WATER RELATED NATURAL HAZARDS

The State of Ohio has experienced thousands of hazard events (including 36 Presidential disaster declarations), resulting in millions of dollars in losses and casualties.  Thirty-three of those disaster declarations were water related.  Since January 1, 1964, federally declared disasters in Ohio have resulted in federal and state disaster recovery costs of nearly $473 million – damages were much higher. 

In fact, one single event, the 1913 flood, when adjusted for 2003 dollars resulted in over $2 billion in damages. The leading water related hazard in Ohio is flooding, which occurs every year causing millions of dollars in damage and lives lost.  Other water related hazards include droughts, winter storms, landslides, coastal erosion and dam failures.  Hazards may also be related to other water related sensitive areas such as contamination of water at source water protections areas.  The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) is the central point of coordination within the state for response and recovery to disasters.

The primary focus of OEMA when not in a response or recovery mode is to ensure that the state, and its 11 million citizens, is prepared to respond to an emergency or disaster and to lead mitigation efforts against the effects of future disasters.  Approximately two dozen state agencies, with input from nongovernmental groups and the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and several other federal agencies, have developed a State of Ohio Mitigation Plan (December 20, 2004).  The Plan currently includes five hazards, with nine additional hazards (some of which are not water related) to be progressively added by the next threeyear update.  Assisting OEMA with state and local mitigation plans and supporting programs to reduce natural hazard losses that encourage local stakeholders participation have been identified as a strategic issue. 

Cooperation among all levels of government is necessary for effective management of water related hazards.  For example, emergency management systems are a tiered effort.  When an emergency exceeds the capacity of local government, assistance is requested of the state through OEMA.  If the emergency exceeds the capacity of the state, assistance is requested from the President through FEMA.  As a result of the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, which amended the Stafford Act, all jurisdictions in Ohio are required develop hazard mitigation plans if they wish to remain eligible for Federal mitigation funds.  Planning is underway in 87 of the 88 counties and five municipalities.  Seventeen county plans have been certified.  Preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation are critical to reduce financial losses and lives lost from water related hazards.

Objectives: (under review)

1. Assist state agencies and local governments to incorporate water related hazards in all plans.
   All local governments are prepared to respond to water related natural hazards.
   More efficient recovery from water related hazards.
   Strengthened technical assistance and information dissemination.
2. Provide leadership for cooperative management of Ohio's water resources to reduce water related hazard risk and protect water resources.
   Strengthened technical assistance for floodplain and coastal management programs or regulations to be implemented at the local level.
   State agency actions, such as construction, development and policy, will be considered and complimentary of local programs to reduce natural hazard losses.
   Local programs incorporate consideration of activities in areas such floodplains, agricultural lands, coastal and landslide prone areas and other water related sensitive areas in their land use plans.
3. Promote sustainable development and land use across Ohio through providing water related hazard information, technical assistance and collaborative partnerships.
   Identification of areas of risk, areas with repetitive problems, and areas where the built environment including structures and infrastructure are at risk, to develop plans to address.
   Strengthened technical assistance and information dissemination. 
   Updated data required for mitigation plans.
   Guidance for local governments and private sector, as appropriate, to develop mitigation plans.
   Integration of local mitigation plan actions with other related plans, such as source water protection and watershed plans, where similar goals and actions are identified.
   Strengthened ongoing coordination among the state agencies and OEMA regarding preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation and postevaluation efforts.