DRAFTmitigationguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NC...DRAFT Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan November 20, 2009 Page C-5 Table of Contents C. HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIVITIES

DRAFT

TOWN OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH

HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

November 20, 2009

Prepared By:

Wilmington, North Carolina

DRAFT

Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan

November 20, 2009 Page C-1 Table of Contents

Table of Contents

PAGE

Section 1. IntroductionA. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1C. HAZARD MITIGATION LEGISLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2D. TOWN OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3E. PLAN ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4F. PLANNING PROCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Section 2. Community ProfileA. LOCATION AND GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1B. HISTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1C. CLIMATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3D. DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

1. Permanent Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-42. Seasonal Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-53. Population Profile - Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-54. Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-65. Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7

Section 3. Hazard IdentificationA. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1B. HURRICANES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

1. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

a. October 5 to 18, 1954 (Hurricane Hazel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4b. August 3 to 14, 1955 (Hurricane Connie) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5c. August 7 to 21, 1955 (Hurricane Diane) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5d. September 10 to 23, 1955 (Hurricane Ione) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6e. August 29 to September 13, 1960 (Hurricane Donna) . . . . . . . . 3-6f. September 9 to 14, 1984 (Hurricane Diana) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7g. July 5 to 12, 1996 (Hurricane Bertha) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7h. August 23 to September 5, 1996 (Hurricane Fran) . . . . . . . . . . 3-8i. August 19 to 30, 1998 (Hurricane Bonnie) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8j. August 24 to September 7, 1999 (Hurricane/Tropical Storm Dennis) 3-9k. September 7 to 18, 1999 (Hurricane Floyd) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10

DRAFT



3. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10a. August 24, 2004 (Hurricane Charley) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10b. September 14 to 15, 2005 (Hurricane Ophelia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11c. August 31 to September 1, 2006 (Tropical Storm Ernesto) . . . . . 3-12d. Retired Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12

C. NOR’EASTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-131. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-132. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-133. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14

D. URBAN FIRES/WIND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-141. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-142. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-153. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15

E. THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-161. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-162. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-173. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18

F. LIGHTNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-191. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-192. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-193. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20

G. FLOODING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-201. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-202. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-223. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22

H. RIP CURRENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-231. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-232. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-233. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

I. SEVERE WINTER STORMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-241. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-242. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-253. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25

J. DROUGHTS/HEAT WAVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-261. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-262. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-263. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26

K. EARTHQUAKES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-271. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-272. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-283. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28

DRAFT



L. TSUNAMIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-291. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-292. Historical Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-303. Likelihood of Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

M. RANKING OF NATURAL HAZARD POTENTIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30N. EXPLANATION OF HAZARDS NOT IDENTIFIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31O. HAZARD DAMAGE AND LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . 3-32

Section 4. Capability AssessmentA. INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1B. PLANNING AND ORDINANCE REVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

1. Floodplain Damage Prevention Ordinance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32. North Carolina State Building Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43. Zoning Ordinance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44. Subdivision Ordinance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-75. Town of Wrightsville Beach Stormwater Management Program . . . . . . . 4-86. Water Supply Shortage Ordinance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-87. Community Rating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-98. Town of Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Operations Plan

(Preparedness and Response) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-99. Town of Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Operations Re-Entry Plan . . . . . . 4-1010. Tsunami Ready Plan for New Hanover County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1011. New Hanover County Emergency Operations Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1012. Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11

C. LEGAL CAPABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-111. Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12

a. General Police Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12b. Building Code and Building Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12c. Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13

2. Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-153. Taxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-154. Spending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15

D. FISCAL CAPABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16E. POLITICAL CAPABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17F. TECHNICAL CAPABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17

Section 5. Vulnerability AssessmentA. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1B. EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

1. Central Beach Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

DRAFT



2. North End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33. The Parmele Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34. The Waynick Boulevard-South Lumina Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35. South End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46. Old Harbor Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47. Pelican Drive, Lees Cut, Channel Walk, and Lookout Harbor . . . . . . . . . 5-48. Causeway Drive/Marina Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-59. Town Government and Parks Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-510. Mainland/Wrightsville Sound Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

C. VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-61. Hazards Impacting the Town Overall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

a. Existing Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6b. Future Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7c. Estimated Impact of Residential Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

2. Flooding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9a. Existing Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11b. Future Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11c. Estimated Impact of Residential Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12SLOSH Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12a. Existing Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15b. Future Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16c. Estimated Impact of Residential Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18

D. FRAGILE AREAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-181. Estuarine and Ocean System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19

a. Estuarine Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19b. Estuarine Shoreline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19c. Coastal Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20d. Public Trust Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20

2. Ocean Hazard System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21a. Ocean Erodible Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21b. High Hazard Flood Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21c. Inlet Hazard Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22d. Unvegetated Beach Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22

E. CRITICAL FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22F. REPETITIVE LOSS AND SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS STRUCTURES . . . . . . . . . . 5-24

Section 6. Mitigation StrategiesA. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1B. MITIGATION STRATEGIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

DRAFT



C. HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIVITIES ELIMINATED THROUGH PLAN UPDATE . . . 6-14

Section 7. Plan Implementation and MaintenanceA. IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1B. ROLE OF THE MITIGATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

IN IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2C. MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2D. CONTINUED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4E. INCORPORATION OF EXISTING PLANNING MECHANISMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

TABLESTable 1 Town of Wrightsville Beach Population, 1990-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4Table 2 Town of Wrightsville Beach High and Low Seasonal Population Estimates 2-5Table 3 Town of Wrightsville Beach Age Composition, 1990-2000 . . . . . . . . . . 2-5Table 4 Town of Wrightsville Beach Housing Units, 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6Table 5 Town of Wrightsville Beach Residential Building Permit Activity . . . . . . 2-7Table 6 Town of Wrightsville Beach Workers by Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7Table 7 The Dolan-Davis Nor’easter Intensity Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13Table 8 Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17Table 9 New Hanover County Tornadoes, 1990-2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18Table 10 New Hanover County Lightning Storms, 1994-2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19Table 11 Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Lightning Storms, 2005-2009 3-20Table 12 Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Rip Currents, 1997-2000 . . . . 3-23Table 13 Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Rip Currents, 2005-2009 . . . . 3-24Table 14 New Hanover County Severe Winter Storms, 1996-2004 . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25Table 15 Modified Mercalli Scale of Earthquake Intensity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27Table 16 Town of Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Ranking of Hazard

Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31Table 17 Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32Table 18 Town of Wrightsville Beach Zoning Districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5Table 19 Town of Wrightsville Beach Zoning Districts and Acreage . . . . . . . . . . 4-7Table 20 Wrightsville Beach Existing Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7Table 21 Wrightsville Beach Vacant Land by Zoning District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8Table 22 Wrightville Beach Flood Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9Table 23 Wrightsville Beach Floodprone Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11Table 24 Wrightsville Beach Vacant Zoning in Floodplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11Table 25 Wrightsville Beach Storm Surge Inundation at Different Magnitude Storm

Events Based on SLOSH Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12


Table 26 Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model (Fast Moving) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15Table 27 Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model (Slow Moving) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16Table 28 Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model Future Vulnerability (Fast Moving) . . . 5-17Table 29 Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model Future Vulnerability (Slow Moving) . . 5-17Table 30 Wrightsville Beach Estimated Impact on Residential Development SLOSH

Model - Fast Moving Hurricane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18Table 31 Wrightsville Beach Estimated Impact on Residential Development SLOSH

Model - Slow Moving Hurricane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18Table 32 Town of Wrightsville Beach Critical Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24Table 33 Town of Wrightsville Beach Mitigation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5Table 34 Wrightsville Beach Community Capability Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

MAPSMap 1 Regional Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2Map 2 Zoning Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6Map 3 Existing Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2Map 4 Critical Facilities & Flood Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10Map 5 Critical Facilities & SLOSH Fast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13Map 6 Critical Facilities & SLOSH Slow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14Map 7 Local Infrastructure & Critical Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23Map 8 Lift Stations to be Elevated/Retrofitted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13

DRAFT


November 20, 2009 Page 1-1 Section 1. Introduction

Section 1. Introduction

A. INTRODUCTION

When a major natural event strikes our built environment, it is deemed a “natural disaster.”Hazard mitigation is simply about preventing natural disasters. The idea of preventing naturaldisasters at first seems counter-intuitive if not impossible. We certainly cannot prevent naturalevents, like hurricanes and tornadoes. Yet the impacts of natural events—who and what getshurt-- are largely determined by what, where, and how we build and function. Thus, someimpacts of natural hazards on our population and economic, social and physical environmentare, in the bigger picture, self-inflicted. As citizens and local government entities, we have notinherited a perfectly planned and resilient community. Due to this fact, we must assess currentvulnerabilities resulting from past decisions relating to development design and location in aneffort to reduce the harmful impacts of natural, and in some cases, man-made, hazards.

The North Carolina Statewide Plan summarizes hazard mitigation as follows:

“Hazard mitigation involves the use of specific measures to reduce the impact ofhazards on people and the built environment. Measures may include bothstructural and non-structural techniques, such as protecting buildings andinfrastructure from the forces of nature or wise floodplain managementpractices. Actions may be taken to protect both existing and/or futuredevelopment. It is widely accepted that the most effective mitigation measuresare implemented before an event at the local government level, where decisionson the regulation and control of development are ultimately made.”

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Town of Wrightsville Beach is located in the eastern portion of New Hanover County in thesoutheastern coastal plains of North Carolina. The town is a barrier island bordered by theAtlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Due to its proximity to the coast, the town issusceptible to flooding, hurricanes, and nor’easters. In addition, the town is vulnerable tosevere winter weather/ice storms, severe weather/thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail,droughts/heat waves and lightning. This update also includes a discussion of earthquakes,tsunamis, and rip currents and how these hazardsmay potentially impact the Town. WrightsvilleBeach has approximately 2,004 buildings with a 2009 value of $504 million. According to the2000 US Census for Wrightsville Beach, there are 2,593 residents. The town has a seasonalpopulation of 14,000. Wrightsville Beach has many plans and ordinances that supportmitigation efforts that are used in day-to-day activities. The town has a competent staff tooversee these ordinances.

DRAFT



The Town drafted and adopted an initial Hazard Mitigation Plan in the year 2000 in order toestablish compliance with the State and Federal regulations outlined below. The 2000 plan wasupdated and certified on March 14, 2005. The planning process outlined within thisdocument will serve as the required update to the 2005 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Thisupdate will ensure compliance with all State and Federal mitigation legislation through Marchof 2015. The Town will aim to establish an effective and worthwhile mitigation work programover this period.

C. HAZARD MITIGATION LEGISLATION

In the early 1990s, a new federal policy regarding disasters began to evolve. Rather thansimply reacting whenever disasters strike communities, the federal government wouldencourage communities to first assess their vulnerability to various disasters, and then takeactions to reduce or eliminate potential risks. The logic is simply that a disaster resistantcommunity can rebound from a natural disaster with less loss of property or human injury, atmuch lower cost, and consequently more quickly. Moreover other costs associated withdisasters, such as the time lost from productive activity by business and industries, areminimized.

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Pub. Law 93-288, asamended) embodies this new philosophy. Section 409 of the Stafford Act sets forth therequirements that communities evaluate natural hazards within their respective jurisdictions anddevelop an appropriate plan of action to mitigate those hazards.

The amended Stafford Act requires that the community identify potential hazards to the health,safety and well being of its residents and identify and prioritize actions that can be taken by thecommunity to mitigate those hazards—before disaster strikes. For communities to remaineligible for hazard mitigation assistance from the federal government, they must first preparea hazard mitigation plan (this plan).

Responsibility for fulfilling the requirements of Section 409 of the Stafford Act and administeringthe FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program, as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR206.405), has been delegated to the State of North Carolina, specifically to North CarolinaEmergency Management. The State of North Carolina established legislation through SenateBill 300 that outlines the need for communities to adopt and maintain a certified mitigation plan.At the state level, local governments must maintain a current plan in order to be eligible forstate public assistance funding following a state declared disaster situation.

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2K) amended the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Reliefand Emergency Assistance Act (the Act) by repealing the previous mitigation planning provisions(Section 409) and replacing them with a new set of mitigation plan requirements (Section 322).

DRAFT



This new section emphasizes the need for state, Tribal, and local entities to closely coordinatemitigation planning and implementation efforts.

D. TOWN OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

Hazard mitigation offers the following benefits to Town of Wrightsville Beach, and the HMP isbeing completed to attain the following goals:

Saving lives and reducing injuries; Preventing or reducing property damage; Reducing economic losses; Minimizing social dislocation and stress; Maintaining critical facilities in functional order; Protecting infrastructure from damage; Protecting mental health; Limiting legal liability of government and public officials; Providing options for political leaders regarding hazard reduction; Fulfilling Federal and State requirements for receipt of future disaster recovery

and hazard mitigation assistance; and Improve inter-jurisdictional cooperation and coordination, especially regarding

the reduction of natural hazard impacts.

Hazard mitigation planning is intended to construct a framework for the prevention and reactionto disasters if and when they may occur. The framework created by this plan will help to instillan ongoing effort to lessen the impact that disasters have on citizens and property within theTown of Wrightsville Beach. The above listed items are but only a few of the many complexissues that the formulation of such a process will ultimately address.

Through this planning effort, the Town will work to define goals that focus on reducing thevulnerability of Town facilities and resources to natural and man-made disasters, in responseto the federal regulations outlined above. Goals, policies, and accompanying implementingactions associated with these goals will focus on strengthening existing and futureinfrastructure, facilities, and development. Additionally, through the planning process, theMitigation Advisory Committee (MAC) will review existing administrative systems to ensure thatproper mechanisms are in place to provide adequate response and facilitate public assistancefunding in the event of a natural disaster.

DRAFT



E. PLAN ORGANIZATION

The Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan includes the following sections andappendices:

Section 1, Introduction and Planning Process: This section includes an overview of theplan process and purpose. This section also provides a justification for why the plan is beingdeveloped, and what the Town intends to achieve through carrying the development andimplementation of the document.

Additionally, this section contains a description of the plan methodology and developmentprocess, and a list of participating members of the planning group, summary of planning groupactivities, description of involved stakeholders including state and local agencies and publicparticipants, list of stakeholder and public involvement efforts, and a description of how thisplan will be incorporated into existing programs.

Section 2, Community Profile: This section outlines the existing conditions within the Townof Wrightsville Beach. This overview addresses the following existing conditions: demographics,topography, climate, and other general information regarding the community.

Section 3, Hazard Identification: This section provides a breakdown of hazards that havehistorically impacted the Town of Wrightsville Beach. This section also includes a discussion ofanticipated effects and impacts resulting from each identified hazard.

Section 4, Capability Assessment: This section of the HMP provides an assessment of theTown’s current hazard mitigation practices, as well as their potential to engage in mitigationactivities. This involves a discussion of the existing plans, codes, and ordinances, andadministrative mechanisms currently utilized.

Section 5, Vulnerability Analysis: This section presents the vulnerability assessment, whichincludes (1) an inventory of assets, (2) loss estimates, (3) evaluation of the potential impact ofdevelopment trends, (4) results of the analysis.

Section 6, Mitigation Strategies: This section contains information regarding the mitigationgoals and multi-hazard mitigation action items. Section 6 also includes information regardinghow mitigation measures will be prioritized, implemented, and administered.

Section7, Plan Maintenance and Implementation Procedures: This section describesthe system the Town of Wrightsville Beach has established to monitor the mitigation plan;provides a description of how, when, and by whom the mitigation plan and mitigation actions

DRAFT



will be evaluated; presents the criteria used to evaluate the plan and mitigation actions; andexplains how the plan will be maintained and updated.

Appendices: These sections present supporting documentation as outlined within the plan.

F. PLANNING PROCESS

The Town of Wrightsville Beach appropriated funding within their FY2009/2010 annual budgetto complete the Hazard Mitigation Pan Update. The Town solicited proposals to conduct theplanning process, selected a qualified firm, and the hazard mitigation planning process beganwithin the Town of Wrightsville Beach.

Primary responsibility for development of the Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation PlanUpdate was placed in the hands of the Wrightsville Beach Planning Department under thedirection of Planning Director Tony Wilson. Mr. Wilson worked closely with all Towndepartments throughout the planning process to develop this document.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach Planning Department and other applicable Town staff completedsignificant data collection which contributed towards plan development. This data assistedprimarily in the areas of hazard identification and analysis, mapping of hazards, assessment ofcommunity capabilities and identification of critical facilities.

Subsequent to establishing a work authorization with the planning consultant, the Town ofWrightsville Beach held an initial scoping meeting with the project consultant. This meetinginvolved a general discussion of how the project should be carried out, including issues relatingto establishing a Mitigation Advisory Committee (MAC) to oversee the update. It wasdetermined that the MAC would be comprised predominantly of administrative officials from theTown. In addition to these individuals, a member of the Town’s Planning Board was selectedto participate.

Dealing with natural hazards and disasters is rarely the responsibility of one employee or officialin any community. Rather, it is a team effort, often comprised of representatives from Townmanagement and administration, planning/zoning, public works, fire/police, and other offices(depending on the size of the community).

The Town convened the MAC in order to efficiently address this "multi-disciplinary" aspect ofhazard mitigation. MAC members were charged with the responsibility of working through theplanning process, and assisting the consultant through compiling the information, input, andbackground required to develop the plan.

DRAFT



The following outlines all individuals assigned to the MAC, and their related area of expertisein relation to the overall project:

MAC Members Area of Expertise

Tony Wilson Planning & Parks Director

Bob Simpson Town Manager

John Carey Police Protection

Mike Vukelich Public Works

Frank Smith Fire Protection, Emergency Management

William Squires Building Code Enforcement

Steve Dellies Public Works, Stormwater Manager

David Culp Planning Board Member

A series of meetings were held to develop the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, each focusing ona specific aspect of the planning process. A total of four MAC meetings were held, and severaladditional meetings took place between staff and various interests involving plan development.The following provides a brief summary of all meetings held and what was addressed at eachmeeting:

August 2009: MAC representatives involving Town staff convened for a scoping andoverview meeting with the consultant. This meeting focused on the planning process,and what the Town should aim to get achieve in working through the development ofa Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.

September 2009: The consultant met, or had discussions, with several departmentheads in an effort to establish an information base for plan development. This effortfocused primarily on data collections, and establishing a broad understanding of wherethe Town stands with respect to land use planning and emergency management.Substantial progress was also made during these meetings regarding data collection andbackground analysis.

The second MAC meeting was also held in September 2009. The agenda of this meetingfocused on a discussion aimed at reviewing critical/community facilities and the goals,policies, and implementing actions within the Town’s existing document. Committeemembers were provided with these sections of the existing plan, and a discussion ofeach mitigation action ensued. The intent of this discussion was to determine what hasbeen accomplished over the last five years with respect to the mitigation policy in the2005 update. This discussion also involved making a determination as to whether the

DRAFT



2005 policies and mitigation actions were still applicable. This discussion served as thebasis for the development of updated goals, policies, and mitigation actions.

October 2009: Draft mitigation objectives and implementing actions were presentedto the MAC. These action statements were reviewed, and primary and secondaryresponsibility was assigned. Time frames have been assigned to each implementingaction based on the perceived difficulty of carrying out a given activity. The results ofthis effort have been directly translated in to the policy section of the document.

November 2009: On November 14, 2009, a public input and information meeting washeld to provide an overview of the draft plan and provide the public with an opportunityto comment on the strategies that had been developed through the MAC. The meetingwas held in the Board of Aldermen Chambers at the Town of Wrightsville BeachAdministration Building. This meeting was conducted as an open house with ampleopportunity for questions and input from the citizens.

December 2009: On December __, 2009, the final MAC meeting was held todisseminate and review the draft plan. Subsequent to this date, a review period wasestablished to allow adequate time for Town, regional agencies, and NCEM review andcomment.

The sign-in sheets for all MAC meetings, as well as copies of the advertisements for all publiclyadvertised meetings have been provided in Appendix I.

As noted, a draft version of the plan was completed on December __, 2009, and distributed toMAC members and representatives of the following stakeholder offices/organizations for reviewand comment:

New Hanover County Emergency Management Department North Carolina Department of Transportation American Red Cross North Carolina Division of Coastal Management New Hanover County Administrative Office City of Wilmington Administrative Office Cape Fear Public Utility Authority

Review comments were received from NCEM on (Insert Date) and revisions were made to thefinal draft HMP based on these NCEM comments (see Appendix II). The final draft HMP wasresubmitted to NCEM on (Insert Date).

DRAFT



A final, revised draft HMP was submitted to NCEM on (Insert Date). Following receipt of a finalletter of approval from NCEM, the HMP will be forwarded to Town of Wrightsville Beach Boardof Aldermen for adoption. Prior to adoption, however, a final public hearing shall be held inorder to allow the public and the above-identified stakeholder groups the opportunity to makecomments on and provide input to the final plan. The public hearing notice, meeting minutesand adoption resolution from this meeting have been provided as Appendix III. HMP adoptionshould take place in (Insert Estimated Month and Date), pending NCEM approval.

DRAFT


November 20, 2009 Page 2-1 Section 2. Community Profile

Section 2. Community Profile

A. LOCATION AND GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY

Wrightsville Beach is located within the chain of barrier islands along North Carolina’ssoutheastern coast, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. The town is situated in New HanoverCounty at the eastern terminus of US Highways 74 and 76 East. Significant urban centers andtheir proximity to Wrightsville Beach are listed below:

Wilmington, North Carolina – 8 miles to the west Raleigh, North Carolina – 130 miles to the northwest Charlotte, North Carolina – 210 miles to the west/northwest

The island of Wrightsville Beach is 1,000 to 5,000 feet in width and stretches almost four milesfrom Masonboro Inlet on the south to Mason Inlet on the north. The corporate limits of thetown encompass not only the barrier island but also Harbor Island and a small portion ofmainland. The area in and around Wrightsville Beach consists of wide sandy beach, dunes,waterways, sound, creeks, tidal flats, and marshlands. See Map 1 for a Regional Location Map.

B. HISTORY

According to the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History website, Ocean View Beach, as it wasoriginally known, was incorporated as Wrightsville Beach in 1899, in honor of the Wright familyof Wilmington. The island, once owned by the State of North Carolina and at the time was alsocalled New Hanover Banks, was transferred into three separate private grants between 1791and 1881. Early owners of portions of New Hanover Banks could only reach the area by boat.For a century after the land passed into private hands, the only visitors were fishermen. Sailingalso became a popular pastime, with the third oldest yacht club in the United States beingfounded in April, 1853, on Wrightsville Beach.

During the Civil War, blockade runners frequented the waterways adjacent to Cape Fear. In1875, a charter was granted for the construction of a road connecting Wilmington to WrightsvilleSound. The road, completely topped by oyster shells and nicknamed “the Shell Road,” wascompleted in 1887. Later that year, the Wilmington Seacoast Railroad Company was granteda charter to build a track from Wilmington to Harbor Island, then known as the Hammocks. Afootbridge was built across Banks Channel to Wrightsville Beach, and development of the islandbegan to accelerate. In 1889, the rail line was extended across the Hammocks and BanksChannel to the beach, where it then ran southward along a route now marked by South LuminaAvenue. Hotels, houses, and trolley service soon followed, and hundreds of visitors flocked tothe beach.

Wrightsville BeachNew Hanover County, North Carolina

ÃÃ

ÃEastwood Rd

At l a

nt i c

Oc

ea

n


Regional Location

LegendNC Counties New Hanover CountyWrightsville Beach ParcelsCorporate Limits Hydrology

µ

0 30 60 90 12015Miles

1 inch = 1 mile

MAP 1

Page 2-2

DRAFT



During the same year that the town was incorporated, ahurricane destroyed virtually everything on WrightsvilleBeach, including the train tracks. The town perseveredand rebuilt, only to lose over 100 cottages and a majorhotel in the Great Fire of Wrightsville Beach, in 1934.Hurricane Hazel, a high tide/full moon storm, struck theNorth Carolina-South Carolina border in 1954, with windsestimated between 125 and 140 miles per hour. Hazeldestroyed between 100 and 250 houses (estimates vary),and damaged 500 more on Wrightsville Beach.

Wrightsville Beach residents were again challenged with two hurricanes in 1996, Bertha on July12, and Fran on September 5, damaging the island’s piers and hundreds of homes andbusinesses, and leveling the dunes all along the coast. With each natural disaster, WrightsvilleBeach citizens have regrouped and rebuilt their community. Wrightsville Beach resident andhistorian Rupert Benson captured this resurgent spirit when he wrote in the aftermath of theGreat Fire of 1934: “Public minded citizens of the Beach rose up and sought a new day.”

C. CLIMATE

The Town of Wrightsville Beach has a mean high temperature of 81° F., a mean lowtemperature of 46° F., and an annual mean average temperature of 63.9° F. The followingsummarizes average monthly temperatures for Wrightsville Beach:

Month Average High Average Low

January 56° F. 36° F.

February 60° F. 38° F.

March 66° F. 44° F.

April 74° F. 51° F.

May 81° F. 60° F.

June 86° F. 68° F.

July 90° F. 72° F.

August 88° F. 71° F.

September 84° F. 66° F.

October 76° F. 54° F.

November 68° F. 45° F.

December 60° F. 38° F.

Source: National Weather Service.

DRAFT



The maximum average precipitation occurs in July, with 7.62 inches. The town receivesapproximately 57.07 inches of precipitation annually.

D. DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY

1. Permanent Population

The Town of Wrightsville Beach experienced a decline in its permanent population from 1990to 2000. This decline in growth could be attributed to the following factors: lack of substantialland area available for new development in Wrightsville Beach; dramatic increase in homeprices, causing many year-round residents to sell their homes to seasonal-use homeowners;redevelopment of smaller single-family homes to larger homes used for seasonal purposes; andredevelopment/conversion of triplexes and quadraplexes to larger duplexes and single-familyhomes. Although the town’s population increased slightly from 2000 to the 2008 NC Office ofState Planning’s estimate, the overall trend suggests that the town will likely not experience asignificant increase or decrease over the next five to ten years.

Table 1. Town of Wrightsville Beach Population, 1990 to 2008

Total Population % Change

1990 20002008

Estimate ‘90-‘00 ‘00-‘08Overall‘90-‘08

2,899 2,593 2,698 -10.6% 4.0% -6.9%

Source: US Census Bureau & NC Office of State Planning.

Based upon PCensus information, the 2012 population for Wrightsville Beach is projected to be2,700 persons, a minuscule increase over the 2008 estimated population of 2,698.

Source: The Weather Channel (http://www.weather.com).

DRAFT



2. Seasonal Population

The following table provides an estimate of peak seasonal population as reported in the 2005Town of Wrightsville Beach CAMA Land Use Plan. For a detailed explanation of how thesefigures were derived, refer to Section 3.6(B) of the CAMA Land Use Plan.

Table 2. Town of Wrightsville Beach High and Low Seasonal Population Estimates

Low1 High2

Housing Units Persons/Unit Total Persons/Unit Total

Permanently Occupied Housing (1,308) 2.27 2,969 3.02 3,950

Seasonal or Recreational Housing (1,130) 4.50 4,322 6.50 6,978

Vacant Housing (692) 4.50 2,336 6.50 4,273

Hotel/Motel Rooms (892) 2.50 2,007 3.50 3,122

Total 11,634 18,323

1 For the low estimate, the following assumptions were used to calculate the total number of persons: 0.25 guestsper permanent housing unit on average; 85% occupancy rate for seasonal recreational housing; 75% occupancy ratefor vacant housing; and 90% occupancy rate for hotel rooms.2 For the high estimate, the following assumptions were used to calculate the total number of persons: 1 guest perpermanent housing unit on average; 95% occupancy rate for seasonal recreational housing; 95% occupancy forvacant housing; and 100% occupancy for hotel rooms.

Source: Town of Wrightsville Beach 2005 CAMA Land Use Plan.

3. Population Profile - Age

The majority of the residents of Wrightsville Beach are considered “young,” with 40.1% fallingwithin the 15 to 34 year old age bracket, as reported in the 2000 US Census. The next largestage bracket, at 26.8% of the total, is the 35 to 54 year old, middle aged group. The retiredpopulation (aged 65 and over) increased slightly from 12.1% of the total in 1990 to 15% of thetotal in 2000. Table 3 provides a detailed breakdown of age composition for the Town.

Table 3. Town of Wrightsville Beach Age Composition, 1990 and 2000

1990 2000

Age Total % of Total Total % of Total

0 to 14 years 234 8.1% 193 7.4%

15 to 34 years 1,224 42.2% 1,040 40.1%

35 to 54 years 793 27.4% 695 26.8%

55 to 64 years 297 10.2% 277 10.7%

(Continued on next page)

http://www.weather.com

DRAFT


1990 2000

Age Total % of Total Total % of Total


65 to 74 years 254 8.8% 218 8.4%

75 and over 97 3.3% 170 6.6%

Total population 2,899 100.0% 2,593 100.0%

Median age 34.8 N/A 37.1 N/A

School Age Population (5-18) 279 9.6% 184 7.1%

Working Age Population (16-64) 2,284 78.8% 1,921 74.1%

Retired Population (65+) 351 12.1% 388 15.0%

Source: US Census Bureau.

4. Housing

As is typical for beach communities, the total number of vacant housing units outnumberthe occupied units, due to the seasonal nature of the occupancy rate. As reported in the 2000US Census, the number of vacant units used for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use(1,100) almost equal the total number of occupied units (1,275). Table 4 summarizes housingtenure of residential units within the Town of Wrightsville Beach.

Table 4. Town of Wrightsville Beach Housing Units, 2000

Number Percentage

Occupied Housing Units 1,275 41.8%

Owner Occupied 701 23.0%

Renter Occupied 574 18.8%

Vacant Housing Units 1,775 58.2%

Vacant for Seasonal, Recreational, or Occasional Use

1,100 36.1%

Vacant for Other Reasons 675 22.1%

Total Housing Units 3,050 100.0%


According to the US Census, there were 2,645 housing units in the town as of 1990.Since that time, there has been an increase in the town’s housing stock. The 2000 Censusreported 3,050 units in the town, an increase of 405 units, a 15% increase.

DRAFT



Table 5 details building permit activity from 2005 to August, 2009 for the town. Sincethe year 2005, an average of 15 additional single-family units have been constructed annually,although there is a definite declining trend in permit activity for both single-family and multi-family (in this case, duplex) units. As noted below, no multi-family structure permits larger thana duplex were issued. This declining trend mirrors the overall decrease in the building industryin general for the region and nation during this same time period.

Table 5. Town of Wrightsville Beach Residential Building Permit Activity

YearSingle-Family

PermitsMulti-Family

PermitsTotal Residential

Permits

2005 25 19 (duplexes) 44

2006 20 8 (duplexes) 28

2007 16 0 16

2008 8 1 (duplex) 9

2009* 3 1 (duplex) 4

*through August, 2009.Source: Town of Wrightsville Beach.

5. Economy

The following provides a brief summary of significant economic factors for the Town ofWrightsville Beach. Not surprisingly, the accommodation and food services industry employsthe majority of the civilian population 16 years and over in Wrightsville Beach. The next twosignificant industries employing Wrightsville Beach workers are the education/health/socialservices and the professional/scientific/management/administrative/waste management sericesindustries. Table 6 lists the major industries employing Wrightsville Beach workers as of the2000 US Census.

Table 6. Town of Wrightsville Beach Workers by Industry

Industry # of Workers % of Workers

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining - -

Construction 151 9.6%

Manufacturing 65 4.1%

Wholesale trade 70 4.4%

Retail trade 153 9.7%

Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 36 2.3%

Information 54 3.4%

DRAFT


Industry # of Workers % of Workers


Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing 174 11.0%

Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and wastemanagement services

229 14.5%

Educational, health and social services 255 16.2%

Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and foodservices

304 19.3%

Other services (except public administration) 60 3.8%

Public administration 26 1.6%


Major employers in Wrightsville Beach include several hotels/motels, real estate salesand rental agencies, restaurants and seafood houses, marinas, and retail shops.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach maintains a median income that is significantly higherthan the neighboring city of Wilmington and the state’s capital city, Raleigh. The medianincome for Wrightsville Beach residents according to the 2000 US Census was $55,903, whilethe cities of Wilmington and Raleigh had median incomes of $31,099 and $46,612, respectively.

DRAFT


November 20, 2009 Page 3-1 Section 3. Hazard Identification

Section 3. Hazard Identification

A. INTRODUCTION

This section of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update identifies and analyzes the hazards facing theTown of Wrightsville Beach, as well as New Hanover County. This approach was taken becausemost of the data available is reported for the county, and because a number of these naturalhazards can impact portions of the Town in conjunction with unincorporated portions of theCounty.

This section aims to address the following questions:

What are the types of natural hazards that threaten the community? What are the characteristics of each hazard? What is the likelihood of occurrence (or probability) of each hazard? What is the likely magnitude of the potential hazards? What are the possible impacts of the hazards on the community?

The following section identifies each natural hazard that poses an elevated threat to the Townof Wrightsville Beach. A rating system is provided that rates the potential for occurrence foreach identified threat. The following natural hazards were determined to be of concern for theTown of Wrightsville Beach:

1. Hurricanes2. Nor’easters3. Urban Fires4. Thunderstorms and Tornadoes5. Lightning6. Flooding7. Rip Currents8. Severe Winter Storms9. Droughts/Heat Waves10. Earthquakes11. Tsunamis

A detailed explanation of these hazards and how they have impacted the Town of WrightsvilleBeach is provided on the following pages. The weather history summaries provided throughoutthis discussion have been compiled from two independent sources: the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of South Carolina Hazards andVulnerability Research Institute, Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the UnitedStates (SHELDUS).

DRAFT



Data utilized from NOAA was provided through the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). TheNCDC compiles monthly reports that track weather events and any financial or life lossassociated with a given occurrence. These reports are compiled and stored in an onlinedatabase that is organized by state and county for the entire United States.

SHELDUS is a county-level hazard data set for the United States for 18 different natural hazardevent types such as thunderstorms, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and tornadoes. For each eventthe database includes the beginning date, location (county and state), property losses, croplosses, injuries, and fatalities that affected each county. The data set does not include PuertoRico, Guam, or other U.S. territories.

The records from these two sources were cross-referenced for accuracy and completeness. Thetables presented within this section as well as Appendix IV are the results of this research.

B. HURRICANES

1. Description

Hurricanes are cyclonic storms that originate in tropical ocean waters poleward of about 5°latitude. Basically, hurricanes are heat engines, fueled by the release of latent heat from thecondensation of warm water. Their formation requires a low pressure disturbance, sufficientlywarm sea surface temperature, rotational force from the spinning of the Earth, and the absenceof wind shear in the lowest 50,000 feet of the atmosphere.

Hurricanes that impact North Carolina form in the so-called Atlantic Basin, from the west coastof Africa westward into the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes in this basin generallyform between June 1 and November 30, with a peak around mid-September. As a hurricanedevelops, barometric pressure at its center falls and winds increase. Winds at or exceeding 39mph result in the formation of a tropical storm, which is given a name and closely monitoredby the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. When winds are at or exceed 74 mph,the tropical storm is deemed a hurricane.

Because hurricanes derive their strength from warm ocean waters, they are generally subjectto deterioration once they make landfall. The forward momentum of a hurricane can vary fromjust a few miles per hour to up to 40 mph. This forward motion, combined with acounterclockwise surface flow make the right front quadrant of the hurricane the location of themost potentially damaging winds.

Hurricane intensity is measured using the Saffir-Simpson Scale, ranging from 1 (minimal) to 5(catastrophic). The following scale categorizes hurricane intensity linearly based upon maximumsustained winds, minimum barometric pressure and storm surge potential.

DRAFT



Category 1: Winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour. Damage primarily to shrubbery,trees, foliage, and unanchored mobile homes. No appreciable wind damage toother structures. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Storm surgepossibly 3 to 5 feet above normal. Low-lying roads inundated, minor pierdamage, some small craft in exposed anchorage torn from moorings.

Category 2: Winds of 96 to 110 miles per hour. Considerable damage toshrubbery and tree foliage; some trees blown down. Major damage to exposedmobile homes. Extensive damage to poorly constructed signs. Some damageto roof materials of buildings; some window and door damage. No major winddamage to buildings. Storm surge possibly 6 to 8 feet above normal. Coastalroads and low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water 2 to 4 hours beforearrival of hurricane center. Considerable damage to piers. Marinas flooded.Small craft in unprotected anchorages torn from moorings. Evacuation of someshoreline residences and low-lying island areas required.

Category 3: Winds of 111 to 130 miles per hour. Foliage torn from trees;large trees blown down. Practically all poorly constructed signs blown down.Some damage to roofing materials of buildings; some window and door damage.Some structural damage to small buildings. Mobile homes destroyed. Stormsurge possibly 9 to 12 feet above normal. Serious flooding at coast and manysmaller structures near coast destroyed; larger structures near coast damage bybattering waves and floating debris. Low-lying escape routes inland cut by risingwater 3 to 5 hours before hurricane center arrives.

Category 4: Winds of 131 to 155 miles per hour. Shrubs and trees blowndown; all signs down. Extensive damage to roofing materials, windows, anddoors. Complete failure of roofs on many small residences. Completedestruction of mobile homes. Storm surge possibly 13 to 18 feet above normal.Major damage to lower floors of structures near shore due to flooding andbattering by waves and floating debris. Low-lying escape routes inland cut byrising water 3 to 5 hours before hurricane center arrives. Major erosion ofbeaches.

Category 5: Winds greater than 155 miles per hour. Shrubs and trees blowndown; considerable damage to roofs of buildings; all signs down. Very severeand extensive damage to windows and doors. Complete failure of roofs on manyresidences and industrial buildings. Extensive shattering of glass in windows anddoors. Some complete building failures. Small buildings overturned or blownaway. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Storm surge possibly greaterthan 18 feet above normal. Major damage to lower floors of all structures less

DRAFT



Source: NOAA Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool: New Hanover County, North Carolina.

than 15 feet above sea level. Low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water3 to 5 hours before hurricane center arrives.

2. Historical Impact

North Carolina has had an extensive hurricane history dating back to colonial times. During thenineteenth century, storms occurred in 1837, 1846, 1856, 1879, 1883, and 1899. During the1950s, North Carolina was ravaged by several hurricanes, including Hazel, Connie, Diane, andIone. Between 1960 - 1990, there was a decrease in landfalling hurricanes, with the exceptionof Hurricane Donna in 1960, Hurricane Ginger in 1971, Hurricane Diana in 1984, and HurricaneHugo in 1989. Recent history has included several hurricanes as well, with Emily (1993), Opal(1995), Bertha (1996), Fran (1996), Bonnie (1998), Dennis (1999), and Floyd (1999) all leavingtheir mark on North Carolina. However, these storms had varying impacts on WrightsvilleBeach.

Storms passing North Carolina in the vicinity of the Town of Wrightsville Beach have producedsevere floods as well as extensive structural damage. Following are brief descriptions of severalstorms which had a significant impact on the Town of Wrightsville Beach.

a. October 5 to 18, 1954 (Hurricane Hazel)

Hurricane Hazel crossed the coast just north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ashurricane winds hit the Atlantic coast between Georgetown, South Carolina, and Cape Lookout,North Carolina. Storm surge devastated the immediate ocean front of this stretch of coast.Every fishing pier along 170 miles of coast, from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Cedar Island,North Carolina, was destroyed. The waterfrontbetween the South Carolina - North Carolina stateline and Cape Fear was completely destroyed.Grass-covered dunes, some 20 feet high, alongand behind which beach homes had been built ina continuous line 5 miles long, simply disappeared- dunes, houses, and all. From Cape Fear to CapeLookout, the degree of devastation was not asgreat, but ocean front property was damaged anaverage of 50 percent along this entire stretch.North of Cape Lookout damage was relativelylight.

Storm surge of 16.6 feet above National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) was observedat Holden Beach Bridge and Calabash, North Carolina. The lowest recorded barometric pressureof the storm was 938 millibars (mb), reported at Little River Inlet on the North Carolina - South

DRAFT





Carolina border. Maximum wind speeds were 83 mph, with gusts recorded at 98 mph atWilmington, North Carolina; 106 mph at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and an estimated 125-140 mph at Wrightsville Beach and 150 mph at Cape Fear. The storm surge at WrightsvilleBeach was reported to be 12-14 feet above mean low water mark, destroyed approximately100-250 homes, and damaged around 500 more. The storm continued inland through NorthCarolina causing widespread damage due to high winds and record rainfall. Nineteen peoplewere killed and 200 injured during this storm. The total damage caused by Hazel in NorthCarolina was estimated at approximately $136 million.

b. August 3 to 14, 1955 (Hurricane Connie)

Hurricane Connie entered North Carolina close to Cape Lookout at approximately8:30 a.m. on August 12. The prolonged pounding of high waves against the coast causedtremendous beach erosion, arguably worse than that caused by Hazel in 1954. Storm tidesalong the coast from Southport to Nags Head werereported to be approximately 7 feet NGVD (6.9 feetNGVD at Wrightsville Beach and 7.5 feet NGVD atKure Beach). Water in sounds and near themouths of rivers was 5 to 8 feet above normal. AtWilmington, winds were reported at 72 mph,gusting to 83 mph. At Fort Macon, winds of 75mph, gusts of 100 mph, and a barometric pressureof 962 mb were reported. Total damagethroughout the State was estimated at $50 million.

c. August 7 to 21, 1955 (Hurricane Diane)

Five days after Hurricane Connie, and before the damage from that storm could beestimated, Hurricane Diane struck the coast near Carolina Beach around 6 a.m. on August 17.The highest wind speed reported during this storm was 74 mph at the Wilmington Airport.Storm tides ranged from 5 to 9 feet above meanlow water on the beaches (6.8 feet NGVD atWrightsville Beach), and in some areas of soundsand associated rivers, estimated water levels were5 to 9 feet above normal. Diane caused severebeach erosion along the North Carolina coast. Thetotal damage caused in North Carolina by Connieand Diane was estimated to be in excess of $90million. No deaths or injuries in North Carolinawere attributed to either of the storms.

DRAFT





d. September 10 to 23, 1955 (Hurricane Ione)

Hurricane Ione approached from the south and crossed the North Carolina coast nearSalter Path, 10 miles west of Morehead City, at approximately 5:00 a.m. on September 19. Itthen slowly curved to the northeast and went out to sea near the Virginia border early onSeptember 20. When Ione made landfall in North Carolina, winds gusted to over 100 mph.Wind speeds of 75 mph with gusts to 107 mph were recorded at Cherry Point. The minimumbarometric pressure recorded over North Carolina during this storm was 960 mb. Heavy rainsalso accompanied Ione. At the same time,prolonged easterly winds drove tidal water ontobeaches and into sounds and estuaries to heightsof 3 to 10 feet above normal. The result was thelargest inundation of eastern North Carolina everknown to have occurred. A high tide of 5.3 feetNGVD was reported at Wrightsville Beach. In NorthCarolina, seven (7) deaths and damaged estimatedat $88 million were attributed to Hurricane Ione.

e. August 29 to September 13, 1960 (Hurricane Donna)

Hurricane Donna crossed the North Carolina coast between Wilmington and MoreheadCity on September 11. The center of the storm passed a few miles east of Wrightsville Beach,although Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach were each in the eye for about an hour. Thelowest barometric pressure recorded during this storm was 962 mb at Wilmington. High tides,6 to 8 feet above normal, together with high winds, caused severe damage in many areas.Winds of hurricane force, up to 97 mph, were reported from Wilmington.

During the night of September 11, thestorm center moved northward, parallel andslightly east of a line drawn between Wilmingtonand Norfolk, Virginia. Wind gusts were in excessof 97 mph and tides were 4 to 8 feet abovenormal. A high tide of 8.3 feet NGVD wasreported at Wrightsville Beach. Coastalcommunities from Wilmington to Nags Headsuffered heavy structural damage andconsiderable beach erosion. Eight deaths andapproximately 100 injuries were attributed to thestorm. Damages were estimated at $25 million.

DRAFT





f. September 9 to 14, 1984 (Hurricane Diana)

Diana was first observed as a developing low on the end of a frontal trough just northof the Bahama Islands September 8th. On September 9th, Diana approached within 150 milesof the Florida coast. On September 10th, Diana intensified to hurricane force and was movingnorth northeast on a course parallel to the Georgiaand South Carolina coasts. Over the next two days(11th and 12th) Diana intensified to a Category 3 andmoved close to Cape Fear. The hurricane stalled offCape Fear for about 30 hours making ananticyclonic loop. Diana crossed the North Carolinacoast near Long Beach as a minimal Category 2hurricane around 3 am on September 13 during lowtide. After making landfall, Diana weakened totropical storm strength and then moved northeastalong the coastal sections of North Carolina exitinginto the Atlantic near Oregon Inlet.

Damage over southeast North Carolina amounted to around $80 million with about onethird of that amount attributed to agricultural damage. The heavy rainfall in association withthe winds caused widespread tree uprootings and months of clean-up work.

There were three deaths related to Diana: a person preparing for the storm suffered afatal heart attack and two people were killed in accidents on water covered roads including theShelter Manager in Brunswick County. The highest sustained wind occurred while Diana wasstill out to sea. Oak Island Coast Guard Station on September 11th reported a sustained windspeed of 115 mph. When Diana made landfall, the highest sustained wind was around 92 mph.Wrightsville Beach experienced 10-20 feet of erosion as a result of Hurricane Diana.

g. July 5 to 12, 1996 (Hurricane Bertha)

Hurricane Bertha formed on July 5, 1996. Asa Category One hurricane, Bertha moved across thenortheastern Caribbean. The storm’s highestsustained winds reached 115 mph north of PuertoRico. Bertha made landfall near Wilmington on July12 as a Category Two hurricane, with estimatedwinds of 105 mph. Bertha claimed two lives in NorthCarolina and did substantial damage to agriculturecrops and forestland. Storm surge flooding andbeach erosion were severe along the coast.

DRAFT




Damages were estimated to exceed $60 million for homes and structures, and over $150million for agriculture. Corn, tobacco, and other crops received severe damage from the storm.Rainfall totals of over 5 inches were common in eastern North Carolina.

h. August 23 to September 5, 1996 (Hurricane Fran)

Hurricane Fran was the most destructive hurricane of the 1996 season. The storm wascreated on August 23, reaching hurricane statuson August 29, while about 450 miles to thenortheast of the Leeward Islands. It strengthenedto a Category Three hurricane northeast of thecentral Bahamas on September 4. Hurricane Fran,with winds estimated at 115 mph, made landfallover Cape Fear on the evening of September 5,then continued northward over the eastern UnitedStates causing widespread damage. Fran wasresponsible for 34 deaths overall (24 in NorthCarolina alone), mostly caused by flash flooding inthe Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, andPennsylvania.

The storm surge on the North Carolina coast destroyed or seriously damaged thousandsof beach front structures. Immediately following the storm, nearly 1.8 million people werewithout electrical power. Most electrical service was restored within 8-10 days. More than 890businesses and 30,000 homes were damaged by a storm that also damaged or destroyed 8.25million acres of forest. The damage in North Carolina alone was estimated at $5.2 billion. TheTown of Wrightsville Beach experienced a 10-foot storm surge and a 40-foot beach erosionduring Hurricane Fran. A high water mark of 11.1 feet was also observed at Wrightsville Beach.Tides were 12 feet above normal, and fifteen homes were at least 75% damaged.

i. August 19 to 30, 1998 (Hurricane Bonnie)

Hurricane Bonnie originated as a tropical wave over Africa. It slowly increased speedand made its way across the Atlantic, near the Leeward Islands and then Hispaniola. It madelandfall near Wilmington as a border Category 2/3 hurricane with approximately 115 mph windsand a diameter of 400 miles on August 27, 1998. Rainfall totals between 8-11 inches wererecorded in portions of eastern North Carolina. Almost 11 inches was recorded in Aurora.Storm tides of 5 to 8 feet above normal were reported mainly in eastern beaches of BrunswickCounty, NC, while a storm surge of 6 feet was reported at Pasquotank and Camden countiesin the Albemarle Sound. A tornado was reported in the Town of Edenton in Chowan County,NC.

DRAFT




The storm slowly moved off land on August28, 1998. In its wake, the total damage wasestimated in the $1 billion range. There was anestimated $360 million in insured property damage,including $240 million in North Carolina alone. Theinsured losses do not include flooding andagricultural damages, which were extensive due tothe vast amount of rain and high winds. Therewere trees down, roofs torn off, structural damage,and widespread power outages. North CarolinaGovernor Jim Hunt asked that the area be declareda natural disaster area.

j. August 24 to September 7, 1999 (Hurricane/Tropical Storm Dennis)

Hurricane Dennis developed over the eastern Bahamas on August 26, 1999, and driftedparallel to the southeastern United States from the 26th to the 30th. The center of Dennisapproached to within 60 miles of the Carolinacoastline on August 30th as a strong Category 2hurricane. Although the storm never madelandfall, rainfall amounts approached ten inchesin coastal southeastern North Carolina and beacherosion was substantial. The peak gust reportedat Wrightsville Beach was 96 knots which was thehighest gust reported in the State. Dennis madea return visit in September as a tropical storm,moving west-northwest through eastern andcentral North Carolina and then lingering off thecoast for several days.

Although the damage directly attributed to Hurricane Dennis was not substantial inWrightsville Beach, Dennis set the stage for Hurricane Floyd. The rainfall associated withHurricane Dennis saturated the ground and raised the water table. As a result, when HurricaneFloyd hit North Carolina, its impact was intensified.


DRAFT



k. September 7 to 18, 1999 (Hurricane Floyd)

Hurricane Floyd brought flooding rains, high winds, and rough seas to a good portionof the United States coastline from September 14th through the 18th. Although Hurricane Floydreached Category 4 intensity in the Bahamas, it weakened to a Category 2 hurricane by the timeit made landfall in North Carolina. However, gusts were reported at 138 miles per hour atWrightsville Beach, the highest in the State. Due to Floyd’s large size, heavy rainfall covereda larger area and lasted longer than in a typicalCategory 2 storm. Flooding caused majorproblems across the region resulting in at least 77deaths, and damages estimated in the billions. InNorth Carolina alone, 7,000 homes weredestroyed, 17,000 homes were made inhabitable,and 56,000 homes were damaged.

3. Likelihood of Occurrence

North Carolina’s geographic location on the Atlantic Ocean and its proximity to the Gulf Streammake it prone to hurricanes. In fact, North Carolina has experienced the fourth greatest numberof hurricane landfalls of any state in the twentieth century (trailing Florida, Texas, andLouisiana). Wrightsville Beach is located on the southeastern coast of North Carolina. It issurrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Due to geographic locationand historic information, the Town is extremely susceptible to hurricanes. The followingprovides a brief description of several hurricanes which have had a significant impact on theTown since adoption of the current Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan.

a. August 24, 2004 (Hurricane Charley)

Hurricane Charley initially made landfall on thewest coast of Florida between Fort Myers and Tampa asa Category 4 hurricane. The storm crossed Florida, andexited the coast as a Category 1 storm. It continuednortheast and made landfall again near Cape Romain asa weak Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds at75 mph. It moved up the coast and then inland aroundMyrtle Beach. In Horry and Georgetown counties,insurance claims totaled $5 million, mostly along theGrand Strand. There were downed trees, roof damage,and flooding along the coast in this area.

Source: http://www.unctv.org.

Source: National Hurricane Center.

http://www.unctv.org

DRAFT



As Charley moved northeast, Brunswick County was hit the hardest, with peak windsaround 85 mph. Damage was extensive, with 2,231 homes damaged, 231 with major damage,and 40 homes destroyed in the county for a total of $6.3 million. New Hanover County was thenext hardest hit, with many businesses damaged in Wilmington and surrounding cities, includingthe Wrightsville Beach area. The majority of the county had power outages from downed limbson power lines. Rainfall ranged from two inches near the coast, to around four inches fromeastern Bladen County, south through Columbus County. Vegetative debris was widespread,plugging storm drains and contributing to ponding and flooding the next day. Storm surge wasminimal, with some minor overwash. Only a few minor injuries were reported.

b. September 14 to 15, 2005 (Hurricane Ophelia)

On September 12th, hurricane warnings were issued from South Santee River to CapeLookout, with Hurricane Ophelia centered about 140 miles SSE of Myrtle Beach, SC. At 11 amon the 14th, Category 1 Ophelia was centered about 25 miles southeast of Cape Fear. The largeeyewall (50 miles in diameter) was over New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick counties withhurricane strength wind gusts reported at Wrightsville Beach (79 mph). There were unofficialreports of wind gusts to 84 mph at Bald Head Island and Kure Beach. No other stationsreported a measured gust to hurricane strength with most observing stations reporting windgusts between 35 to 50 mph. Rainfall was heaviest in the eastern portion of Brunswick Countywith over 17 inches reported. Twelve (12) inches was observed on September 14th, and 5inches on the 13th, in advance of the hurricane. Average rainfall over Brunswick, New Havover,and Pender counties ranged from 6 to 10 inches. Damage over the area was mainly minor roofdamage and flooding over flood prone areas. In Topsail Beach, cosmetic damage was reportedto 350 homes. Flooding closed majorthoroughfares, especially from Shallotte River toSupply. There were moderate reports of downedtrees and the utility company reported over51,000 people without power at the height of thestorm. Beach erosion was also a problem. Alongshore current gouged a 5-foot escarpmentalong the coast of New Hanover and Pendercounties. Damage to the area and the cost forclean up would be $6 million for Pender and NewHanover counties, with $2.3 million for BrunswickCounty. Source: National Weather Service.

DRAFT



c. August 31 to September 1, 2006 (Tropical Storm Ernesto)

Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall on the eastern coast of Brunswick County near10:30 pm EST on August 31st. The maximum wind speed was recorded at Wrightsville Beachat 74 mph. A 66 mph wind gusts was recorded at Kure Beach and at Bald Head Island the peakwind was 65 mph. Thousands of residents lost power at the height of the storm. During theearly morning hours Ernesto moved north, and Tropical Storm warnings were lowered forsoutheast North Carolina at 7:00 am EST, September 1st. Most of the property damage wasdue to rainfall and fresh water flooding, with little structural damage from wind. Many roadsin Brunswick County were impassable.

Rainfall storm totals ranged from 4.5 inches inColumbus County to nearly 12 inches along the coast ofPender County. The heavy rains contributed to multiplesewer spills, most notable in New Hanover County.Along the coast, storm surge was less than 3 feet.Beach erosion was minor to moderate, with some duneloss mainly at Topsail Island.

d. Retired Names

Some hurricanes are so significant and have such a great impact on an area that thenames are retired. The name of a hurricane may be retired if the country affected by the stormmakes the request to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). When the name is retiredit may not be used again for at least ten years to avoid public confusion with other storms.Several of the hurricanes that affected Wrightsville Beach were so destructive that their nameswere retired. Below is a list of those hurricanes.

Hazel Connie Ione Donna Fran Floyd Charley


DRAFT



C. NOR’EASTERS

1. Description

In the past decade, research meteorologists have recognized the significance of nor’easters andtheir potential to cause damage along the coast. Unlike hurricanes, these storms areextratropical, deriving their strength from horizontal gradients in temperature.

The presence of the warm Gulf Stream waters off the eastern seaboard during the winter actsto dramatically increase surface horizontal temperature gradients within the coastal zone.During winter offshore cold periods, these horizontal temperature gradients can result in rapidand intense destabilization of the atmosphere directly above and shoreward of the Gulf Stream.This period of instability often precedes wintertime coastal extratropical cyclone development.

It is the temperature structure of the continental air mass and the position of the temperaturegradient along the Gulf Stream that drives this cyclone development. As a low pressuredeepens, winds and waves can uninhibitedly increase and cause serious damage to coastalareas as the storm generally moves to the northeast. The proximity of North Carolina’s coastto the Gulf Stream makes it particularly prone to nor’easters. The Dolan-Davis Nor’easterIntensity Scale categorizes nor’easters based upon levels of coastal degradation (see Table 7).

Table 7. The Dolan-Davis Nor’easter Intensity Scale

Storm Class Beach Erosion Dune Erosion Overwash Property Damage

1 (Weak) Minor changes None No No

2 (Moderate) Modest; mostly tolower beach

Minor No Modest

3 (Significant) Erosion extendsacross beach

Can be significant No Loss of manystructures at locallevel

4 (Severe) Severe beacherosion andrecession

Severe duneerosion ordestruction

On low beaches Loss of structures atcommunity-scale

5 (Extreme) Extreme beacherosion

Dunes destroyedover extensiveareas

Massive in sheetsand channels

Extensive atregional-scale;millions of dollars

Source: NC Division of Emergency Management, Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Manual.


A number of notable nor'easters have impacted North Carolina in recent decades, including theAsh Wednesday Storm of March 1962, but they were typically only of local concern. One

DRAFT



exception to this was the nor'easter of late October and early November 1990, which looseneda dredge barge that struck and destroyed approximately five roadway segments of the BonnerBridge in Dare County. Another nor'easter struck the Outer Banks on Halloween 1991, causingsubstantial beach erosion


Although nor’easters are more diffuse and less intense than hurricanes, they occur morefrequently and cover larger areas and longer coastal reaches at one time. As a result, thelikelihood of a nor’easter occurring in Wrightsville Beach is much higher than that of a hurricane.However, the potential for significant damage to the town resulting from a nor’easter is muchless than that of a hurricane.

Analysis of nor’easter frequency by researchers reveals fewer nor’easters during the 1980s.However, the frequency of major nor’easters (class 4 and 5 on the Dolan-Davis scale) hasincreased in recent years. In the period 1987 to 1993, at least one class 4 or 5 storm occurredeach year along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, a situation duplicated only once inthe last 50 years. Since adoption of the Town’s current Hazard Mitigation Plan, the town hasexperienced at least one nor’easter. In September 2008, a storm made landfall at WrightsvilleBeach with 60 mph winds which caused significant erosion along the beach.

D. URBAN FIRES/WIND

1. Description

Urban fires occur in populated areas and usually involve buildings, structures, or areas outside.In 1999, the United States Fire Administration released information regarding the nature ofurban fires. The study found that more than one quarter of urban home fires were a result ofcooking fires. Incendiary and suspicious origin fires were ranked second with heating andelectrical distribution fires ranking third. With the exception of the western United States, theleading cause of fatal urban residential fires was smoking related. In the western region,incendiary or suspicious origin were the leading causes. Fifty-four percent (54%) of house firesin urban areas lacked smoke detectors. The most common type of urban fires were outdoorfires which made up forty percent (40%) of fires. Approximately one third of fires werestructure fires and two percent (2%) were vehicle fires. Although outdoor fires occurred moreoften, the majority of fire deaths, injuries, and property loss were a result of structure fires.

The potential for the spread of urban fires depends upon the surface fuel characteristics, recentclimate conditions, and current meteorological conditions, specifically wind. In coastalcommunities like Wrightsville Beach, normal wind velocities are between 10 and 15 knots. In

DRAFT



the fall, winter, or spring those velocities may reach 25 to 30 knots. Sustained winds of 10 to15 knots can accelerate the spreading of fires.


The Town of Wrightsville Beach has not experienced an excessive amount of wind driven fires.However, as mentioned above, the limited setbacks coupled with coastal winds makes thepotential for wind driven fires extremely high. Below is a list of notable historic fire losses in theTown of Wrightsville Beach. This information was obtained from the Wrightsville Beach FireDepartment.

January, 1934 – Stone Street to present day Salisbury Street – more than 100houses lost in a wind driven fire.

August, 1948 – 500 block of South Lumina – seven houses lost due to windyconditions.

January, 1949 – Wright Villas, 100 block of North Lumina – one block lost dueto windy conditions.

December, 1954 – Ocean Terrace Hotel – windy conditions.

August, 1955 – Harbor Island – one house lost due to high wind.

October, 1981 – Palmetto Drive – high winds.

December, 1981 – 500 block of South Lumina – Lost Hanover Seaside Club,Doak Apartments, heavy damage to Carolina Temple Apartments – inadequatewater.

January, 1982 – Parmele Estates – Inadequate water and high winds.


The likelihood of an urban fire to occur at Wrightsville Beach is not that much different from anyother town. However, the likelihood for an urban fire to spread at Wrightsville Beach is veryhigh. The maximum building setback for the town is fifteen (15) feet. There are a largenumber of multi-story structures on the island with the eaves from some structures extendingtwo to three feet into the setback. Many of these structures have wooden patio type sundecksand widow walks which act as fuel for urban fires. Other combustible items such as landscapingmaterial, stairs, lattices, AC mounting structures, fences, and cars in the limited setbacks make

DRAFT



the probability of spreading inevitable. If a fire is ignited and starts to spread, the fact that alot of these houses sit on dead end streets that are not easily accessible delays rescue andextinguishing efforts. In August 2007, a fire erupted on the third floor deck of an apartmenthouse at Wrightsville Beach which left a number of people homeless. A second fire occurredin July, 2009, when a home on West Henderson Street caught on fire. Firefighters had the fireunder control within 15 minutes of arriving on the scene, but they fought the fire for severalhours in order to put out several hidden fires. The house next door was also damaged, but dueto the fast response of the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department the fire did not spread beyondthe initial structure.

E. THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES

1. Description

Thunderstorms are the result of convection in the atmosphere. They are typically the by-product of atmospheric instability, which promotes the vigorous rising of air parcels that formcumulus and, eventually, the cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) cloud.

A typical thunderstorm may be three miles wide at its base, rise to between 40,000 to 60,000feet in the troposphere, and contain half a million tons of condensed water. Conglomerationsof thunderstorms along cold fronts (with squall lines) can extend for hundreds of miles.Thunderstorms contain tremendous amounts of energy derived from condensation of water.Wind shears sometimes associated with thunderstorms can cause extensive property damageand power outages.

According to the National Weather Service, a severe thunderstorm is a thunderstorm whichproduces tornadoes, hail 0.75 inches or more in diameter, or winds 58 mph. However, thetornado is by far the greatest natural hazard threat from a severe thunderstorm.

The National Weather Service defines a tornado as a violently rotating column of air in contactwith the ground and extending from the base of a thunderstorm. The intensity, path length,and width of tornadoes are rated according to a scale originally developed by T. Theodore Fujitaand Allen D. Pearson in 1971. At the time Fujita derived the scale, little information wasavailable on damage caused by wind, so the original scale presented little more than educatedguesses at wind speed ranges for specific tiers of damage. Further research suggested thatwind speeds for strong tornadoes on the Fujita scale were greatly overestimated, and onFebruary 1, 2007, the Fujita scale was decommissioned (in the US only) in favor of whatscientists believe is a more accurate Enhanced Fujita Scale. The EF Scale is thought to improveon the F-scale on many counts – it accounts for different degrees of damage that occur withdifferent types of structures, both man-made and natural. The expanded and refined damageindicators and degrees of damage standardize what was somewhat ambiguous. It also is

DRAFT



thought to provide a much better estimate for wind speeds, and sets no upper limit on the windspeeds for the strongest level, EF5. The Enhanced Fujita Scale is provided in Table 8.

Table 8. Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale

Category Wind Speed Equivalent Saffir-Simpson Scale

Potential Damage

EF0 65-85 mph N/A Light Damage: Peels surface off some roofs; somedamage to gutters or siding; branches broken off trees;shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

EF1 86-110 mph Cat 1/2/3 Moderate Damage: Roofs severely stripped; mobilehomes overturned or badly damaged; loss of exteriordoors; windows and other glass broken.

EF2 111-135 mph Cat 3/4/5 Considerable Damage: Roofs torn off well-constructedhouses; foundations of frame homes shifted; mobilehomes completely destroyed; large trees snapped oruprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted offground.

EF3 136-165 mph Cat 5 Severe Damage: Entire stories of well-constructedhouses destroyed; severe damage to large buildingssuch as shopping malls; trains overturned; treesdebarked; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown;structures with weak foundations blown away somedistance.

EF4 166-200 mph Cat 5 Devastating Damage: Well-constructed houses andwhole frame houses completely leveled; cars thrownand small missiles generated.

EF5 >200 mph N/A Explosive Damage: Strong frame houses leveled offfoundations and swept away; automobile-sized missilesfly through the air in excess of 300 feet; steel reinforcedconcrete structures badly damaged; high-rise buildingshave significant structural deformation.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.


Between the years 1953-2003, 978 tornadoes were recorded in North Carolina of which 14 werelocated within New Hanover County. On average, New Hanover County experienced onetornado approximately every 3.6 years during the 50-year period.

Table 9 provides a summary of tornado activity in New Hanover County between 1990-2003.While only one of these tornadoes occurred in Wrightsville Beach, the rest passed in closeproximity to Wrightsville Beach. Damages are regional assessments.

DRAFT



Table 9. New Hanover County Tornadoes, 1990-2003

Location Date Type/Magnitude Deaths InjuriesDamages(Property)

County 7/16/1991 Tornado/F0 0 0 0

Wrightsville Beach 8/1/1994 Waterspout 0 0 0

Wilmington 10/8/1996 Tornado/F0 0 0 0

Wilmington 1/8/1998 Tornado/F1 0 3 175K




Murrayville 9/15/1999 Tornado/F0 0 0 0

Wilmington 9/15/1999 Tornado/F0 0 0 0

Totals 0 3 415K

Source: NC Division of Emergency Management and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

According to the NOAA, there have been seventy-two (72) hail storms in New Hanover Countysince the mid-1950s that produced hail with diameters of 0.75" or greater. In addition, therehave been at least twenty-one (21) thunderstorms that have caused injuries, death, or majorproperty damage within the county.


Thunderstorms are common throughout North Carolina, and have occurred in all months.Thunderstorm-related deaths and injuries in North Carolina (1959-1992) have peaked duringJuly and August. Between 1953 and 1990, 71% of North Carolina’s tornadoes were classifiedas weak, 28% as strong, and about 1% as violent. Based on Southeast Regional Climate Center(SERCC) statistics, North Carolina ranks 22nd in total number of tornadoes and 18th in tornadodeaths in the United States for the period 1953-1995.

Although tornadoes have been reported in North Carolina throughout the year, most of themhave occurred in the spring, with 13% in March, 11% in April, 22% in May, and 14% in June.Since adoption of the Town’s current Hazard Mitigation Plan, there are have been twelve (12)thunderstorms, eleven (11) hail events, and three (3) tornados/funnel clouds resulting in oneinjury and $910,000 in damages.

DRAFT



F. LIGHTNING

1. Description

Inside of clouds are small particles known as “hydrometeors”. As these particles grow andinteract, the collisions cause them to become charged. After studying these particles,researchers believe that the smaller particles tend to become positively charged while the largerparticles become negatively charged. Gravity pulls the larger, negatively charged particlesdownward, and updrafts tend to send the smaller, positively charged particles upward. Theresult is that the higher portion of the cloud has a net positive charge while the lower portionof the cloud has a net negative charge. The separation of particles causes a large electricalpotential not only within the cloud itself, but also between the cloud and the earth. Thiselectrical potential can become millions of volts in magnitude. Eventually, the electricalresistance in the air breaks down and lightning, the electrical discharge between the regions ofthe cloud or between the cloud and the ground, is formed.


Lightning is generally associated with other weather events outlined throughout this section.It is being discussed independently as there are specific measures that may be taken to mitigatethe adverse impacts of lightning strikes. Historical data related to lightning occurrences withinNew Hanover County has been provided, but these events may also be associated with otherweather events listed throughout this section. Table 10 provides historical lightning occurencessince 1994.

Table 10. New Hanover County Lightning Storms, 1994-2003

Location Date Deaths Injuries Damages (Property)

Wilmington 7/11/1994 0 0 5K


Carolina Beach 6/12/1996 0 0 0

Wilmington 7/14/1996 0 0 0

Wilmington 7/31/1996 0 1 0

Wilmington 7/29/1997 0 1 0

Wilmington 8/11/2000 0 0 106K

Wilmington 6/16/2001 0 0 15K


Wilmington 7/20/2002 0 0 0

Wrightsville Beach 4/7/2003 0 0 100K

Totals 0 5 276K

Source: NC Division of Emergency Management and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

DRAFT




Since adoption of the Town’s current Hazard Mitigation Plan, there have been several lightningstorms within the Town of Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County (see Table 11). No datawith regard to lightning strikes were reported for 2006 or 2008.

Table 11. Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Lightning Storms, 2005-2009



Wrightsville Beach 7/13/2005 0 1 0




Wilmington 7/28/2007 0 0 80K

Wilmington 6/26/2009 0 0 20K

Wilmington 6/27/2009 0 0 15K

Totals 0 8 135K

*Represents total amount reported for New Hanover CountySource: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Town of Wrightsville Beach.

G. FLOODING

1. Description

Flooding is a localized hazard that is generally the result of excessive precipitation. However,in coastal areas, storm surge and wind-driven waves are significant components of flooding.Floods can be generally considered in two categories: flash floods, the product of heavylocalized precipitation in a short time period over a given location; and general floods, causedby precipitation over a longer time period and over a given river basin. Flooding is the mostcommon environmental hazard, due to the widespread geographical distribution of river valleysand coastal areas, and the attraction of residents to these areas.

Flash floods occur within a few minutes or hours of heavy amounts of rainfall or from a dam orlevee failure. Flash floods can destroy buildings and bridges, uproot trees, and scour out newdrainage channels. Heavy rains that produce flash floods can also trigger mudslides. Most flashflooding is caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, repeated thunderstorms in a local area, orby heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms. Although flash flooding occurs often alongmountain streams, it is also common in urban areas where much of the ground is covered byimpervious surfaces.

DRAFT



The severity of a flooding event is determined by a combination of river basin physiography,local thunderstorm movement, past soil moisture conditions, and the degree of vegetativeclearing. Abnormal weather patterns may also contribute to flooding of a local area. Large-scale climatic events, such as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation in the Pacific have been linkedto increased storm activity and flooding in the United States. Nationally, July is the month inwhich most flash flooding events occur, and nearly 90% of flash floods occur during the Aprilthrough September period.

While flash floods occur within hours of a rain event, general flooding is a longer-term event,and may last for several days. The primary types of flooding are riverine flooding, coastalflooding, and urban flooding.

Periodic flooding of lands adjacent to non-tidal rivers and streams is a natural and inevitableoccurrence. When stream flow exceeds the capacity of the normal water course, some of theabove-normal stream flow spills over onto adjacent lands within the floodplain. Riverineflooding is a function of precipitation levels and water runoff volumes within the watershed ofthe stream or river. The recurrence interval of a flood is defined as the average time interval,in years, expected to take place between the occurrence of a flood of a particular magnitudeand an equal or larger flood. Flood magnitude increases with increasing recurrence interval.

Floodplains are divisible into areas expected to be inundated by spillovers from stream flowlevels associated with specific flood-return frequencies. The National Flood Insurance Programuses flood hazard zone designations to indicate the magnitude of flood hazards in specific areas.The following are flood hazard zones located within Wrightsville Beach and a definition of whateach zone means.

Zone A: Special Flood Hazard Areas inundated by the 100-year flood; base floodelevations are not determined.

Zone AE: Special Flood Hazard Areas inundated by the 100-year flood; baseflood elevations are determined.

Zone VE: Special Flood Hazard Areas inundated by the 100-year flood; coastalfloods with velocity hazards (wave action); base flood elevations are determined.

Zone X500: Areas of 500-year flood.

Zone X: Areas determined to be outside the 500-year floodplain; minimalflooding.

DRAFT



Coastal flooding is typically a result of storm surge, wind-driven waves, and heavy rainfall.These conditions are produced by hurricanes during the summer and fall, and nor’easters andother large coastal storms during the winter and spring. Storm surges may overrun barrierislands and push sea water up coastal rivers and inlets, blocking the downstream flow of inlandrunoff. Thousands of acres of crops and forestlands may be inundated by both saltwater andfreshwater. Escape routes, particularly from barrier islands, may be cut off quickly, strandingresidents in flooded areas and hampering rescue efforts.

Urban flooding occurs where there has been development within floodplains. This is partly aresult of the use of waterways for transportation purposes in earlier times or as in WrightsvilleBeach’s case the development as a resort area. The price of this accessibility was increasedflooding in the ensuing urban areas. Urbanization increases the magnitude and frequency offloods by increasing impermeable surfaces, increasing the speed of drainage collection, reducingthe carrying capacity of the land, and occasionally overwhelming sewer systems.


Ninety-six percent (96%) of the town’s land area is located in the 100-year floodplain. TheFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains a database of properties for whichtwo or more National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) losses of at least $1,000 each have beenpaid within any 10-year rolling period since 1978 (“repetitive loss structures”). WrightsvilleBeach had only six (6) repetitive losses prior to 1996. However, following five (5) majorhurricanes in the area that number increased significantly. There were 549 repetitive losses atWrightsville Beach after Hurricane Floyd in September, 1999. As a result of retrofitting ordemolition that number was reduced to 506.

A history of flooding events associated with hurricanes in Wrightsville Beach is provided in thehurricane discussion of this section.


Flood hazard varies by location and type of flooding. Coastal areas are most at risk fromflooding caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, and nor’easters. Low-lying coastal areas in closeproximity to the shore, sounds, or estuaries are exposed to the threat of flooding from stormsurge and wind-driven waves, as well as from intense rainfall. Areas bordering rivers may alsobe affected by large discharges caused by heavy rainfall over upstream areas.

The dominant sources of flooding in Wrightsville Beach are storm surge inundation and localponding of stormwater runoff. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the town’s land is located within theFEMA defined 100-year floodplain. The geographic location of the town on the Atlantic Oceanand the Intracoastal Waterway makes it susceptible to flooding.

DRAFT



H. RIP CURRENTS

1. Description

Rip currents can occur along any coastline that features breaking waves. Scientificinvestigations of wave and current interactions along the coast have shown that rip currents arelikely present on most beaches every day as a component of the complex pattern of nearshorecirculation. As waves travel from deep to shallow water, they eventually break near theshoreline. As waves break, they generate currents that flow in both the offshore (away fromthe coast) and the alongshore directions. Currents flowing away from the coast are called ripcurrents. Rip current strength and speed varies. This variability makes rip currents especiallydangerous to uninformed beachgoers.


The following table provides historical impact of rip currents in New Hanover County andWrightsville Beach.

Table 12. Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Rip Currents, 1997-2000





Kure Beach 8/20/2000 1 0 0

Kure Beach 9/13/2000 3 0 0

Totals 4 1 0



Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves. The National Weather Service issuesa Surf Zone Forecast that includes the rip current risk for many beaches. The Wrightsville BeachOcean Rescue Squad files colored signal flags from each lifeguard stand indicating the waterconditions observed in the area:

Green Flag: Calm Conditions. No specific risks have been observed, however,swimmers should always remain alert to their surroundings.

Yellow Flag: Use Caution. Do not enter the water unless you are anexperienced ocean swimmer.

DRAFT



Red Flag: Dangerous Conditions. Do not enter the water.

The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the annual number of deaths due to ripcurrents on the nation’s beaches exceeds 100. Rip currents account for over 80% of rescuesperformed by surf beach lifeguards. The following table provides a description of the ripcurrents which have occurred in New Hanover County and Wrightsville Beach since the Town’scurrent Hazard Mitigation Plan was adopted.

Table 13. Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Rip Currents, 2005-2009




Kure Beach 8/20/2007 1 0 0

New Hanover Co. 7/12/2008 0 4 0



Kure Beach 8/31/2008 1 0 0


Kure Beach 6/6/2009 1 2 0


Totals 6 7 0


I. SEVERE WINTER STORMS

1. Description

Severe winter storms can produce an array of hazardous weather conditions, including heavysnow, blizzards, freezing rain and ice pellets, and extreme cold. Severe winter storms areextratropical cyclones fueled by strong temperature gradients and an active upper-level jetstream. The winter storms that impact North Carolina generally form in the Gulf of Mexico oroff the southeast Atlantic Coast. Few of these storms result in blizzard conditions, defined bythe presence of the winds in excess of 35 mph, falling and blowing snow, and a maximumtemperature of 20° Fahrenheit. While the frequency and magnitude of snow events are highestin the mountains due to the elevation, the geographical orientation of the mountains andpiedmont contribute to a regular occurrence of freezing precipitation events (e.g., ice pellets andfreezing rain) in the piedmont.

DRAFT




The main effects of winter storms in New Hanover County are immobility and a large numberof frozen water pipes. It is important to note that low temperatures are also a hazard for thecounty and do not necessarily occur during times of sleet and snow. In the winter, the averagetemperature is 47°F. The average minimum temperature is 37°F. There have been four (4)incidences of severe winter weather in New Hanover County since 1996. Table 14 provides asummary of those snow and ice events.

Table 14. New Hanover County Severe Winter Storms, 1996-2004

Date Type Deaths InjuriesDamages(Property)

1/17/2000 Snow 0 0 0

1/25/2000 Winter Storm 0 0 0

1/2/2002 Winter Storm 0 0 0

1/23/2003 Winter Storm 0 0 $150K

Totals 0 0 $150K

Source: National Climatic Data Center.


The entire State of North Carolina has a likelihood of experiencing severe winter weather. Thethreat varies by location and by type of storm. Coastal areas typically face their greatest threatfrom nor’easters and other severe winter coastal storms. These storms can contain strongwaves and result in extensive beach erosion and flooding. Freezing rain and ice storms typicallyoccur once every several years at coastal locations, and severe snowstorms have been recordedoccasionally in coastal areas.

It is significant that when winter weather hits New Hanover County, it has the potential of beingsevere. In 1997, FEMA commissioned the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) to compilesnowfall extreme statistics for the contiguous United States. One-day observed maximum totalsnowfall amounts (in inches) were compiled and consolidated by county. Out of the eight (8)total climate divisions in North Carolina, New Hanover County’s climate division (#6) ranked lastin terms of average one-day extreme snowfall. There have been no occurrences of severewinter weather since the adoption of the Town’s current Hazard Mitigation Plan (2005).

DRAFT



J. DROUGHTS/HEAT WAVES

1. Description

The National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) generally defines a drought as a hazard ofnature that is a result of a deficient supply of precipitation to meet the demand. Droughts occurin all types of climate zones and have varying effects on the area experiencing the drought.Droughts tend to be associated with heat waves. An extended drought period may haveeconomic impacts (agriculture, industry, tourism, etc.), social impacts (nutrition, recreation,public safety, etc.), and environmental impacts (animal/plant, wetland, and water quality).

NDMC also reports that droughts are related to the balance between precipitation andevapotranspiration or to the timing of seasonal occurrences such as rainy seasons. Often times,development and human involvement aggravates the impact of droughts. Planning for droughtshas become increasingly more important. Thirty-eight states have some type of drought planin place. North Carolina is one of those states with a drought plan focusing on response.


In 1965, a National Weather Service Meteorologist by the name of Wayne Palmer created asophisticated system for measuring droughts. The name given to this system is the PalmerDrought Severity Index (PDSI). It measures drought in the United States as far back as 1895.According to the PDSI data by decade, Wrightsville Beach is in a climate division that, since1950, has experienced severe or extreme drought less than ten percent (10%) of the time.


It is difficult for scientists to predict when droughts will occur. They are dependent upon theaccurate forecasting of precipitation and temperature. Precipitation is a very importantcomponent of water supply and studying historic precipitation data and the area’s climate canprovide an idea of the potential for drought. The Soil Survey of New Hanover County, NorthCarolina states that precipitation occurs throughout the year. Annual precipitation is 32.86inches with sixty-one percent (61%) occurring between April and September, which is thegrowing season for most crops grown in the area. Droughts can occur in Wrightsville Beach butas mentioned above they are difficult to predict.

DRAFT



K. EARTHQUAKES

1. Description

Earthquakes are geologic events that involve movement or shaking of the Earth’s crust.Earthquakes are usually caused by the release of stresses accumulated as a result of the ruptureof rocks along opposing fault planes in the Earth’s outer crust. These fault planes generallyfollow the outlines of the continents.

Earthquakes are measured in terms of their magnitude and intensity. Magnitude is measuredusing the Richter Scale, an open-ended logarithmic scale that describes the energy release ofan earthquake through a measure of shock wave amplitude. Each unit increase in magnitudeon the Richter Scale corresponds to a ten-fold increase in wave amplitude, or a 244-foldincrease in energy. Intensity is most commonly measured using the Modified Mercalli Intensity(MMI) Scale. It is a twelve-level scale based on direct and indirect measurements of seismiceffects. The scale levels are typically described using roman numerals. Table 15 provides asummary of the Modified Mercalli Scale of Earthquake Intensity and its relation to the RichterScale.

Table 15. Modified Mercalli Scale of Earthquake Intensity

Scale Intensity Description of Effects

MaximumAcceleration(mm/sec)

CorrespondingRichter Scale

I Instrumental Detected only on seismographs <10

II Feeble Some people feel it <25 <4.2

III Slight Felt by people resting; like a truckrumbling by

<50

IV Moderate Felt by people walking <100

V Slightly Strong Sleepers awake, church bells ring <250 <4.8

VI Strong Trees sway; suspended objects swing;objects fall off shelves

<500 <5.4

VII Very Strong Mild alarm; walls crack; plaster falls <1000 <6.1

VIII Destructive Moving cars uncontrollable; masonryfractures; poorly constructed buildingsdamaged

<2500

IX Ruinous Some houses collapse; ground cracks;pipes break open

<5000 <6.9

X Disastrous Ground cracks profusely; many buildingsdestroyed; liquefaction and landslideswidespread

<7500 <7.3

DRAFT


Scale Intensity Description of Effects

MaximumAcceleration(mm/sec)

CorrespondingRichter Scale


XI Very Disastrous Most buildings and bridges collapse; roads,railways, pipes and cables destroyed;general triggering of other hazards

<9800 <8.1

XII Catastrophic Total destruction; trees fall; ground risesand falls in waves

>9800 >8.1

Source: Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Manual, North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.


Earthquakes are relatively infrequent but not uncommon in North Carolina. The earliest NorthCarolina earthquake on record is that of March 8, 1735, near Bath. It is likely that thisearthquake was less than intensity V (Slightly strong; sleepers awake). During the greatearthquake of 1811 (intensity VI), centered in the Mississippi Valley near New Madrid, Missouri,tremors were felt throughout North Carolina. The most property damage in North Carolina everattributed to an earthquake was caused by the August 31, 1886, Charleston, South Carolinashock. The quake left approximately 65 people dead in Charleston and caused chimneycollapses, fallen plaster, and cracked walls in Abbottsburg, Charlotte, Elizabethtown, Henderson,Hillsborough, Raleigh, Waynesville, and Whiteville. On February 21, 1916, the Asheville areawas the center for a large intensity VI earthquake, which was felt in Alabama, Georgia,Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Subsequent minor earthquakes have causeddamage in North Carolina in 1926, 1928, 1957, 1959, 1971, 1973, and 1976. There is nohistory of damage in Wrightsville Beach resulting from earthquakes.


In North Carolina, earthquake epicenters are generally concentrated in the active EasternTennessee Seismic Zone. The Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone is part of a crescent ofmoderate seismic activity risk extending from Charleston, South Carolina northwestward intoeastern Tennessee and then curving northeastward into central Virginia. While there have notbeen any earthquakes with a MMI intensity greater than IV since 1928 in this area, it has thepotential to produce an earthquake of significant intensity in the future.

North Carolina’s susceptibility to earthquakes decreases from west to east in relation to theEastern Tennessee Seismic Zone. Generally, there are three different zones of seismic risk inNorth Carolina. The eastern portion of the State faces minimal effects from seismic activity.Locations in the middle and southeastern areas of the State face a moderate hazard fromseismic activity, while the area from Mecklenburg County west through the Blue Ridge facesthe greatest risk from seismic activity. These different levels of risk correspond to proximity to

DRAFT



areas with historical seismic activity and changes in topography. The Town of WrightsvilleBeach is located in the portion of North Carolina that is less susceptible to the effects ofearthquakes.

L. TSUNAMIS

1. Description

A tsunami is a series of waves in a large body of water generated by a disturbance thatvertically displaces large amounts of water. Tsunamis are typically caused by earthquakes butcan also occur as a result of landslides, volcanic eruptions, explosions, and the impact of cosmicbodies such as meteorites.

Tsunamis have very long wavelengths and periods and can have an average speed of 450 milesper hour. They can travel unnoticed in deep ocean waters, sometimes with a wave height ofonly twelve inches. However, when the waves reach shallower water, the wave speed slowsand the wave height increases significantly. Some tsunamis can reach 100 feet in height andcan cause devastation to a coastline.

An indication of an approaching tsunami would be rapid change in water levels on the coastline.The successive crests and troughs can occur from five to ninety minutes apart. Typically thefirst wave is not the biggest one; therefore, it is not safe to return to the area until authoritiesdeem it safe to return. Areas less than fifty feet above sea level and one mile inland would beat greatest risk for the impact of a tsunami.

There are two types of bulletins to inform an area of the possibility of a tsunami. A TsunamiWatch Bulletin is released following an earthquake of a 6.75 or greater and a Tsunami WarningBulletin is released when information from a tidal station indicates that the characteristics of thesea match those of a destructive tsunami.Unfortunately 75% of all warnings since 1948have been false alarms. At the time the currentWrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan wasadopted, a Tsunami Warning System was notavailable on the East Coast of the United States.However, due to the devastation of the Tsunamiin South East Asia in December, 2004, NOAA hastaken steps to expand the US Tsunami Detectionand Warning System. In April, 2006, NOAAfinished installation of five (5) Deep-OceanAssessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART)buoy stations off the East and Gulf Coasts of the


DRAFT



US and in the Caribbean sea that can relay wave information. In the remove chance that atsunami were to be detected heading toward the East Coast, alerts would be sent out over theNational Weather Service radio network that is used to warn of tornadoes, hurricanes, and otherweather hazards.


The only tsunami ever reported on the east coast was in 1929. The tsunami resulted from anearthquake in the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The quake was felt as far away asCharleston, South Carolina. This tsunami caused considerable property damage and loss of life.


Tsunamis can devastate coastlines, destroy property, and cause an extensive loss of life. It isvery hard to detect a tsunami because of its small wave height as it travels through deep water.They are also difficult to predict because of the difficulty in predicting earthquakes.

In the United States, the areas that are most likely to experience a tsunami are on the WestCoast. Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California have received the majority of thetsunamis. Tsunamis are rare on the East Coast. However, there is a fault line in the AtlanticOcean off the coast of the United States, and cracks have recently been discovered on thecontinental shelf off the coast of North Carolina and Virginia. According to NCEM, these crackssuggest instability in the continental shelf. If the sea floor falls, it could result in a tsunamialong the coast. Since adoption of the Town’s current Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Town ofWrightsville Beach has been actively involved in the Tsunami Ready Plan for New HanoverCounty which was finalized in 2008.

M. RANKING OF NATURAL HAZARD POTENTIAL

The hazards outlined within the preceding sections, as well as hazards that have occurred inyears prior to 2004 (when the last Hazard Mitigation Plan was prepared), have been rankedbelow based on a score derived from several factors. Each hazard was ranked based onfrequency, number of injuries caused, number of resulting deaths, and dollar amount ofproperty damage losses since 1960. These factors have been ranked on a scale of 1 (High) to12 (Low). Data utilized to calculate this score was regional in scope including New HanoverCounty. The table is organized to display the ranking of each hazard with respect to a givenfactor. As evidenced by the table, the hazards have been listed in order by total hazardpotential. Refer to Appendix IV for a listing of natural hazard events by year.

DRAFT



Table 16. Town of Wrightsville Beach/New Hanover County Ranking of Hazard Potential

HazardRanking byFrequency

Ranking byInjuries

Ranking byDeaths

Ranking byProperty Damage

LossTotal All Factors

Severe Storm 1 4 3* 3 11

Severe Winter Storm 7 2 1 2 12

Lightning 4 1 3* 5 13

Hurricane 6 6 3* 1 16

Tornado 5* 5 3* 4 17

Rip Currents 5* 3 2 8* 18

Flooding 3 7 3* 6 19

Hail 2 8* 3* 7 20

Drought/Heat Wave 8 8* 3* 8* 27

*Indicates a tie score.NOTE: Due to the lack of historical data, nor’easters, urban fires, and tsunamis are not included in this table.Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

N. EXPLANATION OF HAZARDS NOT IDENTIFIED

The following hazards were not identified within the context of this document for the reasonsindicated.

Hazard Why Not Identified

Dam/Levee Failure No such structures are located in Wrightsville Beach.

Landslides There is no history of landslides in Wrightsville Beach.

Sinkholes There is no history of sinkholes in Wrightsville Beach.

Volcanoes There has been no record of any volcanic activities within theproximity of Wrightsville Beach in recent geologic time.

Wildfires Due to the low-lying vegetation and the presence of watercourseslocated on and around Wrightsville Beach, and because no suchevents have been reported for the area, the likelihood of the townexperiencing the effects of such events is minimal.

DRAFT



O. HAZARD DAMAGE AND LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE SUMMARY

The following table provides an estimate of damage potential and likelihood of occurrence basedn the preceding sections. All factors were taken into account when filling out these tablesincluding: input from town staff members, data documenting historical occurrences, andinstances of storms impacting the region since the last Hazard Mitigation Plan Update in 2005.

Table 17. Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Impact

Type of Hazard &Associated Elements1

Likelihood of Occurrence2

(Highly Likely, Likely,Possible, Unlikely)

Intensity Rating3

(Intensity Scales orRelative Terms)

Potential Impact4

(Catastrophic, Critical,Limited, Negligible)

Hurricanes Likely Severe Critical

Hail Likely Severe Limited

Severe Storms Highly Likely Moderate Negligible

Flooding Likely Severe Critical

Urban Fires Possible Moderate Limited

Nor’easters Likely Moderate Limited

Severe Winter Storms Unlikely Severe Negligible

Tornados Unlikely Mild Negligible

Tsunamis Unlikely Severe Catastrophic

Rip Currents/Coastal Storms Highly Likely Moderate N/A

Lightning Highly Likely Moderate Limited

Drought Possible Mild Negligible

Dam/Levee Failure Unlikely Mild Negligible

NOTES:

1 Landslides, sinkholes, and earthquakes were not factored into this analysis due to their low likelihood of occurrence.

2 Likelihood of occurrence was estimated using historic data and the following chart:

Likelihood Frequency of Occurrence

Highly Likely Near 100% probability in the next year.

Likely Between 10 and 100% probability in the next year, or at least one chance in thenext 10 years.

Possible Between 1 and 10% probability in the next year, or at least one chance in the next100 years.

Unlikely Less than 1% probability in the next year, or less than one chance in the next 100years.

DRAFT



3 The hazard’s intensity was estimated using historic data and various standardized scales as outlined in Table 17Ranking of Hazard Potential. This table provides a composite score of hazard impact and potential based on fourfactors including: frequency, # of injuries, # of deaths, ranking based on total property damage losses. Theclassification listed in the table above is based on the following classifications:

Severe: Hazard potential ranking of 0 to 13Moderate: Hazard potential ranking of 14 or greater

4 The potential impact was estimated by considering the magnitude of the event, how large an area within thecommunity is affected, and the amount of human activity in that area, then using the following chart as a tool:

Level Area Affected Impact

Catastrophic More than 50% • Multiple deaths• Complete shutdown of facilities for 30 days or more• More than 50 percent of property is severely damaged

Critical 25 to 50% • Multiple severe injuries• Shutdown of critical facilities for 1-2 weeks• More than 25 percent of property is severely damaged

Limited 10 to 25% • Some injuries• Shutdown of some critical facilities 24 hours to one week• More than 10 percent of property is severely damaged

Negligible Less than 10% • Minor injuries• Minimal quality-of-life impact• Shutdown of some critical facilities and services for 24 hours or less• Less than 10 percent of property is severely damaged

N/A Hazard has no discernable impact on the built environment

DRAFT


November 20, 2009 Page 4-1 Section 4. Capability Assessment

Section 4. Capability Assessment

A. INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITY

The Town of Wrightsville Beach was incorporated in 1899 and is governed by a Board ofAldermen-Manager form of government. There are five departments which include: GeneralAdministration, Police, Fire, Planning and Parks, and Public Works. The town employs a totalof 82 full-time employees and 1 permanent part-time employee.

Police, Fire, Public Works, and Planning and Parks departments play a critical role in themitigation of and response to natural hazards. The adequacy of hospitals and available healthcare facilities also have an impact on an areas ability to cope with natural hazards. Thefollowing provides a brief description of these facilities and departments.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach is served by a 38-member fire department manned by 13 full-time paid, 7 part-time paid, and 18 volunteer firefighters. Twenty-one (21) of the individualsare EMTs and can answer emergency medical calls. The department also provides lifeguardservices. In addition, the department coordinates emergency preparedness operations for thetown and participates in the Fire Marshal’s Fire Prevention Program. Wrightsville Beach FireDepartment responds to approximately 150 fire alarms and 350 emergency medical calls peryear and has an ISO classification of 4.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach Police Department provides law enforcement services with astaff of 23 full-time paid officers and 10 auxiliary officers. The department provides protectiveand patrol services. Based on National Standards, a community would normally provide twostaff police personnel per 1,000 persons in population. The town has a 2000 population of2,593 and in the summer that number can reach 14,000 with overnight visitors. The Town ofWrightsville Beach well exceeds the two per 1,000 population ratio.

The Wrightsville Beach Public Works Department is made up of eight divisions: FleetMaintenance, Building Maintenance, Street Maintenance, Stormwater Maintenance, Sanitation,Water, Sewer, and Public Works Administration. The department is responsible for thetreatment of water and wastewater, the collection of solid waste, and the maintenance of townvehicles, equipment, street, and infrastructure. The Public Works Department plays a criticalrole in hazard mitigation and post disaster recovery of the town.

Since adoption of the current Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan (March 15, 2005), thetown has established a comprehensive stormwater management program in response to adirective from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Based on the Town’s population

DRAFT



density and the fact that the town maintains an MS4 (or municipal storm drainage system),Wrightsville Beach must comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES) Phase II rule. This program was established in 2007, and addresses a wide range ofissues relating to sheet flow surface runoff generated from rainfall throughout the Town’scorporate limits. The policy and impact of this program is discussed in further detail under thePlan and Ordinance Review section below. All regulations and enforcement action involving thestormwater management program is administered through the Public Works Department.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach Planning and Parks Department is made up of three (3)divisions: Planning & Inspections, Park Ranger, and Parks & Recreation. The Planning &Inspections Division is responsible for the enforcement of local building and zoning codes, theInternational building code, minimum housing standards, and the Coastal Area ManagementAct’s local permitting program. The Park Ranger Division is responsible for enforcing animalcontrol, enforcing town codes by writing civil citations, performing beach patrol duties, enforcingcounty ordinances on the North End of the island in the bird nesting area, and monitoring shorezone parking, illegally parked vehicles, moored boats, construction sites, Wrightsville Beachwildlife, and the sea turtle nesting program. The Parks & Recreation Division is responsible forseeking opportunities to improve the delivery of services, enhancing the park settings and othersites throughout the Town, and maximizing a variety of program opportunities. In addition, thedepartment is charged with Community Rating System coordination. Through the enforcementand development of land use regulations this department plays an important, proactive role inprevention and mitigation of future problems.

There are two hospitals in close proximity to Wrightsville Beach. New Hanover Regional MedicalCenter (NHRMC) includes three hospital campuses and is licensed for 855 beds. New HanoverRegional Medical Center is ten to twelve miles from Wrightsville Beach and is the primaryreferral hospital in the region, with specialty centers in cardiac, cancer, obstetrics, trauma,vascular surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation, and psychiatry. In 1998, New Hanover Regionaland Cape Fear Hospital merged. Cape Fear Hospital now operates an orthopedic specialtycenter and is located approximately four miles from the town. Both hospitals as well as PenderMemorial Hospital in Burgaw are affiliated with New Hanover Health Network, the ninth largesthealth care system in North Carolina.

NHRMC acquired New Hanover County’s emergency medical services in 1998 and added theregion’s first air ambulance service in 2001, around the same time it took a national lead indisaster response planning. One year later, New Hanover Regional EMS became the state’s firstmodel EMS system.

A freestanding cancer center opened in 2001, and two years later the cancer program wasdesignated a national Teaching Hospital Program by the American College of Surgeons’Commission on Cancer and redesignated in 2008.

DRAFT



In 2005, the Board of Trustees approved what would be the largest building and renovationproject in the hospital’s history. The project has included the opening of a Surgical Pavilion inJune 2008, which gives patients access to the best of surgical services in a spacious, convenient,and comfortable building. There are 26 operating rooms large enough to accommodate theequipment need for laparoscopic procedures. Additionally, in September 2008, the Betty H.Cameron Women’s and Children’s Hospital opened on the NHRMC main campus. The 195,000square foot building has all private rooms, including in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, whichis the first all-private designed NICU in the state. It also houses the region’s first PediatricIntensive Care Unit. The building provides a comforting and spacious environment for womenand children to heal and babies to be born. The next phase includes the top-down renovationof the main patient tower to include nearly all private rooms and redesigned spaces to makepatients and their families more comfortable. The renovation is expected to be completed inDecember 2010.

Cape Fear Hospital is a 133 bed community hospital with a range of inpatient and outpatientservices and surgeries and a 24-hour emergency department. As indicated above, it is also NewHanover Regional Medical Center's home for orthopedic services. The Orthopedic SpecialtyCenter features trained nurses, technicians, and surgeons who are board-certified or eligible inorthopedic surgery.

During hazard events, a shelter is provided for those needing to seek refuge. Since the majorityof the Town of Wrightsville Beach is in the floodplain, there are no shelters inside the townlimits. There are two designated shelters for Wrightsville Beach: Trask Middle School locatedat 2900 N. College Road and Noble Middle School located at 6520 Market Street, Wilmington.

B. PLAN AND ORDINANCE REVIEW

The following provides a summary of plans and ordinances relevant to hazard mitigation thatthe town has completed or is currently involved with. The town has a competent staff thatoversees these plans and ordinances. A majority of the documents and policies outlined belowhave been in place since the drafting of the Town’s initial Hazard Mitigation Plan; however,several new programs have been established over the last five years including: development ofa comprehensive stormwater management program, adoption of the town’s updated CAMA LandUse Plan, and the drafting and adoption of a Drought Management Plan.

1. Floodplain Damage Prevention Ordinance

The Town of Wrightsville Beach participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) andcomplies with all related regulatory requirements. The ordinance is enforced through the town’sbuilding permit issuance process. The ordinance has the following purpose and intent:

DRAFT



“It is the purpose of the ordinance to provide for adequate minimum standardsand procedures for the construction of new residential and nonresidentialstructures, including prefabricated and mobile homes, and for such structuresthat are substantially improved so that such structures can be eligible forinsurance under the Federal Flood Insurance Program and so that theconstruction of such structures will be in conformity with recognized constructiontechniques designed to offer flood protection.”

2. North Carolina State Building Code

The Town of Wrightsville Beach has adopted and enforces the North Carolina State BuildingCodes through its Planning and Inspections Division. The NC State Building Codes provideregulation for fire resistance, in addition to seismic, flooding, and high wind resilience. Thesecodes are reviewed annually and amended as new requirements and materials are introduced.Building codes apply primarily to new construction or buildings undergoing substantial alteration.North Carolina has a specific building standard for coastal counties that is designed to ensurea structure’s survival in 110 mph winds. In order to address the issue of urban fire hazards, theTown of Wrightsville Beach does require that all commercial developments install firesuppression sprinkler systems. This requirement imposes a standard that exceeds the currentNC State Building Code.

Enforcement at the local level extends beyond construction inspections to the advance reviewof plans. An applicant for a building permit must submit plans to the town’s Planning andInspections Division for approval. The Planning and Inspections Division reviews the plans andelects to approve or reject them or to require revisions. Construction cannot begin until localofficials confirm that the plans are in accordance with the code.

A building inspector must then visually monitor the construction of the building. The inspector’sduty is to make sure that the project follows the plans as approved. Inspectors are empoweredto stop work on projects that fail to conform to the plans. Any observed errors must be fixedbefore work can continue. The inspector must perform a final review before a certificate ofoccupancy is issued.

3. Zoning Ordinance

Wrightsville Beach’s zoning ordinance is consistent with NCGS 160A-381 which is the enablinglegislation for the preparation of zoning ordinances for municipalities. The ordinance providesfor eleven separate zoning districts which may be divided into residential, commercial, privateclub, public and semi-public, shore zone, and conservation.

DRAFT



The following table outlines the designations and intended land use patterns for each of theeleven zoning districts included in the Town’s existing zoning ordinance (see Map 2).

Table 18. Town of Wrightsville Beach Zoning Districts

ZoningDistrict DescriptionR-1 The R-1 Residential District is established as a district in which the principal use of the land is for single-

family residences. The regulations of this district are intended to protect existing residential areas withminimum lot sizes of 8,000 square feet and to encourage, in selected portions of the planning area, thesubdivision of undeveloped property into lots with a minimum of 8,000 square feet. Maximum densityshall be five families per acre.

R-2 The R-2 Residential District is established as a district in which the principal use of land is for mediumdensity residential uses. Minimum required lot area for this district shall be 4,000 square feet.Maximum density shall be ten families per acre.

C-1 The Commercial I District is established to embrace the existing and growing commercial, tourist, andshort term residential uses. Maximum density for hotels, motels, and motor courts shall be 48 unitsper acre.

C-2 The Commercial II District is established to embrace the existing and growing commercial, tourist, andshort term residential uses. Density for hotels, motels, and motor courts shall be 44 units per acre.

C-3 The Commercial III District is established to permit those specialized uses which will fulfill the specialneeds of daily commuters and periodic short term visitors. Maximum density for hotels, motels, andmotor courts shall be 48 units per acre.

C-4 The Commercial IV District is established to accommodate a growing volume of short term hotel-motelvisitors. Density for hotels, motels, and motor courts shall be 44 units per acre.

C-5 The Commercial V District is established to permit light to medium neighborhood commercial use.Maximum density for hotels and motels shall be 36 units per acre.

PC The Private Club District is established to accommodate private clubs.

G-1 See Zoning Ordinance for description of Public & Semi-Public District.

S-1 Within the Shore Zone, which in the main is built up land constructed by the state, the federalgovernment, and the town, no lot or parcel of land shall be used for any purpose whatsoever exceptin accordance with specific regulations for the zoning district.

P-1 Within the conservation zone, no lot or parcel of land may be developed for any purpose exceptcommercial piers (where the P-1 zone adjoins a zone permitting a marine) and for private piers (wherethe P-1 zone adjoins a residential zone).

Source: Town of Wrightsville Beach Zoning Ordinance.

Hazardous areas are zoned for development due to the fact that the entire town is consideredat risk to hazards to some degree. However, hazard mitigation measures are taken duringdevelopment phases. The measures to be taken are based upon the proposed land use and thehazard that could affect the property. As discussed within Section 6 of this plan, the Townintends to update the zoning code at some point over the next few years. This update willinvolve a review of all development controls including provisions relating to floodplainmanagement.

Atlant

ic Ocea

n

Lees Cut

Intraco

astal W

aterway

Motts Channel

Banks

Chann

el

Shell

Island

Soun

d

Intrac

oasta

l Wate

rway

Banks C

hannel

AIRLIE

CAUSEWAY

SALISBURY

WRIGHTSVILLELU

MINA

EASTWOOD

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

SUNSET

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

LUMINA

WAYNICK

SALISBURYPELICAN

PARMELE

CORA

L

LIVE OAK

MARINA

DOCK

ATLANTA

ASHEVILLE

STONE

CONCH

COWRIE

LUMINA

Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan

Zoning ClassificationLegend

City LimitsETJHydrology Streets

ZoneC-1C-2C-3C-4C-5G-1P-1P-CR-1R-2S-1

µ

Map 2

0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.20.15Miles

1 inch = 2,662 feet

Page 4-6

DRAFT



The following table provides a summary of acreage for all current zoning districts within theTown.

Table 19. Town of Wrightsville Beach Zoning Districts and Acreages

Zoning Class Parcels Acres*

Residential Districts

R-1 1,150 214.8

R-2 565 110.4

Business Districts

C-1 26 3.8

C-2 13 4.6

C-3 44 28.7

C-4 6 18.6

C-5 23 24.7

Private Club District (PC) 7 8.4

Public & Semi-Public District (G-1) 48 63.4

Shore Zone (S-1) 94 6.1

Conservation Zone (P-1) 28 102.8

TOTAL 2,004 586.3

Source: Town of Wrightsville Beach & Holland Consulting Planners, Inc.

4. Subdivision Ordinance

The Town of Wrightsville Beach subdivision regulations are consistent with NCGS 160A-371which is the enabling legislation for adoption of subdivision regulations for municipalities. Theregulations were updated to ensure consistency with current state statutes, to allow privatestreets, and to update the requirements for preliminary and final plats.

Chapter 154.34(c) states that no lands shall be platted for subdivision, the building and streetareas of which are less than 7-1/2 feet mean sea level. Group housing developments must havecommonly owned land that equals 20% of the entire development.

Prior to the establishment of the Town’s comprehensive stormwater management program, thesubdivision regulations established basic standards for post development runoff controls. Underthe Town’s current policy, all stormwater management policies and regulations are outlinedwithin the Town of Wrightsville Beach Post Construction Stormwater Ordinance, as discussedbelow.

DRAFT



5. Town of Wrightsville Beach Stormwater Management Program

On June 28, 2007, the Town of Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman adopted a PostConstruction Stormwater Management Control Ordinance and accompanying stormwater designmanual. This ordinance establishes post construction stormwater runoff control standards forall developments that disturb a minimum of 500 square feet. The adoption of these newregulations was a result of the Town’s inclusion in the National Pollutant Discharge EliminationSystem (NPDES) Phase II program.

In addition to the establishment of post construction runoff collection facilities the Town hasestablished a comprehensive stormwater program that addresses the six following focus areas:

Public Education and Outreach Public Participation and Involvement Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Construction Site Runoff Control Post Construction Runoff Control Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

Specific activities are outlined for each of these focus areas. These activities are outlined indetail within the Town of Wrightsville Beach NPDES Comprehensive Stormwater ManagementProgram. Activities addressed through this program are also summarized within Section 6 ofthis plan.

6. Water Supply Shortage Ordinance

In 2002, the Town of Wrightsville Beach drafted and adopted a Water Supply ShortageOrdinance. This ordinance was utilized during the drought condition that affected the region,as well as the state of North Carolina from late 2006 through 2008. This ordinance enables theTown to trigger a series of water restrictions according to water resource availability duringdrought conditions. There are five degrees of water restrictions outlined within the ordinanceas follows:

Stage I: Voluntary Conservation Stage II: Moderate Mandatory Conservation Stage III: Severe Mandatory Conservation Stage IV: Stringent Mandatory Conservation Stage V: Rationing

DRAFT



7. Community Rating System

Administered by FEMA, the Community Rating System (CRS) provides flood insurance discountsfor residents in NFIP communities that undertake floodplain mitigation activities above theminimum NFIP standards. The Town of Wrightsville Beach participates in the CRS andmaintains a Class 8 rating. Participation is voluntary and does require additional mitigationrequirements beyond those required by the NFIP.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach had reached a rating of 5 within the last five years, which wasthe lowest CRS rating in NC. As of May 1, 2008, however, the policy with regard to how theCRS rating is calculated was modified. This modification affected seven NC communities(including Wrightsville Beach) by reducing their existing ratings to a CRS rating of 8.

The NC State Building Code is predominantly based on the International Building Code (IBC)with the exception of several provisions. In order for a community to achieve a CRS ratinglower than an eight, the jurisdiction must maintain a Building Code Effectiveness GradingSchedule (BCEGS) grade of at least a six.Achieving a grade of six is predicated onthe enforcement of all standards outlinedwithin the International Building Code.The NC State Building Code does notcurrently allow for the enforcement of windborne debris provisions outlined within theIBC. Due to this fact, the Town ofWrightsville Beach’s BCEGS rating, and inturn their CRS rating has been adverselyimpacted by this statewide policy.

A detailed breakdown of CRS related activities is outlined within Section 6 of this plan.

8. Town of Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Operations Plan(Preparedness and Response)

The Town of Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Operations Plan is a detailed emergency responseplan aimed at preparing for and responding to a hurricane threat. The plan outlines proceduresfor securing town infrastructure and resources as well as evacuation procedures and protocol,and is intended to work in conjunction with the New Hanover County Emergency OperationsPlan. The plan provides detailed instructions for all Town department and personnel. Thisdocument is reviewed annually and updated for accuracy, and in an effort to insure that allmutual aid and letters of agreement are current.

The BCEGS assesses the building codes in effect in aparticular community and how the community enforces itsbuilding codes, with special emphasis on mitigation oflosses from natural hazards. Municipalities with well-enforced, up-to-date codes should demonstrate betterloss experience, and insurance rates can reflect that. TheBCEGS program assigns each municipality with a BCEGSgrade of 1 (exemplary commitment to building-codeenforcement) to 10.

DRAFT



9. Town of Wrightsville Beach Hurricane Operations Re-Entry Plan

The Hurricane Operations and Re-Entry Plan is a sequentially phased plan designed to re-establish municipal operations, assess infrastructure damage, and prepare the Town for the safereturn of the public. This plan is to be initiated subsequent to the completion of the HurricaneOperations Plan.

10. Tsunami Ready Plan for New Hanover County

The Tsunami Ready Plan is subordinate to the New Hanover County Emergency Operations Planand is to be used in conjunction with each relative section of the Emergency Operations Plan.This plan establishes specific procedures to be followed in the event of a tsunami incident inNew Hanover County.

A Tsunami Warning System has been put into place to help minimize loss of life and property.The NOAA Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska monitors for earthquakes and subsequenttsunami events in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. If a tsunami is generated, the TsunamiWarning Center issues tsunami watches and warnings, as well as tsunami information bulletinsfor both the U. S. West and East Coast, which includes the North Carolina coast.

11. New Hanover County Emergency Operations Plan

Although the New Hanover County Emergency Operations Plan is not a document that isofficially adopted and activated by the town, this document plays a critical role for the Town inthe event of a disaster situation.

The revised New Hanover County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) was developed by theDepartment of Emergency Management to ensure a coordinated and effective response to anysignificant hazard that might threaten the county. Each year the EOP is updated in order toincorporate the most recent technological advances and the most timely information availableto the emergency management community, as well as new partnerships that have developedduring the year.

Through the use of a functional format, reflective of the Federal Response Plan, the planencourages an Integrated Emergency Management System (IEMS) approach to disasters. IEMSfosters a prompt, efficient, and coordinated response by all of the diverse elements of theemergency response community. IEMS requires a system-wide integration of skills, people, andresources, and recognizes that plans developed for one type of emergency are extremely usefulfor other emergency situations. From a budgetary perspective, using the IEMS ensures the bestpossible use of limited funds and resources from many sources.

DRAFT



12. Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Plan

The Town of Wrightsville Beach CAMA Land Use Plan Update was adopted in May of 2006 andincludes policy statements which address the following issues:

Land Use and Development Infrastructure Carrying Capacity Public Access and Recreation Water Quality and Natural Environment Hazard Mitigation

The policy statements have an impact on three areas:

CAMA minor and major permitting as required by NCGS 113A-118 prior toundertaking any development in any area of environmental concern.

Establishment of local planning policy.

Review of proposed projects requiring state or federal assistance or approval todetermine consistency with local policies.

Within the current CAMA Land Use Plan, there are policies that address the issue of mitigationand emergency response. The CAMA planning guidelines outlined under 15A NCAC 7B dorequire that communities establish guidance regarding mitigation objectives.

A list of policies relevant to hazard mitigation included in the CAMA Land Use Plan is attachedas Appendix V.

C. LEGAL CAPABILITY

As a general rule, local governments have only that legal authority which is granted to them bytheir home state. This principle, that all power is vested in the State and can only be exercisedto the extent it is delegated, is known as “Dillon’s Rule,” and applies to all North Carolina’spolitical subdivisions. Enabling legislation in North Carolina grants a wide array of powers to itscities, towns, and counties.

Local regulations that are enacted within the bounds of the state’s enabling authority do notautomatically meet with judicial acceptance. Any restrictions which local governments imposeon land use or building practices must follow the procedural requirements of the FourteenthAmendment, or risk invalidation.

DRAFT



These and other constitutional mandates apply to federal and state governments, and all theirpolitical subdivisions. Any mitigation measures that are undertaken by the local governmentin its regulatory capacity must be worded and enforced carefully within the parametersestablished by the state and federal Constitutions, even when such measures are authorized bythe General Statutes of North Carolina, and even when such measures are enacted in order toprotect public health and safety by protecting the community from the impacts of naturalhazards.

Within the limits of Dillon’s Rule and the federal and state Constitutions, local governments inNorth Carolina have a wide latitude within which to institute mitigation programs, policies, andactions. All local government powers fall into one of four basic groups (although somegovernmental activities may be classified as more than one type of power): regulation,acquisition, taxation, and spending. Hazard mitigation measures can be carried out under eachof the four types of powers. Following are a list of these powers and how they may be usefultools for hazard mitigation:

1. Regulations

a. General Police Power

Local governments in North Carolina have been granted broad regulatory powers in theirjurisdictions. The North Carolina General Statutes bestow the general police power on localgovernments, allowing them to enact and enforce ordinances that define, prohibit, regulate, orabate acts, omissions, or conditions detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the people,and to define and abate nuisances (including public health nuisances). Since hazard mitigationcan be included under the police power (as protection of public health, safety, and welfare),towns, cities, and counties may include requirements for hazard mitigation in local ordinances.Local governments may also use their ordinance-making power to abate “nuisances,” whichcould include, by local definition, any activity or condition making people or property morevulnerable to any hazard.

b. Building Codes and Building Inspections

Many structural mitigation measures involve constructing and retrofitting homes,businesses, and other structures according to standards designed to make the buildings moreresilient to the impacts of natural hazards. Many of these standards are imposed through thebuilding code. North Carolina has a state compulsory building code which applies throughoutthe state (N.C.G.S. 143-138). However, municipalities and counties may adopt codes for therespective areas if approved by the state as providing “adequate minimum standards.”However, local regulations cannot be less restrictive than the state code.

DRAFT



Local governments in North Carolina are also empowered to carry out buildinginspection. N.C.G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 19, Part 5; and Ch. 153A, Art. 18, Part 4 empower cities andcounties to create an inspection department, and enumerates local duties and responsibilities,which include enforcing state and local laws relating to the construction of buildings; installationof plumbing, electrical, heating systems, etc.; building maintenance; and other matters.

c. Land Use

Regulatory powers granted by the state to local governments are the most basic mannerin which a local government can control the use of land within its jurisdiction. Through variousland use regulatory powers, a local government can control the amount, timing, density, quality,and location of new development; all these characteristics of growth can determine the level ofvulnerability of the community in the event of a natural hazard. Land use regulatory powersinclude the power to engage in planning, enact and enforce zoning ordinances, floodplainordinances, and subdivision controls.

Zoning: Zoning is the traditional and ubiquitous tool available to local governments tocontrol the use of land. Broad enabling authority for municipalities in North Carolina to engagein zoning is granted in N.C.G.S. 160A-381. The statutory purpose for the grant of power is topromote health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community. Land “uses”controlled by zoning include the type of use (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial) as well asminimum specifications for use such as lot size, building height and setbacks, density ofpopulation, and the like. The local government is authorized to divide its territorial jurisdictioninto districts, and to regulate and restrict the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration,repair or use of buildings, structures, or land within those districts. Districts may include generaluse districts, overlay districts, and special use districts or conditional use districts. Zoningordinances consist of maps and written text.

Floodway Regulation: The North Carolina General Statutes declare that the channeland a portion of the floodplain of all the state’s streams will be designated as a floodway, eitherby the local government or by the state. The legislatively declared purpose of designating theseareas as a floodway is to help control and minimize the extent of floods by preventingobstructions which inhibit water flow and increase flood height and damage and other losses(both public and private) in flood hazard areas, and to promote the public health, safety, andwelfare of citizens of North Carolina in flood hazard areas.

To carry out this purpose, local governments are empowered to grant permits for theuse of the floodways, including the placement of any artificial obstruction in the floodway. Nopermit is required for certain uses, including agricultural, wildlife and related uses; ground leveluses such as parking areas, rotary aircraft ports; lawns, gardens, golf courses, tennis courts,parks, open space, and similar private and public recreational uses. Existing artificial

DRAFT



obstructions in the floodway may not be enlarged or replaced without a permit; localgovernments are empowered to acquire existing obstructions by purchase, exchange, orcondemnation if necessary to avoid flood damages.

The procedures that are laid out for issuing permits for floodway use require the localgovernment to consider the dangerous effects a proposed artificial obstruction may create bycausing water to be backed up or diverted; or the danger that the obstruction will be sweptdownstream to the injury of others; and by the injury or damage that may occur at the site ofthe obstruction itself. Local governments are to take into account anticipated development inthe foreseeable future which may be adversely affected by the obstruction, as well as existingdevelopment.

Planning: In order to exercise the regulatory powers conferred by the General Statutes,local governments in North Carolina are required to create or designate a planning agency. Theplanning agency may perform a number of duties, including: make studies of the area;determine objectives; prepare and adopt plans for achieving those objectives; develop andrecommend policies, ordinances, and administrative means to implement plans; and performother related duties. The importance of the planning powers of local governments isemphasized in N.C.G.S. 160A-383, which requires that zoning regulations be made inaccordance with a comprehensive plan. While the ordinance itself may provide evidence thatzoning is being conducted “in accordance with a plan,” the existence of a separate planningdocument ensures that the government is developing regulations and ordinances that areconsistent with the overall goals of the community.

Subdivision Regulation: Subdivision regulations control the division of land intoparcels for the purpose of building development or sale. Flood-related subdivision controlstypically require that subdividers install adequate drainage facilities, and design water and sewersystems to minimize flood damage and contamination. They prohibit the subdivision of landsubject to flooding unless flood hazards are overcome through filling or other measures andprohibit filling of floodway areas. They require that subdivision plans be approved prior to thesale of land. Subdivision regulations are a more limited tool than zoning and only indirectlyaffect the land use or minimum specifications for structures.

Broad subdivision control enabling authority for municipalities is granted in N.C.G.S. 160-371. Subdivision is defined as all divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots andall divisions involving a new street (N.C.G.S. 160A-376). The definition of subdivision does notinclude the division of land into parcels greater than 10 acres where no street right-of-waydedication is involved.

The communities in North Carolina thus possess great power (in theory) to preventunsuitable development in hazard-prone areas.

DRAFT



2. Acquisition

The power of acquisition can be a useful tool for pursuing mitigation goals. Local governmentsmay find the most effective method for completely “hazard-proofing” a particular piece ofproperty or area is to acquire the property (either in fee or a lesser interest, such as aneasement), thus removing the property from the private market and eliminating or reducing thepossibility of inappropriate development occurring. North Carolina legislation empowers cities,towns, and counties to acquire property for public purpose by gift, grant, devise, bequest,exchange, purchase, lease, or eminent domain. However, the legal authority of a communityto acquire private property through eminent domain exclusively for the purpose of reducingflood damage is questionable at best. Such acquisition would succeed only if an objective publicbenefit could be demonstrated to accrue from the acquisition.

3. Taxation

Taxation is yet another power granted to local governments by North Carolina law which canbe used as a hazard mitigation tool. However, the power of taxation extends beyond merelythe collection of revenue. Many communities set preferential tax rates for areas which areunsuitable for development (e.g., agricultural land, wetlands) and can be used to discouragedevelopment in hazardous areas.

Local units of government also have the authority to levy special assessments on propertyowners for all or part of the costs of acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, extending, orotherwise building or improving beach erosion control or flood and hurricane protection workswithin a designated area. This can serve to increase the cost of building in such areas, therebydiscouraging development.

Because the usual methods of apportionment seem mechanical and arbitrary, and because thetax burden on a particular piece of property is often quite large, the major constraint in usingspecial assessments is political. Special assessments seem to offer little in terms of control overland use in developing areas. They can, however, be used to finance the provision of servicesa town deems necessary within its boundaries. In addition, they are useful in distributing to thenew property owners the costs of the infrastructure required by new development.

4. Spending

The fourth major power that has been delegated from the North Carolina State GeneralAssembly to local governments is the power to make expenditures in the public interest. Hazardmitigation principles should be made a routine part of all spending decisions made by the localgovernment, including annual budgets and Capital Improvement Plans.

DRAFT



A capital program is usually a timetable by which a municipality indicates the timing and levelof municipal services it intends to provide over a specified duration. Capital programming, byitself, can be used as a growth management technique, with a view to hazard mitigation. Bytentatively committing itself to a timetable for the provision of capital to extend municipalservices, a community can control its growth to some extent especially where the surroundingarea is such that the provision of on-site sewage disposal and water supply are unusuallyexpensive. In addition to formulating a timetable for the provision of services, a localcommunity can regulate the extension of and access to municipal services.

A capital improvement program (CIP) that is coordinated with extension and access policies canprovide a significant degree of control over the location and timing of growth. These tools canalso influence the cost of growth. If the CIP is effective in directing growth away fromenvironmentally sensitive or high hazard areas, for example, it can reduce environmental costs.

D. FISCAL CAPABILITY

There are many diverse sources of funding available to communities to implement local hazardmitigation plans, including both government and private programs. Often an organization witha particular focus will fund only part of a project. However, with coordination, the communitycan combine the funding efforts of one program with those of another, thereby serving multiplemissions. The grant and loan programs described in Appendix VI provide a significant outlineof funding options, but additional resources are available.

While federal and national programs carry out the bulk of disaster relief programs that providefunds for mitigation, local governments are encouraged to open the search field as widely aspossible, and include alternative funding sources to supplement the local hazard mitigationbudget. For instance, local businesses and organizations will frequently support projects thatbenefit their customers or employees, or which constitute good public relations, or “PR.” Othergroups or individuals may be willing to donate “in-kind” services, eliminating the need for cash.Often the in-kind and volunteer services of local community members can be counted towardthe local share that is typically needed to match an outside source of funds.

Local governments may also engage in their own “fund-raising” efforts to pay for mitigationprograms that benefit the community at large. In North Carolina, local governments aregranted limited powers to raise revenue for public purpose. The General Assembly hasconferred upon cities, towns, and counties the power to levy property taxes for variouspurposes, including: “ambulance services, rescue squads, and other emergency medicalservices; beach erosion and natural disasters (including shoreline protection, beach erosioncontrol, and flood and hurricane protection); civil defense; drainage projects or programs; fireprotection; hospitals; joint undertakings with other town, city, or political subdivisions; planning;sewage; solid waste; water; water resources; watershed improvement projects” N.C.G.S.

DRAFT



§16A-209. These statutorily enumerated purposes make it clear that local governments areempowered to finance certain emergency management activities, including mitigation activities,with property taxes. Listed below are local resources for mitigation activities:

Capital Improvements Projects Community Empowerment Groups Donations Economic Development Funds Formation of Separate Benefit Assessment Districts Insurance Private Not-For-Profit Public/Private Partnerships School Bonds Volunteer Organizations

E. POLITICAL CAPABILITY

The Town of Wrightsville Beach has been integrating hazard mitigation into its communityplanning efforts. Public education and awareness campaigns about the economic efficiency andsocial utility of mitigative measures in the long run can help foster its general acceptance bycitizens and politicians. The prevention of and recovery from disasters also take closegovernmental coordination. This refers to coordination with and cooperation between agenciesin a local government, between local governments in a town and between local, state, andfederal governments. This coordination is essential in creating a workable local mitigationstrategy. Wrightsville Beach is politically capable of carrying out this plan and its hazardmitigation goals and objectives.

F. TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

The town has been working towards feasible solutions to reducing its vulnerability to thehazards to which it is most susceptible for several years. This is evident by the town’sCommunity Rating System score of five, which has been reduced to an eight due to factorsoutlined above. The town has a competent staff that is responsible for overseeing the hazardmitigation planning process. The town has GIS capability and can use it for evaluating andupdating the plan. The town staff has a good understanding of what needs to be achieved toassist the town with mitigation activities.

DRAFT


November 20, 2009 Page 5-1 Section 5. Vulnerability Analysis

Section 5. Vulnerability Analysis

A. INTRODUCTION

Vulnerability to a natural hazard is defined as the extent to which people experience harm andproperty damage from a hazard. Hazards may result in loss of life or injury to people; loss ofor damage to homes, businesses, and industries; loss or damage to automobiles, furnishings,records and documents; damages or interruptions to power and telephone lines; damage orclosing of roads, railroads, airports, and waterways; and general disruption of life. It isimportant to know where and to what extent the community is susceptible to the impacts ofnatural hazards. To fully understand the extent of Wrightsville Beach’s vulnerability, it isnecessary to know what is currently at risk and what could be at risk if growth and developmentoccur as is currently permitted.

This section of the HMP identifies specific locations and facilities vulnerable to natural hazardswith narrative, data and maps. This section will identify the existing and potential threat posedby each hazard outlined within Section 3 of the plan. Many of the hazards listed pose a directthreat to a defined geographic area, while others are considered to impact the Town’s entirecorporate limits. Where possible, maps have been provided to further clarify the impact areaof a respective hazard type. Wildfire, landslides, and dam failure have not been referencedwithin this section because (1) the Town of Wrightsville Beach has no history of these eventstaking place; and (2) it is very difficult to estimate and/or quantify the existing and/or potentialthreat that these hazards pose.

B. EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS

There are approximately 586 acres within the town’s planning jurisdiction. There are 1,857parcels of land on 463 acres that are developed and 145 parcels on 123 acres that areundeveloped. This results in 79% of the Town’s corporate limits being built out. Map 3 depictsexisting land development patterns within Wrightsville Beach.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach CAMA Land Use Plan states that the town has developed in amanner similar to that of other North Carolina barrier island communities of the same size.Commercial development occurs in the center of town with residential development occurringnorth and south in a linear grid on small lots. Following are descriptions of the variousneighborhoods associated with Wrightsville Beach. The information was taken from the LandUse Plan and does not include areas that are primarily vacant.

Atlan

tic Oc

ean

Lees Cut

Intraco

astal W

aterway

Motts Channel

Banks

Chan

nel

Shell

Island

Soun

d

Intrac

oasta

l Wate

rway

Banks C

hannel

AIRLIE

CAUSEWAY

SALISBURY

WRIGHTSVILLELU

MINA

EASTWOOD

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

SUNSET

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

LUMINA

WAYNICK

PARMELE

CORA

L

LIVE OAK

MARINA

DOCK

ATLANTA

ASHEVILLE

CONCH

COWRIE

BIRMINGHAM

LUMINA


Existing Land UseLegend

Corporate Limits ETJStreetsHydrology

Land Use ClassificationCommercialMulti Family ResidentialOffice & InstitutionalRecreationalSingle Family ResidentialUndevelopedUtilities and Transportation

µ

Map 3

0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.20.15Miles

1 inch = 2,644 feet

Page 5-2

DRAFT



1. Central Beach Area

The central beach area extends from Stone Street on the south to Mallard Street on the north.This centrally located area is one of the most self-contained subareas of Wrightsville Beach,having a good range of services close at hand. While the area is characterized by apredominance of traditional single-family and duplex cottages, it also contains the Town’straditional central business district, a church, and Johnnie Mercer’s Fishing Pier. Residential lotsizes are some of the smallest in the town. Most of the residential structures are three storiesor less in height and are characterized by functional porches fronting on the street. Whilesingle-family and duplex cottages are the predominant form of land use, there are a fewexamples of multi-family accommodations, particularly near the traditional central businessdistrict and Johnnie Mercer’s Pier. These districts are compact in nature and individualbusinesses are generally small in scale.

2. North End

The North End extends from Mallard Street on the south to Mason’s Inlet on the north. Thenorth end is one of the “newest” parts of Town, developed in the 1970s and 1980s. The areais characterized by medium to large single-family homes on relatively large lots. There are alsoa high number of multi-family residential units in large scale, high density structures. With theexception of two motel developments (Holiday Inn and Shell Island Resort), there are nocommercial uses in this part of Town.

3. The Parmele Area

The Parmele Area consists of a small peninsula of streets extending landward from the point ofintersection of Parmele Boulevard and Lumina Avenue. Single-family and duplex residentialstructures characterize this area. At the far end of Parmele Boulevard, the Town maintains itsPublic Works complex. Lot sizes in this area are generally larger than those found in the centralbeach area, but smaller than those found at the north end.

4. The Waynick Boulevard-South Lumina Area

The Waynick Boulevard-South Lumina area extends along both sides of Waynick Boulevard andSouth Lumina Avenue from Stone Street on the north to the point where Waynick ultimatelyturns at Sunset Street to the south. The Surf Motel at the intersection of Sunset and SouthLumina is included in this area. The area is characterized by a predominance of single-familyand duplex homes mixed with a fair number of multi-family and hotel accommodations.Buildings tend to be a mixture of traditional beach cottages and modern large-scale residences.

DRAFT



Lots tend to be somewhat larger than the central beach area. Most lot owners on the East Sideof Waynick have property ownership across the Boulevard, on the West Side, adjacent to BanksChannel. As a result, there are a large number of docks and piers along Waynick Boulevardassociated with homes located on the East Side. Adding to the emphasis of boating in thissection of the Outer Island, is the presence of two boating/yacht clubs.

5. South End

The South End extends from the turn in Waynick Boulevard at Sunset Street to the north toMasonboro Inlet on the south. The area has been developed predominantly for single familyuses. Lot sizes tend to be quite small except along the oceanfront and are comparable in sizeto those in the central beach area. There are also more empty lots here than in other areas ofthe Outer Island. Older homes in this area tend to be quite small and are consistent with thesmall size of the originally platted lots. Recently, there has been a noticeable trend towardsdramatically taller (4 stories total height from the ground) residential structures in this part ofthe Outer Island. The recent construction has been out of scale with the modest size of theoriginally platted lots.

6. Old Harbor Island

Old Harbor Island is the portion of Harbor Island generally east of the intersection of IslandDrive and Causeway Drive. This area is characterized by a predominance of small to mediumscale single family residential homes under a canopy of tree-lined streets. This area has a verycohesive neighborhood feeling, with a large number of permanent residents. The area’scommercial uses are clustered at the west end of the bridge to the Outer Island. The town’sonly public school, Wrightsville Beach Elementary, is located in this area at the north end ofCoral Drive.

Lots sizes tend to be quite small and many homes consist of traditional ground levelconstruction, one to two stories in total height. Recently , the area has witnessed theredevelopment of several modest homes with significantly larger residential structures. Whileit is recognized that redevelopment may eventually increase the average height and size ofstructures, recent construction has been substantially larger and out of character with thesurrounding neighborhoods.

7. Pelican Drive, Lees Cut, Channel Walk, and Lookout Harbor

This area is the portion of Harbor Island generally north of West Salisbury Street joining LeesCut plus Lookout Harbor and the adjacent commercial area near the west end of the SalisburyStreet Bridge. Most of the area was developed in the 1970s and consists of a mixture of singlefamily and duplex homes along Pelican Drive and multi-family residential elsewhere.

DRAFT



Pelican Drive consists of a single row of single family and duplex homes situated between WestSalisbury Street on the south and Lees Cut to the north. Until recently, all homes along PelicanDrive were two stories in height and similar in scale, age, and architectural character. Recently,some homes have increased to three stories or more in height. Channel Walk and Lees Cut aretwo multi-family developments located on the north side of West Salisbury Street as itapproaches the drawbridge. These two and three-story units have their own recreationalamenities and function independently from one another. Lookout Harbor and severalcommercial and office uses anchor the east and west end of Salisbury Street just before thebridge crosses over Banks Channel to the Outer Island. The multi-family units at LookoutHarbor are each greater than three stories in height.

8. Causeway Drive/Marina Area

This area of Harbor Island extends from the ICW on the west along the south side of CausewayDrive to the intersection with Island Drive. A mixture of residential, marine, retail, and serviceestablishments characterizes this area. Residential uses range from single family homes tomulti-family residential units and high rise condominiums located in Seapath Towers. Themixture of marine service and retail uses provides indirect public access to Mott’s Channel andthe ICW. This area generally has the largest concentration of commercial uses on the island.Traffic congestion and turning movements at the Keel Street intersection hamper street accessto the commercial area south of the drawbridge. Any future development in this area will needto take this into consideration.

9. Town Government and Parks Area

The core of Harbor Island is a triangle shaped area of land and wetland. This centrally locatedproperty accommodates most Town government facilities, and provides recreational facilitiesand open space.

10. Mainland/Wrightsville Sound Area

The Mainland/Wrightsville Sound area consists of those land areas transected by three principleroads in the area approaching the ICW drawbridge: Airlie Road, Wrightsville Avenue, andEastwood Road. This area also provides an important service function to Town residents byaccommodating large scale or intense commercial and retail service functions that would notbe appropriate for the Town proper.

DRAFT



C. VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS RESULTS

1. Hazards Impacting the Town Overall

Several of the hazards outlined within Section 3 result in impacts that are not geographicallytargeted at a specific area or portion of the Town. The following hazards typically impact theLower Cape Fear region, and, in turn, affect Wrightsville Beach: severe winter weather/icestorms, severe weather/thunderstorms/tornadoes, hail, and lightning. Rip currents and urbanfire hazard are also consider to potentially impact the town overall. These weather events mayhave adverse impacts on a very specific or very broad portion of the Town. Thus, assessmentof vulnerability takes into account the Town’s entire corporate limits. Refer to Map 3, ExistingLand Use for an overview of the area impacted by these hazards.

In order to assess existing and future vulnerability, an analysis of existing land use and zoningpolicy was performed. In 2005 the Town of Wrightsville Beach adopted its current CAMA LandUse Plan. As part of this effort, a detailed existing land use survey was conducted. This dataprovides a snapshot of what is currently developed throughout the town on a parcel-by-parcelbasis. Collection of this information was accomplished through a combination of geographicinformation systems (GIS) analysis and field observations.

In order to make an assessment of future vulnerability potential, all property deemed vacantthrough the existing land use survey was identified. Each parcel was then cross-referenced withits applicable zoning district. This analysis provides an idea of the level of vulnerability that willexist if these areas are built out under current development regulations. For the purposes ofthis plan, the Town’s zoning districts have been summarized into four independent categories:commercial/non-residential, acessory docks/piers/gazebos, recreation/open space, andresidential. The following outlines a key to which zoning districts fall under each land usedesignation. Zoning districts are discussed further within Section 4 of the plan. These districtsare also defined in Chapter 155 of the Wrightsville Beach Code of Ordinances.

Commercial/Non-Residential – C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, PC, G-1 Accessory Docks/Piers/Gazebos – S-1 Open Space – P-1 Residential – R-1, R-2

a. Existing Vulnerability

As discussed, Table 20 provides the data associated with property deemed to bevulnerable to severe winter weather/ice storms, severe weather/thunderstorms/tornadoes, hail,lightning, sinkholes, and urban fire hazard. Based on the unpredictable nature of these weatherevents, it was determined that the Town of Wrightsville Beach’s entire corporate limit area is

DRAFT



susceptible to the impact of these events. The following table provides an overview of existingland use for the Town of Wrightsville Beach. Acreage and property counts are provided, as wellas the value of structures and land that fall within Town’s corporate limits.

Table 20. Wrightsville Beach Existing Land Use

Land Use# of

Properties Acres % of Total Building ValueAccessoryStructures

Commercial* 66 54.8 9.3% $35,752,180 $5,781,444

Residential 1,683 296.1 50.5% $403,646,478 $15,800,931

Office/Institutional/Recreational 57 83.0 14.2% $12,293,211 $1,668,892

Utility 51 29.5 5.0% $2,723,839 $23,430,569

Total 1,857 463.4 79.0% $454,415,708 $46,681,836

*It should be noted that mixed use development is permitted within the Wrightsville Beach commercial districts, whichmay increase the number of residential units.Source: Town of Wrightsville Beach and New Hanover County.

b. Future Vulnerability

Table 22 summarizes all vacant land currently within each respective Wrightsville Beachzoning district. This analysis was performed in an effort to determine the hazard potential ifdevelopment under current regulations is fully realized. In order to estimate the future valueof structures within portions of the Town that are currently vacant, an estimate of total potentialinvestment was calculated. This figure was derived by utilizing an average per acre value foreach use based on existing conditions as outlined within the existing land use survey. Currenttax values in relation to total existing development stock by land use yielded the followingaverage figures:

Commercial/Non-residential – $291,777 Residential Uses (single- and multi-family) – $308,390

Also, refer to Table __. These figures serve as approximate value per acre based uponexisting structural tax values provided through the New Hanover County Tax Departments.They are not intended to reflect current market conditions or specific value in relation toproperty within the Town of Wrightsville Beach. Additionally, these figures do not take intoaccount land value. In reviewing these numbers it should be noted that 82% of the Town’svacant land falls within the P-1 zoning district which is the conservation zone.

DRAFT



Table 21. Wrightsville Beach Vacant Land by Zoning District*

Use Acres % of TotalTown Acreage

AdditionalUnits

Total PotentialDevelopedValue**

Commercial/Nonresidential 1.84 0.3% 2 $583,554

Residential 19.35 3.3% 116 $35,773,240

Total 21.19 3.6% 118 $36,648,571

*It should be noted that lands zoned for recreational and open space uses were not factored into this analysis.

**The dollar figure presented within this column was established by estimating the total number of units within eachland use category according to existing conditions and then multiplying the estimated number of units times theaverage per unit value outlined above. The following provides the average developed site acreage as establishedthrough the existing land use survey: Residential average developed site acreage - 7,400 square feet (6 units peracre); Commercial/Non-residential average developed site acreage - 43,560 square feet (1 unit per acre).

Source: HCP, Inc., Town of Wrightsville Beach and New Hanover County.

c. Estimated Impact On Residential Development

The hazard mitigation planning guidelines also require jurisdictions to estimate thenumber of residential structures that may be impacted in the future based on currentdevelopment guidelines and patterns. In order to meet this requirement, additional residentialunits have been calculated based on the Town’s existing housing stock. According to theexisting land use survey, as of 2005, Wrightsville Beach had approximately 1,683 residentialunits.

Based on the total acreage for residential use derived through the existing land usesurvey (296 acres), this results in an average of approximately 6 units per acre, or 7,400square feet. This figure was then multiplied times the total vacant acreage falling within aresidential zoning classification (19.4 acres). The results of this analysis estimate that withinthe Wrightsville Beach, 116 additional housing units are anticipated through build-out. Thisestimate assumes that current development regulations will remain consistent, and that thecorporate limits of the Town will not be extended. Based on an average household size of 2.0,as reported in the 2000 US Census, this development will result in an estimated populationincrease of 232 persons. It should be noted that the estimated increased population may behigher during peak seasonal months. These figures assume build-out of the Town’s existingcorporate limits. No estimate of how long this will take has been factored into the analysis.

An estimate of commercial/non-residential use was not conducted within the context ofthis plan. It is difficult to formulate a justifiable projection due the many factors that impactgrowth and expansion of these uses.

DRAFT



2. Flooding

The following sections provides a summary of vulnerability within Wrightsville Beach associatedwith flooding resulting from the following hazards: tropical storms, hurricanes, and nor’easters.This section can also be utilized to assess the potential impacts of a tsunami event; however,the data sets used in this analysis were not intended to address this hazard specifically.

As discussed in Section 3, flooding primarily impacts the Town of Wrightsville Beach duringcoastal storm events in the form of hurricanes and tropical storms. When one of these systemsimpacts the coast of North Carolina flood waters inundate a majority of the Town’s corporatelimits as a result of tidal surge. There are three data sets that we have utilized in assessing theTown’s vulnerability to flooding resulting from tropical storm events: Flood Insurance Rate Maps(FIRMS), SLOSH Model (fast moving hurricane), and SLOSH model (slow moving hurricane).The following sections provide an analysis of vulnerability in relation to these threegeographically referenced data sets. A detailed review of these hazards is provided withinSection 3 of the plan, please refer back for an explanation and basis for the data sets discussedbelow.

Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS): Map 4 graphically depicts the extent of the high riskflooding areas within Wrightsville Beach as defined by the New Hanover County Flood InsuranceRate Maps (FIRMs) developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMAdefines areas within “flood zones,” based on varying levels of risk of flooding in each area (referto Page _ of Section 3 for a detailed account of flood zone designation definitions outlined inTable 23 below). Properties in zones “A” and “AE” are considered to be high-risk flood zones,as there is a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. Properties in zone “X-500” have anapproximately .02 or 1 in 500 chance of flooding each year.

Table 22 provides information on the number of acres in the FEMA-defined 100-year and 500-year floodplains within Wrightsville Beach.

Table 22. Wrightsville Beach Flood Zones

Flood Zone Acres % of Total Town Acreage

VE 326 55.6%

AE 238 40.6%

X 2 0.3%

Total 566 96.5%

Source: FEMA & Town of Wrightsville Beach.

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

#*

#*

#*

#*

#*#*

#*

r

â

â

Î

Ñ×W

!(

aå

")

")

#S

#S

Atlan

tic Oc

ean

Lees Cut

Intraco

astal W

aterway

Motts Channel

Banks

Chann

el

Intrac

oasta

l Wate

rway

Bank

s Cha

nnel

LUMIN

A

WAYNICK

PARMELE

CORA

L

LIVE OAK

MARINA

ATLANTA

ASHEVILLE

STONE

CONCH

COWRIE

CHADBOURN

LUMIN

A

AIRLIE

CAUSEWAY

SALISBURY

EASTWOOD

WRIGHTSVILLE

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

LUMINA

OLEA

NDER

SUNSET

WRIGHTSVILLE

EASTWOOD

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

LegendETJCorporate Limits Hydrology

Critical FacilitiesÎ Coast Guard StationÑ× Fire Departmenta Police Department!( Public WorksW Town Hall#S Water Treatment Plant

å Wrightsville Beach Elementary") Water Storage Tankâ Banks Channel Bridger Draw Bridge#* Lift Station%[ Wells

Flood ZonesVEAEShaded X

µ


Critical Facilities & Flood Zones

Map 4

0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.20.15Miles

1 inch = 2,789 feet

Page 5-10

DRAFT




The following table provides an estimate of existing vulnerability relating to the VE andAE floodplain zones utilizing the same methodology outlined in 3.III.1. Estimates fordevelopment within the floodplain are based on actual existing conditions within these two floodzones. These two zones were singled out for this analysis, due to the fact that these propertiesmust carry flood insurance, and are typically the focus of specific mitigation measures, it isimportant to address floodplain development in this manner.

Table 23. Wrightsville Beach Floodprone Structures

Land Use # ofProperties

Acres % of TotalTown

Acreage

Bldg. Value AccessoryStructures

Commercial 51 34.2 5.8% $28,451,901 $5,426,082

Residential 1685 296.7 51.0% $405,617,069 $15,855,875

Office/Institutional/Recreational

56 82.6 14.1% $12,001,681 $1,664,872

Utility/Transportation 47 28.6 4.9% $2,723,839 $23,430,569

Total 1,839 442.1 75.8% $448,794,490 $46,377,398

Source: HCP, Wrightsville Beach, FEMA.


The following table provides a breakdown of development potential for portions ofWrightsville Beach falling within the VE and AE flood zones. This analysis has been based onthe same methodology outlined in Section 3.III.1.b.

Table 24. Wrightsville Beach Vacant Zoning in Floodplain


AdditionalUnits


Commercial/Non-residential 0.5 0.1% 1 $291,777

Residential 18.8 3.2% 113 $34,848,070

Total 19.3 3.3% 114 $35,139,847

Source: HCP, Wrightsville Beach, FEMA.

DRAFT



c. Estimated Impact On Residential Development

As outlined above, there are approximately 18.8 acres of vacant land zoned forresidential development within the Town of Wrightsville Beach’s VE and AE flood zones. Basedon an average of 6 units per acre, this will result in approximately 113 additional residentialunits within the 100-year floodplain at build-out. If this development were to transpire, anadditional 226 individuals would be located within a FEMA-defined special flood hazard area(SFHA).

Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) Model: The greatest threatof flooding in the Town of Wrightsville Beach is from storm surge. The majority of the Town’sland area lies below mean sea level and is potentially subject to storm surge related flooding.Storm surge is ocean overwash associated with hurricanes or other tropical or extra-tropicalweather events.

Maps 5 and 6 show the general areas of Wrightsville Beach which may be affected byhurricane-generated storm surge based on the SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges fromHurricanes) model developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),which computes storm surge heights from tropical cyclones, such as hurricanes. The SLOSHmodel estimates the extent of storm surge inundation for “fast-moving” storms (forward velocitygreater than 15 miles per hour - Map 5) and for “slow-moving” storms (forward velocity lessthan 15 miles per hour - Map 6).

Table 25 below provides a tabular representation of the area in the Town inundated by stormsurge flooding at different category events for each of the two models reference above.

Table 25. Wrightsville Beach Storm Surge Inundation at Different Magnitude Storm Events Based onSLOSH Model

Fast Storm Inundation Acres*% of Total

Town Land Area

Category 1/2 521.0 89.0%

Category 3 554.5 95.0%

Category 4/5 564.0 96.2%

Slow Storm Inundation Acres*% of Total

Town Land Area

Category 1/2 540.0 92.1%

Category 3 563.5 96.1%

Category 4/5 569.5 97.2%


%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

#*

#*

#*

#*

#*#*

#*

r

â

â

Î

Ñ×W

!(

aå

")

")

#S

#S

Atlan

tic Oc

ean

Lees Cut

Intraco

astal W

aterway

Motts Channel

Banks

Chann

el

Intrac

oasta

l Wate

rway

Bank

s Cha

nnel

LUMIN

A

WAYNICK

PARMELE

CORA

L

LIVE OAK

MARINA

ATLANTA

ASHEVILLE

STONE

CONCH

COWRIE

CHADBOURN

LUMIN

A

AIRLIE

CAUSEWAY

SALISBURY

EASTWOOD

WRIGHTSVILLE

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

LUMINA

OLEA

NDER

SUNSET

WRIGHTSVILLE

EASTWOOD

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F



å Wrightsville Beach Elementary

") Water Storage Tankâ Banks Channel Bridger Draw Bridge#* Lift Station%[ Wells

Huricane Storm SurgeNo SurgeCategory 1 & 2Category 3Category 4 & 5

µ


Critical Facilities & SLOSH Fast

Map 5

0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.20.15Miles

1 inch = 2,789 feet

Page 5-13

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

#*

#*

#*

#*

#*#*

#*

r

â

â

Î

Ñ×W

!(

aå

")

")

#S

#S

Atlan

tic Oc

ean

Lees Cut

Intraco

astal W

aterway

Motts Channel

Banks

Chann

el

Intrac

oasta

l Wate

rway

Bank

s Cha

nnel

LUMIN

A

WAYNICK

PARMELE

CORA

L

LIVE OAK

MARINA

ATLANTA

ASHEVILLE

STONE

CONCH

COWRIE

CHADBOURN

LUMIN

A

AIRLIE

CAUSEWAY

SALISBURY

EASTWOOD

WRIGHTSVILLE

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F

LUMINA

OLEA

NDER

SUNSET

WRIGHTSVILLE

EASTWOOD

MILIT

ARY C

UTOF

F



å Wrightsville Beach Elementary

") Water Storage Tankâ Banks Channel Bridger Draw Bridge#* Lift Station%[ Wells

Hurricane Storm SurgeNo SurgeCategory 1 & 2Category 3Category 4 & 5

µ


Critical Facilities & SLOSH Slow

Map 6

0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.20.15Miles

1 inch = 2,787 feet

Page 5-14

DRAFT




The following provides an estimate of existing vulnerability relating to flooding associatedwith fast (Table 26) and slow (Table 27) moving tropical storm systems utilizing the samemethodology outlined in 3.III.1. Estimates for development within theses areas are based onactual existing conditions.

Table 26. Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model (Fast Moving)

Land Use# of

Properties Acres% of Total

Town Acreage Building ValueAccessoryStructures

Category 1 & 2 Storm System

Commercial 48 33.0 5.6% $27,726,697 $5,414,933

Residential 1,625 287.4 49.0% $385,412,980 $14,519,424


55 80.0 13.7% $12,001,681 $1,664,872


Total 1,774 425.0 72.5% $427,493,716 $39,137,660

Category 3 Storm System

Commercial 62 48.4 8.6% $31,297,839 $5,648,177

Residential 1,649 292.0 49.8% $394,066,022 $14,605,934


56 80.4 13.7% $12,293,211 $1,668,892


Total 1,816 447.1 76.6% $440,009,430 $39,463,176


Commercial 65 54.5 9.3% $35,675,699 $5,764,415

Residential 1,649 292.0 49.8% $394,066,022 $14,605,934


56 80.4 13.7% $12,293,211 $1,668,892


Total 1,819 453.1 77.3% $444,387,290 $39,579,414

Source:

DRAFT



Table 27. Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model (Slow Moving)

Land Use# of

Properties Acres% of Total

Town Acreage Building ValueAccessoryStructures


Commercial 47 32.3 5.5% $27,726,697 $5,414,933

Residential 1600 271.8 46.4% $376,401,474 $14,412,102


54 78.9 13.5% $11,721,023 $1,635,279


Total 1745 406.4 69.4% $418,201,552 $38,991,668


Commercial 55 45.7 7.8% $29,228,648 $5,618,052

Residential 1,630 288.2 49.2% $387,506,698 $14,578,129


55 80.0 13.6% $12,001,681 $1,664,872


Total 1787 438.6 74.8% $431,089,385 $39,399,484


Commercial 63 48.8 8.3% $31,628,629 $5,660,004

Residential 1,649 292.0 49.8% $394,066,022 $14,605,934


56 80.4 13.7% $12,293,211 $1,668,892


Total 1817 447.4 76.3% $440,340,220 $39,475,003

Source:


The following table provides a breakdown of development potential for portions ofWrightsville Beach relating to flooding associated with fast (Table 28) and slow (Table 29)moving tropical storm systems. This analysis has been based on the same methodologyoutlined in Section 3.III.1.b.

DRAFT



Table 28. Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model Future Vulnerability (Fast Moving)

Use Acres% of Total

Town AcreageAdditional

UnitsTotal Potential

Developed Value**


Commercial/Non-residential 1.3 0.2% ~1 $291.777

Residential 17.9 3.1% 107 $5,520,181

Total 19.2 3.3% 108 $5,520,472



Residential 18.8 3.2% 112.8 $5,797,732

Total 20.7 3.5% 114.8 $6,381,286



Residential 18.8 3.2% 112.8 $5,797,732

Total 20.7 3.5% 114.8 $6,381,286

Source: HCP, Inc., New Hanover County, Wrightsville Beach, NOAA.

Table 29. Wrightsville Beach SLOSH Model Future Vulnerability (Slow Moving)


AdditionalUnits




Residential 17.5 2.9% 105 $32,380,950

Total 18.8 3.1% 106 $32,381,241



Residential 18.7 3.2% 112 $34,539,680

Total 20 3.4% 113 $34,539,971



Residential 18.8 3.2% 113 $34,848,070

Total 20.7 3.5% 115 $35,431,624

Source: HCP, Inc., New Hanover County, Wrightsville Beach, NOAA.

DRAFT



c. Estimated Impact on Residential Development SLOSH Model

The following table outlines the acres of vacant land zoned for residential developmentwithin the Town of Wrightsville Beach that are forecasted to be impacted by Category 1 to 5fast and slow moving hurricanes. The estimated number of units and population have also beencalculated based on an average of six (6) units per acre.

Table 30. Wrightsville Beach Estimated Impact on Residential Development SLOSH Model - FastMoving Hurricane

Category Storm Vacant Acreage Estimated # of Units Estimated Population

1 & 2 17.9 107 214

3 18.8 113 226

4 & 5 18.8 114 228

Source:

Table 31. Wrightsville Beach Estimated Impact on Residential Development SLOSH Model - SlowMoving Hurricane

Category Storm Vacant Acreage Estimated # of Units Estimated Population

1 & 2 17.5 105 210

3 18.7 112 224

4 & 5 18.8 113 226

Source:

D. FRAGILE AREAS

In coastal North Carolina, fragile areas are considered to include coastal wetlands, ocean hazardareas, shorelines, estuarine waters and shorelines, and sound and estuarine islands, public trustwaters, natural heritage areas, areas sustaining remnant species, unique geological formations,registered natural landmarks, swamps, prime wildlife habitats, areas of excessive slope, areasof excessive erosion, scenic points, archaeological sites, historical sites, and 404 wetlands.These areas could easily be damaged or destroyed by inappropriate or poorly planneddevelopment. The following fragile areas are found within Wrightsville Beach. The informationwas taken from the Town’s Land Use Plan.

DRAFT



1. Estuarine and Ocean System

The estuarine and ocean system AEC is a broad category that includes the Town’s sounds,marshes, and the surrounding shorelines. The system includes the following components:

Estuarine waters; Estuarine shorelines; Coastal wetlands; and Public trust areas.

a. Estuarine Water

Estuarine waters include all waters of the Atlantic Ocean with the boundary of NorthCarolina and all waters of the bays, sounds, rivers, and tributaries seaward of the dividing linebetween coastal fishing waters and inland fishing waters (GS 113A-113(b)(2)). WrightsvilleBeach’s estuarine waters include the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), Masonboro Sound, Mott’sChannel, Lee’s Cut, and Bank’s Channel. Estuaries are extremely productive natural systems.Masonboro Sound, located adjacent to the Town’s ETJ, was also nominated as an outstandingresource water (ORW) by the state.

Estuarine waters in and around Wrightsville Beach provide an important habitat for adiverse range of shellfish, birds and other forms of marine wildlife. Important habitat featuresof an estuarine system include its mud and sand flats, eel grass beds, salt marshes, submergedvegetation flats, clam and oyster beds. They provide nursery areas and serve as habitats fora variety of marine and benthic species. Generally speaking, development activities which arewater dependent and require water access and cannot function elsewhere such as simple accessstructures, structures to prevent erosion, boat docks, marinas, wharves, and mooring piling maybe allowed within this AEC.

b. Estuarine Shoreline

The estuarine shoreline is the non-ocean shoreline, extending from the normal highwater level or normal water level along the estuarine waters, estuaries, sounds, bays, fresh andbrackish waters, and public areas (15 NCAC 7H.0209). For non-Outstanding Resource Waters,the estuarine shoreline is defined as 75-feet landward from mean high water line (MHWL). ForORW waters the distance is 575 feet; however, there are no ORW waters within WrightsvilleBeach. CAMA permits control development within the shoreline areas. Generally, developmentin this area may not weaken natural barriers to erosion, must have limited hard surfaces, andmust take steps to prevent pollution of the estuary by sedimentation and runoff.

DRAFT



c. Coastal Wetlands

The US Army Corp of Engineers (COE) defines wetlands as those areas inundated andsaturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration to support, and that undernormal circumstances support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturatedsoil conditions.

CAMA defines coastal wetlands as any salt marsh or other marsh subject to regular oroccasional flooding by tides and contains some, but not necessarily all of the following marshplant species: Cord Grass, Black Needlerush, Glasswort, Salt Grass, Sea Lavender, Bulrush, SawGrass, Cat-tail, Salt Meadow Grass, Salt Reed Grass. This definition does not include floodingby tides associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, or severe weather events (15 NCAC07H.0206).

d. Public Trust Areas

Public trust areas include coastal waters and the submerged tidal lands below the MHWL.The water and submerged tidal lands are held in trust for the public to use through suchactivities as fishing, swimming, and boating. These areas will often overlap with estuarinewaters, but they also include many inland fishing waters. As general guidance, the followinglands and waters are considered to be public trust areas:

All waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the lands underneath, from the MHWLseaward to the state’s official boundary three miles offshore;

All tidally influenced waters below and associated submerged lands below theMHWL;

All navigable natural water bodies and the lands underneath from the normalhigh water line seaward (navigable waters include anything you can float acanoe in). This does not include privately-owned lakes where the public doesn’thave access rights;

All water in artificially created water bodies that have significant public fishingresources and are accessible to the public from other waters; and

All waters in artificially created water bodies where the public has acquired rightsby prescription, custom, usage, dedication, or any other means (CAMA Handbookfor development in coastal North Carolina).

Accordingly, the Town of Wrightsville Beach’s public trust waters include all estuarinewaters, their tributaries, and the Atlantic Ocean.

DRAFT



2. Ocean Hazard System

Ocean Hazard AECs are areas where potential erosion and the adverse impact of sand, wind,and water make uncontrolled or incompatible development unreasonable and hazardous to lifeand property. The Ocean Hazard category at Wrightsville Beach includes four (4) areas:

Ocean erodible area; High hazard flood area; Inlet hazard area; and Unvegetated beach area.

a. Ocean Erodible Area

Ocean erodible areas are located along the beach strand where there is significant riskof excessive beach erosion and significant shoreline fluctuation due to natural processes suchas hurricanes and tropical storms (15 NCAC 07H.0304). There are 205 acres of oceanfrontproperty on Wrightsville Beach. The seaward boundary of this area is the mean low water line(MLWL). The landward boundary is described as follows:

120 feet or 60 times the annual erosion rate landward of the first line of stablevegetation or, for Wrightsville Beach the vegetation line established in the 1980photos this is called the recession line; or

A distance landward of the recession line described in (1) above to the recessionline that would be generated by a storm having a 1 percent chance of beingequaled or exceeded in any given year (i.e., 100-year storm event).

The ocean erodible area is defined on a lot-by-lot basis due to the significant variationin the first line of stable vegetation and the most restrictive method for determining the setbackdistance and the recession line is always used (15 NCAC 7H.0304).

b. High Hazard Flood Area

The ocean hazard system AEC also covers lands subject to flooding, high waves, andheavy water currents during a major storm. The high hazard flood area is defined as the areasubject to high velocity waters including but not limited to hurricane washover in a storm havinga one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. This area is identifiedas coastal flood with velocity hazard or “V zones” on Federal Flood Insurance Rate Maps. “Vzones” are determined by an engineering analysis of expected flood levels during a storm,expected wave and current patterns, and the existing topography of the land. The high hazardflood area is land expected to experience washover and high velocity waters during a 100-year

DRAFT



storm event. This AEC often overlaps with the ocean erodible and inlet hazard AECs. Theinterior of Wrightsville Island, Harbor Island, and the sound are in the “A zone.” “A zones” aresubject to flooding and washover, but not wave action during a 100-year storm event.

c. Inlet Hazard Area

The inlet hazard area AEC covers the land adjacent to Mason’s Inlet, located at the northend of Wrightsville Island. The Inlet Hazard Area extends inland a sufficient distance toencompass the area where the state reasonably expects the inlet to migrate in the future (15NCAC 7H.0304). Masonboro Inlet, located at the southern end of the Island is not designatedas an inlet hazard area because it is stabilized with a jetty preventing its migration.Development within the inlet hazard area on the North End must comply with three key usestandards: (1) it must comply with setbacks for the ocean hazard area found in the precedingsection; (2) the density for commercial and residential structures is limited to no more thanthree units per acre; and (3) only residential structures of four unit or less or commercialstructures less than 5,000 square feet or less are allowed.

d. Unvegetated Beach Area

The final ocean hazard system AEC is the unvegetated beach area. This is defined asland within the ocean hazard system where no stable natural vegetation is present. This areais subject to rapid and unpredictable landform change from wind and wave action.

E. CRITICAL FACILITIES

After a hazard event it is important to be aware of those facilities that are essential to thehealth, safety, and viability of the town. A summary of the town’s most critical facilities isprovided in the table below. Included in the summary are town-owned buildings that are criticalto continuity of government operations. The destruction or damage of any of the followingfacilities could greatly affect rescue and recovery efforts during a hazard event, or could impederehabilitation efforts after a hazard occurs. Map 7 provides a location of these critical facilities.These facilities have also been included on Maps 4, 5, and 6 to show these facilities relationshipto defined hazard areas.

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

%[%[

%[

%[

%[

%[

#*

#*

#*

#*

#*#*

#*

Î

Ñ×W

!(

aå

")

")

#S

#S

r

â

â Atlan

tic Oc

ean

Lees Cut

Intraco

astal W

aterwa

y

Motts Channel

Banks

Chann

el

Intrac

oasta

l Wate

rway

Bank

s Cha

nnel



å Wrightsville Beach Elementary") Water Storage Tank#* Lift Station%[ Wellsâ Banks Channel Bridger Draw Bridge

Sewer LinesWater Lines

µ


Local Infrastructure and Critical Facilities

Map 7

0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.20.15Miles

1 inch = 2,640 feet

Page 5-23

DRAFT



Table 32. Town of Wrightsville Beach Critical Facilities

Critical Facilities Tax Value

Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex $1,597,672.00

Wrightsville Beach Public Works Department $970,252.00

Water Treatment Plants $200,000.00$250,000.00

Coast Guard Station $593,340.00

Wrightsville Beach Elementary $1,064,459.00

Wrightsville Beach Public Safety Building To be determined

Source: Town of Wrightsville Beach.

The town’s public works facilities, the Heidi Trask drawbridge, the Banks Channel bridges, USHighways 74 and 76, the Coast Guard Station, and the town’s power lines are also consideredcritical facilities. The town’s Public Works Department maintains 9 wells; 2 water treatmentcenters; 2 ground storage tanks; 2 elevated storage tanks; 14 miles of sewer collection system;4 miles of sewer force mains; 30 miles of water distribution system; 2,300 water meters; 8sewer meters; 15 buildings; a telemetry system (SCADA); 19 telemetry control panels; 4automatic transfer switches; 3 variable speed drives; 4 soft-start pump controllers; 8generators; and 10 computers. The value of the installed public utility infrastructure isapproximately $30 million. Due to the fact that 96% of the town is in a flood hazard area, anyfuture expansion of public utilities will likely be within a hazard area. The only areas of the townthat are not affected by flooding and/or hurricanes are on the mainland. The bridges and USHighways 74 and 76 are state maintained, the Coast Guard Station is owned by the USGovernment, and the power lines are owned by Progress Energy of the Carolinas.

F. REPETITIVE LOSS AND SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS STRUCTURES

As noted in “Keeping Natural Hazards from Becoming Disasters: A Mitigation PlanningGuidebook for Local Governments” produced by NCEM, repetitive loss structures areNFIP-insured property that, since 1978 and regardless of any change(s) of ownership duringthat period, has experienced:

Four or more paid flood losses of more than $1,000 each; or Two paid flood losses within a 10-year period that, in the aggregate, equal or

exceed the current value of the insured property; or Three or more paid losses that, in the aggregate, equal or exceed the current

value of the insured property.

DRAFT



The only reliable source of information on repetitive loss structures is flood insurance claimsdata available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). There are currently 610repetitive loss structures at Wrightsville Beach. This number includes 588 residential structuresand 22 non-residential structures. These structures are equally distributed throughout theTown’s corporate limits.

The definition of severe repetitive loss as applied to this program was established in section1361A of the National Flood Insurance Act, as amended (NFIA), 42 U.S.C. 4102a. An SRLproperty is defined as a residential property that is covered under an NFIP flood insurance policyand:

(a) That has at least four NFIP claim payments (including building and contents) over $5,000each, and the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeds $20,000; or

(b) For which at least two separate claims payments (building payments only) have been madewith the cumulative amount of the building portion of such claims exceeding the market valueof the building.

For both (a) and (b) above, at least two of the referenced claims must have occurred within anyten-year period, and must be greater than 10 days apart.

There are currently two (2) severe repetitive loss properties within the the Town’s corporatelimits, which are both residential.

DRAFT



Section 6. Mitigation Strategies

A. INTRODUCTION

Goals are statements of desirable future conditions that are to be achieved. They are broad inscope and assist in setting community priorities. Objectives are more tangible and specific thangoals. The following goals will provide the basis for the objectives, and correspondingimplementation strategies that will be included in this plan, some of which are already beingadministered and implemented through existing Town departments and initiatives:

1. Saving lives and reducing injuries;2. Preventing or reducing property damage;3. Reducing economic losses;4. Minimizing social dislocation and stress;5. Maintaining critical facilities in functional order;6. Protecting infrastructure from damage;7. Protecting mental health;8. Limiting legal liability of government and public officials;9. Providing options for political leaders regarding hazard reduction;10. Fulfilling Federal and State requirements for receipt of future disaster recovery

and hazard mitigation assistance; and11. Improve inter-jurisdictional cooperation and coordination, especially regarding

the reduction of natural hazard impacts.

The goals outlined above have been modified through this Hazard Mitigation PlanUpdate in an effort to establish a more effective and efficient planning document.These revised goals truly address the mission of the Town’s various departments with respectto mitigation and emergency response capabilities.

The overall hazard mitigation planning effort is focused on providing the Town of WrightsvilleBeach with an action plan that will strive toward the achievement of these goals. In order toestablish this plan, the MAC was charged with developing objectives and specific implementingactions tied to each of these goal statements. The following provides definitions of how goals,objectives, and implementing action relate to one another:

1. Goals – A broad based statement of intent that establishes the direction for theTown of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan. Goals state desiredoutcomes for the overall implementation process.

DRAFT



2. Objective – The stated means of achieving each defined goal, or tasks to beexecuted in the process of achieving stated goals.

3. Implementing Actions – A project specific strategy aimed at mitigation andinvolving a specific entity, interest, and funding mechanism.

As the MAC worked through the development of this action plan, the group focused on sixprimary mitigation focus areas. These focus areas define the various aspects of mitigation, andprovide guidance toward the development of a truly comprehensive solution to mitigationplanning.

Prevention Mechanisms include regulatory methods such as planning and zoning,building regulations, open space planning, land development regulations, and stormwatermanagement.

Property Protection actions diminish the risk of structural damage through acquisitionof land, relocation of buildings, modifying high-risk structures, and floodproofing high-riskstructures.

Natural Resource Protection can soften hazard impacts through mechanisms suchas erosion and sediment control or wetlands protection.

Emergency Services measures include warning, response capabilities, Town criticalinfrastructures protection, and health and safety maintenance.

Structural Mitigation controls natural hazards through projects such as reservoirs,levees, diversions, channel modifications and storm sewers.

Public Education includes providing hazard maps and information, outreach programs,real estate disclosure, technical assistance and education.

B. MITIGATION STRATEGIES

The table below outlines all objectives and implementing actions developed through the Townof Wrightsville Beach Planning process. The table provides a description of each objective andsupporting actions aimed at furthering each. The table also provides guidance relating tofunding sources, party responsible for implementation, priority, and identification of which goalsand mitigation focus areas are being addressed through each implementation action.

DRAFT



The objectives in this table have been ranked based on input received from the MAC throughthe planning process. Each implementing action has been provided a priority of low, medium,or high based on a cost benefit review conducted through the planning process. The followingprovides a breakdown of the factors utilized to conduct this cost benefit review:

High Priority: Highly cost-effective, administratively feasible, andpolitically feasible policies that should be implemented infiscal years 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 and be continued.

Medium Priority: Policies that have at least two of the followingcharacteristics (but not all three): Highly cost-effective; or Administratively feasible, given current levels of

staffing and resources; or Are politically popular and supportable given the

current environmentand that should be implemented in fiscal years 2012/2013to 2014/2015 were considered medium priority.

Low Priority: Policies that have at least one of the followingcharacteristics (but not two or three):1. Highly cost-effective; or2. Administratively feasible, given current levels of

staffing and resources; or3. Are politically popular and supportable given the

current environmentand that should be implemented in the next five (5) years(by the end of 2014/2015) were considered low priority.Policies will be implemented earlier if resources areavailable. It should also be noted that projects orinitiatives given low priority may be ultimately contingentupon grant funding.

Objectives were generated by and approved by the MAC. The MAC considered the applicabilityof each objective to the local government. These objectives provided a context through whichthe MAC established and formalized specific actions aimed at reducing the Town’s vulnerabilityto natural hazards. These objectives have been slightly modified in order to better suit themitigation actions outlined in this plan update.

DRAFT



The following summarizes the mitigation objectives:

1. Ensure that all departments are adequately prepared for hazards.2. Maintain emergency infrastructure.3. Improve the resistance of structures in the community against natural hazards.4. Reduce the impact of natural hazard events on trees near built structures and/or

infrastructure components, in an effort to protect structures and reduce thefrequency and length of power outages.

5. Preserve open space in floodplain.6. Reduce the risk of urban fires to future development.7. Reduce the cost of flood insurance to property owners.8. Ensure efficient and uninterrupted operation of water and wastewater facilities.9. Reduce property losses due to flooding.10. Apply for funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, when eligible

following a natural disaster.11. Ensure that the public is aware of the risks of different types of natural hazards,

and reduces their exposure to natural hazards.12. Publicize the documents associated with emergency response and mitigation.13. Reduce or maintain the quantity and improve the quality of water discharging

into waterbodies.

DRAFT


November 20, 2009 Page 6-5 Section 6. Mitigation Strategies

Table 33. Town of Wrightsville Beach Mitigation Strategies

Strategy

PoliciesAddressed

(see page 3-1) CRS ActivityCurrent

CRS Points

HazardsAddressed

(see page 6-1)Mitigation

Action Status Priority Responsible Party/Dept.

Objective #1: Ensure that all departments are adequately prepared for hazards.

Support the New Hanover CountyEmergency Operations Plan, adoptedJanuary 2003.

1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 N/A N/A 1, 4, 6, 8, 9,10, 11

Revised High Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyFire Chief

Support the Tsunami Ready Plan for NewHanover County, adopted 2008.

1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 N/A N/A 11 New High Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyFire Chief

Maintain a post disaster recovery contractwith a qualified service provider, to includethe provision of essential services andequipment (i.e., generators).

1, 2, 3, 4, 8 N/A N/A 1, 2, 4, 6, 8,10, 11

Revised High Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyPublic Works Department

Request funding for an EmergencyOperations Center, to be located off theisland in an effort to serve the town duringextreme weather events.

1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 N/A N/A 1, 4, 6, 10, 11 Revised Low Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

Objective #2: Maintain emergency infrastructure.

Monitor the status of backup generators,communications, and vehicles for all criticalpublic facilities. Test generators,communications equipment, and vehicles ona regular basis, not only for maintenance,but to confirm that the equipment continuesto match the needs of critical facilityexpansion or updated operations.

1, 4, 5, 6 N/A N/A 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8,10, 11

Existing High Primary Responsible PartyPublic WorksSecondary Responsible PartyFire Chief

DRAFT


Strategy

PoliciesAddressed


CRS Points

HazardsAddressed




Continue to invest in equipment that willensure uninterrupted communications, toinclude continued support of the Town’sexiting satellite telephone system.

1, 4, 5, 8 N/A N/A 1, 6, 10, 11 New Medium Primary Responsible PartyFire ChiefSecondary Responsible PartyTown Manager

Continue to support the efforts of the NewHanover County Emergency ManagementDepartment’s role in providing Emergency911 services to the Town. The Town willmaintain its internal emergency responsecommunications system as a backup in theevent that it is needed.

1, 3, 5, 7, 8 N/A N/A All hazards

New

High Primary Responsible PartyFire ChiefSecondary Responsible PartyPolice Chief

Seek grant funding for the acquisition andinstallation of a new repeater system for thePolice Department communications system.

1, 4, 5, 8 N/A Medium All hazards New Medium Primary Responsible PartyPolice ChiefSecondary Responsible PartyTown Manager

Objective #3: Improve the resistance of structures in the community against natural hazards.

Support storm hazard mitigation policiesprovided in the 2006 Wrightsville BeachCAMA Land Use Plan.

2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11 510: FloodplainManagement

Planning

110 1, 2, 6, 10, 11 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyBoard of AldermanSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

Continue to enforce the InternationalBuilding Code, to include requiring that newstructures or structures undergoingsignificant renovation (renovations orexpansion exceeding 50% of fair marketvalue) meet code requirements for coastalareas.

2, 3, 5, 6, 10 N/A N/A 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyBuilding InspectorSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

Continue to require the provision of anelevation certificate for all developmentwithin a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).All elevation certificates will be submitted onan official FEMA Elevation Certificate form.

2, 3, 5, 6, 10 310: ElevationCertificates

56 1, 2, 6, 11 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyBuilding InspectionsSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

DRAFT


Strategy

PoliciesAddressed


CRS Points

HazardsAddressed




Continue to support the efforts of the NCOffice of Dam Safety (NCODS) in theirefforts to inspect and maintain structurallysound levee and dam facilities throughoutthe State.

3, 5, 11 630: DamSafety

58 6 New High Primary Responsible PartyBoard of AldermenSecondary Responsible PartyTown Staff

Objective #4: Reduce the impact of natural hazard events on trees near built structures and/or infrastructure components, in an effort to protect structuresand reduce the frequency and length of power outages.

Require the Town Public Works Departmentto routinely monitor and prune trees andbranches on public property, and within theright-of-way to minimize potential damagein the event of a wind or ice storm.Additionally, support the efforts of ProgressEnergy to keep all utility easements freefrom encroaching trees and limbs.

2, 4, 6, 8, 11 N/A N/A 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyPublic Works DepartmentSecondary Responsible PartyProgress Energy

Objective #5: Preserve open space in the floodplain.

Continue to maintain all properties acquiredthrough HMGP funding or other sourcesaimed at addressing natural hazardmitigation as open space in perpetuity.

2, 3, 4 520: Acquisitionand Relocation

70 1, 2, 6 New Low Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

Objective #6: Reduce the risk of urban fires to future development.

Continue to require fire suppressionsprinkler systems within all substantiallymodified or new commercial developmentand residential construction exceeding twounits (three or more). Encourageinstallation in single-family and duplexresidences.

1, 2, 3, 4 N/A N/A 3 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyFire DepartmentSecondary Responsible PartyBuilding Inspector

DRAFT


Strategy

PoliciesAddressed


CRS Points

HazardsAddressed




Consider increasing the size of water linesand water mains on the south end of theisland. This action is desired to address fireflow demands that continue to increase asnew residential structure sizes expand insquare footage.

1, 2, 3, 4 N/A N/A 3 Revised Low Primary Responsible PartyPublic Works DepartmentSecondary Responsible PartyBoard of Aldermen

Continue to maintain the facilities andsupport the efforts of the WilmingtonMunicipal Fire Department to providemaritime fire protection services withinWrightsville Beach.

1, 2, 3, 4 N/A High 3 New High Primary Responsible PartyBoard of AldermenSecondary Responsible PartyFire Chief

Objective #7: Reduce the cost of flood insurance to property owners.

Improve Community Rating System (CRS)status.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 Prevention All 1, 3, 6, 11 Existing Medium Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DepartmentSecondary Responsible PartyBoard of Aldermen

Consider working with regional partners onthe development and adoption of legislationthat will enable the Town to enforce thewind-borne debris International BuildingCode standards throughout the Town’scorporate limits (enabling the town tosecure a CRS rating of 5).

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 N/A N/A 1, 2, 6, 11 New Low Primary Responsible PartyBoard of AldermenSecondary Responsible PartyTown Manager

Work to maintain the Town’s status as aCooperating Technical Partner under theterms of the NFIP Community RatingSystem (CRS).

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 410: AdditionalFlood Data

73 1, 2, 6, 11 New High Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyTown Manager

DRAFT


Strategy

PoliciesAddressed


CRS Points

HazardsAddressed




Objective #8: Ensure efficient and uninterrupted operation of water and wastewater facilities.

Monitor the Town’s water supply todetermine if aquifers are threatened or ifother alternatives are required.

4, 5, 7, 8, 9 N/A N/A 9 Existing High Primary Responsible PartyPublic Works DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyTown Manager

Continue to seek funding sources for theelevation or retrofitting of existing sewer liftstations in an effort to reduce or eliminatethe impacts from flooding. The lift stationsand the need/priority for elevation areoutlined on Map 8.

3, 4, 5, 6, 8 N/A N/A 1, 2, 6, 11 New Medium Primary Responsible PartyPublic Works DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyBoard of Aldermen

Objective #9: Reduce property losses due to flooding.

Update the Town’s Flood DamagePrevention Ordinance in conjunction withthe development of a Unified DevelopmentOrdinance (UDO).

2, 3, 4, 5, 6,8, 9

430: HigherRegulatoryStandards

360 1, 2, 6, 11 Revised Medium Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Department

Objective #10: Apply for funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, when eligible following a natural disaster.

Request Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)funding for elevation/floodproofing ofrepetitive loss properties.

2, 3, 6, 10 530: FloodProtection

234 1, 2, 6, 11 Existing Medium Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

Request Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)funding for the elevation of structuressubstantially damaged during a naturalhazard event.

2, 3, 6, 10 1, 2, 6, 11 Revised Medium Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

Request Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)funding for wind proofing of criticalfacilities.

2, 3, 6, 10 N/A N/A 1, 2, 4 New Low Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyPublic Works Department

DRAFT


Strategy

PoliciesAddressed


CRS Points

HazardsAddressed




Objective #11: Ensure that the public is aware of the risks of different types of natural hazards, and reduces their exposure to natural hazards.

Continue to provide technical information tobuilders, developers, & architects in aneffort to familiarize them with NFIP land useand building standards and principles forquality redevelopment and safe housingdevelopment through written materials or aTown-sponsored workshop.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

360: FloodProtectionAssistance

0 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Existing High Primary Responsible PartyBuilding Inspections DepartmentSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Department

Advertise the availability of flood insuranceonce annually through direct mailings,coordination with local real estate agents,and on the Town’s website.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

N/A N/A 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Revised Medium Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyBuilding Inspector

Distribute a flood protection flyer through acommunity newsletter, utility bill, or otherdocument that is distributed to allresidences once annually. The flyer willinclude the following information: floodsafety, flood insurance, property protection,floodplain development requirements, anddrainage system maintenance. Thisinformation will also be made available atthe Town’s municipal building.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

330: OutreachActivities

187 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyTown Clerk

Provide information to all individualsinquiring about issues relating to floodplaindevelopment. This effort will involveeducating citizens about the developmentconstraints and requirements regardingdevelopment within a Special Flood HazardArea (SFHA). This service will be advertisedon the Town’s website, and once annuallyin the local newspaper.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

320: MapInformation

Service

140 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Existing High Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyBuilding Inspector

DRAFT


Strategy

PoliciesAddressed


CRS Points

HazardsAddressed




Objective #12: Publicize the documents associated with emergency response and mitigation.

Ensure that the local New Hanover CountyPublic Library maintains documents aboutflood insurance, flood protection, floodplainmanagement, and natural and beneficialfunctions of floodplains. Many documentsare free of charge from FEMA. The Townwill maintain a disclosure statement fromthe library that these material are available,and have been incorporated into thelibrary’s resource inventory system.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

350: FloodProtection

Information

73 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyNew Hanover County PublicLibrary System

Provide local real estate agents withhandouts that will advise potential buyers toinvestigate the flood hazard for the propertythey are considering purchasing.Additionally, the town will secure disclosurestatements from all real estate agenciesparticipating in this effort stating that it isthe organization’s policy to inform clientsabout issues relating to developing and/orpurchasing property within the floodplain.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

340: HazardDisclosure

15 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyPlanning DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyLocal Real Estate Agencies

Maintain current and accurate informationat the municipal building, as well as on theTown’s website, regarding the following:mitigation activities, the availability of NFIPflood insurance, emergency operationspolicies, and evacuation and reentryinformation.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

N/A N/A 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyTown ManagerSecondary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

DRAFT


Strategy

PoliciesAddressed


CRS Points

HazardsAddressed




Continue to maintain accurate and updatedFlood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)information on a Geographic InformationSystem (GIS). This system will be utilizedfor day-to-day floodplain managementactivities.

2, 3, 6, 8, 10,11

440: Flood DataMaintenance

126 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Existing High Primary Responsible PartyPlanning Director

Objective #13: Reduce or maintain the quantity and improve the quality of water discharging into waterbodies.

Continue to implement the activitiesoutlined within the standing NPDES Permitissued through the North CarolinaDepartment of Environment and NaturalResources. These efforts provide acomprehensive approach to stormwatermanagement planning. See page __ of theplan for an overview of NPDES activities.

2, 3, 5, 8, 9,10, 11

450:StormwaterManagement

67 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 Revised High Primary Responsible PartyPublic Works DepartmentSecondary Responsible PartyTown Manager

Continue to enforce the Town’s StormwaterManagement Ordinance. This ordinanceenforces standards relating to postdevelopment runoff conditions, as well asprotection of the Town’s MS4 against illicitdischarges and dumping.

2, 3, 5, 8, 9,10, 11

540: DrainageSystem

Maintenance

30 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 New High Primary Responsible PartyStormwater Management DirectorSecondary Responsible PartyPublic Works Department

#*

#*

#*

#*

#*

Atlan

tic Oc

ean

Lees Cut

Intraco

astal W

aterwa

y

Motts Channel

Banks

Chann

el

Intrac

oasta

l Wate

rway

Bank

s Cha

nnel

LS 5

LS 4

LS 3

LS 2

LS 1

LegendETJCorporate Limits Hydrology Sewer LinesWater Lines

Lift StationPriority and Estimated Cost#* LS 5 - $500,000#* LS 3 - $300,000#* LS 4 - Cost Unknown#* LS 2 - Cost Unknown#* LS 1 - Not Practical to Elevate

µ


Lift Stations to be Elevated/Retrofitted

Map 8

0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.20.15Miles

1 inch = 2,640 feet

Page 6-13

* Lift Station 5 flooded in Hurricane Fran and Floyd

1*2345

DRAFT



C. HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIVITIES ELIMINATED THROUGH PLAN UPDATE

The following past mitigation strategies were revoked for the reasons indicated.

(1) Convene a working group with electric service providers within the county and producea report with specific recommendations and detailed implementation timelines thataddress the issues of 1) disaster preparedness and 2) communication with countyofficials during and immediately after a natural hazard event that results in loss ofpower.

Reasoning: It was determined through discussions that the Town maintains consistentand effective communication with electric service providers throughout the year. In theevent of a natural hazard event, the Town’s existing emergency response capabilitiesprovide for quick and efficient coordination with the sole electric service provider for theTown, Progress Energy The system that remains in place on a day to day basis wasdeemed sufficient, and therefore this mitigation action has been eliminated from theplan.

(2) Request funding for underground utilities.

Reasoning: Based on several factors it has been determined that implementation ofthis mitigation action is not feasible, and therefore has been removed from the plan.

(3) Post maps of evacuation routes on the Town’s website.

Reasoning: Upon review of the Town’s existing document, it was determined that thismitigation action was redundant. This issue is adequately covered through othermitigation actions outlined within this plan update.

(4) Review/revise development ordinances and stormwater policies to control runoff.

Reasoning: This mitigation action has been removed from the plan, due to the factthat the Town established a comprehensive stormwater management program in 2007.The Town now enforces and maintains this programs for all new development. Thisprogram is discussed in detail within the revised mitigation actions outlined in the tableabove.

DRAFT


November 20, 2009 Page 7-1 Section 7. Plan Maintenance

Section 7. Plan Maintenance and Implementation Procedures

A. IMPLEMENTATION

Implementation of the Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan will commence withadoption of the document by the Board of Aldermen. The Resolution of Adoption has beenprovided as Appendix III of the plan (to be added upon adoption).

Upon adoption, the Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan faces the truest test ofits worth, implementation. Implementation implies two concepts: action and priority. Theseare closely related. While this plan puts forth many worthwhile and high priorityrecommendations, the decision about which action to undertake first will be the first task facingthe Mitigation Advisory Committee (MAC). There are two factors to consider in making thatdecision; the priority of the item and available funding. Thus, pursuing low or no-cost high-priority recommendations will have the greatest likelihood of success.

Another important implementation mechanism that is highly effective and low-cost isincorporation of the hazard mitigation plan recommendations and their underlying principles intoother town plans and regulatory mechanisms, such as the Capital Improvements Plan and theCAMA Land Use Plan. The Town will utilize this plan as a starting point toward implementingpolicies and programs to reduce losses to life and property from natural hazards.

Mitigation is most successful when it is incorporated into the day-to-day functionsand priorities of government and development. This integration is accomplished byconstant efforts to network, identify, and highlight the multi-objective benefits to each program,and its stakeholders. This effort is achieved through the routine actions of monitoringimplementation efforts, attending meetings, and promoting a safe, sustainable community.Additional mitigation strategies could include consistent and ongoing enforcement of existingpolicies and review of town and county (New Hanover) programs for coordination and regionalmulti-objective opportunities.

Simultaneous to these efforts, it is important to maintain a constant monitoring of fundingopportunities that can be leveraged to implement some of the more costly recommendedactions. This will include creating and maintaining a bank of ideas on how any required localmatch or participation requirement can be met. When funding does become available, the MACwill be in a position to capitalize on the opportunity. Funding opportunities to be monitoredinclude special pre- and post-disaster funds, special district budgeted funds, state or federalearmarked funds, and grant programs, including those that can serve or support multi-objectiveimplementing actions.

DRAFT



B. ROLE OF THE MITIGATION ADVISORY COMMITTEEIN IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE

With adoption of this plan, the MAC will be tasked with plan implementation and maintenance.The MAC, led by the Tony Wilson of the Wrightsville Beach Planning and Parks Department,agrees to:

Act as a forum for hazard mitigation issues; Disseminate hazard mitigation ideas and activities to all participants; Pursue the implementation of high-priority, low/no-cost recommended actions; Keep the concept of mitigation in the forefront of community decision making by

identifying plan recommendations when other community goals, plans, andactivities overlap, influence, or directly affect increased community vulnerabilityto disasters;

Continuously monitor multi-objective cost-share opportunities to help thecommunity implement the plan’s recommended actions for which no currentfunding exists;

Monitor and assist in implementation and update of this plan; Report on plan progress and recommended changes to the Wrightsville Beach

Board of Aldermen; and Inform and solicit input from the public.

The MAC will not have any powers over Town staff; it will be purely an advisory body. Itsprimary duty is to see the plan successfully carried out and to report to the communitygoverning board and the public on the status of plan implementation and mitigationopportunities for the Town. Other duties include reviewing and promoting mitigation proposals,considering stakeholder concerns about hazard mitigation, passing concerns on to appropriateentities, and posting relevant information on the Town website.

C. MAINTENANCE

Plan maintenance implies an ongoing effort to monitor and evaluate plan implementation andto update the plan as progress, roadblocks, or changing circumstances are recognized.

In order to track progress and update the mitigation strategies identified in the policy sectionof the plan, the Town will revisit this plan on a bi-annual basis and after a hazard event. TheTown of Wrightsville Beach Planning and Parks Director is responsible for initiating this reviewand will consult with members of the MAC. This monitoring and updating will take placethrough a formal review by the MAC twice annually, and a five-year written update to besubmitted to the NCEM and FEMA Region IV, unless disaster or other circumstances (e.g.,changing regulations) require a change to this schedule.

DRAFT



Evaluation of progress can be achieved by monitoring changes in vulnerabilities identified in theplan. Changes in vulnerability can be identified by noting:

Decreased vulnerability as a result of implementing recommended actions; Increased vulnerability as a result of failed or ineffective mitigation actions;

and/or Increased vulnerability as a result of new development (and/or annexation).

Updates to this plan will:

Consider changes in vulnerability due to project implementation; Document success stories where mitigation efforts have proven effective; Document areas where mitigation actions were not effective; Document any new hazards that may arise or were previously overlooked; Incorporate new data or studies on hazards and risks; Incorporate new capabilities or changes in capabilities; Incorporate growth and development-related changes to Town inventories; and Incorporate new project recommendations or changes in project prioritization.

In order to best evaluate any changes in vulnerability as a result of plan implementation, theMAC will use the following process:

A representative from the responsible office identified in each mitigation actionwill be responsible for tracking and reporting on a bi-annual basis to the MAC onproject status and provide input on whether the project as implemented meetsthe defined objectives and is likely to be successful in reducing vulnerabilities.

If the project does not meet identified objectives, the MAC will determine whatadditional measures may be implemented and an assigned individual will beresponsible for defining project scope, implementing the project, monitoringsuccess of the project, and making any required modifications to the plan.

Changes will be made to the plan to accommodate for projects that have failed or are notconsidered feasible after a review for their consistency with established criteria, the time frame,Town priorities, and/or funding resources. Priorities that were identified as potential mitigationstrategies will be reviewed as well during the monitoring and update of this plan to determinefeasibility of future implementation.

Updating of the plan will be by written changes and submissions, as the MAC deems appropriateand necessary, and as approved by the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen. In keeping withthe process of adopting the plan, a public involvement process to receive public comment on

DRAFT



plan maintenance and updating will be held once annually, and the final product will be adoptedby Board of Aldermen.

D. CONTINUED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Continued public involvement is also imperative to the overall success of the plan’simplementation. The update process provides an opportunity to publicize success stories fromplan implementation and seek additional public comment. A public hearing(s) to receive publiccomment on plan maintenance and updating will be held once within the context of the definedbi-annual review process. When the MAC reconvenes for updates, they will coordinate with allstakeholders participating in the planning process – including those that joined the committeesince the planning process began (if applicable). The plan maintenance and update process willinclude continued public and stakeholder involvement and input through attendance atdesignated committee meetings, web postings, and press releases to local media.

E. INCORPORATION OF EXISTING PLANNING MECHANISMS

The mitigation actions in Section 6 of this plan recommends using existing plans and/orprograms to implement hazard mitigation in the Town, where possible. This point is alsoemphasized previously in this Section. Based on this plan’s capability assessment, the Town hasand continues to implement policies and programs to reduce losses to life and property fromnatural hazards. This plan builds upon the momentum developed through previous and relatedplanning efforts and recommends implementing projects. The following provides an overviewof how mitigation measures may be incorporated into existing Town-maintained planning anddevelopment documents.

DRAFT



Table 34. Wrightsville Beach Community Capability Assessment

Policies andPrograms

Policy/ProgramStatus (potential,

existing)DocumentReference

Effectiveness forMitigation (low,medium, high) Rationale for Effectiveness

Recommendations forIncorporating into Hazard

Mitigation StrategyFloodplainDevelopmentOrdinance

Existing N/A High The ordinance allows development in a flood hazardarea but requires all new residential construction orsubstantial improvements of existing construction to bethree feet above base flood elevation. Nonresidentialconstruction is to be elevated to or above theapplicable level of base flood elevation which isadjusted for height.

Revise in conjunction withproposed UDO update.

Enforcement ofState Building Code

Existing NC State BuildingCode

High Efficient system for enforcement of State buildingcode.

Continue to support the inclusionof the wind-borne debrisrequirement.

CAMA Land UsePlan

Existing Section 8.5 Medium-High With the exception of development within Areas ofEnvironmental Concern, these documents are notregulatory. They are merely policy documents.

Continue to implement.

Community RatingSystem (CRS)

Existing N/A High The town has a Class 8 rating on a 1-10 scale with tenbeing the lowest rating.


Zoning Ordinance Existing Chapter 155 ofTown Code

High Adopts development density requirements andestablishes a conservation district.

Consider mitigation measures inc o n j u n c t i o n w i t h U D Odevelopment.

SubdivisionOrdinance

Existing Chapter 154 ofTown Code

High Provides for stormwater drainage, density, andcommon area requirements.

Consider mitigation measures inc o n j u n c t i o n w i t h U D Odevelopment.

StormwaterProgram

Existing StormwaterManagementProgram (on file atPublic Works)

High The town is currently working through theimplementation of an NPDES five-year stormwaterpermit.


APPENDIX A. ADOPTION RESOLUTION

TO BE ADDED UPON ADOPTION OF HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

BY THE WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH BOARD OF ALDERMEN

APPENDIX B. DATA DOCUMENTATION

Location or County Date Time Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD

109 Carolina Beach 9/9/1995 910 Coastal Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

360 NCZ101 6/22/2009 18:00 PM Coastal Flood N/A 0 0 0K 0K

361 NCZ101 6/23/2009 19:00 PM Coastal Flood N/A 0 0 0K 0K

238 NCZ087 - 096>097 -

099>101

11/15/2001 8:00 AM Drought N/A 0 0 0 0

244 NCZ087 - 096>097 -

099>101

6/1/2002 12:00 AM Drought N/A 0 0 0 0

234 NCZ101 8/7/2001 1:00 PM Excessive Heat N/A 0 0 0 0

76 Statewide 1/15/1994 0 Extreme Cold N/A 3 0 500K 0

77 Statewide 1/19/1994 0 Extreme Cold N/A 6 0 0 0

124 East Wilmington 6/25/1996 3:55 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

130 Wilmington 7/16/1996 10:45 AM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

131 Wilmington 7/21/1996 12:00 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

134 Castle Hayne 8/4/1996 3:30 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

136 South Wilmington 9/11/1996 5:45 AM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0


138 Castle Hayne 9/12/1996 4:30 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

140 Ft Fisher 10/8/1996 6:00 AM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0




162 Carolina Beach 2/3/1998 7:45 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

164 Castle Hayne 2/17/1998 5:30 AM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0





190 South Wilmington 9/3/1998 3:15 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0


197 Wrightsville Beach 7/11/1999 2:00 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0 0



225 Wilmington 3/20/2001 8:15 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 50K 0


367 East Wilmington 7/6/2009 20:15 PM Flash Flood N/A 0 0 0K 0K

74NCZ001>510 3/23/1993 1200 Flash Floods N/A 0 0 0 0

86 Burgaw 6/2/1995 1600 Flood N/A 0 0 20K 0

199 Carolina Beach 8/30/1999 1:45 AM Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

203 Wilmington 9/15/1999 3:15 AM Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

206 Carolina Beach 10/17/1999 9:30 AM Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

235 Wilmington 8/14/2001 8:45 AM Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

83 NCZ095 - 097>098 -

100>101 - 103>104

12/23/1994 930 Flooding N/A 0 0 0 0

333 Wilmington 9/12/2007 14:30 PM Funnel Cloud N/A 0 0 0K 0K

351 Wilmington 8/27/2008 10:20 AM Funnel Cloud N/A 0 0 0K 0K

4 NEW HANOVER 8/12/1957 1215 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0 0








http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~220953































































96 Wilmington 7/10/1995 1245 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0 0







112 Wilmington 4/1/1996 2:05 AM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0 0


116 Castle Hayne 5/6/1996 5:15 PM Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0 0

117 Wilmington 5/6/1996 5:58 PM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0 0

118(ilm)wilmington Arpt 6/12/1996 11:26 AM Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0 0


121 East Wilmington 6/13/1996 2:48 PM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0 0



142 Carolina Beach 4/22/1997 11:21 PM Hail 0.88 in. 0 0 0 0

149(ilm)wilmington Arpt 7/7/1997 4:50 PM Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0 0





169 Murraysville 5/7/1998 10:40 PM Hail 2.00 in. 0 0 2K 0







182 Wilmington Arpt 6/13/1998 3:47 PM Hail 2.00 in. 0 0 0 0



198 Castle Hayne 8/19/1999 2:50 PM Hail 0.88 in. 0 0 0 0


212 Myrtle Grove 4/28/2000 3:27 PM Hail 0.88 in. 0 0 0 0


































































263 Carolina Beach 3/11/2003 9:30 AM Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0 0




270 Murraysville 5/29/2003 7:00 PM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0 0



277Wrightsboro 6/3/2004 2:00 PM Hail 1.25 in. 0 0 0 0












328 Wilmington 6/25/2007 12:52 PM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0K 0K


337 Fernside 4/21/2008 17:55 PM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0K 0K

338 Seagate 4/21/2008 18:06 PM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0K 0K

339 Masonboro 4/21/2008 18:24 PM Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0K 0K

343 East Wilmington 6/22/2008 14:25 PM Hail 0.88 in. 0 0 0K 0K


357 Sea Breeze 5/11/2009 9:39 AM Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0K 0K

358 Sea Breeze 5/11/2009 9:44 AM Hail 0.88 in. 0 0 0K 0K

108 Wilmington 9/7/1995 300 Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 1K 0

220 Wilmington 9/18/2000 3:30 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 2 5K 0

248 Wilmington 7/15/2002 9:30 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0 0


253 Wilmington 8/30/2002 5:23 AM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0 0






286 Murraysville 9/1/2004 2:15 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0 0

287 Castle Hayne 9/10/2004 6:10 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0 0




301 Masonboro 8/19/2005 5:50 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0 0

302 Masonboro 8/19/2005 5:58 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0 0



306 Wilmington 10/7/2005 8:00 AM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 1.5M 0

307 Wilmington 11/21/2005 8:30 AM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 1K 0

332 Wilmington 8/27/2007 14:40 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0K 0K

340 Wilmington 5/11/2008 11:15 AM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0K 0K




366 Masonboro 7/6/2009 19:00 PM Heavy Rain N/A 0 0 0K 0K

290NCZ100>101 2/27/2005 10:00 PM Heavy Surf/high

Surf

N/A 0 0 0 0

























































326 NCZ101 5/6/2007 11:00 AM High Surf N/A 0 0 0K 0K

223 NCZ087 - 097 -

099>101

12/17/2000 8:30 AM High Wind 52 kts. 0 2 50K 0

224 NCZ097 - 100>101 3/6/2001 11:00 AM High Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0

240 NCZ097 - 101 1/6/2002 11:00 AM High Wind 45 kts. 0 0 0 0

276NCZ096>097 -

099>101

3/7/2004 9:30 PM High Wind 57 kts. 0 0 10K 0

295 NCZ101 3/23/2005 12:00 AM High Wind 58 kts. 0 0 0 0

128 NCZ101 7/12/1996 11:00 AM Hurricane N/A 0 0 18.0M 1.0M

135 NCZ101 9/5/1996 11:00 AM Hurricane N/A 0 0 200.0M 1.0M

189 NCZ101 8/26/1998 6:00 AM Hurricane N/A 0 0 26.2M 0

200 NCZ097 - 100>101 8/30/1999 12:00 AM Hurricane N/A 0 0 75K 0

204 NCZ097 - 100>101 9/15/1999 5:00 PM Hurricane N/A 0 0 109.0M 4.0M

281NCZ096>097 -

099>101

8/14/2004 8:00 AM Hurricane/

typhoon

N/A 0 3 10.4M 2.5M

305 NCZ097 - 100>101 9/14/2005 6:00 AM Hurricane/

typhoon

N/A 0 0 8.3M 0

78 Wilmington 7/11/1994 2018 Lightning N/A 0 0 5K 0

80 Wilmington 8/5/1994 1640 Lightning N/A 0 0 0 0

81 Wilmington 8/5/1994 1900 Lightning N/A 0 0 50K 0

119 Carolina Beach 6/12/1996 12:30 PM Lightning N/A 0 0 0 0

129 Wilmington 7/14/1996 11:30 AM Lightning N/A 0 0 0 0

133 Wilmington 7/30/1996 5:00 PM Lightning N/A 0 1 0 0


215 Wilmington 8/11/2000 3:00 PM Lightning N/A 0 0 106K 0


247 Carolina Beach 7/6/2002 3:00 PM Lightning N/A 0 3 0 0


268 Wrightsville Beach 4/7/2003 2:00 PM Lightning N/A 0 0 100K 0


298 Wrightsville Beach 7/13/2005 3:05 PM Lightning N/A 0 1 0 0

300 Carolina Beach 8/14/2005 10:58 AM Lightning N/A 0 7 0 0

329 Wilmington 7/28/2007 14:14 PM Lightning N/A 0 0 50K 0K




299 Carolina Beach 7/27/2005 2:00 PM Rip Current N/A 1 0 0 0

327 NCZ101 6/16/2007 12:00 PM Rip Current N/A 1 0 0K 0K


349 NCZ101 7/12/2008 9:00 AM Rip Current N/A 0 4 0K 0K







146 Carolina Beach 7/1/1997 8:00 AM Rip Currents N/A 0 1 0 0

153 Carolina Beach 7/14/1997 8:00 AM Rip Currents N/A 0 0 0 0

216 Wrightsville Beach 8/11/2000 11:00 AM Rip Currents N/A 0 0 0 0

217 Kure Beach 8/20/2000 2:00 PM Rip Currents N/A 1 0 0 0

219 Kure Beach 9/13/2000 12:30 PM Rip Currents N/A 3 0 0 0

207 NCZ087 - 096>097 -

099>101

1/17/2000 11:00 PM Snow N/A 0 0 0 0

139 Wilmington 10/8/1996 5:00 AM Storm Surge N/A 0 0 0 0






















































163 Wrightsville Beach 2/3/1998 11:30 AM Storm Surge N/A 0 0 0 0

334 NCZ101 10/28/2007 11:00 AM Storm Surge/tide N/A 0 0 0K 0K

275 NCZ101 10/29/2003 1:55 AM Strong Wind 43 kts. 0 0 2K 0

87 NEW HANOVER 6/7/1995 1430 Thunderstorm

Wind

0 kts. 0 1 150K 0


Wind

0 kts. 0 0 2K 0

342 Murraysville 6/22/2008 14:05 PM Thunderstorm

Wind

52 kts. 0 0 0K 0K

345 Fernside 6/22/2008 14:30 PM Thunderstorm

Wind

52 kts. 0 0 0K 0K

348 South Wilmington 7/10/2008 15:04 PM Thunderstorm

Wind

50 kts. 0 0 0K 0K

356 Wilmington 4/11/2009 1:07 AM Thunderstorm

Wind

52 kts. 0 0 8K 0K

363 Kirkland 6/27/2009 17:45 PM Thunderstorm

Wind

50 kts. 0 0 2K 0K


Wind 59 Mph

0 kts. 0 0 0 0


Wind 60 Mph

0 kts. 0 0 60K 0

84 Wrightsboro 5/15/1995 1720 Thunderstorm

Winds

0 kts. 0 0 0K 0

85 Wilmington 5/15/1995 1730 Thunderstorm

Winds

0 kts. 0 0 15 0

92 Myrtle Grove 7/3/1995 1625 Thunderstorm

Winds

0 kts. 0 0 0 0


Winds

0 kts. 0 0 0 0


Winds

52 kts. 0 0 0 0


Winds

60 kts. 0 0 0 0


Winds

0 kts. 0 0 0 0


Winds

60 kts. 0 0 0 0


Winds

0 kts. 0 0 0 0


Winds 63 Mph

0 kts. 0 0 25K 0

82 Near Seabreeze 9/18/1994 1815 Thunderstorm

Winds

N/A 0 0 0 0

1 NEW HANOVER 6/23/1954 1615 Tornado F1 0 0 250K 0







141 South Wilmington 10/8/1996 6:40 AM Tornado F0 0 0 0 0

160 Wilmington 1/8/1998 9:01 AM Tornado F1 0 3 175K 0

170 Wilmington 5/7/1998 10:48 PM Tornado F1 0 0 40K 0





































202 Murraysville 9/15/1999 2:20 PM Tornado F0 0 0 0 0

205 Wilmington 9/15/1999 9:20 AM Tornado F0 0 0 0 0

341 Kirkland 5/11/2008 17:03 PM Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0K

123 NCZ101 6/18/1996 10:00 AM Tropical Storm N/A 0 0 0 0

274 NCZ097 - 100>101 9/18/2003 8:00 AM Tropical Storm N/A 0 0 0 0

283 NCZ087 - 096 -

099>101

8/29/2004 4:00 PM Tropical Storm N/A 0 0 0 0

323 NCZ097 - 099>101 8/31/2006 6:30 PM Tropical Storm N/A 0 0 0 4.5M

325 NCZ097 - 099>101 9/1/2006 12:00 AM Tropical Storm N/A 0 0 0 0

2 NEW HANOVER 2/28/1956 40 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0








































































































114 Wilmington 4/26/1996 2:30 PM Tstm Wind 65 kts. 0 0 0 0

126 Wilmington 7/2/1996 2:00 PM Tstm Wind 55 kts. 0 0 20K 0




148 Castle Hayne 7/7/1997 4:30 PM Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0

150 Wrightsville Beach 7/7/1997 5:10 PM Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0

151 Murraysville 7/7/1997 5:15 PM Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0


165 Castle Hayne 3/9/1998 3:45 AM Tstm Wind 60 kts. 0 0 5K 0

166 Myrtle Grove 4/9/1998 7:40 AM Tstm Wind 77 kts. 0 0 2K 0


176 Wrightsville Beach 5/23/1998 2:10 PM Tstm Wind 60 kts. 0 0 1K 0


183 Wilmington 6/17/1998 2:10 AM Tstm Wind 60 kts. 0 0 8K 0



201 Castle Hayne 9/6/1999 6:44 AM Tstm Wind 65 kts. 0 0 0 0

209 Wilmington 2/14/2000 5:36 AM Tstm Wind 54 kts. 0 0 0 0

211 Wrightsville Beach 4/18/2000 12:50 AM Tstm Wind 61 kts. 0 0 0 0


226 Wrightsville Beach 4/1/2001 1:15 PM Tstm Wind 77 kts. 0 0 0 0

229 Wilmington Arpt 6/7/2001 5:16 PM Tstm Wind 62 kts. 0 0 0 0









269 Wilmington Arpt 5/8/2003 2:58 AM Tstm Wind 62 kts. 0 0 0 0


278 Murraysville 7/9/2004 2:10 PM Tstm Wind 55 kts. 0 0 0 0


293 Wilmington 3/8/2005 10:49 AM Tstm Wind 77 kts. 0 1 150K 0

294 Myrtle Grove 3/8/2005 11:00 AM Tstm Wind 77 kts. 0 0 0 0


313 Castle Hayne 4/17/2006 4:45 PM Tstm Wind 63 kts. 0 0 0 0





144 Wilmington 6/14/1997 11:54 AM Tstm Wind/hail 63 kts. 0 0 0 0

94 Wilmington 7/3/1995 1630 Urban Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

107 Wilmington 7/21/1995 2315 Urban Flood N/A 0 0 0 0

145 Wilmington 6/27/1997 1:59 PM Urban/sml

Stream Fld

N/A 0 0 0 0


Stream Fld

N/A 0 0 0 0


















































Stream Fld

N/A 0 1 0 0

233 Castle Hayne 7/11/2001 5:30 PM Urban/sml

Stream Fld

N/A 0 0 0 0


Stream Fld

N/A 0 0 0 0


Stream Fld

N/A 0 0 0 0

95 N.c. Coastal Waters 7/10/1995 940 Waterspout N/A 0 0 0 0

100 N.c. Coastal Waters 7/10/1995 1755 Waterspout N/A 0 0 0 0

115 Carolina Beach 4/26/1996 2:40 PM Waterspout N/A 0 0 0 0


193 Kirkland 9/8/1998 3:30 PM Waterspout N/A 0 0 0 0

194 Kure Beach 9/30/1998 10:25 AM Waterspout N/A 0 0 0 0



75 NEW HANOVER 9/5/1993 1330 Waterspouts N/A 0 0 0 0

79 Wrightsville Beach 8/1/1994 530 Waterspouts N/A 0 0 0 0

336 NCZ101 3/26/2008 13:00 PM Wildfire N/A 0 0 0K 0K

73 Statewide 3/12/1993 1600 Winter Storm N/A 2 10 50.0M 0

208 NCZ087 - 096>097 -

099>101

1/25/2000 2:30 AM Winter Storm N/A 0 0 0 0

239 NCZ087 - 096>097 -

099>101

1/2/2002 3:00 PM Winter Storm N/A 0 0 0 0

258 NCZ087 - 096>097 -

099>101

1/23/2003 5:00 AM Winter Storm N/A 0 0 150K 0























APPENDIX C. MAC MEETING DOCUMENTATION

APPENDIX D. NCEM REVIEW COMMENTS

TO BE ADDED FOLLOWING NCEM REVIEW OF HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

APPENDIX E. PUBLIC HEARING DOCUMENTATION

TO BE ADDED FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEARING ON HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

APPENDIX F. FUNDING SOURCES

1. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

The Federal Disaster Assistance Act (Stafford Act) provides funds authorized by the federalgovernment and made available by FEMA for a cost-share program to states. The HMGP provides75% of the funds while the states provide 25% of the funds for mitigation measures through thepost-disaster planning process. The Division of Emergency Management administers the programin this state. The state share may be met with cash or in-kind services. The program is availableonly for areas affected by a Presidentially-declared disaster.Contact: NCDEM, 919/715-8000, http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us

2. Adopt-a-Trail Program

Through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, this programprovides grant funding for trail planning, construction, maintenance, and administration.Contact: NCDENR, 919/846-9991, http://www.enr.state.nc.us

3. Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this program provides four grant categoriesto assist state, local, and tribal Fire Departments with funding necessary for training, equipmentpurchase, vehicle acquisition, public awareness, code enforcement, arson prevention, and the like.Contact: FEMA, 866/274-0960, http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants

4. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Initiative

The CDBG program provides grants to communities for post-disaster hazard mitigation andrecovery following a presidential declaration of a Major Disaster of Emergency. Funds can be usedfor activities such as acquisition, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of damaged properties andfacilities and redevelopment of disaster-affected areas. Funds may also be used for emergencyresponse activities, such as debris clearance and demolition and extraordinary increases in the levelof necessary public services. HUD provides funds for the CDBG program, and with the help of theDivision of Community Assistance administers the program in North Carolina.

5. Clean Water Management Trust Fund

An agency of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR),the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) provides grants for enhancement andrestoration of degraded waters. In addition, funding is provided for development of buffers andgreenways near rivers for environmental, educational, and recreational needs.Contact: CWMTF, 252/830-3222, http://www.cwmtf.net

6. Community Facilities Loans

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Housing Service (RHS) provides funding forconstruction of community facilities for public use.Contact: USDA, RHS Williamston Area Office, 252/792-7603,http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/index.html

http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us

http://www.enr.state.nc.us

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants

http://www.cwmtf.net

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/index.html

7. Disaster Preparedness Improvement Grant (DPIG)

This grant provides federal matching funds for communities to develop hazard mitigation plans,expand existing plans, update disaster preparation plans, and to prepare the administrative plansrequired to qualify for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grants. Funds for the DPIG are providedby FEMA and the Division of Emergency Management administers the program in North Carolina.Contact: NCDEM, 919/715-8000, http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us

8. Flood Insurance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance Administration provides theopportunity to purchase flood insurance under the Emergency Program of the National FloodInsurance Program (NFIP).Contact: NFIP, 888/CALL-FLOOD, ext. 445, http://www.fema.gov/nfip

9. Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMAP)

This program provides grants for cost-effective measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term riskof flood damage to the built environment and real property. The program’s main goal is to reducerepetitive losses to the National Flood Insurance Program. The FMAP is available to eligiblecommunities every year, not just after a Presidentially-declared disaster. Funds for the FMAP areprovided by FEMA and the Division of Emergency Management administers the program in NorthCarolina.Contact: NCDEM, 919/715-8000, http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us

10. North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program

This program, through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources(NCDENR), Division of Water Quality, provides in-kind services for the restoration of wetlands andfor increased effectiveness of wetland mitigation efforts.Contact: NCDENR, Division of Water Quality, 919/733-5083,http://h2o.ehnr.state.nc.us/wrp

11. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF)

Through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, this programprovides matching funds for local parks and recreation public facility development.Contact: NCDENR, 919/715-2662, http://www.enr.state.nc.us/

12. Physical Disaster Loans

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers loans to victims of declared physical disasters foruninsured losses. The loan limit on these funds may be increased by twenty percent to providefor mitigation measures.Contact: SBA, 800/827-5722, http://www.sba.gov/


http://www.fema.gov/nfip


http://h2o.ehnr.state.nc.us/wrp

http://www.enr.state.nc.us/

http://www.sba.gov/

13. Property Improvement Loan Insurance

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) insures lenders against loss onloans for alterations, repairs and improvements to existing structures and new construction ofnonresidential structures.Contact: HUD, 202/708-1112, http://www.hud.gov/

14. Public Assistance Program (PA)

The Public Assistance provides federal aid to communities to help save lives and property in theimmediate aftermath of a disaster and to help rebuild damaged facilities. Grants cover eligiblecosts associated with the repair, replacement, and restoration of facilities owned by state and localgovernments and nonprofit organizations. The Public Assistance program is administered by FEMA.Contact: FEMA, http://www.fema.gov/r-n-r/pa/index.htm

15. Resource Conservation and Development

The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) providestechnical and limited financial assistance to communities for resource conservation projectsincluding land conservation, water management, and environmental enhancement.Contact: NRCS, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

16. River Basin Surveys and Investigations

The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technicalassistance to local agencies for planning activities to solve problems related to the river basin,including wetland preservation.Contact: NRCS, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

17. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Program

This program provides loans to businesses affected by Presidentially-declared disasters. Theprogram provides direct loans to businesses to repair or replace uninsured disaster damages toproperty owned by the business, including real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory andsupplies. Businesses of any size are eligible. Nonprofit organizations are also eligible. The SBAadministers the Disaster Assistance Program.

18. Snagging and Clearing for Flood Control

The Office of the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army, Department of Defense provides thisservice in order to reduce flood control.Contact: http://www.usace.army.mil

19. Soil and Water Conservation

The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service provides this in-kindservice in order to provide for the conservation, development and productive use of the nation’ssoil, water, and related resources.Contact: USDA, NRCS, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

http://www.hud.gov/

http://www.fema.gov/r-n-r/pa/index.htm

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov


http://www.usace.army.mil


20. Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program

This program of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) provides grants forlocal governments for improvements in park system management and recreational opportunities.Contact: NPS, 202/565-1200, http://www.cr.nps.gov/index.htm

21. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Loans

This US Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Services (RUS) program provides loans to localorganizations for the local share of costs for watershed improvement. Funding includes supportfor drainage, flood prevention and sedimentation control.Contact: RUS, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rus/index.html

22. Watershed Surveys and Planning

The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical andfinancial assistance for sharing costs of watershed protection measures, including flood prevention,sedimentation control and recreation.Contact: NRCS, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

http://www.cr.nps.gov/index.htm

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rus/index.html


Documents

DRAFTmitigationguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NC...DRAFT Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan November 20, 2009 Page C-5 Table of Contents C. HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIVITIES