Diana Stricker Photo
The 2014 Plan
It’s time to update the regional Hazard Mitigation Plan that has already succeeded in bringing federal dollars to Branford projects, particularly Linden Avenue.
Town Engineer Janice Plaziak discussed the process with the Board of Selectmen (BOS) at their meeting Wednesday evening. One of the first steps to update the plan is for Branford residents to complete an online survey that’s on the town’s web site.
Diana Stricker Photo
“The benefits of a FEMA-approved mitigation plan obviously is to think about how we can prepare, but also to enable us to tap into funding sources that would be available on an annual basis and also available after an event occurs,” Plaziak (pictured) said.
Branford is part of a regional collaboration with the other towns in the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG). SCRCOG consists of 15 towns and cities, including Guilford, Madison, New Haven, North Haven and Hamden.
A Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies potential natural disasters and proposes ways to reduce or mitigate their effects. Once the plan is in place, communities may apply for FEMA grant money for mitigation projects.
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Work on the first plan began in 2012 in the aftermath of storm Irene. Following surveys and workshops, the BOS approved the plan in 2014.
FEMA requires that plans be updated every five years. It is a complex process since plans must receive local, state and federal approvals before towns or regions can apply for FEMA mitigation grants.
The SCRCOG hired Jamie Caplan of Consulting LLC of Massachusetts to oversee the planning process. Caplan was also in charge of the first plan, so she is very familiar with the region and each town’s issues.
During the first plan, Caplan and the consulting team looked at regional profiles, collected data, compiled risk assessments, and talked to people about identifying hazards. The priority hazards identified in the region at that time were severe winter storms and Nor’easters, hurricanes and tropical storms, coastal and river flooding, rising seas and road flooding.
Use the Survey to Record Your Opinions
The SCRCOG survey on the town’s web site asks residents to rate their concerns about natural hazards like flooding and hurricanes. Residents can also express their opinions about which areas of the community are vulnerable, and identify steps they would support to reduce the impact. It also asks for opinions about what local government can do to reduce the effects of natural disasters.
Two regional workshops will be held in early 2018, and it is hoped a draft of updates will be ready for review in February. Plaziak said the goal is to have the proposed plan ready for state and FEMA review in March.
“We look forward to any input and encourage people to take the survey,” Plaziak said.
Further information on the schedule will be available on the town’s web site.
Information about the regional plan may be found on the SCROG web site at www.scrcog.org
Designs for Linden Avenue
Linden Avenue proved to be particularly vulnerable during Tropical Storm Irene when the only entry road to the peninsula was severely damaged.
About 400 families who live in the Indian Neck and Pawson Park neighborhoods rely on that road for access. Repairs at that time cost about $400,000.
Plaziak said a project to help prevent future storm damage to Linden Avenue has been funded by FEMA as a result of the Hazard Mitigation Plan. “It is currently under design,” Plaziak said.
In addition to the Linden Avenue design project, there have been several other improvements.
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“We had a few success stories in Branford that I wanted to focus on,” Plaziak said.
“Eversource has been doing some good work in town,” Plaziak said. “They have done a major project to flood-protect their substations in town. At the East Main Street substation they built flood-protection walls and they raised all their vulnerable equipment ….
Sub-Station on Meadow Street May Close
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Meadow Street near Hammer Field
Plaziak said the energy company “is also looking at the potential elimination of the sub-station on Meadow Street which is also threatened by flooding.”
Plaziak said several of the town’s sewer pump stations have been flood-protected and generators have been added.
Funding was also received for a request from Branford and Guilford to conduct a study of flooding on Route 146, and that study is currently underway. “The frequency of flooding has really increased over recent years, and we’re trying to understand what the future frequency will be with sea level rise and more storm events,” she said.
Plaziak is reaching out to department heads and residents to see what the needs are in the coming years.
She said some projects that might be considered are comprehensive flood protection in the Meadow Street area, elevating roads that flood frequently, upgrading and adding generators to critical town facilities, elevating and flood-protecting town facilities.
“Are there any other mitigation projects that we should include in the plan or keep in mind for the future?” Plaziak asked.
Her power point presentation can be seen on BCTV as part of the BOS meeting.
Plaziak may be reached at [email protected]
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