The city of Sweet Home’s All-Hazard Mitigation Committee added several new action items to a list of those aimed at preparing for possible disasters within the community during a meeting on March 2.
The city’s original hazard mitigation plan was completed and approved in 2004. It must be updated every five years and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency so the city can be eligible for pre- and post-disaster FEMA funds.
Eighteen people, counting staff, committee members, Mayor Craig Fentiman and councilors, attended the committee meeting to go over the plan’s goals and actions aimed at achieving them. Among those attending were representatives from Oregon Department of Forestry and Linn County.
Potential hazards already have been identified, including flooding, winter storms, utility disruptions, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, dam failure, hazardous materials, terrorism, landslides and fires in the urban-wildland interface area.
The committee went through each of these areas page by page, adding new actions to help mitigate the potential disasters, Community Development Director Carol Lewis said.
In general, the committee is suggesting the creation of citizen emergency response teams, developing a shelter plan, creating a personal preparedness program and creating a local information network for emergencies, including mapping neighborhoods and emergency number magnets and shopping bags.
Regarding winter storms, the committee is proposing to add, as action items, encouraging Pacific Power to prioritize a coordinated response with Public Works and Linn County using the Incident Command System used by emergency response agencies.
Also, the committee wants to identify critical need locations, vulnerable populations and vulnerable independent individuals; shelters with generators; and developing wind and solar power alternatives for critical facilities and radios.
Regarding wildland fires, the committee is suggesting the development of road signs identifying evacuation routes and the coordination of Sweet Home fire plans with the Linn County Community Wildfire Plan and appropriate agencies, including Linn County, the Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry.
In dam safety, the committee is calling for continuing work with Linn County on the call system for emergency response; and for utility disruption, it suggests increasing the amateur radio emergency service presence in Sweet Home as well as creating a “red flag” notification system for residents and developing a solar radio program coordinated with the ODF and other agencies.
In response to terrorist attacks, the committee suggests the creation of safe areas for HVAC systems at critical facilities; developing educational brochures for the public on how to react during an emergency and how to report an issue of concern; and creation of a central water filling station with a water tank truck for deliveries.
Many previous action items are ongoing, Lewis said. So far, one has been completed: The city has codified a requirement for new subdivisions to have underground utilities, helping protect against utility disruptions.
The city also has completed other projects aimed at meeting the goals of the plan, including restoration of an Ames Creek flood plain area behind the Fire Hall on Long Street, Lewis said. The city’s new water plant will address concerns with the water plant by putting the treatment process under a roof, protecting it from falling debris and security threats.
Lewis will work with a consultant revising other areas of the plan, she said. The revised plan will be taken to the community through at least one more All-Hazard Mitigation Committee and then the City Council on April 28.
Once approved by the council, it will be sent to FEMA for approval.