List of Tables and Figures

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Table of Contents 2

List of Tables and Figures 3

Section 1: Introduction 4

1.1 Plan Goals and Authority 5

1.2 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) 5

1.3 Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) 6

1.4 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) 6

1.5 Participation 7

Section 2: Mitigation Plan Update 9

2.1 Planning Process 9

Figure : Planning Process 10

2.1.1 Plan Administrators 11

2.1.2 Disaster and Emergency Service Coordinator Role and Responsibilities 11

2.1.3 The Mitigation Steering Committee 11

Table : Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee Members 12

2.1.4 Hazard Mitigation Planning Team 12

Table : Hazard Mitigation Planning Team Table 13

2.1.5 Participating Jurisdictions Table : Participating Jurisdictions 13

2.1.6 Meetings and Participation 14

Table : Five Phases Communication/Meetings Table 15

2.1.7 Additional Meetings and Participation 17

Table : Date and Purpose of Meetings 18

2.1.8Partners and Stakeholders 19

Table 6: Organizations Used as Resources 19

2.1.9 Review and Incorporation of Existing Plans and Studies 21

Table 7: Existing Plans and Studies Utilized in the Update 21

Note: All Plans/Studies/Guides that were indirectly and or directly used to create and or guide this plan update are listed in this table. In addition, any Plans/Studies/Guides that was directly quoted and or where information was directly taken the Plans/Studies/Guides is also properly cited within the body of this document. 22

2.1.10 Participation and Data Request 22

Table 8: Participation Table 23

2.1.11 Summary of the Planning Process & Significant Plan Updates 23

2.2 Changes Made During this Plan Update 25

Section 3: Community Profile 26

3.1 General Overview 27

Table 9: Incorporated Cities and Towns in Valley County and Population 27

Figure 2: Map of Valley County 27

3.1.1 Historical Setting: 28

3.2 Physical Characteristics 29

3.2.1 Climate and Precipitation 29

Table10: Average Precipitation by Month in Glasgow and Fort Peck 30

Table 11: Average Maximum and Minimum Temperature by Month in Glasgow 31

Table 12: Average Maximum and Minimum Temperature by Month in Fort Peck 31

3.2.2 Geology 32

Figure 3: Geologic Map of Montana 34

3.2.3 Geography 34

Figure 4: ValleyCounty Landforms 35

3.2 4 Hydrology 36

Figure 5: Valley County Water Sources 36

3.2.5 Surface Water 37

Figure 6: Major Montana Rivers and Streams 37

3.2.6 Groundwater 38

3.2.7 Aquifers 39

Types of Aquifers 39

Figure 7: Surficial Aquifers in Montana 42

42

3.2.8 Lakes 42

3.2.9 Rivers 44

3.2.10 Watersheds 46

Figure 8: Watersheds in Valley County 48

3.2.11 Wetlands 48

3.2.12 Soil 49

3.2.13 Topography 51

3.2.14 Land Use 51

Figure 9: Valley County Vegetation 51

Figure 10: Valley County Government Lands 52

3.3 Population and Demographics 53

3.3.1 HistoricPopulation 53

Table 13: PopulationofValley Countysince1900 (U.S.Census) 53

3.3.2 Population Trends 53

3.3.3 ComparableGrowth 53

Table 14: Comparable Growth in Neighboring Counties 53

3.3.4 PopulationbyAgeGroups 54

Table 15: Valley County’sPopulationbyAgeGroupsin2010(U.S.Census) 54

3.3.5 Households 55

Table 16: Households, and Average Household Size of Valley County (U.S. Census) 55

3.3.6 PopulationProjections 55

Table 17: Population Projections for Valley County 55

3.3.7 Special Populations 56

Special Population is a term used to express a disadvantaged group for example populations with disabilities, minors, and the elderly. Special populations often require accommodations for physical, mental or emotional differences. Emergency service providers must carefully consider special populations. The following tables illustrate four subgroups of special populations in Valley County, elderly, children, female and individuals with a disability. 56

The first table outlines the number of households with children. The factors that make this table noteworthy, is the majority of households with children are married couples. However, single mothers make up a significant subset of the households with children. 56

Table 18: Children 56

Subject 56

2010 Census Data 56

(US Census Bureau) 56

Percent of Total Households 56

Family households with children 56

655 56

20.2% 56

Married couples with children 56

433 56

13.3% 56

Single mothers with children 56

195 56

6.0 56

Single fathers with children 56

27 56

0.8% 56

The elderly table is a recap of earlier stated county population data of just the 65 years old and older population. Currently, the number of 65 and older make up 20.6% of the total county population, but this number will increase exponentially as the baby boomers age. The elderly population makes up one-fifth of the total population currently in the county. 56

Table 19: Elderly 56

The female population table represents the number of females in the county. An interesting point shown in this table is that the female population is slightly more than half of the total population in the county. 56

Table 20: Females 57

Table 21 outlines the population in Valley County with a disability. The table is an overview of the total of those with a disability condition. According to the 2010 US Census 1,067 persons (14.5%) in Valley County have a disability. 57

Table 21: Population with a Disability 57

According to the US Census Bureau, 1.0% of Valley County’s population is considered institutionalized. 58

Table 22: Institutionalized Population 58

Subject 58

2010 Census Data (US Census Bureau) 58

Percentage 58

Institutionalized 58

76 58

1.0% 58

Male 58

25 58

0.3% 58

Female 58

51 58

0.7% 58

The American Community Survey shows 13.5% of Valley County is living in poverty. 58

Table 23: Valley County Poverty 58

Subject 58

2009-2013 Percentage Montana 58

2009-2013 Percentage Valley County 58

Population in Poverty 58

15.2% 58

13.5% 58

3.4 Cultural Conditions 58

3.4.1 Race and Ethnicity 59

Table 24: Population of Valley County by Race and Ethnicity 59

Table 25: Language Spoken at Home in Valley County 59

3.4.2 Level of Education 60

Table 26: Level of Education for Valley County 60

3.4.3 Socioeconomic Conditions: Income 60

Table 27: Income and Benefits per Household in 2013 Valley County 60

3.4.4 Employment Status 61

Table 28: Employment Status in Valley County 61

3.4.5 Occupation 61

Table 29: Occupations in Valley County (estimates from 2008-2012) 61

3.4.7 Faith Based Community 63

Table 30: Religious Bodies 63

63

3.4.8 Economic Conditions 63

Table 31: Most Common Industries in Valley County 63

3.4.9 Agriculture 64

Table 32: Valley County Farm Profile 64

3.4.10 Future Development 64

3.5.1 Railroads 65

Figure 11: Montana Rail System 66

Table33: FRARailroadTrackClassification 66

3.5.2 Pipelines 67

Figure 12: Pipelines in Valley County 68

3.5.3 Transit 69

3.5.4 Transportation 69

3.5.5 Highways 69

3.5.6 Roads 69

County road foremen are responsible for 2,000 miles of gravel and dirt roads in Valley County. Most of these roads are only able to be serviced twice per season. 69

3.5.7 Airports 69

3.5.8 Water Control Structures 69

According to the National Inventory of Dams database, Valley County has 191 dams, eight of which are significant or high hazard. Table 34 shows the high and significant hazard dams in Valley County. (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2008) 70

Table 34: Valley County Dams 70

The Fort Peck Dam in Valley, McCone, and Garfield Counties is one of six multipurpose main stem projects on the upper Missouri River. Construction began in 1933 and the dam was completed in 1940. Fort Peck Dam is the largest hydraulically filled dam in the United States. The dam measures 21,026 feet in length with a maximum height of 250.5 feet. In addition to power generation, the water is managed for flood damage reduction, downstream navigation, fish and wildlife, recreation, irrigation, public water supply, and improved water quality. The total storage capacity of the reservoir is approximately 18.7 million acre‐feet. 70

70

According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Dam Safety Program, the Little Porcupine and Frazer Lake Dams are both inactive dams built for irrigation. They are in close proximity to one another but are separate structures. 70

Dams upstream of Valley County could also impact the area, including Fresno Dam, Nelson Dikes, and Frenchman Dam. A break on the Fresno Dam, located in Hill County, or a break on the Nelson Dikes, located in Phillips County, could affect areas of Valley County along the Milk River. The Frenchman Dam, located in Phillips County, is considered a low hazard dam, but a break may compound existing flooding. 70

Figure 13: Valley County Dams 71

3.5.9 Water/Wastewater Treatment 72

Sewer and Water 72

Solid Waste Disposal 72

3.5.10 Waste Management 72

3.5.11 WaterPollutionControlRevolvingFund 72

3.5.12 Fire Protection 72

Table 35: Fire Departments in Valley County 72

3.5.13 Public Safety 73

3.5.14 Emergency Medical Services 73

Northeast Montana STAT Air Ambulance Cooperative's provides air transport and treatment to critically sick and injured persons in Valley County. The mission is to provide stabilization, critical care, and rapid transport of the seriously ill and injured patients. The purpose is to assist cooperative hospitals in providing the highest quality of air medical care in our region and to become closely integrated with the community hospitals and EMS agencies within our service area.  73

3.5.15 Healthcare 73

3.5.16 Public Health Services 73

3.5.18 Public Utilities 73

Electricity 73

Natural Gas 74

Telephone 74

3.5.19 Energy Sector 74

Table 36: Montana Energy Statistics 74

Table 37: Heating Fuel for Households in Valley County 76

3.5.20 Natural Resources 76

3.5.21 Schools 76

Table 38: Valley County School Enrollment 76

Section 4: Risk Assessment 77

4.1 Hazard Profile 77

Table 39: Hazards Identified for the Hazard Risk Assessment 79

4.1.1 Risk Assessment Process 79

4.1.2 Probability of Future Occurrences 80

Table 40: Frequency/Probability 80

Table 41: Regional Classification 80

4.1.3 Hazard Impact 81

Table 2: Impact Assumptions 81

4.1.4 Impact Magnitudes 81

 Table 43: Impact Magnitude Ratings Descriptors 82

Table 44: Impact Descriptors 82

4.2 Risk 83

4.3 Statewide Multi-Hazard Mitigation Actions and Information 84

Figure 14: StormReady Designations in Montana 84

Figure 15: National Weather Radio Coverage in Montana 86

4.4.1 Flood Risk 88

Table 45: Flood Hazard Risk Assessment 89

4.4.2 Flood History in Valley County 89

Table 46: Flood and Flash Flood Events for Valley County 90

4.4.3 Major Declared Disasters for Flooding 93

4.4.4 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 93

Figure 16: Martin Coulee 95

Table 47: NFIP Participating Communities in Valley County 95

Table 48: Schedules and Milestones 97

4.4.5 Vulnerability 98

Table 49: Building Exposure by Occupancy Type for the Study Region 99

Table 50: Building Exposure by Occupancy Type for the Scenario 99

Figure 17: Valley County 100 Year Flood Map 100

4.4.6 Flood and Climate Change 101

4.4.7 Relationship to Other Hazards 102

4.5 Dam Failure 103

Table 51: Hazard Categories of Montana Dams by Ownership 103

4.5.1 Dam Failure Risk 103

Table 52: Dam Failure Risk 104

4.5.2 Dam Failure History in Valley County 104

Table 53:  High and Significant Hazard Dams in Valley County 104

4.5.3 Presidential Declared Disasters for Dam Failure 105

4.5.4 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 105

4.5.5 Vulnerability in Valley County 106

4.5.6 Dam Failure and Climate Change 106

4.5.7 Relationship to Other Hazards 107

4.6 Severe Winter Weather 108

Table 54: NWS Warning Terminology Table 108

4.6.1 Severe Winter Weather Risk 109

Table 55: Severe Winter Weather Risk by City in Valley County 109

4.6.2 Severe Winter Weather History in Valley County 109

Figure 18: Total Snowfall Glasgow 1894-2014 110

4.6.3 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 110

4.6.4 Vulnerability for Valley County 111

Figure 19: Exposure of Severe Winter Weather in Montana 111

4.6.5 Severe Winter Weather and Climate Change 112

4.6.6 Relationship to Other Hazards 113

4.7 Severe Summer Weather 114

4.7.1 Summer Storms Risk 114

Table 57: Summer Storms Risk by City in Valley County 115

4.7.2 Severe Summer Weather History in Valley County 115

Figure 20: Rainfall Event Totals for Northeast Montana from August 21-25, 2014 117

Table 58: Major Declared Disasters for Summer Storms for Valley County 118

4.7.3 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 118

4.7.4 Vulnerability in Valley County 118

4.7.5 Summer Storms and Climate Change 119

4.7.6 Relationship to Other Hazards 119

Summer storms have a relationship to other hazards including fires, flooding, and tornadoes. 119

4.8 Wildfire 120

4.8.1 Wildfire Risk in Valley County 120

Table 59: Wildfire Hazard Risk Assessment 120

4.8.2 Wildfire History in Valley County 122

Table 60: Wildfire Data from National Centers for Environmental Information for 1/1/1964 to 1/1/2015 122

4.8.3 Presidential Declared Disasters forWildfires 122

4.8.4 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 122

4.8.5 Vulnerability 122

Figure 21: WUI for Montana 124

4.8.6 Fire and Climate Change 125

4.8.7 Relationship to Other Hazards 125

4.9 Infectious Disease 126

4.9.1 Infectious Disease Risk 127

Table 61: Infectious Disease Risk by City in Valley County 127

4.9.2 Infectious Disease History in Valley County 127

Table 62: Communicable Disease and Number of Occurrences 127

4.9.3Presidential Declared Disasters for Infectious Disease 128

4.9.4 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 128

Mitigation actions for infectious disease from the 2008 Valley County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan stated the mitigation action for infectious disease was to mitigate the spread of communicable diseases by developing disease education materials and improving disease surveillance measures. In this iteration of the plan, most of these projects will be continued. 128

One project that was completed was in 2016. The Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) was completed in 2016 for Valley County. CASPER is an epidemiologic technique designed to provide household-level information and be efficiently and rapidly deployed with minimum resources. CASPERs can be conducted to assess the effect of a disaster on a population, to determine the health status and basic needs of an affected population, to evaluate response and recovery efforts, to gain a better understanding of the community for CHAs, and to practice the CASPER technique as part of a preparedness exercise. The interview teams conducted 121 interviews, yielding a completion rate of 86%. The 121 interviewed households were a sample of the 4,879 total households in Valley County. Data collected included demographic aspects of Valley County, important aspects of community health, communication, health questions, physical activity, healthy eating, health care and health care access, preventative services, oral health, injury, mental health, emergency preparedness, and problems in Valley County. Overall, the assessment determined that areas for potential public health interventions include continued efforts to decrease smoking, improved seat belt usage, increased influenza vaccine coverage, and to increase routine dental care. Improvements can be made to increase awareness of programs to help pay for health care expenses and to ensure and improve access to health care services. 128

4.9.5 Vulnerability 128

4.9.6 Infectious Disease and Climate Change 128

4.9.7 Relationship to Other Hazards 129

4.10 Subsidence 130

4.10.1 Subsidence Risk 130

Table 63: Subsidence Risk by City in Valley County 130

4.10.2 Subsidence History in Valley County 131

4.10.3 Presidential Declared Disasters for Subsidence 131

4.10.4 Mitigation Actions for the Past Five Years 131

4.10.5 Vulnerability 131

4.10.6 Subsidence and Climate Change 131

4.10.7 Relationship to Other Hazards 131

4.11 Tornado 132

4.11.1 Annual Tornadoes 132

Figure 22: Average Annual Number of Tornadoes per State in Northern to Central Plains 132

4.11.2 Tornado Risk 132

Table 64: Tornado Risk by City in Valley County 133

4.11.3 Tornado History in Valley County 133

Figure 23: Tornado Track for Valley County 134

4.11.4 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 134

4.11.5 Vulnerability in Valley County 135

4.11.6 Tornado and Climate Change 135

4.12 Hazardous Material 136

4.12.1 Hazardous Materials Risk 136

Table 65: Hazardous Materials Risk by City for Valley County 138

4.12.2 Hazardous Material History in Valley County 138

4.12.3 Presidential Declared Disasters for Hazardous Material 138

4.12.4 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 138

4.12.5 Vulnerability 139

Table 66: Evacuation Radii for Hazardous Material Releases 139

Figure 24: Valley County Hazardous Material Release Risk 140

4.12.6 Hazardous Material Release and Climate Change 141

4.12.7 Relationship to Other Hazards 141

4.13 Transportation Incidents 143

4.13.1 Transportation Accident History 143

Valley County has experience with transportation accidents which is has largely been focused on motor vehicle accidents. 143

Table 67: Crash Data for Valley County 143

4.13.2 Transportation Accident Risk 144

Table 68: Transportation Accidents Hazard Risk Assessment 144

4.13.3 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 144

4.13.4 Vulnerability to Residents 144

4.13.5 Traffic Accidents and Climate Change 144

4.13.6 Relationship to Other Hazards 145

4.14 Structural Fires 146

4.14.1 Structural Fire Risk 146

Table 69: Structural Fire Hazard Risk Assessment 146

4.14.2 Fire History in Valley County 147

Table 70: Structural Fire History for Valley County 147

4.14.3 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 147

4.14.4Vulnerability in Valley County 147

4.14.5 Structural Fire and Climate Change 147

4.14.6 Relationship to other Hazards 147

4.15 Civil Disobedience 148

4.15.1 Civil Disobedience Risk 149

Table 71: Civil Disobedience Risk 149

4.15.2 History of Civil Disobedience in Valley County 151

4.15.3 Major Declared Disasters for Civil Disobedience 151

4.15.4 Mitigation Actions in the Past Five Years 151

4.15.5 Vulnerability in Valley County 152

4.15.6 Climate Change and Civil Disobedience 152

4.15.7 Relationship to Other Hazards 152

4.16 Risk Assessment Summary 153

Table 72: Valley County Hazard Prioritizations 153

Table 73: City of Glasgow Hazard Prioritization 154

Table 74: City of Fort Peck Hazard Prioritization 154

Table 75: City of Nashua Hazard Prioritization 156

Table 76: City of Opheim Hazard Prioritization 157

Table 77: Unincorporated Areas of Valley County Hazard Prioritization 158

Section 5: Capability Assessment 160

5.1 What Is A Capability Assessment? 160

5.1.1 Conducting the Capability Assessment 160

5.1.2 Hazard Mitigation Plans, Policies, Programs and Ordinances 160

Table 78: Plans Policies Programs and Ordinances in Place 161

5.1.3 Recommendations 161

5.2 Fiscal, Technical, Administrative and Political Capabilities 162

Table 79: Assessment of Local Capability 162

5.2.1 Technical Capability 162

5.2.2 Recommendations 162

5.2.3 Fiscal Capability 164

5.2.4 Recommendations 164

5.3 Administrative Capability 164

5.3.1 Recommendations 165

5.4 Political Capability 165

5.4.1 Recommendations 165

5.5 Conclusions on Local Capability 167

5.6 Linking the Capability Assessment, the Risk Assessment, and the Mitigation Strategy 167

Section 6: Mitigation Goals, Objectives, & Strategies 168

6.1 Mitigation Goals, Objectives, & Development 169

6.2 Strategies/Projects 169

6.3 Hazard/Project Relationship 170

Table 80: Hazards Mitigated by Each Proposed Project 172

6.4 Project Prioritization 174

Table 81: Prioritization Criteria 175

The following table provided an overview of all of the projects and priority scorecard. 176

Table 82: Project Score Card 176

6.5 Implementation Process 179

Note: Some projects may be best achieved outside of the goal timeframes depending on the funding and staff resources available. Others may not be feasible in the goal timeframe due to financial, staff, or political limitations. This prioritized list, however, allows the county, city, and towns to focus on the projects with the greatest benefits. 179

6.5.1 Mitigation Projects 180

The following is a table of complete actions in order of their priority score. The Table also illustrates the jurisdiction(s) owning the project, coordinating agency, resources and the goal frame of each project. 180

Table 83: Mitigation Projects 180

6.5.2 Plan Implementation and Alignment 186

Table 84: Programs/Policies/Plans 187

Table 85: Jurisdictional Process for Mitigation Incorporation 188

Table 86: Mitigation Strategies 188

Section 7: Monitor and Maintain the Mitigation Plan 190

7.1 Development and Acceptance 190

7.2 Process 192

7.3 Evaluation 192

7.4 Plan Evaluation Criteria 193

7.5 Update 193

Table 87: Plan Update Schedule 193

7.6 Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms 194

7.7 Continued Public Involvement 194

7.8 The Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee 196

7.9 Participating Jurisdictions 196

Appendix A: Mitigation Funding Sources 197

Table88: MitigationFundingSources 197

Table88: MitigationFundingSources(continued) 198

Table88:MitigationFundingSources(continued) 199

Table88:MitigationFundingSources(continued) 200

Appendix B: Hazard Event Data 201

B.1 Infectious Disease Data from 2013 201

B.2 Hazardous Material Data from Right to Know Network for 1982 to 2014 202

B.3 Flood Data from NOAA for 1/1/1964 to 1/1/2015 204

B.4 Summer Storms Data from NOAA for 1/1/1964 to 1/1/2015 (Hail, Heat, Lightning, Rain, Thunder & Wind) 208

B.5 Tornado Data from NOAA for 1/1/1964 to 1/1/2015 256

B.6 Wildfire Data from NOAA for 1/1/1964 to 1/1/2015 256

B.7 Winter Storm Data from NOAA for 1/1/1964 to 1/1/2015 257

Appendix C 267