Atwater City Council
June 22, 2026

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
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types produces higher flame lengths than that in grassland, although spread rates are typically slower. Fire behavior in forests is variable, depending on surface fuel conditions and the presence of ladder fuels.

Fuel loading in developed areas susceptible to wildfire becomes even more complex. The introduction of some ornamental plantings as landscaping and groundcover can dramatically increase the fire loading of a neighborhood. Gazebos, fencing, patios, decks and even the structures themselves add even more fuel.

Once structures become involved in fire, the problem compounds as embers cast out thousands of feet onto combustible roofs well removed from the wildland area.

Steep terrain also plays a key role in the rate at which wildfires spread, as fires will normally burn much faster uphill. Generally, when the gradient of a slope doubles, the rate of spread of a fire will also double.

Steep topography also channels air flow, thereby creating erratic wind patterns. Fire suppression in steep areas is also complicated by limited accessibility, and the effectiveness of firefighters and equipment are hampered by lack of access roads.

Another factor that can increase the severity of wildfires in the county is areas with high percentages of dead trees, as discussed in subsection 4.3.15 Agricultural Pests and Disease.

The Fire Rating System defined in Table 4-66 describes the characteristics and potential intensity of fires, including the effect on the ability to manage and suppress fires. Fire conditions up through Class 5 are possible in Merced County, primarily in the unincorporated areas in the far east and west of the county.

Table 4-67 Fire Danger Rating System
Rating Basic Description Detailed Description
CLASS 1: Low Danger (L)
COLOR CODE: Green
fires not easily
started
Fuels do not ignite readily from small firebrands. Fires in open or cured grassland may burn freely a few hours after rain, but wood fires spread slowly by creeping or
smoldering and burn in irregular fingers. There is little danger of spotting.

CLASS 2: Moderate Danger
(M) COLOR CODE: Blue
fires start easily and
spread at a
moderate rate
Fires can start from most accidental causes. Fires in open cured grassland will burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days. Woods fires spread slowly to moderately fast.

The average fire is of moderate intensity, although heavy concentrations of fuel – especially draped fuel -- may burn hot. Short-distance spotting may occur but is not
persistent. Fires are not likely to become serious and
control is relatively easy.

CLASS 3: High Danger (H)
COLOR CODE: Yellow
fires start easily and
spread at a rapid
rate
All fine dead fuels ignite readily, and fires start easily from most causes. Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly, and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes
or in concentrations of fine fuel. Fires may become serious and their control difficult, unless they are hit hard and fast while small.

CLASS 4: Very High Danger
(VH) COLOR CODE: Orange
fires start very easily
and spread at a very
fast rate
Fires start easily from all causes and immediately after ignition, spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity.

Spot fires are a constant danger. Fires burning in light fuels may quickly develop high-intensity characteristics - such as long-distance spotting - and fire whirlwinds, when they burn into heavier fuels. Direct attack at the head of such fires is rarely possible after they have been burning more than a few minutes.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
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Rating Basic Description Detailed Description
CLASS 5: Extreme (E) COLOR
CODE: Red
fire situation is
explosive and can
result in extensive
property damage
Fires under extreme conditions start quickly, spread
furiously and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high-intensity burning will
usually be faster and occur from smaller fires than in the Very High Danger class (4). Direct attack is rarely possible and may be dangerous, except immediately after ignition.

Fires that develop headway in heavy slash or in conifer stands may be unmanageable while the extreme burning
condition lasts. Under these conditions, the only effective and safe control action is on the flanks, until the weather changes or the fuel supply lessens.

Source: http://www.wfas.net
Major wildland fires can completely destroy ground cover. If heavy rains follow a major fire, flash floods, heavy erosion, land subsidence and mudflows can occur. After a wildland fire passes through an area, the land is laid bare of its protective vegetation cover and is susceptible to excessive runoff and erosion from winter storms. The intense heat from the fire can also cause a chemical reaction in the soil that makes it less porous, and the fire can destroy the root systems of shrubs and grasses that aid in stabilizing slope material. These cascading effects can have ruinous impacts on people, structures, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Fire threat provides a measure of fuel conditions and fire potential in the ecosystem, representing the relative likelihood of “damaging” or difficult to control wildfire occurring for a given area. Fire Threat is not a risk assessment by itself but can be used to assess the potential for impacts on various assets and values susceptible to fire. Impacts are more likely to occur and/or be of increased severity for the higher threat classes. Fire threat is a combination of two factors: 1) fire probability, or the likelihood of a given area burning, and 2) potential fire behavior (hazard). These two factors are combined to create five threat classes ranging from low to extreme. Figure 4-38 below shows the wildfire threat areas throughout Merced County.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
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Figure 4-38 Merced County Wildfire Threat Areas
Previous Occurrences
There have not been any state or federal disaster declarations in Merced County related to wildfire in the past. The Planning Team noted that although there are many fire starts, the fuels are “flashy” and fires are usually quickly put out. Despite this, there have been 101 wildfires recorded in the county from 1950-2018 totaling 110,893 acres burned. This is an average of over 1,500 acres burned every year. In 2020, a portion of the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, which is the 3rd largest fire by acres burned in state history, extended into Merced County, burning approximately 3,800 acres in the planning area. As stated above, most fires are relatively small compared to the state as a whole, the highest number of acres burned in the county was 19,131 during the 1996 Mercy fire. The county’s fire history from 1911-2020 is illustrated in Figure 4-39.

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Figure 4-39 Merced County Fire History, 1911-2020
Probability of Future Occurrences
Fire starts are highly likely during each fire season; though, they rarely result in large-scale wildfires in Merced County. Information obtained from the CAL FIRE Redbook lists multiple fires, the largest in the most recent past consumed approximately 3,800 acres. Based on climate and weather in Merced County and the fuels, topography, and a past fire history which indicates an average of 1.5 wildfires per year, it is likely that fires will continue to occur in the future. Figure 4-40 below shows the annual probability for wildfire in Merced County from 2026-2040, based on CAL FIRE GIS mapping.

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Figure 4-40 Merced County Annual Probability of Fire, 2026-2050 Climate Change Considerations
According to the 2018 California SHMP, climate change has the potential to impact the frequency, size, and severity of the wildfire hazard statewide. Increasing temperatures may intensify wildfire threat and susceptibility to more frequent wildfires in the county.

Exactly how climate change will affect total precipitation is not clear, but models suggest that there is a tendency for wetter conditions in the northern part of the state and drier conditions in the south (California Natural Resources Agency 2018a). Forests are also sensitive to variable precipitation events, as the 2012-2017 drought contributed to widespread tree mortality as warmer temperatures stressed trees and made them more susceptible to pests and pathogens (California Natural Resources Agency 2018).

Studies noted in California’s Fourth Assessment report note climate change impacts on wind patterns may strongly affect forests, potentially serving as a trigger mechanism for conversion of forest to other types of vegetation (California Natural Resources Agency 2018).

Current scientific models expect all of California will be affected by increased numbers of forest fires with added intensity due to longer warmer seasons, reduced distribution of biodiversity, lack of moisture, changes in ecosystems, drought impacts (e.g. pest diseases and continued spread of invasive species), and other impacts in coming years. The extending of the wildfire season into winter months, coinciding with seasonal high wind patterns, has contributed to severe fires in recent years. Southern California

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experienced 29 wildfires in December of 2017 alone, and the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history, the Camp Fire, happened in November of 2018.

Vulnerability Assessment
Merced County vulnerability to wildfires varies, with some areas of the planning area being at greater risk than others as described further in this section. Generally, this hazard is a medium concern. High fuel loads in some areas of the planning area along with geographical and topographical features create the potential for both natural and human caused fires that can result in loss of life and property. These factors, combined with natural weather conditions common to the area, including periods of drought, low relative humidity, and periodic winds, can result in frequent and sometimes catastrophic fires. Even the relatively flat central parts of the county are not immune to fire; hot and sometimes windy weather combined with dry vegetation and a denser population can result in an increase in the number of ignitions.

Figure 4-41 through Figure 4-44 below are the result of a nationwide risk study from the United States Forest Service. These figures provide a perspective of wildfire risk and vulnerability compared to other CA counties. Populated areas in Merced County have, on average, greater risk to homes than 14% of counties in California. Populated areas in Merced County have, on average, greater wildfire likelihood than 18% of counties in California.

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Figure 4-41 Merced County Wildfire Likelihood
Source: USFS

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Figure 4-42 Merced County Wildfire Likelihood Compared to California Counties Source: USFS

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Figure 4-43 Merced County Wildfire Risk to Homes
Source: USFS

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Figure 4-44 Merced County Wildfire Risk to Homes Compared to California Counties Source: USFS
General Property
The potential impacts of wildfire on property include crop loss, injury and death of livestock and pets, and damage to infrastructure, homes and other buildings located throughout the wildfire risk area.

GIS was used to intersect the parcel boundaries with a master address point layer to obtain the number of buildings per parcel. Only parcels with improvement values greater than zero were used in the analysis, this method assumes that improved parcels have a structure of some type. This data was then overlaid on the Fire Threat Layer. For the purposes of this analysis, the wildfire hazard zone that intersected the address point was assigned as the hazard zone for the entire parcel. It was assumed that every parcel with an improved value greater than zero was developed in some way, thus only improved parcels and their values were analyzed.

An analysis of the value of those parcels – the improvement value plus estimated value of building contents – quantifies the potential losses from wildfires by severity zones. The results show that $3.7 billion worth of property and approximately 8,500 structures are exposed to fire risk countywide. The

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majority of these buildings are in moderate to low hazard areas. The unincorporated areas and the City of Los Banos make up the majority of this risk. Residential properties constitute more than half of both the number of parcels and the projected losses. The total values shown in these tables include both structure value and contents and can be used as an estimate of potential losses since wildfires typically result in a total loss.

Table 4-68 Wildfire Hazard Exposure –Property Summary by Jurisdiction and Fire Threat Zone Jurisdiction Building
Count
Very
High
Building
Count
High
Building
Count
Moderate
Building
Count
Low
Total
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content Value
Total Value
Atwater 0 1 276 303 580 $158,646,509 $82,890,947 $241,537,456 Gustine 0 0 57 97 154 $26,104,098 $13,904,591 $40,008,689 Livingston 0 0 59 171 230 $91,308,401 $67,612,796 $158,921,197 Los Banos 0 2 198 976 1,176 $328,297,798 $178,953,729 $507,251,527 Merced 0 1 257 364 622 $156,504,212 $99,657,587 $256,161,799 Unincorporated 108 462 1,605 3,659 5,834 $1,373,680,176 $1,148,731,537 $2,522,411,713 Total 108 466 2,452 5,570 8,596 $2,134,541,194 $1,591,751,186 $3,726,292,380 Source: CAL FIRE, Merced County Assessor, Wood GIS analysis Figure 4-45 Unincorporated Area Buildings in Fire Threat Classes Source: CAL FIRE, Merced County Assessor, Wood GIS analysis People
Wildland fires result in a high risk for personal injury, loss of life to inhabitants of the fire area and firefighters, and losses of structures and personal property. Wildfires in or near the WUI frequently require emergency evacuation and sheltering, often for many days. As is shown in Table 4-68 below, approximately 17,364 people in Merced County reside in FHSZ. This figure was derived by taking the total number of residential structures identified in the FHSZs and multiplying them by the average household size in the county based off of 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates. 2%
8%
27%
63%
Building Count Very High
Building Count High
Building Count Moderate
Building Count Low

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Table 4-69 Population at Risk to Fire Threat
Jurisdiction Population
Atwater 1,787
Gustine 399
Livingston 756
Los Banos 4,115
Merced 1,837
Unincorporated 8,469
Total 17,364
Source: Merced County, HIFLD, CAL FIRE, FRAP, U.S. Census Bureau, Wood GIS Analysis Other indirect impacts from wildfires on people are related to dense smoke from fires within the region.

Wildfires in the past three years have decreased the air quality throughout Merced County. Dense smoke poses a risk to both people with compromised health as well as those considered healthy. A study from the University of California San Diego found that wildfire smoke is more harmful to respiratory health in humans than pollution from cars (NPR 2021). Studies have also shown an increase in ambulance calls, hospital visits and an increase of people experiencing respiratory or cardiac emergencies (NPR 2020).

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical facilities are those community components that are most needed to withstand the impacts of disaster, as previously described in the Assets section. Wildfire impacts to critical facilities can include structural damage or destruction, risk to persons located within facilities, disruption of transportation, shipping, and evacuation operations, and interruption of facility operations and critical functions.

Critical facilities and infrastructure also create an increased risk for the occurrence of wildfires. Overhead electric transmission lines have been known to spark wildfires. According to data from the California Public Utilities Commission, the state’s three largest utility companies collectively reported 2,009 ignitions statewide between 2014-2017, including at least 50 in Merced County. Most of these instances were small, less than one acre in size, however these fires can grow rapidly under the right fire conditions. One such example is California’s deadliest wildfire, the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California. Identifying critical facilities and infrastructure and mitigating their potential risks is important both for maintaining the county’s resilience and for reducing the potential impacts of wildfire. The locations of critical facilities identified by HIFLD throughout the county are summarized by their exposure the various wildfire threat levels in Table 4-69 through Table 4-72 below.

Table 4-70 Critical Facilities Within the Low Wildfire Threat by Jurisdiction and FEMA Lifeline Jurisdiction
CommunicationsEnergyFood, Water, ShelterHazardous MaterialHealth and MedicalSafety and SecurityTransportationTotal Atwater 1 2 1 - - 1 1 6
Dos Palos - - - - - - - 0
Gustine - - - - - 1 1 2
Livingston 2 - - - - - - 2

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Jurisdiction
CommunicationsEnergyFood, Water, ShelterHazardous MaterialHealth and MedicalSafety and SecurityTransportationTotal Los Banos - - 1 - - 2 - 3
Merced - - 1 2 - 1 4 8
Unincorporated 20 18 2 3 - 17 156 216
Total 23 20 5 5 0 22 162 237
Source: Merced County, HIFLD, CAL FIRE, FRAP, Wood GIS Analysis Table 4-71 Critical Facilities Within the Moderate Wildfire Threat by Jurisdiction and FEMA Lifeline
Jurisdiction
CommunicationsEnergyFood, Water, ShelterHazardous MaterialHealth and MedicalSafety and SecurityTransportationTotal Atwater - - - - - - 2 2
Dos Palos - - - - - - - 0
Gustine - - - - - 1 - 1
Livingston - - - - - - - 0
Los Banos - - - - - - - 0
Merced - - 1 - - 1 1 3
Unincorporated 10 10 - - - - 26 46
Total 10 10 1 0 0 2 29 52
Source: Merced County, HIFLD, CAL FIRE, FRAP, Wood GIS Analysis Table 4-72 Critical Facilities Within the High Wildfire Threat by Jurisdiction and FEMA Lifeline Jurisdiction
CommunicationsEnergyFood, Water, ShelterHazardous MaterialHealth and MedicalSafety and SecurityTransportationTotal Atwater - - - - - - - 0
Dos Palos - - - - - - - 0
Gustine - - - - - - - 0
Livingston - - - - - - - 0
Los Banos - - - - - - - 0
Merced - - - - - - - 0
Unincorporated 17 26 1 - - 1 24 69

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Jurisdiction
CommunicationsEnergyFood, Water, ShelterHazardous MaterialHealth and MedicalSafety and SecurityTransportationTotal Total 17 26 1 0 0 1 24 69
Source: Merced County, HIFLD, CAL FIRE, FRAP, Wood GIS Analysis Table 4-73 Merced County Critical Facilities Within the Very High Wildfire Threat by Jurisdiction and FEMA Lifeline
Jurisdiction
CommunicationsEnergyFood, Water, ShelterHazardous MaterialHealth and MedicalSafety and SecurityTransportationTotal Atwater - - - - - - - 0
Dos Palos - - - - - - - 0
Gustine - - - - - - - 0
Livingston - - - - - - - 0
Los Banos - - - - - - - 0
Merced - - - - - - - 0
Unincorporated 5 115 - - - - 4 124
Total 5 115 0 0 0 0 4 124
Source: Merced County, HIFLD, CAL FIRE, FRAP, Wood GIS Analysis According to the analysis conducted, there are over 200 critical facilities exposed to at least a moderate wildfire threat area. The highest rates of exposure to wildfire threat areas are facilities in the Energy and Transportation Lifeline categories, both of which are crucial for response and evacuations in the event of a significant fire.

Economy
The economic impacts of wildfire include loss of property, direct agricultural sector job loss, secondary economic losses to businesses in or near wildland resources like parks and national forests, and loss of public access to recreational resources. Fire suppression may also require increased cost to local and state government for water acquisition and delivery, especially during periods of drought when water resources are scarce.

Effects on agriculture can be significant, which makes up a large portion of Merced County’s economy. In addition to the obvious impacts on crops and animals, wildland fire can have damaging effects on soil and water that will impact agriculture for an extended period of time.

Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
The County has 15 sites listed on the NRHP, and 28 listed on the California Register of Historical Resources. Since these structures are sensitive in nature and may not have been built according to the latest building codes due to their age, it is expected that they might be at risk of wildfires (e.g. because of their potential inability to withstand significant heat). Most of these structures are located in the Cities of

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Merced and Los Banos, which are at lower risk to wildfire than unincorporated areas of the county.

However, parks and open spaces, particularly in the foothills in the eastern edge of the county, could also be at risk of a wildfire. This area is the region’s gateway to Yosemite National Park, which is a significant historic, cultural, and natural resource for the entire state of California.

Future Development
Any population increases in the Planning Area will continue to make wildfire vulnerability a growing issue, especially as future development expands into higher fire risk areas. These risks can however be managed with strong land use regulations and building code requirements, and with policies established in the Health and Safety Element of the 2030 General Plan. For example, policies requiring fire-resistant vegetation, clustered development, and vegetation clear zones in areas with high and extreme fire hazard.

Risk Summary
The overall significance of wildfire in Merced County is Medium. These events are recurring in nature and can cause significant damage, loss of life, and disruption to critical infrastructure. ● The county experiences an average of one wildfire every 1.5 years and an average of 1,500 acres burned per year. As impacts of climate change such as increased temperatures and prolonged drought conditions continue in coming years, this frequency and intensity may increase. ● Powerlines and vehicle or equipment use present a significant source of ignitions. ● Effects on people: Past wildfires in the county have not resulted in a large number of fatalities; however, significant evacuations and sheltering have been required in past events. ● Effects on property: Wildfires can destroy homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. $3.7 billion worth of property in the County is located in a Fire Threat Zone. ● Effects on critical facilities and infrastructure: Wildfires can disrupt access to, or even destroy critical facilities and infrastructure.
● Effects on economy: Wildfires impacts can include loss of property, direct agricultural sector job loss, secondary economic losses to businesses, and loss of public access to recreational resources. ● Effects on Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources: Wildfire can significantly impact water and air quality, even at great distances from the area burning. Damage to agriculture, natural resource areas, and habitats are very likely during a wildfire.
● Related Hazards: Drought, Agricultural Pest Infestation and Plant Disease, Landslide and Debris Flow.

Table 4-74 Hazard Summary - Wildfire
Jurisdiction Geographic
Extent
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Merced County Significant Likely Limited Medium
City of Atwater Significant Highly Likely Negligible Medium City of Dos Palos Limited Highly Likely Negligible Medium City of Gustine Limited Occasional Critical Low
City of Livingston Limited Occasional Negligible Low
City of Los Banos Significant Highly Likely Negligible Medium City of Merced Limited Highly Likely Negligible Medium

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4.2.13Hazardous Materials Incidents
Hazard/Problem Definition
Generally, a hazardous material is a substance or combination of substances which, because of quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may either cause or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious, irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness. Hazardous materials may also pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.

Hazardous material incidents can occur while a hazardous substance is stored at a fixed facility, or while the substance is being transported along a road corridor or railroad line or via an enclosed pipeline or other linear infrastructure.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration all have responsibilities relating to the transportation, storage, and use of hazardous materials and waste. The Right to Know Network (RTK NET), maintained by the EPA’s National Response Center, is a primary source of information on the use and storage of hazardous materials, as well as data regarding spills and releases. The California Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Toxic Substances Control are authorized by the U.S. EPA to enforce and implement federal hazardous materials laws and regulations within the state. At the local level, Merced County’s Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health is the approved CUPA responsible for administration of permitting, inspections, and enforcement for hazardous waste and hazardous materials programs. The CUPA administers the Hazardous Material Business Plan (HMBPs), California Accidental Release Prevention (Cal-ARP) program, and the Aboveground Storage Act, as well as permitting and inspection activities for hazardous waste generators, and onsite hazardous waste treatment facilities, and underground storage tanks.

Hazardous materials can be divided into the following classes:
● Explosives
● Compressed gases: flammable, non-flammable compressed, poisonous ● Flammable liquids: flammable (flashpoint below 141 degrees Fahrenheit), combustible (flashpoint from 141 - 200 degrees)
● Flammable solids: spontaneously combustible, dangerous when wet ● Oxidizers and organic peroxides
● Toxic materials: poisonous material, infectious agents ● Radioactive material
● Corrosive material: destruction of human skin, corrodes steel It is also common to see hazardous materials releases as escalating incidents resulting from other hazards such as floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. The release of hazardous materials can greatly complicate or even eclipse the response to the natural hazards disaster that caused the spill.

The Safety Element of the Merced County General Plan contains goals, policies, and implementation measures pertaining to hazardous materials, including radioactive materials and pesticides. Merced County also has an Emergency Operations Plan which contains provisions to address hazardous materials incidents, such as establishing a Hazardous Materials Unit Leader within the Operations Section and to establish response operations in the event of an incident involving hazardous materials (Merced County Emergency Operations Plan 2017).

Geographic Area
Hazmat incidents can occur at a fixed facility or during transportation.

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Fixed Facilities
Hazardous materials facilities are identified and mapped by the counties they are located in, along with the types of materials stored there; facilities generally are located in and around developed areas. The Merced County Office of Emergency Services administers the Emergency Planning and Community Rightto-Know program for the planning area. Under Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code and the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, any business storing quantities of hazardous materials greater than 55 gallons of liquid, 500 pounds of solid or 200 cubic feet of some compressed gases must file a HMBP annually that establishes incident prevention measures, hazardous material handling protocols and emergency response and evacuation procedures.

The EPA requires facilities containing certain extremely hazardous substances to generate Risk Management Plans (RMPs) and resubmit these plans every five years. According to the RTK NET, as of April 2021 there are 16 RMP facilities located in the County, as shown below in Figure 4-46.

The California Accidental Release Prevention Program (CalARP) is a statewide initiative to reduce the likelihood and severity of consequences of extremely hazardous materials releases. CalARP requires certain facilities (referred to as "stationary sources") which handle specified chemicals (termed "regulated substances") to take specified actions to proactively prevent and prepare for chemical accidents. Because the CalARP program is implemented at the local government level by the CUPAs, they can work directly with regulated facilities.

Figure 4-46 RMP Identified Hazardous Materials Facilities in Merced County

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Transportation
In transit, hazardous materials generally follow major transportation routes, including road, rail and pipelines, creating a risk area immediately adjacent to these routes. The county’s transportation network, primarily Interstate 5, and State Highways 33, 59, 99, 140, 152, and 165, all have the potential for hazardous material incidents. Railroad lines and airports may also transport hazardous materials. The Hazardous Materials and Waste section of the Merced County General Plan Health and Safety Element establishes policies requiring that the transportation of all hazardous materials through the county be coordinated with the CHP (Merced County General Plan, 2013).

Hazardous materials releases can also result from natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes that may cause containment systems to fail or affect transportation infrastructure. In summary, hazardous material incidents have the potential to occur in business and industrial areas (where fixed facilities are located) and along transportation corridors. Hazardous material incidents can also occur in agricultural areas; these types of facilities typically use pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment. For example, agricultural pesticides and fertilizers are often transported daily around the planning area. Illegal drug operations and dumping sites have also been known to pose a hazardous materials threat.

Lastly, information provided by the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) indicate several pipelines conveying gas or hazardous liquids cross the planning area, these are shown in Figure 4-47 and primarily travel north-south in the vicinity of Interstate 5 and Highway 99. Pipelines ruptures can result in major spills, or even explosions like the ones in San Bruno in 2010, and Fresno in 2015.

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Figure 4-47 National Pipeline Mapping System, Merced County Pipelines Extent (Magnitude/Severity)
Hazardous materials come in the form of explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons and radioactive materials. Hazards can occur during production, manufacturing, storage, transportation, use, or disposal. Impacts from hazardous materials releases can include:
● Fatalities
● Injury
● Evacuations
● Property damage
● Animal fatalities (livestock, fish & wildlife)
● Air pollution
● Surface or ground water pollution/contamination
● Interruption of commerce and transportation
Numerous factors influence the impacts of a hazardous materials release, including the type and quantity of material, location of release, method of release, weather conditions, and time of day. This makes it

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difficult to predict precise impacts. The impact to life and property from any given release depends primarily on:
● The type and quantity of material released.
● The human act(s) or unintended event(s) necessary to cause the hazard to occur. ● The length of time the hazard is present in the area. ● The tendency of a hazard, or that of its effects, to either expand, contract, or remain confined in time, magnitude, and space.
● Characteristics of the location and its physical environment that can either magnify or reduce the effects of a hazard.

CalFire notes several additional factors that can contribute to the impact of hazardous materials releases from a fixed facility or transportation incident:
● Solid, liquid, and/or gaseous hazardous materials can be released from fixed or mobile containers either accidentally or on purpose.
● The resulting release can last for hours or for days. ● The substances released may be corrosive or otherwise damaging over time, and they may cause an explosion and/or fire.
● Contamination may be carried out of the incident area by people, vehicles, water, and/or wind. ● Weather conditions will directly affect how the hazard develops. ● The micrometeorological effects of buildings and terrain can alter travel and duration of agents. ● Shielding in the form of sheltering in place can protect people and property from harmful effects. ● Noncompliance with fire and building codes as well as failure to maintain existing fire protection and containment features can substantially increase the damage from a hazardous materials release.

The release or spill of hazardous materials can also require different emergency responses depending on the amount, type, and location of the spill incident.

As noted above, the County contains a number of facilities that store and use significant quantities of hazardous materials. Additionally, a variety of hazardous materials are transported through the County by highway, rail, and pipelines, all of which are potentially vulnerable to accidental spills. Consequences can vary depending on whether the spill affects a populated area versus an unpopulated but environmentally sensitive area.

Potential losses can vary greatly for hazardous material incidents. For even a small incident, there are cleanup and disposal costs. In a larger scale incident, cleanup can be extensive and protracted. There can also be deaths or injuries requiring doctor’s visits and hospitalization, disabling chronic injuries, soil and water contamination can occur, necessitating costly remediation. Evacuations can disrupt home and business activities. Large-scale incidents can easily reach $1 million or more in direct damages, with cleanups that can last for years.

Previous Occurrences
Merced County experiences multiple hazardous materials incidents every year. The vast majority of these incidents are minor with very localized impacts.

Table 4-74 breaks down 973 hazardous materials incidents reported to the California OES Warning Center from 2006 through 2021 based on location; this works out to an average of approximately 65 incidents per year. Even this total likely excludes a large number of unreported minor spills. 380 of these incidents occurred in transit, 381 occurred at a fixed location, and the remaining 211 had no location specified.

These hazardous material spills consisted of varying quantities of chemicals, petroleum, gasoline, sewage, and other materials. While the number of incidents can vary considerably from year to year, the average

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number of hazardous materials spills or accidents in the County has trended upwards over the past 15 years. This is in line with the statewide trend, which has seen hazardous materials incidents increase by 30 percent during the same time period.

These incidents include both transportation and fixed facility incidents. This list in no way captures all hazardous material spills within the County, only those that were significant enough to be reported to Cal OES. The data indicates that hazardous materials incidents can occur across the county with a greater frequency in the more developed areas.

Table 4-75 Hazardous Materials Incidents in Merced County by Location, 2006-2021 Location Incidents Location Incidents
Merced 281 Delhi 15
Unknown 183 Winton 14
Atwater 81 EL Nido 11
Santa Nella 70 Le Grand 11
Unincorporated 67 Dos Palos 10
Los Banos 62 Planada 10
Livingston 55 Stevinson 9
Hilmar 36 Snelling 5
Gustine 29 Cressey 4
Ballico 17 Tuttle 1
Source: CalOES Spill Release Reporting
The vast majority of these hazardous materials incidents have only minimal life safety impacts. One event in July 2019 resulted in one death and nine hospitalizations after a chemical spill in Los Banos.

Another database maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard reports 205 incidents recorded in Merced County, with 13 of them resulting in confirmed injuries from 1998 to 2013, with 32 individuals injured. There have also been 7 confirmed fatalities in the county from 2000 to 2019. Some incidents may also result in temporary evacuations, closures of transportation routes, or damage to facilities. This translates to roughly 6% of incidents resulting in injuries and 3% resulting in a fatality.

The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) is a resource for learning about toxic chemical releases and pollution prevention activities by industrial and federal facilities. Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act created the TRI program. According to the TRI database, there were 13 facilities within the County in 2019 that have collectively produced or managed approximately 9.6 million pounds of waste (US EPA 2021). These facilities dispose, treat, recover, and recycle various types of waste and chemicals and ultimately “release” the waste or chemicals into the air or water, or some form of land disposal.

Probability of Future Occurrences
Highly Likely - As discussed above, the County experiences an average of 65 hazardous materials incidents per year, with various degrees of impact; there is effectively a 100 percent chance that the County will see a hazardous materials incident in any given year. However, hazardous materials incidents that cause deaths, injuries, or evacuations are far rarer, occurring in between 3 and 6% of occurrences on average. These can occur at any time and with little predictability given the presence of major transportation routes in throughout the County.

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Climate Change Considerations
There are no known effects of climate change on human caused hazards, such as hazardous material incidents. However, it is possible that an increase in other hazards, such as severe storms and fire events may increase the likelihood of an accidental hazardous materials release.

Vulnerability Assessment
General Property
The impact of a fixed hazardous facility, such as a chemical processing facility is typically localized to the property where the incident occurs. The impact of a small spill (i.e. liquid spill) may also be limited to the extent of the spill and remediated if needed. A blanket answer for potential impacts is hard to quantify, as different chemicals may present different impacts and issues. Property within a half mile in either direction of designated hazardous materials routes are at increased risk of impacts. While cleanup costs from major spills can be significant, they do not typically cause significant long-term impacts to property.

People
Hazardous materials incidents can cause injuries, hospitalizations, and even fatalities to people nearby.

People living near hazardous facilities and along transportation routes may be at a higher risk of exposure, particularly those living or working downstream and downwind from such facilities. For example, a toxic spill or a release of an airborne chemical near a populated area can lead to significant evacuations and have a high potential for loss of life.

In addition to the immediate health impacts of releases, a handful of studies have found long-term health impacts such as increased incidence of certain cancers and birth defects among people living near certain chemical facilities. However there has not been sufficient research done on the subject to allow detailed analysis.

Social Vulnerability
While hazardous material incidents could take place anywhere across the County and may be unpredictable, those living near HazMat facilities or along transportation routes that additionally happen to be socially vulnerable communities would be of highest concern. Based on a combination of the SoVI data presented and discussed in subsection 4.2.1 and the presence of major transportation routes and EPA or CalARP regulated facilities the most vulnerable populations include Merced, Atwater, and Livingston. In addition, agricultural farm workers are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure and other hazardous material incidents associated with the agricultural operation.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Impacts of hazardous material incidents on critical facilities are most often limited to the area or facility where they occurred, such as at a transit station, airport, fire station, hospital, or railroad. However, they can cause long-term traffic delays and road closures resulting in major delays in the movement of goods and services. These incidents would be more severe if they result in traffic delays on road closures on any of the designated truck routes or hazardous materials routes in the County. These impacts can spread beyond the planning area to affect neighboring counties, or vice-versa. While cleanup costs from major spills can be significant, they do not typically cause significant long-term impacts to critical facilities.

Economy
The primary economic impact of hazardous material incidents result in lost business, delayed deliveries, property damage, and potential contamination. Large and publicized hazardous material-related events can deter tourists and recreationists too. If incidents occur along major transportation corridors, they can

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temporarily close routes and result in traffic delays. Economic effects from major transportation corridor closures can be significant.

Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
Hazardous material incidents may affect a small area at a regulated facility or cover a large area outside such a facility. Widespread effects occur when hazards contaminate the groundwater and eventually the municipal water supply, or they migrate to a major waterway or aquifer. Impacts on wildlife and natural resources can also be significant. These types of widespread events may be more likely to occur during a transportation incident, such as a pipeline spill, and can have far reaching and devastating impacts on the natural environment and habitats if they occurred near one of the several wildlife refuges in Merced County.

Future Development
The amount of hazardous materials that are stored, used, and transported across the County are inferred to continue to increase over the next five years based on regional growth trends. As discussed previously, the number of hazardous materials incidents in the County has generally been increasing year to year for the last 15 years and is likely to continue to increase. Future development is also expected to increase the number of people potentially exposed to the impacts of hazardous materials incidents.

Risk Summary
The overall significance of hazardous materials incidents in Merced County is Medium. These incidents occur frequently with little to no warning, both at fixed sites and along transportation routes throughout the County. The possibility of a major spill impacting a major populated area exists; historically the impacts of these incidents on the County as a whole have been fairly limited. ● Over the past 15 years, the County experienced an average of 65 hazardous materials incidents per year. This number has generally been trending higher in recent years. Incidents that caused death or injuries were far rarer.
● Of the 972 hazardous material incidents over the past 15 years, 39 percent were transportation related, 39 percent occurred at fixed facilities; the remaining 22 percent have an unreported location. ● Several pipelines conveying gas or hazardous liquids cross the County, as shown in the NPMS. ● Hazardous materials releases can complicate response to and recovery from natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
● Hazardous Materials incidents can cause injuries and fatalities, as well as long-term health problems like increased cancer risks.
● Impacted properties can require cleanup, but the effects are usually localized to the site of the release. ● Extended road closures can result in economic losses and impact tourism. ● Impacted facilities and infrastructure can require cleanup, but the effects are usually localized to the site of the release.
● Related Hazards include Earthquake, Flood, Fire.

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Table 4-76 Hazard Summary – Hazardous Materials Incidents Jurisdiction Geographic
Extent
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Merced County Limited Highly Likely Negligible Low
City of Atwater Limited Occasional Negligible Medium
City of Dos Palos Limited Occasional Negligible Medium
City of Gustine Significant Unlikely Critical Low
City of Livingston Limited Occasional Negligible Medium City of Los Banos Significant Likely Critical Medium
City of Merced Limited Likely Negligible Medium

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4.2.14Cyber Attack
Hazard Problem/Definition
The 2018 California SHMP defines cyber attacks as “attempts by cyber criminals to attack a government, organization, or private party by damaging or disrupting a computer or computer network, or by or stealing data from a computer or computer network for malicious use.” Cyber-attacks use malicious code to alter computer operations or data. The vulnerability of computer systems to attacks is a growing concern as people and institutions become more dependent upon networked technologies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that, “cyber intrusions are becoming more commonplace, more dangerous, and more sophisticated,” with implications for private- and public-sector networks. Cyber threats can take many forms, including:

Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are fraudulent communications that appear to come from legitimate sources. Phishing attacks typically come through email but may come through text messages as well.

Phishing may also be considered a type of social engineering meant to exploit employees into paying fake invoices, providing passwords, or sending sensitive information.

Malware attacks: Malware is malicious code that may infect a computer system. Malware typically gains a foothold when a user visits an unsafe site, downloads untrusted software, or may be downloaded in conjunction with a phishing attack. Malware can remain undetected for years and spread across an entire network.

Ransomware: Ransomware typically blocks access to a jurisdiction’s/agency’s/ business’ data by encrypting it. Perpetrators will ask for a ransom to provide the security key and decrypt the data, although many ransomware victims never get their data back even after paying the ransom.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack: Perhaps the most common type of cyber attack, a DDoS attack seeks to overwhelm a network and causes it to either be inaccessible or shut down. A DDoS typically uses other infected systems and internet connected devices to “request” information from a specific network or server that is not configured or powerful enough to handle the traffic.

Data breach: Hackers gaining access to large amounts of personal, sensitive, or confidential information has become increasingly common in recent years. In addition to networked systems, data breaches can occur due to the mishandling of external drives.

Critical Infrastructure/SCADA System attack: There have been recent critical infrastructure Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system attacks aimed at taking down lifelines such as power plants and wastewater facilities. These attacks typically combine a form of phishing, malware, or other social engineering mechanisms to gain access to the system.

The 2018 California SHMP states: “Nationally, cybersecurity incidents such as financial fraud and government database breaches have increased from 5,503 in 2006 to 67,168 in 2014.” This is more than a 1200% increase in occurrence over just an 8-year period. As this trend continues and society and government functions become ever more technologically dependent, this hazard is of increasing concern.

In one recent attempt to combat this threat, the State of California adopted Senate Bill 327 in September of 2018. This bill seeks to improve information privacy, specifically pertaining to connected devices.

Existing laws in California require businesses to take all reasonable steps to dispose of customer records within their custody containing personal information and also require businesses that own, license, or maintain personal information about a California resident to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures. SB 327, which went into effect January 1, 2020 further requires the manufacturer of connected devices to equip the device with a reasonable security feature to protect user information (Senate Bill 327).

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Geographic Area
Cyber attacks can and have occurred in every location regardless of geography, demographics, and security posture. Incidents may involve a single location or multiple geographic areas. A disruption can have far reaching effects beyond the location of the targeted system; disruptions that occur far outside the state can still impact people, businesses, and institutions within the county. All of Merced County is potentially susceptible to cyber attacks, making the geographic extent significant.

Extent (Magnitude/Severity)
There is no universally accepted scale to explain the severity of cyber attacks. The strength of a DDoS attack is often explained in terms of a data transmission rate. One of the largest DDoS disruptions ever, the October 21, 2016 Dyn attack, peaked at 1.2 terabytes per second and impacted some of the internet’s most popular sites that included Amazon, Netflix, PayPal, Twitter, and several news organizations.

Data breaches are often described in terms of the number of records or identities exposed. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, maintains a database of data breaches in the United States. The largest data breach ever reported occurred in August 2013, when hackers gained access to all three billion Yahoo accounts. This incident is associated with California in the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse database as the company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. As the location of the headquarters of many large tech businesses and server farms, California as a state is potentially a greater target for cyber attacks. There have been many other instances in the state where millions of records have been breached.

Ransomware attacks are typically described in terms of the amount of ransom requested, or by the amount of time and money spent to recover from the attack. One report from cybersecurity firm Emsisoft estimates the average successful ransomware attack costs $81 million and can take organizations 287 days to recover. Overall, the potential magnitude of a cyber attack can be seen as limited due to the lack of deaths and injuries, but the economic costs can be significant.

Previous Occurrences
The cybersecurity firm Symantec reports there were a total of 1,209 data breaches worldwide in 2016.

While the number of breaches has remained relatively steady, the average number of identities stolen has increased to almost one million per incident. The report also found that one in every 131 emails contained malware, and the company’s software blocked an average of 229,000 web attacks every day.

California is by far the state with the highest number of data breaches. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse database lists 1,338 data breaches against systems located in California, totaling over 5.7 billion impacted records; however, it is difficult to know how many of those affected Merced County residents. Attacks happening outside of the state can also impact local businesses, personal identifiable information, and credit card information.

A 2017 study found ransomware payments over a two-year period totaled more than $16 million. Even if a victim is perfectly prepared with full offline data backups, recovery from a sophisticated ransomware attack typically costs far more than the demanded ransom. However, according to a 2016 study by Kaspersky Lab, roughly one in five ransomware victims who pay their attackers never recover their data.

Recent years have seen an increase in ransomware attacks, particularly against local government systems.

The City of Atlanta was hit by a major ransomware attack in 2018, recovery from which wound up costing a reported $2.6 million, significantly more than the $52,000 ransom demand. A similar attack against the City of Baltimore in 2019 affected the city government’s email, voicemail, property tax portal, water bill, and parking ticket payment systems, and delayed more than 1,000 pending home sales. In March 2019,

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Orange County, North Carolina was attacked with a ransomware virus, causing slowdowns and service problems at key public offices such as the Register of Deeds, the Sheriff’s Office, and county libraries. The attack impacted a variety of county services, including disrupting the county’s capability to process real estate closings, issue marriage licenses, process fees or permits, process housing vouchers, and verify tax bills. Each of these past events are examples of the range of risks posed to county and municipal governments by various cyber attacks.

Reports of successful attacks against SCADA systems are less common. In February 2021, a hacker gained system access to a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida and increased the levels of sodium hydroxide to dangerous levels; however, this change was immediately detected by plant staff and corrected.

A large, sophisticated malware attack, known as Olympic Destroyer, was launched against the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The attack initially took down servers, email, Wi-Fi, and ticketing systems, which could have severely disrupted the games. Fortunately, the organizing committee had a robust cybersecurity group that was able to quickly restore most functions.

Probability of Future Occurrences
Small-scale cyber attacks such as DDoS attacks occur daily, but most have negligible impacts at the local or regional level. Data breaches are also extremely common, but again most have only minor impacts on government services.

Perhaps of greatest concern to Merced County are ransomware attacks, which are becoming increasingly common. It is difficult to predict the odds of Merced County being hit with a successful ransomware attack in any given year, but it is safe to say it is likely to be attacked in the coming years.

The possibility of a larger disruption affecting systems within the County is a constant threat, but it is difficult to quantify the exact probability due to such highly variable factors as the type of attack and intent of the attacker. Major attacks specifically targeting systems or infrastructure in the County cannot be ruled out.

Climate Change Considerations
There are no known effects of climate induced impacts on cyber attacks.

Vulnerability Assessment
The impact of a cyber attack can vary depending on the type of attack and the intent of the malicious actor. Though a cyber disruption can have limited impacts within a system’s own operations, it may cause cascading impacts.

General Property
The vast majority of cyber attacks affect only data and computer systems and have minimal impact on general property.

People
Injuries or fatalities from cyber attacks would generally only be possible from a major cyber terrorist attack against critical infrastructure, such as potable water treatment and delivery systems. If such an event would occur it could indirectly impact the customers served by water utility. More likely impacts to the public are financial losses and an inability to access systems such as public websites and permitting sites. Indirect impacts could include interruptions to traffic control systems or other infrastructure

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Data breaches and subsequent identify thefts can have huge impacts on the public. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) estimates that identity theft alone resulted in $2.7 billion in losses to businesses and $149 million in losses to individuals.

According to the Cyber & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), cyber risks to 9-1-1 systems can have “severe impacts, including loss of life or property; job disruption for affected network users; and financial costs for the misuse of data and subsequent resolution.” CISA also compiled a recent list of attacks on 9- 1-1 systems including a DDoS in Arizona, unauthorized access with stolen credentials in Canada, a network outage in New York, and a ransomware attack in Baltimore.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
While the vast majority of cyber attacks affect only data and computer systems, sophisticated attacks against utilities and infrastructure sites have occurred. Such attacks typically target the SCADA systems of critical infrastructure, which can potentially result in system failures on a scale equal with natural disasters.

Facilities and infrastructure, such as the electrical grid, could become unusable as a result of a cyber attack. A cyber attack took down the power grid in Ukraine in 2015, leaving over 230,000 people without power. Agencies that rely on electronic backup of critical files are also vulnerable.

The delivery of services can be impacted since governments rely to a great extent upon electronic delivery of services. Most agencies rely on server backups, electronic backups, and remote options for Continuity of Operations or the Continuity of Government. Many departments in the participating jurisdictions have the option to move to a paper method including permitting, DMV services, payments to and from the county, and payroll. However, access to documents on the network, OneDrive access, and other operations that require collaboration across the County will be significantly impacted.

Loss of government servers due to a cyber attack could affect the ability of responders to do their jobs.

Cyber attacks can interfere with emergency response communications, access to mobile data terminals, and access to critical preplans and response documents.

The delivery of services can be impacted since governments rely, to a great extent, upon electronic delivery of services. An attack could raise questions regarding the security of using electronic systems for government services.

Economy
Economic impacts from a cyber attack can be debilitating. The cyber attack in 2018 that took down the City of Atlanta cost at least $2.5 million in contractor costs and an estimated $9.5 million additional funds to bring everything back online. The attack in Atlanta took “more than a third of the 424 software programs offline” and recovery lasted more than 6 months. A 2018 cyber attack on the Colorado Department of Transportation cost an estimated $1.5 million. None of these statistics take into account the economic losses to businesses and ongoing IT configuration to mitigate from a future cyber attack.

Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
The vast majority of cyber incidents have little-to-no impact on historic, cultural or natural resources. A major cyber terrorism attack could potentially impact the environment by triggering a release of a hazardous materials, or by causing an accident involving hazardous materials by disrupting traffic control devices.

Future Development
Changes in development have no impact to the threat, vulnerability, and consequences of a cyber attack.

Cyber attacks can and have targeted small and large jurisdictions, multi-billion-dollar companies, small

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mom-and-pop shops, and individual citizens. The decentralized nature of the internet and data centers means that the cyber threat is shared by all, regardless of new construction and changes in development.

Risk Summary
The overall significance of cyber attacks in Merced County is Medium. These incidents occur frequently, with California being the state with by far the most reported incidents. The possibility of an attack of any scale impacting the County is almost certain.
● There have been 1,338 data breaches statewide over a 14-year period, averaging approximately 96 incidents per year.
● Nationwide the increase in cyber attacks has been dramatic year over year. As this trend continues it is safe to assume there is a threat to Merced County.
● Injuries and fatalities to people are unlikely, unless in a widescale attack that affected infrastructure and resulted in indirect impacts on communities. People may also be impacted financially. ● The vast majority of attacks do not affect property.
● Economic impacts from a cyber attack can be debilitating, sometimes costing local governments millions of dollars.
● The vast majority of attacks target only computer systems, however sophisticated attacks against utilities and infrastructure, such as electrical grids, have occurred.

Table 4-77 Hazard Summary – Cyber Attack
Jurisdiction Geographic
Extent
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Merced County Significant Likely Critical Medium
City of Atwater Limited Occasional Negligible Medium
City of Dos Palos Limited Occasional Negligible Medium
City of Gustine Limited Unlikely Limited Low
City of Livingston Limited Occasional Negligible Medium City of Los Banos Significant Likely Negligible Medium
City of Merced Limited Occasional Negligible Low

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4.2.15 Agricultural Pests and Disease
Hazard/ Problem Description
Located in the Central San Joaquin Valley, Merced County’s farming and agricultural industry is ranked as the top agriculture-producing county in California and the country. Agriculture is the dominant land use in Merced County, accounting for more than 90% of all land. According to the Merced County Department of Agriculture, agriculture grossed more than 3 billion dollars in 2019. Top commodities since 2018 included milk, almonds, and cattle (see table below).

Table 4-78 Top 15 Commodities in Merced County in 2018
Rank Change since 2017 Crop 2019 Value Top 15 Share
1 -- Milk $905,116,000 31.3%
2 -- Almonds $421,254,000 14.6%
3 Increase Cattle and Calves $297,451,000 10.3%
4 Decrease Chickens $294,633,000 10.2%
5 -- Sweet Potatoes $234,946,000 8.1%
6 -- Tomatoes $126,790,000 4.4%
7 -- Silage – Corn $108,077,000 3.7%
8 Increase All Nursery Products $84,515,000 2.9%
9 Decrease Hay – Alfalfa $69,943,000 2.4%
10 Decrease Eggs, Chicken $64,668,000 2.2%
11 Increase Misc. Vegetables $60,709,000 2.1%
12 -- Grapes – Wine $56,748,000 2.0%
13 Decrease Cotton – Pima $45,799,000 1.6%
14 -- Turkeys $43,490,000 1.5%
15 Increase Pollination $41,284,000 1.4%
Top 15 Total $2,890,875,000
Source: 2019 Report on Agriculture
Agricultural pests and pathogens (insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses and invasive plants) cause injury or severe destruction to crops or livestock. From exotic fruit flies to noxious weeds, California’s agriculture can be impacted by a wide variety of invasive pests and pathogens. These pests pose significant threats to the state’s agricultural crops, farm workers, economy, food supply and native habitat. They can also result in increases in food prices for consumers. The number of invasive pests and pathogens newly detected in California and the rest of the United States has increased at alarming rates in recent years, and that trend is projected to continue into the future. Insect pests and diseases, such as bark beetles and Sudden Oak Death in trees can also destroy forests and oak woodland habitat located along the eastern and western perimeters of Merced County, which can in turn increase the fuel load and lead to greater fire risk.

Agricultural disasters could also occur due to severe weather events, such as extreme heat, freeze cycles, and heavy rainfall and these hazards are covered under subsections 4.3.6 through 4.3.10. Drought events are covered under subsection 4.3.2.

The California Food and Agricultural Code mandates pest prevention programs to prevent the introduction and spread of pests in California. These include the Pest Exclusion Program, Pest Detection Program, Pierce’s Disease Control Program, and Federal Phytosanitary Certificate Program. Target pests are listed in Table 4-70, but also include dairy, livestock, and poultry pests and diseases, such as Mycobacterium bovis and pathogenic avian influenzas. Animal agriculture, such as dairy farms also result in copious amounts of manure, which contain zoonotic pathogens, which are viruses, bacteria, and parasites of animal origin that cause disease in humans.

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Table 4-79 Target Pests in Merced County
Target Pest Insect Hosts Traps Placed
Asian Citrus Psyllid Citrus 620
European Pine Shoot Moth Pine Trees 3
Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Nurseries/Urban
Areas
392
Light Brown Apple Moth Ornamental 288
Melon Fruit Fly Vegetable
Gardens
95 Oriental Fruit Fly Fruit Trees 320
European Corn Borer Corn 5
Gypsy Moth Shade Trees 107
Japanese Beetle Turf, Rose 100
Mediterranean Fruit Fly Fruit Trees 320
Mexican Fruit Fly Fruit Trees 169
Sweet Potato Weevil Sweet Potatoes 120
Source: 2019 Report on Agriculture
Geographic Area
According to the 2017 Census for Agriculture, Merced County contains almost 1 million agricultural acres.

Cropland accounts for 58% of agricultural land, while pastureland accounts for 38%. There are approximately 2,337 farms (as of 2017) in the County.

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Figure 4-48 Merced County Important Farmland
Extent (Magnitude/Severity)
Different pests can impact different crops in different ways; while there is no scale to define the extent of an infestation, a pest could have a major economic impact on the value of infested crops.

Another large factor that may influence crop yield is the spread of invasive plants, which may compete with crops for resources and in some cases also introduce pests. According to California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC), invasive plants cost California $82 million every year in control, monitoring and outreach; estimated actual impacts can reach into the billions. Based on the USDA’s RMA Crop Indemnity Reports, between 2007 and 2019 (no losses were reported in 2020), there were 734.6 acres lost due to plant disease and insects and $256,962 indemnity payments made.

Past Occurrences
Based on information from the USDA, Merced County received several USDA disaster declarations since 1950 (see Table 4-3 above). All the declarations were associated with flood, drought or severe weather events, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. None were related to agricultural disease.

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Probability of Future Occurrences
While probability of future occurrence is usually calculated based on past experience, different pests have different recidivism rates across the County. Based on past occurrences, pests and invasive species will continue to present a constant threat to the County and its jurisdictions.

Climate Change Considerations
California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment (2018) notes that “climate change impacts terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife in multiple ways, including invasion by exotic species, prevalence of wildlife disease, and loss of native habitats.” Changing climate conditions can impact viable living areas of species and cause migration; shift the spread of pests and disease northward by changing habitat temperatures and making previously undesirable habitats welcoming for new species and lengthen habitable seasons (CNRA 2018a). Longer growing seasons may also allow agricultural pests to persist longer, which can increase the severity of infestations on agricultural operations. Further, weather events have become more numerous and more severe. Changes in weather patterns can also have dramatic impacts on the ecosystem, including agriculture systems, and more severe impacts can be expected into the future.

Vulnerability Assessment
General Property
Agricultural losses occur on an annual basis and are usually associated with severe weather events, including heavy rains, floods, hail, freeze, and drought. The State of California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan attributes most of the agricultural disasters statewide to drought, freeze, and insect infestations.

Other agricultural hazards include fires, crop and livestock disease, noxious weeds, and contamination of animal food and water supplies.

Infestation of agriculture pests could impact crop yields, potential destroying whole fields. Between 2015 and 2018, the RMA paid no indemnities due to damage from insects but paid $22,900 in indemnities due to damage from crop disease.

People
A widespread infestation of livestock and crops could severely impact the economic base of the County and its communities employed by the agriculture industry. According to the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture, Merced County has 2,337 farms, which is a -6% change from the previous census in 2012.

While agricultural production in the County can enhance the economy and improve human health and ensure stable food prices in California and the U.S., certain habitats established for irrigation and agricultural output can also threaten human health by increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases (e.g. mosquitos, etc.). Rural communities, residing closest to these agricultural operations may also be most vulnerable to these diseases, as livestock pathogens are capable of infecting host species, which may include wildlife and human.

Jobs could be negatively impacted during an agriculture emergency; jobs tangentially tied to the agriculture industry could also be affected. According to “The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment”, rising temperatures and drought conditions due to climate change could also lead to increases in the occurrence and transport of pathogens in agricultural environments, which will increase the risk of food contamination and direct human exposure to pathogens and toxins (SGCRP 2016). In turn, this will increase health risks and require greater vigilance in food safety practices and regulation.

Disease can also exacerbate the impacts from other natural hazards. An example of this is adverse weather. Dead branches can be broken by high winds, and there are reports of these branches falling and causing harm to people.

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Social Vulnerability
Based on the SoVI data presented and discussed in subsection 4.2.1, the areas with the highest level of social vulnerability in the County are in the western and southeastern portion of the County, as well as some of the incorporated jurisdictions including Merced and Los Banos. These communities as well as those working in the agricultural sector would likely be impacted by the effects of agricultural hazards.

Critical Facilities
Critical facilities assessed in this plan would not be directly impacted by agricultural pests or diseases; however, the food and agriculture industry is considered critical infrastructure in Merced County and California. Impacts to this infrastructure, such as farms, diary operations, and processing facilities would have debilitating effects of food security, the economy, and public health and safety. Merced County farms and ranches, and the associated food processing facilities would be directly impacted economically by long-term disruptions in the food supply associated with crop losses due to agricultural pests and disease.

Economy
According to the University of California’s Center for Invasive Species Research, it has been estimated in California alone that invasive pests cost the state at least $3 billion per year. Nationally, it is estimated that invasive species cost the U.S. $138 billion per year. Economic impacts include both prevention, response and recovery costs. Given the contribution of agriculture to the local economy pest impacts could be significant. The value of agricultural commodities noted at the beginning of this hazard profile is $2,890,875,000. Based on that a hypothetical loss of 5% to due to agricultural pest or disease would equate to approximately $144M.

Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
Invasive species typically harm native species through predation, habitat degradation and competition for shared resources; they can outcompete native species out of natural habitats and are a leading cause of population decline and extinction in animals.

Tree mortality raises the wildfire threat in healthy forests, increasing the vulnerability, strength, speed and destruction of fires in the area.

Future Development
Most likely, good development practices in the future would not have an impact on Merced County’s vulnerability to agricultural pests, plant diseases, marine invasive species or tree mortality.

Risk Summary
● Merced County’s farming and agricultural industry is ranked as the top agriculture-producing county in California and the country.
● Agriculture is the dominant land use in Merced County, accounting for more than 90% of all land, or almost 1 million acres.
● Invasive plants cost California $82 million every year in control, monitoring and outreach. ● Based on USDA disaster declarations since 1950, none were related to agricultural pests or disease. ● Changes in weather patterns can have dramatic impacts on the ecosystem, including agriculture systems, and more severe impacts associated with agricultural pests and disease can be expected into the future.
● Changing climate conditions can shift the spread of pests and disease northward by changing habitat temperatures and making previously undesirable habitats welcoming for new species through longer growing seasons. This may increase the severity of pest infestations on agricultural operations.

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● Related hazards: Drought
Table 4-80 Risk Summary – Agricultural Pests, and Disease Jurisdiction Geographic Area
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Merced County Extensive Likely Critical Medium
City of Atwater Extensive Likely Critical Medium
City of Dos Palos Extensive Likely Critical Medium
City of Gustine Extensive Likely Critical Medium
City of Livingston Extensive Likely Critical Medium
City of Los Banos Extensive Likely Critical Medium
City of Merced Extensive Likely Critical Medium

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4.2.16Pandemics/Epidemics
Hazard/Problem Description
A pandemic can be defined as a disease that attacks a large population across great geographic distances.

Pandemics are larger than epidemics in terms of geographic area and number of people affected.

Epidemics tend to occur seasonally and affect much smaller areas. Pandemics, on the other hand, are most often caused by new subtypes of viruses or bacteria for which humans have little or no natural resistance. Consequently, pandemics typically result in more deaths, social disruption, and economic loss than epidemics.

There are three conditions that trigger a pandemic declaration:

1. A new virus subtype must emerge that has not previously circulated in humans (and therefore there is no pre-existing immunity),

2. This new subtype must be able to cause disease in humans, and

3. The virus must be easily transmissible from human-to-human.

Since March 2020, Merced County, the nation, and the world are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus), confirming that pandemic is a key public health hazard in the planning area. This hazard risk assessment includes an analysis of pandemic risk across Merced County and an analysis of the impacts of the hazards profiled in this plan on public health.

Unlike seasonal flu, a pandemic has much greater potential for loss of life and significant social disruption due to higher rates of transmission and more severe health impacts. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has a much higher rate of transmission than the seasonal flu, primarily by airborne transmission of droplets/bodily fluid. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, and loss of smell and taste. While most people have mild symptoms, some people develop acute respiratory distress syndrome with roughly one in five requiring hospitalization in the United States and a fatality rate between 1 to 2 percent. Because the virus can be transmitted by people who are asymptomatic, and due to the presence of several variants of SARS-CoV-2, containing the spread has been a significant challenge across the globe.

Geographic Area
Pandemics occur not only on a county or state level, but on a national and global scale. It is likely that most communities in Merced County would be affected, either directly or by secondary impacts. Some indirect consequences may be the diversion of resources that may be otherwise available.

Merced County has reported 31,009 cases and 448 deaths from COVID-19 as of April 11, 2021. According to the Merced County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard, the City of Merced has the highest number of cases (approximately 11,100 as of April 12, 2021, and the City of LeGrand Planada and City of Hilmar have the lowest number of cases in the 700-800 range) as of April 9, 2021. This is likely because cities like Merced have higher populations and municipal areas relative to other cities within the county, and COVID-19 is transmitted primarily from human-to-human contact.

Another example of a human health hazard that is endemic to Merced County is Valley Fever, or “cocci” which is a known, but poorly understood secondary effect of drought conditions, and possibly a combination of wind and drought events followed by a rainy season. Valley Fever is an infection caused by a fungus (Coccidioides immitis) that lives in soil and dirt and in areas with low rainfall, high summer temperatures, and moderate winter temperatures. Valley Fever is primarily a disease of the lungs that is common in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Valley Fever derives its name from

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its discovery in the San Joaquin Valley of California. While the extent of Valley Fever varies from southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and some parts of Central and South America, the known endemic area in California include portions of the Sacramento Valley, all of the San Joaquin Valley, and desert regions and southern portions of California. Individuals are likely to be affected by Valley Fever if they live in an area where the cocci fungus is prevalent.

Extent (Magnitude/Severity)
The magnitude of a public health emergency will range significantly depending on the transmissivity and mortality rate of the virus. For example, pandemic influenza is easily transmitted from person-to-person, however advances in medical technologies have greatly reduced the number of deaths caused by influenza over time.

Today, a much larger percentage of the world’s population is clustered in cities, making them ideal breeding grounds for epidemics. Additionally, the explosive growth in air travel means the virus could spread around the globe within hours. Under such conditions, there may be very warning little time for counties, states, and countries to prepare. Most experts believe we will have just one to six months between the time that a dangerous new influenza strain is identified and the time that outbreaks begin to occur in the United States. Outbreaks are expected to occur simultaneously throughout much of the nation, preventing shifts in human and material resources that normally occur with other natural disasters.

These and many other aspects make pandemics unlike any other public health emergency or community disaster. Pandemics typically last for several months to 1-2 years and have even longer lasting effects on the economy and communities.

As described by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pandemic Intervals Framework is a six-phased approach to defining the progression of a pandemic. This framework is used to guide pandemic planning and provides recommendations for risk assessment, decision making, and action. These intervals provide a common method to describe pandemic activity which can inform public health actions. The duration of each pandemic interval might vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response.

The six-phase approach was designed for the easy incorporation of recommendations into existing national and local preparedness and response plans. Phases 1 through 3 correlate with preparedness in the pre-pandemic interval, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases 4 through 6 signal the need for response and mitigation efforts during the pandemic interval. Phase 6 was reached in the County during the 2020 COVID outbreak.

Pre-Pandemic Interval
Phase 1 is the natural state in which influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals but do not affect humans.

Phase 2 involves cases of animal influenza that have circulated among domesticated or wild animals and have caused specific cases of infection among humans.

Phase 3 represents the mutation of the animal influenza virus in humans so that it can be transmitted to other humans under certain circumstances (usually very close contact between individuals). At this point, small clusters of infection have occurred.

Pandemic Interval
Phase 4 involves community-wide outbreaks as the virus continues to mutate and become more easily transmitted between people (for example, transmission through the air).

Phase 5 represents human-to-human transmission of the virus in at least two countries.

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Phase 6 is the pandemic phase, characterized by community-level influenza outbreaks.

Past Occurrences
● Since the early 1900s, five lethal pandemics have swept the globe:
● 1918-1919 Spanish Flu: The Spanish Flu was the most severe pandemic in recent history. The number of deaths was estimated to be 50-100 million worldwide and 675,000 in the United States. Its primary victims were mostly young, healthy adults. At one point, more than 10 percent of the American workforce was bedridden.
● 1957-1958 Asian Flu: The 1957 Asian Flu pandemic killed 1 to 2 million people worldwide, including about 70,000 people in the United States, mostly the elderly and chronically ill. Fortunately, the virus was quickly identified, and vaccine production began in May 1957. ● 1968-1969 H3N2 Hong Kong Flu: The 1968 Hong Kong Flu pandemic killed 34,000 Americans.

Again, the elderly were more severely affected. This pandemic peaked during school holidays in December, limiting student-related infections, which may have kept the number of infections down.

Also, people infected by the Asian Flu ten years earlier may have gained some resistance to the new virus.
● 2009-2010 H1N1 Swine Flu: This influenza pandemic emerged from Mexico in early 2009 and was declared a public health emergency in the U.S. on April 26. By June, approximately 18,000 cases had been reported in the U.S. and the virus had spread to 74 countries. Most cases were fairly mild, with symptoms similar to the seasonal flu, but there were cases of severe disease requiring hospitalization and a number of deaths. The CDC estimates that 43-89 million people were infected worldwide, with an estimated 8,870 to 18,300 H1N1 related deaths, including 12,469 deaths in the United States. ● 2020-Ongoing COVID-19: The COVID-19 or novel coronavirus outbreak began in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic in March of 2020. As of April 11, 2021, over 136 million cases and approximately 2.9 million deaths have been reported globally, according to the WHO. Within the U.S. as of April 11, 2021, over 30 million cases and over 555,000 deaths have been reported. Merced County has reported 31,009 cases so far resulting in 448 deaths. COVID-19 vaccines are currently being administered and thus far almost 15% of Merced County adults (18 years or older) have been fully vaccinated. It will take several months for the entire population to receive a vaccine and achieve herd immunity; additionally, due to the uncertainty in the transmission of several variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pandemic is expected to continue through 2021.

Probability of Future Occurrences
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, most public health experts considered another major pandemic to be inevitable. However, there is no definite way to predict when the next pandemic might occur. Some indicators will be present, but not every new virus turns into a pandemic. Based on the five pandemics that have affected the United States in roughly the last 100 years, a pandemic occurs on average roughly every 20 years.

Climate Change Considerations
Additional research is needed to determine the effects of climate change on the frequency and duration of epidemics and pandemics. Climate change may influence vector-borne disease transmission, although the direction of the effects (increased or decreased incidence) will be location- and disease-specific. The intensity and extent of certain diseases is projected to increase. According to the WHO, there has been research development into the linkages between climate and infectious disease transmission that examine the associations between climate variability and infectious disease occurrence, early indicators of emerging infectious disease impacts of climate change and using predictive models to estimate the future burden of infectious disease under different climate change scenarios (WHO 2003). In summary, future

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risks associated with climate change are difficult to predict, but changes in infectious disease transmission patterns are likely consequences of climate change. Climate change can impact when and where pathogens appear, particularly related to temperature and rainfall patterns.

Ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, building climate resiliency, and creating robust public health campaigns to prevent or prepare for possible increased vector-borne diseases may help to reduce the impacts of climate change on pandemics.

Vulnerability Assessment
Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a pandemic requires a strategy that includes a holistic suite of public health activities designed to lessen the impact on morbidity and mortality. These activities include education, vaccination, prophylaxis, isolation/quarantine, a robust contact tracing program, and the closure of public facilities. In addition, clear, concise communication with the public and with other agencies remains a critical component, as does the ability of the involved agencies to achieve collaboration and coordination. By their very nature, most pandemics, once started, will not be stopped until they have run their course. This course can be shortened and weakened by a number of factors, with vaccination being the most effective method for protecting the population. Pandemic plans describe strategies of preparedness, response, and recovery to attempt to decrease illnesses and deaths during the pandemic period to manageable levels (i.e., that do not overwhelm the critical infrastructures of the State), and to promote community resiliency and rapid recovery.

General Property
For the most part, property itself is not generally impacted by a human disease epidemic or pandemic.

However, as concerns about contamination increase, property may be quarantined or destroyed as a precaution against spreading illness. Additionally, traditional sheltering facilities including homeless shelters or temporary facilities set up to support displaced persons due to an evacuation or other reason due to a simultaneous disaster occurring cannot be done in a congregate setting. This requires additional planning considerations or use of facilities that allow for non-congregate shelter settings, which may require an approval of a request to FEMA for non-congregate sheltering, and may have an increased cost (such as the use of individual hotel rooms) as opposed to traditional congregate sheltering facilities.

People
Pandemics have the ability to affect large segments of the population for long periods of time. The number of hospitalizations and deaths will depend on the virulence of the virus. Risk groups cannot be predicted with certainty; the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions, and young children are usually at higher risk due to their higher exposure rates from schools, but as discussed above this is not always true for all infectious agents. People without health coverage or access to good medical care are also likely to be more adversely affected. Mental health of the public could also be impacted depending on the length of the event and public health guidance on prevention.

As previously described in the Past Events section above, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 555,000 deaths in the U.S. alone (448 in Merced County). In addition to the direct impacts, the pandemic has completely disrupted life for many people. Most large gatherings have had to be cancelled, and many schools have closed. Sheltering in place and social distancing have been highly encouraged and, in some places, mandated, leaving some individuals isolated for months.

Social Vulnerability
Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a pandemic requires a strategy that includes a holistic suite of public health activities designed to lessen the impact on morbidity and mortality. These activities include education, vaccination, prophylaxis, isolation/quarantine, a robust contact tracing program, and

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the closure of public facilities. In addition, clear, concise communication with the public and with other agencies remains a critical component, as does the ability of the involved agencies to achieve collaboration and coordination. By their very nature, most pandemics, once started, will not be stopped until they have run their course. This course can be shortened and weakened by a number of factors, with vaccination being the most effective method for protecting the population. Pandemic plans describe strategies of preparedness, response, and recovery to attempt to decrease illnesses and deaths during the pandemic period to manageable levels (i.e., that do not overwhelm the critical infrastructures of the State), and to promote community resiliency and rapid recovery.

Critical Facilities
In the event of a pandemic, especially one with high transmission rates and mortality rates such as COVID19, community lifelines, such as healthcare facilities, like hospitals will be heavily affected and may be overwhelmed due to limited number of beds, doctor and medical staff, laboratory testing capacity, and possible personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages. Indirect impacts can also result in these facilities being temporarily offline due to testing or other precautionary monitoring and downed systems. Further, outbreaks in small cities and counties may cause medical facilities to reach capacity very quickly. Other critical facilities and infrastructure are not directly affected by a pandemic but may have difficulty maintaining operations and maintenance activities due to a significantly decreased workforce. Schools may also be forced to close.

Economy
Pandemics can have extensive economic impacts, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on social gatherings. Social distancing requirements have affected nearly every segment of the local and national economy, most notably the restaurant and hospitality industries.

Additionally, tourism may be impacted in affected areas. As a result, the unemployment rate can increase, which also occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other economic impacts including varying disruptions in the food supply chains and other essential medical services.

Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
Impacts to these resources are typically minimal. However, reduced tourism during outbreaks could lead to additional economic impacts.

Future Development
Population growth and development contribute to pandemic exposure. Future development in and around Merced County has the potential to change how infectious diseases spread through the community and impact human health in both the short and long-term. New development may increase the number of people and facilities exposed to public health hazards and greater population concentrations (often found in special needs facilities, businesses, and school campuses) put more people at risk. During a disease outbreak those in the immediate isolation area would have little to no warning, whereas, the population further away in the dispersion path may have some time to prepare and mitigate against disease depending on the hazard, its transmission, and public notification.

Risk Summary
● Pandemics affecting the U.S. occur roughly once every 20 years but cannot be reliably predicted. ● Effects on people will vary, but a significant portion of the population could become ill, and may need to be hospitalized
● Effects on property are typically minimal, although quarantines could result in short-term closures.

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● Community lifelines, such as healthcare facilities, like hospitals will be impacted and may be overwhelmed and have difficulty maintaining operations due to bed availability, medical staffing shortages, and lack of PPE and other supplies.
● Lost productivity due to illness and potential business closures could potentially have severe economic impacts, such as increased unemployment rates in the County. Social distancing requirements and fear of public gatherings could also significantly reduce in person commerce. ● The hazard is considered high significance across all participating jurisdictions. ● Ongoing mitigation activities should focus on disease prevention, especially during flu season. This includes, but is not limited to, pre-season community outreach campaigns to educate the public about risks and available support; establishing convenient vaccination centers; reaching out to vulnerable populations and care givers; and issuing advisories and warnings.

Table 4-81 Hazard Risk Summary – Pandemics/Epidemics
Jurisdiction Geographic Area
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Merced County Extensive Occasional Catastrophic High
City of Atwater Extensive Occasional Catastrophic High
City of Dos Palos Extensive Occasional Critical Medium
City of Gustine Extensive Occasional Catastrophic High
City of Livingston Extensive Occasional Catastrophic High City of Los Banos Extensive Occasional Catastrophic High City of Merced Extensive Occasional Critical Medium

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5 MITIGATION STRATEGY
Requirement §201.6(c)(3):
[The plan shall include the following:] A mitigation strategy that provides the jurisdiction’s blueprint for reducing the potential losses identified in the risk assessment, based on existing authorities, policies, programs, and resources, and its ability to expand on and improve these existing tools.

This section describes the mitigation strategy process and mitigation action plan for the Merced County MJHMP. It describes how the County and participating jurisdictions met the requirements for the following from the 10-step planning process:
● Planning Step 6: Set Goals
● Planning Step 7: Review Possible Activities
● Planning Step 8: Draft an Action Plan
The mitigation strategy reflects the results of the collaborative work of the HMPT. Subsection 5.3 Mitigation Action Plan is based on the updated planning process, risk assessment, capability assessment, goal setting, and the identification of mitigation actions. Taking all of these into consideration, the HMPT developed the following overall mitigation strategy:
● Communicate the hazard information collected and analyzed through this planning process as well as HMPT success stories so that the community better understands what can happen where and what they themselves can do to be better prepared.
● Implement the action plan recommendations of this plan. ● Use existing rules, regulations, policies, and procedures already in existence. Given the flood hazard in the planning area, an emphasis should be placed on continued compliance with the NFIP. ● Monitor multi-objective management opportunities so that funding opportunities may be shared and packaged, and broader constituent support may be garnered.

5.1 Mitigation Goals and Objectives
§201.6(c)(3)(i)
[The hazard mitigation strategy shall include a] description of mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long‐ term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.

Up to this point in the planning process, the HMPT has organized resources, assessed hazards and risks, and documented mitigation capabilities. The resulting goals, objectives, and mitigation actions were developed based on these tasks. The HMPT held a series of meetings and exercises designed to achieve a collaborative, updated mitigation strategy as described further throughout this section.

Over a series of meetings during the 2021 update process the HMPT reviewed the results of the hazard identification, vulnerability assessment, and capability assessment update. This analysis of the risk assessment identified areas where improvements could be made and provided the framework for the HMPT to update planning goals and objectives and the ultimate mitigation strategy for the Merced County planning area.

Goals were defined for the purpose of this mitigation plan as broad-based public policy statements that:
● Represent basic desires of the community;

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● Encompass all aspects of community, public and private; ● Are nonspecific, in that they refer to the quality (not the quantity) of the outcome; ● Are future-oriented, in that they are achievable in the future; and ● Are time-independent, in that they are not scheduled events.

Goals are stated without regard to implementation. Implementation cost, schedule, and means are not considered. Goals are defined before considering how to accomplish them so that they are not dependent on the means of achievement. Goal statements form the basis for objectives and actions that will be used as means to achieve the goals. Objectives define strategies to attain the goals and are more specific and measurable.

During the 2021 plan update process, HMPT members review the existing goals and objectives as well the goals and objectives from 2018 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan and from the 2014 City of Merced LHMP. Through a brainstorming process at their third meeting, the HMPT identified a variety of possible goals and then came to a consensus on seven main sets of goals and objectives. Goals 4, 5 and 6 are new to 2021 plan update; other revisions included removing the word “natural” from the goals to be more inclusive to all hazards. Following the development of goals, the HMPT also identified specific objectives to achieve each goal. Goals and objectives are listed below, but are not prioritized:
● Goal 1: Reduce the potential for loss of life and injury from hazards - Assist vulnerable populations from the impacts of severe weather by organizing a mechanism for outreach.
- Educate property owners by increasing wildfire awareness and measures for reducing risks - Identify opportunities to reduce losses associated with High Hazard potential dams ● Goal 2: Minimize or reduce damage to property.
- Minimize growth and development in hazard areas
- Adopt and enforce building codes
- Educate property owners by increasing wildfire awareness and measures for reducing risks - Identify opportunities to reduce losses associated with High Hazard potential dams ● Goal 3: Build resiliency and redundancy to maintain essential services, lifelines, facilities, and infrastructure.
- Ensure protection and enhancement of key emergency access routes - Protect critical facilities and infrastructure to minimize loss of critical services - Seek funding sources and partners for future mitigation activities - Improve organizational capabilities to address health and safety issues in mitigation and response
● Goal 4: Minimize impacts of hazards to agriculture and the economies of communities. - Encourage water conservation measures among urban, rural, and agricultural users - Increase water storage to mitigate flooding and drought - Strengthen disaster resistance and resiliency of major employers - Develop plans for post-disaster recovery
● Goal 5: Protect and leverage natural and beneficial mitigation functions of the environment. - Encourage the use of drought tolerant or xeriscaping practices into landscape ordinances - Incorporate defensible space in landscaping of new and existing development ● Goal 6: Promote hazard mitigation as an integrated policy.

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- Promote hazard mitigation as integrated policy among communities in the county and with the region and state
- Incorporate flood mitigation into local planning by adoption of post-disaster recovery ordinance based on a plan to regulate repair activity
- Continue to improve enforcement of existing standards and regulations ● Goal 7: Increase public awareness of hazards.
- Promote education and awareness about natural hazards risk, mitigation, and preparedness to citizens, public agencies, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and businesses - Develop water saving education program
- Increase communication regarding hazard mitigation among communities in the county

5.1.1 Continued Compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) The NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in participating communities. For most participating communities, FEMA has prepared a detailed Flood Insurance Study. The study presents water surface elevations for floods of various magnitudes, including the 1% annual chance flood (or 100-year flood) and the 0.2% annual chance flood (or 500-year flood).

Base flood elevations and the boundaries of the 100- and 500-year floodplains are shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), which are the principal tools for identifying the extent and location of the riverine flood hazard. FIRMs are the most detailed and consistent data source available, and for many communities they represent the minimum area of oversight under their floodplain management program.

Participants in the NFIP must, at a minimum, regulate development in floodplain areas in accordance with NFIP criteria. Before issuing a permit to build in a floodplain, participating jurisdictions must ensure that three criteria are met:
● New buildings and those undergoing substantial improvements must, at a minimum, be elevated to protect against damage by the 100-year flood.
● New floodplain development must not aggravate existing flood problems or increase damage to other properties.
● New floodplain development must exercise a reasonable and prudent effort to reduce its adverse impacts on threatened salmonid species.

Merced County, Atwater, Dos Palos, Livingston, Los Banos and Merced participate in the NFIP. Structures permitted or built in the county before 1979 when the County, Atwater and Merced joined the NFIP (1978 for Dos Palos and Livingston and 1998 for Los Banos) are called “pre-FIRM” structures, and structures built afterwards are called “post-FIRM.” Post-FIRM structures built in compliance with the floodplain regulations are mitigated to withstand floods up through the 100-year event. The insurance rate is different for the two types of structures, as pre-FIRM structures are at higher risk of flooding. The effective date for the current countywide FIRM is December 2, 2008. The County and participating jurisdictions are currently in good standing with the provisions of the NFIP. Compliance is monitored by FEMA regional staff. Maintaining compliance with the NFIP is an important component of flood mitigation and risk reduction.

The City of Gustine is not a participant in the NFIP and has been sanctioned since December 2, 2009. This means that residents are not able to obtain flood insurance from the NFIP. The City has minimal flood risk and the effective FEMA flood hazard mapping does not show any Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or 1% annual chance flooding within city limits. This has been the reason for not joining the NFIP, but as part of this plan update the City will revisit the cost and benefit of joining, including working with CA DWR and FEMA to understand the implications of the sanction designation. Refer to the mitigation strategy in

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Section 5 for more information on specific mitigation actions related to addressing the sanction designation.

Given the flood hazard and risk in the planning area and recognizing the importance of the NFIP in mitigating flood losses, an emphasis is placed on continued compliance with the NFIP by Merced County and all NFIP participating jurisdictions including Atwater, Dos Palos, Livingston, Los Banos and Merced. As NFIP participants, these communities have and will continue to make every effort to remain in good standing with NFIP. This includes continuing to comply with the NFIP’s requirements for adopting official FEMA floodplain maps and maintaining, enforcing, and updating local floodplain regulations.

5.2 Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Actions
§201.6(c)(3)(ii):
[The hazard mitigation strategy shall include a] section that identifies and analyzes a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce the effects of each hazard, with particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure. All plans approved by FEMA after October 1, 2008, must also address the jurisdiction’s participation in the NFIP, and continued compliance with NFIP requirements, as appropriate.

In order to identify and select mitigation measures to support the mitigation goals, each hazard identified in Section 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment was evaluated. The HMPT analyzed a comprehensive set of viable mitigation alternatives for both new and existing buildings and infrastructure that would support identified goals and objectives. Each HMPT member was provided with the following list of categories of mitigation measures, which originate from the NFIP CRS:
● Prevention: Administrative or regulatory actions or processes that influence the way land and buildings are developed and built.
● Property protection: Actions that involve the modification of existing buildings or structures to protect them from a hazard or remove them from the hazard area. ● Structural: Actions that involve the construction of structures to reduce the impact of a hazard. ● Natural resource protection: Actions that, in addition to minimizing hazard losses, also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems.
● Emergency services: Actions that protect people and property during and immediately after a disaster or hazard event.
● Public information/education and awareness: Actions to inform and educate citizens, elected officials, and property owners about the hazards and potential ways to mitigate them.

At the mitigation strategy meeting the HMPT was also provided with a matrix showing examples of potential mitigation action alternatives for each of the above categories, for each of the identified hazards.

The HMPT was also provided a handout that explains the categories and provided further examples.

Another reference document titled “Mitigation Ideas” developed by FEMA in 2013 and FEMA’s 2020 “Mitigation Action Portfolio” were distributed to the HMPT via an online link. These document lists the common alternatives for mitigation by hazard and actions funded by FEMA. The HMPT was also instructed to consider both future and existing buildings in considering possible mitigation actions. This reference provides four categories of mitigation actions that were discussed at the HMPT meeting in addition to the NFIP/CRS categories. These include:
● Plans and Regulations
● Structure and Infrastructure Projects
● Education and Awareness

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● Natural systems protection
Other alternatives discussed in the webinar include the four ‘A’s’ of mitigation:
● Alter the physical nature of the hazard
- Such as wildfire defensible space and fuels treatments, snow fences etc. ● Avert the hazard away from people, buildings, and infrastructure - Can include engineered solutions, drainage, and channel improvements, floodproofing, fuel breaks
● Adapt to the hazard
- Through land use planning, building codes and design standards, warning systems etc. ● Avoid the hazard
- Natural systems protection, open space, acquisition, or relocation of properties out of hazardous areas
As part of the review of mitigation options long-term climate change adaptation strategies were also discussed. HMPT members were encouraged to incorporate climate change adaptation measures into the mitigation strategy of their respective jurisdictions utilizing resources and guidance available on the CalAdapt website.

To facilitate the brainstorming process, the HMPT referred to a matrix of typical mitigation alternatives organized by CRS category for the hazards identified in the plan, in addition to a handout that explains the categories and provided examples. These materials are included in Appendix B. HMPT members were encouraged to develop mitigation alternatives that would protect future, as well as existing, development from hazards per the DMA 2000 regulations. A facilitated discussion then took place to examine the existing actions in the 2014 plan and analyze the other possible mitigation alternatives. With an understanding of the alternatives, a brainstorming session was conducted to generate a list of preferred mitigation actions. The result was new and updated project ideas with the intent of meeting the identified goals and mitigating identified hazards.

These new and updated project actions were expanded on during a fourth HMPT meeting scheduled to focus on the refinement and prioritization of new mitigation activities. During the fourth HMPT meeting, Wood facilitated a discussion on the draft MJHMP and any remaining information or mitigation gaps that needed to be addressed. During the fourth HMPT meeting the group also discussed opportunities for plan integration and reviewed the plan implementation and maintenance procedures.

5.2.1 Prioritization Process
Once the mitigation actions were identified, the HMPT was provided with several decision making tools, including FEMA’s recommended prioritization criteria, STAPLEE, to assist in deciding why one recommended action might be more important, more effective, or more likely to be implemented than another. STAPLEE stands for the following:
● Social: Does the measure treat people fairly? (e.g., different groups, different generations) Does it consider social equity, disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations? ● Technical: Will it work? (Is the action technically feasible? Does it solve the problem?) ● Administrative: Is there capacity to implement and manage the project? (adequate staffing, funding, and other capabilities to implement the project?)
● Political: Who are the stakeholders? Did they get to participate? Will there be adequate political and public support for the project?
● Legal: Does the jurisdiction have the legal authority to implement the action? Is it legal? Are there liability implications?

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2021-2026 Update Page 5-6
● Economic: Is the action cost-beneficial? Is there funding available? Will the action contribute to the local economy?
● Environmental: Does the action comply with environmental regulations? Will there be negative environmental consequences from the action?
In accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act requirements, an emphasis was placed on the importance of a benefit-cost analysis in determining action priority. Other criteria used to assist in evaluating the benefit-cost of a mitigation action included:
● Does the action address hazards or areas with the highest risk? ● Does the action protect lives?
● Does the action protect infrastructure, community assets or critical facilities? ● Does the action meet multiple objectives (Multiple Objective Management)? ● What will the action cost?
● What is the timing of available funding?
The mitigation categories, multi-hazard actions, and criteria are included in Appendix D: Mitigation Categories and Alternatives.

At the mitigation strategy webinar, the HMPT reviewed and discussed the STAPLEE considerations to determine which of the identified actions were most likely to be implemented and effective. Prioritization of previous mitigation actions identified in the 2014 HMP that were carried forward in the updated plan were revisited during the fourth HMPT meeting. New actions identified in 2021 also were prioritized based on the group discussion. With the STAPLEE criteria in mind, HMPT participants were given a set of three green sticky dot stickers. The team was asked to use the dots to prioritize projects with the above criteria in mind, essentially voting on the projects. The projects with the most dots became the higher priority projects. This process provided both consensus and priority for the recommendations.

The process of identification and analysis of mitigation alternatives allowed the HMPT to come to consensus and to collectively prioritize recommended mitigation actions. During the voting process, emphasis was placed on the importance of a benefit-cost review in determining project priority; however, this was not a quantitative analysis. Benefit-cost was considered in greater detail in the development of the Mitigation Action Plan. For example, parameters were established for assigning subjective ratings (high, medium, low) to the benefits and costs of each mitigation action. Specifically, each action developed for this plan contains a description of the problem and proposed project, the entity with primary responsibility for implementation, any other alternatives considered, a cost estimate, expected project benefits, potential funding sources, and a schedule for implementation. Development of these project details for each action led to the determination of an overall high, medium, or low priority for each action.

Recognizing the limitations in prioritizing actions from multiple departments and the regulatory requirement to prioritize by benefit-cost to ensure cost-effectiveness, the HMPT decided to pursue mitigation action strategy development and implementation according to the nature and extent of damages, the level of protection and benefits each action provides, political support, project cost, available funding, and jurisdiction and department priority. This process guided the development of a prioritized action plan for Merced County and the participating jurisdictions.

Cost-effectiveness will be considered in greater detail through a formal benefit-cost analysis when seeking FEMA mitigation grant eligibility and funding (e.g. HMGP, PDM grant programs) for eligible actions associated with this plan.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-7

5.3 Mitigation Strategy Action Plan
§201.6(c)(3)(iii)
[The hazard mitigation strategy shall include an] action plan, describing how the action identified in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section will be prioritized, implemented, and administered by the local jurisdiction. Prioritization shall include a special emphasis on the extent to which benefits are maximized according to a cost benefit review of the proposed projects and their associated costs. §201.6(c)(3)(iv)
For multi‐jurisdictional plans, there must be identifiable action items specific to the jurisdiction requesting FEMA approval or credit of the plan.

This action plan was developed to present the recommendations developed by the HMPT for how the Merced County planning area can reduce the vulnerability of people, property, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources to future disaster losses. Over time the implementation of these projects will be tracked as a measure of demonstrated progress on meeting the plan’s goals.

5.3.1 Progress on Previous Mitigation Actions
A review of 2014 mitigation actions progress reports indicates that Merced County and the participating jurisdictions have been successful in implementing actions identified in the 2014 LHMP Mitigation Strategy, thus, working diligently towards meeting the 2014 plan goals. The 2014 mitigation strategy contained 36 separate mitigation actions. As of September 2021, two of these actions have been completed, three deleted and 39 actions are continuing. The table below summarizes progress implementing mitigation actions by jurisdiction. The total continuing actions column summarizes the actions from 2014 that are either still in progress, have annual implementation, or are continuing but not completed. The new actions in 2021 summarizes the number of actions that were identified during the 2021 plan update process.

Table 5-1 Mitigation Action Progress Summary by Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Completed Deleted Continue
In Progress
Continue
Not
Started
Total
Continuing
Actions
New
Actions
in 2021
Grand
Total
Actions
Atwater 0 2 2 4 6 4 10
Dos Palos NA NA NA NA NA 2 2
Gustine NA NA NA NA NA 4 4
Livingston 0 0 2 6 8 1 9
Los Banos 0 1 7 0 7 8 15
Merced 0 0 2 8 10 1 11
Unincorporated 2 0 7 1 8 12 20
Grand Total 2 3 20 19 39 31 70

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
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Table 5-2 indicates the details for each of the 2014 mitigation action items that have been completed or deleted.

Table 5-2 Completed and Deleted Mitigation Actions
ID
Corresponding
Hazard(s) Mitigation Action Lead Agency
Goals Priority Action Status Notes
Merced County
10 Drought Promote Water Conservation
Program
OES / CEO's
Office 1,2,3 High
Completed. This
program is in place and
implemented regularly
due to continuing
challenges with
drought.
11 Wildfire Implement and Monitor Weed
Abatement Program County Fire 1,2,3 High Completed.

City of Atwater
7 Flood
Flood Insurance Promotion, CRS
Program
Implementation/Participation
Planning
Department 1,2,3 High
Deleted. The City does
not have enough flood
insurance policies to
justify joining CRS.
9 Drought Promote Water Conservation
Program
Public
Works 1,2,3 High
Deleted. This program is
in place and
implemented regularly
due to continuing
challenges with
drought.

City of Los Banos
7 Flooding
Flood Insurance Promotion, CRS
Program Implementation/
Participation.

Planning
Department 1,2,3 High
Deleted. The City does
not have enough flood
insurance policies to
justify joining CRS.

5.3.2 Updated Action Plan
The results of the project identification and prioritization exercise from meetings 3 and 4 is summarized in Table 5-3. These projects detail specific actions for reducing future hazard-related losses within Merced County. The projects are organized by jurisdictions and include notes about the department and partners necessary to implement the project. Table 5-3 provides more details on the mitigation actions, including the mitigation action description estimated cost, potential funding sources, timeline, indication of the goal(s) that the projects primarily align with and are marked with their relative level of priority high, medium, and low. The following table also provides status/implementation notes that describe progress made on the actions so far, using the following categories, and, where applicable, notes if there were changes in the priority level from the previous plan:
● Continue - In Progress: work has begun on the project and is ongoing. ● Continue - Not completed: little or no work has been done on the project to date and the HMPT agreed to carry over the action into the updated plan.
● New in 2021: The action is new to this plan update; little to no work has been completed.

Many of these mitigation actions are intended to reduce impacts to existing development. Those that protect future development from hazards, as required per the DMA 2000 regulations, are indicated by an asterisk ‘*’ in the action identification number. These actions include those that promote wise

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-9
development and hazard avoidance, such as building code, mapping, and zoning improvements, and continued enforcement of floodplain development regulations.

Table 5-4 provides a summary of the individual mitigation actions by jurisdiction specific to the municipalities that participated in the 2021 plan update. The timeline for implementation for each hazard mitigation action is organized into the following timeframes: ongoing, annual implementation, 1-2 years (short-term), 2-3 years (medium-term), or 3-5 years (long-term). Together with the County actions the tables provide an overview of all the mitigation actions proposed. More details can be found in the respective jurisdictional annexes.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-10
Table 5-3 Merced County Mitigation Actions
ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
1 1,7
NA
MultiHazard:

Dam
Incident,
Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Countywide Public Education
Program – A natural hazards
education and awareness program in
Merced County would be a valuable
tool for sharing information with
residents. Implementation ideas
include sharing information online
and conducting workshops. The
county will partner with special
districts, the cities and other entities
to provide awareness and education
on hazards and steps to mitigate.

OES / CEO's
Office
$100,000
Federal
Grants
High Ongoing
Continue In Progress. The 2014
HMP included four of the six
incorporated cities. The 2021
plan included all 6-cities. This
program will expand as a joint
effort between all 6-cities.
2*
1,2,4,6
NA
MultiHazard:

Earthquake,
Flooding,
Severe
Weather,
Wildfire
Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan into Safety Element of General
Plan. Recognizing the potential
duplication of effort over evaluation
of the same issues, efforts to update
the Health and Safety Element will be
conducted in coordination with the
multi-hazard mitigation plan and to
also ensure AB 2140 Compliance.

Integration and coordination of both
plans provides General Plan policy
direction for development activity.

Potential loss reductions in the
$1000s as any new development
within the county will be considered
Community
Developme
nt Agency
$5,000
General
Fund
Medium
Next
General
Plan
review
cycle
Continue In Progress. The
updated 2021 plan will be
incorporated by reference into
the Safety Element as part of
the MJHMP adoption process.

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ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
within the context of the county’s
Health and Safety Element.
3 1,7
NA
Earthquake
Non-structural Earthquake Mitigation
Outreach. Existing structures can be
retrofitted to better withstand
damage from seismic events.

Outreach will include educating home
and business owners about structural
and non-structural retrofit techniques
and how to seismically strengthen
their homes and businesses. Specific
techniques include secure furnishings,
storage cabinets and utilities to
prevent injuries and damages, such as
anchoring, installing lathes, using
flexible connections on gas and water
lines, and bracing propane tanks and
water heaters.

Environmen
tal Health
$100,000
Federal
Grants
Medium Ongoing
Continue In Progress. An
earthquake safety flyer was
created and posted on Public
Health social media and the
Division of Environmental
Health's website.
4 1,2
NA
Earthquake
Countywide Inventory of Historic
Unreinforced Masonry Buildings –
Use GIS a to map and track URMs
Countywide. An accurate inventory of
URM Buildings with appropriate
tracking will lessen time during the
recovery after an EQ.

Building
Department
$100,000
Federal
Grants
Medium 1-2 years
Continue – In Progress. Not
Completed. The County
Building Department has not
tracked or kept records of URM
Buildings in the unincorporated
portion of Merced County.
5 1,2,6
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Earthquake
Periodically review building codes for
updates and enhancements and
ensure necessary capabilities for
enforcement.

Building
Department
Staff time
Dept.

Budget
Medium
Annual
impleme
ntation
Continue – Not Started. The
enforcement of building codes
is standard regulatory practice.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
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ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
6 1,2,4
Safety
and
Security
Flood
Develop a Hazard Specific Flood
Annex for all jurisdictions with focus
on flood hazard areas as described in
the Risk Assessment. The annex will
address the associated risks of
flooding, current and past mitigation
efforts specific to the streams and
localized flood areas in the county.

OES, Public
Works
$90,000
State and
Federal
Grants
High 1-2 years
Continue In Progress. The
County EOP captures the county
in its entirety. County OES is
working to include all six cities.
7 1,2,7
Safety
and
Security
Flood
Flood Insurance Promotion Program
Implementation/Participation. County
staff will promote benefits of flood
insurance
OES,
Planning
Department
Staff Time
Dept.

Budget
High
Annual
Impleme
ntation
Continue In Progress.
8 1,2,3
Safety
and
Security
Flood
Identify and evaluate effectiveness of
alternative detention basin flood
control projects that will reduce flood
flows in Black Rascal Creek at the
diversion.

Public
Works
$500,000-
4M.

State and
Federal
Grants
High 1-2 years
Continue In Progress. The
County has identified a
preferred alternative as of 2021
but construction has not yet
begun.
9 1,7
NA
Severe
Weather:

Wind,
Extreme
Temps.,
Tornadoes,
Dense Fog
Winter Weather Preparedness
Campaign. This project would add to
and enhance the existing, campaigns
that share information on Severe
Weather Hazards: Fog, Freeze,
Location of Warming Centers, Heat
Related Illness, All Hazards
Preparedness information, etc.; The
county will work with special districts,
the cities and other entities.

OES/CEO’s
Office
$100,000
Federal
Grants
High
Annual
Impleme
ntation
Continue In Progress. This
program is expanded each year
utilizing various outreach
strategies.
10 3
Commun
ications
Cyber
Attack
Cyber Security. Establish a risk
management program to identify the
risks, understand their likelihood and
OES,
Jurisdiction
s
$500,000-
$2,500,000
Grants,
Medium 2-3 years New in 2021

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
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ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
impact. Once identified place security
controls that mitigate the risks to a
level considered acceptable. The risk
management program will also
include ongoing evaluation and
assessment of cyber security risks and
controls throughout the life cycle of
the software. Ideas for
implementation: Define the system.

Identify cyber assets and their
classification. Identify the electronic
security perimeter protecting these
assets. Conduct vulnerability
assessment: Identify threats. Identify
vulnerabilities. Identify security risks
along with their impact and
likelihood. Assess the effectiveness of
existing security controls in mitigating
the risks. Recommend new security
controls or changes to existing
security controls to mitigate the
severity of the risks to a level
acceptable to the organization.

Continuously monitor the
effectiveness of security controls.

Periodically repeat this process to
account for system changes and
changes in the threat landscape.

General
Fund
11 4
NA
Drought Drought Plan. Develop drought plans
that outline proactive strategies that OES
$500,000-
$10,000,00 High 3-5 years New in 2021

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-14
ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
can be implemented before, during,
and after drought to increase societal
and environmental resiliency and
enhance drought response and
recovery capabilities Investigate
drought monitoring, risk, and
management options. Include water
conservation projects that seek to
reduce the nonessential use of water
to conserve county water supplies.

Conservation projects include
establishing mandatory water
restrictions within Merced County to
discourage waste and incorporate
treatment of recycled water for
potable consumption.
0 Grants,
General
Fund
12 4
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Drought,
Flood
Groundwater Recharge and
Stormwater Detention Pilot Project. A
pilot project is being conducted by
Eastside Water District on Merced
County property in 2021 that
included installation of three dry wells
at the Mustang Creek Flood
Detention Basin for groundwater
recharge. This project will also assist
in mitigating flooding from
stormwater scenarios. When dry wells
are installed, they will prevent erosion
and localized flooding while also
OES,
County
Water
Resources,
Eastside
Water
District
$500,000-
$3,000,000
Grants,
General
Fund
High 2-3 years New in 2021

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-15
ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
allowing collection and control of
stormwater runoff.
13 1,3,6
NA
MultiHazard:

Dam
Incidents,
Earthquake,
HazMat,
Flooding,
Landslide,
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Public Safety GIS Management. Build
and enhance GIS work done in 2021
Hazard Mitigation Plan Update to
help make the HMP a living
document and an ongoing resource
for understanding risk in Merced
County.

County GIS
Division,
Cities, Cal
OES
$50,000 -
$75,000
Federal,
state and
local
grants,
FEMA
Grants, Cal
OES Funds
High 2-3 years New in 2021
14 NA Wildfire
Encourage and continue to establish
countywide evacuation zones,
sections and routes.

OES
$50,000 -
$75,000
Federal,
state and
local
grants,
FEMA
Grants, Cal
OES Funds
High 2-3 years New in 2021
15 NA
Pandemic/
Epidemic
Conduct an After Action Review for
COVID-19 response to identify
lessons learned and ways to mitigate
impacts of future pandemics.

Public
Health, OES
20,000 -
$40,000
Federal,
state and
local
grants,
FEMA
Medium 1-2 years
New in 2021

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2021-2026 Update Page 5-16
ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
Grants, Cal
OES Funds
16 NA
Pandemic/
Epidemic
Develop a plan for a Countywide
Medical Reserve Corps to provide
surge capacity to mitigate impacts of
pandemic/epidemics
Public
Health, OES
Staff Time
Dept.

Budget
Medium 2-3 years
New in 2021
17 NA
Agricultural
Pest &
Disease
Provide public outreach through a
variety of media for awareness and
mitigation of various agricultural
pests and disease.

Agricultural
Commissio
ner, CDFA
Staff Time
Dept.

Budget
Low
2-3 years
New in 2021
18 Food,
Water,
Shelter
Agricultural
Pest &
Disease
Enhance the County’s capabilities
associated with the Pest Detection
Program, Pest Exclusion Program, and
Pest Eradication Program to mitigate
agricultural pests and disease.

Delimitation plan activated through
AG Commissioner and CDFA jointly.

Agricultural
Commissio
ner, CDFA
Staff Time
Dept.

Budget
Low
2-3 years
New in 2021
19 HazMat
Hazardous
Materials
Identify and increase water
management practices that reduce
pesticide movement offsite to
mitigate hazardous materials impacts
Environmen
tal Health
Staff Time
Dept.

Budget
Low
2-3 years
New in 2021
20 NA
Hazardous
Materials
Create a hazardous materials safety
flyer to post on public health social
media and the division of
environmental health's website.

Provide free classes to Merced
County businesses about proper
storage/handling of hazardous
materials and hazardous waste.

Environmen
tal Health
Staff Time
Dept.

Budget
Low
1-2 years
New in 2021

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-17
ID
Goal(s)
&
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
&
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation Notes
21 HazMat
Hazardous
Materials
Develop countywide commodity flow
study to further understand the
quantity and types of hazardous
materials being transported through
the county to provide the basis for
additional mitigation actions.

Environmen
tal Health
$50,000 -
$175,000
Federal,
state and
local
grants,
FEMA
Grants, Cal
OES Funds
High 2-3 years
New in 2021

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2021-2026 Update Page 5-18
Table 5-4 Jurisdictional Mitigation Action Summary
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Project Title Lead Agency and Partners Priority Action Status City of Atwater
1 MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Participate in
Countywide Public
Education
Program.

OES High Continue Not Started
2*
MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Integrate Local
Hazard Mitigation
Plan into Safety
Element of
General Plan.

Community
Development
Agency
Medium Continue In Progress
3 Earthquake
Non-structural
Earthquake
Mitigation
Outreach
Public Works Medium Continue Not Started
4 Earthquake
Participate in
Countywide
Inventory for
Unreinforced
Masonry Buildings
-
Public Works Medium Continue Not Started
5*
MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Landslide
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Periodically review
building codes for
updates and
enhancements
Building
Department Medium Continue Not Started
6 Drought
Promote Water
Conservation
Program
Public Works High Continue In Progress
7 Earthquake
Severe
Weather:

General
Dam
Incidents
Emergency power
system to protect
the City of
Atwater 911
Communications
Center and Police
Department
Police
Department High New in 2021
8 Earthquake
Seismic Upgrade
and Remodel of
the Atwater Police
Department
Headquarters
Police
Department High New in 2021

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-19
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Project Title Lead Agency and Partners Priority Action Status 9 Earthquake
Review hazards
and awareness of
earthquakes in a
public platform
and educate the
public on helpful
procedures in the
aftermath
Police
Department High New in 2021
10 Agricultural
Pest &
Disease
Public education
of current
seasonal threat
Community
Development
Agency
Low New in 2021
City of Dos Palos
1 MultiHazardRadio upgrade for
police department
Police
Department Medium New in 2021
2 Drought
Construction of
new water
treatment plant
with resiliency
upgrades
Dept. of
Utilities High New in 2021
City of Gustine
1 Flooding
Develop and
enhance storm
water drainage
improvements to
reduce frequent
flooding.

Public Works High New in 2021
2 Earthquake
Perform buildingspecific seismic
vulnerability
assessment of
City-owned
critical facilities
constructed prior
to 1980
Public Works Medium New in 2021
3 Drought Develop drought
plan Public Works High New in 2021
4* Flooding
Explore
cost/benefit of
joining the NFIP
Public Works,
Development
Services
Low New in 2021
City of Livingston
1 MultiHazard:

Dam
Incident,
Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Participation in
Countywide Public
Education
Program.

OES High Continue Not Started

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-20
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Project Title Lead Agency and Partners Priority Action Status 2 MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Integrate Local
Hazard Mitigation
Plan into Safety
Element of
General Plan.

Community
Development
Agency
Medium Continue Not Started
3 Earthquake
Non-structural
Earthquake
Mitigation
Outreach
Public Works Medium Continue Not Started
4 Earthquake
Participate in
Countywide
Inventory for
Unreinforced
Masonry Buildings
-
Public Works Medium Continue Not Started
5 MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Landslide
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Periodically review
buildings for
update and
enhancements
Building
Department Medium Continue Not Started
6 Flooding Flood Insurance
Promotion
Planning
Department High Continue Not Started
7 Severe
Weather
Severe Weather
Preparedness
Campaign
Livingston
Fire
Department
High Continue – in progress
8 Drought
Promote Water
Conservation
Program
Public Works High Continue In Progress
9 Flood Upgrade storm lift
station/SCADA Public Works High New in 2021
City of Los Banos
1 MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Participate in
Countywide Public
Education
Program.

OES / CEO's
Office High Continue – In Progress
2 MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Integrate Local
Hazard Mitigation
Plan into Safety
Element of
General Plan.

Community
Development
Agency
Medium Continue – In Progress

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2021-2026 Update Page 5-21
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Project Title Lead Agency and Partners Priority Action Status 3 Earthquake
Non-structural
Earthquake
Mitigation
Outreach
Public Works Medium Continue – In Progress
4 Earthquake
Participate in
Countywide
Inventory for
Unreinforced
Masonry Buildings
Public Works Medium Continue – In Progress
5 MultiHazard:

Earthquake
Flooding
Severe
Weather
Wildfire
Periodically review
building codes for
updates and
enhancements
and ensure
necessary
capabilities for
enforcement.

Building
Department Medium Continue – In Progress
6 Severe
Weather
Participate in
Severe Weather
Preparedness
Campaign.

Los Banos
Fire
Department
High Continue – In Progress
7 Drought
Promote Water
Conservation
Program
Public Works High Continue – In Progress
8 Wildfire
Implement and
Monitor Weed
Abatement
Program
Los Banos
Fire
Department
High New in 2021
9 Flooding,
Earthquake,
Wildfire
Prepare
Emergency Plan
for Critical
Infrastructure
Public Works High New in 2021
10 Earthquake
Perform BuildingSpecific Seismic
Vulnerability
Assessment of
City-Owned
Critical Facilities
Building
Department High New in 2021
11 Flood
Continue to
Update Storm
Water System
Master Plan
Public Works Medium New in 2021
12 Flood,
Earthquake,
Wildfire
Prepare a Shelter
and Emergency
Provision Plan
Fire
Department Medium New in 2021
13 Severe
Weather
Prepare Weather
Preparedness
Program (Extreme
Heat and Cold)
Fire
Department Medium New in 2021
14 Drought Promote Water
Conservation Public Works High New in 2021

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-22
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Project Title Lead Agency and Partners Priority Action Status Program with
continued
updates to Urban
Water
Management Plan
15 Earthquake
Flood,
Wildfire
Rental Home
Inspections
Fire
Department/
Community
Economic
Development
High New in 2021
City of Merced
1 Flooding,
Earthquake,
Wildfire
Prepare an Energy
Assurance Plan Public Works High Continue Not Started
2 Flooding
Develop and
enhance storm
water drainage
improvements to
reduce frequent
flooding
Development
Services High Continue In Progress
3 Dam
Incidents,
Flooding,
Earthquake,
Wildfire
Create a Disaster
Preparedness
Program
Fire
Department High Continue Not Started
4 Flooding
Support Merced
County efforts to
construct the
Haystack
Alternative of
Black Rascal Creek
Development
Services Medium Continue Not Started
5 Flooding
Update the City’s
Storm water
Drainage Master
Plan
Development
Services Medium Continue In Progress
6 Dam
Incidents,
Flooding,
Earthquake,
Wildfire
Prepare a Shelter
and Emergency
Provision Plan
Fire
Department Medium Continue Not Started
7 Wildfire
Prepare a Natural
Area Fire
Prevention Plan
Fire
Department Low Continue Not Started
8 Earthquake
Perform buildingspecific, structural
seismic
vulnerability
assessment of
City-owned
critical facilities
Public Works Low Continue Not Started

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy
2021-2026 Update Page 5-23
ID Hazard(s)
Mitigated Project Title Lead Agency and Partners Priority Action Status 9 Earthquake
Create a program
to retrofit or
upgrade
unreinforced
masonry buildings
in Downtown
Merced, or other
buildings in the
Plan area.

Development
Services Low Continue Not Started
10 Earthquake
and Flood
Update Fire
Station 52 seismic
and flood
resiliency
Fire
Department Low Continue Not Started
11 Extreme
Heat
Identify and open
additional cooling
zones and centers
within the City of
Merced to provide
additional
capacity of
vulnerable
populations
Police
Department Medium New in 2021
12 Wildfire
Enhance the weed
abatement
program to
mitigate wildfire
risk. Use GIS to
identify properties
where mitigation
is needed. Provide
notice to owners,
and force clean
lots and pursue
cost recovery
expenses.

Fire
Department –
Fire
Prevention
High New in 2021

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Plan Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance
2021-2026 Update Page 6-1
6 PLAN ADOPTION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MAINTENANCE

6.1 Adoption
The purpose of formally adopting this plan is to secure buy-in from Merced County and the participating jurisdictions, raise awareness of the plan, and formalize the plan’s implementation. The adoption of this plan completes Planning Step 9 of the 10-step planning process: Adopt the Plan. The governing board for each participating jurisdiction has adopted this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by passing a resolution.

Implementation and maintenance of the plan is critical to the overall success of hazard mitigation planning. This is Planning Step 10 of the 10-step planning process. This section provides an overview of the overall strategy for plan implementation and maintenance, and outlines the method and schedule for monitoring, updating, and evaluating the plan. The section also discusses incorporating the plan into existing planning mechanisms and how to address continued public involvement.

6.2 Implementation
Once adopted, the plan faces the truest test of its worth: implementation. While this plan contains many worthwhile actions, the participating jurisdictions will need to decide which action(s) to undertake first.

Two factors will help with making that decision: the priority assigned the actions in the planning process and funding availability. Low or no-cost actions most easily demonstrate progress toward successful plan implementation.

Implementation will be accomplished by adhering to the schedules identified for each action (see Section 5 for county mitigation actions and the annexes for local mitigation actions), and through constant, pervasive, and energetic efforts to network and highlight the multi-objective, win-win benefits of each project to the Merced County community and its stakeholders. These efforts include the routine actions of monitoring agendas, attending meetings, and promoting a safe, sustainable community. The three main components of implementation are:
● Implement the action plan recommendations of this plan; ● Utilize existing rules, regulations, policies and procedures already in existence; and ● Communicate the hazard information collected and analyzed through this planning process so that the community better understands what can happen where, and what they can do themselves to be better prepared. Also, publicize the “success stories” that are achieved through the HMPT’s ongoing efforts.

During implementation of these efforts, it is important to maintain a constant monitoring of funding opportunities that can be leveraged to implement some of the more costly recommended actions. This will include creating and maintaining a bank of ideas on how to meet local match or participation requirements, should grants be pursued. When funding becomes available, the participating jurisdiction’s will be in a position to capitalize on the opportunity. Funding opportunities to be monitored include DMA Requirements §201.6(c)(3):
[The local hazard mitigation plan shall include] documentation that the plan has been formally approved by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan (e.g., City Council, county commissioner, Tribal Council).

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Plan Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance
2021-2026 Update Page 6-2
special pre- and post-disaster funds, special district budgeted funds, state and federal earmarked funds, and other grant programs, including those that can serve or support multi-objective applications.

6.2.1 Role of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team in Implementation and Maintenance With adoption of this plan, the participating jurisdictions will be tasked with plan implementation and maintenance. The participating jurisdictions, led by the Merced County OES agree to:
● Act as a forum for hazard mitigation issues;
● Disseminate hazard mitigation ideas and activities to all participants; ● Pursue the implementation of high-priority, low/no-cost recommended actions; ● Keep the concept of mitigation in the forefront of community decision making by identifying plan recommendations when other community goals, plans, and activities overlap, influence, or directly affect increased community vulnerability to disasters;
● Maintain a vigilant monitoring of multi-objective cost-share opportunities to help the community implement the plan’s recommended actions for which no current funding exists; ● Monitor and assist in implementation and update of this plan; ● Report on plan progress and recommended changes to the Merced County Board of Supervisors and the governing boards of the other participating jurisdictions; and ● Inform and solicit input from the public.

The primary duty of the participating jurisdictions is to see the plan successfully carried out and to report to their community governing boards and the public on the status of plan implementation and mitigation opportunities. Other duties include reviewing and promoting mitigation proposals, considering stakeholder concerns about hazard mitigation, passing concerns on to appropriate entities, and posting relevant information on the county website (and others as appropriate).

6.3 Maintenance and Monitoring
Plan maintenance implies an ongoing effort to monitor and evaluate plan implementation and to update the plan as required or as progress, roadblocks, or changing circumstances are recognized. This section describes how public participation will be integrated throughout the plan maintenance and implementation process. It also explains how the mitigation strategies outlined in this plan will be incorporated into existing planning mechanisms and programs, such as comprehensive land use planning processes, CIP project planning and building code enforcement and implementation. The plan’s format allows sections to be reviewed and updated when new data become available, resulting in a plan that will remain current and relevant.

6.3.1 Maintenance Schedule
In order to track progress and update the mitigation strategies identified in the action plan, the HMPT will revisit this plan at the following times or occurrences:
● Annually, to assess if mitigation actions/projects have been completed; ● Following a significant hazard event;
● Following a disaster declaration; or
● Any other time the HMPT sees it is prudent or necessary.

DMA Requirement §201.6(c)(4)(i):
[The plan maintenance process shall include a] section describing the method and schedule of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan within a five-year cycle.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Plan Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance
2021-2026 Update Page 6-3
Annual Reviews: The HMPT will meet annually to assess progress on plan implementation. Merced County’s OES Department will facilitate these reviews and an associated meeting. The timing of the annual meeting is recommended for the first or second quarter of each year to identify potential mitigation grants, some of which have a submittal period in the fourth quarter. A template for the annual meeting and a summary report is provided in Appendix E. Another tool developed during the 2021 process to facilitate regular review and implementation and make the plan more of a “living document” is the LHMP website that includes a GIS/map based –interactive storyboard with highlights of the risk assessment, including interactive hazard maps and a web-based method for collecting, validating, updating and maintaining critical facilities for the plan. This website is accessible from the Merced County OES homepage.

Critical Facility Database Maintenance: Moving forward the County and its municipalities will maintain the critical facility database that was prepared during the 2021 update. The County’s GIS Manager will lead periodic reviews of the database and assess the need for updates, leveraging the LHMP website and Arc-GIS Experience Builder Application noted above.

Five-Year Update: This plan will be updated, approved, and adopted within a five-year cycle as per Requirement §201.6(c)(4)(i) of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. Efforts to begin the update should begin no later than June 2025. The County will monitor planning grant opportunities from the CalOES and FEMA for funds to assist with the update. This may include submitting a Pre-Disaster Mitigation planning grant application. This grant should be submitted in 2024, as there is a three-year performance period to expend the funds, and there is no guarantee that the grant will be awarded when initially submitted. This allows time to resubmit the grant in subsequent years, if needed. Updates to this plan will follow the most current FEMA and CalOES planning guidance. The next plan update should be completed and reapproved by CalOES and FEMA Region VIII by September 2026.

6.3.2 Maintenance and Evaluation Process
The HMPT will continually observe the incorporation process, evaluation method, updating method, continued public participation, and completion of the action/projects to assure that the HMPT and the plan itself are performing as anticipated. By monitoring these processes, the HMPT will then be able to evaluate them at the time of the plan update, determining if any changes are needed.

The MJHMP plan update every five years provides an opportunity to determine whether there have been any significant changes in the county that may, in turn, necessitate changes in the types of mitigation actions proposed. New development in identified hazard areas, an increased exposure to hazards, the increase or decrease in capability to address hazards, and changes to federal or state legislation are examples of factors that may affect the necessary content of the MJHMP.

The plan review provides county officials with an opportunity to evaluate those actions that have been successful and to explore the possibility of documenting potential losses that were avoided due to the implementation of specific mitigation measures. The plan review also provides the opportunity to address mitigation actions that may not have been successfully implemented as assigned.

During the five-year plan update process, the following questions will be considered as criteria for assessing the effectiveness and appropriateness of the Plan:
● Do the goals address current and expected conditions? ● Are the goals and objectives consistent with changes in State and Federal policy? ● Complete status update on all mitigation projects. What strategies should be revised? ● Has the nature or magnitude of risks changed (current and expected conditions)? ● Are the current resources appropriate for implementing the LHMP?

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Plan Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance
2021-2026 Update Page 6-4
● Are there implementation problems, such as technical, political, legal or coordination issues with other agencies?
● Have the outcomes occurred as expected?
● Did the county and participating agencies and other partners participate in the plan implementation process as assigned?
The County of Merced is committed to involving the public in the continual reshaping and updating of the MJHMP, as discussed in subsection 6.3.4.

6.3.3 Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms
Another important implementation mechanism that is highly effective and low-cost is incorporation of the hazard mitigation plan recommendations and their underlying principles into other county and city plans and mechanisms. Where possible, plan participants will use existing plans and/or programs to implement hazard mitigation actions. This plan should also be cross-referenced when related planning mechanisms are updated. As previously stated above, mitigation is most successful when it is incorporated into the day-to-day functions and priorities of government and development. As described in this plan’s capability assessment and jurisdictional annexes, the County and participating jurisdictions already implement policies and programs to reduce losses to life and property from hazards. This plan builds upon the momentum developed through previous and related planning efforts and mitigation programs and recommends implementing actions, where possible, through these other program mechanisms.

These existing mechanisms include (but are not limited to) the following:
● County and local general plans (2030 General Plan)
● Community service district area plans and master plans ● County and local emergency operations plans
● County and local ordinances
● Flood/stormwater management/master plans
● Community wildfire protection plans
● GSPs
● IRWMPs
● Stormwater Resource Plans
● Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs)
● CIPs
● Other plans and policies outlined in the capability assessments in the jurisdictional annexes ● Other plans, regulations, and practices with a mitigation focus HMPT members involved in the updates to the planning mechanisms will be responsible for integrating the findings and recommendations of this plan with these other plans, programs, etc., as appropriate. As an action step to ensure integration with other planning mechanisms the County Office of Emergency Services Manager or designee will discuss this topic at the annual meeting of the HMPT described above in subsection 6.3.1. The HMPT will discuss where there are opportunities to incorporate the plan into other planning mechanisms and who would be responsible for leveraging those opportunities. HMPT members representing local jurisdictions will work with their jurisdictional planning teams to integrate their identified mitigation actions into their own local plans and programs. Efforts to integrate the hazard mitigation plan into local plans, programs, and policies will be reported on at the annual HMPT plan review meeting, and a record of successful integration efforts will be kept.

Efforts should continuously be made to monitor the progress of mitigation actions implemented through these other planning mechanisms and, where appropriate, their priority actions should be incorporated into updates of this hazard mitigation plan.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Plan Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance
2021-2026 Update Page 6-5
Examples of a process for incorporation of the MJHMP into specific existing or upcoming planning mechanisms include:
● Each community (County, Atwater, City of Merced, Dos Palos, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos) should adopt (by reference or incorporation) this MJHMP into the Safety Element of their General Plan(s), as encouraged by AB 2140. Evidence of such adoption (by formal, certified resolution) shall be provided to Cal OES and FEMA to become eligible or maintain eligibility for CDDA funding. Each jurisdiction has a specific mitigation action related to this process outlined in subsection 5.3. ● Reference into the State of California CVFPP.
● Incorporation into the City of Merced Emergency Operations Plan and Fire Department Strategic Plan. ● Incorporation into the City of Los Banos Emergency Operations Plan and Fire Department Strategic Plan.
● Referencing the HMP in the University of California Merced’s Biosafety Manual and Emergency Operations Plan.

6.3.4 Continued Public Involvement
Continued public involvement is imperative to the overall success of the plan’s implementation. Efforts will be made to involve the public in the plan maintenance, evaluation, and review process. This includes maintaining a digital version of the plan on the County OES website for public review. In addition, information on who to contact within the OES will be posted with the plan. The Merced County OES will maintain a file of comments received for reference during the next five-year update. Any revisions to the plan that may occur as a result of a disaster will also be made public and posted on the county website.

The next five-year update process also provides an opportunity to solicit participation from new and existing stakeholders and to publicize success stories from the plan implementation and seek additional public comment. A public hearing(s) or survey to receive public comment on the plan will be held during the plan update period. When the HMPT reconvenes for the update, they will coordinate with all stakeholders participating in the planning process, including those who joined the HMPT after the initial effort, to update and revise the plan. Public notice will be posted, and public participation will be invited, at a minimum, through available website postings and press releases to the local media outlets as well as email and social media announcements.

Public involvement strategies that were used during the 2021 planning process are captured in the Outreach Strategy in Appendix F. The appendix can serve as a reference for continued public involvement over the next several years and lays the foundation for outreach associated with the next formal five-year update.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Plan Adoption
2021-2026 Update Page 7-1
7 PLAN ADOPTION

7.1 Element E.1 Formal Adoption Documentation
Adoption by the local governing body demonstrates the community’s commitment to implementing the mitigation strategy and authorizes responsible agencies to execute their actions. The final plan is not approved until Merced County and each participating jurisdiction adopts the plan and FEMA receives documentation of formal adoption by the governing body of each jurisdiction requesting approval. This plan is for Merced County, the unincorporated county, and its incorporated cities of Atwater, Livingston, Dos Palos, Gustine, Merced, and Los Banos.

Merced County and the six participating cities plan to submit this plan to the Merced County Board of Supervisors and their respective city councils upon successful completion of State and federal review and following the issuance of an Approved Pending Adoption (APA) designation from FEMA. This provides an efficient approval process if FEMA determines the MJHMP requires revisions because the County and each participating city can make these revisions prior to initiating the local plan adoption process.

Once FEMA issues APA notification, adoption by each participating jurisdiction must take place within one year for each jurisdiction to become or remain eligible for FEMA HMA program funding. Given this is a multi-jurisdictional planning process, Merced County will coordinate the adoptions of all six jurisdictions as soon as the plan receives APA status. Because each City’s governing bodies have different meeting schedules, Merced County will also coordinate with each participating jurisdiction regarding the timing of their adoptions to submit adoption documentation to Cal OES and FEMA at the same time.

Once the County records and submits the adoption documentation to Cal OES and FEMA, FEMA will issue an official approval letter stating which jurisdictions have adopted and are approved and eligible for FEMA HMA program funding. The approval letter will include the expiration date five years from the date of the letter and attached to the approval letter will be a final FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool that provides feedback on the strengths of the plan, recommendations for plan improvements during future plan updates, and suggestions for implementing the mitigation strategy.

DMA Requirement §201.6(c)(5):
[The plan shall include...] Documentation that the plan has been formally adopted by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan (e.g., City Council, County commissioner, Tribal Council).

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan References
2021-2026 Update Page 8-1
8 REFERENCES
Arcuni, Peter, Rivers in the Sky: What You Need to Know About Atmospheric River Storms. KQED, Jan. 2019
California Accidental Release Prevention Program.California Climate Action Team (CAT) Heat Adaptation Workgroup, “Preparing California for Extreme Heat,” October 2013 California Climate Adaptation Strategy 2018
California Department of Finance, 2015-2019 American Community Survey (ACS), 5-year estimates, U.S.

Census Bureau
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection website California Department of Water Resources, 2006, “Drought Preparedness.” California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams, Jurisdictional Dams Database California Department of Water Resources, Water Conditions and Drought Report to Governor, 2009 California Department of Water Resources. www.water.ca.gov/.

California Emergency Management Agency, Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Handbook California Emergency Management Agency, Tools for Preparing your LHMP, 2012 California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substance Control California Fire Plan, 2010
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Contingency Plan for Excessive Heat Emergencies. 2014.

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. FY 2019-2020 Public Safety Power Shutoff Legislative Report.

California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The Integrated Climate Adaption and Resiliency Program. Impact Report and 2020 Program Recommendations.

California Invasive Plant Council. https://www.cal-ipc.org/ California Megaflood: Lessons from a Forgotten Catastrophe. B. Lynn Ingram. Scientific American, January 1, 2013. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/atmospheric-rivers-california-megaflood-lessonsfrom-forgotten-catastrophe/ California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), Fourth Climate Change Assessment Report, 2018 California Public Utilities Commission
Center for Disease Control, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Social Vulnerability Index Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, Atmospheric Rivers scale. http://cw3e.ucsd.edu/CW3EReleases-New-Scale-to-Characterize-Strength-and-Impacts-of-Atmospheric-Rivers/ City of Atwater Emergency Plan, 2017.

City of Atwater Fire Department. City Fire Management Plan.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan References
2021-2026 Update Page 8-2
City of Atwater General Plan. 2000
City of Dos Palos General Plan. 1991.

City of Dos Palos Local Emergency Operations Plan. 2003.

City of Gustine General Plan. 2002.

City of Livingston General Plan. 2020-2025.

City of Los Banos Emergency Plan. 2011.

City of Los Banos Fire Management Plan.

City of Los Banos General Plan. 2009
City of Merced 2030 General Plan. 2012.

City of Merced Emergency Response/Disaster Plan. 2011.

City of Merced Hazard Mitigation Plan 2015.

City of Merced Tentative Subdivision Activity List. May 2021. Prepared by the City of Merced Development Services Department. Accessed on December 10, 2021. Available at:
https://www.cityofmerced.org/home/showpublisheddocument/15200/637661978774630000 Department of Finance Data, Merced County 2012
Environmental Protection Agency, National Response Center Federal Emergency Management Agency, Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide, 2011 FEMA Community Information System
FEMA, CRS Coordinators Manual
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide, 2011 Flood Emergency Information Exchange
Flood Insurance Study, Merced County – FEMA, December 2, 2008 Flood Insurance Study, Merced County – FEMA, 2010
Gao Y, J Lu, LR Leung, Q Yang, S Hagos and Y Qian, 2015. "Dynamical and Thermodynamical Modulations on Future Changes of Landfalling Atmospheric Rivers over Western North America." Geophysical Research Letters 42(17): 7179-7186. DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065435 Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Research Highlights. October 2015 https://www.pnnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.asp?id=4106 Gray, E., Gilardoni, S., Baldocchi, D., McDonald, B. C., Facchini, M. C., & Goldstein, A. H. (2019). Impact of air pollution controls on radiation fog frequency in the Central Valley of California. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 124, 5889–5905. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029419 Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Pre-Fire Management Plan, 2005 Merced County 2035 General Plan (2010, Amended 2016)
Merced County 2035 General Plan, Health and Safety Element (2012) Merced County Agricultural Commissioner’s Report, 2019
Merced County Association of Government. Population Projections.

Merced County Emergency Operations Plan (2008)

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan References
2021-2026 Update Page 8-3
Merced County Flood Management Ordinance
Merced County Merced County Code of Ordinances
Merced County Property Inventory, Merced County Assessor’s Office Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Global Hydrology Resource Center https://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/home/content/atmospheric-rivers-and-lake-oroville-dam-stress National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI)
National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, U.S Drought Monitor National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Drought Impact Reporter National Flood Insurance Program, Community Status Book, 2020 National Inventory of Dams
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. What is the Pineapple Express? National Ocean Service website, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/pineapple-express.html, National Pipeline Mapping System National Register of Historic Places National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Wind Prospector National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) National Weather Service website
Origins and Development: A Chronology of Disasters in California, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Database
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Energy Assistance Act, Section 322 SGCRP, 2016: The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment. Crimmins, A., J. Balbus, J.L. Gamble, C.B. Beard, J.E. Bell, D. Dodgen, R.J. Eisen, N. Fann, M.D.

Hawkins, S.C. Herring, L. Jantarasami, D.M. Mills, S. Saha, M.C. Sarofim, J. Trtanj, and L. Ziska, Eds. U.S.

Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, 312 pp.

Southwest Climate and Environmental Information Collaborative (SCENIC).

State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan (2018)
State of California Office of Historic Preservation
Topping, Ken. State Guidance for Hazard Mitigation Planning. California Polytechnic State University. State Hazard Mitigation Team Meeting. May 10, 2015
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Risk Management Agency Crop Indemnity Reports 2012-2020 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Sectary of Agriculture, Disaster Designations 2012-2020 U.S. Fish and Wildfire Service, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Conservation Online System

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan References
2021-2026 Update Page 8-4
United States Geological Survey website
Western Regional Climate Center. https://wrcc.dri.edu/

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix A: Planning Team
2021-2026 Update
Appendix A: Planning Team

APPENDIX A: PLANNING TEAM
Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan A.1
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Agency/Jurisdiction Title Name Participating
Jurisdiction Stakeholder
Meetings1
Attended
Merced County
Purchasing
Manager Kim Nausin X
Executive Office
(PIO) Mike North X Kick-off; Mtg. #3
Executive Office Alexandra Pierce X
Agricultural
Commissioner David A Robinson X
Assistant
Agricultural
Commissioner
Sean Runyon
X
Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3
Deputy Ag
Commissioner Carrie Mitchell X Mtg. #2; Mtg. #4
County Counsel Forrest Hansen X
County Counsel Steve Maxey X Kick-off;
Assistant
County Counsel Tom Ebersole X Kick-off;
Assistant CIO John Nishihama X Mtg. #2
Merced County Fire Captain Mike Perez X Kick-off;
Planning and
Economic
Development
Director Mark Hendrickson
X
Office of Emergency
Services/Cal FIRE
Deputy Director
of
Administration
David Scheurich
X
Kick-off; Mtg. #2;
Mtg. #3; Mtg. #4
Office of Emergency
Services/Cal FIRE
OES Assistant
Coordinator Greg Padilla X
Kick-off; Mtg. #2;
Mtg. #3; Mtg. #4
Cal FIRE
Fire Chief –
Madera/Maripo
sa/Merced
Counties
Mike van Loben Sels
X
Environmental Health Environmental
Health Vicki Jones X
Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3;
Mtg. #4
Environmental Health Environmental
Health Cesar Ramirez X Kick-off;
Environmental Health
Hazardous
Materials
Specialist II
Melissa Palomino
X
Kick-off;
Public Health Director Rebecca Nanyonjo X
Public Health Assistant Public
Health
Jessica MontoyaJuarez X
Public Health
Health
Education
Specialist
Jaime Arteaga
X
Mtg. #4
1 Those that are not listed as attending a meeting participated in the planning process in other ways such as emails, phone calls and face-to-face meetings with the County Project Manager and consultants.

County of Merced A.2
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Agency/Jurisdiction Title Name Participating
Jurisdiction Stakeholder
Meetings1
Attended
Emergency Medical
Services
EMS
Coordinator Tim Williams X
Emergency Medical
Services County EMS Jim Clark X
GIS Manager Gene Barrera X
Kick-off; Mtg #2;
Mtg. #3
Public Works Director Dana Hertfelder X Mtg. #4
Public Works Assistant
Director Mike Stephenson X
Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3;
Mtg. #4
Public Works Administrative
Eng. Oscar Ortiz X Mtg. #4
IT Rob Kuhlemeir Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3
Fire
Division
Chief/Deputy
Director of
Operations –
County OES
Mark Pimental
X
Mtg. #4
Office of Education Superintendent Steve Tietjen X
Office of Education PIO Nathan Quevaedo X Kick-off;
RIGGS Ambulance Administrative
Supervisor Dave Murphy X
Westside Ambulance
Chief of
Ambulance
Operations
Michael Courtney
X
Municipalities
City of Atwater Acting Police
Chief Cliff Battles X Mtg. #3
City of Atwater City Manager Lori Waterman X
City of Atwater / CAL
FIRE Battalion Chief Bobby Ayuso X Mtg. #3; Mtg. #4
City of Atwater Executive to the
City Manager Janell Martin X Mtg. #3
City of Atwater Public Works
Director Greg Thompson X
City of Atwater Public Works
Superintendent Justin Vinson X
City of Atwater Police Chief Mike Salvador X Mtg. #3; Mtg. #4 City of Atwater Admin Assistant
II Christina Thurman X Mtg. #3
City of Dos Palos City Manager Darrell Fonseca X
City of Dos Palos
Police ChiefDesignated
Emergency
Manager for
Dos Palos
Richard McEachin
X
Mtg. #4
City of Dos Palos Interim Police
Chief Cliff Battles X
City of Dos Palos Fire Marshal Dewayne Jones X

County of Merced A.3
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Agency/Jurisdiction Title Name Participating
Jurisdiction Stakeholder
Meetings1
Attended
City of Gustine City Manager Douglas Dunford X
City of Gustine
Public
Information
Officer
Jami Westervelt
X
City of Gustine
Police Chief -
Designated
Emergency
Manager for
Gustine
Jim Markel
X
City of Gustine Fire Chief Pat Berrellii X Mtg. #2
City of Gustine Police
Department Ruben Chavez X
Kick-off; Mtg. #2,
Mtg. #3
City of Livingston City Manager Jose Antonio
Ramirez X
City of Livingston
Police Chief -
Designated
Emergency
Manager for
Livingston
John Markle
X
City of Livingston Public Works Anthony Chavarria X
City of Livingston
Adminstrative
Analyst - Public
Works
Adabel Pirita
X
Mtg. #3
City of Livingston City Manager Tony Avina X Mtg. #3; Mtg. #4 City of Livingston
Administrative
Analyst – Public
Works
Martha Abeloe
X
Mtg. #3
City of Los Banos City Manager Alex Terrazas X
City of Los Banos
Public
Information
Officer
Jason Hedden
X
City of Los Banos
Community and
Economic
Development
Director
Stacy Souza Elms
X
Kick-off; Mtg. #2
Mtg. #3
City of Los Banos
Fire Chief -
Designated
Emergency
Manager for Los
Banos
Mason Hurley
X
Kick-off; Mtg. #4
City of Merced City Manager Stephanie Dietz
City of Merced
Public
Information
Officer
Mike Conway
City of Merced Deputy Chief -
Fire Department Casey Wilson Kick-off; Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3 City of Merced
Fire Chief -
Designated
Emergency
Derek Parker Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3

County of Merced A.4
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Agency/Jurisdiction Title Name Participating
Jurisdiction Stakeholder
Meetings1
Attended
Manager for
Merced
Special Districts
Turlock Irrigation
District
Emergency
Preparedness Jason S. Hicks X Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3
Merced Irrigation
District
Emergency
Preparedness Peter Wade X
Ballico Community
Water Service District Board President Manuel Jimenez X Delhi County Water Maintenance
Supervisor Lyndal Hibdon X
Lower San Joaquin
Levee
Executive
Director Reggie Hill X Mtg. #3; Mtg. #4
San Joaquin Valley Air
District
Compliance
Manager Ron Giannone X
EPURE Company Scientist John Lambie X
State and Federal Contacts
Department of Water
Resources Engineer WR Nathan Hicks X
Kick-off; Mtg. #2;
Mtg. #3
Cal OES
Emergency
Services Inland
Region V
Walt Kent
X
Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3;
Mtg. #4
Cal OES
Emergency
Service
Coordinator
Joanne Gurrola
X
Mtg. #3
CHP Sergeant Luis Lara X
NOAA
Warning
Coordination
Meteorologist
Jerald Meadows
X
Kick-off; Mtg. #3
State Parks Gerald Heberling X
State Parks - Four
Rivers Sector Christopher Jou X
State Parks Heather Reith X Kick-off; Mtg. #2
State Parks
District
Environmental
Coordinator
Andrew Collum
X
Kick-off;
Neighboring Jurisdictions and Academia
UC Merced Emergency
Manager
Laura Rodriguez
Mascorro X
Kick-off; Mtg. #2;
Mtg. #3; Mtg. #4
UC Merced Police Chief Chou Her X
Mariposa County
Sheriff
Emergency
Manager Kevin Packard X
Mariposa County
Sheriff
Emergency
Manager Alyssa Carroll X Mtg. #2
Mariposa County
Sheriff
Emergency
Manager Wes Smith X Mtg. #2; Mtg. #3
Madera County
Sheriff - Sergeant
Emergency
Manager Joseph Wilder X Kick-off;

County of Merced A.5
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Agency/Jurisdiction Title Name Participating
Jurisdiction Stakeholder
Meetings1
Attended
Stanislaus County
OES
Emergency
Manager Melba Hibbard X
Other Stakeholders
Red Cross
Disaster
Program
Manager -
Merced
Helen Cosentino
X
Kick-off; Mtg. #3;
Mtg. #4
Red Cross District Chair
Merced Co Irene Johnson X Mtg. #4
Red Cross Beverly Brewster X
Merced County Food
Bank
Executive
Director Bill Gibbs X Mtg. #3
Merced Medical
Center Marianne Shaw X Kick-off;
PG&E Senior Public
Safety Specialist Deron Mills X Kick-off; Mtg. #3
Wood Project Manager Jeff Brislawn Kick-off; Mtg. #2,
Mtg. #3
Wood Assistant Project
Manager Juliana Prosperi Kick-off; Mtg. #2, Mtg. #3; Mtg. 4 Wood
Hazard
Mitigation
Planner
Amy Carr Kick-off; Mtg. #2,
Mtg. #3
Wood
Hazard
Mitigation
Planner
Chris Johnson Kick-off; Mtg. #2,
Mtg. #3
Wood
Hazard
Mitigation
Planner
Pujeeta Chowdhary Mtg. #2
Wood GIS Analyst/
Planner Mack Chambers Kick-off; Mtg. #2, Mtg. #3

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix B: Planning Process Documentation
2021-2026 Update
Appendix B: Planning Process Documentation

C

LETTER OF COMMITMENT

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
750 BELLEVUE ROAD
ATWATER, CALIFORNIA 95301
(FOR MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS) July 08, 2019
California Governor's Office of Emergency
Services
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
3650 Schriever Avenue
RE: Letter of Commitment as Participating Jurisdiction in Merced County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning Dear State Hazard Mitigation Officer:

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Local Mitigation Plan requirements under 44 CFR §201.6 specifically identify criteria that allow for multi-jurisdictional mitigation plans and that many issues are better resolved by evaluating hazards more comprehensively by coordinating at the county, regional, or watershed level, the City of Atwater is submitting this letter of commitment to confirm that City of Atwater has agreed to participate in the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning.

Furthermore, as a condition of participation in the mitigation planning, City of Atwater, agrees to meet the requirements for mitigation plans identified in 44 CFR §201.6 and to provide such cooperation as is necessary and in a timely manner to the Merced County to complete the plan in conformance with FEMA requirements.

City of Atwater understands that it must engage in the following planning process, as more fully described in FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook, including, but not limited to:
• Identification of hazards unique to the jurisdiction and not addressed in the master planning document; • The conduct of a vulnerability analysis and an identification of risks, where they differ from the general planning area;
• The formulation of mitigation goals responsive to public input and development of mitigation actions complementary to those goals. A range of actions must be identified specific for each jurisdiction.; • Demonstration that there has been proactively offered an opportunity for participation in the planning process by all community stakeholders (examples of participation include relevant involvement in any planning process, attending meetings, contributing research, data, or other information, commenting on drafts of the plan, etc.); and
• Documentation of an effective process to maintain and implement the plan; and, 1

• Fonnal adoption of the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by the jurisdiction's governing body (each jurisdiction must officially adopt the plan).

Therefore, with a full understanding of the obligations incurred by participating in the FEMA hazard mitigation planning process as a participant in a multi-jurisdictional plan; I, Lori Waterman, commit City of Atwater to the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning effort.

This document is executed this eighth day of July 2019.

Please contact Fire Battalion Chief John Slate at (209) 761-6520 and/or [email protected] with questions.

Sincerely,
Lori Waterman
City Manager
(209) 357 -6300
[email protected]
2

CITY HALL-- 2174 BLOSSOM STREET
DOS PALOS, CALIFORNIA 93620
PHONE (209) 392-2174
FAX (209) 392-2801

LETTER OF COMMITMENT
(FOR MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS) June 26, 2019
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
3650 Schriever Avenue
RE: Letter of Commitment as Participating Jurisdiction in Merced County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning Dear State Hazard Mitigation Officer:

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Local Mitigation Plan requirements under 44 CFR §201.6 specifically identify criteria that allow for multi-jurisdictional mitigation plans and that many issues are better resolved by evaluating hazards more comprehensively by coordinating at the county, regional, or watershed level, the City of Dos Palos is submitting this letter of commitment to confirm that City of Dos Palos has agreed to participate in the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning.

Furthermore, as a condition of participation in the mitigation planning, City of Dos Palos, agrees to meet the requirements for mitigation plans identified in 44 CFR §201.6 and to provide such cooperation as is necessary and in a timely manner to the Merced County to complete the plan in conformance with FEMA requirements.

City of Dos Palos understands that it must engage in the following planning process, as more fully described in FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook, including, but not limited to:
• Identification of hazards unique to the jurisdiction and not addressed in the master planning document; • The conduct of a vulnerability analysis and an identification of risks, where they differ from the general planning area;
• The formulation of mitigation goals responsive to public input and development of mitigation actions complementary to those goals. A range of actions must be identified specific for each jurisdiction. ; • Demonstration that there has been proactively offered an opportunity for participation in the planning process by all community stakeholders {examples of participation include relevant involvement in any planning process, attending meetings, contributing research, data, or other information, commenting on drafts of the plan, etc.); and
• Documentation of an effective process to maintain and implement the plan; and, • Formal adoption of the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by the jurisdiction's governing body (each jurisdiction must officially adopt the plan).

CITY HALL-- 2174 BLOSSOM STREET
DOS PALOS, CALIFORNIA 93620
PHONE (209) 392-2174
FAX (209) 392-2801
Therefore, with a full understanding of the obligations incurred by participating in the FEMA hazard mitigation planning process as a participant in a multi-jurisdictional plan; I, Darrell Fonseca, commit City of Dos Palos to the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning effort.

This document is executed this 26 day of June, 2019.

Please contact Darrell Fonseca at 209-392-2174 or [email protected] with questions.

Sincerely,
CY��tLDarrell Fonseca
City Manager
209-392-2174
209-392-2801
[email protected]

CITY Of GUSTIN£

LETTER OF COMMITMENT
(FOR MULTI-JURISDICTIO AL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS) July I, 2019
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
3650 Schriever Avenue
RE: Letter of Commitment as Participating Jurisdiction in Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning
Dear State Hazard Mitigation Officer:

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Local Mitigation Plan requirements under 44 CFR §201.6 specifically identify criteria that allow for multi-jurisdictional mitigation plans and that many issues are better re olved by evaluating hazards more comprehensively by coordinating at the county, regional, or watershed level, the City of Gustine is submitting this letter of commitment to confirm that City of Gustine has agreed to participate in the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning.

Furthermore, as a condition of participation in the mitigation planning, City of Gustine, agrees to meet the requirements for mitigation plans identified in 44 CFR §201.6 and to provide such cooperation as is necessary and in a timely manner to the Merced County to complete the plan in conformance with FEMA requirements.

City of Gustine understands that it must engage in the following planning process, as more fully described in !'EMA\ 1 ocal Mitigation Planning I Jandbook, including, but not limited to:
• tdentificalion of hazards unique to the jurisdiction and not addressed in the master planning document; • The conduct of a vulnerab1hty analysis and an identification of risks, where they differ from the general planning area;
• The formulation of mitigation goals responsive LO public input and development of mitigotion actions complementary to those goals. A range of actions must be identified specific for each jurisdiction. ; • Demonstration \ha\ \here has been proactively offered an opportunity for participation in \he planning process by all community stakeholders (examples of participation include relevant involvement in any planning process. anending meetings, contributing research, data, or other information, commenting on drafts of the plan, etc.); and
• Documentation of an effective process to maintain and implement the plan; and, • Formal adoption of the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by the jurisdiction ·s governing body (each jurisdiction must officially adopt the plan).

Therefore, with a full understanding of the obligations incurred by participating in the FEMA hazard mitigation planning process as a participant in a multi-jurisdictional plan; I Patrick Borrelli, commit City of Gustine to the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning effort.

This document is executed this I st day of July, 2019.

Please contact Patrick Borrelli at (209) 587-5749 or [email protected] with questions.

Sincerely,
Patrick Borrelli
Fire Chief
(209) 587-5749
(209) 854-2840
[email protected]

June 19, 2019
City of Livingston
1416 C Street
Livingston, CA 95334

LETTER OF COMMITMENT
(FOR MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS) California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
3650 Schriever Avenue
RE: Letter of Commitment as Participating Jurisdiction in Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning
Dear State Hazard Mitigation Officer:

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Local Mitigation Plan requirements under 44 CFR §201.6 specifically identify criteria that allow for multi-jurisdictional mitigation plans and that many issues are better resolved by evaluating hazards more comprehensively by coordinating at the county, regional, or watershed level, the City of Livingston is submitting this letter of commitment to confirm that City of Livingston has agreed to participate in the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning.

Furthermore, as a condition of participation in the mitigation planning, City of Livingston, agrees to meet the requirements for mitigation plans identified in 44 CFR §201.6 and to provide such cooperation as is necessary and in a timely manner to the Merced County to complete the plan in conformance with FEMA requirements.

City of Livingston understands that it must engage in the following planning process, as more fully described in FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook, including, but not limited to:
• Identification of hazards unique to the jurisdiction and not addressed in the master planning document; • The conduct of a vulnerability analysis and an identification of risks, where they differ from the general planning area;
• The formulation of mitigation goals responsive to public input and development of mitigation actions complementary to those goals. A range of actions must be identified specific for each jurisdiction.; • Demonstration that there has been proactively offered an opportunity for participation in the planning process by all community stakeholders (examples of participation include relevant involvement in any

CITY OF LIVINGSTON
1416 "C" Street LIVINGSTON, CALIFORNIA 95334 PHONE: (209)394-8041 FAX: (209) 394-4190 www.livingstoncity.com

planning process, attending meetings, contributing research, data, or other information, commenting on drafts of the plan, etc.); and
• Documentation of an effective process to maintain and implement the plan; and, • Formal adoption of the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by the jurisdiction's governing body (each jurisdiction must officially adopt the plan).

Therefore, with a full understanding of the obligations incurred by participating in the FEMA hazard mitigation planning process as a participant in a multi-jurisdictional plan; I Jose Antonio Ramirez, commit City of Livingston to the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning effort.

This document is executed this 28th day of June, 2019.

Please contact Jose Antonio Ramirez at (209) 398-1721, [email protected] with questions.

Sincerely,
Jose Antonio Ramirez
City Manager
(209) 394-8041 ext. 113
[email protected]

CITY OF LOS BANOS
····················································································· Proudly serving the Citizens of Los Banos with
Jfonor - Integn·ty - Compassion
Since1890

FIRE DEPARTMENT

LETTER OF COMMITMENT
(FOR MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS) July 1, 2019
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
3650 Schriever Avenue
RE: Letter of Commitment as Participating Jurisdiction in Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning
Dear State Hazard Mitigation Officer:

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Local Mitigation Plan requirements under 44 CFR §201.6 specifically identify criteria that allow for multi-jurisdictional mitigation plans and that many issues are better resolved by evaluating hazards more comprehensively by coordinating at the county, regional, or watershed level, the City of Los Banos is submitting this letter of commitment to confirm that City of Los Banos has agreed to participate in the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning.

Furthermore, as a condition of participation in the mitigation planning, City of Los Banos, agrees to meet the requirements for mitigation plans identified in 44 CFR §201.6 and to provide such cooperation as is necessary and in a timely manner to the Merced County to complete the plan in conformance with FEMA requirements.

City of Los Banos understands that it must engage in the following planning process, as more fully described in FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook, including, but not limited to:
• Identification of hazards unique to the jurisdiction and not addressed in the master planning document; • The conduct of a vulnerability analysis and an identification of risks, where they differ from the general planning area;
333 ]
1h Street • Los Banos, CA 93635
Telephone (209) 827-7025 • Fax (209) 827-7028

• The formulation of mitigation goals responsive to public input and development of mitigation actions complementary to those goals. A range of actions must be identified specific for each jurisdiction. ; • Demonstration that there has been proactively offered an opportunity for participation in the planning process by all community stakeholders (examples of participation include relevant involvement in any planning process, attending meetings, contributing research, data, or other information, commenting on drafts of the plan, etc.); and
• Documentation of an effective process to maintain and implement the plan; and, • Formal adoption of the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by the jurisdiction's governing body (each jurisdiction must officially adopt the plan).

Therefore, with a full understanding of the obligations incurred by participating in the FEMA hazard mitigation planning process as a participant in a multi-jurisdictional plan; I, Fire Chief Mason Hurley, commit City of Los Banos to the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning effort.

This document is executed this First day of July, 2019.

Please contact Fire Chief Mason Hurley at (209) 827-7025 or email [email protected] with questions.

Sincerely,
��
Mason Hurley /
Fire Chief
0: (209) 827-7025
Fax: (209) 827-7028
[email protected]

CITY OF MERCED
"Gateway to Yosemite"

LETTER OF COMMITMENT
(FOR MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS) July 1, 2019
California Governor's Office of Emergency
Services
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
3650 Schriever Avenue
RE: Letter of Commitment as Participating Jurisdiction in Merced County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning Dear State Hazard Mitigation Officer:

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Local Mitigation Plan requirements under 44 CFR §201.6 specifically identify criteria that allow for multi-jurisdictional mitigation plans and that many issues are better resolved by evaluating hazards more comprehensively by coordinating at the county, regional, or watershed level, the City of Merced is submitting this letter of commitment to confirm that City of Merced has agreed to participate in the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning.

Furthermore, as a condition of participation in the mitigation planning, City of Merced, agrees to meet the requirements for mitigation plans identified in 44 CFR §201.6 and to provide such cooperation as is necessary and in a timely manner to the Merced County to complete the plan in conformance with FEMA requirements.

City of Merced understands that it must engage in the following planning process, as more fully described in FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook, including, but not limited to:
• Identification of hazards unique to the jurisdiction and not addressed in the master planning document; • The conduct of a vulnerability analysis and an identification of risks, where they differ from the general planning area;
• The formulation of mitigation goals responsive to public input and development of mitigation actions complementary to those goals. A range of actions must be identified specific for each jurisdiction.; • Demonstration that there has been proactively offered an opportunity for participation in the planning process by all community stakeholders (examples of participation include relevant involvement in any 678 West 18th Street • Merced, California 95340

planning process, attending meetings, contributing research, data, or other information, commenting on drafts of the plan, etc.); and
• Documentation of an effective process to maintain and implement the plan; and, • Formal adoption of the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by the jurisdiction's governing body (each jurisdiction must officially adopt the plan).

Therefore, with a full understanding of the obligations incurred by participating in the FEMA hazard mitigation planning process as a participant in a multi-jurisdictional plan; I Steve Carrigan, commit City of Merced to the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Planning effort.

This document is executed this l
51 day of July, 2019.

Please contact Fire Chief Billy Alcorn at (209) 388-8541 and/or [email protected] with questions.

Sincerely,
?-�
Steve Carrigan
City Manager
(209) 385-6834 Office
(209) 723-1780 fax
ca rriga n s@cityof m erced. org

From: Scheurich, David@CALFIRE <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 27, 2020 5:27 PM
To: Scheurich, David@CALFIRE; Perez, Michael@CALFIRE; Prosperi, Juliana; Brislawn, Jeff P
Subject: Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Kick Off Meeting
Importance: High
CAUTION: External email. Please do not click on links/attachments unless you know the content is genuine and safe.

Good afternoon and Happy Holidays!!
As we have spoken in the past, Merced County has been working on a Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. As I am sure everyone is aware, the hazard mitigation planning process is heavily dependent on the participation of representatives from local government agencies and departments, the public, and other stakeholder groups. As we have seen very recently, grant requirements and guidelines are changing rapidly, and this is an important document to help the County and Cities obtain funding and/or reimbursement. As this plan develops, the participant list will also grow.

You are invited to the first of 4 planning meetings to update the Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The existing plan was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 which requires all local governments to develop a plan to assess their risks to hazards and identify actions that can be taken in advance to reduce future losses. Hazard mitigation plans are to be updated every five years in order to maintain eligibility for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants. Merced County has hired a consultant, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., to manage the planning project.

A Hazard Mitigation Planning Team (HMPT) will be re-convened to support this project and will include representatives from the County and municipalities as participating jurisdictions. Other interested stakeholders, including local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities or agencies that regulate development, are also invited. This includes special districts, private-non-profit entities, business partners, academic institutions, and other local, state, and federal agencies in or that serve Merced County.

A Microsoft Outlook meeting invitation/calendar item will be sent out soon; please confirm your attendance or provide contact information for your designated alternate. Please "Reply To All" with your response on this initial email.

What: Merced County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Where: Virtual - Kickoff Meeting/Webinar - Microsoft Teams When: December 16, 2020 10:00 - 12:00
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only – only for use if computer audio is not an option) +1 281-810-1627,,212693756# United States, Houston

(866) 670-1764,,212693756# United States (Toll-free)
Phone Conference ID: 212 693 756#
At the kickoff meeting, we will discuss the benefits of updating the hazard mitigation plan, the project schedule, and all of the hazards that affect Merced County, such as wildfire, floods, winter storms, landslides, and more. Merced County requests your assistance in forwarding this invitation to others in your jurisdiction. Appropriate persons to be a part of the planning committee include, but are not limited to: county and municipal planners, public works directors, floodplain managers, economic development directors, GIS staff, first responders, local government administration, elected officials, business partners, private-non-profit representatives, and school district representatives. Each participating jurisdiction must have at least one representative at the meetings to meet participation requirements. There will be 4 total primary planning meetings held during the update process over the next 5-6 months, with target submittal of the updated plan for State and FEMA review within 8 months.

The consultant, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., will be helping to manage the planning project. Wood will facilitate the planning process, assist with coordination, collect the necessary data, and perform other technical services, including updating the risk assessment and plan document.

However, to successfully complete this project and ensure your organization is eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation assistance funding, we need your participation and input.

Link to 2015 Merced Hazard Mitigation
Plan: https://app.box.com/s/k84itkq1n7aec3ygofpti0qjrdqw2avk Thank you everyone in advance for your participation, this program is cannot be successful without it. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

David Scheurich - Battalion Chief
Deputy Director - Administration
Merced County Office of Emergency Services
3500 N Apron Ave Atwater, CA 95301
Office (209) 385-7548 ext 4866 Fax (209) 725-0174
Cell (209) 761-1972
Davi d.Scheuri ch@fi re.ca.gov

CAL FIRE
Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
* Servi ng the ci ti zens i n M adera County, M ari posa County, M erced County, the Ci ty of M adera & the Ci ty of Atwater

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
HMPT Meeting #1 Agenda
Date: 16 Dec 2020
10:00 am - noon PST
Meeting at: Virtual/Webinar - Microsoft Teams (see
email/Outlook for link)
Project: Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Subject/Purpose
The purpose of the meeting is to introduce the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and summarize the hazard mitigation planning process that will be used to update the plan. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is intended to identify hazards, assets at risk, and ways to reduce impacts through long-term sustainable mitigation projects.

1. Introductions

2. Hazard Mitigation, Mitigation Planning and the Disaster Mitigation Act Requirements

3. Role of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team (HMPT) and Benefits of Participation

4. Objectives and Schedule for the Plan Update and Overview of 2015 Plan

5. Review and Identification of Natural and Human-Caused Hazards

6. Coordination with Stakeholders, Related plans, and Recent Studies

7. Planning for Public Involvement

8. Initial Information Needs and Next Steps

9. Questions and Answers

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
Merced County HMPT Meeting #1 Minutes
Date: 16 December 2020 10:00 am - noon PST
Meeting at: Virtual/Webinar - Microsoft Teams
Written by: Jeff Brislawn (Wood, Project Manager), Juliana Prosperi (Wood, Assistant Project Manager) Subject: Merced County MJHMP Update Hazard Mitigation Planning Team Meeting #1

Present:

David Scheurich (Merced County Office of Emergency Services, Assistant Director of Administration, County Lead for HMPT)
Mike Perez (Merced County, Fire Captain)
Gene Barrera (Merced County, GIS Manager)
Nathan Quevaedo (Merced County Office of Education, Communications Manager) Mike North (Merced County Public Information Officer)
Cesar Ramirez (Merced County Division of Environmental Health) Melissa Palomino (Merced County Division of Environmental Health, Hazardous Materials Specialist II)
Tom Ebersole (Merced County, Assistant County Counsel)
Steve Maxey (Merced County, Community and Economic Development) Greg Padilla (Merced County, Fire Department)
Stacy Souza Elms (City of Los Banos, Community and Economic Development Director) Mason Hurley (City of Los Banos Fire Department, Fire Chief) Casey Wilson (City of Merced Fire Department)
Ruben Chavez (City of Gustine Police Department)
Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro (UC-Merced Emergency Manager)
Marianne Shaw (Merced Medical Center)
Joseph Wilder (Madera County Sheriff/Office of Emergency Services) Helen Cosentino (American Red Cross, Disaster Program Manager: Merced/San Benito) Nathan Hicks (California DWR, Flood Operations Center, Engineer) Andrew Collum (California Department of State Parks, District Environmental Coordinator) Heather Reith (California Department of State Parks)
Jerald Meadows (National Weather Service, Warning Coordination Meteorologist) Deron Mills (Pacific Gas & Electric, Public Safety Specialist)

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com

AGENDA TOPICS
This document is a record of attendance and a summary of the topics discussed at the above meeting including the following:

1. Introductions
Mr. Scheurich kicked off the meeting and thanked everyone for joining and explained the MJHMP is a valuable and important plan for the County have in place. Mr. Perez introduced himself as Mr. Scheurich’s assistant on the project. Mr. Brislawn provided an overview of the agenda and what the team will talk about today. He introduced the Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. (Wood) team and said they will support Merced County during the planning process and document preparation as the project consultant. He asked that the participants write their name and the agency they represent in the chat box. The participant attendance list is shown above. Mr. Brislawn also provided a link to a virtual poll that asked whether the team has participated in the planning process for a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). Most of the group have not participated on a MJHMP (63%).

2. Hazard Mitigation, Mitigation Planning and the Disaster Mitigation Act Requirements Mr. Brislawn began a discussion about the hazard mitigation planning process. Mitigation is one of four phases of emergency management cycle. Mitigation and preparedness build resilience in communities and reduce response and recovery costs. He introduced the concept of a “sustained” action – such as managing your floodplains wisely so that development and infrastructure is not put at risk in such areas.

Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
Mr. Brislawn explained the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 which requires having an updated plan in place to ensure the County is eligible for pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation grant funds. There are trends resulting in increased costs for disaster response and recovery related to population growth and the increase in the types of events we experience as a community. The COVID-19 pandemic a good example of a circumstance that can cause disruption in our community and to the economy. Mr. Brislawn explained we need these plans for several reasons because the reduce future recovery costs, we can plan around predictive events, and they guide mitigation activities in a coordinated manner.

Planning Process
Mr. Brislawn explained that previous Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance broke the planning process into 4 phases. We are in Phase 1 and next steps will be developing an outreach strategy and reviewing County capabilities. We will then move into Phase 2, which will involve conducting a Risk Assessment. Phase 3 involves developing a mitigation strategy.

Phase 4 involves final plan adoption and implementation and ensuring the adopted plan builds a

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
safer and more resilient community. FEMA’s most recent guidance breaks down the planning process into a 9-step planning framework.

Phase 1 will involve building a planning team with the County and participating jurisdictions. This phase involves working with other agency stakeholders, specifically those agencies that are already involved with emergency management or mitigation activities. There are several special districts that have direct involvement in levee maintenance, water conservation, and community services. These are some of the agencies we reach out to for input during the planning process.

Public Involvement
FEMA requires we provide two opportunities for public involvement during the planning process:
during the draft stage and prior to plan approval. Public involvement will include online surveys and workshops during the planning effort, and will look to the participating jurisdictions to assist with advertising these opportunities. Our team will be responsible for documenting this process; this may involve documenting specific meetings with stakeholders or other organizations. Mr.

Brislawn asked the group if there were any questions.

Phase II: Risk Assessment
Mr. Brislawn discussed the three components of the risk assessment. He covered what natural hazards we look at in the assessment and how those hazards overlap with community assets. He discussed where there is overlap between the hazards and assets is where we have risk (e.g. potential for losses).

The vulnerability assessment looks at a range of assets in the County: residential/commercial structures and critical facilities and infrastructure. Our team will align this update with the recent FEMA Community Lifeline framework. Understanding risks to lifeline facilities, and identifying ways to minimize those risk with mitigation actions, will better position the plan for grant funding. He also stated we will look at development trends and natural resource areas in terms of assets that may warrant protection from hazard impacts.

Mitigation Capability Assessment
Mr. Brislawn explained that the team will examine existing policies and programs and evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation gaps and shortfalls to see where there are areas for improvement. He stated our team will also look at the County’s fiscal abilities to understand where there could be funding options for mitigation not limited to grants.

Mitigation Strategy
The Mitigation Strategy begins with reviewing the plan’s existing goals, which are broad overarching statements of what we want to achieve. Goals are supported by mitigation actions,

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
which are specific and measurable. Mr. Brislawn stated the team will rely on different reference guides for mitigation action alternatives, such as FEMA’s Mitigation Ideas and the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System (NFIP CRS) guidance. There is also related guidance from the State of California in the 2020 Adaptation Planning Guide.

Goals from 2014 MJHMP
Mr. Brislawn reviewed the existing 2014 MJHMP goals. He noted they include common types of goals we see in these plans. We will have an opportunity to further review and revise these goals in future meetings.

Actions in 2014 MJHMP
Mr. Brislawn shared the current actions from the existing plan. Mr. Brislawn noted we will need to get a status update on the actions during this planning update. He also noted that if the County does not want to pursue an existing action, the County will need to provide reasoning on why.

An action status form will be provided to capture this input at a later date.

Mitigation Alternatives
Mr. Brislawn stated that the team will need to review and select the alternatives for new actions as part of the plan update process. Each jurisdiction will need at least one new action, and actions will need to be prioritized. We will do this by applying selection and prioritization criteria, such as whether it will work, is it cost-beneficial, affordable, legal, and fair etc. This process will occur at a future planning meeting.

Plan Adoption and Implementation
The participating jurisdictions will need to readopt the plan to secure the buy-in for the process.

In terms of implementation, Mr. Brislawn explained there will need to be an assigned Hazard Mitigation Manager to track the projects. A lot of this work will be related to ongoing work plans and efforts, so it ties in tandem with other existing department and agency partners’ work.

California Legislation
Mr. Brislawn summarized various California legislation that formally links the MJHMP into other planning documents, such as the General Plan. By amending the MJHMP into the General Plan Safety Element in accordance with AB 2140 participating jurisdictions can achieve a higher share of disaster recovery costs from the State.

3. Role of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team (HMPT) and Benefits of Participation For participating jurisdictions, the requirements are that we need to document your participation and we need to show this documentation to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA reviewers, so meeting attendance is key. If you cannot make it, Mr. Brislawn

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
explained that he recommends an alternate attend in your place so we can still show participation. He also said that the jurisdictions should review and complete planning documents and worksheets. The participating jurisdictions also coordinate the final adoption of the plan.

Mr. Brislawn noted that as the consultant we are here to help facilitate the process and do the heavy lifting for the risk assessment and technical portions, but we really want this to be your plan and that is why it is key to get your input. Mr. Brislawn asked if there were any questions on the roles of the HMPT.

Mr. Brislawn described other “stakeholders” as entities that may be involved in hazard mitigation or emergency management activities that are not going to formally adopt the plan. This can include other local, regional, state or federal government agencies, private, private non-profit, and educational institutions. Mr. Brislawn said if you are a stakeholder you have options to participate. One of them is to participate in the meetings and to provide comments on the plan.

4. Objectives and Schedule for the Plan Update and Overview of 2015 Plan Mr. Brislawn explained we are reconvening the HMPT and updating the plan based on the latest federal requirements and California requirements. The built environment and hazard concerns in communities do change, so we conduct a substantial update to the risk assessment.

The next meeting will focus on the Risk Assessment, which will require the Wood team to conduct the assessment itself and complete the analysis. Other forthcoming deliverables include the public survey.

We will aim to schedule the next meeting in mid-March; the date in the calendar is tentative for now, but a target and we will try to find a date that works for everyone. Mr. Brislawn stated that as a consultant we will provide the tools to the County and jurisdictions to be successful and ensure the planning requirements are met.

5. Review and Identification of Natural and Human-Caused Hazards Ms. Prosperi defined the Planning Area as the Merced County limits, but noted we also consider regional hazards in Central Valley that could impact the County. Mr. Brislawn added that a regional hazard may include dam failures associated with dams located outside the County limits with the potential to inundate portions of the County. Ms. Prosperi provided an overview of potential other hazards of concern – both natural and human-caused that could be addressed in the plan. She provided a list based on the California State Hazard Mitigation Plan and explained those in bold are the hazards currently addressed in the 2014 MJHMP.

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
Ms. Prosperi shared a virtual poll link with the group and asked everyone to complete the survey; The final results are listed below with the top five priority hazards bolded:
• Flooding (80%)
• Drought (73%)
• Pandemic/Epidemic (60%)
• Dam Failure (53%)
• Earthquake (40%)
• Hazardous Material Releases (40%)
• Power Outages (33%)
• Subsidence (27%)
• Wildfires (27%)
• Cyber Threats (20%)
• Severe Weather (20%)
• Erosion (7%)
• Landslides/Debris Flows (7%)
• Oil Spills (7%)
• Expansive Soils (0%)
• Fuel Shortages (0%)
Ms. Prosperi asked the group if there were any other natural or human-caused hazards they should consider assessing in the plan. Mr. Scheurich mentioned civil unrest may be a concern, as well as cyber threats. He stated it may be valuable to the County to address cyber threats in the plan, based on where things are trending. He noted there was a substantial and recent cyberattack in the past month that impacted numerous health facilities and compromised their computer system for up to a month. Pandemic/Epidemic should also be included based on the current COVID19 outbreak and widespread impacts.

6. Coordination with Stakeholders, Related plans, and Recent Studies Ms. Prosperi provided an overview of Merced County’s existing mitigation capabilities starting with the 2030 Merced County General Plan through a broad summary of relevant regional plans, such as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) Merced-MariposaMadera Fire Unit Strategic Plan. Mr. Brislawn asked whether there have been any recent studies on the hazards listed in the County in the past few years.

Mr. Wilson stated the City of Merced recently prepared a Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study in 2018. The Merced County Economic Development Department stated the Climate Action Plan will be done by 2021. The County also recently updated the Zoning Code in 2019.

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
It was noted that UC-Merced was applying for an NSF grant for planning for energy resilience in regards to natural disasters.

It was also noted that county departments had recently completed COOP-COG plans.

Mr. Brislawn stated that during the process his team will ask the participants and stakeholders whether they have integrated any of the past planning efforts into the current MJHMP, such as whether the MJHMP was amended into the General Plan. Mr. Scheurich stated he will determine whether the 2014 plan was amended into the 2030 General Plan Safety Element.

7. Planning for Public Involvement
Ms. Prosperi provided an overview of outreach and engagement tools used in the planning process. Mr. Scheurich stated the silver linings of the pandemic is how the County has been able to enhance outreach to different communities in Merced. Ms. Prosperi explained how this planning process can piggyback on other planning efforts that recently occurred or those still underway in the County.

Ms. Prosperi indicated that other Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) mentioned to reach out to during the process may include the senior population, students, agricultural community, and the Latino population. Successful outreach to these groups may involve separate meetings we will want to capture during the planning process. Participants mentioned the City of Los Banos is updating their General Plan and they can share the Public Survey and leverage a monthly newsletter as part of their outreach.

8. Initial Information Needs and Next Steps
Mr. Brislawn discussed the Plan Update Guide (to be provided after the meeting) and next steps in the planning process and asked the group if there were any other questions.

9. Questions and Answers
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

10. Post-Meeting Discussion
After the meeting, Mr. Scheurich mentioned other potential hazard concerns facing Merced County. He stated the groundwater table is lowering substantially more on the western part of the County (Planada area) compared to the central part of the County, which is exacerbating subsidence in the area. He noted a temporary declaration related to impacted water tanks (25,000-gallon tank replacements) associated with subsidence and drought hazards. Mr. Brislawn said they dealt with the subsidence issue in Fresno County and its effect on flooding and levees.

Mr. Brislawn asked whether the County deals with tree mortality. Mr. Scheurich stated this is not an issue because the County is fairly flat, and mostly grassland.

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
Mr. Scheurich said the County has recently tracked and pursued State Homeland Security Grants related to cyber threats. He does not want to necessarily want to focus on cyber threats, but the grant funding is transitioning in this direction. He also noted that 50 percent of the population does not have GED, 85 percent of school population on school lunch program, so outreach and grant funding may need to target socially vulnerable communities in the County.

IMAGE: Screenshot of Meeting
Attachment: Meeting Chat Log

Attachment: Meeting Chat Log
• For those who joined in the last 15 minutes... by Prosperi, Juliana Prosperi, Juliana
10:35 AM
For those who joined in the last 15 minutes, can you write your name and the agency your represent in the Chat? Thanks.
• 8:orgid:249d9198-2b69-4f51-bf99-6844758a85fe joined the meeting.

Wilson, Casey joined the meeting.
• 8:teamsvisitor:8885d9e89aa84357ae79bfb2e771591b joined the meeting.

Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest) joined the meeting. • 8:orgid:c4c36458-a976-4a3c-953d-289d45a9a8f7 joined the meeting.

Reith, Heather@Parks joined the meeting.
•
Casey Wilson, City of Merced Fire Departmen by Wilson, Casey Wilson, Casey
10:47 AM
Casey Wilson, City of Merced Fire Department
•
Ruben Chavez, Gustine PD by Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest) Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest)
10:47 AM
Ruben Chavez, Gustine PD

•
Marianne Shaw Mercy Medical Center by marianne Shaw
marianne Shaw (Guest)
10:48 AM
Marianne Shaw Mercy Medical Center
•
Joseph Wilder, Madera County Sheriff's /OES by Joseph Wilder - Madera (Guest) Joseph Wilder - Madera (Guest)
10:52 AM
Joseph Wilder, Madera County Sheriff's /OES
•
Slido.com Code# 60980 by Carr, Amy
Carr, Amy
10:57 AM
Slido.com Code# 60980
•
cyber? by Eugene Barrera
Eugene Barrera
11:04 AM
cyber?
•
The CIty of Merced did a commodity flow stu... by Wilson, Casey

cyber? by Eugene Barrera
Eugene Barrera
11:04 AM
cyber?
The CIty of Merced did a commodity flow stu... by Wilson, Casey Wilson, Casey
11:13 AM
The CIty of Merced did a commodity flow study a few years back. I'll track that down and send it over. • 8:teamsvisitor:651998254c5f47e9b23b06263c8e6ba8 left the meeting.

Joseph Wilder - Madera (Guest) left the meeting.
•
City of Los Banos is currently updating our... by Stcy Souza Elms (Guest) Stcy Souza Elms (Guest)
11:16 AM
City of Los Banos is currently updating our General Plan •
Program/Project environmental impact report... by Eugene Barrera Eugene Barrera
11:17 AM
Program/Project environmental impact reports (CEQA )
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Steve M joined the meeting.
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Melissa Palomino (Guest) left the meeting.

•
UC Merced is applying for an NSF grant for ... by Eugene Barrera Eugene Barrera
11:22 AM
UC Merced is applying for an NSF grant for planning energy resilience in the face of natural disasters. •
Each department within Merced County also j... by Scheurich, David@CALFIRE Scheurich, David@CALFIRE
11:22 AMEdited
Each department within Merced County also just completed a COOP/COG update •
Thanks for those comments! by Brislawn, Jeff P
Brislawn, Jeff P
11:24 AM
Thanks for those comments!
•
The use of web map applications is also a g... by Eugene Barrera Eugene Barrera
11:25 AM
The use of web map applications is also a good venue to display spatial data • any opportunities for student service-learn... by Eugene Barrera Eugene Barrera11:28 AM
any opportunities for student service-learning with a local State University? The City of Los Banos will be starting a Mo... by Mason Hurley (Guest) Mason Hurley (Guest)
11:29 AM

The City of Los Banos will be starting a Monthly News Letter. We will be happy to add updates for this Plan.
• Nathan Quevedo left the meeting.

Nathan Quevedo left the meeting.
•
Thank you! by Cosentino, Helen
Cosentino, Helen
11:38 AM
Thank you!
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•
Thank you by Mason Hurley (Guest)
Mason Hurley (Guest)
11:38 AM
Thank you

• 8:teamsvisitor:e5dd329ba7d84f9d8d27dbd6e0bcfab8 left the meeting. marianne Shaw left the meeting.
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wood.

COUNTY
Merced County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan
Hazard Mitigation Planning Team Meeting #1
December 16, 2020
wood pie.com

Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 636-3200
woodplc.com
HMPT Meeting #2 Agenda
Date: 24 March 2021
10:00 am - noon PST
Meeting at: Virtual/Webinar - Microsoft Teams (see
email/Outlook for link)
Project: Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Subject/Purpose
The purpose of the meeting is to review the highlights of the updated Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. The meeting will be delivered as a webinar due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements.

Attendees: Hazard Mitigation Planning Team, Stakeholders and Wood

1. Introductions

2. Review of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Process

3. Update on public involvement activities

4. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) update

5. Web-map application and critical facility data

6. Capability Assessment Highlights

7. Review of mitigation goals

8. Next steps

9. Questions and answers

Meeting Summary
Total Number of Participants 41
Meeting Title
Merced County MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan Update: Meeting #2 Risk
and Goals
Meeting Start Time 3/24/2021, 10:47:36 AM
Meeting End Time 3/24/2021, 1:18:11 PM
Full Name Join Time Leave Time
Prosperi, Juliana 3/24/2021, 10:47:36 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:43 PM Johnson, Christopher A 3/24/2021, 10:47:42 AM 3/24/2021, 1:04:57 PM Brislawn, Jeff P 3/24/2021, 10:48:32 AM 3/24/2021, 1:04:17 PM Carr, Amy 3/24/2021, 10:50:57 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:31 PM
Parker, Derek 3/24/2021, 10:56:26 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:55 PM Scheurich, David@CALFIRE 3/24/2021, 10:56:26 AM 3/24/2021, 1:04:04 PM Hicks, Nathan@DWR 3/24/2021, 10:56:27 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:35 PM Sean Runyon/Merced Co. Ag Comm. (Guest) 3/24/2021, 10:56:28 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:56 PM Barrera, Gene 3/24/2021, 10:56:39 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:16 PM Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE 3/24/2021, 10:57:37 AM 3/24/2021, 1:07:14 PM 12095875749 3/24/2021, 10:57:41 AM 3/24/2021, 11:59:49 AM 12095875749 3/24/2021, 12:32:22 PM 3/24/2021, 12:57:45 PM Chambers, Mack 3/24/2021, 10:57:42 AM 3/24/2021, 12:58:16 PM Kristi Kelechenyi 3/24/2021, 10:58:14 AM 3/24/2021, 1:00:01 PM Jason Hicks 3/24/2021, 10:58:16 AM 3/24/2021, 12:10:01 PM Stacy Souza Elms (Guest) 3/24/2021, 10:58:16 AM 3/24/2021, 1:06:14 PM Wes Smith - Mariposa County OES 3/24/2021, 10:58:17 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:20 PM Justin Lemons 3/24/2021, 10:58:59 AM 3/24/2021, 11:49:23 AM 12093857564 3/24/2021, 10:59:04 AM 3/24/2021, 10:59:22 AM 12093857564 3/24/2021, 11:01:16 AM 3/24/2021, 12:33:55 PM Zachery Falcon 3/24/2021, 10:59:19 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:54 PM Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:00:21 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:21 PM 12095818675 3/24/2021, 11:00:24 AM 3/24/2021, 12:59:57 PM \Alyssa Carroll (Guest)\"" 3/24/2021, 11:00:32 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:27 PM Kent, [email protected] 3/24/2021, 11:00:33 AM 3/24/2021, 12:37:45 PM Vanessa Padilla 3/24/2021, 11:00:58 AM 3/24/2021, 12:17:18 PM Kuhlemeier, Rob 3/24/2021, 11:01:13 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:59 PM Chowdhary, Pujeeta 3/24/2021, 11:01:18 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:58 PM 12096754863 3/24/2021, 11:01:41 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:53 PM 12093835023 3/24/2021, 11:01:49 AM 3/24/2021, 12:17:32 PM 12093835023 3/24/2021, 12:33:45 PM 3/24/2021, 1:03:31 PM Reith, Heather@Parks 3/24/2021, 11:01:55 AM 3/24/2021, 11:57:37 AM Reith, Heather@Parks 3/24/2021, 12:33:08 PM 3/24/2021, 1:03:00 PM 12093857602 3/24/2021, 11:01:58 AM 3/24/2021, 1:18:11 PM Mitchell, Carrie 3/24/2021, 11:02:21 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:12 PM Wilson, Casey 3/24/2021, 11:02:21 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:25 PM Nishihama, John J 3/24/2021, 11:02:21 AM 3/24/2021, 11:58:58 AM

12098546183 3/24/2021, 11:02:24 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:38 PM Mike Stephenson (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:03:31 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:13 PM 12097262999 3/24/2021, 11:03:44 AM 3/24/2021, 11:24:41 AM Sandra OShields (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:04:47 AM 3/24/2021, 11:44:22 AM Vicki Jones (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:06:23 AM 3/24/2021, 11:50:43 AM Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro 3/24/2021, 11:31:46 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:34 PM Sandra OShields 3/24/2021, 11:46:22 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:12 PM 12097611972 3/24/2021, 12:36:11 PM 3/24/2021, 12:37:26 PM

Duration Email Role
2h 16m [email protected] Presenter
2h 17m [email protected] Presenter
2h 15m [email protected] Organizer
2h 12m [email protected] Presenter
2h 6m [email protected] Presenter
2h 7m [email protected] Presenter
2h 6m [email protected] Presenter
2h 7m Presenter
2h 6m [email protected] Presenter
2h 9m [email protected] Presenter
1h 2m Attendee
25m 22s Attendee
2h [email protected] Presenter
2h 1m [email protected] Presenter
1h 11m [email protected] Presenter
2h 7m Presenter
2h 5m Presenter
50m 23s [email protected] Presenter
18s Attendee
1h 32m Attendee
2h 3m [email protected] Presenter
2h 2m Presenter
1h 59m Attendee
2h 1m Presenter
1h 37m [email protected] Presenter
1h 16m [email protected] Presenter
2h 1m [email protected] Presenter
2h 1m [email protected] Presenter
2h 1m Attendee
1h 15m Attendee
29m 45s Attendee
55m 41s [email protected] Presenter
29m 51s [email protected] Presenter
2h 16m Attendee
2h [email protected] Presenter
2h 1m [email protected] Presenter
56m 36s [email protected] Presenter

2h Attendee
1h 59m Presenter
20m 56s Attendee
39m 34s Presenter
44m 20s Presenter
1h 30m [email protected] Presenter
1h 16m [email protected] Presenter
1m 15s Attendee

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 1 Merced County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Risk Assessment and Goals Meeting Summary
March 24, 2021
10:00 AM– 12 PM PST
Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams
Introductions and Opening Remarks
David Scheurich with County OES began the meeting with welcoming remarks, a brief overview of the requirements for hazard mitigation planning, and introduced Jeff Brislawn of Wood, the consulting firm hired to facilitate the plan development process. 41 persons were present for the virtual meeting.

Review of Mitigation, Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) Requirements, and the Planning Process
Following introductions of the Wood team by Jeff, it was requested that all attendees type their name, title, and affiliation in the chat function of the Microsoft Teams meeting in order to capture attendance and participation (documented in Attachments 1 and 2). Jeff reviewed the planning process being followed and discussed the project status. Jeff emphasized that jurisdictions that have not yet submitted information requested in the plan update guides to do so as soon as possible. This is particularly important for new jurisdictions to the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan as the update guides will provide a basis for the development of jurisdictional annexes.

Juliana Prosperi with the Wood team spoke on the public outreach strategy and the work thus far.

This included the creation of a public survey, with versions in English and Spanish, to gauge public input and the perception of risk for Merced County residents.

Risk Assessment Presentation and Discussion
Jeff outlined the general risk assessment requirements before beginning a detailed discussion of each hazard. He presented highlights on each hazard included in the updated risk assessment chapter of the plan, such as the number of new hazards profiled in the 2021 update which were not included in the previous plan. Refer to the Merced County HMP Risk Assessment PowerPoint presentation for specific details on each hazard and a handout summarizing hazard significance.

Additional insight and details were learned during the risk assessment conversation among participants. Highlights of the discussion are noted by hazard in the table below.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 2 Hazard or Topic Meeting Discussion
Dam Incidents • A question was posed by Ruben from the City of Gustine about the lack of inundation mapping below San Luis and O’Neill Forebay dams? Mack and Jeff noted the missing data layers have been asked for but not obtained yet. David Scheurich mentioned that he had a contact who could potentially provide data. Jeff also mentioned that the Emergency Action Plans should have
inundation maps that could be referenced. David said he has a copy in his office.

Severe Weather:

Dense Fog, Extreme Temps,
Heavy Rain, Wind
• No comment
Drought • No Comment
Subsidence • No Comment
Earthquake • No Comment
Flood & Levee Failure • Levee failure has been added in the flood hazard profile • No comment
Wildfire • No Comment
Landslide • No Comment
Pandemic/Epidemic • No Comment
Agriculture/Pest and Disease • No Comment
Hazardous Materials • No Comment
Cyber Attack • No Comment
Growth and Development Trends • No Comment
HIRA Summary • David Scheurich – Where does climate change fall into this as a hazard? Jeff explained that we don’t typically analyze climate change as its own individual hazard, but rather look at the role climate change plays in impacting the frequency and severity of other hazards

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 3 Web Map Application and Critical Facility Data
Gene Barrera, the Merced County GIS manager, gave a demonstration on a new Web Map application that was being created to support the plan update process, in conjunction with a planning class that he is teaching at Stanislaus State University. The ESRI Experience Builder web application will provide more publicly accessible information related to the project, including links to the public survey, and dynamic hazard maps. A password protected map application has been developed so that each jurisdiction could review, verify, and edit critical facilities data specific to them. David and Jeff will identify potential points of contact at each jurisdiction to followup with regarding the critical facilities data review.

The link to the website is below:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c6ad8529e3a84651918e00115607206e/ The critical facilities are being grouped/classified to align with the FEMA Lifelines framework. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/CommunityLifelinesToolkit2.0v2.pdf Review of Mitigation Goals
Another next step will be updating the plan’s goals. Juliana introduced the topic of Mitigation Goals and Objectives for a Hazard Mitigation Plan. She included a summary of the goals from the previous plan, which can be kept or updated to meet the current needs of the county. The group will revisit the goals for finalization at the beginning of the next meeting.

An online form for the planning team to review and provide input to the goals update is below. http://bit.ly/3txL8Ll
Input on the goals is requested by April 9
th
.

A worksheet will be provided after the meeting with the link, and some examples of goals from related plan for reference.

Capability Assessment Highlights
Juliana also gave an overview of the Capability Assessment portion of the plan, and noted some of the existing planning, regulatory, and project capabilities for the identified hazards. Moving forward jurisdictions should review and update capabilities to reflect current ones, and note opportunities for improvement. Worksheets have been provided in the plan update guides for this purpose.

Plan Timeline/Next steps
Jeff briefly discussed the Mitigation actions plan, highlighting the requirement that each participating jurisdiction provide will need at least one new mitigation action for the plan update, which will be discussed further at a future planning meeting.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 4 The next HMPC planning meeting will be in April, with a date to be determined. The purpose of the next meeting is to update the mitigation strategy. This will include development of new mitigation actions for the plan and participating jurisdictions. Once the specific dates have been identified, a calendar update will be sent out. The meeting materials will also be shared electronically, including the presentation and handouts. The timeline and steps for the various drafts of the plan to be reviewed and approved by both Cal OES and FEMA was outlined as well.

The meeting adjourned at noon.

Attachment 1: Chat Log
Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 Update
Risk Assessment Meeting Chat Log
March 24, 2021 – 10:00am-12:00pm PST
[9:47 AM] Unknown User Chowdhary, Pujeeta was invited to the meeting. [10:56 AM] Unknown User Hicks, Nathan@DWR was invited to the meeting. [10:56 AM] Unknown User Parker, Derek (External) was invited to the meeting. [10:56 AM] Unknown User Sean Runyon/Merced Co. Ag Comm. (Guest) was invited to the meeting. [10:56 AM] Unknown User Scheurich, David@CALFIRE was invited to the meeting. [10:56 AM] Unknown User Barrera, Gene (External) was invited to the meeting. [10:57 AM] Unknown User Chambers, Mack was invited to the meeting. [10:57 AM] Unknown User Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE was invited to the meeting. [10:58 AM] Unknown User Stacy Souza Elms (Guest) was invited to the meeting. [10:58 AM] Unknown User Kristi Kelechenyi was invited to the meeting. [10:58 AM] Unknown User Wes Smith - Mariposa County OES was invited to the meeting. [10:58 AM] Unknown User Jason Hicks (External) was invited to the meeting. [10:59 AM] Unknown User Justin Lemons was invited to the meeting. [10:59 AM] Unknown User Zachery Falcon was invited to the meeting. [11:00 AM] Unknown User Ruben and Sammy Gustine PD (Guest) was invited to the meeting. [11:00 AM] Unknown User "\"Alyssa Carroll (Guest)\"" was invited to the meeting. [11:00 AM] Unknown User Kent, [email protected] (External) was invited to the meeting. [11:00 AM] Unknown User Vanessa Padilla was invited to the meeting. [11:01 AM] Unknown User Kuhlemeier, Rob (External) was invited to the meeting. [11:01 AM] Unknown User Reith, Heather@Parks (External) was invited to the meeting. [11:02 AM] Unknown User Nishihama, John J was invited to the meeting. [11:02 AM] Unknown User Mitchell, Carrie was invited to the meeting. [11:02 AM] Unknown User Wilson, Casey (External) was invited to the meeting. [11:03 AM] Unknown User Mike Stephenson (Guest) was invited to the meeting. [11:04 AM] Unknown User Sandra OShields (Guest) was invited to the meeting. [11:06 AM] Unknown User Vicki Jones (Guest) was invited to the meeting. [11:10 AM] Barrera, Gene
Gene Barrera, Merced County GIS Manager

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 5 [11:10 AM] Ruben and Sammy Gustine PD (Guest)
Ruben Chavez, Chief of Police , Gustine Police Department [11:10 AM] Stacy Souza Elms (Guest)
Stacy Souza Elms, City of Los Banos - Community and Economic Development Director [11:10 AM] Hicks, Nathan@DWR (Guest)
Nathan Hicks, Engineer, DWR Flood Operations Center
[11:10 AM] Jason Hicks
Jason Hicks, Turlock Irrigation District, Manager of Security & Emergency Preparedness [11:10 AM] Kuhlemeier, Rob
Rob Kuhlemeier Merced County IT, Merced County
[11:10 AM] "\"Alyssa Carroll (Guest)\""
Alyssa Carroll Mariposa County OES
[11:10 AM] Kent, [email protected]
Walt Kent, CalOES, Emergency Services Coordinator, Region V [11:10 AM] Vicki Jones (Guest)
Vicki Jones, Merced County Environmental Health Division Director [11:10 AM] Reith, Heather@Parks
Heather Reith, Natural Resources Program Manager, California Department of Parks and Recreation [11:10 AM] Mike Stephenson (Guest)
Mike Stephenson Merced County Assistant Director Public Works [11:10 AM] Nishihama, John J (Guest)
John Nishihama Assistant CIO, Merced County
Edited
[11:10 AM] Sean Runyon/Merced Co. Ag Comm. (Guest)
Sean Runyon/ Asst. Ag Commissioner/Merced County
[11:10 AM] Carr, Amy
Amy Carr, Hazard Mitigation Planner, Wood
[11:10 AM] Johnson, Christopher A
Christopher Johnson, Hazard Mitigation Planner/GIS Analyst, Wood PLC [11:11 AM] Parker, Derek
Derek Parker, Merced Fire Department Fire Chief
[11:11 AM] Chowdhary, Pujeeta
Pujeeta Chowdhary, MPH, Risk Assessor, Wood
[11:11 AM] Wes Smith - Mariposa County OES (Guest)
Wes Smith - Mariposa County OES

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 6 [11:11 AM] Wilson, Casey
Casey Wilson, City of Merced Fire, Deputy Chief
[11:11 AM] Prosperi, Juliana
Juliana Prosperi, AICP, Assistant Project Manager
[11:11 AM] Chambers, Mack
Mack Chambers, GIS Analyst, Wood
[11:12 AM] Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE (Guest)
Greg Padilla Merced County OES. David Scheurich Merced County OES. Kevin Lindo CAL FIRE-Land use planning. Gene Potkey CAL FIRE- land use planning.
[11:12 AM] Barrera, Gene
CSU Students - Please include your information as well - Thanks [11:13 AM] Sandra OShields (Guest)
Sandra OShields, Student of Barrera
[11:13 AM] Kristi Kelechenyi (Guest)
Kristi Kelechenyi, CSU Stanislaus student
[11:14 AM] Justin Lemons (Guest)
Justin Lemons Stainislause State University-Planning Issues [11:15 AM] Brislawn, Jeff P
Jeff Brislawn, Project Manager/Hazard Mitigation Lead, Wood [11:18 AM] Zachery Falcon (Guest)
Zach Falcon, CSU Student
[11:19 AM] Vanessa Padilla (Guest)
Vanessa Padilla, CSU Stanislaus Student
[11:25 AM] Mitchell, Carrie (Guest)
Carrie Mitchell/Deputy Ag Commissioner/Merced County
[11:31 AM] Unknown User Laura Rodriguez Mascorro (External) was invited to the meeting. [11:44 AM] Unknown User Sandra OShields (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [11:46 AM] Unknown User Sandra OShields was invited to the meeting. [11:50 AM] Unknown User Vicki Jones (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [12:07 PM] Ruben and Sammy Gustine PD (Guest)
Pat Berrellii, Fire Chief, Gustine Fire Department
[12:23 PM] Chambers, Mack
yes
[12:25 PM] Barrera, Gene
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c6ad8529e3a84651918e00115607206e/

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 7 [12:37 PM] Unknown User Scheurich, David@CALFIRE no longer has access to the chat. [12:37 PM] Prosperi, Juliana
For those of you who joined in the last 15 minutes, if you could enter your name and the agency/organization you represent that will help us track and document participation. Thanks! [12:37 PM] Unknown User Scheurich, David@CALFIRE was invited to the meeting. [12:37 PM] Laura Rodriguez Mascorro
Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro, UC Merced
[12:40 PM] Reith, Heather@Parks
Hi Julianna, I entered my name earlier. I had to leave for a bit for another meeting. [12:40 PM] Prosperi, Juliana
Thanks Heather!
(1 liked)
[12:41 PM] Carr, Amy
great job Barrera, Gene and students!
[12:42 PM] Prosperi, Juliana
Amazing job Gene! And thanks to all the CSU students on the call today!! [12:52 PM] Brislawn, Jeff P
Here is the link to the goals worksheet to provide suggested revisions to the goals [12:52 PM] Brislawn, Jeff P
http://bit.ly/3txL8Ll
Fill | Merced County Hazard Mitigation Goals & Objectives 2021 Update The survey will take approximately 4 minutes to complete. FEMA requires that mitigation plans establish “mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.” ... bit.ly
[12:54 PM] Ruben and Sammy Gustine PD (Guest)
Jeff, can you send the FEMA link also please?
[1:02 PM] Prosperi, Juliana
Here is the link: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/lifelines [1:02 PM] Unknown User Johnny Nishihama - GCC Global Admin (External) was invited to the meeting. [1:02 PM] Unknown User "\"Alyssa Carroll (Guest)\"" no longer has access to the chat. [1:02 PM] Unknown User Hicks, Nathan@DWR no longer has access to the chat. [1:02 PM] Kuhlemeier, Rob
Thank you for the information
[1:03 PM] Unknown User Mike Stephenson (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [1:03 PM] Unknown User Wes Smith - Mariposa County OES no longer has access to the chat. [1:03 PM] Unknown User Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [1:03 PM] Unknown User Sean Runyon/Merced Co. Ag Comm. (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [1:04 PM] Unknown User Scheurich, David@CALFIRE no longer has access to the chat.

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 8 [1:06 PM] Unknown User Stacy Souza Elms (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [1:07 PM] Unknown User Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE no longer has access to the chat.

Meeting ended 2h 30m 1:18 PM
1h 58m
Meeting Recorded by: Johnson, Christopher A
https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/25c20392-49c2-44da-b1d7-4ea505100984 Attachment 2: Attendance Log
Meeting Summary
Total Number of Participants 41
Meeting Title Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update: Meeting #2 Risk and Goals Meeting Start Time 3/24/2021, 10:47:36 AM
Meeting End Time 3/24/2021, 1:18:11 PM
Full Name Join Time Leave TimeDuration Email
Prosperi, Juliana 3/24/2021, 10:47:36 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:43 PM 2h 16m [email protected] Johnson, Christopher A 3/24/2021, 10:47:42 AM 3/24/2021, 1:04:57 PM 2h 17m [email protected] Brislawn, Jeff P 3/24/2021, 10:48:32 AM 3/24/2021, 1:04:17 PM 2h 15m [email protected] Carr, Amy 3/24/2021, 10:50:57 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:31 PM 2h 12m [email protected] Parker, Derek 3/24/2021, 10:56:26 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:55 PM 2h 6m [email protected] Scheurich, David@CALFIRE 3/24/2021, 10:56:26 AM 3/24/2021, 1:04:04 PM 2h 7m [email protected] Hicks, Nathan@DWR 3/24/2021, 10:56:27 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:35 PM 2h 6m [email protected] Sean Runyon/Merced Co. Ag Comm. (Guest)3/24/2021, 10:56:28 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:56 PM 2h 7m Barrera, Gene 3/24/2021, 10:56:39 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:16 PM 2h 6m [email protected] Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE 3/24/2021, 10:57:37 AM 3/24/2021, 1:07:14 PM 2h 9m [email protected] 12095875749 3/24/2021, 10:57:41 AM 3/24/2021, 11:59:49 AM 1h 2m 12095875749 3/24/2021, 12:32:22 PM 3/24/2021, 12:57:45 PM 25m 22s Chambers, Mack 3/24/2021, 10:57:42 AM 3/24/2021, 12:58:16 PM 2h [email protected] Kristi Kelechenyi 3/24/2021, 10:58:14 AM 3/24/2021, 1:00:01 PM 2h 1m [email protected] Jason Hicks 3/24/2021, 10:58:16 AM 3/24/2021, 12:10:01 PM 1h 11m [email protected] Stacy Souza Elms (Guest) 3/24/2021, 10:58:16 AM 3/24/2021, 1:06:14 PM 2h 7m Wes Smith - Mariposa County OES 3/24/2021, 10:58:17 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:20 PM 2h 5m Justin Lemons 3/24/2021, 10:58:59 AM 3/24/2021, 11:49:23 AM 50m 23s [email protected] 12093857564 3/24/2021, 10:59:04 AM 3/24/2021, 10:59:22 AM 18s 12093857564 3/24/2021, 11:01:16 AM 3/24/2021, 12:33:55 PM 1h 32m Zachery Falcon 3/24/2021, 10:59:19 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:54 PM 2h 3m [email protected] Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:00:21 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:21 PM 2h 2m 12095818675 3/24/2021, 11:00:24 AM 3/24/2021, 12:59:57 PM 1h 59m \Alyssa Carroll (Guest)\"" 3/24/2021, 11:00:32 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:27 PM 2h 1m Kent, [email protected] 3/24/2021, 11:00:33 AM 3/24/2021, 12:37:45 PM 1h 37m [email protected] Vanessa Padilla 3/24/2021, 11:00:58 AM 3/24/2021, 12:17:18 PM 1h 16m [email protected] Kuhlemeier, Rob 3/24/2021, 11:01:13 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:59 PM 2h 1m [email protected] Chowdhary, Pujeeta 3/24/2021, 11:01:18 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:58 PM 2h 1m [email protected] 12096754863 3/24/2021, 11:01:41 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:53 PM 2h 1m 12093835023 3/24/2021, 11:01:49 AM 3/24/2021, 12:17:32 PM 1h 15m 12093835023 3/24/2021, 12:33:45 PM 3/24/2021, 1:03:31 PM 29m 45s Reith, Heather@Parks 3/24/2021, 11:01:55 AM 3/24/2021, 11:57:37 AM 55m 41s [email protected] Reith, Heather@Parks 3/24/2021, 12:33:08 PM 3/24/2021, 1:03:00 PM 29m 51s [email protected] 12093857602 3/24/2021, 11:01:58 AM 3/24/2021, 1:18:11 PM 2h 16m Mitchell, Carrie 3/24/2021, 11:02:21 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:12 PM 2h [email protected] Wilson, Casey 3/24/2021, 11:02:21 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:25 PM 2h 1m [email protected] Nishihama, John J 3/24/2021, 11:02:21 AM 3/24/2021, 11:58:58 AM 56m 36s [email protected] 12098546183 3/24/2021, 11:02:24 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:38 PM 2h Mike Stephenson (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:03:31 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:13 PM 1h 59m 12097262999 3/24/2021, 11:03:44 AM 3/24/2021, 11:24:41 AM 20m 56s Sandra OShields (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:04:47 AM 3/24/2021, 11:44:22 AM 39m 34s Vicki Jones (Guest) 3/24/2021, 11:06:23 AM 3/24/2021, 11:50:43 AM 44m 20s Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro 3/24/2021, 11:31:46 AM 3/24/2021, 1:02:34 PM 1h 30m [email protected] Sandra OShields 3/24/2021, 11:46:22 AM 3/24/2021, 1:03:12 PM 1h 16m [email protected] 12097611972 3/24/2021, 12:36:11 PM 3/24/2021, 12:37:26 PM 1m 15s Page 1732 of 2046 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 9 Attachment 3 Meeting Screen Capture

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update: Meeting #2 Risk and Goals 0 01:29:47
Growth and Development Trends
Municipalities Sphere of Influences
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Countywide pop. projected to
increase by 82% by 2040
283,521 - 2020
346,085 - 2040 (CA DOFJ
Highlights from Plan Update
Guides:

City of Merced 6th fastest growing city in
CA (as of Jan. 2020)
Annexation of UC Merced approved
February 2021.

City of Dos Palos received grant
approval for construction of new
Water Treatment facility.

Sphere of Influence Parcel Analysis:

Estimated 6,917 buildings within Dam
Inundation areas
Estimated 3,066 buildings within 1%
Annual Chance Flood
Estimated 1,514 buildings within Fire
Threat areas
wood.
0 X
D ,._ Leave

From: Brislawn, Jeff P
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2021 11:46 AM
To: Scheurich, David@CALFIRE; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]
Cc: Barrera, Gene; Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE
Subject: Merced Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update - Critical Facility Data review and input
Importance: High
In follow up to the meeting on the Hazard Mitigation Plan on March 24th in regards to the critical facility data, we would like each jurisdiction’s assistance validating the GIS data that has been collected. We are reaching out to you as points of contact for your jurisdiction. There are two primary aspects of the review of critical facilities:

1. Data completeness/correctness – we want to ensure we have the facilities and assets captured, and in the correct geographic location

2. Alignment/classification with FEMA Lifelines framework In the long term there are other data attributes that this site will allow for update and maintenance, including facility valuations, contact info, etc.

Please go the online map application
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c6ad8529e3a84651918e00115607206e/ to browse the data for your jurisdiction and verify the information. You can access the map application using the Link to Maintenance Editor button on the following page;
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c6ad8529e3a84651918e00115607206e/page/page_16/ THE LOG IN USER NAME AND PASSWORD TO ACCES THE EDITOR APPLICATION IS;

User Name: hmp_user
Password: mchmp2021@mercedcounty
Following your review, please send an email to Gene Barrera ([email protected]) to let him know the following, as applicable:

I have reviewed and it looks complete.

I have reviewed and made edits to address completed/accuracy.

I have reviewed but need assistance making changes.

As a reminder, we are using the FEMA lifelines framework as the basis for defining critical facilities for the plan update:

Community lifelines are fundamental services in a County that provide day-to-day support for a community’s basic needs and when stable allow the community to function.

FEMA further defines lifelines into 7 categories: safety and security (fire, police); food, water, and shelter (cooling center); health and medical; energy; communications; transportation; and hazardous materials (Hazmat facilities, pollutant controls).

More details on FEMA lifelines can be referenced here:
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/CommunityLifelinesToolkit2.0v2.pdf We’d like to get the Critical Facility information updated in the GIS Experience Application by Wednesday April 21st. Gene Barrera with Merced County is available to provide additional assistance. On the splash page

of the editor application is a link to a video excerpt of his demo of the application on March 24th:

In addition, we will schedule another online-workshop to answer questions on this. This will be scheduled for Thursday April 15th at 9-10am. An Outlook invite will be sent for this.

Please let us know if you will be delegating this to someone else in your jurisdiction.

Thanks
Jeff
Jeff Brislawn
Hazard Mitigation Lead/Sr Associate
Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Management Program
Office: 303-742-5315 Mobile: 303-704-5506
www.woodplc.com

Merced HMP – workshop with emergency managers for each jurisdiction to discuss critical Facility data collection. Webinar on 4/15/21.

Gene Baraa
Attended by 19 persons.

Chat log is below.
01:12:23
Leave
Dan Arnold (Guest)
Meeting chat
Message List
•
Dan Arnold Public Works Director, City of G... by Dan Arnold (Guest) Dan Arnold (Guest)
10:03 AM
Dan Arnold Public Works Director, City of Gustine, CA.
•
Mason Hurley, Fire Chief - City of Los Bano by Mason Hurley (Guest) Mason Hurley (Guest)
10:03 AM
Mason Hurley, Fire Chief - City of Los Banos
•

Rich McEachin Dos Palos PD Chief by Rich McEachin (Guest) Rich McEachin (Guest)
10:03 AM
Rich McEachin Dos Palos PD Chief
• Jeff Brislawn, Project Manager, Wood by Brislawn, Jeff P Brislawn, Jeff P
10:03 AM
Jeff Brislawn, Project Manager, Wood
•
Nicole Desmond, Management Analyst III, Mer... by Desmond, Nicole M Desmond, Nicole M
10:03 AM
Nicole Desmond, Management Analyst III, Merced County Executive Office •
Derek Parker Merced Fire Department Fire Ch... by Parker, Derek Parker, Derek (External)
10:03 AM
Derek Parker Merced Fire Department Fire Chief\
•
Ruben Chavez, Gustine Chief of Police by "Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest)" "Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest)"
10:03 AM

Ruben Chavez, Gustine Chief of Police
•
Corina Falaschi Gustine Planning by Corina Falaschi (Guest) Corina Falaschi (Guest)
10:04 AM
Corina Falaschi Gustine Planning
•
Sgt. Cliff Battles, Dos Palos Police Depart... by Guest Guest
10:04 AM
Sgt. Cliff Battles, Dos Palos Police Department
•
Alex Harrington FAE Merced County Fire Dept... by Harrington- Gustine Fire Station (Guest) Harrington- Gustine Fire Station (Guest)
10:04 AM
Alex Harrington FAE Merced County Fire Dept, Gustine Station • 8:teamsvisitor:9552c6bf2cf947e6871402e542f6cf43 was invited to the meeting.

Corina Falaschi was invited to the meeting.
• 8:teamsvisitor:914be04aa9514a838a43ce3d98f83d4d was invited to the meeting.

Robert Ayuso (Guest) was invited to the meeting.
• 8:teamsvisitor:21afefc078c14d5894788275532ffd35 left the chat.

Robert Ayuso left the chat.

•
Robert Ayuso Atwater City Fire Battalion Ch... by Robert Ayuso (Guest) Robert Ayuso (Guest)
10:10 AM
Robert Ayuso Atwater City Fire Battalion Chief
•
Here is a link to the FEMA Lifeline Toolkit... by Chambers, Mack Chambers, Mack
10:13 AM
Here is a link to the FEMA Lifeline Toolkit, if you go to page 12 in the PDF you will see a summary of all the categories. Pages after break down each Lifeline into Components or SubComponents to better identify where facilities will fit.
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/CommunityLifelinesToolkit2.0v2.pdf • 8:orgid:5f1f768a-ed5a-43f1-ba4f-001dad3eabb1 was invited to the meeting.

Scheurich, David@CALFIRE was invited to the meeting.
•
You are filtered and can't see the points by Parker, Derek Parker, Derek (External)
10:21 AM
You are filtered and can't see the points
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Harrington- Gustine Fire Station (Guest) left the chat. • 8:teamsvisitor:cffa1285721c48daa4b7e51a68f8fd16 left the chat.

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Rich McEachin (Guest) left the chat.
• 8:teamsvisitor:ee4be146434a400699bd98020421049b left the chat.

Mason Hurley (Guest) left the chat.
• 8:teamsvisitor:fc80128326804a079f0af6cec2aac350 left the chat. "Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest)" left the chat.
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Cliff Battles (Guest) left the chat.

1. Introductions

2. Review of the Planning Process and Progress to Date

3. Update of Mitigation Goals

4. Review of progress on Mitigation Actions from 2015 Plan

5. Review of Mitigation Action Categories and Alternatives

6. Development of New Mitigation Actions

7. Next steps

8. Questions and Answers
Merced County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Meeting # 3: Mitigation Strategy Meeting Agenda
Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021
10:00 am – noon
Meeting at: Virtual/Webinar - Microsoft Teams (see
email/Outlook for link)
Subject/Purpose
This meeting will focus on updating the plan’s mitigation strategy, including updating the plan’s goals and objectives, actions undertaken since the last plan update, and identifying new mitigation activities. All participating jurisdictions and planning team members are encouraged to attend and provide input and ideas on new mitigation actions. The meeting will be delivered as a virtual meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements.

Attendees: Hazard Mitigation Planning Team, Stakeholders and Consultant Team

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 Merced County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 Update Mitigation Strategy Webinar
May 13, 2021, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Introductions and Opening Remarks
Jeff Brislawn, Project Manager with Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions (Wood), kicked off the webinar and thanked everyone for their participation. Jeff introduced the Wood team and led a roll call of attendees to introduce themselves. In total 34 individuals participated in the webinar representing Merced County and participating jurisdictions, including municipalities and special districts, as well as stakeholders and partner organizations.

Review of the Planning Process and Progress to Date
The FEMA planning process steps were recapped; Wood is currently wrapping up the Risk Assessment process and beginning the mitigation strategy portion. This webinar addressed mitigation strategizing and goal review/development aspects.

The roles of the participating jurisdictions in the HMPC vs. Stakeholders were reviewed, as differentiated under FEMA’s eyes. Only the participating jurisdictions, will be specifically addressed in the plan and will be required to meet certain criteria such as attending planning meetings, identifying mitigation actions, and tracking other aspects in order to qualify for funding in the future. While other entities (i.e. everyone else) were key stakeholders that would provide useful input and feedback as well as review the Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) drafts.

The progress on the plan update process to date was reviewed. Highlights include:
• Kickoff meeting held December 16th
• Risk Assessment meeting held March 24th
• First public meeting held May 12th
• Online Public Survey closed May 31st
• HIRA Update Ongoing
• New project website and web map interface created for the project Update on Public Involvement Activities/public meeting.

Jeff noted that the online public survey is closed on May 31st and received 264 responses. The top five hazards of concern based on this public survey were:
• Drought
• Extreme Temperatures
• Pandemic/Epidemic
• Wildfire
• Wind

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 2 Mitigation Goals and Objectives
The goals from the 2014 Hazard Mitigation Plan were revisited, as were the goals from the 2015 City of Merced HMP. Key differences between “goals,” “objectives” and “actions” were defined: goals and objectives are usually more general and broad guidelines while actions are specific and project-driven.

Projects submitted for grant funding will need to tie back to goals and objectives in the HMP. The suggested 2021 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan goals and objectives were created based on a hybrid of the previous Merced County and City of Merced goals. They are as follows:

Goals:
• Goal 1: Reduce the potential for loss of life and injury from hazards • Goal 2: Minimize or reduce damage to property.
• Goal 3: Build resiliency and redundancy to maintain essential services, lifelines, facilities, and infrastructure.
• Goal 4: Minimize impacts of hazards to agriculture and the economies of communities. • Goal 5: Protect and leverage natural and beneficial mitigation functions of the environment. • Goal 6: Promote hazard mitigation as an integrated policy. • Goal 7: Increase public awareness of hazards.

For each of the goals and objectives, Jeff highlighted the proposed changes and additions and led a discussion with the committee members.

Review of Progress on Existing Mitigation Actions
Prior to the webinar, a Mitigation Action Tracker was sent to the HMPC listing each jurisdictions’ 2014 mitigation actions. Each HMPC representative was asked to provide status and comments on the status of each action. The Tracker was emailed again following the webinar to fill in some of the missing statuses, as some jurisdictions had not yet returned the Tracker at the time of the webinar. The mitigation action statuses are categorized as one of the following: Completed, Annual Implementation, In Progress, Not Started, and Deleted.

Some examples of “Deleted” actions may be due to lack of project applicability over time, or even inability to complete a project in an area where the community does not have control/jurisdiction (e.g. state owned vs. federal land). Annual Implementation are actions that a jurisdiction is conducting on an ongoing basis, but which the jurisdiction wants to continue forward into the updated plan to maintain visibility on the action.

Mitigation Actions
Jeff lead a discussion on the Mitigation Actions portion of the plan. One way to think of mitigation actions is the four A’s:
• Altering a hazard,
• Averting a hazard,
• Avoiding a hazard,
• Adapting to a hazard
FEMA suggests these four categories for mitigation actions:
• Plans and Regulations,

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 3 • Structure and Infrastructure Projects,
• Education and Awareness, and
• Natural Systems Protection.

Resources for more details on mitigation action types, categories, and example projects were provided, including a short discussion on climate change and adaptation considerations. Example hazard-specific mitigation projects were discussed including FEMA funding-eligible projects for winter weather, flood, and other hazards.

Developing New Mitigation Actions
Each participating jurisdiction is required to develop at least one new action for the 2021 plan update.

Ideally, jurisdictions should develop actions that address all the hazards addressed in the plan, or at least the High significance hazards. All jurisdictions that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will need to have a mitigation action addressing continued NFIP compliance.

The following are resources with ideas and examples of mitigation actions and implementation:
• FEMA’s ‘Mitigation Action Portfolio’ Publication: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020- 08/fema_mitigation-action-portfolio-support-document_08-01-2020_0.pdf • DOLA ‘Planning for Hazard’ Guide: https://planningforhazards.com/home A link to the New Mitigation Action Survey was shared during the meeting and emailed after. Each HMPC member was asked to fill out the survey with at least one mitigation action by June 3rd.

New Mitigation Actions Survey: http://bit.ly/MercedActions Next Steps
The project schedule was reviewed:

Project Milestone Anticipated Timeline
• HMPT Meeting #4 June 2021
• HMPT Review Draft Late June 2021
• Public Review Draft August 2021
• Cal OES Review September 2021
• FEMA Review (estimated) November-December 2021
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 am

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 4 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 Update
Mitigation Strategy Meeting Chat Log
May 13, 2021 – 10:00am-12:00pm PST
Times below are reflected in Mountain Time.

Meeting started 10:46 AM
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Wes Smith@mariposacountyOES (Guest) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:01 AM] Unknown User mabeloe (Guest) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:02 AM] Unknown User Kent, [email protected] (External) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:02 AM] Unknown User Christina Thurman (External) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:03 AM] Unknown User Stacy Souza Elms, City of Los Banos (Guest) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:03 AM] Unknown User Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro (External) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:03 AM] Unknown User Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:04 AM] Unknown User Barrera, Gene (External) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:07 AM] Unknown User Jerald Meadows (Guest) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:13 AM] Barrera, Gene
Gene Barrera, GIS Manager Merced County
[11:13 AM] Jason Hicks
Jason Hicks, Security/Emergency Preparedness Manager, Turlock Irrigation District [11:13 AM] Bill Gibbs - MCFB (Guest)
Bill Gibbs, Executive Director, Merced County Food Bank [11:13 AM] Jones, Vicki
Vicki Jones, Environmental Health Division Director, Merced County [11:13 AM] Jerald Meadows (Guest)

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 5 Jerald Meadows - Meteorologist in Charge - National Weather Service [11:13 AM] Cosentino-Massimino, Helen (Guest)
Helen Cosentino-Massimino, American Red Cross, Disaster Program Manager [11:13 AM] Stacy Souza Elms, City of Los Banos (Guest)
Stacy Souza Elms, City of Los Banos Community and Economic Development Director [11:13 AM] Kuhlemeier, Rob
Robert Kuhlemeier, Merced County IT supervisor
[11:13 AM] Kent, [email protected]
Walt Kent, Emergency Services Coordinator, CalOES
[11:13 AM] Wes Smith@mariposacountyOES (Guest)
Wes Smith - Mariposa County OES
[11:13 AM] Michael Salvador
Michael Salvador Chief of Police Cituof Atwtaer
[11:13 AM] Janell Martin
Janell Martin, Executive to the City Manager, City of Atwater [11:13 AM] Mills, Deron (Guest)
Deron Mills, PG&E Public Safety Specialist
[11:13 AM] Runyon, Sean
Sean Runyon, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner, Merced County [11:13 AM] Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro
Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro, Emergency Manager, UC Merced
[11:14 AM] Carr, Amy
Amy Carr, Hazard Mitigation Planner, Wood
[11:14 AM] Mike North (Guest)
Mike North, Merced County Public Information Officer
[11:14 AM] Brislawn, Jeff P
Jeff Brislawn, Hazard Mitigation Lead, Wood
[11:14 AM] Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE (Guest)
Greg Padilla Assistant Director of Administration for Merced County OES. [11:14 AM] Cliff Battles (Guest)
Cliff Battles, Acting Chief of Police - Dos Palos
[11:14 AM] Ruben and Sammy Gusitine PD (Guest)
Ruben Chavez, Gustine Chief of Police, Emergency Services Coordinator

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 6 [11:14 AM] mabeloe (Guest)
Martha Abeloe , Administrative Analyst PW, Adabel Pirita, Administrative Analyst PW, Tony Avina Public Works Superintendent City of Livingston
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Calvin Curtin, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Turlock Irrigation District [11:15 AM] Unknown User Justin Vinson (External) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:17 AM] Gurrola, Joanne@CalOES
Joanne Gurrola, Emergency Services Coordinator, CalOES
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Robert Ayuso CAL FIRE/Atwater City Fire Battalion Chief [11:18 AM] Unknown User Stephenson, Michael J (External) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:21 AM] Barrera, Gene
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c6ad8529e3a84651918e00115607206e/page/page_12/?draft=true [11:28 AM] Wilson, Casey
Casey Wilson, Deputy Chief, City of Merced Fire
[11:28 AM] Parker, Derek
Derek Parker, Fire Chief, Merced Fire
[11:29 AM] Prosperi, Juliana
If anyone has any suggestions on the blended/hybrid goals, you can provide edits in the Meeting Chat here! [11:30 AM] Barrera, Gene
Maintain a comprehensive database of hazards locations, data, infrastructure, and critical facilities inventories. [11:32 AM] Michael Salvador
need to treat the public safety power shutoff as a future hazard that needs mitigation. in goal one. [11:37 AM] Unknown User Scheurich, David@CALFIRE (Guest) has temporarily joined the chat. [11:38 AM] Prosperi, Juliana
Juliana Prosperi, Wood E&IS, Assistant Project Manager
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Slido.com
[11:43 AM] Carr, Amy
code#680239
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http://bit.ly/MercedActions

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 7 [12:12 PM] Carr, Amy
FEMA Mitigation Action Portfolio: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema_mitigation-action-portfoliosupport-document_08-01-2020_0.pdf [12:12 PM] Carr, Amy
CalOES California Adaptation Planning Guide https://www.caloes.ca.gov/HazardMitigationSite/Documents/CAAdaptation-Planning-Guide-FINAL-June-2020-Accessible.pdf [12:18 PM] Michael Salvador
general and specific to the City of Atwater
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Drought management and water infrastructure specific to Dos Palos [12:27 PM] Cliff Battles (Guest)
unfortunately I had an incident arise and have to step out. Thank you for the information and I will contact you via email if I have any further questions
[12:34 PM] Janell Martin
Thank you for your time!
[12:34 PM] Robert Ayuso (Guest)
Thanks Jeff!
[12:34 PM] Jason Hicks
Thank you.
[12:34 PM] Parker, Derek
Thank you!
[12:34 PM] Unknown User Alyssa Carroll (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [12:34 PM] Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE (Guest)
Thank you Jeff and Juliana!
[12:34 PM] Unknown User Jerald Meadows (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [12:34 PM] Barrera, Gene
Thanks Jeff and Juliana!
[12:34 PM] mabeloe (Guest)
Thank you for your presentation!
[12:34 PM] Unknown User Robert Ayuso (Guest) no longer has access to the chat. [12:34 PM] Michael Salvador
thank you.

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Thanks Everyone for participating today.
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