1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:05,279 All right. I'd just like to I'd just 2 00:00:05,279 --> 00:00:06,720 like to say on behalf of myself and 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,880 Ryan and the entire Merx management team, we 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,480 appreciate all of you for joining, this public 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,565 meeting today as we are working through this 6 00:00:15,565 --> 00:00:21,404 hazard mitigation planning process. Your input, your feedback, 7 00:00:21,405 --> 00:00:23,005 all of that is very important for us 8 00:00:23,005 --> 00:00:25,244 to help keep our community safe and resilient. 9 00:00:25,485 --> 00:00:27,645 And so, again, appreciate it. We're here for 10 00:00:27,645 --> 00:00:32,060 you if you have any questions. Awesome. Thank 11 00:00:32,060 --> 00:00:35,500 you. Well, I'll get started. My name is 12 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:38,060 Peyton Morris. I'm with H2O Partners. We were 13 00:00:38,060 --> 00:00:41,020 contracted by McLennan County to assist in updating 14 00:00:41,020 --> 00:00:44,335 the McLennan County hazard mitigation plan. Today, we're 15 00:00:44,335 --> 00:00:46,415 gonna go over the really high overview of 16 00:00:46,415 --> 00:00:50,255 the planning process and purpose. Overall, hazard mitigation 17 00:00:50,255 --> 00:00:52,655 plans are FEMA documents that are approved by 18 00:00:52,655 --> 00:00:54,575 FEMA, and a crucial part of that process 19 00:00:54,575 --> 00:00:56,415 is to inform the community of what we're 20 00:00:56,415 --> 00:00:58,790 doing, why we're doing it, and give you 21 00:00:58,790 --> 00:01:01,110 an opportunity to provide some feedback. So that's 22 00:01:01,110 --> 00:01:02,550 what we're going to be doing here today. 23 00:01:02,550 --> 00:01:05,030 This is the first of two public meetings. 24 00:01:05,830 --> 00:01:07,710 The second one will be held on May 25 00:01:07,710 --> 00:01:16,884 20. Here we go. And we've already done 26 00:01:16,884 --> 00:01:20,725 some introductions. So today, we're gonna, like I 27 00:01:20,725 --> 00:01:22,645 said, go over a fairly high level overview 28 00:01:22,645 --> 00:01:25,170 of what hazard mitigation is, what a hazard 29 00:01:25,170 --> 00:01:28,210 mitigation plan, why we're doing it, why we're 30 00:01:28,210 --> 00:01:30,770 engaging the public, give an give you all 31 00:01:30,770 --> 00:01:33,729 an opportunity for questions at the end. It's 32 00:01:33,729 --> 00:01:35,649 more interactive. So if you have any questions, 33 00:01:35,649 --> 00:01:37,250 feel free to leave the questions in the 34 00:01:37,250 --> 00:01:39,164 chat. We do have some other H2O partners 35 00:01:39,164 --> 00:01:41,804 representatives monitoring that chat, so if you have 36 00:01:41,804 --> 00:01:43,645 any questions, feel free to ask as as 37 00:01:43,645 --> 00:01:48,604 we go along. So what is hazard mitigation? 38 00:01:48,604 --> 00:01:51,164 Hazard mitigation is implementing actions to help reduce 39 00:01:51,164 --> 00:01:53,710 or eliminate long term risks caused by hazards 40 00:01:53,710 --> 00:01:56,910 or disasters. So here's some picture examples. So 41 00:01:56,910 --> 00:01:59,390 for instance, there's a rain garden which slows 42 00:01:59,390 --> 00:02:01,710 down and naturally filters storm water runoff by 43 00:02:01,710 --> 00:02:04,990 utilizing native plants. There's a flood mitigation project 44 00:02:04,990 --> 00:02:06,750 of a culvert in that top right corner, 45 00:02:07,335 --> 00:02:10,055 and then more popularly known is the prescribed 46 00:02:10,055 --> 00:02:15,735 burn, which is a wildfire mitigation project. So 47 00:02:15,735 --> 00:02:18,135 what is the purpose? So diving further in, 48 00:02:18,135 --> 00:02:20,135 a main point in hazard mitigation is community 49 00:02:20,135 --> 00:02:22,540 resilience, which is the ability to bounce back 50 00:02:22,540 --> 00:02:24,940 from a hazard event. The main goal is 51 00:02:24,940 --> 00:02:27,020 to prevent or reduce loss of life and 52 00:02:27,020 --> 00:02:30,380 property. We also look at reducing economic impacts 53 00:02:30,380 --> 00:02:32,860 and disruptions from natural disasters as well as 54 00:02:32,860 --> 00:02:35,755 lessening business interruption and revenue loss and speed 55 00:02:35,755 --> 00:02:38,715 restoration of community operations and services, like I 56 00:02:38,715 --> 00:02:46,475 said, bouncing back, after that hazardous event. So 57 00:02:46,475 --> 00:02:49,035 on the screen, this is what, the hazards 58 00:02:49,035 --> 00:02:50,840 that we are profiling in the plan. So 59 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:55,320 dam failure, drought, earthquake, expansive soils, extreme heat, 60 00:02:55,480 --> 00:03:00,120 blood, hail, lightning, thunderstorm wind, tornado, wildfire, winter 61 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,280 storm, and hazardous materials. A hazard mitigation plan 62 00:03:04,365 --> 00:03:06,525 is the process of going through an evaluation 63 00:03:06,525 --> 00:03:09,005 of various hazards that can impact your community 64 00:03:09,005 --> 00:03:12,205 and identifying sound mitigation solutions that can mitigate 65 00:03:12,205 --> 00:03:14,605 the risks from those hazards. This plan is 66 00:03:14,605 --> 00:03:16,365 meant to be a tool for McLennan County 67 00:03:16,365 --> 00:03:18,685 and all of the participating jurisdictions to get 68 00:03:18,685 --> 00:03:20,660 a better understanding of their risks and where 69 00:03:20,660 --> 00:03:24,500 their biggest losses are due to disaster events 70 00:03:24,500 --> 00:03:27,459 where they have been historically. So we do 71 00:03:27,459 --> 00:03:28,900 a deep dive on all of these types 72 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:31,379 of events, history of events, where these events 73 00:03:31,379 --> 00:03:34,340 have occurred, where they could create the most 74 00:03:34,340 --> 00:03:39,245 impacts and such, including communities and infrastructure. We 75 00:03:39,245 --> 00:03:40,685 also look at what kind of losses the 76 00:03:40,685 --> 00:03:42,445 planning area has incurred in the past due 77 00:03:42,445 --> 00:03:44,765 to these events. And using that data, we 78 00:03:44,765 --> 00:03:46,525 can determine the probability of one of these 79 00:03:46,525 --> 00:03:50,460 events happening again in any in the near 80 00:03:50,460 --> 00:03:53,580 future. So we get all of that information. 81 00:03:53,740 --> 00:03:55,900 We determine how many events and what degree 82 00:03:55,900 --> 00:03:58,780 of losses can be anticipated going forward. And 83 00:03:58,780 --> 00:04:01,660 we take that analysis and that analysis is 84 00:04:01,660 --> 00:04:03,995 what makes up this plan. And it's a 85 00:04:03,995 --> 00:04:06,075 tool that allows you to begin to identify 86 00:04:06,075 --> 00:04:08,635 your higher priority hazards and what mitigation projects 87 00:04:08,635 --> 00:04:15,035 to implement when money is available. Here is 88 00:04:15,035 --> 00:04:17,035 a brief overview of the planning process. So 89 00:04:17,035 --> 00:04:19,380 there's four phases. We break it out. And 90 00:04:19,380 --> 00:04:21,539 so phase one is organizing the planning process 91 00:04:21,539 --> 00:04:24,100 and resources. Phase two, like I said, was 92 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:27,539 assessing those risks and capabilities. Phase three, developing 93 00:04:27,539 --> 00:04:29,780 a mitigation strategy and coming up with those 94 00:04:29,780 --> 00:04:33,485 projects. And then phase four, adoption implementation. And 95 00:04:33,485 --> 00:04:36,205 there's a further in-depth timeline at the end 96 00:04:36,205 --> 00:04:40,205 as well. But within the next few months, 97 00:04:41,005 --> 00:04:43,005 the plan will be developed, and then once 98 00:04:43,005 --> 00:04:44,925 the plan is drafted, the public will have 99 00:04:44,925 --> 00:04:46,870 two weeks to review the plan. It will 100 00:04:46,870 --> 00:04:48,390 then go on to TDEM at the state 101 00:04:48,390 --> 00:04:50,470 and then on to FEMA. Once approved, the 102 00:04:50,470 --> 00:04:52,310 jurisdictions will adopt and it will be eligible 103 00:04:52,310 --> 00:04:58,070 for five years. And on the top of 104 00:04:58,070 --> 00:04:59,190 the screen, you can see all of the 105 00:04:59,190 --> 00:05:02,595 participating jurisdictions that are in the plan. Every 106 00:05:02,595 --> 00:05:04,755 five years, mitigation plans must be updated to 107 00:05:04,755 --> 00:05:07,635 reflect the current conditions and restrategize based on 108 00:05:07,635 --> 00:05:10,755 lessons learned. These documents can be rather large 109 00:05:10,755 --> 00:05:13,155 and, over a thousand pages in length sometimes 110 00:05:13,155 --> 00:05:16,035 and undergo an intensive state and federal review 111 00:05:16,035 --> 00:05:19,180 before approval. So McLennan County has brought on 112 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:22,060 H2O partners, that's where a consulting firm that 113 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:24,780 specializes in hazard mitigation plans to assist in 114 00:05:24,780 --> 00:05:28,220 the plan update. This document is a community 115 00:05:28,220 --> 00:05:30,655 driven living document. We don't want it to 116 00:05:30,655 --> 00:05:32,095 be something that just goes and sits on 117 00:05:32,095 --> 00:05:33,294 a shelf. We want it to be something 118 00:05:33,294 --> 00:05:35,535 that is catered towards y'all that benefits the 119 00:05:35,535 --> 00:05:38,414 community. Your local officials are putting in significant 120 00:05:38,414 --> 00:05:40,735 work to make this an accurate comprehensive plan 121 00:05:40,735 --> 00:05:43,215 that can be integrated into community decision making. 122 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,720 So here's some more mitigation goals. So like 123 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,800 I said, protecting public health and safety is 124 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,920 number one. Build and support local capacity and 125 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,800 commitments to continuously become less vulnerable to hazards. 126 00:05:57,625 --> 00:06:00,745 Increase public understanding, support, and demand for hazard 127 00:06:00,745 --> 00:06:05,064 mitigation, protect new and existing properties, maximize the 128 00:06:05,064 --> 00:06:08,824 resources for investment in hazard mitigation, promoting sustainable 129 00:06:08,824 --> 00:06:11,980 growth through nature based mitigation solutions, and promoting 130 00:06:11,980 --> 00:06:15,180 equity and protect vulnerable populations and underserved communities 131 00:06:15,180 --> 00:06:18,140 through hazard mitigation activities. So like I said, 132 00:06:18,140 --> 00:06:20,300 your community officials are creating actions with these 133 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:22,940 mitigation goals in mind. The point of these 134 00:06:22,940 --> 00:06:25,485 goals is to provide a broad and overarching 135 00:06:25,485 --> 00:06:27,805 statement of what we aim to achieve with 136 00:06:27,805 --> 00:06:29,965 the actions we list out in each plan. 137 00:06:30,285 --> 00:06:31,805 Every action in the plan will tie back 138 00:06:31,805 --> 00:06:39,405 to one of these goals. So identifying mitigation 139 00:06:39,405 --> 00:06:41,820 solutions. There's, like I said, many benefits to 140 00:06:41,820 --> 00:06:44,220 creating hazard mitigation plan, such as looking at 141 00:06:44,220 --> 00:06:46,940 a community and identifying mitigation solutions. We can 142 00:06:46,940 --> 00:06:49,020 take a look at previous disasters or hazardous 143 00:06:49,020 --> 00:06:51,740 events and calculate the probability of future impacts. 144 00:06:51,740 --> 00:06:54,060 And with this information, locals are better equipped 145 00:06:54,060 --> 00:06:56,634 for decision making. And they can do things 146 00:06:56,634 --> 00:07:00,475 like consideration of alternatives and then also, like, 147 00:07:00,475 --> 00:07:02,715 look at cost effectiveness and things like that. 148 00:07:05,275 --> 00:07:08,419 And lastly, grant eligibility. So once the hazard 149 00:07:08,419 --> 00:07:11,460 mitigation plan is FEMA approved, the participating jurisdictions 150 00:07:11,460 --> 00:07:13,699 can apply for several state and federal grant 151 00:07:13,699 --> 00:07:16,260 opportunities. And the next slide will go over 152 00:07:16,260 --> 00:07:20,740 some of those opportunities. But basically, it's HMGP, 153 00:07:20,740 --> 00:07:23,665 which is hazard mitigation grant program, flood mitigation 154 00:07:23,665 --> 00:07:27,905 assistance, hazard mitigation grant program post fire, which 155 00:07:27,905 --> 00:07:30,225 is FMAC, and then high hazard potential dam 156 00:07:30,225 --> 00:07:34,145 HHPD grant. So on average, every $1 spent 157 00:07:34,145 --> 00:07:38,770 on mitigation saves $6 in future losses. So 158 00:07:38,770 --> 00:07:41,010 it's important to take a closer look at 159 00:07:41,010 --> 00:07:42,850 your risks and understand them so you can 160 00:07:42,850 --> 00:07:44,690 make informed decisions when you have the money 161 00:07:44,690 --> 00:07:48,770 and resources to implement a mitigation project. So 162 00:07:48,770 --> 00:07:50,450 for example, if you have an intersection that 163 00:07:50,450 --> 00:07:52,770 floods every time there's a relatively normal rain 164 00:07:52,770 --> 00:07:55,944 event due to undersized culverts and emergency services 165 00:07:55,944 --> 00:07:57,785 need to be called to block off that 166 00:07:57,785 --> 00:07:59,705 road, repairs need to be done to the 167 00:07:59,705 --> 00:08:02,585 drainage system and roadways there repeatedly. If you 168 00:08:02,585 --> 00:08:04,345 look at the resources it's taken up to 169 00:08:04,345 --> 00:08:06,824 address that problem repeatedly, it might become apparent 170 00:08:06,824 --> 00:08:08,920 that the needs to be there needs to 171 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,320 be a higher priority and have a better 172 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,880 return on investment than some larger scale, expensive 173 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:18,120 projects would. Like I said, and here's those 174 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,525 grant programs and incentives. I won't read through 175 00:08:21,525 --> 00:08:25,285 everything, but HMGP, FMA, FMAP, and HHPD are 176 00:08:25,285 --> 00:08:30,005 just some of the grants funding sources. And 177 00:08:30,005 --> 00:08:31,765 again, these are the grants that are that 178 00:08:31,765 --> 00:08:34,370 you are eligible to apply for with an 179 00:08:34,370 --> 00:08:40,850 approved and adopted hazard mitigation plan. And there 180 00:08:40,850 --> 00:08:43,330 are some previously funded projects. So as you 181 00:08:43,330 --> 00:08:45,410 can see, McLennan County completed a safe room 182 00:08:45,410 --> 00:08:48,725 project in 2013. And then also city of 183 00:08:48,725 --> 00:08:51,125 Moody also did one in 2015, which some 184 00:08:51,125 --> 00:08:52,965 of you may be aware of. City of 185 00:08:52,965 --> 00:08:56,485 West, had two generator projects approved in 2020, 186 00:08:56,725 --> 00:08:58,885 and Cross Country Water Supply had a generator 187 00:08:58,885 --> 00:09:06,410 project approved in 2024. So how to contribute 188 00:09:06,410 --> 00:09:10,010 to the planning process? Y'all can take the 189 00:09:10,010 --> 00:09:12,570 survey, if you have not done so already. 190 00:09:12,810 --> 00:09:14,595 The QR code is on the public notice 191 00:09:14,595 --> 00:09:16,115 flyer, and it's also going to be at 192 00:09:16,115 --> 00:09:18,834 the end of this presentation. You can attend 193 00:09:18,834 --> 00:09:20,514 a meeting. We'll have the second and last 194 00:09:20,514 --> 00:09:22,995 one in person next week, May 20 at 195 00:09:22,995 --> 00:09:25,795 06:30. And you can also review the draft 196 00:09:25,795 --> 00:09:29,660 plan once it becomes available provide feedback on 197 00:09:29,660 --> 00:09:35,980 that draft hazard mitigation plan. And then here 198 00:09:35,980 --> 00:09:38,459 is that detailed timeline. So we already had 199 00:09:38,779 --> 00:09:41,765 the hazard mitigation kickoff back in April. We're 200 00:09:41,765 --> 00:09:44,085 doing the first public meeting today, second public 201 00:09:44,085 --> 00:09:46,325 meeting next week. We'll submit the draft plan 202 00:09:46,325 --> 00:09:48,405 to TDEM in August, and then that public 203 00:09:48,405 --> 00:09:51,205 draft will be available for comment in September 204 00:09:51,205 --> 00:09:56,245 for two weeks. And then here is I'll 205 00:09:56,245 --> 00:09:57,910 come back to this slide as well, but 206 00:09:57,910 --> 00:10:00,070 if you have any questions, here is my 207 00:10:00,070 --> 00:10:02,149 contact info on the left and then our 208 00:10:02,149 --> 00:10:04,790 program leadership, Heather and Stevie Ann, on the 209 00:10:04,790 --> 00:10:09,350 right. And then there is that public survey 210 00:10:09,350 --> 00:10:13,175 QR code. But I will check the chat. 211 00:10:13,175 --> 00:10:19,095 Do we have any questions? Hey, Peyton. There's 212 00:10:19,095 --> 00:10:21,015 no questions that came in through the chat, 213 00:10:21,175 --> 00:10:23,655 but if anyone online does have any questions, 214 00:10:23,655 --> 00:10:25,495 feel free to unmute yourself and you can 215 00:10:25,495 --> 00:10:31,339 ask our team or OEM directly. And I 216 00:10:31,339 --> 00:10:33,260 have two more things to add. The survey 217 00:10:33,260 --> 00:10:35,420 will be open until June 20. I forgot 218 00:10:35,420 --> 00:10:37,180 to mention that. And then if you came 219 00:10:37,180 --> 00:10:39,580 in and have not signed into the chat, 220 00:10:39,615 --> 00:10:44,654 please do so. Leave your name and jurisdiction 221 00:10:44,654 --> 00:10:45,935 as well so that we can get you 222 00:10:45,935 --> 00:10:54,290 signed in on the sign in sheet. There 223 00:10:54,290 --> 00:10:57,010 will also be a recording of this presentation 224 00:10:57,010 --> 00:11:00,130 available that we will provide OEM with should 225 00:11:00,530 --> 00:11:03,730 yourselves or any other colleagues or other agencies 226 00:11:03,730 --> 00:11:06,575 that you work closely with would like to 227 00:11:06,575 --> 00:11:08,495 review this public meeting or have any questions 228 00:11:08,495 --> 00:11:11,454 again they can contact us here at H2O 229 00:11:11,454 --> 00:11:14,175 directly or our leads over at Waco McLennan 230 00:11:14,175 --> 00:11:29,430 OEM. Awesome. Well, there are no questions, I 231 00:11:29,430 --> 00:11:31,110 will go ahead and mute myself and leave 232 00:11:31,110 --> 00:11:33,510 this up. But like we said, feel free 233 00:11:33,510 --> 00:11:34,790 to reach out if you have any questions. 234 00:11:35,033 --> 00:11:35,433 Thank you.