City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 6, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: COREY SMEDLEY, FIRE CHIEF
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Consideration of a Resolution to Adopt the 2022 Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan and City of Alexandria Annex.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Should City Council adopt an updated hazard mitigation plan to remain eligible for state and federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt the 2022 Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan including the City of Alexandria Annex.
BACKGROUND: The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and Code of Virginia (Sec. 44-146.19) authorizes and requires each political subdivision within the Commonwealth to be responsible for local disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, as amended, requires that local government develop, adopt, and update natural hazard mitigation plans to receive certain federal assistance. The Code of Virginia requires City Council approval of the plan.
DISCUSSION: Staff representatives from 21 counties, independent cities and incorporated towns in Northern Virginia (NOVA) met from January 2021 to February 2023 to review and update the Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan which also includes a specific local Mitigation Action Plan for each participating jurisdiction. Throughout the planning process, each locality solicited plan feedback from their local stakeholders including members of the public. Stakeholders were asked to provide insight into how their agencies/organizations engaged in mitigation and planning efforts, along with input and information on the hazards facing the jurisdictions and the NOVA region. Once the plan draft was completed and approved by all jurisdictions the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reviewed all final documentation. In February 2023, FEMA approved the plan pending local adoption.
The City of Alexandria Annex to the NOVA Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies winter weather, floods, and high wind/severe storms as the top three natural hazard risks and infectious disease, terrorism, and cyberattacks as the top three non-natural hazards risks to Alexandria. Overall, Alexandria’s risk is considered very low, social vulnerability is very low, and community resilience is relatively moderate. Twenty specific mitigation actions were identified and listed in the Mitigation Plan designed to reduce risk and increase overall community resiliency.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact through the adoption of this resolution; indirect fiscal impacts include funding identified mitigation actions. Each listed mitigation action outlines a Lead Agency/Department and pre-identified funding sources to include internal Department budgets, CIP funds, operating budget funds, and/or grant funds. Additionally, plan approval may result in access to mitigation grant opportunities.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Executive Summary
Attachment 2: Resolution
Attachment 3: City of Alexandria Annex
Attachment 4: 2022 NOVA Hazard Mitigation Plan - Base Plan
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager
Kevin Coleman, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, OEM