Atwater City Council
June 22, 2026

0 01:15:04
Merced HMPT meeting# 3 Mitigation Strategy
Request control
Disaster Mitigation Act Requirements
► Each jurisdiction must have at least one new action
► "A comprehensive range" of activities and hazards
► Priority should be given to High Risk hazards
► Must be "true" mitigation to meet FEMA requirements
► Preparedness & other actions may also be included
► Actions must be prioritized
Oo
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► Actions must have detail on implementation & administration ► Actions must have a basic review of benefit vs cost
► Must include actions that address existing and future development Merced County HMP Update - Meeting #3 Mitigation Strategy Meeting □ X
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0 01:20:08
Merced HMPT meeting# 3 Mitigation Strategy
New Mitigation Action Development
► Please submit new mitigation actions by
June 3rd
► Use New Mitigation Action
Worksheet (Word doc) attached to
Outlook Calendar invite.
► Alternately use online form:
► http:ljbit.ly/MercedActions
► Include as much detail as you can,
collaboration with others is within and
outside of jurisdiction encouraged.
► Feel free to submit more than one.

Merced County HMP Update - Meeting #3 Mitigation Strategy Meeting Request control Oo
o:i 0
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan New Mitigation Action Worksheet
Nome of JumdicbOO:

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Tineline
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1. Introductions

2. Review of the Planning Process and Progress to Date

3. Revised Mitigation Goals

4. Review of Updated Mitigation Action Strategy and New Mitigation Actions

5. Prioritization of New Mitigation Actions

6. Draft Plan Overview

7. Plan implementation and maintenance

8. Next steps
Merced County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Meeting # 4: Mitigation Strategy Refinement
Meeting Agenda
Date: Tuesday June 29, 2021
9:00 am – noon
Meeting at: County EOC 3500 North Apron Ave.

Atwater CA 95301
Subject/Purpose
This meeting will focus on refining and prioritizing new mitigation activities, discussing the draft Hazard Mitigation Plan and final gaps, and plan implementation and maintenance procedures.

All participating jurisdictions and planning team members are encouraged to attend and provide input. The meeting will be delivered as an in-person workshop, with a remote option available.

Attendees: Hazard Mitigation Planning Team, Stakeholders and Consultant Team

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SIGN-IN SHEET

MERCED COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE HMPT Meeting #4: Mitigation Strategy Refinement
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 9:00 AM - Noon
County EOC 3500 North Apron Ave. Atwater, CA 95301
Name Title Phone E-mail
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SIGN-IN SHEET

MERCED COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE HMPT Meeting #4: Mitigation Strategy Refinement
Name
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 9:00 AM - Noon
County EOC 3500 North Apron Ave. Atwater, CA 95301
Title
L1Eu�,
Phone E-mail

2021 Merced County Goals and Objectives
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. - 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

Open Ended Responses from Public Survey 2021
1 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
2021 Reference Material
Open Ended Responses from Public Survey
Question 3: Do you have information on specific hazard issues/problem areas that you would like the planning committee to consider? Note the jurisdiction to which it applies:
• Wildfires
• Wind, lack of water for agriculture, fire.
• Fireplace smoke
• Wildfires west of gustine
• Wildfires.
• Fires
• Fires, Traffic accidents, power outages Merced county west side • Methane gas
• Pesticides
• Water quality and over pumping of our water supply
• Natural fires and landslides on Pacheco Pass. Also, high winds and dense fog • Flooding of Bear Creek in the southeast corner of Merced. • Power outages and flooding
• Climate Change... cyberhacked institutionally... drought • Merced/Stanislaus Counties all of the back roads need to be repaved, please. I travel them frequently between Gustine and Modesto. Thanks for asking. • Covid-19 response
• Fires and earthquakes
• Covid-19
• Drought
• Pandemic, Fires, Wind, Flood
• Droughts. Build more dams.
• Not in my recollection about the disruption of my daily life. • Smoke from Wildfires
• Fahrens park in merced overflowed with water 2 years ago. • 5G/ cell towers in a close radius to homes and schools. This is major issue im concerned with. • Fires and smoke inhalation in Merced County
• Bad air quality due to wildfires around us along with extreme temperatures. • All natural factors that could affect power/internet outage should be reduced significantly. • More planning for evacuation locations.
• Public Safety Power Shut offs (Atwater PD)
• Merced county - Gustine: high winds, constant city water issues, • More Financial assistance/ Homelessness/ Health Insurance/ More Low income housing if pandemic hits USA again.
• bridges and roads
• Drinking water quality - Los Baños area
• Los Banos - Subsidence

Open Ended Responses from Public Survey 2021
2 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
2021 Reference Material
• Flooding in the Los Banos area. It’s closeness to the dam puts it in danger. All earthen dams fail, eventually, and San Luis is no different. Heavy rain affects our roads and the number of escape routes is limited.
• The largest hazard is lack of affordable housing for our friends and neighbors that rely on rentals • If you don’t fix the water storage (Dams) problem none of the other issues will matter. Try imagining life in the arid areas of Nevada, because that’s what it will look like here. End of problems.
• Merced County was underprepared for pandemic response. Pandemics will increase with climate change, so climate change and pandemic preparedness should be of utmost importance for future planning. (Merced City and Merced County).
• Overpopulation of pigeons, seagulls, and crows.
• Flooding on City streets
• Fire in Del Puerto Canyon
• Fire
• Big rigs driving to fast on south ave /140/33 Gustine ca. its a hazard to the residents and our property. Day and night.
• Power outage and pandemic
• Bridges and roads washing out during heavy rains.
• Excessive heat and water shortage is most concerning
• Wildfires and strong wind
• Environment: Pollution/Littering
• Drought
• Homeless people with mental health problems and/or drug addiction in the downtown Merced area.
• Wind damaging roofs, earthquake mitigation in structures for future cases, covid, chemical sprays near homes next to orchards.
• I live in a nicer part of Merced so I am not too worried about most of these issues. I would be worried about fine since these houses would burn down pretty fast. • Power outages
• There were the wildfires which meant that school was cancelled and going outside was not a good idea.
• It was in stanislaus County with the fires that made it difficult to see and breath • High winds through the area. Hazmat being moved through the area on Hwy 33. Nearby airport with cropdusters - possibility of crash and hazmat leak. Dos Palos • Bear creek/black raschal creek, cottonwood creek flooding. Merced • I do not feel qualified to answer.
• Diseases delivered via mosquito bite, wetlands in Los Banos is cause for this concern. Also a blended concern of Agriculture impact on air quality when combined with Strong Winds, this includes but is not limited to pesticides and dirt becoming airborne due to agricultural land uses. • Atwater has had many power outages
• It’s mostly power outages (which is to blame PG&E for not taking the time for better infrastructure), wildfires have threatened us, and small earthquakes have happened. I live in Atwater
• Emergency plans for natural disasters and diseases.

Open Ended Responses from Public Survey 2021
3 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
2021 Reference Material
• Protection from cyber attacks
• Poor air quality, pesticide use in agricultural areas/unsustainable farming practices, natural disaster preparedness in unincorporated jurisdictions throughout Merced County, specifically Winton.
• Road conditions in Merced County
• Merced, COVID.
• Flooding
• Wildfires
• Envíen más información a la población de Cuando hay peligros inminentes para siempre estar preparados. Y más talleres para Saber cómo actuar en caso de Emergencias. o Translation: Send more information to the populations of when there are imminent dangers and how to always be prepared. And more workshops for how to act in case of an emergency
• Vientos fuertes; árboles de ramas quebradizas
o Translation: Strong winds; brittle branch trees
Question 5: Please comment on any other pre-disaster mitigation actions that the planning committee should consider for reducing future losses caused by disasters:
• More public awareness to the community for Covid-19 pandemic. • Optimizing use of cell phone emergency notifications
• We have more than enough government involvement.
• Drought
• Warning on possible power outage during extreme weather • Have enough water treatment pumps in dos palos
• The vaccine roll-out seems to be going well. Keep up the good work through education and availability.
• Food security and green spaces
• Wildfires and staging or evacuation area.
• Global Pandemics!!!
• Better signs to get to where you need to go. Better planning for the future hazards. • Wildfires tree thinning
• Improvements of the levee to prevent flood.
• Education for the public
• Text messaging is the best source of contact No one listens to radio anymore or watch’s local TV as much
• Stay at home order to avoid smoke inhalation
• Wildfire fire prevention along with saving water from snow melt. • All types of production plants should be set to a high standard when it comes to taking all steps available to ensure they are as planet friendly as technology allows it. • Water (dry wells) in Le Grande is an issue
• The effects of a prolonged public safety power shut off by a utility company • Mostly just water conservation! So many green lawns and people washing their driveways. • Better figure out where you will get a drink after the underground water is salty.

Open Ended Responses from Public Survey 2021
4 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
2021 Reference Material
• Most of the listed activities were flood related. Flood is important, but so are many other potential hazards. Mitigation activities should be diversified.
• Power Outage Prevention. Proper preventative maintenance of the electrical grid in fire prone areas.
• The state needs to give the farmers the water instead of dumping it. Our ground water is depleting because of this. San Luis Dam was built for agriculture 1st. • Protect city from cyber attack, ex city services compromised due to computer failure/shutdown • Wildfire education
• Pay attention to seismic activity anywhere near the faults and how can homeowners prevent any future catastrophe to their properties. Education on Insurance and special programs to make it affordable is crucial. Before buying a house disclosure on flooding and earthquake or May other natural disaster-prone areas including where dams are located matter and should be disclosed. • Air filters and water. Air filters for fire season and water for droughts • Possibly look into quarterly or bi-annual training with agencies in affected areas. • Alert residents when prescribed fires are taking place. Often time when the foothills or farmlands are having controlled fires the smoke affects the air quality of residents of surrounding communities. Since such burns must have special permissions, the agencies issuing such permissions should also notify citizens in the surrounding communities. • Water
• Build a sanctuary that wildlife can live in post wildfire disaster until their homes can be restored. • Mejor construccion de los edificios y/o casas en base a los terremotos o Translation: Better construction of buildings and / or houses based on earthquakes • Cuidado de comida
o Translation: Food care
• La Erosión de la tierra que está ocasionando que el agua escasee más. Y a futuro las Cosechas no servirán. Si no planificáramos con tiempo la pérdida del agua del subsuelo. Ya que año con año no llueve y la Nieve que cae no es suficiente para el Aumento de la población que crece cada día. o Translation: The erosion of the land that is causing the water scarcity more. And in the future the harvests won't do. If we did not plan in advance the loss of groundwater. Since year after year it does not rain and Falling snow is not enough. Increase in the population that grows every day.
• Mantener la basura en su lugar
o Translation: Keep trash in its place
• Reducción de tarifa de luz en verano por el uso de aires acondicionados o Translation: Reduction of electricity rates in summer due to the use of air conditioners Question 14: Optional: Provide any additional comments you have which you feel are relevant for the Hazard Mitigation plan update:
• I believe Merced Co. is free of hazards or disasters. • Mitigation efforts should heavily consider ways to offset climate change • Enjoy the ride. Each day as it comes.
• What, if anything, is being done about the water in Los Banos? • Please focus on food security and public health that take a preventative approach to disasters? Also focus on ensuring the community will be fine regardless of whether there is a disaster

Open Ended Responses from Public Survey 2021
5 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
2021 Reference Material
• Better planning and education and awareness. I was never contacted for my 2nd vaccination as I was told I would. I almost missed my deadline for it. I had to research when abs where the next vaccine would be.
• HR Support is probably the worst provider partnered by the county in these Covid 19 vaccinations.
• I can’t believe they are eliminating at burning for attrition • Just a thank you for giving us a voice...
• How are you using social media to distribute information and educate the residents of your county? Let us know if we can help you?
• Lack of community organization. Atwater declaring itself a sanctuary city is a prime example. • I'm not sure how useful this survey of the general public will be for planning purposes. I am an active and informed member of the community, and even I didn't feel qualified to answer most of these questions.
• This is the first time I have heard of our area having a disaster plan. More community education is needed for this subject topic.
• Que la cosas se hagan por El bien de todas las Comunidades y se tome acción inmediata. o Translation: That things be done for the good of all communities and take immediate action

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
3500 NORTH APRON AVENUE
ATWATER, CA 95301
OFFICE (209) 385-7548
FAX (209) 725-0174

MIKE VAN LOBEN SELS
Director
(209) 966-3622

DAVID SCHEURICH
Deputy Director-Administration
(209) 385-7548
In cooperation with STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Battalion Chief David Scheurich: (209) 385-7548

NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE

MERCED COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE Merced County and its six participating jurisdictions (City of Merced, City of Atwater, City of Los Banos, City of Livingston, City of Dos Palos, City of Gustine) have launched a planning effort to assess risks from natural, human-health, and human-caused hazards and to identify ways to reduce those risks. The planning process will result in an update to the County’s existing Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). A MJHMP update is required under the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 to be eligible to receive federal disaster assistance and funding.

Most people who live and work in Merced County are vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards, including drought, climate change, earthquakes, extreme heat, flooding, subsidence, severe weather, and wildfires. The County’s population, property, and critical facilities may be exposed to potential human-caused hazards associated with facilities and infrastructure that contain hazardous materials. The County is also vulnerable to cyber threats, agricultural pests, and public health hazards, such as pandemics. The MJHMP will provide the County with valuable tools to identify risks and mitigate hazards through future project-specific actions. The plan will assess the effects of climate change on natural hazards and will incorporate climate adaptation strategies and discuss how climate change can disproportionately impact socially vulnerable populations. The MJHMP update will also support the County’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and include recommendations to improve the County’s floodplain management policies and regulations.

Merced County will be hosting a Public Workshop on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Public Workshop will be an opportunity to learn more about the planning process and the hazards that will be assessed in the MJHMP. Following the Public Workshop, there will be an opportunity for the public to comment on the planning process. The County encourages participation and feedback by attending the Public Workshop, completing the Public Survey, visiting the County’s Project Webpage, and commenting on the Draft MJHMP (once available). Information on how to participate is provided below. • Public Workshop – Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 6 – 8 p.m., o Watch the workshop live and ask questions: www.facebook.com/MercedCountyOES • Public Survey (English version) – available here: https://bit.ly/3spNICy • Public Survey (Spanish version) – available here: https://bit.ly/3aSKq4P • Merced County MJHMP Update Information Portal:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c6ad8529e3a84651918e00115607206e/page/page_10/ Questions may be directed to David Scheurich, Merced County OES, Battalion Chief/Deputy Director by calling (209) 385-7548 or by email at [email protected] —30—

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Posted on: May 4, 2021
Public Workshop - Preparation of Merced County MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Merced County and its six participating
jurisdictions (City of Merced, City of Atwater, City
of Los Banos, City of Livingston, City of Dos
Palos, City of Gustine) have launched a planning
effort to assess risks from natural, human-health,
and human-caused hazards and to identify ways
to reduce those risks. The planning process will
result in an update to the County's existing MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). A MJHMP update is required under the Federal
Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 to be eligible to
receive federal disaster assistance and funding.

Most people who live and work in Merced County are vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards, including drought, climate change, earthquakes, extreme heat, flooding, subsidence, severe weather, and wildfires. The County's population, property, and critical facilities may be exposed to potential human-caused hazards associated with facilities and infrastructure that contain hazardous materials. The County is also vulnerable to cyber threats, agricultural pests, and public health hazards, such as pandemics. The MJHMP will provide the County with valuable tools to identify risks and mitigate hazards through future project-specific actions. The plan will assess the effects of dimate change on natural hazards and will incorporate climate adaptation strategies and discuss how climate change can disproportionately impact socially vulnerable populations. The MJHMP update will also support the County's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and include recommendations to improve the County's floodplain management policies and regulations.

Merced County will be hosting a Public Workshop on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Public Workshop will be an opportunity to learn more about the planning process and the hazards that will be assessed in the MJHMP. Following the Public Workshop, there will be an opportunity for the public to comment on the planning process.

The County encourages participation and feedback by attending the Public Workshop, completing the Public Survey, visiting the County's Project Webpage, and commenting on the Draft MJHMP (once available). Information on how to participate is provided below. • Public Workshop - Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 6 - 8 p.m. o Watch the workshop live and ask questions
• Public Survey
• Encuesta Ptiblica
• Merced County MUHMP Update Information Portal
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Merced County and its six participating jurisdictions (City of Merced, City of Atwater, City of Los Banos, City of Livingston, City of Dos Palos, City of Gustine) have launched a planning effort to assess risks from natural, human-health, and human-caused hazards and to identify ways to reduce those risks. The planning process VI/ill result in an update to the County's existing Multi-Juris ... See More
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Public Workshop - Preparation of Merced County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
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As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 2021, there are 31,682 confiirmed cases (+25 from Monday) of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Merced County.

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OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
3500 NORTH APRON AVENUE
ATWATER, CA 95301
OFFICE (209) 385-7548
FAX (209) 725-0174

MIKE VAN LOBEN SELS
Director
(209) 966-3622

DAVID SCHEURICH
Deputy Director-Administration
(209) 385-7548
In cooperation with STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Battalion Chief David Scheurich: (209) 385-7548

NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP REGARDING THE DRAFT OF THE

MERCED COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE Merced County and its six participating jurisdictions (City of Merced, City of Atwater, City of Los Banos, City of Livingston, City of Dos Palos, City of Gustine) are in the final stages of a planning effort to assess risks from natural, human-health, and human-caused hazards and to identify ways to reduce those risks. A planning process that began in December 2020 has resulted in a draft update to the County’s existing MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). A MJHMP update is required under the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 to be eligible to receive certain federal disaster assistance and grants for hazard mitigation projects. Following the public workshop and comment period the Plan will be submitted for final approvals and ultimately adoption by all involved jurisdictions.

Most people who live and work in Merced County are vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards, including drought, floods, severe weather, earthquakes, and wildfires. The County’s population, property, and critical facilities may be exposed to potential human-caused hazards associated with facilities and infrastructure that contain hazardous materials. The County is also vulnerable to cyber threats, agricultural pests, and public health hazards, such as pandemics. The draft update of the MJHMP provides the County and municipalities with valuable tools to identify risks and mitigate hazards through future project-specific actions.

Merced County will be hosting a second virtual Public Workshop on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. The second virtual Public Workshop will be an opportunity to learn more about the updated draft MJHMP including the planning process, the hazards assessed, and the mitigation actions proposed in the MJHMP. Following the Public Workshop, there will be an opportunity for the public to comment on the draft MJHMP. The County encourages participation and feedback by attending the Public Workshop, visiting the County’s Project Webpage, and/or commenting on the Public Review Draft MJHMP. Information on how to participate is provided below.
• Public Workshop – Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 6 – 8 p.m., o Watch the workshop live and ask questions: https://bit.ly/3nUmzZz • Merced County Public Review Draft MJHMP:
https://web2.co.merced.ca.us/pdfs/oes/Merced_MJHMP_2021_Draft.pdf • Merced County MJHMP Update Information Portal:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c6ad8529e3a84651918e00115607206e/page/page_10/ Questions may be directed to David Scheurich, Merced County OES, Battalion Chief/Deputy Director by calling (209) 385-7548 or by email at [email protected] —30—

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
3500 NORTH APRON AVENUE
ATWATER, CA 95301
OFFICE (209) 385-7548
FAX (209) 725-0174

MIKE VAN LOBEN SELS
Director
(209) 966-3622

DAVID SCHEURICH
Deputy Director-Administration
(209) 385-7548
Merced County Survey: Hazard Mitigation Plan
In cooperation with STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE
English:

Merced County, in collaboration with the cities of Atwater, Dos Palos, Merced, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos, and Merced, are updating their Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) pursuant to the five-year update cycle requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and to obtain approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This update is a prerequisite to enable the County and the participating jurisdictions to remain eligible to use federal pre- and post-disaster financial assistance. “Hazard Mitigation” is defined as sustained actions taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from hazards. The Merced County MJHMP will analyze the County’s vulnerabilities to natural, human-health, and humancaused hazards and identify proactive mitigation actions the County, it’s six participating jurisdictions, and stakeholders can take to minimize impacts to people, property, and critical facilities.

The purpose of this survey is to collect information from the public and stakeholders to better understand the vulnerabilities within Merced County and each of its jurisdictions as well as solicit input on needs to best mitigate, or reduce, the impacts of hazards before they occur.

Please scan the QR code with your camera on your phone and complete the survey. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Spanish:

El Condado de Merced, en colaboración con las ciudades de Atwater, Dos Palos, Merced, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos y Merced, están actualizando su Plan De Mitigación de Riesgos Multi-Jurisdiccionales (MJHMP) de acuerdo con los requisitos del ciclo de actualización de cinco años de la Ley de Mitigación de Desastres de 2000 y para obtener la aprobación de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA). Esta actualización es un requisito previo para permitir que el Condado y las jurisdicciones participantes sigan siendo elegibles para usar asistencia financiera federal previa y posterior al desastre.

La "Mitigación de Riesgos" se define como acciones sostenidas tomadas para reducir o eliminar el riesgo a largo plazo para la vida y la propiedad de los peligros. El MJHMP del Condado de Merced analizará las vulnerabilidades del Condado a los peligros naturales, de salud humana y causados por el ser humano e identificará acciones proactivas de mitigación del Condado, son seis jurisdicciones participantes y las partes interesadas pueden tomar para minimizar los impactos a las personas, la propiedad y las instalaciones críticas.

El propósito de esta encuesta es recopilar información del público y las partes interesadas para comprender mejor las vulnerabilidades dentro del Condado de Merced y cada una de sus jurisdicciones, así como solicitar insumos sobre las necesidades para mitigar o reducir mejor los impactos de los peligros antes de que ocurran.

Por favor, escanee el código QR con su cámara en su teléfono y complete la encuesta. La encuesta debe tardar menos de 5 minutos en completarse.

English Version Survey: Spanish Version Survey:

Thank you for your
participation!
¡Gracias por su
participación!

10/13/21, 3:42 PM
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Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Public Input Survey 290 15:20 Closed
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1. Several hazards which are addressed in the California State Hazard Mitigation Plan are listed below. Please rank each of these hazards Low, Medium, or High in their significance to Merced County.
■ Low ■ Moderate ■ High
Agricultural Pests and Disease
Climate Change
Cyber Attack
Dam Incident
Drought
Dense Fog
Earthquake
Extreme Temperature
Heavy Rainfall
Flood and Levee Failure
Hazardous Materials Incident
Landslide
Pandemic/Epidemic
Power Outage
Subsidence
Tornado
Wildfire
Wind
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2. How many times has a natural hazard disrupted your daily life in the last five years? eo 86
• 1-2 134
• 3-5 39
• More than 5 times 23
• Other 2

3. Do you have information on specific hazard issues/problem areas that you would like the planning committee to consider? Note the jurisdiction to which it applies:
104
Responses Latest Responses
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4. The following types of mitigation actions may be considered in Merced County. Please indicate the types of mitigation actions that you think should have the highest priority in the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• Indoor/Outdoor Warning syst... 121
• Wildfire Fuels Treatment proje ... 152
• Continued Participation in the ... 86
• Critical Facilities Protection 84
• Generators for Critical Facilities 117
• Planning/Zoning 79
• Public Education/Awareness 148
mo
• Stormwater Drainage Improve ... 98 160
• Stream Restoration 65 1.110
• Education and Discounts on Fl ... 51 120
100
• Water Conservation 179
HO
Floodprone Property Buyout 23 60
• Evacuation route development 83 .110
• Dam safety 63 20
• Improve reliability of commun ... 92
• Levee enhancements/improve ... 46
• Seismic retrofit to public build ... 53
• Seismic safety for residential b ... 45
• Aquifer recharge 76
• Subsidence hazard mitigation 52
• Wind hazard mitigation 63

5. Please comment on any other pre-disaster mitigation actions that the planning committee should consider for reducing future losses caused by disasters:
53 Responses
Latest Responses
"Not sure at the moment
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6. Please indicate the community you live in
• City of Merced 109 120
• City of Los Banos 35 100
• City of Livingston 14
DO
• City of Dos Palos 5
• City of Gustine 33
• City of Atwater
40 49
• Unincorporated Merced County 31 20
• Other 11 0

7. What is your zip code?
277
Responses

8. How long have you lived in this community?
• Less than 1 year 17
• 1-5 years 65
• 5-10 years 26
• over 10 years 176
9 What is your age?
• 0-18 years old 16
• 18-24 49
• 25-39 91
• 40-55 67
• 55+ 63
Microsoft Forms
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Latest Responses
"95340"
"95301"
"95341"
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10. What gender do you identify as?
• Woman 136
• Man 136
• Non-binary 4
• Prefer not to say 10
• Other 0

11. Please specify your ethnicity
• Caucasian 101
120
• African-American 6
100
• Latino or Hispanic 102
• Asian 29 ao
• Native American 4 60
• Native Hawaiian or Pacific Isla ... 2 -40
• Two or More 11
20 • Other 9
• Prefer not to say 22

12. What is your annual household income?
• Less than $10,000 15
• $10,000 - $25,000 34 tiO
• $25,000 - $40,000 26 so
• $40,000 - $55,000 19
• $55,000 - $70,000 30
• $70,000 - $85,000 20
• $85,000 - $100,000 21
• $100,000- $150,000 33
• $150,000 or more 32
• Prefer not to say 55
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13. Optional: Provide your name and email address if you would like to be added to a distribution list for upcoming activities related to this planning process:
37 Responses
Latest Responses
"[email protected] "

14. Optional: Provide any additional comments you have which you feel are relevant for the Hazard Mitigation plan update:
21 Responses
Latest Responses
"[email protected] "
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10/13/21, 3:49 PM La Actualizaci6n del Plan de Mitigaci6n de Peligro del condado de Merced-Encuesta publica (Edit) Microsoft Forms : : : Forms(https://www.office.com/launch/forms?auth =2) ? La Actualizaci6n del Plan de Mitigaci6n de Peligro del condado de Merced-Encuesta publica
33 06:19 Closed
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10/13/21, 3:49 PM La Actualizaci6n del Plan de Mitigaci6n de Peligro del condado de Merced-Encuesta publica (Edit) Microsoft Forms

1. Varies peligros abordados en el Plan de Mitigaci6n del estado de California se enlistan a continuaci6n. Por favor, indique el nivel de importancia en el condado de Merced que usted percibe para cada peligro, clasificandolo como: Bajo, Moderado o Alto ■ Bajo ■ Moderado ■ Alto
Enfermedades y plagas agricolas
Cambio climatico
Ciber ataques
lncidentes/Accidentes de presas
Sequfa
Neblina densa
Terremotos
Temperaturas extremas
LI uvia i ntensa
lnundaciones y falla de diques
lncidentes de materiales peligrosos
Deslizamientos de tierra o de rocas
Pandemias/Epidemias
lnterrupci6n del servicio electrico
Subsidencia
Tornados
lncendios forestales
Vientos
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2. lCuantas veces un peligro natural ha interrumpido su vida diaria en los ultimos cinco anos? • Oveces
• 1 a 2 veces
• 3 a 5 veces
• Mas de 5 veces
• Otro
16 16
0 0

3. lCuenta usted con informaci6n sobre peligros espedficos o problemas en su area que quisiera que el comite de planificaci6n considere? Anote la jurisdicci6n a la cual aplica. 14 Responses Latest Responses
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4. Los siguientes tipos de acciones de mitigaci6n podrian considerarse en el condado de Merced.

Por favor indique el tipo de acci6n de mitigaci6n, que usted crea que deba tener la mayor prioridad en el Plan de Mitigaci6n de Peligros Multi-Jurisdiccional del condado de Merced. • Sistemas de advertencia en int... 8
• Proyectos para el tratamiento ... 11
• Participaci6n continua en el Pr ... 8
• Protecci6n de instalaciones cri ... 0
• Generadores para instalacione ... 0
• Planificaci6n / Zonificaci6n 2
• Educaci6n publica y descuent... 8
11;.
• Mejoras al sistema de drenaje ... 8
• Restauraci6n de Corrientes (ri. .. 3
12 • Educaci6n y descuentos en se ... 3 10
• Conservaci6n del agua 15 [l.
• Compra de propiedades prop ...
f,
• Desarrollo de rutas de evacua ... 9
J!I
• Seguridad de presas
• Mejorar la confiabilidad de los ... 4
• Mejoras a los diques de prote ... 3
• Rehabilitaci6n sismica de edifi ... 2
• Seguridad sismica para edifici. .. 3
• Recarga de acuiferos 5
• Mitigaci6n de peligros ante su ... 3
• Mitigaci6n de peligro por vien ... 6

5. Por favor, comente sobre cualquier otra acci6n mitigatoria pre-desastre que el comite de planificaci6n debe considerar para reducir perdidas futuras causadas por desastres:
8 Responses Latest Responses
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6. Por favor, indique la comunidad donde vive:
• Ciudad de Merced 11 12
• Ciudad de Los Barios 5
• Ciudad de Livingston 2
• Ciudad de Dos Palos 2
• Ciudad de Gustine
• Ciudad de Atwater 9
• Condado desincorporado de ... 0
• Otro 3

7. lcual es SU c6digo postal?
32 Responses

8. lCuanto tiempo ha vivido en esta comunidad?
• Menos a un ario 4
• De 1 a 5 arios 14
• De 5 a 10 arios 6
• Mas de 1 O arios 9
9 lcual es SU edad?
• 0 a 18 arios 0
• 18 a 24 arios 0
• 25 a 39 arios 17
• 40 a 55 arios 11
• Mas de 55 arios 4
Latest Responses
"9t341"
"95350"
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10/13/21, 3:49 PM La Actualizaci6n del Plan de Mitigaci6n de Peligro del condado de Merced-Encuesta publica (Edit) Microsoft Forms 10 . lCon que genero se identifica?
• Mujer 19
• Hombre 14
• Np-binario 0
• Prefiero no decirlo 0
• Otro 0

11. 1 Por favor, especifique su etnicidad
e Caucasico 0
l5
• Afroamericano 0
• Latino o hispano 32
25 • Asiatico 0
• Nativo americano 0
15 Nativo hawaiano o lsleno del ... 0
10 • Dos o mas 0
5 • Otro 0
• Prefiero no decirlo

12. lCual es el ingreso anual en su nucleo familiar?
• Me nos de $10,000 d6Iares 5
• $10,000 a $25,000 d6Iares 6
• $25,000 a $40,000 d6Iares 10
• $40,000 a $55,000 d6Iares 4
• $55,000 a $70,000 d6Iares 2
• $70,000 a $85,000 d6Iares 2
• $85,000 a $100,000 d6Iares 0
• $100,000 a $150,000 d6Iares 0
• $150,000 d6Iares o mas
• Prefiero no decirlo
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13. OPCIONAL. Provea su nombre y direcci6n de correo electr6nico si le gustarfa ser agregado a una lista de distribuci6n para eventos futuros relacionados a este proceso de planificaci6n:
10 Responses Latest Responses

14. OPCIONAL. Provea cualquier comentario adicional el cual creo sea relevante en la Actualizaci6n del Plan de Mitigaci6n de Peligro:
1 Responses Latest Responses
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Do you have information on specific hazard issues/problem areas that you would like the planning committee to consider? Note the jurisdiction to which it applies:

Wild fires
Wind, lack of water for agriculture, fire.

Fireplace smoke
Wildfires west of gustine
Wild fires..

Fires
Fires, Traffic accidents, power outages Merced county west side Methane gas
Pesticides
Water quality and over pumping of our water supply
Natural fires and landslides on Pacheco Pass. Also, high winds and dense fog Flooding of Bear Creek in the southeast corner of Merced.

Power outages and flooding
Climate Change... cyberhacked institutionally... drought Merced/Stanislaus Counties all of the back roads need to be repaved, please. I travel them frequently between Gustine and Modesto. Thanks for asking.

Covid-19 response
Fires and earthquakes
Covid-19
Drought
Pandemic, Fires, Wind, Flood
Droughts. Build more dams.

Not in my recollection about the disruption of my daily life.

Smoke from Wildfires
Fahrens park in merced overflowed with water 2 years ago. 5G/ cell towers in a close radius to homes and schools. This is major issue im concerned with.

Fires and smoke inhalation in Merced County
Bad air quality due to wildfires around us along with extreme temperatures.

All natural factors that could affect power/internet outage should be reduced significantly.

More planning for evacuation locations.

Public Safety Power Shut offs (Atwater PD)
Merced county - Gustine: high winds, constant city water issues, More Financial assistance/ Homelessness/ Health Insurance/ More Low income housing if pandemic hits USA again. bridges and roads
Drinking water quality - Los Baños area
Los Banos - Subsidence
Flooding in the Los Banos area. It’s closeness to the dam puts it in danger. All earthen dams fail, eventually, and San Luis is no different. Heavy rain affects our roads and the number of escape routes is limited.

The largest hazard is lack of affordable housing for our friends and neighbors that rely on rentals If you don’t fix the water storage (Dams) problem none of the other issues will matter. Try imagining life in the arid areas of Nevada, because that’s what it will look like here. End of problems.

Merced County was underprepared for pandemic response. Pandemics will increase with climate change, so climate change and pandemic preparedness should be of utmost importance for future planning. (Merced City and Merced County).

Overpopulation of pigeons, seagulls, and crows.

Flooding on City streets
Fire in Del Puerto Canyon
Fire
Big rigs driving to fast on south ave /140/33 Gustine ca. its a hazzard to the residents and our property. Day and night.

Power outage and pandamic
Bridges and roads washing out during heavy rains.

Excessive heat and water shortage is most concerning
Wild fires and strong wind
Environment: Pollution/Littering
Drought
Homeless people with mental health problems and/or drug addiction in the downtown Merced area.

Wind damaging roofs, earthquake mitigation in structures for future cases, covid, chemical sprays near homes next to orchards.

I live in a nicer part of Merced so I am not too worried about most of these issues. I would be worried about fine since these houses would burn down pretty fast.

Power outages
There were the wildfires which meant that school was cancelled and going outside was not a good idea.

It was in stanislaus County with the fires that made it difficult to see and breath High winds through the area. Hazmat being moved through the area on Hwy 33. Nearby airport with cropdusters - possibility of crash and hazmat leak. Dos Palos
Bear creek/black raschal creek, cottonwood creek flooding. Merced I do not feel qualified to answer.

Diseases delivered via mosquito bite, wetlands in Los Banos is cause for this concern. Also a blended concern of Agriculture impact on air quality when combined with Strong Winds, this includes but is not limited to pesticides and dirt becoming airborne due to agricultural land uses.

Atwater has had many power outages
It’s mostly power outages (which is to blame PG&E for not taking the time for better infrastructure), wildfires have threatened us, and small earthquakes have happened. I live in Atwater Emergency plans for natural disasters and diseases.

Protection from cyber attacks
Poor air quality, pesticide use in agricultural areas/unsustainable farming practices, natural disaster preparedness in unincorporated jurisdictions throughout Merced County, specifically Winton.

Road conditions in Merced County
Merced, COVID.

Flooding
Wild fires

Please comment on any other pre-disaster mitigation actions that the planning committee should consider for reducing future losses caused by disasters:

More public awareness to the community for Covid-19 pandemic.

Optimizing use of cell phone emergency notifications
We have more than enough government involvement.

Drought
Warning on possible power outage during extreme weather Have enough water treatment pumps in dos palos
The vaccine roll-out seems to be going well. Keep up the good work through education and availability. food security and green spaces
Wild fires and staging or evacuation area.

Global Pandemics!!!
Better signs to get to where you need to go. Better planning for the future hazards.

Wildfires tree thinning
Improvements of the levee to prevent flood.

Education for the public
Text messaging is the best source of contact
No one listens to radio anymore or watch’s local TV as much Stay at home order to avoid smoke inhalation
Wildfire fire prevention along with saving water from snow melt.

All types of production plants should be set to a high standard when it comes to taking all steps available to ensure they are as planet friendly as technology allows it.

Water (dry wells) in Le Grande is an issue
The effects of a prolonged public safety power shut off by a utility company Mostly just water conservation! So many green lawns and people washing their driveways.

Better figure out where you will get a drink after the underground water is salty.

Most of the listed activities were flood related. Flood is important, but so are many other potential hazards. Mitigation activities should be diversified.

Power Outage Prevention. Proper preventative maintenance of the electrical grid in fire prone areas.

The state needs to give the farmers the water instead of dumping it. Our ground water is depleting because of this. San Luis Dam was built for agriculture 1st.

Protect city from cyber attack, ex city services compromised due to computer failure/shutdown Wildfire education
Pay attention to seismic activity anywhere near the faults and how can homeowners prevent any future catastrophe to their properties. Education on Insruance and special programs to make it affordable is crucial. Before buying a house disclosures on flooding and earthquake or May other natural disaster prone areas including where dams are located matter and should be disclosed.

Air filters and water. Air filters for fire season and water for droughts Possibly look into quarterly or bi-annual training with agencies in affected areas.

Alert residents when prescribed fires are taking place. Often time when the foothills or farm lands are having controlled fires the smoke affects the air quality of residents of surrounding communities. Since such burns must have special permissions, the agencies issuing such permissions should also notify citizens in the surrounding communities.

Water
Build a sanctuary that wildlife can live in post wildfire disaster until their homes can be restored.

Optional: Provide any additional comments you have which you feel are relevant for the Hazard Mitigation plan update:

I believe Merced Co. is free of hazards or disasters.

Mitigation efforts should heavily consider ways to offset climate change Enjoy the ride. Each day as it comes.

What, if anything, is being done about the water in Los Banos? Please focus on food security and public health that take a preventative approach to disasters? Also focus on ensuring the community will be fine regardless of whether there is a disaster Better planning and education and awareness. I was never contacted for my 2nd vaccination as I was told I would. I almost missed my deadline for it. I had to research when abs where the next vaccine would be.

HR Support is probably the worst provider partnered by the county in these Covid 19 vaccinations.

I can’t believe they are eliminating at burning for attrition Just a thank you for giving us a voice...

How are you using social media to distribute information and educate the residents of your county? Let us know if we can help you?
Lack of community organization. Atwater declaring itself a sanctuary city is a prime example.

I'm not sure how useful this survey of the general public will be for planning purposes. I am an active and informed member of the community, and even I didn't feel qualified to answer most of these questions.

This is the first time I have heard of our area having a disaster plan. More community education is needed for this subject topic.

¿Cuenta usted con información sobre peligros específicos o problemas en su área que quisiera que el comité de planificación considere? Anote la jurisdicción a la cuál aplica.

Envíen más información a la población de
Cuando hay peligros inminentes para siempre estar preparados. Y más talleres para Saber cómo actuar en caso de
Emergencias.

Vientos fuertes; árboles de ramas quebradizas

*Google Translation
Send more information to the populations of when there are imminent danagers and how to always be prepared. And more workshops for how to act in case of an emergeny
Strong winds; brittle branch trees

Por favor, comente sobre cualquier otra acción mitigatoria predesastre que el comité de planificación debe considerar para reducir pérdidas futuras causadas por desastres: *Google Translation Mejor construccion de los edificios y/o casas en base a los terremotos
Better construction of buildings and / or houses
based on earthquakes
Cuidado de comida Food care
Creo que ya están considerado las más importantes
I think the most important are already
considered
La Erosión de la tierra que está ocasionando que el agua escasee más. Y a futuro las
Cosechas no servirán. Si no planificáramos con tiempo la pérdida del agua del subsuelo. Ya que año con año no llueve y la
Nieve que cae no es suficiente para el
Aumento de la población que crece cada día.

The erosion of the land that is causing the water
scarcity more. And in the future the harvests
won't do. If we did not plan in advance the loss
of groundwater. Since year after year it does not
rain and Falling snow is not enough. Increase in
the population that grows every day.

Mantener la basura en su lugar Keep trash in its place
Reducción de tarifa de luz en verano por el uso de aires acondicionados
Reduction of electricity rates in summer due to
the use of air conditioners

OPCIONAL. Provea cualquier comentario adicional el cuál creo sea relevante en la Actualización del Plan de Mitigación de Peligro: *Google Translation
Que la cosas se hagan por
El bien de todas las
Comunidades y se tome acción inmediata.

That things be done for the
good of all communities and
take immediate action









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From: Padilla, Gregory@CALFIRE
To: Cosentino, Helen; [email protected]; [email protected]; Hicks, Jason S.@TID; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; John Lambie; Collum, Andrew@Parks; Hicks, Nathan@DWR; Kent, [email protected]; Lara, Luis@CHP; Jerald Meadows - NOAA Federal; Heberling, Gerald@Parks; Jou, Christopher@Parks; Reith, Heather@Parks
Cc: Brislawn, Jeff P; Prosperi, Juliana; Scheurich, David@CALFIRE; Pimentel, Mark@CALFIRE Subject: Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for public review notice to neighboring jurisdictions Date: Saturday, September 25, 2021 9:27:38 PM
CAUTION: External email. Please do not click on links/attachments unless you know the content is genuine and safe.

Good evening,
We are letting you know as a potentially interested stakeholder or neighboring jurisdiction that the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is in draft form for public review and comment before it is finalized. The plan can be viewed online at the link below. A comment form can is also provided on the website, or you can send an email directly to me.

The comment period is open through October 6.

Hazard Mitigation Plan | Merced County, CA - Official Website Thank you,
Greg J. Padilla
Fire Captain C-15 / Assistant OES Coordinator
Merced County Office of Emergency Services
CAL FIRE / Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
Office: 209-385-7344 Ext.4883
Cell: 209-761-1977

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix C: Approval and Adoption
2021-2026 Update
Appendix C: Approval and Adoption

APPENDIX C: ADOPTION RESOLUTIONS
Merced County C.1
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Sample model resolution is provided below:

Resolution # ______
Adopting the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021 Whereas, (Name of Government/District/Organization seeking FEMA approval of hazard mitigation plan) recognizes the threat that natural hazards pose to people and property within our community; and Whereas, undertaking hazard mitigation actions will reduce the potential for harm to people and property from future hazard occurrences; and
Whereas, an adopted Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is required as a condition of future funding for mitigation projects under multiple FEMA pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant programs; and Whereas, (Name of Government/District/Organization) fully participated in the FEMA-prescribed mitigation planning process to prepare this Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan; and Whereas, the California Office of Emergency Services and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region IX officials have reviewed the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan ( ) and approved it ( ) contingent upon this official adoption of the participating governing body; Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the (Name of Government/District/Organization) adopts the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan as an official plan; and Be it resolved that the (Name of Government/District/Organization) adopts the Merced County MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference into the safety element of their general plan in accordance with the requirements of AB 2140, and
Be it further resolved, (Name of Government/District/Organization) will submit this adoption resolution to the California Office of Emergency Services and FEMA Region IX officials to enable the plan’s final approval in accordance with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and to establish conformance with the requirements of AB 2140.

Passed:
(date)

Certifying Official

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix D: Mitigation Categories and Alternatives
2021-2026 Update
Appendix D: Mitigation Categories and Alternatives

APPENDIX D: MITIGATION CATEGORIES AND

ALTERNATIVES
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.1 Categories of Mitigation Measures Considered
PREVENTION: Preventive measures are designed to keep the problem from occurring or getting worse. Their objective is to ensure that future development is not exposed to damage and does not increase damage to other properties. • Planning
• Zoning
• Open Space Preservation
• Land Development Regulations
− Subdivision regulations
− floodplain development regulations
• Storm Water Management
• Fuels Management, Fire-Breaks
• Building Codes
− Fire-Wise Construction
• (See Property Protection also)
EMERGENCY SERVICES measures protect people during and after a disaster. A good emergency services program addresses all hazards. Measures include:
• Warning (floods, tornadoes, ice storms, hail storms, dam failures) − NOAA Weather Radio
− Sirens
− Reverse 911
• Evacuation & Sheltering
• Communications
• Emergency Planning
− Activating the emergency operations room (emergency management) − Closing streets or bridges (police or public works)
− Shutting off power to threatened areas (utility company) − Holding children at school/releasing children from school (school district) − Passing out sand and sandbags (public works)
− Ordering an evacuation (mayor)

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.2 − Opening evacuation shelters (Red Cross)
− Monitoring water levels (engineering)
− Security and other protection measures (police)
• Monitoring of Conditions (dams)
• Critical Facilities Protection (Buildings or locations vital to the response and recovery effort, such as police/fire stations, hospitals, sewage treatment plants/lift stations, power substations)
− Buildings or locations that, if damaged, would create secondary disasters, such as hazardous materials facilities and nursing homes
− Lifeline Utilities Protection
− Health & Safety Maintenance
PROPERTY PROTECTION: Property protection measures are used to modify buildings subject to damage rather than to keep the hazard away. A community may find these to be inexpensive measures because often they are implemented by or cost-shared with property owners. Many of the measures do not affect the appearance or use of a building, which makes them particularly appropriate for historical sites and landmarks. • Retrofitting/disaster proofing
− Floods
 Wet/Dry floodproofing (barriers, shields, backflow valves)  Relocation
 Acquisition
− Tornadoes
 Safe Rooms
 Securing roofs and foundations with fasteners and tie-downs  Strengthening garage doors and other large openings
− Drought
 Improve water supply (transport/storage/conservation)  Remove moisture competitive plants (Tamarisk/Salt Cedar)  Water Restrictions/Water Saver Sprinklers/Appliances
 Grazing on CRP lands (no overgrazing-see Noxious Weeds)  Create incentives to consolidate/connect water services  Recycled wastewater on golf courses
− Earthquakes
 Removing masonry overhangs, bracing other parts.

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.3  Tying down appliances, water heaters, bookcases and fragile furniture so they won’t fall over during a quake.
 Installing flexible utility connections that won’t break during shaking (pipelines too!)
− Wildfire, Grassfires
 Replacing building components with fireproof materials − Roofing, screening
 Create “Defensible Space”
 Installing spark arrestors
 Fuels Modification
− Noxious Weeds/Insects
 Mowing
 Spraying
 Replacement planting
 Stop overgrazing
 Introduce natural predators
• Insurance
NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION: Natural resource protection activities are generally aimed at preserving (or in some cases restoring) natural areas. In so doing, these activities enable the naturally beneficial functions of floodplains and watersheds to be better realized. These natural and beneficial floodplain functions include the following:
• storage of floodwaters
• absorption of flood energy
• reduction in flood scour
• infiltration that absorbs overland flood flow
• groundwater recharge
• removal/filtering of excess nutrients, pollutants, and sediments from floodwaters • habitat for flora and fauna
• recreational and aesthetic opportunities
Methods of protecting natural resources include:
• Erosion & Sediment Control
• Wetlands Protection
• Riparian Area/Habitat Protection
• Threatened & Endangered Species Protection

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.4 • Fuels Management
• Set-back regulations/buffers
• Best Management Practices
Best management practices (“BMPs”) are measures that reduce nonpoint source pollutants that enter the waterways. Nonpoint source pollutants come from non-specific locations. Examples of nonpoint source pollutants are lawn fertilizers, pesticides, and other farm chemicals, animal wastes, oils from street surfaces and industrial areas and sediment from agriculture, construction, mining and forestry. These pollutants are washed off the ground’s surface by stormwater and flushed into receiving storm sewers, ditches and streams. BMPs can be implemented during construction and as part of a project’s design to permanently address nonpoint source pollutants. There are three general categories of BMPs:

1. Avoidance: setting construction projects back from the stream.

2. Reduction: Preventing runoff that conveys sediment and other water-borne pollutants, such as planting proper vegetation and conservation tillage.

3. Cleanse: Stopping pollutants after they are en route to a stream, such as using grass drainageways that filter the water and retention and detention basins that let pollutants settle to the bottom before they are drained • Dumping Regulations
• Water Use Restrictions
• Weather Modification
• Landscape Management
STRUCTURAL PROJECTS have traditionally been used by communities to control flows and water surface elevations. Structural projects keep flood waters away from an area.

They are usually designed by engineers and managed or maintained by public works staff.

These measures are popular with many because they “stop” flooding problems. However, structural projects have several important shortcomings that need to be kept in mind when considering them for flood hazard mitigation:
• They are expensive, sometimes requiring capital bond issues and/or cost sharing with Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
• They disturb the land and disrupt natural water flows, often destroying habitats.

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.5 • They are built to a certain flood protection level that can be exceeded by a larger flood, causing extensive damage.
• They can create a false sense of security when people protected by a structure believe that no flood can ever reach them.
• They require regular maintenance to ensure that they continue to provide their design protection level.

Structural measures include:
• Detention/Retention structures
• Erosion and Sediment Control
• Basins/Low-head Weirs
• Channel Modifications
• Culvert resizing/replacement/Maintenance
• Levees and Floodwalls
• Fencing (for snow, sand, wind)
• Drainage System Maintenance
• Reservoirs(for flood control, water storage, recreation, agriculture) • Diversions
• Storm Sewers
PUBLIC INFORMATION: A successful hazard mitigation program involves both the public and private sectors. Public information activities advise property owners, renters, businesses, and local officials about hazards and ways to protect people and property from these hazards. These activities can motivate people to take protection • Hazard Maps and Data
• Outreach Projects
− (mailings, media, web, speakers bureau)
• Library Resources
• Real Estate Disclosure
• Environmental Education
• Technical Assistance

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.6 Alternative Mitigation Measures per Category
Prevention
Preventive measures are designed to keep the problem from occurring or getting worse.

Their objective is to ensure that future development is not exposed to damage and does not increase damage to other properties.
• Planning
• Zoning
• Open space preservation
• Land development regulations
− Subdivision regulations
− Floodplain development regulations
• Stormwater management
• Fuels management, fire breaks
• Building codes
− Firewise construction
• (also see Property Protection)
Emergency Services
Emergency services protect people during and after a disaster. A good emergency services program addresses all hazards. Measures include:
• Warning (floods, tornadoes, ice storms, hail storms, dam failures) − NOAA weather radio all hazards
− Sirens
− Reverse 911
• Evacuation and sheltering
• Communications
• Emergency planning
− Activating the emergency operations room (emergency management) − Closing streets or bridges (police or public works)
− Shutting off power to threatened areas (utility company) − Holding children at school/releasing children from school (school district) − Passing out sand and sandbags (public works)
− Ordering an evacuation (mayor)
− Opening evacuation shelters (red cross)

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.7 − Monitoring water levels (engineering)
− Security and other protection measures (police)
• Monitoring of conditions (dams)
• Critical facilities protection (buildings or locations vital to the response and recovery effort, such as police/fire stations, hospitals, sewage treatment plants/lift stations, power substations)
− Buildings or locations that, if damaged, would create secondary disasters, such as hazardous materials facilities and nursing homes
− Lifeline utilities protection
− Health and safety maintenance
Property Protection
Property protection measures are used to modify buildings subject to damage rather than to keep the hazard away. A community may find these to be inexpensive measures because often they are implemented by or cost-shared with property owners. Many of the measures do not affect the appearance or use of a building, which makes them particularly appropriate for historical sites and landmarks. • Retrofitting/disaster proofing
− Floods
 Wet/dry floodproofing (barriers, shields, backflow valves)  Relocation
 Acquisition
− Tornadoes
 Safe rooms
 Securing roofs and foundations with fasteners and tie-downs  Strengthening garage doors and other large openings
− Drought
 Improve water supply (transport/storage/conservation)  Remove moisture competitive plants (tamarisk/salt cedar)  Water restrictions/water saver sprinklers/appliances
 Grazing on CRP lands (no overgrazing—see noxious weeds)  Create incentives to consolidate/connect water services  Recycled wastewater on golf courses
− Earthquakes
 Removing masonry overhangs, bracing other parts

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.8  Tying down appliances, water heaters, bookcases and fragile furniture so they will not fall over during a quake.
 Installing flexible utility connections that will not break during shaking (pipelines, too)
− Wildland fire
 Replacing building components with fireproof materials (roofing, screening)  Creating “defensible space”
 Installing spark arrestors
 Fuels modification
− Noxious weeds/insects
 Mowing
 Spraying
 Replacement planting
 Stop overgrazing
 Introduce natural predators
• Insurance
Natural Resource Protection
Natural resource protection activities are generally aimed at preserving (or in some cases restoring) natural areas. In so doing, these activities enable the naturally beneficial functions of floodplains and watersheds to be better realized. These natural and beneficial floodplain functions include the following:
• Storage of floodwaters
• Absorption of flood energy
• Reduction in flood scour
• Infiltration that absorbs overland flood flow
• Groundwater recharge
• Removal/filtering of excess nutrients, pollutants, and sediments from floodwaters • Habitat for flora and fauna
• Recreational and aesthetic opportunities
Methods of protecting natural resources include:
• Erosion and sediment control
• Wetlands protection
• Riparian area/habitat protection

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.9 • Threatened and endangered species protection
• Fuels management
• Set-back regulations/buffers
• Best management practices—Best management practices (“BMPs”) are measures that reduce nonpoint source pollutants that enter the waterways. Nonpoint source pollutants come from non-specific locations. Examples of nonpoint source pollutants are lawn fertilizers, pesticides, and other farm chemicals, animal wastes, oils from street surfaces and industrial areas and sediment from agriculture, construction, mining and forestry. These pollutants are washed off the ground’s surface by stormwater and flushed into receiving storm sewers, ditches and streams. BMPs can be implemented during construction and as part of a project’s design to permanently address nonpoint source pollutants. There are three general categories of BMPs:
− Avoidance—Setting construction projects back from the stream. − Reduction—Preventing runoff that conveys sediment and other water-borne pollutants, such as planting proper vegetation and conservation tillage. − Cleanse—Stopping pollutants after they are en route to a stream, such as using grass drainageways that filter the water and retention and detention basins that let pollutants settle to the bottom before they are drained • Dumping regulations
• Water use restrictions
• Weather modification
• Landscape management
Structural Projects
Structural projects have traditionally been used by communities to control flows and water surface elevations. Structural projects keep flood waters away from an area. They are usually designed by engineers and managed or maintained by public works staff.

These measures are popular with many because they “stop” flooding problems. However, structural projects have several important shortcomings that need to be kept in mind when considering them for flood hazard mitigation:
• They are expensive, sometimes requiring capital bond issues and/or cost sharing with Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
• They disturb the land and disrupt natural water flows, often destroying habitats.

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.10 • They are built to a certain flood protection level that can be exceeded by a larger flood, causing extensive damage.
• They can create a false sense of security when people protected by a structure believe that no flood can ever reach them.
• They require regular maintenance to ensure that they continue to provide their design protection level.

Structural measures include:
• Detention/retention structures
• Erosion and sediment control
• Basins/low-head weirs
• Channel modifications
• Culvert resizing/replacement/maintenance
• Levees and floodwalls
• Fencing (for snow, sand, wind)
• Drainage system maintenance
• Reservoirs (for flood control, water storage, recreation, agriculture) • Diversions
• Storm sewers
Public Information
A successful hazard mitigation program involves both the public and private sectors.

Public information activities advise property owners, renters, businesses, and local officials about hazards and ways to protect people and property from these hazards. These activities can motivate people to take protection
• Hazard maps and data
• Outreach projects (mailings, media, web, speakers bureau) • Library resources
• Real estate disclosure
• Environmental education
• Technical assistance

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.11 Mitigation Alternative Selection Criteria
The following criteria were used to select and prioritize proposed mitigation measures:

Does the proposed action protect lives?
Does the proposed action address hazards or areas with the highest risk? Does the proposed action protect critical facilities, infrastructure, or community assets? Does the proposed action meet multiple objectives (multi-objective management)?

STAPLE/E
Developed by FEMA, this method of applying evaluation criteria enables the planning team to consider in a systematic way the social, technical, administrative, political, legal, economic, and environmental opportunities and constraints of implementing a particular mitigation action. For each action, the HMPC should ask, and consider the answers to, the following questions:

Social
Does the measure treat people fairly (different groups, different generations)? Technical
Will it work? (Does it solve the problem? Is it feasible?) Administrative
Is there capacity to implement and manage project?
Political
Who are the stakeholders? Did they get to participate? Is there public support? Is political leadership willing to support it?
Legal
Does your organization have the authority to implement? Is it legal? Are there liability implications?

Merced County Multi-Jurisidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan D.12 Economic
Is it cost-beneficial? Is there funding? Does it contribute to the local economy or economic development? Does it reduce direct property losses or indirect economic losses? Environmental
Does it comply with environmental regulations or have adverse environmental impacts

Merced County D.13
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Example Mitigation Action Items by Community Rating System Mitigation Category and Hazard Alternative
Mitigation
Actions
Floods Earthquakes Wildfires
Drought
and
Severe
Weather:

Extreme
Heat
Dam
Incidents
Severe
Weather:

Heavy
Rain/
Lightning/
Hail
Severe
Weather:

Wind
Hazardous
Materials Landslide Subsidence
PLANS and REGULATIONS
Building codes and enforcement ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Comprehensive Watershed Tax ■
Density controls ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Design review standards ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Easements ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Environmental review standards ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Floodplain development regulations ■ ■ ■ ■
Hazard mapping ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Floodplain zoning ■ ■ ■
Forest fire fuel reduction ■
Housing/landlord codes ■ ■ ■
Slide-prone area/grading/hillside
development regulations ■ ■ ■
Manufactured home
guidelines/regulations ■ ■ ■
Minimize hazardous materials waste
generation ■
Multi-Jurisdiction Cooperation
within watershed ■ ■
Open space preservation ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Performance standards ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Periodically contain/remove wastes
for disposal ■
Pesticide/herbicide management
regulations ■
Special use permits ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Merced County D.14
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Alternative
Mitigation
Actions
Floods Earthquakes Wildfires
Drought
and
Severe
Weather:

Extreme
Heat
Dam
Incidents
Severe
Weather:

Heavy
Rain/
Lightning/
Hail
Severe
Weather:

Wind
Hazardous
Materials Landslide Subsidence
Stormwater management
regulations ■ ■
Subdivision and development
regulations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Surge protectors and lightning
protection ■
Tree Management ■ ■ ■
Transfer of development rights ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Utility location ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

STRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTRE

PROJECTS
Acquisition of hazard prone
structures ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Facility inspections/reporting ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Construction of barriers around
structures ■ ■ ■
Elevation of structures ■ ■
Relocation out of hazard areas ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Structural retrofits
(e.g., reinforcement, floodproofing,
bracing, etc.)
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Channel maintenance ■
Dams/reservoirs (including
maintenance) ■ ■ ■
Isolate hazardous materials waste
storage sties ■
Levees and floodwalls (including
maintenance) ■
Safe room/shelter ■ ■ ■ ■
Secondary containment system ■

Merced County D.15
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Alternative
Mitigation
Actions
Floods Earthquakes Wildfires
Drought
and
Severe
Weather:

Extreme
Heat
Dam
Incidents
Severe
Weather:

Heavy
Rain/
Lightning/
Hail
Severe
Weather:

Wind
Hazardous
Materials Landslide Subsidence
Site
reclamation/restoration/revegetation ■
Snow fences ■
Water supply augmentation ■ ■ ■
Debris Control ■
Defensible Space ■
Stream stabilization ■

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
Flood Insurance ■ ■
Hazard information centers ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Public education and outreach
programs ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Real estate disclosure ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Crop Insurance ■ ■ ■
Lightning detectors in public areas ■

NATURAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION
Best Management Practices (BMPs) ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Forest and vegetation management ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Hydrological Monitoring ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Sediment and erosion control
regulations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Stream corridor restoration ■ ■ ■ ■
Stream dumping regulations ■ ■
Urban forestry and landscape
management ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Wetlands development regulations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Critical facilities protection ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Emergency response services ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Merced County D.16
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Alternative
Mitigation
Actions
Floods Earthquakes Wildfires
Drought
and
Severe
Weather:

Extreme
Heat
Dam
Incidents
Severe
Weather:

Heavy
Rain/
Lightning/
Hail
Severe
Weather:

Wind
Hazardous
Materials Landslide Subsidence
Facility employee safety training
programs ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Hazard threat recognition ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Hazard warning systems
(community sirens, NOAA weather
radio)
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Health and safety maintenance ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Post-disaster mitigation ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Evacuation planning ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix E: Annual Progress Meeting Agenda and Report Template 2021-2026 Update
Appendix E: Annual Progress Meeting Agenda and Report Template

APPENDIX E: ANNUAL PROGRESS MEETING

AGENDA AND REPORT TEMPLATE
E-1
City of Sebastopol Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annual Progress Meeting Agenda

1. Discussion on hazard events and impacts that occurred during the performance period

2. Review of progress on mitigation action implementation

3. Discussion on success stories

4. Recommendations for new actions/projects

5. Review of funding options and grant opportunities

6. Review of changes in plan maintenance or implementation

7. Review of continuing public involvement

APPENDIX E: ANNUAL PROGRESS MEETING

AGENDA AND REPORT TEMPLATE
E-1
Merced County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annual Progress Report Template
Reporting Period:

Background: Merced County and participating cities and towns in the county developed a hazard mitigation plan to reduce risk from all hazards by identifying resources, information, and strategies for risk reduction. The federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires state and local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for federal disaster grant assistance. To prepare the plan, the participating partners organized resources, assessed risks from natural hazards within the county, developed planning goals and objectives, reviewed mitigation alternatives, and developed an action plan to address probable impacts from natural hazards. By completing this process, these jurisdictionsmaintained compliance with the Disaster Mitigation Act, achieving eligibility for mitigation grant funding opportunities afforded under the Robert T. Stafford Act. The plan can be viewed online at:

Summary Overview of the Plan’s Progress: The performance period for the Hazard Mitigation Plan became effective on ____, 2021, with the final approval of the plan by FEMA. The initial performance period for this plan will be 5 years, with an anticipated update to the plan to occur before ______, 2026.

The Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan has targeted 70 hazard mitigation initiatives to be pursued during the 5-year performance period. As of the reporting period, the following overall progress can be reported:
__ out of __ initiatives (__%) reported ongoing action toward completion. __ out of __ initiatives (__%) were reported as being complete. __ out of __ initiatives (___%) reported no action taken.

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to provide an annual update on the implementation of the action plan identified in the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The objective is to ensure that there is a continuing and responsive planning process that will keep the hazard mitigation plan dynamic and responsive to the needs and capabilities of the partner jurisdictions. This report discusses the following:
• Natural hazard events that have occurred within the last year • Changes in risk exposure within the planning area (all of Merced County) • Mitigation success stories
• Review of the action plan
• Changes in capabilities that could impact plan implementation • Recommendations for changes/enhancement
The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee: The Hazard Mitigation Planning Team, made up of planning partners and stakeholders within the planning area, reviewed and approved this progress report at its annual meeting held on _____, 202_. It was determined through the plan’s development process that the HMPT would remain in service to oversee maintenance of the plan. At a minimum, the HMPT will provide technical review and oversight on the development of the annual progress report. It is anticipated that there will be turnover in the membership annually, which will be documented in the progress reports.

For this reporting period, the HMPT membership present at the meeting is as indicated in Table 1.

APPENDIX E. EXAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
E-2
TABLE 1.

HMPT MEMBERS PRESENT
Name Title Jurisdiction/Agency
Natural Hazard Events within the Planning Area: During the reporting period, there were __ natural hazard events in the planning area that had a measurable impact on people or property. A summary of these events is as follows:
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
Changes in Risk Exposure in the Planning Area: (Insert brief overview of any natural hazard event in the planning area that changed the probability of occurrence or ranking of risk for the hazards addressed in the hazard mitigation plan)
Mitigation Success Stories: (Insert brief overview of mitigation accomplishments during the reporting period)
Review of the Action Plan: Table 2 reviews the action plan, reporting the status of each initiative.

Reviewers of this report should refer to the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for more detailed descriptions of each initiative and the prioritization process.

Address the following in the “status” column of the following table:

Was any element of the initiative carried out during the reporting period? If no action was completed, why?
Is the timeline for implementation for the initiative still appropriate? If the initiative was completed, does it need to be changed or removed from the action plan?

APPENDIX E. EXAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
E-3
TABLE 2.

ACTION PLAN MATRIX
Action
No. Action Title
Action
Taken? (Yes
or No)
Timeline Priority Comments Status
(√, O, X)

MERCED COUNTY
1 Countywide Public Education Program.
2 Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into
Safety Element of General Plan.
3 Non-structural Earthquake Mitigation
Outreach.
4 Countywide Inventory of Historic Unreinforced
Masonry Buildings.
5 Periodically review building codes.
6 Develop a Hazard Specific Flood Annex for all
jurisdictions.
7 Flood Insurance Promotion Program
Implementation/Participation.
8 Identify and evaluate effectiveness of
alternative detention basin flood control
projects that will reduce flood flows in Black
Rascal Creek at the diversion.
9 Winter Weather Preparedness Campaign.
10 Cyber Security. Establish a risk management
program to identify the risks, understand their
likelihood and impact.
11 Drought Plan.
12 Groundwater Recharge and Stormwater
Detention Pilot Project.
13 Public Safety GIS Management.
14 Encourage and continue to establish
countywide evacuation zones, sections and
routes.
15 Conduct an After Action Review for COVID-19
response.
16 Develop a plan for a Countywide Medical
Reserve Corps (MRC).

APPENDIX E. EXAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
E-4
TABLE 2.

ACTION PLAN MATRIX
Action
No. Action Title
Action
Taken? (Yes
or No)
Timeline Priority Comments Status
(√, O, X)
17 Provide public outreach through a variety of
media for awareness and mitigation of various
agricultural pests and disease.
18 Enhance the County’s capabilities associated
with the Pest Detection Program, Pest
Exclusion Program, and Pest Eradication
Program.
19 Identify and increase water management
practices that reduce pesticide movement
offsite.
20 Create a hazardous materials safety flyer to
post on public health social media and the
division of environmental health's website.
21 Develop countywide commodity flow study to
further understand the quantity and types of
hazardous materials being transported
through the county.

City of Atwater
1 Participate in Countywide Public Education
Program.
2 Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into
Safety Element of General Plan.
3 Non-structural Earthquake Mitigation
Outreach.
4 Participate in Countywide Inventory for
Unreinforced Masonry Buildings.
5 Periodically review building codes for updates
and enhancements.
6 Promote Water Conservation Program.

APPENDIX E. EXAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
E-5
TABLE 2.

ACTION PLAN MATRIX
Action
No. Action Title
Action
Taken? (Yes
or No)
Timeline Priority Comments Status
(√, O, X)
7 Emergency power system to protect the City of
Atwater 911 Communications Center and
Police Department.
8 Seismic Upgrade and Remodel of the Atwater
Police Department Headquarters.
9 Review hazards and awareness of earthquakes
in a public platform and educate the public on
helpful procedures in the aftermath.
10 Public education of current seasonal threat.

City of Dos Palos
1 Radio upgrade for police department.
2 Construction of new water treatment plant.

City of Gustine
1 Develop and enhance storm-water drainage
improvements to reduce frequent flooding.
2 Perform building specific seismic vulnerability
assessment of City-owned critical facilities
constructed prior to 1980.
3 Develop drought plan.

City of Livingston
1 Participation in Countywide Public Education
Program.
2 Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into
Safety Element of General Plan.
3 Non-structural Earthquake Mitigation
Outreach.
4 Participate in Countywide Inventory for
Unreinforced Masonry Buildings.
5 Periodically review buildings for update and
enhancements.
6 Flood Insurance Promotion.

APPENDIX E. EXAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
E-6
TABLE 2.

ACTION PLAN MATRIX
Action
No. Action Title
Action
Taken? (Yes
or No)
Timeline Priority Comments Status
(√, O, X)
7 Participate in Severe Weather Preparedness
Campaign.
8 Promote Water Conservation Program.
9 Upgrade storm lift station/SCADA.

City of Los Banos
1 Participate in Countywide Public Education
Program.
2 Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into
Safety Element of General Plan.
3 Non-structural Earthquake Mitigation
Outreach.
4 Participate in Countywide Inventory for
Unreinforced Masonry Buildings.
5 Periodically review building codes for updates
and enhancements and ensure necessary
capabilities for enforcement.
6 Participate in Severe Weather Preparedness
Campaign.
7 Promote Water Conservation Program.
8 Implement and Monitor Weed Abatement
Program.
9 Prepare Emergency Plan for Critical
Infrastructure.
10 Perform Building-Specific Seismic Vulnerability
Assessment of City Owned Critical Facilities.
11 Continue to Update Storm Water System
Master Plan.
12 Prepare a Shelter and Emergency Provision
Plan.
13 Prepare Weather Preparedness Program
(Extreme Heat and Cold).

APPENDIX E. EXAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
E-7
TABLE 2.

ACTION PLAN MATRIX
Action
No. Action Title
Action
Taken? (Yes
or No)
Timeline Priority Comments Status
(√, O, X)
14 Promote Water Conservation Program with
continued updates to Urban Water
Management Plan.
15 Rental Home Inspections.

City of Merced
1 Prepare an Energy Assurance Plan
2 Develop and enhance storm-water drainage
improvements to reduce frequent flooding.
3 Create a Disaster Preparedness Program.
4 Support Merced County efforts to construct
the Haystack Alternative of Black Rascal Creek.
5 Update the City’s Storm-water Drainage
Master Plan.
6 Prepare a Shelter and Emergency-Provision
Plan.
7 Prepare a Natural Area Fire Prevention Plan.
8 Perform building-specific, structural seismic
vulnerability assessment of City-owned critical
facilities.
9 Create a program to retrofit or upgrade
unreinforced masonry buildings in Downtown
Merced, or other buildings in the Plan area.
10 Update Fire Station 52 seismic and flood
resiliency.
11 Enhance the weed abatement program to
mitigate wildfire risk.

Status Legend:
= Project Completed
O = Action ongoing toward completion
X = No progress at this time

APPENDIX E. EXAMPLE PROGRESS REPORT
E-8
Changes That May Impact Implementation of the Plan: (Insert brief overview of any significant changes in the planning area that would have a profound impact on the implementation of the plan. Specify any changes in technical, regulatory and financial capabilities identified during the plan’s development) Recommendations for Changes or Enhancements: Based on the review of this report by the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team, the following recommendations will be noted for future updates or revisions to the plan:
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
Public review notice: The contents of this report are considered to be public knowledge and have been prepared for total public disclosure. Copies of the report have been provided to the governing boards of all planning partners and to local media outlets and the report is posted on the Merced County MultiJurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan website. Any questions or comments regarding the contents of this report should be directed to:

Insert Contact Info Here

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix F: Outreach Strategy
2021-2026 Update
Appendix F: Outreach Strategy

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Prepared for:

Merced County
2222 M Street, Room 1
Merced, CA 95340
Prepared by:

Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.
2000 S. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 2-1000
March 2021 Denver, CO 80222

Outreach Strategy
Page i
Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose of the Outreach Strategy ................................................................................................................................1

2.0 Objectives of the Outreach Strategy............................................................................................................................1

3.0 Local Government Outreach and Involvement Responsibilities .......................................................................1

3.1 Public Information Officer ...............................................................................................................................3

4.0 Stakeholder Outreach Platforms ...................................................................................................................................3

4.1 Participating Jurisdictions ................................................................................................................................3

4.2 Neighboring Jurisdictions................................................................................................................................4

4.3 Federal, State, and Regional Agencies........................................................................................................4

4.4 Academic Colleges and Universities............................................................................................................4

4.5 Municipal Advisory Councils...........................................................................................................................5

4.6 Nonprofit and Community-Based Organizations ..................................................................................5

4.7 Business Groups and Large Employers.......................................................................................................6

4.8 Utility Roundtable...............................................................................................................................................6

5.0 Public Outreach Platforms ...............................................................................................................................................6

5.1 Webpage ................................................................................................................................................................6

5.2 Social Media..........................................................................................................................................................7

5.3 Newspapers...........................................................................................................................................................7

5.4 Press Releases.......................................................................................................................................................7

5.5 Public Survey.........................................................................................................................................................8

5.6 Informational Pop-Up Booths........................................................................................................................8

5.7 Local Events and Weekly Newsletters.........................................................................................................9

5.8 Public Workshops ...............................................................................................................................................9

5.9 GIS Portal – Environmental Hazard Data Viewer....................................................................................9

5.10 Map your Neighborhood Mailing List......................................................................................................10

6.0 Schedule of Outreach Activities ...................................................................................................................................10 Tables
Table 1. Outreach Strategy Schedule of Activities 11

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | February 2021 Page 1

1.0 Purpose of the Outreach Strategy
The purpose of the Outreach Strategy is to provide a meaningful process through which the County of Merced, the six participating municipalities, and their citizens, public officials, and stakeholder groups may effectively participate in the update of the Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). The County is updating the MJHMP to expand the risk assessment to address changing priorities related to the frequency and severity of existing natural, human-caused, and public health hazards; climate change impacts; and to develop a mitigation strategy for the County. This strategy will be developed based upon the understanding that citizens and groups are the source of tremendous creativity, and that their engagement and input will produce better planning decisions. The emphasis is to recognize every citizen’s right to participate in the process of informing local government decisions.

A wide variety of public participation methods and tools, representing distinct purposes, will be employed in the strategy to provide for broad public engagement and participation. These purposes of public engagement are as follows:
● Public Awareness – to share information and to promote awareness of planning process, including ways the public can participate
● Public Education – to educate citizens and help them make more informed choices ● Public Input – to provide citizens and groups with opportunities to provide input and ideas during the planning process
● Public Interaction – to exchange views and ideas as a means of reaching consensus ● Public Partnership – to involve citizens in the decision-making process

2.0 Objectives of the Outreach Strategy

1. Recognizing that there are many levels of public participation, to provide for an effective mix of participation opportunities that include the above bulleted purposes.

2. Recognizing that not everyone participates in the same way or at the same time, to include a mix of participation strategies that provides for a broad and diverse set of engagement opportunities that considers the diversity of the County’s planning area.

3. Recognizing Merced County’s history of past public participation during the General Plan 2030 and recent Community Plan update planning processes and public safety preparedness and outreach efforts, the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team (HMPT) will provide the public with opportunities to review, clarify, and provide input on hazard information, as well as generate goals, objectives, policies, and other information.

4. To build public support for, and ultimately ownership of, the Merced County MJHMP.

3.0 Local Government Outreach and Involvement Responsibilities The requirements related to public involvement in hazard mitigation plans according to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (44 CFR Section 201.6(b) and (c)) are listed below:

Requirement §201.6(b): In order to develop a more comprehensive approach to reducing the effects of natural disasters, the planning process shall include:

1. An opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval;

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 2

2. An opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities, and agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses, academia and other private and non-profit interests to be involved in the planning process; and

3. Review and incorporation, if appropriate, of existing plans, studies, reports, and technical information.

Requirement §201.6(c)(1): [The plan shall document] the planning process used to develop the plan, including how it was prepared, who was involved in the process, and how the public was involved.

Requirement §201.6(c)(4)(iii): [The plan maintenance process shall include a] discussion on how the community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process.

Based on the requirements, the public participation process ensures citizens and local and regional agencies understand the risk and vulnerability and can work with Merced County to support policies, actions, and tools to reduce future losses. This is why the public must have opportunities to comment on disaster mitigation plans during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval. The County is encouraged to conduct a public workshop or open house within 90 days of the project kick-off, or first HMPT meeting.

To meet DMA requirements as well as the goals of the Outreach Strategy, the County is expected to engage in various public outreach and feedback efforts, which can include:
● Engage nonprofit organizations (NGOs) or community-based organizations (CBOs) ● Assist in distributing press releases and information to local media ● Share public input/comment with the HMPT
● Document and report on progress/activities related to public involvement ● Review public input for incorporation in plan, as appropriate ● Assist with advertising and holding a total of two (2) public workshops: one (1) public workshop (during draft development) and one (1) public workshop once the Public Review Draft MJHMP is circulated
● Announcing the planning effort at other public meetings, or holding additional public meetings, if desired
● Announce how the plan can be accessed during the public review period. This can include providing links from the County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) Webpage to a MJHMP Update Webpage or providing a hardcopy of the plan in a public location, such as a municipal building (e.g. library, community center).
● Follow the recommendations for continued public involvement as designated in the implementation chapter of the MJHMP.

Merced County can implement a robust public outreach process by asking citizens to share local knowledge of the County’s vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences. For Merced County this may include vulnerability to flooding, drought, and wildfires. Public involvement can be solicited by working with NGOs and CBOs, or through direct outreach via multiple media platforms, including the County’s Website and social media, as well as traditional materials, such as newspaper notices, questionnaires, public workshops, involvement at public events, and distribution of the plan for public input at repositories.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 3 The overall goal of communication is to inform the public about the process and to seek input, and to engage early and often. Messaging should cover the following topics:
● Announce kick-off of preparing a MJHMP (typically within 30 days of kick-off meeting) ● Advertising the County’s MJHMP Webpage
● Advertisement of Public Workshop or Open House
● Distribution of the public survey
● Notification of public comment and availability of the Public Review Draft MJHMP ● Notification of availability of Final MJHMP
● Announce Board of Supervisors Hearing

3.1 Public Information Officer
The County’s Public Information Officer (PIO), or designated Project Manager will lead the public involvement process and implementation of the Outreach Strategy. This strategy will be overseen and managed by Mr. David Scheurich, Battalion Chief and Deputy Director of the County OES for the plan preparation, as well as the County’s consultant, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. (Wood). Mr. Gene Barrera will provide additional support. If the County’s PIO is assigned to serve as a liaison to oversee the outreach strategy, this will ensure the continuity of the outreach after the project ends. It also provides ongoing communication after plan adoption and ensure implementation updates continue within the community.

4.0 Stakeholder Outreach Platforms
Stakeholders are persons, groups, or institutions that can affect or be affected by a course of action associated with the MJHMP update. Stakeholder involvement during the planning process develops support for the plan and implementation. Stakeholder involvement also results in greater information sharing on technical and scientific resources based on input from subject matter experts.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires stakeholder participation from neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved with hazard mitigation activities, agencies with authority to regulate development, and business, academic institutions such as community colleges or universities, and private and non-profit agencies. Stakeholders do not need to be involved in all phases of the planning process like the HMPT but should inform the HMPT on specific hazard impacts and risks and provide input that reflects different perspectives in the community. Stakeholder involvement generally improves the overall quality and accuracy of the plan and builds greater consensus within the community.

4.1 Participating Jurisdictions
Six jurisdictions are participating in the MJHMP update. These six jurisdictions include the cities of Merced, Los Banos, Atwater, Livingston, Dos Palos, and Gustine. The HMPT consists of a representative from each municipality. This HMPT representative should integrate the outreach platforms outlined in this Outreach Strategy within their cities and engage additional stakeholders and the public. The HMPT representative should also inform their respective city managers and elected officials, such as Planning Commissioners and City Council members about the planning process and MJHMP update. These managers and elected officials are responsible for the public health and safety of their community. They are also the elected officials that will adopt the plan. The key to maximizing these leaders involvement should be based on engaging them early in the process and during the development of the draft plan.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 4 This may consist of planning updates during City Manager briefings and regular Planning Commission and City Council meetings.

4.2 Neighboring Jurisdictions
Neighboring jurisdictions, such as adjacent counties must be given the opportunity to be on the HMPT or involved in the planning process as a stakeholder. Adjacent counties and municipalities are commonly affected by similar hazards and may be partners in mitigation efforts on a regional level. Involvement may include inviting these municipalities to participate in outreach activities and requesting their input on the draft plan. Merced County invited emergency management staff from Mariposa, Madera, and Stanislaus counties to participate on the HMPT. For those unavailable to formally participate on the HMPT, the County should request that these counties engage during outreach activities and provide formal input on the draft plan.

4.3 Federal, State, and Regional Agencies
Merced County can engage various public federal, state, and regional agencies, such as a representative from the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association and representatives from the two national wildlife refuges: Merced National Wildlife Refuge and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. State agencies should also be involved and can include representatives from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), Department of Water Resources and the Division of Safety of Dams, Department of Parks and Recreation, California Highway Patrol, and California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

The County can invite these representatives to participate during the virtual public workshops and request their feedback on the Public Review Draft MJHMP. Many of these federal and state agencies were identified as key cooperators by the County in the initial planning meetings. The County can also schedule regular updates with their Cal OES representative and let them know when the plan will be ready for state review.

The Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) is an association of city and county governments focused on addressing regional issues, such as transportation, solid waste, and air quality problems.

MCAG has also served as the Regional Transportation Planning Agency and Metropolitan Planning Organization making them a regional agency the County can coordinate on regarding demographic, housing, and development trends.

Federal, state, and regional agencies manage technical data and resources related to hazards, and in some cases grant funding opportunities and financial assistance. Therefore, involving stakeholders from these agencies can further complement the County’s MJHMP update.

4.4 Academic Colleges and Universities
Academic institutions have additional educational resources to provide to support hazard mitigation planning departments, particularly through natural hazard research, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and planning courses. The HMPT may collaborate with a local university or college to engage students in the planning process or to complete research and analysis needs for the plan.

The HMPT is partnering with the County’s GIS Manager and California State University – Stanislaus (CSUStanislaus) urban planning department. Students in a CSU- Stanislaus urban planning class are participating in the hazard mitigation planning process by developing the critical facility database and integrating outreach tools, such as the public survey into GIS Applications (e.g., Experience Builder, StoryMap, Survey 123, etc.). This class and the student projects and exercises help the students understand potential hazards within their campus and communities and how to set up tools and methods to reduce risks.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 5 The County also plans on coordinating with the University of California – Merced (UC-Merced) emergency manager and police chief. UC-Merced Tomorrow is the Long Range Development Plan for the university.

UC-Merced is located northeast of the City of Merced and is bordered on the north and east by conservation easements and a large campus natural reserve, designed to protect the campus from natural hazards, such as wildfires and flooding. Collaboration with UC-Merced’s Environmental Health and Safety and Police Departments on the risk assessment and mitigation action development should provide additional insight into hazard mitigation opportunities within the eastern portion of the County.

4.5 Municipal Advisory Councils
Merced County has eight unincorporated communities that each contain a Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) made up of 15 members appointed by the Merced County BOS for one 4-year term. The MACs advise the Board of Supervisors on planning matters that relate to each unincorporated community.

Planning matters can cover land use decisions, the provision of public services, public health and safety, public works projects, and community welfare. The eight MACs meet monthly and include: Le Grand, Planada, Snelling, Delhi, Winton, Hilmar, McSwain, and the Franklin-Beachwood MACs. The County intends to engage each MAC during the planning process by requesting input on the Draft MJHMP Update.

4.6 Nonprofit and Community-Based Organizations
Inviting NGOs and CBOs to participate during the MJHMP planning process is important because they act as advocates for citizens and may represent traditionally under-served or disadvantaged communities (DACs), or socially vulnerable populations, such as seniors or disabled groups. As defined by Senate Bill 1000 (Health and Safety Code § 39711) DACs are low-income areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution or other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.1
Generally, NGOs and CBOs represent various segments of the community. In some cases, NGOs may include disaster preparedness and response organizations like Red Cross, and conservation and climate adaptation and mitigation partnerships and collaboratives. CBOs may represent DACs, serve persons with access and functional needs and individuals with disabilities, the senior population, parent-teacher/youth groups, church groups, or neighborhood associations. Outreach to CBOs is useful when providing information to members of the public whose first language is not English. A CBO representative may also be able to inform a segment of the community about the MJHMP process, plan implementation, and foster communication with residents during an emergency.

NGOs and CBOs may include neighborhood groups, the business community, climate collaboratives, educational groups, faith-based organizations, or healthcare advocates. Several CBOs were invited to participate on the HMPT and engage during the planning process, including the Red Cross and Merced County Food Bank. Ongoing outreach with these CBOs will enhance communication and outreach to a larger segment of the citizens in Merced County.
1 According to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) DAC Mapping Tool, there are several census tracts within Merced County that contain a DAC. These maps show census tracts that meet the DAC definition (i.e., only those census tracts with an annual median household income (MHI) that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual MHI (Public Resources Section 75005(g)). The census tract data within Merced County is available for download here: https://gis.water.ca.gov/app/dacs/.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 6

4.7 Business Groups and Large Employers
The County should involve stakeholders from chamber of commerce, economic development organizations, the healthcare industry, and business leaders in the community. These organizations may include the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce and local chambers, Merced General Hospital, and the County Agricultural Commissioner given the strong agricultural economy and support industries in the County.

4.8 Utility Roundtable
If desired, Merced County can schedule a roundtable meeting with local electric utility providers, such as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and special water districts, such as Merced Irrigation District (MID), Turlock Irrigation District (TID), and other community service districts (CSDs) (e.g., Ballico CSD, Lower San Joaquin Levee District, East Merced Resources Conservation District, San Joaquin Valley Air District, etc.) to review and discuss hazards specific to local utilities. Local utility infrastructure may include electric, gas, water, sewer and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and telecommunications facilities.

5.0 Public Outreach Platforms

5.1 Webpage
At the beginning of the process, the County GIS Manager created a Project Webpage to keep the public informed on the development of the MJHMP and to solicit public input. This Webpage integrates GIS tools and applications such as the Experience Builder Application, which is designed to complement the County’s existing OES MJHMP Update Webpage that includes information on flood and emergency preparation resources. This webpage will also have the ability to collect map-based public comment through the ArcGIS Survey 123 Application.

The MJHMP Webpage should be publicized on all media releases, mailings, newsletters, surveys, and public meeting advertisements. The Webpage can include a section for the public to sign up for project Photo 1. The County MJHMP Webpage can include information on hazard mitigation, disaster preparedness, and plan documents. It can also function as a repository of for the planning process documentation, Draft MJHMP, and Cal OES/FEMA approvals.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 7 email announcements. The County can also keep the Webpage active after the plan is completed to keep the public informed about the status of the mitigation actions (see Photo 1).

5.2 Social Media
Merced County can use the following social media platforms to circulate information on the MJHMP:
● County Facebook (9,114+ followers)
● County Instagram (1,800+ followers)
● County Twitter (1,400+ followers)
At a minimum, the social media platforms should announce the kick-off of the MJHMP planning process, advertise the County’s MJHMP Webpage and other events, post a link to the two versions (English and Spanish) of the public survey, notify the public about meetings and workshops, and announce the availability of the plan for public input and comment. The County can share MJHMP information with other social media groups and organizations, particularly each of the six participating cities to ensure information is circulated on their social media platforms.

The County should also post information about the MJHMP on other agency social media platforms. The County could circulate information regarding the MJHMP on the MCAG Webpage, as well as the CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Webpages and social media feeds (CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit has over 11,600+ followers on Facebook).

5.3 Newspapers
The following regional and local print newspapers can be used to circulate and advertise information on the MJHMP:
● Merced Sun-Star
● Merced County News
● Los Banos Enterprise
● The Paper (Los Banos Live)
● Gustine Press-Standard

5.4 Press Releases
The County can distribute and circulate press releases over the course of the MJHMP development. They can also encourage HMPT participants and stakeholders to distribute press releases during the project.

Press releases can be distributed as informational flyers, advertisements, and public notices during community events. These communication platforms can be used to spread the news about the MJHMP update and invite the public to participate in the process. According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey Population Estimates, the racial/ethnic distribution of Merced County residents as of July 1, 2019 was 61 percent Hispanic, 26 percent White, 7.8 percent Asian, 3.9 percent African American, and 2.5 percent American Indian and Alaska Native. Based on this information and input from the County OES Department, press releases will be published in both English and Spanish.

Advertisements can focus on emergency planning, natural hazards, mitigation projects, and how to get the community prepared for disasters. The press releases can include posts and links to the County’s MJHMP Webpage and the public survey. As previously mentioned, the press releases should also announce the kick-off of the MJHMP planning process, advertise the County’s MJHMP Webpage and

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 8 other events, post a link to the public survey, notify the public about meetings and workshops, and announce the availability of the plan for public input and comment.

5.5 Public Survey
The County can prepare and distribute a public survey
during the planning process. The public survey can gauge information on household preparedness, hazard
priorities, local knowledge of tools to reduce risk and loss, and mitigation projects. The number of questions in
public surveys can vary, but they typically range from 10 to 20 questions and are structured to take a participant less than five minutes to complete. The questions are
designed to help the County and HMPT understand local
hazards and select and prioritize mitigation actions.

The public survey should be made available on the
MJHMP Webpage, and paper copies could be left at
informational booths or distributed at key events, such as the COVID-19 vaccination centers. Some counties and
cities have made the public survey available on tablets at various community events, although this may no longer
be safely feasible due to health and safety precautions that remain in place due to COVID-19. In summary, the public survey is designed to help the County better understand the following based on public input:
● Perception of natural hazards and risks
● Hazards with the most concern
● Best communication methods
● Level of public support for mitigation actions
● Willingness to invest in hazard mitigation

5.6 Informational Pop-Up Booths
The County can advertise the MJHMP planning process and seek public input at informational booths during local events or booths displayed at the local library or other public repositories. County staff should be able to speak to the public about the MJHMP project, invite them to visit the MJHMP Webpage, and ask them to take the public survey. During local events, informational booths can also be staffed by HMPT participants. Given the health and safety precautions in place, a repository may not be staffed, but should include map displays, handouts, copies of public surveys, and flyers.

Tablets, if available and feasible based on current safety precautions in Merced County, could be provided at the informational booths for easy access to the public survey; however, paper copies may be recommended while the health and safety precautions remain in effect. Some jurisdictions, like Merced County can also provide real-time hazard mapping services to the public interested in viewing hazard assessments for their property. This include providing hazard mapping information (see Section 3.3.10).

Photo 2. Online surveys are easy ways to
increase public participation and gather
input on household preparedness, hazard
priorities, local knowledge of tools to reduce
risk and loss, and mitigation projects.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 9

5.7 Local Events and Weekly Newsletters
Merced County and the HMPT may want to consider advertising the MJHMP process during the popular community events (e.g. vaccine rollout). The HMPT can also advertise the MJHMP process in a weekly newsletter.

5.8 Public Workshops
The County should invite the public to virtually
participate in public workshops. Two public workshops
will be scheduled as part of the planning process for the Merced County MJHMP update: one at the beginning of
the planning process and a second once the Public
Review Draft MJHMP is available.

The public workshop should cover the purpose of the
plan, the components of the MJHMP, background on
hazard mitigation planning, and next steps. The County
can provide regular and ongoing project status updates
on the MJHMP during regular Planning Commission and
Board of Supervisor hearings. Wood recommends the
County host the first public workshop within 90 days of the kick-off meeting.

During the public comment period, the County can hold
a second public workshop. The public workshops can be
scheduled as either stand-alone public workshops, or as part of a regularly scheduled Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors hearing. These meetings should be advertised to the public and provide an opportunity for public comment. The public can also comment on the MJHMP during final review and consideration during final hearings.

5.9 GIS Portal – Environmental Hazard Data Viewer
Merced County’s existing GIS mapping platform includes an Environmental Hazard Data Viewer that displays hazard data layers developed in the MJHMP. Specific hazard layers currently include the FEMA NFIP National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire threat areas, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Web Soil survey data. The platform could display additional hazard mapping data and other best available information used in the development of the MJHMP, such as the locations of the County critical facilities organized by FEMA Community Lifelines.

These data layers can be viewed individually or with multiple hazard layers and combined the data layers from the plan risk assessment to ensure that all datasets are fully integrated. The GIS Portal can be utilized moving forward to access and maintain critical facility and hazards data to provide a basis for a “living” plan that is accessible to participating jurisdictions and the public.

Photo 3. Requirement §201.6(b) of the
Disaster Mitigation Act states the planning
process shall include an opportunity for the
public to comment on the plan during the
drafting stage and prior to plan approval.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 10

5.10 Map your Neighborhood Mailing List
The County, six participating jurisdictions, and unincorporated communities could consider participating in the Map your Neighborhood (MYN) program. The MYN program is designed to help groups of neighbors prepare to and respond to an emergency together. This program has helped neighborhoods work together to develop stronger communities, particularly in preparation of potential hazard events.

6.0 Schedule of Outreach Activities
The following community engagement steps and activities are outlined in conjunction with the hazard mitigation planning phases and tasks to demonstrate how they are linked in the process. This Outreach Strategy is a document that will be utilized and updated during the plan development process. It can also serve to document the efforts made to involve the public during each subsequent plan update.

Photo 4. The Merced County Environmental Data Viewer provides the public an opportunity to research flood, fire, and soil hazards in their community.

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | February 2021 Page 11 Table 1. Outreach Strategy Schedule of Activities
Timeframe Mitigation Planning Steps Public Participation Steps/Ideas Specific Activities/Actions December 2020 -
February 2021

1. Getting Organized

2. Plan for public involvement

3. Coordinate with other
departments and agencies
• Consider inviting NGOs and CBOs to participate in
the process (i.e., Red Cross).
• Schedule HMPT Meeting #1
• Set-up an informational display at a local library.
• Create a Webpage for the MJHMP (new Webpage
or one linked to the Merced County OES
Webpage): what is hazard mitigation, invitation to
take a public survey, input on mitigation
actions/projects (Wood can provide the MJHMP
backgrounder content for webpage).
• Build public awareness through media
channels/platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter.
• Outreach through other groups, Private, NonProfit. Non-governmental organizations with a focus on sensitive populations and major
agricultural representation.
• Possible public groups include: Local media,
Chamber of Commerce, and the Merced County
Office of Education (including the 20+ school
districts).
• HMPT formed in January 2021
• HMPT Meeting #1 – Planning Process
• Engage CSU-Stanislaus Planning/GIS
Students (design class project around student
participation and support in the MJHMP
update process)
• Design a stand-alone MJHMP Webpage
• Schedule Utility Roundtable (if desired)
• Develop and display content on the MJHMP
Webpage
o Risk Assessment Key Findings
• Design and circulate a Public Survey,
including both English and Spanish versions

Outreach Strategy
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | March 2021 Page 12 March – June 2021 4. Identify the hazards

5. Assess the risks
• Provide survey and materials at meetings
• Share public input during HMPT Meeting #2
(March/April 2021)
• Cooperative review of public input
• Announce workshops
• Build contact list of interested citizens based on
survey to inform of future activities
• Finalize MJHMP Webpage/Experience Builder
website/Survey 123 Application/StoryMap
• Finalize English and Spanish version of
surveys
• Plan and circulate press releases, post on
MJHMP Webpage
• Advertisement for Public Workshop via
Facebook, Twitter, Newspapers, Webpage,
Paper Flyers
• Collect public comments from a survey
developed specifically for the plan
• HMPT Meeting #2 – Hazard Identification
• Additional outreach for Public Survey
• Collection and compilation of survey results
• Public Workshop #1
July – September
2021

6. Set planning goals

7. Review mitigation alternatives

8. Draft an action plan
• Place draft plan online on County’s MJHMP
Webpage
• Advertise the plan and public comment period
• Email list of interested citizens identified in
previous step about the public review draft
• Encourage public review of Final Draft MJHMP
• HMPT Meeting #3 – Mitigation Strategy
• Develop links from County’s Main Website to
MJHMP Webpage, encourage review and
comment on draft plan.
• Wood to develop Online Form so public
could leave comments on Public Review Draft
MJHMP Update
• Public Workshop #2
October – December
2021

9. Adopt the plan

10. Implement the plan, evaluate its
worth, and revise as needed
• Continue to host the MJHMP Webpage with a link
from the County’s Main Website with contact
information for public inquiries
• Celebrate successes – including receiving hazard
mitigation funding, implementation of projects,
and publicizing where the plan and its
implementation is making a difference and
building hazard and climate resilience.
• Presentation at County BOS hearing during
adoption
• Participating City Council hearing and
adoption (Annexes)
• Annual HMPT Meetings (to discuss status of
mitigation projects)
• 5-Year Update (scheduled for 2026/2027)

Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix F: Outreach Strategy
2021-2026 Update
Annexes

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 1 1 CITY OF ATWATER

1.1 Community Profile

1.1.1 Mitigation Planning History and 2021 Process
This annex was created during the development of the 2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) update. This Jurisdictional Annex builds upon the previous version of Atwater Annex as part of the 2014 Merced County MJHMP. A review of jurisdictional priorities found no significant changes in priorities since the last update.

The City’s Local Planning Team (LPT) held the responsibility for the update, implementation, and maintenance of the plan. Members are listed in Appendix A. More details on the planning process followed and how the jurisdictions and stakeholders participated can be found in Section 3 Planning Process of the Base Plan, along with how the public was involved during the 2021 update.

1.1.2 Geography and Climate
The City of Atwater in Merced County is situated 7 miles northwest of the City of Merced, the county seat.

Atwater is one of the larger cities in the County of Merced and is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, 62 miles northwest of Fresno. The City is located in the northeastern portion of the County between Highway 99 and Castle Airport. According to the United States Census Bureau, Atwater has a total area of 6.1 square miles – 99.86% of it is land and 0.14% is water with an elevation of 151 feet above sea level. The City is a continuously evolving community immersed in tradition with a history of food, farming, and manufacturing in California.

The climate in the City of Atwater cycles through a cool rainy winter season and a dry summer season.

Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool and wet, with most of the year’s rain falling from late October through early April.

1.1.3 History
The City of Atwater’s history dates back to the late 1800s when Marshall D. Atwater was one of the largest landowners of the area. He had a huge contribution in developing the agricultural community of the area, and the place was named after him. Marshall Atwater was a wheat farmer whose land was used by the railroad for its station. The railroad reached Atwater in the 1870s, and then a town began to grow. The first post office opened in 1880. Two of the other influences on the area include Highway 99 and the Castle Air Force Base, which was set up in 1941 as an aircrew training facility by the US Army. The City of Atwater was incorporated in 1922.

Visitors to the City learn about the history of this City by visiting the Castle Air Museum or the Bloss House Museum. There are quite a few churches around the City that have retained their old-world charm.

People also visit several parks including Heller Park, the Andy Albiani Park, the E. L. Walters Park or the Atwater Memorial Ballpark, all of which offer excellent entertainment opportunities for adults and kids alike.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 2

1.1.4 Economy
The City of Atwater’s vision is to be a vibrant and progressive community that provides economic opportunity and prosperity for all residents, while maintaining its “small town” friendliness, livability and safety. Traditionally, the City of Atwater has attracted agricultural‐based industries and has relied on these types of industries for employment. A number of major events have occurred within Atwater itself and the reason that led to a need to take a comprehensive look at the community. Some of the events that impacted the area included the closure of Castle Air Force Base as a military facility and its conversion to civilian uses and development; the development of a prison facility just northeast of Castle Airport; the selection of a site for a new UC campus northeast of Merced near Lake Yosemite; plans to develop a University Access System that will link Atwater and the City of Merced to the University; and, plans to construct a new interchange at the intersection of Highway 99 and Westside Boulevard. Some of these events provided opportunities while others impacted the economic foundation of the City.

Estimates of select economic characteristics for the City of Atwater are shown in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1 City of Atwater Economic Characteristics, 2015-2019 Characteristic City of Atwater
Families below Poverty Level (%) 18.5%
All People below Poverty Level (%) 20.7%
Median Family Income $58,584
Median Household Income $55,674
Per Capita Income $22,157
Population in Labor Force 63.4%
Population Employed* 56.2%
Unemployment** 11.2%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
*Excludes armed forces. **Does not reflect unemployment numbers due to COVID-19 Pandemic The most common industries within a five-mile radius of Atwater are educational services and health care (a combined average of 19.6 percent of workers). Many other industries include food, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, construction, accommodation and food services, and public administration. Atwater is also the home of one of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is a large employer in the City with over 100 employees and approximately 1,600 prisoners. The tables below show the labor force breakdown by occupations and industry based on estimates from the 2015-2019 five-year American Community Survey.

Table 1-2 City of Atwater Employment by Industry, 2015-2019 Occupation # Employed % Employed
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 3,118 26% Retail trade 1,516 13%
Manufacturing 1,509 13%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 1,316 11% Construction 713 6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services
713 6%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 668 6%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 623 5% Public administration 539 5%

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 3 Occupation # Employed % Employed
Other services, except public administration 496 4%
Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services
467 4%
Wholesale trade 343 3%
Information 64 1%
Total 12,085 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/ *Excludes armed forces
Table 1-3 City of Atwater Employment by Occupation, 2015-2019 Occupation # Employed % Employed
Management, business, science, and arts occupations 2,863 23.7% Service occupations 2,288 18.9%
Sales and office occupations 2,447 20.2%
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 2,299 19.0% Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 2,188 18.1% Total 12,085 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/ *Excludes armed forces

1.1.5 Population
In May 2020, the State Department of Finance released preliminary population data for the state demographic report, the estimates did not include potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report the City of Atwater has a population of 31,378 persons as of January 1, 2020, and gained 8 residents from the previous year, leaving the population statically the same. Select demographic and social characteristics for the City of Atwater from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey and the California Department of Finance, are shown in Table 1-4.

Table 1-4 City of Atwater Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019 Characteristic City of Atwater
Gender/Age
Male 49.3%
Female 50.7%
Median age (years) 31.6
Under 5 years 8.1%
Under 18 years 29.8%
65 years and over 11.5%
Race/Ethnicity
White 32.5%
Asian 4.5%
Black or African American 3.8%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 56.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.1%

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 4 Characteristic City of Atwater
Some other race 0.0%
Two or more races 2.1%
Education*
% High school graduate or higher 73.2%
% with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 14.0%
Social Vulnerability
% with Disability 13.6%
% Language other than English spoken at
home 46.0%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 16.5%
% of households with a computer with
internet use 87.2%
% of households with no vehicle available 5.8%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
* Population 25 years and over
The following table with information from the American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2015-2019) is related to housing occupancy in the City of Atwater
Table 1-5 City of Atwater Housing Occupancy and Units, 2015-2019 Housing Characteristic Estimate Percentage
Housing Occupancy
Total Housing Units 9,577 100%
Units Occupied 9,161 95.7%
Vacant 416 4.3%
Housing Units
1-unit detached 6,589 68.8%
1-unit attached 350 3.7%
2 units 610 6.4%
3 or 4 units 700 7.3%
5-9 units 374 3.9%
10-19 units 207 2.2%
20 or more units 111 1.2%
Mobile Home 636 6.6%
Boat, RV, van etc. 0 0%
Housing Tenure
Owner Occupied 4,815 52.6%
Renter Occupied 4,346 47.4%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/

1.1.6 Development Trends
Atwater has long been recognized for its friendly small-town atmosphere, which is a valued characteristic that is desirable to maintain. In order to maintain a sustainable community, it must find a way to attract a variety of industries, local and region serving commercial development, and provide housing

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 5 opportunities that will appeal to all demographic categories ranging from university students and faculty to retirees and young families. In order to achieve these objectives, the General Plan focuses on a number of basic themes that are reflected in goals and policies.

Some parts of Atwater have changed substantially since the last General Plan update in 2000. The City identified four primary growth areas and a new proposed Sphere of Influence, as shown in Figure 2-1, designed to meet both short- and long-term development demands. Land use designations applied in these growth areas were designed to accommodate a variety of employment generating uses, small- and large-scale commercial development, and provide a broad range of housing opportunities for existing and future residents.

Atwater is surrounded by small unincorporated communities including Winton to the north, FranklinBeachwood to the east, and directly south of the City is the McSwain area. One goal of the plan was to establish agreements with the City and County of Merced that ensures the establishment and maintenance of long-term agricultural and open space buffers between the referenced communities. The General Plan also identifies the goal to improve the entrance points into the City. In doing so, the City will enhance the view of Atwater from Highway 99 and along the City corridor. Throughout the City, enhanced landscape and design standards are encouraged to improve the appearance and quality of both newly developed and redeveloped areas.

The Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) creates population projections for all jurisdictions in Merced County. Based on MCAG’s projections, the City of Atwater was expected to a population of 40,000 in 2020.

The table below summarizes the estimates of the number of housing units, population, nonresidential square footage development, and acres of different land uses at build‐out of the 2000 General Plan. The 2000 General Plan provides the opportunity for up to 20,000 additional residents in areas at build out. The General Plan plans for new jobs in commercial retail, commercial services, light industrial, manufacturing, public services, and other employment uses.

The City approved a large amount of development in the 2000 General Plan and other plans and projects, such as the Applegate Business Park and the Castle Airport Aviation and Development Center.

Build out estimates are not official growth projections and do not represent City policy. Actual population, square footage, or number of dwelling units could be lower or higher than these estimates based on a number of factors. Build out may vary overall or within individual land use designations due to:
● The need to preserve the agricultural base, grazing lands, and other types of open space; ● Infrastructure availability, including transportation facilities, public services, and facilities; ● The need to limit development due to flood risk, fire risk, geologic and soils constraints, presence of habitat and biological resources, and presence of other important natural resources; and ● Other factors, as described in the General Plan, community plans, specific plans, and City codes and ordinances.

The City has developed estimates of average density and intensity to use in calculating 2000 General Plan build out land use. The City has based build out estimates on past recorded development activity, recent development plan submittals, regional and statewide population and employment growth forecasts, and other factors.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 6 Figure 1-1 Residential Land Uses
Source: General Plan, Land Use
In 1976, Atwater Redevelopment Agency was created. The Agency is a tool to assist in the elimination of blighting conditions within the Project Area, and it seeks to ensure that the City’s economic base will grow and remain healthy through the provision of new public improvements, commercial and industrial development, and affordable housing. The Project Area outlined in the General Plan is approximately 806 acres in size and consists of the downtown commercial core, the Applegate Business Park, the Atwater Business Park, two public parks, and several residential neighborhoods. The goals of Atwater Redevelopment Agency (now Community Development) according to the City’s General Plan are as follows:
● Improve the existing infrastructure supporting the Project Area ● Eliminate or mitigate other existing blighting conditions ● Ensure and maintain an attractive, viable downtown Business District which provides economic incentives that create new job opportunities
● Encourage and assist industrial and commercial development to ensure adequate job opportunities, a stable tax base in the community, and new investments in the Project Area During the 2021 planning process the Planning Team noted the following development trends since the adoption of the 2014 MJHMP: Three-story projects are being constructed in the City but with the City’s foresight in purchasing of an aerial apparatus some of the vulnerability concerns are alleviated. Also adopting current Code volumes (2019) is assisting with staying up to date with current hazard mitigation.

The City also approved a 359-acre land development project in 2017 referred to as the Ferrari Project, which required annexation into the City and the development of a commercial/business park, hospital, medical offices, and other related infrastructure.

The areas located in the Sphere of Influence (SOI) shown in Figure 2-1 are areas each City plans to grow into and potentially slated for future development. Understanding the potential hazard exposure in the area can help to mitigate the impacts of events before development occurs in those areas. During this

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 7 plan update process parcel analysis was conducted using the SOI and overlaid with available hazard risk layers to determine where future development may be at risk of natural hazard events. The results of the analysis have been integrated into the applicable hazard sections: dam, flood and wildfire. Table 1-6 is the summary of the SOI total exposure for the City of Atwater.

Table 1-6 Sphere of Influence Total Exposure Summary
Property Type Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 194 273 $33,415,022 $33,415,022 $66,830,044 Commercial 13 21 $4,838,011 $4,838,011 $9,676,022
Exempt 11 13 $3,064,153 $3,064,153 $6,128,306
Industrial 11 32 $28,834,491 $43,251,737 $72,086,228
Mixed Use 2 2 $14,811 $7,406 $22,217
Residential 444 496 $80,208,808 $40,104,404 $120,313,212 Total 675 837 $150,375,296 $124,680,732 $275,056,028
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis, City of Atwater 2 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND SUMMARY
The City of Atwater LPT identified the hazards that affect the City and summarized their frequency of occurrence, spatial extent, potential magnitude, and significance specific to their community (see Table 2-1). There are no hazards that are unique to Atwater. The overall hazard significance takes into account the geographic area, probability and magnitude as a way to identify priority hazards for mitigation purposes. This is discussed further in the Vulnerability Assessment Section.

Table 2-1 City of Atwater —Hazard Profiles
Hazard Geographic Area
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Agriculture Pests and
Disease Extensive Likely Critical Medium
Dam Incidents Limited Occasional Limited Medium
Drought Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Earthquake Extensive Occasional Critical Medium
Flood and Levee Failure Extensive Likely Critical Medium Severe Weather: Dense Fog,
Freeze, Heat, Heavy Rain,
High Wind/Tornado
Extensive Highly Likely Critical Medium
Wildfire Significant Highly Likely Negligible Medium

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 8 Hazard Geographic Area
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Geographic Area
Limited: Less than 10% of planning area
Significant: 10-50% of planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of planning area
Probability of Future Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100% chance of occurrence in
next year or happens every year.

Likely: Between 10 and 100% chance of
occurrence in next year or has a recurrence
interval of 10 years or less.

Occasional: Between 1 and 10% chance of
occurrence in the next year or has a recurrence
interval of 11 to 100 years.

Unlikely: Less than 1% chance of occurrence in
next 100 years or has a recurrence interval of
greater than every 100 years.

Magnitude/Severity (Extent)
Catastrophic—More than 50 percent of property severely
damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than 30 days;
and/or multiple deaths
Critical—25-50 percent of property severely damaged;
shutdown of facilities for at least two weeks; and/or
injuries and/or illnesses result in permanent disability Limited—10-25 percent of property severely damaged;
shutdown of facilities for more than a week; and/or
injuries/illnesses treatable do not result in permanent disability
Negligible—Less than 10 percent of property severely
damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for less than 24 hours; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable with first aid Significance
Low: minimal potential impact
Medium: moderate potential impact
High: widespread potential impact

2.1 Vulnerability Assessment
The intent of this section is to assess Atwater’s vulnerability that is separate from that of the planning area as a whole, which has already been assessed in Section 4 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment in the Base Plan. This vulnerability assessment analyzes the population, property, and other assets at risk to hazards ranked of medium or high significance that may vary from other parts of the planning area.

The information to support the hazard identification and risk assessment was based on a combination of the previous MJHMP for the City and County and jurisdiction specific information collected during the 2021 update. A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Guide and associated worksheets was distributed to each participating municipality or special district to complete during update process in 2021. Information collected was analyzed and summarized in order to identify and rank all the hazards that could impact anywhere within the County, as well as to rank the hazards and identify the related vulnerabilities unique to each jurisdiction.

Each participating jurisdiction was in support of the main hazard summary identified in the Base Plan (see Table 4-2). However, the hazard summary rankings for each jurisdictional annex may vary due to specific hazard risk and vulnerabilities unique to that jurisdiction. The information in this annex helps differentiate the jurisdiction’s risk and vulnerabilities from that of the overall County.

Note: The hazard “Significance” reflects overall ranking for each hazard and is based on the City of Atwater’s Planning Team member input from the Data Collection Guide and the risk assessment developed during the planning process (see Section 4 of the Base Plan), which included a more detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis with best available data.

The hazard summaries in Table 2-1 above reflect the hazards that could potentially affect City. The discussion of vulnerability for each of the following hazards is located in Section 2.3 Estimating Potential Losses. Based on this analysis, the priority hazards (all of Medium Significance) for the City of Atwater are identified below.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 9 ● Agricultural Pests and Disease
● Dam Incidents
● Drought
● Earthquake
● Flood and Levee Failure
● Severe Weather: Dense Fog, Freeze, Extreme Heat, Heavy Rain, High Wind/Tornado ● Wildfire
Drought, Agricultural Pests and Disease, and Severe Weather hazards are not addressed in this vulnerability assessment as the exposure is similar to the overall County exposure, and the potential for losses are difficult to quantify specific to the City of Atwater.

Other Hazards
Hazards assigned a significance rating of Low and which do not differ significantly from the County ranking (e.g., Low vs. High) are not addressed further in this plan and are not assessed individually for specific vulnerabilities in this section. In the City of Atwater, those hazards include: subsidence, hazardous materials incidents, and cyber attacks.

Additionally, the City’s committee members decided to rate landslides as Not Applicable (N/A) to the planning area due to a lack of exposure, vulnerability, and no probability of occurrence.

2.2 Assets at Risk
This section considers Atwater’s assets at risk, including values at risk, critical facilities and infrastructure, historic assets, economic assets and growth and development trends.

2.2.1 Values at Risk
The following data on property exposure is derived from the Merced County 2020 Parcel and Assessor data. This data should only be used as a guideline to overall values in the City as the information has some limitations. The most significant limitation is created by Proposition 13. Instead of adjusting property values annually, the values are not adjusted or assessed at fair market value until a property transfer occurs. As a result, overall value information is likely low and does not reflect current market value of properties. It is also important to note that in the event of a disaster, it is generally the value of the infrastructure or improvements to the land that is of concern or at risk. Generally, the land itself is not a loss and is not included in the values below. Table 2-2 shows the exposure of properties (e.g., the values at risk) broken down by property type for the City Atwater.

Table 2-2 City of Atwater Property Exposure by Type
Property
Type
Parcel
Count
Building
Count Improved Value Content Value Total Value
Agricultural 4 4 $294,019 $294,019 $588,038
Commercial 254 941 $187,232,236 $187,232,236 $374,464,472 Exempt 77 150 $14,001,651 $14,001,651 $28,003,302
Industrial 48 48 $28,819,757 $43,229,636 $72,049,393
Mixed Use 6 6 $236,330 $236,330 $472,660
Residential 7,229 8,489 $1,159,329,319 $579,664,660 $1,738,993,979 Vacant Land 16 16 $1,463,486 $1,463,486 $2,926,972

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 10 Total 7,634 9,654 $1,391,376,798 $826,122,017 $2,217,498,815 Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis

2.2.2 Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
For the purposes of this plan, a critical facility is defined as one that is essential in providing utility or direction either during the response to an emergency or during the recovery operation. FEMA sorts critical facilities into seven lifeline categories as shown in Figure 4-1 in the Base Plan.

Table 2-3 shows a summary of the critical facilities analysis. critical facilities and other community assets as important to protect in the event of a disaster. Within the City of Atwater, the following are considered critical facilities:
● Atwater Fire Department Stations (Stations #41 & 42)
● Atwater Police Department building
● Atwater City Hall (co-located with Police Department) ● Merced County Fire Department Stations 82 (Atwater) and 88 (Winton) ● Water supply lines and wells
● Wastewater treatment plant, pumping stations, and trunk lines ● Major electrical transmission lines and substations
● Major communication lines and microwave transmission facilities ● Federal Prison and major railways
● Castle Airport Aviation and Development Center (CAADC) ­ Academy
­ Airport
­ Aviation
­ EOC
­ Fire
­ Fuel
­ Sheriff
­ Water Facilities/Utilities/Sewer/Communications/Lightning ● Castle Air Museum
● Veteran’s Memorial, Veterans Services
● Animal shelter
● Public Library
● Atwater CLEO
● Laboratories (Bess Test Labs, Castle Analytical Lab)
Critical facilities also include major roadways which may serve as principal evacuation routes. The table that follows lists the critical facilities and other community assets identified by the county’s Planning Team as important to protect in the event of a disaster.

There are also several designated shelters in Atwater for use in an emergency event including the Veterans Memorial Building, recreation centers/parks, high school gyms and school cafeterias.

2.2.3 Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
The following historical resources are located in the City of Atwater:
● Bloss Mansion – National Register (listed 9/3/1981) and Point of Interest (listed 3/15/1974)

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 11 Natural resources are important to include in benefit-cost analyses for future projects and may be used to leverage additional funding for projects that also contribute to community goals for protecting sensitive natural resources. Awareness of natural assets can lead to opportunities for meeting multiple objectives.

For instance, protecting wetlands areas protects sensitive habitat as well as attenuates and stores floodwaters.

2.3 Estimating Potential Losses

2.3.1 Dam Incidents
Protection from flood hazards created by dam failures is critical to the safety and well- being of Atwater residents. A failure of one of the dams operated by the Merced Irrigation District (MID) that generate electricity could affect supply to the CAADC site, within which the Castle Medical Center is located. Should more of the City choose MID as its electricity supplier and distributor, those customers would likewise be affected.

A dam vulnerability assessment was completed during the 2021 update, following the methodology described in Section 4 of the Base Plan. Dam inundation areas from the New Exchequer and Yosemite dams with the City of Atwater are shown in Figure 2-1 and Table 2-3 and Table 2-4 summarize the values at risk within each inundation area, respectively. Not represented in the mapping is inundation from the Castle Dam, a high hazard dam to the northeast of the City, which likely poses the greatest risk. Both the New Exchequer and Yosemite dam are rated as high hazard. Yosemite dam is also rated as Extremely High by the California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams. Extremely High rated dams are expected to cause considerable loss of human life or result in an inundation area with a population of 1,000 or more. Areas of future development, located within the City’s Sphere of Influence are most vulnerable to dam inundation events, as noted in Table 2-5 and Table 2-6. One critical facility, categorized as a Transportation Lifeline, is located within a dam inundation area.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 12 Figure 2-1 City of Atwater Potential Dam Inundation Areas (except for Castle Dam)

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 13 Table 2-3 New Exchequer Dam Inundation
Property Type Improved Parcel County Building Count
Residential 37 37
Total 37 37
Source: California DSOS, National Inventory of Dams, Merced County Assessor’s Office Table 2-4 Yosemite Dam Inundation
Property Type Improved Parcel County Building Count Population Commercial 1 2
Residential 20 21 67
Total 21 23 67
Source: California DSOS, National Inventory of Dams, Merced County Assessor’s Office Future Development
The results of the sphere of influence and dam analysis are shown in and Table 2-5 and Table 2-6.

Table 2-5 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed to New Exchequer Inundation Property
Type
Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count Population
Agricultural 8 10
Residential 2 2 7
Total 10 12 7
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis, City of Atwater Table 2-6 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed to Yosemite Dam Inundation Property
Type
Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count Population
Agricultural 4 4
Commercial 3 3
Exempt 1 1
Residential 34 36 120
Total 42 44 120
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis, City of Atwater

2.3.2 Earthquake
The City of Atwater and surrounding areas historical earthquake activity is below California’s state average. No known faults are located in the Atwater area. The nearest known fault is the Kings Canyon Lineament, approximately 10 miles south of Atwater, however geological evidence would show this fault is not active. There is no record of any seismic activity originating within the City; however, the County of Merced has been shaken by earthquakes originating elsewhere. There is documented evidence of six earthquakes that shook the area, those of 1872, 1906, 1952, 1966, 1984, and 1989. Major damage occurred in Atwater in 1906, with minor damage recorded throughout the county from other occurrences.

No damaging earthquakes greater than M 6.0 have been recorded in the City of Atwater or Merced County in over 200 years, though several have been very close. The most recent large earthquake near

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 14 Merced County, and the City of Atwater, was 16 miles east north-east of King City at a magnitude of 5.3 on October 20, 2012. Several aftershocks followed the main earthquake, including a M3.1 aftershock. This quake was preceded by two earthquakes located approximately 100 miles from Merced County, the 1982 New Idria earthquake (M5.4) and the 1983 Coalinga quake (M6.5). There was low level ground shaking reported.

Based on the earthquake shaking potential mapped for Merced County and the City of Atwater, due to the proximity to the San Andreas Fault, and the history of shaking with no surface rupture, means the probability of damaging seismic ground shaking in the City of Atwater is considered as occasional. Other hazards associated with earthquake activity, such as lateral spreading, surface cracking or differential setting, are considered unlikely to occur, although no studies have been conducted to determine the likelihood of these hazards.

2.3.3 Flood and Levee Failure
The primary types of flood events in Merced County that may impact the City of Atwater are riverine and urban. Flooding could also occur as a result of dam failure, however, there is no evidence to indicate that flooding due to dam failure is likely. Regardless of the type of flood, the cause is often the result of severe weather and excessive rainfall, either in the flood area, upstream, or from winter snowmelt.

Areas in the eastern part of the City of Atwater have been determined to be in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area or 100-year floodplain. The physical risks associated with potential flooding and the regulatory requirements for floodplain management are important considerations when decisions are being made regarding future land use throughout the City of Atwater. Most of Atwater lies outside the 100-year floodplain designated by FEMA. Based on the history of flooding in the County of Merced, the City of Atwater and surrounding areas are considered likely to have the hazard potential for future flooding.

A flood vulnerability assessment was completed during the 2021 update, following the methodology described in Section 4 of the Base Plan. Flood hazards for the City of Atwater are shown in Figure 2-2 and Table 2-7 summarize the values at risk in the City’s 100-year floodplain, respectively. These tables also detail loss estimates for each flood.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 15 Figure 2-2 City of Atwater 100-year floodplain

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 16 Table 2-7 City of Atwater FEMA 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard, by Property Type Property
Type
Improved
Parcel
Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value Estimated
Loss Population
Commercial 4 8 $446,109 $446,109 $892,218 $223,055
Exempt 7 7 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 1 1 $16,651 $24,977 $41,628 $10,407
Residential 342 344 $87,919,330 $43,959,665 $131,878,995 $32,969,749 1,094 Total 354 360 $88,382,090 $44,430,751 $132,812,841 $33,203,210 1,094 Source: Merced County Assessor’s Office; National Flood Hazard Layer Effective 12/2/2008; FEMA; Wood analysis Based on this analysis, the City of Atwater has 354 improved parcels located within the 100-year floodplain for a total value of over $132 million. The potential loss is estimated at $33 million if these areas were inundated by the 1% annual chance flood. No parcels were found to be located in within the 500-year floodplain. Population at risk was calculated for the 100-year based on the number of residential properties at risk and the average number of persons per household (3.32). There is an estimated 1,094 persons at risk to flooding in the City of Atwater.

Critical Facilities at Risk
Critical facilities are those community components that are most needed to withstand the impacts of disaster as previously described. Table 2-8 lists the critical facilities in the City’s 100-year floodplains and Figure 2-3 shows the location of the critical facilities. There are a total of 10 facilities potentially exposed to a 1% annual chance flood events, including the Station 42 of the Atwater City Fire Department (categorized as Safety and Security). The impact to the community could be great if any of these facilities are damaged or destroyed during a flood event.

Table 2-8 Critical Facilities at risk of 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard, by FEMA Lifeline FEMA Lifeline Count
Communications 2
Energy 2
Food, Water, Shelter 1
Safety and Security 1
Transportation 4
Total 10
Source: HIFLD, FEMA NFHL

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 17 Figure 2-3 Critical Facilities at Risk of 1% Annual Flood Hazard

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 18 Insurance Coverage, Claims Paid, and Repetitive Losses
The City of Atwater joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on November 1, 1979. NFIP Insurance data indicates that as of July 2021, there were 14 flood insurance policies in force in the City with $4,018,000 of coverage. All of the policies are single family residential and located in the B, C, and X zone.

There has been 1 historical claim for flood losses totaling $1,740. According to the FEMA Community Information System accessed July 23, 2021, the City has no Repetitive Loss properties or Severe Repetitive Loss properties.

Future Development
The results of the sphere of influence and flood analysis are shown in Table 2-9 and Table 2-10. This indicates the risk to existing development that could be under the City’s jurisdiction if the area was annexed.

Table 2-9 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed to 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Property
Type
Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value Estimated
Loss Population
Agricultural 23 26 $2,212,362 $2,212,362 $4,424,724 $1,106,181 Exempt 2 3 $548,933 $548,933 $1,097,866 $274,467
Residential 47 51 $6,797,928 $3,398,964 $10,196,892 $2,549,223 169 Total 72 80 $9,559,223 $6,160,259 $15,719,482 $3,929,871 169 Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis, City of Atwater Table 2-10 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed to 0.5% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Property
Type
Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value Estimated
Loss Population
Residential 1 1 $81,844 $40,922 $122,766 $30,692 3
Total 1 1 $81,844 $40,922 $122,766 $30,692 3
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis, City of Atwater

2.3.4 Wildfires
Both urban and wildland fires conditions exist in Merced County and its cities which increases the chances for damage to property, loss of life and/or injury. In most of Merced County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) ranks fuel loading as low. Fuels are mainly crops and grasses. In the southwest corner, there are some brush, pine, and grass fuels, which are ranked as moderate fuel hazards, primarily in the area west of Interstate 5. Figure 2-4 shows the fire threat areas in the city and Table 2-11 summarizes the values at risk and detail loss estimates.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 19 Table 2-11 Properties Exposed to Wildfire Threat Areas
Property
Type
Improved
Parcel
Count
Building
Count
High
Building
Count
Moderate
Building
Count Low
Total
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value
Commercial 7 0 3 6 9 $6,430,503 $6,430,503 $12,861,006
Exempt 8 0 5 3 8 $689,882 $689,882 $1,379,764
Residential 522 1 267 294 562 $151,511,124 $75,755,562 $227,266,686 Vacant Land 1 0 1 0 1 $15,000 $15,000 $30,000
Total 538 1 276 303 580 $158,646,509 $82,890,947 $241,537,456 Source: CAL FIRE, Merced County Assessor, Wood GIS analysis

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 20 Figure 2-1 Wildfire Threat Areas in City of Atwater

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 21 Table 2-12 shows the results of the critical facility analysis by fire threat area.

Table 2-12 Critical Facilities Exposed to Wildfire Threat Areas FEMA Lifeline Count
Moderate Wildfire Threat
Transportation 2
Low Wildfire Threat
Communications 1
Energy 2
Food, Water, Shelter 1
Safety and Security 1
Transportation 1
Total 9
Source: Merced County, HIFLD, CAL FIRE, FRAP, Wood GIS Analysis Figure 2-5 shows the fire responsibility areas in the City of Atwater. Based on the analysis there are 5 residential buildings located with the moderate hazard area, with a total value of $1,317,924. Two critical facilities, both categorized as Transportation Lifeline are located within the local responsibility moderate fire hazard area. Refer to Section 4 of the Base Plan for methodology and results of the countywide analysis.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 22 Figure 2-2 City of Atwater Fire Responsibility Areas

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 23 Future Development
The results of the sphere of influence and wildfire analysis are shown Table 2-13 and Table 2-14.

Table 2-13 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed Within Fire Severity Areas Property
Type
Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total
Value Population
SRA Moderate
Agricultural 2 2 $603,191 $603,191 $1,206,382
Residential 2 2 $208,515 $104,258 $312,773 7
Total 4 4 $811,706 $707,449 $1,519,155 7
Source: Merced County Assessor, CALFIRE, Wood analysis, City of Atwater Table 2-14 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed Within Fire Threat Areas Property
Type
Improved
Parcel
Count
Building
Count
High
Building
Count
Moderate
Building
Count
Low
Total
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value Population
Agricultural 55 1 25 50 76 $12,242,747 $12,242,747 $24,485,494 Commercial 4 0 3 2 5 $862,532 $862,532 $1,725,064
Exempt 5 0 2 4 6 $2,555,421 $2,555,421 $5,110,842
Residential 98 0 37 71 108 $14,729,881 $7,364,941 $22,094,822 359 Total 162 1 67 127 195 $30,390,581 $23,025,641 $53,416,222 359 Source: Merced County Assessor, CALFIRE, Wood analysis, City of Atwater 3 CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Capabilities are the programs and policies currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to implement hazard mitigation activities. This capabilities assessment is divided into five sections:
regulatory mitigation capabilities, administrative and technical mitigation capabilities, fiscal mitigation capabilities, mitigation outreach and partnerships, and other mitigation efforts. To develop this capability assessment, the jurisdictional planning representatives reviewed a matrix of common mitigation activities to inventory which of these policies or programs and shared any updates or changes through the Atwater Data Collection Guide. The team then supplemented this inventory by reviewing additional existing policies, regulations, plans, and programs to determine if they contribute to reducing hazard-related losses.

During the plan update process, this inventory was reviewed by the jurisdictional planning representatives and Wood consultant team staff to update information where applicable and note ways in which these capabilities have improved or expanded. Additionally, in summarizing current capabilities and identifying gaps, the jurisdictional planning representatives also considered their ability to expand or improve upon existing policies and programs as potential new mitigation strategies. The City of Atwater’s capabilities are summarized below.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 24

3.1 Regulatory Capability
The regulatory and planning capabilities table lists planning and land management tools typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities. The table below indicates those that are in place in the City of Atwater.

Table 3-1 City of Atwater —Regulatory and Planning Capabilities Regulatory Tool
(ordinances, codes, plans) Yes/No Comments
General Plan Yes Adopted July 24, 2000
Zoning ordinance Yes Chapter 17.01
Subdivision ordinance Yes Chapter 16.01
Growth management ordinance No
Floodplain ordinance Yes Floodplain Management Ordinance Chapter 16.14.010 Other special purpose ordinance
(stormwater, steep slope, wildfire)
No
Building code Yes The 2019 California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 1 (California Administrative Code)
Fire department ISO rating Yes Rating: 3
Erosion or sediment control program No
Stormwater management program Yes
Site plan review requirements Yes Chapter 17.12 – Zoning Ordinance, Administration and General Conditions
Capital improvements plan Yes
Economic development plan Yes Economic Development & Special Projects, Atwater Redevelopment Agency, General Plan
Local emergency operations plan Yes Updated in 2017
Other special plans No
Flood insurance study or other
engineering study for streams
Yes
Elevation certificates (for floodplain
development)
No
Other
City of Atwater General Plan, 2000 – The City of Atwater adopted its first General Plan in 1958. The most recent update began in 1992 and resulted in the adoption of the City of Atwater 2000 General Plan on July 24, 2000, with an anticipated horizon year of 2020. This General Plan defines the City’s goals, objectives and policies that guide the physical growth, use and development of land under the jurisdictional authority of the City.

The purpose of the Public Health and Safety Element is to reduce or eliminate long term risk to people and property from natural or human caused hazards. This element focuses on establishing policies and programs to protect the community from risks associated with seismic, geologic, flood, and fire hazards.

The Public Health and Safety Element is now expanded to include community health and community safety related issues that are more commonly associated with the built environment as affecting the health and safety of residents living within the City. The City of Atwater Public Health and Safety Element does not reference incorporation of the 2014 MJHMP. Integration of the 2014 MJHMP was not noted in any of the other City planning mechanisms.

City of Atwater Emergency Plan, 2017 – The Emergency Plan addresses the planned response to emergency situations associated with natural disasters, technological incidents, human caused events and

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 25 national security emergencies in or affecting the City of Atwater. The plan establishes the emergency management organization required to mitigate any significant emergency or disaster affecting the City; identifies the policies, responsibilities, and procedures required to protect the health and safety of communities, public and private property, and the environmental effects of natural, human caused and technological emergencies and disasters; and establishes the operational concepts and policies for disaster response and recovery.

City Fire Management Plan – The City of Atwater’s Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical response services within the City limits. The City of Atwater reorganized their Fire Department and entered into a Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for the provision of fire protection services. CAL FIRE provides for the management of the fire department with a Fire Chief, Division Chief and Battalion Chiefs. The Fire Chief reports to the City Manager and to the elected City Council. The contract began in October 2008.

The CAL FIRE agreement provides daily staffing at fire stations, dispatch, management, incident command, training, investigation, and fire prevention activities. The City of Atwater’s Fire Management Plan is a product of the implementation of the State Fire Plan. The State Fire Plan provides an analysis procedure utilizing, in part, computer based geographical information data that is validated by experienced fire managers to assess fire fuel hazards and risks in order to design and implement mitigating activities. The Fire Management Plan provides background information, fuels and fire data, proposed projects, and individual Battalion reports outlining mitigating activities commonly carried out each year.

Emergency Services Ordinance, Chapter 2.44 – The declared purposes of this chapter are to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property within the City in the event of an emergency; the direction of the emergency organization; and the coordination of the emergency functions of the City with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations and affected private persons. The ordinance establishes the Operational Area Council and designates the membership of the council. The council’s powers include the development of emergency and mutual aid plans and agreements and the ordinances and resolutions as necessary to implement the Multi-Hazard Functional Plan and any other such plans and agreements.

California Fire Code Chapter 15.28.010 – The City of Atwater adopts by reference as its fire code, the California Fire Code, 2010 Edition, and including among Appendices, Appendix Chapter 4 (Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy); Appendix Chapter B (Fire Flow Requirements for Buildings); Appendix Chapter C (Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution); Appendix Chapter CC (Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution); Appendix D (Fire Apparatus Access Roads); Appendix F (Hazard Ranking); Appendix H (Hazardous Materials Management Plans and Hazardous Materials Inventory Statements); Appendix I (Fire Protection system-Noncompliance Conditions); and Appendix J (Emergency Responder Radio Coverage), based on the 2009 International Fire Code as published by the International Code Council (ICC) and as adopted and amended by the California Building Standards Commission in the California Building Standards Code Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.

Floodplain Management Ordinance Chapter 16.14.010 – It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:
● Protect human life and health;
● Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects; ● Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
● Minimize prolonged business interruptions;

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 26 ● Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains; electric, telephone and sewer lines; and streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard; ● Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future blighted areas caused by flood damage; ● Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard; and, ● Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.

3.2 Administrative and Technical Capability
The table below identifies City personnel with responsibilities for activities related to mitigation and loss prevention in the City of Atwater. Many positions are full time and/or filled by the same person. A summary of technical resources follows.

Table 3-2 City of Atwater —Personnel Capabilities
Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position Comments Planner/engineer with knowledge of land
development/land management
practices
Yes
City Community
Development Department
Engineer/professional trained in
construction practices related to
buildings and/or infrastructure
Yes
City Community
Development Department
Planner/engineer/scientist with an
understanding of natural hazards Yes City Community Development Department Personnel skilled in GIS No
Full time building official Yes Chief Building Official Floodplain manager Yes City Community
Development Department
Emergency manager
Yes
City Administrator’s Office;
County Emergency Services
Manager
Grant writer Yes Administration
Other personnel
Yes
Multiple agencies and
departments with support
personnel expanding
capabilities for mitigation
GIS Data Resources
(Hazard areas, critical facilities, land use,
building footprints, etc.)
No
Warning Systems/Services
(Reverse 9-11, cable override, outdoor
warning signals)
No
Other
The City operates under a City Council/City Manager form of government. The City Council makes laws and sets policies, which are enforced and implemented by the City Manager, with the assistance of subordinate officers, department heads, and the City Clerk, City Treasurer and City Attorney. Municipal elections are held every two years in November of even-numbered years with City Council terms overlapping. The Mayor and two Council Members are elected at one election, and the other two Council Members, City Clerk and City Treasurer are elected at the next election.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 27 The City of Atwater provides water, sewer, and storm drainage, as well as police, fire, and general government services.

The Atwater Elementary School District serves school-aged children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8). There are six elementary schools (K-6), one junior high school (7-8), and one school serves kindergarten to eighth grade (K-8). High school education is provided by the Merced Union High School District which has eight comprehensive high schools and one continuation school. The City also offers opportunities for post-secondary education with satellite campuses for Merced College, UC Merced and other graduate schools.

3.3 Fiscal Capability
The following table identifies financial tools or resources that the City could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities. There are currently no specific funding sources for hazard mitigation.

Table 3-3 City of Atwater —Available Financial Tools and Resources Financial Resources Accessible/
Eligible to Use
Has This Been Used for
Mitigation in the Past? Comments
Community Development
Block Grants
Yes No
Capital improvements project
funding
Yes No
Authority to levy taxes for
specific purposes
Yes No Must be approved by voters
Fees for water, sewer, gas, or
electric services, new
development
Yes
No
Incur debt through general
obligation bonds
Yes No
Incur debt through special tax
bonds
Yes No Requires approval by two-thirds
of voters
Incur debt through private
activities
Yes No Do not have any in place
Federal Grant Programs
(Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program)
Yes
No
Various Departments

3.4 Outreach and Partnerships
The Merced County Office of Emergency Services provides education and outreach on Disaster Preparedness for all of the jurisdictions within the County. This education program is in coordination and partnerships with county and the cities’ departments with education programs including the Sheriff’s Office, Police Departments, Fire Departments, Agricultural Commissioner, and the Department of Public Health.

During the 2021 planning process the following outreach efforts were identified:
● Ongoing newsletter
● Fire Prevention School Programs
● Presence and use of social media

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 28 Education and outreach efforts, as well as emergency response planning, will need to address the needs of low-income residents and the large Spanish-speaking population. In past emergencies, volunteers have organized spontaneously to help those with mobility issues.

3.4.1 Planning Commission
The Planning Commission reviews development proposals for compliance with the General Plan and makes recommendations to the City Council on long range plans and maps for the City and plans for public improvements, plans and development plans for proposed for property within the City, and zoning and rezoning of property within the City. The Commission develops and maintains a long range comprehensive General Plan of the Atwater planning area.

3.4.2 The City Public Works Committee
The Public Works Committee was established in April 1999. The purpose of the committee is to establish City Council liaison with the Public Works Department to facilitate communication in the interests of improving the overall delivery of public works services in the community.

The duties of the Committee are, but not limited to; the review and recommendation of issues related to the delivery of public works services and related engineering, water, sewer, government buildings, equipment maintenance, parks and parks facilities services. The Committee evaluates recommendations related to proposed programs, provides assistance and/or guidance to staff in the evaluation of policies, procedures, rules and regulations pertaining to the delivery of public works services and related engineering, water, sewer, government buildings, equipment maintenance, parks and parks facilities services; and assists staff with identifying and prioritizing activities related to the administration of the City’s public works services.

3.4.3 The City Public Safety Committee
The Public Safety Committee was established in February 1999. The purpose of the committee is to establish City Council liaison with the Police and Fire Departments to facilitate communication in the interests of improving the overall delivery of public safety services in the community.

The duties of the Committee are, but not limited to, the review and recommendation of issues related to the delivery of police and fire services and related public safety services; to evaluate recommendations related to proposed programs; to provide assistance and/or guidance to staff in the evaluation of policies, procedures, rules and regulations pertaining to the delivery of police and fire services and related public safety services; and to assist staff with identifying and prioritizing activities related to the administration of the City’s police and fire services.

3.5 Other Mitigation Efforts
In addition to the project identified in the City’s Mitigation Action plan the City of Atwater’s Fire Department conducts annual fire and life safety inspections for all businesses and Senate Bill 1205 occupancies (Apartments, Hotels, Assemblies and Schools). In addition, city-wide weed abatement is heavily enforced.

3.6 Opportunities for Enhancement
Based on the capabilities assessment, the City of Atwater has several existing mechanisms in place that already help to mitigate hazards. There are also opportunities for the City to expand or improve on their

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 29 policies, programs and fiscal capabilities and further protect the community. Future improvements may include providing training for staff members related to hazards or hazard mitigation grant funding in partnership with the County and Cal OES. Additional training opportunities will help to inform City staff members on how best to integrate hazard information and mitigation projects into their departments.

Continuing to train City staff on mitigation and the hazards that pose a risk to the City of Atwater will lead to more informed staff members who can better communicate this information to the public. 4 MITIGATION STRATEGY

4.1 Goals and Objectives
The City of Atwater adopts the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Planning Team and described in Section 5 Mitigation Strategy of the Basin Plan.

4.2 Continued Compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program The City has been an NFIP participating community since 1984. In addition to the mitigation actions identified herein the City will continue to comply with the NFIP. Floodplain management is under the purview of the Community Development Department City Engineer. This includes ongoing activities such as enforcing local floodplain development regulations, including issuing permits for appropriate development in Special Flood Hazard Areas and ensuring that this development mitigated in accordance with the regulations. This will also include periodic reviews of the floodplain ordinance to ensure that it is clear and up to date and reflects new or revised flood hazard mapping.

4.3 Progress on 2014 Actions
During the 2021 planning process the City of Atwater Planning Team reviewed all the mitigation actions from the 2014 plan. Of their ten (10) mitigation actions from 2014, three (3) of the actions are continuing and are implemented annually, demonstrating ongoing progress and building the community’s resiliency to disasters. Five (5) were noted as being continuing not started and two (2) as deleted.

4.4 Mitigation Actions
The Planning Team for the City identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on risk assessments, goals, and objectives. Background information as well as information on how the action will be implemented and administered, such as ideas for implementation, responsible office, partners, potential funding, estimated cost, and timeline also are described.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 30 Table 4-1 City of Atwater Mitigation Action Plan
ID
Goal(s)
and
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency and Partners Cost
Estimate
and
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation
Notes
1 1,7
NA
MultiHazard:

Earthquake,
Flood and
Levee
Failure,
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 Not Started
2 1,2,4,6
NA
MultiHazard:

Earthquake,
Flood and
Levee
Failure,
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
AB2140 Compliance. Integration and
coordination of both plans provides
General Plan policy direction for
development activity.

Community
Development
Agency
$5,000
General
Fund
Medium
Next
General
Plan
review
cycle
Continue In-Progress
3 1,7
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Earthquake
Non-structural Earthquake Mitigation
Outreach. Interiors of existing structures
can be retrofitted to reduce damage
from seismic events. Outreach will
include educating home and business
owners about structural and nonstructural retrofit techniques and how to seismically strengthen their homes and
businesses. Specific techniques include
Public Works
$100,000
Federal
Grants
Medium Ongoing Continue Not Started

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 31 ID
Goal(s)
and
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency and Partners Cost
Estimate
and
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation
Notes
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.
4 1,2
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Earthquake
Countywide Inventory for 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 earthquake.

Public Works
$15,000 –
20,000
Federal
Grants
Medium 1 year Continue Not Started
5 1,2,6
Food,
Water,
Shelter
MultiHazard:

Earthquake,
Flood and
Levee
Failure,
Severe
Weather,
Wildfire
Periodically review building codes for
updates and enhancements and ensure
necessary capabilities for enforcement.

Building
Department
Staff time
Dept.

Budget
Medium
1 year
then
ongoing
Continue Not Started
6 3, 4
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Drought
Promote Water Conservation Program.

Drought is a serious issue that is faced in
California. Water awareness of all citizens
within the County is critical to the future
of our water supply. Reminders,
education and awareness will help keep
the conservation importance in the
forefront.

Public Works
$100,000
Federal
Grants
High Ongoing Continue In-Progress
7 3
Communi
cations,
Safety
Earthquake
Severe
WeatherDa
m Incidents
Atwater Police Department Emergency
Power Replacement Project. Replace and
install a new emergency power system to
protect the City of Atwater 911
Police
Department
$100,000 -
$1,000,000
FEMA
High 6 Months New in 2021

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 32 ID
Goal(s)
and
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated Description/Background/Benefits Lead Agency and Partners Cost
Estimate
and
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation
Notes
and
Security
Communications Center and Police
Department from both a Public Safety
Power Shutoff and a long-term
interruption in utility service.

HMA
Grants
8 3
Safety
and
Security
Earthquake
Seismic Upgrade and Remodel of the
Atwater Police Department
Headquarters. The Atwater Police
Department is housed in a building that
is over 60 years old and not rated as an
essential services building. Its
construction consists of masonry block
walls that may be unreinforced.

Renovation would bring the building up
to standard and protect the
Department's ability to provide service.

Police
Department
$100,000 -
$1,000,000
FEMA
HMA
Grants
High 12-18
Months New in 2021
9 1,2,7
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Earthquake
Review hazards and awareness of
earthquakes in a public platform and
educate the public on helpful procedures
to mitigate losses and injuries. (i.e. duck
and cover, non-structural techniques,
inspection of structures for damage)
Police, Fire
and Buildings
General
Fund/CIP High
3-5 years
and then
ongoing
New in 2021
10 4, 7
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Agricultural
Pest and
Disease
Public education of current seasonal
threat using a public radio campaign
AG
Commissioner,
and Cities
Staff time
Dept.

Budget
Low 1-5 years New in 2021

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex A: City of Atwater
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 33 5 IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE
Moving forward, the City will use the mitigation action table in the previous section to track progress on implementation of each project. Implementation of the plan overall is discussed in Section 6 in the Base Plan.

5.1 Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms
The information contained within this plan, including results from the Vulnerability Assessment, and the Mitigation Strategy will be used by the City to help inform updates and the development of local plans, programs and policies. The Engineering Division may utilize the hazard information when implementing the City’s Community Investment Program and the Planning and Building Divisions may utilize the hazard information when reviewing a site plan or other type of development applications. The City will also incorporate this MJHMP into the Safety Element of their General Plan, as recommended by Assembly Bill (AB) 2140.

As noted in Section 6 of the Base Plan, the LPT representatives from Atwater will report on efforts to integrate the hazard mitigation plan into local plans, programs and policies and will report on these efforts at the annual LPT plan review meeting.

5.2 Monitoring, Evaluation and Updating the Plan
The City will follow the procedures to monitor, review, and update this plan in accordance with Merced County as outlined in Section 6 of the Base Plan. The city will continue to involve the public in mitigation, as described in Section 6.2.1 of the Base Plan. The Police Chief, Public Works/Community Development Director and Battalion Chief will be responsible for representing the City in the County LPT, and for coordination with City staff and departments during plan updates. The City realizes it is important to review the plan regularly and update it every five years in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act Requirements as well as other State of California requirements.

2021 Merced County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 1 1 CITY OF DOS PALOS

1.1 Community Profile

1.1.1 Mitigation Planning History and 2021 Process
This annex was created during the development of the 2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) update. This is the first jurisdictional mitigation annex for the City of Dos Palos.

The City’s Local Planning Team (LPT) hold the responsibility for the development, implementation and maintenance of this annex. Members are listed in Appendix A. More details on the planning process followed and how the jurisdictions and stakeholders participated can be found in Section 3 Planning Process of the Base Plan, along with how the public was involved during the 2021 update.

1.1.2 Geography and Climate
The City of Dos Palos is situated 23 miles south-southwest of the City of Merced, the county seat.

California State Route 33 bisects the City of Dos Palos, as shown in Figure 1-1. According to the United States Census Bureau, Dos Palos has a total area of 1.3 square miles. The climate in the City of Dos Palos cycles through a cool rainy winter season and a dry summer season. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool and wet, with most of the year’s rain falling from late October through early April.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 2 Figure 1-1 Dos Palos Planning Area

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 3

1.1.3 History
The area was first named “Dos Palos” during the 1820s by explorer Gabriel Moraga due to the location of two large, isolated poplar trees. This became a boundary marker for the “Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita” Mexican Land Grant. In 1891 Bernhard Marks, a former school principal, convinced Henry “Cattle King” Miller to develop a small town they named “Dos Palos Colony”. By 1892 forty pioneer families had been brought west but were unable to find a good source of water causing many to leave. Miller, after being convinced by Marks, established a new town two miles away named Colony Center. In 1906 Dos Palos Colony was renamed South Dos Palos and Colony Center was renamed Dos Palos. The City of Dos Palos was incorporated in 1935.

1.1.4 Economy
Estimates of select economic characteristics for the City of Dos Palos are shown in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1 City of Dos Palos Economic Characteristics, 2015-2019 Characteristic City of Dos Palos
Families below Poverty Level (%) 12.6%
All People below Poverty Level (%) 14.7%
Median Family Income $55,932
Median Household Income $56,716
Per Capita Income $21,488
Population in Labor Force 62.2%
Population Employed* 54.9%
Unemployment** 11.7%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
*Excludes armed forces. **Does not reflect unemployment numbers due to COVID-19 Pandemic The tables below show the labor force breakdown by occupations and industry based on estimates from the 2015-2019 five-year American Community Survey.

Table 1-2 City of Dos Palos Employment by Industry, 2015-2019 Occupation # Employed % Employed
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 389 18.0% Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 335 15.5% Manufacturing 267 12.3%
Retail trade 244 11.3%
Construction 237 10.9%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 194 9.0%
Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services
102 4.7%
Other services, except public administration 97 4.5%
Public administration 83 3.8%
Information 75 3.5%
Wholesale trade 68 3.1%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 62 2.9% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services
13 0.6%

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 4 Occupation # Employed % Employed
Total 2,166 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/ *Excludes armed forces Table 1-3 City of Dos Palos Employment by Occupation, 2015-2019 Occupation # Employed % Employed
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 635 29.3% Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 479 22.1% Management, business, science, and arts occupations 399 18.4% Sales and office occupations 360 16.6%
Service occupations 293 13.5%
Total 2,166 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/ *Excludes armed forces

1.1.5 Population
In May 2020, the State Department of Finance released preliminary population data for the state demographic report, the estimates did not include potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report the City of Dos Palos has a population of 5,546 persons as of January 1, 2020, and experienced a 0.1% loss previous year, leaving the population statically the same. Select demographic and social characteristics for the City of Dos Palos from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey and the California Department of Finance, are shown in Table 1-4.

Table 1-4 City of Dos Palos Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019 Characteristic City of Dos Palos
Gender/Age
Male 49.3%
Female 50.7%
Median age (years) 30
Under 5 years 10.2%
Under 18 years 30.2%
65 years and over 12.9%
Race/Ethnicity
White 19.9%
Asian 0.6%
Black or African American 1.6%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 72.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.0%
Some other race 0.0%
Two or more races 5.5%
Education*
% High school graduate or higher 67.7%
% with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 11.3%
Social Vulnerability
% with Disability 8.9%

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 5 Characteristic City of Dos Palos
% Language other than English spoken at
home 50.4%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 26%
% of households with a computer with internet
use

82.5%
% of households with no vehicle available 1.8%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
* Population 25 years and over
The following table with information from the American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2015-2019) is related to housing occupancy in the City of Dos Palos Table 1-5 City of Dos Palos Housing Occupancy and Units, 2015-2019 Housing Characteristic Estimate Percentage
Housing Occupancy
Total Housing Units 1,545 100%
Units Occupied 1,516 98.1%
Vacant 29 1.9%
Housing Units
1-unit detached 1,447 93.7%
1-unit attached 13 0.8%
2 units 12 0.8%
3 or 4 units 43 2.8%
5-9 units 30 1.9%
10-19 units 0 0.0%
20 or more units 0 0.0%
Mobile Home 0 0.0%
Boat, RV, van etc. 0 0%
Housing Tenure
Owner Occupied 959 63.3%
Renter Occupied 557 36.7%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/

1.1.6 Development Trends
The City of Dos Palos experienced a slight decrease in 1-year population estimates from 2019 to 2020.

There was also a decrease (-9%) in the number of housing units developed in the City from 1,700 in 2010 to 1,545 in 2019. The overall risk to hazards has not increased since the 2014 planning process.

The Sphere of Influence (SOI), shown in Figure 1-1, are areas the City plans to grow into and potentially slated for future development. Understanding the potential hazard exposure in the area can help to mitigate the impacts of events before development occurs in those areas. During this plan update process a parcel analysis was conducted using the SOI and overlaid with available hazard risk layers to determine where future development may be at risk of natural hazard events. Table 1-6 is the summary of the SOI total exposure for the City of Dos Palos.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 6 Table 1-6 Sphere of Influence Total Exposure Summary
Property Type Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 30 35 $2,921,905 $2,921,905 $5,843,810
Commercial 16 22 $918,610 $918,610 $1,837,220
Exempt 22 99 $1,000,971 $1,000,971 $2,001,942
Industrial 5 7 $3,212,705 $4,819,058 $8,031,763
Mixed Use 2 2 $3,360 $1,680 $5,040
Residential 462 515 $45,083,220 $22,541,610 $67,624,830 Vacant Land 8 8 $44,493 $44,493 $88,986
Total 545 688 $53,185,264 $32,248,327 $85,433,591
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis, City of Dos Palos During the 2021 planning process, the LPT noted receiving approval for a grant that will fund the construction of a new Water Treatment facility to support future development. Once the new facility is completed and operational it will support the development of residential and commercial projects. 2 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND SUMMARY
The City of Dos Palos LPT identified the hazards that affect the City and summarized their frequency of occurrence, spatial extent, potential magnitude, and significance specific to their community (see Table 2-1). There are no hazards that are unique to Dos Palos. The overall hazard significance takes into account the geographic area, probability and magnitude as a way to identify priority hazards for mitigation purposes. This is discussed further in the Vulnerability Assessment Section.

Table 2-1 City of Dos Palos — Significant Hazards
Hazard Geographic Area
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Drought Extensive Likely Critical Medium
Earthquake Extensive Occasional Critical Medium
Wildfire Significant Highly Likely Negligible Medium
Geographic Area
Limited: Less than 10% of planning area
Significant: 10-50% of planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of planning area
Probability of Future Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100% chance of occurrence in next
year or happens every year.

Likely: Between 10 and 100% chance of occurrence in
next year or has a recurrence interval of 10 years or less.

Occasional: Between 1 and 10% chance of occurrence in
the next year or has a recurrence interval of 11 to 100 years.

Unlikely: Less than 1% chance of occurrence in next 100 years or has a recurrence interval of greater than every 100 years.

Magnitude/Severity (Extent)
Catastrophic—More than 50 percent of property severely
damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than 30 days; and/or multiple deaths
Critical—25-50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for at least two weeks; and/or injuries and/or illnesses result in permanent disability
Limited—10-25 percent of property severely damaged;
shutdown of facilities for more than a week; and/or
injuries/illnesses treatable do not result in permanent disability Negligible—Less than 10 percent of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for less than 24 hours; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable with first aid
Significance
Low: minimal potential impact
Medium: moderate potential impact
High: widespread potential impact

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 7

2.1 Vulnerability Assessment
The intent of this section is to assess Dos Palos’ vulnerability that is separate from that of the planning area as a whole, which has already been assessed in Section 4 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment in the Base Plan. This vulnerability assessment analyzes the population, property, and other assets at risk to hazards ranked of medium or high significance that may vary from other parts of the planning area.

The information to support the hazard identification and risk assessment was based on a combination of County and jurisdiction specific information collected during the 2021 update. A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Guide and associated worksheets was distributed to each participating municipality to complete during update process in 2021. Information collected was analyzed and summarized in order to identify and rank all the hazards that could impact anywhere within the County, as well as to rank the hazards and identify the related vulnerabilities unique to each jurisdiction.

Each participating jurisdiction was in support of the main hazard summary identified in the Base Plan (see Table 4-2). However, the hazard summary rankings for each jurisdictional annex may vary due to specific hazard risk and vulnerabilities unique to that jurisdiction. The information in this annex helps differentiate the jurisdiction’s risk and vulnerabilities from that of the overall County.

Note: The hazard “Significance” reflects overall ranking for each hazard and is based on the City of Dos Palos’ Planning Team member input from the Data Collection Guide and the risk assessment developed during the planning process (see Section 4 of the Base Plan), which included a more detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis with best available data.

The hazard summaries in Table 2-1 above reflect the hazards that could potentially affect City. The discussion of vulnerability for each of the following hazards is located in Section 2.3 Estimating Potential Losses. Based on this analysis, the priority hazards (Medium Significance) for mitigation are identified below:
● Drought
● Earthquake
● Wildfire
Drought is not addressed in this vulnerability assessment as the exposure is similar to the overall County exposure, and the potential for losses are difficult to quantify specific to the City of Dos Palos.

Other Hazards
Hazards assigned a significance rating of Low, and which do not differ significantly from the County ranking (e.g., Low vs. High) are not addressed further in this plan and are not assessed individually for specific vulnerabilities in this section. In the City of Dos Palos, those hazards include: dam incidents, drought, flood, severe weather (extreme heat, dense fog, heavy rain, high wind/tornado), subsidence, hazardous materials incidents, cyber attacks, agricultural pests and disease, and pandemics. The City does not have any special flood hazard areas (1% annual chance flood risk zones) mapped by the NFIP. While some areas of the City have drainage issues due to flat terrain and high groundwater tables, flood is considered a low significance hazard.

Additionally, the City’s committee members decided to rate landslides as Not Applicable (N/A) to the planning area due to a lack of exposure, vulnerability, and no probability of occurrence.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 8

2.2 Assets at Risk
This section considers Dos Palos’ assets at risk, including values at risk, critical facilities and infrastructure, historic assets, economic assets and growth and development trends.

2.2.1 Values at Risk
The following data on property exposure is derived from the Merced County 2020 Parcel and Assessor data. This data should only be used as a guideline to overall values in the city as the information has some limitations. The most significant limitation is created by Proposition 13. Instead of adjusting property values annually, the values are not adjusted or assessed at fair market value until a property transfer occurs. As a result, overall value information is likely low and does not reflect current market value of properties. It is also important to note that in the event of a disaster, it is generally the value of the infrastructure or improvements to the land that is of concern or at risk. Generally, the land itself is not a loss and is not included in the values below. Table 2-2 shows the exposure of properties (e.g., the values at risk) broken down by property type for the City Dos Palos.

Table 2-2 City of Dos Palos Property Exposure by Type
Property Type
Parcel
Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value Content Value Total Value
Commercial 104 154 $16,913,918 $16,913,918 $33,827,836
Exempt 39 94 $1,962,673 $1,962,673 $3,925,346
Industrial 9 9 $1,043,139 $1,564,709 $2,607,848
Mixed Use 5 5 $104,170 $104,170 $208,340
Residential 1,611 1,733 $182,105,228 $91,052,614 $273,157,842 Vacant Land 6 6 $40,429 $40,429 $80,858
Total 1,774 2,001 $202,169,557 $111,638,513 $313,808,070 Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis

2.2.2 Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
For the purposes of this plan, a critical facility is defined as one that is essential in providing utility or direction either during the response to an emergency or during the recovery operation. FEMA sorts critical facilities into seven lifeline categories as shown in Figure 4-1 in the Base Plan.

Table 2-3 shows a summary of the critical facilities analysis and Figure 2-2 shows the location of each critical facility within the City.

Table 2-3 City of Dos Palos Critical Facilities, by Lifeline FEMA Lifeline Count
Communications 1
Safety and Security 7
Total 8
Source: HIFLD, City of Dos Palos, Wood analysis

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 9 Figure 2-2 Dos Palos Critical Facilities, by FEMA Lifeline

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 10

2.2.3 Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
According to the State of California Office of Historic Preservation, there are no historic properties listed on the National or State Historic Register. Refer to Section 4 of the Base Plan for a list of historic properties in Merced County.

Natural resources are important to include in benefit-cost analyses for future projects and may be used to leverage additional funding for projects that also contribute to community goals for protecting sensitive natural resources. Awareness of natural assets can lead to opportunities for meeting multiple objectives.

For instance, protecting wetlands areas protects sensitive habitat as well as attenuates and stores floodwaters. The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and Grassland Wildlife Management Area are located west of the City of Dos Palos. The Wildlife Refuge encompasses 26,800 acres of wetlands, riparian forests, natives grasslands and vernal pools. The Grassland Wildlife Management areas supports seasonally flooded marshlands, semi-permanent marshes and native grasslands. Both the Refuge and Wildlife Management Areas are located in flood hazard areas and benefits the surrounding area by absorbing floodwaters and recharging aquifers.

2.3 Estimating Potential Losses

2.3.1 Earthquake
The City of Dos Palos and surrounding areas historical earthquake activity is below California’s state average. No known faults are located in the Dos Palos area. The nearest known fault is the Ortigalita Fault located in the western portion of the City and the only fault line within Merced County. The City of Dos Palos Local Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) also lists the following faults that may impact Dos Palos. ● Central Valley Coast Range Bling Thrust Fault – Located parallel to Interstate 5. Considered active, but not completely mappable at the surface. Responsible for the 1983 Coalinga Earthquake. Maximum magnitude measured was 6.8 Mw.
● Calaveras Fault – Active fault located near Hollister and 16 miles west of Pacheco Pass. Maximum magnitude measured was 6.2 Mw.
● Greenville Fault – Active fault located 30 miles northwest of Pacheco Pass and crosses near Livermore.

Maximum magnitude measured was 6.9 Mw.
● San Andreas Fault – Largest and most active fault in the State. Located 24 miles west of Pacheco Pass.

Earthquake will be long duration but distant ground motion for the City of Dos Palos. Maximum magnitude measured was 7.9 Mw.

There is no record of any seismic activity originating within the city; however, the County of Merced has been shaken by earthquakes originating elsewhere. There is documented evidence of six earthquakes that shook the area, those of 1872, 1906, 1952, 1966, 1984, and 1989. The LPT added a 3.4 magnitude earthquake occurred on March 31, 2016, with the epicenter 21 miles south-southwest of Los Banos. This was not considered a significant earthquake.

No damaging earthquakes greater than M 6.0 have been recorded in the City of Dos Palos or Merced County in over 200 years, though several have been very close. The most recent large earthquake near Merced County was 16 miles east north-east of King City at a magnitude of 5.3 on October 20, 2012.

Several aftershocks followed the main earthquake, including a M3.1 aftershock. This quake was preceded by two earthquakes located approximately 100 miles from Merced County, the 1982 New Idria earthquake (M5.4) and the 1983 Coalinga quake (M6.5). There was low-level ground shaking reported.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 11 Based on the earthquake shaking potential mapped for Merced County and the City of Dos Palos, due to the proximity to the San Andreas Fault, and the history of shaking with no surface rupture, means the probability of damaging seismic ground shaking in the City of Dos Palos is considered as occasional.

Other hazards associated with earthquake activity, such as lateral spreading, surface cracking or differential setting, are considered unlikely to occur, although no studies have been conducted to determine the likelihood of these hazards.

2.3.2 Wildfires
Both urban and wildland fires conditions exist in Merced County and its cities which increases the chances for damage to property, loss of life and/or injury. In most of Merced County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) ranks fuel loading as low. Fuels are mainly crops and grasses. In the southwest corner, there are some brush, pine, and grass fuels, which are ranked as moderate fuel hazards, primarily in the area west of Interstate 5. The LPT noted the agricultural land within and around Dos Palos is vulnerable especially during dry seasons and could cause significant impacts on the local economy if a significant fire was to happen. Figure 2-3 shows the fire threat areas near the city; the majority of the risk is to west of the city within the grassland area. Based on the analysis there are no parcels or critical facilities within the fire threat areas. Figure 2-4 shows the fire responsibility areas in the City of Dos Palos.

Refer to Section 4 of the Base Plan for methodology and results of the countywide analysis.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 12 Figure 2-3 Wildfire Threat Areas in City of Dos Palos

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 13 Figure 2-4 City of Dos Palos Fire Responsibility Areas

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 14 3 CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Capabilities are the programs and policies currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to implement hazard mitigation activities. This capabilities assessment is divided into five sections:
regulatory mitigation capabilities, administrative and technical mitigation capabilities, fiscal mitigation capabilities, mitigation outreach and partnerships, and other mitigation efforts. To develop this capability assessment, the jurisdictional planning representatives reviewed a matrix of common mitigation activities to inventory which of these policies or programs and shared information through the Dos Palos Data Collection Guide. The team then supplemented this inventory by reviewing additional existing policies, regulations, plans, and programs to determine if they contribute to reducing hazard-related losses.

During the plan update process, this inventory was reviewed by the jurisdictional planning representatives and Wood consultant team staff to update information where applicable and note ways in which these capabilities have improved or expanded. Additionally, in summarizing current capabilities and identifying gaps, the jurisdictional planning representatives also considered their ability to expand or improve upon existing policies and programs as potential new mitigation strategies. The City of Dos Palos’ capabilities are summarized below.

3.1 Regulatory Capability
The regulatory and planning capabilities table lists planning and land management tools typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities. The table below indicates those that are in place in the City of Dos Palos.

Table 3-1 City of Dos Palos —Regulatory and Planning Capabilities Regulatory Tool
(ordinances, codes, plans) Yes/No Comments
General Plan Yes Adopted May 20, 1990
Zoning ordinance Yes
Subdivision ordinance Yes
Growth management ordinance Yes
Floodplain ordinance Yes
Other special purpose ordinance
(stormwater, steep slope, wildfire) No
Building code Yes
Fire department ISO rating Yes
Erosion or sediment control program No
Stormwater management program Yes
Site plan review requirements Yes
Capital improvements plan Yes
Economic development plan Yes
Local emergency operations plan Yes
Other special plans No
Flood insurance study or other
engineering study for streams Yes
Elevation certificates (for floodplain
development) No
Other

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 15 City of Dos Palos General Plan – The City of Dos Palos’ most recent General Plan was adopted May 20, 1991. This General Plan defines the City’s goals, objectives and policies that guide the physical growth, use and development of land under the jurisdictional authority of the City.

The goal of the Safety Element is to protect Dos Palos residents from unreasonable risk and reduce the impacts of natural hazards to the community (Dos Palos 1991). This element focuses on establishing policies and programs to protect the community from risks associated with seismic activity, subsidence, flooding, and fire and hazardous materials incidents. The Safety Element also identifies evacuation routes and peak load water supply requirements.

The City of Dos Palos Safety Element does not reference incorporation of the 2014 MJHMP. However, the City did not participate in the 2014 MJHMP; this is the first jurisdictional mitigation annex for the City of Dos Palos.

City of Dos Palos Emergency Plan, 2003 – The Emergency Plan addresses the planned response to emergency situations associated with natural disasters, technological incidents, human caused events and national security emergencies in or affecting the City of Dos Palos. The plan establishes the emergency management organization required to mitigate any significant emergency or disaster affecting the City; identifies the policies, responsibilities, and procedures required to protect the health and safety of communities, public and private property, and the environmental effects of natural, human caused and technological emergencies and disasters; and establishes the operational concepts and policies for disaster response and recovery.

National Flood Insurance Coverage, Claims Paid, and Repetitive Losses The City of Dos Palos joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on May 25, 1978. The City does not have any special flood hazard areas (1% annual chance flood risk zones) mapped by the NFIP. NFIP Insurance data indicates that as of July 2021, there were 3 flood insurance policies in force in the City with $553,000 of coverage. All of the policies are single family residential and located in the B, C, and X zone.

There has been 1 historical claim for flood losses totaling $1,740. According to the FEMA Community Information System accessed July 27, 2021, the City has no Repetitive Loss properties or Severe Repetitive Loss properties as defined by FEMA.

3.2 Administrative and Technical Capability
The table below identifies city personnel with responsibilities for activities related to mitigation and loss prevention in the City of Dos Palos. Many positions are full time and/or filled by the same person. A summary of technical resources follows.

Table 3-2 City of Dos Palos —Personnel Capabilities
Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position Comments Planner/engineer with knowledge of land
development/land management
practices
Yes City Engineer
Engineer/professional trained in
construction practices related to
buildings and/or infrastructure
Yes City Engineer
Planner/engineer/scientist with an
understanding of natural hazards Yes City Engineer
Personnel skilled in GIS Yes GIS Coordinator

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 16 Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position Comments Full time building official No City has a part time building official on staff
Floodplain manager Yes
Emergency manager No
Grant writer Yes Department Heads
Other personnel
GIS Data Resources
(Hazard areas, critical facilities, land use,
building footprints, etc.)
Yes
Warning Systems/Services
(Reverse 9-11, cable override, outdoor
warning signals)
Yes
Everbridge. Merced
County Emergency Alert
System
Other

3.3 Fiscal Capability
The following table identifies financial tools or resources that the City could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities. There are currently no specific funding sources for hazard mitigation.

Table 3-3 City of Dos Palos —Available Financial Tools and Resources Financial Resources
Accessible/
Eligible to Use
Has This Been Used for
Mitigation in the Past? Comments
Community Development
Block Grants
Yes No
Capital improvements project
funding
Yes No Council approval needed to
establish CIP
Authority to levy taxes for
specific purposes
Yes No Council/Public approval needed
Fees for water, sewer, gas, or
electric services, new
development
Yes No
Incur debt through general
obligation bonds
No No
Incur debt through special tax
bonds
Yes No
Incur debt through private
activities
Yes No
Federal Grant Programs
(Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program)
No* No *City will have eligibility to apply
for these funds after the FEMA
approval and local adoption of
this LHMP.

3.4 Outreach and Partnerships
The Merced County Office of Emergency Services provides education and outreach on Disaster Preparedness for all of the jurisdictions within the County. This education program is in coordination and partnerships with county and the cities’ departments with education programs including the Sheriff’s Office, Police Departments, Fire Departments, Agricultural Commissioner, and the Department of Public Health.

The City of Dos Palos has an ongoing water conservation program, first established in 2016 during statewide drought conditions, to mitigate the impacts of future drought events. The program sets specific

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 17 days and times for watering to reduce the frequency of water usage spikes and increase the water available for fire suppression.

3.4.1 Planning Commission
The Planning Commission reviews development proposals for compliance with the General Plan and makes recommendations to the City Council on long range plans and maps for the City and plans for public improvements, plans and development plans for proposed for property within the City, and zoning and rezoning of property within the City. The Commission develops and maintains a long range comprehensive General Plan of the Dos Palos planning area.

3.5 Opportunities for Enhancement
Based on the capabilities assessment, the City of Dos Palos has several existing mechanisms in place that already help to mitigate hazards. There are also opportunities for the city to expand or improve on their policies, programs and fiscal capabilities and further protect the community. Future improvements may include providing training for staff members related to hazards or hazard mitigation grant funding in partnership with the County and Cal OES. Additional training opportunities will help to inform City staff members on how best to integrate hazard information and mitigation projects into their departments.

Continuing to train City staff on mitigation and the hazards that pose a risk to the City of Dos Palos will lead to more informed staff members who can better communicate this information to the public. In addition, the LPT noted increasing communication and partnerships with regional entities in inspecting buildings for the need to retrofit to meeting earthquake standards. 4 MITIGATION STRATEGY

4.1 Goals and Objectives
The City of Dos Palos adopts the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Planning Team and described in Section 5 Mitigation Strategy of the Basin Plan.

4.2 Continued Compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program The City has been an NFIP participating community since 1978. In addition to the mitigation actions identified herein the City will continue to comply with the NFIP. Floodplain management is under the purview of the Department City Engineer. This includes ongoing activities such as enforcing local floodplain development regulations, including issuing permits for appropriate development in Special Flood Hazard Areas and ensuring that this development mitigated in accordance with the regulations. This will also include periodic reviews of the floodplain ordinance to ensure that it is clear and up to date and reflects new or revised flood hazard mapping.

4.3 Mitigation Actions
The Planning Team for the City identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on risk assessments, goals, and objectives. Background information as well as information on how the action will be implemented and administered, such as ideas for implementation, responsible office, partners, potential funding, estimated cost, and timeline also are described.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 18 Table 4-1 City of Dos Palos Mitigation Action Plan
ID
Goal(s)
and
Lifelines
Hazard(s)
Mitigated
Description/Background/
Benefits
Lead
Agency
and
Partners
Cost
Estimate
and
Potential
Funding
Priority Timeline Status/Implementation
Notes
1 1
Communi
cations
Earthquake,
Wildfire
Radio upgrade for police department.

Replace outdated mobile radios with
dual-band radios that have the capability
to communicate with the Merced County
Sheriff’s Office. If approved, radios could
be purchased immediately. They are vital
for communication during multijurisdiction hazardous events. This could potentially save lives. Currently, there is
no ability to cross-communicate.

Police Dept.

County
Sheriff
$50,000,
Grants Medium 3 -6 Months New in 2021
2 1,2,3
Food,
Water,
Shelter
Drought,
Earthquake,
Wildfire
Construction of new water treatment
plant with resiliency upgrades. Replace
existing water treatment plant, which is
over 50 years old and cannot keep up
with the ever-growing demand for water
in the area. Currently in the process of
receiving grant money from the State for
construction. The new plant will double
the amount of water treated from 2-2.5
million gallons per day to approximately
4 million gallons per day and provide
resiliency to drought. This will also
increase available water for firefighting.

Seismic mitigation measures will be
incorporated into the upgraded
treatment plant to reduce potential for
damage and provide continuity of
services.

Dept. of
Utilities
South Dos
Palos and
Midway
$11
Million
Grant
funding
from the
State of
California
High 2-3 years New in 2021

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex B: City of Dos Palos
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 19 5 IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE
Moving forward, the city will use the mitigation action table in the previous section to track progress on implementation of each project. Implementation of the plan overall is discussed in Section 6 in the Base Plan.

5.1 Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms
The information contained within this plan, including results from the Vulnerability Assessment, and the Mitigation Strategy will be used by the City to help inform updates and the development of local plans, programs and policies. The City will incorporate this MJHMP into the Safety Element of their General Plan, as recommended by Assembly Bill (AB) 2140.

As noted in Section 6 of the Base Plan, the LPT representatives from Dos Palos will report on efforts to integrate the hazard mitigation plan into local plans, programs and policies and will report on these efforts at the annual LPT plan review meeting.

5.2 Monitoring, Evaluation and Updating the Plan
The City will follow the procedures to monitor, review, and update this plan in accordance with Merced County as outlined in Section 6 of the Base Plan. The City will continue to involve the public in mitigation, as described in Section 6.2.1 of the Base Plan. The Police Chief or his/her designee will be responsible for representing the city in the County HMPT, and for coordination with City staff and departments during plan updates. The City realizes it is important to review the plan regularly and update it every five years in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act Requirements as well as other State of California requirements.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 1 1 CITY OF GUSTINE

1.1 Community Profile

1.1.1 Mitigation Planning History and 2021 Process
This annex was created during the development of the 2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) update. This is the first Jurisdictional Mitigation Annex for the City of Gustine.

The City’s Local Planning Team (LPT) held the responsibility for implementation and maintenance of the plan. Members are listed in Appendix A. More details on the planning process follow and how the jurisdictions, service districts and stakeholders participated can be found in Section 3 Planning Process of the Base Plan, along with how the public was involved during the 2021 update.

1.1.2 Geography and Climate
The City of Gustine is situated 29 miles west of the City of Merced, the county seat, and borders Stanislaus County. The city is located at the intersection of State Route 33 and State Route 140 and near the intersection of Interstate 5 and State Route 140. According to the United States Census Bureau, Gustine has a total area of 1.6 square miles. The city is a continuously evolving community immersed in tradition with a history of food, farming and manufacturing in California.

The climate in the City of Gustine cycles through a cool rainy winter season and a dry summer season.

Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool and wet, with most of the year’s rain falling from late October through early April.

1.1.3 History
The City of Gustine was established in the 1900s as a Southern Pacific Railroad station. The first post office was opened in 1907 and the city was incorporated in 1915. In 1970 Gustine became the first city in California to set up a 9-1-1 system.

1.1.4 Economy
Estimates of select economic characteristics for the City of Gustine are shown in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1 City of Gustine Economic Characteristics, 2015-2019 Characteristic City of Gustine
Families below Poverty Level (%) 8.5%
All People below Poverty Level (%) 12.7%
Median Family Income $62,521
Median Household Income $53,667
Per Capita Income $30,742
Population in Labor Force 2,718
Population Employed* 50.2%
Unemployment Rate** 11.6%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
*Excludes armed forces. **Does not reflect unemployment numbers due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 2 The tables below show the labor force breakdown by occupations and industry based on estimates from the 2015-2019 five-year American Community Survey.

Table 1-2 City of Gustine Employment by Industry, 2015-2019 Industry # Employed % Employed
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 432 18.0% Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 410 17.1% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services
323 13.4%
Retail trade 292 12.1%
Manufacturing 214 8.9%
Construction 185 7.7%
Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services
128 5.3%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 121 5.0%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 102 4.2% Public administration 76 3.2%
Other services, except public administration 74 3.1%
Wholesale trade 47 2.0%
Total 2,404 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/ Table 1-3 City of Gustine Employment by Occupation, 2015-2019 Occupation # Employed % Employed
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 606 25.2% Service occupations 537 22.3%
Management, business, science, and arts occupations 527 21.9% Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 392 16.3% Sales and office occupations 342 14.2%
Total 2,404 100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/

1.1.5 Population
In May 2020, the State Department of Finance released preliminary population data for the state demographic report, the estimates did not include potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report the City of Gustine has a population of 5,875 persons as of January 1, 2020, and experience a

0.1% gain previous year, leaving the population statically the same. Select demographic and social characteristics for the City of Gustine from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey and the California Department of Finance, are shown in Table 1-4.

Table 1-4 City of Gustine Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019 Characteristic City of Gustine
Gender/Age
Male 49.7%
Female 50.3%
Median age (years) 40.4

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 3 Characteristic City of Gustine
Under 5 years 3.4%
Under 18 years 19.9%
65 years and over 14.4%
Race/Ethnicity
White 44.8%
Asian 0.2%
Black or African American 0.0%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 54.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.0%
Some other race 0.0%
Two or more races 0.3%
Education*
% High school graduate or higher 76.7%
% with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 12.5%
Social Vulnerability
% with Disability 17.8%
% Language other than English spoken at
home 41.6%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 24.8%
% of households with a computer with
internet use 76.9%
% of households with no vehicle available 8.6%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/
* Population 25 years and over
The following table with information from the American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2015-2019) is related to housing occupancy in the City of Gustine.

Table 1-5 City of Gustine Housing Occupancy and Units, 2015-2019 Housing Characteristic Estimate Percentage
Housing Occupancy
Total Housing Units 2,249 100%
Units Occupied 2,054 91.3%
Vacant 195 8.7%
Housing Units
1-unit detached 1,831 81.4%
1-unit attached 0 0.0%
2 units 75 3.3%
3 or 4 units 22 1.0%
5-9 units 89 4.0%
10-19 units 46 2.0%
20 or more units 19 0.8%
Mobile Home 167 7.4%
Boat, RV, van etc. 0 0%

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 4 Housing Characteristic Estimate Percentage
Housing Tenure
Owner Occupied 1,261 61.4%
Renter Occupied 793 38.6%
Source: CA Department of Finance U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2015-2019 5-Year Estimates, www.census.gov/

1.1.6 Development Trends
During the 2021 planning process the Planning Team noted that since the 2014 LHMP the City has annexed land for future development. The LPT noted the following annexation:
● 153 acres for residential development
● 40 acres west of the city for residential development (estimated 200 homes) ● 50 acres east of city for residential development
Between 2010 and 2019 the City experienced an 8% increase of total housing units. Increases in population also increases exposure to severe weather-related hazards and pandemics/epidemics, as well as earthquakes. This growth also puts more demands on water resources and can increase vulnerability to drought.

The Sphere of Influence (SOI) shown in Figure 2-1 are areas each City plans to grow into and potentially slated for future development. Understanding the potential hazard exposure in the area can help to mitigate the impacts of events before development occurs in those areas. During this plan update process parcel analysis was conducted using the SOI and overlaid with available hazard risk layers to determine where future development may be at risk of natural hazard events. Table 1-6 is the summary of the SOI total exposure for the City of Gustine.

Table 1-6 Sphere of Influence Total Exposure Summary
Property Type Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 71 98 $12,899,778 $12,899,778 $25,799,556
Commercial 3 3 $1,695,408 $1,695,408 $3,390,816
Exempt 3 3 $0 $0 $0
Residential 20 22 $2,410,194 $1,205,097 $3,615,291
Total 97 126 $17,005,380 $15,800,283 $32,805,663
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 5 2 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND SUMMARY
The City of Gustine Planning Team identified the hazards that affect the city and summarized their frequency of occurrence, spatial extent, potential magnitude, and significance specific to their community (see Table 2-1). There are no hazards that are unique to Gustine. The overall hazard significance takes into account the geographic area, probability and magnitude as a way to identify priority hazards for mitigation purposes. This is discussed further in the Vulnerability Assessment Section.

Table 2-1 City of Gustine —Hazard Profiles
Hazard Geographic Area
Probability of
Future
Occurrence
Magnitude/
Severity
Overall
Significance
Drought Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Earthquake Significant Likely Catastrophic Medium
Flood and Levee Failure Significant Occasional Critical Medium Geographic Area
Limited: Less than 10% of planning area
Significant: 10-50% of planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of planning area
Probability of Future Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100% chance of occurrence in next
year or happens every year.

Likely: Between 10 and 100% chance of occurrence in
next year or has a recurrence interval of 10 years or less.

Occasional: Between 1 and 10% chance of occurrence in
the next year or has a recurrence interval of 11 to 100 years.

Unlikely: Less than 1% chance of occurrence in next 100 years or has a recurrence interval of greater than every 100 years.

Magnitude/Severity (Extent)
Catastrophic—More than 50 percent of property severely
damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than 30 days; and/or multiple deaths
Critical—25-50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for at least two weeks; and/or injuries and/or illnesses result in permanent disability
Limited—10-25 percent of property severely damaged;
shutdown of facilities for more than a week; and/or
injuries/illnesses treatable do not result in permanent disability Negligible—Less than 10 percent of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for less than 24 hours; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable with first aid
Significance
Low: minimal potential impact
Medium: moderate potential impact
High: widespread potential impact

2.1 Vulnerability Assessment
The intent of this section is to assess Gustine vulnerability that is separate from that of the planning area as a whole, which has already been assessed in Section 4 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment in the Base Plan. This vulnerability assessment analyzes the population, property, and other assets at risk to hazards ranked of medium or high significance that may vary from other parts of the planning area.

The information to support the hazard identification and risk assessment was based on a combination of County and jurisdiction specific information collected during the 2021 update. A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Guide and associated worksheets was distributed to each participating municipality or special district to complete during update process in 2021. Information collected was analyzed and summarized in order to identify and rank all the hazards that could impact anywhere within the County, as well as to rank the hazards and identify the related vulnerabilities unique to each jurisdiction.

Each participating jurisdiction was in support of the main hazard summary identified in the Base Plan (see Table 4-2). However, the hazard summary rankings for each jurisdictional annex may vary due to specific hazard risk and vulnerabilities unique to that jurisdiction. The information in this annex helps differentiate the jurisdiction’s risk and vulnerabilities from that of the overall County.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 6 Note: The hazard “Significance” reflects overall ranking for each hazard and is based on the City of Gustine’s Planning Team member input from the Data Collection Guide and the risk assessment developed during the planning process (see Section 4 of the Base Plan), which included a more detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis with best available data.

The hazard summaries in Table 2-1 above reflect the hazards that could potentially affect City. The discussion of vulnerability for each of the following hazards is located in Section 2.3 Estimating Potential Losses. Based on this analysis, the priority hazards (Medium Significance) for mitigation are identified below:
● Drought
● Earthquake
● Flood and Levee Failure
●
While dam incidents and wildfire are rated as low, there are areas of risk near the city’s SOI where development is likely to occur in the future. For this reason dam incidents and wildfire hazards are covered in the vulnerability assessment. Drought is not addressed in this vulnerability assessment as the exposure is similar to the overall County exposure, and the potential for losses are difficult to quantify specific to the City of Gustine.

Other Hazards
Hazards assigned a significance rating of Low or do not differ significantly from the county overall risk are not addressed further in this plan and are not assessed individually for specific vulnerabilities in this section. In the City of Gustine, those hazards include: severe weather (extreme heat, dense fog, heavy rain, high wind/tornado) subsidence, hazardous materials incidents, cyber attacks, agricultural pests and disease, and pandemics. As previously noted, dam incidents and wildfire hazards are also addressed.

Additionally, the City’s committee members decided to rate landslides as Not Applicable (N/A) to the planning area due to a lack of exposure, vulnerability, and no probability of occurrence.

Wildfire is profiled in the vulnerability assessment to address wildfire threat in the City’s SOI but was rated a low priority hazard given the City consists of urban areas and because there are few mapped moderate and low wildfire threat zones.

2.2 Assets at Risk
This section considers Gustine’s assets at risk, including values at risk, critical facilities and infrastructure, historic assets, economic assets and growth and development trends.

2.2.1 Values at Risk
The following data on property exposure is derived from the Merced County 2020 Parcel and Assessor data. This data should only be used as a guideline to overall values in the city as the information has some limitations. The most significant limitation is created by Proposition 13. Instead of adjusting property values annually, the values are not adjusted or assessed at fair market value until a property transfer occurs. As a result, overall value information is likely low and does not reflect current market value of properties. It is also important to note that in the event of a disaster, it is generally the value of the infrastructure or improvements to the land that is of concern or at risk. Generally, the land itself is not a loss and is not included in the values below. Table 2-2 shows the exposure of properties broken down by property type for the City Gustine.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 7 Table 2-2 City of Gustine Property Exposure by Type
Property Type
Parcel
Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value Content Value Total Value
Agricultural 3 3 $249,806 $249,806 $499,612
Commercial 86 212 $13,841,697 $13,841,697 $27,683,394
Exempt 21 22 $1,947,230 $1,947,230 $3,894,460
Industrial 8 8 $21,456,333 $32,184,500 $53,640,833
Mixed Use 3 3 $55,055 $55,055 $110,110
Residential 1,749 1,857 $252,615,603 $126,307,802 $378,923,405 Vacant Land 4 4 $180,379 $180,379 $360,758
Total 1,874 2,109 $290,346,103 $174,766,468 $465,112,571 Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis

2.2.2 Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
For the purposes of this plan, a critical facility is defined as one that is essential in providing utility or direction either during the response to an emergency or during the recovery operation. FEMA groups critical facilities into seven lifeline categories as shown in Figure 4-1 in the Base Plan.

Table 2-4 shows a summary of the critical facilities analysis. In addition to the summary listed in the table below, the LPT also include the following assets:

Table 2-3 City of Gustine Community Assets
Name of Asset Type* Replacement Value
Saputo Dairy Foods EI $25,000,000
Pusateri Nut Company EI $15,000,000
Dollar General EI $10,000,000
Gustine City Hall VF $10,000,000
Gustine Police Dept. EI $10,000,000
Gustine Airport VF $20,000,000
Gustine Fire Dept. EI $20,000,000
Gustine Public Works HM $20,000,000
Gustine Wastewater
Treatment HM/EI $30,000,000
Water Well 1 VF $10,000,000
Water Well 1 VF $10,000,000
Water Well 1 VF $10,000,000
Water Well 1 VF $10,000,000
Water Well 1 VF $10,000,000
Water Well 1 VF $10,000,000
Water Well 1 VF $10,000,000
City Water Lines VF $50,000,000
Water Tank/Tower VF $5,000,000
Sewer Lines VF $50,000,000
Schmidt Park NA $20,000,000
Miller Park NA $10,000,000
CEF Jamero Park NA $10,000,000

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 8 Name of Asset Type* Replacement Value
Burelli Ranch Park NA $10,000,000
Gustine High School VF $25,000,000
Gustine Middle School VF $20,000,000
Gustine Elementary
School VF $20,000,000
Source: Gustine LPT
*EI: Essential Infrastructure; VI: Vulnerable Facilities; HM: Hazardous Materials Facilities; NA: Natural Assets Table 2-4 City of Gustine Critical Facilities, by Lifeline FEMA Lifeline Count
Communications 6
Food, Water, Shelter 2
Hazardous Material 1
Safety and Security 8
Total 20
Source: HIFLD, City of Gustine, Wood analysis

2.2.3 Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
The following historical resource is listed as a California Point of Interest by the State of California Office of Preservation:
● Merced County Justice Courthouse Building
Natural resources are important to include in benefit-cost analyses for future projects and may be used to leverage additional funding for projects that also contribute to community goals for protecting sensitive natural resources. Awareness of natural assets can lead to opportunities for meeting multiple objectives.

For instance, protecting wetlands areas protects sensitive habitat as well as attenuates and stores floodwaters. The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and Grassland Wildlife Management Area are located east of the City of Gustine. The Wildlife Refuge encompasses 26,800 acres of wetlands, riparian forests, natives grasslands and vernal pools. The Grassland Wildlife Management areas supports seasonally flooded marshlands, semi-permanent marshes and native grasslands. Both the Refuge and Wildlife Management Areas are located in flood hazard areas and benefits the surrounding area by absorbing floodwaters and recharging aquifers.

2.3 Estimating Potential Losses

2.3.1 Dam Incidents
Protection from flood hazards created by dam failures is critical to the safety and well- being of Gustine residents. A dam vulnerability assessment was completed during the 2021 update, following the methodology described in Section 4 of the Base Plan. The analysis found the Gustine is outside the inundation areas of the Don Pedro and New Exchequer dams but the Gustine Municipal Airport in the eastern portion of the city is on the edge of the New Exchequer dam inundation area (see Figure 2-1).

Not represented on the inundation map is risk from the San Luis Dam. Best available data was used during the 2021 plan update, but complete inundation data was not available for the San Luis or Los Banos Dams due to the information being considered sensitive and restricted, per communication with

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 9 OES and the dam owners. According to the Emergency Action Plan for this dam a failure could result in flooding in Gustine to a depth range of 2-10 ft in less than 10 hours. For this reason, dam incidents were assessed in this annex, but not considered a low priority hazard for the City.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 10 Figure 2-1 City of Gustine Dam Inundation Areas (excluding San Luis Dam)

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 11

2.3.2 Earthquake
The City of Gustine and surrounding areas historical earthquake activity is below California’s state average.

No known faults are located in the Gustine area. The nearest known fault is the Ortigalita Fault the only fault line within Merced County. According to the City’s General Plan Safety Element, Gustine is unlikely to be the epicenter of an earthquake event but will likely experience shaking from an event. New development in the city is required to comply with current building standards for seismic safety.

There is no record of any seismic activity originating within the city; however, the County of Merced has been shaken by earthquakes originating elsewhere. There is documented evidence of six earthquakes that shook the area, those of 1872, 1906, 1952, 1966, 1984, and 1989.

No damaging earthquakes greater than M 6.0 have been recorded in the City of Gustine or Merced County in over 200 years, though several have been very close. The most recent large earthquake near Merced County was 16 miles east north-east of King City at a magnitude of 5.3 on October 20, 2012.

Several aftershocks followed the main earthquake, including a M3.1 aftershock. This quake was preceded by two earthquakes located approximately 100 miles from Merced County, the 1982 New Idria earthquake (M5.4) and the 1983 Coalinga quake (M6.5). There was low level ground shaking and low local magnitude reported.

Based on the earthquake shaking potential mapped for Merced County and the City of Gustine, due to the proximity to the San Andreas Fault, and the history of shaking with no surface rupture, means the probability of damaging seismic ground shaking in the City of Gustine is considered as occasional. Other hazards associated with earthquake activity, such as lateral spreading, surface cracking or differential setting, are considered unlikely to occur, although no studies have been conducted to determine the likelihood of these hazards.

2.3.3 Flood and Levee Failure
The City of Gustine lies outside the 100-year and 500-year floodplain as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). While not within a floodplain, the eastern portion of the City and the City’s SOI (shown in Figure 2-2), where the Gustine Municipal Airport is located, is on the edge of the 100-year or 1% annual flood chance hazard. Figure 2-3 shows the critical facilities proximity to 1% annual flood chance. As shown, 14 critical facilities were identified as being located in a floodplain.

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 12 Figure 2-2 City of Gustine Flood Hazard

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 13 Figure 2-3 Critical Facilities and FEMA Flood Hazards

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 14

2.3.4 Wildfires
Weather components, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind, and lightning, also affect the potential for wildfire. High temperatures and low relative humidity dry out the fuels that feed the wildfire creating a situation where fuel will more readily ignite and burn more intensely. Both urban and wildland fires conditions exist in Merced County and its cities which increases the chances for damage to property, loss of life and/or injury. In most of Merced County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) ranks fuel loading as low.

Figure 2-4 shows the fire threat areas within and near the city. The fire threat areas mainly consistent of low and moderate areas. The Municipal Airport and SOI on the eastern portion of the city limits has the most concentration of moderate threat areas and has a small area of high threat. Based on the analysis there are no parcels or critical facilities within the fire threat areas. Table 2-5 summarizes the values at risk and detail loss estimates within the fire threat areas.

Table 2-5 Properties Exposed to Wildfire Threat Areas
Source: CAL FIRE, Merced County Assessor, Wood GIS analysis Analysis on critical facilities located within fire threat areas was also completed. The results are summarized in Table 2-6.

Table 2-6 Critical Facilities Exposed to Wildfire Threat Areas FEMA Lifeline Count
Moderate Wildfire Threat
Safety and Security 1
Low Wildfire Threat
Safety and Security 1
Transportation 1
Total 3
Source: Merced County, HIFLD, CAL FIRE, FRAP, Wood GIS Analysis Property
Type
Improved
Parcel
Count
Building
Count
Moderate
Building
Count
Low
Total
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value Population
Agricultural 1 0 1 1 $92,402 $92,402 $184,804
Commercial 1 0 8 8 $1,612,681 $1,612,681 $3,225,362
Exempt 4 3 1 4 $0 $0 $0
Residential 141 54 87 141 $24,399,015 $12,199,508 $36,598,523 399 Total 147 57 97 154 $26,104,098 $13,904,591 $40,008,689 399

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 15 Figure 2-1 Wildfire Threat Areas in City of Gustine

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 16 Figure 2-5 shows the fire responsibility areas in the City of Gustine and Table 2-7 summarizes the results from the GIS analysis. No critical facilities were identified as being located within the local responsibility fire hazard area. Refer to Section 4 of the Base Plan for methodology and results of the countywide analysis.

Table 2-7 City of Gustine Properties within Fire Responsibility Areas Property
Type
Improved
Parcel
Count
SRA
Moderate
Building
Count
Total
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value Population
Exempt 2 2 2 $0 $0 $0
Residential 15 15 15 $3,806,609 $1,903,305 $5,709,914 42 Total 17 17 17 $3,806,609 $1,903,305 $5,709,914 42
Source: CAL FIRE, Merced County Assessor, Wood GIS analysis

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 17 Figure 2-2 City of Gustine Fire Responsibility Areas

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 18 Future Development
The results of the SOI and wildfire analysis is shown in Table 2-8 and Table 2-9.

Table 2-8 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed Within Fire Severity Areas Property
Type
Improved
Parcel Count
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total
Value Population
SRA Moderate
Commercial 1 1 $74,452 $74,452 $148,904
Residential 1 2 $142,860 $71,430 $214,290 7
Total 2 3 $217,312 $145,882 $363,194 7
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis
Table 2-9 Sphere of Influence Areas Exposed Within Fire Threat Areas Property
Type
Improved
Parcel
Count
Building
Count
Moderate
Building
Count
Low
Total
Building
Count
Improved
Value
Estimated
Content
Value
Total Value Population
Agricultural 23 3 27 30 $4,591,318 $4,591,318 $9,182,636 Commercial 2 1 1 2 $1,672,979 $1,672,979 $3,345,958
Exempt 2 0 2 2 $0 $0 $0
Residential 8 1 9 10 $1,263,255 $631,628 $1,894,883 33
Total 35 5 39 44 $7,527,552 $6,895,925 $14,423,477 33
Source: Merced County Assessor, Wood analysis

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 19 3 CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Capabilities are the programs and policies currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to implement hazard mitigation activities. This capabilities assessment is divided into five sections:
regulatory mitigation capabilities, administrative and technical mitigation capabilities, fiscal mitigation capabilities, mitigation outreach and partnerships, and other mitigation efforts. To develop this capability assessment, the jurisdictional planning representatives reviewed a matrix of common mitigation activities to inventory which of these policies or programs and shared any updates or changes through the Gustine Data Collection Guide. The team then supplemented this inventory by reviewing additional existing policies, regulations, plans, and programs to determine if they contribute to reducing hazard-related losses.

During the plan update process, this inventory was reviewed by the jurisdictional planning representatives and Wood consultant team staff to update information where applicable and note ways in which these capabilities have improved or expanded. Additionally, in summarizing current capabilities and identifying gaps, the jurisdictional planning representatives also considered their ability to expand or improve upon existing policies and programs as potential new mitigation strategies. The City of Gustine’s capabilities are summarized below.

3.1 Regulatory Capability
The regulatory and planning capabilities table lists planning and land management tools typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities. The table below indicates those that are in place in the City of Gustine.

Table 3-1 City of Gustine —Regulatory and Planning Capabilities Regulatory Tool
(ordinances, codes, plans) Yes/No Comments
General Plan Yes
Zoning ordinance Yes
Subdivision ordinance Yes
Growth management ordinance No
Floodplain ordinance No
Other special purpose ordinance
(stormwater, steep slope, wildfire) No
Building code Yes
Fire department ISO rating Yes
Erosion or sediment control program No
Stormwater management program Yes
Site plan review requirements Yes
Capital improvements plan Yes
Economic development plan Yes
Local emergency operations plan Yes
Other special plans No
Flood insurance study or other
engineering study for streams No
Elevation certificates (for floodplain
development) No
Other

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 20 City of Gustine General Plan, 2002 – The General Plan defines the City’s goals, objectives and policies that guide the physical growth, use and development of land under the jurisdictional authority of the City.

The purpose of the Safety Element (Section 9) is to reduce or eliminate long term risk to people and property from natural or human caused hazards. This element focuses on establishing policies and programs to protect the community from risks associated with seismic and geologic, dam failure, canals and drainage ponds, flooding, hazardous materials, aquatic insects, and urban and wildland fire hazards.

The City of Gustine General Plan Safety Element does not reference incorporation of the 2014 MJHMP, as this is the first Mitigation Annex for the City.

National Flood Insurance Program – 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, except for a small area near the airport. 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.

3.2 Administrative and Technical Capability
The table below identifies city personnel with responsibilities for activities related to mitigation and loss prevention in the City of Gustine. Many positions are full time and/or filled by the same person. A summary of technical resources follows.

Table 3-2 City of Gustine —Personnel Capabilities
Personnel Resources Yes/No Department/Position Comments Planner/engineer with knowledge of land
development/land management
practices
Yes Contract Planner
Engineer/professional trained in
construction practices related to
buildings and/or infrastructure
Yes Contract Engineer
Planner/engineer/scientist with an
understanding of natural hazards Yes Contract Planner/Engineer Personnel skilled in GIS Yes Contract Planner/Engineer
Full time building official No
Floodplain manager Yes Public Works Director
Emergency manager Yes Chief of Police
Grant writer Yes Contract
Other personnel
GIS Data Resources
(Hazard areas, critical facilities, land use,
building footprints, etc.)
Yes Contract Planner
Warning Systems/Services
(Reverse 9-11, cable override, outdoor
warning signals)
Yes
Contract Dispatch with
Livingston Police
Department
Code Red
Other

2021 Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex C: City of Gustine
Merced County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2021-2026 Update Page 21

3.3 Fiscal Capability
The following table identifies financial tools or resources that the City could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities. There are currently no specific funding sources for hazard mitigation.

Table 3-3 City of Gustine —Available Financial Tools and Resources Financial Resources Accessible/
Eligible to Use
Has This Been Used for
Mitigation in the Past? Comments
Community Development
Block Grants Yes No
Capital improvements project
funding Yes No
Authority to levy taxes for
specific purposes Yes No
Fees for water, sewer, gas, or
electric services, new
development
Yes No
Incur debt through general
obligation bonds Yes No
Incur debt through special tax
bonds Yes No
Incur debt through private
activities No No
Federal Grant Programs (e.g.

Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program)
Yes Yes
The City has used funding to
install pumps at the airport to
mitigate flooding hazards.

3.4 Outreach and Partnerships
The Merced County Office of Emergency Services provides education and outreach on Disaster Preparedness for all of the jurisdictions within the County. This education program is in coordination and partnerships with county and the cities’ departments with education programs including the Sheriff’s Office, Police Departments, Fire Departments, Agricultural Commissioner, and the Department of Public Health
The Gustine Planning Team notes the following ongoing outreach efforts in the city:
● Outreach specific to responsible water use
● School Resource office conducts earthquake and fire safety seminars ● City flyers on disaster preparedness

3.4.1 Planning Commission
The Planning Commission reviews development proposals for compliance with the General Plan and makes recommendations to the City Council on long range plans and maps for the City and plans for public improvements, plans and development plans for proposed for property within the City, and zoning and rezoning of property within the City. The Commission develops and maintains a long range comprehensive General Plan of the Gustine planning area.

3.5 Opportunities for Enhancement
Based on the capabilities assessment, the City of Gustine has several existing mechanisms in place that already help to mitigate hazards. There are also opportunities for the city to expand or improve on their