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1.0 INTRODUCTION GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1.1 PURPOSE
In the United States, 7 of the 10 most costly disasters in history, based on dollar
losses, occurred between 1989 and 1994: Hurricane Andrew (1992), Oakland wildfire
(1991), a winter storm (1993), Hurricane Iniki (1992), Loma Prieta earthquake (1989),
Midwest floods (1993), and Northridge earthquake (1994) (Mileti, 1999). In the year 2000,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) recognition of the growing costs of
responding to and recovering from disasters materialized in the Disaster Mitigation Act of
2000 (DMA2K). DMA2K created a new Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program aimed at
reducing the cost of disasters as well as risk through comprehensive planning before
disasters occur. DMA2K requires that all communities, tribes, and states have a
FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan consistent with the DMA2K requirements in place to
retain eligibility for PDM project funds and post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
funds.
Florida is one of the most hazard prone states in the nation. The state is
susceptible to a number of hazards including flooding, hurricanes, tornados, severe
thunderstorms, and wildland fires, to name a few. In Florida, the goals of the new PDM
program are being achieved through the Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) process. LMS is a
pre-disaster mitigation planning initiative of the Florida Department of Community Affairs
(FDCA) Division of Emergency Management, and is intended to reduce the disrupting
effects of natural disasters on the economic and social fabric of the community. Pre-disaster
mitigation is defined as “sustained action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people
and property from hazards and their effects” as part of the FEMA’s National Mitigation
Strategy (FEMA, 1995).
This definition generally distinguishes between actions that have a long-term
impact from those that are more closely associated with preparedness for, immediate
response to, and short-term recovery from a specific hazard event. The intent of the LMS is
to focus on practices that have cumulative benefits over time and to ensure that fewer of the
state’s citizens and communities are victims of disasters. One of the most important
elements is the idea that the resulting mitigation practices are instituted prior to the disaster
occurring.
Mitigation practices can be applied to strengthen homes so that people and their
belongings are better protected from hurricanes, tropical storms, and inland floods.
Pre-disaster mitigation planning can be used to identify and protect at-risk critical facilities,
such as hospitals and fire stations, so they can remain operational or reopen quicker after a
hazard event. Mitigation planning allows communities to consider the vulnerability of land
that is currently undeveloped but may be developed in the future, as well as the risk to
people and property on existing developed land. The consideration of the potential for
damage to properties in vulnerable areas and implementation of actions to reduce the
impact can go a long way towards eliminating the disruption a disaster occurrence creates in
the community.
The purpose of the St. Lucie County LMS is to develop a unified approach
among County and municipal governments for dealing with identified hazards and hazard
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management problems in the St. Lucie County area. This strategy will serve as a tool to
direct the County and municipal governments in their ongoing efforts to reduce their
vulnerabilities to impacts produced by both the natural and manmade hazards to which
southeast Florida is exposed. The strategy also will help establish funding priorities for
currently proposed mitigation projects and for such disaster assistance funds as may be
made available for disaster mitigation activities.
This LMS is intended to represent the following jurisdictions:
?St. Lucie County
?City of Port St. Lucie
?City of Fort Pierce
?Town of St. Lucie Village
Table 1.1
displays the status of all four jurisdictions represented by this LMS.
Insert Table 1.1
This plan update will be adopted by each of these jurisdictions. Copies of the
adopting resolutions will be attached to the end of this section within one year of FEMA
“approval pending adoption” status. Copies of the adopting resolutions from the previous
update can be found at the end of this section.
The St. Lucie County LMS hazard mitigation program has been funded by the
FDCA with FEMA funds for the development of comprehensive mitigation planning.
The ultimate objectives of the LMS process are as follows:
1) Improve the total communities’ resistance to damage from known natural,
technological, and societal hazards;
2) Place St. Lucie County in a position to compete more effectively for pre- and
post-disaster mitigation funding;
3) Reduce the cost of disasters at all levels; and
4) Speed community recovery from disasters that do occur.
Adoption of this strategy will provide the following benefits to both County and
municipal governmental entities:
?Compliance with Administrative Rules 9G-6 and 9G-7, Florida Administrative
Code (F.A.C.), requirements for local comprehensive emergency
management plans to identify problem areas and planning deficiencies
relative to severe and repetitive weather phenomenon, and to identify
pre- and post-disaster strategies for rectifying identified problems;
?Compliance with FEMA’s DMA2K and thus, eligibility for certain FEMA
pre- and post-disaster funding programs;
?Credit from the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating
System Program for developing a Floodplain Management Program, which
will help further reduce flood insurance premium rates for property owners;
?Access to FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program grants, which
provides funding for pre-disaster mitigation projects and activities;
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?Identification and prioritization of projects for funding under the State of
Florida’s Residential Construction Mitigation Program, to help reduce losses
from properties subject to repetitive flooding damage; and
?Eligibility for local governmental funds from the Emergency Management
Preparedness and Assistance (EMPA) Competitive Grant Program.
1.2 PLANNING PROCESS
The St. Lucie County Community Development Grants / Disaster Recovery
Department (CDD GDRD) was the lead agency in the development updating of the LMS.
CDD contracted with Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. (CSA) to develop and facilitate the
following planning process. CSA gathered all relevant background data, developed the
content, and facilitated the meetings of the St. Lucie County LMS Steering Committee, and
developed proposed strategies for risk reduction in the County. The GDRD was assisted in
this effort by Ryan Sweeney, a Florida State University intern, whose services were provided
by a contract agreement between the Florida State University and the Florida Division of
Emergency Management.
The development of the DMA2K has placed greater emphasis on the process
undertaken to develop a mitigation plan rather than as well as, the end product. In an effort
to better define the planning process used to develop the St. Lucie County LMS, the
Figure 1.1
following process description and diagram have has been developed (). This
LMS document:
?CSA worked with CDD to establish and GRDR convened an the LMS
Section 1.3
Steering Committee to oversee the LMS planning process ();
?
CSA and CDD GDRD identified publicized meetings of the LMS Steering
Committee in an effort to provide opportunities for individuals, jurisdictions,
community organizations, and other interested stakeholders to become
involved in the LMS planning process;
?
The Steering Committee developed updated and revised guiding principles
for St. Lucie County (as a single entity composed of both the County and
Section
municipal entities) to use to address the issue of hazard mitigation (
1.0 Guiding Principles
,);
?
CSA developed a GRDR updated the community profile describing the
County in terms of geography, population, infrastructure, economic
resources, environmental resources, historic and cultural resources, critical
Section 2.0Community
facilities, and property and development trends (,
Profile
);
?
CSA GDRD and the Steering Committee identified updated the known
hazards to which the County is susceptible, discussed their ranges of
impacts, as well as the individual vulnerabilities of the various jurisdictions
Section 4.0 Hazard
and population centers within the County (,
Identification, Vulnerability Assessment, and Risk
); and
?
CSA GDRD reviewed and evaluated the existing legal, regulatory, and
Section
response framework currently in place to deal with hazard mitigation (
3.0 Institutional Analysis
,); The following documents were reviewed as part
of this capability assessment:
?
St. Lucie County Comprehensive Plan (Mandatory Elements: Future Land
Use, Transportation, Infrastructure, Housing, Recreation and Open
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Space, Conservation, Coastal Management, Intergovernmental
Coordination, and Capital Improvements);
?
St. Lucie County Land Development Code;
?
St. Lucie County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan;
?
St. Lucie County Board of Commissioners Annual Report, 2002;
?
St. Lucie County Evaluation and Appraisal Report, 2008;
?
St. Lucie County FMA and Community Rating System related plans;
?
St. Lucie County Flood Insurance Study (FEMA, 1991);
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Insert Figure 1.1
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?
St. Lucie Village Comprehensive Plan (Mandatory Elements: Future Land
Use, Transportation, Intergovernmental Coordination, Infrastructure,
Conservation, Housing, Recreation and Open Space, Coastal
Management, and Capital Improvements);
?
Port St. Lucie Comprehensive Plan (Mandatory Elements: Future Land
Use, Transportation, Housing, Recreation and Open Space,
Infrastructure, Intergovernmental Coordination, Conservation, Coastal
Management, and Capital Improvements);
?
Fort Pierce Comprehensive Plan (Mandatory Elements: Future Land Use,
Transportation, Housing, Recreation and Open Space, Infrastructure,
Intergovernmental Coordination, Conservation, Coastal Management,
and Capital Improvements);
?
Treasure Coast Regional Strategic Policy Plan, Emergency Management
Element; and
?
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Division of
Water Facilities, Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems report entitled
“Critical Erosion Areas in Florida.”
?
Based on input from CDD and the Steering Committee, as well as the
existing data, CSA developed an GDRD updated the all-hazard mitigation
strategy aimed at reducing the risks posed by natural hazards in St. Lucie
County;
?
CSA developed GDRD updated a detailed method by which St. Lucie County
local governments can evaluate and prioritize proposed mitigation projects
Section 6.0Implementation Strategy
(, );
?
A conflict resolution procedure by which city and County governmental
entities can resolve any differences that arise over prioritized mitigation
projects or mitigation strategies was developed updated. during the planning
Section 6.0
process ();
?
CSA developed GDRD maintined a process and schedule by which this
entire Unified LMS will be reviewed and updated, and developed guidelines
Section 6.0
for updating the Project Prioritization List (PPL) (); and
?
Section 6.0
CSA documented GDRD updated the PPL () of mitigation
projects cross-referenced with potential funding sources.
Appendix A
Various appendices are provided listing existing policies (),
Appendix BAppendix C
mitigation projects (), mitigation funding sources (), hazard data
Appendix DAppendix E
information sources (), documentation of LMS participation (), and
Appendix F
acronyms ().
1.3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS
St. Lucie County sought to involve a diverse group of individuals and
organizations in planning for natural, technological, and societal hazards within the County.
From a broad decision-making body to incorporating public comment to information
dissemination, multiple methods of involving the jurisdictions, organizations, businesses,
and citizens of St. Lucie County are employed. In designing the public participation process,
input has been received from the existing LMS Steering Committee (Committee). The
Committee seeks to enhance and expand opportunities for public involvement. The graphic
that follows illustrates how the Committee will expand participation. The Committee
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envisions a three-tiered participation process. Descriptions of each level of participation are
discussed as follows.
1.3.1 Steering Committee
A representative Committee oversees the St. Lucie County LMS process.
1.3.1.1 Role of Committee
The Committee serves as the policy development body for the LMS program.
The role of the Committee is to advise and assist in the formulation, implementation,
administration, and refinement of the unified St. Lucie County LMS. The Committee shall be
responsible for reviewing, accepting and scoring all mitigation projects proposed for
inclusion on the LMS prioritized project list. The Committee shall represent the four
governmental organizations and several community stakeholders found in St. Lucie County.
PROJECT SELECTION
SUBCOMMITTEE
STEERING COMMITTEE
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER
GROUPS
GENERAL PUBLIC
*** The above Figure will be revised to not include a Project Selection Subcommittee.
1.3.1.2 Composition
The following organizations are represented on the Committee.
***The below will be revised after discussion at the 8/6 LMS Steering Committee
meeting
?
St. Lucie County
?
City of Port St. Lucie
?
City of Fort Pierce
?
Town of St. Lucie Village
?
St. Lucie County School Board District
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?
American Red Cross
?
Salvation Army
?
St. Lucie County Agricultural Extension – University of Florida
?
Adelphia
?
Comcast
?
St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
?
St. Lucie County Council on Aging
?
St. Lucie Medical Center
?
Lawnwood Hospital
?
St. Lucie County Builders Association
?
Fort Pierce Utility Authority (FPUA)
?
South Florida Water Management District
?
LBFH Inc.
?
St. Lucie Water Control District
?
North St. Lucie River Water Control District
?
Ft. Pierce Farms Water Control District
?
Florida Division of Forestry (FDOF)
?
St. Lucie County Health Department
?
St. Lucie County Fire District
?
St. Lucie County Tourism Committee
?
St. Lucie County Grants / Disaster Recovery
?
City of Ft. Pierce Engineering Department
?
Ft. Pierce Housing Authority
?
St. Lucie County Public Safety
?
St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department
?
Florida Power & Light
?
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
?
St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization
?
Indian River State College
?
INTACT
One representative from each of the organizations listed above will be
designated to be the contact person for that particular organization.
1.3.1.3 Committee Responsibilities
The Committee will be responsible for reviewing and providing comments on all
draft sections of the LMS. A formal voting process will take place for approval of draft final
and final sections of the LMS. Informal voting will take place for issues other than approval
of draft final or final sections of the LMS. The participating organization representatives are
responsible for attending Committee meetings, or arranging for another representative of the
organization to attend the meeting in their absence.
1.3.1.4 Quorum
A quorum of the LMS Steering Committee shall consist of at least nine (9) LMS
Steering Committee members. A motion shall be approved by a majority vote of members
present at a Committee meeting, but must receive at least nine (9) votes in favor of the
motion.
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1.3.1.5 Voting
The voting and approval process for the Committee shall be as follows. Each
Section 1.3.1.2
organization listed in shall receive one vote. A simple majority rules
procedure shall be followed when a vote is required. A motion shall be approved by a
majority vote of members present at a Committee meeting, but must receive at least nine (9)
votes in favor of the motion. If an organization’s representative is not able to attend a
meeting, another representative of the organization can assume the voting responsibilities of
the designated representative.
From the Committee members, one Committee Chair and Vice-Chair will be
selected. One representative, either the Chair or Vice Chair, shall be from one of the local
jurisdictions governments, and one shall be from a non-governmental organization. The
Chair and Vice-Chair LMS Coordinator will be responsible for organizing Committee
meetings and will prepare annual progress reports to the elected bodies of the participating
jurisdictions. The Chair and the Vice-Chair will not have regular voting authority, but will
have tie-breaking voting authority when such occasion arises.
1.3.1.6 Participation Requirement
1) Attend Committee meetings;
2) Provide input and technical information to the planning process, (if available);
and
3) Disseminate information to others within represented sector.
1.3.1.7 Attendance Policy
A member organization will lose its voting privileges if it has three consecutive
absences. A member organization’s voting privileges may be reinstated if the member
organization attends two consecutive meetings after losing its voting privileges.
1.3.2 Subcommittees
The Chair of the Committee is authorized to establish ad-hoc subcommittees as
needed to further the goals and objectives of the LMS. These groups can be formed to
address special issues and can be disbanded once an issue has been properly addressed.
Subcommittee members need not be Committee members, but may be any individual able
to provide special expertise and knowledge about specific concerns addressed in the LMS.
1.3.3 Community Stakeholder Groups
Community stakeholder groups are any community group or organization with an
interest in reducing the risks posed by natural hazards in St. Lucie County.
1.3.3.1 Role of Community Stakeholder Groups
In an effort to develop a mitigation planning process that is community based and
focused on creating disaster-resistant communities in St. Lucie County, community
stakeholder groups are invited to participate. Stakeholders provide the process with
valuable information about past, present, and future conditions within the community.
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Stakeholders are asked to participate in an effort to capture input that is representative of
the diverse needs of citizens, businesses, and organizations in St. Lucie County.
1.3.3.2 Composition
Community stakeholder groups include any community organization that is not
represented on the LMS Steering Committee and can range from neighborhood
associations to local businesses, to civic clubs. While these groups are not active or voting
members of the Steering Committee, they can provide data and information important in
developing the LMS, and may become partners in mitigation activities at some point in the
LMS process.
1.3.3.3 Responsibilities
Participation for community stakeholder groups is highly encouraged and
voluntary. Groups can participate in the LMS process in the following manners:
1) Attend Steering Committee meetings; or
2) Provide input and technical information to the planning process; or
3) Review and comment on draft final sections of the LMS; or
4) Disseminate information to others within the stakeholder’s organization.
1.3.4 Citizen Participation
1.3.4.1 Role of the Citizen
In an effort to develop a mitigation planning process that is community based and
focused on creating disaster-resistant communities in St. Lucie County, citizens are invited
to participate. Citizens provide the process with valuable information about past, present,
and future conditions within the community. Citizens are asked to participate in an effort to
capture input that is representative of the diverse needs of citizens, businesses, and
organizations in St. Lucie County. Citizens will be made aware of the opportunity to
participate in the LMS process via local newspaper ads or other communication modes
(e.g., newsletters, websites). Draft copies of the LMS will be available for public comment
on the County’s website and at library locations throughout the County.
1.3.4.2 Participation Responsibilities
Citizen participation is highly encouraged and voluntary. Individuals can
participate in the LMS process in the following manners:
1) Review and comment on draft and final plans via County website or library
system sending an e-mail to the LMS Coordinator or an LMS Steering
Committee member; or
2) Attend noticed public meetings.
1.3.5 New Jurisdictions/Entities
In the event of restructuring that duly adds, deletes, or merges jurisdictions within
the County, the voting member rolls will be adjusted appropriately.
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1.3.6 Documentation
Following each meeting, a summary will be prepared containing how solicitation
was completed for that specific meeting along with any comments and suggestions made by
the public and/or community stakeholder groups. For each meeting, a meeting summary,
attendance list, public invite, public comments, and all other solicitation efforts concerning
Appendix E
public comments will be located in of the LMS.
In order to invite and promote the opportunity for broad participation, at a
minimum, meeting notices and agendas will be posted through some combination of the
following: newspaper ads or public service announcements, postings on County and
municipal websites, announcements on the County’s TV station, postings in County and
municipal newsletters and calendars, and faxes and e-mailings to previous participants.
The procedures of invitation will be documented along with comments in the meeting
Appendix E
summaries located in of the LMS. The various invitation notices are to ensure
the continuation of public participation in the LMS update process and other activities in the
future.
Due to the fact that there have been numerous meetings of the LMS Steering
Committee over the past five (5) years, documentation will only be provided for those
meetings that have specifically addressed the five year update process. For each meeting, a
copy of the meeting agenda, meeting minutes, sign-in sheet and public notice has been
Appendix E
attached in .
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Once the Local Mitigation Strategy has been adopted, insert adopted resolution for
St.Lucie County
.
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City
Once the Local Mitigation Strategy has been adopted, insert adopted resolution for
of Port St.Lucie
.
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City
Once the Local Mitigation Strategy has been adopted, insert adopted resolution for
of Fort Pierce
.
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Once the Local Mitigation Strategy has been adopted, insert adopted resolution for
Village of St.Lucie
.
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