Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 - Hazard Mitigation Plan Draft - Not yet adopted 2024 City of Lansing Hazard Mitigation Plan Know I Plan Act 1&6 Confidentiality Notice This document addresses specific vulnerabilities in the City of Lansing. This information is CONFIDENTIAL and is not to be released to any outside agency. Portions of this document may be exempt from the disclosure requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. 2 Rev 1124 Table of Contents Executive Summary.................................................................................................4 CommunityProfile..................................................................................................6 FutureLand Use Map ............................................................................................15 2022 Form Base Code Map....................................................................................16 Hazard/Vulnerability Analysis Summary ...............................................................17 Major Incidents 2018-2023 ...................................................................................18 Hazard Mitigation Plan .........................................................................................21 Goalsand Objectives..........................................................................................21 Mitigation Considerations .................................................................................21 Mitigation Strategies .........................................................................................22 MitigationProjects ............................................................................................24 PlanMaintenance ..............................................................................................30 Conclusion .........................................................................................................32 3 Rev 1124 City of Lansing Hazard Mitigation Plan Executive Summary Hazard mitigation is the process of reducing the impact of hazards. No community will ever be completely safe from all hazards, but steps can be taken to make a community more resilient to the effects of disaster. The goal of this plan is to make Lansing's residents, businesses, and infrastructure better able to withstand and recover from the effects of disaster. Good mitigation is sustainable and fiscally responsible. Research shows that every dollar spent in mitigation saves at least four dollars in damage and response costs when a disaster occurs. Mitigation reduces future risk and future costs. Goals The goals of this mitigation plan are to: • Identify mitigation priorities • Identify pre-disaster mitigation opportunities • Prepare Lansing to take effective advantage of post-disaster mitigation opportunities "Communities that actively engage in hazard and resiliency planning are less prone to disaster, recover faster from disasters which do occur, and endure less economic hardship than those communities which do not."(Hazard and Resiliency Planning:Perceived Benefits and Barriers Among Land Use Planners.NOAA,2010) Planning Process The city's original hazard mitigation plan was developed in 2005 by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. Addendums to the plan were developed for flood and wildfire by local planning teams. The plan was fully revised by the Lansing Office of Emergency Management, and the addendums incorporated, in 2013. Revision of the plan began again in 2015. The following process was followed: 1. Update Hazard Vulnerability Analysis with input from groups of subject matter experts and members of the public 2. Collaborate with the Planning Department to ensure that the Hazard Mitigation Plan aligns with the city's Master Plan 3. Hold public meetings seeking feedback 4. Assess progress in existing mitigation projects 5. Identify additional potential mitigation projects 4 Rev 1124 6. Finalize hazard mitigation plan 7. Review by stakeholders, including public input 8. Submit to City Council for final adoption 9. Submit to FEMA for approval Projects The following types of projects will be considered for hazard mitigation: • Preventative — maintaining or improving systems to prevent an event from occurring, including zoning or development restrictions • Structural — altering the effect of a hazard by creating a barrier or physically changing the environment in which the hazard acts • Property Protection — strengthen or modify structures to minimize the effect of the hazard • Natural Resource Protection — reducing the impact of hazards by restoring or maintaining natural systems • Risk Communication — improving the ability to effectively communicate risk to those affected before and during a disaster • Emergency Response — improving emergency response capabilities for more effective crisis and consequence management Planning Requirement Under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, local emergency management jurisdictions are required to submit a hazard mitigation plan for FEMA approval every five years. The Michigan Municipal Planning Act requires communities to review their Comprehensive Plan every five years. The planning cycle for the City's Hazard Mitigation Plan and Comprehensive Plan overlap, which enables the two documents to be updated simultaneously. This ensures that priorities from one plan are represented in the other. 5 Rev 1124 Community Profile Population Lansing's population peaked in the mid-20t" century and has declined slowly since that time. However, the city's population has not declined as quickly as projected in earlier census reports and in fact, showed slight growth between 2010 and 2014. An increase in housing available in the downtown area may be a contributing factor the city's 2010s population increase. In 2021, the US Census reported that the the population in Lansing, MI was 112,644. The Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan area has shown continued growth, with an estimated population of 537,297, an increase from 465,732 in 2012. The area includes parts of Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties. Government and healthcare are the city's largest employers. Mitigation significance: A portion of the city's downtown and the Michigan Avenue corridor are in the floodplain. These are areas which are seeing growth in both housing and commercial activity. Actions that would lower the risk of flooding in those areas would spur continued growth. Race, Age and Gender Lansing is more racially integrated than many other areas of the state, with 9.8% of the population of mixed race population versus 2.8% statewide. Fifty-eight percent of the population is white, 23.7% is black, and 5% is Asian. Twelve percent of the city's population is of Hispanic origin. Lansing has one of the highest proportions of mixed race residents in the US. Lansing had a dissimilarity index of 27.8 when the last plan was adopted; which roughly means that only 28% of its population lives in a racially segregated neighborhood. This number is down 10% since 2000. A dissimilarity index of 60 is considered high and 30 is considered low. Total Pop %Mixed 2020 %White %Black %Asian Race %Hispanic Lansing 112.6K 58.2 23.7 5 9.8 12.5 Detroit 639.1 K 12.2 77.8 1.6 3.8 7.5 Grand Rapids 198.9K 63.0 17.9 2.8 10.9 15.9 Flint 81.2K 35.3 56.3 0.5 6.5 4.3 Southfield 76.6K 25.5 65.3 1 1.8 6.8 1.5 Statewide 10M 78.8 14.1 3.5 2.8 5.7 National 321 M 75.5 13.6 6.3 3.0 19.1 6 Rev 1124 Segregation levels in the city have been decreasing steadily since 1980, when nearly 40% of residents lived in racially segregated neighborhoods. Lansing's Asian population has the highest level of segregation, with 32.4% living in a racially segregated neighborhood. About half of the city's Asian residents are from Southeast Asian or Pacific island nations. The remainder are from Middle Eastern nations and include recent refugees from Afghanistan, Burma and Iraq. Mitigation significance: Better integrated neighborhoods mean that mitigation measures are less likely to affect one ethnic group more than any other. However, when recent immigrants are isolated, as tends to be the case with the city's Asian population, they are less likely to be plugged into information and resource networks than other city residents. They are more likely to be disproportionally affected by disaster and less likely to engage in the mitigation planning process. Because of this, efforts were made to include recent immigrants in the process. Eight percent of Lansing's population is estimated to have been born outside of the United States. The most common countries of origin for Lansing residents are Korea, India, Vietnam and Mexico. These populations tend to be older and well-established in the community. Since 2000, more than 8,000 refugees have been resettled in the Lansing areal. Refugees from Africa and Asia each make up 40% of those refugees, with the largest numbers coming from Somalia, Bhutan, Burma and Iraq. According to the 2020 census, 14.6% of Lansing's population speaks a language other than English at home. Half of those, about 7500 residents, do not speak English very well. Economic Outlook Lansing has a lower number of high income residents than the state overall, and a higher number of medium and low income residents. The greatest disparity is in extremely low income and in the $25-34,000 range, with approximately 20% living in poverty. The 2022 median household income was $50,747. The decline in the auto industry has been felt severely in Michigan, but has had slightly less effect on Lansing than other parts of the state. Lansing has a fairly diverse economy, with healthcare/social services organizations and retail as the top employers. Insurance is another major employer in the city. One third of the jobs in Lansing are blue collar 1 CDC Snapshots of State Population Data version 1.5 (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/snaps/) 2 St Vincent Catholic Charities Refugee Services 7 Rev 1124 jobs, and two thirds are white collar. The Lansing area has one of the highest rates of growth in high tech jobs in the nation. 20.00% 18.00% 16.00% — 0 14.00% v 12.00% o 10.00% 0 8.00% c 6.00% 4.00% a� 2.00% 0.00% Under15 15-24 25-34 35-49 50-74 75-99 100-124 125-150 150-200 200+ Household Inconne(in the thousands) ■State ■Lansing Mitigation significance: Mitigation can easily become a lower priority during difficult economic times; however, there can be benefits to moving forward with mitigation during those times. For example, the stagnant housing market and reduced population has proved beneficial to the city's floodplain acquisition program. There are enough vacant homes that people who are selling their homes can find a home in their neighborhood outside of the floodplain if they wish. The program offers a fair price to those who wish to sell their floodplain homes, which may prove difficult to sell otherwise with so many other homes on the market. Foreclosed homes in the floodplain are being acquired as well as owner-occupied. Housing Eighty-five percent of the city's housing stock was built before the city became an NFIP participating community in 1981. Twenty-five percent of existing homes were built before 1940. Total Owner % of % of Total Occupied Vacancy Occupied Total Renter Total Units Units Rate Units Occupied Occupied Occupied 1990 53,919 50,635 6.1% 27,737 54.8 22,898 45.2 2000 53,159 49,505 6.9% 28,488 57.5 21,017 42.5 2010 54,181 48,450 10.6% 26,019 53.7 22,431 46.3 2020 54,599 49,018 11.1% 26,167 53.3 22,891 46.7 8 Rev 1124 According to the 2020 census, 53.3% of occupied homes in the city are owner-occupied and 46.7% are rentals. This is a slight decrease in owner-occupied homes since 2010. Mitigation significance: The majority of the city's housing stock was built before strict building codes were enforced. 93% of all structures in the floodplain are Pre-FIRM, which means that they are not compliant with floodplain regulations, and are exacerbating the city's flood risk. Zoning and Community Development The City of Lansing has zoning authority over the planning area. The Planning and Neighborhood Development Office is responsible for enforcing the city's Planning and Zoning Code (Lansing Codified Ordinances, Part 12), which includes the local floodplain ordinance. The City has adopted the International Building Code under local ordinance 1181. The City has been a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) community since 1981. In addition to restrictions on development required under the NFIP, the city also requires a special land use review and approval by the City Council for development in the floodplain on parcels over '/z acre. In 2010 the City adopted new NFIP flood maps. No additional properties were included in the regulatory floodplain as a result of map revision. Another revision is expected by 2025 which will result in a lower HE in some areas. Much of the vacant land in the floodplain is currently zoned as residential. Future land use plans rezone those areas as open space to prevent any further development. Industrial areas, particularly in south Lansing, will be concentrated along major transportation corridors and moved out of residential neighborhoods. Zoning and future land use maps are included at the end of this section. There have been no significant developments affecting the city's vulnerability since the early 2010s. Mitigation significance: The majority of the development in Lansing's floodplain was completed before 1950. Stricter floodplain requirements focusing on substantial improvement of existing structures (adding a cumulative element to permits, requiring additional freeboard, etc.) could encourage mitigation as buildings are renovated. Floodproofing and property acquisition are both being pursued as options to lower flood losses. Mitigation Capacity Lansing has an annual budget of $163.9M. In addition, the city receives approximately $3.8M in Community Development Block Grant funding, some of which may be used toward floodplain mitigation. The impetus to use CDBG funding for mitigation is a desire to assist floodplain residents in low-income neighborhoods, who are otherwise not eligible to benefit from these funds. 9 Rev 1124 Emergency Management The City is its own Emergency Management jurisdiction under Michigan Public Act 390, receiving funding through the Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) program. The Lansing Fire Department has 160 sworn personnel, as well as four staff members assigned full-time to Fire Prevention and three to Emergency Management. The department participates in the Metro Lansing USAR and Hazmat response teams, as well as maintaining water rescue and wildfire response capabilities. LFD has a shared services agreement with the East Lansing Fire Department, with a staff of 60 full-time firefighters. The department also participates in automatic mutual aid with two other neighboring jurisdictions. The Lansing Police Department has 198 sworn officers, with members assigned full time to investigation, community policing, and maintaining the city jail as well as uniformed patrols. The department maintains a dive team, a Special Tactics and Rescue Team (START), and a motorcycle patrol. The city's Public Service Department is also a critical part of emergency response. Public Service maintains roads and city-owned infrastructure, including sewers; operates the city's wastewater treatment plant; manages urban forestry; and operates a trash and recycling program. The Public Service Department also has a staff of engineers. In an emergency, the Public Service Department erects barriers and other perimeter control, provides heavy equipment, and offers technical expertise. Climate Lansing's climate is determined by its location within the Great Lakes '°w EXPIANATIO N UNIT®STATES PORTION Basin. The climate of the basin is ONTARIO DOFTNE GREAT LAKES MIN GREAT influenced by several factors, —BB NO RYES BASIN including the polar jet stream and QUEBEC the Great Lakes themselves. The 4'" s�roR lakes moderate the temperature of the surrounding land and add u lSrii113 UI 4.y r," -nor �w moisture to the environment. The NEW b1RINES p7u, �, YORK result is cooler summers and warmer winters, with significant l E °� IiMi6 j PENNSYUJANN precipitation and greatly variable C weather patterns. Within the basin, �INli 1. UIOIANA OHIO rr temperature and precipitation are E:; rrr .FII Rr, rL_;,fE,r.:r,,�:;;r,�E,,,r,;,r,.o.co;i .ens � J o u primarily determined by proximity 10 Rev 1124 to the Great Lakes. Lansing experiences greater temperature extremes and lower precipitation than communities located nearer to the lakes. Lansing's average summer high temperature is 810 and the average winter low is 17°F. There is a fairly high instance of ice and sleet storms in the early spring and late fall. Lansing's record high temperature is 103°F on July 6, 2012. Heat index temperatures over 93°F are considered very high and usually trigger the opening of cooling centers in the city. The record low occurred on February 2, 1868 when temperatures fell to -37°F. The lowest recent temperature was on January 4, 1981 when temperatures fell to -29°F. Average total annual rainfall is 36.3 inches, and average annual snowfall is 50 inches. January is the snowiest month, with an average 14 inches of snowfall. September has the highest average rainfall, with 3.5 inches, but August has had the highest number of extreme rain events. Three of the last six extreme rain events occurred in August, and one at the end of July. Geography The land where Lansing is now located was originally upland forest and wetland. Many forested and non-forested open areas have been preserved or restored. The largest of these areas is on the east side of the city, encompassing Crego, Shubel and Potter Parks, Fenner Nature Center and Scott Woods Park. Mitigation Significance: This area provides the city's largest urban/wildland interface. The area around Fenner Arboretum is the greatest concern. The area is completely natural, has frequent human activity, and residential development on the south side of the nature center do not have proper defensible space in the event of a wildfire. Crego Park presents additional concern, since it was recently opened for expanded public use. A rail line runs through an area that is difficult to access by vehicle. Homeless individuals reportedly enter the park by way of the rail line and camp in the woods nearby. The 100 year floodplain covers 10% of the land in the city. Sycamore Creek, the Red Cedar and the Grand River converge within a mile of each other near the downtown area. The Grand River has an average flow of 1000 cubic feet per second. It is dammed at two points in Lansing: the Eckert Station Power Plant, where it is provides a cooling source for electrical production, and in North Lansing at Burchard Park. Currently the North Lansing dam primarily serves to provide a constant water level in the river through the city. It is not currently licensed to produce electricity. 11 Rev 1124 Mitigation Significance: Removing the dam would lower the base flood elevation and would improve the health of the river. It would impact recreation downtown, since the dam is a popular fishing spot and the fish ladder is a local attraction. The river's natural channel would likely be narrower, which may require relocating portions of the river walk and stormwater outfalls. Infrastructure Utilities - Water Drinking Water - The Lansing Board of Water and Light is a municipally owned utility created in 1885 to provide water to the citizens of Lansing. The Board currently provides water, electricity, and steam to the city. Lansing's drinking water is pumped from the Saginaw Aquifer, a water-bearing sandstone layer lying about 150 to 400 feet below the mid-Michigan region. One hundred and ten active wells pump water to either of two water conditioning plants where the water is softened and supplied to the public. In 2016 the Board of Water and Light completed the replacement of lead distribution lines in its service area. Service lines to older homes may also contain lead and are the responsibility of the homeowner to replace if needed. In addition to Lansing, the Board serves portions of Lansing Township, Delhi Township, Bath Township, Watertown Township and Alaiedon Township. The system has the capability to provide backup to, or be backed up by, the East Lansing/Meridian Water and Sewer Authority. A total of 180,000 people use water provided by the Lansing Board of Water and Light. Wastewater - The Lansing wastewater treatment plant is owned and operated by the city. The plant treats an average of 20 million gallons of wastewater each day. The facility is designed for an annual average flow of 37 million gallons per day for complete treatment. The plant receives flow from 22,000 acres in the City of Lansing, Lansing Township, and portions of Delhi Township and serves a population of 155,000. Stormwater— Until the 1950s Lansing's sanitary sewers and storm sewers were built as a shared system. After that time, separate sewers were constructed, sending sewage to the wastewater treatment plant and stormwater directly to the river. However, much of the city still uses the old combined sewers. Both sewage and stormwater from the combined system is processed through the wastewater treatment plant. When the volume of water exceeds the capacity of the plant, both stormwater and raw sewage are discharged directly to the Grand River. In the 1980s the city began to separate the older sewers. The CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) project is creating a separate stormwater system that flows directly to the river, reducing the volume of water at the wastewater 12 Rev 1124 treatment plant, and reducing the chance that sewage will be released into the river. The project was initially expected to be completed in 2020, but funding issues may delay completion. Mitigation Significance: While separating sewers is economically and environmentally beneficial, the process creates two smaller lines where one large line previously existed. These new stormwater lines are sized for common rain events but may allow stormwater to back up into basements in extreme events. However, areas where sewers are not separated also experience flooding and basement backups in these events, often of raw sewage from the combined line. Extreme events are becoming more common. Lansing has experienced five greater than 100 year rain events since 2008, with only three in the 100 years previous. Utilities - Power The Lansing Board of Water and Light provides steam and electrical power to the cities of Lansing and East Lansing and all or part of seven surrounding townships, including Delhi, Delta, DeWitt, Lansing, Meridian, Watertown and Windsor. The Board of Water and Light has three generating plants, two in Lansing and one in Delta Township. One is coal fired; one is a natural gas cogeneration plant. The coal fired plant in the city, Eckert Station, decommissioned in November 2022. The Board also has the ability to buy power from other parts of the state or country if it should become necessary. Mitigation Significance: Activities at Eckert Power Station have warmed the Grand River since it was built in 1904. While the decommissioned plant has positive environmental benefits for the river, it may also allow a buildup of ice in areas where ice has not formed in more than a century. It may increase the risk of ice jam flooding in the city. Natural gas is provided within the city by Consumers Energy. No gas or petroleum transmission lines run through the city, but there are several large natural gas distribution lines. In 2013 the Lansing Board of Water and Light built a co-generation plant, which uses natural gas to produce electricity. This significantly increases the city's dependence on natural gas. Transportation The city street system consists of 105 miles of major streets and 305 miles of local streets for a total of 410 miles. A truck route system is included in the major street mileage. The truck route system is broken down further into all-weather routes and seasonally restricted routes. Several state and interstate highways provide major arteries through and around the city. 13 Rev 1124 Several major freight rail lines also cross through Lansing carrying freight and passengers. CSX, Conrail, GTW and Norfolk Southern all maintain tracks in Lansing. The Capital Region International Airport provides a major transportation artery for citizens of and visitors to Lansing. It is one of the state's busiest airports. Under a tax- sharing agreement with Clinton County, municipal services to the airport are provided by the city. Mitigation Significance: Many of the utilities that serve the surrounding area are located in, or served by, the city. An incident that affects city utilities will have an impact on other communities as well. 14 Rev 1124 FUTURE LAND USE >2011 Master Plan E pm ` I W LekrkenairpRJ- p , rR b Future Land Use Classifications _Open Space-Dedicated Park '4J r 11 �Ss E-Saginaw a, Open Space-Quasi-Public/Utility Jt- 3 fir„ Y _lnakwndn `Nsa�`a Low-Density Residential —WO.Mnd Medium-Lax-DR.,Iy Residential T� : —.� i5 ,� ^ty •'++--+ sa9inawst— Medium-Density Residential-Urban • I �■g I�` �a"tlR;a,gye 9 >M1 _Medium-Density Residential Suburban 5n awaz_Residential Corridor X nw,at 'Gr San Avel N r!Av„ I I EMI'M1 -A �`M ehe9a tl.R� _DOWRIOWn mixed-use Carter Core T - WAepee�MAIbL Sr. I � ISM�L1%e1l.I.�� `4pem _Downtown M-xed-Use Carter.-Edge Community Mixed-Use Center /////a a Ne bbonc�ad Mixed-Use Center Destination Neghborhood Mixed-Use Center Convenience „s wlas M1 a■ E71 ■ .a�Rr- P s _Urban Mixed-Use Corridor r F 4_ -_� J Suburban Commercial `.' � > � `�Re Institutional_ ar raa,l,x tlpeR —r,owo„d�-Rd--` cx.".Reseam rowmh and Development � �vm weoe7 - Light Industrial 1 _General Industrial J a Open Space-Potenllal Natural Areas d --w�Mop"'MOP —; - odmRoxRd� Community Fadlity +� �7 - • J� S Eo,o.,Rd i i I � fc9 �w.XOIm6.Re �sd � . 1 —rI va, Joly-Rtl w A WN.11 Ok's ±� •kr„v wn,Illn Rtl �V� - EMn�rt'a SYI N W 196 E19a 6( reg:g dOa poll Rd� I Fo I 3 KBA W-IMRd— Figure 1 Future Land Use Map 15 Rev1124 City of Lansing Form Based Zoning Code Map ;r WE a y Nmi - ,� �-�sr ■ , I ' F Pill` a iei•l►, s:IN �. r. �.,, �f U.S.' �. r° vkl ■ r `' W.rc air Pit ■..ri- 1 _ .41i. i.s" Ir 1�■ J// �Y R :PN _- ..i 2 - ■ r 6 S wou 9 � r P �- L �. Dv j 3 F �j ` First Amendment Approved]anuary 1,2022 Legend =R-1-Residential :R-6B-Urban Residential BMX-1-Mixed-Use Neighborhood Center—IND-1-Suburban Industrial �R-2-Residential �R'MX-Mixed Residential :MX-2-Mixed-Use Community Center -IND-2-General Industrial �R-3-Residential -MFR-Multi-Family Residential -MX-3-Mixed-Use District Center -IND-3-Urban Industrial oR-4-Urban Edge Residential -R-AR-Residential Adaptive Reuse -DT-1-Urban Edge -INST-1-Suburban Institutional �R-5-Urban Residential -SC-Suburban Commercial -DT-2-Urban Flex -INST-2-Urban Institutional �R'6A-Urban Residential -MX-C-Mixed-Use Urban Corridor -DT-3-Downtown Gore Figure 2-2022 Form Base Code Map 16 Rev1124 Hazard/Vulnerability Analysis Summary A hazard vulnerability analysis is the first step in the process of updating the city's Hazard Mitigation plan. The analysis looks at all of the things that could cause serious emergencies or disasters in Lansing (our hazards) and how they would impact our infrastructure and residents (our vulnerabilities). In the Hazard Mitigation plan, we look at ways that we can prevent those events, or lessen Know I Plan I Act the amount of damage that will be done when a 1.61 disaster happens. During the hazard vulnerability analysis, hazards are scored in a variety of different categories. Lansing's hazard vulnerability ranking has always been performed by a mixed group of community members and technical experts. In 2024 update cycle, post COVID- 19 pandemic, these in-person groups were limited and input request and meetings had to go virtual. With the change in how meetings are conducted, we have expanded the future schedule of the hazard vulnerability analysis. This will give a greater voice to community representatives and a clearer view of public perceptions regarding hazards. Public Perception Final Ranking Overall the community representatives felt the city has 1 Ice &Sleet been increasing preparedness to respond to disaster then 2 Snowstorm the technical group did, but also felt that the impacts of 3 Tornado disaster would be more severe. 4 Severe Wind Ice storms garnered the highest level of concern, followed 5 Water Contamination closely by power outages and snowstorms. This suggests 6 Disease Outbreak that respondents perceive these hazards as significant 7 Terrorism threats to their families. Wildfires, on the other hand, 8 Extreme Cold received the lowest weighted average of 2.25, indicating a g Extreme Heat relatively lower level of concern among respondents. 10 Hazardous Material Release Overall, while certain hazards like ice storms, power 11 Flood outages, and snowstorms elicit considerable worry, others 12 Train Derailment such as wildfires are viewed with comparatively less 13 Wildfire apprehension. Changes to Assessment Criteria No new categories were added for the 2018 hazard analysis, but only three categories were assessed by respondents (community impact, victim impact, and community preparedness). The biggest differences between the respondents in the three shared categories were in manmade hazards. 17 Rev 1124 Major Incidents 2018-2023 Incident Type Number of Incidents Dam Failure 0 Drought 0 Extreme Heat/Cold 6 Flood 3 Severe Weather 0 Severe Wind 13 Severe Winter Weather 14 Tornado 0 Wildfire 0 Total 36 Extreme 5/27/2018, 5/28/2018, 5/29/2018, Heat- long 7/3/2018, 7/4/2018, 7/5/2018, period (2 to 3 7/5/2020, 7/6/2020, 7/7/2020, 7/8/2020, 7/9/2020 days) of high 7/4/2021, 7/5/2021, 7/6/2021 heat and humidity with 7/18/2022, 7/19/2022, 7/20/2022, 7/21/2022, 7/22/2022, 7/23/2022, temperatures 6/1/2023, 6/2/2023, 6/3/2023 above 90 degrees. Extreme 2018- Jan(11 Days); Feb(8 Days) Cold- long 2019- Jan(10 Days); Feb(7 Days); March(5 Days); Nov(2 Days) period (2 or 2020- Jan(2 Days); Feb(3 Days); more days) of 2021- Jan(3 Days); Feb(13 Days) low to freezing temperatures 2022- Jan(12 Days); Feb(5 Days); Dec(4 Days); and windchill 2023- Jan(2 Days) <25 de rees in F Wind- 5/9/18 Gust of wind 2/24/19, 11/27/19 that is classified 6/11/20, 11/15/20 as Storm or greater. >55MPH 8/10/21, 12/11/21, 12/16/21 (48knots) 4/14/22, 4/24/21, 7/23/21, 11/5/21 7/13/23, 7/21/23, 8/24/23 Floods- 5/12/20 When flash 8/12/21 flooding occurs in 4/4/23 Lansing,it affect certain areas all the time such as:I- 496/US127 interchange,Potter Park Zoo, Urbandale&Baker Donora neighborhoods. 18 Rev 1124 Mitigation Implemented 2018-2023 Several mitigation projects identified in the 2018 plan have been completed or are underway. An overview of some of those projects is included below. No projects identified in 2018 have been deleted or deferred. Further discussion of mitigation projects is included in Appendix D. Flood Mitigation Acquisition and Demolition In 2008, the City launched a floodplain acquisition and demolition program. To date funding has been obtained to purchase 32 properties in the most vulnerable parts of the floodplain. Once acquired, the homes are demolished, and the property maintained as greenspace. Many of the lots become part of the Ingham County Land Bank's Garden program. The acquisition program is entirely voluntary, and includes access to programs that provide down payment assistance, and assistance with making repairs and improvements to a newly purchased home in the city. The goal is to give participating homeowners a chance to stay in their own neighborhood if they desire, but in a safer home. Flood Inundation Mapper The complexity of Lansing's river system and the placement of river gages made accurate flood forecasting impossible. Through a partnership with the Michigan Silver Jackets, the United States Geological Survey, and other area stakeholders, models were created to determine what flood levels would be in the city at different gage readings. A public interface was created that will show flood heights at any given location at forecasted levels. The interface is available through the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) page. Public Protective Actions Warming Center Program The City of Lansing Office of Emergency Management facilitates the Warming Center plan in extremely low temperatures to escape the cold. This is especially important for seniors and people with chronic health conditions. These Warming Centers are for those that can't stay in their home during the day. They are temporary day-time shelters to warm up. Free rides to Cooling Centers are available for residents with a physical and financial need through CATA, EATRAN, and Clinton Area Transit. Residents should call 2- 1-1 for more information. CODE BLUE activates n the event the temperature drops below than 25 degrees or there is an accumulation of 5" or more of snow. 19 Rev 1124 Improved Warning Siren Improvement The previous reliance on analog systems posed challenges, requiring specialized electricians for maintenance. However, with the transition to a digitally reliant infrastructure, the complexity of maintenance has increased substantially for the outdated analog system. In response to critical gaps in coverage and an aging siren stock, the City of Lansing has undertaken a significant overhaul of its outdoor warning sirens. With 44,761 individuals previously left unprotected by the system, urgent action was imperative. Seven sirens were found to be inoperable 25% or more of the time, worsening the city's ability to prepare resident for approaching emergencies. The siren system upgrade replaces a disparate array of 22 sirens with 11 powerful Federal Signal 2001 units. These high-powered, directional signals provide superior coverage, safeguarding a larger portion of the city than ever before. With this upgrade, Lansing is not just improving its hazard mitigation capabilities — it's setting a new standard for emergency preparedness in the digital age. 20 Rev 1124 City of Lansing Hazard Mitigation Plan Goals and Objectives This plan aligns the goals and objectives of the city's mitigation program with its Comprehensive Plan. The following goals from the Comprehensive Plan guide the city's mitigation decisions: • Reduce the impact of hazards (protect life and property) • Preserve and restore natural resources • Link existing parks through non-motorized transportation network • Improve walkability and access to public transit • Expand, restore and buffer natural areas to improve ecological quality • Plan natural corridors in the context of their connection to the broader region • Encourage residency and economic development (make the city a better place to live) • Focus redevelopment to increase density, visual appeal, and economic benefits to the City of Lansing • Strengthen and preserve neighborhoods • Focus resources on enhancing older, somewhat neglected, neighborhoods that show good urban form (consistent setbacks, lot dimensions, side-street orientation, etc.) Mitigation Considerations Pre-Disaster Mitigation The best time to mitigate a hazard is before a disaster occurs. FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program offers several pre-disaster grants. These grants typically have a 25% local match. The Emergency Management Office is responsible for developing partnerships with other city agencies for potential mitigation activities; for facilitating mitigation planning on an ongoing basis; and for pursuing funding through FEMA HMA programs. Post-Disaster Mitigation Interest in mitigation projects is usually high after an event occurs. Mitigation funding for some projects may be available from FEMA as part of the disaster recovery process for affected communities. Post-disaster mitigation funding may be available from FEMA for a disaster in the city. Additionally, FEMA offers post-disaster mitigation grants under HMA to communities anywhere in the affected state. Those grants are competitive and typically have a 25% local match. 21 Rev 1124 One of the goals of this plan is to prepare Lansing to take effective advantage of funding and the public interest in mitigation during disaster recovery. In order to take advantage of post-disaster funding, the City must have projects prepared in advance. This plan will identify several projects that could be accomplished either before or after a disaster. Project descriptions will include a list of stakeholders, a discussion of the problem, and proposed solutions. After a disaster, the Emergency Management Office will facilitate discussion between stakeholders and city officials to determine a plan of action for mitigation projects. Mitigation Strategies The City of Lansing takes a responsible, long-term approach to mitigation. Mitigation projects must be: • Socially equitable • Environmentally sound • Economically justifiable • Technically feasible Meetings with stakeholder organizations and members of the public reinforced this mitigation strategy. Favor was also shown for projects with the potential to strengthen neighborhoods, and those that were socially equitable. There are four basic strategies for hazard mitigation which were considered in this plan: Modify human susceptibility to hazards. Move people out of harm's way, or make homes and businesses better able to withstand and recover from the hazard. Examples of this kind of mitigation would be: floodproofing homes or businesses, encouraging businesses to have a business continuity plan, effective land use planning, and improving warning systems. Modify the impact of hazards. While modifying human susceptibility focuses on making people less vulnerable, modifying hazard impact focuses on preventing secondary events. Tornadoes and ice storms can cause a lot of damage, but their impact is made even worse by the power outages and other infrastructure failures that often accompany these storms. Burying electrical lines or installing breakaway service line connectors can modify the impact of an ice storm or tornado. Change the hazard itself. Changing the hazard is easiest when the hazard is manmade. Removing a dam or relocating a tank farm are examples of this kind of mitigation. For 22 Rev 1124 most of the 20t" century, natural hazard mitigation focused on trying to control nature (building levees, channeling rivers, etc.). It is now clear that natural hazards like flooding can't be effectively controlled or changed without negative impacts. Changing manmade hazards, however, is possible. Preserve and restore natural resources. The attempts to control nature in the last century often resulted in the destruction or deterioration of naturally occurring protective systems. Suppressing all wildfires interferes with natural fire load reduction and leads to fires that burn hotter and spread more quickly. Draining wetlands and channeling rivers reduces natural floodwater storage and causes more severe flooding. Restoring hazard prone areas to a natural state can often reduce the impact of hazards on the community. For example, Lansing's floodplain acquisition program is returning parts of the floodplain to green space. Removing homes and pavement allows more water to be absorbed into the ground and sends less water to rivers. A Zero Pre-FIRM Floodplain As a community with three rivers, flood mitigation is a high priority for the city. The term "zero Pre-FIRM floodplain" describes our long-term goal to mitigate all floodplain properties to the extent possible. This will be done using a wide variety of tools and all of the strategies described above. Mitigation projects can be structural or non-structural. Structural projects generally change or add to the environment in which the hazard occurs, while non-structural projects tend to change the way that people act in the hazard area. Structural projects can be very beneficial, but they come with ongoing costs and maintenance requirements to keep up the level of protection. Structural projects have also been shown to actually stimulate development in high risk areas, leading to even greater losses when the limits of the structural protection are exceeded. Structural: • Levees and floodwalls • Burying electrical lines • Creating defensible space to prevent spread of wildfire Non-structural: • Stricter codes for development in hazard areas • Public education • Land use planning • Property acquisition 23 Rev 1124 Mitigation Projects The following mitigation projects are either underway or have been identified for possible future implementation. Project Description IStatus - . H2: Add Floodwater Cost-benefit of Riverside Storage Future Storage cleanup not feasible at this time, other sites may offer benefits. H3: Stormwater Investigate both structural and non- Investigating Management structural means to mitigate severe stormwater flooding. Areas of concern include S Pennsylvania Ave/Baker Neighborhood; Holmes/MLK/Burchfield Drive Area; and Oakland/Saginaw Viaduct, among others. H4: Urbandale Protective Reroute Clippert stormwater line for Underway Actions partial protection. H5: Replacement of Based on infrastructure assessment, Future infrastructure to a higher projects could include drains, utility standard infrastructure, roads, bridges, etc. H6: Dam Removal Possible removal or partial removal of Investigating North Lansing Dam. This effort has been renewed and a feasibility study under consideration for funding by the USACE. required)Moderate Investment (additional funding may be M1: Property Acquisition Over 30 properties in the Baker and Underway and Demolition Urbandale neighborhoods have been acquired to date. A new partnership with the Ingham County Land Bank is being launched and additional sources of funding (beyond FEMA HMA) are being investigated. 24 Rev 1/24 Acquisition areas may be expanded to Cherry Hill and Knollwood Willow neighborhoods in the near future. M2: Fenner Access Make structural improvements to Future Improvement allow effective fire response at Fenner Arboretum. M5: Subsidizing retrofit of Working with Planning & Investigating private structures to Post- Neighborhood Development and FIRM standards Neighborhood Centers. FMAP or PDM grant opportunity. Interest in Urbandale and Sycamore Park neighborhoods. M6: Potter Park Zoo Emergency access/egress for the zoo Investigating Protective Actions during flood conditions has been completed. Other projects to prevent flood damage and reduce environmental impact are being identified. M7: Museum Drive Mitigation, flood response planning Investigating Protective Actions for museums and cultural sites. M8: Community Tornado Work with local mobile home parks Future Shelters and community centers to build tornado shelters for their residents. M10: Power Outage Risk Bury electrical service lines from the Investigating Reduction road to homes to prevent damage from wind and ice; or install breakaway connectors at service lines to reduce risk of electrical mast damage. Currently investigating breakaway devices with MSU School of Engineering. 25 Rev 1124 M11: Evacuation Planning Identify evacuation routes and Underway develop procedures to evacuate the downtown area in an emergency. M12: Backup Generators for Standby generators for a select Future Raw Water Supply number of high-capacity wells would allow us to at least provide water for sanitation and fire fighting should a disaster lead to electrical system failure for more than 24 hours. M13: Contaminant A system for detecting contaminants Investigating Monitoring System for in the water distribution network Water Distribution System would allow us to save between 6 and 24 hours from the time of onset to a mitigating response. M14: Water and The WARN system is in place in Investigating Wastewater Agency Michigan and could be used Response Network (WARN) effectively to mitigate the impact of Resource Typing disasters at utilities, but a significant hurdle remains to be overcome in the identification and matching of resources to needs. The necessary rigor required in describing resources inhibits utilities from undertaking this task. M15: Smart Metering (AMI) Smart meters are being installed in Underway homes and businesses to monitor and regulate load, usage and time of usage. These may be used to prevent excessive draw to prevent a power outage, and can provide situational awareness of addresses that are out when an outage occurs. M16: Floodplain Remapping Additional flood studies are needed Underway to remap area flood insurance rate 26 Rev 1/24 maps to reflect actual risk. Expected to begin in 2019. Low Investment (commitment of existing resources) L1: Participation in Addressing remaining NFIP issues, Underway Community Rating System and elevation certificate availability. 1-2: Assess Critical Lansing Infrastructure Impact Report Underway Infrastructure completed 12/08; update, continue to identify potential mitigation projects. 1-3: Education for Insurance, Informational mailing 3/06, 12/07. Underway Mortgage and Real Estate Next mailing will be 2012. Professionals 1-4: Business Continuity Outreach to floodplain businesses to Underway Planning for Small assist with COOP planning and Businesses in Floodplain identification of mitigation measures. 1-5: Public Education Ongoing public outreach through Underway Program - Flooding floodplain neighborhood centers and at local events. 1-6: Public Education Ongoing outreach to Arbor Forest Underway Program — Wildfire and The Arbors neighborhoods, and neighborhood associations in the area. 1-7: Additional Flood Gauges Installation of staff gages at key Investigating locations to increase awareness for residents. 1-8: Disclosure Requirement Legislation proposed by Rep Joan Future for Landlords in Floodplain Bauer in 2009, tabled. 27 Rev 1/24 L9: Zoning changes for Implement low-impact development Investigating Stormwater Management zoning in South Lansing to minimize (part of H3) runoff. L10: Wildfire Risk Reduction Mitigation measures within the Investigating urban-wildland interface to reduce the risk and impact of wildfires. L11: Higher Regulatory Implement higher regulatory Investigating Standards standards for floodplain development. Completed/ M3: Improved Siren Add additional outdoor warning Completed Coverage sirens in areas where current sirens don't reach. Standardize siren activation and procedures with surrounding communities. H1: Enhanced Warning Flood study of Sycamore Creek to Completed enable development of enhanced flood modeling for central Lansing. Possible funding available through US Corps of Engineers. Grant awarded by Corps of Engineers in 2011. M6: Potter Park Zoo Emergency access/egress was Completed Protective Actions created to allow zoo personnel to safety care for and, if necessary, evacuate animals once flooding has sta rted. M4: McLaren Protective Flood mitigation for McLaren Medical Removed Actions Center Greenlawn Campus; could include flood proofing facility or building a flood wall. This facility will be closing in 2021 as a new hospital 28 Rev 1124 is constructed at another site outside of the floodplain. M9: Eckert Station Mitigation to protect power plant Removed protective action and infrastructure in the 100 year floodplain. Eckert Station will be decommissioned for power by 2020 and for steam by 2025. A new power plant is being constructed outside of the floodplain, and the vulnerable substation will be relocated by the end of 2018. Trends to Watch 2018-2023 Intense Rain — There were as many high intensity rain storms between 2004 and 2018 as there had been in the sixty years previous. If intense storms continue to occur with greater frequency, additional steps may be needed to mitigate the impact of stormwater flooding. Ice Jam Flood Risk — Eckert Power Station has warmed the Grand River since it was constructed over 100 years ago, reducing the city's ice jam risk. As operations at the Eckert Power Plant have decreased, the warming effect on the river from the plant has also decreased. Ice has formed closer to the dam than has been seen in the past. When the plant is decommissioned in 2020 the city may face a greater risk of ice jam flooding and ice damage to infrastructure. Power Outages from Flooding —The construction of the Central Substation should address much of the risk of long-term power outages caused by flooding at Eckert Station. Redevelopment — Improved zoning may have a positive impact on stormwater management as properties are redeveloped and drainage is improved. Of particular concern is the area at the intersection of Holmes Rd and S. Martin Luther King Blvd in South Lansing. Three corners of the intersection comprise 65 acres of buildings and concrete with limited drainage. Those areas are graded toward the south and east, where residential neighborhoods are frequently flooded. Flood Insurance —Although new flood maps may be issued within the next three years with more favorable base flood elevations, the rising cost of flood insurance will still be a problem in the city. When actuarial rates are reached in the next five to 30 years, flood insurance premiums will equal or exceed the monthly house payment of many low- 29 Rev 1124 income residents. Rising flood insurance rates may force people out of their homes and make floodplain homes hard to sell. Project Implementation The City of Lansing Emergency Management Office is responsible for facilitating strategy implementation, monitoring progress of individual projects, and recommending revisions or updates to the mitigation plan. Emergency Management will accomplish this by participating in mitigation project workgroups, and working closely with its partner agencies to guide the mitigation process. Mitigation Process Lead Agencies Project Identification — Public Service, Planning, Parks and Recreation Departments; Office of Emergency Management; Mitigation Planning Committee, and other stakeholders Project Scoping — Lansing Office of Emergency Management, with stakeholders Grant Application — Lansing Office of Emergency Management, with stakeholders and project owner Grant Administration — City of Lansing Planning and Neighborhood Development and Lansing Office of Emergency Management Project Implementation — Project owner, with facilitation by Lansing Office of Emergency Management Benefit-Cost Analysis — Lansing Office of Emergency Management Project Funding — Lansing Office of Emergency Management, stakeholders Lansing's mitigation program has gained momentum through partnerships and outreach. Other city departments and organizations have begun to identify potential mitigation projects and have become active partners in the mitigation process. Continuing to seek out relationships with new partner organizations at the local, regional, state and federal levels will increase mitigation opportunities. New funding mechanisms, such as private grants, assessments, and public-private partnerships are being explored to fund projects as they arise. Plan Maintenance FEMA requires that local mitigation plans be revised every five years. The first step in the revision process is to update the hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA), which typically begins two years after adoption of the previous mitigation plan. The process to update the HVA is reviewed on page 17. Meetings are held to discuss mitigation projects and priorities on a regular basis throughout the life of the Hazard Mitigation Plan. These meetings fall into two categories: Public, which are primarily neighborhood-based, taking advantage of 30 Rev 1124 existing neighborhood meetings that are well-attended. They may also include public meetings such as the Planning and Fire Boards. After completion of the HVA, the plan is reviewed and feedback from these meetings, along with input from planning team members, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders is used to update the mitigation plan. The updated plan is reviewed by planning team members and then submitted to the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. MSP EMHSD reviews the plan and approves it for submittal to FEMA. FEMA reviews and gives feedback on the plan, at which point the plan is submitted to the Lansing City Council for review and adoption. The plan is discussed at a series of Planning Board and City Council meetings, which serve as the public's final opportunity to give input. 2023 Hazard Mitigation Plan Timeline Task Meeting Dates Update Hazard Vulnerability Analysis 12/5/23, 12/7/23, 12/12/23, 12/14/23, review with input from groups of subject completed by participants via email and paper matter experts and members of the Survey public Collaborate with the Planning 1113/2023 Department to ensure that the Hazard Mitigation Plan aligns with the cit 's Master Plan Hold public meetings seeking 12/5/23 Foster Community Center (2- feedback AM&PM) 12/7/23 Letts Community Center (2-AM&PM) 12/12/23 Gier Community Center (2-AM&PM) 12/14/23 Schmidt Community Center (2- AM&PM) Assess progress in existing Ongoing mitigation projects Identify additional potential Ongoing mitigation projects Finalize hazard mitigation plan Winter 2023 Review by stakeholders, including Winter 2023-2024 public input Submit to City Council for final Jan 2024 adoption Submit to FEMA for approval Feb 2024 31 Rev 1124 Conclusion It is our goal to mitigate hazards while considering the day-to-day needs of our residents and the preservation and restoration our natural resources; and to accomplish this without creating an adverse impact elsewhere. Mitigation in Lansing will be broad-based. The projects outlined in this plan cover the whole spectrum of mitigation as defined by FEMA: • Property Protection • Risk Communication • Structural • Preventive • Information/Warning • Emergency Response All hazards and all parts of the city were considered in the development of this plan. Projects will ultimately be selected based both on the severity of the impact, and on the acceptability of the projects to impacted neighborhoods. To be successful, mitigation must be a community-wide effort. We intend to be successful by engaging stakeholders at all levels of the community in projects that affect the places they live, play and work. 32 Rev 1124