2.0 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENTThe purpose of the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) is to identify the number and frequency of disasters in Mercer County

2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-1

DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio

2.0HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONANDRISKASSESSMENTThepurposeoftheHazardIdentificationandRiskAssessment(HIRA)istoidentifythenumberandfrequencyofdisastersinMercerCountyandtherisktopeople,property,andstructuresthatthosehazardscause.Thisprocessallowsofficialsandresidentstobetterprepareforincidentswhentheyoccur.TheHIRAisaddressedinfoursections.TheCountyProfile(2.1)providesinformationonMercerCountyanditsjurisdictions.TheHazardIdentification(2.2)describeshazardthatposesathreattoMercerCountyandprovidesabriefhistoryofsignificantoccurrences.TheVulnerabilityAssessment(2.3)examinesthevulnerabilityofeachjurisdiction,andtheRiskAnalysis(2.4)evaluatesandrankstherisksMercerCountymustaddressthroughitsmitigationefforts.

2.1COUNTYPROFILEMercerCountyislocatedinthenorthwestquadrantoftheStateofOhioalongtheOhio-IndianaborderandiswellknownforGrandLakeSt.Mary’s,aman-madelakethatprovideswaterretentionaswellasrecreationalopportunityforresidentsandvisitorsalike.Thecountyisprimarilyanagriculturalcountywithsomesmalltomid-sizeindustryandmanufacturingcompanies.Thecounty’s40,814residentsresidebetweenonecity,eightvillages,andfourteentownshipsMercerCountyconsistsof473squaremiles.Ofthese,462squaremilesarelandand11squaremilesarewater.ThecountysharesitswesternborderwiththeStateofIndiana.AdamsCountysitstothenorthwest,andJayCountysitstothesouthwest.InOhio,VanWertCountyistothenorth,AuglaizeCountytotheeast,andDarkeandShelbycountiestothesouth.Lima,theclosestsignificantcity,isnortheastofMercerCounty.TheclosestmajorcityisFortWayne,Indiana,approximatelyonehourtothenorthwest.TheclosestmajorcitiesinOhioareDayton,80milessouth,Columbus,110milessoutheast,andToledo,115milesnorth.ThegovernmentstructureofMercerCounty’selectedofficialsprovidesleadershipoverstatutoryresponsibilities.TheBoardofCountyCommissionersandappointedofficialsprovidesupportandservicetothecounty.AmongthemanyelectedofficialsaretheMercerCountyEngineer,theMercerCountyAuditor,andtheMercerCountySheriffwhowereinstrumentalinmitigationplanningactivities.AppointedofficialsparticularlyinvolvedincludedtheGIScoordinatorandfloodplainmanager,variousemployeesoftheMercerCountyEngineer,agriculturalindustryleaders,conservationandnaturalresourcesemployees,andmanyothers.Ohio’s4th,5th,and8thCongressionaldistrictsrepresentMercerCountyresidents.2.1.1DemographicsThepopulationofMercerCountyis40,814accordingto2010U.S.Censusfigure.Thepopulationhasremainedrelativelysteadysince2000,atrendthatisexpectedtocontinueoverthenextseveraldecades.

2-2 2017MercerCountyHazardMitigationPlan


Table2-1:MercerCountyPopulationStatisticsStatistic Figure

PopulationDensity 88persons/sq.mileFemalePopulation 50%MalePopulation 50%MedianAge 40.0yearsPopulationunder18 26.4%Populationover65 15.4%White 97.4%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.4%HispanicorLatino 1.5%TwoorMoreRaces 0.9%AverageHouseholdSize 2.54personsMedianHouseholdIncome $53,099PersonsinPoverty 7.8%

WithinMercerCounty,thereare17,702housingunits.Theowner-occupationrateis76.7%andthemedianvalueofowner-occupiedunitsis$130,200.Multi-unithousingstructuressuchasapartmentbuildingsaccountfor10.8%ofallhousingunits.Thereareapproximately1,197mobilehomesacrossthecounty.Themediangrossrentforalltypesofrentalpropertiesis$653permonthwhilethemediancostforhomeswithmortgagesis$1,089permonth.SpecialresidentialhousingfacilitiesexistacrossMercerCounty.Asof2010,thetypesoffacilitiesandstatisticsforeachtypeareasfollows:

Table2-2:SpecialResidentialFacilitiesFacility NumberofFacilities NumberofBeds

NursingHomeFacilities 6 405ResidentialCareFacilities 6 308

2.1.2HistoricalOriginsMercerCountywasoriginallypartoftheNorthwestTerritoryandsouthoftheGreatBlackSwamp.EarlysettlerscamefromthenorthwestsectionofGermanyinthemidandlate1860’stofarmthefertilesoilsofthearea.Theycreatedgrainandlivestockfarmsandprosperedintheagriculturallyfriendlyregion.TheMiamiErieCanalwasbuiltbythefederalgovernmenttocreateawatertransportationroutefromLakeErietotheOhioRiver,whichsupportedtheingressofsettlerstothearea,providedjobsforearlyresidents,andultimatelyallowedproductstoflowfromMercerCountytomarketsadistanceaway.ReligiouspracticeswereveryimportanttotheoriginalsettlersofMercerCounty,andtheirfaithcontinuestoguidethemtoday.ThesouthernhalfofthecountyispepperedwithRomanCatholicchurchesfoundedintheearly1800’sandthepopulationidentifiesprimarilyasCatholicandLutheran.Otherprotestantdenominationsandcommunitychurchesareprevalentinthe



northernhalfofthecounty.Acrossthecounty,religionplaysanimportantroleinpeople’slives.

2.1.3IncorporatedJurisdictionsMercerCountyiscomprisedofonecity,eightincorporatedvillages,fourteentownshipsandtwenty-threeunincorporatedneighborhoodcommunities.MercerCounty’slargestmunicipalityandonlycityisCelina.ThevillagesincludeBurkettsville,Chickasaw,Coldwater,FortRecovery,Mendon,Montezuma,Rockford,andSt.Henry.

Map2-1:MercerCountyMap

BurkettsvilleBurkettsville,oneofthesmallestvillagesinMercerCounty,sitsontheborderofMercerandDarkecounties.ThevillageislocatedonStateRoute319andwestofStateRoute118inGranvilleTownship.Astandardelectedmayor-councilgovernmentgovernsit.Thevillageownsonebuilding,whichhousesthelocalvolunteerfiredepartmentandvillagehall.



Table2-3:BurkettsvilleDemographicsStatistic Figure

LandArea 0.18sq.milesPopulation,2010 244White 97.1%Other 2.9%HousingUnits 107MedianIncome $52,500PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 1.7%Elevation 974feet

CelinaCelinaistheonlycityinMercerCounty.ItislocatedonthenorthshoreofGrandLakeSt.Marysandservesasthecountyseat.Celinahasastatutoryformofgovernment.Authorityissharedbetweenthemayor,auditor,treasurer,presidentofcouncil,andthelawdirector,allofwhomareallelectedbythevotersofCelina.

Table2-4:CelinaDemographicsStatistics Figure

LandArea 5.27sq.milesPopulation,2010USCensus 10,400White 94.9%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.5%HispanicorLatino 2.8%NumberofHouseholds 4,497PersonsperHousehold 2.29MedianIncome $41,040PersonsinPoverty 11.9%Elevation 876ft.

JamesWatsonRileyfoundedCelinain1834.Beforethat,theareawasaswampy,woodedareathathadtobedrainedbeforeitwashabitable.Oncethelandwasclearedanddrained,thefertilesoilsledtoabeautifullandscapeandproductivefarms.NamedafterSalina,NewYork,theareagrewslowlyuntiloilandnaturalgaswellsbeganproducingpetroleumproductsinthelater1800s.Thecity’sgrowthwasprimarilyduetodevelopmentofagri-businessesandotherventuresthatsupportedthefarmingindustry.CelinaislocatedonthenorthernedgeofGrandLakeSt.Maryswheretouristsandresidentsenjoysummerrecreationalactivities,communityfestivals,andotherfunspots.Severalstatehighwayscrosstheareainvariousdirections,givingeasyaccesstocitiesincludingToledo,Dayton,Indianapolis,andColumbus.Thecountyboastsofitsstrongworkethic,highqualityeducationalopportunities,anditssenseofcommunity,drawingworkerstotheareafromcitieslikeColumbusandIndianapolis.



ThecityishometoCelinaCitySchools,ImmaculateConceptionSchool,andWrightStateUniversityLakeCampus.CelinaAluminumPrecisionTechnology,CrownEquipmentCorporationandReynolds&Reynoldsareamongthemanysmallindustrialandmanufacturingbusinessesthatemploylocalworkersandfeedthelocaleconomy.HuffyBicycleandMersmansFurniturehaveclosed,ashaveafewotherlargebusinesses,butaggressiverecruitmentofnewbusinesshassuccessfullyfilledtheholescreatedwhendoorsclosed.Well-keptpropertiesandcommunityprideareapparentwhenonedrivesintoCelina.Neatlygroomedhomeslinethestreets,andbeautifullandscapingcreatesnicecurbappealforhomes.Thedowntowniscarefullygroomed,showcasingoldhistoricstructuresthathavebeenupdatedandsuitedtocontemporaryuses.Streetsaremaintained,andsidewalksarecleanandclear.Thecityisobviouslyoneoflong-standingcareandconcernforpropertiesandbusinesses,andthepeoplewholiveandworktheretakeextremeprideintheirsurroundings.ChickasawChickasaw,namedfortheChickasawTribe,islocatedinsoutheastMercerCountyatthejunctureofStateRoutes274and716.Thevillagewasfoundedin1838byJohnNutterandJamesBrooksandincorporatedin1890.Formorethanonehundredyears,thevillagehasserveditspopulationwithastandardmayor-councilformofgovernment.SettlerstoChickasawwerefirstEnglishandIrishand,lateron,German.Theyengagedinhunting,trappingandtimberharvest.ThetownwasthelaststopontheUndergroundRailroadbeforetheCivilWar;becauseofthis,manyfreedslavesstayedinthecountyandworkedforareafarmersaftertheirescape.Thetownwashistoricallyknownforbeing“rough”becauseofitseightbarsandbecauseitwasthesiteofthefirstjailinMercerCounty.

Table2-5:ChickasawDemographicsStatistic Figure

LandArea 0.23sq.milesPopulation,2010 290White 100%HousingUnits 156MedianIncome $54,750PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 4.4%%Elevation 942feet

ColdwaterThemostpopulatedvillageinMercerCounty,ColdwaterwasnamedafterColdwaterCreek.Almosttwohundredyearsafterits’founding,thevillageboastsasafeandfamily-orientedatmospherewhereprogressive,controlledgrowthsupportsoneofthebestplacesinOhiotoraiseafamily.Thevillagehasamixtureofmanufacturing,commercial,andretailbusinesses,someofwhichoccupyspacesformerlyusedbytheNewIdeafarmimplementbusinessthatclosedseveralyearsago.ThecommunityishometoColdwaterExemptedSchoolDistrict,whichreceiveshighperformancemarksforits1,500students.MercerCountyCommunityHospital,theonlyhospitalinthecounty,isalsolocatedinColdwater.



Table2-6:ColdwaterDemographicsStatistic Figure

LandArea 1.97sq.milesPopulation,2010 4,427White 95.2%BlackorAfricanAmerican <1.0%HispanicorLatino <1.0%HousingUnits 1,812MedianIncome $48,792PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 6.0%Elevation 912feet

FortRecoveryThevillageofFortRecoverywasthesiteoftwofiercebattlesduringtheAmericanIndianWars.St.Clair’sDefeatin1791andtheAttackonFortRecoveryin1794bothtookplaceinthissmallvillageattheheadwatersoftheWabashRiver.Thevillagewasofficiallyestablishedin1793byorderofGeneralAnthonyWayne,whocametotheareaanddefeatedtheNativeAmericanIndiantribes.ThenorthwestcorneroftheGreenvilleTreatyLineisinFortRecovery.Inlateryears,thevillagewasastopalongtherailroadthatconnectedBuffalo,NY,Chicago,IL,andSt.Louis,MO.Today,FortRecoveryisasmall,progressivevillagewithastrongagriculturalinfluence.Manyfarmsproducecropsandlivestockareinthearea,aswellasmultipleagri-businessesintheareathatworktosupportthemwithequipment,services,andsupplies.TheyhaveastandardformofgovernmentwithanelectedmayorandvillagecouncilaswellastypicalvillagedepartmentsthatprovideforthesafetyandwelfareofFortRecoveryresidents.

Table2-7:FortRecoveryDemographicsStatistic Figure

LandArea 1.97sq.milesPopulation,2010 1,430White 97.5%HispanicorLatino 0.8%TwoorMoreRaces <1.0%HousingUnits 590MedianIncome $53,750PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 9.2%Elevation 942feet

MendonThetinyvillageofMendonislocatedinnortheastMercerCountyalongtheSt.MarysRiver.ThevillagewasoriginallyplattedasGuilfordin1834,butthenamelaterchangedtoMendonwhentheUSPostOfficeopened.Thecommunityismostlyabedroomcommunityforresidentswhoworkinlargernearbycommunities.Thelargestbusinessintown,asecurityservice,employs



lessthantenpeopleandisowner-operated.ThevillageisoneofthefewinMercerCountythatoperatesamunicipalelectricservice.

Table2-8:MendonDemographicsStatistics Figure

LandArea 0.57sq.milesPopulation,2010 662White 97.3%HispanicorLatino <1.0%Bi-racial <1.0%HousingUnits 250MedianIncome $37,083PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 26.2%Elevation 820feet

MontezumaThesmallvillageofMontezumaislocatedatthesouthwestcorneroftheGrandLakeSt.Marys.Itishometolong-time,year-roundMercerCountyresidentsaswellasmanyseasonalresidents.Thevillageisabedroomcommunityforworkerswhoservethetouristindustryinthewarmermonths.Theyhaveastandardformofelectedvillagegovernment.

Table2-9:MontezumaDemographicsStatistics Figure

LandArea 0.13sq.milesPopulation,2010 165White 100%HousingUnits 132MedianIncome $35,714PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 13.4%Elevation 883feet

RockfordRockford,formerlyknownasShanesvilleandShane’sCrossing,isrichinIndianloreandhistoryfromtheAmericanIndianWarsandtheWarof1812.SittingalongthehighbankoftheSt.MarysRiver,theareaprovidedcampgroundsandhomestoAmericanIndianslongbeforeChristopherColumbusdiscoveredAmerica.Tradersandtrappersfrequentedthearea,barteringwiththeIndianswhoinhabitedthearea.AnthonyMadore,aFrenchtrader,operatedatradingpostatthislocationpriortohisdeathabout1815.DuringtheWarof1812,GeneralWilliamHenryHarrisonandhistroopscampedintheRockfordarea.Today,RockfordisasmallvillagelocatedatthejunctureofStateRoutes33and118.Thevillageexperiencesheavytrucktrafficasthousandsofsemi-trucksandtrailershaulhazardousmaterials,productionsupplies,andproductstoandfromFortWayne,Columbus,andothercities.FearshaveshiftedfromIndianattackstohazardousmaterialsspillsandvehicularaccidentsasspeedersareslowedbyvillagepoliceofficerspatrollingthehighways.Inrecent



years,thevillagehasbeenthelocationofseveralwell-publishedcrimesasperpetratorshaveattemptedtousetheruralhighwaysasescaperoutesandgetawaypaths.

Table2-10:RockfordDemographicsStatistics Figure

LandArea 0.84sq.milesPopulation,2010 1,120White 98.7%BlackorAfricanAmerican <1.0%HousingUnits 481MedianIncome $44,643PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 22.8%Elevation 814feet

St.HenrySt.HenryisagrowingvillageinthesouthernpartofMercerCounty.Withalmost2,500residents,thevillagehasstrongdevelopmentgoalsandahugedoseofcommunitypride.Thiscontemporaryvillageplanshousingandservicestoprovideexemplarylivingconditionsandalowcrimecommunityforitsresidents.Itsplannedneighborhoodsandsubdivisionsgivethosewhowantasuburbanfeelaniceplacetocallhome.

Table2-11:St.HenryDemographicsStatistic Figure

LandArea 1.65sq.milesPopulation,2010 2,427White 98.9%HispanicorLatino <1.0%HousingUnits 859MedianIncome $80,000PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 2.8%Elevation 971feet

2.1.4TownshipsandUnincorporatedCommunitiesMercerCountyisdividedinto14townships.Townshipsaregovernedbythreetrusteesandonefiscalofficer,eachelectedbythevoters.Theymeetmonthlyataminimum,andareresponsibleforthehealth,safety,andwelfareofthetownshipresidents.Sometownshipshavezoningofficersanddotheirownzoningandfirecodeinspectionsfornewparcelsandlanduseimprovements.OthersrelyuponMercerCountyoranotherjurisdictiontodothisforthem.Townshipsarenotrequiredtoadoptthemitigationplan,andMercerCountyisabletoactontheirbehalfregardingfederalgrantprogramsandofficialactions.Ofthemunicipalities,thefollowingtableshowsthetownshipinwhichthemunicipalityislocated;municipalgovernmentcoverseverythinglocatedwithinthemunicipalboundaries;townshipgovernmentcoverseverythingnotincludedinanincorporatedmunicipality.Townshippopulationfiguresaccordingto2010U.S.Censusfiguresarealsolisted.



Table2-12:TownshipPopulationStatisticsTownship Population Municipality

BlackCreek 631 Butler 6,459 ColdwaterCenter 1,082 Celina(partial)Dublin 2,254 RockfordFranklin 2,303 MontezumaGibson 1,860 FortRecovery(partial)Granville 5,662 St.Henry,Burkettsville(partial)Hopewell 1,066 Jefferson 12,231 Celina(partial)Liberty 917 Marion 2,969 ChickasawRecovery 1,550 FortRecovery(partial)Union 1,490 MendonWashington 1,218

MercerCounty’sruralareacanbedividedintothe“northtownships”andthe“southtownships”baseduponcurrentcharacteristicsandpractices.Thisdivisiondatesbacktotheearly1800’swhenthecountywassettled.TheRomanCatholicssettledinthesouthernhalf;theProtestantssettledinthenorthernhalf.Aslifeinthosetimescenteredaroundchurchandhomesteads,thecultureandpracticesofthecommunitiestookonspecificcharacteristicsthatexistyettodayinamoremodernsortofway.TheRomanCatholicstendedtoraisebothgrainandlivestock;theProtestantsworkedgrainfarmsSouthernTownshipsThesoutherntownshipsofGibson,Recovery,Granville,Butler,Franklin,Washington,MarionaresouthofStateRoute219.AsmallportionofWashingtonTownshipextendsnorthofSR219.Thesesoutherntownshipsareamixofgrainandlivestockfarmssupportedbynumerousagri-businessesandserviceindustriesinandnearthevillages.Thesebusinessesprocessandselllivestockfeedandsupplies,sellandapplyagriculturalchemical,andserviceandsellfarmequipment.Thefarmsinthesetownshipsraiselivestock,andthegraincropsprovideanimalfeedandsomecommodityformarket.Continualtransportationingressandegressallowsforthemovementofmilk,feed,andlivestockona24-hourbasiseverysingledayoftheyear.Theabilitytomovepeople,feed,supplies,productsandcommoditiesinandoutatwillonadailybasisisthelifebloodofthearea.Transportationserviceisequallyimportanttothemanysmallbusinessesinthesouthernhalfofthecounty.Asthesmallequipmentmanufacturersandserviceprovidersrepairequipmentandsupplythefarmswithcriticalneeds,theydependuponanetworkofaccessibleroadsandhighwaystogettotheircustomers.Assmallmanufacturerstrytoshipproductsoutofthesetownships,theyneedhighwaysandrailroadstocarrythegoodsoutofMercerCountyintometropolitanmarkets.



ThesoutherntownshipsholdthevisualandculturalkeytoMercerCounty’sreligiousrootsthroughthepresenceofmanyhistoricalbuildingsandfacilitiesinthetownships.St.CharlesCenterinMarionTownshipisthecentralfacilityforagedRomanCatholicpriestsandsisters,andprovidesanassistedlivingfacilityaswellasanursinghomefortheagedanddisabled.ManyoldRomanCatholicchurchesandafewLutheranchurchespepperthecountrysideandprovideaplaceofworshipforlocalresidents.Thesehistoricalbuildingsarewellpreservedthroughahardworkingcommunitythatprovidespainstakinglyexcellentcareofitsproperties.ThesoutherntownshipslaybelowthehighestpointinMercerCounty,whichisalongtheMercer-DarkeCountylinebetweenUnionCityandJenkinsRoadinGibsonTownship.Precipitationandrunoffwaterdrainsquickly.Tiledfieldsandfewwoodedareasfacilitaterapidrunoff,whichthenreachesthevillagesmorequicklythaneverbefore,andcontributestotherushingdrainageintothevillagesinthisarea.WatershedissplitbetweentheWabash,GrandLakeSt.Marys,andLoramieCreekwatershedsinthesetownships.ThewesternhalfdrainstotheWabashandendsupinIndianaandontotheGulfofMexicothroughtheMississippiRiver.MostoftheeasternhalfdrainstoGrandLakeSt.MarysbeforeemptyingintoBeaverCreekandtheWabashwatershed.TheextremesoutheastcornerofthecountyispartoftheLoramieCreekwatershed,whichconnectstotheUpperGreatMiamiwatershed.Intheearly1900s,ColdwaterCreekwasre-routedslightlytodrainintoGrandLakeSt.MarysasawaytofeedtheMiami-ErieCanal.JustsouthofSt.AnthonyRoadinButlerTownship,thecreekwasartificiallyturnedalmost90degreestotheeasttodrainintothenewinlandlake.Today,asmorewaterdrainsmorequicklyfrompointstothesouthofthisman-madeturn,MotherNatureisguidingthatwatertoitsoriginaldestination,BeaverCreek,whichispartoftheWabashWatershed.SeveralhomesinthisareaexperiencefloodingwhentheColdwaterCreekoverflowsitsbankandrushesnorthtowardthecreek’soriginaldestination.Anearthenstructure,unidentifiedinformbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,sitstothesouthofthesehomesinanun-engineeredattempttokeepwaterinthebanksofthere-routedColdwaterCreekbuthasbeeninsufficienttostoptheforcesflooding.NorthernTownshipsThenortherntownshipsincludeBlackcreek,Center,Dublin,Jefferson,Hopewell,Liberty,andUniontownships.Largegrainfarmspopulatemanyofthesetownships.Thesefarmoperationsnotonlyraisecorn,wheatandsoybeansbutalsohaveon-sitedryingandstoragefacilitiestohousethegrain.Fewfarmsraiselivestock,andmanyofthefarmershavefullorparttimejobsinlocalindustryorbusinesses,supportingfarmincomewithapartorfulltimejob.Thesefarmsarefamily-ownedandtendtousefamilymembersastheirworkforceratherthantoemploynon-familyworkers.Theyarelessdependentupondailyingressandegressthanthelivestockfarmsinthesouth,exceptduringplantingandharvestseasonswhentrucksandequipmenttraveltheroadsatalltimesofthedayandnight.



BecauseofUS33,whichcrossesthenorthernhalfofthecounty,andseveralheavilytraveledstatehighways,thereissignificantsemi-trucktrafficacrossthenorthernhalfofthecounty.Servicestoassistthetransportationindustryareplentiful,asfuelstops,foodservice,andothersmallbusinesseslinethemajorhighways.SeveralhistoricalIndianreservessurroundtheRockfordareainDublinTownship.Theseareasareplentifulwithnaturalbeautyandriverinelandscape.TherearevariousProtestantchurchesinthetownships,butthesearemoremodern-daychurcheswithnewerbuildings.ManyresidentsinthetownshipstothenorthinMercerCountyworkinfactoriesandplansnearby,residinginthefairlyquietandpicturesquecountrylandscape.WhilethevisualofthetwosectionsofMercerCountyareverydifferent,thebasiccharacteristicshavealotincommon.Theentirecountyisagriculturallybased,andcommunitywellbeingisdependentuponfarmingandtransportationindustries.ThepeoplewholiveintheareaareverylikelytobefromfamiliesbornandraisedinMercerCounty.UnincorporatedCommunitiesandNeighborhoodsMercerCountyhasovertwentyunincorporatedcommunities,andmanyrelateeithertothereligionofGermanimmigrantsintheearly1800sortothewhiteman’srelationship,sometimeshostile,withtheAmericanNativeIndiansinthearea.TheunincorporatedareasinthesouthernhalfofthecountyareprimarilyevidenceRomanCatholicGermanimmigrantssettlingincommunitiesthatfacilitatedthepracticeoftheirfaith.Carthagena,Cassella,CranberryPrairie,MariaStein,Philothea,Sebastian,Sharpsburg,St.Joseph,St.Peter,St.Rose,andWendelinwereallsettledbyimmigrants;aRomanCatholicChurchservesasthecenterofeachcommunity.Atonepoint,sevendifferentCatholicchurchsteeplescouldbeseenfromapointnearChickasaw:TheNativityoftheBlessedVirginChurch(Cassella),StFrancisCatholicChurch(CranberryPrairie),St.John’sChurch(MariaStein);St.RoseCatholicChurch(St.Rose);St.SebastianCatholicChurch(Sebastian);St.WendelinCatholicChurch(Wendelin);andSt.AloysiousChurch(Carthagena).CarthagenawasfoundedbyCharlesMoore,ablackmanfromKentucky,in1840.ThecommunityisnearChickasaw,whichservedasthesecondtolaststopontheUndergroundRailroad.AsslavescamethroughtheUndergroundRailroad,manydidnotcontinuefurtherforfearofcaptureatthefinalstop.Manysettledinanall-blackcommunitythatbecameknownasCarthagena.ThelastknownresidentofCarthagenadiedin1957andwasburiedintheblack-onlycemeteryinthatcommunity.TheMissionariesofthePreciousBloodpurchasedCarthagenafromCharlesMoorein1861.TheybuiltSt.CharlesSeminaryonthesiteoftheEmlinInstitute,aschoolforblacks.ThisbecametheSt.CharlesSeminaryandisstilloperatedbytheSistersofthePreciousBloodasaseniorlivingcenter,theSt.CharlesCenter.OtherunincorporatedcommunitiesincludeChattanooga,Mercer,Neptune,Skeel’sCrossing,Tama,andWabashinthenorthernhalfofthecounty.Mostoftheseareasareresidential



clustersthatusedtohaveapostoffice.Mostofthesepostofficeswereclosedintheearly1900s.

2.1.5InstitutionsandSpecialFacilitiesMercerCountyhasabundanteducationalandhealthcareresourcesavailableforresidents.AccesstotheseservicesimprovesthequalityoflifeforresidentsandcontributestothesuccessfuldevelopmentofMercerCounty.EducationMercerCountyresidentshaveaccesstomanyeducationalinstitutionsacrossthecounty.Fromprimaryandsecondaryschooldistrictstopost-secondaryeducation,therearemultipleoptionstomeetthevariedneedofresidents.SevenpublicschooldistrictsandoneparochialschoolservetheresidentsofMercerCounty.SixofthesedistrictsareprimarilylocatedinMercerCountywhileoneislocatedinAuglaizeCountybutservesasmallpopulationofMercerCountystudents.

Table2-13:MercerCountySchoolsPublicSchoolDistricts ParochialSchools

CelinaCitySchoolDistrictColdwaterExemptedVillageSchoolDistrictFortRecoveryLocalSchoolDistrictMarionLocalSchoolDistrictNewBremenLocalSchoolDistrictParkwayLocalSchoolDistrictSt.HenryConsolidatedLocalSchoolDistrict

ImmaculateConceptionSchool

HighereducationopportunitiesaboundforstudentsinMercerCounty.TheWrightStateUniversityLakeCampusislocatedinJeffersonTownship,eastofCelina.Thisrapidlygrowinginstitutionprovidesundergraduateandgraduateprograms.Withinaone-hourdriveofthecounty,studentsalsohaveaccesstomultiplecommunitycollegesanduniversities.HealthcareMercerCountyCommunityHospitalistheonlyhospitalinMercerCounty.Thisfull-servicehospitalislocatedinColdwater,thegeographiccenterofthecounty.Thehospitaloffersawiderangeofhealthcareservices,includingemergencyservices,intensivecare,anddiagnosticservices.MercerHealthalsooperatesseveraloutpatientfacilitiesandclinicsacrossthecounty.

2.1.6InfrastructureMercerCounty’sinfrastructureprovidesresidents,workers,andvisitorswithcriticalaccesstoservices.Thissectiondescribesthecounty’stransportationandutilitysystems.



TransportationManyhighly-traveledtransportationroutestraverseMercerCounty.Theseincludestatehighways,countyroads,andlocalstreets.MercerCountydoesnothaveanyinterstatesinthecountybuttheplentifulstateroutesprovideeasyaccesstothenation’sroadinfrastructure.TheCountyEngineerisresponsibleformaintaining384milesofcountyroadsand382bridges.TheCountyEngineeralsoservesastheEngineerforallfourteentownshipsandsupportsroadwaymaintenanceandrepairinthosejurisdictions.TheOhioDepartmentofTransportationmaintains417milesofroadwayand115bridges.

Table2-14:MercerCountyHighwaysInterstates U.S.Highways StateHighways

None 33127

2949117118119197

219274364703707716

AmajorfactorinMercerCounty’stransportationdevelopmentwastheconstructionoftheMiamiandErieCanalinabout1825.ThiscanalwasconstructedbythefederalgovernmenttocreateatransportationroutefromtheGreatLakestotheOhioRiver.OnesectionwasbuiltineasternOhio,andtheotherinwesternOhioanditranthroughMercerCounty.Thecanalconstructionprovidedjobsforimmigrantfarmersandallowedthemtopaythemortgagesontheirlandduringconstructionbyprovidingsecondjobsforthem.ItalsoprovidedarouteforimmigrantstoreachMariaStein,thehubofsettlingimmigrantactivity.ItalsoprovidedawayforMercerCountyfarmerstoshiptheirwarestomarkets.TheMiamiandErieCanalexistsyettodayinsomespotsinMercerCounty,butisnotafunctionalcanalsystem.UtilitiesThemajorityofhomesinMercerCounty,approximately73.6%,areheatedwithnaturalgasorelectricity.Theseservicesareprovidedbyavarietyofcompanies.ThePublicUtilitiesCommissionofOhioregulatesprivatecompaniesthatprovidepublicutilityservices.Thesecompanies,alongwithmunicipalelectricutilities,areidentifiedinTable2-15.

Table2-15:MercerCountyUtilityServiceProvidersElectricService NaturalGasService

DaytonPowerandLightMidwestElectricCityofCelina*VillageofMendon**MunicipalElectricUtilities

DominionEastOhio



Theremainingpropertiesinthecountyareheatedbyothersources,including:• Bottled,tank,orLPgas 18.1%• Fueloil,kerosene 3.4%• Coal,cokeorwood 3.2%• Solarenergyorotherfuel 1.0%• Nofuelused 0.7%

2.1.7TopographyandClimateTheterraininMercerCountyisveryflat.Thereislessthanthreehundredfeetdifferenceinelevationfromthehighestpointtothelowestinthecountyandtherearenoabruptelevationchangesanywhereinthecounty.Thehighestpoint,1,071feetabovesealevel,liesonthesouthernborderofMercerCountyandtheDarkeCountylineonStateRoute317betweenUnionRoadandJenkinsRoad.Thelowestpointisdirectlytothenorth,ontheborderbetweenMercerandVanWertcountieswheretheSt.MarysRivercrossesthecountylineintoVanWertCounty.Thatelevationis780feetabovesealevel,resultinginadifferentof291feet.MercerCountycovers284,160acresoflandthatarebelievedtohavebeencoveredbyglaciersatleastthreetimes.Thenortherntwo-thirdsofthecountyisnearlylevel,withgentleslopesonlyalongriverbanksandotherditches.ThesouthernthirdismoreslopingwiththeexceptionofCranberryPrairieinGranvilleTownship.GrandLakeSt.Marysistheonlysignificantbodyofwater,andtwo-thirdsofthe12,700-acreman-madelakesitsinMercerCounty.Thelakewasbuiltintheearly1800stocreateabodyofwaterfortheMiamiErieCanal;thiswasachievedbydammingbothendsofaswaletocreatethelake.MercerCountywaspartoftheGreatBlackSwampandpartsofthecountyhadtobedrainedbeforethelandwasuseableandhighwaysorbuildingscouldbeconstructed.SoilTypesThemajorityofMercerCountysoilsareeitherBlountSiltLoamorPewamoSiltyLoamClay(71%totaled).Thesesoilsarebothlikelytoretainmoistureandstaywetforalongtime,andneithertypepercolateswell.Thesoilserodeeasilyonslopingareas,makingthebanksofwaterwayspronetosoilerosion.However,whendrainedanddriedoutforcropsandpasture,thesoilsarehighlyfertileandprovidetheopportunityforveryproductivefarmland.Theareaissuitableforwoodlands,includingoak,ash,maple,spruceandpinetrees.Muchofthelandisnotnaturallysuitableforgrassesduetotheerosionfactor,butifdrainageisfacilitated,grassesgrowwell.Thelandisverypoorhabitatforwetlandplants.MercerCountysoilsaresuitableforconstructionwhendrainageisfacilitated.Thesoil’spoorpercolationmakesdrainagechallenging,andsub-surfaceconstructionisdependentuponengineeredwetnesscontrols.Soilserodeeasilysoembankments,borders,andslopesneedprotection.Man-madepondsarecompatiblewiththesoiltypes,butaquifer-fedpondsareslowtorefillwhennecessary.



ClimateTheclimateofMercerCountyissimilartoallofnorthernOhio.Thehumidcontinentalclimatezonefeaturescoldwintersandhotsummers.Theaverageannualtemperatureis51.4°F.Julyisthewarmestmonthwithanaveragehightemperatureof83°F.Januaryisthecoldestmonthwithanaveragelowtemperatureof19°F.Averageannualprecipitationis68.16inches,madeupof30inchesofsnowand38.16inchesofrain.Julyistypicallythewettestmonthwithaverageprecipitationof4.8inchesofrain.Thewintermonthsgenerallyallhavetwotothreeinchesofprecipitation;whetherthisfallsintheformofsnoworraindependsontemperaturesthatwaverslightlyaboveandbelowthefreezingmark.

2.1.8WaterwaysandWatershedTheSt.LawrenceContinentalDividesplitsMercerCountyintotwoseparateprimarywatershedsthateventuallybothtakewatertotheAtlanticOceanthroughverydifferentroutes.OneusestheOhioandtheMississippiRiverstoroutewatertotheGulfofMexicoandoutintotheAtlantic.TheotherdirectswatertoLakeErieandLakeOntario,andupthroughtheSt.LawrenceSeawayintothenorthernAtlanticOcean.ThecontinentaldividecrossesMercerCountyfromthewestinLibertyandBlackCreektownships,andcrossessoutheastintotheCelinaarea.ItliesinthevicinityofGrandLakeSt.Marys.Attimes,waterwaysflowingtotheseoppositetwowatershedscomewithinfeetofoneanother.TheriversandtributariesnorthofthisdivideflowintowatershedsthatemptyintotheGreatLakes,specificallyintoLakeErie,throughtheSt.Marys’RiverandeventuallytheMaumeeRiverWatershed.ThosesouthofthedivideflowintotheWabashRiverandflowtotheGulfofMexicothroughtheOhioRiverandontoMississippiRiveraspartoftheWabashRiverWatershed.AsmallareainthesoutheastflowstowardtheOhioRiverthroughtheGreatMiamiWatershed,andontotheOhioRiverandtheMississippiRiver.Thisdrainagetakesplacethroughfivedifferentsmallwatersheds.TheselocalwatershedsareidentifiedbynumbersonethroughfiveonMap2-2.



Map2-2:MercerCountyWatersheds

TheLittleAuglaizeRiverWatershed,identifiedas1onMap2-2,liesintheextremenortheastcornerofMercerCounty.TheAuglaizeRiverandafewtributaries–ditchesandstreams–flowthroughacornerofUnionTownship,supplyingtheAuglaizewithwaterthatthenflowsnorthintotheBlanchardandonintotheMaumeeRiver,endingupinLakeErie.TheprimarywaterwayinthiswatershedisKylePrairieCreek.TheSt.MarysRiverWatershed,identifiedas2onMap2-2,coversthenortheastquadrantofMercerCounty.ThiswaterflowsintotheSt.MarysRiverthroughUnion,DublinandBlackcreekTownshipsandexitsthecountyatthelowestelevationinMercerCounty,wheretheSt.MaryscrossesintoVanWertCountytothenorth.TherivereventuallyflowsintoFortWayne,IndianawhereitjoinsintotheMaumeeRiverandbecomespartoftheMaumeeWatershedthatflowstothenortheastintoLakeEriethroughseveralnorthwestOhiocounties.Theprimarystreams,ditches,andriversinthiswatershedincludeDennisonDitch,YankeeRun,GreenDitch,EightmileCreek,TwelvemileCreek,BlackCreek,BigBlackCreek,LittleBlackCreek,DuckCreek,andSaniftDitch.TheGrandLakeSt.MarysWatershed,labeled4onMap2andshowningreaterdetailonMap2-3,iscomprisedofthestreams,ditches,andriversthatflowintoGrandLakeSt.Marys,a12,700-acreman-madeinlandlakesoutheastofCelina.Thewaterdrainingintothislakecomesfromsixareas:ColdwaterCreekthatoriginatesinSt.HenryandmovesthroughButlerTownship(whichoriginallyflowedintoBeaverCreekandontotheWabashWatershed);theGrassyMonroethatflowsthroughButlerandJeffersontownshipsintothelake;theBeaver



CreekthatcomesfromthewestthroughJeffersonandWashingtontownshipsasadeepandrapidlyflowingwaterway;thePrairiethatflowsfromsouthoftheMontezumaareaintothelake;BigChickasawthatflowsfromtheChickasawplainsandnorthfromMarionandFranklinTownships;andtheLittleChickasawthatflowsintoGrandLakeSt.MarysfromAuglaizeCounty.ThesewaterwaysalldrainintoGrandLakeSt.MarysandthenflowthroughtheSt.MarysRiverintotheMaumeeWatershedtothenortheasttowardsLakeErie.WaterwaysincludeColdwaterCreek,BurntwoodCreek,BeaverCreek,MontezumaCreek,DahlinghouseDitch,ChickasawCreek,EastForkCreek,andPrairieCreek.Thiswatershedwasartificiallymodifiedinthelate1800swhenGrandLakeSt.Maryswasbuilt.TheColdwaterCreeksub-watershedoriginallydrainedintoBeaverCreekwestofCelina,andwaspartoftheWabashWatershed,nottheGrandLakeSt.MarysWatershed.InordertoassureadequatewaterlevelsinMiami-ErieCanal,ColdwaterCreekwasdivertedintotheman-madelakeinButlerTownship,justsouthofSt.AnthonyRoadandwestofColdwaterCreek.ThisnearninetydegreeartificialturnistodaymarkedbyanunclassifiedearthenmoundontheoutsideturnofColdwaterCreekasitheadstoGrandLakeSt.Marys.WhiletheearthenstructuremaykeepsomewaterfromflowingacrossthefieldsinthisareainsearchofBeaverCreek,itisinsufficienttoholdbacktherunofffromasustainedheavyrainevent,andhomesfloodbadlyinthisareaalongSt.AnthonyRoadandinthegeneralvicinity.WhereColdwaterCreekRoadmeetsJohnsonRoad,thewaterwayiswideandrelativelydeepasitcarriesasignificantamountofwaterintothelake.Thisbridgewasreplacedin2002andtheculvertwaschangedtoaccommodatetheflow.Itisthisareawherethecreekhasadevastatingrecenthistoryofdamagetoarearesidentialstructures.

Map2-3:GrandLakeSt.MarysWatershed

TheLoramieCreekWatershed,labeled5onMap2-2,islocatedinextremesoutheastMercerCounty,southofChickasawandinMarionTownship.ThiswaterflowssouthtotheAuglaizeRiverthateventuallybecomespartoftheGreatMiamiWatershedandendsupintheOhioRiver,flowingontotheMississippiRiverandtheGulfofMexicobeforeitarrivesintheAtlantic



Ocean.ThewaterwaysinthiswatershedthatarelocatedwithinMercerCountyincludeMileCreek.TheWabashWatershed,labeled3onMap2-2,includesalmosttheentiresouthwestquadrantofMercerCounty.TheWabashRiverbeginsinGibsonandGranvilleTownships,flowsnorthtoFortRecoveryandbecomestheWabashRiver.PartsofJefferson,Hopewell,andButlerTownshipsflowintotheWabash.TherivergrowsindepthandwidthasitmovesthroughRecovery,Washington,andasmallpartofLibertyTownshipbeforeitexitsOhioandgoesintoIndianawhereitcollectsmorewater,andeventuallydrainsintotheOhioRiveralmostfivehundredmilesfromwhenceitbegan.EventuallyitdrainsintotheMississippiRiverandtheGulfofMexico,andthenontotheAtlanticOcean.ThewaterwaysinthiswatershedincludeBeaverCreek,SchermanDitch,BrushRun,LittleBeaverCreek,HardinCreek,TotiCreek,TwomileCreek,ThreemileCreek,LittleBearCreek,LittleBeaverCreek,CrabBranchCreek,HickoryForkCreek,WardDitch,VanderbushCreek,andLimberfortCreek.

2.1.9LandUseAgricultureisthepredominantlanduseinMercerCounty.Cultivatedcropsandpasturesaccountfor82%ofalllanduseinMercerCounty.In2007,MercerCountywasfirstinagricultureproductionsalesintheStateofOhio,and51stintheentirenation.Salesoflivestock,poultry,andassociatedproductsaccountedfor82.4%ofthosesales,placingMercerCountyagainfirstinthestateindirectagricultureproductsalesand35thinthenation.

Table2-16:MercerCountyLandUseUse Percentage

CultivatedCrops 77.48%Developed,LowerIntensity 7.79%Forest 4.25%Pasture/Hay 4.21%OpenWater 3.55%Shrub/ScrubandGrasslands 1.09%Developed,HigherIntensity 1.01%Wetlands 0.59%Barren(stripmines,gravelpits,etc.) 0.01%

Theforestedareas,grassland,andwetlandsinMercerCountyprovide11,469acresofstateparks,forests,naturepreservesandwildlifeareas.ThisincludesrecreationandparkareassuchasGrandLakeSt.MarysStatePark,MercerWildlifeArea,BakerWoods,andothers.AgricultureinMercerCountyisquantifiedintheexistenceof415farmsthatcollectivelyemploymorethan1,400people.However,almost50%ofthefarmershaveanoff-the-farmsupplementaljob,likelyforreasonsofboostingpersonalincome.LanduseforagricultureisbeingthreatenedbydevelopmentinMercerCounty.Thesaleofindividualresidentialbuildinglotsofonetofiveacresisoccurringattherateofaboutseventy



peryear.Astheaverageageoffarmersincreases,theurbanizationoffarmlandislikelytocontinueandperhapsevenescalateasfarmersretireandsellproperty.Oftentimesthesaleoffarmlandthatwaspaidforoveralifetimeequatestothe“retirementplan”forafarmer.Thesesaleswilllikelytransitionmorelandfromproductionagriculturetoresidential,whichcouldhaveanimpactonthecounty’seconomyinthefuture.Thecounty’sComprehensiveDevelopmentPlan,developedin2013,citestheneedforzoningregulationsthatmanageagriculturalpracticesaswellasresidentialdevelopment.Theplanidentifiesconcernaboutthecreationofresidentialareasonpreviousfarmlandthatresultsinthedecreaseinactivefarmlandandexposesresidentialareastoconfinedanimalproductionissueslikemanuremanagementandairquality.Thecountydevelopmentprofessionalsfeelthatagriculturalzoningregulationandadditionaldevelopmentstandardsarethesolutiontotheco-existenceofthesetwocomponentsoflanduse.MercerCountyofficialsareconcernedaboutindustrialandmanufacturinglanduse.Heavilysubsidized,industrialwindturbineshavebeenconstructedinmanyadjacentcommunities.Officialsarenotonlyconcernedaboutthemyriadofpotentialnegativesoflarge-scaleindustrialwindturbinedevelopmentsbutalsotheeffectonlocalambiance,therurallifestyle,andthefutureimpactwhen,twenty-fiveyearsfromnow,theturbinesaredecommissionedandtakenoutofservice.Thereturnoflandtoprevioususescanbeexpensiveanddifficult.Concernsaboutundesirabledevelopmentconsequenceshaveledtotheidentificationofspecifictargetedareasforcertaintypesofdevelopment.AreassouthofGrandLakeSt.Marys,eastofFortRecovery,northandsouthofSt.Henry,northwestandnortheastofColdwater,andeastandwestofCelinaaredesignatedresidentialdevelopmenttargetareas.Theseareasareservedbypublicwaterandsewageandtransportationaccessdoesnotinterferewithagriculturaloperations.Areasintherurallandscapethatarenotservedbypublicinfrastructure,havesoilsconducivetocropandlivestockproduction,andarecurrentlyinagriculturalusearebeingprotectedthroughencouragingpreservationoffarms,conservationdistricts,andagriculturaldistricts.FarmersareencouragedtoenrollintheCurrentAgriculturalUseValuation(CAUV)programtoprotecttheirlandagainstunwanteddevelopmentbyheavyindustry.Farmersarealsoencouragedtoimplementwisepracticesthatreducetheimpactagriculturecanhaveonwatersheds,suchasmanuremanagement,cropcovers,andotherconservationpractices.

2.1.10RegulationTheMercerCountyBoardofCommissionersestablishedtheMercerCountyRegionalPlanningCommissionwiththepurposeofaddressingdevelopmentandlanduseplanningissueslargerthanasinglejurisdictionormunicipality.Thecommissionincludesrepresentationfromeachofthecounty’sfourteentownships,Celina,Coldwater,theMercerCountyEngineer,MercerCountyHealthDepartment,twoat-largerepresentatives,andseveralnon-votingmembers.



Thecommissionmeetsmonthlytoaddressissuessuchzoning,floodplainregulation,subdivisionregulation,developmentissues,andotherlandusetopics.UndertheMercerCountyEngineer,whoservesasthecounty’sfloodplainadministrator,floodplainregulationsarecurrentlyineffect.Section3.0designatesaFloodplainAdministratorandspecifiesthedutiesofthatoffice,whichincludeupdatingregulationsandenforcingsuchregulationsunderSection6.0.Additionally,theFloodplainAdministratorroutinelymonitorsfloodhazardareastoenforceregulationsandprovidecommunityassistance,suchasencouragingownerstomaintainfloodinsurancepolicies.ThirteenofMercerCounty’sfourteentownshipshaveseparatezoningregulationsinplace.JeffersonTownship,whichisdividedintotwodistricts,haspartialzoninginplace.Theeasternhalfofthetownshipiszonedwhilethewesternhalfisnot.Eachzonedtownshipemploysapart-timezoninginspectortoadministertheirlocalzoningrequirements.Acompletelistofthezoningregulationstatusforeachtownshipisprovidedbelow.

Table2-17:TownshipZoningStatusTownship Status

Blackcreek ZonedButler ZonedCenter ZonedDublin ZonedFranklin ZonedGibson ZonedGranville ZonedHopewell ZonedJefferson(East) ZonedJefferson(West) UnzonedLiberty ZonedMarion ZonedRecovery ZonedUnion ZonedWashington Zoned

Allincorporatedjurisdictions,withtheexceptionofBurkettsville,havezoningregulationsinplace.Eachjurisdictionappointsalocalzoninginspector,althoughthesmallervillagessometimestruggletomaintainthisposition.

2.1.11EconomyandDevelopmentMercerCounty’seconomyisdependentuponproductionagriculture,agri-businesssalesandservice,smallindustryandmanufacturing,serviceandgovernmentdepartments,andsometourismasaresultofGrandLakeSt.Marysandotherrecreationalopportunities.Thelakeshoreareasofthecountydominatetheserviceandtourismindustries;agricultureismoreprevalentintheruralareasandsmallvillagesofthecounty.ThesmallindustriesandfactoriesaregenerallylocatedintheCityofCelinaandthelargervillagessuchasSt.Henry,FortRecovery,



andColdwater.Somesmallbusinessespepperthelandscapeintheruralareasaswell,locatedalongmajorhighwaysthatprovideanexcellenttransportationrouteinandoutofthecounty.Whilenotdenselypopulatedinanyarea,thecountyisconsistentlydevelopedfrombordertoborder.Therearenoremoteorunsettledareasinthecounty.BusinessandIndustryMercerCountyhasagenerallystrong,stable,anddiverseeconomythathasbenefittedfromahealthycombinationofagriculture,manufacturing,andserviceindustries.LocaleconomicdevelopmentorganizationssuchasMercerCountyCommunityandEconomicDevelopmentCorporationandtheCelina-MercerCountyChamberofCommercehaveworkeddiligentlytofosterinnovationandnewbusinessgrowthinthecounty.In2015,thecountyreported1,136activebusinessesand47newbusinesses.EmploymentinMercerCountyisattributedtomanyindustrialsectors.Averageemploymentforeachsector,basedon2014data,islistedintable2-18.

Table2-18:AverageEmploymentbySectorEmploymentSector AverageEmployment

Manufacturing 6,158Trade,Transportation,andUtilities 3,652LocalGovernment 2,444EducationandHealthServices 1,601LeisureandHospitality 1,247Construction 951FinancialServices 684OtherServices 640ProfessionalandBusinessServices 581NaturalResourcesandMining 487Information 169StateGovernment 146FederalGovernment 95



AccordingtotheOhioDepartmentofDevelopment,themajoremployersinMercerCountyare:

Table2-19:MercerCountyMajorEmployersEmployer Sector

Awardcraft ManufacturingCelinaAluminumPrecisionTechnology ManufacturingCelinaCitySchools GovernmentCooperFarmsInc. ManufacturingCrownEquipmentCorp. ManufacturingFortRecoveryIndustriesInc. ManufacturingJ&MManufacturingCo. ManufacturingMercerHealth ServicePaxMachineWorks ManufacturingReynolds&ReynoldsCo. ManufacturingWorkflowOne Manufacturing

Ingeneral,MercerCountyexperiencesveryhighemploymentstatistics.UnemploymenthasremainedlowinMercerCountywhenothercountiesinOhiohavesuffered.Thehighestunemploymentwasexperiencedin2011whentheunemploymentratereached6.7%.Sincethen,theratehassteadilyimproved,reached3.3%in2015.AsofMarch2017,MercerCountyhasanunemploymentrateof2.5%,whichrepresentsthelowestunemploymentrateofall88Ohiocounties.

Table2-20:EmploymentStatistics 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Employed 20,700 21,000 21,300 21,800 22.400Unemployed 1,500 1,100 1,200 900 800UnemploymentRate 6.7% 5.1% 5.1% 3.8% 3.3%

Whileoverallemploymentnumbershaveremainedhigh,changeshavebeenexperiencedwithinspecificemploymentsectors.Manufacturing,education,andhealthserviceshaveseensignificantincreasesinaverageemployment.Conversely,government,information,andleisureandhospitalityserviceshaveexperiencedslightdeclines.AgricultureTheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturedefinesprimefarmlandas“landbestsuitedtogrow,feed,forage,fiber,andoilseedcrops.”Thistypeoflandproducesthehighestcropyieldswiththeleastamountofenergyandeconomicresources.Accordingtothisdefinition,themajorityoftheacreageinMercerCountyisclassifiedasprimefarmland.Therefore,agricultureisamajorcontributortotheeconomyinMercerCounty.Farmstatistics,accordingtothe2012AgriculturalCenses,areasfollows:Annualcashreceiptsforfarmstotaledmorethan$596,366,000,with$153,143,000comingfromsaleofgraincropsand$443,223,000fromlivestocksales.Theaveragefarmreceived$493,680.00fromproductionsales.Thecountyhad273,152acresoffarmland,whichaccountsfor91%ofallland



use.Thereareapproximately1,208farmsinthecountywithanaveragesizeperfarmof226acres.Fulltimefarmersinthecountynumber544;parttimefarmerswhoholdatleastaparttimejoboffthefarmnumber664.Statewide,MercerCountyranksfirstinturkey,hogandpigproduction,secondinlayers(chickens)andthirdinpulletstoreplacelaterproductionandcattle.In2012,MercerCountyhadmoreagriculturalsalesthananyothercountyinOhio.Corn,soybeans,andwheatarethemostprevalentgraincrops.Livestockincludesturkeys,chickens,hogs,dairycattle,andbeefcattle.Thereisalmostnoproductionoffruits,vegetablesorsorghum,sunflowers,orbarley.

2.1.11DevelopmentTrendsMercerCountymaintainsthesamerelianceuponagriculturalbusinesstodayasitdidduringitsfoundingyearsintheearly1800’s.Grainfarmsandlivestockproductionenablethecountytoprosperonadailybasis.Feedproductionandagri-businesseslikeequipmentdealersandsupplysalessupportproductionagriculture.Thesouthernpartofthecountyisscatteredwithbothgrainandlivestockfarms;thenorthernpartofthecountyfeaturesgrainfarmsandcropland.Manylocalresidentsareeitherfarmersorareemployedbyfarmerstoworkfieldsandproductionoperations.Atmitigationplanningmeetings,countyrepresentativesbothpublicandprivateindicatedthattheyintendtocontinuetosupport,develop,andexpandagriculturalbasedbusinesses.Thismayincludeadditionaldevelopmentinareasoflivestockandgrainproduction,equipmentsalesandservice,livestockfeedmanufacturing,agriculturalchemicalsalesandapplication,capitalequipmentsalesandconstruction,andfarmby-productindustry.Theyalsointendtomaximizethecounty’sabilitytoproducefoodandsellitonthecommoditymarkets.Theyrealizethatthisgrowthmayresultinadditionalhazards,includingtheincreaseduseoffarmchemicals,theenhancedneedtomanagerunoffinthecontextofcontemporaryfarmpractices,andthemanagementoffarmwastesuchasmanuremanagementandby-productdisposal.Theseconsiderationsareopenlydiscussed,andthebenefitofadditionalagriculturaldevelopmentfarout-weighsthecost.Thecountyishometoawidevarietyofsmallandintermediatesizedindustriesandmanufacturingplants.Countydevelopmentprofessionalsconcentrateonattractingbusinessesthatemploylessthantwohundredemployeesandproduceinnovativeandcontemporaryproducts,utilizingengineeringandtechnicalprofessionalsforresearch,development,anddesign.TheirgoalistocreatejobsforeducatedyoungpeoplewhogrewupinMercerCountyornearbycounties,enticingthemtoreturnhomeaftercollegeforhighpayingjobsinafamily-friendly,low-crimesetting.Theytoutthe“oldGermanpride”peopletakeinmaintainingtheirproperties,theChristianvalues,andthefriendlyatmosphereasincentivesforahighspeedandmaximumproductionindustrialcommunity.Thecountyexpressedongoingintenttorecruitandretainmodernmanufacturingbusinessesandtocontinuetoattractyoung,educatedtechnicalandengineeringworkerstothecounty.Byappealingtotechnology-basedbusinesses,



modernproductionfacilities,andnewandinnovativeindustriesandcommercialoperations,leadersfeelthattheycancontinuetogrowMercerCountyinaprofitableandpleasantway.VarioustaxincentivesandadvantagestodoingbusinessinMercerCountyarebeingusedtoattractmorebusinesstothecounty.Revolvingloanfunds,taxabatements,andenterprisezonesarebeingdevelopedtoenhancerecruitmentefforts.Actionsandassurancesthatutilitiesandresourceslikenaturalgaswillbeavailableinquantitiesneeded,andaffordably,areunderway.Residentialdevelopmentisamajorgoaloflocalofficials.AlldevelopmentofficialswanttoattractmorefulltimeresidentstoMercerCounty.Whilepopulationhasbeenontheupswing,theywanttoseeevenmoreyoungpeoplemovetothearea.Itisobviouswhentravellingtothecountythatresidentstakeextremelygoodcareoftheirhomesandproperty.Theneatandtidylandscapeboastsquietlyofapridethatisnotcommontoallcommunities.Likemanyothers,however,theyintendtodevelopadditionalmiddleandhigherincomesingle-familyhomesandlowandmoderatemultiplefamilyhomesinthecomingyears.Inadditiontothemanyopportunitiesforemploymentinthecentralpartofthecounty,theoutlyingareasareclosetolargeindustriesinadjacentcounties.ThevillagesofRockford,Mendon,Burkettsville,andFortRecoveryarebedroomcommunitiesfortheseemployees.InterviewswiththeprofessionalsinvolvedinrecruitingnewbusinessesforthecountycitedmanyadvantagestoestablishingalifeinMercerCounty.Disasterdamagemitigationwasamongthoseadvantages,andtheycitednumeroussellingpoints.First,MercerCountyisnotextremelyvulnerabletofloodingbecausethecountysitshighinthewatersheds,andstormsewersystemshavebeenbuiltandmaintainedtomanagesignificantrainfallwithoutdamagingproperties.Second,thethreatofpoweroutageshasbeenaddressedthroughhardeningofutilityservicesbypolereplacementandtransformerimprovements.Thefactthatthecommunityismanagingvulnerabilityandlosses,combinedwithashortlistofpastdisasterincidents,aidsintherecruitmentandretentionofbusinessinMercerCounty.Developmentprofessionalsindicatedthatitistheirintentiontoimproveemergencymanagementpresenceindevelopmentactivitiesevenfurtherthroughenhancingtheformalityoftheprocessthroughwhichdisasterconsiderationsareincludedinactivities.TourismisimportanttoMercerCountywithGrandLakeSt.Marysontheeasternedgeofthecounty.TheCityofCelinasitsonthenorthernedgeofthisman-madelake.Developmentprofessionalshavetalkedofalargehotelandconferencecenteraswellasadditionaltemporaryvacationresidencesnearandadjacenttothelake.Theyareworkingtoimproveandenhancepublicinfrastructurelikestormandsanitarysewersystems,watersupplies,androadstoaccommodatethisdevelopmentarea.Theyworkwithemergencymanagementtoconsiderissuessuchaswarningandnotification,protectiveactions,andstructuralvulnerabilitytodamagesastheyattempttoexpandthisadditionalareaofcommerceforthecounty.Countyofficialsarepassionateaboutproperlandusebynewventures.Whilenotalltownshipsarezoned,andresidentialbuildingcodesdonotregulateprivatehomes,thecountydoesstrive



toguideanynewconstructiontowithstandthetestofsevereweather,heavyuse,andoccasionalunanticipatedproblems.Commercialbuildingcodesarestrictlyenforcedbyinspectors,eitherlocallyorbycontractwithanothercounty,andbuildingpermitsareissuedonlywhencomplianceisdocumented.TheMercerCountyEngineermonitorsditchmaintenance,highwaymaintenanceandfloodplainactivities,andworksdiligentlytoensurethatnewdevelopmentisappropriateandcompatiblewiththeareainwhichitisconducted.ThebuildingofficialsworkinstepwiththeeconomicdevelopmentprofessionalstoassistnewcomerstoMercerCountyincompletingwiseuseofthelandinthecounty.BecauseMercerCountyhasaplentifulwatersupplyandseveralmunicipalitieshavewatertreatmentandsewertreatmentfacilities,theareahasfewwatersupplyorqualityissues.Thisfacilitatesthedevelopmentofnewhomes,newfactoriesandretailfacilities,andnewtourismfacilities.Thepopulation,evenwhenmaximizedbymanytouristsonahot,summerday,doesnotbegintoburdenthewaterresourcesthatareavailabletothecounty.This,combinedwithmanyotherlocalcharacteristics,facilitatesawidespreadandaggressivedevelopmentprogramtooccur.MercerCountyhasbeenabletoendureandexcelinaneconomythatdevastatedmanycommunitiesinOhio.Theyhavelostsomeveryimportantbusinessesovertheyears,suchasHuffyBicycleandNewIdeafarmequipment,buttheyhaveworkeddiligentlytoidentifyotherventurestooccupyspaceandbringnewopportunities.Theyfeelthatakeytothissuccessisintheirfocusonsmallbusinessandindustryratherthanmajoremployers.Thediversitythatresultsfrommanydifferentventuresratherthanasinglemajoremployerincludeahighersustainabilityofemploymentstatistics,greateropportunityforyoungandprofessionalworkers,andadditionalinnovationandcreativityinthebusinesssector.InMercerCounty,whenonedoorcloses,theymakesurethatanothertrulydoesopen.Withitsdiversity,spanningfromproductionoftechnicalcomponentsandservicesforsecondaryautomotiveandsmallmanufacturing,MercerCountyhasbeenabletogrowwhenothercountieshavelostpopulationandproductivity.



2.2HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONMercerCountyhasexperiencedmanynaturaldisastersinitshistory,rangingfromtornadoesandblizzardstofloodsanddroughts.ThepurposethissectionistoidentifyanddefineeachhazardthatcanimpactMercerCountyandexamineshistoricalhazardeventsthathaveoccurredinthecounty.Indevelopingthisassessment,theMercerCountyHazardMitigationPlanningTeamanalyzedthehazardsandriskspresentthroughoutMercerCounty.ThenaturalhazardsidentifiedasrelevanttoMercerCountyare:

• Dam/leveefailure• Droughtandextremeheat• Earthquake• Flood• InvasiveSpecies• Severethunderstorm• Tornado• Windstorm• WinterStorm

SomenaturalhazardswereexcludedfromthisplanbecausetheyposenorisktoMercerCounty.Table2-21identifiesthesehazardsandexplainswhythehazardisnotrelevanttoMercerCounty.

Table2-21:ExcludedHazardsExcludedHazard Justification

CoastalErosion Thecountyhasnoopencoastline.LandSubsidence NotidentifiedasaconcernMud/landslide ElevationnotconducivetothishazardTsunami GeographicallyimpossibleVolcano GeographicallyimpossibleWildfire Insufficientforestedarea

MercerCountydoesnothavealonghistoryoffederaldisasterdeclarationsandassistance.WhiletheStateofOhiohasalongercomprehensivelistofincidentsthandisplayed,MercerCountyescapeddamagesinmanyoftheincidentsthathaveaffectedotherareasofOhioovertheyears.Thecountyhasonlyreceivedninefederaldisasterdeclarationsinitshistory.Mostrecently,MercerCountywasincludedinastatewidedeclarationin2005thatprovidedsupportforevacuationeffortsfollowingHurricaneKatrina.ThemostrecentdeclarationforadisasterdirectlyaffectingMercerCountyoccurredinFebruary2005.AcomprehensivelistofincidentsinMercerCountythatresultedinanemergencydeclarationinaresummarizedintable2-22.



Table2-22:FederalDisasterDeclarationHistoryDR/EMNumber IncidentDate IncidentType(s)

DR-90-OH January23,1959 Flooding,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-191-OH April4,1965 SevereStorm,TornadoEM-3055-OH January26,1978 WinterStormDR-831-OH June10,1989 Flood,SevereStormDR-951-OH August4,1992 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-1065-OH August25,1995 Flood,SevereStormDR-1478-OH July15,2003 Flood,SevereStormDR-1580-OH February15,2005 Flood,WinterStormEM-3250-OH September14,2005 HurricaneKatrinaEvacuation

TounderstandtheriskposedbynaturalhazardsinMercerCounty,itisimportanttoexaminethecharacteristicsofeachhazardandevaluatethelocalhistoryofoccurrences.HistoricalinformationwasobtainedfromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sNationalClimaticDataCenter(NCDC)andsupplementedwithinformationfromlocalofficials.ThissectiondefineseachhazardanddescribesMercerCounty’shistorywitheach.

2.2.1Dam/LeveeFailureAdamisanartificialbarrierbuiltacrossflowingwater.Thisbarrierdirectsorslowstheflowofwaterandoftencreatesalakeorreservoir.Adamisconsideredhydrologicallysignificantifithasaheightofatleast25feetfromthenaturalstreambedandastoragecapacityofatleastfifteenacre-feetoranimpoundingcapacityofatleast50acre-feetandissixfeetormoreabovethenaturalstreambed.Damsareconstructedforfloodcontrolpurposesortostorewaterforirrigation,watersupply,orenergygeneration.Theycanbecomposedofearth,rock,concrete,masonry,timber,oracombinationofmaterials.Leveesareembankmentsconstructedtopreventtheoverflowofariverandsubsequentfloodingofthesurroundingland.Theycanbebuiltusingearth,rock,orothermaterials.Leveesconstructedfromconcreteormasonrymaterialsarereferredtoasfloodwalls.Afailureofthesestructuresisdefinedastheuncontrolledreleaseofthewaterheldbackbythedaminalakeorreservoir.Themajorityofdamshaveasmallenoughstoragevolumethatabreachorfailurewillhavelimitedimpactonthesurroundingcommunity.Butfailureofalargedamcancausesubstantialfloodingdownstreamandleadtosignificantlossoflifeandproperty.Therearemanycausesofdamfailure,including:

• Sub-standardconstruction• Geologicalinstability• Spillwaydesignerror• Poormaintenance• Internalerosion• Extremeinflow• Earthquake



TheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesisresponsiblefordeterminingthehazardpotentialfordamsthroughtheirDamSafetyProgram.ODNRclassifiesdamsbasedonthisscale:

Classification DescriptionClassI Probablelossoflife,serioushazardtohealth,structuraldamageto

highvalueproperty(i.e.homes,industries,majorpublicutilities)ClassII Floodwaterdamagetohomes,businesses,industrialstructures(no

lossoflifeenvisioned),damagetostateandinterstatehighways,railroads,onlyaccesstoresidentialareas

ClassIII Damagetolowvaluenon-residentialstructures,localroads,agriculturalcrops,andlivestock

ClassIV LossesrestrictedmainlytothedamTherearetendamsinMercerCounty;therearenolevees.Thesestructuresarewaterretentionstructuresonwaterways,reservoirandlagoonfacilitiesthatarepartofwastewatertreatmentplants,andprivatelyownedstructuresthataffecttheflowofrunoffwaters.DamsandclassificationsforMercerCounty,accordingtotheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,areidentifiedintable2-23.

Table2-23:MercerCountyDamsDam Classification Owner

UpperWabashNumber3PondDam I WabashRiverConservancyDistrictUpperWabashStructureNo.2 III WabashRiverConservancyDistrictSt.HenryWastewaterTreatmentLagoon II VillageofSt.HenryMontezuma/ClubIslandWastewaterTreatmentLagoon

II MercerCounty

Montezuma/ClubIslandWastewaterTreatmentLagoon

II MercerCounty

ColdwaterWastewaterTreatmentDam II VillageofColdwaterGrandLakeSaintMary’sWestEmbankment I ODNR,DivisionofParksandRecColdwaterCreekDiversionEmbankment Notclassified PrivateMRCLakeDam Notclassified PrivateGuggenbillerLakeDam Notclassified Private



Map2-4:MercerCountyDamLocations

LocalDamFailureHistoryAccordingtorecordsfromStanfordUniversity’sNationalPerformanceofDamsProgram,therearenowrittenreportsofdamincidents,breaches,orfailuresinMercerCounty.Thereisalessthan1%probabilityofadamincident.

2.2.2DroughtandExtremeHeatAdroughtisadeficiencyofmoisturethatadverselyimpactspeople,animals,andvegetationoveranareaofsignificantsize.Becausedroughtisacreepingphenomenoncharacterizedbytheabsenceofwater,thereisnodefinedbeginningorend,noristhereastandardamountoftimerequiredforanextendeddryperiodtobeconsideredadrought.Itisconsideredadroughtwhenthedryperiodlastslongenoughtoimpacttheenvironmentandeconomyofaregion,typicallyaperiodofmonthsoryears.

Mercer County Dam Locations

Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO,USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey,

Class I Dams

Class II Dams

Class III Dams

Other Dams

Lakes (ODNR)

Counties

Current Township

June 28, 2017

ODNR - Divison of Water Resources

± 0 5 102.5 mi

0 8 164 km1:288,895



Therearefourcommontypesofdrought:

Type DescriptionMeteorological Basedonthedegreeofdryness(rainfalldeficit)andlengthofdry

periodHydrological Basedonimpactofrainfalldeficitsonwatersupplysuchasstream

flow,reservoirandlakelevelsandwatertabledeclineAgricultural Basedonimpactstoagriculturebyrainfalldeficits,soilwater

deficits,reducedgroundwater,andreservoirlevelsneededforirrigation

Socioeconomic Basedontheimpactofdroughtconditionsonsupplyanddemandofsomeeconomicgoods

DroughtseverityismeasuredusingthePalmerDroughtSeverityIndex(PDSI).ThePDSImeasuresdrynessbasedonrecentprecipitationandtemperaturestatistics.Droughtclassificationsareidentifiedinthechartbelow:

Measurement Description-4orless ExtremeDrought-4to-3 SevereDrought-3to-2 ModerateDrought-2to-1 MildDrought-1to-0.5 IncipientDrySpell-0.5to0.5 NearNormal0.5to1 IncipientWetSpell1to2 SlightlyWet2to3 ModeratelyWet3to4 VeryWet4ormore ExtremelyWet

Aheatwaveisaperiodofabnormallyhotandunusuallyhumidweather,typicallylastingfortwoormoredays.Thiscanbeanextendedperiodoftimewithhigherthannormaltemperaturesorashorterperiodoftimewithabnormallyhightemperatures.Regardlessofthelengthoftimeorexacttemperatures,heatwavesareasafetyhazardtoanyoneexposedtothehighheat.Peopleareatriskforheatexhaustionandheatstroke,whichcanbefatalinthemostseriouscases.Whenheatwavesareaccompaniedbydroughtconditions,thepotentialforaseriousnaturaldisasterincreases.Betweeninjuries,fatalities,andcrop/propertydamage,thesedisasterscansignificantlyimpacttheeconomyofaregion.HeatwavescanoccurinMercerCountyandallofOhiobuttheincidenceisrareandthedurationtypicallyshort.Extremetemperaturesareconsideredanythingabove90degreesFahrenheit.InthehumidclimateofnorthwestOhio,thesetemperaturesareoftenaccompaniedbyhighhumidity.Temperaturesrarelyexceedthemid-90s,althoughtheregiondoesoccasionallyexperiencetemperaturesof100degreesorslightlyhigher.Thesebriefheat



wavesarenotuncommon,butrarelylastmorethanafewdays.Aheatwavelastinglongerthanaweekisextremelyrare.

Table2-24:AverageTemperaturesandRainfall Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecAvg.High 33° 38° 49° 62° 72° 80° 83° 82° 76° 64° 50° 37°Avg.Low 19° 22° 30° 41° 51° 61° 64° 62° 55° 44° 35° 24°Avg.Precip. 2.32” 2.17” 2.6” 3.54” 3.98” 4.06” 4.8” 3.54” 2.6” 2.64” 3.23” 2.68”

DroughtisnotcommoninMercerCounty.Dryspellscanlastforseveralweeksbutmostmonthshavesufficientrainfalltosupportcropgrowthandhumansustenance.Droughtconditions,whentheydooccur,haveasignificantimpactontheagricultureindustrythatprevailsinthecounty.Droughtandextremeheatarecountywidehazardsandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.LocalDrought/ExtremeHeatHistoryWhiledroughtisnotcommon,MercerCountyhasbeenimpactedbyseveraldroughtsinrecentdecades.The1988-1989NorthAmericanDroughtfollowedamilderdroughtintheSoutheasternUnitedStatesandCaliforniatheyearbefore.ThisdroughtspreadfromtheMid-Atlantic,Southeast,Midwest,NorthernGreatPlains,andWesternUnitedStates.Itwaswidespread,unusuallyintense,andaccompaniedbyheatwavesthatkilled4,800to17,000peoplenationwideandsubstantialnumbersoflivestock.Oneparticularreasonthisdroughtbecameverydamagingwasthatfarmerslikelyfarmedonlandthatwasmarginallyarable.Anotherreasonwasthepumpingofgroundwaternearthedepletionmark.TheDroughtof1989destroyedcropsalmostnationwide.Lawnswentbrownandmanycitiesandjurisdictionsenactedwaterrestrictions.ThiscatastrophicdroughtcontinuedtoimpacttheMidwestandNorthernPlainsstatesduring1989.Thedroughtwasnotdeclaredoveruntil1990.Accordingtotheplanningteam,thisdroughtwasthemostintenseanddamagingdroughttoimpactMercerCountythatstakeholderscouldrecall.ThemostrecentdroughttoaffectMercerCountyoccurredinthesummerof2012.Thisincident,referredtoasthe2012NorthAmericanDrought,wasanexpansionofthe2010-2012UnitedStatesdroughtthatbeganinthespringof2012.LackofsnowfallintheUnitedStatescausedverylittlemeltwatertoabsorbintothesoil.ThedroughtincludedmostoftheUnitedStatesandallofOhio.Alongwithmanyothercounties,MercerCountywasdesignatedwithmoderatedroughtconditionsbymid-Juneof2012.Thisdroughthasbeencomparedtosimilardroughtsinthe1930sand1950sbutwasnotinplaceaslong.Thedroughtcausedcatastrophiceconomicramifications.Accordingtomostmeasures,thisdroughtexceededthe1988-1989NorthAmericanDrought,whichisthemostrecentcomparabledrought.OnJuly30,2012,theGovernorofOhiosentamemorandumtotheUSDAOhioStateExecutiveDirectorrequestingprimarycountynaturaldisasterdeclarationsforeligiblecountiesduetoagriculturallossescausedbythedroughtandothernaturaldisastersduringthe2012cropyear.TheUSDAreviewedtheLossAssessmentReportsanddeterminedthatthereweresignificant



productionlossesin85countiestowarrantaSecretarialdisasterdesignation.OnSeptember5,2012,MercerCountywasincludedasoneofthedesignatedcounties.WhilethiseventsignificantlyimpactedmanyareasofOhioandtheMidwest,communitymembersrecalltheincidentasmoreofaprolongeddryspellthanasignificantdrought.

Table2-25:MercerCountyDrought/ExtremeHeatHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries

AverageLoss/Incident

Drought/ExtremeHeat 2 0 0 0 0 0

2.2.3EarthquakeAnearthquakeoccurswhentwoblocksofearth,calledplates,movepastoneanotherbeneathearth’ssurface.Thelocationwheretheplatesmeetiscalledafault.Theshiftingoftheplatescausesmovementalongthefaultline.Thismovementcanoftenbefeltinareassurroundingtheearthquake’sepicenterandcancausedamagerangingfrominsignificanttodevastating.Damagecausedbyanearthquakecanincluderattlingfoundations,fallingdebris,and,inthemostseverecases,topplingbuildings,bridges,andculverts.TheseverityofearthquakemovementismeasuredusingtheModifiedMercalliIndexscaleasdefinedinthischart:

Intensity Shaking Description/DamageI NotFelt Notfeltexceptbyaveryfewunderespeciallyfavorableconditions.II Weak Feltonlybyafewpersonsatrest,especiallyonbuildingupperfloors.III Weak Feltquitenoticeablybypersonsindoors,especiallyonupperfloorsof

buildings.Manypeopledonotrecognizeitasanearthquake.Standingmotorcarsmayrockslightly.Vibrationssimilartothepassingofatruck.Durationestimated.

IV Light Feltindoorsbymany,outdoorsbyfewduringtheday.Atnight,someawakened.Dishes,windows,doorsdisturbed;wallsmakecrackingsound.Sensationlikeheavytruckstrikingbuilding.Standingmotorcarsrockednoticeably.

V Moderate Feltbynearlyeveryone;manyawakened.Somedishes,windowsbroken.Unstableobjectsoverturned.Pendulumclocksmaystop.

VI Strong Feltbyall,manyfrightened.Someheavyfurnituremoved;afewinstancesoffallenplaster.Damageslight.

VII VeryStrong Damagenegligibleinbuildingsofgooddesignandconstruction;slighttomoderateinwell-builtordinarystructures;considerabledamageinpoorlybuiltorbadlydesignedstructures;somechimneysbroken.

VIII Severe Damageslightinspeciallydesignedstructures;considerabledamageinordinarysubstantialbuildingswithpartialcollapse.Damagegreatinpoorlybuiltstructures.Fallofchimneys,factorystacks,columns,monuments,andwalls.Heavyfurnitureoverturned.

IX Violent Damageconsiderableinspeciallydesignedstructures;well-designedframestructuresthrownoutofplumb.Damagegreatinsubstantialbuildings,withpartialcollapse.Buildingsshiftedofffoundations.



X Extreme Somewell-builtwoodenstructuresdestroyed;mostmasonryandframestructuresdestroyedwithfoundations.Railsbent.

AccordingtotheOhioSeismicNetwork,seismicriskinOhioisdifficulttoevaluatebecauseearthquakesareinfrequent.Therecurrenceintervalisgenerallyverylong,sometimesspanninghundredsorthousandsofyears.Ingeologicterms,thisclassifiesOhio’shistoricrecordasaninstant.Anotherfactorinearthquakeriskisthenatureofthegeologicmaterialsuponwhichastructureisbuilt.ODNRstates“groundmotionfromseismicwavestendstobemagnifiedbyunconsolidatedsedimentssuchasthickdepositsofclayorsandandgravel.”Ohiohasexperiencedmorethan120earthquakessince1776.Whileonlyfourteenoftheseeventshavecauseddamage,thereisagreaterriskforearthquakesinOhiothanmostpeoplerealize.WestcentralOhioistheareaofOhioatthehighestriskforearthquakes;northeastOhioisthesecondmostactiveearthquakeriskarea.ThestrongestearthquakerecordedinOhiooccurredinShelbyCountytothesoutheastofMercerCountyin1937andwasestimatedtohaveamagnitudeof5.5ontheRichterScale.ThisincidentcausedsomedamageinAnnaandsurroundingwestcentralOhiocommunities.ThesameareainOhiopreviouslyreportedearthquakeactivityin1875and1884.ThePomeroyarea,southeastofColumbus,experiencedanearthquakein1926,andresidentsinAnnafeltminorquakesin1930and1931,justafewyearspriortothe1937incident.Noneoftheseearthquakescausedwidespreaddamageordevastation.Theminorquakescausedshakingbuildings,crumblingmortar,andlimitedpropertydamage.Impactswereonlyfeltlocally;nostatewidedamageswerereported.LocalEarthquakeHistoryMercerCountyhasexperiencedfourearthquakeswithepicentersinthecounty.TheseearthquakeswereminorandthereisnodocumentedevidenceofdamageinMercerCounty.OtherminorearthquakeshaveoccurredinthecountiessurroundingMercerandotherareasofOhiobuthavecausedlittletonolocaldamageandnoimpactonMercerCounty.Earthquakeisacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.

Table2-26:MercerCountyEarthquakeHistoryDate Location Magnitude ModifiedMercalli

04/15/1892 Celina 3.8 IV06/17/1977 HopewellTownship 3.3 VI01/30/2004 DublinTownship 2.5 III03/13/2005 DublinTownship 2.2 F



Map2-5:MercerCountyEarthquakeEpicenters

2.2.4FloodAfloodisdefinedasanyhighflow,overflow,orinundationofwaterovertypicallydrylandthatcausesorthreatensdamage.Floodsoccursubsequenttometeorologicaleventssuchassubstantialprecipitation,thunderstormswithheavyrainfall,rapidsnowmelt,orextremewindeventsalongcoastalwaterways.Insomeareas,seismicactivitycantriggerfloods.Riverinefloodingoccurswhenariverorstreamrisestoanelevationthatcausestherivertooverflowitsbanks.Therisingwaterthreatensorcausesdamagetoroadways,homes,buildings,andoccupiedspacesneartheoverflowingwaterway.Lowerlevelsofawatershedaremoresusceptibletothistypeoffloodingbecausethesewaterwaysreceiveallthewaterfromtheupperlevelsandareresponsibleforcarryingamuchhighervolumeofwaterthanthetributaries.Flashfloodsaredefinedastherapidandextremeflowofhighwaterintoanormallydryarea;aflashfloodcanalsooccurwhenthereisarapidriseinthewaterlevelofastreamorcreekandthewaterrisesaboveapre-determinedfloodlevelwithinsixhoursofaprecipitationevent.Thistypeoffloodingoccurswhenthegroundistoosaturated,impervious,orflattodrain

Mercer County Earthquake Epicenters

Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO,USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey,

OhioSeis Seismic Stations

June 28, 2017

ODNR - Div. of Geosurvey

± 0 5 102.5 mi

0 8 164 km1:288,895



rainfallintowaterwaysthroughstormsewers,ditches,creeks,andstreamsatthesamerateastheprecipitationfalls.Worldwide,floodingisthemostcommonandcostlydisaster,resultinginsignificantlossoflifeandpropertyeveryyear.Floodshaveasubstantialimpactontheinfrastructure.Commoneffectsincluderoadwaybreeches,bridgewashouts,roadwaywashaway,andwater-coveredroadways.Asfloodwatermovesrapidlyandforcefully,itwashesawaythesurfaceandsub-surfaceofroads,causingholes,ruts,andotherproblemsforvehicles.Floodwaterthatisonefootdeepisstrongenoughtocarryvehiclesaway,oftenwithoccupantsinside.Rescuersarepowerlessagainstrapid,risingwaterbecausetheyareunabletoexertenoughstrengthtocounteractthephysicsofmovingwater.Floodwatersseekthepathofleastresistanceastheytraveltolowergroundandwillseepintoandoccupyanystructureintheirpath.Basementsandlowerlevelsofbuildingscanbecomeinundatedwithfloodwater.Installingsandbagsalongtheexteriorofabuildingcanonlyserveasatemporarystopgapmeasure;iffloodwatersdonotrecedequickly,theforceofthewaterwillmovethroughthesandbagsandenterthestructure.Theaftereffectsoffloodingcanbejustasdamaginganddangerousastheinitialincident.Cleanupisoftenalong,protractedactivitywithitsownsetofhazards.Sewersystemscanbecomeinundatedwithfloodwaterandceasetofunctionproperly.Standingwaterbecomescontaminatedwithhouseholdandindustrialchemicals,fuel,andothermaterialsthathaveleakedintothewater.Allfloodwaterisconsideredcontaminated,eitherfromgermsanddiseaseorhazardousmaterials.Thiscreatesahazardforrespondersandresidentsthroughouttheinitialrecoveryphaseofthedisaster.Historically,floodinghasbeenamoderateriskforMercerCounty.DatafromNCDCindicatesthecountyhasexperienced78floodingeventssince1950.Themajorityofthese,56,wereriverinefloodeventswhile22incidentswereclassifiedasflashfloods.Intotal,propertydamagefromtheseeventshasexceeded$6,256,000.Thesepropertydamagefiguresaresignificantlyhigherthanmostoftheadjacentandsurroundingcounties,includingDarke,Shelby,Auglaize,andVanWert.MercerCounty’smoderatefloodingriskislargelybecausethecountysitsatthetopoftwomajorwatersheds,andmostofthewaterisabletodrainnaturallyduetoadropinelevations.TheSt.LawrenceContinentalDividesplitsMercerCountyintotohalves,andcrossesthecountyfollowingStateRoutes703and29.TheWabashRiverWatershedcoversmostofthesouthwestandsouth-centralpartsofthecounty,takingwatertotheMississippiRiverviatheWabashtotheOhioRiversalongtheway.TherestofthecountydrainsintotheSt.MarysRiverWatershed,theAuglaizeWatershed,theLoramieWatershedandtheGrandSt.MarysLakeWatersheds.ThiswaterdrainstothenorthintotheMaumeeRiverWatershedandouttoLakeErie.WaterwaysinMercerCountyincludeseveralsignificantditcheswithcapacitytomoverelativelylargeamountsofrunoff,andincludetheSt.MarysandWabashRivers,BeaverCreek,ColdwaterCreek,andmanyothers.Thesecreeks,ditchesandstreamsallowwatertomove



quicklyandeffectivelytotheriversandontolowerlands.Muchoftheriverinefloodingalongthewayisconfinedtoagriculturallandorriverbanksthatareknowntoflood.Flashfloodingisahigherriskthanriverinefloodingbecausethelandissoflatandrapidorheavyrainfallamountshavedifficultyindrainingasfastasprecipitationfalls.Duringheavyrainfallevents,theflatterrainpreventswaterfromdrainingquickly,increasingthepotentialforflashfloods.ThemapbelowidentifiesthefloodproneareasofMercerCounty.Manyoftheseareashavefloodedstreetsandroads,houseshavewaterinbasementsoryards,andbusinessesaresurroundedbywater-filledparkingareasandspaces.Parksandotherrecreationalareasflood,andsomebridgesandculvertsarewater-coveredforashortperiodoftime.Thepresenceofflashfloodingistotallydependentupontheamountofrainfall,whetherthegroundisfrozenorthawed,andhowwellsaturatedthegroundwaspriortotherainfall.Thestormthatcausesaflashfloodinthewet,rainyspringwhensnowismeltingistotallydifferentthanthestormthatcausesflashfloodingonadry,hotlateAugustafternoon.DatafromNCDCindicatesthatMercerCountyhasbeenimpactedby78floodeventssince1950.Oftheseincidents,56wereconsideredriverinefloodeventsand22werecategorizedasflashfloods.Collectively,theseeventshavecaused$6,256,000inpropertydamage.Becauseofthenumberofrivers,creeks,andstreamsandthepresenceofGrandLakeSt.Marys,floodingisacountywidehazardandcanaffectnearlyalljurisdictions.BurkettsvilleandSt.Henrydonothaveanyidentifiedfloodplainareas.



Map2-6:MercerCountyFloodplainAreas

LocalFloodHistoryThemostsignificantfloodinMercerCounty’shistoryoccurredJuly4–8,2003.TheincidentbeganwhenastormcellproducedthreetofourinchesofrainacrosswestcentralOhioonJuly4.Astheraincontinuedtofall,waterlevelsonBeaverCreek,theSt.MarysRiver,andGrandLakeSt.Marysrapidlyrose.InthevillageofRockford,atrailercourtwiththirteenhomeswasevacuatedwhentheSt.MarysRiveroverfloweditsbanks.Otherhomesandbusinesseswereinundatedwithtwotothreefeetofwater,bridgeswerewashedout,andStateRoute127andU.S.Route33,majortransportationroutesthroughthecounty,wereclosedbecauseofflooding.InCelina,BeaverCreekandthespillwayforGrandLakeSt.Marysoverflowed,causingmajorfloodingtomultiplebusinesses,includingasportsclubandmedicalcenter.StateRoute127andmanylocalroadswereclosedduetohighwaterandmultiplehomessufferedmajorbasementflooddamage.InthevillageofMontezumaandsouthernareasofthecounty,manyroadswereclosedandhomesfloodedbecauseofthehighwater.Thiscountywidefloodeventcausedmorethan$4,550,000inpropertydamageandisconsideredtheworstfloodingeventinthecounty’shistory.

Mercer County, Ohio

Red: Band_1

Green: Band_2

Blue: Band_3

June 7, 2017

0 5 102.5 mi

0 8 164 km

1:288,895

2013

Randy Grapner, Auditor



AsecondmajorfloodincidentaffectedthecountyFebruary28–March1,2011.Thiseventwascausedbythecombinationofheavyrainfromaseverestormsystemandsnowmelt.InSt.Henry,multipleroadswereclosedbecauseofhighwaterandseveralresidencesexperiencedbasementflooding.InthePhilotheaneighborhoodsouthofCelina,atrailerparkwasevacuatedduetohighwaterandroadswereclosed.Celinaexperiencedsignificantresidentialflooding,includingsomeevacuations,androadclosures.Intotal,thisincidentcaused$470,000inpropertydamage.AlthoughNCDCrecordsdonotindicatepropertyloss,thecountyexperienceditsmostrecentmajorfloodingeventinJune2015.FromJune16-18,2015,thecountyreceivedmorethanteninchesofrainfall,causingcreeksandstreams,includingBeaverCreek,tooverflowtheirbanks.TheGrandLakeSt.Marysspillwayreachedthirteeninchesabovenotchlevel,morethantwentyincheshigherthantherecommendedlevel.StateRoute127andU.S.Route33,alongwithotherstate,county,andlocalroads,wereclosedduetofloodwater,makingtravelacrossthecountynearlyimpossible.MercerCountyofficialsissuedalocalemergencydeclarationonJune17;manybusinesseswereforcedtoclosetemporarilybecauseemployeescouldnotreachworkduetotravelrestrictions.InButlerTownship,sixhomesweredirectlyaffectedbytheflooding.Fivehomesexperiencedminordamage.Onepropertywasdamagedseverelyandtheresidentswereforcedtorelocatedforsixmonthsuntilthehomewashabitableagain.

Table2-27:MercerCountyFloodHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Flood 78 $6.256M 0 0 0 $136K

2.2.5InvasiveSpeciesAninvasivespeciesisaplantoranimalspeciesthatisnotnativetothelocalecosystemandwhoseintroductionislikelytocauseeconomicorenvironmentalharmorharmtohumanlife.AcrosstheUnitedStates,morethan5,000speciesarerecognizedasinvasive.Invasivespeciesareclassifiedasterrestrialplants,terrestrialwildlife,insectsanddiseases,andaquaticspecies.Invasiveterrestrialplantscandisplacenativespecies,impactthewildlifethatrelyonnativespeciesasasourceoffoodorshelter,orformmonocultureplantcommunitiesthatreducebiodiversity.Whilemorethan25%oftheplantspeciesinOhiooriginatefromotherareas,mostareinvasive.Fewerthan100oftheseareactuallyconsideredtobeinvasive.Invasiveterrestrialwildlifeismuchlesscommonthanothertypesofinvasivespeciesbutcanstillcausesignificantdamagetonaturalhabitats.Aquaticinvasivespeciesareplantsandanimalsthatimpactthequalityofwaterways.Thesecanaffectlargebodiesofwater,suchasLakeErieandtheOhioRiver,andmuchsmallerrivers,lakes,andstreams.Invasiveinsectsanddiseasesareinsects,fungus,andothersmallorganismsthatcannegativelyimpactplants,forests,andthehealthofwildlife.Table2-28identifiestheinvasivespeciesacrossthesecategoriesthathavethegreatestimpactinOhio.



Table2-28:InvasiveSpeciesinOhioSpecies Type

AsianCarp AquaticCurlyleafPondweed AquaticHydrilla AquaticRoundGoby AquaticRuffe AquaticRedSwampCrayfish AquaticSeaLamprey AquaticWhitePerch AquaticZebraMussel AquaticAsianLonghornedBeetle Insects&DiseasesEmeraldAshBorer Insects&DiseasesGypsyMoth Insects&DiseasesHemlockWoolyAdelgid(HWA) Insects&DiseasesWalnutTwigBeetle Insects&DiseasesJapaneseHoneysuckle TerrestrialPlantJapaneseKnotweed TerrestrialPlantAutumn-Olive TerrestrialPlantBuckthorns TerrestrialPlantPurpleLoosestrife TerrestrialPlantCommonReedorPhragmites TerrestrialPlantReedCanaryGrass TerrestrialPlantGarlicMustard TerrestrialPlantMultifloraRose TerrestrialPlantBushHoneysuckles TerrestrialPlantFeralPig TerrestrialWildlife

LocalInvasiveSpeciesHistoryThemostrecentinvasivespeciestoimpactMercerCountyistheEmeraldAshBorer(EAB).EABisanash-treekillinginsectnativetoAsia;itkillstreeswithinthreetofiveyearsofinfestation.ItwasfirstdiscoveredinOhioin2003.Sincethattime,theOhioDepartmentofAgricultureandpartneragencieshaveworkedtoprotectthestate’s3.8billionashtrees.TheinfestationwasinitiallyidentifiedinnorthwestOhionearToledobuthassincespreadacrosstheentirestate.Map2-7identifiesEABinfestationareasinOhio.Accordingtonaturalresourcesofficials,theworstoftheEABinfestationhaspassed.Whiletherearemanydeadanddiseasedtreesthatmuststillberemoved,aprocessthatwilltakeyearstoaccomplish,significantworkhasbeencompletedtoremoveasignificantnumberofthesehazards.MercerCountyisnotthemostimpactedareaofOhiobutithasexperiencedeffectsoftheEABinfestation.Asdiseasedtreesalongwaterwayshavedied,theyhavefallenintothewaterways,impactingdrainageandtheflowofwater.Diseasedtreesalongthepublicright-of-wayhavealsoimpactedinfrastructure,astheyaremorelikelytofallduringastormorhighwindevent.TheMercerCountyEngineerandjurisdictionstreetandroaddepartmentshaveaggressivelyremoveddiseasedtreesalongthepublicright-of-way,whichhasbeeneffectiveatreducingtheimpactonutilitylinesandotherinfrastructure.Theyarenot,however,abletoremovetrees



fromprivateproperty.Individuallandownersareresponsibleforremovingdeadanddiseasedtreesfromtheirpersonalproperty.

Map2-7:EmeraldAshBorerInfestationMap

Inrecentyears,GrandLakeSt.Maryshasbeenaffectedbymultipleblue-greenalgaeblooms.Thealgae,whichisthoughttobecausedbyincreasedquantitiesofphosphorousandnitrogeninrunoffwater,canproducetoxicbacteriathatisharmfultoplants,animals,andhumans.In2010,thelakewasdeclaredunsafeforcontact,includingboatingandswimming,duetoanalgalbloom.Becauseofthelake’simportancetotheeconomyoftheregion,thishadaseriousimpactonbusinessesintheregion.InOctober2010,theU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationissuedadeclarationofeconomicinjuryforMercerCountyandtheregionsurroundingthelake.

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_̂R O S SR O S S

W O O DW O O D

K N O XK N O X

P I K EP I K E

S T A R KS T A R K

D A R K ED A R K E

A D A M SA D A M S

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E R I EE R I E

H A N C O C KH A N C O C K

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M A D I -M A D I -S O NS O N

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C U Y A H O G AC U Y A H O G A

L A W R E N C EL A W R E N C E

T U S C A R A -T U S C A R A -W A SW A S

P A U L D I N GP A U L D I N G

D E F I A N C ED E F I A N C E

H A M I L T O NH A M I L T O N

C O L U M B I A N AC O L U M B I A N A

V A N W E R TV A N W E R T

A U G L A I Z EA U G L A I Z E

M A H O N I N GM A H O N I N G

H A R R I S O NH A R R I S O N

S A N D U S K YS A N D U S K Y

C H A M P A I G NC H A M P A I G N

C R A W F O R DC R A W F O R D

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Miles

Emerald Ash BorerInfestations in Ohio

February 29, 2016Updates: 1-888-OHIO-EAB

www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab

±

Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer ProgramOhio Department of Agriculture

Division of Plant HealthUSDA/APHIS/PPQU.S. Forest Service

OSU - OARDC/ExtensionOhio Department of Natural Resources

Please Note: All Ohio counties are currently under federal regulation for emerald ash borer

_̂New for 2016

_̂ New for 2015

! EAB Positive



Thisdeclarationmadeloansavailabletosmallbusinessesandnon-profitorganizationsnegativelyimpactedbythealgalbloomonthelake.Whilealgalbloomshaveoccurredonthelakesince2010,nonehavereachedthemagnitudeandeconomicimpactofthisincident.

2.2.6SevereThunderstormAthunderstormisalocalstormproducedbyacumulonimbuscloudaccompaniedbythunder,lightning,and/orhail.Lightningisabrief,naturallyoccurringelectricaldischargethatoccursbetweenacloudandtheground.Hailisfrozenrainpelletsthatcandamagebuildings,vehicles,andotherstructuresastheyfall.Hailformsinthehighercloudsandaccumulatessizeasitfallsasprecipitation.Iftemperaturesclosetothegroundarewarm,thehailcanpartiallymeltorbecomefreezingrain.Mostthunderstormsincludeheavyprecipitationandwind.Thesestormscanproducehail,lightning,flashfloods,tornadoes,anddamagingwindsthatposesignificantrisktopeopleandpropertyinthearea.Athunderstormthatproducesatornado,windsof58mphorgreater,and/orhailwithadiameterofatleast1”,isconsideredaseverethunderstorm.Thesestormstypicallydevelopaspartofalargerstormfrontandareprecededandfollowedbyregularthunderstorms.MercerCountyexperiencesmanythunderstormeventseachyear.Themajorityoftheseeventsincludeheavyprecipitation,wind,andthunder.Hailandlightningarepossible,butoccurmuchlessfrequentlythanwindandheavyprecipitation.Thunderstormsthatincludehailandlightningaremuchlessfrequentbutaregenerallymoresevere.Thunderstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Thesestormsrangefromminortosevere,althoughthemostareminorormoderate.Thunderstormsarerelativelyfrequentbutgenerallyresultinlimitedpropertydamage.AccordingtoNCDCrecordsdatingbackto1950,MercerCountyhasexperienced202thunderstormeventsover161days.Ofthese,95incidentsresultedinpropertydamageand0causedcropdamage.Only60oftheseincidentsincludedhailandoneincludedlightningasreportedhazards.LocalSevereThunderstormHistoryFewthunderstormsinMercerCountyhavecausedsignificantpropertydamage.AccordingtoNCDCrecords,onlythreeincidentshavecausedmorethan$50,000indamage.ThefirstoftheseoccurredonJune25,2002inCelina.Strongthunderstormwindstoppledmorethan100trees.Severaltreesfelloncarsandhomes,causingminordamage.Oneindividualwasinjuredwhenafallingtreestruckhervehicle.Totaldamagesinthecitywere$50,000.OnApril19,2011,aseverethunderstormimpactedtheChattanooganeighborhoodinthenorthwestquadrantofMercerCounty.Thisstormwaspartofalargerstormsystemthatspawnedseveraltornadoes,includingoneinCelina,andcausednearly$1,500,000damageacrosstheregion.Windsofupto60knotscauseddamagetoasilo,severalbarns,farmequipment,andseveralresidentialpropertiestobedamaged.Multipletreesandpowerlinesalsofell.Totaldamagefromthethunderstormwas$90,000.



ThemostrecentseverethunderstormtocauseseriousdamageinMercerCountyoccurrednJuly10,2013.Astormsystemdevelopedinadvanceofanapproachingcoldfront,leadingtoseveralseverethunderstormswithheavyrainfall,highwinds,andhail.InCelina,aconveniencestoresufferedapartialbuildingcollapseandmultipletreesfell,includingoneontoacar.InthePhilotheaneighborhoodsouthofCelina,awoodenpatiowasdestroyedbywind.Totalpropertydamagesfortheincidentwere$106,000.

Table2-29:MercerCountySevereThunderstormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


SevereThunderstorm* 161 $872K 0 0 5 $5.5KHail 44 $17K 0 0 0 <$1KLightning 1 0 0 0 1 0

*Includesallincidentswiththunderstormwind,hail,and/orlightning.

2.2.7TornadoAtornadoisanintense,rotatingcolumnofairthatprotrudesfromacumulonimbuscloudintheshapeofafunnelorropewhosecirculationispresentontheground.Ifthecolumnofairdoesnottouchtheground,itisreferredtoasafunnelcloud.Thiscolumnofaircirculatesaroundanareaofintenselowpressure,almostalwaysinacounterclockwisedirection.Tornadoesusuallyrangefrom300to2,000feetwideandformaheadofadvancingcoldfronts.Theytendtomovefromsouthwesttonortheastbecausetheyaremostoftendrivenbysouthwestwinds.Atornado’slifeprogressesthroughseveralstages:dust-whirl,organizing,mature,shrinking,anddecay.Onceinthematurestage,thetornadogenerallystaysincontactwiththegroundforthedurationofitslifecycle.Whenasinglestormsystemproducesmorethanonedistinctfunnelclouds,itisreferredtoasatornadofamilyoroutbreak.TornadomagnitudeismeasuredusingtheEnhancedFujitascale,abbreviatedasEF.TherankingsrangefromEF-0toEF-5andarebasedondamagescausedbythetornado.Priorto2012,theFujitascalewasusedtomeasuretornadodamageandwasabbreviatedF-1toF-2,dependingonthelevelofimpact.ThefollowingtablewastakenfromFEMA’swebsite,andindicatesthetypeofdamagesperEnhancedFujitaScaletornadoclassification.ThetornadoesinMercerCountyhavehistoricallybeenlimitedtoEF-0andEF-1.



EF-Scale WindSpeed TypicalDamage0 65–85mph Lightdamage.Peelssurfaceoffsomeroofs;somedamagetoguttersor

siding;branchesbrokenofftrees;shallow-rootedtreespushedover,1 86–110mph Moderatedamage.Roofsseverelystripped;mobilehomesoverturnedor

badlydamaged;lossofexteriordoors;windowsandotherglassbroken.2 111–135mph Considerabledamage.Roofstornoffwell-constructedhouses;

foundationsofframehomesshifted;mobilehomescompletelydestroyed;largetreessnappedoruprooted;light-objectmissilesgenerated;carsliftedoffground

3 136–165mph Severedamage.Entirestoriesofwell-constructedhousesdestroyed;severedamagetolargebuildingssuchasshoppingmalls;trainsoverturned;treesdebarked;heavycarsliftedoffthegroundandthrown;structureswithweakfoundationsblownawaysomedistance.

4 166–200mph Devastatingdamage.Wholeframeandwell-constructedhousescompletelyleveled;carsthrownandsmallmissilesgenerated.

5 >200mph Incredibledamage.Strongframehousesleveledofffoundationsandsweptaway;automobile-sizedmissilesflythroughtheairinexcessof100meters;high-risebuildingshavesignificantstructuraldamage;incrediblephenomenawilloccur

Norating Inconceivabledamage.ShouldatornadowiththemaximumwindspeedinexcessofEF-5occur,theextentandtypesofdamagemaynotbeconceived.Anumberofmissilessuchasiceboxes,waterheaters,storagetanks,automobiles,etc.Willcreateserioussecondarydamageonstructures.

Tornadoesarethemostdamagingofallatmosphericphenomena.Whiletheirfrequencyislow,theprobabilityofsignificantdamageishigh.Becausetornadoesoccuraspartofastormsystem,theydonotstrikeasindependentincidents.Emergingoutofastormfrontorsupercell,thetornado,especiallywhenaccompaniedbyheavyrain,straight-linewind,lightning,andhail,canbeextremelydamaging.Effectsofatornadoincludeuprootedtrees,damagedordestroyedbuildings,andsmashedvehicles.Twistingandflyingdebristurnsintoprojectileweapons,whichcancauseinjuriesandfatalities.TornadoesinMercerCountyaregenerallynarrow,anddonotgrowtothewidthofthemega-tornadoesintheplainstates.Theyaregenerally25-500yardswideandstayonthegroundforafewmiles.Thelongestrecentdurationforatornadotostayonthegroundwas56.2milesin1965,andtheshortestrecentonestayedonthegroundfor100yardsin2013.Ohioranksamongthetoptwentystatesininjuries,fatalities,andpropertydamagefromtornadoevents.WhiletornadoesdonotoccurfrequentlyintheMercerCounty,theseverityandimpactwhentheydoisoftensubstantial.MercerCountyhasexperiencedeighteentornadoeventssince1950,accordingtoNDPCrecords,andhassufferedmorethan$6,595,000inpropertydamage.ThemagnitudeofthetornadoeshasrangedfromF/EF0toF/EF4,withthehighestnumberofincidentsclassifiedasEF-0.InMercerCounty,tornadoesareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themapbelowidentifiesthelocationandmagnitudeoftornadoincidentsinthecounty.



Map2-8:TornadoHistory

LocalTornadoHistoryMercerCountyhasexperiencedtwotornadoeventsthatmorethan$2,500,000eachindamage.ThefirstoftheseoccurredonApril11,1965.CommonlyknownasthePalmSundayTornadoes,thistornadooutbreakisoneofthedeadliestinU.S.history.Theoutbreakspawnedeighteentornado-producingsystemsacrosssixstates.SixofthesesystemsreachedOhio.OneofthesesystemscrossedfromIndianaintoMercerCountyatapproximately8:20pmasanF-4tornado.ThestormcausedwidespreaddestructionbeforemovingintoVanWertCounty.Tworesidentsperishedwhentheirhomewasdestroyed.AcrossOhio,atotalof55peoplewerekilledbytornadoesfromthisoutbreak.Inadditiontotwolocalfatalities,24peoplewereinjuredandMercerCountysuffered$2,500,000inpropertydamage.ThesecondsignificanttornadoeventoccurredintheearlymorninghoursonJune1,1980.AnF1stormimpactedanareasouthofMontezumaandGrandLakeSt.Marys.Thestorminjuredfourpeopleandcauseddamagetotally$2,500,000.ThemostrecenttornadotocausemajordamageinthecountyoccurredApril19,2011inCelina.ThisEF-2stormtravelledthroughtheprimarybusinessdistrictofCelinaalongHavemannRoad.Severallargecommercialbusinesses,includingahomeimprovement



warehouseandgrocerystore,sufferedseriousroofandHVACdamage.Thegrocerystorewasdestroyed.Multipleresidentialstructuresandbarnsweredamagedandseveralvehiclesweremovedbythestrongwinds.Noinjurieswerereportedbutthecountyexperienced$340,000inpropertydamage.

Table2-30:MercerCountyTornadoHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Tornado 18 $6.595M $30K 2 29 $367K

2.2.8WindstormAwindstormisaweathereventwithverystrongwindsbutlittletonoprecipitation.Windspeedinthistypeofeventtypicallyreachesatleast34mphbutcanbeanyspeedthatcauseslightorgreaterdamagetotreesandbuildings.Damagecanbecausedbygusts,whichareshortburstsofhigh-speedwind,orlongerperiodsofsustainedwind.Aderechoisaspecifictypeofwindstormthatiswidespreadandfastmoving.Thesestormscanproducedamagingstraight-linewindsoverextremelylargeareas,sometimesspanninghundredsofmileslongandmorethan100mileswide.Tobedefinedasaderecho,thestormmustproducedamageoveratleast240miles,havewindgustsofatleast58mphacrossmostofthestorm’slength,andmultiplegustsof75mphorgreater.Thedestructionproducedbyaderechocanbeverysimilartothatfromatornado.However,thedamagefromthistypeofstormgenerallyoccursinonedirectionalongastraightpath.ThetopographyofwestcentralOhiocanbevulnerabletodamagesfromhighwindsunaccompaniedbyanykindofprecipitation,makingwindstormsacountywidehazard.Allareasandjurisdictionscanbeaffectedbyseverewind.Thereislimitedchangeinelevationorextensivewoodedcoverareatobreakuptheeffectsofstrongwindstorms.Althoughwindsinexcessof50milesperhourcanoccurindependently,thisisuncommon.Mostofthetime,severewindsarepartofalargerstormsystem.Thewindoccursasprecipitationandunstableairmovesintothearea.Highwindsarefrequentlyaccompaniedbyheavyrain,hail,ice,snow,orthunderstorms.InMercerCounty,wind-onlyincidentsdonotoccurfrequently.NCDChasrecordedonlyninewindeventssince1950,resultingin$4,953,000inpropertydamage.Windstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.LocalWindstormHistoryAlthoughinfrequent,whenwinddoesoccurasanindependenthazard,theimpactcanbesevere.ThemostseverewindstorminMercerCountyhistoryoccurredonSeptember14,2008whentheremnantsofHurricaneIkemovedacrossOhio.DamageacrossOhioexceeded$500,000,000.InMercerCounty,sustainedwindsof50mphandgustsupto60mphcaused



manydownedtreesandutilitylines.Thewindsalsodamagedbuildingsandcrops.Atotallossof$4,900,000wasrecordedinthecounty.OnMarch9,2002,thecountyexperiencedadamagingwindevent,althoughmuchlessdamagingthanthe2008incident.Windgustsofupto80mphcausedsignificantdamagetoutilitylines,trees,andsmallstructures.Sevenpeoplewereinjuredandmanypeoplelostpowerforseveralhours.TotaldamagesinMercerCountywererecordedas$35,000.ThemostrecenthighwindeventinMercerCountyoccurredApril3,2016whenacoldfrontmovedintotheregion,causingsignificantwindtoimpactthearea.ThedamagewasverylimitedinMercerCounty.Accordingtoreports,severaltreesandpowerlineswereblowndowncausingapproximately$1,000indamage.

Table2-31:MercerCountyWindstormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Windstorm 9 $4.953M 0 0 8 $550K

2.2.9WinterStormAwinterstormisaweathereventthatincludesseveralwinterweatherhazardsandcandevelopanytimebetweenlatefallandearlyspring.Thesestormscanincludeanycombinationofextremelycoldtemperatures,wind,snowfall,sleet,ice,orrainwithtemperatureslowenoughtoformice.Ablizzardisaspecifictypeofwinterstormcharacterizedbysustainedwindsorfrequentgustsof35mphorgreaterandfallingorblowingsnowthatreducesvisibilitytolessthan¼mile;bothoftheseconditionsmustbepresentforatleastthreehourstobeconsideredablizzard.Thegreatestriskassociatedwithwinterstormsisthelossofutilities.Theelderlyandyoungchildrenaremostatrisk.Whenmedications,healthequipment,andfoodsuppliescannotreachdestinations,thesepopulationsendurethegreatesthardship.Winterstormsofthismagnitudearerelativelyrare.Mostwinterstormsareatemporaryinconveniencethatmakesresidentsuncomfortable.Itisextremelyrareforcasualtiestooccur,withtheexceptionoftrafficaccidentsthatresultfromdangerousroadconditions.DuetothelivestockoperationsthatareprevalentinMercerCounty,especiallyinthesouthernhalfofthecounty,blizzardsthatclosecountyroadsandmakeingressandegressimpossibleformorethanafewhourscanbecostly.Duetoindustryregulations,dairyfarmsareunabletostoremilkforextendedperiodsoftimeandtheyarenotatallabletoprocessthemilkgivenitsveryshortshelflife.Otherlivestock,suchasbeefcattle,pigs,andpoultry,requirefeedtobedeliveredtothefarmsfrequently.Closedroadsandinaccessiblebarnscancauseanimalstodieforlackoffreshfood.Utilityoutagesstopautomaticfeedersandotherelectricalequipmenton



thefarms,furtherextendingthedamagesrelatedtoblizzards.Livestockcanfreezetodeath,dieofdehydrationwhenwatersuppliesarefrozen,andstarvewhenfoodisn’taccessible.SeverewinterweatherisariskacrossOhio.Allareasofthestatearesusceptibletowinterstormsthatbringheavysnow,highwinds,and/orice.Thesestormsrangefromshort,mildburstsofsnowandicetocoldsnapswithsignificantsnowfallthatlastseveraldays.InMercerCounty,winterstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themostcommonwinterstormsincludeacombinationofhazards,suchasiceandsnowfall.Theicebeginstoaccumulateastemperaturesfallbeforeturningtosnow,creatingalayeroficeunderthesnowfall.Sleetandicemakeroadwaysslickanddangerous,increasingthepotentialforvehicularaccidents.Roadcrewsarechallengedtoclearsnowandicefromroadwaysandmaintainsafetransportationroutesforresidents.Icestormscanoccurindependentofotherwinterweatherhazardsbutthisisnotcommon.Iftemperatureshovernearthefreezingpoint,precipitationcanfreezeandaccumulateontreesandpowerlines.Thiscanleadtopoweroutageswhenthebranchesandlinescanbreak.Extremecoldtemperaturescanoccurwithoutotheraccompanyingwinterweatherhazardsbutthisisrelativelyrare.Whenitdoesoccur,theincidentisgenerallyofashortdurationandisaninconveniencetoresidentsandbusinesses.Littlephysicaldamagegenerallyoccurstobuildingsorinfrastructure.MercerCountyexperiencesmultiplewinterweathereventseveryyear.However,theseincidentsarerarelysevereenoughtocausepropertydamage.Thecountyhasexperienced69eventssince1950,perNCDCrecords.Collectively,theseincidentshavecaused$550,000inpropertydamage.Fiveoftheseincidentshavebeenconsideredicestormsandtwowereclassifiedasblizzards;zeroincidentswerecategorizedasextremecoldevens.Althoughlesscommon,theicestormsandblizzardsdidnotcontributetohigherdamagestatisticsthantypicalwinterstorms.NoneoftheseincidentswereidentifiedintheNDCDstatisticstohavecausedanydocumentedpropertyloss.LocalWinterStormHistoryTheonlywinterweathereventrecordedbyNCDCthatcausedsignificantpropertydamageinMercerCountyoccurredonJanuary6,1996.The“Blizzardof‘96”beganintheGulfCoastregionandmovednortheasttowardstheeastcoastoftheUnitedStates.InOhio,thestorm’simpactwasmostsevereinsouthernOhiowhereroofscollapsedduetoexcessivesnowfallandblowinganddriftingsnowandextremelycoldtemperaturescausedtrafficaccidentsandforcedbusinessestocloseforseveraldays.Statewide,damagefromthisstormwasnearly$15,000,000.InMercerCounty,damageswerelimitedto$500,000andtherewerenoinjuriesorfatalities.FormostofOhio,themostsignificanthistoricalwinterweathereventistheBlizzardof1978.MercerCounty,andmostofnorthernOhio,wasseverelyimpactedbythisstorm.OnJanuary26,1978,twolow-pressuresystemscombinedoverOhiotoproducerecord-breakingsnowfall,windsofupto70mph,andextremelylowtemperatures.InMercerCounty,approximatelyfifteeninchesofsnowfellontopofthetwelveinchesalreadyonthegroundfromaprevioussnowfall.Thehighwindscausedblowinganddriftingsoseverethatroadswereimpassableand



buildingswereburied.Roadswereimpassableforalmostaweekandschoolsremainedclosedforsixdays.Mostbusinesseswereforcedtoclosebecausetransportationwasatastandstilluntilroadscouldbecleared.AsMercerCountyweatheredthestorm,residentsopenedtheirhomestostrandedmotoristsandneighborshelpedoneanotherdigoutfromtheblizzard.Todate,thisremainstheworstwinterweathereventinMercerCounty’shistory.Since2014,MercerCountyhasexperiencesmorethantwentywinterweatherincidents.Noneoftheseincidents,however,ledtoanymeasurablepropertydamage,injuries,orfatalities.Theseincidentshaveinconveniencedresidentswithhazardousroadconditionsandschoolclosingsbuthavehadlittlelong-termimpact.

Table2-32:MercerCountyWinterStormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


WinterStorm* 69 $550K 0 0 0 $8KExtremeCold 0 0 0 0 0 0IceStorm 5 0 0 0 0 0

*Includesallincidentswithblizzardconditions,extremecold,icestorm,andwinterstorm.

2.3VULNERABILITYASSESSMENTWhilethecommitteedevelopedacountywideprioritizationthatincludeshazardconsequencesintheunincorporatedareasofthecounty(townshipsandneighborhoods)aswellastheincludingthemunicipalitiesintheirconclusions,themunicipalitiestookintoaccountonlytheirindividualjurisdictionalperspectiveoneachhazard.Thecountymitigationstrategiesthereforewerebaseduponthevulnerabilitiesoftheentirecountyaswellasthoseassociatedwiththeunincorporatedareasliketownshipsandruralneighborhoods.Themunicipalstrategieswerebaseduponthemunicipalityonly.

2.3.1FloodplainMappingandtheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramMercerCountyparticipatedincountywidefloodplainmodernizationwithODNRinFiscalYear2008aspartofFEMA’sMapModernizationprocess.AscopingmeetingwasheldonOctober10,2010andculminatedwithrevisedmapsbecomingeffectiveonMay16,2012.Subsequenttothisprocess,severalwatershedsinMercerCountywereidentifiedforstudyunderFEMA’sRiskMAPprocess.TheAuglaizeandUpperGreatMiamiwatershedsbeganthisprocessinlate2010withDiscoveryReportsfinalizedinJune2011.TheUpperWabashwatershedRiskMAPprocessbeganin2015;thefinalDiscoveryReportwaspublishedinDecember2016.ThetablebelowprovidesinformationonparticipationintheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramforcommunitiesinMercerCountyaccordingtotheFEMACommunityStatusBookReportforOhio.



Table2-33:NationalFloodInsuranceProgramParticipationCommunity InitFHBM

IdentifiedInitFIRMIdentified

CurrEFFMapDate

Reg-EmerDate

MercerCounty 02/14/1975 09/06/1989 05/16/2012 09/06/1989Celina 04/12/1974 03/18/1974 05/12/2012 03/18/1986Coldwater 06/07/1974 05/16/2012 05/16/2012(M) 02/02/1984FortRecovery 06/07/1974 05/01/1987 05/16/2012 05/01/1987Mendon 06/14/1974 05/16/2012 05/16/2012 11/15/1985Montezuma 08/09/1974 04/15/2002 05/16/2012 02/01/1986Rockford 04/12/1974 02/01/1986 05/16/2012 02/01/1986St.Henry InProcess

St.HenryisintheprocessofjoiningNFIP;thelocalresolutionhasbeenadoptedandthevillageiscurrentlyworkingwithFEMAtofinalizetheirparticipation.BurkettsvilleandChickasawdonotcurrentlyparticipateinNFIPbecausetheyhavenoidentifiedfloodhazardareas.

2.3.2RepetitiveandSevereRepetitiveLossStructuresSomestructuresinMercerCountyareidentifiedasrepetitivelosspropertiesthathaveexperiencemultiplelosses.Thetablebelowliststhestructuresthathavebeenidentifiedthroughrepetitivelossclaims.Therearenosevererepetitivelossstructuresinthecounty.

Table2-34:RepetitiveLossPropertiesCommunity Properties Losses Building

PaymentsContentsPayments

TotalPayment

MercerCounty 6 19 $224,025.53 $23,060.58 $247,086.11FortRecovery 1 2 $5,000.00 $17,422.12 $22,422.12

Additionalrepetitivelossand/orsevererepetitivelossstructuresmaystillexistinMercerCounty,especiallysincechangesoccurredinfloodplainmappingandunidentifiedstructuresmaynowfallinsidethefloodplainduetochanges.

2.3.3MercerCountyMercerCounty’sprimaryconcernisflooding,andflashfloodinginparticular.Thetypeofprecipitatingeventofmostconcernisanextendedperiodofexceptionallyheavyprecipitationthatresultsinacombinationofriverineandflashflooding.ThehighestelevationinMercerCountyisatitsextremesouthwesternboundaryontheMercer-DarkecountylinebetweenUnionCityRoadandJenkinsRoad.ThelowestpointinMercerCountyisalmostdirectlynorthontheMercer-VanWertCountylinejusteastofHillRoad.Thedifferenceinelevationisapproximately270feet.Therefore,runoffnaturallyflowsfromnorthtosouththroughthevarioussub-watersheds.Therearemanywaterwaysthatincludestreams,ditches,andriversandthesewaterwayscarryrunoffeffectivelyawayfromsettledareasandassets.Becausetheterrainissoflat,mostfarm



fieldsaretiled.Whilethisallowsforrapiddrainagetooccur,itcanoverloadandfloodtheditches,streamsandriversaswaterreachesthewaterwaysfasterthanthewaterwayscantakeitdownstream.Thiscancausebackupintofieldsandfarmsteads,washingoutcropsandstrandingordrowninglivestockatpasture.Duetothelimitedabsorptioncapabilityofthesoilsandtheflatterrainthatlacksdropinelevationtofacilitaterunoff,wateraccumulatesveryrapidlyinstreetsandroadways,low-lyingareas,parkinglots,andinbufferzonesaroundrivers.Stormsewersandwastewatertreatmentfacilitiescanbeoverwhelmedbyfast-fallingheavyprecipitation,backingwaterupintostreets,drivewaysandparkinglots,andhomes.Becausemostofthecountyliesatthetopofawatershed,theriversandstreamsaregenerallyeffectiveincarryingthewaterawayonceitreachesthewaterway;however,theflowofthoseriversisdependentuponthosedownstreamtokeepthedebrisandsettlementoutoftherivertofacilitateflowthroughtheentirewatershedarea.Ifothersdownstreamarenegligentorineffectiveinmaintainingthewaterways,MercerCountycouldincurseveredamageswhenrunoffisnotabletodraininatimelyandeffectivemanner.BecauseMercerCountyisflat,itisalsoopentothewindsthatcomeupfromthesouthwestandacrossfromthewest,blowinghardanddamagingproperties,buildings,andinfrastructure.Farmgrainbins,elevators,andlegstothebinsareespeciallyvulnerable.Ifthewindscomeintheformofstrongstraight-linewindsortornadoes,thedamagetopropertycanbeextensive.Thereisnothingtoprotectit.Noelevationchangebreaksupstorms;noforestedareasprovideawindbreak;nonaturalsanctuaryexiststoprotectMercerCountyfarms,churches,andotherfacilitiesfromstrongOhiowinds.Winterstormspresentaserious,butgenerallyshort-lived,threatforMercerCounty.Livestockisabigpartoftheagriculturalbaseofthecounty.Especiallyinthesouthernhalfofthecounty,farmsproducecattle,pigs,andpoultry.Feedingofthelivestockisanautomatedprocessonmanyfarms,andtheirmechanizationisdependentuponfeeddeliveryonaregularbasisandaworkingpowersystemtopowertheprocess.Whenpowergoesoutandroadsareblockedorclosed,neitherofthosesegmentsoftheprocesscanoccur.Shutdowncanbedeadlyandexpensive.Dairycattleproducemilkthatmustbehauledawayonafrequentscheduletoprocessingplants.Thecattlearemilkedwhethertheproductcanbehauledawayornot,andfarmershaveverylimitedstoragefortheunprocessedmilk.Themilkhasashortshelflifewhenitisrawproduct,solackofopenroadwaysandaccessiblebarnscanbedisastrous.Whenfarmerscannotfeedtheirherdsandmilktheircows,theagri-businesspartnerslikemilkhaulers,processors,andfeedsuppliersareaffectedtoo.Thewinterstormthatclosesroadsforafewdaysisinconvenientforalmosteveryone,butitisexpensiveanddeadlyforfarmers.Severethunderstormscanbedamagingevents.Stormscandevelopsuddenlyandoftenincludeheavyprecipitation,strongwinds,occasionalrotationalwinds,lightning,andsometimeshail.Thunderstormcellscansneakupquicklyandwithlittlewarning.InMercerCounty’sprimarilyrurallandscape,notificationcanbeproblematicbecausethepopulationisnotheavilyconcentratedinmanygeographicareas,makingtheinstallationanduseofoutdoorwarningsirensachallenge.Thunderstormdamagescanincludetoppledbuildings,damagedroofs,anduprootedtrees.Cropdamagesandlivestockinjuriesarenotuncommonwhenhailandhigh



windsareinvolved.ThesolidagriculturalbaseofMercerCounty’seconomymakesafarmlossintoeveryone’sloss.Lightningcanstrikefarms,andwithheavyloadsofhayandstrawinhaymowsandcorninbins,farmproductscanberuinedquiteeasilybeforetheyreachmarketsorfeedingsystems.Flattenedcorn,wheat,andsoybeansfromseverewind,destroyedstalksandstemsthatfeedthefruitofcropsdeliversasevereblowtotheeconomyinthisfarmingcommunityevenifstructuraldamageandfiresarenotapartofthedestruction.Earlygrowingseasonstormscanfloodgerminatingplants,drowntinysprouts,andsaturatesoilsandwashawayfertilizers,herbicidesandpesticides.Hailcanstripplantsoftheirfruit,anddestroytheplantstructurethatallowsforthematurationoftherestoftheplant.Severestormscanbedevastatingwhentheystrikehardandheavyatthewrongtime.TheinvasionoftheEmeraldAshBorerhastakenoutmanytreesinMercerCounty.Manymoreareweakenedbythebugandwillcomedownattheslightestthreat.Theyendupasdebris,blockingroadsandstreets,fallingonhousesandbuildings,andrequiringextensiveworkbythejurisdictionstoclearthedebris.Thegreatestdifficultywithdownedtreesiswhenthedebrisdamagesutilitypolesandsystems,causingpoweroutagesthataffectlivestockandfarmsaswellasindividualsandbusinesses.MercerCountydoesnothavesignificanthistoryofdroughtorextremeheatincidents,andthewatersupplyisreliableandplentifulenoughtowithstandthetypicaldryspellthatstrikesOhio.Thesearethreatsandarepossible,butranklowontheprobabilityanddamageassessmentscale.Earthquakeissimilar.WhileOhioonoccasionexperiencessomegentlerumbling,thereisnosignificanthistoryofearthquakes,andthereisalmostnorecordeddamage,atleastnotnearMercerCounty.Damfailureispossiblebecausethecountydoeshaveseveraldams.Mostareupgroundreservoirsmaintainedbymunicipalitiesaspartoftheirwatertreatmentsystems.TheotherdamsaremaintainedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,andareconsideredtobeinexcellentrepair.ThereisnoemergencyplanonrecordfortheGrandLakeSt.Marysdamandspillway;theOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesisresponsibleforthisplanandCelinacityofficialsareworkingwiththemtocompleteaplan.Thereisnohistoryofaproblemwithanyofthedams,andthereforetheyranklowonthescaleofthreats.TherearenoleveesinMercerCounty.

2.3.4JurisdictionVulnerabilityWhileMercerCountyhasmanycommonfactorsacrossthecounty,eachmunicipalityhasitsownuniquevulnerabilitiesbaseduponthecharacteristicsofthejurisdiction.Somevillagesarebedroomcommunities,whileothersareahavenofindustrialandcommercialproductivity.Someareasreceivemorerunofffromstorms,andthereforehaveflashfloodingwhenothershavenone.Thefollowingsectiondescribeseachuniquecommunityandhowthehazardswereranked,with1beingthemostdisruptiveand9beingleastconcerning.



BurkettsvilleThevillageofBurkettsvillesitsonthesoutherncountylinesharedbetweenMercerandDarkeCounties.Thissmallcommunityisaffectedmostseverelybypoweroutagesanddebrisfromwindorflashfloodingofthestreetsandhighway.Theyarenotpronetoflooddamagesbecausethesitveryhighonthewatershedwiththehighestpointinthecountyjustacouplemilestothewest.WaterdrainsintoWardDitchandtheWabashRiver,andunlessthosewaterwaysbecomeblockedbyexcessivedebris,thewatermovesoutquickly.SewersystemsarelinkedtotheSt.HenryVillagesystem.Waterissuppliedbyindividualwells,andthereisnohistoryofsignificantwatersupplyproblems.Inaseverewindincidentorwinterstorm,thevillageisremoteanddistantfromothermunicipalities,andisaborderlinecommunityforbothDarkeandMercerCounty.Therefore,itcouldtakesometimeforpowerrestorationinthemostsevereofincidents,butthosearenotfrequent.TheVillageofBurkettsvillerankedhazardsandthreatsasfollows:

Table2-35:BurkettsvilleHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Flood3 SevereThunderstorm4 Tornado5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 InvasiveSpecie7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure

CelinaTheCityofCelinaiscentrallylocatedontheeastsideofMercerCountyandwrapsaroundthenorthwestsideofGrandLakeSt.Marys.Itismostaffectedbyflashfloodingandsomeriverineflooding;thestreetswillfillwithwaterandexcesswillmoveintobasementsinhomes,parkinglots,andotherlow-lyingareasafteraheavyandrapidoranextendedrainfall.Somecommercialareassitinvulnerablespots,andbecomeinoperableuntilthewaterdrains.ThemajorroadsthatpassthroughCelinawillfloodandoftenareclosedforaperiodoftimeuntilthewaterrecedes.Whiletherehavebeenonlyafewseveresustainedraineventsinthepast,floodingcanpersistforacoupledaysandseverelyhamperbusinessanddailyactivities.Itisrarelylifethreatening.BeaverCreekfloodsattimes,butotherwisethefloodingisallflashflooding.Thecityexercisesextremecareindevelopmentofareasthatflood,especiallyanyareathatareincludedinthefloodplain.Celinahassignificantriskofdamageduetowind,bethatatornadoorastraight-linewindevent,orwindduringasnowstormandiceevent.Thelandisflatacrosstheentirecounty,andthewindandstormscansweepfastandfuriousastheymoveintoOhiofromthesouthwest.Debris,damagedroofsandbuildings,andcommercialstructuresincurdamage.In2011,a



tornadodidsignificantdamagetoseveralbusinessesinthecity,andtorethroughthemercantilesectionofthecityontheeastandnorthsidesoftown.Treedebrisisacommonnuisance,andrequiresagreatdealofcityefforttomanageafteranywindevent.TheinfestationbytheEmeraldAshBorerhasincreasedthesusceptibilityofthetreestowinddamage.Poweroutagesaremostlikelytobecausedbydownedtrees.Winterstormsposedifficultyinhandlingtheplowedsnowfromstreetsandotherproperties.Ificefallsbeforeorafterthesnow,itaddsalevelofresponsethatcanbecomedifficultforextendedperiodsoftime,orwhenmultipleeventsfollowoneanotherwithoutwarmingbreaksbetween.Whileitisaremotepossibility,thefailureofthedamatthelakecouldcausesignificantlifeandpropertythreat.ThedamismaintainedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,andtherearenosuspectedproblemsinspiteofthefactthatnoemergencyplanhasbeencompleted.Whilethelikelihoodisverylowofanyincident,itispossible,especiallyifcombinedwithaminorearthquakeordeteriorationofthestructureforotherreasons.Celinahasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-36:CelinaHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Tornado3 SevereThunderstorm4 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)5 Flood6 DamFailure7 InvasiveSpecies8 Drought/ExtremeHeat9 Earthquake

ChickasawThissmallvillageispronetowinddamagebecauseitsitsatoneofthehighestpointsinthecounty.Thewindinanykindofstormcanwhiptreesandproperties,doingextensivedamageinashorttime.Becausethecommunityisadistancefromthecenterofthecounty,itcanbecomeisolatedandcutofffromresources.Therefore,anythingthatcausesdebris,blocksroadways,orseparatestheresidentsfromoutsidesourcescanbeacriticalsituation.Treesdamagedbydiseasecausethemtofallandblockroads,damagehomes,andimpededrainage.Theelevationcausesfloodingtobeoflittleconcern,andtheyarenotexposedtoanywatercontrolstructures,highbuildingsthatcouldcausedamageinearthquakes,orcompromisedwatersupply.Therefore,windposesthegreatestthreatinChickasaw.



Chickasawhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-37:ChickasawHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 SevereThunderstorm3 Tornado4 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)5 InvasiveSpecies6 Flood7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure

ColdwaterThevillageofColdwateristhesecondlargestmunicipalityinthecounty,andthelocalhospitalisinColdwater.Thiscommunityisawell-developedanddiversecollectionofresidentialandbusinessareas,andthatbringswithittheneedforopenroadsandhighqualitystreets.Thecommunityispronetowinddamagebecauseitisrelativelyhighwithoutsignificantwindbreaksorforestedland.Farmfieldssurroundthecommunityandwinddamageincludescropfodderandanimalwasteinsewers,yards,anddrainage.Thevillageiswelllandscaped,andinvasivespecieshavedestroyedmanyofthetrees,causingastormdamagesituationandapublicexpensewhenstormscomethroughtoclearstreetsandroadsofdownedtrees.Thecommunityhasupgroundreservoirs,butthethreatofanyfailureisverylowandnotconsideredtobeverylikely.Coldwaterhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-38:ColdwaterHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Windstorm3 Tornado4 SevereThunderstorm)5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 InvasiveSpecies7 DamFailure8 Drought/ExtremeHeat9 Earthquake



FortRecoveryFortRecoverysitsatopMercerCountyattheheadwatersoftheWabashRiver.Astheriverracesthroughtownandreachesthecommercialandservicelifebloodfacilities,floodingcancauseaseriousproblem.FortRecoveryhasalreadydemolishedandmovednumeroushomesandcriticalfacilitiestoremovethemfromdangerouslocations.Farmsuppliersandsomeproductionfacilitiesremainclosetotheriver’sedgeandthatmakesfloodingasignificantthreat.Thecommunityispronetowinddamage,havinglittleprotectionfromdamagetoroofs,buildings,andcrops.Anyseverestormsseemtobringlotsofrainandwind,andthereforerankveryhighonthislittlecommunity’slistofthreats.Invasivespecieshavedestroyedmanytreeshere,increasingthethreatofdebrisdamageanddrainageblockagesinriversandstreams.AClassIdamisclosetoFortRecovery,butthereisnoreasontobelievethisisasignificantthreataslongasitismaintainedinthecurrentcondition.Anemergencyplanisinplace.FortRecoverysitsatthejunctureofseveralstatehighways,andasignificantamountoftransportationservicesmovethroughtowneachdayasgoodsarehauledinandoutofMercerCounty.Openroads,freefromdebrisandsnow,areacriticalpartofthatcommercialinfrastructure.Therefore,severestormsareaconcernandareasonforthisvillagetoreactquickly.FortRecoveryhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-39:FortRecoveryHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Windstorm3 Tornado4 SevereThunderstorm5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 DamFailure7 InvasiveSpecies8 Drought/ExtremeHeat9 Earthquake

MendonMendonisabedroomcommunityonthenortheastsideofMercerCounty.Manyresidentsworkoutofthecountyinnearbyfactoriesandservices,anddependupontheroadwaysandstreetstobeabletocomeandgo,astheyneedto.Flashfloodingisaconcernasthegravity-baseddrainagecanbeoverwhelmedquickly.Anyseverestorm,especiallythosethathavesignificantwind,canbeverydamagingtothisvillageanditsproperty.Landscapedwithmanyoldtrees,theEmeraldAshBorerhasdestroyedmanytrees,makingdebrisandremovalofdeadtreesanissueforMendon.Thisvillageisdiligentaboutkeepingthestreetsandtreeswell



maintained,andworkstokeeputilitiesingoodrepair.However,aseverestormofanykindcouldeasilyoverwhelmthemandcauseaseriouslackofadequateresourcestorespond.Mendonhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-40:MendonHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Tornado3 SevereThunderstorm4 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)5 InvasiveSpecies6 Flood7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure

MontezumaMontezumaliesonthesouthandsouthwestsideofGrandLakeSt.Marys,andishometothemajorityofthetouristtradeinMercerCounty.SharingtheindustrywithCelina,Montezumaispopulatedbypart-timehomes,mobilehomes,cottagesandcabins,andothervacationrentalsusedwhilethesunshinesandtemperaturesclimb.Toservetheseindividuals,therearenumerouslakesidebusinessesthatsellfood,campingsupplies,beerandwine,fishinggear,andotheritemsusedrecreationally.Thisisallatriskwhenthewindkicksup,thewatersbegintoriseduetoheavyrainfalloranortheasterlystrongwindblowsthewaterintootherwisemanageableproperties.Thenatureofsomeofthestructuresismorevulnerablethantypicalhomesthatareoccupiedyear-round,andthefactthattheyareattimevacantincreasesthechanceofpropertydamage.ThedamthatmaintainsthewaterlevelsinGrandLakeSt.Marys,ifbreached,couldcausesignificantdamageandevendeathinMontezuma.Residentsareconstantlyawareofanywaterthreats,includinganykindofproblemwiththedam.ThisdamismaintainedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,anditsoperationmaintainsadequatewaterlevelsinthelake.Whilethereisnoobviousreasontobelievethatathreatexistsorisinanywayimminent,therewouldbeseveredamageifthedamfailedforanyreason.



Montezumahasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-41:MontezumaHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Tornado3 Flood4 SevereThunderstorm5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 DamFailure7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 InvasiveSpecies9 Earthquake

RockfordRockfordsitsinthefarnorthernpartofMercerCounty,amidseveralreserveareasthatspeakofOhio’sIndianlore.WheretheSt.MarysRiverwindsthroughtown,US33cutsthroughasaroutefortrucksandotherlargehaulerstocarrygoodsintoOhiofromIndiana.Thelandscapeoftreesandfoliagemakesthevillagepronetodamagefromwindofanykind,easilyresultinginthetossing-aboutoflimbsandbranches.TheEmeraldAshBorerhastakenitstollonthetreesthatlinetheriver,thehighways,andtheresidentialareasandtheyfallwithoutmuchpushfromMotherNature.AnykindofsevereweathereventcancauseRockforddifficulty.Winddownstreesanddamagesbuildings.Severeraincancauseflashfloodingandsomeneighborhoodswillfloodintheworststorms,causingresidentstopackupandmovetemporarilywhilewaterdrainsaway.Thetwistsandturnsintheinterstateandthevillagestreetscanbecomecongestedandfloodedwhenwatercomeshardandheavy.Rockfordhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-42:RockfordHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Tornado3 InvasiveSpecies4 Flood5 SevereThunderstorm6 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure



St.HenrySt.Henryisaneat,tidyandbusyvillageinthesouth-centralareaofMercerCounty.ThiscommunitysitsatthetopofColdwaterCreekandjustsouthoftheWabashRiver.It’swelldesignedanddevelopedneighborhoods,itsnewandrenovatedbusinessesandsmallfactories,anditsserviceandretailbusinessesarealllocatedonwideandwellmaintainedstreets.However,thesestreetsarepronetoflashfloodingwhenraincomesquickly,orwhenrainissustainedovermanydays.Outinthemidstoffarmland,debrisandfodderwashintotownandblockthedrainagesystem,impedingthemovementofrunoffwatersoutofyards,neighborhoods,andparkinglotsorstreetsThevillagesitsoutbyitselfwithoutalotofforestorwindbreaks,andisthereforesusceptibletowinddamagefromhighwind,tornado,orotherseverestorms.Icecanbeacommonpartofstormsthatcomeduringseasonaltransitions,complicatingthemanagementofroadsandutilities.Thevillagehasbeenimpactedbytreedisease,makingthetreesmorevulnerabletofallingwhenwindskickup.Wind,water,andtemperaturearewhatthreatensthisvillagethemost.St.Henryhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:

Table2-43:St.HenryHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Windstorm3 Tornado4 SevereThunderstorm5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 InvasiveSpecies7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure



Thefollowingchartisasummationofthepreviousrankingsforeaseofuse.

Table2-44:JurisdictionalVulnerability

Hazard MercerC

ounty

Burkettsville

Celin

a

Chickasaw

Coldwater

FortRecov

ery

Men

don

Mon

tezuma

Rockford

St.H

enry

Dam/LeveeFailure 8 9 6 9 7 6 9 6 9 9Drought/ExtremeHeat 7 7 8 7 8 8 7 7 7 7Earthquake 9 8 9 8 9 9 8 9 8 8Flood 3 2 5 6 1 1 6 3 4 1InvasiveSpecies 6 6 7 5 6 7 5 8 3 6SevereThunderstorm 4 3 3 2 4 4 3 4 5 4Tornado 2 4 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 3Windstorm 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2WinterStorm 5 5 4 4 5 5 4 5 6 5

2.4RISKANALYSISToestimatedisasterlosses,adamageprofilethatconsidersthepotentialimpactandlossfromeachhazardisdeveloped.Inthissection,lossestimatesfromfloods,earthquakes,winterstorms,tornadoes,thunderstorms,windstorms,anddroughtareexamined.Whilethelossesfromtheseincidentsareoftenmoreofatemporaryandinconvenientnature,significantdisruptiontobusiness,somepropertydamage,andlossoflifeispossibleunderextremeorunusualcircumstances.ThisinformationwasusedtodetermineMercerCounty’sriskforeachspecifichazard.

2.4.1Dam/LeveeFailureDamageProfileMostofthedamsinMercerCountyareclassifiedas“other”structuresbecausetheyarelowandnarrow,onprivateproperty,anddonotmeetcriteriaforotherwiseclassifieddams.TheonlyClassIdamsinthecountyaretheUpperWabashNumber3PondnearFortRecovery,ownedbytheWabashRiverConservancyDistrict,andtheGrandLakeSt.MarysWestEmbankmentnearthewestsideofCelinaownedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,DivisionofParksandRecreation.ThereisanemergencyplanfortheUpperWabashdambutnoemergencyplanofrecordforthelakedamandspillway.St.HenryandMontezumahavewastewatertreatmentlagoonsanddamsthataremaintainedbythevillages,andhaveemergencyplansinplace.TheUpperWabashNumber2PondisalsoaClassIIIdamandisownedandmaintainedbytheconservancydistrict.Thereareseverallow,shallowstructuresonprivatepropertythatareunclassified.Thereisnohistoryoffailureorcompromiseforanyofthesestructures.



FailureofaclassIdamasaresultofanaturaleventisveryremote.ThedepthandsizeofGrandLakeSt.Marysmakesmajordamagefromastormunlikely.Thecountyhasnohistoryofnaturalevents,suchasearthquakes,impactingthestabilityofthedamstructure.Ifacatastrophicfailuredidoccur,majordamagewouldoccurdownstreamalongtheBeaverCreek.Agriculturalland,homes,andfarmbuildingsareprevalentinthedownstreamarea.Severalcommercialandresidentialstructuresarelocatedintheareaimmediatelyadjacenttothedam.Theseincludeanapartmentbuilding,medicalcenter,andothercommercialstructures.Atotallossofthesefacilitieswouldbeanticipatedinadamfailureincident,resultinginmorethan$100millioninlosses.

Map2-9:ClassIDamFailureDamageZone

DAMAGE AREA FROM CLASS 1 DAM FAILURE

Beaver Creek Wabash River



2.4.2Drought/ExtremeHeatDamageProfileMercerCountycanexperienceslightdroughtandregularlyexperiencesperiodsofdecreasedprecipitationduringthegrowingseasonforareafarms.Theclimateismoderateanddoesnotturnaridatanytime.Thereisnohistoryofanextendeddroughtthatwouldcausecasualtiesorpropertydamagemoresignificantthanareductionincropyieldsforasinglegrowingseasonnoristhereanyhistoryofextensivecroplossesinexcessofasinglecropyear.Precipitationpatternscancauseaseriesofyearstohavehigherorloweraverageyieldsduetoslightdryness,lateplantingduetoexcessiverainfall,orlateharvestduetorainfall.Forthepurposeoflossestimates,onlythemajorcashgraincropswereconsideredbecausethosecropsconstitutethemajorityofproductioninMercerCountyandareconsistentlyproducedintheexpressedacreagesfromyeartoyear.Productionlivestockcanbesoldinspiteofdrought;othercashcropssuchascucumbers,tomatoes,andvegetablesareheavilyinsured.Whilemanyfarmerspurchasecropinsuranceforallcrops,includinggrain,datadoesnotexisttodeterminethepercentageofcropsthatareinsuredinMercerCounty.BasedontheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture’s2012CensusofAgriculture,MercerCounty’sagricultureindustryhasatotalmarketvalueof$596,366,000.Ofthistotal,$153,143,000(26%)comesfromcropsand$443,223,000(74%)comesfromlivestock.Inadrought,thesecommoditieswouldallbeexposedtoloss.Table2-46identifiesthequantitiesoftheprimaryagriculturalcommoditiesinthecountythatwouldbeexposedtodrought-relatedloss.

Table2-46:DroughtVulnerabilityAssessmentCommodity CropAcres LivestockCounts

Soybeans 103,534 Corn(forgrain) 94,680 Wheat 17,213 Corn(forsilage) 1,427 Layers 7,948,740Turkeys 1,408,779Pullets(layingstockreplacement) 878,002Hogs/Pigs 261,390Catttle/Calves 66,024

2.4.3EarthquakeDamageProfileEarthquakesaregeologicallypossiblybutnotcommoninMercerCounty.Thecountyhasexperiencedseveralearthquakesinthatpast,althoughthesehaveallbeenveryminorandhavecausednoknowndamage.Assuch,thereislittledatatosupportcommittingextensiveresourcestoearthquake-proofingbuildingsandotherstructures.Becauseofthelowriskandhighcostofimplementingmitigationstrategiesrelatedtoearthquakerisk,theplanningteamdidnotidentifyanysuchactions.Astheyarrivedatthisdecision,theyconsideredhistoricalearthquakedamagedataandHAZUSlossprojectionsfora



5.4magnitudeearthquakewithanepicenterinCelina.Table2-47isthevulnerabilityanalysismadeavailabletothecommittee.

Table2-47:EarthquakeScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 1,749 $269,660,719Non-Residential 973 $150,139,833CriticalFacilities 38 $5,863,632Totals 2,760 $425,664,184

2.4.4FloodDamageProfileMercerCountyisvulnerabletominortomoderatedamagefromfloods.Theareasmostlikelytosustainflooddamagearethoseadjacentorincloseproximitytowaterways,includingsomelow-lyingroadwaysandareasclosetostormsewersthatmaybeundersizedorinadequatetohandlerunofffromheavyprecipitationevents.OneareainButlerTownshipwheretheColdwaterCreekwasartificiallyre-routedtosupplyGrandLakeSt.Maryswithwaterisexceptionallypronetoseriousfloodingwithextensivedamages.IncapacitatingordamagingfloodinginMercerCountyisgenerallytheresultofseveraldaysofheavyprecipitation,andperhapsexacerbatedbysuddenmeltingofsnowandiceorover-saturationofthesoilspriortothestartofrainfall.Asthewateraccumulates,itisunabletogetawayasfastasitcomes,andflashfloodingoccursinthestreets,highways,somelow-lyingproperties,andvulnerablecommercialproperties.Mostresidentialdamageislimitedtofloodedbasementsandaccessissuesingeneral,exceptingforseveralhomestothesouthwestofCelinawhereacreekwasre-routedandwaterseemstoseektheoriginalwatershedwhenprecipitationisexcessive.Thereissomethoughtthattiledfieldsallowtherunofftoreachcommunitiesatafasterpacethaninyearspast,causingstreetandhighwayfloodingtobeworsethanitusedtobe.Someresidentsbelievethis,andothersfeelitisfalselyassigned.Someresidentsfeelthattherainfallismoreintenseandmorefrequentthanitusedtobe.Thereisalsoconcernthatfieldfodderanddebrisfromfallentrees(causedbyasevereinfestationofEmeraldAshBorer)washesintostormdrainsandclogsthestormsewersinmanyofthevillagesanddevelopedportionsoftownshipswheretheyhavestormsewers.Thereisageneralopinionthatwhenculvertsandbridgesarereplaced,thenewstructuresshouldbelargerandhavegreatercapacity.Whateverthecause,flashfloodingandthesewercapacityismorechallengedthaninthepast,andthismakesflashfloodingmoreseriouseventhoughitisstillatemporarycondition.FlooddamageinMercerCountycouldincludedamagetoanddestructionofphysicalbuildings,infrastructure,crops,andlivestock.Withsomuchlivestockinthecounty,pasturedanimalscouldeasilybetrappedawayfromfoodandshelter,causingaseriousthreattotheirwell-being.Residentialstructuraldamagescouldincludedamagetosingleandmulti-familyhomes,grouplivingfacilities,andmulti-familyhousingcomplexes.Commercialandindustrialstructural



damagescouldincludebuildingsusedformanufacturing,producthandling,transportation,warehousing,retail,business,andindustrial,andthecapitalequipmentassociatedwiththoseuses.Agriculturalstructureswouldincludebarnsusedforlivestock,equipmentstorage,andcommoditystorage,aswellasthecontentsofthosebuildings,whichconstitutebusinessassetssuchasproductionanimals,equipment,andmachinery.Grainbins,transferlegs,andelevatorsystemscouldbedamagedveryeasilybytheforceofwater.Government,nonprofit,andeducationalinstitutionsincludecriticalstructureslikefirestations,policestations,hospitals,offices,schools,andspecialfacilitieslikegaragesandmaintenancebuildings,andthecapitalcontentsofthosestructures.Actualstructuraldamagecouldincludefloodingofbasementsandgroundlevelfloors,compromiseofthefoundationsandutilitysystems,anddestructionofthecontentsofthosestructures.Peopleareatriskfromfloodwaterbecausehouseholdandindustrialchemicalssubstancescancontaminatefloodwaterandresultinhazardouschemicalexposureforrescuers,responders,andvictims.Livestockcouldbesignificantlythreatenedbycontaminatedfloodwaterandhavenowaytoescapeortheabilitytoprotectthemselves.Thisdamagewouldresultinlargeamountsofdebristomanage,includingfinish,structural,andfoundationmaterialsandanimalcarcassesandwaste.ManyroadscanfloodforshortperiodsoftimeinMercerCounty,potentiallyclosingbusinessesandinstitutionsandcripplingcommerceforashortperiodoftime.Thisperiodofbusinessshutdowngenerallyisconfinedtothefloodplainareasandlastsforonlyadayortwooncetherainstops.Withinmunicipalities,someareasexistwherestormsewersareofinsufficientsizeandcapacitytohandlerapidandheavydownfall.Coldwater,St.Henry,andCelinaareparticularlyvulnerabletothis;FortRecoveryandMontezumacanalsoexperienceflashfloodingundertheseconditions.Dependingonexactlywhereprecipitationisheaviest,ifthegroundisfrozen,saturated,ordry,andhowfullwaterwaysareatthetimeoftheevent,significantfloodingcanoccuronroads,streets,bridges,andneighborhoods.Theseflood-proneareasarenothighlypopulatedwithresidentialorcommercialstructuresbutsignificantinconveniencecanresultwhenbusinessesclose,accessiscutoff,anddrainagesystemsareoverwhelmed.Insomecases,suchasFortRecovery,thereareabovegroundtanksofhazardouschemicalsorliquidmanurepitsthatcanbecomeinundatedpotentiallycausethesesubstancestobedispersedinragingfloodwaters.Storedfarmchemicalsareatriskofbeingabsorbedintothefloodwaters,distributedoverfloodedareas,ordamagedan,depositinghazardousrunoffinfloodwater.Insomeareas,livestockinpasturesmaybeatriskinsomeareas,dependingonwhichwaterwaysflood,andcanbecomestrandedorbeinginjuredbeforethefloodwaterrecedes.Agriculturallandthatisheavilytileddrainsquickly,facilitatingrapidandsignificantamountsofrunoffinditches,streams,andrivers.Thiscontributestodownstreamfloodingasthewaterwaysattempttodrainthecounty.CountywidefloodinginMercerCountywouldhappenonlyunderthemostsevereofcircumstances.Asthecountysitshighonthewatershed,therainfallwouldhavetocomein



copiousamountstofloodtheentirecounty.Thatbeingsaid,amultiple-dayheavyraineventofmorethan10inchesissuspectedtobecapableofwidespreadflooding,especiallyifitcomesearlyinthespringandiscombinedwithsnowmeltandicemelting.FloodingwouldoccuralongtheWabashRiverasitflowsfromthesouthwestcornernearFortRecovery,tothenorthwestthroughtheruralareasandofftowardIndiana.Mostofthispropertyisruralfarmlandandresidentialareasoutsidemunicipalities.TheGrandLakeSt.MaryswatershedareaincludesthevillagesofBurkettsville,St.Henry,andColdwaterandtheresidentialareasinandaroundthosecommunities.Thevariouslargecreeksandstreamsandsub-watershedsinthatareaincludetheColdwaterCreek,GrassyMonroe,Prairie,Beaver,BigChickasaw,andLittleChickasawdrainageareas.Thesewouldfillandbreachtheirbanks,floodinghomesandbusinessesaswellasstreet,roadsandhighways.IntheColdwaterCreeksub-watershed,therearenumeroushomesthatwouldfloodwhenColdwaterCreekfailstocontainitselfataman-madeoutsideturnthatdivertsthewaterintoGrandLakeSt.Marys.Thisfloodwaterwouldverylikelybreachtheearthenstructurethatisintendedtoholditback,raceacrossfieldstogettoBeaverCreekasMotherNatureintendedittodoyearsago,andwouldlikelyinundatethesehomeswithfloodwater.Pastincidentsindicatethatthesestructurescouldbemovedfromthefoundations,significantexteriorandframedamagewouldbedone,andthecontentswouldbedestroyed.Becausethisbreachhappenswhentheforceandpowerofwaterovercomesanon-engineeredearthenstructure,ithappensquicklyandwithoutmuchwarning.Livescouldbeendangeredandlostundertheworstofcircumstances.Itwouldbereasonabletoassumetheindividualsinthishigh-riskareacouldbestrandedandindanger,andrequirerapidwaterspecialrescueservicestobeevacuated.Althoughliveswouldbeintact,therecouldbesevereinjurywithoutextenuatingcircumstances.TheSt.MarysRiverWatershedwouldincludemajormunicipalitieslikeCelina,Rockford,andMendon.Celinawouldbetheworstaffected,andflashfloodingofstreets,parkinglots,low-lyingareas,andbasementsofhomeswouldbesignificant.ThefullandparttimeresidentialareasaroundthelakeinbothCelinaandMontezumacouldbeinundatedwithfloodwater,displacingmanytouristsandgueststothecountyinthewarmermonths.Theselakefronthomescouldbedamagedbecausemanyaremobileandmodularstructures,oldstructuresonconcreteslabs,andonlypartiallyinhabitedthroughouttheyear.Somearerentalandleaseproperties,andownersareremotetothepropertiesandunlikelytotakeimmediateprotectiveactions.Therearemanybusinessesandservice-basedcommercialoperationsinthisarea.Theywouldlikelyemployaggressivesandbaggingeffortstoprotecttheirproperties.Therewouldberoadclosuresandbridge/culvertclosures,aswellasthreatenedwaterplantsandotherinfrastructure.AsBeaverCreekwouldroarthroughCelina,thewaterplantandotherstructureswouldbeprotectedbysandbagsbutcouldincursomedamage.Itisunlikelythatlossoflifewouldbeattributableprimarilyduetoflooding.Ifadeathweretooccur,itwouldlikelybetheresultoftwoormorecombinedthreats,includinglightning,tornado,ordrivingintostandingwater.Extensiveevacuationofthepart-timeresidencesaroundthelakeandthelow-lyinghomesinCelina,Coldwater,St.HenryandFortRecovery



couldoccur,andwouldlikelyberathershort-lived,lastingadayortworatherthanaweekormore.Powerwouldlikelybeaffected,butagain,outageswouldprobablybeshort-livedandtemporaryduetotheinfrastructureimprovementsdonesincetheseveredamagesin2008.ThelowestamountofflooddamagewouldlikelyoccurintheextremenortheastwheretheAuglaizeWatershedcreepsintoMercerCounty,andthefarsoutheastcornerattheheadwatersoftheUpperGreatMiamiisformedintheLoramieWatershed.Thislandisrural,involvesnomunicipalitiesandfewresidences.Itislikelydamageintheseareaswouldbeminimal.

Table2-48:100-YearFloodScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 994 $445,135,000Non-Residential 314 $140,786,000CriticalFacilities 33 $14,603,000Totals 1,340 $600,524,000

2.4.5InvasiveSpeciesDamageProfileMercerCountyispartofwhatwasoriginallytheBlackSwamp.Assuch,therearemanywoodedareasthatnotonlyoccupysomeoftheruralarea,butalsoareincorporatedintoresidentialareasincommunitiesandneighborhoods.OneoftheprimarycharacteristicsoftheBlackSwampwasthatitwascompletelyflat,thustheneedto“draintheswamp”throughcreationofwatermanagementsystems.TheothercomponentofflatterrainisthatthereisnothingtheretobreaktheseverewindsthatblowacrosstheMidwest.Thisstrongwind,oftentimesthroughouttheyearmeasuredatsustainedwindsof30to40milesperhourandgustsover50milesperhour,caneasilydowndiseasedtrees.Thesefallentreesbecomestormdebris,andfallontohomes,carsandtrucks,businesses,andanythingelseintheway.Theyfallintoriversandstreams,impededrainage,andfillwaterwayswithexcessivedeaddebris.OhioisrichwithallkindsoftreesinadditiontothetreesaffectedsoseriouslybytheEmeraldAshBorer.Therearemaplesofeverysort,birch,oak,andashtrees.Thereisalsoothervegetation,alongwaterways,inlandscaping,alongroadwaysandhighways,andinareasofnaturalhabitatlikeparksandrecreationalareas.Anyinfestation,ofinsectsorotherinfectiousagents,willcauseextremedestructionoftheseareas.ThelakesandstreamsthatcarryfishandotheraquaticlifecanbeendangeredbyeitherplantoranimalinfestationssuchasAsiancarporzebramussels.Inthepastdecade,GrandLakeSt.Maryswasinfestedwithalgalbloom,makingthelakeunsuitableforswimmingoranyhumanorpetcontact.ThisseverelyaffectedthetourismindustryinMercerCounty,andtookseveralyearstocontain.Thisdamageisdifficulttoquantifybecauseitdoesnotaffectstructures,ingeneral.Thecostismadeupofremovalanddisposalofcontaminatedtreesandvegetation,repairofpropertywherefallentreesdodamage;cleaninganddredgingofwaterwaysthatarefilledwithdebris;cleaningofbodiesofwater;andrepairofinfrastructuredamagedbytheinfestation.Theseareexpensivetasks,andwhendonebygovernmentprovidersorlargecontractorswhorespondto



emergentneedsforservice,theresponsecanbeextremelyhigh,totallyhundredsofthousandsofdollarsforeachandeveryjurisdiction.

2.4.6SevereThunderstormDamageProfileThunderstormsarenotuncommoninMercerCounty.Duringsummerswhenheatbuildsupintheafternoon,amuggyandhotdaycaneasilyendwiththunderstormsthatincludehail,lightningandheavyrainandwind.Microburstsoftenaddstrongstraight-linewindsthatdestroystandingcropsreadyforharvest.Thesestormscancomeonquickly,givelittlewarning,andbeverydestructive.Thunderstormsthatincludehailaregenerallyspottyandinconsistent.ThevaryingtemperaturesintheatmosphereneededtocreatehaildonotoftenexistinwesternOhio.Whenhailfalls,damageismostfrequentlydonetovehicles,roofs,andsidingonbuildings.Rarelyistherelossoflifeorsignificantbodilyinjury.Thewindsassociatedwiththunderstormscandamagestandingcrops,andaremostdamagingwhenwheat,soybeans,andcornarereadyforharvest.WheatisharvestedinJuly,butsoybeansandcornarenotharvesteduntilearlyfall.CornisfrequentlyatthepollinationstageinJuly,andanytimeafterstalksaremature,hailandwindcanshredandteartheleaves,flattenthestalks,anddestroytheearsthatareintheformativestages.Thissituationdropscropproductiontodrasticallylowlevels,causinganextremelosstofarmersforthatyear’scrop.ThunderstormsareafrequentbutlowriskhazardinMercerCounty.Thecombinationofhail,lightning,precipitation,andwindcausedbythunderstormscaninflictdamageinanyareaofthecounty.Thunderstormsaresomewhatcommonbutaretypicallyminorandcausemoreinconveniencethanactualdamage.Lightningthatdirectlystrikesstructuresorobjectsispossiblebutinfrequent.Moderatetoseveredamagefromhail,lightning,andthunderstormwind,includinglossoflifeandproperty,ispossiblebutstatisticsindicatethefrequencyisextremelylow.Whenseverethunderstormsareaccompaniedbytornadoes,damagefromthetornadoesislikelytobemoresignificantthanthatcausedbythethunderstorm.Straight-linewinds,theresultofdownburstsandmicrobursts,canbeasdestructiveastornadoandcausedamagessimilartothosedescribedinthetornadoEFscale.

Table2-49:ThunderstormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 722 $111,284,000Non-Residential 228 $25,196,000CriticalFacilities 24 $3,651,000Totals 974 $150,131,000



2.4.7TornadoDamageProfileMercerCountyisuniversallyvulnerabletotornadodamage.Thecountyismostlyflatorslightlyrollingandthereislittlechangeinelevationthatwouldcauseatornadotoslowdownorbreakapart.Althoughtornadowarningsareissuedseveraltimeseachyear,tornadoesdonotoccurfrequentlyinthecounty.Theyaremostcommoninthespringalthoughtheycandevelopthroughoutthesummerandfall.Historically,themagnitudeoftornadoesinMercerCountyisbetweenEF-0andEF-1.ThecountyhasexperiencedanEF-4tornadoeventthatcausedsignificantdamagebutitisrareforastormtoreachthatmagnitude.InMercerCounty,thereareseveralthousandmobilehomesthroughoutthecounty.InthevicinityofGrandLakeSt.Marys,therearenumerouscampgrounds,marinas,condominiums,andcottagesthatservepart-timeseasonalresidentsandvisitors.Thesestructuresaremorevulnerabletowinddamagebecausetheyarelesssecuredtothegroundthanbuildingswithfoundations,havenobasementorsub-terrainlevel,andarelighterweightandmadeoflesswindresistantmaterialthantraditionallyconstructedhomes.Themajorityofresidentialstructuresinthecountyareconstructedfromwood,concrete,brick,andstone.Manyhomesareolderandwereconstructedusinglimestoneandothermasonrymaterials;thesehomesarebuiltontraditionalfoundationswithbasementsorcrawlspaces.Somenewerhomesareconcreteslabconstructionwithoutbasementsorcrawlspaces.Thesehomesaremostpronetosuperficialdamage,roofdamage,andfallingtreesduringtornadoesandseverewindstorms.Commercialbuildingsareconstructedofconcrete,brick,concreteblock,stone,andwood.Thesestructuresaregenerallybuiltonconcreteslabswithstructuralsupporttrussesandpitchedroofconstructiontofacilitatesnowandicemeltandrunoff.Flatroofbuildings,suchasshoppingcentersandbig-boxtyperetailstores,aresusceptibletoheavysnowinblizzardconditions;thereisnoidentifiablehistoryofroofcollapseincidentsduetosnoworice.PropertydamagefromtornadoesinMercerCountymostfrequentlyincludesdamagedroofs,gutters,downspouts,trees,and,onoccasion,andentirebuilding.Mobilehomesaredamagedordestroyedinthemostseriousincidents.Outbuildings,barns,andstoragebuildingscanbedamagedbecausethesestructuresarelessresistanttowinddamageandarefrequentlybuiltonconcreteslabsordirtfoundations.

Table2-50:TornadoScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure




2.4.8WindStormDamageProfileWindincidentsaresomewhatfrequentacrossOhio,includingMercerCounty.Thecountyhasexperiencedseveralhighwindeventsinrecentyears.Thesetypicallydamagetrees,whichleadtoobstructedroadwaysanddownedpowerlines.Cropdamageanddestructionisalsoaconcern.Whenhighwindsdamageyoungandmaturingcrops,yieldscanbesignificantlyreduced,whichnegativelyimpactsthecounty’seconomy.

Table2-51:WindStormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure


2.4.9WinterStormDamageProfileWinterstormdamagescanpotentiallyaffecteveryhome,business,orpropertyinMercerCounty.Thereisnoareathatismoreorlessvulnerabletosnowfallbecausetherearenohillsandvalleysthatinterruptorredirectprecipitation.Theflatterrainandconsistentelevationsallowdriftingandblowingsnowtocauselowvisibilityacrossthecounty.Theareasinthesoutherntownshipscanincurmorelossandmoredisruptionduetoblizzards,ice,andsnowthanothersbecauseofthelivestockoperationsinthissectionofthecounty.Regardlessofweatherconditions,theanimalsmustbefed,cowsmustbemilked,manuremustberemovedfrombarns,andoperationsmustcontinue.Thisrequiresdailyingressandegresstothesefarms,bringinginfoodandsupplies,andhaulingoutrawproductandwaste.Poweroutagesoccuracrosstheentirecountyduringblizzardsorsnowstormsthatincludesignificantice,wind,orheavyamountsofsnow.Residentialelectriclinesaremostlyabovegroundandvulnerabletowindandice,althoughthepowercompanieshaveimprovedthedistributionsystemssincethe2008and2012windstorms.Veryfewresidentialpropertieshaveburiedelectriclines;mostofthesearerecentconstruction.MajorsupplylinesareabovegroundastheyenterMercerCountyfromthegenerationplants;therefore,powertothesubstationsisvulnerabletowindandheavysnowandiceeveniftheresidentiallinesarenot.Therefore,poweroutagesareprobable,frequent,andcanbewidespread.Thefarmswithlivestockareagainmuchmorevulnerabletosignificantloss;thefeedingsystems,milkingandcollectionsystems,andothercriticaloperationsareallbaseduponanelectricalsupplytorunmechanizedequipment.Withoutelectricity,animalsarenotfed,eggsarenotcollected,anddairycowsarenotmilked.Productgoestowaste,animalsgetsick,andfarmslosealotofincome.In2014and2015,MercerCounty,alongwithmuchofOhioandtheMidwest,experiencedanexceptionallylongandcoldwinter.Seasonalsnowfalltotalswerehigh,andtemperatureaveragesweresignificantlylowerthannormal.Inspiteofthefrequentandunusualsnowfallandtemperatures,MercerCountydidnotreportanypropertydamagesorlossoflifeasaresult



ofthewinterstormconditions.Thecountyexperiencedshort-terminconveniencefollowingeachincident,includingclosedschoolsandbusiness,treacheroustravelconditions,extremecold,andblowinganddriftingsnowbutnothingthatimpactedthecountyonmorethanatemporary,short-termbasis.Itwasdifficulttogetfeedtolivestock,toruncriticalfarmoperationsforlivestock,andtooperategraindryingandstorageequipmentduringthattime.Ingressandegresschallengeswereanextremenuisance,butfortunatelydidnotlastlongenoughtocauseextensiveloss.Thelossestimatesforwinterstormsarerelativelylowinspiteoftherecentandmemorablewinterseasons.Thereisnoidentifiablehistoryofpropertylossduetosnowpack,avalanche,orotherwinterstormrelatedcause.Reasonablyanticipatedlossesfromwinterstormswouldincludecontentlosssuchasfoodandperishablesduetopowerinterruptions.Lossesinanythingbutanunusual,unpredictableincidentwouldnotincludestructuresorinfrastructure.

Table2-52:WinterStormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 58 $8,903,000Non-Residential 18 $2,817,000CriticalFacilities 2 $293,000Totals 78 $12,013,000

2.4.10CountywideRiskAnalysisBasedontheavailablehazardandvulnerabilityinformation,MercerCountyhasriskfordamagefromavarietyofdisasters.Todeterminethecounty’soveralllevelofrisk,eachhazardwasevaluatedandscoredbasedoncommoncriteria.Thecriteriaincludedfrequency,responseduration,speedofonset,magnitude,andimpactonbusinesses,people,andproperty.Table2-53describestheoverallscaleusedtoscoreeachhazard.Table2-54providesdetailsonscaleusedtomeasuremagnitude.Thecompositescoresforeachhazardandtheirrespectiverankareidentifiedintable2-55.

Table2-53AssessmentScale

Score Frequency ResponseDuration

SpeedofOnset Magnitude Business

ImpactHumanImpact

PropertyImpact

1 None <½Day >24Hours Localized <24Hours Minimum <10%2 Low <1Day 12-24

HoursLimited 1Week Low 10-25%

3 Medium <1Week 6-12Hours

Critical 2Weeks Medium 25-50%

4 High <1Month <6Hours Catastrophic >30Days High >50%5 Excessive >1Month



FrequencyHazardeventsthatoccurregularlyareahigherriskthanthosethatoccurinfrequently.

• 1=None/Oncein100years• 2=Low/Oncein50years• 3=Medium/Oncein25years• 4=High/Oncein1-3years• 5=Excessive/Morethanannual

ResponseDurationResponsedurationisdefinedastheamounttimetheresponsetoaparticularhazardisanticipatedtolast.

• 1=Lessthan½day• 2=Lessthan1day• 3=Lessthan1week• 4=Lessthan1month• 5=Morethan1month

SpeedofOnsetSpeedofonsetaddressestheamountofadvancewarningacommunityhasbeforeeachhazardoccurs.

• 1=Morethan24hours• 2=12-24hours• 3=6-12hours• 4=Lessthan6hours

MagnitudeMagnitudeisratedusingstandarddamagescalessuchastheEnhancedFujitaScale,orthroughdevelopmentofalocalcomparativescalethatiscomparableindamagesatlikelevelsusingtheestablisheddamagescales.Somescalesfromothergeographicregions,suchastheNorthEastSnowIndexScale,wereusedasmodelstodevelopacomparativetoolinRichlandCounty.

Table2-54:MagnitudeScale

Score Tornado Windstorm Flood Earthquake Drought WinterStorm

1 EF-0/1 <65mph Minor <5.9 D-0VeryDryD-1Moderate

<8”snow

2 EF-2 65-75mph Moderate 6.0-6.9 D-2Severe 8-12”snow3 EF-3 76-85mph Significant 7.0-7.9 D-3Extreme 12-16”snow4 EF-4/5 >86mph Major >8.0 D-4Exceptional >16”snow

BusinessImpactBusinessimpactreferstothepotentialeconomicimpactahazardeventislikelytohaveonacommunity.Thedefinitionofeachscorereferstotheamountoftimecriticalfacilitiesarelikelytobeshutdownintheimpactedcommunity.



• 1=Lessthan24hours• 2=1week• 3=Atleast2weeks• 4=Morethan30days

HumanImpactHumanimpactisdefinedasthenumberoflivespotentiallylostforaparticularhazard.

• 1=Minimum/Minorinjuries• 2=Low/Someinjuries• 3=Medium/Multiplesevereinjuries• 4=High/Multiplefatalities

PropertyImpactPropertyimpactisdefinedasthenumberamountofpropertypotentiallylostduringagivenhazardevent.

• 1=Lessthan10%damaged• 2=10-25%damaged• 3=25-50%damaged• 4=Morethan50%damaged

Thefactorsidentifiedabovewereassignedvaluesasdescribed,andratedagainstanecdotalanalysisbaseduponhistoryandpastincidents.Thisscoringmechanismresultedinverysimilarassessmentofrisksandvulnerabilitiesforthecountywidevulnerabilityanalysis.Eachcommunityevaluatedtheirhazardsandrisksthesameway,andresultsweredevelopedandconfirmedforeachmunicipality.Thoseresultsareshownineachmunicipalitysection;thosebelowareforthecountyasawholeentity.

Table2-55:RiskAnalysis

Hazard Freq

uency

Respon

se

Duration

Spee

dof

Onset

Magnitude

Busine

ss

Impa

ct

Hum

an

Impa

ct

Prop

erty

Impa

ct

Score RankDam/LeveeFailure 1 5 1 0 1 1 2 11 8Drought/ExtremeHeat 3 2 1 1 3 1 2 13 7Earthquake 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 10 9Flood 3 3 3 3 1 3 2 18 3InvasiveSpecies 3 5 1 1 1 1 2 14 6SevereThunderstorm 5 3 3 3 1 1 1 17 4Tornado 3 3 4 3 3 2 1 19 2Windstorm 5 4 4 1 2 2 2 20 1WinterStorm 4 3 2 3 2 1 1 16 5

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2.0 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENTThe purpose of the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) is to identify the number and frequency of disasters in Mercer County