2005 Local Mitigation Strategy Okeechobee County
Local Ritigation strategy
2005
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Okeechobee LMS Committee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Purpose 2
11. The Planning Process 3
III. Risk Assessment 4
IV. Mitigation Goals 6
V. Prioritization of Actions and Projects 6
VI. Mitigation Actions and Projects 6
VII. Plan Adoption 7
A. Public Meetings
B.Governing Body Acceptance
VIII. Incorporation into Other Plans 7
IX. Plan Maintenance and Continued Public Participation 8
X. Risk Assessments 8
XI. Natural Hazard Analysis 11
XII. Hurricane and Coastal Storms 14
XIII. Floods 17
XIV. Landslides/Sinkholes 19
XV. Wildfires 20
XVI. Severe Storms and Tornadoes 21
XVII. Drought/Heat Wave 23
XVIII. Winter Storms/Freezes 24
XIX. Hazard Analysis Summary 25
XX. Conclusions/Recommendations 26
Attachment A Current Actions and Projects List 27
Attachment B Local Resolutions 29
Attachment C Current LMS Workgroup Membership 32
Attachment D Plan Review Crosswalk 33
1
Purpose
The Okeechobee County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and its underlying planning
process are intended to serve many purposes. These include the following:
• Provide a Methodical, Substantive Approach to Mitigation Planning
The approach utilized by the Okeechobee County LMS Committee relies on the
application of soundly-based planning concepts in a methodical process to
identify vulnerabilities to future disasters and to propose the mitigation initiatives
necessary to avoid or minimize those vulnerabilities. Each step in the process
builds upon the previous step, so that there is a high level of assurance that the
mitigation initiatives proposed by the participants have a valid basis for both their
justification and priority for implementation. One key purpose of this plan is to
document that process and to present its results to the community.
• Enhance Public Awareness and Understanding
The committee is interested in fording ways to make the community as a whole
more aware of the natural, technological and societal hazards that threaten the
public health and safety, the economic vitality of businesses, and the operational
capability of important facilities and institutions. The plan identifies the hazards
threatening Okeechobee County and provides an assessment of the relative level
of risk they pose. The plan also includes a number of proposals of ways to avoid
or minimize those vulnerabilities. This information will be very helpful to
individuals that wish to understand how the community could become safer from
the impacts of future disasters.
• Create a Decision Tool for Management
The Okeechobee County Local Mitigation Plan provides information needed by
the managers and leaders of local government, business and industry, community
associations and other key institutions and organizations to take actions to address
vulnerabilities to future disasters. It also provides proposals for specific projects
and programs that are needed to eliminate or minimize those vulnerabilities.
• Promote Compliance with State and Federal Program Requirements
There are a number of state and federal grant programs, policies, and regulations
that encourage or even mandate local government to develop and maintain a
comprehensive hazard mitigation plan. This plan is specifically intended to assist
the participating local governments to comply with these requirements, and to
enable them to more fully and quickly respond to state and federal funding
opportunities for mitigation-related projects.
This plan is developed with the intention of meeting the new FEMA requirements
implemented to comply with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2K). This
plan qualifies Okeechobee County, Okeechobee City, and other eligible agencies
for future pre-disaster mitigation funding.
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• Assure Inter-Jurisdictional Coordination of Mitigation-Related
Programming
A key purpose of the planning process utilized by the Okeechobee County LMS
Committee is to ensure that proposals for mitigation initiatives are reviewed and
coordinated among the participating jurisdictions. In this way,there is a high level
of confidence that mitigation initiatives proposed by one jurisdiction or
participating organization, when implemented, will be compatible with the
interests of adjacent jurisdictions and unlikely to duplicate or interfere with
mitigation initiatives proposed by others.
• Provide a Flexible Approach to the Planning Process
The planning process used by the Okeechobee County LMS Committee is
comprehensive in nature, utilizing information compiled from the community
during public meetings, reviews of existing plans, studies, and reports, as well as
the contributions from area business and industries.
II. The Planning Process
Public involvement: During the initial stages of plan development, several public
meetings were held throughout Okeechobee County. Surveys were distributed to the
public through various methods, completed, and returned to the committee for evaluation.
As a public meeting, Okeechobee LMS meetings are open to the general public, and
announced to the public through local media releases. Additionally, all members of the
committee are charged with maintaining and increasing community participation in
committee activities through contact with community and business organizations.
Community, agencies, businesses, and other private & non-profit interests: As a
multi jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, the planning effort has been conducted
through the coordinated, cooperative effort of several local governments including
Okeechobee County and the City of Okeechobee. Other key participants, organizations
and agencies have been Florida Power and Light, Columbia Raulerson Hospital, The
Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce, Berger Insurance, Florida Division of Forestry, and
the Coquina and South Florida Water Management Districts. The Committee has also
actively engaged the community at large in the mitigation planning process, undertaking
several efforts to solicit the community's opinions and recommendations regarding
mitigation needs and the topics covered in the plan.
Use of existing plans, studies, and reports: The County's existing LMS document was
reviewed and compared to the new FEMA requirements, as well as,the State's
requirements for a mitigation section to be part of the County's Comprehensive
Emergency Management Plan. Deficiencies were identified utilizing an established
crosswalk, and corrective actions implemented to up-date the plan.
Plan Development: This plan was compiled by DisasTech International, LLC
(Consultants)under contract to the Central Florida Regional Planning Council and
supervised by the Okeechobee County LMS Committee and Okeechobee County
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Emergency Management. Development was accomplished utilizing the deliverables as
established in an agreement between Okeechobee County and the Florida Division of
Emergency Management.
III. Risk Assessment
Okeechobee County is vulnerable to a variety of natural and manmade hazards. While the
hazards associated with coastal areas are not applicable,the county is subject to severe
weather in several forms. The highest risk hazards throughout the planning area, in
descending order based on the relative risk ratings, are considered to be:
• Floods
• Hurricanes and Coastal Storms
• Severe Storms/Tornadoes
• Wildfires
• Drought/Heat Wave
A further assessment for each of these hazards was conducted to determine:
• Previous occurrences
• The location and extent of damages
• The probability of future events
• Vulnerability and impact of future events
• The possible impact to buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities
• Human and economic impacts
• Potential dollar losses to structures
• Land uses and development trends
• Differences in jurisdictional risks
Upon completion of these assessments,the analysis concluded that:
Floods. Okeechobee County has a number of low or poorly drained areas which regularly
experience flooding with or without a storm. Pre-storm rainfall can not be considered
independently when projecting requirements for road closures. The cumulative annual
rainfall, saturation of the ground, and status of the drainage network are perhaps more
significant factors. The flood maps included in this plan provide more information on
hose areas of Okeechobee County which experience repetitive flooding.
Hurricanes and Coastal Storms. Florida is the most vulnerable state in the nation to the
impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season runs from June through
November. In June and October, the regions of maximum hurricane activity are the Gulf
of Mexico and the western Caribbean. In Okeechobee County, the primary effects from a
hurricane are high winds and inland flooding. Tornadoes associated with tropical storms
are most frequent in September and October when the incidence of tropical storms is
greatest. Inland flooding can accompany any hurricane due to the low elevation of much
of the county. The vulnerability of Okeechobee County to hurricanes varies with the
progression of the hurricane season.
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Severe Storms / Tornadoes. Severe weather disrupts daily lives more than any other
form of weather. Each year thousands of dollars go to fixing or replacing televisions,
computers, homes, and aircraft damaged by such storms. Crops are also subject to
damage or destruction by hail associated with storms. Thunderstorms can also be deadly.
Florida leads the nation in lightening related deaths, and is among the top ten states prone
to devastation from tornadoes. Thunderstorms are also responsible for delivering most of
the state's rain fall. Okeechobee County is among the top ten counties in Florida in
number of lightening injuries and deaths. Tornadoes occur in connection with
thunderstorms and frequently are accompanied or followed by lightening and sometimes
heavy rain or hail. Tornadoes associated with tropical storms are most frequent in
September and October when the potential for tropical storms is greatest. These
tornadoes usually occur around the perimeter of the leading edge of the storm and
sometimes result in the outbreak of several tornadoes. These tornadoes generally move in
an easterly or northeasterly direction. All areas of the county are vulnerable to severe
storms and tornadoes. The potential for damage and loss of life increases as a function of
population density. As the number of structures and people increase, so does the
probability of human casualties and property losses. This is compounded by the county's
high number of mobile home residents. Mobile homes are extremely susceptible to wind
damage due to the light construction materials, flat sides and roofs, and lack of permanent
foundation, however remain an attractive housing prospect for many individuals due to
their relative affordability.
Wildfires. Forest lands and other wild lands in Okeechobee County are extremely
susceptible to wildfires. Fire has been excluded from much of the wild land in the county
causing heavy fuel loading in the wildland-urban interface. Many low lands and wetlands
in Okeechobee County are comprised of organic soils, often called "muck". Fires in these
areas during droughts cause substantial smoke hazards to the county's citizens. Wildfires
in general are difficult and costly o extinguish, and thus require a large amount of
resources. Maps illustrating historical wildfire events are included in the plan.
Drought / Heat Wave. Drought occurs when there is a deficiency of precipitation,
creating an imbalance between available water supplies and demand. The state has been
impacted by drought on a repeated basis over the last few years. The severity of drought
may be considered as a function of both the duration and the magnitude of the
precipitation deficiency. In Okeechobee County, groundwater is a source of drinking
water for about 90% of the population. The principal source of groundwater for
Okeechobee County is the Floridian aquifer system. This aquifer system is extremely
vulnerable to the effects of drought. During a drought the Floridian aquifer can fall to
dangerously low levels through excessive drawdown. This also results in the inability of
sandy soils to support agricultural production because of the low moisture holding
capacities. Another source of water is Lake Okeechobee. This lake serves as a major
water storage area for southeastern Florida, and has historically fallen to below 11 feet
for 110 days. A severe drought in 2001 affected the county, and all of central Florida,
resulting in water rationing in much of the area.
Summer heat in Okeechobee County approaches 100 degrees from May until early
September. These days require extensive use of air conditioning systems across the
county which could result in potential power failures. Many senior citizens or others with
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health problems are susceptible to loss of power conditions which could place them in
dangerous situations. Homeless persons, or those is substandard housing, are also at risk.
The combination of high temperatures and the sever weather incidents that are spawn
from these conditions will put this population in danger.
IV. Mitigation Goals
The Okeechobee County LMS Committee has established a number of goals and
objectives to guide its work in the development of this plan. The goals selected by the
committee are related to the broad mitigation needs and capabilities of the communities
involved, rather than addressing a specific hazard type or category. Therefore, the
Okeechobee County mitigation goals and objectives, by definition, are "multi-hazard" in
scope and can be described as statements of the desired "mitigation-related capabilities"
that will be present in each participating jurisdiction in the future as the goals are
achieved. The goals are as follows:
• Educate home and business owners on mitigation measures
• Encourage participation in the National Flood Insurance and Flood Mitigation
Assistance Programs
• Complete projects that benefit as many residents as possible
• Insure that critical services and facilities are protected
• Insure that projects produce long-term, cost effective benefits
• Provide sufficient shelter space in public facilities by retrofitting those facilities
V. Prioritization of Actions and Projects
Each jurisdiction is encouraged to submit actions and projects to the committee for
inclusion into the LMS. Each proposed project is approved and prioritized utilizing the
following criteria:
• Ability of the project to meet state and federal requirements
• Priority established by the submitting jurisdiction/agency
• Criticality of the project to the community health, safety, and/or welfare
• Number of residents served or benefited
• Age of structure and lifespan of benefit
• Availability of applicant's matching funds
• Costs versus benefits of the project
Actions and projects rated as high must be considered by the committee as meeting all
criteria.
VI. Mitigation Actions and Projects
At the heart of this plan are the actions and projects that were submitted, approved, and
prioritized. They represent the plan of action to reduce future damages and disruptions to
essential services. Attachment"B"is the current listing of projects proposed/planned by
the various jurisdictions within Okeechobee County.
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Planning Departments ensure all new building, infrastructure, and development is in
accordance with the Growth Management Plans of the county and state.
Building Departments ensure all building construction meets the minimum standards of
the new State Building Code, and that all construction in the 100-year flood plain is
elevated above the Base Flood Elevation established by FEMA. Also ensure that
modifications and improper uses below the Base Flood Elevation do not occur.
Emergency Management makes information on mitigation measures available to new
and current home and business owners.
VII. Plan Adoption
Public Meetings—Several public meeting were held across the county throughout 2003
to allow for comments and input prior to the start of the revision process. Following the
approval of this plan,but prior to final adoption,the public will be provided an
opportunity to review and comment on its revisions.
Governing Body Acceptance—Following review and comments from the public,the
Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners and the governing body of Okeechobee
City shall sign and adopt this LMS. Resolution templates have been provided in
attachment"C"of this plan.
VIII. Incorporation into Other Plans
As part of the regular meetings of the Okeechobee LMS Committee,members will
dedicate at least one meeting annually to enduring that the goals, priorities, actions, and
projects established in this plan are incorporated into ongoing county and city planning
activities. This plan will be incorporated into the following planning mechanisms as
indicated below prior submission of the next update for approval by the Florida Division
of Emergency Management and FEMA.
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan—This LMS will be incorporated into
the CEMP by reference, and utilized as the plan's mitigation section.
Comprehensive Land Use Plan—This LMS will be incorporated through the integration
of the risk assessment section into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Capital Improvement Plan—This LMS will be incorporated into the Capital
Improvements Plan by scheduling select mitigation projects utilizing local funding.
Flood Plain Management Plan—Portions of the risk assessment contained in this LMS
will be incorporated into the Flood Plain Management Plan to address riverine and inland
flooding issues.
Community Rating System—To further reduce the cost of flood insurance under the
NFIP,this LMS will be incorporated by reference.
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IX. Plan Maintenance & Continued Public Participation
This plan will be reviewed and updated in one or each of the following ways:
• Annually
• Within 90 days after a disaster
• At any meeting of the LMS Committee,upon request of at least three members
Continued public participation will be ensured by the constant efforts of each member of
the LMS Committee to recruit comments and involve the public in the local mitigation
strategies.
X. Risk Assessment
This section of the Okeechobee County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan summarizes the
results of the hazard identification and vulnerability assessment processes undertaken by
the committee members. The intent of this section is to provide a compilation of the
information gathered and the judgments made about the hazards threatening Okeechobee
County as a whole, and the potential vulnerability to those hazards.
The technical planning process begins with hazard identification. In this process, the
Planning Committee and representatives of individual jurisdictions identify all of the
natural, technological and societal or man-made hazards that could threaten the
community. When the hazard types are identified as relevant to, or of concern for, that
jurisdiction, the participants can make an estimate of the risk each poses to the
jurisdiction being evaluated.
The estimate of risk is based on the judgment of the planners regarding the likely
frequency of occurrence of the hazard event compared to its probable consequences. For
purposes of this analysis, "risk" is defined as a relative measure of the probability that a
hazard event will occur in comparison to the consequences or impacts of that event. That
is, if a hazard event occurs frequently, and has very high consequences, then that hazard
is considered to pose a very high risk to the affected communities. In comparison, if a
hazard event is not expected to occur frequently, and even if it did, the consequences
would be minimal,then that hazard is considered to pose a very low risk.
This relationship between frequency of occurrence and consequences of an event can be
illustrated by the following graph:
Very
Frequent
0 al
•
Z �Qos
a v XIC° High Risk
Unexpected •••����.....,��
or Very Rare Low Risk .
Severe or 8
This graph illustrates that some hazards can be defined as "low risk," for they do not
occur often enough and/or do not result in significant impacts even when they do. In
comparison, other hazards may occur often enough and/or have sufficiently severe
consequences when they do,that they must be considered"high risk."
By considering the relative risk of the different hazards that threaten each participating
jurisdiction, greater priority can be given to the "higher" risk hazards, in order to most
effectively utilize the time and resources available for the mitigation planning process. In
this way, the planning approach used for Okeechobee County supports what can be
termed "risk-based planning" because it facilitates the participants' capabilities to focus
on the highest risk hazards.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, each jurisdiction is
required to be evaluated for a prescribed list of natural hazards. These hazards are:
• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis
• Coastal and Riverine Erosion
• Landslides/Sinkholes
• Hurricanes and Coastal Storms
• Severe Storms/Tornadoes
• Floods
• Wildfires
• Dam/Levee Failure
• Volcanic Activity
• Drought/Heat Wave
• Winter Storms/Freezes.
While several of these hazards are relevant to Okeechobee County and the participating
jurisdictions, some are not due to the geographic location and characteristics of the
planning area. If, during the planning process, a specific hazard is assessed, and the
relative risk estimate for that hazard is determined to be zero (meaning the hazard
actually poses no identifiable risk to the jurisdiction), then that hazard is not considered
further in the planning process, in the subsequent assessments of vulnerability of the
community to that hazard, or evaluation of the adequacy of the policies of the jurisdiction
to manage the risks posed by that hazard. The following hazards were not ranked as
significant to the area by those representatives making the planning decisions, for they
have been designated as posing zero risk to the specific jurisdiction.
• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis
• Coastal and Riverine Erosion
• Dam/Levee Failure
• Volcanic Activity
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In deriving these estimates of risk for each hazard, the participating jurisdictions have
utilized any available information regarding the geographic areas that may be impacted
by each identified hazard, as well as population, infrastructure and facilities within those
impacted areas. For many of the participating jurisdictions, this information has not been
available in a geographic information system (GIS) database, but has been accessed from
internet websites and existing GIS databases available from state and federal agencies.
It must be emphasized that in some cases, detailed information regarding the areas
potentially impacted by a specific hazard, as well as its potential health and safety,
property, environmental and economic impacts of that hazard, may not have been
available. Therefore, it has often been necessary to rely on the informed judgment of
knowledgeable local officials to identify hazards and derive estimates of the risk each
poses to the community. Committee members believe that their experience with their
own communities, as well as their capabilities to derive reasonable estimates of the
geographic area at risk and the potential impacts of the hazard, is adequate for the
purposes of this planning effort. While assessment of past disasters can also be very
informative regarding the types, locations, or scope of mitigation initiatives that would be
needed to prevent similar damages from future events of the same type, no records have
been kept of past disaster events. Therefore the committee intends to assess as many past
disaster events as feasible with the resources available for the planning process.
This section provides the updated analyses for those hazards that have affected, or are
likely to affect the Okeechobee County mitigation planning area. These hazards include:
• Floods
• Hurricanes and Coastal Storms
• Severe Storms/Tornadoes
• Wildfires
• Drought/Heat Wave
• Winter Storms/Freezes
The following sections describe the relative risk posed by various hazard categories to the
jurisdictions evaluated. Current land use and future development maps are included, and
are referred to in each detailed hazard assessment section. A summary matrix for each
hazard, followed by conclusions and recommendations is included at the end of this
section.
XI. Natural Hazard Analysis
The following natural hazards have been identified by FEMA Region IV, for analysis and
possible inclusion in the Okeechobee Local Mitigation Strategy.
Earthquakes—The U.S. Geological Survey,National Seismic Mapping Project
(website), locates Okeechobee County in the 1%g(peak acceleration)area. Because of
this very low rating the Florida Division of Emergency Management does not require
local Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans to address earthquakes as a hazard
that is likely to affect our residents and visitors. Therefore, an earthquake assessment
will be excluded.
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Tsunamis—According to FEMA 386-2 CD, Florida has a relatively low tsunami risk and
The Florida Division of Emergency Management does not require local plans to address
tsunamis as a hazard. An assessment will be excluded.
Coastal and Riverine Erosion—Okeechobee County is an inland county and therefore
not directly subject to coastal erosion hazards. Besides Taylor Creek,the only other body
of moving water is the Kissimmee River which flows south from Lake Kissimmee to
Lake Okeechobee, forming the county's western boundary. Erosion is not a hazard, and
an assessment will be excluded.
Landslides/Sinkholes—According to the USGSA website, Okeechobee County has less
than 1.5% susceptibility for a landslide incident. However, sinkholes are a common,
naturally occurring geologic phenomenon and one of the predominant landforms in
Florida. Many of the lakes in Florida were formed by sinkholes.
Sinkholes are depressions or holes in the land surface that occur throughout west central
Florida. They can be shallow or deep, small or large,but all are a result of the underlying
limestone dissolving. Hydrologic conditions including lack of rainfall, lowered water
levels, or conversely, excessive rainfall in a short period of time, can all contribute to
sinkhole development.
Sinkholes can be classified as geologic hazards, sometimes causing extensive damage to
structures and roads,resulting costly repairs. Sinkholes can also threaten water supplies
by draining unfiltered water from streams, lakes and wetlands, directly into the aquifer.
Hurricanes and Coastal Storms—A hurricane is a severe tropical storm that forms in
the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes develop
in warm, tropical waters, where moisture is plentiful, and winds are light. A hurricane
can produce violent winds, incredible waves, torrential rains and floods. Other coastal
storms produce similar, yet lesser effects.
Hurricanes are categorized by the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale:
Category Wind Speed Storm Surge Damage
1 74—95 mph 4—5 feet Minor
2 96— 110 mph 6—8 feet Moderate
3 111 — 130 mph 9— 12 feet Major
4 131 — 155 mph 13 — 18 feet Extensive
5 156 mph> 18 feet > Catastrophic
Sever Storm/Tornadoes—Tornadoes are one of nature's most violent storms. A tornado
is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
Tornadoes come in all shapes and sizes, and can occur anywhere in the United States, at
any time of the year. In southern states,peak tornado season is March through May.
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Tornadoes are categorized by the Fujita scale:
Category Damage Wind Speed
FO Minor <72 mph
F 1 Moderate 73 — 112 mph
F2 Significant 113-157 mph
F3 Sever 158—206 mph
F4 Devastating 207—260 mph
F5 Incredible 261 >mph
Floods—Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disaster, except fire.
A flood, as defined by the National Flood Insurance Program website is a"general and
temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally
dry land area or of tow or more properties from":
• Overflow of inland or tidal waters,
• Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from land
source, or
• A mudflow.
Floods can be slow or fast rising,but generally develop over a period of days.
Wildfires—the National Interagency Fire Center website rates Florida in the low fire
damage class. However, as a mostly rural county, much of Okeechobee County remains
in the high to moderate probability category for wildfires.
Wildfires can erupt at any time of the year from a variety of causes, including arson,
lightning, and debris burning. Florida's wildfire season normally runs from December to
June, with the larges/greatest number of acres burned peaking in May.
In April and May, Florida usually has a dry spell. This is because the frontal passages
from the north and west are no longer moving through the state and the summer
thunderstorm activity has not yet started.
Dam/Levee Failure—There are no dams in or near Okeechobee County that can fail and
create a severe flood hazard. However, Lake Okeechobee does utilize earthen levees
around its border, but only a small portion of the county's population border the lake.
With the deepest part of the lake at only 9 feet, combined with the mitigation measures
already in place by the Water Management Districts resulted in a very low rating of this
hazard. An assessment is excluded.
Drought/Heart Wave—A drought is a period of abnormally dry weather which persists
long enough to produce serious hydrologic imbalance such as crop damage,water
shortage, etc. The severity of the drought depends on the degree of moisture deficiency,
the duration and the size of the affected area.
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There are 4 ways to define drought:
Meteorological—means a measure of the departure of precipitation from normal. Due to
climatic differences, what is considered a drought in one location may not be a drought in
another location.
Agricultural—refers to a situation when the amount of moisture in the soil no longer
meets the needs of a particular crop.
Hydrological—occurs when surface and subsurface water supplies are below normal.
Socioeconomic—refers to what occurs when physical water shortage begins to affect
people.
Winter Storms/Freezes—According to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services (DOACS), a moderate freeze may be expected every 1-2 years. Severe freezes
may be expected on an average of once every 15 to 20 years. Temperatures in the 20s can
last for as long as 6—8 hours from December—March causing hard freezes. Freezes pose
a major hazard to the agriculture industry in Okeechobee County on a recurring basis,
and are a significant threat to the economic vitality of the State's vital agriculture
industry.
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XII Hurricanes and Coastal Storms
Location and Extent—Simply being in Florida makes Okeechobee County vulnerable to
the affects of hurricanes and tropical storms. However,the geographical location protects
residents from storm surges associated with hurricanes,but not the severe winds.
Previous Occurrences—In 2004 Okeechobee County was directly impacted by two
hurricanes, while indirectly affected by two others. Hurricane Charley made landfall on
August 13th, Frances on September 4th, Ivan on September 16th, and hurricane Jeanne on
September 26th. Total damages in Okeechobee County are still being determined. The
population of Okeechobee County at the time was around 37,481 residents. Prior to the
2004 season, only hurricanes David in 1979 and Irene in 1999 along with Tropical
Storms Jerry in 1995 and Mitch in 1998 have impacted the county within the last 10
years.
Probability of Future Events—According to NOAA's website, Central Florida has a
50%probability of being struck by a named storm. Recent history indicates that
residents can expect a storm to affect Okeechobee County every 2-3 years, and the most
likely event will be a Category 3 or lesser storm.
Vulnerability and Impact—Okeechobee County is very vulnerable to the effects of a
hurricane. Over 7,842 or 50.6%of residence are in low laying areas and mobile home
parks while over 63%of all county residents live in mobile home trailers that are subject
to evacuation for a Category 1 hurricane and over 15,504 residencies, or 35,910 residents
for a Category 3 or greater storm.
Existing Buildings,Infrastructure and Critical Facilities—Over 17,510 homes and
businesses would receive moderate to minor damage from a Category 3 hurricane. There
are also 139 critical facilities located within the Category 3 storm impact area.
Future Buildings,Infrastructure and Critical Facilities—There are dozens of lots for
sale throughout Okeechobee County and building will continue until build-out occurs.
With growth comes the need for a larger infrastructure resulting in critical facilities being
located in vulnerable areas.
Human and Economic Impact—Following the direct impact of a hurricane many
residents will be unable to return to their homes. Many mobile/manufactured homes will
be destroyed and repairs to other homes that are uninhabitable may take weeks/months to
complete. Some may choose to never return to their homes as was the case following
Hurricane Andrew. The economic impact will vary greatly. Many small businesses will
close forever while others will prosper. Home repair, carpet and appliance businesses
will experience short-term increases in business. Other businesses,particularly those
associated with tourism or real estate sales, will suffer.
Potential Dollar Losses to Structures—The risk assessment data for wind-related
damage in Okeechobee County are based on data developed for the MEMPHIS, which
was developed by the FDEM. Wind-related damage in either a 100-year or 50 year event
15
could cause light damage to structures in Okeechobee County. A 25-year event could
lightly damage one-third of the structures in Okeechobee County, and a 10-year event
should cause no damage. The table below illustrates the value of damaged structures and
population in certain storm return periods.
Damage 100-Year Event 50-Year Event 25-Year Event 10-Year Event
Number of Structures
Light Damage 16,985 17,406 16,953 3,465
Number of Structures 524 0 0 0
-Moderate Damage
Number
No Damage Structures 0 112 565 14,053
Value ofStructures $1,122,054,400 $1,134,276,096 $1,083,977,728 $166,177,216
-Light t Dam
Value of Structures $16,767,305 0 0 0
-Moderate Damage
Val No IfjSaWctures $910,694 $5,455,974 $55,754,196 $973,554,304
PopulaUtion in Light 34,645 35,910 35,260 4,164
Population in Moderate 1,265 0 0 0
Damage
Population e No 0 0 650 31,746
Furthermore, according to this assessment,a Category 5 storm has the potential to
destroy or damage all structures in Okeechobee County. A Category 3 storm would place
the majority of structures in the moderate damage category. And a Category 1 storm
would cause minor or no damage to structures in Okeechobee County. Table below
displays the wind-related exposure in Okeechobee County for hurricane-strength storms.
Damage Category 5 Category 4 Category 3 Category 2 Category 1
Number
Destroyed 362 0 0 0 0
Number
Heavy 13,960 132 0 0 0
Damage
Number
Moderate 2,937 16,809 9,371 0 0
Damage
Number
Light 259 577 8,147 17,518 16,865
Damage
Number
No 0 0 0 0 653
Damage
Value
Destroyed $44,091,604 0 0 0 0
Value
Heavy $828,303,232 $4,506,179 0 0 0
Damage
Value
Moderate $243,949,408 $1,077,746,304 $467,604,672 0 0
Damage
Value
Light $23,388,752 $57,478,680 $672,127,488 $1,139,732,480 $1,069,972,736
Damage
Value No
Damage 0 0 0 0 $69,759,832
16
Land Uses and Development Trends—Most future development will occur throughout
the county,but predominantly within Okeechobee City along Lake Okeechobee. Because
of the vulnerability to hurricane force winds, future construction is subject to the State's
stringent building codes, and county zoning requirements regarding flood zones.
Jurisdictional Risk Assessment
Area of the County Surge Wind
Unincorporated Areas Low—Moderate High
Okeechobee City Moderate High
17
Historic-al Hurricane,Track. s for OKEECHOBEE County
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C:ategvy 1 Hurricane Assessment for OKEECHOBEE County
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Okeechobee County
Category 1 Hurricane Data
Impact Summary
Peak winds 81.mph, peak water depth 4.7ft.
Category 1 Maxima Damage Summary:
Tax Parcel based Wind Damage: $ 69.49 Million
DOR based Flood Damage: $ 841.62 Thousand
DOR Structures in Flood Zone: 34
Census based Wind Damage: $ 76.31 Million
Census based Flood .Damage: $ 513.61 Thousand
Uninhabitable Housing Units: 95 0.6%of total HU.
Table 2.1: Countywide Population at risk for Category 1 Maxima
Total TS Wind Hur Wind Ext Wind Flooded
Total 35910 35910 2961 0 99
Minority 7602 7602 222 0 0
Over 65 5923 5923 927 0 26
Disabled 14803 14803 1546 0 48
Poverty 5391 5391 352 0 40
Lang Iso 733 733 0 0 0
Sing Pnt 1997 1997 159 0 0
Table 2.2: Countywide Structures at risk for Category 1 Maxima
Total TS Wind Hur Wind Ext Wind Flooded
SF Res 6351 6351 1304 0 13
Mob Home 6495 6495 1641 0 14
MF Res 558 558 188 0 3
C nmmmrr.ial 949 947 71 n n n
21
Agriculture 2738 2738 281 0 4
Gov/Instit 434 434 48 0 0
Table 2.3: Countywide Loss by DOR Use for Category 1 Maxima
Exposure Loss Percent Loss
SF Res $ 1.42 Billion $ 14.89 Million 1.0%
Mob Home $ 481.42 Million $ 29.68 Million 6.2%
MF Res $ 60.69 Million $ 727.49 Thousand 1.2%
Commercial $425.20 Million $ 4.42 Million 1.0%
Agriculture $ 374.38 Million $ 3.94 Million 1.1%
Gov/Instit $ 1.99 Billion $ 15.84 Million 0.8%
22
Okeechobee City
Category 1 Hurricane Data
Impact Summary
Peak winds 76.mph, peak water depth 0.0ft.
Category 1 Maxima Damage Summary:
Tax Parcel based Wind Damage: $ 8.54 Million
DOR based Flood Damage: $ 0.00 dollars
DOR Structures in Flood Zone: 0
Census based Wind Damage: $ 5.32 Million
Census based Flood .Damage: $ 0.00 dollars
Uninhabitable Housing Units: 2 0.1%of total HU.
Population at risk for Category 1 Maxima
Total TS Wind Hur Wind Ext Wind Flooded
Total 5284 5284 371 0 0
Minority 1167 1167 86 0 0
Over 65 975 975 50 0 0
Disabled 2187 2187 104 0 0
Poverty 926 926 7 0 0
Lang Iso 103 103 0 0 0
Sing Pnt 388 388 31 0 0
Structures at risk for Category 1 Maxima
Total TS Wind Hur Wind Ext Wind Flooded
SF Res 1655 1655 268 0 0
Mob Home 412 412 24 0 0
MF Res 103 103 10 0 0
Cnmmercia1 11 117 444 n n
23
Agriculture 115 115 23 0 0
Gov/Instit 126 126 15 0 0
Loss by DOR Use for Category 1 Maxima
Exposure Loss Percent Loss
SF Res $ 341.50 Million $ 3.53 Million 1.0%
Mob Home $ 25.60 Million $ 1.29 Million 5.0%
MF Res $ 12.19 Million $ 117.89 Thousand 1.0%
Commercial $ 170.01 Million $ 1.60 Million 0.9%
Agriculture $ 139.40 Million $ 1.38 Million 1.0%
Gov/Instit $ 65.01 Million $ 628.91 Thousand 1.0%
24
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Category 2 Hurricane Assessment for OKEECHOBEE County
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EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10:00 A.M. EDT,APRIL 14, 2005(THURSDAY)
Tablet Population Estimates for the 100 Fastest-Growing U.S.Counties by Percentage Growth from
July 1,2003 to July 1,2004
Population estimates Change,2003 to 2004
Rank Geographic area July 1,2004 I July 1,2003 Number I Percent
1 Flagler County FL 69,005 62,696 6,309 10.1
2 Kendall County IL 72,548 67,018 5,530 8.3
3 Loudoun County VA 239,156 221,150 18,006 8.1
4 Hanson County SD 3,786 3,508 278 7.9
5 Lincoln County SD 31,437 29,247 2,190 7.5
6 Lampasas County TX 20,718 19,306 1,412 7.3
7 Lyon County NV 43,230 40,309 2,921 7.2
8 Camden County NC 8,437 7,867 570 7.2
9 St.Johns County FL 152,473 142,949 9,524 6.7
10 Dallas County IA 49,591 46,519 3,072 6.6
11 Osceola County FL 219,544 205,993 13,551 6.6
12 Newton County GA 81,524 76,534 4,990 6.5
13 Rockwall County TX 58,260 54,724 3,536 6.5
14 Henry County GA 159,506 150,165 9,341 6.2
15 Forsyth County GA 131,865 124,213 7,652 6.2
16 Douglas County CO 237,963 224,419 13,544 6.0
17 Cumtuck County NC 22,067 20,813 1,254 6.0
18 St.Lucie County FL 226,816 214,031 12,785 6.0
19 Paulding County GA 105,936 100,037 5,899 5.9
20 Storey County NV 3,737 3,532 205 5.8
21 Golden Valley County MT 1,117 1,057 60 5.7
22 Lake County FL 260,788 246,844 13,944 5.6
23 Matanuska-Susitna Borough AK 72,278 68,414 3,864 5.6
24 Barrow County GA 56,418 53,420 2,998 5.6
25 Franklin County WA 59,472 56,339 3,133 5.6
26 Saguache County CO 7,029 6,668 361 5.4
27 Scott County MN 114,794 108,910 5,884 5.4
28 Fort Bend County TX 442,620 419,995 22,625 5.4
29 Union County NC 153,652 145,980 7,672 5.3
30 Nye County NV 37,714 35,832 1,882 5.3
31 Bryan County GA 27,535 26,165 1,370 5.2
32 Union County FL 14,673 13,943 730 5.2
33 Douglas County GA 107,217 101,905 5,312 5.2
34 Washington County UT 109,924 104,498 5,426 5.2
35 Delaware County OH 142,503 135,474 7,029 5.2
36 Montgomery County TX 362,382 344,651 17,731 5.1
37 Collin County TX 627,938 597,307 30,631 5.1
38 Pasco County FL 407,799 388,224 19,575 5.0
39 Riverside County CA 1,871,950 1,782,822 89,128 5.0
40 Mineral County CO 932 888 44 5.0
41 Hamilton County IN 231,760 220,864 10,896 4.9
42 DeSoto County MS 130,587 124,483 6,104 4.9
43 Roberts County TX 863 823 40 4.9
44 Will County IL 613,849 585,482 28,367 4.8
45 Hoke County NC 39,262 37,452 1,810 4.8
46 Pinal County AZ 214,359 204,529 9,830 4.8
47 Clark County NV 1,650,671 1,575,386 75,285 4.8
.1•ULAtsa 21,806 4.41
as rt,.:_.:_..1^.-..-..
48 Hernando County FL 150,370 143,514 6,856 4.8
49 Clay County FL 164,394 156,995 7,399 4.7
50 St.Francois County MO 60,724 58,003 2,721 4.7
51 Manassas Park city VA 11,519 11,005 514 4.7
52 Sublette County WY 6,654 6,358 296 4.7
53 Jackson County GA 49,540 47,337 2,203 4.7
54 Cherokee County GA 174,680 166,947 7,733 4.6
55 Southeast Fairbanks Census Area AK 5,997 5,733 264 4.6
56 Berkeley County WV 89,362 85,439 3,923 4.6
57 Comal County TX 91,806 87,777 4,029 4.6
58 Williamson County TX 317,938 304,024 13,914 4.6
59 Placer County CA 307,004 293,630 13,374 4.6
60 Santa Rosa County FL 138,276 132,266 6,010 4.5
61 Walton County FL 48,477 46,388 2,089 4.5
62 Mohave County AZ 179,981 172,248 7,733 4.5
63 King George County VA 19,355 18,526 829 4.5
64 Sherbume County MN 78,762 75,399 3,363 4.5
65 Lee County FL 514,295 492,489 21,806 4.4
66 Christian County MO 64,273 61,564 2,709 4.4
67 Pike County GA 15,750 15,088 662 4.4
68 Effingham County GA 44,661 42,786 1,875 4.4
69 Benton County AR 179,756 172,263 7,493 4.3
70 Boone County KY 101,354 97,161 4,193 4.3
71 Suffolk city VA 76,586 73,423 3,163 4.3
72 New Kent County VA 15,552 14,917 635 4.3
73 Hinsdale County CO 810 777 33 4.2
74 Wakulla County FL 27,179 26,072 1,107 4.2
75 James City County VA 55,502 53,244 2,258 4.2
76 St.Croix County WI 74,339 71,330 3,009 4.2
77 Stafford County VA 114,781 110,236 4,545 4.1
78 Boone County IL 48,490 46,590 1,900 4.1
79 Sanders County MT 10,945 10,520 425 4.0
80 Kootenai County ID 122,350 117,614 4,736 4.0
81 Culpeper County VA 40,192 38,640 1,552 4.0
82 Gwinnett County GA 700,794 673,774 27,020 4.0
83 Fayette County TN 33,624 32,330 1,294 4.0
84 Canyon County ID 158,038 151,998 6,040 4.0
85 Wright County MN 106,889 102,820 4,069 4.0
86 Madera County CA 138,951 133,696 5,255 3.9
87 Prince William County VA 336,586 323,867 12,719 3.9
88 Denton County TX 530,597 510,616 19,981 3.9
89 Wilson County TX 36,726 35,343 1,383 3.9
90 Kaufman County TX 85,377 82,175 3,202 3.9
91 Spotsylvania County VA 111,850 107,682 4,168 3.9
92 Hendricks County IN 123,476 118,880 4,596 3.9
93 Okeechobee County FL 38,988 37,537 1,451 3.9
94 Rutherford County TN 210,025 202,225 7,800 3.9
95 Carver County MN 82,122 79,106 3,016 3.8
96 Deschutes County OR 134,479 129,542 4,937 3.8
97 Warren County OH 189,276 182,330 6,946 3.8
98 Williamson County TN 146,935 141,551 5,384 3.8
99 Burnet County TX 40,286 38,818 1,468 3.8
100 Shelby County AL 165,677 159,641 6,036 3.8