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Natural Hazards

DEFINITION/DESCRIPTION

Baltimore is highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including coastal storms, flooding, extreme heat, and high winds. These types of extreme events are likely to increase in frequency and magnitude over the coming years. As extreme events, combined with a projected rise in sea level, impact our region, the effects will be spread over a much larger area and threaten regionally significant utilities such as sewage treatment plants and Baltimore’s waste to energy facility.  It is critical to strengthen the resilience of neighborhoods to natural hazards and impacts to built, natural, economic, and social systems from climate change.

 

CURRENT STATUS

In 2013, the City of Baltimore developed an integrated All Hazards Mitigation Plan (AHMP) and Climate Adaptation Plan. This Plan, called the Disaster Preparedness Project and Plan (DP3), linked research, outreach, and actions that led directly to a comprehensive system for addressing existing and future climate impacts. Since 2013, several goals, strategies and actions have been carried out in the most vulnerable areas of the city. The DP3 will be updated in 2017.

 

EQUITY INDICATORS

Baltimore’s significant social and economic issues will be further exacerbated with impacts from natural hazards and climate change. For low-income residents, there is a need for increased capacity to overcome additional stresses that may result from a natural disaster. Directing our efforts in areas most vulnerable neighborhoods strengthens our city overall; it helps empower stakeholders, builds trust, ensure basic needs are being met, and promotes cohesiveness.

 

STRATEGIES

1.  Demonstrate increased resilience to community-wide hazard threats over time

Utilize regulatory code changes and community preparedness programs to guide local government and stakeholder programs that improve protection and increase community adaptive capacity.

Action 1- Take deliberate steps to enhance the City Floodplain regulations to ensure that all work in the floodplain is not only designed to safeguard against past events, but also designed in a way that protects against future flood events.

Action 2- Integrate climate data and proactive actions into the City’s Capital Improvement Process and other City and stakeholder projects and plans.

Action 3- Create insurance or incentive structures to help equitably remove residents from hazardous situations

2.  Develop and maintain a pre-disaster plan that addresses long-range redevelopment issues such as land use, economic development, housing, infrastructure, public services, and environmental restoration

Use the City’s Disaster Preparedness Project and Plan (DP3) to guide local government and stakeholder actions that reduce risk and increase community resilience.

Action 1- Conduct an all-hazard vulnerability assessment that addresses both impacts from past events and anticipated impacts from climate change based on low, medium and high carbon scenarios.

Action 2- Integrate climate adaptation into all-hazards mitigation planning and implementation.

Action 3- Require that internal decisions by Baltimore City departments use the most current climate science and that staff monitor climate change impacts.

3.  Increase community awareness of natural hazards and climate change through education and outreach

City government and stakeholders play a critical role in educating the community about natural and man-made disasters, and the importance of planning and preparation. In addition to actions that residents and businesses can take in advance of impending hazardous events ,encourage the community to prepare for future impacts due to climate change.

Action 1 - Implement community preparedness workshops focused on community engagement around impacts from natural hazards, disaster preparedness, and assist in building robust networks between the City and community members. Host workshops at non-traditional locations within communities.

Action 2- Increase community adaptive capacity through development of community resilience hubs that provide protection and resources to residents during winter storms, excessive heat, hurricanes, and other natural and human-made disasters.

 

METRICS FOR SUCCESS

Strategy 1:   Demonstrate a measurable reduction in vulnerability from 2000 to current date

Strategy 2:  Demonstrate integration of natural hazards and climate change into five city plans and projects

Strategy 3:  Develop two community resilience programs and implement those programs in at least ten neighborhoods within Baltimore City

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