The purpose of the mitigation plan is to identify the city of Alexandria’s major hazards, assess its vulnerabilities, and reduce the impact that the hazards will have on the community (What is Mitigation, June 2016). The plan will identify goals and recommended actions necessary to enhance life safety as well as minimize disruption to the community. The initial steps involved in the mitigation planning process include developing a planning committee who will research and understand the basic demographics of the city of Alexandria as well as a review of historical events that have impacted the community.
To establish the mitigation plan it is essential that a committee be created to identify the hazards and make recommendations for mitigation. …show more content…
During the period of June 20 – 23, 2013, Alexandria was hit was high winds and heavy rains causing power outages, street and building flooding, building damage and downed trees. A FEMA declaration of disaster was obtained on July 25, 2013 (Minnesota State, 2014). During the month of July 2011, storms with 79 miles per hour (mph) wind gusts uprooted trees and caused widespread power outage (Minnesota State, 2014). During the month of July, 2011, there was a sustained period of elevated heat and humidity – with head indexes between 115 and 125 degrees. During the month of August, 2010, wind gusts of 80 mph caused damage to some buildings as well as uprooting trees and causing power outage (Minnesota State, 2014). In December 1995 a winter storm dropped 26 inches of snow in a period of 8 hours, causing school and businesses to close due to travel advisories. In January 1996 a snow storm with 28 inches of snow forced businesses to close as well as a no travel advisory. The total snowfall for Alexandria during the winter of 1995 and 1996 exceed 80 inches. Between 1950 and 2015 there were 23 confirmed tornadoes in Douglas County (Minnesota Tornadoes, n.d.). Recognizing that historical evidence of storms only provides a cursory look at the hazards that can affect the community, the …show more content…
Although listed as a high probability, there is limited ability to mitigate the effects of winter storms, lightning, hail, extreme heat, and drought. The Alexandria mitigation plan will focus on mitigating flooding, tornadoes, and wind storms. Two other hazards identified are long term communication disruption – including telephone, radio, and web based communications, and pandemic. Both communication issues and pandemic do not cause actual physical property damage, however, the impact to the community can be considerable. The State of Minnesota, Homeland Security Emergency Management agency, has identified six categories for mitigation strategies. The categories include prevention, property protection, public education and awareness, natural resource protection and emergency services (Minnesota State, 2014, p. 222). When discussing mitigation strategies, the city of Alexandria will incorporate the use of those six categories to best delineate the recommended actions. The recommended mitigation strategies will need to be vetted by the planning committee as well as the community at
To establish the mitigation plan it is essential that a committee be created to identify the hazards and make recommendations for mitigation. …show more content…
During the period of June 20 – 23, 2013, Alexandria was hit was high winds and heavy rains causing power outages, street and building flooding, building damage and downed trees. A FEMA declaration of disaster was obtained on July 25, 2013 (Minnesota State, 2014). During the month of July 2011, storms with 79 miles per hour (mph) wind gusts uprooted trees and caused widespread power outage (Minnesota State, 2014). During the month of July, 2011, there was a sustained period of elevated heat and humidity – with head indexes between 115 and 125 degrees. During the month of August, 2010, wind gusts of 80 mph caused damage to some buildings as well as uprooting trees and causing power outage (Minnesota State, 2014). In December 1995 a winter storm dropped 26 inches of snow in a period of 8 hours, causing school and businesses to close due to travel advisories. In January 1996 a snow storm with 28 inches of snow forced businesses to close as well as a no travel advisory. The total snowfall for Alexandria during the winter of 1995 and 1996 exceed 80 inches. Between 1950 and 2015 there were 23 confirmed tornadoes in Douglas County (Minnesota Tornadoes, n.d.). Recognizing that historical evidence of storms only provides a cursory look at the hazards that can affect the community, the …show more content…
Although listed as a high probability, there is limited ability to mitigate the effects of winter storms, lightning, hail, extreme heat, and drought. The Alexandria mitigation plan will focus on mitigating flooding, tornadoes, and wind storms. Two other hazards identified are long term communication disruption – including telephone, radio, and web based communications, and pandemic. Both communication issues and pandemic do not cause actual physical property damage, however, the impact to the community can be considerable. The State of Minnesota, Homeland Security Emergency Management agency, has identified six categories for mitigation strategies. The categories include prevention, property protection, public education and awareness, natural resource protection and emergency services (Minnesota State, 2014, p. 222). When discussing mitigation strategies, the city of Alexandria will incorporate the use of those six categories to best delineate the recommended actions. The recommended mitigation strategies will need to be vetted by the planning committee as well as the community at