Visalia City Council
July 15, 2024

Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council
Meeting Agenda - Final
Mayor Brian Poochigian
Vice Mayor Brett Taylor
Council Member Steve Nelsen
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Council Member Liz Wynn
Visalia Council Chambers7:00 PMMonday, July 15, 2024

ROLL CALL

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Citizens are now invited to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council and items listed on the Closed Session agenda. The Council asks that you keep your comments concise and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is welcome. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence.

CALL TO ORDER CLOSED SESSION - 5:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

INVOCATION

ITEMS OF INTEREST

SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION

PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time for people to comment on matters within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. The Council asks that you keep your comments brief and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is welcome.

This is the opportunity to address the Council on any matter of interest, whether on the agenda or not, other than the Consent Calendar.

People may comment one time during the evening for up to three minutes unless additional time is authorized by the Council. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence.

1 Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final July 15, 2024

CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these matters unless a request is made by a City Council Member and then the item will be removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion.

1. Authorization to read ordinances by title only. 24-0277

2. Annual contract to Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service - Authorize the City Manager to award a sole source contract to Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service for the purpose of providing Pierce fire apparatus parts, service and repairs. The annual contract shall not exceed $175,000 annually..
24-0245

3. Record Final Map for Shepherds Ranch 1 - Request authorization to record the final map for Shepherds Ranch 1 subdivision, located on the west side of Shirk Street south of Pershing Court; and request authorization for the formation of Landscape and Lighting District No. 23-01 and authorize ordering the improvements and levying the annual assessments. Resolution Nos. 2024-36 and 2024-37 required. 24-0246

4. Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file a Notice of Completion for the Riverway Sports Park Jim Byrd Playground Replacement Project, 3611 N Dinuba, Visalia, CA. (Project No. 1010-72000/CP0488-999).
24-0253

5. Tulare County Multi Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Resolution - Approve a Resolution 2024-33 adopting the Tulare County Multi Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. 24-0262

6. Appropriation of Prior Grant Award- Appropriate $3,628,371 of Encampment Resolution Funding Program (ERF), Round 2
awarded to the City in September 2023, in the 2023/2024 fiscal year capital budget for the Navigation Center project.
24-0263

7. Award Sports Lighting Contract - Award sports lighting construction contract and authorize City Manager to enter into an agreement with Musco Sports Lighting, as a sole-source provider, in the amount of $819,755.39; and to appropriate $964,000 from the Baseball Fund if and when the situation warrants some or all of the contract moving forward.
24-0265

8. Purchase of Peterbilt 548 Dump Truck and Transfer of Funds - Authorize the City Manager to award a purchase order to E.M.

Tharp of Porterville, CA for the purchase of a Peterbilt 548 Dump Truck through the Sourcewell Cooperative contract in the amount of $234,570.
24-0269

2 Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final July 15, 2024

9. Salary Schedule - Adopt the revised salary schedule for full-time employees, City Manager, and City Council members of the City of Visalia.
24-0270

10. Notice of Completion for the Goshen Basin Project - Authorize the City Manager to file a Notice of Completion for the Goshen Basin Project.
24-0272

11. Record Parcel Map - Request authorization to record the final parcel map for Tentative Parcel Map No. 2023-07, located at the Southwest corner of McAuliff Street and East Cherry Avenue. APN: 127-030-038 24-0273

12. Authorization to Accept the CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Grant - Authorize the Visalia Police Department to accept the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program, appropriate $195,000 and approve Resolution 2024-38.
24-0274

13. Committee Appointment - Appoint Kim Lusk to a partial first term, appoint Michael Tomola to a first two-year term, and reappoint Jerome Melgar to a second two-year term and Tyler Davis to a third two-year term, on the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. 24-0275

14. Amended Resolution - Adopt amended Resolution 2024-24 to place a cannabis tax measure on the November 2024 general election ballot.
24-0271

REGULAR ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
Comments related to regular Items and Public Hearing Items are limited to three minutes per speaker, for a maximum of 30 minutes per item. The Mayor may reasonably limit or extend the public comment period to preserve the Council's interest in conducting efficient, orderly meetings.

1. Military Equipment - Review Ordinance No. 2022-09, which adopted the Visalia Police Department Military Equipment Use Policy, the 2024 Visalia Police Department AB 481 Annual Report, and adopt Resolution No. 2024-23, a resolution renewing the Visalia Police Department Military Equipment Use Policy and approving the continued use of the equipment described in the AB 481 Annual Report pursuant to Government Code Section 7070 et seq. and determine that approval of Resolution No. 2024-23 is not a project under CEQA.
24-0092

3 Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final July 15, 2024

2. Ordinance Adoption - First reading and public hearing for Ordinance No. 2024-07 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-01, a request by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Titles 17 (Zoning), 5 (Business Regulations), 8 (Health and Safety), 12 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Spaces), 16 (Subdivisions), and 18 (Agricultural Land Preservation) based on multiple factors including, but not limited to: changes in state law, errors in existing zoning text, changes in other sections of the Visalia Municipal Code or changes in city procedures, changes in business and/or development trends and activity, citywide.
24-0217

3. Update on logo redesign - Receive update on City logo redesign process and determine how the Council would like to proceed with the logo selection.
24-0289

CLOSED SESSION REPORT

1. For the purposes of reporting out, for the record, transactions that occurred as a result of Closed Session Real Property Negotiations:

Buyer: City of Visalia
Seller: Rick G. January and Patricia A. January, husband and wife, as community property with right of survivorship
APN: 124-010-003
Purpose: Caldwell Widening Project - Santa Fe to Lovers Lane Brief Description: Right of Way
Price: $100,000.00
Closing Date: 6/28/2024
Closed Session Council Date: 6/5/2023
Project Manager: Eric Bons
24-0287

ADJOURNMENT

UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

1. Upcoming City Council Meeting Dates:

Monday, August 05, 2024 at 707 W. Acequia @ 7:00 p.m.

Monday, August 19, 2024 at 707 W. Acequia @ 7:00 p.m.

Note: Meeting dates/times are subject to change, check posted agenda for correct details. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in meetings email: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> or call 713-4512.

Written materials relating to an item on this agenda submitted to the Council after distribution of the agenda are available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk, 220 N. Santa Fe Street, Visalia CA 93292, during normal business hours.
24-0278

4 Visalia City Council
Staff Report
Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
File #: 24-0277 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 1.

Agenda Item Wording:

Authorization to read ordinances by title only.

Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 1 of 1
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5 Visalia City Council
Staff Report
Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
File #: 24-0245 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 2.

Agenda Item Wording:

Annual contract to Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service - Authorize the City Manager to award a sole source contract to Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service for the purpose of providing Pierce fire apparatus parts, service and repairs. The annual contract shall not exceed $175,000 annually..

Deadline for Action: 7/15/2024
Submitting Department: Public Works
Contact Name and Phone Number: Danny Galindo, Public Works Manager, 713-4186, [email protected]; Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, 713-4052, [email protected] Department Recommendation:

Staff recommends that the Council authorize the City Manager to award a sole source contract to Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service for the purpose of providing Pierce fire apparatus parts, service and repairs, as needed. The annual contract shall not exceed $175,000 annually, or $875,000 over the life of the contract. Staff is recommending the initial contract be for one year, with an option to renew annually for up to an additional four years.

Background Discussion:

Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service is the authorized repair and parts supplier for Pierce Manufacturing Inc. for this region. Staff is currently operating on a temporary month-to-month contract extension, given the past contract (C19048) expired on 4/09/2024. If Golden State cannot respond, they send a repair unit out of the Pierce's franchise in San Luis Obispo, CA. This contract will be used by the City of Visalia Fleet Maintenance division. The City of Visalia fire department currently has twelve (12) Pierce fire apparatus units, and each require specific services and repairs to the apparatus that Fleet does not perform in-house due to time constraints and dealer-only certifications. Those items are as follows:
· Transfer case rebuilding.
· Pump rebuilding.
· Transmission rebuilding.
· SRS system (seatbelts and air bags - must be certified to repair). · Water tank repairs.
· Command zone programming.
· Annual ladder testing and certification.
· Alignments.

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6 File #: 24-0245 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 2.

Fiscal Impact:

Parts, Repair & Service of Pierce Fire Apparatus are budgeted in Fleet Operations Division 5012.

The total amount expended in the last 3 years is shown in the figure below:

Fiscal Year Annual Cost
2021-22 $214,503
2022-23 $115,594
2023-24 $101,969
Totals $432,066
Prior Council Action: Council approved a one-year contract with four one-year extensions to Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service of Sacramento on April 1, 2019.

Other: N/A
Alternatives: None recommended.

Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):

I move to authorize the City Manager to award a sole source contract with Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service for the purpose of providing Pierce fire apparatus parts, service and repairs for an amount not to exceed $175,000 annually.

Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: GSEVS - 2024 Rates Levine Act Statement
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9 Visalia City Council
Staff Report
Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
File #: 24-0246 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 3.

Agenda Item Wording:

Record Final Map for Shepherds Ranch 1 - Request authorization to record the final map for Shepherds Ranch 1 subdivision, located on the west side of Shirk Street south of Pershing Court; and request authorization for the formation of Landscape and Lighting District No. 23-01 and authorize ordering the improvements and levying the annual assessments. Resolution Nos. 2024-36 and 2024-37 required.

Deadline for Action: None
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number: Luqman Ragabi, Assistant Engineer, [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, (599) 713-4362 Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Director, [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, (559) 713-4495 Department Recommendation:

Staff recommends that City Council authorize the recordation of the final map for Shepherds Ranch 1 located on the west side of Shirk Street between Pershing Court and West Hurley Avenue. Staff also recommends the adoption of Resolution No. 2024-36 initiating proceedings for the formation of Assessment District No. 23-01 "Shepherds Ranch" and adopt Resolution No. 2024-37 ordering the improvements and levying the annual assessments for Assessment District No. 23-01 "Shepherds Ranch." Background Discussion:

Shepherds Ranch 1 subdivision will subdivide 10-acres into a 41-lot single family residential subdivision and two out lots for Landscaping and Lighting District purposes. The proposed subdivision will provide internal, 60- foot-wide public local streets containing full improvements (curb, gutter, parkway landscaping, sidewalks and streetlights) and underground infrastructure (sewer lines, storm drainage, gas electricity and water). Primary access to the subdivision will be from North Shirk Street, which is identified as an arterial roadway. The project includes two temporary building restrictions on various lots to provide for a temporary storm drain basin and temporary fire access road. The Declarations of Temporary Building Restrictions have been attached to this report.

The final map is ready for recording. All bonds, cash payments, subdivision agreement, and final map have been submitted by the developer, DR Horton, and are in the possession of the City as follows: 1) An executed subdivision agreement; 2) Faithful Performance Bond in the amount of $2,216,554.20 and Labor and Materials Bond in the amount of $1,108,277.10; 3) cash payment of $221,655.42 distributed to various accounts to cover City fees; and 4) final map
The Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 23-01 has also been reviewed and approved as to form by the Landscape and Lighting District Committee. All new landscaping installed with this development will strictly adhere to the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). MWELO required that landscaping and irrigation plans be certified by a qualified entity (i.e., a Landscape Architect) as meeting the State and City’swater conservation requirements. In addition, MWELO increases water efficiency standards for new landscapes through use of more efficient irrigation systems, inclusion of drought tolerant plan and tree Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 1 of 3
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10 File #: 24-0246 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 3.
for new landscapes through use of more efficient irrigation systems, inclusion of drought tolerant plan and tree species, and by limiting the portion of landscape that can be covered in turf.

The Faithful Performance Bond covers the cost of constructing the public improvements noted in the subdivision agreement and the Labor and Material Bond covers the salaries and benefits as well as the materials supplied to install the required public improvements. As required by the Subdivision Ordinance, the Faithful Performance Bond covers 100% of the cost of the public improvements. The Labor and Material Bond is valued at 50% of the Faithful Performance Bond. A Maintenance Bond valued at 10% of the cost of the public improvements will be required prior to recording the Notice of Completion. The Maintenance Bond is held for one year after the recording and acts as a warranty for the public improvements installed per the subdivision agreement. The cash payment covers Development Impact Fees such as storm water acquisition, waterways, sewer front foot fees, and any outstanding plan check and inspection fees. The plan check and inspection fees are estimated at the beginning of the final map process and are not confirmed until the subdivision agreement is finalized. Differences are due in cash at the time of City Council approval of the map.

The City of Visalia has been allowing the developers of subdivisions to form assessment districts under the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972, and now under Proposition 218, in lieu of using homeowner associations for the maintenance of common features such as landscaping, irrigation systems, street lights, street trees, and local streets. The maintenance of these improvements is a special benefit to the development and enhances the land values to the individual property owners in the district.

The Landscape and Lighting Act allows for the use of summary proceedings when all the affected property owners have given their written consent to waive the requirement for a public hearing. The notice period is also waived. The owner of this development has given their written consent to waive the public hearing and form this district. The use of summary proceedings allows for the initiation of proceedings and the final annexation action of the assessment district to be acted upon together as separate resolutions.

Pursuant to Title 16 (Subdivisions) of the Visalia Municipal Code, the City’sauthorization to record the final map is a ministerial action. Specifically, Section 16.24.080 limits the City Council’s action to the specific determination that the final map conforms substantially to the contents of the tentative map, Chapter 16, and the Subdivision Map Act, and provides in pertinent part that “if the Council determines that the map is in conformity with the requirements of this Chapter, the Council shall approve the map (emphasis added).” Disapproval based upon any other reasons would be outside the authority of the Council for this particular action. The Council may reject any and all offers of dedication in the final map pursuant to Section 16.24.080 and require that the City Engineer so indicate on the map, however staff’srecommendation is that the City Council authorize recordation of the final map and accept all offers of dedication as previously described in this report.

Fiscal Impact:
41 lots will start contributing to the landscape and lighting assessment district (L&LD 23-01) created for maintenance of common features related to this subdivision. The annual lot assessment will be $1,957.65 per lot.

Prior Council Action: On June 10, 1987 Council authorized the use of landscape maintenance assessment districts per the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972 for maintaining common area features that are a special benefit and enhance subdivisions.

Other: On August 8, 2022 The tentative subdivision map for Shepherds Ranch 1 (Tentative Subdivision Map Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 2 of 3
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No. 5581) was approved by the Planning Commission.

On April 16, 2024, L&LD 23-01 was reviewed and approved as to form by the Landscape and Lighting District Committee.

Alternatives: None
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):

I move to authorize the recordation of the final map for Shepherds Ranch 1; the adoption of Resolution No. 2024-36 initiating proceedings for the formation of Assessment District No. 23-01 “ShepherdsRanch”;and the adoption of Resolution No. 2024-36 ordering the improvements and levying the annual assessments for Assessment District No. 23-01 “Shepherds Ranch.”
Environmental Assessment Status: Complete
CEQA Review: Negative Declaration No. 2021-41, adopted December 13, 2021.

Attachments: Click or tap here to enter text.

1. Final Map

2. Aerial Map

3. Location Map

4. Development Disclosure

5. Temporary Building Restrictions - Basin

6. Temporary Building Restrictions - Fire Access Road

7. Resolution Documents including:

Resolution Initiating Proceedings for Formation, 2024-36 Clerk’s Certification
Resolution Ordering the Improvements, 2024-37
Exhibit A - Assessment Diagram
Exhibit B - Landscape Location Diagram
Exhibit C - Tax roll Assessment
Exhibit D - Engineer’s Report
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RESOLUTION NO. 2024-___

RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
FOR ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 23-01
Shepherds Ranch 1
(Pursuant to the Landscape & Lighting Act of 1972)

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:

1. The City Council proposes to form an assessment district pursuant to the Landscaping & Lighting act of 1972 (section 22500 and following, Streets & Highways Code) for the purpose of the following improvements:

Maintenance of landscaping, street trees, landscape trees, local streets, street lights, block walls and any other applicable equipment or improvements.

2. The proposed district shall be designated “Assessment District No. 23-01, City of Visalia, Tulare County, California”, and shall include the land shown on the map designated “Assessment Diagram, Assessment District No. 23-01, City of Visalia, Tulare County, California”, which is on file with the City Clerk and is hereby approved and known as “ Shepherds Ranch 1.”

3. The City Engineer of the City of Visalia is hereby designated Engineer for the purpose of these formation proceedings. The City Council hereby directs the Engineer to prepare and file with the City Clerk a report in accordance with Article 4 of Chapter 1 of the Landscape & Lighting Act of 1972.

PASSED AND ADOPTED: _____________ ____, 2024 LESLIE B. CAVIGLIA, CITY CLERK

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF TULARE ) ss.

CITY OF VISALIA )

I, Leslie B. Caviglia, City Clerk of the City of Visalia, certify the foregoing is the full and true Resolution 2024-____ passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Visalia at a regular meeting held on July 15th 2024.

Dated: LESLIE B. CAVIGLIA, CITY CLERK

By Michelle Nicholson, Chief Deputy City Clerk
26 CLERK’S CERTIFICATION TO COUNTY AUDITOR

ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 23-01
Shepherds Ranch 1
(Pursuant to Landscaping & Lighting Act of 1972)

TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR OF THE COUNTY OF TULARE:

I hereby certify that the attached document is a true copy of that certain Engineer’s Report, including assessments and assessment diagram, for “Assessment District No. 23-01, City of Visalia, Tulare County, California” confirmed by the City Council of the City of Visalia on July 15th 2024, by its Resolution No. 2024-___.

This document is certified, and is filed with you, pursuant to Section 22641 of the Streets and Highways Code.

Dated: LESLIE B. CAVIGLIA, CITY CLERK

By Michelle Nicholson, Chief Deputy City Clerk

27 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-___

RESOLUTION ORDERING THE IMPROVEMENTS
FOR ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 23-01
Shepherds Ranch 1
(Pursuant to the Landscape & Lighting Act of 1972)

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:

1. The City Council adopted its Resolution Initiating Proceedings for Assessment District No. 23-01, City of Visalia, Tulare County, California, and directed the preparation and filing of the Engineer’s Report on the proposed formation.

2. The Engineer for the proceedings has filed an Engineer’s Report with the City Clerk.

3. The owner of all land within the boundaries of the proposed landscape and lighting district have filed their consent to the formation of the proposed district, and to the adoption of the Engineer’s Report and the levy of the assessments stated therein.

4. The City Council hereby orders the improvements and the formation of the assessment district described in the Resolution Initiating Proceedings and the Engineer’s Report.

5. The City Council hereby confirms the diagram and the assessment contained in the Engineer’s Report and levies the assessment for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

6. The City Council hereby forwards the following attachments to Tulare County Recorder’s Office for recordation:

a. Clerk’s Certification to the County Auditor
b. Resolution Initiating Proceedings
c. Resolution Ordering Improvements
d. Engineer’s Report:

Exhibit A - Assessment Diagram showing all parcels of real property within the Assessment District
Exhibit B - Landscape Location Diagram
Exhibit C - Tax Roll Assessment
Exhibit D - Engineer’s Report

28 PASSED AND ADOPTED: _____________ ____, 2024 LESLIE B. CAVIGLIA, CITY CLERK

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF TULARE ) ss.

CITY OF VISALIA )

I, Leslie B. Caviglia, City Clerk of the City of Visalia, certify the foregoing is the full and true Resolution 2024-___ passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Visalia at a regular meeting held on July 15th, 2024.

Dated: LESLIE B. CAVIGLIA, CITY CLERK

By Michelle Nicholson, Chief Deputy City Clerk

29 Exhibit “A”
Assessment Diagram
Assessment District No. 23-01, City of Visalia, Tulare County, California Shepherds Ranch 1

30 Exhibit “B”
Landscape Location Diagram
Assessment District No. 23-01; City of Visalia, Tulare County, California Shepherds Ranch 1

31 Exhibit “C”
Tax Roll Assessment
Assessment District No. 23-01; City of Visalia, Tulare County, California Shepherds Ranch 1
Fiscal Year 2023-2024

APN # Assessment Owner Lot# District
TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01001 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01002 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01003 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01004 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01005 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01006 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01007 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01008 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01009 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01010 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01011 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01012 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01013 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01014 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01015 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01016 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01017 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01018 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01019 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01020 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01021 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01022 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01023 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01024 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01025 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01026 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01027 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01028 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01029 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01030 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01031 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01032 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01033 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01034 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01035 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01036 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01037 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 32 Exhibit “C”
Tax Roll Assessment
Assessment District No. 23-01; City of Visalia, Tulare County, California Shepherds Ranch 1
Fiscal Year 2023-2024

TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01038 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01039 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01040 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1 TBD $1,957.65 D.R. HORTON CA3 INC. 23-01041 23-01 SHEPHERDS RANCH 1

33 Exhibit “D”
Engineer’s Report
Assessment District No. 23-01; City of Visalia, Tulare County, California Shepherds Ranch 1

General Description
This Assessment District ( 23-01, Shepherds Ranch 1 ) is located west of North Shirk Street between Pershing Court and West Hurley Avenue . Exhibit “A” is a map of Assessment District 23-01. This district includes the maintenance of shrub areas, irrigation systems, street trees, landscape trees, block walls, street lights, pavement on local streets, and any other applicable equipment or improvements: see Exhibit “B”. The maintenance of irrigation systems and block wall includes, but is not limited to, maintaining the structural and operational integrity of these features and repairing any acts of vandalism (graffiti, theft or damage) that may occur. This District also includes the preventive maintenance of all internal local streets by means including, but not limited to overlays, cape seals, crack seals, and reclamite (oiling). The total number of lots within the district is 41, which will be assessed for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.

Determination of Benefit
The purpose of landscaping is to provide an aesthetic impression for the area. The lighting is to provide safety and visual impressions for the area. The block wall provides security, aesthetics, and sound suppression. The maintenance of the landscape areas, street lights, streets, and block walls is vital for the protection of both economic and humanistic values of the development. In order to preserve the values incorporat ed within developments and to concurrently have an adequate funding source for the maintenance of all internal local streets within the subdivision, the City Council has determined that landscape areas, street lights, block walls, street trees, landscape t rees, and all internal local streets should be included in a maintenance district to ensure satisfactory levels of maintenance.

Method of Apportionment
In order to provide an equitable assessment to all owners within the District, the following method of apportionment has been used. All lots in the District benefit equally, including lots not adjacent to landscape areas, block walls, and street lights. The lots not adjacent to landscape areas, block walls, and street lights benefit by the uniform maintenance and overall appearance of the District.

All lots in the District have frontage on an internal local street and therefore derive a direct benefit from the maintenance of the local streets.

Estimated Costs
The estimated costs to maintain the District includes the costs to maintain any landscaping, street trees, landscape trees, street lights, block walls, and pavement on local streets. The regular preventive maintenance of pavement on local streets is based on the following schedule: Reclamite on a 5 year cycle, Crack Seal on a 7 year cycle; Cape Seal on a 15 year cycle and Overlays on a 20 year cycle

34 Exhibit “D”
Engineer’s Report
Assessment District No. 23-01; City of Visalia, Tulare County, California Shepherds Ranch 1

The quantities and estimated costs are as follows:

Annual Cost Increase

This assessment district shall be subject to an automatic annual increase derived by the following formula:
year “n” assessment = ($80,263.85) (1.05)
(n-1)

where “n” equals the age of the assessment district with year one (1) being the year that the assessment district was formed;

35 Exhibit “D”
Engineer’s Report
Assessment District No. 23-01; City of Visalia, Tulare County, California Shepherds Ranch 1

However, in no case shall the assessment be greater than 1) The actual cost of providing the benefit conferred to each parcel plus any prior years’ deficit and less any carryover, as determined annually or; 2) a 10% increase over the prior year’s assessment.

The reserve fund shall be replenished as necessary to maintain a level of 10% of the estimated maintenance cost so long as the annual assessment change does not exceed the limits identified above.

Example 1) The year four estimated costs are $87,487.60 [a 9% increase over the base year assessment of $80,263.85]. The ceiling on the assessment i ncrease for year four would be $92,915.44 [ceiling = ($80,263.85) (1.05)
(4-1)
]. The assessment would be
set at $87,487.60 or the actual cost of providing the maintenance effort.

Example 2) The year four assessment is estimated at the actual cost of providing the maintenance effort of $90,698.15 [a 7% increase over the previous year assessment and a 13.0% increase over the base year assessment]. The ceiling on the assessment increase for year four would be $92,915.44 [ceiling = ($80,263.85) (1.05)
(4-1)
]. The assessment would be set at $90,698.15 or the actual cost of providing the maintenance effort because it is less than the ceiling amount and the year-to-year increase is less than the 10% cap on increases in any given year.

Example 3) The year four assessment is $87,487.60 [a 9% increase over the base year assessment of $80,263.85] and damage occurred to the masonry wall raising the year five assessment to $106,734.87 [a 22% increase over the previous year assessment]. The year five assessment will be capped at $96,236.36, a 10% increase over the previous year and under the ceiling of $97,561.22 [ceiling = ($80,263.85) (1.05)
(5-1)
]. The difference of $10,498.51 will be recognized as a deficit and carried over into future years’ assessment.

City Engineer Certification

I hereby certify that this report was prepared under my supervision and this report is based on information obtained from the improvement plans of the subject development.

Jason Huckleberry Date
For City Engineer
36 Visalia City Council
Staff Report
Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
File #: 24-0253 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 4.

Agenda Item Wording:

Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file a Notice of Completion for the Riverway Sports Park Jim Byrd Playground Replacement Project, 3611 N Dinuba, Visalia, CA. (Project No. 1010-72000/CP0488-999).

Deadline for Action: 7/15/2024
Submitting Department: Community Services
Contact Name and Phone Number: Daryl Tillman, Park Maintenance Supervisor 713-4435; [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Alvin Dias, Parks and Facilities Manager 713- 4564; [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> John Lollis, Assistant City Manager [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Department Recommendation:

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the filing of a Notice of Completion for the Riverway Sports Park Jim Byrd Playground Replacement Project.

Background Discussion:

Summary:

The scope of work included the installation of two new playground structures, integrated shade canopies, new fall surfacing, and a certified playground safety inspection. The contract was awarded to Anchor-41 Construction, LLC at the November 20, 2023, City Council Meeting in the amount of $317,600.00.

Background:

CP0488 Riverway Sports Park (Jim Byrd) Playground Replacement Project was approved by Council on 03/15/2021, during the Mid-Year budget review. Staff requested the replacement of the existing playground structure due to damage to many of the platforms and support poles. The playground was constructed from composite wood material and had become unsafe for use and temporary fencing was installed to close the playground off from public use.

RFP #21-22-09 was advertised on 12/15/2021, for the design, demo, and construction of a new play structure within the dimensions of the existing playground fall surfacing area. Two proposer conferences were conducted on January 5, 2022, and January 7, 2022, where staff answered questioned and toured the playground area with several contractors. Proposals for the RFP were due on February 1, 2022. The City received a total of three design submissions from two proposers. A selection committee was formed and met on February 15, 2022, to review the design proposals and select the design they felt met the requirements of the RFP and gave the most playability to the community. The selection committee was comprised of two Parks and Recreation Commissioners, Veronica Barajas, and Edgardo Monroy, two Parks Division staff members, Scott Pyle, and Daryl Tillman, and Recreation Manager, Laurissa Roggenkamp.

The selection committee reviewed all the designs that were submitted using the criteria that was established in RFP #21-22-09. During their review, the committee felt that the designs received were inadequate and would Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 1 of 3
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not meet the needs of the community. The committee also felt that the proposed design was unimaginative and would result in backlash from park users. The original playground was so large, the new equipment would look sparse in the play area footprint. Staff had budgeted $150,000.00, in CIP CP0488, for the project and felt this would be sufficient to complete the playground replacement.

Staff originally thought the demolition cost was the cause for such a small play structure and reached out to the submitted proposers, as well as the proposers that attended the proposer conference to find the reason why the designs fell short of expectations. The proposers all stated that due to the cost of play equipment they could not offer a more robust design with the budgeted amount, and that the demo was a small portion of the project cost. Staff began researching ways to increase the project budget through cost savings in other General Fund CIP projects and found a $66,117.20, cost savings in two awarded CIP projects, CP0467, Blain Park Arbors, and CP0493, Perry Family Park playground resurfacing. These projects were not completed and contingency funds were kept for each project if a change order was needed.

On May 20, 2022, a meeting with the Finance and Technology Services Director was held to discuss the transfer requests. During this meeting an additional $100,000 from the Parks Maintenance operations budget, water line 1622-56120, was approved to be included in the transfer request for the Jim Byrd Playground replacement project by the Finance and Technology Services Director. The total transfer request for the project was $166,117.20 and would give the Riverway Sports Park Jim Byrd Playground Replacement Project a budget total of $316,117.20. Staff felt confident the increased budget would produce a new playground for Riverway Sports Park that would meet the expectations and needs of the park.

A second Request for Proposals, RFP #22-23-33 was advertised on 6/1/2023 and 6/6/2023, for the design, and construction of a new play structures within the dimensions of the existing playground fall surfacing area.

Two mandatory proposer conferences were conducted on June 14, 2023, and June 15, 2023, where staff answered questions. Proposals for the RFP were due on June 30, 2023. The City received a total of five design submissions from four proposers. A selection committee was formed and met on September 26, 2023, to review the design proposals and select the design they felt met the requirements of the RFP and gave the most playability to the community. The selection committee was comprised of one Parks and Recreation Commissioners, Samantha Wagner, one Parks Division staff member, Daryl Tillman, and Recreation Manager, Laurissa Roggenkamp.

The selection committee reviewed all the designs that were submitted using the criteria that were established in RFP #22-23-33. During their review the committee felt that the proposal submitted by Anchor 41 Construction, of Hanford, CA was the overall unanimous winner and best met the requirements of RFP #22-23 -33 and the needs of the community. After staff received the original cost proposal Anchor 41 Construction received notice from the equipment supplier that there was a cost increase for both equipment and shipping.

Anchor 41 Construction has kept all their construction costs the same, but the increase in pricing for the playground equipment and shipping costs have resulted in the project to be $2,409.44 over budget.

Staff then requested a $2,500 transfer from CP0545 (Community Christmas Tree) to cover the overage of the project. CP0545 was completed and there were sufficient funds to cover the project after the transfer of funds.

The playground replacement at Riverway Sports Park has been a long process, with several funding increases, two requests for proposals, and is now finally completed.

Fiscal Impact:

The total construction cost of $317,600.00 is funded by the General Fund 001 (Project No. 1010- 72000/CP0488-999). The initial estimate for the playground project was $316,117.20. The project was completed over budget by $1,482.80 for reasons explained in the Background Discussion section. However, there are sufficient funds in the Community Services Fund 001 project budgets to cover the overage in project Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 2 of 3
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38 File #: 24-0253 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 4.
expenditures.

Plaza Park Arbor Replacement Project CIP 1010-72000/CP0488-999 Fund 001 - General Fund $318,617.07
Actual Construction Costs
Anchor - 41 $317,600.00
Legal Advertisement $ 957.11
Total Project Costs $318,557.11
Prior Council Action: November 20, 2023 - Council authorized the City Manager to award and enter into a contract with Anchor-41 for the design and installation of new playground equipment at Riverway Sports Park.

Other: None
Alternatives: N/A
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):

Move to Authorize the filing of a Notice of Completion for the Riverway Sports Park Jim Byrd Playground Replacement Project.

Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: Inspection Card, Draft Notice of Completion, Site Pictures Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 3 of 3
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39 40
41 Recording requested by and
Please mail instrument to:

City of Visalia
315 E. Acequia Ave.

Visalia, CA 93291
Attn: City Engineer

This instrument benefits City only. No fee required
per Government Code Section 6103

Project
Notice of Completion

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the City of Visalia, a Municipal Corporation of the State of California, located at 315 E. Acequia Avenue, Visalia, California, 93291, Owner in fee of the property, that the work of improvement on the property described as:

RIVERWAY SPORTS PARK PLAYGROUNDREPLACEMENT PROJECT RFP 22-23-33 under the contract agreement entered into with Anchor-41 Construction LLC. dated ____________, as a whole was completed on ____________ and the City of Visalia hereby accepts said work.

____________, City Engineer and agent of the City of Visalia, deposes and says that he has read said Notice of Completion and knows the contents thereof, and that the same is true of his own knowledge; that he makes this affidavit for and on behalf of the City of Visalia.

__________________________________
Date

CITY OF VISALIA

BY __________________________________________
City Engineer

State of California
County of Tulare

Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this __________________ day of _________________, 20_______, by ______________, proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person who appeared before me.

___________________________________
Date

__________________________________________
Notary Signature
A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document. 42 43
44 45
46 Visalia City Council
Staff Report
Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
File #: 24-0262 Agenda Date: 7/15/2024 Agenda #: 5.

Agenda Item Wording:

Tulare County Multi Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Resolution - Approve a Resolution 2024-33 adopting the Tulare County Multi Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Deadline for Action: 7/15/2024
Submitting Department: Fire Department
Contact Name and Phone Number: Tom Van Grouw (4265) [email protected], Dan Griswold (4220) [email protected]
Department Recommendation:

It is recommended that the City Council approval of the Resolution to adopt the Tulare County Multi Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan as requested by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for non-mandatory compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2140.

Background Discussion:

The Tulare County Multi Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is referenced in the City of Visalia General plan and identifies potential threats and related mitigation plans for identified threats.

Flooding, drought, extreme heat and dam inundation and their related impact on pumps, lift stations, bridges and other infrastructures are a few examples of the threats identified in the plan. The full plan is included as an attachment with this staff report.

Through the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, this plan is a required condition for future funding for mitigation projects under FEMA pre- and post- disaster mitigation grant programs. The City’s adoption of the resolution demonstrates the jurisdiction’s commitment to fulfilling mitigation goals and objectives as outlined in this plan.

Several City of Visalia Departments including, Fire, Public Works, Engineering and Community Development collaborated multiple times over the last several months to review and update the Visalia portion (Annex G) of the Tulare County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan was submitted to, and approved by, the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the FEMA. FEMA now requests the City Council Resolution for adoption and for compliance with Assembly Bill (AB)2140 and to be included in the Safety Element of the General Plan.

Fiscal Impact:

N/A
Prior Council Action: N/A
Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 1 of 2
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Other: N/A
Alternatives: City Council can choose to not accept the recommended resolution.

Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):

I move to approve Resolution 2024-33 adopting the Tulare County Multi jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to include the City of Visalia Annex G.

Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: FEMA Letter, AB 2140 Fact Sheet, Tulare County Multi-Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Recommended Resolution
Visalia City Council Printed on 7/12/2024Page 2 of 2
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48 49
50 51

Assembly Bill 2140 (AB 2140) Fact Sheet

Information for Counties and Cities

What is AB 2140?
Passed in 2006, Assembly Bill No. 2140 (AB 2140) allows California counties and cities to be considered for additional state cost-share on eligible Public Assistance projects by adopting their current, FEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plans (LHMPs) into the Safety Element of their General Plan. This adoption, along with other requirements, makes the county or city eligible to be considered for part or all of its local-share costs on eligible Public Assistance projects to be provided by the state through the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA). For more information regarding Public Assistance, please visit Cal OES Public Assistance Division.

How Can AB 2140 Help Counties, Cities, and Your Citizens? For eligible Public Assistance projects, the typical local (non-federal) cost share is 25% of the total project cost. CDAA can allow the state to pay up to 18.75% of the non- federal share, that would otherwise fall upon the county or city, to pay for eligible Public Assistance projects once the legislature has passed a bill allowing additional state funding after a disaster occurs. Upon approval of the legislature, counties and cities that are AB 2140 compliant are also eligible to be considered for the remaining

6.25% local share to be funded by the state, essentially covering the entire local-share cost for eligible Public Assistance projects. Please note that funding is not guaranteed.

What Do You Need to Know?
 AB 2140 is not a requirement; it is an optional state incentive to help counties and cities become more resilient to natural hazards. Be sure to work with your planning department as the process proceeds.
 There are multiple steps that must be completed before Cal OES can issue a letter of AB 2140 compliance. These steps are listed in detail below in the section What Are the Steps to Become AB 2140 Compliant?  Be aware that adopting the LHMP via a formal resolution is a federal requirement for FEMA to officially “approve” the LHMP and does not make your jurisdiction automatically AB 2140 compliant. AB 2140 is a state incentive which also requires adopting your LHMP into the Safety Element of your General Plan.

However, both adoptions can take place at the same time using the same adoption resolution.
 AB 2140 compliance expires when the LHMP expires. You must re-adopt the LHMP itself AND adopt the LHMP into the Safety Element of your General Plan each time you update your LHMP in order to continue compliance.  For multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plans (MJHMPs), the county and each city in the MJHMP must adopt its own specific annex into its own General Plan 52

Assembly Bill 2140 (AB 2140) Fact Sheet

Information for Counties and Cities

Safety Element. Annex jurisdictions are not covered under the county’s adoption.
 Special districts are not eligible for AB 2140 compliance as they do not have General Plans.
 For additional information on General Plan and Safety Element requirements please contact the California Office of Planning and Research (OPR ).

What Are the Steps to Become AB 2140 Compliant?

1. Complete and submit an LHMP to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
a. Cal OES will provide an initial review and, if applicable, request required revisions based on the FEMA LHMP Guidance
.
b. Once Cal OES has determined the plan has met all FEMA LHMP requirements, Cal OES will then forward the LHMP to FEMA for final formal review and approval.
c. For questions or assistance, please contact the Cal OES Local Mitigation Planning Unit at [email protected]
.

2. LHMP adoption AND adoption into the Safety Element of the General Plan a. Adopt the LHMP via a formal resolution following your jurisdiction’s typical procedure once FEMA has issued “approvable pending adoption” (APA) status for your LHMP to be officially “approved.”
i. A sample adoption resolution for your LHMP is provided in Appendix B of the FEMA LHMP Policy Guide.
b. At this time, you may also choose to adopt the LHMP into the Safety Element of your General Plan using the same resolution. i. Within the Safety Element update adoption resolution, there must be language specific to adopting the LHMP into the Safety Element of the General Plan, and the resolution must be signed and approved before the LHMP expires. This adoption can occur at the same time the LHMP is adopted to comply with FEMA requirements, or it can occur after the LHMP is approved but before it expires after five years.
c. At any time during the life of an approved LHMP a jurisdiction may choose to adopt the LHMP into the Safety Element of their General Plan, however, when the LHMP expires, AB 2140 compliance will also expire.

53

Assembly Bill 2140 (AB 2140) Fact Sheet

Information for Counties and Cities

3. Safety Element Language
a. The local agency must include language specific to the LHMP within the Safety Element of their General Plan and make the LHMP easily accessible as a weblink, appendices, or attachment.
b. Jurisdictions should follow their own internal procedures for Safety Element language, however, below is sample language that may be used:
i. “The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the [Add Jurisdiction Name] planning area was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and followed FEMA’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance. The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The implementation of these mitigation actions, which include both short and long-term strategies, involve planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other activities. (Add a web link or language directing to the LHMP attachment or appendix within the Safety Element.

Discussed further in step #4 below.)”

4. LHMP Accessibility and Links
a. The current, approved LHMP must be easily accessible and available to the public viewing the Safety Element. This requirement can be met by linking the LHMP electronically to the General Plan Safety Element or by including the LHMP in its entirety as an attachment or appendix in the Safety Element and referencing its location with the plan. b. Web links should be monitored so that they are in working condition and bring the viewer to the most recent approved version of the LHMP.

5. E-mail the link to the updated General Plan Safety Element web page along with the signed, adoption resolution(s) to the Cal OES Mitigation Planning inbox [email protected] for review and approval.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who do I contact if I have additional questions regarding my LHMP or AB 2140 status?
A: The Cal OES Local Hazard Mitigation Planning team at [email protected]
.

54

Assembly Bill 2140 (AB 2140) Fact Sheet

Information for Counties and Cities

Q: If a county is AB 2140 compliant, are its cities automatically covered? A: No. Each county and city must:

1. Have either your own stand-alone LHMP or have an annex in a MJHMP.

2. Have adopted your approved stand-alone LHMP or annex into your own General Plan Safety Element.

Q: Can a jurisdiction obtain AB 2140 compliance before their LHMP is approvable pending adoption (APA) from FEMA?
A: No. The LHMP must be either APA or officially “approved” by FEMA before you may adopt to obtain AB 2140 compliance.

Q: Are special districts covered under their county’s LHMP since they do not have their own general plan?
A: No. Special districts are not qualified for additional cost share under AB 2140 because they do not have a General Plan.

Q: If a county or city becomes AB 2140 compliant, does this compliance last forever?
A: No. AB 2140 compliance expires on the day the LHMP expires. You must re-adopt your LHMP into your General Plan Safety Element each time you update your LHMP.

Q: Once a county or city becomes AB 2140 compliant, are they guaranteed funding?
A: No. You will be eligible to be considered for additional CDAA funding upon approval of the legislature. There is no guarantee of funding.

Q: Can a city or county adopt their LHMP to obtain AB 2140 compliance at the same time they adopt their LHMP to fulfill the FEMA requirement when the LHMP is approvable pending adoption?
A: Yes, this is a viable option. It is crucial, however, that Cal OES receives a copy of the adoption resolution to ensure compliance. Your jurisdiction is not compliant until Cal OES has documentation.

Q: If the actual LHMP is added to the General Plan, but not within the Safety Element, is language still required in the Safety Element? A: Yes, language specific to the LHMP and a web link, appendix, or language within the Safety Element that directs the public to the most current, approved LHMP in its entirety is required to be in the Safety Element.
55

Assembly Bill 2140 (AB 2140) Fact Sheet

Information for Counties and Cities

AB 2140 Compliance Checklist
In order to issue a letter of AB 2140 compliance, Cal OES will review and verify that your jurisdiction has performed the following:

Has a current, FEMA-approved or approvable pending adoption (APA) LHMP. Formally adopted the LHMP via resolution.
Formally adopted the most current, approved LHMP into the Safety Element of your General Plan via resolution.
Included language within the Safety Element of your General Plan that references your LHMP.
Included a web link, appendix, or language within the Safety Element that directs the public to the most current, approved LHMP in its entirety. E-mailed the link to the updated General Plan Safety Element web page along with the signed, adoption resolution(s) to the Cal OES Mitigation Planning inbox [email protected]
for review and approval.

For LHMP and AB 2140 Questions: [email protected] For Public Assistance and CDAA Questions: [email protected]

56 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-33

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VISALIA ADOPTING THE

MULTI-JURISDICTION LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF VISALIA.

WHEREAS, The City of Visalia 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, the U. S. Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (“Disaster Mitigation Act”) emphasizing the need for pre-disaster mitigation of potential hazards; and

WHEREAS, the Disaster Mitigation Act made available hazard mitigation grants to state and local governments; and

WHEREAS, an adopted Local 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, the City of Visalia fully participated in the FEMA-prescribed mitigation planning process to prepare this local hazard mitigation plan with the City of Visalia and Special Districts along with other stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, the California Office of Emergency Services and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region IX officials have reviewed the Tulare County Multi-Jurisdiction Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and approve it contingent upon this official adoption of the participating governing body; and

WHEREAS, the City of Visalia desires to comply with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act and to augment its emergency planning efforts by formally adopting the Tulare County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; and

WHEREAS, adoption by the governing body for the City of Visalia demonstrates the jurisdiction’s commitment to fulfilling the mitigation goals and objectives outlined in this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; and

WHEREAS, adoption by the Visalia City Council demonstrates the jurisdiction’s commitment of fulfilling the mitigation goals and objectives outlined in this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; and

WHEREAS, adoption of this legitimizes the plan and authorizes responsible agencies to carry out their responsibilities under the plan.
57 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Visalia adopts the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan as an official plan; and

BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Visalia adopts the Local 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, the City of Visalia 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 requirement of AB 2140.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at the regular meeting of the City of Visalia on the 15th day of July, 2024 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

_____________________________________
Brian Poochigian, MAYOR

________________________________
Michelle Nicholson, Chief Deputy City Clerk

58 Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
59 i
Executive Summary
The 2023 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Update serves to update the 2018 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Tulare County LHMP. The purpose of hazard mitigation is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards. Tulare County, eight (8) incorporated communities, and 9 special districts prepared this LHMP Update to the FEMA approved 2018 Tulare County LHMP, in order to make the County and its residents less vulnerable to future hazard events.

The LHMP Update demonstrates the community’s commitment to reducing risks from hazards and serves as a tool to help decision makers direct mitigation activities and resources. This LHMP Update was also developed, among other things, to ensure Tulare County and participating jurisdictions* continued eligibility for certain federal disaster assistance: specifically, the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre- Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM), and the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA).

Each year in the United State, natural disasters take the lives of hundreds of people and injure thousands more.

Nationwide, taxpayers pay billions of dollars annually to help communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals recover from disasters. These monies only partially reflect the true cost of disasters, because additional expenses to insurance companies and nongovernmental organizations are not reimbursed by tax dollars. Many natural disasters are predictable, and much of the damage caused by these events can be alleviated or even eliminated. The purpose of hazard mitigation is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards.

LHMP Plan Development Process
Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts determined, mitigation goals set, and appropriate mitigation strategies determined, prioritized, and implemented. This LHMP Update documents the hazard mitigation planning process and identifies relevant hazards and vulnerabilities and strategies the County will use to decrease vulnerability and increase resilience and sustainability in the community.

This is a multi-jurisdictional plan with the following seeking approval of the plan by FEMA:

Tulare County*
 City of Dinuba*
 City of Exeter*
 City of Farmersville*
 City of Lindsay*
 City of Porterville*
 City of Tulare*
 City of Visalia*
 City of Woodlake*
 Tulare County Office of Education* (participating on behalf of the various County school districts)  Tule River Tribe*
 Hot Springs School District
 Tulare City School District
 Kings River Union School District
 Rockford School District
 Tulare Irrigation District
 Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District
 Tulare County Flood Control District
Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
60 ii
 *Participated in 2018 Tulare County LHMP
This LHMP Update was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) and the implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register on February 2002, (CFR §201.6) and finalized on October 31, 2007. The County and all participating jurisdictions followed a planning process prescribed by FEMA as detailed in Table ES-1.

Table ES-1 Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Process
DMA Process Modified CRS Process
Organize Resources
201.6(c)(1) Organize the Planning Effort
201.6(b)(1) Involve the Public
201.6(b)(2) and (3) Coordinate with Other Departments and Agencies Assess Risks
201.6(c)(2)(i) Identify the Hazards
201.6(c)(2)(ii) Assess the Risk
Develop Mitigation Plan
201.6(c)(3)(i) Set Goals
201.6(c)(3)(ii) Review Possible Activities
201.6(c)(3)(iii) Draft an Action Plan
Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress
201.6(c)(5) Adopt the Plan
201.6(c)(4) Implement, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan
The planning process began with the organizational phase to establish the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) comprised of key County representatives, and other local and regional stakeholders; to involve the public; and to coordinate with other departments and agencies. A detailed risk assessment was then conducted followed by the development of a focused mitigation strategy by all participating jurisdictions or the Tulare County Planning Area. Once approved by Cal OES and FEMA, this LHMP Update will be adopted and implemented by the County and all participating jurisdictions over the next five years.

Risk Assessment
The County conducted a risk assessment that identified and profiled hazards that pose a risk to the County and participating jurisdictions, assessed the vulnerability of the Tulare County Planning Area to these hazards, and examined the existing capabilities to mitigate them.

The Tulare County Planning Area is vulnerable to numerous hazards that are identified, profiled, and analyzed in this Plan. Floods, earthquakes, drought, levee failures, wildfires, and other severe weather events are among the hazards that can have a significant impact on the County. Table ES-2 details the hazards identified for this Tulare County LHMP Update.

Table ES-2 Tulare County Hazard Identification Assessment Hazard Geographic
Extent
Likelihood of
Future
Occurrences
Magnitude/Severity Significance Climate
Change
Influence
Agricultural Hazards Significant Highly Likely Critical Medium Medium Avalanche Limited Likely Limited Medium Medium
Climate Change Extensive Likely Limited Medium --
Dam Failure Significant Occasional
Critical
High Medium
Drought & Water
Shortage
Extensive Likely Critical High High
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Hazard Geographic
Extent
Likelihood of
Future
Occurrences
Magnitude/Severity Significance Climate
Change
Influence
Earthquake Significant Occasional Critical Medium Low
Floods: 1 Limited Occasional Critical High Medium
Floods: Localized
Stormwater
Limited Occasional/Highly
Likely
Limited Medium Medium
Landslides, Mudslides,
and Debris Flows
Limited Occasional Limited Low Medium
Levee Failure Limited Occasional Limited Medium Medium
Pandemic Significant Likely Catastrophic Medium Medium
Seiche Limited Unlikely Limited High High
Severe Weather: Extreme
Heat
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Severe Weather: Freeze
and Snow
Extensive High Likely Critical Medium Medium
Severe Weather: Heavy
Rains and Storms
Extensive Occasional Limited Medium Medium
Severe Weather: High
Winds and Tornadoes
Extensive Highly Likely Critical High Low
Tree Mortality Extensive Likely Limited High High
Wildfire Extensive Highly Likely Critical High High
Civil Disturbances Limited Likely Limited Low Low
Hazardous Materials and
Oil Spills
Limited Likely Limited Low Low
Terrorism & Cyber
Terrorism
Limited Unlikely Limited Low Low
Geographic Extent
Limited: Less than 10% of
planning area
Significant: 10-50% of
planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of
planning area
Likelihood of Future
Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100%
chance of occurrence in the
next year or happens every
year.

Likely: Between 10 and
100% chance of occurrence
in the 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 the
next 100 years, or has a
recurrence interval of greater
than every 100 years.

Magnitude/Severity
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 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
Climate Change Influence
Low: minimal potential impact
Medium: moderate potential impact
High: widespread potential impact
Mitigation Strategy
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Based on the results of the risk assessment, the participating jurisdictions developed a mitigation strategy for reducing Tulare County and all participating jurisdiction’s’ risk and vulnerability to hazards. The resulting Mitigation Strategy for Tulare County Planning Area is comprised of LHMP goals and objectives and a mitigation action plan which includes a series of mitigation action projects and implementation measures.

Based on the risk assessment, goals and objectives were identified for reducing the Tulare County Planning Area’s vulnerability to hazards. The goals and objectives of this multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan are found in Table ES-3:

Table Hazard Mitigation Goals
Goal 1: Protect life, property, and reduce potential injuries from natural, technological, and human- caused hazards.

Goal 2: Improve public understanding, support and need for hazard mitigation measures.

Goal 3: Promote disaster resistance for the County’s natural, existing, and future built environment.

Goal 4: Strengthen partnerships and collaboration to implement hazard mitigation activities.

Goal 5: Enhance the County’s ability to effectively and immediately respond to disasters.

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Table of Contents
Chapters

1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1-1

1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................ 1-1

1.2 Background and Scope .................................................................................................................... 1-1

1.3 Community Profile .......................................................................................................................... 1-2

1.3.1 History ...................................................................................................................................... 1-4

1.3.2 Geography and Climate ............................................................................................................ 1-6

1.3.3 Population and Demographics .................................................................................................. 1-7

1.3.4 Economy and Tax Base .......................................................................................................... 1-15

1.4 Plan Organization .......................................................................................................................... 1-17

2. WHAT’S NEW ............................................................................................................................... 2-1

2.1 What’s New in the Plan Update ...................................................................................................... 2-1

2.2 Summary of Significant Changes to Current Conditions and Hazard Mitigation Priorities ............ 2-2

3. PLANNING PROCESS .................................................................................................................. 3-1

3.1 Local Government Participation...................................................................................................... 3-1

3.2 The 10-Step Planning Process ......................................................................................................... 3-3

3.2.1 Phase 1: Organize Resources ................................................................................................... 3-4

3.2.2 Phase 2: Assess Risks ............................................................................................................ 3-16

3.2.3 Phase 3: Develop the Mitigation Plan .................................................................................... 3-17

3.2.4 Phase 4: Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress .............................................................. 3-17

4. RISK ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................................................... 4-1

4.1 Hazard Identification ....................................................................................................................... 4-2

4.1.1 Results and Methodology ......................................................................................................... 4-2

4.1.2 Disaster Declaration History ..................................................................................................... 4-4

4.2 Tulare County Assets at Risk .......................................................................................................... 4-6

4.2.1 Values at Risk ........................................................................................................................... 4-6

4.2.2 Critical Facility Inventory ......................................................................................................... 4-7

4.2.3 Cultural, Historical, and Natural Resources ............................................................................ 4-17

4.2.4 Growth and Development Trends ........................................................................................... 4-27

4.3 Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment ............................................................................. 4-36 Tulare County
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4.3.1 Severe Weather: General ........................................................................................................ 4-40

4.3.2 Severe Weather: Extreme Heat ............................................................................................... 4-45

4.3.3 Severe Weather: Freeze and Snow ......................................................................................... 4-53

4.3.4 Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms ............................................................................. 4-60

4.3.5 Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes ........................................................................ 4-66

4.3.6 Agricultural Hazards ............................................................................................................... 4-74

4.3.7 Avalanche ............................................................................................................................... 4-83

4.3.8 Climate Change ....................................................................................................................... 4-84

4.3.9 Dam Failure ............................................................................................................................ 4-87

4.3.10 Drought and Water Shortage................................................................................................... 4-97

4.3.11 Earthquake ............................................................................................................................ 4-117

4.3.12 4.3.12. Flood: 1%/0.5%/0.2% Annual Chance ................................................................... 4-129

4.3.13 Flood: Localized Flooding .................................................................................................... 4-162

4.3.14 Landslides, Mudslides, and Debris Flow .............................................................................. 4-165

4.3.15 Levee Failure ........................................................................................................................ 4-171

4.3.16 Pandemic ............................................................................................................................... 4-173

4.3.17 Seiche ................................................................................................................................... 4-181

4.3.18 Tree Mortality ....................................................................................................................... 4-183

4.3.19 Wildfire ................................................................................................................................. 4-196

4.3.20 Civil Disturbances ................................................................................................................. 4-228

4.3.21 Hazardous Materials and Oil Spills ...................................................................................... 4-229

4.3.22 Terrorism and Cyber Terrorism ............................................................................................ 4-232

4.3.23 Natural Hazards Summary .................................................................................................... 4-234

4.4 Capability Assessment ................................................................................................................ 4-236

4.4.1 Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities ....................................................................................... 4-236

4.4.2 Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities ................................................................ 4-240

4.4.3 Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities ............................................................................................... 4-242

4.4.4 Education and Outreach and Partnerships ............................................................................ 4-243

4.4.5 Other Mitigation Efforts ....................................................................................................... 4-245

5. Mitigation Strategy .......................................................................................................................... 5-1

5.1 National Flood Insurance Program Participation and Compliance ................................................. 5-1

5.2 Goals and Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 5-2 Tulare County
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5.3 Identification Mitigation Goals and Actions ................................................................................... 5-3

6. Plan Adoption .................................................................................................................................. 6-1

6.1 Element E-1 Formal Plan Adoption Documentation ....................................................................... 6-1

6.2 General Plan Safety Element Integration ........................................................................................ 6-1

7. Plan Implementation and Maintenance ........................................................................................... 7-1

7.1 Implementation ................................................................................................................................ 7-1

7.1.1 Role of Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee in Implementation and Maintenance ................... 7-1

7.2 Maintenance .................................................................................................................................... 7-2

7.2.1 Maintenance Schedule .............................................................................................................. 7-2

7.2.2 Maintenance Evaluation Process .............................................................................................. 7-2

7.2.3 Incorporation Into Existing Planning Mechanisms ................................................................... 7-4

7.2.4 Continued Public Involvement ................................................................................................. 7-6 Tulare County
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Annexes
Annex A: City of Dinuba
Annex B: City of Exeter
Annex C: City of Farmersville
Annex D: City of Lindsay
Annex E: City of Porterville
Annex F: City of Tulare
Annex G: City of Visalia
Annex H: City of Woodlake
Annex I: Tulare County Office of Education
Annex J: Tule River Tribe
Annex K: Hot Springs School District
Annex L: Tulare City School District
Annex M: Kings River Union School District
Annex N: Rockford School District
Annex O: Tulare Irrigation District
Annex P: Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District
Annex Q: Tulare County Flood Control District
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Appendices
Appendix A: Planning Process
Appendix B: References
Appendix C: Mitigation Strategy
Appendix D: Adoption Resolution
Appendix E: Threatened and Endangered Species
Appendix F: Critical Facilities
Appendix G: Fire History
Appendix H: Safety Element, Climate Action Plan and MJLHMP Integration Appendix I: Bridges
Appendix J: FEMA Plan Review Tool
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Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

Tulare County, seven (7) incorporated communities and 10 Special Districts prepared this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) approved 2018 County LHMP. The purpose of this MJLHMP Update is to guide hazard mitigation planning to better protect the people and property of Tulare County from the effects of natural hazards. This MJLHMP Update demonstrates the Tulare County community’s commitment to reducing risks from hazards and serves as a tool to help decision makers direct mitigation activities and resources. This MJLHMP Update was also developed, among other things, to ensure Tulare County and participating jurisdictions’ continued eligibility for certain federal disaster assistance: specifically, the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA).

1.2 Background and Scope

Each year in the United States, natural disasters take the lives of hundreds of people and injure thousands more.

Nationwide, taxpayers pay billions of dollars annually to help communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals recover from disasters. These monies only partially reflect the true cost of disasters because additional expenses incurred by insurance companies and nongovernmental organizations are not reimbursed by tax dollars. Many natural disasters are predictable, and much of the damage caused by these events can be reduced or even eliminated.

Hazard mitigation is defined by FEMA as “any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from a hazard event.” The results of a three-year, congressionally mandated independent study to assess future savings from mitigation activities provides evidence that mitigation activities are highly cost-effective. On average, each dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of $

6.00 in avoided future losses in addition to savings lives and preventing injuries (National Institute of Building Science Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council 2019 Report).

Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards are identified, likely impacts determined, mitigation goals set, and appropriate mitigation strategies determined, prioritized, and implemented. This plan documents Tulare County’s hazard mitigation planning process and identifies relevant hazards and vulnerabilities and strategies the County and participating juris dictions will use to decrease vulnerability and increase resilience and sustainability throughout the community.

This Tulare County 2023 LHMP Update is a multi-jurisdictional plan that geographically covers the entire area within Tulare County’s jurisdictional boundaries (hereinafter referred to as the Planning Area). The following jurisdictions participated in the planning process and seeking FEMS approval of the LHMP Update:
 Tulare County*
 City of Dinuba*
 City of Exeter*
 City of Farmersville*
 City of Lindsay*
 City of Porterville*
 City of Tulare*
 City of Visalia*
 City of Woodlake*
 Tulare County Office of Education* (participating on behalf of the various County school districts) Tulare County
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 Tule River Tribe*
 Hot Springs School District
 Tulare City School District
 Kings River Union School District
 Rockford School District
 Tulare Irrigation District
 Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District
 Tulare County Flood Control District
 *Participated in 2018 Tulare County LHMP
All plan participants from the 2018 Tulare County Plan are participating in this LHMP Update, with exception of Tulare County Office of Education.

This LHMP Update was prepared pursuant to the Requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) and the implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2002, (44 CFR §201.6) and finalized on October 31, 2007. (Hereafter, these requirements, and regulations will be referred to collectively as the Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) or DMA 2000.) While the act emphasized the need for mitigation plans and more coordinated mitigation planning and implementation efforts, the regulations established the requirements that local hazard mitigation plans must meet in order for local jurisdiction to be eligible for certain federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act (Public Law 930-288A). This planning effort also follows FEMA’s 2013 Plan Preparation Guidance. Because Tulare County Planning Area is subject to many kinds of hazards, access to FEMA grant programs is vital.

Information in this LHMP Update will be used to help guide and coordinate mitigation activities and decisions for local land use policy in the future. Proactive mitigation planning will help reduce the cost of disaster response and recovery to communities and their residents by protecting critical community facilities, reducing liability exposure, and minimizing overall community impacts and disruptions. The Tulare County Planning Area has been affected by hazards in the past and is thus committed to reducing future impacts from hazard events and maintaining eligibility for mitigation-related federal funding.

1.3 Community Profile
Tulare County is located between Fresno County to the north, Inyo County to the east, Kern County to the south, and Kings County to the west, border Tulare County. Regional access to the County is provided via State Route 99, which runs north/south through the entire County. Tulare County includes the incorporated communities of Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, and Woodlake. A map of the County is shown in Figure 1-1.

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Figure 1-1 Incorporated Cities Tulare County

Figure 1-2 Unincorporated Communities in Tulare County

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1.3.1. History

Prehistoric Period Summary

The San Joaquin Valley and adjacent Sierran foothills and Coast Range have a long and complex cultural history with distinct regional patterns that extend back more than 11,000 years (McGuire 1995). The first generally agreed-upon evidence for the presence of prehistoric peoples In the region is represented by the distinctive basally-thinned and fluted projectile points, found on the margins of extinct lakes in the San Joaquin Valley. These projectiles, often compared to Clovis points, have been found at three localities in the San Joaquin Valley including along the Pleistocene shorelines of former Tulare Lake. Based on evidence from these sites and other well-dated contexts elsewhere, these Paleo-Indian hunters who used these spear points existed during a narrow time range of 11,550 BP to 8,550 BP (Rosenthal et al. 2007).

As a result of climate change at the end of the Pleistocene, a period of extensive deposition occurred throughout the lowlands of central California, burying many older landforms and providing a distinct break between Pleistocene and subsequent occupations during the Holocene. Another period of deposition, also a product of climate change, had similar results around 7,550 BP, burying some of the oldest archaeological deposits discovered in California (Rosenthal and Meyer 2004).

The Lower Archaic (8,550-5,550 BP) is characterized by an apparent contrast in economies, although it is possibly, they may be seasonal expressions of the same economy. Archaeological deposits which date to this period on the valley floor frequently include only large, stemmed spear points, suggesting an emphasis on large game such as artiodactyls (Wallace 1991). Recent discoveries in the adjacent Sierra Nevada have yielded distinct milling assemblages which clearly indicate a reliance on plant foods. Investigations at Copperopolls (LaJeunesse and Pryor 1996) argue that nut crops were the primary target of seasonal plant exploitation.

Assemblages at these foothill sites include dense accumulations of hand stones, millingslabs, and various cobble-core tools, representing "frequently visited camps in a seasonally structured settlement system (Rosenthal et al. 2007:152). As previously stated, these may represent different elements of the seasonal round.

Future investigations should address this question. What is known is that during the Lower Archaic, regional interaction spheres had been well established, Marine shell from the central California coast has been found in early Holocene contexts in the great basin east of the Sierra Nevada, and eastern Sierra obsidian comprises a large percentage of flaked stone debitage and tools recovered from sites on both sides of the Sierra.

About 8,000 years ago, many California cultures shifted the main focus of their subsistence strategies from hunting to nut and seed gathering, as evidenced by the Increase in food-grinding implements found in archeological sites dating to this period. This cultural pattern is best known for southern California, where it has been termed the Milling stone Horizon (Wallace 1954, 1978a). but recent studies suggest that the horizon may be more widespread than originally described and is found throughout the region during the Middle Archaic Period. Rad'10Carbon dates associated with this period vary between 8,000 and 2,000 BP, although most cluster in the 6,000 to 4,000 BP range (Basgall and True 1985).

On the valley floor, early Middle Archaic sites are relatively rare. This changes significantly toward the end of the Middle Archaic. In central California late Middle Archaic settlement focused on river courses on the valley floor. "Extended residential settlement at these sites is indicated by refined and specialized tool assemblages and features, a wide range of nonutilitarian artifacts, abundant trade objects, and plant and animal remains Indicative of year-round occupation" (Rosenthal et al. 2007:154). Again, climate change apparently influences this shift, with warmer, drier conditions prevailing throughout California. The shorelines of many lakes, Including Tulare Lake, contracted substantially, while at the same time rising sea levels favored the expansion of the San Joaquin/Sacramento Delta region, with newly formed wetlands extending eastward from the San Francisco Bay.

In contrast, early Middle Archaic sites are relatively common in the Sierran foothills, and their recovered •.

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mainly utilitarian assemblages recovered show relatively little change from the preceding period with a continued emphasis on acorns and pine nuts. Few bone or shell artifacts, beads, or ornaments have been recovered from these localities. Projectile points from this period reflect a high degree of regional morphological variability, with an emphasis on local toolstone material supplemented with a small amount of obsidian from eastern sources. In contrast with the more elaborate mortuary assemblages and extended burial mode documented at Valley sites, burials sites documented at some foothill sites such as CA-FRE-61 on Wahtoke Creek are reminiscent of "re-burial" features reported from Milling Stone Horizon sites in southern California. These re-burials are characterized by re-interment of incomplete skeletons often capped with Inverted millingstones (McGuire 1995:57).

A return to colder and wetter conditions marked the Upper Archaic in Central California (2,500-1,000 BP).

Previously desiccated lakes returned to spill levels and increased freshwater flowed in the San Joaquin and Sacramento· watershed. Cultural patterns as reflected in the archeological record, particularly specialized subsistence practices, emerged during this period. The archeological record becomes more complex, as specialized adaptations to locally available resources were developed, and valley populations expanded into the lower Sierran foothills. New and specialized technologies expanded distinct shell bead types occur  cross the region. The range of subsistence resources utilized, and exchange systems expanded significantly from the previous period. In the Central Valley, archaeological evidence of social stratification and craft specialization is indicated by well-made artifacts such as charmstones and beads, often found as mortuary items.

The period between approximately 1,000 BP and Euro-American contact is referred to as the Emergent Period.

The Emergent Period is marked by the introduction of bow and arrow technology Which replaced the dart and atlatl at about 1,100 to 800 BP. In the San Joaquin region, villages and small residential sites developed along the many stream courses in the lower foothills and along the river channels and sloughs of the valley floor. A local form of pottery was developed in the southern Sierran foothills along the Kaweah River. While many sites with rich archaeological assemblages have been documented in the northern Central Valley. relatively few sites have been documented from this period in the southern Sierran foothills and adjacent valley floor, despite the fact that the ethnographic record suggests dense populations for this region.

Ethnographic Summary

Prior to EuroAmerican settlement, speakers of Yokutsan languages occupied most of the San Joaquin Valley and the bordering foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Diablo Range. Most of the Valley Yokuts lived on the eastern side of the San Joaquin River. The project study area falls within territory probably occupied by the Yokodo Yokut. The Yokodo's principal village, also known as Yokodo, was located on the south bank of the Kaweah River directly north of Exeter where the Exeter golf course was later established (Latta 1999:188). "The bare ridge sloping to the north from the highest portion of Rocky Hill was known as Hawshau Shklo, meaning Paint Place. There the Yokodo mined a white earth that they traded among the surrounding Yokuts tribes" (Latta 1991 :188).

Due to the abundance and diversity of wildlife habitats and plant communities within the Sierran foothills and nearby San Joaquin Valley and higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, Native American population densities in the region were quite high (Baumhoff 1963). While the acorn was the dietary staple, the diversity of accessible natural resources provided an omnivorous diet. The reader is referred to Gayton (1948), Kroeber (1925), Latta (1999), and Wallace 1978b for additional information on pre-contact Yokuts subsistence and culture. Figure 5 depicts the location of Yokodo Yakut territory relative to the project study area.

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Historic Period Summary

The San Joaquin Valley was visited in the early 1800s by Spanish expeditions exploring the interior in search of potential mission sites. The Moraga (1806) expedition may have passed through Yokodo territory (Cook 1960: Smith 1939). One of the earliest Americans to explore the Tulare area was Jedediah Strong Smith in 1826-33 Colonel Jose J. Warner, a member of the Ewing-Young trapping expedition, passed through the San Joaquin Valley. Warner described Native villages densely packed along the valley waterways, from the foothills down into the slough area. The next year the region had been densely occupied by Native peoples, during this trip not more than five Indians were observed between the head of the Sacramento Valley and the Kings River (Cook 1955).

EuroAmerican appreciation for the land did not include acceptance of its indigenous human populations, and pressure was exerted upon the US military to remove the Native population from the region, leaving the region open for American settlement and resource development. EuroAmerican settlement of the region began in 1851 with the establishment of Fort Miller on the San Joaquin River. Hostilities between Native inhabitants and American settlers initially prevented widespread settlement of the region; however, by 1860 such threats had been reduced and settlers began taking up large tracts in the region.

In late 1849 or early 1850, a party under the leadership of John Wood settled on the south bank of the Kaweah River, about seven miles east of the present city of Visalia (hoover et al. 1990:508). In April, 1852, Tulare County was created, with the county seat initially located at Woodsville. In 1853 the county seat was removed to Fort Visalia, located in the area bounded by Oak, Center, Garden, and Bridge streets.

Tulare County contains more than 4,863 square miles or 3,158,400 acres within its borders and can be divided into three general topographical zones: a valley region: a foothill region east of the valley area; and a mountain region just east of the foothills. The eastern half of the county is generally comprised of public lands, which include not only the parks, but also the Mountain Home State Forest, Golden Trout Wilderness area, and portions of the Dome Land and south Sierra Wilderness areas. The county also contains one state park and one wildlife refuge. Colonel Allensworth State Park, located in the southwestern corner of the county, provides picnic and camping area.

1.3.2. Geography and Climate

Tulare County is located in Central California in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. The County is composed of eight incorporated cities and numerous unincorporated communities. Most of the unincorporated communities and all of the cities are located on the Valley floor. The foothills and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks form the eastern half of the County

The southern San Joaquin Valley climate is influenced by the Coast Ranges to the west, which prevent the cool, moisture-laden maritime air from reaching the valley. It is generally characterized as a Mediterranean climate (one of the three similar zones in the world). The area in general has a climate that tends to be clear, sunny, warm, and dry. The mean temperatures range from a low of 34o F (1.1o C) in January to a high of 100o F (37.7o C) in July. Because of the Coast Ranges, the average rainfall for the area is very low, ranging from three to thirteen inches per year (avg. rainfall is 11 inch), with 90% of the yearly precipitation between November and April. There are periods in winter when the valley floor is covered with dense wet ground fog and winds are typically light and from the north. More specific information about Tulare County of Tulare’s climate can be found in Chapter 4 Risk Assessment.

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1.3.3. Population and Demographics:

Table 1-1 Population and Demographics of Tulare County
Tulare County
Population Estimates
Jurisdiction 2020
Dinuba 24,563
Exeter 10,324
Farmersville 10,382
Lindsay 12,630
Porterville 76,733
Tulare 149,978
Visalia 7,577
Balance of County 473,117

There are 139,044 households in the County with an average of 3.30 persons per household.

Tulare County
Social and Economic Statistics
Tulare County Area
Population 477,054
Population under 5 8.0%
Population over 65 11.4%
Median Age 31.2
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 65.1%
White alone 27.8%
Black or African American 1.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 3.4%
Some Other Race 0.3%
Two or more Races 1.5%
Income
Median Income $58,209
Poverty rate 18.6%
Employment and Labor Force Status 52.7%
Language Spanish 47.2% English 49.0%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 26.5%
Housing
Housing Units 150,652
Persons per household 3.30

The City of Dinuba (Dinuba) is in the northwestern corner of the County, approximately 20 miles north of the City of Visalia (Visalia), the County seat.

City of Dinuba
Social and Economic Statistics
Dinuba Area 6.51 square miles
Population 24,455
Population under 5 9.3
Population over 65 7.0
Median Age 26.7
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 86%
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White 9.8%
Black or African American 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Asian 1.4%
Some Other Race 02%
Two or more Races 1.3%
Income
Median Income $46,163
Poverty rate 29.4%
Employment and Labor Force Status 58.3%
Language Spanish 43.9% English 67.7%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 30.5%
Housing
Housing Units 6,886
Persons per household

Figure 1-3 City of Dinuba

The City of Exeter (Exeter) is just south of the intersection of State Route (SR) 65 and SR 198, about 7 miles east of Visalia.

City of Exeter
Social and Economic Statistics
Exeter Area
Population 10,321
Population under 5 7.7
Population over 65 12.9
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Median Age 32.0%
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 47.1%
White Alone 46.4%
Black or African American 0.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.1%
Asian 3.1%%
Some Other Race 0.0%%
Two or more Races 1.5%
Income
Median Income $48,605
Poverty rate 21.8%
Employment and Labor Force Status 49.7%
Language Spanish 28.3% English 68.9%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 24.8%
Housing
Housing Units 3,667
Persons per household

Figure 1-4 City of Exeter

The City of Farmersville (Farmersville) is 5 miles east of Visalia.

City of Farmersville
Social and Economic Statistics
Farmersville Area
Population 10,397
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Population under 5 8.1%
Population over 65 6.5%
Median Age 29.5
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 88.7%
White Alone 9.4%
Black or African American 0.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Asian 0.1%
Some Other Race 0.7%
Two or more Races 0.1%
Income
Median Income $44,286
Poverty rate 25.9%
Employment and Labor Force Status 55.2%
Language Spanish 75.3% English 24.6%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 28.9%
Housing
Housing Units 2,784
Persons per household

The City of Lindsay (Lindsay) is on SR 65 about 15 miles southeast of Visalia.

City of Lindsay
Social and Economic Statistics
Lindsay Area
Population 12,659
Population under 5 759
Population over 65 1,453
Median Age 32.7
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 86.1%
White Alone 12.3%
Black or African American 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Asian 0.9%
Some Other Race 0.0%
Two or more Races 0.3%
Income
Median Income $37,073
Poverty rate 32.8%
Employment and Labor Force Status 48.5%
Language Spanish 73.7% English 22.5%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 25.8%
Housing
Housing Units 3,576
Persons per household

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Figure 1-5 City of Lindsay

The City of Porterville (Porterville) is along SR 65, just north of SR 190, about 22 miles southeast of Visalia.

City of Porterville
Social and Economic Statistics
Porterville Area 17.61 sq miles
Population 62,623
Population under 5 7.1%
Population over 65 12.4%
Median Age 30.9
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 68.6%
White 22.7%
Black or African American 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.9%
Asian 54.7%
Some Other Race 0.7%
Two or more Races 1.8%
Income
Median Income $44,095
Poverty rate 23.1%
Employment and Labor Force Status 53.9%%
Language Spanish 50.0% English 45.7%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 26.3%
Housing
Housing Units 18,931
Persons per households
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Figure 1-6 City of Porterville

The City of Tulare (Tulare) is along Highway 99 about 11 miles south of Visalia.

City of Tulare
Social and Economic Statistics
Tulare Area 21 sq miles
Population 68,875
Population under 5 9.0%
Population over 65 8.2%
Median Age 28.0
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 63.6%
White alone 28.0%
Black or African American 3.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 2.2%
Some Other Race 0.5%
Two or more Races 2.0%
Income
Median Income $63,668
Poverty rate 12.4%
Employment and Labor Force Status 52.5%
Language Spanish 40.3% English 53.9%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 31.7%
Housing
Housing Units 21,153
Persons per household
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Figure 1-7 City of Tulare

The City of Visalia (Visalia) is east of Highway 99 and encompasses approximately 7 miles of Highway 198.

City of Visalia
Social and Economic Statistics
Visalia Area 36.25 square miles
Population 141,384
Population under 5 8.4%
Population over 65 13.2%
Median Age 32.5
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 54.4%
White 34.6%
Black or African American 2.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Asian 5.4%
Some Other Race 0.1%
Two or more Races 2.5%
Income
Median Income $64,165
Poverty rate 16.8%
Employment and Labor Force Status 55.6%
Language Spanish 29.5% English 65.9%
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Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 24.2%
Housing
Housing Units 48,441
Persons per household

Figure 1-8 City of Visalia

The City of Woodlake (Woodlake) is about 14 miles northeast of Visalia.

City of Woodlake
Social and Economic Statistics
Woodlake area
Population 7,419
Population under 5 11.0%
Population over 65 10.6%
Median Age 28.5
Racial Makeup
Hispanic 90.4%
White 6.3%
Black or African American 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Asian 2.3%
Some Other Race 0.4%
Two or more Races 0.4%
Income
Median Income $44,483
Poverty rate 28.1%
Employment and Labor Force Status 65.4%
Language Spanish 76.2% English 22.8%
Education – Highschool or equivalent degree 21.8%
Housing
Housing Units 2,236
Person per household
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Data from US Census QuickFacts 2020

Tule River Tribe
The Tule River Indian Reservation is approximately 85 square miles. The reservation is located in a remote rural area approximately 20 miles from the nearest town of Porterville. The Tribe also owns 40 acres in the Porterville Airport Industrial Park and 79.9 acres in the foothill scenic development corridor along Highway 190. The tribe consists of Yokut, Western Mono, and Tubatulabal peoples, and as of 2020 the tribal population was approximately 1,250 people. The Tule River Tribal Council, which was created by the constitution and bylaws of the Tule River Tribe and approved January 15, 1936, conducts executive, legislative, and business functions. The Tribal Council consists of nine council members elected by secret ballot. The elected officials then decide who will perform the functions of chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer.

1.3.4. Economy and Tax Base

Tulare County has a diverse economy. US Census estimate show economic characteristics for the County see Table 1-2

Table 1-2 Tulare County Civilian Employed Population 16 years and Over Industry Estimated
Employment
Percent
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 28,627 15.6% Construction 10,863 5.9%
Manufacturing 15,074 8.2%
Wholesale trade 6,000 3.3%
Retail trade 20,382 11.1%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 9,021 4.9% Information 2,062 1.1%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 5,252 2.9% Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management Services 12,541 6.8%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 39,809 21.6% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services 15,326 8.3% Other services, except public administration 8,228 4.5% Public administration 10,691 5.8%
Totals 183,876
Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022 Estimates

Major employers in the County are shown in Table 1-3.

Table 1-3 Major Employers in Tulare County
Employer Name Location Industry
3 W’s Inc Porterville Supermarkets and other Grocery
Stores
Bally Technologies Porterville All Other Miscellaneous
Manufacturing
BNA Visalia All Other Miscellaneous
Manufacturing
Best Buy Visalia Supermarkets and other Grocery
Stores
Cellucon Inc Strathmore All Other Miscellaneous
Manufacturing
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Employer Name Location Industry
Del Sol Market Tulare Supermarkets and other Grocery
Stores
Delta View Farms Visalia Supermarkets and other Grocery Stores
Eagle Mountain Casino Porterville Casinos
Exeter Engineering Inc Exeter All Other Miscellaneous
Manufacturing
Family Tree Farms Produce Packing Dinuba
Haagen-Dazs Tulare Ice Cream Parlors
Kings Canyon Nation Park Springville National Parks/Preserves Kaweah Delta Hospital Visalia Hospitals
Kraft USA Tulare
Land O’Lakes Tulare Cheese Processors (mfrs)
Lation Farm Labor SVC Visalia Contractors
Monrovia Nursey Co Woodlake Nurseries-Plants Trees & ETC- Wholesale
Patterson Dental Dinuba Dentist
Porterville Developmental Ctr Porterville Hospitals
Prima Wawona Cutler Fruits & Vegetables-Growers &
Shippers
Ruiz Foods Products Dinuba
Saputo Cheese USA Inc Tulare Cheese Processors (mfrs)
Sierra View Medical Ctr Porterville Hospitals
Solid Waste Collection Tulare Public Works Department
Southern California Edison Tulare
Sun Pacific Exeter Fruits & Vegetables-Growers &
Shippers
Top Soil Farms Lindsay Apple Orchards
Tulare City Tulare Government Offices-City Village &
TWP
Tulare County Child Care Program Visalia Child Care Service Tulare County Lake Patrol Visalia Government Offices-County Tulare County OFC of Edu Sicon Visalia Schools
Tulare County Parks & Rec Dept Visalia Parks
Tulare County Resource
Management Agency
Visalia Government Office-County
Tulare Joint Union High School Tulare School Districts
Tulare Local Healthcare District Tulare Health Care Management US Cotton Classing Office Visalia Government Office Federal Valley Labor Svc Inc Dinuba Services NEC
Visalia Public Works Admin Visalia Public Works Department Walmart Distribution Ctr Porterville Distribution Centers (whls) Wonderful Citrus Visalia Citrus, except orange groves
Source: California EDD

The County has a wide and varied tax base. Tax base information is tracked and maintained by the Tulare County Assessor’s Office. Table 1-4 shows the tax base for the County as well as for the incorporated jurisdictions.

Table 1-4 Unincorporated Tulare County – Distribution of Value by Property Use* Property Use 2020 Value Percent of
Current Roll
2022 Value Percent of
Current Roll
Agriculture 2,181,784,319 6.06% 2,237,497,149 5.57%
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Commercial/Industrial/Institutional 7,863,325,044 21.84% 8,760,807,764 21.81% Miscellaneous 30,565,839 0.08% 27,530,633 0.07%
Natural/Open Space (Ag Preserve) 4,999,146,488 13.89% 5,590,066,407 13.92% Residential 20,928,291,703 58.13% 23,551,541,535 58.63% Total 36,003,113,393 1 40,167,443,488 1
Source: Tulare County 2020 and 2022 Assessor’s Office Data *Includes land and structure values

1.4 Plan Organization

This Tulare County LHMP Update is a multi-jurisdictional plan that geographically covers the entire area within Tulare County’s jurisdictional boundaries (i.e., the Planning Area). The Tulare County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update is organized as follows:

Base Plan
 Section 1: Introduction
 Section 2: What’s New
 Section 3: Planning Process
 Section 4: Risk Assessment
 Section 5: Mitigation Strategy
 Section 6: Plan Adoption
 Section 7: Plan Implementation and Mitigation
Annexes
 Tulare County*
 City of Dinuba*
 City of Exeter*
 City of Farmersville*
 City of Lindsay*
 City of Porterville*
 City of Tulare*
 City of Visalia*
 City of Woodlake*
 Tulare County Office of Education* (participating on behalf of the various County school districts)  Tule River Tribe*
 Hot Springs School District
 Tulare City School District
 Kings River Union School District
 Rockford School District
 Unincorporated community of Three Rivers
 Tulare Irrigation District
 Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District
 Tulare County Flood Control District
 *Participated in 2018 Tulare County LHMP
Appendices
 Appendix A: Planning Process
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 Appendix B: References
 Appendix C: Mitigation Strategy
 Appendix D: Adoption Resolution
 Appendix E: Threatened and Endangered Species
 Appendix F: Critical Facilities
The Base Plan provides the overall framework for this multi-jurisdictional LHMP. It is the umbrella document that includes the planning process, methodologies, and procedural requirements for all participating jurisdictions (i.e., unincorporated County and all Jurisdictional and Special District Annexes). As such, Sections 1-7 of the Base Plan apply to the unincorporated County, the eight (8) incorporated communities, and the eleven (11) Special Districts as participants to this LHMP Update seeking FEMA approval of the Plan elements specific to the Tulare County Planning Area which includes data, information and analysis specific to all participating jurisdictions and also includes data, information, and analysis specific to unincorporated Tulare County.

The Jurisdictional Annexes detail the hazard mitigation planning elements specific to each additional participating jurisdiction to this Tulare County LHMP Update. Each annex is not intended to be a standalone document, but appends to, supplements, and incorporates by reference the information contained in the Base Plan document. As such, all Chapters 1-7 of the Base Plan, including the planning process and other procedural requirements and planning elements apply to and were met by each participating jurisdiction. The annexes provide additional information specific to each participating jurisdiction, with a focus on providing additional details on the risk assessment and mitigation strategy.

The Appendices provide additional information, data, and planning process documentation that applies to all participating jurisdictions (i.e., unincorporated County and all jurisdictional annexes) to this Tulare County LHMP Update.

The Appendices provide additional information, data, and planning process documentation that applies to all participating jurisdictions (i.e., unincorporated County and all jurisdictional annexes) to this Tulare County LHMP Update.

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Chapter 2. What’s New?
Requirements §201.6(d)(3) and §201.7(d)(3): A local jurisdiction must review and revise its plan to reflect changes in development, progress in local mitigation efforts, and changes in priorities, and resubmit it for approval within 5 years in order to continue to be eligible for mitigation project grant funding.

The 2018 Tulare County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) contained descriptions of their planning processes, the risk assessments of identified hazards for the Tulare County Planning Area and mitigation strategies for reducing the risk and vulnerability from these hazards. Since approval of this Plan by FEMA, progress has been made by the County, the seven (&) incorporated communities, and Special Districts on implementation of the 2018 mitigation strategies. As part of this LHMP Update, a thorough review and update of the 2018 County LHMP was conducted to ensure that this Plan Update reflects current community conditions and priorities in order to realign the updated mitigation strategy for the next five-year planning period. This section of this LHMP Update includes the following:

 What’s New in the Plan Update. Section 2.1 provides an overview of the approach to updating the Plan and identifies new analyses, data and information included in this LHMP Update to reflect current community conditions. This includes a summary of new hazard and risk assessment data as it relates to the Tulare County Planning Area as well as information on current and future development trends affecting community vulnerability and related issues. The actual updated data, discussions, and associated analyses are contained in their respected sections within this LHMP Update.

 Summary of Significant Changes to Current Conditions and Hazard Mitigation Program Priorities. Section 2.2 provides a summary of significant changes in current conditions, changes in vulnerability, and any resulting modification to the community’s mitigation program priorities.

 2018 Mitigation Strategy Status and Successes. Section 2.3.2 provides a description of the status of mitigation actions from the 2018 LHMP and indicates whether a project is no longer relevant or is recommended for inclusion in the updated 2023 mitigation strategy. This section also highlights mitigation success stories of Tulare County and other Special Districts since the 2018 LHMP.

2.1 What’s New in the Plan Update
This LHMP Update involved a comprehensive review and update of each section of the 2018 Plan and includes an assessment of the success of the participating communities in evaluating, monitoring, and implementing the mitigation strategy outline in the 2018 LHMP. Only the information and data still valid from the 2018 LHMP was carried forward as applicable into this LHMP Update.

Also to be noted, Chapter 7 Implementation and Maintenance of this LHMP Update identifies key requirements for updating future plans:

 Consider changes in vulnerability due to action implementation;  Document success stories where mitigation efforts have proven effective;  Document areas where mitigation actions were not effective;  Document any new hazards that may arise or were previously overlooked;  Incorporate new data or studies on hazards and risks;  Incorporate new capabilities or changes in capabilities;  Incorporate growth and development-related changes to inventories; and  Incorporate new action recommendations or changes in action prioritization.

These requirements and others as detailed throughout this Plan were addressed during this LHMP Update process.

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As part of its comprehensive review and update of each section of the 2018 LHMP, Tulare County and participating jurisdictions recognized that updated data, if available, would enhance the analysis presented in the risk assessment and utilized in the development of the updated mitigation strategy. Highlights of the new data used for this LHMP Update is identified below in this section and is also sourced in context within the Risk Assessment. Specific data used is sourced throughout this LHMP Update. This new data and associated analysis provided valuable input for the development of the updated mitigation strategy presented in Chapter 5 of this LHMP Update.

Highlights of new information and analyses contained in this combined LHMP Update includes the following:

 Most hazards from the 2018 Plan were profiled in this LHMP Update. New hazards include localized climate change, pandemic, and tree mortality. Hazards dropped from consideration include:
 A new critical facility definition was created. The County created a new list of critical facilities.  Disaster declarations were updated, including federal, state, and USDA disaster declarations.  The NCDC Storm Events and FEMA/Cal OES disaster declaration tables were updated.  A new section on Power Shortage/Failure was added. Public Safety Power Shutoff events were also updated.
 Cal-Adapt data was added to the climate change section, as well as to other hazards that are exacerbated by climate change.
 New dam data provided by Cal OES was used for the dam inventory and analysis. This data included an updated hazard classification for identified dams and updated inundation mapping.  An updated earthquake, including a Hazus 6.0
 More detailed flooding data analysis
 More detailed landslides data analysis
 More detailed wildfire hazard data analysis
 An entire rework of the risk assessment for each identified hazard to reflect new information and to reflect the updated FEMA plan review tool. This included reworking the hazard profile and adding sections on location, extent, and new hazard events occurrences; redoing the entire vulnerability analysis to add additional items and updating the vulnerability assessment based on more recent hazard data.
 To better meet the revised FEMA plan review tool, a more extensive analysis of the extents to identified hazards was conducted and included in this LHMP Update.  A greater study of County mitigation capabilities was added.  Incorporation and analysis of the updated California Department of Finance population data was utilized for this LHMP Update.
 Environmental justice concerns were addressed in portions of this Plan Update.  Also, as required by current FEMA planning guidance, an analysis of ongoing and continued compliance with the NFIP was included in this LHMP Update.

2.2 Summary of Significant Changes to Current Conditions, Planning Area Vulnerability, and Hazard Mitigation Priorities

This section provides a summary by hazard of significant changes in current conditions, Planning Area vulnerability, and any resulting modifications to the community’s migration program priorities since the 2018 LHMP:

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Table 2-1 Summary and Modifications to 2018 Community Mitigation Program Priorities Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
Tulare County
1-1
Create a GIS-based pre-application
review for new construction and
major remodels of residential and/or
non-residential structures in hazard
areas, such high and/or very high
wildfire areas.

Medium Short General
Fund

Continuing
1-2
Continue to Integrate the Tulare
County MJLHMP, in particular the
hazard analysis and mitigation
strategy sections, into local planning
documents, including general plans,
emergency operations plans, and
capital improvement plans.

High Short General
Fund

Continuing
1-3
Permit development only in areas
where the potential danger to the
health and safety of people and
property can be mitigated to an
acceptable level.

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-4
Continue to designate areas with a
potential for significant hazardous
conditions for open space, agriculture,
and other appropriate low intensity
uses.

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-5
Except as otherwise allowed by State
law, ensure that all new buildings
intended for human habitation are
designed in compliance with the latest
edition of the California Building
Code, California Fire Code, and other
adopted standards based on risk (e.g.,
seismic hazards, flooding), type of
occupancy, and location (e.g.,
floodplain, fault).

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-6
Continue to seek grant funding for the
rehabilitation of deteriorated and
dilapidated structures and provide
available information regarding
housing programs and other public
services including the identification
of existing nonconforming building
construction specific to building
codes that apply in the Very High
Fire Hazard Safety Zones.

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-7 Continue to evaluate areas to
determine levels of earthquake risk. Medium Continuing General Fund
Continuing
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Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
1-8
Continue to discourage construction
and grading on slopes in excess of
30%
High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-9
Request Federal and State financial
assistance to implement corrective
seismic safety measures required for
existing County buildings and
structures.

Medium Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-10
Do not permit any structure for
human occupancy to be placed within
designated Earthquake Fault Zones
(pursuant to and as determined by the
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault
Zoning Act; Public Resource code,
Chapter 7.5) unless the specific
provision of the Act and Title 14 of
the California Code of Regulations
have been satisfied.

Medium Continuing N/A

Continuing 1-11
Discourage the location of new
schools in areas designated for
agriculture, unless the School District
agrees to the construction and
maintenance of all necessary
infrastructure impacted by the project.

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-12
Encourage and support the
development of new agricultural
related industries featuring
alternative energy, utilization of
agricultural waste, and solar or wind
farms.

N/A N/A N/A

Continuing
1-13
Continue to require buffer areas
between development projects and
significant watercourses, riparian
vegetation, wetlands, and other
sensitive habitats and natural
communities. These buffers should be
sufficient to assure the continued
existence of the waterways and
riparian habitat in their natural state.

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-14
Continue to ensure that development
in high or very high fire hazard areas
is designed and constructed in a
manner that minimizes the risk from
fire hazards and meets all applicable
State and County fire standards.

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-15
Identify and map existing housing
structures that do not conform to
contemporary fire standards in terms
of building materials, perimeter
access, and vegetative hazards in very
high fire hazard severity zones or
state responsibility area by fire hazard
High Continuing N/A

Continuing
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Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
zone designation. Identify plans and
actions to improve substandard
housing structures and
neighborhoods.
1-16
Identify plans and actions for existing
residential structures and
neighborhoods, and particularly
substandard residential structures and
neighborhoods, to be improved to
meet current fire safe ordinances
pertaining to access, water flow,
signing, and vegetation clearing.

Completed

Continuing
1-17
Develop plans and action items for
vegetation management that provides
fire damage mitigation and protection
of open space values. Plans should
address protection of natural resource
financial values, establishment of fire
resilient natural resources, protection
of watershed qualities, and protection
of endangered species habitats.

Actions should consider prescribed
burning, fuel breaks, and vegetation
thinning and removal.

High Short
General
Fund,
HMPG

Continuing
1-18
Develop burn area recovery plans that
incorporate strategic fire safe
measures developed during the fire
suppression, such as access roads, fire
lines, safety zones, and fuelbreaks,
and helispots.

High Short
General
Fund,
Cal Fire

Continuing
1-19
Incorporate native species habitat
needs as part of long-term fire
protection and fire restoration plans.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
1-20
Establish fire defense strategies (such
as fire ignition resistant areas) that
provide adequate fire protection
without dependency on fire resources
(both air and ground) and could serve
as safety zones for the public or
emergency support personnel.

Medium Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
1-21
Develop dead tree removal projects
that are actionable based on available
resources, rules, regulatory approvals
and available funding.

Medium Short
General
Fund,
State
Grant

Continuing
1-22
Create a database that accounts for all
levees in Tulare County and their
condition.

Medium Short General
Fund

Continuing
1-23
Acquire, relocate, or elevate
residential structures, in particular
those that have been identified as
Repetitive Loss (RL) properties that
are located within the 100-year
floodplain.

Low Long Flood
Control

Continuing
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Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
1-24
Acquire, relocate, elevate, and/or
floodproof critical facilities that are
located within the 100-year
floodplain.

Medium Long General
Fund
Continuing
1-25
Wherever practical reinforce County
and local ramps, bridges, and roads
from flooding through protection
activities, including elevating the road
and installing culverts beneath the
road or building higher bridges across
the area that experiences regular
flooding.

High Short
General
Fund,
HMPG

Continuing
1-26
Work with FEMA Region IX to
address any floodplain management
issues that may have arisen/arise from
the countywide DFIRM, Community
Assessment Visits, and/or the DWR.

High Short N/A

Continuing
1-27
Increase participation in the NFIP by
entering the Community Rating
System program which through
enhanced floodplain management
activities would allow property
owners to receive a discount on their
flood insurance.

Med Short N/A

Continuing
1-28
Provide flood protection for the
County’s Juvenile Detention Facility
and Records Storage Facility located
north of Avenue 368.

High Short
General
Fund,
HMPG

Continuing 1-29
Construct a new 24-inch culvert pipe
with a canal gate from Sontag Ditch
on the south side of SR 201 to
daylight into the Stone Corral Ditch
on the east side of Sontag Ditch. The
purpose of this project is intended to
direct high flows from Sontag Ditch
to the Stone Corral Ditch during
heavy rain events. The diverted water
will flow into Stone Corral Irrigation
District’s detention basin located
approximately two miles to the south,
just north of Cottonwood Creek,
therefore, alleviating flooding in the
Seville area.

High Short
General
Fund,
HMPG,
Flood
control
fund

Continuing
1-30
Complete the Yettem Button ditch
project by obtaining flood easement
rights north of the community of
Yettem adjacent to the Button Ditch.

This will provide comparable flood
protection with the added benefit of
groundwater recharge.

High Short
General
Fund,
HMPG,
Flood
control
fund

Continuing
1-31 Contract and proceed with
preparation of the Flood Control Med Short General
Fund

Continuing
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Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
Master Plan Update for the Fresno-
Tulare Unit.

1-32
Continue to conduct annual retention
basin maintenance that includes weed
abatement, fence repair, and drainage
inlet flushing.

High Short General
Fund

Continuing
1-33
Inspect and cycle County flood
control pumps annually to ensure
functionality. Clear shrubs and debris
in proximity to the basins and
channels of the pumps to minimize
potential blockage during operation.

If required, contract with local pump
repair contractors to service the
equipment.

High Short General
Fund

Continuing
1-34
Regulate development in the 100-
year floodplain zones as designated
on maps prepared by FEMA in
accordance with the following:

1. Critical facilities (those facilities
which should be open and accessible
during emergencies) shall not be
permitted.

2. Passive recreational activities
(those requiring non-intensive
development, such as hiking,
horseback riding, picnicking) are
permissible.

3. New development and divisions of
land, especially residential
subdivisions, shall be developed to
minimize flood risk to structures,
infrastructure, and ensure safe access
and evacuation during flood
conditions.

High Continuing N/A

Continuing
1-35 Continue to participate in the NFIP. High Continuing N/A Continuing 1-36
Review projects for their exposure to
inundation due to dam failure. If a
project presents a direct threat to
human life, appropriate mitigation
measures shall be taken, including
restriction of development in the
subject area.

Med. Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
1-37
Ensure that the proponents of new
development projects address
hazardous materials concerns through
the preparation of Phase I or Phase II
hazardous materials studies for each
identified site as part of the design
phase for each project.

Recommendations required to satisfy
Federal, or State cleanup standards
High Continuing N/A

Continuing
Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
93 2-8
Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
outlined in the studies will be
implemented as part of the
construction phase for each project.
1-38
Continue to cooperate with the
California Highway Patrol to
establish procedures for the
movement of hazardous wastes and
explosives within the County.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
1-39
Implement post-fire debris flow hill-
slope and channel treatments, such as
seeding, mulching, check dams, and
debris racks, as needed.

High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-40
Manage vegetation in areas within
and adjacent to rights of-way and in
close proximity to critical facilities in
order to reduce the risk of tree failure
and property damage and avoid
creation of wind acceleration
corridors within vegetated areas.

Medium Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
1-41
Develop a free annual tree chipping
and tree pick-up day that encourages
residents living in wind hazard areas
to manage trees and shrubs at risk of
falling on nearby structures.

Medium Short General
Fund

Continuing
1-42
Bolt down the roofs of critical
facilities in wind gust hazard areas in
order to prevent wind damage.

Medium Short General
Fund

Continuing
1-43
Continue to create, revise, and
maintain emergency plans for the
broad range of natural and human-
made disasters and response activities
that could foreseeably impact the
County. This shall include, but not be
limited to, flooding, dam failure,
extreme weather, evacuation/
transportation, mass care and shelter,
and animal evacuation and sheltering.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-44
Reinforce County and local ramps,
bridges, and roads from flooding
through protection activities,
including elevating the road and
installing culverts beneath the road or
building a higher bridge across the
area that experiences regular
flooding.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-45
Design and construct a permanent
solution to flooding east of Friant
Kern Canal in Strathmore
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-46
Design and construct a permanent
solution to protect M137 (Reservation
Road) from flooding
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
94 2-9
Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
1-47
Restore Cottonwood creek back to
natural flow path, protect Road 108
and provide additional impoundment
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-48
Conduct a hydrological survey/study
to investigate potential flooding
issues due to ground subsidence
caused by use of groundwater without
replenishment. Create a data base for
future land planning use.

High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-49
Identify and implement strategies that
result in promoting stormwater
management through groundwater
recharge projects
High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-50
Develop a program to identify,
prioritize, fund and develop designs
to replace functionally obsolete
bridges
High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-51
Develop a program to identify,
prioritize, fund and develop designs
to replace structurally obsolete
bridges
High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-52
Design and construct a bridge
structure on Road 184 (btw A24-A32)
on the White River
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-53
Design and construct a bridge
structure on R156 (btw A32-A40) on
White Rive
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-54
Design and construct a bridge
structure on R88 (btw A56-A84) on
Deer Creek
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-55
Identify, prioritize, fund and develop
permanent solutions for low water
crossings throughout the County
High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-56
Engage the entire community and
develop a County-wide drought
response plan to respond to period of
prolonged dry weather
High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-57
Identify potential problem areas, and
develop and implement a plan to
address potential groundwater
contamination issues in small water
systems
High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-58
Develop transportation plans and
projects that support providing
adequate vehicular access to the
southwest corner of the County after
High Speed Rail is constructed
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-59
Develop and implement a program to
address potential channel capacity
loss, potential flooding issues, and
bridge clearance issues resulting from
subsidence on the Friant Kern Canal
High Short
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
95 2-10
Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
1-60
Seismically retrofit or replace County
and local ramps and bridges that are
categorized as structurally deficient
by Caltrans, are located in high
ground shaking areas, and/or are
necessary for first responders to use
during and/or immediate after a
disaster or emergency.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing 1-61
Identify at risk structures and
reinforce County and local ramps,
bridges, and roads from flooding
through protection activities,
including elevating the road and
installing culverts beneath the road or
building a higher bridge across the
area that experiences regular
flooding.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-62
Manage vegetation in areas within
and adjacent to rights-of-way and in
close proximity to critical facilities in
order to reduce the risk of tree failure
and property damage and avoid
creation of wind acceleration
corridors within vegetated areas.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-63
Implement a fuel reduction program,
such as the collection and disposal of
dead fuel, within open spaces and
around critical facilities and
residential structures located within a
high and very high wildfire zones.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-64 Develop a Debris Management Plan. High Medium Grants Continuing 1-65 Develop a County-wide Storm Water
Resources Plan. High Medium
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-66
Develop and implement programs and
policies to protect and enhance
surface water and groundwater
resources critical to human
consumption.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
1-67
Develop groundwater recharge
projects to promote groundwater
sustainability, and mitigate and
recover from the effects of prolonged
drought.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
2-1
Continue to promote awareness and
education among residents regarding
possible natural hazards, including
soil conditions, earthquakes, flooding,
fire hazards, and emergency
procedures.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
2-2 Develop a public outreach program
that informs property owners located High Short General Fund

Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
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Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
in the dam or levee inundation areas
about voluntary flood insurance.
2-3
Promote public safety programs,
including neighborhood watch
programs, child identification and
fingerprinting, public awareness and
prevention of fire hazards, and other
public education efforts.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
2-4
Develop and implement a County-
wide program to promote water use
understanding and water
conservation.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
Grants

Continuing
3-1
Conduct site investigations in areas
planned for new development to
determine susceptibility to landslides,
subsidence/settlement, contamination,
and/or flooding.

High Continuing Owners

Continuing
3-2
Maintain agriculture as the primary
land use in the valley region of the
County, not only in recognition of the
economic importance of agriculture,
but also in terms of agriculture’s real
contribution to the conservation of
open space and natural resources.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
3-3
Provide continuing support to the
Agricultural Conservation Easement
Program to help protect and preserve
agricultural lands (including
Important Farmlands), as defined in
the General Plan Safety Element. This
program may require payment of an
in-lieu fee sufficient to purchase a
farmland conservation easement,
farmland deed restriction, or other
farmland conservation mechanism as
a condition of approval for
conservation of important agricultural
land to non-agricultural use.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
3-4
Seek to protect and enhance surface
water and groundwater resources
critical to agriculture.

High Short General
Fund

Continuing
3-5
Identify opportunities for infill
development projects near
employment areas within all
unincorporated communities to
reduce vehicle trips.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
3-6
Encourage high-density residential
development (greater than 14
dwelling units per gross acre) to
locate along collector roadways and
transit routes, and near public
facilities (e.g., schools, parks),
shopping, recreation, and
High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023 97
2-12
Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
entertainment, where economically
feasible.
3-7
Review Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) and
LEED-neighborhood development
certification requirements and
develop an implementation program.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
3-8
Encourage the location of ancillary
employee services (including, but not
limited to, child care, restaurants,
banking facilities, convenience
markets) near major employment
centers for the purpose of reducing
midday vehicle trips.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
3-9
Encourage new streets to be
designed and constructed to not
only accommodate traffic, but also
serve as comfortable pedestrian and
cyclist environments. These should
include, but not be limited to:

Street tree planting adjacent to
curbs and between the street and
sidewalk to provide a buffer
between pedestrians and
automobiles, where appropriate
Minimize curb cuts along streets
Sidewalks on both sides of streets,
where feasible
Bike lanes and walking paths, where
feasible on collectors and arterials
High Continuing
General
Fund,
grants

Continuing
3-10
Work with school districts and land
developers to locate school sites
consistent with current and future
land uses. The County shall also
encourage siting new schools near the
residential areas that they serve and
with access to safe pedestrian paths to
schools.

High Continuing
General
Fund,
School
Bonds

Continuing
3-11
Work to comprehensively study
methods of transportation, which may
contribute to a reduction in air
pollution in Tulare County.

High Short General
Fund

Continuing
3-12
Encourage all new development,
including rehabilitation, renovation,
and redevelopment, to incorporate
energy conservation and green
building practices to maximum extent
feasible. Such practices include
building orientation and shading,
landscaping, and the use of active and
passive solar heating and water
systems.

High Continuing Property
Owners

Continuing
Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
98 2-13
Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
4-1
Coordinate with cities to develop
cohesive fire safety plans with
overlapping coverage.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
4-2
Work with local and Federal agencies
to support efforts to reduce fuel
related hazards on public lands.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
4-3
Coordinate emergency response with
local, State, and Federal
governmental agencies, community
organizations, volunteer agencies, and
other response partners during
emergencies or disasters using the
California Standard Emergency
Management System and the National
Incident Management System.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
4-4
Participate in established local, State,
and Federal mutual aid systems.

Where necessary and appropriate, the
County shall enter into agreements to
ensure the effective provision of
emergency services, such as mass
care, heavy rescue, hazardous
materials, or other specialized
function.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
4-5
Continue to work with weather
forecasting and public safety agencies
to provide warning and protective
information to residents, travelers,
and visitors about severe valley fog
and extreme heat conditions.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
4-6
Increase participation in the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by
entering the Community Rating
System program which through
enhanced floodplain management
activities would allow property
owners to receive a discount on their
flood insurance.

High Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
5-1
Use Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) technology to track fire and law
enforcement response times and
provide technical assistance to fire
and law enforcement agencies.

High Short General
Fund

Continuing
5-2
Require, where feasible, road
networks (public and private) to
provide for safe and ready access for
emergency equipment and provide
alternate routes for evacuation.

Medium Continuing General
Fund

Continuing
5-3
In approving new facilities, such as
nursing homes, housing for the
elderly and other housing for the
mentally and physically infirm, to the
extent possible, ensure that such
Medium Continuing General
Fund
Continuing
Tulare County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
March 2023
99 2-14
Project
Number
Description Complete Ongoing Not Yet
Started
In 2023
Plan
Update
facilities are located within
reasonable distance of fire and law
enforcement stations
5-4
Expand the Street Names and House
Numbering Ordinance to all areas of
the County, including private roads,
for emergency 911 purposes.

Medium Short General
Fund

Continuing

 Tulare County*
 City of Dinuba*
 City of Exeter*
 City of Farmersville*
 City of Lindsay*
 City of Porterville*
 City of Tulare*
 City of Visalia*
 City of Woodlake*
 Tulare County Office of Education* (participating on behalf of the various County school districts)  Tule River Tribe*
 Hot Springs School District
 Tulare City School District
 Kings River Union School District
 Rockford School District
 Tulare Irrigation District
 Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District
 Tulare County Flood Control District
 *Participated in 2018 Tulare County LHMP

 Tulare County Mitigation Actions
 Multi-Hazard Actions
 Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of the General Plan

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3-1
Chapter 3 Planning Process

Requirements §201.6(b) and §201.6(c)(1): An open public involvement process is essential to the development of an effective plan. 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;
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 nonprofit interests to be involved in the planning process; and
3) Review and incorporation, if appropriate, of existing plans, studies, reports, and technical information
[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.

Tulare County recognized the need for and importance of the update process for their 2018 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and initiated its development. Tulare County Resource Management Agency Planning Division lead in charge of overseeing the planning process in this LHMP Update.

 Establishing the stakeholders as defined by the Disaster Mitigation Ace (DMA);  Meet the DMA requirements as established by federal regulations and following FEMA’s planning guidance.
 Support objectives under the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) CRS and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program;
 Facilitate the entire planning process;
 Identify the data requirements that HMPC participants could provide and conduct the research and documentation necessary to augment that data;
 Assist in facilitating the public input process;
 Produce the draft and final plan documents; and
 Coordinate with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA Region IX plan reviews.

3.1 Local Government Participation

Tulare County, as the participating NFIP CRS community, and all the other participating jurisdictions, made a commitment to this 2023 multi-jurisdictional LHMP Update. The DMA planning regulations and guidance stress that each local government (participating jurisdiction) seeking FEMA approval of their mitigation plan must participate in the planning effort in the following ways:

 Participate in the process as part of the HMPC;
 Detail where within the Planning Area the risk differs from that facing the entire area;  Identify potential mitigation actions; and
 Formally adopt the plan

For Tulare County and all participating jurisdictions, “participation” meant the following:

 Attending and participating in the HMPC meetings;
 Completing and returning the Data Collection Worksheets;  Collecting and providing other requested data (as available); Tulare County
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3-2
 Coordinating information sharing between internal and external agencies;  Managing administrative details;
 Making decisions on Plan process and content;
 Identifying mitigation actions for the Plan;
 Reviewing and providing comments on Plan drafts;
 Providing Draft documents of LHMP for public review;
 Informing the public, local officials, and other interested stakeholders about the planning process and providing opportunity for them to comment on the Plan;  Coordinating, and participating in the public input process; and  Coordinating the formal adoption of the Plan by the governing boards for each jurisdiction.

The County and all jurisdictions seeking FEMA approval of this LHMP Update met all of these Participation requirements. Multiple representatives from the County and all jurisdictions attended the HMPC meetings described in Table 3-5 and also brought together an internal planning team to help collect data, identify mitigation actions and implementation strategies, and review and provide data on Plan drafts. Appendix A provides additional information and documentation of the planning process.

In order to promote the integration of CRS into this planning process, the HMPC representatives from the County, as the CRS community, was selected based on their areas of expertise relative to the CRS mitigation categories as detailed in Table 3-1. In addition, Tulare County Resource Management Agency Planning Division used those involved in the development of this LHMP Update through attendance at meetings, providing data, future land use planning support, and help with all LHMP planning elements. In addition to attending meetings, providing daft text for inclusion in the Plan, and reviewing Plan documents, Tulare County planners, in addition to planners from other participating jurisdictions, also provided information on development since the 2018 LHMP, mapping, text, and details on future development areas, input on current mitigation capabilities, and a variety of documents and information specific to their jurisdictions.

Table 3-1 Tulare County LHMP Staff Capability with Six Mitigation Categories Jurisdictions/Departments
Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Emergency Services
Structural Flood
Control Projects
Public Information
Other
Tulare County Resource Management
Agency Planning Branch
Susan Simon, Planner IV

X

X

X

X

X

X
Tulare County Resource Management
Agency Floodplain Programs
Ross Miller, P.E., Chief Engineer

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
Emergency Services, Andrew Lockman,
Emergency Services Manager

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Specific individuals representing Tulare County and representatives from other participating jurisdictions participating in this LHMP Update were actively involved throughout the LHMP Update process as identified in Appendix A in the sign-in sheets for the meetings and as evident through the data, information and input provided by HMPC representatives to the development of this LHMP Update. This Chapter 3 and Appendix A provides additional information and documentation of the planning process and participants to this LHMP Update, including members of the HMPC.

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3-3

3.2 The 10-Step Planning Process

Table 3-2 Planning Process
DMA Process Modified CRS Process
Organize Resources
201.6I(1) 1) Organize the Planning Effort
201.6(b)(1) 2) Involve the Public
201.6(b)(2) and (3) 3) Coordinate with Other Departments and Agencies Assess Risks
201.6I(2)(i) 4) Identify the Hazards
201.6I(2)(ii) 5) Assess the Risk
Develop Mitigation Plan
201.6I(3)(i) 6) Set Goals
201.6I(3)(ii) 7) Review Possible Activities
201.6I(3)(iii) 8) Draft an Action Plan
Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress
201.6I(5) 9) Adopt the Plan
201.6I(4) 10) Implement, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan

Tulare County Planning Division created the planning process for updating the Tulare County using the DMA planning requirements and FEMA’s associated guidance is structured around a four-process process.

 Organize Resource;
 Assess Risks;
 Develop the Mitigation Plan; and
 Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress.

Into this process, Tulare County Planning staff integrated a more detailed 10-step planning process used for FEMA’s CRS and FMA program. Thus, the modified 10-step process used for this Plan meets the requirements of six major programs: FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) programs; CRS program; FMA Program; Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) program; and new flood control projects authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Table 3-2 shows how the modified 10-step process fits into FEMA’s into four-phase process. The sections that follow describe each planning step in more detail.

This LHMP Update involved a comprehensive review and update of each section of the 2018 Plan and includes an assessment of the success of the County in evaluating, monitoring and implementing the mitigation strategy outlined in the 2018 LHMP, as previously described in more detail in Chapter 2 and throughout Chapter 4, and Chapter 5.

The process followed to update the LHMP is detained in the above table and the sections that follow and is in conformance with the latest DMA planning guidance and the CRS 2017 Coordinator’s Manual. As part of this LHMP Update, all sections of the plan were reviewed and updated to reflect new data, processes, and resulting mitigation strategies. Only the information and data still valid from the 2018 LHMP was carried forward as applicable into this LHMP Update.

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3-4

3.2.1 Phase 1: Organize Resources

Planning Step 1: Organize the Planning Effort

With Tulare County’s commitment to participate in the DMA planning process and the CRS program, Tulare County Planning Division was the overall project lead, to establish the framework and organization for development of the Plan. An initial meeting was held with key community representatives to discuss the organizational and process aspects of this LHMP Update process.

Invitations to these kickoff meetings were extended to key County departments, the eight incorporated communities, special districts located within the planning area, tribal governments, as well as to other federal, state, and local stakeholders, including representatives from the public, that might have an interest in participating in the planning process Representatives from the HMPC members to the 2018 Plan, key County departments, and other identified stakeholders were used as a starting point for the invite list, with additional invitations is included in Appendix A.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC)

The HMPC was established as a result of these initial meetings as well as through interest generated through the initial public meetings and outreach conducted for this project as detailed later in this section. The HMPC, comprising key county, city, special district, and other government and stakeholder representatives and the public, developed the plan with leadership and facilitation by Tulare County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division.

Stakeholders Committee

In addition to the HMPC, a stakeholder Committee to the HMPC was established to help guide LHMP development, including the CRS components of floodplain management planning and the overall development of the LHMP. Table 3-3 shows who participated on the stakeholders committee.

Table 3-3 Tulare County Stakeholders Participants
Stakeholder Name Email
Board of Supervisors Dennis Townsend, Supervisor
Eddie Valero, Supervisor
Larry Micari, Supervisor
Pete Vander Poel, Supervisor
Amy Shuklian, Supervisor
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
OES Andrew Lockman, Emergency
Services Manger
Sabrina Bustamante, Emergency
Services Specialist
Megan Gilles, Emergency Services
Specialist
[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]
RMA Reed Schenke, RMA Director
Michael Washam, RMA Assoc
Director
Aaron Bock, RMA Asst Director,
Economic Development and
Planning
[email protected]
[email protected]

[email protected]
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3-5
Stakeholder Name Email
Grants Denise England, Grants and
Resources Manager
Alexandra Yates, Grant Specialist
Doreen Alvez, Grant Specialist
[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Planning Susan Simon, Planner IV
Chuck Przybylski, Planner IV
Emily Gage, Planner I
Austin Reynolds, Planner I
Roxana Bran, Planning Tech
Patricia Padilla, Planning Tech
Thomas Steensland, CivicSpark
Abbygail de Castro, CivicSpark
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Environmental Hector Guerra, Chief Planner
Jessica Willis, Planner IV
Danielle Folk, Planner III
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Building Hector Ramos, Building/Housing
Manager
Kevin Sullivan, Building/Code
Maria Flores, Building/Code
Chan Phan, IT Specialist
[email protected]

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
County Library Darla Wegener, Librarian [email protected] Albert Cendejas, Parks and Ground
Manager
Alexandra Nunez Personnel Services
Officer
[email protected]

[email protected]
County Facilities Michael Dickerson, Facilities
Manager
[email protected]

Rob Anderson, Analyst-Risk
Management
[email protected]
Fire Kevin Riggi, Division Chief,
Bryan T Duffy, Battalion Chief
[email protected]
[email protected]
Public Works Hernan Beltran Herrera, Chief
Engineer
Johnny Wong, Chief Engineer
Toney Boland, Transportation Svs
Coordinator
[email protected]

[email protected]
[email protected]
Flood Ross Miller, Chief Engineer
Andres Perez, Engineer
Alan Simpson
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sheriff Michael Boudreaux, Sheriff [email protected]

Three Rivers Elizabeth LaMar [email protected]

Tule River Tribe Christina Dabney-Keel [email protected]

Tulare Irrigation
District (TID)
Aaron Fukuda
Jeremy Barroll,
[email protected]
[email protected]

Tule River Tribe Christina Dabney-Keel [email protected]

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3-6
Stakeholder Name Email
Kings River Union
Elementary School
District
Sherry A. Martin
Superintendent/Principle
[email protected]
California Hot
Springs School
Tom Byars,
Superintendent/Principle
[email protected]

Tipton Elementary
School
Stacy Bettencourt, Superintendent [email protected]

Palo Verde Union
Elementary School
Phil Anderson,
Superintendent/Principal
[email protected]

Hope Elementary
School District
Melanie Matta,
Superintendent/Principal
[email protected]

Tulare County Office
of Education
Jeff Ramsey [email protected]

City of Dinuba Jordan Webster, Fire Chief [email protected]

City of Exeter Adam Ennis, City Manager
Shonna O’Neal, City Clerk
[email protected]
[email protected]
City of Farmersville Mario Krstic, Chief of Police
Jennifer Gomez, City Manager
[email protected]
[email protected]

City of Lindsay Rick Carrillo [email protected]
City of Porterville Rocio Mejia [email protected] City of Tulare Michael Ott Fire Chief,
Josh McDonnell
Traci Myers
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
City of Visalia Tom Van Grouw, Battalion Chief
Danny Wristen
Dan Griswold
[email protected]

[email protected]
[email protected]
City of Woodlake Rebecca Griswold [email protected]

Tulare County Staff Committee

In addition to the Stakeholders Committee, a Tulare County staff committee was established to help guide LHMP development, including the CRS components of floodplain management planning and the overall development of the LHMP.

 Susan Simon, Planner IV
 Chuck Przybylski, Planner IV
 Ross Miller, Chief Engineer (Department of Public Works/Stormwater and Floodplain)  Andres Perez, Engineer (Department of Public Works/Stormwater and Floodplain)  Nick Johnson, CivicSparks
 Evan Brock, CivicSparks
 Nathan White, CivicSparks

Planning Step 2: Involve the Public

The county contracted with Dudek to facilitate the public outreach and Stakeholders meeting. Dudek’s work can be found in Appendix A.

Public Outreach Survey
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An integral element in hazard mitigation planning is broad public participation. Information provided by residents fosters a better understanding of local hazard concerns and can spawn innovative ideas to reduce impacts of future hazard events. A public option survey was accomplished to gather information from Tulare County Planning Area residents concerning local hazards. The survey was located on the County’s LHMP website and survey participation was promoted through public meetings, program web sites, press releases, social media, and other public outreach events as previously described. Tulare County hosted and attended 11 community events throughout the region to receive input from a variety of residents in terms of where they live and the hazards their communities likely experience. To best plan a broad array of community outreach efforts, the County catalogued local community events by major geographic areas: North Foothills, Central Foothills, South Foothills, Mountains, North Valley, Central Valley, and South Valley. At least one event was held in each of the geographic regions. Events were prioritized based on their expected attendance to maximize potential interactions. Open town halls were held in communities where no suitable community events were identified. Man of the events were advertised through social medial posts and flyer distribution.

Table 3-4 Public Engagement Events
Event Date Location Region *Number of
Interactions
Open Town Hall - Visalia Central Valley **N/A
Orange Blossom
Festival
April 9. 2022 Lindsay Central Foothills 463
Back to School
Night
April 19, 2022 Cutler-Orosi North Valley 456
Visalia Farmers
Market
Map 19, 2022 Visalia Central Valley 229
Music on Main
Street
May 20, 2022 Porterville South Valley 139
Allensworth State
Park May Festival
May 21, 2022 Allensworth South Valley 433
Open Town Hall May 31, 2022 Springville South Foothills 182 Open Town Hall July 22, 2022 Camp Nelson Mountains 293
Open Town Hall July 28 2022 Goshen North Valley 105
Open Town Hall August 16, 2022 Three Rivers North Foothills 343 Open Town Hall August 20, 2022 Woodville South Valley 383 Note: *Number of Interactions: Total number of times any given participant provided input by adding a sticker to the interactive posters.
**The first community outreach event did not include participation activities. Project information was presented, and attendees were encouraged to complete the online survey.

At each event, County Staff hosted booths and/or public meetings in which locals were encouraged to participate in a short poster board sticker survey. Six (6) posterboards displayed at each event. Outreach Staff walked participants through the activities and handed out free promotional items and informational handouts once the activities were completed. In total, the County facilitated over 3,000 interactions and interfaced with over 550 participants at the various public events. Figure 3-1 through Figure 3-5 represents major findings from in-person public engagement events.

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Figure 3-1 Have You Ever Been Impacted by a Natural Hazard in the County?

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Figure 3-2 How Concerned Are You About Being Impacted by a Natural Hazard?

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Figure 3-3 Which Hazard Do You Feel is the Greatest Concern to Tulare County?

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Figure 3-4 What Strategy Would Make Your Community the Most Resilient to Natural Hazards?

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Figure 3-5 How Would You Prefer to Receive Emergency Notifications in the Event of a Natural Hazard?

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Planning Step 3: Coordinate with Other Departments and Agencies

Early in the planning process, County staff determined that data collection, mitigation strategy development, and Plan approval would be greatly enhanced by inviting other local and Special Districts to participate in the process. Based on their involvement in hazard mitigation planning, their landowner status in the County, and/or their interest as a neighboring jurisdiction, representatives from the following agencies were invited to participate as stakeholders:

 City of Dinuba
 City of Exeter
 City of Farmersville
 City of Lindsay
 City of Porterville
 City of Tulare
 City of Visalia
 City of Woodlake
 City of Kingsburg
 City of Reedley
 Orange Cove
 Fresno County
 Kings County
 Kern County
 Alpaugh Joint Powers
 Angiola Water District
 Atwell Water District
 Community Water Center
 California Water Service Company
 Ker-Tulare Water District
 Lewis Creek Water District
 St. Johns Water District
 Tea Pot Dome Water District
 Vandalia Water District
 Allensworth CSD
 Alpaugh CSD
 Alpine Village Sequoia Crest CSD
 Goshen CDS
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 London CSD
 Patterson Tract CSD
 Ponderosa CSD
 Poplar CSD
 Richgrove CSD
 Sultana CSD
 Teviston CSD
 Three Rivers CSWD
 Tipton CSD
 Tract 92 CSD
 Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District
 Kings River Conservation District
 Alpaugh Irrigation District
 Alta Irrigation District
 Consolidated Irrigation District
 Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District
 Ducor Irrigation District
 Exeter Irrigation District
 Hills Valley Irrigation District
 Ivanhoe Irrigation District
 Lindmore Irrigation District
 Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District
 Lower Tule Irrigation District
 Pixley Irrigation District
 Porterville Irrigation District
 Saucelito Irrigation District
 Stone Corral Irrigation District
 Terra Bella Irrigation District
 Tulare Irrigation District
 East Kaweah GSA
 Greater Kaweah GSA
 Mid Kaweah GSA
 Lower Tule GSA
 Kings River East GSA
 Dinuba Memorial District
 Exeter Memorial District
 Ivanhoe Memorial District
 Lindsay-Strathmore Memorial
 Orosi Memorial District
 Porterville Memorial District
 Sequoia Memorial District
 South Tulare Memorial District
 Springville Veterans Memorial District
 Terra Bella Memorial District
 Three Rivers Memorial District
 Tulare Veterans Memorial District
 Visalia Memorial District
 Woodlake Memorial District
 Cutler PUD
 Earlimart PUD
 Ivanhoe PUD
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 Pixley PUDE
 Porter Vista PUD
 Springville PUD
 Strathmore PUD
 Woodville PUD
 Tulare County Office of Education
 Allensworth Elementary School District
 Alpaugh Unified School District
 Alta Visa Elementary School District
 Buena Vista Elementary School District
 Burton Elementary School District
 Columbine Elementary School District
 Cutler/Orosi Unified School District
 Ducor Union Elementary School District
 Earilmart Elementary School District
 Hope Elementary School District
 Hot Springs Elementary School District
 Kings River Union Elementary School District
 Liberty Elementary School District
 Monson/Sultana Joint Union Elementary School District  Oak Valley Union Elementary School District
 Palo Verde Union School District
 Pixley School District
 Pleasant View Elementary School District
 Porterville Unified School District
 Richgrove Elementary School District
 Rockford Elementary School District
 Saucelito Elementary School District
 Sequoia Union Elementary School District
 Springville Union Elementary School District
 Stone Corral Elementary School District
 Strathmore Union Elementary School District
 Sundale Union Elementary School District
 Sunnyside Union Elementary School District
 Terra Bella Union Elementary School District
 Three Rivers Union Elementary School District
 Tipton Elementary school District
 Traver Joint Union Elementary School District
 Waukena Join Union Elementary School District
 Woodville Union Elementary School District
 Tulare City Elementary School District
 Tulare Join Union High School District
 Visalia Unified School District
 Woodlake Unified School District
 Exeter Unified School District
 Farmersville Unified School District
 College of Sequoias
 Dinuba Unified School District
 Lindsay Unified School District

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Several opportunities were provided for the groups listed above to participate in the planning process. At the beginning of the planning process, invitations were extended to many of these groups to actively participate on the Stakeholders Committee. Specific participants from these groups are detailed in Appendix A. Others assisted in the process by providing data directly as requested in the Data Worksheets or through data contained on their websites or as maintained by their offices. Further as part of the public outreach process, all groups were invited to attend the public and stakeholders’ meetings and to review and comment on the Plan. In addition, as part of the review of the draft Plan, key agency stakeholders were contacted, and their comments specifically solicited as described further in Appendix A.

Other Community Planning Efforts and Hazard Mitigation Activities

Coordination with other community planning efforts is also paramount to the success of this plan. Hazard mitigation planning involves identifying existing policies, tools, and actions that will reduce a community’s risk and vulnerability to hazards. Tulare County uses a variety of comprehensive planning mechanisms, such as general plans and ordinances, guide growth and development. Integrating existing planning efforts and mitigation policies and action strategies into this LHMP Update established a credible and comprehensive Plan that ties into and supports other community programs. The development of this LHMP Update incorporated information from the following existing plans, studies, reports, and initiatives as well as other relevant data from neighboring communities and jurisdictions.

 Cal OES plans and data
 California Department of Finance demographic documents  California Department of Water Resources plans and information  California Geological Survey Plans
 Cal Fire, Fire Plans and data
 Climate Adaptation Plans
 Emergency Operations Plans
 Evacuation Plans
 FEMA Insurance Studies
 General Plans – County and Cities
 National Weather Service documents
 Stormwater Master Plans
 US Department of Agriculture Reports
 US Department of Interior Plans
 US Fish and Wildlife reports
 USGS Reports
 Three Rivers Fire Safe Council Community Wildfire Protection Plan  Flood Plain Information Sand and Cottonwood Creeks and the Lower Kaweah River, Visalia, California
 Floods and Droughts in the Tulare Lake Basin
 Tulare County Flood Plain Management Study
 Tulare County Flood Control District/Flood Control Master Plan  Flood Insurance Study – Tulare County California and Incorporated Areas  Tulare County Flood Control District Flood Control Master Plan

3.2.2 Phase 2: Assess Risks

Planning Steps 4 and 5: Identify the Hazards and Assess the Risks

Tulare County Staff led the Stakeholders in a research effort to identify, document, and profile all the hazards Tulare County
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that have, or could have, an impact the Tulare County Planning Area. Starting with the 2018 Plan, natural hazards of concern were added, deleted, and modified for this LHMP Update. Data collection worksheets were developed and used in this effort to aid in determining hazards and vulnerabilities and where the risk varies across the Planning Area.

Tulare County staff also conducted a capability assessment to review and document Tulare County Planning Area’s current capabilities to mitigate risk from and vulnerability to hazards. By collecting information about existing government programs, policies, regulations, ordinances, and emergency plans, County staff could assess those activities and measures already in place that contribute to mitigating some of the risks and vulnerabilities identified.

Also addressed in the risk assessment of this 2023 LHMP is an assessment of the County’s floodplain management program and participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including a discussion of their continued compliance with NFIP requirements and their CRS program. However, it should be noted that this applies only to eligible NFIP communities. Participating special districts to this LHMP Update do not address their compliance with the NFIP as they are not eligible to participate in this program.

A more detained description of the risk assessment process, methodologies, and results are included in Chapter 4 Risk Assessment.

3.2.3 Phase 3: Develop the Mitigation Plan

Planning Steps 6 and 7: Set Goals and Review Possible Activities

Tulare County facilitated brainstorming and discussion sessions with the stakeholders that described the purpose and process of developing planning goals and objectives, a comprehensive range of mitigation alternatives, and a method of selecting and defending recommended mitigation actions using a series of selection criteria. This information is included in Chapter 5 Mitigation Strategy. Additional documentation on the process the Stakeholders used to develop the goals and mitigation strategy is in Appendix C.

Planning Step 8: Draft an Action Plan

Based on input from the Stakeholders regarding the draft risk assessment and the goals and activities identified in Planning Steps 6 and 7, a complete first draft of the LHMP Update was developed. County Staff will integrate comments and issues from the public, as appropriate, along with additional internal review comments and produced a final draft for Cal OES and FEMA Region IX to review and approve, contingent upon final adoption by governing bords of all participating jurisdictions.

3.2.4 Phase 4: Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress

Planning Step 9: Adopt the Plan

In order to secure buy-in and officially implement the LHMP Update, the Plan will be adopted by the governing boards of each participating jurisdiction using the sample resolution contained in Appendix D.

Planning Step 10: Implement, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan

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The true worth of any mitigation plan is in the effectiveness of its implementation. Up to this point in the planning process, all of the Stakeholders efforts have been directed at researching data, coordinating input from participating entities, and developing appropriate mitigation actions. Each recommended action includes key descriptors, such as a lead manager and possible funding sources, to help initiate implementation. An overall implementation strategy is described in Chapter 7 Plan Implementation and Maintenance.

Finally, there are numerous organizations within Tulare County Planning Area whose goals and interests’ interface with hazard mitigation. Coordination with these other planning efforts, as addressed in Planning Step 3, is paramount to the implementation and ongoing success of this plan and mitigation in Tulare County and is addressed further in Chapter 7.

Implementation and Maintenance Process: 2018

The 2018 Tulare County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update included a process for Plan maintenance and implementation of the mitigation strategy as well as formal updates to the Plan document. The 2018 process called for yearly reviews with the status of mitigation strategy implementation documented in an annual report. In addition, the 2018 process called for a formal plan update as required by DMA regulations every five (5) years. While Tulare County OES regularly forwarded information to the Stakeholders on grant opportunities and other related topics on LHMP, and discussed /conversed/assisted agencies with questions or interests on the subject, no reconvening of the Stakeholders to review has occurred since 2018 LHMP.

This 2023 LHMP Update, once complete will meet the DMJA formal 5-year update requirement.

Specifically, Tulare County’s existing plan was completed with a final approval date of March 26, 2018. It was anticipated that in compliance with the five-year update requirement, the next complete update of the Plan would be completed in 2023. This current LHMP Update process was initiated in Spring of 2021 and finished in January of 2023 with the submittal for this LHMP update to Cal OES and FEMA Regional IX.

In addition, the 2018 LHMP was relied on and integrated into other planning mechanisms in the County.

Table 3-5 lists the planning mechanism the 2018 LHMP Update was integrated into by Tulare County

Table 3-5 Incorporation of 2018 Tulare County LHMP Update into Other Planning Mechanisms Planning Mechanism 2018
LHMP was Incorporated or
Implemented Through
Details
General Plan, Community
Safety Element
Describes hazard areas and regulates current and future development based on known hazard areas. The General Plan Safety Element incorporates the MJLHMP by formal adoption by the County Board of supervisors.

The MJLHMP will be adopted as part of the Safety Element by the County Board of Supervisors. The General Plan and the MJLHMP will be correlated with respect to climate change and the impacts of planned growth. As the Safety Element is updated, revised hazard analysis from the MHLHMP will be incorporated. Safety Element actions will be aligned with MJLHMP mitigation measures.

OES, Emergency Operations
Plan (EOP)
Describes what the local jurisdiction’s actions will be during a response to an emergency. Includes annexes that describe in more detail the actions required of the local jurisdiction’s departments/agencies. Further, this plan describes the role of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and the coordination between the EOC and the local/tribal jurisdictions. Lastly, the EOP describes how the EOC serves as the point of coordination between local, tribal, State, and
Federal agencies during a disaster. The MJLHMP provides the basis for the hazards included and described in the EOP.

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Planning Mechanism 2018
LHMP was Incorporated or
Implemented Through
Details
The MJLHMP will be used as an essential tool to update the County EOP.

Cal OES requires that EOPs describe applicable hazards as part of the Plan.

The latest MJLHMP hazards descriptions will be included. Mitigation actions that are preparedness and response in nature will be analyzed for applicability to include in the description of EOP processes and procedures.

CAL FIRE1 Tulare Unit
Strategic Fire Plan
The Plan is a local road map to create and maintain defensible landscapes in order to protect vital assets. It seeks to reduce firefighting cost and property loss, increase public and firefighter safety, minimize wildfire risk to communities and contribute to ecosystem health. The Plan identifies pre- suppression projects including opportunities for reducing structural ignitability, and the identification of potential fuel reduction projects and techniques for minimizing those risks. The central goals that are critical to reducing and preventing the impacts of fire revolve around both suppression efforts and fire prevention efforts.

The MJLHMP fire hazard analysis and fire related mitigation measures will be provided to Cal Fire to support the Tulare Unit Strategic Fire Plan.

County Resource
Conservation District –
Sequoia Fire Safe Council
Community Wildfire
Protection Plan (CWPP)
The objective of the CWPP is to heighten cooperation, collaboration and commitment to watershed protection and fire prevention through the CWPP planning effort. MJLHMP mitigation actions related to wildfire can enhance the CWPP.

The MJLHMP fire hazard analysis and fire related mitigation measures will be provided to the Sequoia Fire Safe Council to support the CWPP.

County Flood Prevention
Ordinance (Ordinance Code
of Tulare County, Part VII,
Chapter 27)
The objective of this policy is to minimize the impacts floods through building restrictions in flood zones and specifically in special flood hazard areas.

The MJLHMP contains several specific flood mitigation measures in support of the Flood Prevention Ordnance. Inclusion of the new dam inundation data developed as part of the MJLHMP planning process will be included in updates to the Ordinance.

County Flood Control Master
Plan
This element of the General Plan addresses issues particularly related to flood control along natural watercourses in the County. This adopted Element is incorporated into this General Plan Update document as Chapter

15. The MJLHMP contains several specific flood mitigation measures in support Flood Control Master Plan. Inclusion of the new dam inundation data developed as part of the MJLHMP planning process will be included in updates to the County Flood Control Master Plan.

Hazardous Waste
Management Plan
The County has a hazardous materials management plan to protect the health and safety of all citizens within the County and minimize the risk associated with hazardous materials through the development of policies and procedures.

The MJLHMP contains several specific mitigation measures to address hazardous material releases. These mitigation measures will be reviewed for applicability as the Hazardous Material Management Plan is updated.

County Ordinance Code Part
VII:
-Chapter 1, Article 3
-Chapter 19, Articles 1, 3
This policy regulates minimum road width for the emergency vehicle access and egress. Supports fire mitigation actions by setting road width standards to support population evacuation. The MJLHMP contains specific actions that reinforce this requirement.

California Code of
Regulations Title 14 Division

1.5 Chapter 7 Subchapter 2
Article 2 § 1273.01
Minimum road width for the emergency vehicle access and egress. Supports fire mitigation actions by setting road width standards to support population evacuation. The MJLHMP contains specific actions that reinforce this requirement.

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Planning Mechanism 2018
LHMP was Incorporated or
Implemented Through
Details
County Climate Action Plan Incorporates climate adaptation and resiliency strategies identified in California Government Code 65302 (g)(4). The 2017 MJLHMP adds climate change as a hazard and includes several mitigation measures that advance the objectives of the Climate Action Plan. The MJLHMP contains specific actions that support addressing climate change which can be included in updates to the County Climate Action Plan.

The updated MJLHMP addresses climate change as a hazard. Several climate change mitigation activities are included in the MHLHMP. As the Climate Action Plan is updated the information in the MJLMP will be used as a reference to analyze the impacts of climate change and to provide concrete measures to address climate change effects.

Stormwater Quality
Management Program
(SWQMP)
Describes measures that the local jurisdiction will take to minimize stormwater pollution. The SWQMP is required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II regulations, which became effective in March 2003.

The MJLHMP provides flooding mitigation measures that support implementing the SWQMP. As the SWQMP is updated, the most recent MJLHMP will be used to address flooding mitigation measures as flood incidents often result in storm water discharges that contain pollutants.

The plan implementation and maintenance process as set forth in the 2018 Plan has been updated for this LHMP Update. The revised update implementation and maintenance process for Tulare County 2023 LHMP Update is set forth in Section 7 of this Plan document. A strategy for continued public involvement for this update process is also included in Chapter 7.

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Chapter 4 Risk Assessment

Requirement §201.6I(2): [The plan shall include] A risk assessment that provides the factual basis for activities proposed in the strategy to reduce losses from identified hazards. Local risk assessments must provide sufficient information to enable the jurisdiction to identify and prioritize appropriate mitigation actions to reduce losses from identified hazards.

As defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), risk is a combination of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. “It is the impact that a hazard would have on people, services, facilities, and structures in a community and refers to the likelihood of a hazard event resulting in an adverse condition that causes injury or damage.”

The risk assessment process identifies and profiles relevant hazards and assesses the exposure of lives, property, and infrastructure to these hazards. The process allows for a better understanding of a community’s potential risk to natural hazards and provides a framework for developing and prioritizing mitigation actions to reduce risk from future hazard events.

This risk assessment followed the methodology described in the FEMA publication Understanding Your Risks – Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses (FEMA 386-2, 2002) which breaks the assessment down to a four-step process:

 Identify Hazards;
 Profile Hazard Events;
 Inventory Assets; and
 Estimate Losses,
Data collected through this process has been incorporated into the following sections of this chapter:

 Section 4.1: Hazard Identification identifies the natural hazards that threaten Tulare County Planning Area and describes why some hazards have been omitted from further consideration.  Section 4.2: Tulare County Assets at Risk Identifies the property values; populations; critical facilities; and cultural, historical, and natural resources at risk. This information is not hazard specific and covers the entire Tulare County Planning Area, with focus on unincorporated Tulare County.
 Section 4.3: Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment provides an overview of each hazard, its location and extent, and discusses the risk, vulnerability, and impacts of each natural hazard to the Planning Area. The hazard profile also describes previous occurrences of hazard events and the likelihood of future occurrences. The vulnerability assessment evaluates the Planning Area’s and the unincorporated County’s exposure to natural hazards; considering assets at risk, populations at risk, critical facilities, future development trends, and, where possible, estimates potential hazard losses.
 Section 4.4: Capability Assessment inventories existing local mitigation activities and policies, regulations, plans, and projects that pertain to mitigation and can affect net vulnerability of Tulare County Planning area.

The risk assessment covers the entire geographical extent of Tulare County Planning Area, including the incorporated communities and other participating jurisdictions and special districts. In accordance with FEMA requirements, this risk assessment describes how the hazards and risks vary across the Planning Area Tulare County
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and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. While these differences are noted in this chapter, they are expanded upon in the annexes of the participating jurisdiction and special districts. If no additional data is provided in an annex, it should be assumed that the risk and potential impacts to the affected jurisdiction are similar to those described here for the entire Tulare County Planning Area.

This LHMP Update involved a comprehensive review and update of each section of the 2018 risk assessment. Information from the 2018 LHMP was used in this update where valid and applicable. As part of the risk assessment update, new data was used, where available, and new analyses were conducted. Where data from existing studies and reports was used, the source is referenced throughout this risk assessment.

Refinements, changes, and new methodologies used in the development of this risk assessment update are summarized in Chapter 2 What’s New and are also detailed in this risk assessment portion of this Plan.

4.1 Hazard Identification

Requirement §201.6I(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the type. . .of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction.

Tulare County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee conducted a hazard identification assessment to determine the hazards that threaten the Planning Area. This section details the methodology and results of this effort.

Data Sources
 The following data sources were used for this Hazard Identification portion of this Plan:
 California Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES)
 Stakeholders input
 National Climate Data Center NCDC Storm Events Database  2018 Tulare County MJ-LHMP
 2020 State California Hazard Mitigation Plan
 FEMA Disaster Declaration Database

4.1.1 Results and Methodology

The following hazards in Table 4-1, listed alphabetically, were identified and investigated for this LHMP Update. As a starting point, the 2020 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan was consulted to evaluate the applicability of hazards of concern to the State, to the Tulare County Planning Area. Building upon this effort, hazards from the 2018 Tulare County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) were also identified and comments explain how hazards were updated from the 2018 Plan. Most hazards from the 2018 plan were profiled in this LHMP Update.

Table 4-1 Tulare County Hazard Identification and Comparison from 2018 LHMP 2023 Hazards 2018 Hazards Comment
Civil disturbance Civil disturbance Similar analysis was performed. Updated information was placed, where available
Climate change Climate change Similar analysis was performed. Updated information was placed, where available
Dam Failure Additional analysis was performed. Dams inside and outside the County were analyzed with Cal OES and
DSOD data.

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2023 Hazards 2018 Hazards Comment
Drought & water shortage Drought Additional data from the recent drought were added.

Public Safety Power Shutoff information was added to
this hazard
Earthquake Earthquake Hazus runs were updated.

Energy emergency Energy emergency
Floods: 100/200/500 year Flood
Fog Fog
Hazard Materials Hazardous materials
Heat Due to similar analysis “Extreme Heat” was dropped from consideration.

Invasive Species: Aquatic New Hazard
Invasive Species:

Pests/Plant

Landslide/Mudslide/Debris Landslide/Mudslide/Debris
Flow
Similar analysis was performed.

Levee Failure Additional data from the National Levee Database risk data by levee was added to the vulnerability to levee
failure.

Pandemic New Hazard
Severe Winter Storm Severe winter storm
Severe Weather Extreme
Heat
Extreme heat Similar analysis was performed. Public Safety Power Shutoff information was added to this hazard
Terrorism Terrorism/WMD2
Tree Mortality Wildfire Tree mortality was separated from wildfire. A more detailed discussion on how this hazard affects the
County was added.

Wildfire Wildfire Additional data from the recent wildfire were added.

Certain hazards were excluded from consideration for this LHMP Update (see Table 4-2).

Table 4-2 Tulare County Excluded Hazards
Hazard Excluded Why Excluded
Tsunami The County is not on the Coast
Avalanches The County does not have sufficient snowfall in populated areas to have avalanche as a hazard
Air Pollution The County did not consider this a hazard, but it is dealt with in other planning mechanisms in the County
Coastal Flooding, Erosion,
and Sea Level Rise
The County is not on the coast
Energy Shortage and Energy
Resilience
The County did not consider this hazard, but it is dealt with in other planning mechanism is the County
Oil Spills The County did not consider this hazard, as there are few pipelines or oil wells in the County
Radiological Accidents There are no areas in the County at risk to this hazard Cyber Threats The County did consider this a hazard, but it is dealt with in other planning mechanism in the County
Airline Crashes There have been few past occurrences in the County of airplane crashes Well Stimulation and
Hydraulic Fracking
This is not occurring in the County

Table 4-1 was completed by the County to identify, profile, and rate the significance of identified hazards.

Those hazards identified as a high or medium significance are considered priority hazards for mitigation Tulare County
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planning. Those hazards that occur infrequently or have little or no impact on the Planning Area were determined to be of low significance and not considered a priority hazard. Significance was determined based on the hazard profile, focusing on key criteria such as frequency, extent, and resulting damage, including deaths/injuries, and property, crop, and economic damage. The ability of a community to reduce losses through implementation of existing and new mitigation measures was also considered as to the significance of a hazard. This assessment was used by Tulare County to prioritize those hazards of greatest significance to the Tulare County Planning Area, enabling the County to focus resources where they are most needed.

4.1.2 Disaster Declaration History

One method used to identify hazards was the researching of past events that triggered federal and/or state emergency or disaster declarations in Tulare County Planning Area. Federal and/or state declarations may be granted when the severity and magnitude of an event surpasses the ability of the local government to respond and recover. Disaster assistance is supplemental and sequential. When the local government’s capacity has been surpassed, a state disaster declaration may be issued, allowing for the provision of state assistance. Should the disaster be so severe that both the local and state governments’ capacities are exceeded, a federal emergency or disaster declaration may be issued allowing for the provision of federal assistance. Table 4-3 lists the declarations where Tulare County was included in federal and/or state disaster declaration. Table 4-4 lists the disaster Declaration History in Tulare County.

Table 4-3 Federal and State Disaster Declaration History Federal - Executive Orders and Proclamations
Date (Resolution) Number Emergency/Disaster Type
03-26-2009 Nation-Wide H1N1 flue virus
influenza pandemic
03-13-2020 USA 2020-05794
9994
COVID-19. Declaring a National
Emergency Concerning the Novel
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
08-01-2022 Monkey Pox
State of California – Governor Executive Orders and Proclamations 12-20-1998 to 12-29-1998 DR-1267 Severe Freezing
01-11-2007 to 1-17-2007 DR-1689 Severe Freezing
03-28-2009 Nation-Wide H1N1 flue virus
influenza pandemic
12-17-2010 to 1-4-2011 DR-1952 Severe Storms and flooding 10-30-2015 Tree Mortality
08-19-2016 to 9-8-2016 FMAG 51150 Cedar Fire
04-1-2017 DR-4308 Tule River Indian Tribe flooding
04-4-2017-8-8-2017 Kings Incident - flooding
06-30-2017 to 7-11-2017 Animal Mortality
08-29-2017 to 10-17-2017 FMAG 5205 Pier Fire
03-22-2019 N-05-19 Tree Mortality
10-26-2019 ` Historic wind event
03-04-2020 N-80-20 COVID- 19
03-04-2021 N-03-21 COVID- 19
05-10-2021 Drought
05-20-2021 N-05-21 Wildfire of 2020
09-20-2021 N-15-21 COVID-19
10-22-2021 KNP Complex Fire
10-22-2021 Windy Fire
06-17-2021 N-23-21 COVID- 19
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06-17-2021 N-09-21 COVID-19
07-08-2021 Extreme Heat Event
02-25-2022 N-04-22 COVID- 19
03-28-2022 N-7-22 Drought. Extreme and Expanding
drought conditions
06-17-2022 N-11-22 COVID-19
08-1-2022 Monkeypox
08-31-2022 N-15-22 Extreme Heat Event
12-27-2022 SOE Severe Winter Storm
Flooding. High winds, Substantial
Precipitation, River and Urban
flooding
California Department of Food and Agriculture
02-13-2019 Treatment for Lindsay & Visalia
(Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter)
03-10-2020 Pierce’s Disease Control Program
12-20-2021 VS-9414 Asian Citrus Psyllid
01-10-2022 VS-9421 Asian Citrus Psyllid
06-16-2022 Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter
12-07-2022 VS - 9548 Asian Citrus Psyllid

Table 4-4 Tulare County Disaster Declaration History
Date Number Emergency/Disaster Type
02-4 2014 2014-0090 Drought
10-6-2015 2015-0850 Tree Mortality
08-19-2016 2016-0711 Lion Fire
4-4-2017 2017-0213 Kings River Flood
06-30- 2017 2017-0529 Severe Heat
08-29-2017 2017-0722 Pier Fire
2017
2018 Pier Burn Scar Flooding
2018 Visalia Downtown 3 business major
fire
2019 Strathmore Flooding
2019 Hazmat in Dinuba
05-18-2020 2020217 COVID_ 19
08-28-2020 Castle Fire / SQF Complex Fire
2020 Train Derailment Largest Hazmat
incident in recent years
2020 Charlie’s Nightclub; two alarm fire
Porterville
04-27-2021 2021-0290 Drought
10-12-2021 2021-0782 Drought Local Emergency
10-12-2021 2021-0290 Drought Local Emergency
2021 Honolulu Street, 3 commercial
structures
2021 Hazmat State Route 99
2021 KNP Complex Fire
2021 Windy Fire

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USDA Disaster Declarations

Another database of disaster declarations comes from the USDA. This database shows agricultur4al disasters that result from natural hazards.

Table 4-5 Tulare County USDA Disaster Declarations 2012-2022 Year Declaration Number Primary or Contiguous County Disaster Type 2012 Primary Drought/Crop
2013 Primary Drought/Crop
2014 Primary Drought/Crop
2015 Primary Drought/Crop
2016 06107 Primary Drought/Crop
2017 06107 Primary Drought/Crop
2018 Contiguous Drought/Crops
2019 Primary Drought/Crop
2020 No drought/no Crops
2021 06107 Primary Drought
2022 06107 Primary Drought

4.2 Tulare County Assets at Risk

As a starting point for analyzing Tulare County Planning Area’s vulnerability to identified hazards, a variety of data was used to define a baseline against which all disaster impacts could be compared. If a catastrophic disaster was to occur, this section describes significant assets at risk in the Planning Area. Data used in this baseline assessment included:
 Values at risk;
 Critical facility inventory;
 Cultural, historical, and natural resources; and
 Growth and development trends.

Data Sources
Data used to support this assessment included the sources listed below. Where data and information from these studies, plans, reports, and other data sources were used, the source is referenced as appropriate throughout this vulnerability assessment.
 CalAtlas
 California Department of Finance
 California Department of Fish and Game
 California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation  California Natural Diversity Database
 Hazus MH 5.2
 State of California Department of Conservation
 US Census Bureau

4.2.1 Values at Risk
Parcel Inventory and Assessed Values

Tulare County is working with their IT Department to develop a GIS critical facility layer. The County hopes to have it up and running at the next LHMP update.

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4.2.2 Critical Facility Inventory

Of significant concern with concern with respe3ct to any disaster event is the location of critical facilities in the planning area. Critical facilities are often defined as those essential services and facilities in a major emergency which, if damaged, would result in severe consequences to public health and safety or a facility which, if unusable or unreachable because of a major emergency, would seriously and adversely affect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Appendix B, the Background Report to the Tulare County General Plan 2012 defines critical facilities as “Facilities housing or serving many people, that are necessary in the event of an earthquake or flood, such as hospitals, fire, police, and emergency, service facilities, utility “lifeline” facilities, such as water, electricity, and gas supply, sewage disposal, and communications and transportation facilities.”

Class 1 facilities include those facilities that contribute to command, control, communications, and computer capabilities associated with managing an incident from initial response through recovery. Class 1 facilities include:

 Primary and alternate Emergency Operations Center (EOCs),  All Dispatch Centers,
 Tulare County Sheriff
 Tulare County Fire Department
 Dinuba City
 Exeter City
 Farmersville City
 Lindsay City
 Porterville City
 Tulare City
 Visalia City
 Woodlake City
 Cal Fire
 Badger Station
 Woodlake Station
 Visalia Station
 Three Rivers Station
 Porterville Station
 Bear Creek Station
 Tulare Work Center
 Mountain Home Camp
 Visalia Headquarters
 Emergency Services Communication Infrastructure,
 Primary and Alternate Computer Information Systems Infatuation.  Major transportation corridors

Class 2 facilities include those facilities that house Emergency Services capabilities. Class 2 facilities include:

 All Police Stations,
 Dinuba
 Exeter
 Farmersville
 Lindsay
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4-8
 Porterville
 Tulare
 Visalia
 Woodlake
 All CHP Stations
 All Fire Stations
 All Hospitals
 All National Guard Armories,
 Visalia
 Airports
 Tulare
 Visalia

Class 3 facilities are those facilities that enable key utilities and can be used as evacuation centers/shelters/mass prophylaxis sites, etc. Class 3 facilities include:

 All schools
 Water treatment plants
 Power generation infrastructure
 Fuel pipelines
 Fiber-optic lines
 Sewage infrastructure
 Fair Grounds in Tulare and Porterville
 Memorial Halls
 Park Facilities
 Water-reactive materials

Table 4-6 Risk Update
District Name Associated
Hazards
CNG Station Fuel
Station
Replacement
Cost
New Replacement Cost
1 Camp
Nelson
Yard
447 Trails End,
Camp Nelson
Drought,
Freeze, Winter
Storms,
Wildfire

$665,000 $919,637.00
1 Porterville
Road Yard
1243 W N
Grand Ave,
Porterville
Drought,
Earthquake,
Fog, Dam
Inundation

$1,595,081 $2,003,077.00
2 Central
Shop
14001 Ave 256,
Visalia
Drought,
Earthquake,
Fog, Dam
Inundation
$500,000 $10,917,250 $14,510,006.00
2 Pixley
Yard
1493 S Airport
Dr, Visalia
Drought,
Earthquake,
Fog, Dam
Inundation

$1,004,000 $1,448,908.00
*Revised
2 Soil Lab 14001 Ave 256,
Visalia
Drought,
Earthquake,
Fog, Dam
Inundation

$1,738,500 $2,307,033.00
2 Traffic
Control
14001 Ave 256,
Visalia
Drought,
Earthquake,

$1,453,500 $1,928,522.00
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District Name Associated
Hazards
CNG Station Fuel
Station
Replacement
Cost
New Replacement Cost
Fog, Dam
Inundation
2 Visalia
Yard
14001 Ave 256,
Visalia
Drought,
Earthquake,
Fog, Dam
Inundation
$6,967,415 $9,244,454.00
4 Badger
Road Yard
49494
Whittaker
Forest Dr,
Badger
Drought,
Freeze, Winter
Storms,
Wildfire
$456,839 $463,698.00
4 Dinuba
Yard
1155 E Kamm
Ave, Dinuba
Drought,
Earthquake,
Fog,
$3,063,250 $4,231,084.00
4 Three
Rivers
Yard
40127 Pierce
Dr, Three
Rivers
Drought,
Freeze, Winter
Storms,
Wildfire
$527,500 $727,610.00
5 Terra Bella
Road Yard
23689 Camphor
Ave, Terra
Bella
Drought,
Earthquake,
Fog, Dam
Inundation
$1,399,081 $1,760,288.00
Source: Property Schedule 8-22-22

Table 4-7 Library Local Mitigation Update 2022-2023—County Library Branches and Kiosks No. Name Address Location
1 Alpaugh Branch Library 3816 Ave 54 Alpaugh $ 705,957.00 2 Dinuba Branch Library 150 S I St Dinuba $ 4,304,598.00 3 Earlimart Branch Library 780 E Washington Ave Earlimart $ 771,695.00 4 Exeter Branch Library 230 E Chestnut Ave Exeter $ 2,770,866.00 5 Farmersville Branch Library 623 N Avery St Farmersville TBD 6 Ivanhoe Branch Library 15964 Heather Ave Ivanhoe $ 1,143,810.00 7 Lindsay Branch Library 157 N Mirage St Lindsay $ 644,200.00 8 London Branch Library 5711 Ave 378 London $ 488,186.00 9 Orosi Branch Library 12646 Ave 416 Orosi $ 937,679.00 10 Pixley Branch Library 927 S Center St, B Pixley $ 244,520.00 11 Springville Branch Library 35800 Hwy 190 Springville $ 279,120.00 12 Strathmore Branch Library 19646 Rd 230 Strathmore $ 1,755,445.00 13 Terra Bella Branch Library 23825 Ave 92 Terra Bella $ 291,400.00 14 Three Rivers Branch Library 42052 Eggers Dr Three
Rivers
$ 114,238.00
15 Tipton Branch Library 301 E Woods Ave Tipton $ 1,654,614.00 16 Visalia Branch Library 200 W Oak Ave Visalia $ 16,841,614.00 17 Woodlake Branch Library 400 W Whitney Ave Woodlake $ 287,320.00 18 Alta Vista Kiosk 2293 E Crabtree Ave Alta Vista $ 21,720.00 19 Cutler Kiosk 40526 Orosi Dr Cutler $ 24,120.00 20 Tipton Kiosk 301 E Woods Ave Tipton $ 9,680.00 Tulare County
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No. Name Address Location
21 Traver Kiosk 36736 Canal Drive Traver TBD
22 Visalia Employment Connection
Kiosk
4025 W Noble Ave Visalia TBD
23 Literacy Center-Maddox House 417 N Locust St Visalia TBD Source: Provided by Tulare County

Table 4-8 Tulare County Fire Department Stations
Station Address Associated Hazards Replaceme
nt Cost
Tulare County Fire
Administration Building
835 S Akers St,
Visalia
Earthquake, Dam Flood, 500-Year
Floodplain, Fog $274,587
Tulare County Fire Station #01 25456 Road 140,
Visalia
Earthquake, Dam Flood, 500-Year
Floodplain, Fog $4,500,000
Tulare County Fire Station #02 3811 Ave 400,
Kingsburg Earthquake, Fog $251,395
Tulare County Fire Station #03 40404 Rd 80, Dinuba Earthquake, 500-Year Floodplain, Dam Flood, Fog, Freezing $1491,152
Tulare County Fire Station #04 40779 Rd 128, Cutler Earthquake, 100-Year Floodplain, Dam Flood, Fog $728,044
Tulare County Fire Station #05 45656 Old Stage Rd,
Posey
Freezing, Severe Winter Storm,
Wildfire $7,159
Tulare County Fire Station #06
45122 Manter
Meadow Dr,
California Hot
Springs
Earthquake, Fog, Wildfire $798,042
Tulare County Fire Station #07 30901 Rd 67, Visalia Dam Flood, Earthquake, Fog $70,772 Tulare County Fire Station #08 32868 Hawthorne Rd,
Ivanhoe Earthquake, Dam Flood, Fog $738,372
Tulare County Fire Station #09 3939 Ave 54,
Alpaugh Earthquake, Freezing, Fog $261,942
Tulare County Fire Station #10 20890 Grove Dr,
Richgrove Dam Flood, Earthquake, Fog $335,515
Tulare County Fire Station #11 137 N F St, Exeter Dam Flood, Earthquake, 500-Year Floodplain, Fog $1,751,488
Tulare County Fire Station #13 32490 Sierra Dr,
Woodlake
Earthquake, Dam Flood, 100-Year
Floodplain $750,713
Tulare County Fire Station #14 41412 S Fork Dr,
Three Rivers
Freezing, Severe Winter Storms,
Wildfire $611,646
Tulare County Fire Station #15 19603 Ave 228,
Lindsay Earthquake, Fog $1,039,857
Tulare County Fire Station #16 22908 Ave 196,
Strathmore Earthquake, 100-Year Floodplain, Fog $278,438 Tulare County Fire Station #17 51345 Eshom Valley
Dr, Bager
Freezing, Severe Winter Storms,
Wildfire $312,139
Tulare County Fire Station #18 99075 Goman Ave,
Inyokern
Earthquake, Freezing, Severe Winter
Storms, Wildfire $575,042
Tulare County Fire Station #19 22315 Ave 152,
Porterville
Earthquake, 100-Year Floodplain, Dam
Flood, Fog, Freezing $1,063,851

Tulare County Fire Station #20 1551 E Success,
Porterville Earthquake, Dam Flood, Fog $1,100,254
Tulare County Fire Station #21 23658 Ave 95, Terra
Bella Earthquake, Fog $811,598
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Table 4-9 Location Insurance Values
Membe
r
# Address City Stat
e
Zip
Code
Site
Descriptio
n
Building
$
Contents
$
Includin
g Flood
Rate
Including
Flood
Value
Tulare
County
18 49494
Whittak
er Forest
Dr.

Badger CA 93647 Badger
Road
Yard
13,081 891 0.0623 13,972
Tulare
County
15 49494
Whittak
er Forest
Dr.

Badger CA 93647 Badger
Road
Yard
40,669 12,039 0.0623 52,708
Tulare
County
16 49494
Whittak
er Forest
Dr.

Badger CA 93647 Badger
Road
Yard
5,314 171 0.0623 5,485
Tulare
County
17 49494
Whittak
er Forest
Dr.

Badger CA 93647 Badger
Road
Yard
267,205 44,934 0.0623 312,139
Tulare
County
19 49494
Whittak
er Forest
Dr.

Badger CA 93647 Badger
Road
Yard
10,551 1,450 0.0623 12,001
Tulare
County
20 49494
Whittak
er Forest
Dr.

Badger CA 93647 Badger
Road
Yard
30,458 3,247 0.0623 33,705
Tulare
County
21 49494
Whittak
er Forest
Dr.

Badger CA 93647 Badger
Road
Yard
5,226 1,268 0.0623 6,494
463,698
Tulare
County
33 447
Trails
End
Camp
Nelson
CA 93208 Camo
Nelson
Fire
Station
60m574 6,728 0.0623 67,302
Station Address Associated Hazards Replaceme
nt Cost
Tulare County Fire Station #22 35659 Hwy 190,
Springville
Fire, Earthquake, Freezing, Severe
Winter Storms, Wildfire $925,921
Tulare County Fire Station #23 1500 Nelson Dr,
Springville
Earthquake, Freezing, Severe Winter
Storm, Wind, Wildfire $865,704
Tulare County Fire Station #25 2082 Foster Dr,
Tulare Earthquake, Dam Flood, Fog $1,111,551
Tulare County Fire Station #26 241 S Graham Rd,
Tipton Earthquake, Fog, Dam Flood $357,393
Tulare County Fire Station #27 200 N Park Rd,
Pixley Earthquake, 100-Year Floodplain, Fog $1,065,361
Tulare County Fire Station #28 808 E Washington
Ave, Earlimart Earthquake, Fog, Dam Flood $708,860
Total $22,786,79
6 Tulare County
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4-12
Membe
r
# Address City Stat
e
Zip
Code
Site
Descriptio
n
Building
$
Contents
$
Includin
g Flood
Rate
Including
Flood
Value
Tulare
County
32 447
Trails
End
Camp
Nelson
CA 93208 Tulare
County-
Remote
729,585 68,817 0.0623 798,402
919,637
Tulare
County
65 0
1155
Kamm
Ave
Dinuba CA 93618 Dinuba
Road
Yard
1,972,69
7 2,010,25
0 0.0623 3,982,947
4,231,085
Tulare
County
61 2
1493 S.

Airport
St.

Pixley CA 93256 Pixley
Road
Yard
1,363,93
5 54,927 0.0623 1,118,862
1,448,908
Tulare
County
12 0
1243 N.

Grand
Portervill
e
CA 93257 Porterville
Road
Yard
33,413 3,876 0.0623 37,289
Tulare
County
12 1
1243 N.

Grand
Portervill
e
CA 93257 Porterville
Road
Yard
157,435 175,268 0.0623 332,703
Tulare
County
12 2
1243 N.

Grand
Portervill
e
CA 93257 Porterville
Road
Yard
113,624 29,022 0.0623 142,646
Tulare
County
12 3
1243 N.

Grand
Portervill
e
CA 93257 Porterville
Road
Yard
733,871 273,234 0.0623 1,007,105
Tulare
County
12 4
1243 N.

Grand
Portervill
e
CA 93257 Porterville
Road
Yard
49,519 14,966 0.0623 64,485
Tulare
County
12 5
1243 N.

Grand
Portervill
e
CA 93257 Porterville
Road
Yard
161,877 139,499 0.0623 301,376
2,003,077
Tulare
County
18 0
23689
Campho
r Ave
Terra
Bella
CA 93270 Terra
Bella
Road
Yard
38,084 7,212 0.0623 45,296
Tulare
County
18 1
23689
Campho
r Ave
Terra
Bella
CA 93270 Terra
Bella
Road
Yard
51,195 0.0623 51,195
Tulare
County
18 3
23689
Campho
r Ave
Terra
Bella
CA 93270 Terra
Bella
Road
Yard
244,375 74,314 0.0623 319,689
Tulare
County
18 4
23689
Campho
r Ave
Terra
Bella
CA 93270 Terra
Bella
Road
Yard
20,770 11,680 0.0623 32,450
Tulare
County
18 2
23689
Campho
r Ave
Terra
Bella
CA 93270 Tulare
County
526,073 201,012 0.0623 727,085
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4-13
Membe
r
# Address City Stat
e
Zip
Code
Site
Descriptio
n
Building
$
Contents
$
Includin
g Flood
Rate
Including
Flood
Value
Tulare
County
18 5
23689
Campho
r Ave
Terra
Bella
CA 93270 Tulare
County
350,609 131,000 0.0623 481,609
1,760,288
Tulare
County
18 6
41412 S.

Fork Dr.

Three
Rivers
CA 93271 Three
Rivers
Fire
Station
554,835 50,710 0.0623 605,545
Tulare
County
18 7
41412 S.

Fork Dr.

Three
Rivers
CA 93271 Tulare
County-
Remote
5,046 1,055 0.0623 6,101
727,610
Tulare
County
21 9
14001
Avenue
256
Visalia CA 93291
-9402
Visalia
Central
Shop
4,339,77
9 1,256,76
8 0.0623 5,596,547
Tulare
County
22 0
14001
Avenue
256
Visalia CA 93291 8,062,50
0 0.0623 8,062,500
14,510,00
6 Tulare
County
22 1
14001
Avenue
256
Visalia CA 93291 Road
Yard Soil
Lab
748,268 1,423,46
6 0.0623 2,171,734
2,307,033
Tulare
County
22 3
14001
Avenue
256
Visalia CA 93291 Road
Yard
Traffic
Control
755,124 1,060,29
8 0.0623 1,815,422
1,928,522
Tulare
County
22 6
14001
Avenue
256
Visalia CA 93291 Visalia
Road
Yard
6,113,24
9 2,589,05
2 0.0623 8,702,301
9,244,454

Table 4-10 Tulare County Planning Area – Critical Facility Summary Critical Facility Class/Jurisdiction Critical Facility Type Facility Count Tulare County
Class 1 Emergency Operations Center 1
Police Dispatch Center 2
Computer Information System 1 (TCiCT)
Major Transportation Corridor 2(State Route 99 and State Route 198)
Class 2 Fire Station 26
Airport 7
Sheriff Station 4
Class 3 School 31
Sewage Infrastructure 9
Power Generation Plant 14 (7 solar) (6 Hydro) 1 (Biomass) (does not include SCE power
stations)
Hall 12 (Memorial Halls – Google
Maps)
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Critical Facility Class/Jurisdiction Critical Facility Type Facility Count Tulare County Total 109
Dinuba
Class 1 Department Operations Center N/A (Location is determined upon emergency and closest city facility)
Emergency Operations Center 2
Dispatch Center 1
Major Transportation Corridor 5
Class 2 Police Station 1
Fire Station 2
Class 3 School 9
Hospital 13 (12 Medical Clinics and 1
Veterans Hospital – Google Maps)
Wastewater Treatment Plant 1
Power Generation 2 (Ruiz Foods – Solar) (Waste
Water Treatment Plant - Solar)
Sewage Infrastructure 12
Hall 2
Park Facility 15 (3 indoor recreation centers, 12
outdoor parks)
Dinuba Total 65
Exeter
Class 1 Major Transportation Corridor 2
Class 2 Fire Station 1
Police Station 1
Airport 1
Class 3 School 5
Hospital 2 (Medical Clinics – Google Maps)
Water Treatment 8
Power Plant 1
Sewage Infrastructure 10
Hall 2
Park Facility 10
Exeter Total 45
Farmersville
Class 1 Major Transportation Corridor 3
Class 2 Police Station 1 (Shares same facility as Fire
Station)
Fire Station 1 (Shares same facility as Police
Station)
Class 3 School 7 (3 schools operated by Visalia
Unified School District)
Hospital 3 (Medical Clinics- Google Maps)
Park Facility 6 (all outdoor parks)
Hall 2 (City Hall), (Farmersville
Community Center)
Farmersville Total 20
Lindsay
Class 1 Dispatch Center 1
Class 2 Fire Station 1
Police Station 1 (Department)
Hospital 1
Class 3 Hall 1
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Critical Facility Class/Jurisdiction Critical Facility Type Facility Count School 8
Wellness, Aquatic Center, and
Recreation
1 Water Treatment Plant 1
Power Generation Infrastructure 1 (Lindsayca)
Sewage Infrastructure 3
Park Facilities 1
Fiber Optic Lines 0
Water Reactive Materials
Lindsay Total 20
Porterville
Class 1 Dispatch Center 1
Emergency Operation Center 1
Major Transportation Corridor
Class 2 Fire Station 3
Police Station 1 (Department)
Airport 1
Air Attack Air Base 1
CHP 1
Hospital 4
Class 3 Hall 1
School 33
Water Treatment Plant 1
Hazardous Facility 1
Fairgrounds 1

Recreation Center 1
Power Generation Infrastructure
Sewage Infrastructure 1
Park Facilities 9
Fiber Optic Lines 2 (AT&T/OACYS)
Porterville Total 63
Tulare
Class 1 Dispatch Center 1
Emergency Operations Center 1
Major Transportation Corridor
Class 2 Fire Station 3
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Critical Facility Class/Jurisdiction Critical Facility Type Facility Count Police Station 1 (Department)
Airport 1
Hospital 1 (Adventist Health)
Class 3 Hall 1
School 19
Water Treatment Plant 1
Fairgrounds 1
Recreation Center 1
Power Generation Infrastructure
Sewage Infrastructure 1
Park Facilities 18
Fiber Optic Lines 1 (AT&T)
Tulare Total 51
Visalia
Class 1 Dispatch Center 1
Emergency Operations Center 1
Major Transportation Corridor
Class 2 Fire Station 1
Police Station 3
Airport 1
Hospital 1
Class 3 School 43
Hall 1
Recreation Center 4
Water Treatment Plant 1
Hazardous Materials Facility 1
Power Generation Infrastructure
Sewage Infrastructure 1
Park Facilities 38
Fiber Optic Lines 1 (AT&T)
Visalia Total 98
Woodlake
Class 1 Dispatch Center
Emergency Operation Center
Major Transportation Corridor 3
Class 2 Fire Station 1
Police Station 1
Hospital 8 (Clinics and Individual Offices
only)
Class 3 School 5
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Critical Facility Class/Jurisdiction Critical Facility Type Facility Count Hall 1
Water Treatment Plant 1
Power Generation Infrastructure
Sewage Infrastructure 1
Park Facilities 5
Recreation Center 1
Fiber Optic Lines
Woodlake Total 27
Adjacent Counties
Class 1 Fresno 2 (EOS & Dispatch Center)
Inyo 1 EOS
Kern 1 EOS
Kings 2 (EOS & Dispatch Center)
Class 2 Fresno 5
Inyo 6
Kern 5
Kings 5
Class 3 Fresno 49
Inyo 10
Kern 51
Kings 17
Adjacent Counties Total 154

Grand Total 652

4.2.3 Cultural, Historical, and Natural Resources

Assessing Tulare County’s vulnerability to disasters also involves inventorying the cultural, historical, and natural resource assets of the area. This information is important for the following reasons:

The community may decide that these types of resources warrant a greater degree of protection due to their unique and irreplaceable nature and contribution to the overall economy.

In the event of a disaster, an accurate inventory of cultural, historical and natural resources allows for more prudent care in the disaster’s immediate aftermath when the potential for additional impacts is higher.

The rules for reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, and/or replacement are often different for these types of designated resources.

Natural resources can have beneficial functions that reduce the impacts of natural hazards, for example, wetlands and riparian and sensitive habitats which help absorb and attenuate floodwaters and thus support overall mitigation objectives.

Culture and Historical Resources
Tulare County has a large stock of historically significant homes, public buildings, and landmarks. To inventory these resources, information was collected from a numb er of sources. The California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) was the primary source of information. The OHP is responsible for the administration of federally and state mandated historic preservation programs to Tulare County
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further the identification, evaluation, registration, and protection of California’s irreplaceable archaeological and historical resources. OHP administers the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, California Historical Landmarks, and the California Points of Historical Interest programs. Each program has different eligibility criteria and procedural requirements.

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. The National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect historic and archeological resources. Properties listed include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The California Register of Historical Resources program encourages public recognition and protection of resources of architectural, historical, archeological, and cultural significance and identifies historical resources for state and local planning purposes; determines eligibility for state historic preservation grant funding; and affords certain protections under the California Environmental Quality Act. The Register is the authoritative guide to the stat’s significant historical and archeological resources.

California Historical Landmarks are sites, buildings, features, or events that are of statewide significance and have anthropological, cultural, military, political, architectural, economic, scientific or technical, religious, experimental, or other value. Landmarks #770 and above are automatically listed in the California Register of Historical Resources.
 No. 3887 First Tulare River Indian Reservation
 No. 389 Kaweah Post Office, Kaweah Colony
 No. 410 Charter Oak or Election Tree
 No. 413 Tailholt
 No. 471 Butteredfield Stage Route
 No. 473 Tulare River Stage Station
 No. 648 Fountain Springs
 No. 934 Temporary Detention Camps for Japanese Americans-Tulare Assembly Center  No. 1047 Allensworth Historic Town Site

California Points of Historical Interest are sites, buildings, features, or events that are of local (city or county) significance and have anthropological, cultural, military, political, architectural, economic, scientific or technical, religious, experimental, or other value. Points designated after December 1997 and recommended by the State Historical Resources Commission are also listed in the California Register.

Historical resources included in the programs above are identified in Table 4-11

Table 4-11 Tulare County Planning Area – Historical Resources.

Resource Name (Plaque Number) National
Register
State
Landmark
Point of Interest Date Listed City
Allensworth Historic District
(72000263)
False True Town of Allensworth
and its environs along
CA 43
2/23/1972 Allensworth
Exeter Public Library (90001811) False False 309 S. E St. 12/10/1990 Exeter Tulare County
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Resource Name (Plaque Number) National
Register
State
Landmark
Point of Interest Date Listed City
Pogue Hotel (91000927) False False 32792 Sierra Dr. (CA 198)
8/5/1991 Lemon Cove
Smithsonian Institution Shelter
(77000119)
False True W of Lone Pine in
Sequoia National Park
3/8/1977 Lone Pine
Barton-Lackey Cabin
(78000290)

False False N of Mineral King in
Kings Canyon National
Park
3/30/1978 Mineral King
Generals' Highway Stone Bridges
(78000284)
False False N of Mineral King in
Sequoia National Park
9/13/1978

Mineral King
Mineral King Road Cultural
Landscape (03001063)

False True Mineral King Rd,
Sequoia National Park

10/24/2003 Mineral King

Pear Lake Ski Hut (78000285) False False N of Mineral King on Sequoia National Park
5/5/1978 Mineral King
Quinn Ranger Station (77000118) False False S on Mineral King on Sequoia National
Park
4/13/1977 Mineral King
Orosi Branch Library (83001247) False False 12662 Ave. 416 8/25/1983 Orosi First Congregational Church
(98001553)

False False 165 E. Mill St. 1/5/1999 Porterville
Tenalu (86002194) False True Address Restricted 9/4/1986 Porterville US Post Office-Porterville Main
(85000141)
False True 65 W. Mill Ave. 1/11/1985 Porterville
Zalud House (86003681) False False 393 N. Hockett St. 3/31/1987 Porterville Hockett Meadow Ranger Station
(78000369)

False False S of Silver City in
Sequoia National Park
4/27/1978 Silver City
Elster, C. A., Building (82002279) False False CA 190 and Tule River Dr.
3/25/1982 Springville
Giant Forest Lodge Historic District
(78000287)
False True NE of Three Rivers in
Sequoia National Park
5/5/1978 Three Rivers
Ash Mountain Entrance Sign
(78000367)
False False N of Three Rivers in
Sequoia National Park
4/27/1978 Three Rivers
Bearpaw High Sierra Camp
(16000192)
False False Along High Sierra
Trail, 11 mi. East of
Crescent Meadow,
Sequoia National Park
4/21/2016 Three Rivers
Cattle Cabin (77000150) False False NE of Three Rivers on Sequoia National Park
9/15/1977 Three Rivers
Giant Forest Village-Camp Kaweah
Historic District (78000311)
False True N of Three Rivers in
Sequoia National Park
5/22/1978 Three Rivers
Groenfelsdt Site (78000288) False False Address Restricted 3/30/1978 Three Rivers Hospital Rock (77000122) False True Address Restricted 8/29/1977 Three Rivers Moro Rock Stairway (78000283) False False N of Three Rivers in Sequoia National Park
12/29/1978 Three Rivers
Redwood Meadow Ranger Station
(78000289)
False False NE of Three Rivers in
Sequoia National Park
4/13/1978 Three Rivers
Squatter’s Cabin (77000116) False False NE of Three Rivers 3/8/1977 Three Rivers Tharp's Log (77000117) False False NE of Three Rivers 3/8/1977 Three Rivers Tulare County
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Resource Name (Plaque Number) National
Register
State
Landmark
Point of Interest Date Listed City
Tulare Union High School
Auditorium and Administration
Building (99001566)
False False 755 E. Tulare Ave. 12/17/1999 Tulare
Bank of Italy Building (82002280) False False 128 E. Main St. 4/1/1982 Visalia Hyde House (79000565) False False 500 S. Court St. 4/26/1979 Visalia Sequoia Field-Visalia-Dinuba School
of Aeronautics (99001591)
False True Near jct. of Ave. 368
and Road 112, 9 mi. N
of Visalia
6/9/2000 Visalia
The Pioneer (77000358) False True 27000 S. Mooney Blvd. 5/5/1977 Visalia US Post Office-Visalia Town Center
Station (85000142)
False False 11 W. Acequia St. 1/11/1985 Visalia
Cabin Creek Ranger Residence and
Dormitory (78000368)
False False SE of Wilsonia on
Generals Highway in
Sequoia National Park
4/27/1978 Wilsonia
Wilsonia Historic District (95001151) False False Roughly bounded by Pine Ln., Fern Ln.,
Hillcrest Rd., Sierra
Ln., Kaweah Ln.,
Goddard Ln. and Park
Rd.
3/14/1996 Wilsonia,
Kings
Canyon
National
Park
Source: California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation, https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ ; retrieved September 30, 2022

A 1988 publication from the OHP identified four “ethnic historic sites” in Tulare County. Five Views: An Ethnic Historic Site Survey for California was originally conceived to broaden the spectrum of ethnic community participation in historic preservation activities and to provide better information on ethnic history and associated sites. The four sites in Tulare County identified in the OHP survey are listed below  Allensworth
 Wylie Hinds Ranch Site
 Colored School
 Daniel Scott’s School Site

Figure 4-1 Colonel Allen Allensworth and Allensworth School

Colonel Allen Allensworth (left), Allensworth School (right)

It should be noted that these lists may not be complete, as they may not include those currently in nomination process and not yet listed. Additionally, as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), any property overf50 years of age is considered a historic resource and is potentially eligible for the National Register. Thus, in the event that the property is to be altered, or has been altered, as the result of a major federal action, the property must be evaluated under the guidelines set forth by CEQA and NEPA. Structural mitigation projects are considered alterations for the purpose of this regulation.

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Natural Resources
Natural resources are important to include in cost/benefit analyses for future projects and may be used to leverage additional funding for mitigation 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 wetland areas protects sensitive habitat as well as reducing the force of and storing floodwaters.

“Tulare County exhibits a diverse ecosystems landscape created through the extensive amount of topographic relief (elevations range from approximately 200 to 14,000 feet above sea level). A broad-scale method of classifying the landscape is by eco-region. This method is used by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and relates to the California Manual of Vegetation (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1997) vegetation classification system and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Major Land Resources Area system. The eco-region approach evaluates the land from a wide range of interrelated environmental variables including topography, soils, hydrology, flora, and fauna.”

Tulare County consists of three eco-region sections, the Great Valley section, Sierra Nevada Section, and Sierra Nevada Foothill Area. These sections apportion the county in a north-south pattern. The majority of the western portion of the county comprises the Great Valley Section, the majority of the eastern portion of the county is in the Sierra Nevada Section, and a small section between these two sections comprises the Sierra Nevada Foothill Area (USS 2008).

The natural vegetation of the Great Valley Section is predominately characterized by the purple needlegrass series, valley oak series, vernal pools and wetland communities, and blue oak series. Fauna associated with this section include mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), coyotes (Canis latrans), white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii), kangaroo rats (Dipodomys ingens), kit fox (Vulpes macrotis), and muskrats (Ondatra Zibethicus). Birds include waterfowl, hawks, golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), owls, white-tailed kites (Elanus leucurus), herons, western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) and California quail (Callipepla californica) (USFS 2008).

The natural vegetation of the Sierra Nevada Section is predominately characterized by the mixed conifer series, ponderosa pine series, jeffrey pine series, white fir series, red fir series, lodgepole pine series, huckleberry oak series, western juniper series, aspen series, big sagebrush series, mixed subalpine forest series, mountain hemlock series, whitebark pine series, and giant sequoia series. Fauna associated with this section include black-tail and mule deer, black bear (Ursus americanus), mountain lion (Puma (=Felis)concolor), coyote, bobcat (Lynx rufus), red and gray fox (Vulpes vulpes and Urocyon cinereoargenteus), ringtail (Bassariscus astutus), long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata), skunks (Mephitis mephitis), badger (Taxidea taxus), mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis), yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), marten (Martes Americana), fisher (Martes pennanti), wolverine (Gulo gulo), and porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). Birds include eagles, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, falcons, osprey (Pandion haliaetus), stellar’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), herons, quail, belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), and blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) (Miles and Goudy 1997).

The natural vegetation of the Sierra Nevada Foothills Section is predominately characterized by the blue oak series, needlegrass grasslands, chamise series, mixed chaparral series, foothill pine series, and valley oak series. Fauna associated with this section include black-tailed and mule deer, coyotes, ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi), cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus), jack rabbits, and kangaroo rats. Common birds include turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), falcons, eagles, hawks, owls, quail, mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), mockingbird (Minus polyglottos), scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica), herons, ravens, western meadowlarks, finches, and sparrows (Miles and Goudy 1997).”

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Habitat types and ecosystems are often identified by general vegetation-types. There are 14 general habitat types in Tulare County. Table 4-12 identifies the habitat type and acreages of each, found in Tulare County.”

Table 4-12 Habitat Types of Tulare County
Habitat Type Acres (Approximate) Percent of County
Alpine Habitat 1,130 00.4
Annual Grassland 339,600 10.97
Barren 183,680 5.93
Chaparral 153,790 4.97
Conifer Forest 835,150 26.97
Conifer Woodland 165,180 5.33
Desert Scrub 23,640 0.76
Hardwood Woodland 416,560 13.45
Open Water 10,680 0.34
Mixed Hardwood/Conifer Forest 92,340 2.98
Riparian 4,580 0.15
Urban 56,220 1.82
Vineyard/Cropland 795,340 25.68
Wetlands 18,750 0.61
Total Acreage 3,096,640 100.00
Special Status Species
To further understand natural resources that may be particularly vulnerable to a hazard event, as well as those that need consideration when implementing mitigation activities, it is important to identify at-risk species (i.e., endangered species) in the Planning Area. An endangered species is any species of fish, plant life, or wildlife that is in danger of extinction throughout all or most of its range. A threatened species is a species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Both endangered and threatened species are protected by law and any future hazard mitigation projects are subject to these laws. Candidate species are plants and animals that have been proposed as endangered or threatened but are not currently listed.

The California Natural Diversity Database, a program that inventories the status and locations of rare plants and animals in California, was queried to create an inventory of special status species in Tulare County. A summary list of these species is found below in Table 4-13. Appendix list the name, federal status, state status, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (USFWS status, and the California Rare Plan rand of species in Tulare County.

Table 4-13 Tulare County Planning Area – Summary of State Special Status Species Type Federal & State Status Number
Amphibians 5
Birds 10
Crustaceans 2
Dicots 12
Fish 1
Inspects 1
Monocots 5
Mammals 12
Reptiles 2
Source: California Natural Diversity Database, retrieved date Rare Natural Plan Communities
Tulare County General Plan Background Report identifies sensitive and critical habitat in the Planning Tulare County
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Area. The following nine sensitive natural communities are found in Tulare County Planning Area:
 Big Tree Forest;
 Central Valley Drainage Hardhead/Squawfish Stream;
 Great Valley Oak Riparian Forest;
 Northern Hardpan Vernal Pool;
 Southern Interior Cypress Forest;
 Sycamore Alluvial Woodland;
 Valley Sacaton Grassland;
 Valley Saltbush Scrub; and
 Valley Stink Scrub;

The following eight Critical Habitats are found in the Tulare County Planning Area:
 Vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi)
 Vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi)
 Little Kern golden trout (Oncorhynchus aquabonita whitei)  California tiger salamander, central population (Ambystoma californiense)  California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
 Hoover’s spurge (Chamaesyce hooveri)
 San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass (Orcuttia inaequalis)  Keck’s checker-mallow (Sidalcea keckii)

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Other Sensitive Habitat Areas

The Tulare Lake Basin is located in Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties. Historically, Tulare Lake varied in size from 450 to 800 square miles and was known to become completely dry during drought years (Moore 1990). The historical seasonal flooding of Tulare Lake and four other smaller lakes were utilized for wintering or as a migratory stop for waterfowl. Most of the historic Tulare Lake Basin has been converted to agricultural land uses. Portions of the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge are located within the historic Tulare Lake Bed. This 6,000-acre refuge is located in southwestern Tulare County and contains grassland and wetlands habitats. This refuge was established to restore and protect wetland habitat for waterfowl.

Approximately 4,392 acres of the refuge provide habitat for three endangered species, the San Joaquin Kit Fox, the Blunt-Nose Leopard Lizard, and the Tipton Kangaroo rat (USBR 2001) Federally and State-Protected Lands
“Within Tulare County, there exist lands which have large limitations on land uses, i.e. wildlife refuges, national parks, etc. These areas generally provide nursery sites, high quality habitat, corridors, and migratory stopping points for biological resources. Many of these areas are created to protect rare species and their ecosystems. Some of the larger sites are described below:

Blue Ridge Ecological Reserve
The Blue Ridge Ecological Reserve is a 3,200-acre reserve that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Blue Ridge Critical Condor Habitat Zone, which has been designated by the USFWS, is contained within this reserve. The BLM manages this area for the protection of the designated critical condor habitat in cooperation with the USFWS and CDFG (B LM 2008).

Pixley National Wildlife Refuge
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge is a 6,190-acre reserve of native grassland, marsh habitat and vernal pool habitat in the former Tulare Basin that is owned and managed by the USFWS. This reserve provides habitat for the vernal pool fairy shrimp, San Joaquin kit fox, Tipton kangaroo rat ( Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), and blunt-nose leopard lizard and is a wintering area for migratory waterfowl (USFWS 2008a).

Sequoia and Kings and Canyon National Parks
These two parks comprise 863,740 total acres. Kings Canyon National Park is located to the north and Sequoia National Par is located to the south. They are both managed by the National Park Service. These parks exist in many different habitats that range in elevation from approximately 5,000 feet to over 14,000 feet (NPS1999).

Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia National Monument
The Sequoia National Forest is located at the southernmost end of the Sierra Nevada in Central California.

The monument protects 38 groves of the giant sequoia. Elevations range from 1,000 feet in the foothill region to peaks over 12,000 feet in the higher elevations. They managed by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S.

Department of Agriculture.

Other protected areas include the following:
 Mineral King, Golden Trout, and Domelands Wilderness areas  Monache Meadows Wildlife Area
 Mountain Home State Forest
 Allensworth Ecological Reserve
 Yaudanchi Ecological Reserve
 San Joaquin River Ecological Reserve
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 Springville Ecological Reserve
 Kaweah Ecological Reserve
 Stone Coral Ecological Reserve
Wetlands
Wetland habitats are areas of land where water saturation is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and type of plant and animal communities existing on the site. Wetlands cover approximately 18,750 acres in Tulare County Planning Area.

Wetlands are often found in floodplains and depressional areas of a watershed. Many wetlands receive and store floodwaters, thus slowing and reducing downstream flow. Wetlands perform a variety of ecosystem functions including food web support, habitat for insects and other invertebrates, fish and wildlife habitat, filtering of waterborne and dry-deposited anthropogenic pollutants, carbon storage, water flow regulations (e.g., flood abatement), groundwater recharge, and other human and economic benefits.

Wetlands, and other riparian and sensitive areas, provide habitat for insects and other invertebrates that are critical food sources to a variety of wildlife species, particularly birds. There are species that depend on these areas during all parts of their lifecycle for food, overwintering, and reproductive habitat. Other species use wetlands and riparian areas for one or two specific functions or parts of the lifecycle, most commonly for food resources. In addition, these areas produce substantial plant growth that serves as a food source to herbivores (wild and domesticated) and a secondary food source to carnivores.

Wetlands slow the flow of water through the vegetation and soil, and pollutants are often held in the soil. In addition, because the water is slowed, sediments tend to fall out, thus improving water quality and reducing turbidity downstream.

These natural floodplain functions associated with the natural or relatively undisturbed floodplains that moderates flooding, such as wetland areas, are critical for maintaining water quality, recharging groundwater, reducing erosion, redistributing sand and sediment, and providing fish and wildlife habitat.

Preserving and protecting these areas and associated functions are a vital component of sound floodplain management practices for Tulare County Planning Area.

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Figure 4-2 – Tulare County Wetland

Farmlands
Farmlands are important considerations in rural counties in California. Tulare County is located within the California Central Valley: Tulare Basin. It contains some of the richest soils in the State. These soils make the County’s agricultural resources very productive. Even though agricultural production is dependent on weather and economic market fluctuations, local agricultural market revenues continue to rise in Tulare County.

Williamson Act
The Williamson Act, also known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, enable local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. When the County enters into a contract with the landowners under the Williamson Act, the landowner agrees to limit the use of the land to agricultural and compatible uses for a period of at least ten (10) years and the County agrees to tax the land at a rate based on the agricultural production of the land rather than its real estate market value. The County has designated areas as agricultural preserves within which the County will enter into contracts for the preservation of the land in agricultural.

Tulare County has 1,109,417.70 acres under Williamson Act Contract as of 2021.

State Inventory of Important Farmland
The California Department of Conservation (DOC), under the Division of Land Resource Protection, has developed the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP), which monitors the conversion of the state’s farmland to and from agricultural use. Data is collected at the county level to produce a series of maps identifying eight land use classifications using a minimum mapping unit of 10 acres. The program also produces a biannual report on the amount of land converted from agricultural to non-agricultural use. The Tulare County
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program maintains an inventory of state agricultural land and updates the “Important Farmland Series Maps” every two years (Tulare County, 2012).

The map series identifies eight classifications, as defined below, and uses a minimum mapping unit size of 10 acres.

Prime Farmland has the best combination of physical and chemical features able to sustain long-term agricultural production. This land has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the 4 years prior to the mapping date.

Farmland of Statewide Importance is similar to Prime Farmland but with minor shortcomings, such as greater slopes or less ability to store soil moisture. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the 4 years prior to the mapping date.

Unique Farmland consists of lesser quality soils used for the production of the state's leading agricultural crops. This land is usually irrigated but may include non-irrigated orchards or vineyards as found in some climatic zones in California. Land must have been cropped at some time during the 4 years prior to the mapping date.

Farmland of Local Importance is land of importance to the local agricultural economy as determined by each county's board of supervisors and a local advisory committee.

Grazing Land is land on which the existing vegetation is suited to the grazing of livestock. This category was developed in cooperation with the California Cattlemen's Association, University of California Cooperative Extension, and other groups interested in the extent of grazing activities.

Urban and Built-up Land is occupied by structures with a building density of at least one unit to 1.5 acre, or approximately six structures to a 10-acre parcel. Common examples include residential, industrial, commercial, institutional facilities, prisons, cemeteries, airports, golf courses, sanitary landfills, sewage treatment, and water control structures.

Water is defined as perennial water bodies with an extent of at least 40 acres.

Other Land is land not included in any other mapping category. Common examples include low density rural developments, vegetative and riparian areas not suitable for livestock grazing, confined animal agriculture facilities, strip mines, borrow pits, and water bodies smaller than 40 acres. Vacant and nonagricultural land surrounded on all sides by urban development and greater than 40 acres is mapped as Other Land. More detailed data on these uses is available in counties containing the Rural Land Use Mapping categories. (DOC, 2022)

4.2.4 Growth and Development Trends

As part of the planning process, Tulare County looked at changes in growth and development, both past and future, and examined these changes in the context of hazard-prone areas, and how the changes in growth and development affect loss estimates and vulnerability over time. Information from the Tulare County General Plan Housing Element, the California Department of Finance, and the US Census Bureau form the basis of this discussion.

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Table 4-14 Current Status and Past Populations
Year Population Change %Change
1940 107,152 — —
1950 149,152 42,000 39.2%
1960 168,403 19,251 12.9%
1970 188,322 19,919 11.8%
1980 245,738 57,416 30.5%
1990 311,921 66,183 26.9%
2000 368,021 56,100 18.0%
2010 442,179 74,158 20.2%
2020 473,117 30,938 6.99%

Table 4-15 Population Growth for Jurisdictions in Tulare County Area 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Tulare County 107,152 149,264 168,403 188,322 245,738 311,921 368,021 442,179 473,117 Dinuba 3,790 4,971 6,103 7,917 9,907 12,743 16,844 21,453 24,563 Exeter 3,883 4,078 4,264 4,475 5,606 7,276 9,168 10,334 10,321 Farmersville 3,456 5,544 6,235 8,737 10,588 10,397 Lindsay 4,397 5,060 5,397 5,206 6,936 8,338 10,297 11,768 12,659 Porterville 6,270 6,904 7,991 12,602 19,707 29,563 39,615 54,165 62,623 Tulare 8,259 12,445 13,824 16,235 22,530 33,249 43,994 59,278 68,875 Visalia 8,904 11,749 15,791 27,268 49,729 75,636 91,877 124,442 141,384 Woodlake 107,152 149,264 168,403 188,322 245,738 311,921 368,021 442,179 473,117 Source: US Census Bureau, California Department of Finance E-1 Reports

Table 4-16 Population Growth for Jurisdictions in Tulare County Area 2000 2010 2020 % Change 2000 to 2020
Tulare County 368,021 442,179 473,117 76.5% increase
Dinuba 16,844 21,453 24,563 45.8% increase
Exeter 9,168 10,334 10,321 12.6% increase
Farmersville 8,737 10,588 10,397 19.0% increase
Lindsay 10,297 11,768 12,659 22.9% increase
Porterville 39,615 54,165 62,623 58.1% increase
Tulare 43,994 59,278 68,875 56.5% increase
Visalia 91,877 124,442 141,384 53.9% increase
Woodlake 368,021 442,179 473,117 28.5% increase
Source: US Census Bureau, California Department of Finance E-1 Reports

Special Populations and Disadvantaged Communities

Tulare County noted that in 2020 information related to 14 special populations in the County are as follows:

 Children: Children five years old or younger. Approximately 36,942 children live in the unincorporated areas of Tulare County or approximately 8 percent of the total populations.  Homeless persons : Persons who do not have a permanent home, including those who live in temporary shelters. There are approximately 1,297 homeless persons in Tulare County, according to the Kings and Tulare Counties 2022 Point in Time Report, although most of these persons are likely in incorporated communities.
 Households in mobile homes: Households who live in mobile homes (not including recreational vehicles, or RVs). There are approximately 10,431 households in the unincorporated areas of Tulare County who live in mobilehomes.
 Outdoor workers: People who mostly work outdoors, including construction workers and people Tulare County
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who work in agricultural operations.
 Persons in poverty: 21.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Tulare County 99.6k out of 458l people live below the poverty line. Approximately 3.33 persons live in each household.
 Children in Poverty: 25.38% of children living in poverty in Tulare County.  Persons in overcrowded households: People living in households with more than one person per room in the house, not including bathrooms.
 Persons with chronic health problems: People who have a long term or permanent health condition that can create regular challenges in their day to day lives. These health problems include obesity, cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.
 Persons with disabilities: Persons with any kind of disability, including mobility challenges, hearing and/or vision impairments, behavioral disabilities, and challenges living independently or taking care of themselves. Some people may have more than one disability.  Persons with limited English proficiency: People who say they do not speak English “well”, or “very well,” although the Census Bureau does not formally define what these terms mean.  Persons without access to lifelines: These are individuals who do not have access to basic technology or services, such as transportation or modern telecommunication. These persons may live in areas where these lifelines are not available or feasible, may not be able to afford these lifelines, or for personal reasons may choose not to have them.  Renters: People who live in homes that they (or the head of their household) do not own. According to
 Senior citizens: Persons 65 years of age or older. Approximately 14% of seniors over 65 live in poverty.
 Senior citizens living alone: Senior citizens who ae the only people living in their homes, although they may have one or more caretakes.
 Undocumented persons: People who do not have formal permission to live in the United States (they do not have citizenship, permanent residency, visas, or other similar status). There are no official counts of how many undocumented persons live in Tulare County Center for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index

Every community must prepare for and respond to hazardous events, whether a natural disaster like a tornado or disease outbreak, or a human-made event such as a harmful chemical spill. A number of factors, including poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing may weaken a community’s ability to prevent human suffering and financial loss in a disaster. These factors are known as social vulnerability.

Social vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. Such stresses include natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss. CDC Social Vulnerability Index (CDC SVI) uses 15 U.S. census variables to help local officials identify communities that may need support before, during, or after disasters.

ATSDR’s Geospatial Research, Analysis & Services Program (GRASP) created databases created databases to help emergency response planners and public health officials identify and map communities that will most likely need support before, during, and after a hazardous event. CDC SVI uses U. S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every census tract. Census tracts are subdivisions of counties for which the Census collects statistical data. The CDC SVI ranks each tract on 15 social factors, including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing, and groups them into four related themes. Each tract receives a separate ranking for each of the four themes, as well as an overall ranking. Maps of the four themes are shown in the figures below. The overall SVI map is shown in Figure 4-3; the socioeconomic SVI for the County is shown in Figure 4-4; the household composition SVI for the County is shown in Figure 4-5; the minority and Tulare County
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language SVI for the County is shown in Figure 4-6; and the housing and transportation SVI for the County is shown in Figure 4-7.

Figure 4-3 Tulare County – Overall Social Vulnerability

Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/19/2022

Figure 4-4 Tulare County – Socioeconomic Status Vulnerability

Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/19/2022

Figure 4-5 Tulare County – Household Composition and Disabilities Social Vulnerability Tulare County
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Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/19/2022

Figure 4-6 Tulare County – Minority/Language Social Vulnerability

Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/19/2022

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Figure 4-7 Tulare County – Housing/Transportation Social Vulnerability

Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/19/2022

CA DWR Special Population and Disadvantaged Communities

CA DWR has developed a web-based application to assist local agencies and other interested parties in evaluating disadvantaged community (DAC) status throughout the State, using the definition provided by Proposition 84 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Guidelines (2015). The DAC Mapping Tool is an interactive map application that allows users to overlay the following three US Census geographies as separate data layers:
 Census Place
 Census Tract
 Census Block Group

Only those census geographies that meet the DAC definition are shown on the map (i.e., only those with an annual median household income (MHI) that is less than 80 percent of the Statewide annual MHYI (PRC Section 75005(g)). In addition, those census geographies have an annual MHI that is less than 60 percent of the Statewide annual MHI as shown as “Severely Disadvantaged Communities” (SDAC). The DAC map for Tulare County is shown in Figure 4-8.

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Figure 4-8 Tulare County – Disadvantaged Communities

Figure 4-9 –Tulare County Disadvantaged Communities

Source: CA DWR, retrieved 12/19/2022
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Climate Change and Health Profile Report, Tulare County

The 2017 Climate and Health Profile Report for Tulare County was done by the California Department of Public Health and the University of California - Davis

“In 2010, the age-adjusted death rate in Tulare County was higher than the state average. Disparities in death rates among race/ethnicity groups highlight how certain populations disproportionately experience health impacts. Within the county, the highest death rate occurred among African-Americans and the lowest death rate occurred among Hispanics/Latinos. In 2012, nearly 53% of adults (158,983) reported one or more chronic health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, asthma, severe mental stress or high blood pressure. In 2012, 14% of adults reported having been diagnosed with asthma. In 2012, approximately 38% of adults were obese (statewide average was 25%). In 2012, nearly 10% of residents aged 5 years and older had a mental or physical disability (statewide average was 10%).

In 2005-2010, there was an annual average of 88 heat-related emergency room visits and an age-adjusted rate of 21 emergency room visits per 100,000 persons (the statewide age-adjusted rate was 10 emergency room visits per 100,000 persons).

Among climate-vulnerable groups in 2010 were 41,074 children under the age of 5 years and 41,779 adults aged 65 years and older. In 2010, there were approximately 4,772 people living in nursing homes, dormitories, and other group quarters where institutional authorities would need to provide transportation in the event of emergencies.

Social and demographic factors and inequities affect individual and community vulnerability to the health impacts of climate change. In 2010, 13% of households (16,468) did not have a household member 14 years or older who spoke English proficiently (called linguistically isolated; statewide average was 10%).

In 2010, approximately 33% of adults aged 25 years and older had less than a high school education (statewide average was 10%).

In 2010, 23% of the population had incomes below the poverty level (the statewide average was 14%).

Eighteen percent of households paid50% or more of their annual income on rent or a home mortgage (statewide average was 22%). In 2012, approximately 65,000 (38%) low-income residents reported they did not have reliable access to a sufficient amount of affordable, nutritious food (called food insecurity; statewide average was 42%).

In 2010, Tulare County had approximately 31,5112 outdoor workers whose occupation increased their risk of heat illness. In 2010, roughly seven percent of households did not own a vehicle that could be used for evacuation (statewide average was 8%).

In 2009, approximately 14% of households were estimated to lack air conditioning, a strategy to counter adverse effects of heat (statewide average was 36%) In 2011, tree canopy, which provides shade and other environmental benefits, was 8%).

Violent crime also increases during heat events. Safe neighborhoods that are free of crime and violence are an integral component of healthy neighborhoods and community resilience. In 2010, Tulare County experienced approximately 5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (statewide rate was 4 per 1,000 residents).”

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Development since 2018 Plan

Tulare County Building Services tracks total building permits issued since 2016 for unincorporated Tulare County. A summary of this development is shown in Table 4-17.

Table 4-17 Tulare County Development 2016-2021 Summary
Property Use 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
New Single Family Residential 23 99 94 106 168 155
Multi-Family Residential 0 1 3 11 2 13
Manufactured/Mobilehomes 9 46 62 43 43 40
New Commercial and Additions 13 77 79 116 134 146
Total 45 223 238 276 347 354
Source: Tulare County Building Services

Figure 4-10 Tulare County – County Development Projects

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Future Development

Future development in Tulare County is discussed in the sections below.

FUTURE POPULATION PROJECTIONS
As indicated in the previous sections, Tulare County had been steadily growing from 1940 to 2020. Long term forecasts by the California Department of Finance project population growth in Tulare County continuing through 2060.

Table 4-18 Population Projects for Tulare County (incorporated and unincorporated), 2030- 2060
2030 2040 2050 2060
Tulare County 516,810 551,563 575,525 5941,539
Source: California Department of Finance P-2 Report

FUTURE LAND USE
The future use of land in the County is fundamental to attaining the vision of a balance, self-sustaining community. A land use pattern which balances growth between rural and urban areas, as well as providing a balance between housing, employment, natural resources, and services in the County is a key element in maintaining the quality of life and unique character of the County. Descriptions of allowed uses for each classification are detailed in the Tulare County General Plan Land Use Element.

4.3 Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the…location and extent of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction. The plan shall include information on previous occurrences of hazard events and on the probability of future hazard events.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the jurisdiction’s vulnerability to the hazards described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section. This description shall include an overall summary of each hazard and its impact on the community.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(A): The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of the types of numbers of existing and future buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities located in the identified hazard areas.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(B): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of an] estimate of the potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures identified in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) of this section and a description of the methodology used to prepare the estimate.

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(C): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of] providing a general description of land uses and development trends within the community so that mitigation options can be considered in future land use decisions.

The hazards identified in Section 4.1 Hazard Identification, are profiled individually in this section. These Hazard Profiles set the stage for the Vulnerability Assessment, where the vulnerability is quantified for each of the hazards. The methodologies for the Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment is presented first in this section followed by the Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment for each identified hazard.

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Hazard Profiles

Each hazard is profiled in the following format:

 Hazard/Problem Description – This section gives a description of the hazard and associated issues followed by details on the hazard specific to the Tulare County Planning Area and the unincorporated County. Where known, this includes information on the hazard locations, extent, seasonal patterns, speed of onset/duration, and magnitude and/or any secondary effects.  Past Occurrences – This section contains information on historical hazard events, including location, impacts, and damages where known. Hazard research, historical incident worksheets were used to capture information on past occurrences.
 Frequency/Likelihood of Future Occurrence – The frequency of past events is used in this section to gauge the likelihood of future occurrences. Where possible, frequency was calculated based on existing data. It was determined by dividing the number of event observed by the number of years on record and multiplying by 100. This gives the percent chance of the event happening in any given year (e.g., three droughts over a 30-year period equates to a 10 percent change of experiencing a drought in any given year). The likelihood of future occurrences is categorized into one of the following classifications:
 Highly Likely – Near 100 percent change of occurrence in next year or happens every year  Likely – Between 10 and 100 percent chance of occurrence in next year or has a recurrence interval of 10 years or less.
 Occasional – Between 1 and 10 percent chance of occurrence in the next year or has a recurrence interval of 11 to 100 years.
 Climate Change – This section contains the effects of climate change (if applicable). The possible ramifications of climate change on each hazard are discussed.

Vulnerability Assessment

With Tulare County’s hazards identified and profiled, a vulnerability assessment was conducted to describe the vulnerability and impact that each hazard would have on the County. The vulnerability assessment quantifies, to the extent feasible using best available data, assets at rick to identified hazards. This section focuses on the vulnerabilities of the Tulare County Planning Area as a whole, as well as the unincorporated Tulare County.

An estimate of the vulnerability of the Tulare County Planning Area and unincorporated Tulare County to each identified hazards provided in each of the hazard-specific vulnerability sections that follow.

Vulnerability is measured in general, qualitative terms and is a summary of the potential impact based on past occurrences, spatial extent, and damage and casualty potential. It is categorized into the following classifications:

 Extremely Low – The occurrence is very minimal to nonexistent.  Low – Minimal potential impact. The occurrence and potential cost of damage to life and property is minimal.
 Medium – Moderate potential impact. This ranking carries a moderate threat level to the general population and/or built environment. Here the potential damage is more isolated and less costly than a more widespread disaster.
 High – Widespread potential impact. This ranking carries a high threat to the general population and/or built environment. The potential for damage is widespread. Hazards in this category may have occurred in the past.
 Extremely High – Very widespread with catastrophic impact.

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Vulnerability can be quantified in those instances where there is a known, identified hazard area, such as a mapped floodplain. In these instances, the numbers and types of buildings subject to the identifie3d hazard can be counted and their values tabulated. Other information can be collected in regard to the hazard area, such as the location of critical community facilities, historic structures, and valued natural resources.

Together, this information conveys the impact, or vulnerability, of the Tulare County Planning Area to that hazard.

The vulnerability assessment identified four hazards in the Planning Area for which specific geographic hazard areas have been defined and for which sufficient data exists to support a quantifiable vulnerability analysis. These four hazards are drought, extreme heat, flood, and wildfire. The vulnerability of the flood, (1%/0.2% annual chance), wildfire hazards were analyzed using GIS and County parcel and assessor data.

For flood (1%/02% annual chance), and drought, extreme heat, wildfire, the following elements were inventoried to the extent possible, to quantify vulnerability in identified hazard areas:

 General vulnerability and hazard-related impacts, including impacts to life, safety, and health  Population at risk
 Critical facilities at risk
 Overall community impact
 Future development/development trends within the identified hazard area

The vulnerability and potential impacts from priority hazards that do not have specific mapped areas nor the data to support additional vulnerability analysis are discussed in more general terms. These include:

 Agricultural Pests and Diseases
 Avalanche
 Climate Change Drought and Water Shortage
 Flood: Localized/Stormwater
 Landslide, Mudslide, Debris Flows
 Levee Failure
 Pandemic
 Seiche
 Severe Weather: Extreme Cold and Freeze
 Severe Weather: Extreme Heat
 Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes

The following sections provide the hazard profile and vulnerability assessments for each of the hazards identified in Section 4 Hazard Identification. The severe weather hazards are discussed first to paint the picture of the County’s climate and hazard environment which often lead to other hazards such as flood and wildfire. The remainder of the hazards follow alphabetically.

General Vulnerability Issues in Tulare County

POWER SHORTAGE /F AILURE

An additional impact of extreme heat is power outage or power failure. The US power grid crisscrossed the County, bringing electricity to homes, offices, factories, warehouses, farms, traffic lights, and even campgrounds. According to statistics gathered by the Department of Energy, major blackouts are on the upswing. Over the past two decades, blackouts impacting at least 50,000 customers have increased 124 percent. The electric power industry does not have a universal agreement for classifying disruptions.

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Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that different types of outages are possible so that plans may be made to handle them effectively. Electric power disruptions can be generally grouped into two categories:
intentional and unintentional.

INTENTIONAL DISRUPTIONS
 Planned
 Unscheduled
 Demand-Side Management
 Load Shedding

Data Sources

In general, information provided by the County is integrated into this section with information from other data sources. The data sources listed below formed the basis for this Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability section of this Plan. Where data and information from these studies, plans, reports, and other data sources were used, the source is referenced as appropriate throughout this risk assessment.

 2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan
 Bureau of Land Management
 CA DWR Best Available Maps
 Cal Fire GIS datasets
 Cal OES
 Cal-Adapt
 Cal-Adapt - Annual Average of Acres Burned
 Cal-Adapt – Extended Drought Scenarios
 Cal-Adapt - Number of Extreme Heat Days by Year
 Cal-Adapt – Precipitation: Decadal Averages Map
 California Adaptation Planning Guide
 California Climate Adaptation Strategy (CAS) – 2014
 California Department of Water Resources
 California Department of Water Resources (CA DWR) Division of Safety of Dams  California Department of Water Resources Best Available Maps  California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams  California Division of Mines and Geology
 California Geological Survey
 California Office of Emergency Services – Dam inundation Data  California’s Drought of 2007-2009, An Overview. State of California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Water Resources.
 Climate Change and Health Profile Report – Tulare County  County staff
 Existing Plans and Studies
 FEMA
 FEMA: Building Performance Assessment: Oklahoma and Kansas Tornadoes  FEMA’s HAZUS-MH 4.2 GIS-based inventory data
 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
 IPCC Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report (2014)
 National Drought Mitigation Center – Drought Impact Reporter  National Integrated Drought Information System
 National Levee Database
 National Weather Service
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 National Resource and Conservation Service
 NOAA Storm Prediction Center
 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
 Public Health Alliance of Southern California
 Public Policy Institute of California
 Science Magazine
 Statewide GIS datasets from other agencies such as CAL OES, FEMA, USGS, CGS, Cal Atlas, and others
 U.S. Census Bureau
 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ National Wetlands Inventory maps  U.S. Forest Service GIS datasets
 U.S. Geological Survey
 US Army Corps of Engineers
 US Department of Agriculture
 US Farm Services Agency
 US Fish and Wildlife Service
 USDA For
 USGS National Earthquake Information Center
 USGS Publication 2014-3120
 Vaisala National Lightning Detection Network
 Western Regional Climate Center
 World Health Organization
 Multi-Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, (FEMA 1997)  National Drought Mitigation Center

4.3.1. Severe Weather: General

Severe weather is generally any destructive weather event, but usually occurs throughout Tulare County Planning Area as localized storms that bring heavy rains and floods: severe cold, snow, and winter weather; extreme heat, and strong winds. The NOAA’s NCDC has been tracking severe weather since 1950. Their Storm Events Database contains data on the following events shown on Table 4-19.

The NCDC’s Storm Events Database contains data on the following: all weather events from 1993 to current

Table 4-19 NCDC Severe Weather Events for Tulare County 1993 through 2022 Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
Avalanche 1 0 0
Blizzard
Cold/Wind Chill 3 1 0
Dust Devil 1 0 0
Dust Storm 16 0 15 $269,000
Debris Flows 13 0 0 $5,000
Dense Fog
Dense Smoke
Drought
Excessive Heat 19 0 0 $3,000,000
Extreme Cold/Wind
Chill
4 0 0
Flash Flood 20 0 0 $764,700
Flood 83 2 0 $7,014,000 $300,000
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Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
Freezing Fog 1 0 0
Frost/Freeze 178 0 0 $150,000 $722,760,000
Funnel Clouds 32 0 0
Hail 30 0 5 $125,000 $38,005,000
Heat 85 19 8 $159,001,000
Heavy Rain 19 0 0 $13,900,000 $1,500,000
Heavy Snow 121 0 0
High Wind
Landslide
Lightning 25 2 1 $42,000 $40,000
Strong Wind
Thunderstorm Wind 44 1 0 $19,200,000
Tornado 14 0 1 $5,602,500
Wildfire 82 0 15 $66,333,330
Winter Storm 133 0 0 $1,030,000
Winter Weather 36 0 0 $34,000
Total
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals from all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Tulare County

The NCDC table above summarize severe weather events that occurred in Tulare County. Only a few of the events actually resulted in state and federal disaster declarations. It is further interesting to note that different data sources capture different events during the same time period, and often display different information specific to the same events. The value in this data is that it provides data depicting the County’s “big picture” hazard environment.

As previously mentioned, many of Tulare County’s state and federal disaster declarations have been a result of severe weather. For this Plan, severe weather is discussed in the following subsections:

Due to size of the County and changes in elevation and climate, weather conditions can vary greatly across the county.

The climate in the Central Valley is defined generally by hot, dry summers, and foggy, rainy winters. Severe weather is generally any destructive weather event, but usually occurs in Tulare County as localized thunderstorms that bring heavy rain and strong winds that occur most often during the winter and spring months. The agricultural industry is among the most vulnerable asset to severe weather. Agricultural losses resulting from natural hazards can have dramatic impacts on the economic health of Tulare County.

For this plan, adverse weather is broken down as follows:
 Extreme Heat
 Dense Fog
 Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm, Hail, Lightning
 High Wind/Tornado

SEVERE WEATHER : DENSE FOG
Fog results from air being cooled to the point where it can no longer hold all of the water vapor it contains.

For example, rain can cool and moisten the air near the surface until fog forms. A cloud-free, humid air mass at night can lead to fog formation, where land and water surfaces that have warmed up during the summer are still evaporating water into the atmosphere. This is called radiation fog. A warm moist air mass blowing over a cold surface also can cause fog to form, which is caused advection fog.

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The interior California valleys have a unique fog problem called the tule fogs. The tule fog is a radiation fog, which condenses when there is a high relative humidity, typically after a heavy rain, calm winds, and rapid cooling during the night. The longer nights during the winter months create this rapid ground cooling and results in a pronounced temperature inversions at a low altitude, creating a thick ground fog. Above the cold, foggy layer, the air is typically warm and dry. Once the fog has formed, turbulent air is necessary to break through the inversion. Daytime heating can also work to evaporate the fog in some areas. The tule fogs get their name from the tule reeds, which grew around the swamps and deltas of the great Tulare Lake that once covered the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley.

The tule fog season in Tulare County in Tulare County is typically in the late fall and winter (November through March) but can occur as late as May. Fog typically forms rapidly in the early morning hours. Tule fogs can last for days, sometimes weeks. Fog can have devastating effects on transportation corridors in the County. Nighttime driving in the fog is dangerous and multi-car pileups have resulted from drivers using excessive speed for the conditions and visibility. Tule fog has also been found to be connected to air pollution and found that air pollution is a day contributor to the seasonal fog, and due to the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, it has declined about 75 percent since 1980 (Gray 2019) Figure 4- illustrates the extent of the tule fog over the central valley

Geographic Area
Extensive – The San Joaquin Valley is hemmed in on three sides by mountain ranges, with resulting inversion layers trapping cooler air on the valley floor. This predisposes the Planning Area to severe episodes of fog in winter months, when barometric pressures are high, humidity is increased, and ambient temperatures are low. All areas of the County are vulnerable to dense fog events.

Extent (Magnitude/Severity)
Critical – Tule fog forms on clear nights when the ground is moist, and the wind is near calm and can be widespread throughout the San Joaquin Valley. On nights like this, the ground cools rapidly. In turn, the moist air above it cools and causes water vapor to condense. Once it has formed, the air must be heated enough to either evaporate the fog or lift it above the surface so that visibilities improve. Common areas for tule fog to form include foothills and valleys. Visibility in tule fog is usually less than an eighth of a mile (about 600 ft or 200 m) but can be much lower. Visibility can vary rapidly; in only a few feet, visibility can go from 10 feet to (3.0 m) to near zero.

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Figure 4-11 Tulare County – Fog

Source: MODIS November 16, 2021

Fog contributes to transportation accidents and is a significant life safety hazard. These accidents can cause multiple injuries and deaths and could have serious implications for human health and the environment if a hazardous or nuclear waste shipment were involved. Other disruptions from fog include delayed emergency response vehicles and school closures.

In 2018 the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hanford, California developed the Experiment Fog Severity Index in conjunction with the NWS issues fog advisories to help give motorists advance warning of fog events. A dense fog advisory is issued when widespread dense fog develops, and visibilities drop to one- quarter of a mile or less. The Fog Severity Index has five levels with level 5 being the most severe. Figure 4-12 describes each level of the Index.

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Figure 4-12 National Weather Service Fog Severity Index

Source: National Weather Service

Climate Change Considerations
California ‘s winter tule fog has declined dramatically over the past three decades, raising a red flag for the state’s multibillion-dollar agricultural industry, according to researchers at UC Berkley., crops such as almonds, pistachios, cherries, apricots, and peaches go through a necessary winter dormant period brought on and maintained by colder temperatures. Tule fog that descends upon the Stat’s Central Valley between late fall and early spring, helps contribute to this winter chill.

When there is an insufficient rest period (or lack of dormant time for crops) it impairs the ability of farmers to achieve high quality fruit yields. The UC Berkeley findings have implications for the entire county since many of these California crops account for 95 percent of U.S. production. The researchers also paired NASA and OAA satellite records with data from a network of University of California weather stations, but on average, the researchers found a 46 percent drop in the number of fog days between the first of November and the end of February. Climate forecasts suggest that the accumulation of winter chill will continue to decrease in the Central Valley. Tule Fog was also less prevalent in reent years in part due to the multi-year drought.

While the short-term fog variability is dominantly driven by climate fluctuations, the longer-term temporal and spatial changes in fog have been driven by changes in air pollution. The Clean Air Act has also greatly reduced the air pollution that would form fogs.

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Vulnerability Assessment

GENERAL PROPERTY
Based on historic information, the primary effect of fog has not resulted in significant damages to property, and the losses are typically covered by insurance. Dense fog does result in substantial vehicle damage during transportation-related accidents.

PEOPLE
Reduced visibility is the greatest risk to people when heavy fog is prevalent. Particularly when fog is dense, it can be hazardous to drivers, mariners, and aviators, and contributes to numerous accidents each year. To reduce injury and harm, people should avoid driving when dense fog is prevalent, if possible. If driving is pertinent, emergency services advise driving with lights on low beam, watching for CHP pace vehicles to guide through fog, avoiding stopping on highways, and avoiding crossing traffic lands.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES
The impact of fog on government services structures and buildings should be similar to the impacts on general property. Dense fog can create serious problems for responders by slowing down the speed of responders and preventing them from arriving at accident scenes on time. The impact of dense fog on public confidence in government is minimal.

CRITICAL FACILITIES
Fog can have devastating effects on transportation corridors in the County. Multi-car pileups have resulted from drivers using excessive speed for the conditions and visibility. These accidents can cause multiple injuries and deaths and could have serious implications for human health and the environment if a delayed emergency response vehicles and school closures.

4.3.2 Severe Weather: Extreme Heat
Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

According to information provided by FEMA and the National Weather Service (NWS), extreme heat is defined as temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for several weeks. Heat kills by taxing the human body beyond its abilities. In a normal year, about 175 Americans succumb to the demands of summer heat. In the 40- year period from 1936 through 1975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States by the effects of heat and solar radiation. In the heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died. Heat causes the most weather-related deaths in the United States.

Extreme heat conditions can also compound the effects of other hazards, such as drought and wildfire and can contribute to increases in tree mortality. Extreme heat can also affect agriculture in Tulare County.

During times of high heat, low humidity, and winds, PG&E can issue a Public Safety Power Shutdown (PSPS) for the County.

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A key concern is the effect of extreme heat on people, especially vulnerable populations. Heat disorders generally have to do with a reduction of collapse of the body’s ability to she heat by circulatory changes and sweating or a chemical (salt) imbalance caused by too much sweating. When heat gain exceeds a level at which the body can remove it, or when the body cannot compensate for fluids and salt lost through perspiration, the temperature of the body’s inner core begins to rise, and heat-related illness may develop.

Elderly persons, small children, chronic invalids, those on certain medications or drugs, and persons with weight and alcohol problems are particularly susceptible to heat reactions.

Location and Extent

Extreme heat events occur on a regional basis. Extreme heat can occur in any location of the County, though it is more prevalent in the lower elevations in the western portions of the County. All portions of the County are at some risk to extreme heat. Extreme heat occurs throughout the Planning Area primarily during the summer months. The WRCC maintains data on weather normal and extremes in the western United States.

Information from the representative weather stations introduced in Section 4.3.1 is summarized below.

According to the WRCC, in western Tulare County, monthly average maximum temperatures in the warmest months (May through October) range from the upper 70s to the high 90s. The highest recorded daily extreme was 115ºF on July 1931. In a typical year, maximum temperatures exceed 90ºF on 67.7 days. Figure 4-20 shows the average daily high temperatures and extremes for the western County. Table 4-21 shows the record high temperatures by month for the western County.

Figure 4-13 Tulare County – West Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes

Source: Western Regional Climate Center, www.wrcc.dri.edu/

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Table 4-20 Tulare County – West Record High Temperatures 1898-2016 Month Record High Year Month Record High Year
January 81º 1911 July 115º 1931
February 89º 1921 August 115º 1933
March 90º 1960 September 109º 1913
April 103º 1898 October 104º 1933
May 108º 1951 November 94º 1949
June 111º 1961 December 85º 1906
Source: Western Regional Climate Center

Table 4-21 Monthly Highest Max Temperature for Visalia 2000-2022 Year June July August
2000 102 99 101
2001 101 105 102
2002 100 103 100
2003 101 102 98
2004 98 100 98
2005 100 102 100
2006 101 107 98
2007 100 107 99
2008 104 104 101
2009 103 104 99
2010 102 100 104
2011 101 101 98
2012 104 101 105
2013 101 105 101
2014 103 101 100
2015 101 102 102
2016 102 103 104
2017 106 102 106
2018 102 102 102
2019 101 102 101
2020 103 102 105
2021 108 104 99
2022 102 106 109
Mean 102 103 101
Maximum 108
2021
107
2007
109
2022
Source: National Weather Service

Heat emergencies are often slower to develop, taking several days of continuous, oppressive heat before a significant or quantifiable impact is seen. Heat waves do not strike victims immediately, but rather their cumulative effects slowly take the lives of vulnerable populations. Heat waves do not generally cause damage or elicit the immediate response of floods, fires, earthquakes, or other more “typical” disaster scenarios. While heat waves are obviously less dramatic, they are potentially deadlier. According to the 2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan, the worst single heat wave event in California occurred Southern California in 1955, when an eight-day heat wave resulted in 946 deaths.

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The NWS has in place a system or scale to initiate alert procedures (advisories or warnings) when extreme heat is expected to have a significant impact on public safety. The expected severity of the heat determines whether advisories or warnings are issued. The NWS HeatRisk forecast provides a quick view of heat risk potential over the upcoming seven days. The heat risk is portrayed in a numeric (0-4) and color (green/yellow/orange/red/magenta) scale which is similar in approach to the Air Quality Index (AQI) or UV Index. This can be seen in Table 4-22.

Table 4-22 National Weather Service Heat Risk Categories

The NWS office in Sacramento can issue the following heat-related advisory as conditions warrant.  Heat Advisories are issues during events where the HeatRisk is on the Orange/Red threshold (Orange will not always trigger an advisory)
 Excessive Heat Watches/Warnings are issued during events where the HeatRisk is in the Red/Magenta output

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

FEMA added Tulare County to the Major Disaster Declaration for California Wildfires two months after the SQF Complex Fire in 2020.

State of California disaster Proclamation related to extreme heat:
 August 14, 2020 – Extreme Heat Event
 September 2, 2020 – Extreme Heat Event
 July 8, 2021 – Extreme Heat Event
 August 31, 2022 – Extreme Heat Event

The NCDC Events

The NCDC data showed 19 extreme heat incidents for Tulare County. This can be seen in Table 4-23.

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Table 4-23 NCDC Extreme Heat Incidents for Tulare County Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
Excessive Heat 19 0 0 $3,000,000 0
Heat 85 19 8 0 $159,001,000
Total 103 19 8 $3,000,000 $159,001,000
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals from all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Tulare County

The NCDC extreme heat incidents related to extreme temperatures in the Tulare County Planning Area.

August 30, 2007 - Excessively hot temperatures developed over the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Temperatures reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit, and the nighttime heat index remained at or above 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

July 9, 2008 - Across Interior Central CA, maximum temperatures reached 105-112 degrees Fahrenheit.

September 1, 2017 - Across the San Joaquin Valley, temperatures reached 105-112 degrees Fahrenheit.

June 1, 2019 - Across the San Joaquin Valley, temperatures reached 102-107 degrees Fahrenheit prompting several emergency cooling centers to open each afternoon in many municipalities.

May 26, 2020 - Between May 26 and May 26, temperatures reached 103-107 degrees Fahrenheit. across the San Joaquin Valley.

August 14, 2020 - For several days across the San Joaquin Valley, maximum temperatures were above 110 degrees Fahrenheit and minimum temperatures were above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The Heat prompted Emergency Cooling Centers to open each afternoon and resulted in a high rate of livestock fatalities which led to a Local Emergency being declared in Tulare County as well as Fresno and Kings Counties. Property damage of $3 million was reported.

June 18, 2021 - Temperatures across the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Foothills reached over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

July 9, 2021 - Temperatures across Central CA including the San Joaquin Valley reached 105-113 degrees Fahrenheit.

August 31, 2022 – Temperatures throughout the State reached over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

Highly Likely – Temperature extremes are likely to continue to occur annually in Tulare County Planning Area. Temperatures at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit are common during the summer months.

Climate Change and Extreme Heat

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Climate change and its effect on extreme heat in the County is discussed utilizing three sources:

 Climate Change and Health Profile Report – Tulare County of Tulare  California Climate Adaptation Strategy7 (CAS – 2014
 Cal-Adapt
Climate Change and Health Profile Report – Tulare County The 2017 Climate Change and Health Profile Report (CCHPR) noted for Tulare County that increased temperatures manifested as heat waves and sustained high heat days directly harm human health through heat-related illness (mild heat stress to fatal heat stroke) and the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions in the medically fragile, chronically ill, and vulnerable. Increased heat also intensifies the photochemical reactions that produce smog and ground level ozone and fine particulates (PM2.5), which contribute to and exacerbate respiratory disease in children and adults. Increased heat and carbon dioxide enhance the growth of plants that produce pollen, which are associated with allergies. Increased temperatures also add to the heat load of buildings in urban areas and exacerbated existing urban heat islands adding to the risk of high ambient temperatures.

Climate Adaptation Strategy
The 2014 CAS, citing a California Energy Commission study, states that “over the past 15 years, heat waves have claimed more lives in California than all other declared events combined.” This study shows that California is getting warmer, leading to an increased frequency, magnitude, and duration of heat waves as shown in Figure 4-14.

Figure 4-14 California Historical and Projected Temperature Increases – 1961 to 2099

As temperatures increase, California and Tulare County will face increased risk of death from dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heart attack, stroke and respiratory distress caused by extreme heat. According to the 2014 CAS report and the 2018 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan, by 2100, hotter temperatures are expected throughout the state, with projected increases of 3-5.5ºF (under a lower emissions scenario) to 8-10.5ºF (under a higher emissions scenario). These changes could lead to an increase in mortality related to extreme heat in Tulare County.

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Cal-Adapt

Cal Adapt also noted that overall temperatures are expected to rise substantially throughout this century.

During the next few decades, scenarios project average temperature to rise between 1 and 2.3ºF; however, the projected temperature increases begin to diverge at mid-century so that, by the end of the century, the temperature increases projected in the higher emissions scenario (Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 8.5) are approximately twice as high as those projected in the lower emissions scenario (RCP 4.5).

These Projections also differ depending on the time of year and the type of measurement (high vs. lows), all of which have different potential effects to the state’s ecosystem health, agricultural production, water use and availability, and energy demand. Future temperature estimates from Cal-Adapt for the Tulare County Planning are shown in Figure 4-15. It shows the following:

The upper chart shows number of days in a year when daily maximum temperature is above the extreme heat threshold of 92.9ºF. Data is shown for Tulare County under the RCP 8.5 scenario in which emissions continue to rise strongly through 2050 and plateau around 2100.

The lower chart shows number of days in a year when daily maximum temperature is above the extreme heat threshold of 92.9ºF. Data is shown for Tulare County under the RCP 4.5 scenario in which emissions peak around 2040, then decline.

Figure 4-15 Tulare County – Future Temperature Estimate in Low and High Emission Scenarios

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Climate Heat Adaptation Tool

The Climate Heat Adaptation Tool (CHAT) is a decision-support tool for city, county, and state practitioners involved in public health and local planning efforts to better prepare for extreme heat in the future. This online, interactive tool will be support the inclusion of extreme heat and its impact on human health into long-term policy and planning decision in California. CHAT was launched in 2018.

Figure 4-16 California Heat Assessment Tool

Source: https://www.cal-heat.org/explore

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Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – Medium

Extreme heat happens in Tulare County each year. Extreme heat rarely affects buildings in the County but affects the population inside the County as well as the County’s agricultural industry.

Impacts from Extreme Heat

Vulnerable populations are at the greatest risk to the effects of extreme heat. The Public Health Alliance has developed a composite index to identify cumulative health disadvantage in California. Factors such as those bulleted above were combined to show what areas are at greater risk to hazards like extreme heat.

Vulnerable populations to extreme heat include:
 Homeless
 Infants and children under age five
 Elderly (65 and older)
 Individuals with disabilities
 Individuals dependent on medical equipment
 Individuals with impaired mobility

In addition to vulnerable populations, heat can cause stress to agricultural crops and livestock in the County.

Extreme heat dries out vegetation in the County, creating greater risks from wildfires. Hot weather and extreme heat can worsen the ozone levels and air quality as well as leading to drought conditions. Excessive heat and prolonged dry or drought conditions can impact agriculture by creating worker safety issues for farm field workers, severely damaging crops, and reducing availability of water and food supply for livestock. Extreme heat dries out vegetation in the County, creating greater risks from wildfires, which is discussed in 4.3.19.

Future Development

As the County shifts in demographics, more residents will become senior citizens. The residents of nursing homes and elder care facilities are especially vulnerable to extreme temperature events. It is encouraged that such facilities have emergency plans or backup power to address power failure during times of extreme heat and in the event of a PSPS. Low-income residents and homeless populations are also vulnerable. Cooling centers for these populations should be utilized when necessary. Future development may also need to consider changes to both the length of wildfire season and the increasing hazards of wildfire (discussed in more detail in 4.3.19).

4.3.3. Severe Weather: Freeze and Snow

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

According to the NWS and the WRCC, winter snowstorms can include heavy snow, ice, and blizzard Tulare County
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conditions. Heavy snow can immobilize a region, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services. Accumulations of snow can collapse roofs and knock down trees and power lines. In rural areas, homes and farms may be isolated for days, and unprotected livestock may be lost. The cost of snow removal, damage repair, and business losses can have a tremendous impact on cities and towns.

Severe Winter storms produce snow and ice and thus create problems and challenges to transportation.

Uprooted trees and fallen limbs also pose possible hazards to roadways, structures, vehicles, and people.

Roads are closed or are open only to vehicles that are properly equipped. When roads are closed for snow removal, drivers must wait by the roadside are put at an increased risk because of being stranded in route.

Stranded commuters may also be vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning or hypothermia.

Beginning in 2012, snowpack levels in California dropped dramatically. 2015 estimates placed snowpack as 5 percent of normal levels. Snowpack measurements have been kept in California since 1950 and nothing in the historic record comes close to 2015's severely depleted level. The previous record for the lowest snowpack level in California, 25 percent of normal, was set both in 1976-77 and 2013-2014. In "normal" years, the snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California's water needs, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Snowpack levels began to increase in 2016, and in 2017 snowpack increased to the largest in 22 years, according to the State Department of Water Resources.

Location and Extent

Freeze and snow events occur on a regional basis. Extreme cold can occur in any location of the County.

Snowfall can occur in any location of the County but is much more prevalent in the upper elevations of the County. Freeze has a slow onset and can generally be predicted in advance for the County. Freeze events can last for hours (in a cold overnight), or for days to weeks at a time.

In 2001, the NWS implemented an updated Wind Chill Temperature index (shown in Figure 4-17), which is reproduced below. This index was developed to describe the relative discomfort/danger resulting from the combination of wind and temperature. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature.

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Figure 4-17 Wind Chill Chart

Snowfall has a short speed on onset and can stay on the ground for months in some areas of the County. The western portion of Tulare County does not experience snowfall on a regular seasonal basis; however, the eastern portions of the County receive an abundance of snow, mostly between the months of November through March. Winter snowstorms in this part of the County, including strong winds and blizzard conditions can result in localized power and phone outages and closures of streets, highways, schools, businesses, and nonessential government operations. During periods of heavy snow there is also an increase in the number of severities of traffic accidents. People can become isolated in their homes and vehicles and are unable to receive essential services. Snow removal costs can impact budgets significantly. Heavy snowfall during winter can lead to flooding or landslides during the spring if the area snowpack melts too quickly and create numerous challenges for emergency responders. In the higher elevations snowfall will bury fire hydrants and street signs. It can often take the district weeks to dig out the fire hydrants and street signs. This is exacerbated by County snowplows/blowers re-burying the hydrants in subsequent plowing efforts.

Inaccessible hydrants and/or delay responses can impact life and property.

Snowfall in the Sierras increases with elevation. The lower foothills rarely receive any measurable snow.

Middle elevations receive a mix of snow and rain during the winter. Above 6,000 feet the majority of precipitation falls as snow. It is not unusual, in some locations, to have ten feet of snow on the ground for extended periods.

While road closures are not uncommon due to large amounts of snow on the road, in preparation for an emergency there may be an exception where the roads will be plowed to create an extra evacuation route should it be needed.

Tulare County Winter Road Closures
 Western Divide from M107 at mile post 2.0 and M50 at Mile post 18.5 and mile post 10.75 Tulare County
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 Balch Park Road from M290 at mile post 38.5 and at M220 mile post 8.5  Fox Drive from M107 to Tip Dr (M179B)

Figure 4-18 A Road Closure in Tulare County

Although the Western Divide was closed during the winter months, in 2018, 2020, and 2021 the county plowed all of M107 and part of M50 behind closed gates to manageable snow depths to use as an alternate evacuation route in the event SR 190 was closed due to mudslides, washout from the fires. The cost to keep these two-road plowed was approximately $190,000.

Tulare County has several designated snow removal routes.

 Camp Nelson
 Pierpoint
 Pondarosa
 Kenney Meadows
 Posey
 Sugar Loaf
 Panorama Heights
 Heartland
 Alpine Village

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Figure 4-19 Tulare County—Average Snowfall

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

Tulare County has had no past federal or state disaster declarations for freeze and snow.

Another database of disaster declarations comes from the USDA. This database was search from 1953 to 2022, which showed 3 freezing temperatures disaster declarations for Tulare County.

NCDC Events

The NCDC reports events of past extreme cold and freeze for Tulare County since 1950 as shown on Table 4-24.

Table 4-24 NCDC Freeze and Snow Events for Tulare County 1950 – 2022 Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
Cold/Wind Chill 3 1 0
Extreme Cold/Wind
Chill
4 0 0
Freezing Fog 1 0 0
Frost/Freeze 178 0 0 $150,000 $722,760,000
Heavy Snow 121 0 0
Winter Storm 133 0 0 $1,030,000
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Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
Winter Weather 36 0 0 $34,000
Total 476 1 0 $1,214,000 $722,760,000
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals from all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Tulare County

January 16, 2002, through January 23, 2002 - A freeze threat was reported as overnight low temperatures dropped to 26–30-degree Fahrenheit.

November 5, 2003 - Minimum nighttime temperatures dropped to 30-32 degrees Fahrenheit in the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley.

January 11, 2007 - Minimum temperatures dropped to the mid-teens between January 11 th and 24 th in the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

Highly Likely – Freeze and snow are likely to continue to occur annually in Tulare County Planning Area.

This is especially true for the easter portion of the County where elevations are higher.

Climate Change and Freeze and Snow

Climate change and its effects on freeze and snow in the County has been discussed by two sources:

 CAS
 Cal Adapt

CAS
According to the CAS, freezing spells are likely to become less frequent in California as climate temperatures increase; if emissions increase, freezing events could occur only once per decade in large portion of the State by the second half of the 21 st century. According to a California Natural Resources Report in 2014, it was determined that while fewer freezing spells would decrease cold related health effects, too few freezes could lead to increased incidence of disease as vectors and pathogens do not die off.

CAL ADAPT
Cal Adapt also noted that overall temperatures are expected to rise substantially throughout this century, reducing the number of days of freeze and possibly turning snow into rain in certain areas of the State and County. During the new few decades, scenarios project average temperature to rise between 1 and 2.3oF; however, the projected temperature increases begin to diverge at mid-century so that, by the end of the century, the temperature increases projected in the higher emissions scenario (Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP0 8.5 are approximately twice as high as those projected in the lower emissions scenario (RCP 4.5).

These projections also differ depending on the time of year and the type of measurement (high vs. lows), all of which have different potential effects to the state’s ecosystem health, agricultural production, water use and availability, and energy demand.

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Vulnerability Assessment

 Vulnerability – Medium

Freeze and snow events occur in Tulare County each year. It can impact structures, critical facilities and infrastructure, and populations in Tulare County, especially in the upper elevations in the eastern County.

Impacts

Freeze and snow events happen in Tulare County each year. Freeze and snow ca occasionally be accompanied by high winds, which can cause downed trees and power lines, power outages, accidents, and road closures. Transportation networks, communications, and utilities infrastructure are the most vulnerable physical assets to impacts of severe winter weather in the County. The ability for the County to continue to operate during periods of winter storm and freeze is paramount. Prolonged exposure to cold can frostbite or hypothermia and can be life-threatening. Vulnerable populations to cold and freeze include:

 Homeless
 Infants and children under age five
 Elderly (65 and older)
 Individuals with disabilities
 Individuals dependent on medical equipment
 Individuals with impaired mobility

Of significant concerns is the impact to populations with special needs such as the elderly and those requiring the use of medical equipment. The residents of nursing homes and elder care facilities are especially vulnerable to extreme temperature events. It is encouraged that such facilities have emergency plans or backup power to address power failure during times of extreme cold and freeze. In addition to vulnerable populations, pets and livestock are at risk to freeze and cold.

Heavy accumulation of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and lines, and communication towers. Communications and power can be disrupted for days until the damage can be repaired. Power outages can have a significant impact on communities, especially critical facilities such as public utilities. Even small accumulations of ice may cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.

Some winter storms are accompanied by strong winds, creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind driven snow, severe drifting, and dangerous wind chills. Strong winds accompanying these intense storms and cold fronts can knock down trees, utility poles, and power lines. Blowing snow can reduce visibility to only a few feet in areas where there are no trees or buildings. Serious vehicle accidents with injuries and deaths can result. Freezing temperatures can cause significant damage to the agricultural industry.

The varying elevations in the County, in part, determine the extent to which a given area is affected by freeze and snow. The agricultural industry is especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Freezing temperatures can cause significant loss to crop.

Impacts to the County as a result of extreme cold and freeze include damage to infrastructure, utility outages, road closures, traffic accidents, and interruption in business and school activities. Delays in emergency response services can be of significant concern. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes or buildings that are poorly insulated or without heat. Freezing temperatures and ice can cause accidents and road closures and Tulare County
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can cause significant damage to the agricultural industry. Extreme cold can affect agricultural products and cattle in the County. Freeze damages reduce the values of agricultural crops.

Future Development

Future development built to code should be able to withstand extreme cold and freeze. Pipes at risk of freezing should be mitigated either by burying or insulating them from freeze as new facilities are improved or added. Backup power should be considered for any new critical facility. Currently County codes provide such provisions for new construction. Vulnerability to extreme cold will increase as the average age of the population in the County shifts resulting in a larger number of seniors citizens in the Planning Area.

4.3.4. Severe Weather: Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms, Hail, and Lightning

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

Storms in Tulare County Planning Area are generally characterized by heavy rain often accompanied by strong winds and sometimes lightning and hail. In the upper elevations, these storms can drop large amounts of snow (discussed in Section 4.3.3). Approximately 10 percent of the thunderstorms that occur each year in the United States are classified as severe. A thunderstorm is classified as severe when it contains one or more of the following phenomena: hail that is three-quarters of an inch or greater, winds in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado. Heavy precipitation in Tulare County area falls mainly in the fall, winter, and spring months.

This severe weather hazard is broken down in the following sections into:

 Heavy Rain and Storms
 Hail
 Lightning

HEAVY RAIN AND STORMS
The NWS reports that storms and thunderstorms result from the rapid upward movement of warm, moist air.

They can occur inside warm, moist air masses and at fronts. As the warm, moist air moves upward, it cools, condenses, and forms cumulonimbus clouds that can reach heights of greater than 35,000 feet. As the rising air reaches its dew point, water droplets and ice form and begin falling the long distance through the clouds towards earth’s surface. As the droplets and ice form and begin falling the long distance through the clouds towards earth’s surface. As the droplets fall, they collide with other droplets and become larger. The falling droplets create a downdrift of air that spreads out at Earth’s surface and causes strong winds associated with thunderstorms.

According to the HMPC, short-term, heavy storms can cause both widespread floodings as well as extensive localized drainage issues. As storms continue to increase in intensity, the limited drainage infrastructure has become an increasingly important issue. In addition to the flooding that often occurs during these storms, strong winds, when combined with saturated ground conditions, can down very mature trees and cause power Tulare County
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outages.

Cloudburst storms can be expected in the spring, summer, and fall. Cloudburst storms, sometimes lasting as long as 6 hours, are high intensity storms that can produce floods characterized by high peak flows, short- duration flood flows, and small runoff volume.

A majority of adverse weather experienced in Tulare County takes place in the winter months as heavy rain and thunderstorm events that are sometimes accompanied by high winds, dense fog events.

Tulare County’s weather is influenced by the Pacific Ocean and routine climate patterns such as El Nino. El Nino is the warm phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, a pattern found in the tropical Pacific when there are fluctuations in temperatures between the ocean and atmosphere. During El Nino, the surface winds across the entire tropical Pacific Ocean (Leisure 2014) El Nino typically develops over North America during the winter season, causing the severe winter storms the County often experiences. This climate pattern occurs every few years and brings within above-average rain and snow across the southern region of the United States, especially in California.

Atmospheric rivers, another climate pattern that leads to adverse weather in the County, are responsible for up to 50 percent of California’s precipitation annually and 65 percent seasonally (Arcuni 2019). An atmospheric river (AR) is a long, narrow region of the atmosphere, like a river in the sky, that transports most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. Ars can be 300 miles wide, a mile deep and more than 1,000 miles long and carry an amount of water vapor roughly the same as the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River (Mississippi River (NOAA 2015). Warm water storms over the Pacific Ocean lead to evaporation and create a high concentration of moisture in the air while prevailing winds create the distinctive river land, which is often compared “to a fire hose pointed at California” Arcuni 2019). When an AR reaches land, it releases water vapor in the form of rain or snow. Ars reaches land, it releases water vapor in the form of rain or snow. Ars play an important role in the global water cycle and are closely tied to both water supply and flooding risk.

Location and Extent

Heavy rains in Tulare County vary by season and location. There is no scale by which heavy rains are measured – usually it is measured in terms of rainfall amounts. Magnitude of storms is measured often in rainfall and damages. The speed of onset of heavy rains can be short, but acute weather prediction mechanism often let the public know of upcoming events. Duration of thunderstorms in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours. Information from the WRCC weather station I Tulare County previously discussed in Section 4.3.1 is summarized below.

HAIL

Hail can occur throughout Tulare County Planning Area during storm events, though it is rare. Hail is formed when water droplets freeze and thaw as they are thrown high into the upper atmosphere by violent internal forces of thunderstorms. Hail is sometimes associated with severe storms within Tulare County Planning Area. Hailstones are usually less than two inches in diameter and can fall at speeds of 120 miles per hour (mph). Severe hailstorms can be quite destructive, causing damage to roofs, buildings, automobiles, vegetation, and crops.

The National Weather Service classifies hail by diameter size, and corresponding everyday objects to help relay scope and severity to the population. Table 4-25 indicates the hailstone measurements utilized by the National Weather Service.

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Table 4-25 Hailstone Measurements
Average Diameter Corresponding Household Object
.25 inch Pea
.5 inch Marble/Mothball
.75 inch Dime/Penny
.875 inch Nickel

1.0 inch Quarter

1.5 inch Ping-pong ball

1.75 inch Golf Ball

2.0 inch Hen Egg

2.5 inch Tennis Ball

2.75 inch Baseball

3.00 inch Teacup

4.0 inch Grapefruit

4.5 inch Softball
Source: National Weather Service

Location and Extent

Hail events can occur in any location of the County. All portions of the County are at risk to hail. There is no scale in which to measure hail, other than hail stone size as detailed above. The speed of onset of hail can be short, but accurate weather prediction mechanisms often let the public know of upcoming events.

Duration of thunderstorms that can cause hail in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours.

Hail events last shorter than the duration of the total thunderstorm. The National Weather Service tracks hail events.

LIGHTNING
Lightning can occur throughout the County both during and outside of storm events. Lightning is defined by the NWS as any and all of the various forms of visible electrical discharge caused by thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms and lightning are usually (but not always) accompanied by rain. Cloud-to-ground lightning can kill or injure people by direct or indirect means. Objects can be struck directly, which may result in an explosion, burn, or total destruction. Or, damage may be indirect, when the current passes through or near an object, which generally results in less damage.

Thunderstorms and lightning are usually (but not always) accompanied by rain. Cloud-to-ground lightning can kill or injure people by direct or indirect earns. Objects can be struck directly, which may results in an explosion, burn, or total destruction. Or, damage may be indirect, when the current passes through or near an object, which generally results in les damage.

Intra-cloud lightning is the most common type of discharge. This occurs between oppositely charged centers within the same cloud. Usually, it takes place inside the cloud and looks from the outside of the cloud like a diffuse brightening that flickers. However, the flash may exit the boundary of the cloud, and a bright channel, similar to a cloud-to-ground flash, can be visible for many miles.

Cloud-to-grounding lightning is the most damaging and dangerous type of lightning, though it is also less common. Most flashes originate near the lower-negative charge center and deliver negative charge to earth.

However, a large minority of flashes carry positive charge to earth. These positive flashes often occur during the dissipating stage of thunderstorm’s life. Positive flashes are also more common as a percentage of total ground strikes during the winter months. This type of lightning is particularly dangerous for several reason.

It frequently strikes away from the rain core, either ahead or behind the thunderstorm. It can strike as far as 5 or 10 miles from the storm in areas that most people do not consider to be a threat. Positive lightning also has a longer duration, so fires are more easily ignited. And, when positive lightning strikes, it usually carries Tulare County
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a high peak electrical current, potentially resulting in greater damage. Lightning in the County is also a concern due to the number of fires that are started by lightning strikes. Wildfire is discussed in more detail in Section 4.3.19.

Lightning is measured by the Lightning Activity Level (LAL) scale, created by the NWS to define lightning activity into a specific categorical scale. The LAL is a common parameter that is part of fire weather forecasts nationwide. The County is t risk to experience lightning in any of these categories. The LAL is reproduced in Table 4-26.

Table 4-26 Lightning Activity Level Scale
LAL 1 No thunderstorms.

LAL 2 Isolated thunderstorms. Light rain will occasionally reach the ground. Lightning is very infrequent, 1 to 5 cloud to ground strikes in a five-minute period.

LAL 3 Widely scattered thunderstorms. Light to moderate rain will reach the ground. Lightning is infrequent, 6 to 10 cloud to ground strikes in a five -minute period.

LAL 4 Scattered thunderstorms. Moderate rain is commonly produced. Lightning is frequent, 11 to 15 cloud ground strikes in a five-minute period.

LAL 5 Numerous thunderstorms. Rainfall is moderate to heavy. Lightning is frequent and intense, greater than 15 cloud to ground strikes in a five-minute period.

LAL 6 Dry lightning (same as LAL 3 but without rain). This type of lightning has the potential for extreme fire activity and is normally highlighted in fire weather forecasts with a Red Flag warning.

Lightning is a common factor in new wildfire starts in the Sierra Nevada, though no specific information is available for Tulare County. The relationship of lightning to wildfire ignitions in the County increases the significance of this hazard. Lightning strikes are more likely at higher elevations, such as mountain peaks, and may pose a threat to hikers, climbers, and other recreational users.

Location and Extent

Lightning events can occur in any location of the County and are often associated with thunderstorms. All portions of the County are at risk to lightning. Lightning tends to be rare in the County, as discussed in the extent section below. Lightning in the County can occur both during and outside of thunderstorms; the latter often referred to as dry lightning events. The speed of onset of thunderstorms that can cause lightning can be short, but accurate weather prediction mechanisms often let the public know of upcoming events.

Duration of thunderstorms in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours. Vaisala maintains the National Lightning Detection Network. It tracks cloud to ground lightning incidences in the United States.

Lightning events are not uncommon in the County. As shown in, since 1950, there have been reports of lightning events that have caused. These events were recorded un the NCDC database.

Table 4-27 Lightning Events in Tulare County
Year Event
Type
Location Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
1996 Lightning Tulare 0 0 15.00K 0
1999 Lightning Visalia ARPT 0 0 0 0
1999 Lightning Visalia 0 0 0 0
2000 Lightning Earlimart 0 0 0 0
2001 Lightning Visalia 0 0 0 0
2001 Lightning Sequoia National Park 0 0 0 0
2003 Lightning Goshen 0 0 0 0
2003 Lightning Visalia ARPT 0 0 3.00K 0
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Year Event
Type
Location Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
2003 Lightning Tipton 0 0 0 0
2003 Lightning Mineral King 0 0 0 0
2003 Lightning Earlimart 0 0 0 0
2003 Lightning Porterville 0 0 0 40.00K
2003 Lightning Porterville 0 0 1.00K 0
2003 Lightning Porterville 0 0 1.00K 0
2003 Lightning Johnsondale 0 0 0 0
2003 Lightning Sequoia National Park 0 0 0 0
2003 Lightning Visalia 0 0 0 0
2005 Lightning Mineral King 2 7 0 0
2005 Lightning Woodlake 0 0 0 0
2005 Lightning Visalia 0 0 0 0
2005 Lightning Countywide 0 0 0 0
2006 Lightning Tulare 0 0 5.00K 0
2006 Lightning Porterville 0 0 0 0
2007 Lightning Dinuba 0 0 17.00K 0
2007 Lightning Lodgepole 0 3 0 0
Totals: 2 10 42.00K 40.00K

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

A search of FEMA and Cal OES disaster declarations turned up multiple events. Heavy rains and storms have caused flooding in the County. Events where flooding resulted in a state or federal disaster declaration are shown in Table 4-28.

Table 4-28 Tulare County – Disaster Declarations from Heavy Rain and Storms (and Floods) 1950-2020
Disaster Type Federal Declaration State Declarations
Count Years Count Years
Flood (including
heavy rains and
storms)
16 1950, 1955, 1958 (twice), 1962,
1963, 1969, 1973, 1980, 1983,
1986, 1995 (twice), 1997, 2008,
2017
13 1955, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1969,
1983, 1986, 1995 (twice), 1997,
2006 (twice), 2017
Source: FEMA, Cal OES

Another database of disaster declarations come from the USDA. This database was searched from 2012 to 2022, which showed 7 disaster declarations for Tulare County, related to heavy rains and storms, including hail and lightning. This is shown on Table 4-29.

Table 4-29 Tulare County - USDA Disaster Declarations 2012-2020 Year Declaration
Number
Primary or
Contiguous County
Disaster Type
2012 S3255 Contiguous Freezing Temperatures, Excessive Rain, High Winds 2012 S3320 Contiguous Hailstorm, Rain, Cold Temperature 2016 S4003 Contiguous Rain and Wind
2016 S4164 Contiguous Severe Weather Including Excessive Rain 2016 S4170 Contiguous Excessive Rain, High Winds, Cold Temperatures and Hail 2019 S4656 Primary Excessive Rain
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2019 S4657 Contiguous Excessive Rain and Hail
Source: USDA

NCDC Events

The NCDC data recorded hail, heavy rain, and lightning incidents for Tulare County since 1950. A summary of these events is shown in Table 4-30. Additional events of heavy rain and storms are also discussed in the NCDC table in the flood profile in Section 4.3.12.

Table 4-30 NCDC Hail, Heavy Rain, Lightning, and Wind Events in Tulare County 1950- 9//2022
Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
Hail 30 0 5 $125,000 $38,005,000
Heavy Rain 19 0 0 $13,900,000 $1,500,000
Lightning 25 2 7 $42,000 $40,000
Total 74 2 12 $14,067,000 $39,545,000
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals from all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Tulare County

During winter storm season, Tulare County and many of the incorporated cities provide loose and sandbags as a service to the community. The sandbags are not pre-filled. Table 4-31 shows the locations operated by Tulare County.

Table 4-31 Sandbag locations

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

Highly likely – Based on NCDC data input, 74 heavy rain and storm incidents over a 72-year period (1950- 2-22) equates to a severe storm event every year. As noted, this database doesn’t likely capture all heavy rain, hail, and lightning events. Severe weather is a well-documented seasonal occurrence that will continue to occur often in the Tulare County Planning Area.

Climate Change and Heavy Rains and Storms

 Cal Adapt

Cal-Adopt noted that, on average, the projections show little change in total annual precipitation in California. Furthermore, among several models, precipitation projections do not show a consistent trend Name Address City
Dinuba - Fire Station 3 40404 Road 80 Dinuba
Cutler/Orosi – Fire Station 4 40779 Road 128 Cutler
Three Rivers – Fire Station 14 41412 S Fork Dr Three Rivers Lindsay – Fire Station 15 1963 Avenue 228 Lindsay
West Olive – Fire Station 19 22315 Avenue 152 Porterville Doyle Colony – Fire Station 20 1551 Success Drive Porterville Pixley – Fire Station 27 200 N. Park Drive Pixley
Alpaugh – Fire Station 9 3939 Avenue 54 Alpaugh
Earlimart – Fire Station 28 808 E Washington Avenue Earlimart Lemon Cove – Fire Station 13 32490 SR 198 Lemon Cove
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during the next century.

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – Medium

According to historical hazard data, heavy rains and storms are an annual occurrence in Tulare County.

Lightning occurs less frequently and can occur both with and without storm events. Hail tends to occur less frequently in the County. Impacts can be felt by both the population of the County as well as the structures that have been built in the County.

Impacts

Impacts from heavy rains and storms include damages to property and infrastructure. This includes downed trees; damaged utility structures and infrastructures; power outages; road damages and blockages; hail damage to crops, buildings, and automobiles; and lightning damages to homes, critical infrastructure, and people. However, actual damage associated with primary effects of severe weather have been somewhat limited. It is the secondary hazards caused by severe weather, such as floods, fire, and agricultural losses that have had the greatest impact on the County. The risk and vulnerability associated with these secondary hazards are discussed in other sections of this plan (Section 4.3.12 Flood: 1%/02% Annual Chance, Section 0 Flood: Localized Stormwater, Section 4.3.9 Dam Failure, Section 4.3.14 Levee Failure, and Section 4.3.17 Wildfire).

Heavy Rains and Storms and Power Shortage/PSPS

During periods of heavy rains and storms, power outages can occur. These power outages can affect critical facilities and infrastructure, including pumping stations and lift stations that help alleviate flooding. More information on power shortage and failure can be found at the beginning of Section 4.3.

Future Development

Homes built in the County are built to existing building codes that generally withstand heavy rains and storms. New critical facilities such as communications towers and others should be built to withstand lightning, hail, and thunderstorms winds. Backup power sources for critical facilities should be incorporated into all new facilities. Properly located, designed, and constructed, future losses to new development should be minimal.

4.3.5. Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

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HIGH WINDS

High winds, often accompanying severe storms and thunderstorms, can cause significant property and crop damage, threaten public safety, and have adverse economic impacts from business closures and power loss. High winds, as defined by the NWS glossary, are sustained winds speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for 1 hour or longer, or winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration. These winds may occur as part of a seasonal climate pattern or in relation to other severe weather events such as thunderstorms.

Straight-line winds may also exacerbate existing weather conditions by increasing the effect on temperature and decreasing visibility due to the movement of particulate matters through the air, as in dust and snowstorms. The winds may also exacerbate fire conditions by drying out the ground cover, propelling fuel around the region, and increasing the ferocity of existing fires. These winds may damage crops, push automobiles off roads, damage roofs and structures, and cause secondary damage due to flying debris.

Figure 4-20 Wind Gust

Location and Extent

The entire Tulare County Planning Area is subject to significant, non-tornadic (straight-line), winds. Each area of the County is at risk of high winds. Magnitude of winds is measured often in speed and damages.

These events are often part of a heavy rain and storm event but can occur outside of storms. The speed of onset of winds can be short but accurate weather prediction mechanism often the public know of upcoming events. Duration of winds in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours. The Beaufort wind force scale is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. Figure Tulare County
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4-21 shows the Beaufort wind scale.

Figure 4-21 Beaufort Wind Force Scale

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Figure 4-22 depicts wind zones for the United States. The map denotes that Tulare County falls into Zone 1, which is characterized by high winds of up to 130 mph. Portions of the County are also located in a special wind hazard region, which is a result of foehn winds. A foehn wind is a type of dry down-slope wind that occurs in the lee (downwind side) of a mountain range. Winds of this type are called “snow-eaters” for their ability to make snow melt or sublimate rapidly. This snow-removing ability is caused not only by warmer temperatures, but also the low relative humidity of the air mass coming over the mountain(s). They are also associated with the rapid spread of wildfires, making some regions which experience these winds particularly fire prone. This is discussed in greater detail in the wildfire profile in Section 4.3.18.

Figure 4-22 Wind Zones in the United States

TORNADOES
Tornadoes and funnel clouds can also occur during severe storms. Tornadoes are another severe weather hazard that, though rare, can affect anywhere within Tulare County Planning Area, primarily during rainy season in the late fall and early spring. Tornadoes form when cool, dry air sits on top of warm, moist air.

Tornadoes are rotating columns of air marked by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud whirling at destructive speeds of up to 300 mph, usually accompany a thunderstorm. Tornadoes are the most powerful storms that exist. They can have the same pressure differential across a path only 300 yards wide or less as 300-mile-wide hurricanes. Figure 4-23 illustrates the potential impact and damage from a tornado. Tornadoes can cause damage to property and loss of life.

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Figure 4-23 Potential impact and Damage from a Tornado

Source: FEMA: Building Performance Assessment: Oklahoma and Kansas Tornadoes Tulare County
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While most tornado damage is caused by violent winds, the majority of injuries and deaths generally result from flying debris. Property damage can include damage to buildings, fallen trees and power lines, broken gas lines, broken sewer and water mains, and the outbreak of fires. Agricultural crops and industries may also be damaged or destroyed. Access roads and streets may be blocked by debris, delaying necessary emergency response.

Location and Extent
Tornadoes, while rare, can occur at locations in the lower County. Prior to February 1, 2007, tornado intensity was measured by the Fujita (F) scale. This scale was revised and is now the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Both scales are sets of wind estimates (not measurements) based on damage. The new scale provides more damage indicators (28) and associated degrees of damage, allowing for more detailed analysis and better correlation between damage and wind speed. It is also more precise because it considers the materials affected and the construction of structures damaged by a tornado. Table 4-32 shows the wind speeds associated with the original Fujita scale ratings and the damage that could result at different levels of intensity. Table 4-33 shows the wind speeds associated with Enhanced Fujita Scale ratings.

Table 4-32 Original Fujita Scale
Fujita (F)
Scale
Fujita Scale Wind
Estimate (MPH)
Typical Damage
F0 <73 Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees; shallow rooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged/
F1 73-112 Moderate damage. Peels surface off roofs; mobilehomes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos blown off roads F2 113-157 Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobilehomes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light- object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground
F3 158-206 Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown.

F4 207-260 Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown, and large missiles generated.

F5 261-318 Incredible damage. Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters (109 yards); trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center

Table 4-33 Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale Enhanced Fujita Scale Wind Estimate (mph) EFO 65-85
EF1 86-110
EF2 110-135
EF3 136-165
EF4 166-200
EF5 Over 200
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center

It is difficult to predict a tornado or the conditions that preclude a tornado far in advance. Tornadoes can strike quickly with very little warning. In California it is rare for tornadoes to exceed EF3 magnitude. Most tornadoes that touch down are not long lived.

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Past Occurrence

Disaster Declaration History

There have been no past federal or state disaster declarations due to high winds or tornadoes. There have been past USDA Secretarial Disaster Declarations due to high winds (and rainfall). This is shown in Table 4-34.

Table 4-34 Tulare County USDA Disaster Declarations 2012 -2021 Year Disaster Number Primary or Contiguous Description of Disaster 2012 S3255 Contiguous Freezing Temperatures, Excessive Rain, High Winds 2016 S4170 Contiguous Excessive Rain, High Winds, Cold Temperatures, and Hail
Source: USDA

NCDC Events

The NCDC data recorded 107 high wind and tornado incidents for Tulare County. A summary of these events in Table 4-35.

Table 4-35 NCDC High Wind and Tornado Events in Tulare County Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Injuries Property Damage Crop Damage
Dust Devil 1 0 0
Dust Storm 16 0 15 $269,000
Funnel Clouds 32 0 0
High Wind
Strong Wind
Thunderstorm Wind 44 1 0 $19,200,000
Tornado 14 0 1 $5,602,500
Total 107 1 1 $5,871,500 $19,200,000
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals from all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Tulare County

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

Highly Likely/occasional – Based on NCDC data

Climate Change and High Winds

Climate change and its effect on high winds and tornadoes in the County has been discussed by one source:

CAS - 2014

CAS
According to the CAS, while average annual rainfall may increase or decrease slightly, the intensity of individual thunderstorm events is likely to increase during the 21st century. This may bring stronger thunderstorm winds. The CAS does not discuss non-thunderstorm winds or tornadoes.

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Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – Medium

Tulare County is subject to potentially destructive straight-line winds and tornadoes. High winds are common throughout the area and can happen during most times of the entire year and outside of a severe storm event. Tornadoes are less common and tend to occur mostly in the lower elevations in the western portion of the County.

Impacts from High Winds and Tornadoes

Straight line and tornadoes winds are primarily a public safety and economic concern. Windstorms and tornadoes can cause damage to structures and power lines which in turn can create hazardous conditions for people. Debris flying from high wind or tornado events can shatter windows in structures and vehicles and can harm people that are not adequately sheltered.

Impacts from straight line winds and tornadoes include:

 Increased wildfire risk
 Erosion (soil loss)
 Dry land farming seed loss
 Windblown weeds
 Downed trees
 Power line impacts and economic losses from power outages  Occasional building damage, primarily to roofs

Campers, mobile homes, barns, and sheds and their occupants are particularly vulnerable as windstorm events in the region can be sufficient in magnitude to overturn these lighter structures. Livestock that may be contained in these structures may be injured or killed, causing economic harm to the farmer who owns both the structure and the livestock. Overhead power lines are vulnerable and account for the majority of historical damages. State highways can be vulnerable to high winds and dust storms, where high profile vehicles may be overturned by winds and lowered visibility can lead to multi-car accidents. The greatest threat to Tulare County from wind is not from damage from the winds themselves, but from the spread of wildfires during windy days, and now from the periodic PSPS events.

HIGH WINDS AND POWER SHORTAGE /PSPS

During periods of high winds and dry vegetation, wildfire risk increases. High winds that occur during periods of extreme heat can cause PSPS events to be declared in the County. More information on power shortage and failure can be found at the beginning of Section 4.3.

Future Development

Future development projects should consider windstorm and tornado hazards at the planning, engineering, and architectural design stage with the goal of reducing vulnerability. Utilities at risk to high winds should be grounded as new facilities are improved or added. Whether high winds and tornadoes will occur, where, when, and of what intensity are all factors that evolve over the days and hours before they form and after thy do. Improved weather forecasts coupled with new information technologies, including social media, has Tulare County
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resulted in an increasingly large volume of risk information that is available to people when tornadoes and high winds threaten. Development trends in the County are not expected to increase vulnerability to this hazard.

4.3.6. Agricultural Hazards

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

TULARE COUNTY FARMLAND CONVERSION

In line with the State of California, Tulare County has also seen a decrease in FMMP-designated farmland, with the total inventoried land down over one percent, as seen in Table 4-33 between the years 1998 and 2012. Between the years 2010 and 2012, Tulare County lost 13,488 acres of Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, and Unique Farmland.1

Much of Tulare County’s farmland is under California Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act) contracts, a program designed to prevent premature conversion of farmland to residential or other urban uses. As shown in Table 4-29, as of January 1, 2014 there were 1,081,936 acres of farmland under Williamson Act or Farmland Security Zone contracts in Tulare County. This total includes 565,190 acres of Williamson Act prime, 505,654 acres nonprime, and 11,1101 acres of Farmland Security Zone lands (The acreage totals also include 3,838 acres Williamson Act prime contracted land in nonrenewal and 7,301 acres of Williamson Act nonprime in nonrenewal.). 2 The proposed Project site is not under a Williamson Act contract.

Table 4-36 - Tulare County FMMP-Designated Land (1998-2012) Farmland
Category
Total Acres Inventoried
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2010 2012
Prime Farmland 396,130 393,030 387,620 384,340 379,760 370,249 368,527 Farmland of
Statewide
Importance
357,220 351,720 345,760 339,580 332,160 323,599 321,296 Unique Farmland 11,790 11,720 12,750 12,530 12,220 11,593 11,474 Important
Farmland Subtotal 765,140 756,470 746,130 736,450 724,140 705,441 701,297 Farmland of Local
Importance 110,040 124,140 126,820 137,440 143,830 154,550 158,823 Grazing Land 439,960 434,050 440,550 440,620 440,140 440,042 439,940 Total 1,315,140 1,314,660 1,313,500 1,314,560 1,308,110 1,300,033 1,300,060 Source: 1 California Department of Conservation. California Farmland Conversion Report 2015. September. Table A-44. http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/fmmp/Documents/fmmp/pubs/2010-2012/FCR/FCR%202015_complete.pdf. Accessed November, 2017.
1 Tulare County Subvention Report “California Open Space Subvention Act Program Survey for Fiscal Year 2012-2013” (submitted to Department of Conservation November 21, 2012) 1 Tulare County General Plan 2030 Update Recirculated Draft EIR Sch#2006041162. Table 3.10-4.

1 California Department of Conservation. California Farmland Conversion Report 2015. September. Table A-44. http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/fmmp/Documents/fmmp/pubs/2010-2012/FCR/FCR%202015_complete.pdf. Accessed November, 2017.
2 Tulare County Subvention Report “California Open Space Subvention Act Program Survey for Fiscal Year 2012-2013” (submitted to Department of Conservation November 21, 2012) Tulare County
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1 Ibid.
1 California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection. Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program California Farmland Conversion Report 2015. http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/fmmp/Documents/fmmp/pubs/2010- 2012/FCR/FCR%202015_complete.pdf. Accessed July 2017.

Figure 4-24 – Tulare County Farmland

Table 4-37- 2014 Tulare County Lands under Williamson Act or Farmland Security Zone Contracts and
Table 4-38 Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner Summary Acres Category
565,190 *Total prime = Prime active + NR Prime
505,645 *Total Nonprime = Nonprime active + NR Prime
11,101 Farmland Security Zone
1,081,936 Total Acres in Williamson Act and Farmland Security Zone contracts *Prime total includes 3,838 acres in nonrenewal; Nonprime total includes 7,301 acres in nonrenewal Crop 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Field Crops 1,339,100 1,265,770 1,204,440 1,190,120 1,164,952 Fruit & Nut Crops 401,553 414,950 422,091 484,408 500,715 Vegetable Crops 3,809 2,626 3,577 2,409 3,396
Nursery Products X X X X X
Apiary Products X X X X X
Seed Crops 1,054 184 73 43 55
Industrial Crops X X X X X
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According the 2020 Tulare County Crop Report Tulare County’s gross value for 2020 is $7,140,076,500.

This represents a decrease of $365,275,600 or 4.9% below 2019’s crop value of $7,503,352,100. This report reflects the gross value of agricultural crops and products and not the net income producers receive. Milk continues to be the leading agricultural commodity in Tulare County; with a gross value of $1,866,696,000, an increase of $2,54,626,000 or 15.8%. Milk represents 26.1% of the total crop and livestock value for 2020.

Total milk production increased by 1.5%. Livestock and Poultry’s gross value of $671,896,000 represents an increase of 1% above that of 2019, mostly due to the higher per unit value for both cattle and poultry. A summation of crop production values, sourced from the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner’s Annual Crop Reports, 2016-2020 for Tulare County is shown in Table 4-39.

Table 4-39 — Commissioner’s Annual Crop Report
Crop 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Field Crops 520,553,000 479,766,000 522,365,000 496,171,000 504,947,000 Fruit & Nut
Crops
3,288,076,000 3,884,384,000 4,105,817,000 4,555,465,000 3,832,212,000 Vegetable Crops 26,315,000 20,558,000 17,296,000 19,929,000 26,289,000 Nursery Products 75,618,000 72,141,000 97,136,000 72,794,000 108,697,000 Apiary Products 55,911,000 79,698,000 75,846,000 62,420,000 112,731,000 Seed Crops 1,533,600 4,939,000 4,553,400 4,588,000 2,880,900 Industrial Crops 1,951,000 1,747,000 1,895,000 1,754,100 1,187,600 Livestock &
Poultry
742,060,000 701,472,000 694,538,000 665,379,000 671,896,000 Livestock &
Poultry Products
1,658,104,000 1,795,224,000 1,693,857,000 1,626,738 1,879,236,000 Grant Total $6,370,121,600 $7,039,929,000 $7,213,303,400 $7,505,352,100 $7,140,076,500 Source: Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner Crop Reports Natural Disasters and Severe Weather
According to the USDA, every year natural disasters, such as droughts, earthquakes, extreme heat, cold, floods, fires, hail, and landslides, challenge agricultural production. Because agriculture relies on the rather, climate, and water availability to thrive, it is easily impact by natural events and disasters. Agricultural impacts from natural events and disasters most commonly include contamination of water bodies, loss of harvest or livestock, increased susceptibility to disease, and destruction of irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure. These impacts can have long lasting effects on agricultural production including crops, forest growth, and arable lands, which require time to mature.

Location and Extent of Severe Weather

Severe weather events that can affect agriculture are often regional events (droughts, wind, freeze, heavy rains, and extreme heat). The entirety of the agriculture producing areas of the County are at risk to these severe weather events. The speed of onset varies. Winds, freeze, extreme heat, and heavy rains can have short onset speeds, the onset of drought is much longer. Duration of events varies as well, with longer durations possible for drought and extreme temperatures and shorter durations for winds and heavy rains.

Livestock &
Poultry

X X X X X
Livestock &
Poultry Products

X X X X X
Grant Total 1,745,516, 1,691,602 1,622,089 1,676,980 1,669,118 Source: Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner
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INSECT PESTS
Tulare County is threatened by a number of insects that, under the right circumstances, can cause severe economic and environmental harm to the agricultural industry. Insects of concern to plans and crops include Asian citrus psyllid, European corn borer, European grapevine month, European pine shoot moth, general fruit fly, grassy-winged sharpshooter, gypsy moth, Japanese beetle, and light brown apple moth. The Tulare County Department of Agriculture traps and monitors all of these agricultural pests. Pest detection is a proactive program that seeks to identify exotic, invasive insects. These pests have a wide host range and are difficult and costly to manage once established. Early detection is essential for quick and efficient eradication. Public participation is critical to the success of this program, since staff relies on the goodwill of property owners who allow traps to be placed on their properties. The Agriculture Department deployed over 16,648 traps between spring and fall.

Location and Extent of Insects Pests
Insect pests can affect the whole of the County. The speed of onset can be short, while the duration of the infestation varies, but can be long. Insect pests affecting crop production result in economic disasters. These hazards can have a major economic impact on farmers, farm workers, packers, and shippers of agricultural products. They can also cause significant increases in food prices to the consumer due to shortages. Under some conditions, insects that have been present and relatively harmless can become hazardous. For example, severe drought conditions can weaken trees and make them more susceptible to destruction from insect attacks.

The most likely Insect Pests to agriculture in Tulare County are:

Glass-winged sharpshooter (GWSS): The GWSS is a type of leaf-hopping insect native to the southeastern United States. Grape crops are extremely vulnerable to the GWSS, which carries a bacterial infection called Pierce’s disease. Public interest in the GWSS has grown since this hazard was first identified in California 1990. Pierce’s disease infects the xylem of plants, which is the structure responsible for transmission of water and nutrients. Within one year of infection, the infected plan will wither and die. There is currently no cure for Pierce’s disease.

Vine mealybug (VMB): The VMB is emerging as a serious vineyard pest across the major grape-growing districts in California. VMB negatively affects grape crops by contaminating clusters with egg sacs, larvae, adults, and honeydew. Premature defoliation of the grape vine can occur from excessive feeding on the leaves. Feeding near the fruit allows for the entry of fungi, which can rot clusters of grapes. VMB reproduces quickly and can continue reproduction even below ground, where it is protected from pesticides and cold weather. Because of its rapid rate of reproduction, VMB can result in large economic losses. Once established, it is difficult to eradicate.

Olive fruit fly: The Olive fruit fly is considered to be the most serious pest of olive fruit in the world. The fly was first detected in the Los Angeles Basin in 1998 and by 2001 had spread to Tulare County. The olive fruit fly lays eggs in the olive and as the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the fruit and cause fruit to drop prematurely. The infestation also causes an increase in fruit acidity, decreasing fruit and oil quality.

Asian citrus psyllid: The Asian citrus psyllid i8s a citrus pest originally found in rural San Diego County.

The small, invasive, aphid-like inspect pest carries Huanglongbing (HLOB) disease, a bacterial disease that affects citrus trees. HLB is the most devastating disease of citrus trees in the world. The disease ruins the taste and appearance of citrus fruit and eventually kills the infected trees. There is no treatment or cure, and all commercially valuable varieties of citrus fruit are vulnerable.

European grapevine moth: The European grapevine moth is the latest pest to find its way into the Central Valley. The European grapevine moth prefers to host on grapes, but has also been reported on the flowers of olive and rosemary. The moth has 2 to 4 generations per year depending on the temperature, and larvae Tulare County
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in the later generations cause economic damage by feeding directly on mature grapes.

History: The glass-winged sharpshooter, vine mealybug, and olive fruit fly have been detected in Tulare County. The Asian citrus psyllid and European grapevine moth have not been detected in the County yet, but are imminent threats.

Glass-winged sharpshooter: GWSS was first identified in California in 1990. Between 1990 and 1993, increasing numbers of the insect began to appear throughout California. By 1997 to 1998, the numbers and habits of the GWSS were causing serious concern to the viticultural industry as well as other horticultural industries. According to the Tulare County Table Grape Pest and Disease Control District, from July 2003 through December 2004, 56,592 acres of citrus were treated for GWSS in Tulare County.

Tulare County has been actively employing a control and suppression program for GWSS. In 2003, the program expanded to an area-wide control project which employs over 6,000 traps throughout the County.

Vine mealybug: VMB was first identified in the Coachella Valley, California in 1994. In 1998, the VMB was discovered in a few southern San Joaquin Valley vineyards. In 2004, VMB was found in Tulare County as well as San Benito and Merced counties. Tulare County currently employs field tests of pheromone trapping, a technique which helps detect incipient infestations. These traps are being used to monitor VMB males in nurseries and newly infested areas of the state.

Olive fruit fly: The olive fruit fly was first detected in the Los Angeles Basin in 1998 and spread to Tulare County by 2001. Since 2004, the California Olive Committee has been funding research to define the insect’s biology and to determine potential chemical and biological control methods.

Asian citrus psyllid: The Asian citrus psyllid pest was first identified in San Diego County in 2008. As of June 2010, the pest has not been detected in Tulare County. However, the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner recently expressed worry that the Asian citrus psyllid could enter the County on truckloads of citrus fruit coming from Mexico during late summer.

European grapevine moth: The European grapevine moth was first reported in the United States from Napa County vineyards in October 2009. The pest was found in Fresno County in 2010. However, no traces have been found in Tulare County as of June 2010. In June 2010 a quarantine was extended throughout Fresno County. The Fresno County Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture currently have more than 5,000 moth traps in place throughout the County.

Location: The agricultural areas of Tulare County, most of which are part of the San Joaquin Valley, are the most vulnerable to agricultural biological hazards. These Valley Agricultural areas (as termed by the Tulare County General Plan 2030 Update) are located in the western portion of the County and with the exception of the Tule River Tribe, surround all participating jurisdictions. The following describes the most vulnerable agricultural areas.

Glass-winged sharpshooter: The GWSS feeds on the xylem tissues of its host plants. While GWSS are often found hosting on grape crops, it can also be found on a wide variety of ornamental landscape plants, agricultural crops, and natural vegetation. The GWSS has also been observed in citrus plants and avocado groves. The GWSS is most likely to be found in vineyards and farms or fields which grow these types of plants.

Vine mealybug: The VMB hosts primarily on grapes and is therefore found mostly in grape vineyards.

However, the pest has also been reported feeding on other common fruits such as mangoes, avocadoes, apples, and pomegranate. The VMB can be spread naturally by birds and wind. It can also be spread by assistance through field workers.

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Olive fruit fly: The olive fruit fly is present primarily in the portions of Tulare County which support the growth of olive groves.

Asian citrus psyllid: The Asian citrus psyllid pest has not been identified in Tulare County as of June 2010.

If the pest were discovered in Tulare County, a likely location where it would be found is at one of the six Tulare County citrus juice facilities. Cross-border trucks, such as those carrying oranges from the end of the Mexican citrus season, could carry the pest into the County.

European grapevine moth: No traces of the European grapevine moth have been found in Tulare County as of June 2010. However, the moths have been discovered in Fresno County where a quarantine was enforced in 2010. If not contained or eradicated, the moths could cross the county border and endanger grape vineyards, olive fruit, and rosemary in Tulare County.

WEEDS
Noxious weeds, defined as any part that is or is liable to be troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important species, and difficult to control or eradicate, are also of concern. Noxious weeds within the Planning Area include those listed in Table 4-40.

Table 4-40 Noxious Weeds within Planning Area
Species of Concern
Alkali Meadow Cattail Series One-sided Bluegrass
Grassland
Alkali Sacaton Series Creeping Ryegrass Series Saltgrass Series Bulrush Series Duckweed Series Sedge Series
Bulrush-Cattail Series Giant Reed Wildflower Field
California Annual Grassland Series Indian Ricegrass Grassland Source: California Invasive Plant Control Weed Mapper Retrieved 10/6/2022

Roadways serve as conduits for the movement of invasive plants into and throughout Tulare County.

Vehicles traveling on regional highways as well as local roads can unintentionally move and introduce invasive plants to new locales. The most significant and threatening travel thoroughfare in the area is SR 99 corridor which directly links northern and southern California to other northern states and SR 198 directly links to western states that are infested with invasive plants that are not established in California or are present in limited numbers.

On February 3, 1999, President William J. Clinton signed Executive Order 13112 requiring federal agencies to combat the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States.

In October 2022, Tulare County submitted grant application for funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response to remove bamboo and cattails from waterways at Kings River Park and Bartlett Parks. The spread of bamboo degrades natural areas and displaces native plants. Cattail multiplies quickly and is very adaptive to watery environments such as a pond. It displaces other plant species, reducing biodiversity. Cattail alters the breeding habitat and food supply for birds. Fish and insect populations decline as natural plant cover is displaced.

Location and Extent of Weeds
Agricultural hazards occur throughout the County where lands are used for farming and grazing. The County has large swaths of agricultural lands. These were shown for the County in Figure Areas not as greatly affected by severe weather, insects, and pests are the incorporated jurisdictions in the County, as well as the forest lands in the eastern portion of the County which all contain fewer agricultural acres. However, while the cities may not be directly affected, they are indirectly affected economically when agricultural losses Tulare County
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occur.

There is no scale that measures agricultural hazards. Agriculture in the County is at risk to many hazards:
insects, weeds, severe weather, as well as downturns in commodity prices. Each of these has a different duration and speed of onset. Some, such as freeze, can have a short onset and a short duration. Drought can have a long onset and long duration. Insects and weeds can have a short or long onset, and short or long durations. All agricultural losses can have a significant impact on affected communities.

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

The agricultural lands of Tulare County have historically been affected by weather related events such as freeze, heavy rain, and drought. The severe weather events can have devastating effects leading to losses in yield and affecting quality. The US Farm Services Agency provided information on disaster declarations from 2012 to 2020 (the length of data available on their website). These are shown in Table 4-41.

Table 4-41 Tulare County USDA Disaster Declaration 2012 to 2020 Year Declaration Number Primary or Contiguous
County
Disaster Type
2012 Primary Drought/Crop
2013 Primary Drought/Crop
2014 Primary Drought/Crop
2015 Primary Drought/Crop
2016 06107 Primary Drought/Crop
2017 06107 Primary Drought/Crop
2018 Contiguous Drought/Crops
2019 Primary Drought/Crop
2020 No drought/no Crops
2021 06107 Primary Drought
2022 06107 Primary Drought

NCDC Events

The NCDC does not track agriculture events.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events

The Tulare Agriculture Commission noted that agriculture events occur yearly, through with varying levels of damages to a variety of crops. Severe weather, insects’ pests, and noxious weeds occur yearly.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Highly Likely – As long as severe weather events, insects, and weeds continue to be an ongoing concern to Tulare County Planning Area, the potential for agricultural losses remains.

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – Medium
Given the importance of agriculture to Tulare County, agricultural hazards continue to be an ongoing concern. The primary causes of agricultural losses are severe weather events, such as drought, freeze, and Tulare County
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extreme heat; insect/pest infestations; and noxious weeds. According to the County agricultural losses occur on an annual basis throughout the County and are usually associated with these types of events.

Impacts

According to the USDA, every year natural disasters, such as droughts, earthquakes, extreme heat and cold, floods, fires, hail, and landslides, challenge agricultural production. Because agriculture relies on the weather, climate, and water availability to thrive, it is easily impacted by natural events and disasters.

Agriculture impacts from natural events and disasters most commonly include contamination of water bodies, loss of harvest or livestock, increased susceptibility to disease, and destruction of irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure. These impacts can have long lasting effects on agricultural production including crops, forest growth, and arable lands, which require time to mature. Specific impacts by hazard are listed below:

Drought’s most severe effects on agriculture include water quality and quantity issues. Other impacts include decreased crop yields, impact to feed and forage, altered plant populations and tree mortality.

Earthquakes, though rare in Tulare County, can strike without warning and cause dramatic changes to the landscape of an area that can have devastating impacts on agricultural production and the environment. These impacts cause include loss of harvest or livestock and destruction of irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure.

Extreme cold may result in loss of livestock, increased deicing, downed power lines, and increased use of generators. Deicing can impact agriculture by damaging local ecosystems and contaminating water bodies.

Downed powerlines cause people to run generators more often, which can release harmful air pollutants.

Hot weather and extreme heat can worsen ozone levels and air quality as well as leading to drought conditions. Excessive heat and prolonged dry or drought conditions can impact agriculture by creating worker safety issues for farm field workers, severely damaging crops, and reducing availability of water and food supply for livestock.

Wildfires can spread quickly and devastate thousands of acres of land, which may include agricultural lands.

This devastation can lead to large losses in crops, forestry, livestock, and agricultural infrastructure.

Flooding causes many impacts to agricultural production, including water contamination, damage to crops, loss of livestock, increased susceptibility of livestock to disease, flooded farm machinery, and environmental damage to and from agricultural chemicals.

Landslides and debris flow occur in all 50 states and commonly occur in connection with other major natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, and floods. Some of the threats from landslides and debris flow include rapidly moving water and debris that can cause trauma; broken electrical, water, gas, and sewage lines, and disrupted roadways and railways. This can lead to agricultural impacts including contamination of water, change in vegetation, and harvest and livestock losses.

In addition to threats to agriculture from weather and other natural hazard events, agriculture in the County is at risk from insects, pests, and noxious weeds. Establishment of an invasive species would be detrimental to the agricultural industry of Tulare County because of product losses, stringent quarantine regulations, loss of exporting opportunities and increased treatment costs. The introduction of exotic plants influences wildlife by displacing forage species, modifying habitat structure, or changing species interactions within the ecosystem. In addition, invasive plants:

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 Increase wildfire potential
 Reduce water resources
 Accelerate erosion and flooding
 Threaten wildlife
 Degrade rangeland, cropland, and timberland
 Diminish outdoor recreation opportunities.

According to the UC-Riverside’s Center for Invasive Species Research, invasive pests cost the state an estimated $3 billion a year. Intrusive plants alone cost California at least $28 million annually for control, monitoring, and outreach, not including crop loss, as reported by the California Invasive Plant Council.

Estimates on exactly yearly losses in Tulare County varies and was not available for the County. Due to the high economic value of crops in the County, invasive species have the ability to cause immense financial harm.

Future Development
Future Development in the County is not likely to have an impact on agricultural hazards in Tulare County except to the extent that agricultural lands are taken out of production as new development occurs reducing available land for agricultural uses, including those related to farming and grazing. However, the Tulare County Planning Committee did note that with additional development in the County, there may be additional competition for water resources thus possibly impacting the agricultural industry and the Tulare County Planning Area.

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4.3.7. Avalanche

This Hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Figure 4-25 Avalanche Hazard Area

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Figure 4-26 Avalanche Risk Area United States of America Map

4.3.8. Climate Change

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard

Hazard/Problem Description

Climate change is the distinct change in measures of weather patterns over a long period of time, ranging from decades to millions of years. More specifically, it may be a change in average weather conditions such as temperature, rainfall, snow, ocean and atmospheric circulation, or in the distribution of weather around the average. While the Earth’s climate has cycled over its 4.5 billion-year-age, these natural cycles have taken place gradually over millennia, and the Holocene, the most recent epoch in which human civilization developed, have been characterized by a highly stable climate – until recently. Climate change is caused by an increase in levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Common GHGs include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which trap heat and increase Earth’s average temperature, causing changes in the planet’s climate system and altering conditions across the globe.

This LHMP Update is concerned with human-induced climate change that has been rapidly warming the Earth at rates unprecedented in the last 1,000 years. Since industrialization began in the 19 th century, the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) at escalating quantities has released vast amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere, increasing the average temperature of the Earth. Secondary impacts include changes in precipitation patterns, the global water cycle, melting glaciers and ice caps, and rising sea levels. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Tulare County
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Change (IPCC), climate change will “increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystem” if unchecked.

Through changes to oceanic and atmospheric circulation cycles and increasing heat, climate change affects weather systems around the world. Climate change increases the likelihood and exacerbates the severity of extreme weather – more frequent or intense storms, floods, droughts, and heat waves. Consequences for human society include loss of life and injury, damaged infrastructure, long-term health effects, loss of agricultural crops, disrupted transport and freight, and more. Climate change is not a discrete event but a long-term hazard, the effects of which communities are already experiencing.

Climate change adaptation is a key priority of the State of California. The 2018 State of California Multi- Hazard Mitigation Plan stated that climate change is already affecting California. Sea Levels have risen by as much as seven inches along the California coast over the last century, increasing erosion and pressure on the state’s infrastructure, water supplies, and natural resources. The State has also seen increased average temperatures, more extreme hot days, fewer cold nights, a lengthening of the growing reason, shifts in the water cycle with less winter precipitation falling as snow, and earlier runoff of both snowmelt6 and rainwater in the year. In addition to changes in average temperatures, sea level, and precipitation patterns, the intensity of extreme weather events is also changing

Similarly, as noted in California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessments, projections show that average temperatures will continue to rise across California, drought will increase in length and frequency, and sea levels will rise in coastal communities. Drought and temperature increases are likely to create secondary hazards that can include a decline in overall snowpack, changes in frequency and intensity of precipitation events, and an increase in wildfire activity. Climate change hazards can impact water availability, agricultural production, public health systems, essential transportation corridors, and disadvantaged communities in both rural and urban areas across California.

California’s Adaptation Planning Guide (APG): Understanding Regional Characteristics has divided California into 11 different regions based on political boundaries, projected climate impacts, existing environmental setting, socioe3conomic factors and regional designations. California’s Adaptation Planning Guide: Understanding Regional Characteristics has divided California into 11 different regions based on political boundaries, projected climate impacts, existing environmental setting, socioeconomic factors and regional designations. California’s Adaptation Planning Guide: Understanding Regional Characteristics has divided California into 11 different regions based on political boundaries and projected climate impacts.

In Tulare County, climate change will be more localized in the form of specific hazards (or exposures) that will occur through changes in existing conditions or new natural hazards. These exposures are analyzed in the vulnerability assessment and include agriculture and forestry pests and diseases, avalanche, drought, extreme heat, flooding, pandemic hazards, landslides, severe weather, severe winter weather, and wildfire.

Some hazards, such as wildfire and drought, relate directly to the occurrence of other hazards, such as agriculture and forestry pests and diseases, landslides, and flooding. Tulare County is currently experiencing some of these changes, but others may not occur or be apparent for several years or decades.

Location and Extent

Climate change is a global phenomenon. It is expected to affect the whole of the County. There is no scale to measure the extent of climate change. Climate change exacerbates other hazard, such as drought, extreme heat, flooding, wildfire, and others. The speed of onset of climate changes is very slow. The duration of climate change is not yet known but is feared to be tens to hundreds of years.

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Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

Climate change has never been directly linked to any declared disasters. The County had no USDA disaster declarations since 2002 related to climate change.

NCDC Events

The NCDC does not track climate change events.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

Likely – Climate change is virtually certain to continue without immediate and affective global action.

According to NASA, 2017 and 2019 were two of the hottest years on record. Without significant global action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the IPCC concludes in its Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report (2014) that average global temperatures are likely to exceed 1.5oC by the end of the 21st century, with consequences for people, assets, economies, and ecosystems, including risks from heat stress, storms and extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, landslides, air pollution, drought, water scarcity, sea level rise and storm surges.

Figure 4-27 Projected Temperature Increases

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4.3.9. Dam Failure

Hazard Profile

This hazard Profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Dams are a critical element of California’s infrastructure. The public depends on them for 70%of state’s water supply, 15% of the power, as well as for flood control, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife habitat.

Changes in climate and population growth require new operational strategies. Over half of California’s 1,475 state, federal, and locally owned dams are considered high hazard dams, meaning their failure would result in probable loss of human life and economic damage. Approximately 70%of the dams are greater than 50 years old. Aging dam infrastructure challenges must be met with increased resources to ensure their reliability and safety. Fortunately, funding for dam inspection has increased in recent years. In 2015 the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD budget was approximately $13 million, up from $11 million in 2010. This increase kept funding on par with inflation. However, while DSOD’s budget is significantly higher per regulated dam than the national average, it does not fully fund the necessary programs to ensure adequate dam safety.

Dams are manmade structures built for a variety of uses including flood protection, power generation, agriculture, water supply, and recreation. When dams are constructed for flood protection, they are usually engineered to withstand a flood with a computed risk of occurrence. For example, a dam may be designed to contain a flood at a location on a stream that has a certain probability of occurring in any one year. If prolonged periods of rainfall and flooding occur that exceed the design requirements, that structure may be overtopped or fail. Overtopping is the primary cause of earthen dam failure in the United States.

Dam failure scan also result from any one or a combination of the following causes:

 Earthquake;
 Inadequate spillway capacity resulting in excess overtopping flows;  Internal erosion cause by embankment or foundation leakage, or piping or rodent activity;  Improper design;
 Improper maintenance;
 Negligent operation; and/or
 Failure of upstream dams on the same waterway.

In general, there are three types of dams: concrete arch or hydraulic fill, earth and rockfill, and concrete gravity. Each type of dam has different failure characteristics. A concrete arch or hydraulic fill dam can fail almost instantaneously; the flood wave builds up rapidly to a peak then gradually declines. An earth-rockfill dam fails gradually due to erosion of the breach; a flood wave will build gradually to a peak and then decline until the reservoir is empty. A concrete gravity dam can fail instantaneously or gradually with a corresponding buildup and decline of the flood wave.

Dams and reservoirs have been built throughout California to supply water for agriculture and domestic use, to allow for flood control, as a source of hydroelectric power, and to serve as recreational facilities. The storage capacities of these reservoirs range from a few thousand acre-feet to five million acre-feet. The water from these reservoirs eventually makes its way to the Pacific Ocean by way of several river systems.

The California Department of Water Resources (CA DWR) Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) has jurisdiction over impoundments that meet certain capacity and height criteria. Embankments that are less Tulare County
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than six feet high and impoundments that can store less than 15 acre-feet are not jurisdictional. Additionally, dams that are less than 25 feet high can impo9und up to 50 acre-feet without being jurisdictional. CA DWR, DOSD assigns hazard ratings to large dams within the State. The following two factors are considered when assigning hazard ratings: existing land use and land use control (zoning) downstream for the dam. Dams are classified in four categories that identify the potential hazard to life and property:

 Extremely High Hazard – Expected to cause considerable loss of human life or would result in an inundation area with a population of 1,000 or more.
 High Hazard – Expected to cause loss of at least one human life.  Significant Hazard – No probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, impacts to critical facilities, or other significant impacts.  Low Hazard – No probable loss of human life and low economic and environmental losses. Losses are expected to be principally limited to the owner’s property.

Location and Extent

Nine dams are present in Tulare County. Of the nine dams, seven are under the jurisdiction of the State of California and two are owned and operated by federal agencies. Table 4-42 lists the name, owner, year built, capacity, height, type and jurisdiction of each dam. Of the seven dams under the jurisdiction of the State of California, three are gravity7 dams and four are earthen dams. The size and capacity of these dams are generally much smaller than those owned and operated by federal agencies. The two dams with the largest capacities in Tulare County are Success Dam and Terminus Dam, both which are owned by USACE.

Table 4-42 Dams in the County
Name of
Dam

Owner

Stream
Year
Built
Design
Capacity
(acre- feet)
Height
(feet)

Type

Jurisdiction
Bravo Lake
Reservoir
Wutchumna Water
Company
Wutchumna
Ditch
1980 3,427 24 Earth State
Crystal Lake Southern California
Edison Company
East Fork of
Kaweah River
1903 162 16 Gravity State
Elk Bayou Kaweah Delta Water
Conservation District
Elk Bayou 1903 60 16 Earth State
Lady
Franklin Lake
Southern California
Edison Company
East Fork of
Kaweah River

1905 467 21 Gravity State

Larson
South Tule Independent
Ditch Company
South
Tributary of
Tule River

1963

325

54 Earth

State

Sand Creek
County Resources
Management Agency

Sand Creek

1980

1,050

60 Earth

County
Upper
Monarch
Lake
Southern California
Edison Company
East Fork of
Kaweah River

1905 314 22 Gravity State
Success USACE Tule River 1961 82,300 156 Earth Federal
Terminus USACE Kaweah River 1962 143,000 255 Earth Federal

Two dams not within the County may release flows that can cause flooding in the County: Pine Flat Dam and Isabella Dam. Pine Flat Dam on Kings River is in Fresno County, which is north of and adjacent to the Tulare County
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County. Pine Flat Dam was completed in 1954 and is operated by USACE. The dam has a gross capacity of approximately 1 million acre-feet and affects peak discharges for Kings River and Alta East Branch Canal, which receives flood flows from Kings River. Isabella Dam on the Kern River in Kern County consists of two dams, a "main dam", and an "auxiliary dam". The main dam is of earthen build, 1,695 feet long and 98 feet) tall, and owned and maintained by USACE. The main reservoir, Lake Isabella, can hold up 570,000- acre feet of water.

Dam Inundation

Dam failure is a natural disaster from two perspectives. First, the inundation from released waters resulting from dam failure is related to naturally occurring floodwaters. Second, dam failure would most probably happen in consequence of the natural disaster triggering the event. However, DOSD assigns hazard ratings to dams within the State that provides information on the potential impact should a dam fail: low, Significant, High, and Extremely High. There is no scale with which to measure dam failure. While a dam may fill slowly with runoff from winter storms, a dam break can have a very quick speed of onset. The duration of dam failure is not long – only as long as it takes to empty the reservoir of water the dam held back.

Figure 4-28 Dinuba Dam Inundation

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Figure 4-29 Exeter Dam Inundation

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Figure 4-30 Farmersville Dam Inundation

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Figure 4-31 Porterville Dam Inundation

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Figure 4-32 Tulare Dam Inundation

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Figure 4-33 Visalia Inundation

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Figure 4-34 Woodlake Inundation

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Figure 4-35 Tulare County Dam Inundation

The two major dams in Tulare County, Terminus Dam (on Lake Kaweah) and Success Dam (on Lake Success), can cause substantial flooding in the event of a failure.

Terminus Dam regulates discharges on Kaweah River, St. Johns River, Deep Creek, Mill Creek, and Packwood Creek, as well as the smaller elements through the Kaweah River distributary network. The dam has been operated for flood control by the USACE since 1962 and forms Lake Kaweah, which has a gross pool of 150,000 acre-feet. Lake Kaweah is approximately 30-miles east of Visalia and 20 miles west of the entrance to Sequoia National Park. If the Terminus Dam were to fail, the dam inundation area will extend to portions of the Woodlake area, Farmersville4, Visalia, Ivanhoe, and Goshen.

Success Dam, which has been owned and operated by USACE since 1961, affects the hydrology of the Lower Tule River, Porter Slough, and other small canals in the Tule River distributary network. Success Dam reservoir has a gross storage of 85,400 acre-feet. If Success Dam were to fail, the dam inundation areas will include the city of Porterville and approximately 200,000 acres of land downstream of the dam.

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Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

There has been no state or federal disaster declaration related to dam failure affection Tulare County. The County had no USDA disaster declarations related to dam failure.

NCDC Events

There have been no NCDC dam failure events in Tulare County.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

The likelihood of a future dam failure affecting Tulare County is unknown. Therefore, it is considered possible but unlikely that a dam failure event will occur within the next ten years.

Climate Change and Dam Failure

Increases in both precipitation and heat causing snow melt in areas upstream of dam could increase the potential for dam failure and uncontrolled releases in Tulare County.

4.3.10 Drought and Water Shortage

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

DROUGHT
Drought is a gradual phenomenon. Although droughts are sometimes characterized as emergencies, they differ from typical emergency events. Most natural disasters, such as floods or forest fires, occur relatively rapidly and afford little time for preparing for disaster response. Droughts occur slowly, over a multi-year period, and it is often not obvious or easy to quantify when a drought begins and ends. Water districts normally require at least a 10-year planning horizon to implement a multiagency improvement project to mitigate the effects of a drought and water supply shortage.

Drought is a complex issue involving (see Figure 4-36) many factors-it occurs when a normal amount of precipitation and snow is not available to satisfy an area's usual water-consuming activities. Drought can often be defined regionally based on its effects:

 Meteorological drought is usually defined by a period of below average water supply.  Agricultural drought occurs when there is an inadequate water supply to meet the needs of the state's crops and other agricultural operations such as livestock.

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 Hydrological drought is defined as deficiencies in surface and subsurface water supplies. It is generally measured as streamflow, snowpack, and as lake, reservoir, and groundwater levels.  Socioeconomic drought occurs when a drought impacts health, well-being, and quality of life, or when a drought starts to have an adverse economic impact on a region.

Figure 4-36 Causes and Impact

Source: National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC)

The HMPC noted that drought can cause increased wildfire risk, discussed in Section 4.3.19. During periods of drought, subsidence can also occur.

Location and Extent

Since drought is a regional phenomenon, it affects the whole of the County. Speed of onset of drought is slow, while the duration varies from short (months) to long (years) Drought in the United States is monitored by the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). A major component of this portal is the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor concept was developed jointly by the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the NDMC, and the USDA's Joint Agricultural Weather Facility in the late 1990s as a Tulare County
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process that synthesizes multiple indices, outlooks and local impacts, into an assessment that best represents current drought conditions. The final outcome of each Drought Monitor is a consensus of federal, state, and academic scientists who are intimately familiar with the conditions in their respective regions. A snapshot of the drought conditions in California and Tulare County (2022) can be found in Figure 4-37. Snapshots from 2016 through 2021 are shown in Figure 4-38.

Figure 4-37 Tulare County- Current Drought Status

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Figure 4-38 Previous Drought Status in Tulare County, 2016-2021

Source: US Drought Monitor

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CA DWR says the following about drought:

One dry year does not normally constitute a drought in California. California's extensive system of water supply infrastructure-its reservoirs, groundwater basins, and inter-regional conveyance facilities-mitigates the effect of short-term dry periods for most water users. Defining when a drought begins is a function of drought impacts to water users. Hydrologic conditions constituting a drought for water users in one location may not constitute a drought for water users elsewhere, or for water users having a different water supply. Individual water suppliers may use criteria such as rainfall/runoff, amount of water in storage, or expected supply from a water wholesaler to define their water supply conditions.

The drought issue in California is further compounded by water rights. Water is a commodity possessed under a variety of legal doctrines. The prioritization of water rights between farming and federally protected fish habitats in California contributes to this issue.

As shown on the previous figures, drought is tracked by the US Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor includes a scale to measure drought intensity:
 None
 DO (Abnormally Dry)
 Dl (Moderate Drought)
 D2 (Severe Drought)
 D3 (Extreme Drought)
 D4 (Exceptional Drought)

Figure 4-39 Drought Severity in Tulare County

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WATER SHORTAGE

Tulare County Hydrology

Tulare County is located entirely within the Tulare Lake Basin, which is a closed hydrologic basin draining to Tulare Lake at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. The geography of the County is dominated by the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Foothills in the east of the County and the flat, fertile farmland of the Central Valley in the western portion of the County. The vast majority of the County’s population resides in the largely agricultural communities on Valley floor or in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Supply of water resources in Tulare County comes from four major sources, including groundwater, local streams and rivers, imported surface water, and imported surface water by exchange. Of these sources, groundwater is by far the most important source for Self-Supplied Communities, with a few communities also relying on direct surface water diversions from local streams.

In the Valley floor portion of the County, large alluvial aquifers have historically yielded significant quantities of groundwater for agriculture, urban, and domestic uses. The County overlies all or portions of the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Tulare Lake Subbasins of the San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Basin (Figure4-40).3 All four of these Subbasins have been classified under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) as in critical overdraft, 4 due to long term declines in groundwater levels driven by groundwater use that has exceeded average recharge for many decades. The aquifer thickness in these subbasins typically increases to the west, with the aquifers thinning on their eastern margins and ultimately pinching out at their contact with the bedrock foothills. Many of the Self-Supplied Communities at greatest risk of water shortage in Tulare County are threatened by declining groundwater levels in these Subbasins, especially on the eastern edges of Subbasins where aquifers are thinner. The ongoing implementation of SGMA by the various Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) will be an important factor effecting the risk to Self-Supplied Communities of future groundwater declines in the alluvial subbasins of Tulare County.

In the Sierra Nevada foothills, many communities and individuals rely upon fractured rock aquifers that the Department of Water Resources (DWR) does not recognize as being divided into distinct groundwater subbasins. As a result, SGMA does not apply to groundwater users in fractured rock areas. Most of the water systems in this portion of the County are individual and serve mostly untreated water for domestic purposes through wells that tap into the fractured rock aquifers.5 Because the volume of water stored in fractured rock aquifers is typically much less than in alluvial aquifers, aquifers in the County’s foothills region can be quickly impacted by droughts, which can result in rapid loss of productivity for domestic wells.

The majority of Tulare County’s local water resources ultimately originate as precipitation in the Sierra Nevada mountains, with high-elevation snowpack playing a particularly important role. According to California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, climate change is already underway in the Sierra Nevada, affecting heat and precipitation extremes, with long-term warming trends, declining snowpacks, and changes in streamflow timing.6 Over the coming decades, climate change will present new challenges to all Tulare County water users.

3 Tulare County also includes very small areas of the Kern River Valley and Tulare Lake Subbasins. No domestic wells have been recorded in the Tulare County portion of either of these subbasins and they are therefore excluded from the discussion above. 4 https://gis.water.ca.gov/app/bp-dashboard/final/
5 Jeane, Marlys, Nicholas Johnston, Tulare County Drought Risk Assessment (2021) 6 Dettinger, Michael, Holly Alpert, John Battles, Jonathan Kusel, Hugh Saford, Dorian Fougeres, Clarke Knight, Lauren Miller, Sarah Sawyer. 2018. Sierra Nevada Summary Report. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Publication number: SUM- CCCA4-2018-004.

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Figure 4-40 Groundwater Basins in Tulare County

County-Wide Risk

Risk in Tulare County, as identified by the Risk Explorer tool (Figure 4-41), is spread throughout the County.

The risk profile for the County on the whole is concentrated most highly in groundwater vulnerability indicators (RC2) based on historic and current overdraft and groundwater levels that are in decline. These indicators are concentrated in the western part of the County in the alluvial aquifers where groundwater monitoring is prevalent. Like much of the state, the County’s risk is amplified by drought, and an early drought forecast for the water year (RC2a). Both recent and current drought cycles are contributing factors to overall risk for all water supply in the County, particularly Self-Supplied wells, which tend to be shallower or in fractured rock areas. Social vulnerability scores across the County also factor in the risk score. Reported household outages are a key indicator to watch, as wells that have been reported dry in the past are at risk of going dry in the future, particularly with the presence of other associated risk conditions, such as projected temperature increases due to climate change (RC1).

Users are able to use the Tool to examine individual Census Block Groups within the County and view the component scores and associated risk indicators for specific blocks. For instance, areas in the eastern portion of the County are have higher susceptibility due to fractured rock wells. The majority of this area is in the foothills or higher elevations above the edge of the alluvial basin where fractured rock wells comprise most of the household and private water supply. Fractured rock wells usually have lower yield and are less reliable because they rely on rock fissures of unknown size and unknown interconnectivity for recharge. They are Tulare County
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also harder to monitor and therefore reliability is less certain. The block group view also gives a quick look at the percentage of households that are reliant on domestic wells, and therefore where County response and outreach efforts might be concentrated.

Figure 4-41 County Wide Risk Assessment

Location and Extent

Since water shortage happens on a regional scale, the entirety of the County is at risk. There is no established scientific scale to measure water shortage. The speed of onset of water shortage tends to be lengthy. The duration of water shortage can vary, depending on the severity of the drought that accompanies it.

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

There has been one federal disaster related to drought and water shortage in Tulare 2016 County issued in 1977. There has been one state disaster related to drought and water shortage in Tulare County issued in 2014. This can be seen in Table 4-43.

Table 4-43 Tulare County-Disaster Declarations from Drought 1950-2020 Disaster Type State Declarations Federal Declarations
Drought Count Years Count Years
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1 2014 1 1977
Source: FEMA, Cal OES

Another database of disaster declarations comes from the USDA. This database shows agricultural disasters that result from natural hazards like drought. This database was searched from 2012 to 2022, and the results for drought for Tulare County are shown on Table 4-44.

Table 4-44 Tulare County- USDA Disaster Declarations 2012-2022 Year Declaration Number Primary or Contiguous
County
Disaster Type
2012 S3268 Primary Drought-FAST TRACK
2012 S3379 Contiguous Drought
2013 S3491 Primary Drought-FAST TRACK
2013 S3497 Contiguous Drought-FAST TRACK
2014 S3626 Contiguous Drought-FAST TRACK
2014 S3743 Primary Drought
2015 S3784 Primary Drought-FAST TRACK
2015 S3943 Primary Drought
2016 S3952 Primary Drought-FAST TRACK
2017 S4144 Primary Drought-FAST TRACK
2018 S4460 Contiguous Drought-FAST TRACK
2021 S4916 Primary Drought-FAST TRACK
2022 S5146 Primary Drought-FAST TRACK
Source: USDA, Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner

NCDC Events

There have been 7 NCDC drought events in Tulare County, related to events in the recent April 2021- September 2021 drought. No deaths, injuries, or property damages were reported to the NCDC from these events.

Table 4-45 NCDC Drought Events for Tulare County 04/01/2021-09/30/2021 Event Type Number of
Events
Deaths Deaths
(Indirect)
Injuries Injuries
(Indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Drought 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals for all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Tulare County

CA DWR and Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events

Historically, California has experienced multiple severe droughts. According to the DWR, droughts exceeding three years are relatively rare in Northern California, the source of much of the State's developed water supply. The 1929-34 drought established the criteria commonly used in designing storage capacity and yield of large northern California reservoirs. Table 4-46 compares the 1929-34 drought in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys to the 1976-77, 1987-92, and 2007-09 droughts. Figure 4-42 depicts California's Multi-Year Historical Dry Periods, 1850-2000.

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Table 4-46 Severity of Extreme Droughts in the San Joaquin Valley Drought Period San Joaquin Valley Runoff
(maf*/yr) (Percent Average 1906-96)
1929-34 3.3 57
1976-77 1.5 26
1987-92 2.8 47
2007-09 3.7 61
Source: California's Drought of 2007-2009, An Overview. State of California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Water Resources.
*maf=million-acre feet

Figure 4-42 California’s Multiyear Historical Dry Periods, 1850-2000

Source: California Department of Water Resources,www.water.ca.gov/ Notes: Dry periods prior to 1900 estimated from limited data; covers dry periods of statewide or major regional extent

Figure 4-43 depicts runoff for the State from 1900 to 2015. This gives a historical context for the 2014- 2015 drought to compare against past droughts.

Figure 4-43 Annual California Runoff -1900 to 2015

Source: California DWR

The 2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan fleshed out the major droughts from 1900 to 2017. This discussion below appends to the tables and figures above.

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THE 1975-1977 DROUGHT
From November 1975 through November 1977, California experienced one of its most severe droughts.

Although people in many areas of the state are accustomed to very little precipitation during the growing season (April to October), they expect it in the winter. In 1976 and 1977, the winters brought only one-half and one-third of normal precipitation, respectively. Most surface storage reservoirs were substantially drained in 1976, leading to widespread water shortages when 1977 turned out to be even drier. 31 counties were affected, resulting in $2.67 billion in crop damages.

THE 1987-1992 DROUGHT
From 1987 to 1992, California again experienced a serious drought due to low precipitation and run-off levels. The hardest-hit region was the Central Coast, roughly from San Jose to Ventura. In 1988, 45 California counties experienced water shortages that adversely affected about 30 percent of the state's population, much of the dry-farmed agriculture, and over 40 percent of the irrigated agriculture. Fish and wildlife resources suffered, recreational use of lakes and rivers decreased, forestry losses and fires increased, and hydroelectric power production decreased. In February 1991, DWR and Cal OES surveyed drought conditions in all 58 California counties and found five main problems: extremely dry rangeland, irrigated agriculture with severe surface water shortages and falling groundwater levels, widespread rural areas where individual and community supplies were going dry, urban area water rationing at 25 to 50 percent of normal usage, and environmental impacts.

Storage in major reservoirs had dropped to 54 percent of average, the lowest since 1977. The shortages led to stringent water rationing and severe cutbacks in agricultural production, including threats to survival of permanent crops such as trees and vines. Fish and wildlife resources were in critical shape as well. Not since the 1928-1934 drought had there been such a prolonged dry period. In response to those conditions, the Governor established the Drought Action Team. This team almost immediately created an emergency drought water bank to develop a supply for four critical needs: municipal and industrial uses, agricultural uses, protection of fish and wildlife, and carryover storage for 1992. The large-scale transfer program, which involved over 800,000 acre-feet of water, was implemented in less than 100 days with the help and commitment of the entire water community and established important links between state agencies, local water interests, and local governments for future programs.

THE 2007-2009 DROUGHT
Water years 2007-2009 were collectively the 15th driest three-year period for DWR's eight-station precipitation index, which is a rough indicator of potential water supply availability to the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP). Water year 2007 was the driest single year of that drought, and fell within the top 20 percent of dry years based on computed statewide runoff. In June 2008, a state emergency proclamation was issued due to water shortage in selected Central Valley counties. In February 2009, for the first time in its history, the State of California proclaimed a statewide drought. The state placed unprecedented restrictions on CVP and SWP diversions from the Delta to protect listed fish species, a regulatory circumstance that exacerbated the impacts of the drought for water users.

The greatest impacts of the 2007-2009 drought were observed in the CVP service area on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, where hydrologic conditions combined with reduced CVP exports resulted in substantially reduced water supplies (50 percent supplies in 2007, 40 percent in 2008, and 10 percent in 2009) for CVP south-of Delta agricultural contractors. Small communities on the west side highly dependent on agricultural employment were especially affected by land fallowing due to lack of irrigation supplies, as well as by factors associated with current economic recession. The coupling of the drought and economic recession necessitated emergency response actions related to social services, such as food banks and unemployment assistance.

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THE 2012-2017 DROUGHT
The statewide drought of2012-2017 will be remembered as one of the most severe and costliest droughts of record in California. The drought that spanned water years 2012 through 2017 included the driest four-year statewide precipitation on record (2012-2015) and the smallest Sierra-Cascades snowpack on record (2015, with 5 percent of average). It was marked by extraordinary heat: 2014, 2015, and 2016 were (at the time) California's first, second, and third warmest years in terms of statewide average temperatures. By the time the drought was declared officially over in April 2017, the state had expended $6.6 billion in drought response and mitigation programs and had been declared a federal disaster area. The immediate cause of California's 2014 drought can be traced to the altered route of atmospheric water vapor, which is necessary for strong winter precipitation in the state. Ordinarily, water evaporates from the ocean in the warm Tropical Pacific Ocean and winds carry that water vapor to the U.S. west coast. However, in 2014 the water vapor transport split into two branches and ended up going either north or south of California. In March of 2015, Yuba City noted that there was a possibility that water demand may exceed supply. The City's Public Works Director spelled out the City's options to the Yuba City Council and recommended the City continue to implement mandatory water use restrictions for the rest of the year. At that time, the worst-case scenario showed that demand could exceed supply by an estimated 1,000 acre-feet. Conservation measures were put into place in the city and the County which reduced use by 28 to 35 percent.

According to the HMPC, during this drought significant shortages were occurring on the west side and some residential areas (the largest City in the County- Roseville) were almost put on rations as Folsom reservoir was near the point of being below the intake pumping capability (this is predicted to occur 2 out of every 10 years due to the State tunnel system, a drought would increase that during every year of a drought). Surface water for agriculture was cutback significantly and one year not available. On the east side cutbacks were enacted but they fared better as there are fewer people/business to support.

Water Shortage
Figure 4-44 illustrates several indicators commonly used to evaluate water conditions in California. The percent of average values are determined by measurements made in each of the ten major hydrologic regions. The chart describes water conditions in California between 2007 and 2018. The chart illustrates the cyclical nature of weather patterns in California.

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Figure 4-44 Water Supply Conditions, 2007-2018

Source: 2018 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan

Beginning in 2012, snowpack levels in California dropped dramatically. 2015 estimates placed snowpack as 5 percent of normal levels. Snowpack measurements have been kept in California since 1950 and nothing in the historic record comes close to 2015's severely depleted level. The previous record for the lowest snowpack level in California, 25 percent of normal, was set both in 1976-77 and 2013-2014. In "normal" years, the snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California's water needs, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Snowpack levels began to increase in 2016, and in 2017 snowpack increased to the largest in 22 years, according to the State Department of Water Resources. In late 2017 and early 2018, drought conditions began to return to California but were dampened by periods of above average rainfall in the first part of 2019. Tulare County has been in and out of drought conditions since 2019.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

DROUGHT
Likely-Historical drought data for the Tulare County Planning Area and region indicate there have been 5 significant droughts in the last 85 years. This equates to a drought every 17 years on average or a 5.9 percent chance of a drought in any given year. However, based on this data and given the multi-year length and cyclical nature of droughts, the HMPC determined that future drought occurrences in the Planning Area are likely.

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WATER SHORTAGE
A heavy presence of irrigated agricultural lands indicates competing demand on groundwater supplies, which could create higher risk for small suppliers during a drought or water shortage event. High volumes of water extraction can also lead to other groundwater vulnerabilities previously discussed such as land subsidence, a critically over drafted basin, and chronic declining groundwater levels. In Tulare County, in which agriculture is the primary industry for its residents, any risk to the presence of water could threaten its strongest economic asset. Not only is water for agricultural purposes put at risk under these conditions, but domestic water for non-agricultural residents is also in danger of going dry sooner than if there was a smaller presence of heavily irrigated agriculture land surrounding their aquifers.

Climate Change and Drought and Water Shortage

Climate change and its effect on avalanche in the County has been discussed by three sources:
 Tulare County Drought Risk Assessment-2021
 CAS-2014
 Cal-Adapt-2021

TULARE COUNTY DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT -2021
Although droughts are a regular feature of California's climate, scientists expect that climate change will lead to more frequent and more intense droughts statewide. Overall, precipitation levels are expected to stay similar, and may even increase in some places. However, the State's current data says that there will be more years with extreme levels of precipitation, both high and low, which is expected to cause more droughts that last longer and are more intense, compared to historical norms.

With the definition of a Water Year in mind, this means that the level of precipitation received between October and the end of January is often a reliable indicator of how well the water year will be for a local supply. Due to the sensitivity of domestic wells to annual precipitation levels in their region, a lack of rainfall between the months of October and January means that those wells have a higher probability of going dry.

Since a majority of the county has a measured value above 0.0, this means that most areas within the county are at a high risk for local drought due to lack of rain.

CAS
Climate scientists studying California find that drought conditions are likely to become more frequent and persistent over the 21st century due to climate change. The experiences of California during recent years underscore the need to examine more closely the state's water storage, distribution, management, conservation, and use policies. The 2014 CAS stresses the need for public policy development addressing long term climate change impacts on water supplies. The CAS notes that climate change is likely to significantly diminish California's future water supply, stating that: California must change its water management and uses because climate change will likely create greater competition for limited water supplies needed by the environment, agriculture, and cities.

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A report from the Public Policy Institute of California noted that thousands of Californians -mostly in rural, small, disadvantaged communities-already face acute water scarcity, contaminated groundwater, or complete water loss. Climate change would make these effects worse.

CAL-ADAPT
Cal-Adapt has modeled future risk of drought. Recent research suggests that extended drought occurrence ("mega-drought") could become more pervasive in future decades. This tool explores data for two 20-year drought scenarios (using the quad that contains the City of Auburn) derived from LOCA downscaled meteorological and hydrological simulations (Figure 4-45) - one for the earlier part of the 21st century, and one for the latter part:

 The upper chart represents a mid-century dry spell from 2023-2042 identified from the HadGEM2- ES RCP 8.5 simulation. The extended drought scenario is based on the average annual precipitation over 20 years. This average value equates to 78% of historical median annual precipitation averaged over the North Coast and Sierra California Climate Tracker regions.  The lower chart represents a late century dry spell from 2051-2070 identified from the HadGEM2- ES RCP 8.5 simulation. The extended drought scenario is based on the average annual precipitation over 20 years. This average value equates to 78% of historical median annual precipitation averaged over the North Coast and Sierra California Climate Tracker regions.

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Figure 4-45 Tulare County – Future Extended Drought Scenarios

Source: Cal Adapt – Extended Drought Scenarios. Retrieved 12/13/2020

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Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability-High

Drought is different than many of the other natural hazards in that it is not a distinct event and usually has a slow onset. Drought can severely impact a region both physically and economically. Drought affects different sectors in different ways and with varying intensities. Adequate water is the most critical issue for agricultural, manufacturing, tourism, recreation, and commercial and domestic use. As the population in the area continues to grow, so will the demand for water.

Tulare County is located entirely within the Tulare Lake Basin. The Tulare Lake Basin is a closed drainage basin at the south end of the San Joaquin Valley and south of the San Joaquin River watershed which serves drainage to Kern, Tulare, and Buena Vista Lakes.

Groundwater in the Valley portions of Tulare County occurs in an unconfined state throughout areas containing alluvial fans, and in a confined state beneath its western portion. Extensive alluvial fans associated with Kings, Kaweah, and Tule Rivers provide highly permeable areas in which groundwater in the unconfined aquifer system is readily replenished. Interfan areas between the streams contain less permeable surface soils and subsurface deposits, impeding groundwater recharge and causing well yields to be relatively low. The mineral quality of groundwater in Tulare County is generally satisfactory for all its users.

Groundwater overdraft happens most along the western boundary of the County, where there is a lowering of pressure levels in the confined aquifers. There is also a lowering of groundwater levels along the eastern boundary of the Valley basin, particularly in the southerly part of the Kern-Tulare Water District. There are 21 Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) in Tulare County as mandated by the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014.

Surface water supplies for the Tulare Lake Basin include developed supplies from the Central Valley Project (CVP), the State Water Project (SWP), rivers, and local projects. In addition to water from the San Joaquin River, delivered by the Friant-Kern Canal, other significant rivers and streams serving Tulare County are the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, Kern (in the mountain areas only), White River, and Deer Creek.

The predominant water supply system providing service to the foothill and mountain regions of the County are individual systems. Principal among these systems are those which utilize groundwater which is, in most cases, untreated. There are, however, some limited treatment systems, which are typically maintained by a commercial service contract.

Impacts

Based on historical information, the occurrence of drought in California, including Tulare County, is cyclical, driven by weather patterns. Drought has occurred in the past and will occur in the future. Periods of actual drought with adverse impacts can vary in duration, and the period between droughts is often extended. Although an area may be under an extended dry period, determining when it becomes a drought is based on impacts to individual water users. The vulnerability of Tulare County to drought is countywide, but impacts may vary and may include reduction in water supply, agricultural losses, and an increase in dry fuels.

The most significant qualitative impacts associated with drought in the Planning Area are those related to water intensive activities such as agriculture, wildfire protection, municipal usage, commerce, tourism, recreation, and wildlife preservation. Mandatory conservation measures are typically implemented during Tulare County
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extended droughts. Drought conditions can also cause soil to compact and not absorb water well, potentially making an area more susceptible to flooding.

With a reduction in water, water supply issues based on water rights becomes more evident. Some agricultural uses are severely impacted through limited water supply, especially those with livestock. Other impacts include decreased crop yields, impact to feed and forage, altered plant populations and tree mortality.

Drought and water supply issues will continue to be a concern to the Planning Area. The drawdown of the groundwater table is one factor that has been recognized to occur during repeated dry years. Lowering of groundwater levels results in the need to deepen wells, which subsequently lead to increased pumping costs.

These costs are a major consideration for residents relying on domestic wells and agricultural producers that irrigate with groundwater and/or use it for frost protection. Land subsidence can also occur when the groundwater table is depleted.

In addition, the County noted that drought leads to accelerated root intrusion into the sewers which leads to blockages.

DROUGHT IMPACT MONITOR

Drought impacts are wide-reaching and may be economic, environmental, and/or societal. Tracking drought impacts can be difficult. The Drought Impact Reporter from the NDMC is a useful reference tool that compiles reported drought impacts nationwide. Table 4-47 show drought impacts for the Tulare County Planning Area from 1850 to January 2023. The data represented is skewed, with the majority of these impacts from records within the past ten years.

Table 4-47 Tulare County Drought Impacts
Category Number of Impacts
Agriculture 103
Business and Industry 28
Energy 8
Fire 25
Plants and Wildlife 45
Relief, Response, and Restrictions 136
Society and Public Health 101
Tourism and Recreation 17
Water Supply and Quality 159
Source: National Drought Mitigation Center, 01/01/1850-01/01/2023

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CA DWR Impacts

Recently, a 2020 report by CA DWR (titled Small Water Suppliers and Rural Communities at Risk of Drought and Water Shortage Vulnerability and Recommendations and Guidance to Address the Planning Needs of these Communities), sought to quantify the drought and water shortage vulnerability to rural counties, like Tulare County, in the State of California. Included in the draft report is the methodology for developing relative risk assessment scores that show where small water systems rank on an index of drought and water shortage vulnerability and recommendations on drought and water shortage vulnerability for small water systems. It is important to note that the primary benefit of this scoring exercise is to offer local and regionally specific information to assist with drought and water shortage planning.

DWR developed a tool to rate drought and water shortage risk by water provider. To develop the tool, DWR used statewide datasets to estimate risk of drought and water shortage for small water suppliers and rural communities. DWR was only able to calculate relative risk scores for small water systems that had a digital service area boundary, with data available from the Water Board. DWR is working with the Water Board to create a process to obtain service areas boundaries for the remaining small water systems. Table 4-48 was extracted from the Excel table from the report and shows the system GEOIDs in Tulare County that were reviewed and their risk score for drought and water shortage.

Table 4-48 Tulare County – Drought and Water Shortage Risk Factors for Small Water Suppliers
System GEOID Risk
Score
System GEOID Risk
Score
System GEOID Risk
Score
061070003012 99.77 061070022041 67.78 061070001005 50.77 061070002023 97.66 061070038011 67.40 061070003022 50.22 061070002022 87.36 061070002015 66.94 061070029032 50.11 061070039022 87.19 061070015012 66.56 061070038023 49.86 061070033001 85.26 061070001002 66.52 061070011003 49.85 061070043002 84.49 061070008002 66.43 061070032001 49.84 061070006004 83.52 061070035011 65.99 061070017014 49.28 061070002021 83.08 061070003021 65.91 061070036021 49.24 061070039021 81.90 061070024003 65.39 061070003013 48.87 061070034005 81.58 061070039013 65.20 061070016021 47.49 061070008001 80.33 061070016023 65.11 061070013022 47.04 061070043003 79.69 061070034003 65.05 061070038012 46.99 061070045004 79.55 061070014005 65.05 061070007021 46.94 061070027004 78.59 061070017041 64.75 061070032004 46.78 061070028002 77.65 061070020072 64.75 061070044003 46.68 061070027005 77.38 061070009001 64.71 061070004022 46.64 061070026013 76.49 061070037001 63.63 061070013011 46.36 061070039015 76.23 061070008006 62.66 061070032003 45.45 061070039023 75.93 061070013023 62.42 061070044004 45.43 061070025003 75.83 061070034004 61.96 061070013013 45.26 061070045001 75.36 061070009002 61.81 061070024002 45.17 061070005021 75.27 061070021002 61.72 061070030012 44.90 061070014002 74.32 061070039012 61.31 061070010043 44.30 061070041021 73.90 061070031003 61.24 061070013021 44.11 061070021001 73.72 061070020071 60.24 061070032002 44.08 061070032005 73.32 061070020061 60.24 061070010031 43.81 061070007012 73.17 061070035021 60.06 061070030021 43.60 061070042004 72.99 061070043001 60.02 061070024004 43.43 Tulare County
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System GEOID Risk
Score
System GEOID Risk
Score
System GEOID Risk
Score
061070033002 72.49 061070041011 59.95 061070008005 43.31 061070014004 72.29 061070003016 59.53 061070009003 42.94 061070042001 72.28 061070031001 59.46 061070036023 42.47 061070002012 72.14 061070024005 59.28 061070007011 42.02 061070041014 71.93 061070014001 58.56 061070020062 41.86 061070002014 71.91 061070001004 58.26 061070004012 41.75 061070042002 71.20 061070027001 58.18 061070036013 40.92 061070002011 70.95 061070027002 58.07 061070020092 40.53 061070025002 70.94 061070003011 57.29 061070016022 40.49 061070031002 70.83 061070017033 57.14 061070013024 38.94 061070022023 70.32 061070016024 56.48 061070020024 38.57 061070002013 70.19 061070020041 56.41 061070017031 38.49 061070003014 70.16 061070015021 56.35 061070035023 38.31 061070001003 70.08 061070003015 56.00 061070020034 37.33 061070004011 70.00 061070003023 55.43 061070016011 36.41 061070034001 69.92 061070029013 55.04 061070010034 36.25 061070001001 69.86 061070035024 54.79 061070023034 33.77 061070042003 69.45 061070033003 54.41 061070023022 30.00 061070039014 69.28 061070045003 53.44 061070019023 29.65 061070025004 69.15 061070024001 53.33 061070023035 29.29 061070035022 69.10 061070029041 53.05 061070010063 27.31 061070015011 68.87 061070014003 53.00 061070020042 26.56 061070033006 68.86 061070008004 52.71 061070010065 25.56 061070015024 68.75 061070041013 52.57 061070010032 21.79 061070034002 68.60 061070005014 52.45 061070010051 19.14 061070009004 68.19 061070025001 51.31 061070010064 18.32 061070033005 67.85 061070008003 51.14 061070010061 15.42 Source: CNRA, Drought and Water Shortage Risk: Small Suppliers and Rural Communities (2021) Note: It is important to note that the primary benefit of this scoring exercise is to offer local and regionally specific information to assist with drought and water shortage planning. 0 is the lowest risk and 100 is highest risk, compared to other small water suppliers

DROUGHT AND POWER SHORTAGE /PSPS

During periods of drought, vegetation can dry out which increases fire risk. Drought that occurs during periods of extreme heat and high winds can cause PSPS events to be declared in the County. More information on power shortage and failure can be found at the beginning of Section 4.3.

Future Development

Poor water quality is not dissimilar to the risks of drought because the water is still unsafe and unavailable for domestic — including drinking water — purposes. Homes who suffer from contaminated water are vulnerable to water shortage events, which could be costly and resource-intensive for the County to sanitize water from those sources or to provide safe drinking water alternatives. Increased temperatures mean a potential for an increase in water supply demands from customers and those households on their own supply, as well as evapotranspiration (meaning the evaporation or transpiration of water from a surface area to the atmosphere) that would increase the risk of drought and water shortage events on a supplier or user. Water companies will need to continue to plan for and add infrastructure capacity for population growth. Population in the County in the future is expected to increase which increases pressure on water companies during periods of drought and water shortage. Water companies will need to continue to plan for and add infrastructure capacity to replace aging systems and accommodate additional users.

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4.3.11 Earthquake

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth’s outer layer push the sides of the fault together. Stress builds up, and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust and cause the shaking that is felt during an earthquake. Earthquakes can cause structural damage, injury, and loss of life, as well as damage to infrastructure networks, such as water, power, gas, communication, and transportation. Earthquakes may also cause collateral emergencies including dam and levee failures, seiches, hazmat incidents, fires, avalanches, and landslides. The degree of damage depends on many interrelated factors. Among these are: the magnitude, focal depth, distance from the causative fault, source mechanism, duration of shaking, high rock accelerations, type of surface deposits or bedrock, degree of consolidation of surface deposits, presence of high groundwater, topography, and the design, type, and quality of building construction. This section briefly discusses issues related to types of seismic hazards.

Figure 4-46 Earthquake Probability

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Figure 4-47 Earthquake Magnitude

GROUND SHAKING
Ground shaking is motion that occurs as a result of energy released during faulting. The damage or collapse of buildings and other structures caused by ground shaking is among the most serious seismic hazards.

Damage to structures from this vibration, or ground shaking, is caused by the transmission of earthquake vibrations from the ground to the structure. The intensity of shaking and its potential impact on buildings is determined by the physical characteristics of the underlying soil and rock, building materials and workmanship, earthquake magnitude and location of epicenter, and the character and duration of ground motion.

Actual ground breakage generally affects only those buildings directly over or near the fault. Ground shaking generally has a much greater impact over a greater geographical area than ground breakage. The amount of breakage and shaking is a function of earthquake magnitude, type of bedrock, depth, and type of soil, general topography, and groundwater.

SEISMIC STRUCTURAL SAFETY
Older buildings constructed before building codes were established, and even newer buildings constructed before earthquake-resistance provisions were included in the codes, are the most likely to be damaged during an earthquake. Buildings one or two stories high of wood-frame construction are considered to be the most structurally resistant to earthquake damage. Older masonry buildings without seismic reinforcement (unreinforced masonry buildings [URM] and soft story buildings are generally the most susceptible to the type of structural failure that causes injury or death.

The susceptibility of a structure to damage from ground shaking is also related to the underlying foundation material. A foundation of rock or very firm material can intensify short-period motions which affect low- Tulare County
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rise buildings more than tall, flexible ones. A deep layer of water-logged softy alluvium can cushion low- rise buildings, but it can also accentuate the motion in tall buildings. The amplified motion resulting from softer alluvial soils can also severely damage older masonry buildings.

Other potentially dangerous conditions include but are not limited to: building architectural features that are not firmly anchored, such as parapets and cornices; roadways, including column and pile bents and abutments for bridges and overcrossings; and above-ground storage tanks and their mounting devices. Such features could be damaged or destroyed during strong or sustained ground shaking.

LIQUEFACTION POTENTIAL
Liquefaction, which can occur in earthquakes with strong ground shaking, is mostly found in areas with sandy soil or fill and a high-water table located 50 feet or less below the ground surface. Liquefaction can cause damage to property with the ground below structures liquefying making the structure unstable causing sinking or other major structural damage. Evidence of liquefaction may be observed in “sand boils,” which are expulsions of sand and water from below the surface due to increased pressure below the surface.

SETTLEMENT
Settlement can occur in poorly consolidated soils during ground shaking. During Settlement, the soil materials are physically rearranged by the shaking to result in a less stable alignment of the individual minerals. Settlement of sufficient magnitude to cause significant structural damage is normally associated with rapidly deposited alluvial soils or improperly founded or poorly compacted fill. These areas are known to undergo extensive settling with the addition of irrigation water, but evidence due to ground shaking is not available.

OTHER HAZARDS
Earthquakes can also cause seiches, landslides, and dam and levee failures A seiche is a periodic oscillation of a body of water resulting from seismic shaking or other factors that could cause flooding. Earthquakes may cause landslides (discussed in Section 4.3.14), particularly during the wet season, in areas of high water or saturated soils. Finally, earthquakes can cause dams to fail (see Section 4.33.9 Dam Failure).

Location and Extent

California is seismically active because it sits on the boundary between two of the earth’s tectonic plates.

Most of the state – everything east of the San Andreas Fault – is on the North American Plate. The cities of Monterey, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego are on the Pacific Plate, which is constantly moving northwest past the North American Plate. The relative rate of movement is about two inches per year. The San Andreas Fault is considered the boundary between the two plates, although some of the motion is taken up on faults as far away as central Utah.

FAULTS
A fault is defined as “a fracture or fracture zone in the earth’s crust along which there has been displacement of the sides relative to one another.” For the purpose of planning there are two types of faults, active and inactive. Active faults have experienced displacement in historic time, suggesting that future displacement may be expected. Inactive faults show no evidence of movement in recent geologic time, suggesting that these faults are dormant. This does not mean, however, that faults having no evidence of surface displacement within the last 11,000 years are necessarily inactive. For example, the 1975 Oroville earthquake, the 1983 Coalinga earthquake, and the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake occurred on faults not previously recognized as active. Potentially active faults are those that have shown displacement within the last 1.6 million years (Quaternary). An inactive fault shows no evidence of movement in historic (last 200 Tulare County
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years) or geologic time, suggesting that these faults are dormant.

Two types of fault movement represent possible hazards to structures in the immediate vicinity of the fault:
fault creep and sudden fault displacement. Fault creep, a slow movement of one side of a fault relative to the other, can cause cracking and buckling of sidewalks and foundations even without perceptible ground shaking. Sudden fault displacement occurs during an earthquake event and may result in the collapse of buildings or other structures that are found along the fault zone when fault displacement exceeds an inch or two. The only protection against damage caused directly by fault displacement is to prohibit construction in the fault zone.

San Andreas Fault: San Andreas is the longest and most significant fault zone in California. Because of considerable historic earthquake activity, this fault has been designated as active by the State. The large fault collectively accommodates the majority of relative north-south motion between the North American and Pacific plates. The San Andreas Fault is a strike-slip fault that is approximately 684 miles long and approximately 40 miles west of the County boundary. The zone originates at the triple divide off Fort Bragg in the north and terminates near the Salton Sea in the south. It is located within multiple metropolitan areas.

Major earthquakes occurred on the San Andreas Fault in 1857 (Tejon Earthquake, M 7.9) and in 1906 (Great San Francisco Earthquake, M 7.8).

Owens Valley fault zone: The Owens Valley fault zone is located on the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada and is a complex system containing both active and potentially active faults. The right-lateral Owens Valley fault zone in eastern California extends north from Owens Lake to beyond Big Pine. It passes through Lone Pine near the eastern base of the Alabama Hills and follows the floor of Owens Valley northward to the Poverty Hills and continues northwest across Crater Mountain and through Big Pine. The zone is located within Tulare and Inyo Counties and has historically been the source of seismic activity within the County.

The Owens Valley fault is the primary active fault within the zone and has a fault length of 107 kilometers (approximately 75 miles). The last major rupture was approximately M 7.4 and occurred in 1872.

Kern Canyon fault: The Kern Canyon fault runs along the length of Kern Canyon in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. A large portion of the fault runs through the eastern portion of the County. Although the 93-mile-long fault has been considered inactive since the 1930s, recent investigations reveal that the fault has ruptured within the past few thousand years. This discovery, paired with an abundance of low-magnitude earthquakes along the fault, indicates that the fault is active. The Kern Canyon fault is shown as an active fault on the California Geological Survey’s 2010 Fault Activity Map of California.

Clovis fault: The Clovis fault generally runs north to south through Fresno County and through the City of Clovis. This fault is classified as a “potentially active” fault which was active within the last two million years. Although it is located in Fresno County, a strong earthquake on this fault could affect the northern portion of the County. Activity along this fault could potentially generate more seismic activity in the County than the San Andreas or Owens Valley faults. However, lack of historic activity along the fault makes it difficult to assess the maximum earthquake impacts.

The County has not experienced any earthquakes equal to or greater than M 5.5 in recent years. However, several historical earthquakes greater than M 5.5 have occurred within close vicinity of the County. The towns of Tehachapi and Arvin, in Kern County, were hit severely by the July M 7.3 1952 Kern County earthquake. Twelve persons died, many were injured, and $60 million property damage was sustained.

Damage to well-designed structures was slight, but old and poorly built buildings were cracked and many collapsed. Reinforced tunnels with walls 18 inches thick near Bealville were cracked, twisted, and caved in; rails were shifted and bent into S-shaped curves. Near Caliente, reinforced concrete railroad tunnels were demolished. Many aftershocks occurred, three over 6 on the Richter scale. One aftershock on August 22 (magnitude 5.8) centered near Bakersfield. It took two lives and caused extensive damage to many already Tulare County
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weakened buildings. The Kern County earthquake, the largest with an epicenter in California since 1906, originated on the White Wolf Fault.

Table 4-49: Historical Earthquakes of M5.5 or Greater Near the County, 1956–2016 Date Magnitude Location
July 11, 1992 5.7 Eastern Kern County
September 20, 1995 5.6 Ridgecrest–China Lake

Table 4-50: Historical Earthquakes in the County
Date Magnitude Location
May 29, 1915 5.0 Porterville
June 30, 1926 5.7 South Central County
August 2, 2022 2.6 Orange Cove
August 10, 2022 2.0 Sanger

The amount of energy released during an earthquake is usually expressed as a magnitude and is measured directly from the earthquake as recorded on seismographs. An earthquake’s magnitude is expressed in whole numbers and decimals (e.g., 6.8) Seismologists have developed several magnitude scales. One of the first was the Richter Scale, developed in 1932 by the late Dr. Charles F. Richter of the California Institute of Technology. The Richter Magnitude Scale is used to quantify the magnitude or strength of the seismic energy released by an earthquake. Another measure of earthquake severity is intensity. Intensity is an expression of the amount of shaking at any given location on the ground surface (see Table 4-51). Seismic shaking is typically the greatest cause of losses to structures during earthquakes.

Table 4-51 Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale
Intensity Shaking Description/Damage
I Not felt Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions.

II Weak Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings.

III Weak
Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings.

Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.

IV Light
Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At night, some awakened.

Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motor cars rocked noticeably.

V Moderate Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop.

VI Strong Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight.

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Intensity Shaking Description/Damage
VII Very
strong
Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.

VIII Severe
Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures.

Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.

IX Violent
Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse.

Buildings shifted off foundations.

X Extreme Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations. Rails bent.

Figure 4-48 USGS Earthquake Scenario Map

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Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

There have been no disaster declarations in the County related to earthquakes. The County had no USDA disaster declarations.

NCDC Events

Earthquake events are not tracked by the NCDC database.

Probability of Future Events

The USGS has stated that the probability of a M 6.7 earthquake in California within the next 30 years exceeds 99% while the likelihood of an earthquake with a greater than M 7.5 is calculated to be 46%. The fault rupture characteristics such as length, depth and epicentral location cannot be accurately predicted. Ongoing field and laboratory studies suggest the following maximum, likely magnitudes and recurrence intervals for the major faults near the County:
 San Andreas Fault: M 6.8-8.0, recurrence interval varies from under 20 years to over 300 years  Owens Valley fault zone: M 6.5-8.2, recurrence interval likely between 2,000 to 3,000 years  Kern Canyon fault: M 6.0-7.0, recurrence interval unknown  Clovis fault: Magnitude and recurrence interval unknown

USGS Events

The USGS National Earthquake Information Center database contains data on earthquakes in the Tulare County area. Table 4-50 Shows the approximate distances earthquakes can be felt away from the epicenter.

According to the USGS data, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake could be felt up to 90 miles away. The USGS database was searched for magnitude 5.0 earthquake or greater on the Richter Scale approximately 90 miles of Tulare County from 1901-2020. There are 71 events that are detailed in Table 4-53.

Table 4-52 Approximate Relationships between Earthquake Magnitude and Intensity Richter Scale Magnitude Maximum Expected Intensity* Distance Felt (miles)

2.0 - 2.9 I - II 0

3.0 – 3.9 II – III 10

4.0 – 4.9 IV – V 50

5.0 – 5.9 VI – VII 90

6.0 – 6.9 VII – VIII 135

7.0 – 7.9 IX – X 240

8.0 – 8.9 XI – XII 365
*Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale
Source: United State Geological Survey, Earthquake Intensity Zonation and Quaternary Deposits, Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 9093, 1977

Table 4-53 Magnitude 5.0 Earthquakes or Greater Within 90 Miles of Tulare County Date Richter Magnitude Location
6/24/2020 5.8 SE of Lone Pine
6/4/2020 5.5 S of Searles Valley
7/6/2019 5.4 E of Little Lake
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Date Richter Magnitude Location
7/6/2019 7.1 W of Searles Valley
7/5/2019 5.4 W of Searles Valley
7/4/2019 6.4 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
10/3/2009 5.2 NE of Olancha
10/1/2009 5.0 NE of Olancha
9/29/2004 5.0 SSW of Bodfish
9/28/2004 5.0 NW of Parkfield
9/28/2004 6.0 NW of Parkfield
7/17/2001 5.2 SE of Coso Junction
3/7/1998 5.0 SE of Coso Junction
3/6/1998 5.2 SE of Coso Junction
11/27/1996 5.3 SE of Coso Junction
1/7/1996 5.2 N of Ridgecrest
9/20/1995 5.8 NE of Ridgecrest
8/17/1995 5.4 N of Ridgecrest
5/28/1993 5.2 SW of Lamont
7/11/1992 5.7 NW of California City
6/10/1988 5.4 NE of Lebec
2/14/1987 5.3 NE of Coalinga
8/4/1985 5.6 SW of Huron
9/9/1983 5.5 NE of Coalinga
7/25/1983 5.0 NW of Coalinga
7/22/1983 5.4 NW of Coalinga
5/2/1983 5.5 NE of Coalinga
5/2/1983 6.7 NE of Coalinga
10/25/1982 5.4 SW of Three Rocks
10/1/1982 5.1 NE of Inyokern
6/28/1966 5.5 N of Cholame
10/19/1961 5.1 SE of Little Lake
1/28/1961 5.0 NW of Grapevine
5/23/1954 5.4 NW of Grapevine
8/22/1952 5.5 E of Bakersfield
8/7/1952 5.0 NW of Grapevine
7/31/1952 5.6 NW of Tehachapi
7/29/1952 5.2 NE of Lamont
7/29/1952 5.7 N of Lamont
7/25/1952 5.6 N of Tehachapi
7/25/1952 5.6 N of Tehachapi
7/23/1952 5.1 N of Grapevine
7/23/1952 5.5 SE of Arvin
7/23/1952 5.6 NE of Grapevine
7/23/1952 5.1 NE of Arvin
7/23/1952 5.4 SW of Bodfish
7/21/1952 5.2 SE of Arvin
7/21/1952 5.2 SW of Tehachapi
7/21/1952 5.2 NE of Grapevine
7/21/1952 5.2 NW of Grapevine
7/21/1952 5.4 NW of Grapevine
7/21/1952 5.8 NW of Grapevine
7/21/1952 7.5 NW of Grapevine
3/18/1943 5.2 NE of Inyokern
3/15/1943 5.0 NW of Inyokern
3/15/1943 5.4 N of Inyokern
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Date Richter Magnitude Location
3/15/1943 5.2 NE of Inyokern
3/15/1943 6.3 NW of Inyokern
3/15/1943 5.4 NW of Inyokern
6/8/1934 5.8 NW of San Miguel
6/8/1934 5.1 N of San Miguel
11/28/1929 5.5 N of Independence
11/19/1927 5.0 SW of Nipomo
12/27/1926 5.0 NE of Coalinga
6/30/1926 5.0 SW of Posey
8/18/1922 5.0 NE of Shandon
3/19/1922 5.0 NE of Shandon
2/16/1919 5.0 SW of Mettler
5/29/1915 5.0 S of Springville
1/6/1905 5.0 SW of Bodfish
3/3/1901 6.4 NW of Parkfield
Source: USGS

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Figure 4-49 Major Historical Earthquakes in California from 1769 to 2000

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Figure 4-50 Maximum Expectable Earthquake Intensity – 2% Chance in 50 Years

In 2014, the USGS and the California Geological Survey (CGS) released the time-dependent version of the Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF III) model. The UCERF III results have helped to reduce the uncertainty in estimated 30-year probabilities of strong ground motions in California. The UCERF map is shown in Figure 4-51 and indicates that Tulare County has a low to moderate risk of earthquake occurrence, which coincides with the likelihood of future occurrence rating of occasional.

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Figure 4-51 Probability of Earthquake Magnitudes Occurring in 30 Year Time Frame

Source: United States Geological Survey Open File Report 2015-3009

Climate Change and Earthquake

Climate changes is unlikely to increase earthquake frequency or strength.

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – Medium

Earthquake vulnerability is primarily based on population and the built environment. Urban areas in high seismic hazard zones are the most vulnerable, while uninhabited areas are less vulnerable. The primary impacts of concern are life safety and property damage. Although several faults are within and near the County, seismic hazard mapping indicates that the County has low to moderate seismic hazard potential.

Additionally, the County is not located within a delineated Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone. The risks associated with earthquakes, such as surface fault rupture, within the County are considered low.

Seismic events can have particularly negative effects on older buildings constructed of URM, including materials such as brick, concrete and stone. The Uniform Building Code (UBC) identifies four seismic zones in the United States. The zones are numbered one through four, with Zone 4 representing the highest level Tulare County
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of seismic hazard. The UBC establishes more stringent construction standards for areas within Zones 3 and

4. All of California lies within either Zone 3 or Zone 4. Tulare County is within the less hazardous Zone 3.

Impacts

Impacts to the County would include damages to infrastructure (roads, bridges, railroad tracks, etc.), damages and loss of services to utilities and critical infrastructure, damages to residential and commercial buildings, and possible loss of life and injuries. Earthquakes, though rare in Tulare County, can strike without warning and cause dramatic changes to the landscape of an area that can have devasting impacts on the built environment, on agricultural production, and the environment.

Probability of Future Events

The USGS has stated that the probability of a M 6.7 earthquake in California within the next 30 years exceeds 99% while the likelihood of an earthquake with a greater than M 7.5 is calculated to be 46%. The fault rupture characteristics such as length, depth and epicentral location cannot be accurately predicted. Ongoing field and laboratory studies suggest the following maximum, likely magnitudes and recurrence intervals for the major faults near the County:
 San Andreas Fault: M 6.8-8.0, recurrence interval varies from under 20 years to over 300 years  Owens Valley fault zone: M 6.5-8.2, recurrence interval likely between 2,000 to 3,000 years  Kern Canyon fault: M 6.0-7.0, recurrence interval unknown  Clovis fault: Magnitude and recurrence interval unknown

Flood: 1%/0.5%/0.2% Annual Chance

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

Flooding is the rising and overflowing of a body of water onto normally dry land. Floods are among the costliest natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss nationwide. The Tulare County Planning Area is susceptible to various types of flood events as described below.

 Riverine flooding – Riverine flooding, defined as when a watercourse exceeds its “bank-full” capacity, generally occurs as a result of prolonged rainfall, or rainfall that is combined with already saturated soils from previous rain events. This type of flood occurs in river systems whose tributaries may drain large geographic areas and include one or more independent river basins. The onset and duration of riverine floods may vary from a few hours to many days. Factors that directly affect the amount of flood runoff include precipitation amount, intensity and distribution, the amount of soil moisture, seasonal variation in vegetation, snow depth, and water-resistance of the surface due to urbanization. In the Tulare County Planning Area, riverine flooding is largely caused by heavy and continued rains, sometimes combined with snowmelt, and heavy flow from tributary streams. These intense storms can overwhelm the local waterways as well as the integrity of flood control structures. The warning time associated with slow rise floods assists in life and property protection.

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 Flash flooding – Flash flooding describes localized floods of great volume and short duration. This type of flood usually results from a heavy rainfall on a relatively small drainage area. Precipitation of this sort usually occurs in the winter and spring. Flash floods often require immediate evacuation within the hour and thus early threat identification and warning is critical for saving lives.  Localized/Stormwater flooding – Localized flooding problems are often caused by flash flooding, severe weather, or an unusual amount of rainfall. Flooding from these intense weather events usually occurs in areas experiencing an increase in runoff from impervious surfaces associated with development and urbanization as well as inadequate storm drainage systems. More on localized flooding can be found in Section 4.3.12.
 Shallow flooding – occurs in the valley of the County. Shallow flooding may consist of sheet flow or ponding and generally occurs in flat areas where a lack of channels prevents water from draining away easily. Sheet flow occurs where there are inadequate or no defined channels. Floodwaters spread over a large area at a uniform depth after an intense or prolonged rainfall during which surface soils reach saturation. Ponding occurs in some flat areas when runoff collects in depressions and cannot drain out. The floodwaters remaining form a temporary pond until they infiltrate into the soil, evaporate, or are pumped out.
 Dam failure flooding – Flooding from failure of one or more upstream dams is also a concern to the Tulare County Planning Area. A catastrophic dam failure could easily overwhelm local response capabilities and require mass evacuations to save lives. Residents could be displaced for an extended period of time. Impacts to life safety will depend on the warning time and the resources available to notify and evacuate the public. Major loss of life could result, and there could be injuries and associated health concerns. Dam failure is further addressed in Section 4.3.9 Dam Failure.

STREAMBANK EROSION
In addition to the damages to people and property from the above flooding issues, there can be issues along Tulare County’s waterways related to streambank erosion. Stream bank erosion is a natural process, but acceleration of this natural process, such as during high water or flood events, leads to a disproportionate sediment supply, stream channel instability, land loss, habitat loss and other adverse effects. Stream bank erosion processes, although complex, are driven by two major components: stream bank characteristics (erodibility) and hydraulic/gravitational forces. Many land use activities can affect both of these components and lead to accelerated bank erosion. The vegetation rooting characteristics can protect banks from fluvial entrainment and collapse, and also provide internal bank strength. When riparian vegetation is changed from woody species to annual grasses and/or forbs, the internal strength is weakened, causing acceleration of mass wasting processes. Stream bank aggradation or degradation is often a response to stream channel instability.

Since bank erosion is often a symptom of a larger, more complex problem, the long-term solutions often involve much more than just bank stabilization. Numerous studies have demonstrated that stream bank erosion contributes a large portion of the annual sediment yield.

Determining the cause of accelerated streambank erosion is the first step in solving the problem. When a stream is straightened or widened, streambank erosion increases. Accelerated streambank erosion is part of the process as the stream seeks to re-establish a stable size and pattern. Damaging or removing streamside vegetation to the point where it no longer provides for bank stability can cause a dramatic increase in bank erosion. A degrading streambed results in higher and often unstable, eroding banks. When land use changes occur in a watershed, such as clearing land for agriculture or development, runoff increases. With this increase in runoff the stream channel will adjust to accommodate the additional flow, increasing streambank erosion. Addressing the problem of streambank erosion requires an understanding of both stream dynamics and the management of streamside vegetation.

Erosion and deposition are occurring continually at varying rates over the Planning Area. Swiftly moving floodwaters cause rapid local erosion as the water carries away earth materials Severe erosion removes the earth from beneath bridges, roads and foundations of structures adjacent to streams. By undercutting it can Tulare County
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lead to increased rockfall and landslide hazard. The deposition of material can block culverts, aggravate flooding, destroy crops and lawns by burying them, and reduce the capacity of water reservoirs as the deposited materials displace water.

Streambank erosion increases the sediment that a stream must carry, results in the loss of fertile bottomland and causes a decline in the quality of habitat on land and in the stream. High velocity flows can erode material from the streambank. Erosion can occur at once or over time as a function of the storm cycle and the scale of the peak storms.

Erosion may also occur on the outboard or waterside of the few levees (see Section 4.2.13) in the Planning Area, which may lead to instability and failure There have been a few incidents in the past related to flood due to the failure of levees such as near Cottonwood Creek or Tule River levee. As with any levee, there is always a potential for failure.

Location and Extent

Tulare County encompasses multiple rivers, streams, creeks, and associated watersheds. The County is situated in a region that dramatically drops in elevation from the eastern portion (Sierra Nevada) to the western portion, where excess rain on snow can contribute to downstream flooding. Damaging floods in Tulare County occur primarily in the developed areas of the County extending westward from Colfax to Sacramento and Sutter Counties. Flood flows generally follow defined stream channels, drainages, and watersheds. Because flows within many of the creeks and rivers within Tulare County can vary substantially from one another, the estimate for the average depth of the 100-year floodplain also varies and ranges anywhere from 1 foot to as high as 15 to 20 feet depending on numerous criteria.

Various flood protection measures are either in place or planned to protect Tulare County from future flood events. Existing flood protection measures include a comprehensive system of dams, levees, overflow weirs, pumping plants, channel improvements, floodway bypasses, detention and retention structures, and other improvements. In addition, both the Tulare County Flood Control and Water Conservation District maintain a system of ALERT Flood Warning gages, including multiple precipitation gages and stream level gages located throughout western Tulare County that provide real time monitoring information on current flood conditions.

Historically, drainage and stormwater runoff, in addition to natural and manmade waterways, all contribute to potential flooding in the Tulare County Planning Area.

Major Sources of Flooding

California has 10 hydrologic regions. Located in California's southern San Joaquin Valley, the Tulare Basin encompasses portions of Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties. More than 16 rivers and creeks flow from surrounding mountains into the Basin’s small lakes and wetlands, which once comprised the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, the historic Tulare Lake. The watershed is bounded on the north by the San Joaquin River, on the west by the crest of the Inner Coast Range, on the east by the crest of the Sierra Nevada, and on the south by the crest of the Tehachapi range. This watershed is approximately 134 miles east to west, 163 miles north to south, covers almost 22,000 square miles, and ranges in elevation from 163 feet above sea level at Mendota Pool to 14,505 feet on the summit of Mt. Whitney (Tulare Basin Watershed Partnership). A map of the California’s hydrological regions is provided in Figure 4-52.

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Figure 4-52 California Hydrologic Regions

Source: 2018 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Tulare County Waterway System

Tulare County encompasses multiple rivers, streams, creeks, and associated watersheds. The County is situated in a region that dramatically drops in elevation from the eastern portion (Sierra Nevada) to the western portion, where excess rain on snow can contribute to downstream flooding. Damaging floods in Tulare County occur primarily in the developed areas of the county. Flood flows generally follow defined stream channels, drainages, and watersheds.

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Tulare County is entirely encompassed by the Tulare Lake Hydrologic Region. Of the ten watersheds, there are three main areas that are the primary source of flooding within the County. These include the following watersheds as further described in the following paragraphs:

 Tule River
 Kaweah River
 Kings River

Figure 4-53 Watersheds of Tulare County

TULE RIVER AREA .

The Tule River Area surrounds the 71.4-mile Tule River in Tulare County, California. There is a North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork, all of which begin in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument. Each of the forks come together at Lake Success before exiting into the Central Valley as Tule River. The North Fork is 18.9 miles long and while traveling southwest is joined by Backbone Creek and Kramer Creek. river turns southeast at Milo and parallels the Springville-Milo Road. Sycamore and Whitney Creeks join the river from the east and west, respectively, before it meets the Middle Fork at Springville. The 6.9-mile-long Middle Fork is formed by the confluence of the short South Fork Middle Fork Tule River and the North Fork Middle Fork Tule River. The South Fork flows northwest and west, paralleling California State Route 190, from its headwaters near Camp Nelson.

The larger North Fork flows south from inside Sequoia National Park, plunges over North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Tule River Falls, and flows southwest to join the South Fork. After the confluence of the North and South forks, the Middle Fork Tule River flows south and southwest, parallel to State Route 190, to join the North Fork and form the Tule River. The South Fork is 27.8 miles long and is formed by Blue Creek, Rocky Creek, Pigeon Creek, and Bond Creek. The river then turns from west-southwest to northwest and proceeds to receive both Long Branch Creek and Crew Creek from the left and right respectively. From the Tulare County
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confluence, the Tule River flows about 10 more miles before entering Lake Success, before emptying into the lake, Campbell Creek from the north, and Graham Creek from the east join the stream. The South Fork of the Tule River joins the river in Lake Success. The river then exits the Success Dam and flows west into Porterville and continues west to the former bed of Tulare Lake. It passes the cities of Tipton and Corcoran, and splits into various channels, eventually disappearing into multiple agricultural irrigation and drainage channels. The river ends approximately 9 miles east-northeast of Kettleman City in Kings County at a junction with a canal carrying water from the Kings River.

The 1966 and 1969 floods are the most severe events to have occurred in the study area since completion of major flood protection facilities on the Kaweah and Tule Rivers. The December 1966 flood inundated areas near Three Rivers, Springville, and the City of Lindsay, and caused significant flooding along Cottonwood Creek, Yokohl Creek, Tule River, Deer Creek, Fountain Springs Gulch, and in the southwest comer of the county. Most of the area flooded was agricultural land; only small amounts of scattered urban flooding occurred. Primary damage from the December 1966 flood was estimated at $21.4 million (USACE, 1967).

Prior to the completion of Success Dam by the USACE in 1961, Tule River was the primary cause of flooding in the City of Porterville. The three largest recorded rain floods to take place before construction of the dam occurred in March 1943, November 1950, and December 1955. These floods caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, levees, and irrigation structures below the Success Dam site, contributed to damage in the Tulare lakebed area, and resulted in flood damage to the Porterville urban area (USACE, 1982). In the years during which Success Dam has been operated for flood control, all Tule River floodflows downstream of the dam have been confined to the channel. Notable peak discharges during this period occurred in December 1966, January 1969, and February 1978. The most severe flood of record on Tule River occurred in December 1966 with an approximate recurrence interval of 120 years. The peak inflow at Success Reservoir was 61,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Peak outflow was 8,300 cfs. The reservoir was overtopped during the time of peak outflow. Success Dam controls I-percent annual chance flooding but does not totally contain it (FIS Report 2009).

KAWEAH RIVER AREA .

The Kaweah River is a river draining the southern Sierra Nevada in Tulare County, California in the United States. Fed primarily by high elevation snowmelt along the Great Western Divide, the Kaweah begins as four forks in Sequoia National Park. It flows in a southwest direction to Lake Kaweah – the only major reservoir on the river – and into the San Joaquin Valley, where it diverges into multiple channels across an alluvial plain around Visalia. With its Middle Fork headwaters starting at almost 13,000 feet (4,000 m) above sea level, the river has a vertical drop of nearly two and a half miles on its short run to the San Joaquin Valley, making it one of the steepest river drainages in the United States.  Although the main stem of the Kaweah is only 33.6 miles long, its total is almost 100 miles. The lower course of the river and its many distributaries – including the St. John's River and Mill Creek – form the Kaweah Delta, a productive agricultural region spanning more than 300,000 acres. Before the diversion of its waters for irrigation, the river flowed into Tulare Lake, the now dry terminal sink of a large endorheic basin in the southern San Joaquin Valley, also fed by the Kern and Tule Rivers and southern branches of the Kings River.

Flooding throughout the Kaweah River distributary network, of which Elk Bayou and Tulare Main Canal are a part, has been reduced significantly by Terminus Dam, which is operated for flood control by the USACE. As an example of its success, the peak inflow to Terminus Reservoir during the 1969 flood was 35,600 cfs, whereas the maximum release was 4,342 cfs (USACE, 1970). In determining allowable safe releases from the dam into the Kaweah River distributary network, Elk Bayou was assumed to have a safe capacity of 400 cfs (USACE, 1971). This value is well below the full channel capacity of Elk Bayou in the City of Tulare study area. Terminus Dam does not entirely contain I-percent annual chance flooding but does control it (FIS, 2009).

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KINGS RIVER AREA .

The 44-mile South Fork is the longest tributary of the Kings River, originating on the Sierra Crest at the far eastern edge of Kings Canyon National Park. The Middle Fork flows for 37 miles through some of the park's most difficult-to-access backcountry, and converges with the South Fork at an elevation of 2,257 feet in the Monarch Wilderness just outside of the national park. The Kings River is the largest river draining the southern Sierra Nevada. Its average annual flow of 1,791,000 acre-feet makes it larger than the Kern, Kaweah and Tule Rivers combined. Before the construction of Pine Flat Dam in 1954, the Kings River reached monthly averages as high as 12,000 to 14,000 cubic feet per second (340 to 400 m3/s) in May and June where it flows into the San Joaquin Valley and averaged as low as 100 to 200 cubic feet per second (2.8 to 5.7 m3/s) in the driest months of September and October.

The flood of December 1955 caused a peak inflow to Pine Flat Reservoir of 112,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), the largest discharge on Kings River in this century. It resulted in serious flooding in several valley floor communities and caused extensive damage to streets, bridges, and agricultural land (USACE, 1972).

Although Kings River flows within 5 miles of the City of Dinuba, it has historically posted no direct threat to the city. However, it may affect the amount of water flowing in Alta East Branch Canal, which in turn affects flooding in the City of Dinuba. In addition, there is no historical evidence of breaching or overtopping of Friant-Kern Canal in the vicinity of the City of Dinuba, and thus it is assumed to pose no threat to the city with respect to floods with I -percent annual chance recurrence intervals (FIS, 2009).

Floodplains

The area adjacent to a channel is the floodplain (see Figure 4-51). Floodplains are illustrated on inundation maps, which show areas of potential flooding and water depths. In its common usage, the floodplain most often refers to that area that is inundated by the 1% annual chance (or 100-year) flood, the flood that has a one percent chance in any given year of being equaled or exceeded. The 1% annual chance flood is the national minimum standard to which communities regulate their floodplains through the National Flood Insurance Program. The 200-year flood is the flood that has a 0.5% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 500-year flood is the flood that has a 0.2% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The potential for flooding can change and increase through various land use changes and changes to land surface, which result in a change to the floodplain. A change in environment can create localized flooding problems inside and outside of natural floodplains by altering or confining natural drainage channels. These changes are most often created by human activity.

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Figure 4-54 Floodplain Schematic

Source: FEMA

According to the 2009 Flood Insurance Study for Tulare County, general rain floods can occur in the study area anytime during the period from November through April. This type of flood results from prolonged heavy rainfall and is characterized by high peak flows of moderate duration and by a large volume of runoff.

Flooding is more severe when antecedent rainfall has resulted in saturated ground conditions. The severity of flooding on all the streams studied is intensified by backwater conditions between stream systems.

Floodwater elevations are increased in the lower portions of tributary streams due to the backwater effect from main streams reducing hydraulic gradients and flow-storage areas. During this time there will be a high degree of coincidental l-percent-annual-chance flood flows on all the study area waterways.

Tulare County Flood Mapping
As part of the County’s ongoing efforts to identify and manage their flood prone areas, Tulare County relies on a variety of different mapping efforts. What follows is a brief description of FEMA and DWR mapping efforts covering the Tulare County Planning Area.

FEMA FLOODPLAIN MAPPING
FEMA established standards for floodplain mapping studies as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP makes flood insurance available to property owners in participating communities adopting FEMA-approved local floodplain studies, maps, and regulations. Floodplain studies that may be approved by FEMA include federally funded studies; studies developed by state, city, and regional public agencies; and technical studies generated by private interests as part of property annexation and land development efforts. Such studies may include entire stream reaches or limited stream sections depending on the nature and scope of a study. The FEMA floodplain are lands subject to the 1% annual chance (100- year) flood. FEMA mapping also includes areas subject to the .02% annual chance (500-year) flood. The State Senate Bill 5 (SB5) required all communities to map their communities. SB5 requires levee protection in urban areas to a 200-year (or 0.5% annual chance flood. A general overview of floodplain mapping is provided in the following paragraphs.

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FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS)
The FIS develops flood-risk data for various areas of the community that will be used to establish flood insurance rates and to assist the community in its efforts to promote sound floodplain management. The current Tulare County FIS is dated June 16, 2009. This study covers both the unincorporated and incorporated areas of the County.

FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
The FIRM is designed for flood insurance and floodplain management applications. For flood insurance, the FIRM designates flood insurance rate zones to assign premium rates for flood insurance policies. For floodplain management, the FIRM delineates 1% and 0.2% annual chancer floodplains, floodways, and the locations of selected cross sections used in the hydraulic analysis and local floodplain regulation.

LETTER OF MAP REVISION (LOMR) AND MAP AMENDMENT (LOMA) LOMRs and LOMAs represent separate floodplain studies dealing with individual properties or limited stream segments that update the FIS and FIRM data between periodic FEMA publications of the FIS and FIRM. They may also be called LOMCs (Letters of Map Change).

DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPS (DFIRM)
As part of its Map Modernization program, FEMA is converting paper FIRMS to digital FIRMs, DFIRMS.

These digital maps:
 Incorporate the latest updates (LOMRs and LOMAs);
 Utilize community supplied data;
 Verify the currency of the floodplains and refit them to community supplied base maps;  Incorporate levee accreditation status in accordance with FEMA requirements at 44 CFR 65.10;  Upgrade the FIRMs to a GIS database format to set the stage for future updates and to enable support for GIS analyses and other digital applications; and
 Solicit community participation.
 The DFIRMs that are being used for the flood analysis for this LHMP Update are shown on Figure 4-52, 4-53, 4-54, 4-55, 4-56, 4-57, 4-58, and Figure 5-59,

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Figure 4-55 Tulare County – DFIRM Flood Zones

Figure 4-56 Dinuba – DFIRM Flood Zones

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Figure 4-57 Farmersville – DFIRM Flood Zones

Figure 4-58 Lindsay – DFIRM Flood Zones

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Figure 4-59 Porterville – DFIRM Flood Zones

Figure 4-60 Tulare – DFIRM Flood Zones

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Figure 4-61 Visalia – DFIRM Flood Zones

Figure 4-62 Woodlake – DFIRM Flood Zones

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California Floodplain Mapping

Also to be considered when evaluating the flood risks in Tulare County are various floodplain maps developed by the California DWR for various areas throughout California, and in the San Joaquin Valley cities and counties. The FEMA regulatory maps provide just one perspective on flood risks in Tulare County. Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) enacted in 2007, authorized Cal-DWR to develop the Best Available Maps (BAM) displaying 1% and 0.5% (200-year) annual chance floodplains for areas located within the San Joaquin Valley watershed. This effort was completed by DWR in 2008. DWR has expanded the BAM to cover all counties in the State and to include 0.2% annual chance flood zones.

Different than the FEMA DFIRMs which have been prepared to support the NFIP and generally reflect only the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood risks, the BAMs are provided for informational purposes and are intended to reflect current 1%, 0.5% (200-year) as applicable, and 0.2% annual chance flood risks using the best available data. The 100-year floodplain limits on the BAM are a composite of multiple 1% annual chance floodplain mapping sources. It is intended to show all currently identified areas at risk for a 100- year flood event, including FEMA’s 1% annual chance flood zones. The BAM are comprised of different engineering studies performed by FEMA, Corps, and DWR for assessment of potential 1%, 0.5%, and 0.2% annual chance floodplain areas. These studies are used for different planning and/or regulatory applications, and for each flood frequency may use varied analytical and quality control criteria depending on the study type requirements.

The value in the BAMs is that they provide a bigger picture view of potential flood risk to the County than that provided in the FEMA DFIRMs. This provides the community and residents with an additional tool for understanding potential flood hazards not currently mapped as a regulated floodplain. Improved awareness of flood risk can reduce exposure to flooding for new structures and promote increased protection for existing development. Informed land use planning will also assist in identifying levee maintenance needs and levels of protection. By including the FEMA 1% annual chance flood zone, it also supports identification of the need and requirement for flood insurance. Figure 4-63 shows the BAM for the Tulare County Planning Area.

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Figure 4-63 Tulare County– Flood Awareness (Best Available) Map

Source: California DWR, Retrieved 11/30/2022
Legend explanation: Blue - FEMA 1%, Orange – Local 1% (developed from local agencies), Red – DWR 1%r (Awareness floodplains identify the 1% annual chance flood hazard areas using approximate assessment procedures.), Pink – USACE 1% (2002 Sac and San Joaquin River Basins Comp Study), Yellow – USACE 0.5% (2002 Sac and San Joaquin River Basins Comp Study), Tan – FEMA 0.2%, Grey – Local 0.2% (developed from local agencies), Purple – USACE 0.2%(2002 Sac and San Joaquin River Basins Comp Study).

Flood extents are usually measured in depths of flooding, geographical extent of the floodplain, as well as flood zones that a location falls in (i.e. 1% or 0.2% annual chance flood). Expected flood depths in the County vary and are not well defined. Flood durations in the County tend to be short to medium term, or until either the storm drainage system can catch up or flood waters move downstream.

Stream bank erosion occurs on rivers, streams, and other moving waterways, including leveed areas, in the County Planning Area. The speed of onset of this erosion is slow, as the erosion takes place over periods of years. Duration of erosion is extended. Greater erosion occurs during periods of high stream flow and during storm and wind events when wave action contributes to the extent and speed of streambank erosion.

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

A list of state and federal disaster declarations for Tulare County from flooding, (including heavy rains and storms) is shown on Table 4-54. No disasters were related to streambank erosion.

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Table 4-54 Tulare County – State and Federal Disaster Declaration from Flood 1950-2020 Disaster Type State Declarations Federal Declarations
Count Years Count Years
Flood
(including
heavy rains
and storms
16 1950, 1955, 1958 (twice),
1962, 1963, 1969, 1973,
1980, 1983, 1986, 1995
(twice), 1997, 2008, 2017
13 1955, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1969,
1983, 1986, 1995 (twice),
1997, 2006 (twice), 2017
Source: Cal OES, FEMA

Summary of Historical Floods

Northwestern Tulare County is known to have a long history of flooding. Records show that great floods occurred in this area in January 1862, December 1867, and February 1893. These floods were the largest known to have occurred prior to 1900. During that period, rain-floods also occurred in 1875, 1879, and 1890.

Snowmelt flooding occurred in 1906, and rain floods larger than any since the turn of the century occurred in 1914 and 1916. A major flood that occurred in December 1937 was larger than either the 1914 or 1916 flood. Small but damaging floods occurred in northwestern Tulare County in November 1950, December 1955- January 1956, December 1966, and January-February 1969, and snowmelt flooding occurred in the Kaweah River Basin in 1967 and 1969. In general, the December 1955-January 1956 flood was the largest and mos6t damaging rain flood known to have occurred in Tulare County since the turn of the century and prior to completion of Terminus Dam.

NCDC Events

The NCDC tracks flooding events for the County. Events have been tracked for flooding since 1997. Table 4-55 shows events in Tulare County since 1997. Other heavy rain and storm events can be found in the Past Occurrences of the Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms in Section 4.3.3. The NCDC does not track streambank erosion.

Table 4-55 NCDC Flood Events in Tulare County 1993 to 7/31/2020* Event Type Number of
Events
Deaths Injuries Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Deaths
(Indirect)
Injuries
(Indirect)
Flash Flood 3 0 0 435,000 0.00 0 0
Flood 5 0 0 4,550,000 0.00 0 0
Heavy Rain 1 0 0 13,900,000 1,500,000 0 0
Total 9 0 0 18,885,000 1,500,000 0 0
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals for all impacted areas, much of which fell outside of Tulare County Tulare County
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Table 4-56 Flood Claims 2017-2022 Tulare County

Evaluation
Date
Department Name Claim
Number
Claim Suffix Multiple
Occurrence
Flag
First Name Last Name Claim Type Coverage
Type
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency
Roads
20200000058 L N Teviston
Community
Services District
General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Solid Waste Management 20200000081 L N Moises Beltran General Liability GL 3/31/2022 General Services 20160000175 L N Keith Wilson General Liability GL 3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 009 N Laura Huckaby General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 010 N Zenaida Wiltse General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 006 N Jaime Juarez General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 003 N Keith Presley General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency
Roads
20160000067 L N Patty Miller General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 004 N Gary Harrison General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 L N Jose Romero General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 007 N Jessica Ruiz General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 008 N Antonio Hernandez General Liability GL 3/31/2022 General Services 20190000187 L N Diana Mendez General Liability GL 3/31/2022 General Services 20160000174 L N Abhay Doshi General Liability GL 3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 005 N James McElrea General Liability GL
3/31/2022 Resource Management Agency -
Flood Control
20180000086 002 N Virginia Duran General Liability GL
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Cause of Loss Code Claim Loss Desc Date of Loss Examiner Code
Date
Reported
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Broken Pipe Claim alleges that field crew workers damaged the district's water line at Rd. 136 & Ave. 84, Pixley. County Supervisor Ernie Sauceda was with crew when they accidentally damaged main line which was fixed by their system operator in the area.
02/16/2021 rfisher 03/30/2021
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Broken Pipe Claimant alleges that he was sprayed with water at the Visalia landfill that damaged his phone.
06/11/2021 rfisher 06/28/2021
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Failed Levee/Dam On June 23, 2017 a breach in the River Bank at Kings River Park flooded their commercial farm location of 85 acres causing property damage and loss of production of marketable table grapes and almond orchard. 06/23/2017 randerson 09/11/2017
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other Property owner alleges that the County of Tulare is responsible for excessive water runoff and flooding, erosion of her private roadway, residence, and buildings below due to unmaintained, clogged culverts.
01/07/2017 randerson 02/16/2017
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other Claimant states that on May 18, 2020 water intrusion in her office led to damage of her academic degree frames and matting.
05/18/2020 jvarela 07/07/2020
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other Building owner states County custodial services responsible for water loss and damage costs $8,430 at leased location (Farmersville Health Center) due to leaving open faucet unattended while water lines being worked on.

Flooding occurred overnight after water restored.
06/16/2017 randerson 09/01/2017
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
BI & PD: Flooding/Water Damage - Other There was a leak in the plug at the Friant Water Canal in Strathmore, which caused a flood in the area. Residents were ordered to evacuate. 03/08/2019 EALANIS 05/06/2019
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Date Closed Status Initial
Demand
Personal
Injury
Incurred
Property
Damage
Incurred
Litigation
Incurred
Expense
Incurred
Non-
Reimbursabl
e Incurred
Total
Incurred
06/16/2021 CL 971.56 0.00 971.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 971.56
01/11/2022 CL 290.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
11/13/2018 CL 137,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,221.70 3,221.70 10/30/2019 CL 2,500.00 0.00 1,616.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,616.00 12/03/2019 CL 625.00 0.00 625.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 625.00
05/23/2019 CL 3,375.00 0.00 800.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 800.00 05/22/2019 CL 4,349.28 0.00 2,665.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,665.00 11/27/2019 CL 400,000.00 0.00 100,000.00 0.00 6,707.96 20,162.90 126,870.86 05/24/2019 CL 9,994.00 0.00 2,396.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,396.00 12/03/2019 CL 7,950.00 0.00 3,264.00 0.00 22,027.44 1,535.10 26,826.54 05/24/2019 CL 2,400.00 0.00 1,365.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,365.00 10/14/2019 CL 1,900.00 0.00 1,437.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,437.00 08/18/2020 CL 394.01 0.00 394.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 394.01
12/08/2017 CL 8,430.00 0.00 8,430.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 8,430.00 05/24/2019 CL 5,317.13 0.00 2,147.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,147.00 06/21/2019 CL 4,820.00 0.00 3,500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,500.00 Tulare County
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FIS Events

The FIS contained the following past occurrences of flood.

 Deep Creek and Lewis Creek – The flood of 1969 in January was said to be the worst of its kind in recent history according to local accounts, and both the City of Farmersville and the City of Lindsay were affected. There were depths of up to 3 feet of ponded water behind the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. Lindsay had similar flooding levels in the northeastern portion, but most other flooded areas had a depth of approximately 1 foot or less.  Tule River – The December 1966, January 1969, and February 1978 floods were the recorded peak discharges for the river after the Success Dam was built. The most severe flood of record on Tule River occurred in December 1966 with an approximate recurrence interval of 120 years. The peak inflow at Success Reservoir was 61,000 cfs. Peak outflow was 8,300 cfs. The reservoir was overtopped during the time of peak outflow. Success Dam controls I-percent annual chance flooding but does not totally contain it.
 Elk Bayou – Does not have a lot of information available regarding floods, but from local accounts we are able to gage the most common flood areas, which is mostly confined to the municipal airport area. Elk Bayou is part of the extensive Kaweah River distributary network, and as such, under normal flow conditions receives most of its inflow from Outside Creek. However, during flooding conditions, Elk Bayou receives a significant amount of inflow from Lewis Creek and may, during extremely rare flood events, be affected by Tule River overflows.  Lewis Hill and Rocky Hill – Runoff from the local watershed often resulted in shallow flooding in the northern and eastern Porterville Urban Area (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1971). Local accounts indicated that the shallow flooding problem became significant only after Tule River changed its course sometime in the late 1800s. The original channel was located to the north of Porter Slough, and runoff from the foothill areas drained almost directly into the river. With the channel in the present location, runoff from the local watershed is detained in the city by streets, railroad embankments, and other obstructions, resulting in frequent flooding of streets and property. Shallow flooding from local runoff is caused by high-intensity localized rainfall, such as the 5.55 inches of precipitation which occurred over a 5-day period in December 1966.  St. Johns River, Kaweah River, and McKays Point – There have been several major floods in the recent history in the vicinity of the City of Visalia. These occurred in November 1950, December 1955, December 1966, and January 1969. The December 1955 flood resulted in an estimated peak discharge at McKays Point of 87,000 cfs, the largest peak runoff from the Kaweah River watershed in this century; the recurrence interval of this event was approximately 150 years. Both the 1950 and 1955 floods caused shallow flooding in the City of Visalia (less than 3 feet), but contributed to extensive damage to streets, bridges, structures, and agricultural property. In the past, the major sources of flooding in the City of Visalia have been the St. Johns River and the Kaweah River and its distributaries. However, the presence of Terminus Dam has reduced the flooding potential of these watercourses, as evidenced by the fact that the 1966 and 1969 floods caused minimal flooding from these sources in the City of Visalia. The peak flow at McKays Point for the 1966 flood was 15,600 cfs, and for the 1969 flood was 6,800 cfs.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events

Historically, Tulare County has a long history of flooding along its major rivers: the Kings, Kaweah, and Tule Rivers. Major flood protection facilities were completed on the Kaweah and Tule rivers, and since their completion, the most-severe flooding events, as described below, occurred in 1966 and 1969. Recent improvements to raise the elevation of the spillway at the Terminus Dam and planned improvements to the Tulare County
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Success Dam will help to minimize future flood risk. Flooding has also occurred on the White River a small waterway contained wholly in the County. Watercourses in the County originate in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and foothills and flow in a westerly or southwesterly direction across the valley floor. The County has two primary stream systems which drain the mountainous portions: the Kaweah River and Tule River. When the two rivers reach the valley floor, they form distributary systems. The Kaweah River distributary system contributes primarily to flooding in the cities of Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake, Farmersville, and unincorporated areas of the County. The Tule River flows in a westerly direction and eventually reaches the Success Reservoir. It has three main forks: the North, Middle, and South Forks. The North Fork and Middle Fork join together just above the town of Springville. The South Fork joins the other two forks at the Success Reservoir. The Tule River then flows to Porterville.

Historical flood events in the County are provided as follows by the FIS and 2017 Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

 1966 – The 1966 flood on the Tule River was a 120-year event. Despite the presence of Success Dam and Reservoir, which has been operated by the USACE since 1961, significant damage still occurred. According to the 1971 County Flood Control Master Plan, the December 1966 rains were so intense over the watershed of the Tule River that they produced uncontrolled spill at Success Dam. In addition, snowfall was so great that the resulting runoff could not be controlled completely.

Water poured into Tulare Lake and flooded agricultural land. Primary damage from the 1966 flood was estimated at $21.4 million.
 January 1969 – The January 1969 flood caused flooding along Sand Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Yokohl Creek, Lewis Creek, Frazier Creek, Deer Creek, White River, and in the southwest corner of the County. Terminus Dam, which has been operated by the USACE since 1962, helped reduce the potential flood hazards on Kaweah River and its distributaries. However, flood damage could not be completely avoided. Most of the flooding occurred in agricultural areas in the valley. Some urban damage occurred in Cutler, Earlimart, East Orosi, Orosi, Strathmore, Dinuba, Exeter, and Lindsay. The flood caused over $86.2 million (1969 dollars) in damage and approximately 100,000 acres in the County were flooded.
 1997 – During 1997 to 1998, the mountainous areas of the County sustained flooding as heavy rains swelled creeks over their banks. Heavy rains contributed to high runoff and flooding throughout Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park. Numerous roads, bridges, and trails were damaged.

Flooding from the Tule and White Rivers caused extensive agricultural damage in the San Joaquin Valley. The communities of Three Rivers, Springville, Lindsay, and Earlimart also experienced significant flooding. Lake Success above Porterville and Kaweah Lake were both filled in about 24 hours. Total damages were estimated at more than $1 million in the County.  2006 – In 2006, the State of California issued three proclamations for severe rainstorms between late December 2005 and April 2006. This series of storms brought unusually heavy rains that caused flooding, mudslides, debris accumulation, damaged roads, and loss of human life in 40 California counties, including the County. Damage occurred primarily in Cutler-Orosi.  2010 – December 2010 and January 2011 which led to a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the State of California, including the County and nine other counties. For the County, the constant rainfall caused major flooding and millions of dollars in damage to agriculture crops, infrastructure, roads and homes. Primary estimates from the County noted more than 60 miles of road damage, 33 homes and two commercial properties received flood damage and six residents from two homes were displaced from their homes due to the flooding.
 2017 – In February 2017, A broken levee on Poso Creek in southern Tulare County near Alpaugh flooded several square miles of farmland, and two or three mobile homes were reported affected.

The break was within a week.
 2017 – In early 2017, Tulare County experienced flooding from Poso Creek in the southwest portion of the County, impacting almost exclusively agricultural lands. Rapid snow melt with the first Tulare County
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excessive heat event of the summer in June, 2017, resulted in flood control releases greater than 14,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Pine Flat Dam, which inundated areas along the Kings River in Tulare and Fresno Counties and ultimately caused multiple breaches impacting several local homes and businesses.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

1% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD
Occasional— The 1% annual chance flood (100-year) is the flood that has a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. This, by definition, makes the likelihood of future occurrence occasional. However, the 100-year flood could occur more than once in a relatively short period of time.

0.5% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD
Unlikely—The 0.5% annual chance flood (500-year) is the flood that has a 0.5 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. This, by definition, makes the likelihood of future occurrence unlikely.

0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD
Unlikely—The 0.2% annual chance flood (500-year) is the flood that has a 0.2 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. This, by definition, makes the likelihood of future occurrence unlikely.

Climate Change and Flood

Climate change and its effect on flood in the County has been discussed by two sources:

 Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
 Sacramento and San Joaquin Basins Climate Impact Assessment

Natural Resources Defense Council

In regions where seasonal snowmelt plays a significant role in annual runoff, hotter temperatures can trigger more rain-on-snow events, with warm rains inducing faster and often earlier melting. This phenomenon is playing out in the western United States, where, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, snowmelt-fed rivers, at least since 1950, have reached peak flow earlier in springtime. The combination of rain and melting snow can aggravate spring flooding as winter and spring soils are typically high in moisture and often still frozen, and therefore less able to absorb snow and rain runoff. Regions with higher rain-to-snow ratios, such as the Northwest, are expected to see higher streamflow—and higher flood risks.

Sacramento and San Joaquin Basins Climate Impact Assessment

According to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Basins Climate Impact Assessment, reductions in precipitation from 3-10% are expected in the San Joaquin and Tulare Lake basins of the Central Valley through 2100. Combined with higher temperatures, more of the precipitation will occur as rainfall, leading to increased runoff and reduced snowpack. Per the assessment, with current reservoir capacities, excess runoff would need to be released from reservoirs early for flood control, which would lead to overall reductions in the amount of stored water available for use over the dry months.

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Climate change can also lead to more frequent and extreme weather. This includes heavy rainfall events, which can trigger landslides and debris flows that are especially problematic in areas where wildfires have occurred. Heavy rain events can also overwhelm sewage and water treatment facilities with negative impacts to water quality.

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – High

Flood season extends from November through June with general rain floods usually occurring between November and April, and snowmelt floods occurring from April to June. Based on previous occurrences, severe flooding is most likely to occur during strong El Niño years (every five to seven years). Therefore, it is possible a flood will occur which will affect the County and several of its jurisdictions within five years (a 1 in 5-year chance of occurring having a - 1/5 = 20%). History of events is greater than 20% likely per year. Average annual precipitation varies widely, from eight inches in the southwest corner of the County to 45 inches in the Sierra at the headwaters of the Kaweah and Tule rivers. But, occasionally, extended heavy rains result in floodwaters exceeding normal high-water boundaries and causing damage. Several areas of the County are subject to flooding by the overtopping of rivers and creeks, levee failures, and the failure of urban drainage systems that cannot accommodate large volumes of water during severe rainstorms. In addition to the major rivers, there are many streams, channels, canals, and creeks that serve the drainage needs of the County. There is threat of flooding in areas of the County from several of these streams.

Impacts

Predominantly, the effects of flooding are generally confined to areas near the waterways of the County. As waterways grow in size from local drainages, so grows the threat of flood and dimensions of the threat. This threatens structures in the floodplain. Structures can also be damaged from trees falling as a result of water- saturated soils. Electrical power outages happen, and the interruption of power causes major problems, especially to critical facilities and infrastructure. Loss of power is usually a precursor to closure of governmental offices and community businesses. Schools may also be required to close or be placed on a delayed start schedule. Roads can be damaged and closed, causing safety and evacuation issues. People may be swept away in floodwaters, causing injuries or deaths.

Floods can cause substantial damage to structures, landscapes, and utilities as well as life safety issues.

Floods can be extremely dangerous, and even six inches of moving water can knock over a person given a strong current. A car will float in less than two feet of moving water and can be swept downstream into deeper waters. This is one reason floods kill more people trapped in vehicles than anywhere else. During a flood, people can also suffer heart attacks or electrocution due to electrical equipment short outs.

Floodwaters can transport large objects downstream which can damage or remove stationary structures, such as dam spillways. Ground saturation can result in instability, collapse, or other damage. Objects can also be buried or destroyed through sediment deposition. Floodwaters can also break utility lines and interrupt services. Flooding causes instability and erosion along abutments that hold sewer pipes that cross waterways. A failure of the abutment can cause sewage spills in waterways. Standing water can cause damage to crops, roads, foundations, and electrical circuits. Direct impacts, such as drowning, can be limited with adequate warning and public education about what to do during floods. Where flooding occurs in populated areas, warning and evacuation will be of critical importance to reduce life and safety impacts from any type of flooding.

Erosion and deposition are occurring continually at varying rates over the Planning Area. Swiftly moving floodwaters cause rapid local erosion as the water carries away earth materials. This is especially Tulare County
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problematic in leveed areas. Severe erosion removes the earth from beneath bridges, roads, and foundations of structures adjacent to streams. By undercutting it can lead to increased rockfall and landslide hazard.

The deposition of material can block culverts, aggravate flooding, destroy crops and lawns by burying them, and reduce the capacity of water reservoirs as the deposited materials displace water. Impacts from stream bank erosion can also include greater levee maintenance and increased risk of levee failure.

Flooding causes many impacts to agricultural production, including water contamination, damage to crops, loss of livestock, increased susceptibility of livestock to disease, flooded farm machinery, and environmental damage to and from agricultural chemicals.

Health Hazards from Flooding

Certain health hazards are also common to flood events. While such problems are often not reported, three general types of health hazards accompany floods. The first comes from the water itself. Floodwaters carry anything that was on the ground that the upstream runoff picked up, including dirt, oil, animal waste, and lawn, farm and industrial chemicals. Pastures and areas where cattle and hogs are kept or their wastes are stored can contribute polluted waters to the receiving streams.

Floodwaters also saturate the ground, which leads to infiltration into sanitary sewer lines. When wastewater treatment plants are flooded, there is nowhere for the sewage to flow. Infiltration and lack of treatment can lead to overloaded sewer lines that can back up into low-lying areas and homes. Even when it is diluted by flood waters, raw sewage can be a breeding ground for bacteria such as e. coli and other disease-causing agents.

The second type of health problems arise after most of the water has gone. Stagnant pools can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and wet areas of a building that have not been properly cleaned breed mold and mildew. A building that is not thoroughly cleaned becomes a health hazard, especially for small children and the elderly.

Another health hazard occurs when heating ducts in a forced air system are not properly cleaned after inundation. When the furnace or air conditioner is turned on, the sediments left in the ducts are circulated throughout the building and breathed in by the occupants. If a city or county water system loses pressure, a boil order may be issued to protect people and animals from contaminated water.

The third problem is the long-term psychological impact of having been through a flood and seeing one’s home damaged and irreplaceable keepsakes destroyed. The cost and labor needed to repair a flood-damaged home puts a severe strain on people, especially the unprepared and uninsured. There is also a long-term problem for those who know that their homes can be flooded again. The resulting stress on floodplain residents takes its toll in the form of aggravated physical and mental health problems.

Warning and Evacuation Procedures

Tulare County and its incorporated communities have a variety of systems and procedures established to protect its residents and visitors to plan for, avoid, and respond to a hazard event including those associated with floods and wildfires. This includes Pre-Disaster Public Awareness and Education information which is major component in successfully reducing loss of life and property in a community when faced with a potentially catastrophic incident. Much of this information is not specific to a given hazard event and is always accessible to the public on local County and City websites. Specific warning and evacuation systems and procedures include information relative to: Warning Systems, ALERT System, dam protocols, evacuation procedures, and sheltering in place. Additional information on these warning and evacuation Tulare County
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procedures as well as post-disaster mitigation policies and procedures can be found in Section 4.4, Capabilities, of this Risk Assessment and in the Emergency Management discussions in Appendix C.

Flood Hazard Assessment

This risk assessment for the Tulare County LHMP Update assessed the flood hazard specific to Tulare County. This included an evaluation of multiple flood hazards including the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) shown on the DFIRM; Repetitive Loss (RL) Areas; localized, stormwater flooding areas; other areas that have flooded in the past, but not identified on the DFIRM; other areas of shallow flooding identified through other studies and sources; levee failure flooding; dam failure flooding; and mudflow flooding especially in significant post-burn areas. This comprehensive flood risk assessment included an assessment of less-frequent flood hazards, areas likely to be flooded, and flood problems that are likely to get worse in the future as a result of changes in floodplain development and demographics, development in the watershed, and climate change or sea level rise. Existing studies, maps, historical data, and federal, state, and local community expertise and knowledge contributed to this current flood assessment for Tulare County. An evaluation of the success of completed and ongoing flood control projects and associated maintenance aspects contributed to this flood hazard assessment and the resulting flood mitigation strategy for the Tulare County Planning Area. This flood risk assessment for this LHMP Update also includes an assessment of future flooding conditions based on historic development in the floodplains and proposed future development as further described throughout this plan. The flood vulnerability assessment that follows focuses on the flood hazard based on FEMA DFIRMs. Other flood related vulnerability analysis and discussions are included throughout this LHMP Update.

Flood Analysis

The Tulare County Planning Area has mapped FEMA flood hazard areas. This section of the vulnerability assessment focuses on the Tulare County Planning Area (the 8 incorporated communities and the unincorporated County). GIS was used to determine the possible impacts of flooding within the County and how the risk varies across the Planning Area.

Tulare County has a FEMA effective DFIRM dated 06/16/2009, which was obtained from the National Flood Hazard Layer to perform the flood analysis. Each of the DFIRM flood zones that begins with the letter ‘A’ depict the Special Flood Hazard Area, or the 1% annual chance flood event (commonly referred to as the 100-year flood). Table 4-57 explains the difference between DFIRM mapped flood zones within the 1% annual chance flood zone as well as other flood zones located within the County. The effective DFIRM maps for the Tulare County Planning Area are shown on Figure 4-64 and Figure 4-65 for the east and west portion of the County, respectively.

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Table 4-57 Tulare County Planning Area – DFIRM Flood Hazard Zones Flood
Zone
Description Flood Zone
Present in
City of
Dinuba
Flood
Zone
Present
in City
of
Exeter
Flood
Zone
Presen
t in
City
of
Farme
rsville
Flood
Zone
Presen
t in
City of
Lindsa
y
Flood
Zone
Present in
City of
Portervill
e
Flood
Zone
Present
in City
of
Tulare
Flood
Zone
Present
in City
of
Visalia
Flood
Zone
Present in
City of
Woodlake
Flood
Zone
Present in
Unincorp
orated
County
A 1% annual
chance
flooding.

No base
flood
elevations
provided.

X X X X X
AE 1% annual
chance
flooding.

Base flood
elevations
provided.

X X X
AE
Flood
way
1% annual
chance
flood.

Regulatory
floodway,
Base flood
elevations
provided.

X X X X
AO 1% annual
chance
flooding:
sheet flow
areas.

BFEs
derived
from detail
hydraulic
analyses
are shown
in this
zone.

X X X
Shade
d X

02.%
annual
chance
flooding:
the areas
between
the limits
of the 1%
chance
flood and
the .2%
annual

X X X X X X X X
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Flood
Zone
Description Flood Zone
Present in
City of
Dinuba
Flood
Zone
Present
in City
of
Exeter
Flood
Zone
Presen
t in
City
of
Farme
rsville
Flood
Zone
Presen
t in
City of
Lindsa
y
Flood
Zone
Present in
City of
Portervill
e
Flood
Zone
Present
in City
of
Tulare
Flood
Zone
Present
in City
of
Visalia
Flood
Zone
Present in
City of
Woodlake
Flood
Zone
Present in
Unincorp
orated
County
chance (or
500-year)
flood.

X
Protec
ted by
Levee
Areas
protected by
levees from
1% annual
chance flood
event. Levee
protection
places these
areas in the

0.2% chance
flood zone.

X X
X
(Unsh
aded)
No flood
hazard

X X X X X X X X X
Source: FEMA

Figure 4-64 Tulare County East – Flood Zones

Source: California DWR, Retrieved 11/30/2022

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Figure 4-65 Tulare County West – Flood Zones

Source: California DWR, Retrieved 11/30/2022

Values at Risk and Flood Loss Estimates Analysis

Quantifying the values at risk and estimating losses within mapped FEMA floodplains in the County is an important element in understanding the risk and vulnerability of the Tulare County Planning Area to the flood hazard.

Limitations

It also should be noted that the resulting flood analysis estimates may actually be more or less than that presented in the below tables as the County may include structures located within the 1% or 0.2% annual Tulare County
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chance floodplain that are elevated at or above the level of the base flood elevation, according to local floodplain development requirements. Also, it is important to keep in mind that these assessed values may be well below the actual market value of improved parcels located within the floodplain due primarily to Proposition 13, and to a lesser extent, properties falling under the Williamson Act.

Unincorporated Tulare County

FEMA NFIP Insurance Coverage, Claims Paid, and Repetitive Losses

Standard property insurance does not include flood coverage because of the relatively high risk. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides flood insurance to residents in those communities that participate in the NFIP. Federal financial assistance requires the purchase of flood for structures located within a 100-year floodplain – a requirement that affects nearly all mortgages financed through commercial lending institutions. Flood insurance is also recommended for all structures protected by levees, even if not mapped within a floodplain.

The incorporated cities of Dinuba, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, and Woodlake all last updated their NFIP on June 16, 2009. Exeter is the only incorporated city in the county that does not have a Special Flood Hazard Area and has not updated due to this factor. Tulare County, including the unincorporated areas last had their NFIP updated on December 18, 2012.

None of the incorporated cities are currently participating in the Community Rating System (CRS), although the City of Visalia has before, and their participation is now expired.

A repetitive loss property is defined by FEMA as an NFIP-insured property that has experienced any of the following since 1978, regardless of any changes in ownership:

Two paid losses in excess of $1,000 within any rolling 10-year period Three or more paid losses that equal or exceed the current value of the insured property.

No repetitive loss structures were identified in any jurisdiction.

Overall Community Impact

Floods and their impacts vary by location and severity of any given flood event and will likely only affect certain areas of the County during specific times. Natural areas, such as wetlands and riparian areas within the floodplain, often benefit from periodic flooding as a naturally recurring phenomenon. These natural areas often reduce flood impacts by allowing absorption and infiltration of floodwaters. Preserving and protecting these areas and associated functions are a vital component of sound floodplain management practices for Tulare County. Based on the risk assessment, it is evident that floods will continue to have potentially devastating economic impacts to certain areas of the County. However, many of the floods in the County are minor, localized flood events that are more of a nuisance than a disaster. Impacts that are not quantified, but can be anticipated in large future events, include:
 Injury and loss of life;
 Commercial and residential structural and property damage;  Disruption of and damage to public infrastructure and services;  Health hazards associated with mold and mildew, contamination of drinking water, etc.;  Damage to roads/bridges resulting in loss of mobility;  Significant economic impact (jobs, sales, tax revenue) to the community;  Negative impact on commercial and residential property values; and  Significant disruption to students and teachers as temporary facilities and relocations would likely be needed.

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 Impact on the overall mental health of the community.

Future Development and Future Flood Conditions

This section provides an analysis of the flood hazard and proposed future development within the County based on FEMA floodplains and also discusses considerations in evaluating future flooding conditions.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT : GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Communities that participate in the NFIP adopt regulations and codes that govern development in special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) and enforce those requirements through their local floodplain management ordinances through the issuance of permits. Tulare County’s floodplain management ordinance provides standards for development, subdivision of land, construction of buildings, and improvements and repairs to buildings that meet the minimum requirements of the NFIP.

The International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC), by reference to ASCE 24, include requirements that govern the design and construction of buildings and structures in flood hazard areas. FEMA has determined that the flood provisions of the I-Codes are consistent with the requirements of the NFIP (the I-Code requirements shown either meet or exceed NFIP requirements). ASCE 24, a design standard developed by the American Society of Civil Engineers, expands on the minimum NFIP requirements with more specificity, additional requirements, and some limitations.

With the adoption of the International Codes, communities are moving towards a more stringent approach to regulatory floodplain management, beyond the minimum requirements of the NFIP. The adoption and enforcement of disaster-resistant building codes is a core community action to promote effective mitigation.

When communities ensure that new buildings and infrastructure are designed and constructed in accordance with national building codes and construction standards, they significantly increase local resilience now and in the future. With continued advancements in building codes, local ordinances should be reviewed and updated to meet and exceed standards as practicable to protect new development from future flood events and to further promote disaster resiliency.

One of the most effective ways to reduce vulnerability to potential flood damage is through careful land use planning that fully considers applicable flood management information and practices. Master planning will also be necessary to assure that open channel flood flow conveyances serving the smaller internal streams and drainage areas are adequately prepared to accommodate the flows. Preservation and maintenance of natural and riparian areas should also be an ongoing priority to realize the flood control benefits of the natural and beneficial functions of these areas.

FUTURE FLOOD CONDITIONS : THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE The effects of climate change on future flood conditions should also be considered. While the risk and associated short and long-term impacts of climate change are uncertain, experts in this field tend to agree that among the most significant impacts include those resulting from increased heat and precipitation events that cause increased frequency and magnitude of flooding. Changes associated with climate change and flooding could be significant given the higher elevations in neighboring counties where winter snow could turn to more significant rain events. Increases in damaging flood events will cause greater property damage, public health and safety concerns displacement, and loss of life. In addition, an increase in the magnitude and severity of flood events can lead to potential contamination of potable water and contamination of food crops given the agricultural industry in the County. Displacement of residents can include both temporary and long-term displacement. Increases in insurance rates or restriction of coverage in vulnerable areas may also result.

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Tulare County will continue to study the risk and vulnerability associated with future flood conditions, both in terms of future growth areas and other considerations such as climate change, as they evaluate and implement their flood mitigation and adaptation strategies for the Tulare County Planning Area.

FUTURE FLOOD CONDITIONS : ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS
Tulare County and the majority of Northern California can be affected by a phenomenon known as an atmospheric river. According to the NOAA, atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow. This can be seen in Figure 4-66.

Figure 4-66 Atmospheric Rivers

Source: NOAA

Although atmospheric rivers come in many shapes and sizes, those that contain the largest amounts of water vapor and the strongest winds can create extreme rainfall and floods, often by stalling over watersheds vulnerable to flooding. These events can disrupt travel, induce mudslides and cause catastrophic damage to life and property. A well-known example is the "Pineapple Express," a strong atmospheric river that is capable of bringing moisture from the tropics near Hawaii over to the U.S. West Coast.

Not all atmospheric rivers cause damage; most are weak systems that often provide beneficial rain or snow that is crucial to the water supply. Atmospheric rivers are a key feature in the global water cycle and are closely tied to both water supply and flood risks — particularly in the western United States.

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While atmospheric rivers are responsible for great quantities of rain that can produce flooding, they also contribute to beneficial increases in snowpack. A series of atmospheric rivers fueled the strong winter storms that battered the U.S. West Coast from western Washington to southern California from Dec. 10–22, 2010, producing 11 to 25 inches of rain in certain areas. These rivers also contributed to the snowpack in the Sierras, which received 75 percent of its annual snow by Dec. 22, the first full day of winter.

FUTURE FLOOD CONDITIONS : ARKSTORM SCENARIO
Also, to be considered in evaluating potential “worst case” future flood conditions, is the ARkStorm Scenario. Although much attention in California’s focuses on the “Big One” as a high magnitude earthquake, there is the risk of another significant event in California – a massive, statewide winter storm. The last such storms occurred in the 19th century, outside the memory of current emergency managers, officials, and communities. However, massive storms are a recurring feature of the state, the source of rare but inevitable disasters. The USGS Multi Hazards Demonstration Project’s (MHDP) developed a product called ARkStorm, which addressed massive U.S. West Coast storms analogous to those that devastated California in 1861‐1862. Over the last decade, scientists have determined that the largest storms in California are the product of phenomena called Atmospheric Rivers, and so the MHDP storm scenario is called the ARkStorm, for Atmospheric River 1000 (a measure of the storm’s size).

Scientific studies of offshore deposits in northern and southern California indicate that storms of this magnitude and larger have occurred about as often as large earthquakes on the southern San Andreas Fault.

Such storms are projected to become more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. This scientific effort resulted in a plausible flood hazard scenario to be used as a planning and preparation tool by hazard mitigation and emergency response agencies.

For the ARkStorm Scenario, experts designed a large, scientifically realistic meteorological event followed by an examination of the secondary hazards (e.g., landslides and flooding), physical damages to the intense winter storms of 1861‐62 that left California’s Central Valley impassible. Storms far larger than the ARkStorm, dubbed mega storms, have also hit California at least six times in the last two millennia.

The ARkStorm produces precipitation in many places exceeding levels experienced on average every 500 to 1,000 years. Extensive flooding in many cases overwhelms the state’s flood protection system, which is at best designed to resist 100‐ to 200‐year runoffs (many flood protection systems in the state were designed for smaller runoff events). The Central Valley experiences widespread flooding. Serious flooding also occurs in Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and other coastal communities. In some places, winds reach hurricane speeds, as high as 125 miles per hour. Hundreds of landslides occur, damaging roads, highways, and homes. Property damage exceeds $300 billion, most of it from flooding. Agricultural losses and other costs to repair lifelines, dewater flooded islands, and repair damage from landslides brings the total direct property loss to nearly $400 billion, of which only $20 to $30 billion would be recoverable through public and commercial insurance. Power, water, sewer, and other lifelines experience damage that takes weeks or months to restore. Flooding evacuation could involve over one million residents in the inland region and Delta counties.

A storm of ARkStorm’s magnitude has important implications: 1) it raises serious questions about the ability of existing national, state, and local disaster policy to handle an event of this magnitude; 2) it emphasizes the choice between paying now to mitigate, or paying a lot more later to recover; 3) innovative financing solutions are likely to be needed to avoid fiscal crisis and adequately fund response and recovery costs; 4) responders and government managers at all levels could be encouraged to conduct self‐assessments and devise table‐top exercises to exercise their ability to address a similar event; 5) the scenario can be a reference point for application of FEMA and Cal OES guidance connecting federal, state, and local natural hazards mapping and mitigation planning under the NFIP and Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000; and 6) common messages to educate the public about the risk of such an extreme event could be developed and consistently Tulare County
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communicated to facilitate policy formulation and transformation.

Figure 4-67 depicts an ARkStorm modeled scenario showing the potential for flooding primarily in the Central Valley as the result of a large storm. In Tulare County, the modeled scenario suggests the County could be inundated in the western portion and experience heavier precipitation in the eastern portion of the County in this ARkStorm model scenario.

Figure 4-67 Projected ARkStorm Flooding in California

Source: USGS ARkStorm

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4.3.13 Flood Localized Flooding

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

Localized, stormwater flooding also occurs throughout the County during the rainy season from November through April. Prolonged heavy rainfall contributes to a large volume of runoff resulting in high peak flows of moderate duration. Flooding is more severe when previous rainfall has created saturated ground conditions. Urban storm drainpipes and pump stations have a finite capacity. When rainfall exceeds this capacity, or the system is clogged, water accumulates in the street until it reaches a level of overland release.

This type of flooding may occur when intense storms occur over areas of development.

Location and Extent

According to Tulare County, numerous parcels and roads throughout the County not included in the FEMA 1% and 0.2% annual chance floodplains are subject to flooding in heavy rains. In addition to flooding, damage to these areas during heavy storms includes pavement deterioration, washouts, mudslides, debris areas, and downed trees. The frequency and type of damage or flooding that occurs varies from year to year, depending on the quantity of runoff. There is no established scientific scale or measurement system for localized flooding. Localized flooding is generally measured by depth of flooding and the area affected.

Localized flooding often happens quickly and has a short speed of onset. Localized flooding often has a short duration.

Table 4-58 Tulare County Localized Flooding Areas and Road Closures Date Area Road Name Notes
Flooding
12/29/2010 ¼ mile above Hammond Fire
tation
Mineral King
Road
The road collapsed due to erosion and
undermining from flood
12/20/2010 Visalia, Between Akers and
Damaree St.

Highway 198 Ponding Basins designed to store
flood waters overflowed and flooded
Linwood St. and Mineral Kings Ave
(unknown if roads were closed). As a
result, pumps that pump out rainwater
on Highway 198 were turned off
resulting in flooding.
12/17-
20/2010
Visalia Road 64 and
Avenue 308

12/17-
20/2010
Tulare, Between J St. and I St. San Joaquin
Avenue

12/17-
20/2010
Tulare Westbound Lanes between
Laspina St. and Mooney Blvd
Prosperity
Avenue
Road Closure not specified
12/17-
20/2010
Tulare, West of Road 168 Highway 137 Road closure not specified Tulare County
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Date Area Road Name Notes
12/17-
20/2010
Tulare, South of Prosperity
Avenue
Laspina St. Road closure not specified
12/17-
20/2010
Porterville, Bourbon Drive and
Westwood St.

Highway 190 Road closure not specified
12/17-
20/2010
Porterville Road 284,
Highway 190
Road closure not specified
12/17-
20/2010
South Tulare County. Near Road
88 between Earlimart and Alpaugh
Avenue 56 Road closure not specified
12/17-
20/2010
South of Woodlake Avenue 304
12/17-
20/2010
Tulare County Approximately 30 roads were closed
throughout Tulare County but were
not specified.
12/29/2010 Woodlake, Highway 245 Avenue 304 to
312
South of Woodlake
12/29/2010 Woodlake Lort Drive
(Avenue 312)

12/29/2010 Exeter Rocky Hill Drive
02/24/1998 Throughout Earlimart Highway 99 Flooding from the White River breaching a levee
01/02-
05/1997
Earlimart Highway 99 Flooding from the White River
03//1983 Lindcove, Near Mehrten Drive and
Foothill Ditch
Highway 198 Flooding occurred due to the overflow
of Mehrten Creek. The area between
Highway 198 and the Foothill Ditch
site near Lindcove, CA to the
northeast corner of Mehrten Drive was
flooded.

Landslides/Mudslides
12/17-
20/2010
7 miles west of Highway 63
junction
Highway 180
Debris Flow
12//2010 Over Cottonwood Creek Highway 63
Bridge
Road Closure not specified. Heavy
equipment was used to move woody
debris off the bridge located about 5
miles north of Visalia
Source: Tulare County

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declarations

There are no identified state or federal disaster declarations for localized flooding. However, localized flooding was likely an issue during previous declarations for severe storms, heavy rains and floods.

NCDC Events

The past occurrences of localized flooding are included in the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood hazard profile in Section 4.2.10.

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Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events

In December of 2010, heavy rain caused localized flooding and road closures. Road closures from these events are shown on and detailed in Table 4-48.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

With respect to localized, stormwater flood issues, the potential for flooding may increase as storm water is channelized due to land development. Such changes can create localized flooding problems in and outside of natural floodplains by altering or confining natural drainage channels. Urban storm drainage systems have a finite capacity. When rainfall exceeds this capacity or systems clog, water accumulates in the street until it reaches a level of overland release. With older infrastructure, this type of flooding will continue to occur on an annual basis during heavy rains.

Climate Change and Localized Flood
Even if average annual rainfall may decrease slightly, the intensity of individual rainfall events is likely to increase during the 21st century, increasing the likelihood of overwhelming stormwater systems built to historical rainfall averages. This makes localized flooding more likely.

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – Medium

Historically, the Tulare County Planning Area has been at risk to flooding primarily from November to April with rain floods, and snowmelt floods from April to June. Severe flooding is more likely to occur during El Nino years (approximately every five to seven years).

Impacts

Localized flooding can cause damage to roads, infrastructure and utilities, as well as to buildings in the County. Temporary road closures due to localized flooding can be a significant issue in the County. In addition to flooding and road closures, damage to these areas during heavy storms includes, pavement deterioration, washouts, landslides/mudslides, debris areas, and downed trees. Local community service districts have seen infiltration and inflow into sewer systems during heavy rain and localized flooding events.

Power outages can be a significant concern during these events, especially in those areas that rely on pumping to alleviate local flood conditions. Life safety issues from localized flooding would be more limited. Flooding causes many impacts to agricultural production, including water contamination, damage to crops, loss of livestock, increased susceptibility of livestock to disease, flooded farm machinery, and environmental damage to and from agricultural chemicals.

Future Development

The potential for flooding may increase as storm water is channelized due to land development. Such changes can create localized flooding problems in and outside of natural floodplains by altering or confining natural drainage channels. The risk of stormwater/localized flooding to future development can be minimized by accurate recordkeeping of repetitive localized storm activity. Mitigating the root causes of the localized stormwater flooding or choosing not to develop in areas that often are subject to localized flooding will reduce future risks of losses due to stormwater/localized flooding.

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Any floodplain modeling and master planning should be based on the ultimate built-out land use in order to assure that all new development remains safe from future hydrologic conditions. While local floodplain management, stormwater management, and water quality regulations and policies address these changes on a site-by-site basis, their cumulative effects can continue to result in floodplain impacts.

4.3.14 Landslides/Mudslides/Debris Flows

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

According to the California Geological Survey, landslides refer to a wide variety of processes that result in the perceptible downward and outward movement of soil, rock, and vegetation under gravitational influence. Common names for landslide types include slump, rockslide, debris slide, lateral spreading, debris avalanche, earth flow, and soil creep. Landslides may be triggered by both natural and human- induced changes in the environment that result in slope instability.

The susceptibility of an area to landslides depends on many variables including steepness of slope, type of slope material, structure and physical properties of materials, water content, amount of vegetation, and proximity to areas undergoing rapid erosion or changes caused by human activities. These activities include mining, construction, and changes to surface drainage areas. Landslide events can be determined by the composition of materials and the speed of movement. A rockfall is dry and fast while a debris flow is wet and fast. Regardless of the speed of the slide, the materials within the slide, or the amount of water present in the movement, landslides are serious natural hazard. Another type of landslide, debris flows, also occur in some areas of the County. These debris flows generally occur in the immediate vicinity of the existing drainage swales or steep ravines. Debris flows occur when near surface soil in or near steeply sloping drainage swales become saturated during unusually heavy precipitation and begins to flow downslope at a rapid rate. Debris flows also occur in post-wildfire burn areas.

Landslides often accompany or follow other natural hazard events, such as floods, wildfires, or earthquakes. A discussion on the effects of wildfire on landslides and debris flows is included in the wildfire profile in Section 4.3.19. Landslides can occur slowly or very suddenly and can damage and destroy structures, roads, utilities, and forested areas, and can cause injuries and death.

Soil erosion is another common form of soil instability. Erosion is a function of soil type, slope, rainfall intensity, and groundcover. It accounts for a loss in many dollars of valuable soil, is aesthetically displeasing, and often induces even greater rates of erosion and sedimentation. Sedimentation is simply the accumulation of soil as a result of erosion. Construction activities often contribute greatly to erosion and sedimentation. Besides being a pollutant in its own right, sediment acts as a transport medium for other pollutants, especially nutrients, pesticides, and heavy metals, which adhere to the eroded soil particles. As the sediment drains into watercourses, the combination of these pollutants adversely affects water quality.

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Figure 4-68 - Tulare County Post Fire Debris Flow Areas

Figure 4-69 United States Landslide Risk Map

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Location and Extent

The California Geologic Survey has created maps showing areas of landslide susceptibility. According to the CGS, risk is a combination of slope class and rock strength. This can be seen on Figure 4-70. A measure of risk is shown in the legend, which areal extents for the County are shown as well.

Figure 4-70 Landslides Susceptibility

California Geographical Survey

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The speed of onset of landslide is often short, especially in post-wildfire burn scar areas, but it can also take years for a slope to fail. Landslide duration is usually short, through digging out and repairing landslide areas can take some time.

Landslides, or ground failure, are dependent on slope, geology, rainfall, excavation or seismic activity.

Mudslides are often caused by heavy rainfall. Areas that have recently been subject to wildfire are susceptible to mud slides. The Tulare County General Plan Background Report describes areas in Tulare County that are particularly prone to landslides. Tulare County has three geologic environments: the valley, foothills, and mountains. The range in topography between these three areas presents a range of landslide hazards. It is reasonable to assume that certain areas in Tulare County are more prone to landslides than others. Such areas can be found in foothill and mountain areas where fractured and steep slopes are present (as in Sierra Nevada Mountains), where less consolidated or weathered Soils overlie bedrock, or where inadequate ground cover accelerates erosion. Erosion and slumping of soils can also occur along blubs along the Kaweah, Kings, and Tule Rivers.

Other areas where steep slopes are present are not heavily populated and most are located in federal or state lands. Roadways such as SR 198 and SR 190 in eastern Tulare County could be affected by landslides in the event of an earthquake or heavy rains. California Geological Survey geologist determined that catastrophic failure was unlikely, but long-term road maintenance could be compromised due to undercutting of the slope by the creeks below the roads. There is no risk of large landslides in the valley area of the County due to its relatively flat topography. There is, however, the potential for small slides and slumping along the steep banks of rivers or creeks.

With heavy rain events, landslides/mudslides occur causing road closures for hours and days at a time in some areas. Also post fire conditions in any burn scar areas are concern. Identified by Tulare County Resource Management Agency Public Works Division, recent landslide areas of concern include the following:

 3/23/18 rockslide M109 @ Whiteriver grade.
 3/25/18 rockslide M99
 1/17/19 rockslide in pine flat.
 3/7/19 mudslide M3 @ M9
 6/1/19 landslide M10
 12/19/19 landslide M109 @ M/P7
 1/1/20 rockslide M99
 1/3/20 landslide M109 @ M/P15
 4/3/20 landslide M112
 10/26/20 landslide Kennedy meadows
 6/18/21 rockslide M99 @ M/P7
 12/15/21 rockslide M109 @ M/P17
 12/25/21 mudslide Manter meadow @ rocking K pine flat. Fire/rain  3/29/22 landslide M9 @ M/P4
 8/8/22 landslide Kennedy meadows.
 9/11/22 rock/mudslide M50 M/P1.5- M50 @ M/P8.5

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Table 4-59 – Tulare County Debris Flows

AREA / COMMUNITY DATE
Mountain Zone 9/3/2003
Foothills Zone 1/7/2005
Mountain Zone 3/23/2005
Foothills Zone 12/31/2005
Three Rivers 1/7/2017
Camp Nelson 2/7/2017
Camp Nelson 10/3/2018
Lemon Cove 1/17/2019
Milo 2/13/2019
Camp Nelson 3/2/2019
Kaweah 3/2/2019
Porterville 12/14/2019
Kaweah 12/23/2019

January 7, 2003 - Prolonged rains from January 7th to the 11th resulted in rock falls onto rural roads in Badger and Mariposa County. Property damage of $5,000 was reported.

September 3, 2003 - A severe thunderstorm with a radar reflectivity of 70dBz and a VIL of 53 occurred and resulted in hail, lightning strikes, rockslides, and heavy rains in areas in Kern County near Lake Isabella and Tulare County Mountains. Road closures occurred southeast of Weldon.

December 31, 2005 - Heavy rains caused multiple rock and mudslides in the Tulare County Foothills in addition to Southern Sierra Nevada, West Merced County, and Madera County. As a result, a large boulder blocked lanes on State Highway 190.

January 7, 2017 - High snow levels and heavy rainfalls resulted in flooding of roads, rivers, streams, and canals, debris flows, and rockslides in Three Rivers.

February 7, 2017 - Heavy rains resulted in flooding and debris flows to the Central CA region. Snow levels were observed above 8000 feet in Camp Nelson.

October 3, 2018 – Thunderstorms producing moderate to heavy rainfall resulted in flooding across the San Joaquin Valley. Debris flows and washed out roads resulted in a Flash Flood Emergency in the Ferguson Fire burn scar area near Camp Nelson.

January 17, 2019 – Moderate to heavy rains and strong winds occurred in the central valley region resulting in flooding of several roadways. Thunderstorms caused the closure of State Route 40 from flash floods and debris flows in Mariposa County and a EF 1tornado near Lemon Cove.

February 13, 2019 – Heavy rains and Strong winds exceeding 60mph were reported in the central CA region resulting in road closures from flooding and debris flows. Low elevation snowfall of 10 to 20 inches was reported in the Southern Sierra Nevada prompting multiple road closures near Milo.

March 2, 2019 - Moderate to heavy rains and strong winds occurred in the central valley region resulting in flooding of several roadways. Thunderstorms caused the closure of State Route 40 from flash floods and debris flows in Mariposa County and EF 1tornado east of Clovis.

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December 14, 2021 - Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches occurred south of Sequoia National Park and snow levels dropped to 1500 feet. Several roads were closed due to minor flooding and few rockslides near Porterville.

December 23, 2021 – Rainfall of 0.25 to 1 inch caused minor flooding in the San Joaquin Valley. Few ice pellet showers and thunderstorms occurred in the Sierra Foothills with the snow level dropping to 5500 feet.

Past Occurrences

Disaster Declaration History

There have been no disaster declarations associated with landslides in Tulare County

NCDC Events

The NCDC contains no records for landslides in Tulare County.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence

Likely – Based on data provided by the Tulare County RMA Public Works division, minor landslides have occurred in the past, probably over the last several hundred years, as evidence both by past deposits exposed in erosion gullies and recent landslide events. With significant rainfall, additional failures are likely to occur within the identified landslide hazard areas. Given the nature of localized problems identified within the County, minor landslides will likely continue to impact the area when heavy precipitation occurs, as they have in the past.

Climate Change and Landslide and Debris Flow
Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability – Low
Landslide in Tulare County include a wide variety of processes resulting in downward and outward movement of soil, rock, and vegetation. Although landslides are primarily associated with slopes greater than 15 percent, they can also occur in relatively flat areas and as cut-and-fill failures, river bluff failures, lateral spreading landslides, failures associated with quarries, and open pit mines. Due to the low significance rating for landslide in Tulare County, no mapped or tabular analysis was performed.

Impacts

Impacts from landslides in Tulare County can vary greatly. In unpopulated areas, landslides have little effect except to the extent they fill in waterways and create flooding issues, water conveyance and introduce contaminants. However, if landslides occur in populated areas, damages can be sustained by buildings, critical facilities, infrastructure, and injuries, and in extreme cases deaths, can occur. Landslide can affect ingress and egress routes. Many locations in the County have limited ingress and egress routes.

Cutting off one of these routes can cause multiple issues, from issues with elderly and those who are sick, to limiting emergency response to hazards from police, fire, and other County entities.

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Future Development

Although new growth and development corridors could fall in the area affected by moderate risk of landslide, given the small chance of a major landslide and the building codes and erosion ordinance in effect, development in the landslide areas will continue to occur.

4.3.15. Levee Failure

Hazard Profile

This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect Tulare County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description

Levee—A levee is a raised area that runs along the banks of a stream or canal. Levees reinforce the banks and help prevent flooding by containing higher flow events to the mainstream channel. By confirming the flow to a narrower stream channel, levees can also increase the speed of the water. Levees can be natural or manmade.

Levees provide strong flood protection, but they are not failsafe. Levees are designed to protect against a specific flood level and could be overtopped during severe weather events or dam failure. Levees reduce, not eliminate, the risk to individuals and structures located behind them. A levee system failure or overtopping can create severe flooding and high-water velocities. It is important to remember that no levee provides protection from events for which it was not designed, and proper operation and maintenance are necessary to reduce the probability of failure.

In addition to overtopping, levee systems can fail or be compromised in a variety of ways. Under-seepage refers to water flowing under the levee through the levee foundation materials, often emanating from the bottom of the landside slope and ground surface and extending landward from the landside toe of the levee.

Through-seepage refers to water flowing through the levee prism directly, often emanating from the landside slope of the levee. Both conditions can lead to failure by several mechanism, including excessive water pressures causing foundation heave and slope instabilities, slow progressing internal erosion, and piping leading to levee slumping. Rodents can burrow into and compromise the levee system. Erosion can also lead to levee failure.

Overtopping failure occurs when the flood water level rises above the crest of a levee. Overtopping of levees can cause greater damage than a traditional flood due to the often lower topography behind the levee.

Nature

Levees are typically earthen embankments designed to contain, control, or divert the flow of water to provide some level of protection from flooding. Some levee systems are built for agricultural purposes and provide flood protection and flood-loss reduction for farm fields and other land used for agricultural purposes. Urban levee systems are built to provide flood protection and flood-loss reduction for population centers and the industrial, commercial, and residential facilities within them.

Levees are designed to provide a specific level of flood protection. Agricultural levee systems provide a level of protection that is appropriate based on the value of the assets being protected. Urban levee systems, Tulare County
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because they are designated to protect developed areas, are generally built to higher standards. No levee system provides full protection from all flooding events to communities located behind it. Some level of flood risk exists to any levee-impacted areas.

Levee failure is the overtopping, breach or collapse of the levee wall. Levees may fail due to earthquake, internal erosion, poor engineering/construction or landslides; however, levees most commonly fail as a result of significant rainfall. During a period of heavy rainfall, water inside the levee can accumulate and flow over the top. The overflow of water erodes the levee, creating deep channels. Eventually the levee will weaken, resulting in a breach or collapse of the levee wall and uncontrollable amounts of water will be released.

History

The last major levee failure in the County was during the winter of 1998-1999. Levee failure on the White River caused Highway 99 to be shut down at the community of Earlimart. However, in recent years FEMA has embarked on a flood map modernization initiative, to update and modernize the existing FIRMs for the majority of the U.S. This process revealed that a number of levees nationwide have not been assessed since their original inclusion in the NFIP and may no longer be in compliance with FEMA flood program regulations. Should a levee be non-compliant, it will be decertified and the residential structures behind the levee will be subject to the mandatory purchase of flood insurance and additional floodplain regulations.

Location

Levees are an interesting anomaly in the County. They are not limited to just tributary waterways but also distributary waterways present in the alluvial fan geography. Property rights for levees reside almost exclusively with private owners, with waterway easements being equally limited. There is not a complete inventory list of all levees on the watercourses throughout the County. However, the following levees and their locations are known.

The Friant-Kern canal flows north to south through the County on the eastern side of the valley.

The St. Johns River begins at the diversion dam in the Kaweah River and flows in a westerly direction along the north side of the city of Visalia; the system is over 14 miles long. The levees on the St. Johns River were at one point maintained by Levee Maintenance Districts I and II. However, District I ceased maintenance in 1997 and District II has been inactive for over two decades.

Both the Deer Creek and the White River run east to west in the southern portion of the County. The Deer Creek levees begin west of Highway 43 and extend at least to Highway 99, approximately 10 miles. The White River levees begin in the westerly distribution system constructed during the 1930s and 1940s between Highway 43 and Road 128 which is composed primarily of excavated canals with levees. The levee system continues easterly to Road 208 about 16 miles.

Sand Creek holds the only levees to which the County has property rights. Sand Creek is in the northwest part of County from Avenue 432 to Avenue 384 and stretches 8.5 miles.

Extent

Currently, there is no database for the County that completely accounts for all levees and their condition.

Without the location and design/condition of each levee, the extent of levee failures for the County cannot be determined.

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Probability of Future Events

Due to the lack of knowledge regarding the levee system in the County, the probability of future levee failures in the County is unknown. However, levee failure may result from a large winter storm or seismic event. Therefore, due to past levee failure history, it is considered possible but unlikely that a levee failure event will occur within the next ten years (a one in ten-year chance of occurring – 1/10 = 10%). Event history is less than or equal to 10% likelihood per year.

4.3.16 Pandemic

Hazard/Problem Description

A pandemic can be defined as a disease that attacks a large population across great geographic distances.

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

Epidemics tend to occur seasonally and affect much smaller areas. Pandemics, on the other hand, are most often caused by new subtypes of viruses or bacteria for which humans have little or no natural resistance.

Consequently, pandemics typically result in more deaths, social disruption, and economic loss than epidemics.

Three conditions trigger a pandemic declaration:

A new virus subtype must emerge that has not previously circulated in humans (and therefor there is no pre- existing immunity),
This new subtype must be able to cause disease in humans, and The virus must be easily transmissible from human-to-human.

Since March 2020, Tulare County, the nation, and the world are dealing with the public health hazards, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus). The COVID-19 pandemic confirms that pandemic is a key public health hazard in the Planning Area. This hazard risk assessment includes an analysis of pandemic and infectious disease risk across Tulare County and of the impacts of the hazards profiled in this plan on public health.

COVID-19
Unlike a seasonal flu, a pandemic has much greater potential for loss of life and significant social disruption de to higher rates of transmission and more severe health impacts. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has a much higher rate of transmission than the seasonal flu, primarily by airborne transmission of droplets/bodily fluid.

Common systems include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, and loss of smell and taste. While most people have mild symptoms, some people develop acute respiratory distress syndrome with roughly one in five requiring hospitalizations in the United States and a fatality rate between 1 to 2 percent. Because the virus can be transmitted by people who are asymptomatic, and due to the presence of several variants of SARS-CoV-2, the Delta and Omicron Variant, for example, containing the spread has been a significant challenge across the globe.

VALLEY FEVER
Another example of a human health hazard that is endemic to Tulare County is Valley Fever, or “ cocci” which is a known but poorly understood secondary effect of drought conditions, and possibly a combination of wind and drought events followed by a rainy season. Valley Fever is an infection caused by a fungus (Coccidioides immitis) that lives in soil and dirt and areas with low rainfall, high summer temperatures, and moderate winter temperatures. Valley Fever is primarily a disease of the lungs, and the infection can occur year-round. In California, it has been reported from most counties, but especially from the San Joaquin Tulare County
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Valley and Central Coast. Anyone who lives in, works in, or visits a place with Valley Fever can be infected..

People can get sick by breathing in a form of the Valley Fever fungus called spores. Spores are too small to be seen and they can get into the air with dust when it is windy or when dirt is distributed. Fortunately, Valley Fever cannot be spread from one person to another. About 60% of infected people will not get sick.

People who do get sick can have symptoms such as fever, tiredness, and weight loss that last a month or more. Valley Fever can also infect the brain, joints, bone, skin, or other organs. This type of infections is rare; however, it can be serious and sometimes fatal. Most people who get Valley Fever fully recover and are usually protected from getting Valley Fever again (CDPH 2021).

Geographic Area

Extensive – Pandemics occur not only on a county or state level but on a national and global scale. It is likely that most communities in Tulare County would be affected, either directly or by secondary impacts.

Some indirect consequences may be the diversion of resources that may be otherwise available.

Extent (Magnitude/Severity)

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

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

Outbreaks are expected to occur simultaneously throughout much of the nation, preventing shifts in human and material resources that normally occur with other natural disasters. These and many other aspects make pandemics unlike any other public health emergency or community disaster. Pandemics typically las for several months to 1-2 years and have even longer-lasting effects on the economy and communities.

As described by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pandemic Intervals Framework (PIF) is a six- phase approach to defining the progression of a pandemic. This framework is used to guide pandemic planning and provides recommendations for risk assessment, decision-making, and action. The duration of each pandemic interval might vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response.

The six-phase approach was designed for the easy incorporation of recommendations into existing national and local preparedness and response plans. Phases1 through 3 correlates with preparedness in the pracademic interval, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases4 through 6 signal the need for response and mitigation efforts during the pandemic interval. Phase 6 was reached in the County during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak.

PRE-PANDEMIC INTERVAL

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

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

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

PANDEMIC INTERVAL

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

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

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

Past Occurrences

Since the early 1900’s, five lethal pandemics have swept the globe:
 The 1918 “Spanish Flu” (H1N1) - the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu was estimated to have sickened 20%- 40% of the world’s population. Over 20 million people lost their lives. Between September 1918 and April 1919, 500,000 Americans died. The flu spread rapidly; many died within a few days of infection; others from secondary complications. The attack rate and mortality were highest among adults 20-50 years old; the reasons for this are uncertain. By late September 1918, over 35,000 people throughout California had contracted the Spanish Flu. According to state officials, influenza was most prevalent in the southern part of California, but the death toll was high across the state.  The 1957-1958 “Asian Flu” (H2N2) – This virus was quickly identified due to advances in technology, and a vaccine was produced. Infection rates were highest among school children, young adults, and pregnant women. The elderly had the highest rates of death. A second wave was developed in 1958 and in total, there were about 70,000 deaths in the United States. Worldwide deaths were estimated between roughly 1 and 2 million.
 The 1968-1969 “Hong Kong Flu” (H3N2) – The strain of the H3N2 Hong Kong Flu caused approximately 34,000 deaths in the United States and more than 700,000 deaths globally. It was first detected in Hong Kong in early 1968 and spread to the United States later that year. Those over the age of 65 were most likely to die. This virus returned in 1970 and 1972 and still circulates today.  The 2003 SARS Outbreak – Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen counties in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained. According to the WHO, a total of 8,098 people worldwide became sick with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. Of these, 774 died. In the United States, only eight people had laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV infection. All of these people had traveled to other parts of the world where SARS was spreading. SARS did not spread more widely in the community in the United States. The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact.
 The 2009 (H1N1) Swine Flu – This influenza pandemic emerged from Mexico in early 2009 and was declared a public health emergency in the U.S. By June, approximately 18,000 cases had been reported in the U.S. and the virus had spread to 74 countries. Most cases were Faily mild, with Tulare County
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symptoms similar to the seasonal flu, but there were cases of severe disease requiring hospitalization and a number of deaths. The CDC estimates that 43-89 million people were infected worldwide, with an estimated 8,870 to 18,300 H1N1-related deaths, including 12,469 deaths in the United States.
 2020-Ongoing COVID-19 – The COVID-19 or novel coronavirus outbreak began in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic in March of 2020. As of October 12, 2021, over 219 million cases and more than 4.5 million deaths have been reported globally, according to the WHO.