MEETING NOTES
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Meeting Armstrong County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) Planning Team Kickoff Meeting
Date March 14, 2018 Time 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location Belmont Complex, 415 Butler Road, Kittanning, PA
Attendees
Bill Hamilton, Director, Armstrong County Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Becky Feracioly, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Armstrong County DPS
Janet Talerico, Executive Director, Area Agency on Aging
Thomas Swisher, Program Manager, Armstrong County Planning Department
Bill Rupert, Sheriff, Armstrong County
Roger McMillen, Director, Armstrong County Public Works Department
Alfred Kammerdifner, Boggs Township
Bill Headley, Burrell Township
Lori Headley, Burrell Township
David Kunkle, Supervisor, Burrell Township
Ron Shellhammer, Supervisor, Burrell Township
Raynette Boyer, Dayton Borough
Edith R. Steffy, Dayton Borough
Dave Stewart, Supervisor, East Franklin Township
Jennifer Redwick, Elderton Borough
Mary Alice Bryant, Council Member, Ford City Borough
Carol Fenyes, Council President, Ford City Borough
Tyson Klukan, Council Member, Ford City Borough
Melanie Zeubrzuski, Council Member, Freeport Borough
Earl Kline, EMC, Kittanning Borough
Don Palmer, Supervisor, Manor Township
Robert Southworth, Supervisor, Manor Township
Michael D. Tharan, Council Vice President, South Bethlehem Borough
Dennis B. Shaffer, Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC), West Franklin Township and Worthington Borough
Henry Mores, Councilman, West Kittanning Borough
George Kerr, Council Member, Worthington Borough
Tyler Wolfe, Safety Coordinator, ACMH Hospital
Diane Faletti, Office Manager, West Hills Area Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA)
West Crawford, Armstrong Power, LLC
Douglas Spicuzza, Project Manager, Woodard & Curran
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Corey Giles, Senior Environmental Coordinator, EQT Corporation
Daniel Christy, Operations Manager, Citizens Ambulance Service
Dan Felack, Lower Kiski Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Task Force 340
Steven Warheit, Chief, Freeport Fire Department
Tony Subbio, Project Manager, Tetra Tech
Discussion Points This section summarizes each discussion point addressed during the Planning Team Kickoff Meeting.
Introductions Mr. Hamilton welcomed attendees to the meeting and the planning process. Attendees introduced themselves
and indicated which organization they represented.
Planning Process Mr. Subbio discussed the planning process to be used to update the HMP. He explained that the process begins
with examining the following hazards of concern for Armstrong County, as identified in the 2014 HMP:
Natural Hazards Human-made Hazards
Drought Building or Structure Collapse
Earthquake Dam Failure
Flooding/Flash Flood/Ice Jam Drowning
Hurricane/ Tropical Storm/ Nor’easter Environmental Hazards – Hazardous Materials
Invasive Species Levee Failure
Landslide Terrorism
Pandemic Transportation Accidents
Radon Exposure Urban Fire and Explosion
Subsidence/Sinkhole Utility Interruption
Tornado/Windstorm
Wildfire
Winter Storm
Mr. Subbio described the Evaluation of Identified Hazards and Risk Worksheet that was distributed to the
attendees. This worksheet captures information from each municipality regarding changes in each municipality’s
vulnerability to the hazards of concern, and asks respondents to identify additional hazards to be considered.
Mr. Subbio asked each attendee to take a few minutes to complete the worksheet before moving on.
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Mr. Subbio then discussed the process that will be used in assessing the County’s vulnerability to certain
hazards when updating the hazard profiles and the specific scenarios. The following scenarios will be examined
using Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazards U.S. (HAZUS) software:
• Earthquake: the 500- and 2,500-year Mean Return Period (MRP) events
• Flood: the 1-percent annual chance flood
• Wind: the 100-year and 500-year MRP events
The next step in the planning process is to update the capability assessments of the County and each
municipality. A Capability Assessment Survey was distributed to the attendees to collect information regarding
their planning and regulatory, administrative and technical, financial, and education and outreach capabilities.
Mr. Subbio reviewed each capability category with the attendees.
Once the risk assessment and capabilities assessments are updated, they will be discussed with the Planning
Team and general public at a public meeting.
Mr. Subbio next discussed updating the mitigation strategy, which will consist of reviewing the existing goals and
objectives, determining the status of mitigation actions from the 2014 HMP, and identifying new mitigation actions
to include in the updated HMP. Mr. Subbio reviewed the Mitigation Strategy 5-Year Mitigation Plan Review
Worksheet with attendees. The worksheet collects stakeholders’ input on the goals and objectives from the 2014
HMP, and provides an opportunity for municipalities to describe the progress made on implementing their
mitigation actions since the HMP was last approved. Each municipality is asked to describe the status of each
mitigation action that applies to that jurisdiction. Mr. Subbio told the attendees about a mitigation strategy
workshop that will be conducted during the planning process to help stakeholders identify mitigation actions to
include in the HMP.
Mr. Subbio also discussed the layout of the HMP. The risk assessment, capabilities assessment, and mitigation
strategy would each be included as a section of the HMP. Other sections include the County Profile,
documentation of the planning process, and the plan maintenance section. The County Profile will be updated to
include the latest demographic, economic, land use, hydrologic, and critical facility information.
The draft HMP will be presented to the Planning Team for review and comment. Tetra Tech will incorporate any
changes identified by the Planning Team. The draft HMP will then be posted for a period of 30 days, after which
a public meeting will be held to collect and review feedback on the HMP. Tetra Tech will address any suggested
changes, and will submit the HMP to PEMA and FEMA for formal review. After review comments are received,
Tetra Tech will make any required changes and resubmit the HMP, as necessary, until FEMA grants it
“approvable pending adoption” (APA) status.
Mr. Subbio explained that FEMA cannot approve the HMP until the County and at least one participating
municipality formally adopt the HMP. FEMA grants APA status to let the communities know that the HMP will be
approved once it is adopted, so that the communities do not adopt the HMP only to have to re-adopt it after any
changes are made.
Once the HMP secures APA status, the County and the municipalities will formally adopt the updated HMP. The
County and municipalities will then begin the implementation process, which will include conducting regular
meetings of the Planning Team and other stakeholders, and implementing specific actions and projects.
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Review Schedule Mr. Subbio reviewed the following project schedule with attendees:
• The risk assessment and capabilities assessment will be updated by May 2018.
• The Planning Team Meeting to review the risk assessment and capabilities assessment will be held once the assessments are complete, likely in late May 2018.
• The mitigation strategy will be updated by mid-July 2018.
• The HMP will be drafted by mid-August 2018, and submitted to PEMA for review at the end of August 2018.
• The HMP will be submitted to FEMA for review in late September 2018.
• Depending on the length of the FEMA review process, Tetra Tech estimates that the HMP will receive APA status by December 2018.
Next Steps Mr. Subbio requested that relevant documents (such as comprehensive plans, capital improvement plans,
floodplain management ordinances, etc.) be sent to him. Municipalities will complete the three worksheets and
provide them to Mr. Subbio or Ms. Feracioly. Tetra Tech will complete the risk assessment and post the draft
hazard profiles to the project website. Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Feracioly, and Mr. Subbio thanked attendees for their
time and participation.
1
Armstrong CountyHazard Mitigation Plan (HMP)
UpdatePlanning Team Kickoff Meeting
Agenda
Introductions
Planning Process
Schedule Review
Next Steps
Questions
Introductions
Name
Organization
Focus and Concerns
Planning Process
Update the Risk Assessment
Update the Capabilities Assessment
Update the Mitigation Strategy
Update Other Sections of the HMP
Submit the HMP for Review
Adopt the HMP
Implement the HMP
Update the Risk Assessment
Hazards from the 2014 HMP
Natural Hazards Human-Caused Hazards
Drought Building or Structure Collapse
Earthquake Dam Failure
Flooding/Flash Flood/Ice Jam Drowning
Hurricane/ Tropical Storm/ Nor’easter
Environmental Hazards – Hazardous Materials
Invasive Species Levee Failure
Landslide Terrorism
Pandemic Transportation Accidents
Radon Exposure Urban Fire and Explosion
Subsidence/Sinkhole Utility Interruption
Tornado/Windstorm
Wildfire
Winter Storm
Update the Risk Assessment
Update Hazard Profiles
– Events since September 2013
– Robust hazard descriptions
– Incorporate historic structures/areas
– Improved vulnerability assessments
HAZUS-MH Analysis
– Earthquake – 500-year and 2,500-year Mean Return Period (MRP) event
– Flood – 1 percent annual chance floodplain
– Wind – 100-year and 500-year MRP events
2
Update the Capabilities Assessment
Planning and Regulatory Capability
Administrative and Technical Capability
Financial Capability
Education and Outreach
Overall Self-Assessment of Capability
Capability Assessment Survey
Planning Team Meeting (open to the public) to Review Risk and Capabilities Assessments
Update the Mitigation Strategy
Review Goals and Objectives
Determine Status of Mitigation Actions
Identify New Mitigation Actions/Projects
Conduct Mitigation Strategy Workshop
Update Other Sections of the HMP
County Profile
– Update data
Planning Process
– Documentation of the update process
Plan Maintenance
– Incorporating into other plans as well as determining ways to incorporate other plans into the updated HMP
Submit the HMP for Review
Review Draft with Planning Team
30-day Public Comment Period
Conduct Public Meeting to Review the Draft
Submit for Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Review
– 14 to 28 days
Submit for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review
– 45 days
“Approvable Pending Adoption” Status
Adopt the HMP
County and at Least One Participating Municipality
FEMA Approval
Adoption Deadline
Implement the HMP
Planning Team Meetings
Stakeholder Meetings
Implement Mitigation Actions and Projects
– Integrate actions where appropriate
3
Schedule Review
Risk Assessment
– February–May 2018
Capabilities Assessment
– February–May 2018
Mitigation Strategy
– February–July 2018
Draft Plan by mid-July 2018
Submit to PEMA in late August 2018
Submit to FEMA in mid-September 2018
“Approvable Pending Adoption” in December 2018
Next Steps
Document Request
Complete Municipal Worksheets
Update the Risk Assessment
Questions?
Thank you for your time!
Contacts
Becky Feracioly
(724) 548-3368
Tony Subbio
(717) 545-3580
AGENDA
ARMSTRONG COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE Planning Team Kickoff Meeting
Wednesday, March 14, 2018 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
1. Introductions
2. Planning Process a. Update the Risk Assessment b. Update the Capabilities Assessment c. Update the Mitigation Strategy d. Update Other Sections of the HMP e. Submit the HMP for Review f. Adopt the HMP g. Implement the HMP
3. Schedule Review
4. Next Steps
5. Questions
Armstrong County HMP Update 2018
Project Schedule Task Timeframe
Project Management
• Monthly status reports provided to the County by the first Friday of each month
• Quarterly progress reports submitted to PEMA
• Project Closeout Meeting upon the HMP receiving “approvable pending adoption” status from FEMA, anticipated in December 2018
Task 1: Organize Resources
• LPT members identified by February 2, 2018
• Initial LPT Meeting conducted on March 14, 2018
• Outreach to stakeholders conducted throughout the planning process
Task 2: Review and Incorporate Plans
• Conducted from Kick-off through June 29, 2018
Task 3: Conduct Capability Assessment
• Conducted from project kickoff through May 18, 2018
Task 4: Conduct Risk Assessment
• Conducted from project kickoff through May 18, 2018
Task 5: Review the Capability Assessment and Risk Assessment
• Public meeting conducted on or about May 23, 2018
Task 6: Develop Mitigation Strategy
• Mitigation strategy workshop conducted on or about June 20, 2018
• New strategy developed by July 13, 2018
Task 7: Define Plan Maintenance
• Defined by July 13, 2018
Task 8: Prepare the Updated HMP Draft
• Plan updated by July 13, 2018
Task 9: Review and Finalize the Updated HMP Draft
• Public comment period: July 16 – August 15, 2018
• Public meeting conducted on or about August 16, 2018
• Draft HMP finalized by August 24, 2018
Task 10: Submit the Updated HMP Draft for Formal Reviews
• Plan submitted to PEMA on or about August 28, 2018
• PEMA Review Period: August 29 – September 14, 2018
• Plan submitted to FEMA Region III on or about September 21, 2018
• FEMA Review Period: September 24 – November 9, 2018
• Conference call to discuss FEMA comments conducted on or about November 16, 2018
• Update and resubmit draft HMP to FEMA Region III by November 26, 2018
Task 11: Facilitate Adoption of the Updated HMP
• Final plan delivered to County and PEMA upon plan receiving “approvable pending adoption” status – estimated to be in December 2018