EPIDEMIC/PANDEMIC (HIGH)
Fresno’s population includes many residents who have limited access to health care, with causes related to low household income levels, lack of insurance coverage, a limited number of primary health care facilities and acute care beds, a low ratio of public health and medical professionals to population, and language barriers. Highly communicable diseases tend to affect a large percentage of the City, perhaps due to large household size and the mobility of the population. If a highly communicable disease outbreak occurred that caused serious or life-threatening illness for most infected persons, health care and other public service systems would experience disruption or breakdown and would require outside intervention with resources from other communities, the state, or the federal government. The recent COVID-19 pandemic caused high mortality and illness across the State of California and within Fresno. The Hazard Profile section in Chapter 4: Risk Assessment, details this event further.
EXTREME COLD/FREEZE (HIGH)
Freeze events occur occasionally in Fresno, but impacts are greater to the agriculture industry in the County than to the City. In January 2007, overnight minimum temperatures fell below freezing between January 6 and 10. The event led to a presidential disaster declaration due to the estimated $710 million in agricultural damage in the Central and South Valley. The 2007 event occurred in another eight-year interval after the devastating citrus freezes of 1998 and 1990. The event caused frozen pipes in Fresno but little other property damage. The City also has a plan for freezing temperature events and opens warming centers. These centers are primarily geared toward the homeless population.
EXTREME HEAT (HIGH)
Fresno uses a local version of the California State Plan for Extreme Heat. This plan was used during the extreme heat event during the summer of 2006 and worked well. The City operates cooling centers, Annex E: City of Fresno
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which are primarily geared toward the homeless. Public notification for extreme heat events is conducted through the Public Affairs office in coordination with Fresno County.
EXPANSIVE SOILS (MEDIUM)
These types of soils occur in northern Fresno in the far northeastern portions of its Sphere of Influence (in the “Copper River” area). Expansive clay soils can cause cavitation over time and require special construction standards for foundations.
FLOOD/LEVEE FAILURE (HIGH)
As noted in the preceding section, there is some flood risk to the City from San Joaquin River major dam failure inundation, but the more common flood risk, repetitively experienced in Fresno, is that of shallow “sheet” flooding from major precipitation events. Except for the San Joaquin River, streams in the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area originate in the Sierra foothills to the east and extend into the valley floor west of State Route 99 by way of dual-use irrigation and storm runoff channels and disperse into numerous smaller irrigation canals. Overflow from these canals and urban stormwater from intense precipitation events is sent back to the San Joaquin River or to farmland southwest of Fresno via spillway channels.
In the City of Fresno, these canals and channels are under control of the Fresno Irrigation District, an independent public agency, but their use during storm events is shared by another independent district, the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD). The FMFCD was created to develop flood control facilities to prevent further repetitive losses created by the Fresno Stream Group and to provide an urban drainage network. This District is responsible for administering a Storm Drainage and Flood Control Master Plan. The City’s municipal code supports these efforts by including a Drainage Fee Ordinance to ensure that grading and development comply with the FMFCD’s Master Plan and standards and provide proportionate shares of storm drain and ponding basin infrastructure.
The City of Fresno’s Floodplain Ordinance further coordinates and supports FMFCD efforts. This ordinance and the Fresno General Plan Safety Element policies require conformance to FEMA floodplain management policies and to those of California’s Central Valley Flood Prevention Board (which regulates the designated floodway along the San Joaquin River channel). Still, in areas not completely developed to urban standards, areas where the urban drainage network is not yet completed, and in some County “island” areas (land within the City that the County has authority over), stormwater drainage facilities may not prevent localized shallow flooding during intense runoff events.
According to FEMA’s 2016 Flood Insurance Study (FIS), the following major canals and ditches run through the City:
▪ Central Canal flows southwest through the southeastern part of the City of Fresno. ▪ Dry Creek Canal begins at the confluence of Mill Ditch and Herndon Canal, just downstream of North Millbrook Avenue, and flows southwest through the southwestern portion of the City. ▪ Fancher Creek Canal flows southwest along the eastern corporate limits of the City of Fresno and joins Central Canal at the southeast corner of the City.
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▪ Herndon Canal begins at the confluence of Mill Ditch and Dry Creek Canal. It flows west through the center of the City of Fresno, then flows northwest through the northwestern part of the City. ▪ Mill Ditch flows west along East McKinley Avenue to its confluence with Herndon and Dry Creek Canals.
The FIS details the City of Fresno’s flood history as follows:
In February 1884, flood flows from streams of the Fresno-Clovis group inundated the business section of the City of Fresno. Frequent flooding was a problem in the City throughout 1880. Suburban areas of the City were flooded in spring 1920; the downtown area was inundated in 1923; flooding occurred in the Fig Garden area in 1936; and parts of the City, especially in the northeast section, were flooded in March 1938. Since the 1938 flood, which had an estimated discharge of 2,700 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Dry Creek at the Big Dry Creek Dam site, high flows occurred on that stream in December 1955 (3,800 cfs), January 1969 (5,700 cfs), and February 1969 (4,500 cfs). During December 1955, approximately 500 acres of agricultural and suburban land were flooded by overflow from irrigation canals, and damage, mostly to public facilities, totaled approximately $50,000. The largest and most damaging flood period was January and February 1969, when the combined discharges of Dry, Dog, Redbank, Fancher, and Mud Creeks flooded an estimated 14,500 acres and caused almost $4.7 million in damage. Most of the flooding was in the eastern and northeastern parts of the City. It occurred because many of the streams in the Fresno-Clovis group discharged floodwater into various irrigation canals, causing them to overflow.
Several flood events that have occurred in Fresno are detailed below. ▪ 1998 (El Niño rain event): In 1998, Fresno County was hit by extensive rainfall over 33 days within a six-month period, causing widespread flooding and prompting local, state, and federal emergency declarations. Property and public facility damage totaled nearly half a million dollars, while the farming industry suffered a $17 million loss, primarily impacting tree fruit and row crops. The community faced substantial economic impacts between $38-48 million, and the agricultural workforce experienced significant unemployment and reduced work hours. ▪ 2005-2006: Above average rainfall occurred between December 19, 2005, and January 1, 2006.
This resulted in flooding of low-lying areas throughout the County. Flood control basins were overflowing in several areas, including the Cities of Fresno and Clovis. Property damage included damage to approximately 180 businesses and homes estimated at $1.4 million within the unincorporated County. Damage to other jurisdictions was estimated at $611,307. Damage to crops was minimal due to the time of year. Flooding further resulted in several road closures, which were one to two weeks in duration.
▪ October 29, 2007: Newspapers and broadcast meteorologists reported several roadways flooded in Northwest Fresno. Numerous vehicles were stranded, and water rescues occurred. Heavy rain caused a roof to collapse at an industrial plant on the northwest side of the city. Damage was estimated at 250,000 to the roof structure alone. Total property damage associated with the event amounted to over $500,000.
▪ December 2007: Heavy rain and snowstorms ravaged central California, including the San Juaquin Valley and Fresno metropolitan area. The combination of locally heavy rains and poor drainage Annex E: City of Fresno
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areas within the urban and suburban land lead to over $175,000 in property damage between December 18th and 19th.
▪ December 29, 2010: On the morning of the 29th, heavy rain across the San Joaquin Valley caused widespread urban and poor drainage flooding. Especially hard hit were the metro areas of Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield, and the adjacent foothills. Fresno had a record rainfall of 0.92 inch on the 28th, breaking the old record of 0.72 inch, set in 2004. The two-day total at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport was 1.54 inch, which pushed the December rainfall to 5.92 inches for the second wettest December on record for Fresno; the wettest December was in 1955, with 6.73 inches. It was also the coldest low of the year for Fresno, with temperatures dropping below 32 degrees. Property damage amounted to $125,000.
▪ November 30, 2011: Fresno set record high minimum temperatures on the last day of the month, establishing the total record for the sixth warmest November. This was also the fourth consecutive month that Fresno ranked in the top 10 warmest months. Fresno had a record rainfall on November 30th of 0.62 inch; the old record was 0.50 inch. As a result of the heavy rainfall, some rock and mud slides occurred as the moisture weakened the soil. Law enforcement reported a rock and mud slide on Highway 168 about 15 miles northeast of Clovis, which closed the road for several hours while authorities cleaned up the debris.
▪ December 16, 2018: A cold front that was associated with a moist upper trough pushed across central California on December 17. This system brought moderate to locally heavy rainfall from Fresno County northward the late evening of December through the morning of December 17 where several stations reported a half inch to an inch and a quarter of rainfall, and there were several reports of mainly nuisance flooding during this time. The precipitation mainly fell as snow above 6500 feet where several stations in the Southern Sierra Nevada north of Fresno County picked up between 3 and 6 inches of new snow. Further south the rainfall was less plentiful with most locations receiving between a few hundredths of an inch to a quarter of an inch of rain by the time the precipitation ended by early afternoon on December 17.
VALUES AT RISK
Following the methodology described in Section 4.3.2 Vulnerability of Fresno County to Specific Hazards, a flood map for the City of Fresno was created (see Figure 6. City of Fresno Flood Hazard Areas). Table 10. City of Fresno’s FEMA 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Property Type and Table 11. City of Fresno’s FEMA 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard by Property Type summarize the values at risk in the City’s 100-year and 500-year floodplain, respectively. These tables also detail loss estimates for each flood.
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Source: CA Geoportal; CA Geoportal; CA-DFW; CalTrans; USACE-National Levee Database; FEMA – Map Service Center, DFIRM, 1/2016; County of Fresno - GIS
Figure 6. City of Fresno Flood Hazard Areas
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Table 10. City of Fresno’s FEMA 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Property Type Property Type Parcel
Count
Improved
Value
Content
Value
Total Value Loss
Estimate
Agriculture 7 $2,946,135 $5,728,367 $8,674,502 $2,168,625.50 Apartments 105 $164,861,445 $31,921,659 $196,783,104 $49,195,776.00 Commercial 17 $2,728,412 $1,698,214 $4,701,726 $1,175,431.50 Condominium 9 $2,946,834 $1,001,664 $3,948,498 $987,124.50 Industrial 74 $253,466,476 $91,341,641 $347,777,017 $86,944,254.25 Mobile/Manufactured
Home 1 $2,562,515 $2,959,024 $5,521,539 $1,380,384.75
Office/Professional
Space 1 $300,900 $81,600 $382,500 $95,625.00
Primary Use Not
Designated 80 $0 $0 $0 $0.00
Recreation 1 $164,951 $176,735 $341,686 $85,421.50
Single-Family
Residence 187 $30,890,879 $12,724,102 $43,624,981 $10,906,245.25 Vacant 34 $1,040 $6,284,806 $6,285,846 $1,571,461.50
Unknown 1,004
Total 1,520 $460,869,587 $153,917,812 $618,041,399 $154,510,349.75 Source: Fresno County Parcel and Assessor Data; 2009 FIRM Table 11. City of Fresno’s FEMA 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard by Property Type Property Type Parcel
Count
Improved
Value
Content
Value
Total Value Loss
Estimate
Agriculture 32 $5,495,613 $10,676,537 $16,172,150 $4,043,037.50 Apartments 3,113 $11,491,883,444 $2,307,538,758 $13,799,422,202 $3,449,855,550 Church 36 $26,935,989 $3,602,572 $30,755,561 $7,688,890.25 Commercial 1,003 $4,370,582,940 $958,255,679 $5,361,476,269 $1,340,369,067 Communications 1 $0 $3,458 $3,458 $864.50
Condominium 14 $34,466,814 $6,779,664 $41,246,478 $10,311,619.50 Group
Housing/Lodging 25 $71,850,485 $15,170,699 $87,700,784 $21,925,196.00 Hospital 16 $341,363,536 $17,708,710 $359,072,246 $89,768,061.50 Industrial 159 $152,095,940 $35,261,197 $190,612,677 $47,653,169.25 Mobile/Manufactured
Home 2 $2,701,780 $4,529,389 $7,231,169 $1,807,792.25
Office/Professional
Space 361 $795,090,433 $241,409,256 $1,039,367,489 $259,841,872.25 Outlot & Common
Area 1 $9 $14 $23 $5.75
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Property Type Parcel
Count
Improved
Value
Content
Value
Total Value Loss
Estimate
Primary Use Not
Designated 164 $0 $0 $0 $0.00
Recreation 1 $2,147,372 $418,318 $2,565,690 $641,422.50 School 8 $9,884,350 $2,386,174 $12,309,124 $3,077,281.00 Single-Family
Residence 5,390 $673,165,551 $240,945,384 $914,127,235 $228,531,808.75 Vacant 359 $949,614 $45,393,715 $46,471,529 $11,617,882.25 Total 10,685 $17,978,613,870 $3,890,079,524 $21,908,534,084 $5,477,133,521 Source: Fresno County Parcel and Assessor data; FEMA 2009 FIRM Based on this analysis, the City of Fresno has significant assets at risk to the 100-year and greater floods. There are 1,520 parcels within the 100-year floodplain for a total value of roughly $618 million, including building and content value. An additional 10,685 parcels valued at roughly $21.9 billion fall within the 500-year floodplain.
Applying the 25 percent damage factor as described in Section 4.3.2, there is a 1 percent chance in any given year of a 100-year flood causing roughly $$154 million in damage in the City of Fresno and a
0.2 percent chance in any given year of a 500-year flood causing roughly $5.48 billion in damage (combined damage from both floods).
Properties at risk to flooding are shown in relation to the mapped floodplains in Figure 16. City of Fresno’s Properties at Risk in the 100- and 500-Year Floodplains.
Limitations: This model may include structures in the floodplains that are elevated at or above the level of the base-flood elevation, which will likely mitigate flood damage. Also, the assessed values are well below the actual market values. Thus, the actual value of assets at risk may be significantly higher than those included herein.
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Source: CA Geoportal; CA-DFW; CalTrans; USACE National Levee Database, FEMA, DFIRM, 1/2016; County of Fresno – GIS, Microsoft, U.S. Building Footprints, 2019 Figure 7. City of Fresno Flood Hazard Area Buildings at Risk Annex E: City of Fresno
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In addition to the 100-year and 500-year floodplains mapped by FEMA, the California Department of Water Resources maintains Best Available Maps (BAM) which include the floodplains in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins, based on a study performed in 2002 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Though limited to the San Joaquin River as a flood source and thus not as comprehensive as the FEMA FIRM, the USACE study shows additional differentiation in flood risk by modeling the 200-year floodplain (the flood with a 0.5 percent annual chance of occurring).
INSURANCE COVERAGE, CLAIMS PAID, AND REPETITIVE LOSSES
The City of Fresno joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on December 1, 1982. In addition to providing insurance for properties at risk of flooding, the program collects and publishes statistics on flood-related losses in participating jurisdictions.
NFIP insurance data for the City of Fresno indicates that as of March 19, 2024, there were 182 flood insurance policies in force in the City with $126,073 in total premium or total paid. This coverage represents a decline of nearly 200 policies over the last decade. Figure 8. Fresno County Flood Insurance Claims displays where the flood claims were submitted across the City of Fresno.
Figure 8. Fresno County Flood Insurance Claims
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There have been 148 historical claims for flood losses totaling $931,867.10; According to the FEMA Community Information System accessed March 19, 2024, there are two repetitive loss properties within the City of Fresno, shown in Figure 9. City of Fresno Repetitive Loss and Severe Repetitive Loss Properties.
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Source: CA Geoportal; CA-DFW; CalTrans; County of Fresno - GIS Figure 9. City of Fresno Repetitive Loss and Severe Repetitive Loss Properties Annex E: City of Fresno
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POPULATION AT RISK
Using census tract population values from the 2020 US Census, the planning team estimates that the following are at risk to flooding in the City of Fresno:
▪ 100-year flood—114,159 people
▪ 500-year flood— 79,527 people
▪ Total flood—193,686 people
CRITICAL FACILITIES AT RISK
Critical facilities are those community components that are most needed to withstand the impacts of disaster as previously described. Table 12. Critical Facilities in the 100- and 500-Year Floodplains:
City of Fresno lists the critical facilities in the City’s 100- and 500-year floodplains.
Table 12. Critical Facilities in the 100- and 500-Year Floodplains: City of Fresno Critical Facility Type 100-Year
Floodplain 500-Year Floodplain
Airport Facilities - 1
Bus Facilities - 1
Communications - 4
Electric Power Facilities - 1
EOC - 1
Fire Stations 6
Medical Care Facilities - 4
Police Stations - 5
Railway Facilities - 1
Schools - 66
Total 0 90
Source: Fresno County, HIFLD 2017
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT (HIGH)
The following are the primary concerns for the City of Fresno related to hazardous materials release:
▪ Train derailments
▪ Kinder-Morgan pipeline
▪ Chevron petroleum pipelines
▪ Storage facilities
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There have been 141 hazardous materials incidents from 2017-2022 that have occurred in the City of Fresno. Of the 141 incidents, there were 77 railroad non-release, 1 aircraft, 38 fixed, 8 mobile, 3 pipeline, 3 railroad, 10 storage tank, and 1 unknown sheen incident. There were 34 injuries, 24 hospitalizations, $350,000 in damages, 31 fatalities, and 395 evacuees during the time period. 3 There are 28 CalARP hazardous materials facilities located in the City of Fresno.
SEVERE WEATHER: WINDSTORM (MEDIUM)
Fresno’s prevailing winds are typically light and from the northwest. High wind conditions are occasionally created by strong weather fronts. Occasionally, there are funnel clouds of low intensity.
Past structural damage has been light, infrequent, and very limited in geographic extent. Injuries have been extremely rare. Most of this damage has occurred secondary to large trees being blown over. The City’s design wind load, the level of wind force that new structures are required to be engineered to withstand, is 70 mph.
SOIL HAZARDS: LAND SUBSIDENCE (LOW)
Despite long-term over-drafting of groundwater that has lowered the static water table under Fresno by as much as 100 feet over the past century, ground level subsidence has not been noted in the vicinity of the City (this is probably due to the geologic strata underlying the City, which features layers of clay and hardpan interleaved with sand and gravel layers).
WILDFIRE (HIGH)
Similar to many areas of the County, Fresno has high temperatures in the summer with low rainfall creating fire hazard conditions. There is some wildfire risk in the San Joaquin River Bluff area North of Fresno due to vegetation and steep slopes. However, the Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone outside of jurisdictional boundaries, shown in the figure below. In this recent 2024 update, the City noted during the planning process that wildfires pose a higher risk which is why the risk has increased from medium to high. There have been no known significant fires that have occurred in the past several years.
Additionally, there are not any critical facilities in wildfire threat zones in the City of Fresno. 3 California Environmental Protection Agency, California Accidental Release Prevention Program, 2017-2022 Annex E: City of Fresno
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Source: CA Geoportal; CA-DFW; CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CalFIRE ArcGIS Online Portal; CalTrans; County of Fresno - GIS
Figure 10. City of Fresno Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone Annex E: City of Fresno
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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 used a matrix of common mitigation activities to inventory which of these policies or programs were in place. The team then supplemented this inventory by reviewing additional existing policies, regulations, plans, and programs to determine if they contributed to reducing hazard-related losses.
During the plan update process, this inventory was reviewed by the jurisdictional planning representatives and Witt O’Brien’s consultant team 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 Fresno’s updated capabilities are summarized below. A summary of the mitigation capabilities is summarized in the following table.
Table 13. City of Fresno Mitigation Capability Summary
Area
Degree of Capability
Limited Moderate High
Planning and Regulatory
Capability X
Administrative and
Technical Capability X
Fiscal Capability X
Available Staff X
Political Support/Interest X
Community Support X
REGULATORY MITIGATION CAPABILITIES
Table 14. City of Fresno’s Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities lists regulatory mitigation capabilities, including planning and land management tools, typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities and indicates those that are in place in Fresno.
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Table 14. City of Fresno’s Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities FRESNO GENERAL PLAN (ADOPTED DECEMBER 18, 2014)
The Fresno General Plan is forward-looking, comprehensive, and long-range. It supports the community’s vision to preserve the desirable qualities that make the city of Fresno an ideal place to live, work, and play. The Plan recommends strategies to address prevalent existing conditions and Tool/Program
In Place
Adopted/Updated
Under
Development Expect to
Implement Yes No Yes NO
Building Codes (please
indicate UCC or IBC +
year)
X
Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) X
Community Rating
System (CRS Program
of the NFIP)
X
Emergency
Management
Accreditation Program
(EMAP)
X
Fire Code X
Firewise Community X
Floodplain
Management/Flood
Damage Prevention
Ordinance
X
Land Use/Development
Planning X
National Flood
Insurance Program
(NFIP)
X
Post Disaster
Redevelopment/Recons
truction Plan/Ordinance
X
Storm Ready X
Stormwater
Management
Plan/Ordinance
X
Subdivision
Regulations/Ordinance X
Two Weeks Ready
Unified Development
Ordinance X
Zoning Ordinance X
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trends that impede achieving and maintaining greater human, community, environmental, and economic health and prosperity. The Plan envisions Fresno as a vibrant, growing city, infused with a sense of heritage and community. The primary purpose of a general plan is to outline a long-range vision for the physical development of the city that reflects the aspirations of the community. Since economic, social, transportation, environmental, public facilities and services, and other outcomes are interrelated with land use and development and are important to the community, the Plan includes applicable policies related to these complementary areas as well. The Plan presents a blueprint to guide economic development initiatives, as well as needed investments in improvements to increase competitiveness and promote economic growth. The general plan includes nine state mandated elements including land use, circulation, housing, conservation, noise, open space, safety, air quality and environmental justice. Relevant elements and information to the hazard mitigation plan are outlined below.
▪ Goal 9: Promote a city of healthy communities and improve quality of life in established neighborhoods.
o Emphasize supporting established neighborhoods in Fresno with safe, well maintained, and accessible streets, public utilities, education and job training, proximity to jobs, retail services, health care, affordable housing, youth development opportunities, open space and parks, transportation options, and opportunities for home grown businesses. ▪ Goal 12: Resolve existing public infrastructure and service deficiencies, make full use of existing infrastructure, and invest in improvements to increase competitiveness and promote economic growth.
o Emphasize the fair and necessary costs of maintaining sustainable water, sewer, streets, and other public infrastructure and service systems in rates, fees, financing and public investments to implement the General Plan. Adequately address accumulated deferred maintenance, aging infrastructure, risks to service continuity, desired standards of service to meet quality-of-life goals, and required infrastructure to support growth, economic competitiveness and business development.
▪ Goal 16: Protect and improve public health and safety.
Some of the elements of the General Plan also contain objectives and policies relevant to protecting human health and safety (e.g., supporting objectives and policies in the Public Utilities and Services Element direct that amendments to construction and fire codes to reduce the level of risk to life and property from fire commensurate with the City’s fire suppression capabilities and that fire and police services be provided). Because the Noise and Safety Element is the portion of the General Plan most relevant to hazard mitigation, select objectives and policies are extracted and included below.
THE NOISE AND SAFETY ELEMENT
The Noise and Safety Element seeks to reduce deaths, injuries, illnesses, damage to property, and economic and social dislocation that could result from hazards. Of specific relevance to this plan, it addresses seismic and geologic conditions, flooding, hazardous materials, and emergency response.
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Seismic and Geologic Hazards
Policy
Number Policy Description
NS-2
Objective: Minimize risks of property damage and personal injury posed by geologic and seismic risks.
NS-2a Seismic Protection. Ensure seismic protection is incorporated into new and existing construction, consistent with the Fresno Municipal Code.
NS-2b
Soil Analysis Requirement. Identify areas with potential geologic and/or soils hazards, and require development in these areas to conduct a soil analysis and mitigation plan by a registered civil engineer (or engineering geologist specializing in soil geology) prior to allowing on-site drainage or disposal for wastewater, stormwater runoff, or swimming pool/spa water.
NS-2c
Landfill Areas. Require proposed land uses on or near landfill areas to be designed and maintained to comply with California Code of Regulations, Title 27, Section 21190, Post Closure Land Use.
NS-2d
Bluff Preservation Overlay Zone. Per the requirements of the Bluff Preservation Overlay Zone District and Policy POSS-7-f (Chapter 5, Parks and Open Space), the following standards shall be applicable for property located within the Bluff Preservation zone:
• Require proposed development within 300 feet of the toe of the San Joaquin River bluffs to undertake an engineering soils investigation and evaluation report that demonstrates that the site is sufficiently stable to support the proposed development, or provide mitigations to provide sufficient stability; and
• Establish a minimum setback of 30 feet from the San Joaquin River bluff edge for all buildings, structures, decks, pools and spas (which may be above or below grade), fencing, lighting, steps, etc. o An applicant may request to reduce the minimum setback to 20 feet from the bluff edge if it can be demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the City’s Building Official and the Planning Director, that the proposed building, structure, deck, pool and/or spas (which may be above or below grade), fencing, steps, etc., will meet the objectives of the Bluff Preservation Overlay Ordinance. In no case shall the setback be reduced to less than 20 feet.
Flooding Hazards
Policy
Number Policy Description
NS-3
Objective: Minimize the risks to property, life, and the environment due to flooding and stormwater runoff hazards.
NS-3a
Stormwater Drainage and Flood Control Master Plan. Support the full implementation of the FMFCD Storm Drainage and Flood Control Master Plan, the completion of planned flood control and drainage system facilities, and the continued maintenance of stormwater and flood water retention and conveyance facilities and capacities. Work with the FMFCD to make sure that its Storm Drainage and Flood Control Master Plan is consistent with the General Plan.
NS-3b
Curb and Gutter Installation. Coordinate with Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD) to install curbing, gutters, and other drainage facilities with priority to existing neighborhoods with the greatest deficiencies and consistent with the Storm Drainage and Flood Control Master Plan.
NS-3c
Dual Use Facilities. Support multiple uses of flood control and drainage facilities as follows:
• Use, wherever practical, FMFCD facilities for groundwater management and recharge; and • Promote recreational development of ponding basin facilities located within or near residential areas, compatible with the stormwater and groundwater recharge functions.
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Policy
Number Policy Description
NS-3d
Landscaped Buffer. City will support the development of FMFCD ponding basins including the landscaping and irrigation for the top one third of the side sloped areas consistent with the FMFCD Basin Design
Criteria.
NS-3e Pollutants. Work with FMFCD to prevent and reduce the existence of urban stormwater pollutants pursuant to the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems Act.
NS-3f
Flooding Emergency Response Plans. Work with responsible agencies to update emergency dam failure inundation plans, evacuation plans and other emergency response plans for designated floodprone areas, including the San Joaquin river bottom.
NS-3g
Essential Facilities Siting Outside of Floodplains. Avoid siting emergency response and essential public facilities, such as fire and police stations, within a 100-year floodplain, unless it can be demonstrated that the facility can be safely operated and accessed during flood events.
NS-3h
Runoff Controls. Implement grading regulations and related development policies that protect area residents from flooding caused by urban runoff produced from events that exceed the capacity of the Storm Drainage and Flood Control Master Plan system of facilities. Place all structures and/or floodproofing in a manner that does not cause floodwaters to be diverted onto adjacent property, increase flood hazards to other property, or
otherwise adversely affect other property.
NS-3i
New Development Must Mitigate Impact. Require new development to not significantly impact the existing storm drainage and flood control system by imposing conditions of approval as project mitigation, as authorized by law. As part of this process, closely coordinate and consult with the FMFCD to identify appropriate conditions that will result in mitigation acceptable and preferred by FMFCD for each project.
Commentary: The City recognizes the expertise and significant role of the FMFCD, and will give the highest deference to its recommendations for mitigation measures, consistent with applicable law.
NS-3j
National Flood Insurance Program. Continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by ensuring compliance with applicable requirements. Review NFIP maps periodically to determine if areas subject to flooding have been added or removed and make adjustments to the Land Use Diagram Figure LU-1.
NS-3k
100-Year Floodplain Policy. Require developers of residential subdivisions to preserve those portions of development sites as open space that may be subject to 100-year flood events, unless the flood hazard can be substantially mitigated by development project design.
NS-3l
200-Year Floodplain Protection. Promote flood control measures that maintain natural conditions within the 200-year floodplain of rivers and streams and, to the extent possible, combine flood control, recreation, water quality, and open space functions. Discourage construction of permanent improvements that would be adversely affected by periodic floods within the 200-year floodplain, particularly in the San Joaquin river bottom.
NS-3m
Flood Risk Public Awareness. Continue public awareness programs to inform the general public and potentially affected property owners of flood hazards and potential dam failure inundation. Remind households and businesses located in flood-prone areas of opportunities to purchase flood insurance.
NS-3n Precipitation Changes. Work with FMFCD to evaluate the planned and existing stormwater conveyance system in light of possible changes to precipitation patterns in the future.
Hazardous Materials
Policy
Number Policy Description
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NS-4
Minimize the risk of loss of life, injury, serious illness, and damage to property resulting from the use, transport, treatment, and disposal of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes.
NS-4a Processing and Storage. Require safe processing and storage of hazardous materials, consistent with the California Building Code and the Uniform Fire Code, as adopted by the City.
NS-4b
Coordination. Maintain a close liaison with the Fresno County Environmental Health Department, Cal-EPA Division of Toxics, and the State Office of Emergency Services to assist in developing and maintaining hazardous material business plans, inventory statements, risk management prevention plans, and
contingency/emergency response action plans.
NS-4c
Soil and Groundwater Contamination Reports. Require an investigation of potential soil or groundwater contamination whenever justified by past site uses. Require appropriate mitigation as a condition of project approval in the event soil or groundwater contamination is identified or could be encountered during site development.
NS-4d
Site Identification. Continue to aid federal, State, and County agencies in the identification and mapping of waste disposal sites (including abandoned waste sites), and to assist in the survey of the kinds, amounts, and locations of hazardous wastes.
NS-4e
Compliance with County Program. Require that the production, use, storage, disposal, and transport of hazardous materials conform to the standards and procedures established by the County Division of Environmental Health. Require compliance with the County’s Hazardous Waste Generator Program, including the submittal and implementation of a Hazardous Materials Business Plan, when applicable.
NS-4f
Hazardous Materials Facilities. Require facilities that handle hazardous materials or hazardous wastes to be designed, constructed, and operated in accordance with applicable hazardous materials and waste management laws and regulations.
NS-4g
Hazmat Response. Include policies and procedures appropriate to hazardous materials in the City’s disaster and emergency response preparedness and planning, coordinating with implementation of Fresno County’s Hazardous Materials Incident Response Plan.
NS-4g
Hazmat Response. Include policies and procedures appropriate to hazardous materials in the City’s disaster and emergency response preparedness and planning, coordinating with implementation of Fresno County’s Hazardous Materials Incident Response Plan.
NS-4h Household Collection. Continue to support and assist with Fresno County’s special household hazardous waste collection activities, to reduce the amount of this material being improperly discarded.
NS-4i Public Information. Continue to assist in providing information to the public on hazardous materials.
Emergency Response
Policy
Number Policy Description
NS-6 Objective: Foster an efficient and coordinated response to emergencies and natural disasters.
NS-6a
County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan. Adopt and implement the Fresno County MultiJurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan and City of Fresno Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex.
Commentary: The federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires that cities, counties, and special districts have a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to be eligible to receive FEMA hazard mitigation funds.
Cities and counties can adopt and use all or part of a regional multi-jurisdictional plan, such as the one prepared by Fresno County, in lieu of
preparing all or part of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
NS-6b Disaster Response Coordination. Maintain coordination with other local, State, and Federal agencies to provide coordinated disaster response.
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NS-6c
Emergency Operations Plan. Update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan periodically, using a whole community approach which integrates considerations for People with access and functional needs in all aspects of planning.
NS-6d
Evacuation Planning. Maintain an emergency evacuation plan in consultation with the Police and Fire Departments and other emergency service providers, which shows potential evacuation routes and a list of emergency shelters to be used in case of catastrophic emergencies.
Commentary: The evacuation plan will be flexible in order to consider many scenarios and multiple modes of transportation beyond private automobiles. It will provide special provisions for disadvantaged populations, such as those with physical disabilities or those with low or very low incomes, and for areas with fewer resources
through neighborhood emergency preparedness programs.
NS-6e
Critical Use Facilities. Ensure critical use facilities (e.g. City Hall, police and fire stations, schools, hospitals, public assembly facilities, transportation services) and other structures that are important to protecting health and safety in the community remain operational during an emergency. • Site and design these facilities to minimize their exposure and susceptibility to flooding, seismic and geological effects, fire, and explosions.
• Work with the owners and operators of critical use facilities to ensure they can provide alternate sources
of electricity, water, and sewerage in the event that regular utilities are interrupted in a disaster.
NS-6f Emergency Vehicle Access. Require adequate access for emergency vehicles in all new development, including adequate widths, turning radii, hard standing areas, and vertical clearance.
NS-6g
Emergency Preparedness Public Awareness Programs. Continue to conduct programs to inform the general public, including people with access and functional needs, of the City’s emergency preparedness and disaster response procedures.
FRESNO FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE
The City of Fresno’s Flood Plain Ordinance was revised in the late 1990s and formally adopted by the Fresno City Council on September 20, 2005. (In late 2007, the Fresno Municipal Code was republished with its chapters somewhat reorganized. There was no change in the text of the Flood Plain Ordinance at that time, but due to the reorganization of its content, its most recent adoption effective date is January 17, 2008.) The Fresno Flood Plain Ordinance is Article 6 of Chapter 11 of the Fresno Municipal Code.
The purpose of this ordinance is 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;
▪ 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; Annex E: City of Fresno
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▪ Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of flood hazard; and ▪ Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.
In order to accomplish its purposes, the ordinance includes the following methods and provisions:
▪ Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or flood heights or velocities ▪ Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction ▪ Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage ▪ Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert flood water or which may increase flood hazards in other areas
▪ Control the alteration of natural flood plains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel floodwaters
This ordinance applies to all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the City as identified by FEMA’s Flood Insurance Study for Fresno County, California and incorporated areas dated September 30, 2005, with accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and all subsequent amendments and/or revisions. It appoints the building official to administer, implement, and enforce the ordinance by granting or denying development permits in accord with its provisions.
This ordinance includes the following standards of construction related to special flood hazard areas:
▪ Anchoring
▪ Construction materials and methods
▪ Elevation and floodproofing
▪ Residential construction
▪ Nonresidential construction
▪ Flood venting
▪ Standards for utilities
▪ Standards for subdivisions
▪ Standards for manufactured homes
▪ Standards for recreational vehicles
▪ Floodways
▪ Standards for storage of materials and equipment
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In conjunction with Fresno’s Drainage Fee Ordinance (Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 12, Article 19), which requires local grading and development to conform to the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District Master Drainage Plan and to provide proportionate shares of drainage infrastructure, the Fresno Flood Plain Ordinance and its preceding Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance have reduced flood damage losses in the City.
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM/COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM The City of Fresno joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on December 1, 1982. It has been a member of the Community Rating System (CRS) since October 1, 1992. The City’s Floodplain Administrator duties are assigned to the building official. The Building and Safety Division of the Planning and Development Department works to improve the City’s CRS rating, which determines the price paid for flood insurance policies issued in the jurisdiction. The rating is based on detailed biannual audits conducted by FEMA and/or a designee agency (currently, the California Department of Water Resources). The primary means of improving and maintaining a good CRS rating is through administration of the Fresno Flood Plain Ordinance. As part of its efforts to improve its community rating, the City of Fresno has hosted periodic FEMA Region IX NFIP/CRS training.
According to the FEMA Community Status Book Report, accessed on March 27, 2024, the City’s current CRS rating is Class 8, which includes a 10 percent SFHA discount and 0.05 percent Non-SFHA discount.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BLUFF PRESERVATION ORDINANCE, 1980
After an interagency San Joaquin River Reconnaissance Plan was completed in the late 1970s, the City of Fresno adopted the San Joaquin River Bluff Specific Plan to preserve this important open space and habitat feature and to safeguard the bluff face, which is the most unstable geologic feature in the City. The San Joaquin River Bluff Specific Plan was later subsumed by the 1988 Bullard Community Plan, which carried forward protective policies for this area of Fresno.
The regulation of land use, development, and grading in this portion of Fresno is ongoing pursuant to the Bluff Preservation Ordinance. This ordinance, part of the City’s zoning regulations, delineates an overlay zone district along the river bluff (the Bluff Preservation Overlay District), established allowable and prohibited land uses, and set forth conditions and requirements for using or modifying property in the district. The regulations of the district are deemed to be necessary for the preservation of the special qualities of the bluffs and for the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of owners and users of property in the area.
The Bluff Preservation Ordinance is administered by the Fresno Development and Resource Management Department through its special permit process and grading plan checks. Anyone applying for a building permit is required to submit a site plan review with accompanying soil investigation and evaluation report (prepared by an appropriately licensed professional engineer or registered geologist).
The Department’s Code Enforcement Division also conducts periodic surveillance of bluff properties for grading and construction done without permits and institutes abatement actions when these conditions are discovered.
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HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INCIDENT SAFEGUARDS
The Fresno Fire Department works with Fresno County Environmental Health to review hazardous material business plans that detail flammable, explosive, toxic, and otherwise hazardous materials used by businesses in the City. The Fire Department has its own permitting requirement for liquid and gaseous fuel tanks to ensure that they are installed and maintained safely. The City’s Hazardous Materials Response Unit (housed in a City fire station) maintains the capability to quickly characterize material releases and spills, to evaluate risks to life and property, and to implement appropriate controls and evacuation measures.
FIRE PREVENTION POLICY
The City of Fresno has some of the most progressive and effective fire prevention policies and regulations in the nation relating to water supply (fire flow) required for development, ingress and egress from developed buildings and subdivisions, on-site automatic fire suppression systems (sprinkler and on-site private hydrants), building addressing to facilitate rapid emergency response, marking of unsafe buildings (those older structures with hazardous conditions or a lack of water supply), and instant aid/mutual aid with adjacent fire departments belonging to Fresno County special districts and the City of Clovis.
In addition to its extensive network of well-trained and well-equipped firefighting stations, the Fresno Fire Department has a Fire Prevention Bureau, under supervision of the City’s fire marshal, to administer regulations adopted and referenced by the Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 6, Article 5 relating to fire prevention. The Fire Prevention Bureau carries out these responsibilities by conducting routine inspections of all public and commercial buildings, performing detailed development permit and construction plan checks, and investigating arson.
Another component of the City’s overall fire protection program is the administration of its public nuisance ordinances to require properties to be kept clean and free of flammable debris and to annually abate weeds and overgrown vegetation before these materials can dry out in the spring to pose a wildfire hazard (Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article 6 relating to public nuisance abatement).
The Planning and Development Department Code Enforcement Division and Department of Public Utilities Community Sanitation Division coordinate their efforts to enforce the nuisance abatement regulations and provide cleanup services when property owners do not take care of matters themselves.
PLANNING MITIGATION CAPABILITIES
Figure X identifies the plans related to mitigation and loss prevention in Fresno.
Table 15. City of Fresno Planning Capabilities
Regulatory Tool In Place
Yes/No
Under Development
Yes/No Comments
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Yes
Climate Resiliency or
Adaptation Plan No
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Regulatory Tool In Place
Yes/No
Under Development
Yes/No Comments
Community Wildfire Protection
Plan (CWPP) No
Comprehensive Emergency
Management Plan No
Comprehensive Land Use Plan
(or General, Master, or Growth
Management Plan)
Yes Yes Expected completion 12/2024
Continuity of Operations Plan
(COOP) No
Disaster Recovery Plan No
Economic Development Plan No
Emergency Operations Plan
(EOP) No
Evacuation Plan No
Flood Response Plan No
Floodplain Management
Plan/Flood Mitigation Plan No
Hazard Mitigation Plan No
Historic Preservation Plan No
Natural Resources Protection
Plan (NRPP) No
Open Space Management Plan
(Parks and Rec/Greenway Plan) No
Threat Hazard Identification and
Risk Assessment No
CITY OF FRESNO EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, 2015, UPDATED 2015 The City of Fresno Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) addresses the planned response to extraordinary emergency situations associated with natural disasters, technological incidents, excessive heat/cold, power outages, and national security emergencies in or affecting the City of Fresno. The Plan, which was updated in 2015, does the following:
▪ Establishes the emergency management organization required to mitigate any significant emergency or disaster affecting the City of Fresno.
▪ Identifies the policies, responsibilities, and procedures required to protect the health and safety of City communities, public and private property, and the environment from natural or technological disasters.
▪ Establishes the operational concepts and procedures associated with initial response operations to emergencies, the extended response operations, and the recovery process.
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The EOP is designed to establish the framework for implementation of the California Standardized Emergency Management System/National Incident Management System for the City of Fresno, which is located within the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ Mutual Aid Region V. It is intended to facilitate multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional coordination, particularly between the City of Fresno and the Fresno County Operational Area, including special districts and state agencies, in emergency operations. This plan will be used in conjunction with the Fresno County EOP and the State of California Emergency Plan. The plan is designed to guide the reader or user through each phase of an emergency: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
OTHER PLANS AND POLICIES
Other hazard mitigation-related policies and plans in place in and observed by the City of Fresno include the following:
▪ California Code of Regulations Title 23 administrative law for development and use of land in designated floodway areas along the San Joaquin River administered by the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, staffed by the California Department of Water Resources. ▪ Standards for constructing and maintaining drainage basins and ponds to prevent mosquito breeding and to provide for mosquito control district access for inspection and abatement activities (jointly promulgated by the Planning and Development Department and Public Works Department in fall of 2005).
▪ Dam failure inundation plans prepared and administered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, Southern California Edison, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
▪ The California Environmental Quality Act, overseen by the Fresno City Attorney’s Office and administered by several City departments, requires consideration of health and safety impacts as they may relate to projects, which are defined as any action that may result in a change in the physical environment and that would include public facilities, and private development, and even adoption/amendment of land use plans and ordinances. An analysis of every project is conducted by the appropriate City department (the Development and Resource Management Department does the bulk of these analyses). Inquiries regarding project sites and features are distributed to departments and outside agencies that may have knowledge of, or which may regulate, aspects of the proposed project. The information obtained from these requests for comment and from other staff research is compiled into an informational document for decision-makers and the public. The information is also used to develop a list of mitigation actions to reduce or abate potential adverse impacts of the project. For those projects which may involve federal funds or require federal approvals, a parallel National Environmental Policy Act assessment is also prepared by the City. ▪ The Development and Resource Management Department administers regulations in the California Building Code and in Uniform Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical Codes as those codes are modified through adoption by the state and City. Plan check and inspection activities of the Department ensure structural soundness and compliance with seismic and other regulations.
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ADMINISTRATIVE/TECHNICAL MITIGATION CAPABILITIES
Table 16. City of Fresno’s Administrative and Technical Mitigation identifies the personnel responsible for activities related to mitigation and loss prevention in Fresno.
Table 16. City of Fresno’s Administrative and Technical Mitigation Staff and Personnel
Resources Yes No
Department or
Single Staff
Member
Comments
Emergency Manager X City Manager
Engineers or professionals
trained in construction
practices related to buildings
and/or infrastructure
X
Public Works
Director/City
Engineering Firm
Engineers are contracted
Fiscal Management or
Procurement Specialists X
Finance
Department
Floodplain Manager X
Land Surveyors X
Land
Use/Management/Development
Planning
X City Planning Firm Planning firm contracted
Planners or engineers with an
understanding of natural
and/or human-caused hazards
X
Resource Development Staff
or Grant-writing X
Scientists familiar with the
hazards of the community X
Staff experienced with
Geographic Information
Systems (GIS)
X
Staff with education or
expertise to assess the
community’s vulnerability to
hazards
X
FISCAL MITIGATION CAPABILITIES
Table 17. City of Fresno's Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities identifies financial tools or resources that the City could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities.
Table 17. City of Fresno's Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities Staff or
Personnel
Resource
Never Used Previously
Used Currently Used Comments
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Capital
Improvement
Programming
X
Community
Development Block
Grants (CDBG)
X
Special Purpose
Taxes (or taxing
districts)
X
Gas/Electric Utility
Fee X
Water/Sewer Fees X
Stormwater Utility
Fees X
Development
Impact Fees X
General Obligation,
revenue, and/or
Special Tax Bonds
X
Partnering
Agreements or
Intergovernmental
Agreements
X
FEMA Hazard
Mitigation
Assistance Grants
(HMGP, FMA, PDM)
X
Homeland Security
Grants (HSGP) X
USDA Rural
Development
Agency Grants
X
US Economic
Development
Administration
Grants
X
Infrastructure
Investment and
Jobs Act (IIJA)
X
MITIGATION OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS
The Fresno Department of Public Utilities, in conjunction with other agencies, provides water conservation and stormwater quality protection public information programs. The Fire Department provides personal preparedness outreach for heat and freeze emergencies and shelter-in-place information for hazardous materials emergencies. Additionally, the City has developed public service announcements for smoke detector battery life, canal safety, and fireworks safety.
The City’s Joint Information System disseminates information in Spanish, and the City can obtain translation services for other languages when necessary. A Joint Information Center plan is an annex to Annex E: City of Fresno
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the City of Fresno Emergency Operations Plan and provides comprehensive guidance for early warning notification in all languages and specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) community.
Preparedness Exercises afford the opportunity to include the City of Fresno ADA Committee. Members of the committee and volunteers from the ADA community role play for realistic first responder training.
OTHER MITIGATION EFFORTS
▪ The City is a certified StormReady community through the National Weather Service. ▪ The Fire Department, Police Department, and Solid Waste Division are nationally accredited. ▪ The City has installed security systems for the wastewater treatment facility and for its surface water treatment plant. Generators are installed in critical groundwater pumping stations and these facilities are secured.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENT
Based on the capabilities assessment, the City of Fresno has several existing mechanisms in place that already help to mitigate hazards. In addition to these existing capabilities, there are also opportunities for the City to expand or improve on these policies and programs to 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 Fresno will lead to more informed staff members who can better communicate this information to the public. In addition, the City could work to improve the CRS rating through additional floodplain management program enhancements. This could further lower the cost of flood insurance for residents.
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MITIGATION STRATEGY
MITIGATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The City of Fresno adopts the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the HMPC and described in Chapter 5 Mitigation Strategy.
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 Public Works Department may utilize the hazard information when implementing Capital Improvement projects and the Planning and Development Department may utilize the hazard information when reviewing a site plan or other type of development applications. The City will also incorporate this LHMP into the Safety Element of their General Plan, as recommended by Assembly Bill (AB) 2140.
As noted in Chapter 7 Plan Implementation, the HMPC representatives from Fresno 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 HMPC plan review meeting.
CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM In addition to the mitigation actions identified herein the City will continue to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program as specified in General Plan Policy NS-3-j:
“National Flood Insurance Program. Continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by ensuring compliance with applicable requirements.”
MITIGATION ACTIONS
The planning team for the City of Fresno identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on the risk assessment. Background information as well as information on how each action will be implemented and administered, such as ideas for implementation, responsible office, partners, potential funding, estimated cost, and schedule are also included.
In addition to implementing the mitigation actions below the City of Fresno will be participating in the county-wide, multi-jurisdictional action of developing and conducting a multi-hazard seasonal public awareness program. The county-wide project will be led by the County in partnership with all municipalities and special districts. The City agrees to help disseminate information on hazards provided by the County. More information on the action can be found in the base plan Chapter 5 Mitigation Strategy (see Section 5.3.3 Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Actions, Action #1. Develop and Conduct a Multi-Hazard Seasonal Public Awareness Program).
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1. ESTABLISH POST-DISASTER ACTION PLAN FOR CITY CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN
Hazard(s) Addressed: Multi-Hazard: dam failure, earthquake, flood, severe weather, wildfire, hazardous materials
Issue/Background: Establish a post-disaster action plan to be part of the City of Fresno Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) that will include the following elements:
▪ Procedures for public information
▪ Post-disaster damage assessment
▪ Grant writing
▪ Code enforcement
▪ Redundant operations
The plan will also include annexes from local businesses and large employers to improve economic and employment recovery. The plan will also identify a mechanism for the City to help businesses without COOPs develop a COOP to be incorporated, as an annex, into the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.
Other Alternatives: No action
Responsible Office: City of Fresno Emergency Preparedness Officer Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Cost Estimate: $150,000
Potential Funding: Local funds, grants
Benefits (Avoided Losses): This will improve response/recovery during an event through preplanning. A City COOP and local business COOPs will reduce the impact of a disaster to the local economy and employment.
Schedule: Long term
Status: 2009 project, implementation in progress
2. IMPROVE THE CITY’S CAPABILITIES FOR SHELTERING ANIMALS IN A DISASTER Hazard(s) Addressed: Multi-Hazard: dam failure, earthquake, flood, severe weather, wildfire, hazardous materials
Issue/Background: During a disaster, not only do people need to be rescued, but their pets do also.
Hurricane Katrina showed the nation that shelters do not typically allow pets, so pets may be left behind when their owners evacuate. The care of the animals left behind falls to local animal shelters. Currently, the SPCA Animal Shelter does not have the supplies to handle a large scale animal emergency. The Annex E: City of Fresno
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City has approximately 18,000 licensed dogs. If a disaster occurred, they would only be able to house a small percentage of them. Overcrowding of animals usually causes diseases and loss of animal life.
Purchasing new cages would alleviate some of the overcrowding created by a disaster.
Other Alternatives: Ask other agencies for supplies, if they have them available.
Responsible Office: City of Fresno Emergency Preparedness Officer Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Cost Estimate: $50,000
Potential Funding: General fund
Benefits (Avoided Losses): This will cut down on the spread of disease and animal loss during an emergency or disaster.
Schedule: Short term
Status: 2009 project, implementation in progress
3. TRAIN AND CERTIFY CITY INSPECTORS TO CONDUCT POST-DISASTER DAMAGE
ASSESSMENT
Hazard(s) Addressed: Multi-Hazard: dam failure, earthquake, flood, severe weather, wildfire, hazardous materials
Issue/Background: City inspectors play a vital role in post-disaster building assessment and damage assessment. Pre-training and certification is vital in response and recovery to reduce loss of life, relocate populations, and ensure the rebuilding of local economies.
Other Alternatives: No action
Responsible Office: City of Fresno Emergency Preparedness Officer and Planning and Development Department
Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Cost Estimate: $250,000
Potential Funding: Grants
Benefits (Avoided Losses): This will improve response/recovery during an event through pre- training and certification of individuals responsible for performing assessment of structures and facilities impacted by disasters. Certification will also allow qualified staff to mobilize with the State of California Office of Emergency Services (Region 5) Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
Schedule: Long term
Status: 2009 project, implementation not yet started
4. IMPLEMENT A FLOOD AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR THE PUBLIC
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Hazard(s) Addressed: Flood
Issue/Background: The City needs a program to educate flood-prone property owners along the San Joaquin River and in frequent annual flooding areas about the flood threat and how best to prepare, mitigate, and insure their properties.
Other Alternatives: No action
Responsible Office: City of Fresno Emergency Preparedness Officer and Planning and Development Department
Priority (High, Medium, Low): Medium
Cost Estimate: $15,000/year
Potential Funding: General fund, grants
Benefits (Avoided Losses): This will prevent the loss of human life and economic and property losses.
Schedule: Long term
Status: 2009 project, implementation not yet started
5. SOUTHWEST FRESNO – RECYCLED WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION Hazard(s) Addressed: Drought
Issue/Background: In 2009, the State of California adopted a recycled water policy establishing a mandate to increase the use of recycled water in California by 200,000 acre-feet per year by 2020 and an additional 300,000 acre-feet per year by 2030. The Recycled Water Master Plan prepared by the City of Fresno, Department of Public Utilities (DPU), identifies opportunities to assist with compliance of this law by reducing groundwater pumping and replacing groundwater with recycled water for nonpotable purposes (i.e. outdoor irrigation, dust control, fountains, etc.). On April 11, 2013, the Council adopted the Recycled Water Master Plan and associated environmental documents.
In 2017, the DPU commissioned a 5 MGD Tertiary Treatment Facility at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. DPU is currently constructing a Recycled Water Distribution System in Southwest Fresno to deliver recycled water to parks, cemeteries, schools, agricultural uses, etc., to offset potable water irrigation demands. This will help mitigate drought by enabling the use of recycled water for certain uses instead of tapping potable water supplies.
Other Alternatives: DPU has a Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) which was updated in the City of Fresno’s 2015 Urban Water Management Plan to manage water shortages including drought conditions. The WSCP consists of four stages allowing the City to ultimately reduce its water demand to a level commensurate with the water supplies available to a maximum reduction of 50 percent.
Responsible Office: City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Cost Estimate: $75,000,000
Potential Funding: California State Water Resources Control Board – Clean Water State Revolving Fund
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Benefits (Avoided Losses): Reduced ground water pumping by using recycled water for non- potable purposes.
Schedule: Ongoing
Status: 2018 project
6. SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT COMPLIANCE INCLUDING
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
Hazard(s) Addressed: Drought
Issue/Background: The Kings subbasin underlays the City of Fresno and like many groundwater basins throughout the State, this subbasin is in overdraft condition with underground aquifers adversely impacted by overuse. Such impacts include significant decline in water storage and water levels, degradation of water quality, and land subsidence resulting in the permanent loss of storage capacity.
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) provides for the establishment of local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to manage groundwater sustainability within groundwater subbasins defined by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). The City of Fresno has become a joint power authority of the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency, other members of the Agency include the County of Fresno, City of Kerman, City of Clovis, Biola Community Services District, Garfield Water District and International Water District. As a member of the North Kings GSA, the City of Fresno is required to participate in the development and implementation, no later than January 31, 2020, of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) to ensure a sustainable yield of groundwater, without causing undesirable results. Failure to comply with that requirement could result in the State asserting its power to manage local groundwater resources. Participation in the North Kings GSA and the implementation of a GSP will allow the City to maintain sustainable groundwater supplies while providing insurance against periods of long-term drought, a high significance hazard for the City of Fresno.
Other Alternatives: None, compliance required by law, failure to meet requirements will result in State intervention and oversight.
Responsible Office: City Engineer and North Kings GSA
Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Cost Estimate: Varies by GSA for preparation of the required GSP. Further expenses are anticipated to be accrued for the planning and construction of groundwater recharge projects.
Potential Funding: Property owner assessments along with grant funding opportunities from the State.
Benefits (Avoided Losses): Preparation and implementation of the GSP by the respective GSAs will result in the management of groundwater in a manner that is sustainable and avoids undesirable results as defined by the California State Department of Water Resources.
Schedule: GSAs must complete and submit the required GSP to DWR by January 31, 2020, which is to be fully implemented and result in sustainability of the groundwater basin, with no undesirable effects, by the year 2040.
Annex E: City of Fresno
2024 Fresno County Hazard Mitigation Plan
May 2024 59
Status: 2018 project
City of Fresno Attachment 3
Resolution Approving the WSCP
2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan C
Attachment 3 Resolution Approving the
WSCP
Resolution to be included following adoption.
City of Fresno Notification Letters
2025 Urban Water Management Plan | J
Appendix J Notification Letters
J
City of Fresno Adopting Resolutions
2025 Urban Water Management Plan | K
Appendix K Adopting Resolutions
K
Resolution to be included following adoption.