2003 Replacement Cost……………………………………….…...………$18,842,400.00
(Hocking County Engineers Office)
Water Supply Systems and Water Distribution Lines
Subdivision: Hocking County Engineer
Infrastructure
Replacement Cost
Water Supply Systems
N/A
Water Distribution
$207,000
0
1 Thousand Linear Feet
Subdivision: Village of Laurelville
Infrastructure
Replacement Cost
Water Supply Systems
$ 600,000
Water Distribution
$1,260,000
Total (Units)
1
18 Thousand Linear Feet
Subdivision: City of Logan
Infrastructure
Water Supply Systems
Water Distribution
Total (Units)
13
158 Thousand Linear Feet
Replacement Cost
$10,000,000
$ 8,000,000
Total (Units)
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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Subdivision: Village of Murray City
Infrastructure
Replacement Cost
Total (Units)
Water Supply Systems
$ 208,000
1
Water Distribution
$1,015,000
21 Thousand Linear Feet
(Ohio Public Works Commission Capital Improvement Reports)
LE-AX Water District has approximately 60 miles of water distribution lines and Old
Straitsville Water Association, Inc. has approximately 75 miles of water distribution
lines in Hocking County. These companies supply water to rural areas in the County.
Wastewater Systems and Collection
Subdivision: Hocking County
Infrastructure
Replacement Cost
Wastewater Systems
$864,000
Wastewater Collection
$797,600
Total (Units)
3
25 Thousand Linear Feet
Subdivision: Village of Laurelville
Infrastructure
Replacement Cost
Wastewater Systems
$403,500
Wastewater Collection
$700,000
23.35
6.93 Thousand Linear Feet
Subdivision: City of Logan
Infrastructure
Wastewater Systems
Wastewater Collection
Total (Units)
10
90 Thousand Linear Feet
Replacement Cost
$20,000,000
$ 9,000,000
Total (Units)
Subdivision: Village of Murray City
Infrastructure
Replacement Cost
Wastewater Systems
N/A
0
Wastewater Collection
N/A
0
(Ohio Public Works Commission Capital Improvement Reports)
Total (Units)
Public Utilities
The Public Utility Value of the utilities in Hocking County is approximately
$144,446,371.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
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Telephone Lines
The following telephone companies own lines in Hocking County:
Approximate
Approximate
Telephone Company
Public Utility
Real Estate
Value
Value
Verizon North
$11,574,886
0
Ohio Bell Telephone
$ 1,133,600
$38,314
Chillicothe Telephone Co. $
52,000
0
TOTALS
$12,760,486
$38,314
(Hocking County Auditor 6/14/04)
Approximate
Total
Value
$11,574,886
$ 1,171,914
$
52,000
$12,798,800
There are also numerous cell phone companies that serve the county and own towers, etc.
Public Utilities Other Than Telephone
Below is a summary of taxable property owned by the top ten public utilities in the
County (other than telephone companies):
Public Utility
Real Estate
Total
Public Utility
Value
Value
Value
Columbia Gas Transmission
$ 84,801,257
$ 828,114
$85,629,371
Ohio Power
$ 16,670,428
$ 92,229
$16,762,657
South Central Power
$ 8,106,171
$ 12,000
$ 8,118,171
Columbus Southern Power
$ 7,875,542
0
$ 7,875,542
Columbia Gas of Ohio
$ 6,145,114
0
$ 6,145,114
Vectren Energy Delivery
$ 4,730,828
0
$ 4,730,828
Cincinnati Gas & Electric
$
984,543
0
$ 984,543
Indiana & Ohio Central RR
$
713,343
$ 189,000
$ 902,343
Cincinnati SMSA LTD
$
254,143
0
$ 254,143
TOTALS
$130,281,369
$1,121,343
$131,402,712
(Hocking County Auditor 6/14/04)
Critical Facilities
A list of Critical Facilities is located in Exhibit A. See Exhibit R for a map of locations
of Critical Facilities.
Two new Critical Facilities (Washington Township and Marion Township Volunteer Fire
Departments) are in the planning and building process. Neither facility is located in an
area vulnerable to any natural hazards.
The only critical facilities vulnerable to any type of natural hazard are: Good Hope
Volunteer Fire Department, Laurelville Fire Department, Murray City Fire Department,
and the Laurelville Marshall’s office. These facilities can be subject to flooding but
otherwise are not vulnerable to any other natural hazards of Hocking County.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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Population
Hocking County….28,241
Incorporated………………………………………………………………………......7,700
Logan…………….……………….6,704
Murray City…………..……………..452
Falls Township…6,399
Ward Township…..452
Green Township….305
Buchtel (part)………….……..............11
Laurelville.......…….……………..…533
Ward Township……11
Perry Township…..533
Unincorporated Balance of Hocking County………………………………………..20,541
Benton Township.…….…………..814
Perry Township…………………2,021
Falls Township.……………...….5,010
Salt Creek Township……………1,260
Good Hope Township….……….1,444
Starr Township………………….1,477
Green Township……..………….2,280
Ward Township…………………1,474
Laurel Township……..………....1,190
Washington Township………….1,160
Marion Township……………….2,411
(2000 U.S. Census)
Approximate Values
Number of Parcels
Land
Buildings
Total
Residential: 15,655
$219,939,371
$589,944,714
$ 809,884,085
Commercial:
612
$ 12,719,580
$ 22,048,486
$ 34,768,066
Industrial:
48
$ 3,463,171
$ 18,110,800
$ 21,573,971
Agricultural: 1,540
$ 46,260,600
$ 49,607,114
$ 95,867,714
Other:
1,522
$ 45,357,371
$ 94,832,829
$ 143,190,200
TOTALS
19,377
$327,740,093
$777,543,943
$1,105,284,036
(Hocking County Auditor)
*Exhibit B has additional statistics for Hocking County including: Education,
Manufacturing, Transportation and Housing, Population by Government Units,
Commuting, Economic Structure, and Census of Agriculture.
Information provided in this section was gathered through the sources mentioned above
as well as from the National Flood Insurance Plan, the Hocking County Comprehensive
Plan (which is currently being updated), the Hocking County Emergency Operations
Plan, and information gathered from the Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism
Advisory Team, etc.
Natural Hazards in Hocking County
Hocking County is susceptible to a variety of natural hazards, which include: dam failure,
drought, earthquakes, expansive soils, extreme heat, floods, hailstorms, land subsidence,
landslides, severe winter storms, tornadoes, wildfires, windstorms, insect damage, and
thunder storms. On page 5 of this document, you will note that the Core Group reduced
the list from Task A to the list in Task B. The natural hazards listed in Task A but not
included in Task B (earthquake, hail storm, land slide, tornado and insect damage) were
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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eliminated by the group due to limited or no occurrence in Hocking County in recorded
history and will not be discussed further in this document. The following items identified
in Task B will be discussed further: dam failure, drought, extreme heat, flood, land
subsidence, severe winter storm, wildfire, wind storm, and thunder storm.
Estimation of losses was based on the fact that contents are normally rated at 50 percent
of the value of a structure. Flooding on the first floor damages are estimated at 10
percent of the content value from experience in evaluating flood damages in Ohio. For
estimating purposes, flooding damages to yards and outdoor equipment are less than one
percent of the structure value. Therefore for wind damage, general flooding and other
storm related damages a one percent of structure value gives a reasonable estimate of
potential losses.
Since January 1, 1964, excluding insurance, federally declared disasters in Ohio have
cost more than $433 million dollars. Hocking County has been declared a disaster seven
times during the time period from 1964 to June 3, 2004. (See Exhibit C for map)
Declared
March 14, 2003
Disaster
Snow and Ice Storm
March 4, 1997
Flash Flooding, Ohio River
Flooding
Severe storms and flooding
June 24, 1996
June 6, 1990
January 26, 1978
Severe Storms, Tornadoes
and Flooding
Blizzard
June 5, 1968
Flooding
March 24, 1964
Flooding
Total Cost
40.9 Million (Total for 30
Counties impacted)
68.2 Million (Total for 16
Counties impacted)
14.7 Million (Total for 15
Counties impacted)
$20.1 Million (Total for 25
Counties impacted)
$3.5 Million (Total for 88
Counties impacted (entire
state))
$600,000 (Total for 30
Counties impacted)
$571,000 (Total for 47
Counties impacted)
(Ohio Emergency Management Agency)
NCDC-NOAA records show there have been 139 weather related events reported in
Hocking County from January 1, 1950 through February 29, 2004. (See Exhibit D for a
list.)
This Hazard Assessment will be identifying the natural hazards present in Hocking
County including a profile of hazard events, and vulnerability and estimated losses.
Refer to the Exhibits as needed for maps, hazard events, and statistical information about
the county. The hazards that are listed in this document are listed in alphabetical order
however, it does not reflect the order of importance the hazard presents.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
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While most risks are common to the entire county, some risks are unique to certain areas.
The chart below will identify risks for each jurisdiction and whether they are common to
the entire county or unique to certain areas.
Severe
Dam
Extreme
Land
Winter Thunder
Wind
Failure Drought Heat Flood Subsidence Storm Storm Wildfire Storm
Hocking
County
Laurelville
Logan
Murray
City
C = Common
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
U = Unique
U
N
N
U
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
N = No Risk
2.1 Dam Failure
Profile of Hazard Events
Although there has never been a dam that has failed that has caused significant damage in
Hocking County, the region is susceptible to a dam failure but the probability is low.
Loss of life and property damage are the two main concerns with this hazard. There are
seven Class I, six Cass II, and six Class III dams located within Hocking County. The
map Hocking County Dams shows the locations of Class I, II, and III dams located
within the county (refer to Exhibit E for map).
According to Ohio Administrative Code Rule 1501:21-13-01, dams are classified as
follows:
Class I: A dam shall be placed in Class I when failure of the dam would result in
probable loss of human life. Dams having a storage volume greater than five
thousand acre-feet or a height of greater than sixty feet shall be placed in Class I.
Class II: Dams having a storage volume greater than five hundred acre-feet or a height of
greater than forty feet shall be placed in Class II. A Dam shall be placed in
Class II when failure of the dam would result in at least one of the following
conditions, but loss of human life is not envisioned.
A possible Health Hazard, including but not limited to loss of a public water supply
or wastewater treatment facility.
Probable loss of high-value property, including but not limited to flooding or
residential, commercial, industrial, publicly owned, and/or valuable agricultural
structures, structural damage to downstream Class I, II or III dams, dikes or levees,
or other dams, dikes or levees of high value.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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Damage to major roads including but not limited to interstate and state highways,
and roads which provide the only access to residential or other critical areas such as
hospitals, nursing homes, or correctional facilities as determined by the chief.
Damage to railroads, or public utilities.
Class III: Dams having a height of greater than twenty-five feet, or a storage volume of
greater than fifty acre-feet, shall be placed in Class III. A dam shall be placed
in Class III when failure of the dam would result in at least one of the
following conditions, but loss of human life or hazard to health is not
envisioned.
Property losses including but not limited to rural buildings not otherwise listed as
high-value property in paragraph a) of this rule, and Class IV dams, dikes and
levees not otherwise listed as high-value property in paragraph a) of this rule. At
the request of the dam owner, the chief may exempt dams from the criterion of this
paragraph if the dam owner owns the potentially affected property.
Local roads including but not limited to roads not otherwise listed as major roads in
paragraph a) of this rule.
Class IV: When failure of the dam would result in property losses restricted mainly to
the dam and rural lands, and no loss of human life or hazard to health is
envisioned, the dam may be placed in Class IV. Dams which are twenty-five
feet or less in height and have a storage volume of fifty acre-feet or less, may
be placed in Class IV. No proposed dam shall be placed in Class IV unless the
applicant has submitted the preliminary design report required by Rule
1501:21-5-02 of the Administrative Code. Class IV dams are exempt from the
permit requirements of Section 1521.06 of the Revised Code pursuant to
Paragraph c) of Rule 1501:21-19-01 of the Administrative Code.
(Definitions from ODNR-Division of Water)
Dam failure: Catastrophic type of failure characterized by the sudden, rapid and
uncontrolled release of impounded water. It is recognized that there are lesser degrees of
failure and that any malfunction or abnormality outside the design assumptions and
parameters which adversely affect a dam’s primary function of impounding water is
properly considered a failure. Such lesser degrees of failure can progressively lead to or
heighten the risk of a catastrophic failure. (Definition from FEMA)
Vulnerability and Estimate Losses
Hocking County’s vulnerability to dam failure is moderate. Even though there are only
19 dams that fall under Class I, II or III classifications, there are a large number of
smaller dams throughout the county, the structures have potential for failure due to old
age and debris congestion. Surrounding structures located within the county are
susceptible to major flooding with the potential for loss of life and damage to a variety of
structures. There are 48 structures located below the seven Class I dams, 36 structures
located below the five Class II dams, and 45 structures located below the seven Class III
dams, for a total of 129 identified structures downstream of classified dams. If a dam
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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would happen to fail, and there was a 1% loss/damage to structures, bridges and utilities,
it is estimated that there would be approximately $1,296,000 worth of damage.
2.2 Drought
Profile of Hazard Events
Drought is a concern for Hocking County. Even though the county is at low risk for
drought conditions currently, the potential is very realistic. The drought in July and
August of 1999 affected the agriculture of Hocking County tremendously.
Drought: A period of unusually persistent dry weather that persists long enough to cause
serious problems such as crop damage and/or water supply shortages. The severity of the
drought depends upon the degree of moisture deficiency, the duration, and the size of the
affected area. There are four different ways that drought can be defined.
Meteorological: a measure of departure of precipitation from normal. Due to climatic
differences, what might be considered a drought in one location of the
country may not be a drought in another.
Agricultural: refers to a situation where the amount of moisture in the soil no longer
meets the needs of a particular crop.
Hydrological: occurs when surface and subsurface water supplies are below normal.
Socioeconomic: refers to the situation that occurs when physical water shortages begin
to affect people.
(Definitions from NOAA.)
According to the NCDC, Hocking County has had two documented droughts since 1950.
Location or County
1 Hocking County
2 Hocking County
Date
07/01/1999
08/01/1999
Ohio
Time
Type
12:00 AM Drought
11:59 PM Drought
Mag
Dth
N/A
0
N/A
0
TOTALS: 0
Inj
0
0
0
PrD
0
0
0
July 1, 1999 – Dry conditions that began in the spring and early summer continued into
July. Excessive heat contributed to substantial crop loss across much of the Buckeye
State. Rainfall was widely scattered and did little to help farmers. Crop damage amounts
were not available at this time.
August 1, 1999 – Drought conditions continued across the Ohio Valley through August
with most areas receiving well below normal rainfall for the month. In some areas about
50% of crops and 75% of hay and pastureland were considered total losses. Most
counties in southwest Ohio were declared Federal Disaster Areas by the US Department
CrD
N/A
N/A
N/A
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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of Agriculture. At the time of this writing, no monetary estimates were available
concerning crop loss. In September, 1999, Ohio Governor Bob Taft initiated a $5
million program for emergency hay/forage assistance and development of water sources
for drought-stricken livestock producers in Ohio. Hocking County producers received
$16,357 in assistance.
In 2002, the state’s forests were affected by drought and other weather conditions. For
the 12-month period, precipitation was near normal. However, a severe drought affected
Ohio during the 2002-growing season. Many places in central and southern Ohio
received less than 50% of normal precipitation amounts during June, July and August.
The drought opened the door to secondary insects, which have already caused tree
mortality and will likely continue to affect trees for a few more years. Recently planted
trees and trees in Ohio’s urban forests were the most likely to be severely affected.
Precipitation is critical to the growth and health of trees and forests. Both quantity and
timing of precipitation is important. As an example, receiving a “normal” amount of
rainfall in a given year may be of little value if it occurs in a few very heavy storm events
compared to a number of smaller rainfall events through the growing season. (ODNRDivision of Forestry)
The U.S. Drought Monitor (See Exhibit F) shows that Hocking County is not currently at
risk for a drought, nor is it expected to be at a great risk of a drought during the next year,
due to the area currently having extremely moist conditions (see Exhibit G for Palmer
Drought Index Forecast). The last two years in Hocking County have been extremely
unusual with well above average rainfalls in the spring.
Vulnerability and Estimated Losses
According to the 2000 Census, there are 560 farms in Hocking County covering 64,000
acres with total cash receipts of $4,130,000. Drought can have a major impact on these
farms and the income they provide.
According to the 2000 Census, 198,855 acres of Hocking County is forested. This is
almost 74 percent of the land in the county. The forests provide a major part of the
county’s income through tourism. According to an article in the Logan Daily News on
February 27, 2004, traveler expenditures in 2001 totaled $153.6 million. Hocking
County is the home of the Hocking State Forest, Hocking Hills State Parks and portions
of the Wayne National Forest and Clear Creek Metro Park. These forests and parks cover
approximately 39,617 acres. Drought can have a severe affect on the forests thus
impacting the tourism industry of the county and the income it provides. Drought also
greatly increases the risk of wildfire, which is the County’s number 1 hazard. See
Section 2.8 for further information on wildfire. It can also have an impact on the county
through water shortages which could affect supplies needed for industry, fire protection,
residential use, and recreational use.
Losses during a drought would include loss of crops, forestry resources and income from
tourism. The estimated loss due to drought (not including wildfire losses) at 2 percent
would be $8,005,150.
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Extreme Heat
Profile of Hazard Events
Hocking County has had one Excessive Heat event recorded in the NCDC-NOAA
records since 1950.
Extreme Heat: Temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high
temperature for the region and lasts for several weeks. Humid or muggy conditions,
which add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a “dome” of high
atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground. Exceedingly great or severe
state of being hot in which the temperature is raised. A heat wave combined with
drought conditions is a very dangerous situation. (FEMA)
Ohio
Location or County
Hocking County
Date
07/20/1999
Time
12:00
AM
Type
Excessive Heat
Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
N/A 0
0
0
0
TOTALS:
0
0
The last part of July, 1999, was very hot and humid across the state with temperatures
reaching into the 90s most days and above 100 for a few days. The dew points and
overnight lows were in the 70s through much of the period. The excessive heat
contributed to 10 deaths in the Cincinnati metro area and 3 in the Dayton metro area
(ncdc.noaa.gov).
Vulnerability and Estimated Losses
Based on past history and facts gathered, the probability of an extreme heat event in
Hocking County is low. Extreme heat can affect the majority of the states throughout the
United States, and Hocking County is no exception. Being a countywide hazard, the
main concern is how the public will react/respond to the hazard, as well as their
awareness of what to do if extreme heat plagues the county. Extreme heat can cause
increased demand for water and electricity that may result in shortages of resources.
Extreme heat across the southern part of Ohio has claimed 13 lives. With a 1% loss to
the county loss estimate value would be $32,774,000.
Flood
Profile of Hazard Events
(See Exhibit D for NCDC flood history) (See Exhibits I, J and K for flood plain maps of
high potential loss areas.)
Flood: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or
more acres of normally dry land or of two or more properties from: overflow of inland or
0
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tidal waves, unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source,
or a mudflow. (FEMA)
Flash Flood: A flood event (caused by heavy rainfall) occurring with little or no warning
where water levels rise at an extremely fast rate.
July 25, 1994 – Flash Flood - Several thunderstorms, one after another, brought heavy
rains and flooding of streets, small streams, and poor drainage areas.
March 2, 1997 – Flooding - Heavy rainfall on the 1st and 2nd caused the Hocking River at
Enterprise to rise out of its banks. U.S. Route 33 and State Route 93 were flooded as
well as numerous low lying roads in Sugar Grove. Rockbridge Elementary School and
several nearby homes were flooded. The river reached a crest of 15.1 feet – flood stage is
12 feet. Property damage was estimated at $1 million. (NCDC) The Logan Daily News
reported that the Governor declared Hocking County a disaster area due to heavy
flooding. Rain on March 1 and 2 dumped up to 10 inches of rain on a 14 county area in
Southern Ohio. One house was raised off it’s foundation on State Route 328. There were
numerous county roads considered unusable due to the heavy rain. Chestnut Grove Road
in Benton Township was washed clear out up to the bridge. The Southeast part of the
county was hit the hardest. Several residents were forced out of their homes in South
Bloomingville. Railroad and Columbus Streets in Murray City were damaged. Wagner
Road in Perry Township was closed due to damage on a bridge. President Clinton
officially declared Hocking County and 15 other Southern Ohio Counties as federal
disaster areas on March 6. Preliminary road damage estimates from the Hocking County
Engineer’s Office were $400,000.
August 18, 1997 – Flooding – Over 6 inches of rain fell across parts of central Ohio on
August 17. The Hocking River at Enterprise was estimated to crest at 14.5 feet (flood
stage is 12 feet). Numerous area roads were flooded and several evacuations occurred.
(NCDC) The Logan Daily News reported that the Hocking County Commissioners
declared Hocking County a disaster on August 18. Hardest hit areas included: the
Dicken Addition, the Murray City area, and the unincorporated area of Greendale. The
County Highway Department had 2 feet of water in their building damaging furniture,
computers and equipment. Businesses in Logan affected included: Selkirk Metalbestos
which had to close, and the businesses along Radio Lane including WLGN radio station.
Several people had to leave their homes in Logan and Murray City and 14 people had to
be evacuated in the Greendale and Murray City areas. The Logan Police Department
reported they had 24 residents and businesses file reports with various levels of damage.
The Governor declared a State of Emergency on August 20. Preliminary assessments
conducted by state and local personnel indicated 124 homes were damaged and indicated
44 homes sustained major damage or were destroyed. The flooding was wide-spread
with damage reports from Murray City, Rockbridge, South Bloomingville and Logan
(Dicken Addition hardest hit in Logan).
January 7-8, 1998 – Flooding - 7th - Several hours of heavy rainfall caused water to flood
across county roads. Six roads were closed and several cars were trapped in over 3 feet
of water. 8th - From 2 to locally 4 inches of rain fell across Central Ohio causing the
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Hocking River at Enterprise to rise out of its banks. The river crested around 13.5 feet on
the 9th causing water to spill onto State Route 93 near Logan. Flood stage is 12 feet.
April 11, 2001 – Flood – Heavy rainfall caused the Hocking River at Enterprise to
overflow its banks. The river crested at 15.3 feet – flood stage is 12.0 feet. U.S.
Highway 33 and some homes in Rockbridge were flooded. (NCDC) The Logan Daily
News reported that the torrential rains left 5 feet of water at some points for authorities
and residents to clean up. Some major roads in the area were closed. Several residents at
Greendale had to be evacuated by boat. Several hours of heavy rainfall caused water to
flood across county roads. Six roads were closed and several cars were trapped in over 3
feet of water. Old Town Creek flooded the Hocking County Engineer’s Office and
Maintenance Garage. Parts of Rockbridge were still covered with water on the 9th. The
storms removed a total of 6 bridges in the Old Man’s Cave State Park Gorge and caused
major erosion along the creek banks that will have to be filled in before the bridges can
be reconstructed. The ramps that lead to the newly constructed steel bridge at the
entrance to Conkle’s Hollow were declared unsafe – the ramps were moved 5 feet from
their original location.
April, 2000 – Salt Creek Township experienced flooding. Conrad and Sam’s Creek
Roads were closed for a few days. Heavy damage was done to many roads, especially
Lively, Deihl, Sam’s Creek, Crawford, Coldbranch, Election Roads and more. Drainage
culverts were washed out or badly damaged.
May, 2001 – The Laurelville and Salt Creek area was again flooded. Seven private
bridges were destroyed. These residents were not eligible for any disaster funds. These
bridges were all located on Sam’s Creek Road. Many of the same roads, as in April,
2000, were heavily damaged. The main trunk of the Laurelville sewer line was
jeopardized due to the flood waters of Salt Creek cutting a new channel very close to the
sewer line. The Corp. of Engineers and the Hocking County Engineer both worked and
repaired this damage.
July, 2002 – Salt Creek Township, Laurelville, and Perry Township were declared
disaster areas. Laurelville had extensive damage to the levee. Village Park was filled
with debris and was closed. Homes and businesses were damaged. Perry Township had
several roads closed due to the flooding. Berms and culverts were damaged on several
roads. Salt Creek had roads temporarily closed due to debris and washout. Culverts were
damaged and destroyed. Homes were damaged. Sections of roads became sink holes.
State Route 56 was closed near Haynes because of high water. Several homes were
evacuated in Laurelville, with many vehicles in the area under three to four feet of water.
May 12, 2003 – Culvert and road damage to many of the same roads as in 2000, 2001 and
2002. Conrad, East Fork, Blue Creek Roads, etc.
May, 2004 – Flooding in Green, Marion and Ward Townships. Approximately 20 homes
with water damage, most in Murray City. Numerous private bridges were damaged.
Severe damage to culverts and road surfaces. Most homes on State Route 595 in
Greendale had severe water damage – approximately 10 homes.
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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January, 2005 – Severe flooding from the Hocking River – worst flooding since 1964.
Roads were closed county wide. Families were evacuated in Rockbridge and West
Logan. The Red Cross opened a shelter. Over 60 residents suffered water damage.
There was road damage in Ward Township and the area was closed for days. Road
damage was reported by four townships. The County Engineer and Mayor of Logan
responded to damages to Mingo Park and the water plant. Murray City had minor road
and home damage. The Hocking County Commissioners reported damage to the lift
stations in Haydenville and Rockbridge.
The Flood Insurance Study put out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) shows the lower reaches of the Hocking River have very broad, nearly level
floodplains adjacent to nearly level glacial outwash terraces. These low-lying areas are
subject to frequent flood damage. The wide flat floodplain of the Snow Fork Creek and
Salt Creek constitute a large area of flood-prone land.
The most frequent flooding occurs in Hocking County during the winter and early spring.
Areas that flood most frequently are the Laurelville, Murray City, Rockbridge, Enterprise
and Carbon Hill areas.
In the Hocking River watershed, flooding equivalent to the 10-year rainfall occurred on
March 4, 1963, and May 27, 1968. The floods that occurred on January 21, 1959; April
2, 1970; February 23, 1975; and July 23, 1976 are comparable to the 2-year recurrence
interval. The storm on June 19, 1978, passed to the north around most of the watershed.
The rain that fell in the watershed caused considerable flooding along the Ohio Canal at
Hooker. Flooding in this area was comparable to the 10-year recurrence interval.
Flooding from the above storms caused damage to agricultural field, roads, and lawns.
Flooding has historically been a major water resource problem in the Rush Creek
watershed. Periodic flooding damages crops, pastures, urban areas, and transportation
systems. Floods causing serious, widespread damage have occurred in March 1907,
March 1913, August 1935, January 1937, April 1940, June 1950, March 1963, and March
1964. In recent years, major floods of somewhat lesser magnitude were experienced in
June 1958, January 1959, May 1961, and February 1965.
The storms of March 1963 and March 1964 resulted in the highest stages ever recorded in
the Bremen area. The Magnitude of the 1963 flood in terms of precipitation was
equivalent to a 30-year frequency storm; however, the discharges approached the
equivalent of a 100-year frequency. Damage in Bremen in 1963 was estimated at
$500,000. About 170 head of livestock drowned on farms located south of town. In
addition, it was estimated that damages to roads, railroads, and bridges amounted to
$120,000.
Vulnerability and Estimated Losses
Flooding is the biggest hazard for the entire state of Ohio. Hocking County has seen its
share of flooding in many areas which include but are not limited to: Logan, Laurelville,
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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Murray City, Rockbridge, Enterprise, and Carbon Hill, with some areas being declared
Federal Disaster areas. As of February, 2004, there has been one death associated with
flooding. Flooding is a countywide hazard and Hocking County is vulnerable in all areas
and locations. Neighborhoods with repetitive loss from flooding include: the Village of
Laurelville, the Village of Murray City, Rockbridge (located in Good Hope Township),
and areas in Salt Creek Township. Based on past history, National Flood Insurance Plan
and Flood Plain Maps, the probability of damage from flooding in Hocking County is
medium to high. Below is a list of structures and their values located in the Floodway
and Floodplains. (Floodplain maps are available at the Hocking County Regional
Planning Office.)
Summary of Properties Located in the Flood Plain
(All numbers and values are approximate)
Area
Village of
Laurelville
City of
Logan
Village of
Murray City
Other
(unincorporated)
Number of
Value of
Commercial/ Commercial/
Industrial
Industrial
Structures
Structures
Number of
Residential
Structures
Value of
Residential
Structures
Total Value
of
Structures
17
$ 255,000
110
$ 660,000
$ 915,000
56
$1,700,000
320
$3,250,000
$4,950,000
6
$
90,000
90
$ 540,000
$ 630,000
20
$ 285,000
209
$1,200,200
$1,485,200
TOTAL
99
$2,330,000
(Hocking County Regional Planning Office)
729
$5,650,200
$7,980,200
With a total of 99 structures sitting inside the floodplain/floodway there is an estimated
loss of $1,596,040 if 20% of structures were affected.
Land Subsidence (Mine Subsidence)
Profile of Hazard Events
Abandoned underground mines are found in 44 counties in Ohio. When buildings are
constructed above mines, major damage to walls and foundations can occur if the mine
shaft collapses. Most insurance policies do not automatically cover damage to your home
due to mine subsidence. The Ohio Legislature enacted a law in October, 1987 that
established the Ohio Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund. The Mine Subsidence Insurance
Fund provides low cost insurance coverage in 37 Ohio counties for homes damaged due
to mine subsidence. Insurance coverage is mandatory in 27 of the 37 counties. Hocking
County is one of the counties in which mine subsidence insurance coverage is mandatory.
(See Exhibit L for map)
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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The Hocking County Regional Planning Office is aware of a mine subsidence incident
which occurred at the General Clay Plant at Diamond in Starr Township. General Clay
experienced the loss of a D9 dozer in a collapse of an underground mine cavity.
The Hocking Soil and Water Conservation District has received several calls from county
residents concerning sink holes in yards and fields surrounding home sites.
Mine Subsidence: The lowering of the earth’s surface due to the deterioration and
collapse of rock into underground mines.
Vulnerability and Estimate of Losses
Land subsidence does not pose a big threat to the entire county, but is a serious threat in
Falls Gore Township, Green Township, Starr Township and especially Ward Township
where there has been heavy mining activity and there are a large number of abandoned
underground mines. The entire Village of Murray City with potentially 200 structures is
at high risk of damage from land subsidence. (See Exhibit M for map. It is noted that
not all mines are mapped, particularly old mines dating to pre-1874.) This part of the
county is considered high risk and the risk will only get greater as time passes.
Subsidence seems to be increasing owing to the age of underground mines. The ultimate
extent of mine-subsidence in Ohio is uncertain. Due to the complexity of the variables
which contribute to mine-related subsidence, no acceptable system exists which is
capable of accurately predicting the time or amount of subsidence in a variety of
geological settings, especially for mines that have an irregular pattern of room-and-pillar
mining. Mine subsidence can strike with little or no warning and can result in very
costly damage. Hocking County has seen an increasing number of people starting to
develop abandoned mineland. As these areas are developed, the risk of damage will
increase. With a 1% damage estimate, Hocking County could see a loss of $2,710,000.
(ODNR and Ohio Mine Subsidence Insurance Underwriting Association/Ohio Insurance
Institute)
Detailed maps are being incorporated into the updated Hocking County Comprehensive
Plan for affected townships and a detailed discussion on risks and vulnerability are being
included in the comprehensive plan.
Severe Winter Storm
Profile of Hazard Events
(see Exhibit D for NCDC severe winter storm history)
January, 1978 – Hocking County: An inch of rain followed by 6 inches of snow, with
blinding winds and temperatures tumbled all the way from a balmy 52 degrees on
January 8 to an overnight low of 8 degrees. Driving conditions were described as
nightmarish. Area highways were reduced to one lane tracks, and in some places
roadways were obliterated altogether by snow drifts. By noon on the 9th all state routes
were reported as “bad” ice and snow covered, with drifting snow and temperatures were
only 10 degrees by 11 a.m. January 10 saw sub-zero temperatures overnight. Roads
Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
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were still blocked by drifting snow and high winds caused power outages. January 11Temperatures fell to an overnight low of 3 degrees below zero and all highways in the
area were still reporting slippery conditions with road surfaces ice covered. January 12temperatures reached a season low of 10 degrees below zero overnight. January 13-Two
inches of snow fell overnight. Primary roads reported to be in fair condition, with
secondary roads reported to be partly snow-covered. January 14-Three inches of fresh
snow fell overnight. There is a total of 9 inches on the ground now. All roads are
reported as snow covered, although road crews continued their efforts to keep highways
passable. January 17-Six inches of snow fell today on top of an earlier accumulation of 6
inches. State road crews reported they were making little headway in clearing snow
covered state routes and County crews said they are “not gaining a thing” as they
continue to plow roadways. January 18-The snow finally stopped falling and the
Hocking Valley was digging out from under a 16 inch blanket built up over the last nine
days. January 20-Over 6 inches of new snow fell, making a total accumulation of 22 plus
inches on the ground in less than 2 weeks. All roads were considered extremely
hazardous with motorists being warned to travel at their own risk. January 21-The total
snowfall for the month in Hocking County is 26 inches. The County Highway
Department reported that crews are running out of room to push snow aside resulting in
the roads becoming narrower. An additional 2 inches of new snow fell. January 23-The
season’s low temperature of 12 degrees below zero was recorded early today. January
24-A fierce blizzard powered by winds up to 80 mph hammered the Hocking Valley.
The area was punished by a wild variety of weather ranging from a 46 degree high at
noon on January 23 to 2 inches of snow and near zero temperatures by noon today. The
1.1 inches of rain plus snow brought flooding and road closings in some areas. A number
of families were without heat due to power outages and high winds. Blowing and drifting
snow made travel extremely difficult due to limited visibility and drifting. It was 10
degrees at 7:30 p.m. and had fallen further to 7 degrees by 11:30 p.m. with a wind chill
factor of 44 degrees below zero. The State Highway Garage reported that several roads
were closed because of high water and that downed trees were blocking traffic in other
locations. January 25-Freezing rain and fog. January 26-State Route 56 between
Coonville and Starr was closed because of high water, trees were down on State Routes
374 and 664 blocking traffic, and high water was causing problems on State Routes 56,
595, 93 South and 93 North. County Roads closed due to high water, drifting snow and
fallen trees included: Maysville-Williams Road, Voris Road, Logan-Horn’s Mill Road,
and Zwickle Road. Power and telephone service has been out in Laurelville since early
this morning. January 27-The Hocking Valley and all of Ohio were virtually paralyzed
this morning in the wake of what has been called the state’s worst blizzard as high winds
produced severe drifting. Two more inches of snow fell overnight contributing to the
heavy drifting that isolated many rural residents in their homes. State and County crews
battling to reopen roadways throughout Hocking County reported drifts well over 7 feet
deep in some places. It was 6 degrees above zero overnight and 14 degrees at 11 a.m.
Several roads were closed due to snow drifts. January 28-County road crews reported
some drifts as high as 15 feet. Approximately 90 percent of Perry Township is still
without electricity for the third day and 75 percent of Perry Township’s roads are still
closed. January 30-The Logan National Guard Unit answered almost 400 calls for
assistance spending most of their time transporting residents to the homes of neighbors
and friends. The Red Cross has helped over 450 people since the blizzard began on
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Thursday. Medicine, food and fuel oil have been purchased by the Red Cross and
delivered by the National Guard. (The Logan Daily News)
January 6, 1996 – A severe winter storm hit Ohio. The ODOT at Logan reported there
was a total of 14” of snow over the weekend in Hocking County (The Logan Daily
News). The Blizzard of '96 developed near the Gulf Coast and moved up the East Coast.
This massive system produced the greatest total and 24 hour snowfall at Greater
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport. This one storm brought 14.3 inches of snowfall to
the airport, which normally receives 23 inches for an entire season. The heaviest snow
fell near the Ohio River in the extreme south. The worst blizzard conditions occurred
over West Central areas as dry and powdery snow was blown around by high winds
causing whiteouts. Some areas had more than 30 continuous hours of snowfall, and
many people in Southern Ohio felt this was the worst winter storm since the Blizzard of
'78. In Fayette County, the airport reported a wind gust to 56 mph during the height of
the storm. By the end of the storm many homes and businesses had their roof collapse or
partially collapse from the weight of the new snow, and snow from a storm earlier in the
week. By late in the day on the 7th arctic air was pouring into the region. A 47 year old
man died of exposure under an overpass in Miami County. A 76 year old man died of
exposure on his front porch in Montgomery County. (NCDC)
February, 2003 A level 3 snow emergency was declared by the sheriff. Over 18 inches
of snow fell in a 3 day period-February 14-17. Rescue for 20 special need campers from
Camp Buckeye was necessary. Fire personnel transported medical personnel to and from
the hospital. Most political jurisdictions applied for public assistance grants.
Severe Winter Storms can consist of ice, snow, and freezing rain.
Ice: to cover or surround with frozen water.
Snow Storm: A storm with the fall of abundant snow.
Freezing rain: Extremely cold precipitation usually in the form of rain that has the
potential of the formation of ice.
Vulnerability and Estimate Losses
Since 1950, severe winter storms have caused major problems for Hocking County. An
estimated $19.961 million dollars has been spent on response and recovery efforts. With
high winds, ice, accumulating snow, freezing rain and other hazards (such as downed
trees and power lines) associated with this weather; the county is extremely vulnerable to
these events. Based on past history, the probability of such an event is medium. Severe
winter storms are a countywide issue. At 11% of Hocking County being affected by a
severe winter storm, damages could reach $8,547,000.
2.7 Thunderstorms/Windstorms
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Profile of Hazard Events
(see Exhibit D for NCDC thunderstorm/windstorm history)
Thunderstorms and Windstorms are common and very destructive hazards in Hocking
County with 66 reported incidents since 1950 with major destruction being associated
with them. (See Exhibit N for Wind Zones map)
Wind Storm: A violent wind usually with little or no precipitation.
Thunderstorm: A thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph and/or
hail at least 3/4” in diameter. Structural wind damage may imply the occurrence of a
severe thunderstorm. A thunderstorm wind equal or greater than 40 mph and/or hail of at
least 1/2” is defined as approaching severe. (National Weather Service)
July 8, 2003 – Numerous trees and powerlines were knocked down.
May 31, 2002 –Several trees and power poles were downed. A tree fell on a house on
Burns Road causing minor damage. Property damage estimate was $20,000 for the
event.
July 26, 1997 – Hundreds of trees were downed of which many fell across power lines.
Sixteen telephone poles were broken during the storm. A warm front which was across
central Ohio at peak heating on the 26th, became the focus for a Mesoscale Convective
System that lasted well into the early morning hours on the 27th. Severe thunderstorms
moved repeatedly over the same areas causing substantial damage. The continuous
rainfall also caused flash flooding in Licking County. Over 400 homes received damage
from the combined severe thunderstorm and flooding event.
Vulnerability and Estimate Losses
Thunderstorms/Windstorms have been linked to two deaths and 2.773 million dollars in
damage. The entire county is at risk where people and structures are very vulnerable.
Windstorms and thunderstorms lead to fallen trees and downed lines, flooding, lightning
fire as well a variety of other hazards. Hocking County is located in Wind Zone IV
where winds can exceed 250mph. There are five mobile home parks with a total of
approximately 200 mobile homes and randomly scattered mobile homes throughout the
county for a total of approximately 2500 mobile homes in the county. With an 8%
estimated loss to this hazard, costs would be around $62,160,000.
2.8
Wildfire
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Profile of Hazard Events
Hocking County has a low observed fire danger classification at the current time due to
the above average rainfalls during the last several springs. (See Exhibit O for Observed
Fire Danger Class Map and Exhibit P for Forecast Experimental Fire Potential Map.)
Each year an average of 1,000 wildfires burn 4,000 to 6,000 acres of forest and grassland
within Ohio’s forest fire protection district, which corresponds mostly to the state’s
unglaciated hill country (which includes Hocking County). In a typical year it is
estimated that more than 15,000 wildfire and natural fuel fire occurrences are
encountered statewide. These wildfires are attributed primarily to the careless burning of
debris and household litter and arson and result in untold damage to trees and landscape,
water quality, improvements such as fences and outbuildings, and place people and their
homes at significant risk. Ohio’s fire/wildfire seasons occur primarily in the spring
(March, April and May) before vegetation has “greened-up”, and the fall (October and
November) when leaf drop occurs. During these times and especially when weather
conditions are warm, windy and with low humidity, cured vegetation is particularly
susceptible to burning. Fuel (vegetation, woody debris), weather (wind, temperature,
humidity) and topography (hills and valleys) when combined present an unpredictable
danger to unwary civilians and firefighters in the path of a wildfire. Hocking County has
a huge amount of fuel and the topography of the county is very hilly. There are no NCDC
records of wildfires in Hocking County from 1/1/1950 through 6/30/2003; however, from
1974 through 2003, Hocking State Forest records show there were 486 fire reports.
Wild Fire: An uncontrolled fire spreading through vegetative fuels, exposing and
possibly consuming structures.
Vulnerability and Estimate Losses
Wildfires pose a significant risk to Hocking County. Most areas where fires would occur
are in the areas where there are numerous rental cabins, bed and breakfasts, inns, etc. as
well as the State Parks and Forests and National Forest. There are approximately 165
cabin operators in the County with more than 500 cabins. This greatly increases the risk
of loss of life due to the large number of tourists who visit these areas each year. The
majority of the rental cabins, state parks, etc. are located in very heavily forested,
vulnerable, isolated areas. The tourists are not familiar with the area and a large number
of the rental cabins, etc. are located on small county and township roads (many that are
dead end) surrounded by forest. The biggest threats would be the loss of life and
property damage at the time of the fire. The average value of the structures is $50,000
each. With a loss of 2 percent of the structures in the area due to wildfire, property
damages would be near $500,000. After the fire, with a 2 percent loss of the income
from the tourism in the area (destroyed businesses, as well as the loss of tourists visiting
the area due to the destruction of the scenic area), the damages would be estimated at
$15,360,000. (See Exhibit Q for the locations of cabins, etc. and locations of existing dry
fire hydrants)
Mitigation Strategy
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This section of the plan will list the mitigation goals, activities and action plans for the
NHMP for Hocking County. The CORE Group discussed and unanimously agreed on
the different activities.
A. Core Group Activities
The activities are based upon the CORE group’s input and decisions. The following
criterion was used to rate the action plans: Cost effective, technically feasible,
environmentally sound, social impacts, activity addresses the problem, politically
acceptable, and activity reduces the risk.
After discussion, research, etc., the Core Group, in meeting 3, recommended that the
group concentrate on the three most prevalent natural hazards in Hocking County. They
selected the following from Task B that was discussed in Section II B:
Wildfire
Flooding
Winter Storms/Thunderstorms/Windstorms.
Wildfire was chosen as the number 1 hazard, even though it is infrequent, it has the
highest potential for loss of life and the loss of structures if it should occur. Flooding and
Winter Storms/Thunderstorms/Windstorms are more chronic events. Flooding is more
frequent than Winter Storms/Thunderstorms/Windstorms. Thus they were ranked as 2
and 3 respectively.
B. Action Plans
The action plans are listed in the order of priority and implementation.
1.) Wildfire
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Protect the residents, visitors and firefighters of the county and protect and reduce
the damage to property through better fire protection.
Activity: Provide the local fire departments with the brush fire equipment and training
necessary for them to fight wildfire and meet their requirements.
Lead: Hocking County Firefighters Association
Project Time Frame: As soon as possible
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Identify the equipment and training needed by each fire department in the county
Prioritize equipment and training needs
Identify local match
Purchase equipment
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Task 5: Set up and provide training for fire department personnel on the use of the
equipment and techniques for fighting wildfires
2.) Wildfire
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Protect the residents and visitors of the county through education, preparedness
and sufficient warning systems.
Activity: Hold workshops for local residents and cabin rental businesses to educate them
on fire safety, evacuation, and ways to protect their property; prepare brochures for
distribution to residents and tourists on fire safety and awareness; and publish news
articles on appropriate topics.
Lead: Hocking Hills Tourism Association and Hocking State Forest
Project Time Frame: One Year
Task 1: Identify at risk areas and the residents and business owners in these areas
Task 2: Plan topics for workshops and develop materials
Task 3: Develop a brochure on fire safety and awareness
Task 4: Print brochure and distribute to Welcome Center, cabin rental businesses,
restaurants, and other local businesses
Task 5: Schedule workshops, secure location and speakers
Task 6: Publish notice of the workshop in the local newspaper and Hocking SWCD,
Hocking County Tourism, OSU Extension, etc. newsletters
Task 7: Hold the workshop
3.) Wildfire
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Protect the residents and visitors of the county and protect and reduce the damage
to property through better fire protection.
Activity: Expand the number of dry hydrants in the County.
Lead: Hocking Soil and Water Conservation District and Hocking County Regional
Planning Office
Project Time Frame: One Year
Task 1: Identify areas where water sources are needed for fire protection and ponds that
meet the requirements for dry hydrant installation
Task 2: Prioritize dry hydrant sites
Task 3: Secure pond owner’s agreement for installation of hydrant
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Task 4: Identify local match (design)
Task 5: Purchase dry hydrant kits and hire contractors
Task 6: Install dry hydrants
Task 7: Provide fire departments with information and maps of locations of dry hydrants
and rental cabins, etc.
4.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Improve the detailed information for flood plain identification.
Activity: Schedule detailed studies for flood plain delineation in certain areas and update
County Flood Hazard Maps in urbanizing areas.
Lead: Hocking County Regional Planning Office
Project Time Frame: One Year
Task 1: Identify locations – Logan, Laurelville, Murray City, Rockbridge, Enterprise,
Carbon Hill and Haydenville
Task 2: Request funding and coordination by FEMA, ODNR
Task 3: Conduct studies
Task 4: Update maps
5.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Eliminate repetitive loss and claims for flood damage by returning land to green
space.
Activity: Buyout repetitive loss structures located in Murray City, Rockbridge, and other
areas of the County. These projects would include the demolition of existing
structures, grading of the land and replacement of grass. The property could
then be used as a park or green space depending on which use would best serve
the community where the property is located.
Lead: Hocking County Commissioners and Hocking County Emergency Management
Agency
Project Time Frame: Two Years
Task 1: Identify areas that flood and have repetitive loss structures which meet the
requirements for buyout
Task 2: Prioritize areas with repetitive loss
Task 3: Purchase property
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Task 4: Evaluate property and decide whether it would best serve the community as a
park or as green space
Task 5: Advertise and accept bids for the demolition, removal and regrading of property.
Task 6: Hire Contractor
Task 7: Conduct work
6.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Decrease storm water runoff and erosion thus reducing flooding.
Activity: Re-size culverts/bridges that are undersized.
Lead: Township Trustees and County Engineer
Project Time Frame: ongoing
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Identify culverts/bridges that are undersized.
Prioritize culverts/bridges that are undersized.
Identify local match (design).
Upgrade culverts/bridges
7.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County-Rockbridge
Goal: Provide safe water supplies for the residents of Rockbridge
Activity: Extend well casings above the flood level or install a public water system for
the residents of Rockbridge.
Lead: Hocking County Commissioners and Hocking County Health Department
Project Time Frame: Two Years
Task 1: Identify water supplies that are contaminated during flooding
Task 2: Evaluate the problem and decide best plan of action, i.e. extend well casings or
install public water system
Task 3: Identify local match
Task 4: Proceed with necessary steps to plan extension of well casings or installation of
public water system
Task 5: Design the projects and prepare necessary documents
Task 6: Advertise and accept bids from contractors
Task 7: Hire Contractor
Task 8: Conduct work
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8.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County- Good Hope Township-Rockbridge
Goal: Reduce the amount of damage to structures in Rockbridge
Activity: Flood-proof existing structures
Lead: Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Project Time Frame: One Year
Task 1: Identify structures that flood on a repetitive basis
Task 2: Prioritize structures
Task 3: Flood proof structures
9.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Decrease storm water runoff and erosion thus reducing flooding.
Activity: Install Water and Sediment Control Basins (WASCOBS), ponds and wetlands
with ample free board to increase storage capacity.
Lead: Township Trustees and County Engineer
Project Time Frame: Two Years
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Task 5:
Task 6:
Task 7:
Task 8:
Identify areas that flood and receive damage for possible sites
Prioritize areas with damage
Identify local match (design).
Secure land to install projects on
Design the projects and prepare necessary documents
Advertise and accept bids from contractors
Hire contractor
Conduct work
10.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County-Perry Township and Falls Township
Goal: Decrease flooding caused by beaver dams obstructing the creek and culverts
Activity: Hire a nuisance trapper to remove the beaver from the creeks where they have
built dams and caused flooding and then remove the beaver dams.
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Lead: Perry Township Trustees and Falls Township Trustees
Project Time Frame: Six Months
Task 1: Identify areas that flood due to beaver dams in the creek or blocking culverts
Task 2: Prioritize areas with damage
Task 3: Secure the necessary permits from the wildlife officer and hire a nuisance
trapper
Task 4: Trap and remove the beaver.
Task 5: Remove the beaver dams from the creeks and culverts
Task 6: Monitor these areas to make sure more beaver do not move into the area
11.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Starr Township
Goal: Keep Wolet Road accessible for traffic during heavy rains.
Activity: Raise approximately 100 yards of the road near the river. A portion of this
road is next to the Hocking River and it floods whenever there are heavy rains – long
before other areas in the county flood. This road is a dead-end road and is the only
access to one residence and a cell tower. Every time the power goes out, the cell tower
maintenance crew must get to the tower for repairs.
Lead: Starr Township Trustees
Project Time Frame: undetermined
Task 1: Determine how much of road needs to be raised.
Task 2: Determine best way to raise the road to the correct elevation
Task 3: Conduct the project
12.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Protect the lives of citizens in flood prone areas by providing equipment for
emergency evacuation.
Activity: Purchase boats for use to evacuate victims of floods.
Lead: Hocking County Emergency Management Agency
Project Time Frame: Six Months
Task 1: Identify areas that have a history of flooding and the need to evacuate residents
Task 2: Prioritize areas needing equipment
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Task 3: Identify local match.
Task 4: Look at equipment available and get price quotes
Task 5: Purchase boats
13.) Flooding
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County-Green Township-Haydenville
Goal: Reduce flooding of basements and yards for 20 residences in Northern
Haydenville along Haydenville Road.
Activity: Evaluate and design a storm sewer system for Haydenville
Lead: Hocking County Commissioners and Green Township Trustees
Project Time Frame: 2 years
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Identify problem areas through field surveys.
Design satisfactory storm sewer
Request funding (possible community block grant funds)
Implement project.
14.) Flooding, Winter Storms/Thunderstorms/Windstorms.
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Minimize the impact that severe weather and other hazards have on Hocking
County through education, preparedness and sufficient warning systems.
Activity: Install 12 Severe Weather Warning Sirens
Lead: Hocking County Emergency Management Agency and 911
Project Time Frame: ongoing
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Task 5:
Identify areas where sirens are needed and will warn the most people
Prioritize areas where sirens are needed
Identify local match
Purchase and install 12 Severe Weather Warning Sirens
Educate the public through newspaper articles, brochures, etc.
15.) Flooding, Wildfire, Winter Storms/Thunderstorms/Windstorms Etc.
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
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Goal: Minimize the impact that severe weather and other hazards have on Hocking
County and protect the residents through education, preparedness and sufficient warning
systems.
Activity: County-Wide Reverse 911 System
Lead: Hocking County 911
Project Time Frame: ongoing
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Gather necessary data for project
Identify local match
Purchase and install Reverse 911 System
Educate the public on the system through newspaper articles, brochures, etc.
16.) Insect/Pest Damage
Applicable Jurisdictions: Hocking County, Laurelville, Logan, Murray City
Goal: Minimize the impact of insect damage and pests on our forests and protect our
tourism and forestry industries through education.
Activity: Hold workshops for local residents and landowners on the insects and pests
(such as Gypsy Moth, Emerald Ash Borer, and Sudden Oak Death) that can adversely
affect the forests of Hocking County.
Lead: The Ohio State University Extension and Hocking State Forest
Project Time Frame: ongoing
Task 1: Plan topics for workshops and develop materials
Task 2: Schedule workshops, secure location and speakers
Task 3: Publish notice of the workshop in the local newspaper and Hocking SWCD,
Hocking County Tourism, OSU Extension, etc. newsletters
Task 4: Hold the workshop
Implementation, Monitoring and Updating Policies
A. Plan Incorporation/Existence
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Page 36 of 37
The Hocking County Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan will be kept as a
separate document but will be used along with all other plans, studies, reports and
technical information of the County.
B. Mitigation Strategy
A mitigation strategy that provides the jurisdictions a blueprint for reducing the potential
losses identified in the risk assessment, based on existing authorities, policies, programs
and resources, and its ability to expand on and improve these existing tools.
C. Implementation Through Existing Programs
Plan Maintenance Procedures:
Currently there are no such plans to address this issue, however any planning efforts in
the future we would encourage.
The Regional Planning Commission (RPC) administers Subdivision Regulations and
Floodplain Regulations for the unincorporated areas of the County. Currently there is no
zoning in the unincorporated areas of the County.
D. Monitoring and Updating Policies
The Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan will be distributed to different county agencies on an
as needed basis. Mitigation recommendations will be given to local officials and county
planning departments and they will be strongly encouraged to address the NHMP
activities in the following: comprehensive plans, capital improvement plans, zoning and
building codes, site reviews, permitting, and other planning tools. Notices and articles
containing NHMP information will be published in the Logan Daily News informing the
public of NHMP opportunities, updates and activities etc.
The NHMP will be reviewed on an annual basis. The Hocking County Emergency
Management Agency along with CORE Group members will make recommendations,
adjustments etc. to the plan as needed. Information that becomes available or changes
relevant to areas of the plan will be added. At the time of the evaluation, the following
items will be assessed:
Do the goals and objectives address current and expected conditions?
Has the nature or magnitude of risks changed?
Are the current recourses appropriate for implementing the plan?
Are there implementation problems, such as technical, political, legal or coordination
issues with other agencies?
Have outcomes occurred as expected?
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These adjustments will take place during the annual review. The NHMP will be
addressed as mitigation funds become available to Hocking County. When applying for a
mitigation project, the NHMP will be used as a guide for possible activities.
The public will have the opportunity to view the document and make suggestions,
comments etc. at the HCEMA per request. The person(s) wanting to review the NHMP
will be scheduled to do so by appointment. There will be a meeting held once a year with
the CORE Group members and public involved. Postings on the web and local paper will
give the date and time of the meeting.