1. 2 Authority 1 3 Planning Area 1

Meeting Discussions

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  Mitigation Planning Overview
  

An overview of the planning process was provided as a reminder to all committee members and meeting participants of why we are developing a plan. The group was reminded that we are concurrently developing both a Comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Flood Mitigation Plan. There will only be one final plan (a Comprehensive Plan) developed and submitted to fill both FMA and HMGP requirements.

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  Discussion: Ways the City communicates with the public
  

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  The City publishes a quarterly newsletter, Pearland in Motion, that is mailed to every address in town.
  
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  The City maintains a web site with up to date information about current and upcoming events.
  
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  There is a local Government public access channel available to City residents that have Time Warner Cable.
  
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  The City has a local AM radio station that broadcasts emergency information on an as needed basis.
  
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  The City recently completed a survey of Pearland residents on their view of the effectiveness of various communication channels. The results of this survey will be reviewed as part of this planning process.
  
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  The City uses road banners to inform the public of upcoming events and public meetings. These banners were used post-Tropical Storm Allison to inform residents of Public meetings.
  
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  Marques from various businesses throughout the City are used inform the public of upcoming events and public meetings.
  
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  Door hangers and targeted direct mailing are used after floods to inform people of their responsibilities post-disaster. Pearland has a fairly comprehensive mailing list of flood prone properties.
  
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  The City has had discussions about implementing a reverse 911 system.
  
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  After major flooding events, City officials have met with Home Owner Associations to answer questions and address concerns.
  

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  Discussion: What we know about flood (and other) hazards and how we will learn more.
  

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  1,900 paid flood insurance claims;
  
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  $41.2M in paid claims;
  
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  6,275 policies in force throughout the City;
  
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  The policyholders, almost exclusively residential, pay over $2M per year in policy premiums;
  
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  Eleven public buildings in the City, only one has experienced any prior damage. This one is Fire Station # 2 on McClean Rd. that has flooded at least twice in the past.
  

The committee was informed that interviews have been conducted with five City Department heads with several more interviews scheduled over the next couple of days. From these interviews and discussions during the committee meeting, the following past hazard events were identified:

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  Chemical Plant Fire just outside the City limits
  
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  Severe wind damage associated with prior storm events
  
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  Natural Gas line explosion in the late 70’s off of Stone Road in which several people died
  
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  Solvent and Chemical fire at a plant on McCowen Road
  
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  Third Coast Fire in 2000
  
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  Several Flood events to include Tropical Storm Allison from which the City purchased 89 homes under an HMGP grant.
  
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  Entegris Industrial company was cleaning out their drains and dumped hazardous materials into storm water management system. Incident required Hazmat company to complete the clean up. Many animals local to the storm water management system were killed
  
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  There is a site on East Industrial that is going to be designated a superfund site due to contaminated storage tanks found on site
  

An overview of the hazard history data indicates Brazoria County has had ten presidential disaster declarations:

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  SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING 7/11/1973
  
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  STORMS & FLASH FLOODS 7/28/1979
  
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  SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING 9/25/1979
  
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  HURRICANE ALICIA 8/19/1983
  
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  SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING 4/12/1991
  
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  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS 12/26/1991
  
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  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODING 10/18/1994
  
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  SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING 9/23/1998
  (TROPICAL STORM FRANCES)
  
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  SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING 6/9/2001
  (TROPICAL STORM ALLISON)
  
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  TROPICAL STORM FAY 9/26/2002
  

In addition to known past hazards, committee members offered a list of potential future risks that are of concern:

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  The Burlington Northern Santa Fe runs through the middle of the City and carries a great deal of hazardous materials. Committee members raised the concern of a potential train derailment and the impacts associated with such an event.
  
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  State Highway 35 also runs through the middle of the City and is a hazardous material transport route. Committee members raised the concern of a potential truck accidents and hazardous material spills.
  
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  There are numerous pipelines that run under the City carrying a variety of hazardous materials. There has been one previous gas pipeline break within what is now the City limits killing approximately eight people.
  
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  The City is in the flight path of both Hobby and Ellington Airfields and there is a concern over potential plane crashes.
  
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  Heliport within the City limits that Ferries workers back and forth to oil rigs in the Gulf.
  
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  There are four large water treatment plants in the City: Longwood; Barry Rose; SWEC; Shadow Creek Ranch; All plants are either in or adjacent to the 100-floodplain.
  

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  Discussion: Overview of how hazards are factored into each department’s responsibilities
  

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  Discussion: Drafting a mitigation goal statement
  

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  Discussion: Begin talking about possible mitigation actions
  

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  Central 800 number where City residents can call for information about recovery, cleanup, mitigation, and post-disaster permits.
  
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  Joint information and communications group within the city (for all City Departments/Programs which are effected by or respond to disasters).
  
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  Joint disaster response training for all City Departments/Programs which are effected by or respond to disasters
  
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  Increase capability to communicate with the public post-disaster, and pre-disaster.
  
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  Gather detailed information on structures in high-risk damage centers to have available when a disaster strikes, both for recovery, permitting, and grant application development.
  
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  Increase predictive capability on those flooding sources where there is currently little advanced notice.
  
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  Revise/update the Emergency Management Plan and ensure that all department heads are aware of their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster.
  

The City is currently completing regional detention projects that are designed to alleviate some localized flooding.

The Committee convened to review and address the following agenda items:

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  Brainstorming session to review potential mitigation actions
  
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  Formally agree to the mitigation goal statement
  
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  Review the preliminary GIS maps
  
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  Discuss the schedule and task for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements
  
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  Review brochure draft material
  

The following members of the Committee were in attendance: