2.0 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENTThe purpose of the Hazard Identification and Risk...
Transcript of 2.0 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENTThe purpose of the Hazard Identification and Risk...
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-1
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2.0HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONANDRISKASSESSMENTThepurposeoftheHazardIdentificationandRiskAssessment(HIRA)istoidentifythenumberandfrequencyofdisastersinMercerCountyandtherisktopeople,property,andstructuresthatthosehazardscause.Thisprocessallowsofficialsandresidentstobetterprepareforincidentswhentheyoccur.TheHIRAisaddressedinfoursections.TheCountyProfile(2.1)providesinformationonMercerCountyanditsjurisdictions.TheHazardIdentification(2.2)describeshazardthatposesathreattoMercerCountyandprovidesabriefhistoryofsignificantoccurrences.TheVulnerabilityAssessment(2.3)examinesthevulnerabilityofeachjurisdiction,andtheRiskAnalysis(2.4)evaluatesandrankstherisksMercerCountymustaddressthroughitsmitigationefforts.
2.1COUNTYPROFILEMercerCountyislocatedinthenorthwestquadrantoftheStateofOhioalongtheOhio-IndianaborderandiswellknownforGrandLakeSt.Mary’s,aman-madelakethatprovideswaterretentionaswellasrecreationalopportunityforresidentsandvisitorsalike.Thecountyisprimarilyanagriculturalcountywithsomesmalltomid-sizeindustryandmanufacturingcompanies.Thecounty’s40,814residentsresidebetweenonecity,eightvillages,andfourteentownshipsMercerCountyconsistsof473squaremiles.Ofthese,462squaremilesarelandand11squaremilesarewater.ThecountysharesitswesternborderwiththeStateofIndiana.AdamsCountysitstothenorthwest,andJayCountysitstothesouthwest.InOhio,VanWertCountyistothenorth,AuglaizeCountytotheeast,andDarkeandShelbycountiestothesouth.Lima,theclosestsignificantcity,isnortheastofMercerCounty.TheclosestmajorcityisFortWayne,Indiana,approximatelyonehourtothenorthwest.TheclosestmajorcitiesinOhioareDayton,80milessouth,Columbus,110milessoutheast,andToledo,115milesnorth.ThegovernmentstructureofMercerCounty’selectedofficialsprovidesleadershipoverstatutoryresponsibilities.TheBoardofCountyCommissionersandappointedofficialsprovidesupportandservicetothecounty.AmongthemanyelectedofficialsaretheMercerCountyEngineer,theMercerCountyAuditor,andtheMercerCountySheriffwhowereinstrumentalinmitigationplanningactivities.AppointedofficialsparticularlyinvolvedincludedtheGIScoordinatorandfloodplainmanager,variousemployeesoftheMercerCountyEngineer,agriculturalindustryleaders,conservationandnaturalresourcesemployees,andmanyothers.Ohio’s4th,5th,and8thCongressionaldistrictsrepresentMercerCountyresidents.2.1.1DemographicsThepopulationofMercerCountyis40,814accordingto2010U.S.Censusfigure.Thepopulationhasremainedrelativelysteadysince2000,atrendthatisexpectedtocontinueoverthenextseveraldecades.
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Table2-1:MercerCountyPopulationStatisticsStatistic Figure
PopulationDensity 88persons/sq.mileFemalePopulation 50%MalePopulation 50%MedianAge 40.0yearsPopulationunder18 26.4%Populationover65 15.4%White 97.4%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.4%HispanicorLatino 1.5%TwoorMoreRaces 0.9%AverageHouseholdSize 2.54personsMedianHouseholdIncome $53,099PersonsinPoverty 7.8%
WithinMercerCounty,thereare17,702housingunits.Theowner-occupationrateis76.7%andthemedianvalueofowner-occupiedunitsis$130,200.Multi-unithousingstructuressuchasapartmentbuildingsaccountfor10.8%ofallhousingunits.Thereareapproximately1,197mobilehomesacrossthecounty.Themediangrossrentforalltypesofrentalpropertiesis$653permonthwhilethemediancostforhomeswithmortgagesis$1,089permonth.SpecialresidentialhousingfacilitiesexistacrossMercerCounty.Asof2010,thetypesoffacilitiesandstatisticsforeachtypeareasfollows:
Table2-2:SpecialResidentialFacilitiesFacility NumberofFacilities NumberofBeds
NursingHomeFacilities 6 405ResidentialCareFacilities 6 308
2.1.2HistoricalOriginsMercerCountywasoriginallypartoftheNorthwestTerritoryandsouthoftheGreatBlackSwamp.EarlysettlerscamefromthenorthwestsectionofGermanyinthemidandlate1860’stofarmthefertilesoilsofthearea.Theycreatedgrainandlivestockfarmsandprosperedintheagriculturallyfriendlyregion.TheMiamiErieCanalwasbuiltbythefederalgovernmenttocreateawatertransportationroutefromLakeErietotheOhioRiver,whichsupportedtheingressofsettlerstothearea,providedjobsforearlyresidents,andultimatelyallowedproductstoflowfromMercerCountytomarketsadistanceaway.ReligiouspracticeswereveryimportanttotheoriginalsettlersofMercerCounty,andtheirfaithcontinuestoguidethemtoday.ThesouthernhalfofthecountyispepperedwithRomanCatholicchurchesfoundedintheearly1800’sandthepopulationidentifiesprimarilyasCatholicandLutheran.Otherprotestantdenominationsandcommunitychurchesareprevalentinthe
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northernhalfofthecounty.Acrossthecounty,religionplaysanimportantroleinpeople’slives.
2.1.3IncorporatedJurisdictionsMercerCountyiscomprisedofonecity,eightincorporatedvillages,fourteentownshipsandtwenty-threeunincorporatedneighborhoodcommunities.MercerCounty’slargestmunicipalityandonlycityisCelina.ThevillagesincludeBurkettsville,Chickasaw,Coldwater,FortRecovery,Mendon,Montezuma,Rockford,andSt.Henry.
Map2-1:MercerCountyMap
BurkettsvilleBurkettsville,oneofthesmallestvillagesinMercerCounty,sitsontheborderofMercerandDarkecounties.ThevillageislocatedonStateRoute319andwestofStateRoute118inGranvilleTownship.Astandardelectedmayor-councilgovernmentgovernsit.Thevillageownsonebuilding,whichhousesthelocalvolunteerfiredepartmentandvillagehall.
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Table2-3:BurkettsvilleDemographicsStatistic Figure
LandArea 0.18sq.milesPopulation,2010 244White 97.1%Other 2.9%HousingUnits 107MedianIncome $52,500PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 1.7%Elevation 974feet
CelinaCelinaistheonlycityinMercerCounty.ItislocatedonthenorthshoreofGrandLakeSt.Marysandservesasthecountyseat.Celinahasastatutoryformofgovernment.Authorityissharedbetweenthemayor,auditor,treasurer,presidentofcouncil,andthelawdirector,allofwhomareallelectedbythevotersofCelina.
Table2-4:CelinaDemographicsStatistics Figure
LandArea 5.27sq.milesPopulation,2010USCensus 10,400White 94.9%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.5%HispanicorLatino 2.8%NumberofHouseholds 4,497PersonsperHousehold 2.29MedianIncome $41,040PersonsinPoverty 11.9%Elevation 876ft.
JamesWatsonRileyfoundedCelinain1834.Beforethat,theareawasaswampy,woodedareathathadtobedrainedbeforeitwashabitable.Oncethelandwasclearedanddrained,thefertilesoilsledtoabeautifullandscapeandproductivefarms.NamedafterSalina,NewYork,theareagrewslowlyuntiloilandnaturalgaswellsbeganproducingpetroleumproductsinthelater1800s.Thecity’sgrowthwasprimarilyduetodevelopmentofagri-businessesandotherventuresthatsupportedthefarmingindustry.CelinaislocatedonthenorthernedgeofGrandLakeSt.Maryswheretouristsandresidentsenjoysummerrecreationalactivities,communityfestivals,andotherfunspots.Severalstatehighwayscrosstheareainvariousdirections,givingeasyaccesstocitiesincludingToledo,Dayton,Indianapolis,andColumbus.Thecountyboastsofitsstrongworkethic,highqualityeducationalopportunities,anditssenseofcommunity,drawingworkerstotheareafromcitieslikeColumbusandIndianapolis.
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ThecityishometoCelinaCitySchools,ImmaculateConceptionSchool,andWrightStateUniversityLakeCampus.CelinaAluminumPrecisionTechnology,CrownEquipmentCorporationandReynolds&Reynoldsareamongthemanysmallindustrialandmanufacturingbusinessesthatemploylocalworkersandfeedthelocaleconomy.HuffyBicycleandMersmansFurniturehaveclosed,ashaveafewotherlargebusinesses,butaggressiverecruitmentofnewbusinesshassuccessfullyfilledtheholescreatedwhendoorsclosed.Well-keptpropertiesandcommunityprideareapparentwhenonedrivesintoCelina.Neatlygroomedhomeslinethestreets,andbeautifullandscapingcreatesnicecurbappealforhomes.Thedowntowniscarefullygroomed,showcasingoldhistoricstructuresthathavebeenupdatedandsuitedtocontemporaryuses.Streetsaremaintained,andsidewalksarecleanandclear.Thecityisobviouslyoneoflong-standingcareandconcernforpropertiesandbusinesses,andthepeoplewholiveandworktheretakeextremeprideintheirsurroundings.ChickasawChickasaw,namedfortheChickasawTribe,islocatedinsoutheastMercerCountyatthejunctureofStateRoutes274and716.Thevillagewasfoundedin1838byJohnNutterandJamesBrooksandincorporatedin1890.Formorethanonehundredyears,thevillagehasserveditspopulationwithastandardmayor-councilformofgovernment.SettlerstoChickasawwerefirstEnglishandIrishand,lateron,German.Theyengagedinhunting,trappingandtimberharvest.ThetownwasthelaststopontheUndergroundRailroadbeforetheCivilWar;becauseofthis,manyfreedslavesstayedinthecountyandworkedforareafarmersaftertheirescape.Thetownwashistoricallyknownforbeing“rough”becauseofitseightbarsandbecauseitwasthesiteofthefirstjailinMercerCounty.
Table2-5:ChickasawDemographicsStatistic Figure
LandArea 0.23sq.milesPopulation,2010 290White 100%HousingUnits 156MedianIncome $54,750PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 4.4%%Elevation 942feet
ColdwaterThemostpopulatedvillageinMercerCounty,ColdwaterwasnamedafterColdwaterCreek.Almosttwohundredyearsafterits’founding,thevillageboastsasafeandfamily-orientedatmospherewhereprogressive,controlledgrowthsupportsoneofthebestplacesinOhiotoraiseafamily.Thevillagehasamixtureofmanufacturing,commercial,andretailbusinesses,someofwhichoccupyspacesformerlyusedbytheNewIdeafarmimplementbusinessthatclosedseveralyearsago.ThecommunityishometoColdwaterExemptedSchoolDistrict,whichreceiveshighperformancemarksforits1,500students.MercerCountyCommunityHospital,theonlyhospitalinthecounty,isalsolocatedinColdwater.
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Table2-6:ColdwaterDemographicsStatistic Figure
LandArea 1.97sq.milesPopulation,2010 4,427White 95.2%BlackorAfricanAmerican <1.0%HispanicorLatino <1.0%HousingUnits 1,812MedianIncome $48,792PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 6.0%Elevation 912feet
FortRecoveryThevillageofFortRecoverywasthesiteoftwofiercebattlesduringtheAmericanIndianWars.St.Clair’sDefeatin1791andtheAttackonFortRecoveryin1794bothtookplaceinthissmallvillageattheheadwatersoftheWabashRiver.Thevillagewasofficiallyestablishedin1793byorderofGeneralAnthonyWayne,whocametotheareaanddefeatedtheNativeAmericanIndiantribes.ThenorthwestcorneroftheGreenvilleTreatyLineisinFortRecovery.Inlateryears,thevillagewasastopalongtherailroadthatconnectedBuffalo,NY,Chicago,IL,andSt.Louis,MO.Today,FortRecoveryisasmall,progressivevillagewithastrongagriculturalinfluence.Manyfarmsproducecropsandlivestockareinthearea,aswellasmultipleagri-businessesintheareathatworktosupportthemwithequipment,services,andsupplies.TheyhaveastandardformofgovernmentwithanelectedmayorandvillagecouncilaswellastypicalvillagedepartmentsthatprovideforthesafetyandwelfareofFortRecoveryresidents.
Table2-7:FortRecoveryDemographicsStatistic Figure
LandArea 1.97sq.milesPopulation,2010 1,430White 97.5%HispanicorLatino 0.8%TwoorMoreRaces <1.0%HousingUnits 590MedianIncome $53,750PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 9.2%Elevation 942feet
MendonThetinyvillageofMendonislocatedinnortheastMercerCountyalongtheSt.MarysRiver.ThevillagewasoriginallyplattedasGuilfordin1834,butthenamelaterchangedtoMendonwhentheUSPostOfficeopened.Thecommunityismostlyabedroomcommunityforresidentswhoworkinlargernearbycommunities.Thelargestbusinessintown,asecurityservice,employs
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lessthantenpeopleandisowner-operated.ThevillageisoneofthefewinMercerCountythatoperatesamunicipalelectricservice.
Table2-8:MendonDemographicsStatistics Figure
LandArea 0.57sq.milesPopulation,2010 662White 97.3%HispanicorLatino <1.0%Bi-racial <1.0%HousingUnits 250MedianIncome $37,083PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 26.2%Elevation 820feet
MontezumaThesmallvillageofMontezumaislocatedatthesouthwestcorneroftheGrandLakeSt.Marys.Itishometolong-time,year-roundMercerCountyresidentsaswellasmanyseasonalresidents.Thevillageisabedroomcommunityforworkerswhoservethetouristindustryinthewarmermonths.Theyhaveastandardformofelectedvillagegovernment.
Table2-9:MontezumaDemographicsStatistics Figure
LandArea 0.13sq.milesPopulation,2010 165White 100%HousingUnits 132MedianIncome $35,714PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 13.4%Elevation 883feet
RockfordRockford,formerlyknownasShanesvilleandShane’sCrossing,isrichinIndianloreandhistoryfromtheAmericanIndianWarsandtheWarof1812.SittingalongthehighbankoftheSt.MarysRiver,theareaprovidedcampgroundsandhomestoAmericanIndianslongbeforeChristopherColumbusdiscoveredAmerica.Tradersandtrappersfrequentedthearea,barteringwiththeIndianswhoinhabitedthearea.AnthonyMadore,aFrenchtrader,operatedatradingpostatthislocationpriortohisdeathabout1815.DuringtheWarof1812,GeneralWilliamHenryHarrisonandhistroopscampedintheRockfordarea.Today,RockfordisasmallvillagelocatedatthejunctureofStateRoutes33and118.Thevillageexperiencesheavytrucktrafficasthousandsofsemi-trucksandtrailershaulhazardousmaterials,productionsupplies,andproductstoandfromFortWayne,Columbus,andothercities.FearshaveshiftedfromIndianattackstohazardousmaterialsspillsandvehicularaccidentsasspeedersareslowedbyvillagepoliceofficerspatrollingthehighways.Inrecent
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years,thevillagehasbeenthelocationofseveralwell-publishedcrimesasperpetratorshaveattemptedtousetheruralhighwaysasescaperoutesandgetawaypaths.
Table2-10:RockfordDemographicsStatistics Figure
LandArea 0.84sq.milesPopulation,2010 1,120White 98.7%BlackorAfricanAmerican <1.0%HousingUnits 481MedianIncome $44,643PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 22.8%Elevation 814feet
St.HenrySt.HenryisagrowingvillageinthesouthernpartofMercerCounty.Withalmost2,500residents,thevillagehasstrongdevelopmentgoalsandahugedoseofcommunitypride.Thiscontemporaryvillageplanshousingandservicestoprovideexemplarylivingconditionsandalowcrimecommunityforitsresidents.Itsplannedneighborhoodsandsubdivisionsgivethosewhowantasuburbanfeelaniceplacetocallhome.
Table2-11:St.HenryDemographicsStatistic Figure
LandArea 1.65sq.milesPopulation,2010 2,427White 98.9%HispanicorLatino <1.0%HousingUnits 859MedianIncome $80,000PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 2.8%Elevation 971feet
2.1.4TownshipsandUnincorporatedCommunitiesMercerCountyisdividedinto14townships.Townshipsaregovernedbythreetrusteesandonefiscalofficer,eachelectedbythevoters.Theymeetmonthlyataminimum,andareresponsibleforthehealth,safety,andwelfareofthetownshipresidents.Sometownshipshavezoningofficersanddotheirownzoningandfirecodeinspectionsfornewparcelsandlanduseimprovements.OthersrelyuponMercerCountyoranotherjurisdictiontodothisforthem.Townshipsarenotrequiredtoadoptthemitigationplan,andMercerCountyisabletoactontheirbehalfregardingfederalgrantprogramsandofficialactions.Ofthemunicipalities,thefollowingtableshowsthetownshipinwhichthemunicipalityislocated;municipalgovernmentcoverseverythinglocatedwithinthemunicipalboundaries;townshipgovernmentcoverseverythingnotincludedinanincorporatedmunicipality.Townshippopulationfiguresaccordingto2010U.S.Censusfiguresarealsolisted.
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Table2-12:TownshipPopulationStatisticsTownship Population Municipality
BlackCreek 631 Butler 6,459 ColdwaterCenter 1,082 Celina(partial)Dublin 2,254 RockfordFranklin 2,303 MontezumaGibson 1,860 FortRecovery(partial)Granville 5,662 St.Henry,Burkettsville(partial)Hopewell 1,066 Jefferson 12,231 Celina(partial)Liberty 917 Marion 2,969 ChickasawRecovery 1,550 FortRecovery(partial)Union 1,490 MendonWashington 1,218
MercerCounty’sruralareacanbedividedintothe“northtownships”andthe“southtownships”baseduponcurrentcharacteristicsandpractices.Thisdivisiondatesbacktotheearly1800’swhenthecountywassettled.TheRomanCatholicssettledinthesouthernhalf;theProtestantssettledinthenorthernhalf.Aslifeinthosetimescenteredaroundchurchandhomesteads,thecultureandpracticesofthecommunitiestookonspecificcharacteristicsthatexistyettodayinamoremodernsortofway.TheRomanCatholicstendedtoraisebothgrainandlivestock;theProtestantsworkedgrainfarmsSouthernTownshipsThesoutherntownshipsofGibson,Recovery,Granville,Butler,Franklin,Washington,MarionaresouthofStateRoute219.AsmallportionofWashingtonTownshipextendsnorthofSR219.Thesesoutherntownshipsareamixofgrainandlivestockfarmssupportedbynumerousagri-businessesandserviceindustriesinandnearthevillages.Thesebusinessesprocessandselllivestockfeedandsupplies,sellandapplyagriculturalchemical,andserviceandsellfarmequipment.Thefarmsinthesetownshipsraiselivestock,andthegraincropsprovideanimalfeedandsomecommodityformarket.Continualtransportationingressandegressallowsforthemovementofmilk,feed,andlivestockona24-hourbasiseverysingledayoftheyear.Theabilitytomovepeople,feed,supplies,productsandcommoditiesinandoutatwillonadailybasisisthelifebloodofthearea.Transportationserviceisequallyimportanttothemanysmallbusinessesinthesouthernhalfofthecounty.Asthesmallequipmentmanufacturersandserviceprovidersrepairequipmentandsupplythefarmswithcriticalneeds,theydependuponanetworkofaccessibleroadsandhighwaystogettotheircustomers.Assmallmanufacturerstrytoshipproductsoutofthesetownships,theyneedhighwaysandrailroadstocarrythegoodsoutofMercerCountyintometropolitanmarkets.
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ThesoutherntownshipsholdthevisualandculturalkeytoMercerCounty’sreligiousrootsthroughthepresenceofmanyhistoricalbuildingsandfacilitiesinthetownships.St.CharlesCenterinMarionTownshipisthecentralfacilityforagedRomanCatholicpriestsandsisters,andprovidesanassistedlivingfacilityaswellasanursinghomefortheagedanddisabled.ManyoldRomanCatholicchurchesandafewLutheranchurchespepperthecountrysideandprovideaplaceofworshipforlocalresidents.Thesehistoricalbuildingsarewellpreservedthroughahardworkingcommunitythatprovidespainstakinglyexcellentcareofitsproperties.ThesoutherntownshipslaybelowthehighestpointinMercerCounty,whichisalongtheMercer-DarkeCountylinebetweenUnionCityandJenkinsRoadinGibsonTownship.Precipitationandrunoffwaterdrainsquickly.Tiledfieldsandfewwoodedareasfacilitaterapidrunoff,whichthenreachesthevillagesmorequicklythaneverbefore,andcontributestotherushingdrainageintothevillagesinthisarea.WatershedissplitbetweentheWabash,GrandLakeSt.Marys,andLoramieCreekwatershedsinthesetownships.ThewesternhalfdrainstotheWabashandendsupinIndianaandontotheGulfofMexicothroughtheMississippiRiver.MostoftheeasternhalfdrainstoGrandLakeSt.MarysbeforeemptyingintoBeaverCreekandtheWabashwatershed.TheextremesoutheastcornerofthecountyispartoftheLoramieCreekwatershed,whichconnectstotheUpperGreatMiamiwatershed.Intheearly1900s,ColdwaterCreekwasre-routedslightlytodrainintoGrandLakeSt.MarysasawaytofeedtheMiami-ErieCanal.JustsouthofSt.AnthonyRoadinButlerTownship,thecreekwasartificiallyturnedalmost90degreestotheeasttodrainintothenewinlandlake.Today,asmorewaterdrainsmorequicklyfrompointstothesouthofthisman-madeturn,MotherNatureisguidingthatwatertoitsoriginaldestination,BeaverCreek,whichispartoftheWabashWatershed.SeveralhomesinthisareaexperiencefloodingwhentheColdwaterCreekoverflowsitsbankandrushesnorthtowardthecreek’soriginaldestination.Anearthenstructure,unidentifiedinformbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,sitstothesouthofthesehomesinanun-engineeredattempttokeepwaterinthebanksofthere-routedColdwaterCreekbuthasbeeninsufficienttostoptheforcesflooding.NorthernTownshipsThenortherntownshipsincludeBlackcreek,Center,Dublin,Jefferson,Hopewell,Liberty,andUniontownships.Largegrainfarmspopulatemanyofthesetownships.Thesefarmoperationsnotonlyraisecorn,wheatandsoybeansbutalsohaveon-sitedryingandstoragefacilitiestohousethegrain.Fewfarmsraiselivestock,andmanyofthefarmershavefullorparttimejobsinlocalindustryorbusinesses,supportingfarmincomewithapartorfulltimejob.Thesefarmsarefamily-ownedandtendtousefamilymembersastheirworkforceratherthantoemploynon-familyworkers.Theyarelessdependentupondailyingressandegressthanthelivestockfarmsinthesouth,exceptduringplantingandharvestseasonswhentrucksandequipmenttraveltheroadsatalltimesofthedayandnight.
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BecauseofUS33,whichcrossesthenorthernhalfofthecounty,andseveralheavilytraveledstatehighways,thereissignificantsemi-trucktrafficacrossthenorthernhalfofthecounty.Servicestoassistthetransportationindustryareplentiful,asfuelstops,foodservice,andothersmallbusinesseslinethemajorhighways.SeveralhistoricalIndianreservessurroundtheRockfordareainDublinTownship.Theseareasareplentifulwithnaturalbeautyandriverinelandscape.TherearevariousProtestantchurchesinthetownships,butthesearemoremodern-daychurcheswithnewerbuildings.ManyresidentsinthetownshipstothenorthinMercerCountyworkinfactoriesandplansnearby,residinginthefairlyquietandpicturesquecountrylandscape.WhilethevisualofthetwosectionsofMercerCountyareverydifferent,thebasiccharacteristicshavealotincommon.Theentirecountyisagriculturallybased,andcommunitywellbeingisdependentuponfarmingandtransportationindustries.ThepeoplewholiveintheareaareverylikelytobefromfamiliesbornandraisedinMercerCounty.UnincorporatedCommunitiesandNeighborhoodsMercerCountyhasovertwentyunincorporatedcommunities,andmanyrelateeithertothereligionofGermanimmigrantsintheearly1800sortothewhiteman’srelationship,sometimeshostile,withtheAmericanNativeIndiansinthearea.TheunincorporatedareasinthesouthernhalfofthecountyareprimarilyevidenceRomanCatholicGermanimmigrantssettlingincommunitiesthatfacilitatedthepracticeoftheirfaith.Carthagena,Cassella,CranberryPrairie,MariaStein,Philothea,Sebastian,Sharpsburg,St.Joseph,St.Peter,St.Rose,andWendelinwereallsettledbyimmigrants;aRomanCatholicChurchservesasthecenterofeachcommunity.Atonepoint,sevendifferentCatholicchurchsteeplescouldbeseenfromapointnearChickasaw:TheNativityoftheBlessedVirginChurch(Cassella),StFrancisCatholicChurch(CranberryPrairie),St.John’sChurch(MariaStein);St.RoseCatholicChurch(St.Rose);St.SebastianCatholicChurch(Sebastian);St.WendelinCatholicChurch(Wendelin);andSt.AloysiousChurch(Carthagena).CarthagenawasfoundedbyCharlesMoore,ablackmanfromKentucky,in1840.ThecommunityisnearChickasaw,whichservedasthesecondtolaststopontheUndergroundRailroad.AsslavescamethroughtheUndergroundRailroad,manydidnotcontinuefurtherforfearofcaptureatthefinalstop.Manysettledinanall-blackcommunitythatbecameknownasCarthagena.ThelastknownresidentofCarthagenadiedin1957andwasburiedintheblack-onlycemeteryinthatcommunity.TheMissionariesofthePreciousBloodpurchasedCarthagenafromCharlesMoorein1861.TheybuiltSt.CharlesSeminaryonthesiteoftheEmlinInstitute,aschoolforblacks.ThisbecametheSt.CharlesSeminaryandisstilloperatedbytheSistersofthePreciousBloodasaseniorlivingcenter,theSt.CharlesCenter.OtherunincorporatedcommunitiesincludeChattanooga,Mercer,Neptune,Skeel’sCrossing,Tama,andWabashinthenorthernhalfofthecounty.Mostoftheseareasareresidential
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clustersthatusedtohaveapostoffice.Mostofthesepostofficeswereclosedintheearly1900s.
2.1.5InstitutionsandSpecialFacilitiesMercerCountyhasabundanteducationalandhealthcareresourcesavailableforresidents.AccesstotheseservicesimprovesthequalityoflifeforresidentsandcontributestothesuccessfuldevelopmentofMercerCounty.EducationMercerCountyresidentshaveaccesstomanyeducationalinstitutionsacrossthecounty.Fromprimaryandsecondaryschooldistrictstopost-secondaryeducation,therearemultipleoptionstomeetthevariedneedofresidents.SevenpublicschooldistrictsandoneparochialschoolservetheresidentsofMercerCounty.SixofthesedistrictsareprimarilylocatedinMercerCountywhileoneislocatedinAuglaizeCountybutservesasmallpopulationofMercerCountystudents.
Table2-13:MercerCountySchoolsPublicSchoolDistricts ParochialSchools
CelinaCitySchoolDistrictColdwaterExemptedVillageSchoolDistrictFortRecoveryLocalSchoolDistrictMarionLocalSchoolDistrictNewBremenLocalSchoolDistrictParkwayLocalSchoolDistrictSt.HenryConsolidatedLocalSchoolDistrict
ImmaculateConceptionSchool
HighereducationopportunitiesaboundforstudentsinMercerCounty.TheWrightStateUniversityLakeCampusislocatedinJeffersonTownship,eastofCelina.Thisrapidlygrowinginstitutionprovidesundergraduateandgraduateprograms.Withinaone-hourdriveofthecounty,studentsalsohaveaccesstomultiplecommunitycollegesanduniversities.HealthcareMercerCountyCommunityHospitalistheonlyhospitalinMercerCounty.Thisfull-servicehospitalislocatedinColdwater,thegeographiccenterofthecounty.Thehospitaloffersawiderangeofhealthcareservices,includingemergencyservices,intensivecare,anddiagnosticservices.MercerHealthalsooperatesseveraloutpatientfacilitiesandclinicsacrossthecounty.
2.1.6InfrastructureMercerCounty’sinfrastructureprovidesresidents,workers,andvisitorswithcriticalaccesstoservices.Thissectiondescribesthecounty’stransportationandutilitysystems.
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TransportationManyhighly-traveledtransportationroutestraverseMercerCounty.Theseincludestatehighways,countyroads,andlocalstreets.MercerCountydoesnothaveanyinterstatesinthecountybuttheplentifulstateroutesprovideeasyaccesstothenation’sroadinfrastructure.TheCountyEngineerisresponsibleformaintaining384milesofcountyroadsand382bridges.TheCountyEngineeralsoservesastheEngineerforallfourteentownshipsandsupportsroadwaymaintenanceandrepairinthosejurisdictions.TheOhioDepartmentofTransportationmaintains417milesofroadwayand115bridges.
Table2-14:MercerCountyHighwaysInterstates U.S.Highways StateHighways
None 33127
2949117118119197
219274364703707716
AmajorfactorinMercerCounty’stransportationdevelopmentwastheconstructionoftheMiamiandErieCanalinabout1825.ThiscanalwasconstructedbythefederalgovernmenttocreateatransportationroutefromtheGreatLakestotheOhioRiver.OnesectionwasbuiltineasternOhio,andtheotherinwesternOhioanditranthroughMercerCounty.Thecanalconstructionprovidedjobsforimmigrantfarmersandallowedthemtopaythemortgagesontheirlandduringconstructionbyprovidingsecondjobsforthem.ItalsoprovidedarouteforimmigrantstoreachMariaStein,thehubofsettlingimmigrantactivity.ItalsoprovidedawayforMercerCountyfarmerstoshiptheirwarestomarkets.TheMiamiandErieCanalexistsyettodayinsomespotsinMercerCounty,butisnotafunctionalcanalsystem.UtilitiesThemajorityofhomesinMercerCounty,approximately73.6%,areheatedwithnaturalgasorelectricity.Theseservicesareprovidedbyavarietyofcompanies.ThePublicUtilitiesCommissionofOhioregulatesprivatecompaniesthatprovidepublicutilityservices.Thesecompanies,alongwithmunicipalelectricutilities,areidentifiedinTable2-15.
Table2-15:MercerCountyUtilityServiceProvidersElectricService NaturalGasService
DaytonPowerandLightMidwestElectricCityofCelina*VillageofMendon**MunicipalElectricUtilities
DominionEastOhio
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Theremainingpropertiesinthecountyareheatedbyothersources,including:• Bottled,tank,orLPgas 18.1%• Fueloil,kerosene 3.4%• Coal,cokeorwood 3.2%• Solarenergyorotherfuel 1.0%• Nofuelused 0.7%
2.1.7TopographyandClimateTheterraininMercerCountyisveryflat.Thereislessthanthreehundredfeetdifferenceinelevationfromthehighestpointtothelowestinthecountyandtherearenoabruptelevationchangesanywhereinthecounty.Thehighestpoint,1,071feetabovesealevel,liesonthesouthernborderofMercerCountyandtheDarkeCountylineonStateRoute317betweenUnionRoadandJenkinsRoad.Thelowestpointisdirectlytothenorth,ontheborderbetweenMercerandVanWertcountieswheretheSt.MarysRivercrossesthecountylineintoVanWertCounty.Thatelevationis780feetabovesealevel,resultinginadifferentof291feet.MercerCountycovers284,160acresoflandthatarebelievedtohavebeencoveredbyglaciersatleastthreetimes.Thenortherntwo-thirdsofthecountyisnearlylevel,withgentleslopesonlyalongriverbanksandotherditches.ThesouthernthirdismoreslopingwiththeexceptionofCranberryPrairieinGranvilleTownship.GrandLakeSt.Marysistheonlysignificantbodyofwater,andtwo-thirdsofthe12,700-acreman-madelakesitsinMercerCounty.Thelakewasbuiltintheearly1800stocreateabodyofwaterfortheMiamiErieCanal;thiswasachievedbydammingbothendsofaswaletocreatethelake.MercerCountywaspartoftheGreatBlackSwampandpartsofthecountyhadtobedrainedbeforethelandwasuseableandhighwaysorbuildingscouldbeconstructed.SoilTypesThemajorityofMercerCountysoilsareeitherBlountSiltLoamorPewamoSiltyLoamClay(71%totaled).Thesesoilsarebothlikelytoretainmoistureandstaywetforalongtime,andneithertypepercolateswell.Thesoilserodeeasilyonslopingareas,makingthebanksofwaterwayspronetosoilerosion.However,whendrainedanddriedoutforcropsandpasture,thesoilsarehighlyfertileandprovidetheopportunityforveryproductivefarmland.Theareaissuitableforwoodlands,includingoak,ash,maple,spruceandpinetrees.Muchofthelandisnotnaturallysuitableforgrassesduetotheerosionfactor,butifdrainageisfacilitated,grassesgrowwell.Thelandisverypoorhabitatforwetlandplants.MercerCountysoilsaresuitableforconstructionwhendrainageisfacilitated.Thesoil’spoorpercolationmakesdrainagechallenging,andsub-surfaceconstructionisdependentuponengineeredwetnesscontrols.Soilserodeeasilysoembankments,borders,andslopesneedprotection.Man-madepondsarecompatiblewiththesoiltypes,butaquifer-fedpondsareslowtorefillwhennecessary.
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-15
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ClimateTheclimateofMercerCountyissimilartoallofnorthernOhio.Thehumidcontinentalclimatezonefeaturescoldwintersandhotsummers.Theaverageannualtemperatureis51.4°F.Julyisthewarmestmonthwithanaveragehightemperatureof83°F.Januaryisthecoldestmonthwithanaveragelowtemperatureof19°F.Averageannualprecipitationis68.16inches,madeupof30inchesofsnowand38.16inchesofrain.Julyistypicallythewettestmonthwithaverageprecipitationof4.8inchesofrain.Thewintermonthsgenerallyallhavetwotothreeinchesofprecipitation;whetherthisfallsintheformofsnoworraindependsontemperaturesthatwaverslightlyaboveandbelowthefreezingmark.
2.1.8WaterwaysandWatershedTheSt.LawrenceContinentalDividesplitsMercerCountyintotwoseparateprimarywatershedsthateventuallybothtakewatertotheAtlanticOceanthroughverydifferentroutes.OneusestheOhioandtheMississippiRiverstoroutewatertotheGulfofMexicoandoutintotheAtlantic.TheotherdirectswatertoLakeErieandLakeOntario,andupthroughtheSt.LawrenceSeawayintothenorthernAtlanticOcean.ThecontinentaldividecrossesMercerCountyfromthewestinLibertyandBlackCreektownships,andcrossessoutheastintotheCelinaarea.ItliesinthevicinityofGrandLakeSt.Marys.Attimes,waterwaysflowingtotheseoppositetwowatershedscomewithinfeetofoneanother.TheriversandtributariesnorthofthisdivideflowintowatershedsthatemptyintotheGreatLakes,specificallyintoLakeErie,throughtheSt.Marys’RiverandeventuallytheMaumeeRiverWatershed.ThosesouthofthedivideflowintotheWabashRiverandflowtotheGulfofMexicothroughtheOhioRiverandontoMississippiRiveraspartoftheWabashRiverWatershed.AsmallareainthesoutheastflowstowardtheOhioRiverthroughtheGreatMiamiWatershed,andontotheOhioRiverandtheMississippiRiver.Thisdrainagetakesplacethroughfivedifferentsmallwatersheds.TheselocalwatershedsareidentifiedbynumbersonethroughfiveonMap2-2.
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Map2-2:MercerCountyWatersheds
TheLittleAuglaizeRiverWatershed,identifiedas1onMap2-2,liesintheextremenortheastcornerofMercerCounty.TheAuglaizeRiverandafewtributaries–ditchesandstreams–flowthroughacornerofUnionTownship,supplyingtheAuglaizewithwaterthatthenflowsnorthintotheBlanchardandonintotheMaumeeRiver,endingupinLakeErie.TheprimarywaterwayinthiswatershedisKylePrairieCreek.TheSt.MarysRiverWatershed,identifiedas2onMap2-2,coversthenortheastquadrantofMercerCounty.ThiswaterflowsintotheSt.MarysRiverthroughUnion,DublinandBlackcreekTownshipsandexitsthecountyatthelowestelevationinMercerCounty,wheretheSt.MaryscrossesintoVanWertCountytothenorth.TherivereventuallyflowsintoFortWayne,IndianawhereitjoinsintotheMaumeeRiverandbecomespartoftheMaumeeWatershedthatflowstothenortheastintoLakeEriethroughseveralnorthwestOhiocounties.Theprimarystreams,ditches,andriversinthiswatershedincludeDennisonDitch,YankeeRun,GreenDitch,EightmileCreek,TwelvemileCreek,BlackCreek,BigBlackCreek,LittleBlackCreek,DuckCreek,andSaniftDitch.TheGrandLakeSt.MarysWatershed,labeled4onMap2andshowningreaterdetailonMap2-3,iscomprisedofthestreams,ditches,andriversthatflowintoGrandLakeSt.Marys,a12,700-acreman-madeinlandlakesoutheastofCelina.Thewaterdrainingintothislakecomesfromsixareas:ColdwaterCreekthatoriginatesinSt.HenryandmovesthroughButlerTownship(whichoriginallyflowedintoBeaverCreekandontotheWabashWatershed);theGrassyMonroethatflowsthroughButlerandJeffersontownshipsintothelake;theBeaver
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CreekthatcomesfromthewestthroughJeffersonandWashingtontownshipsasadeepandrapidlyflowingwaterway;thePrairiethatflowsfromsouthoftheMontezumaareaintothelake;BigChickasawthatflowsfromtheChickasawplainsandnorthfromMarionandFranklinTownships;andtheLittleChickasawthatflowsintoGrandLakeSt.MarysfromAuglaizeCounty.ThesewaterwaysalldrainintoGrandLakeSt.MarysandthenflowthroughtheSt.MarysRiverintotheMaumeeWatershedtothenortheasttowardsLakeErie.WaterwaysincludeColdwaterCreek,BurntwoodCreek,BeaverCreek,MontezumaCreek,DahlinghouseDitch,ChickasawCreek,EastForkCreek,andPrairieCreek.Thiswatershedwasartificiallymodifiedinthelate1800swhenGrandLakeSt.Maryswasbuilt.TheColdwaterCreeksub-watershedoriginallydrainedintoBeaverCreekwestofCelina,andwaspartoftheWabashWatershed,nottheGrandLakeSt.MarysWatershed.InordertoassureadequatewaterlevelsinMiami-ErieCanal,ColdwaterCreekwasdivertedintotheman-madelakeinButlerTownship,justsouthofSt.AnthonyRoadandwestofColdwaterCreek.ThisnearninetydegreeartificialturnistodaymarkedbyanunclassifiedearthenmoundontheoutsideturnofColdwaterCreekasitheadstoGrandLakeSt.Marys.WhiletheearthenstructuremaykeepsomewaterfromflowingacrossthefieldsinthisareainsearchofBeaverCreek,itisinsufficienttoholdbacktherunofffromasustainedheavyrainevent,andhomesfloodbadlyinthisareaalongSt.AnthonyRoadandinthegeneralvicinity.WhereColdwaterCreekRoadmeetsJohnsonRoad,thewaterwayiswideandrelativelydeepasitcarriesasignificantamountofwaterintothelake.Thisbridgewasreplacedin2002andtheculvertwaschangedtoaccommodatetheflow.Itisthisareawherethecreekhasadevastatingrecenthistoryofdamagetoarearesidentialstructures.
Map2-3:GrandLakeSt.MarysWatershed
TheLoramieCreekWatershed,labeled5onMap2-2,islocatedinextremesoutheastMercerCounty,southofChickasawandinMarionTownship.ThiswaterflowssouthtotheAuglaizeRiverthateventuallybecomespartoftheGreatMiamiWatershedandendsupintheOhioRiver,flowingontotheMississippiRiverandtheGulfofMexicobeforeitarrivesintheAtlantic
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Ocean.ThewaterwaysinthiswatershedthatarelocatedwithinMercerCountyincludeMileCreek.TheWabashWatershed,labeled3onMap2-2,includesalmosttheentiresouthwestquadrantofMercerCounty.TheWabashRiverbeginsinGibsonandGranvilleTownships,flowsnorthtoFortRecoveryandbecomestheWabashRiver.PartsofJefferson,Hopewell,andButlerTownshipsflowintotheWabash.TherivergrowsindepthandwidthasitmovesthroughRecovery,Washington,andasmallpartofLibertyTownshipbeforeitexitsOhioandgoesintoIndianawhereitcollectsmorewater,andeventuallydrainsintotheOhioRiveralmostfivehundredmilesfromwhenceitbegan.EventuallyitdrainsintotheMississippiRiverandtheGulfofMexico,andthenontotheAtlanticOcean.ThewaterwaysinthiswatershedincludeBeaverCreek,SchermanDitch,BrushRun,LittleBeaverCreek,HardinCreek,TotiCreek,TwomileCreek,ThreemileCreek,LittleBearCreek,LittleBeaverCreek,CrabBranchCreek,HickoryForkCreek,WardDitch,VanderbushCreek,andLimberfortCreek.
2.1.9LandUseAgricultureisthepredominantlanduseinMercerCounty.Cultivatedcropsandpasturesaccountfor82%ofalllanduseinMercerCounty.In2007,MercerCountywasfirstinagricultureproductionsalesintheStateofOhio,and51stintheentirenation.Salesoflivestock,poultry,andassociatedproductsaccountedfor82.4%ofthosesales,placingMercerCountyagainfirstinthestateindirectagricultureproductsalesand35thinthenation.
Table2-16:MercerCountyLandUseUse Percentage
CultivatedCrops 77.48%Developed,LowerIntensity 7.79%Forest 4.25%Pasture/Hay 4.21%OpenWater 3.55%Shrub/ScrubandGrasslands 1.09%Developed,HigherIntensity 1.01%Wetlands 0.59%Barren(stripmines,gravelpits,etc.) 0.01%
Theforestedareas,grassland,andwetlandsinMercerCountyprovide11,469acresofstateparks,forests,naturepreservesandwildlifeareas.ThisincludesrecreationandparkareassuchasGrandLakeSt.MarysStatePark,MercerWildlifeArea,BakerWoods,andothers.AgricultureinMercerCountyisquantifiedintheexistenceof415farmsthatcollectivelyemploymorethan1,400people.However,almost50%ofthefarmershaveanoff-the-farmsupplementaljob,likelyforreasonsofboostingpersonalincome.LanduseforagricultureisbeingthreatenedbydevelopmentinMercerCounty.Thesaleofindividualresidentialbuildinglotsofonetofiveacresisoccurringattherateofaboutseventy
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peryear.Astheaverageageoffarmersincreases,theurbanizationoffarmlandislikelytocontinueandperhapsevenescalateasfarmersretireandsellproperty.Oftentimesthesaleoffarmlandthatwaspaidforoveralifetimeequatestothe“retirementplan”forafarmer.Thesesaleswilllikelytransitionmorelandfromproductionagriculturetoresidential,whichcouldhaveanimpactonthecounty’seconomyinthefuture.Thecounty’sComprehensiveDevelopmentPlan,developedin2013,citestheneedforzoningregulationsthatmanageagriculturalpracticesaswellasresidentialdevelopment.Theplanidentifiesconcernaboutthecreationofresidentialareasonpreviousfarmlandthatresultsinthedecreaseinactivefarmlandandexposesresidentialareastoconfinedanimalproductionissueslikemanuremanagementandairquality.Thecountydevelopmentprofessionalsfeelthatagriculturalzoningregulationandadditionaldevelopmentstandardsarethesolutiontotheco-existenceofthesetwocomponentsoflanduse.MercerCountyofficialsareconcernedaboutindustrialandmanufacturinglanduse.Heavilysubsidized,industrialwindturbineshavebeenconstructedinmanyadjacentcommunities.Officialsarenotonlyconcernedaboutthemyriadofpotentialnegativesoflarge-scaleindustrialwindturbinedevelopmentsbutalsotheeffectonlocalambiance,therurallifestyle,andthefutureimpactwhen,twenty-fiveyearsfromnow,theturbinesaredecommissionedandtakenoutofservice.Thereturnoflandtoprevioususescanbeexpensiveanddifficult.Concernsaboutundesirabledevelopmentconsequenceshaveledtotheidentificationofspecifictargetedareasforcertaintypesofdevelopment.AreassouthofGrandLakeSt.Marys,eastofFortRecovery,northandsouthofSt.Henry,northwestandnortheastofColdwater,andeastandwestofCelinaaredesignatedresidentialdevelopmenttargetareas.Theseareasareservedbypublicwaterandsewageandtransportationaccessdoesnotinterferewithagriculturaloperations.Areasintherurallandscapethatarenotservedbypublicinfrastructure,havesoilsconducivetocropandlivestockproduction,andarecurrentlyinagriculturalusearebeingprotectedthroughencouragingpreservationoffarms,conservationdistricts,andagriculturaldistricts.FarmersareencouragedtoenrollintheCurrentAgriculturalUseValuation(CAUV)programtoprotecttheirlandagainstunwanteddevelopmentbyheavyindustry.Farmersarealsoencouragedtoimplementwisepracticesthatreducetheimpactagriculturecanhaveonwatersheds,suchasmanuremanagement,cropcovers,andotherconservationpractices.
2.1.10RegulationTheMercerCountyBoardofCommissionersestablishedtheMercerCountyRegionalPlanningCommissionwiththepurposeofaddressingdevelopmentandlanduseplanningissueslargerthanasinglejurisdictionormunicipality.Thecommissionincludesrepresentationfromeachofthecounty’sfourteentownships,Celina,Coldwater,theMercerCountyEngineer,MercerCountyHealthDepartment,twoat-largerepresentatives,andseveralnon-votingmembers.
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Thecommissionmeetsmonthlytoaddressissuessuchzoning,floodplainregulation,subdivisionregulation,developmentissues,andotherlandusetopics.UndertheMercerCountyEngineer,whoservesasthecounty’sfloodplainadministrator,floodplainregulationsarecurrentlyineffect.Section3.0designatesaFloodplainAdministratorandspecifiesthedutiesofthatoffice,whichincludeupdatingregulationsandenforcingsuchregulationsunderSection6.0.Additionally,theFloodplainAdministratorroutinelymonitorsfloodhazardareastoenforceregulationsandprovidecommunityassistance,suchasencouragingownerstomaintainfloodinsurancepolicies.ThirteenofMercerCounty’sfourteentownshipshaveseparatezoningregulationsinplace.JeffersonTownship,whichisdividedintotwodistricts,haspartialzoninginplace.Theeasternhalfofthetownshipiszonedwhilethewesternhalfisnot.Eachzonedtownshipemploysapart-timezoninginspectortoadministertheirlocalzoningrequirements.Acompletelistofthezoningregulationstatusforeachtownshipisprovidedbelow.
Table2-17:TownshipZoningStatusTownship Status
Blackcreek ZonedButler ZonedCenter ZonedDublin ZonedFranklin ZonedGibson ZonedGranville ZonedHopewell ZonedJefferson(East) ZonedJefferson(West) UnzonedLiberty ZonedMarion ZonedRecovery ZonedUnion ZonedWashington Zoned
Allincorporatedjurisdictions,withtheexceptionofBurkettsville,havezoningregulationsinplace.Eachjurisdictionappointsalocalzoninginspector,althoughthesmallervillagessometimestruggletomaintainthisposition.
2.1.11EconomyandDevelopmentMercerCounty’seconomyisdependentuponproductionagriculture,agri-businesssalesandservice,smallindustryandmanufacturing,serviceandgovernmentdepartments,andsometourismasaresultofGrandLakeSt.Marysandotherrecreationalopportunities.Thelakeshoreareasofthecountydominatetheserviceandtourismindustries;agricultureismoreprevalentintheruralareasandsmallvillagesofthecounty.ThesmallindustriesandfactoriesaregenerallylocatedintheCityofCelinaandthelargervillagessuchasSt.Henry,FortRecovery,
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andColdwater.Somesmallbusinessespepperthelandscapeintheruralareasaswell,locatedalongmajorhighwaysthatprovideanexcellenttransportationrouteinandoutofthecounty.Whilenotdenselypopulatedinanyarea,thecountyisconsistentlydevelopedfrombordertoborder.Therearenoremoteorunsettledareasinthecounty.BusinessandIndustryMercerCountyhasagenerallystrong,stable,anddiverseeconomythathasbenefittedfromahealthycombinationofagriculture,manufacturing,andserviceindustries.LocaleconomicdevelopmentorganizationssuchasMercerCountyCommunityandEconomicDevelopmentCorporationandtheCelina-MercerCountyChamberofCommercehaveworkeddiligentlytofosterinnovationandnewbusinessgrowthinthecounty.In2015,thecountyreported1,136activebusinessesand47newbusinesses.EmploymentinMercerCountyisattributedtomanyindustrialsectors.Averageemploymentforeachsector,basedon2014data,islistedintable2-18.
Table2-18:AverageEmploymentbySectorEmploymentSector AverageEmployment
Manufacturing 6,158Trade,Transportation,andUtilities 3,652LocalGovernment 2,444EducationandHealthServices 1,601LeisureandHospitality 1,247Construction 951FinancialServices 684OtherServices 640ProfessionalandBusinessServices 581NaturalResourcesandMining 487Information 169StateGovernment 146FederalGovernment 95
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AccordingtotheOhioDepartmentofDevelopment,themajoremployersinMercerCountyare:
Table2-19:MercerCountyMajorEmployersEmployer Sector
Awardcraft ManufacturingCelinaAluminumPrecisionTechnology ManufacturingCelinaCitySchools GovernmentCooperFarmsInc. ManufacturingCrownEquipmentCorp. ManufacturingFortRecoveryIndustriesInc. ManufacturingJ&MManufacturingCo. ManufacturingMercerHealth ServicePaxMachineWorks ManufacturingReynolds&ReynoldsCo. ManufacturingWorkflowOne Manufacturing
Ingeneral,MercerCountyexperiencesveryhighemploymentstatistics.UnemploymenthasremainedlowinMercerCountywhenothercountiesinOhiohavesuffered.Thehighestunemploymentwasexperiencedin2011whentheunemploymentratereached6.7%.Sincethen,theratehassteadilyimproved,reached3.3%in2015.AsofMarch2017,MercerCountyhasanunemploymentrateof2.5%,whichrepresentsthelowestunemploymentrateofall88Ohiocounties.
Table2-20:EmploymentStatistics 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Employed 20,700 21,000 21,300 21,800 22.400Unemployed 1,500 1,100 1,200 900 800UnemploymentRate 6.7% 5.1% 5.1% 3.8% 3.3%
Whileoverallemploymentnumbershaveremainedhigh,changeshavebeenexperiencedwithinspecificemploymentsectors.Manufacturing,education,andhealthserviceshaveseensignificantincreasesinaverageemployment.Conversely,government,information,andleisureandhospitalityserviceshaveexperiencedslightdeclines.AgricultureTheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturedefinesprimefarmlandas“landbestsuitedtogrow,feed,forage,fiber,andoilseedcrops.”Thistypeoflandproducesthehighestcropyieldswiththeleastamountofenergyandeconomicresources.Accordingtothisdefinition,themajorityoftheacreageinMercerCountyisclassifiedasprimefarmland.Therefore,agricultureisamajorcontributortotheeconomyinMercerCounty.Farmstatistics,accordingtothe2012AgriculturalCenses,areasfollows:Annualcashreceiptsforfarmstotaledmorethan$596,366,000,with$153,143,000comingfromsaleofgraincropsand$443,223,000fromlivestocksales.Theaveragefarmreceived$493,680.00fromproductionsales.Thecountyhad273,152acresoffarmland,whichaccountsfor91%ofallland
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use.Thereareapproximately1,208farmsinthecountywithanaveragesizeperfarmof226acres.Fulltimefarmersinthecountynumber544;parttimefarmerswhoholdatleastaparttimejoboffthefarmnumber664.Statewide,MercerCountyranksfirstinturkey,hogandpigproduction,secondinlayers(chickens)andthirdinpulletstoreplacelaterproductionandcattle.In2012,MercerCountyhadmoreagriculturalsalesthananyothercountyinOhio.Corn,soybeans,andwheatarethemostprevalentgraincrops.Livestockincludesturkeys,chickens,hogs,dairycattle,andbeefcattle.Thereisalmostnoproductionoffruits,vegetablesorsorghum,sunflowers,orbarley.
2.1.11DevelopmentTrendsMercerCountymaintainsthesamerelianceuponagriculturalbusinesstodayasitdidduringitsfoundingyearsintheearly1800’s.Grainfarmsandlivestockproductionenablethecountytoprosperonadailybasis.Feedproductionandagri-businesseslikeequipmentdealersandsupplysalessupportproductionagriculture.Thesouthernpartofthecountyisscatteredwithbothgrainandlivestockfarms;thenorthernpartofthecountyfeaturesgrainfarmsandcropland.Manylocalresidentsareeitherfarmersorareemployedbyfarmerstoworkfieldsandproductionoperations.Atmitigationplanningmeetings,countyrepresentativesbothpublicandprivateindicatedthattheyintendtocontinuetosupport,develop,andexpandagriculturalbasedbusinesses.Thismayincludeadditionaldevelopmentinareasoflivestockandgrainproduction,equipmentsalesandservice,livestockfeedmanufacturing,agriculturalchemicalsalesandapplication,capitalequipmentsalesandconstruction,andfarmby-productindustry.Theyalsointendtomaximizethecounty’sabilitytoproducefoodandsellitonthecommoditymarkets.Theyrealizethatthisgrowthmayresultinadditionalhazards,includingtheincreaseduseoffarmchemicals,theenhancedneedtomanagerunoffinthecontextofcontemporaryfarmpractices,andthemanagementoffarmwastesuchasmanuremanagementandby-productdisposal.Theseconsiderationsareopenlydiscussed,andthebenefitofadditionalagriculturaldevelopmentfarout-weighsthecost.Thecountyishometoawidevarietyofsmallandintermediatesizedindustriesandmanufacturingplants.Countydevelopmentprofessionalsconcentrateonattractingbusinessesthatemploylessthantwohundredemployeesandproduceinnovativeandcontemporaryproducts,utilizingengineeringandtechnicalprofessionalsforresearch,development,anddesign.TheirgoalistocreatejobsforeducatedyoungpeoplewhogrewupinMercerCountyornearbycounties,enticingthemtoreturnhomeaftercollegeforhighpayingjobsinafamily-friendly,low-crimesetting.Theytoutthe“oldGermanpride”peopletakeinmaintainingtheirproperties,theChristianvalues,andthefriendlyatmosphereasincentivesforahighspeedandmaximumproductionindustrialcommunity.Thecountyexpressedongoingintenttorecruitandretainmodernmanufacturingbusinessesandtocontinuetoattractyoung,educatedtechnicalandengineeringworkerstothecounty.Byappealingtotechnology-basedbusinesses,
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modernproductionfacilities,andnewandinnovativeindustriesandcommercialoperations,leadersfeelthattheycancontinuetogrowMercerCountyinaprofitableandpleasantway.VarioustaxincentivesandadvantagestodoingbusinessinMercerCountyarebeingusedtoattractmorebusinesstothecounty.Revolvingloanfunds,taxabatements,andenterprisezonesarebeingdevelopedtoenhancerecruitmentefforts.Actionsandassurancesthatutilitiesandresourceslikenaturalgaswillbeavailableinquantitiesneeded,andaffordably,areunderway.Residentialdevelopmentisamajorgoaloflocalofficials.AlldevelopmentofficialswanttoattractmorefulltimeresidentstoMercerCounty.Whilepopulationhasbeenontheupswing,theywanttoseeevenmoreyoungpeoplemovetothearea.Itisobviouswhentravellingtothecountythatresidentstakeextremelygoodcareoftheirhomesandproperty.Theneatandtidylandscapeboastsquietlyofapridethatisnotcommontoallcommunities.Likemanyothers,however,theyintendtodevelopadditionalmiddleandhigherincomesingle-familyhomesandlowandmoderatemultiplefamilyhomesinthecomingyears.Inadditiontothemanyopportunitiesforemploymentinthecentralpartofthecounty,theoutlyingareasareclosetolargeindustriesinadjacentcounties.ThevillagesofRockford,Mendon,Burkettsville,andFortRecoveryarebedroomcommunitiesfortheseemployees.InterviewswiththeprofessionalsinvolvedinrecruitingnewbusinessesforthecountycitedmanyadvantagestoestablishingalifeinMercerCounty.Disasterdamagemitigationwasamongthoseadvantages,andtheycitednumeroussellingpoints.First,MercerCountyisnotextremelyvulnerabletofloodingbecausethecountysitshighinthewatersheds,andstormsewersystemshavebeenbuiltandmaintainedtomanagesignificantrainfallwithoutdamagingproperties.Second,thethreatofpoweroutageshasbeenaddressedthroughhardeningofutilityservicesbypolereplacementandtransformerimprovements.Thefactthatthecommunityismanagingvulnerabilityandlosses,combinedwithashortlistofpastdisasterincidents,aidsintherecruitmentandretentionofbusinessinMercerCounty.Developmentprofessionalsindicatedthatitistheirintentiontoimproveemergencymanagementpresenceindevelopmentactivitiesevenfurtherthroughenhancingtheformalityoftheprocessthroughwhichdisasterconsiderationsareincludedinactivities.TourismisimportanttoMercerCountywithGrandLakeSt.Marysontheeasternedgeofthecounty.TheCityofCelinasitsonthenorthernedgeofthisman-madelake.Developmentprofessionalshavetalkedofalargehotelandconferencecenteraswellasadditionaltemporaryvacationresidencesnearandadjacenttothelake.Theyareworkingtoimproveandenhancepublicinfrastructurelikestormandsanitarysewersystems,watersupplies,androadstoaccommodatethisdevelopmentarea.Theyworkwithemergencymanagementtoconsiderissuessuchaswarningandnotification,protectiveactions,andstructuralvulnerabilitytodamagesastheyattempttoexpandthisadditionalareaofcommerceforthecounty.Countyofficialsarepassionateaboutproperlandusebynewventures.Whilenotalltownshipsarezoned,andresidentialbuildingcodesdonotregulateprivatehomes,thecountydoesstrive
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toguideanynewconstructiontowithstandthetestofsevereweather,heavyuse,andoccasionalunanticipatedproblems.Commercialbuildingcodesarestrictlyenforcedbyinspectors,eitherlocallyorbycontractwithanothercounty,andbuildingpermitsareissuedonlywhencomplianceisdocumented.TheMercerCountyEngineermonitorsditchmaintenance,highwaymaintenanceandfloodplainactivities,andworksdiligentlytoensurethatnewdevelopmentisappropriateandcompatiblewiththeareainwhichitisconducted.ThebuildingofficialsworkinstepwiththeeconomicdevelopmentprofessionalstoassistnewcomerstoMercerCountyincompletingwiseuseofthelandinthecounty.BecauseMercerCountyhasaplentifulwatersupplyandseveralmunicipalitieshavewatertreatmentandsewertreatmentfacilities,theareahasfewwatersupplyorqualityissues.Thisfacilitatesthedevelopmentofnewhomes,newfactoriesandretailfacilities,andnewtourismfacilities.Thepopulation,evenwhenmaximizedbymanytouristsonahot,summerday,doesnotbegintoburdenthewaterresourcesthatareavailabletothecounty.This,combinedwithmanyotherlocalcharacteristics,facilitatesawidespreadandaggressivedevelopmentprogramtooccur.MercerCountyhasbeenabletoendureandexcelinaneconomythatdevastatedmanycommunitiesinOhio.Theyhavelostsomeveryimportantbusinessesovertheyears,suchasHuffyBicycleandNewIdeafarmequipment,buttheyhaveworkeddiligentlytoidentifyotherventurestooccupyspaceandbringnewopportunities.Theyfeelthatakeytothissuccessisintheirfocusonsmallbusinessandindustryratherthanmajoremployers.Thediversitythatresultsfrommanydifferentventuresratherthanasinglemajoremployerincludeahighersustainabilityofemploymentstatistics,greateropportunityforyoungandprofessionalworkers,andadditionalinnovationandcreativityinthebusinesssector.InMercerCounty,whenonedoorcloses,theymakesurethatanothertrulydoesopen.Withitsdiversity,spanningfromproductionoftechnicalcomponentsandservicesforsecondaryautomotiveandsmallmanufacturing,MercerCountyhasbeenabletogrowwhenothercountieshavelostpopulationandproductivity.
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2.2HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONMercerCountyhasexperiencedmanynaturaldisastersinitshistory,rangingfromtornadoesandblizzardstofloodsanddroughts.ThepurposethissectionistoidentifyanddefineeachhazardthatcanimpactMercerCountyandexamineshistoricalhazardeventsthathaveoccurredinthecounty.Indevelopingthisassessment,theMercerCountyHazardMitigationPlanningTeamanalyzedthehazardsandriskspresentthroughoutMercerCounty.ThenaturalhazardsidentifiedasrelevanttoMercerCountyare:
• Dam/leveefailure• Droughtandextremeheat• Earthquake• Flood• InvasiveSpecies• Severethunderstorm• Tornado• Windstorm• WinterStorm
SomenaturalhazardswereexcludedfromthisplanbecausetheyposenorisktoMercerCounty.Table2-21identifiesthesehazardsandexplainswhythehazardisnotrelevanttoMercerCounty.
Table2-21:ExcludedHazardsExcludedHazard Justification
CoastalErosion Thecountyhasnoopencoastline.LandSubsidence NotidentifiedasaconcernMud/landslide ElevationnotconducivetothishazardTsunami GeographicallyimpossibleVolcano GeographicallyimpossibleWildfire Insufficientforestedarea
MercerCountydoesnothavealonghistoryoffederaldisasterdeclarationsandassistance.WhiletheStateofOhiohasalongercomprehensivelistofincidentsthandisplayed,MercerCountyescapeddamagesinmanyoftheincidentsthathaveaffectedotherareasofOhioovertheyears.Thecountyhasonlyreceivedninefederaldisasterdeclarationsinitshistory.Mostrecently,MercerCountywasincludedinastatewidedeclarationin2005thatprovidedsupportforevacuationeffortsfollowingHurricaneKatrina.ThemostrecentdeclarationforadisasterdirectlyaffectingMercerCountyoccurredinFebruary2005.AcomprehensivelistofincidentsinMercerCountythatresultedinanemergencydeclarationinaresummarizedintable2-22.
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Table2-22:FederalDisasterDeclarationHistoryDR/EMNumber IncidentDate IncidentType(s)
DR-90-OH January23,1959 Flooding,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-191-OH April4,1965 SevereStorm,TornadoEM-3055-OH January26,1978 WinterStormDR-831-OH June10,1989 Flood,SevereStormDR-951-OH August4,1992 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-1065-OH August25,1995 Flood,SevereStormDR-1478-OH July15,2003 Flood,SevereStormDR-1580-OH February15,2005 Flood,WinterStormEM-3250-OH September14,2005 HurricaneKatrinaEvacuation
TounderstandtheriskposedbynaturalhazardsinMercerCounty,itisimportanttoexaminethecharacteristicsofeachhazardandevaluatethelocalhistoryofoccurrences.HistoricalinformationwasobtainedfromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sNationalClimaticDataCenter(NCDC)andsupplementedwithinformationfromlocalofficials.ThissectiondefineseachhazardanddescribesMercerCounty’shistorywitheach.
2.2.1Dam/LeveeFailureAdamisanartificialbarrierbuiltacrossflowingwater.Thisbarrierdirectsorslowstheflowofwaterandoftencreatesalakeorreservoir.Adamisconsideredhydrologicallysignificantifithasaheightofatleast25feetfromthenaturalstreambedandastoragecapacityofatleastfifteenacre-feetoranimpoundingcapacityofatleast50acre-feetandissixfeetormoreabovethenaturalstreambed.Damsareconstructedforfloodcontrolpurposesortostorewaterforirrigation,watersupply,orenergygeneration.Theycanbecomposedofearth,rock,concrete,masonry,timber,oracombinationofmaterials.Leveesareembankmentsconstructedtopreventtheoverflowofariverandsubsequentfloodingofthesurroundingland.Theycanbebuiltusingearth,rock,orothermaterials.Leveesconstructedfromconcreteormasonrymaterialsarereferredtoasfloodwalls.Afailureofthesestructuresisdefinedastheuncontrolledreleaseofthewaterheldbackbythedaminalakeorreservoir.Themajorityofdamshaveasmallenoughstoragevolumethatabreachorfailurewillhavelimitedimpactonthesurroundingcommunity.Butfailureofalargedamcancausesubstantialfloodingdownstreamandleadtosignificantlossoflifeandproperty.Therearemanycausesofdamfailure,including:
• Sub-standardconstruction• Geologicalinstability• Spillwaydesignerror• Poormaintenance• Internalerosion• Extremeinflow• Earthquake
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TheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesisresponsiblefordeterminingthehazardpotentialfordamsthroughtheirDamSafetyProgram.ODNRclassifiesdamsbasedonthisscale:
Classification DescriptionClassI Probablelossoflife,serioushazardtohealth,structuraldamageto
highvalueproperty(i.e.homes,industries,majorpublicutilities)ClassII Floodwaterdamagetohomes,businesses,industrialstructures(no
lossoflifeenvisioned),damagetostateandinterstatehighways,railroads,onlyaccesstoresidentialareas
ClassIII Damagetolowvaluenon-residentialstructures,localroads,agriculturalcrops,andlivestock
ClassIV LossesrestrictedmainlytothedamTherearetendamsinMercerCounty;therearenolevees.Thesestructuresarewaterretentionstructuresonwaterways,reservoirandlagoonfacilitiesthatarepartofwastewatertreatmentplants,andprivatelyownedstructuresthataffecttheflowofrunoffwaters.DamsandclassificationsforMercerCounty,accordingtotheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,areidentifiedintable2-23.
Table2-23:MercerCountyDamsDam Classification Owner
UpperWabashNumber3PondDam I WabashRiverConservancyDistrictUpperWabashStructureNo.2 III WabashRiverConservancyDistrictSt.HenryWastewaterTreatmentLagoon II VillageofSt.HenryMontezuma/ClubIslandWastewaterTreatmentLagoon
II MercerCounty
Montezuma/ClubIslandWastewaterTreatmentLagoon
II MercerCounty
ColdwaterWastewaterTreatmentDam II VillageofColdwaterGrandLakeSaintMary’sWestEmbankment I ODNR,DivisionofParksandRecColdwaterCreekDiversionEmbankment Notclassified PrivateMRCLakeDam Notclassified PrivateGuggenbillerLakeDam Notclassified Private
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-29
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
Map2-4:MercerCountyDamLocations
LocalDamFailureHistoryAccordingtorecordsfromStanfordUniversity’sNationalPerformanceofDamsProgram,therearenowrittenreportsofdamincidents,breaches,orfailuresinMercerCounty.Thereisalessthan1%probabilityofadamincident.
2.2.2DroughtandExtremeHeatAdroughtisadeficiencyofmoisturethatadverselyimpactspeople,animals,andvegetationoveranareaofsignificantsize.Becausedroughtisacreepingphenomenoncharacterizedbytheabsenceofwater,thereisnodefinedbeginningorend,noristhereastandardamountoftimerequiredforanextendeddryperiodtobeconsideredadrought.Itisconsideredadroughtwhenthedryperiodlastslongenoughtoimpacttheenvironmentandeconomyofaregion,typicallyaperiodofmonthsoryears.
Mercer County Dam Locations
Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO,USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey,
Class I Dams
Class II Dams
Class III Dams
Other Dams
Lakes (ODNR)
Counties
Current Township
June 28, 2017
ODNR - Divison of Water Resources
± 0 5 102.5 mi
0 8 164 km1:288,895
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Therearefourcommontypesofdrought:
Type DescriptionMeteorological Basedonthedegreeofdryness(rainfalldeficit)andlengthofdry
periodHydrological Basedonimpactofrainfalldeficitsonwatersupplysuchasstream
flow,reservoirandlakelevelsandwatertabledeclineAgricultural Basedonimpactstoagriculturebyrainfalldeficits,soilwater
deficits,reducedgroundwater,andreservoirlevelsneededforirrigation
Socioeconomic Basedontheimpactofdroughtconditionsonsupplyanddemandofsomeeconomicgoods
DroughtseverityismeasuredusingthePalmerDroughtSeverityIndex(PDSI).ThePDSImeasuresdrynessbasedonrecentprecipitationandtemperaturestatistics.Droughtclassificationsareidentifiedinthechartbelow:
Measurement Description-4orless ExtremeDrought-4to-3 SevereDrought-3to-2 ModerateDrought-2to-1 MildDrought-1to-0.5 IncipientDrySpell-0.5to0.5 NearNormal0.5to1 IncipientWetSpell1to2 SlightlyWet2to3 ModeratelyWet3to4 VeryWet4ormore ExtremelyWet
Aheatwaveisaperiodofabnormallyhotandunusuallyhumidweather,typicallylastingfortwoormoredays.Thiscanbeanextendedperiodoftimewithhigherthannormaltemperaturesorashorterperiodoftimewithabnormallyhightemperatures.Regardlessofthelengthoftimeorexacttemperatures,heatwavesareasafetyhazardtoanyoneexposedtothehighheat.Peopleareatriskforheatexhaustionandheatstroke,whichcanbefatalinthemostseriouscases.Whenheatwavesareaccompaniedbydroughtconditions,thepotentialforaseriousnaturaldisasterincreases.Betweeninjuries,fatalities,andcrop/propertydamage,thesedisasterscansignificantlyimpacttheeconomyofaregion.HeatwavescanoccurinMercerCountyandallofOhiobuttheincidenceisrareandthedurationtypicallyshort.Extremetemperaturesareconsideredanythingabove90degreesFahrenheit.InthehumidclimateofnorthwestOhio,thesetemperaturesareoftenaccompaniedbyhighhumidity.Temperaturesrarelyexceedthemid-90s,althoughtheregiondoesoccasionallyexperiencetemperaturesof100degreesorslightlyhigher.Thesebriefheat
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wavesarenotuncommon,butrarelylastmorethanafewdays.Aheatwavelastinglongerthanaweekisextremelyrare.
Table2-24:AverageTemperaturesandRainfall Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecAvg.High 33° 38° 49° 62° 72° 80° 83° 82° 76° 64° 50° 37°Avg.Low 19° 22° 30° 41° 51° 61° 64° 62° 55° 44° 35° 24°Avg.Precip. 2.32” 2.17” 2.6” 3.54” 3.98” 4.06” 4.8” 3.54” 2.6” 2.64” 3.23” 2.68”
DroughtisnotcommoninMercerCounty.Dryspellscanlastforseveralweeksbutmostmonthshavesufficientrainfalltosupportcropgrowthandhumansustenance.Droughtconditions,whentheydooccur,haveasignificantimpactontheagricultureindustrythatprevailsinthecounty.Droughtandextremeheatarecountywidehazardsandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.LocalDrought/ExtremeHeatHistoryWhiledroughtisnotcommon,MercerCountyhasbeenimpactedbyseveraldroughtsinrecentdecades.The1988-1989NorthAmericanDroughtfollowedamilderdroughtintheSoutheasternUnitedStatesandCaliforniatheyearbefore.ThisdroughtspreadfromtheMid-Atlantic,Southeast,Midwest,NorthernGreatPlains,andWesternUnitedStates.Itwaswidespread,unusuallyintense,andaccompaniedbyheatwavesthatkilled4,800to17,000peoplenationwideandsubstantialnumbersoflivestock.Oneparticularreasonthisdroughtbecameverydamagingwasthatfarmerslikelyfarmedonlandthatwasmarginallyarable.Anotherreasonwasthepumpingofgroundwaternearthedepletionmark.TheDroughtof1989destroyedcropsalmostnationwide.Lawnswentbrownandmanycitiesandjurisdictionsenactedwaterrestrictions.ThiscatastrophicdroughtcontinuedtoimpacttheMidwestandNorthernPlainsstatesduring1989.Thedroughtwasnotdeclaredoveruntil1990.Accordingtotheplanningteam,thisdroughtwasthemostintenseanddamagingdroughttoimpactMercerCountythatstakeholderscouldrecall.ThemostrecentdroughttoaffectMercerCountyoccurredinthesummerof2012.Thisincident,referredtoasthe2012NorthAmericanDrought,wasanexpansionofthe2010-2012UnitedStatesdroughtthatbeganinthespringof2012.LackofsnowfallintheUnitedStatescausedverylittlemeltwatertoabsorbintothesoil.ThedroughtincludedmostoftheUnitedStatesandallofOhio.Alongwithmanyothercounties,MercerCountywasdesignatedwithmoderatedroughtconditionsbymid-Juneof2012.Thisdroughthasbeencomparedtosimilardroughtsinthe1930sand1950sbutwasnotinplaceaslong.Thedroughtcausedcatastrophiceconomicramifications.Accordingtomostmeasures,thisdroughtexceededthe1988-1989NorthAmericanDrought,whichisthemostrecentcomparabledrought.OnJuly30,2012,theGovernorofOhiosentamemorandumtotheUSDAOhioStateExecutiveDirectorrequestingprimarycountynaturaldisasterdeclarationsforeligiblecountiesduetoagriculturallossescausedbythedroughtandothernaturaldisastersduringthe2012cropyear.TheUSDAreviewedtheLossAssessmentReportsanddeterminedthatthereweresignificant
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productionlossesin85countiestowarrantaSecretarialdisasterdesignation.OnSeptember5,2012,MercerCountywasincludedasoneofthedesignatedcounties.WhilethiseventsignificantlyimpactedmanyareasofOhioandtheMidwest,communitymembersrecalltheincidentasmoreofaprolongeddryspellthanasignificantdrought.
Table2-25:MercerCountyDrought/ExtremeHeatHistory
HazardTotal
IncidentsTotal
PropertyLossTotal
CropLossTotalDeaths
TotalInjuries
AverageLoss/Incident
Drought/ExtremeHeat 2 0 0 0 0 0
2.2.3EarthquakeAnearthquakeoccurswhentwoblocksofearth,calledplates,movepastoneanotherbeneathearth’ssurface.Thelocationwheretheplatesmeetiscalledafault.Theshiftingoftheplatescausesmovementalongthefaultline.Thismovementcanoftenbefeltinareassurroundingtheearthquake’sepicenterandcancausedamagerangingfrominsignificanttodevastating.Damagecausedbyanearthquakecanincluderattlingfoundations,fallingdebris,and,inthemostseverecases,topplingbuildings,bridges,andculverts.TheseverityofearthquakemovementismeasuredusingtheModifiedMercalliIndexscaleasdefinedinthischart:
Intensity Shaking Description/DamageI NotFelt Notfeltexceptbyaveryfewunderespeciallyfavorableconditions.II Weak Feltonlybyafewpersonsatrest,especiallyonbuildingupperfloors.III Weak Feltquitenoticeablybypersonsindoors,especiallyonupperfloorsof
buildings.Manypeopledonotrecognizeitasanearthquake.Standingmotorcarsmayrockslightly.Vibrationssimilartothepassingofatruck.Durationestimated.
IV Light Feltindoorsbymany,outdoorsbyfewduringtheday.Atnight,someawakened.Dishes,windows,doorsdisturbed;wallsmakecrackingsound.Sensationlikeheavytruckstrikingbuilding.Standingmotorcarsrockednoticeably.
V Moderate Feltbynearlyeveryone;manyawakened.Somedishes,windowsbroken.Unstableobjectsoverturned.Pendulumclocksmaystop.
VI Strong Feltbyall,manyfrightened.Someheavyfurnituremoved;afewinstancesoffallenplaster.Damageslight.
VII VeryStrong Damagenegligibleinbuildingsofgooddesignandconstruction;slighttomoderateinwell-builtordinarystructures;considerabledamageinpoorlybuiltorbadlydesignedstructures;somechimneysbroken.
VIII Severe Damageslightinspeciallydesignedstructures;considerabledamageinordinarysubstantialbuildingswithpartialcollapse.Damagegreatinpoorlybuiltstructures.Fallofchimneys,factorystacks,columns,monuments,andwalls.Heavyfurnitureoverturned.
IX Violent Damageconsiderableinspeciallydesignedstructures;well-designedframestructuresthrownoutofplumb.Damagegreatinsubstantialbuildings,withpartialcollapse.Buildingsshiftedofffoundations.
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X Extreme Somewell-builtwoodenstructuresdestroyed;mostmasonryandframestructuresdestroyedwithfoundations.Railsbent.
AccordingtotheOhioSeismicNetwork,seismicriskinOhioisdifficulttoevaluatebecauseearthquakesareinfrequent.Therecurrenceintervalisgenerallyverylong,sometimesspanninghundredsorthousandsofyears.Ingeologicterms,thisclassifiesOhio’shistoricrecordasaninstant.Anotherfactorinearthquakeriskisthenatureofthegeologicmaterialsuponwhichastructureisbuilt.ODNRstates“groundmotionfromseismicwavestendstobemagnifiedbyunconsolidatedsedimentssuchasthickdepositsofclayorsandandgravel.”Ohiohasexperiencedmorethan120earthquakessince1776.Whileonlyfourteenoftheseeventshavecauseddamage,thereisagreaterriskforearthquakesinOhiothanmostpeoplerealize.WestcentralOhioistheareaofOhioatthehighestriskforearthquakes;northeastOhioisthesecondmostactiveearthquakeriskarea.ThestrongestearthquakerecordedinOhiooccurredinShelbyCountytothesoutheastofMercerCountyin1937andwasestimatedtohaveamagnitudeof5.5ontheRichterScale.ThisincidentcausedsomedamageinAnnaandsurroundingwestcentralOhiocommunities.ThesameareainOhiopreviouslyreportedearthquakeactivityin1875and1884.ThePomeroyarea,southeastofColumbus,experiencedanearthquakein1926,andresidentsinAnnafeltminorquakesin1930and1931,justafewyearspriortothe1937incident.Noneoftheseearthquakescausedwidespreaddamageordevastation.Theminorquakescausedshakingbuildings,crumblingmortar,andlimitedpropertydamage.Impactswereonlyfeltlocally;nostatewidedamageswerereported.LocalEarthquakeHistoryMercerCountyhasexperiencedfourearthquakeswithepicentersinthecounty.TheseearthquakeswereminorandthereisnodocumentedevidenceofdamageinMercerCounty.OtherminorearthquakeshaveoccurredinthecountiessurroundingMercerandotherareasofOhiobuthavecausedlittletonolocaldamageandnoimpactonMercerCounty.Earthquakeisacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.
Table2-26:MercerCountyEarthquakeHistoryDate Location Magnitude ModifiedMercalli
04/15/1892 Celina 3.8 IV06/17/1977 HopewellTownship 3.3 VI01/30/2004 DublinTownship 2.5 III03/13/2005 DublinTownship 2.2 F
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Map2-5:MercerCountyEarthquakeEpicenters
2.2.4FloodAfloodisdefinedasanyhighflow,overflow,orinundationofwaterovertypicallydrylandthatcausesorthreatensdamage.Floodsoccursubsequenttometeorologicaleventssuchassubstantialprecipitation,thunderstormswithheavyrainfall,rapidsnowmelt,orextremewindeventsalongcoastalwaterways.Insomeareas,seismicactivitycantriggerfloods.Riverinefloodingoccurswhenariverorstreamrisestoanelevationthatcausestherivertooverflowitsbanks.Therisingwaterthreatensorcausesdamagetoroadways,homes,buildings,andoccupiedspacesneartheoverflowingwaterway.Lowerlevelsofawatershedaremoresusceptibletothistypeoffloodingbecausethesewaterwaysreceiveallthewaterfromtheupperlevelsandareresponsibleforcarryingamuchhighervolumeofwaterthanthetributaries.Flashfloodsaredefinedastherapidandextremeflowofhighwaterintoanormallydryarea;aflashfloodcanalsooccurwhenthereisarapidriseinthewaterlevelofastreamorcreekandthewaterrisesaboveapre-determinedfloodlevelwithinsixhoursofaprecipitationevent.Thistypeoffloodingoccurswhenthegroundistoosaturated,impervious,orflattodrain
Mercer County Earthquake Epicenters
Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO,USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey,
OhioSeis Seismic Stations
June 28, 2017
ODNR - Div. of Geosurvey
± 0 5 102.5 mi
0 8 164 km1:288,895
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rainfallintowaterwaysthroughstormsewers,ditches,creeks,andstreamsatthesamerateastheprecipitationfalls.Worldwide,floodingisthemostcommonandcostlydisaster,resultinginsignificantlossoflifeandpropertyeveryyear.Floodshaveasubstantialimpactontheinfrastructure.Commoneffectsincluderoadwaybreeches,bridgewashouts,roadwaywashaway,andwater-coveredroadways.Asfloodwatermovesrapidlyandforcefully,itwashesawaythesurfaceandsub-surfaceofroads,causingholes,ruts,andotherproblemsforvehicles.Floodwaterthatisonefootdeepisstrongenoughtocarryvehiclesaway,oftenwithoccupantsinside.Rescuersarepowerlessagainstrapid,risingwaterbecausetheyareunabletoexertenoughstrengthtocounteractthephysicsofmovingwater.Floodwatersseekthepathofleastresistanceastheytraveltolowergroundandwillseepintoandoccupyanystructureintheirpath.Basementsandlowerlevelsofbuildingscanbecomeinundatedwithfloodwater.Installingsandbagsalongtheexteriorofabuildingcanonlyserveasatemporarystopgapmeasure;iffloodwatersdonotrecedequickly,theforceofthewaterwillmovethroughthesandbagsandenterthestructure.Theaftereffectsoffloodingcanbejustasdamaginganddangerousastheinitialincident.Cleanupisoftenalong,protractedactivitywithitsownsetofhazards.Sewersystemscanbecomeinundatedwithfloodwaterandceasetofunctionproperly.Standingwaterbecomescontaminatedwithhouseholdandindustrialchemicals,fuel,andothermaterialsthathaveleakedintothewater.Allfloodwaterisconsideredcontaminated,eitherfromgermsanddiseaseorhazardousmaterials.Thiscreatesahazardforrespondersandresidentsthroughouttheinitialrecoveryphaseofthedisaster.Historically,floodinghasbeenamoderateriskforMercerCounty.DatafromNCDCindicatesthecountyhasexperienced78floodingeventssince1950.Themajorityofthese,56,wereriverinefloodeventswhile22incidentswereclassifiedasflashfloods.Intotal,propertydamagefromtheseeventshasexceeded$6,256,000.Thesepropertydamagefiguresaresignificantlyhigherthanmostoftheadjacentandsurroundingcounties,includingDarke,Shelby,Auglaize,andVanWert.MercerCounty’smoderatefloodingriskislargelybecausethecountysitsatthetopoftwomajorwatersheds,andmostofthewaterisabletodrainnaturallyduetoadropinelevations.TheSt.LawrenceContinentalDividesplitsMercerCountyintotohalves,andcrossesthecountyfollowingStateRoutes703and29.TheWabashRiverWatershedcoversmostofthesouthwestandsouth-centralpartsofthecounty,takingwatertotheMississippiRiverviatheWabashtotheOhioRiversalongtheway.TherestofthecountydrainsintotheSt.MarysRiverWatershed,theAuglaizeWatershed,theLoramieWatershedandtheGrandSt.MarysLakeWatersheds.ThiswaterdrainstothenorthintotheMaumeeRiverWatershedandouttoLakeErie.WaterwaysinMercerCountyincludeseveralsignificantditcheswithcapacitytomoverelativelylargeamountsofrunoff,andincludetheSt.MarysandWabashRivers,BeaverCreek,ColdwaterCreek,andmanyothers.Thesecreeks,ditchesandstreamsallowwatertomove
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quicklyandeffectivelytotheriversandontolowerlands.Muchoftheriverinefloodingalongthewayisconfinedtoagriculturallandorriverbanksthatareknowntoflood.Flashfloodingisahigherriskthanriverinefloodingbecausethelandissoflatandrapidorheavyrainfallamountshavedifficultyindrainingasfastasprecipitationfalls.Duringheavyrainfallevents,theflatterrainpreventswaterfromdrainingquickly,increasingthepotentialforflashfloods.ThemapbelowidentifiesthefloodproneareasofMercerCounty.Manyoftheseareashavefloodedstreetsandroads,houseshavewaterinbasementsoryards,andbusinessesaresurroundedbywater-filledparkingareasandspaces.Parksandotherrecreationalareasflood,andsomebridgesandculvertsarewater-coveredforashortperiodoftime.Thepresenceofflashfloodingistotallydependentupontheamountofrainfall,whetherthegroundisfrozenorthawed,andhowwellsaturatedthegroundwaspriortotherainfall.Thestormthatcausesaflashfloodinthewet,rainyspringwhensnowismeltingistotallydifferentthanthestormthatcausesflashfloodingonadry,hotlateAugustafternoon.DatafromNCDCindicatesthatMercerCountyhasbeenimpactedby78floodeventssince1950.Oftheseincidents,56wereconsideredriverinefloodeventsand22werecategorizedasflashfloods.Collectively,theseeventshavecaused$6,256,000inpropertydamage.Becauseofthenumberofrivers,creeks,andstreamsandthepresenceofGrandLakeSt.Marys,floodingisacountywidehazardandcanaffectnearlyalljurisdictions.BurkettsvilleandSt.Henrydonothaveanyidentifiedfloodplainareas.
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Map2-6:MercerCountyFloodplainAreas
LocalFloodHistoryThemostsignificantfloodinMercerCounty’shistoryoccurredJuly4–8,2003.TheincidentbeganwhenastormcellproducedthreetofourinchesofrainacrosswestcentralOhioonJuly4.Astheraincontinuedtofall,waterlevelsonBeaverCreek,theSt.MarysRiver,andGrandLakeSt.Marysrapidlyrose.InthevillageofRockford,atrailercourtwiththirteenhomeswasevacuatedwhentheSt.MarysRiveroverfloweditsbanks.Otherhomesandbusinesseswereinundatedwithtwotothreefeetofwater,bridgeswerewashedout,andStateRoute127andU.S.Route33,majortransportationroutesthroughthecounty,wereclosedbecauseofflooding.InCelina,BeaverCreekandthespillwayforGrandLakeSt.Marysoverflowed,causingmajorfloodingtomultiplebusinesses,includingasportsclubandmedicalcenter.StateRoute127andmanylocalroadswereclosedduetohighwaterandmultiplehomessufferedmajorbasementflooddamage.InthevillageofMontezumaandsouthernareasofthecounty,manyroadswereclosedandhomesfloodedbecauseofthehighwater.Thiscountywidefloodeventcausedmorethan$4,550,000inpropertydamageandisconsideredtheworstfloodingeventinthecounty’shistory.
Mercer County, Ohio
Red: Band_1
Green: Band_2
Blue: Band_3
June 7, 2017
0 5 102.5 mi
0 8 164 km
1:288,895
2013
Randy Grapner, Auditor
2-38 2017MercerCountyHazardMitigationPlan
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
AsecondmajorfloodincidentaffectedthecountyFebruary28–March1,2011.Thiseventwascausedbythecombinationofheavyrainfromaseverestormsystemandsnowmelt.InSt.Henry,multipleroadswereclosedbecauseofhighwaterandseveralresidencesexperiencedbasementflooding.InthePhilotheaneighborhoodsouthofCelina,atrailerparkwasevacuatedduetohighwaterandroadswereclosed.Celinaexperiencedsignificantresidentialflooding,includingsomeevacuations,androadclosures.Intotal,thisincidentcaused$470,000inpropertydamage.AlthoughNCDCrecordsdonotindicatepropertyloss,thecountyexperienceditsmostrecentmajorfloodingeventinJune2015.FromJune16-18,2015,thecountyreceivedmorethanteninchesofrainfall,causingcreeksandstreams,includingBeaverCreek,tooverflowtheirbanks.TheGrandLakeSt.Marysspillwayreachedthirteeninchesabovenotchlevel,morethantwentyincheshigherthantherecommendedlevel.StateRoute127andU.S.Route33,alongwithotherstate,county,andlocalroads,wereclosedduetofloodwater,makingtravelacrossthecountynearlyimpossible.MercerCountyofficialsissuedalocalemergencydeclarationonJune17;manybusinesseswereforcedtoclosetemporarilybecauseemployeescouldnotreachworkduetotravelrestrictions.InButlerTownship,sixhomesweredirectlyaffectedbytheflooding.Fivehomesexperiencedminordamage.Onepropertywasdamagedseverelyandtheresidentswereforcedtorelocatedforsixmonthsuntilthehomewashabitableagain.
Table2-27:MercerCountyFloodHistory
HazardTotal
IncidentsTotal
PropertyLossTotal
CropLossTotalDeaths
TotalInjuries
AverageLoss/Incident
Flood 78 $6.256M 0 0 0 $136K
2.2.5InvasiveSpeciesAninvasivespeciesisaplantoranimalspeciesthatisnotnativetothelocalecosystemandwhoseintroductionislikelytocauseeconomicorenvironmentalharmorharmtohumanlife.AcrosstheUnitedStates,morethan5,000speciesarerecognizedasinvasive.Invasivespeciesareclassifiedasterrestrialplants,terrestrialwildlife,insectsanddiseases,andaquaticspecies.Invasiveterrestrialplantscandisplacenativespecies,impactthewildlifethatrelyonnativespeciesasasourceoffoodorshelter,orformmonocultureplantcommunitiesthatreducebiodiversity.Whilemorethan25%oftheplantspeciesinOhiooriginatefromotherareas,mostareinvasive.Fewerthan100oftheseareactuallyconsideredtobeinvasive.Invasiveterrestrialwildlifeismuchlesscommonthanothertypesofinvasivespeciesbutcanstillcausesignificantdamagetonaturalhabitats.Aquaticinvasivespeciesareplantsandanimalsthatimpactthequalityofwaterways.Thesecanaffectlargebodiesofwater,suchasLakeErieandtheOhioRiver,andmuchsmallerrivers,lakes,andstreams.Invasiveinsectsanddiseasesareinsects,fungus,andothersmallorganismsthatcannegativelyimpactplants,forests,andthehealthofwildlife.Table2-28identifiestheinvasivespeciesacrossthesecategoriesthathavethegreatestimpactinOhio.
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-39
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Table2-28:InvasiveSpeciesinOhioSpecies Type
AsianCarp AquaticCurlyleafPondweed AquaticHydrilla AquaticRoundGoby AquaticRuffe AquaticRedSwampCrayfish AquaticSeaLamprey AquaticWhitePerch AquaticZebraMussel AquaticAsianLonghornedBeetle Insects&DiseasesEmeraldAshBorer Insects&DiseasesGypsyMoth Insects&DiseasesHemlockWoolyAdelgid(HWA) Insects&DiseasesWalnutTwigBeetle Insects&DiseasesJapaneseHoneysuckle TerrestrialPlantJapaneseKnotweed TerrestrialPlantAutumn-Olive TerrestrialPlantBuckthorns TerrestrialPlantPurpleLoosestrife TerrestrialPlantCommonReedorPhragmites TerrestrialPlantReedCanaryGrass TerrestrialPlantGarlicMustard TerrestrialPlantMultifloraRose TerrestrialPlantBushHoneysuckles TerrestrialPlantFeralPig TerrestrialWildlife
LocalInvasiveSpeciesHistoryThemostrecentinvasivespeciestoimpactMercerCountyistheEmeraldAshBorer(EAB).EABisanash-treekillinginsectnativetoAsia;itkillstreeswithinthreetofiveyearsofinfestation.ItwasfirstdiscoveredinOhioin2003.Sincethattime,theOhioDepartmentofAgricultureandpartneragencieshaveworkedtoprotectthestate’s3.8billionashtrees.TheinfestationwasinitiallyidentifiedinnorthwestOhionearToledobuthassincespreadacrosstheentirestate.Map2-7identifiesEABinfestationareasinOhio.Accordingtonaturalresourcesofficials,theworstoftheEABinfestationhaspassed.Whiletherearemanydeadanddiseasedtreesthatmuststillberemoved,aprocessthatwilltakeyearstoaccomplish,significantworkhasbeencompletedtoremoveasignificantnumberofthesehazards.MercerCountyisnotthemostimpactedareaofOhiobutithasexperiencedeffectsoftheEABinfestation.Asdiseasedtreesalongwaterwayshavedied,theyhavefallenintothewaterways,impactingdrainageandtheflowofwater.Diseasedtreesalongthepublicright-of-wayhavealsoimpactedinfrastructure,astheyaremorelikelytofallduringastormorhighwindevent.TheMercerCountyEngineerandjurisdictionstreetandroaddepartmentshaveaggressivelyremoveddiseasedtreesalongthepublicright-of-way,whichhasbeeneffectiveatreducingtheimpactonutilitylinesandotherinfrastructure.Theyarenot,however,abletoremovetrees
2-40 2017MercerCountyHazardMitigationPlan
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
fromprivateproperty.Individuallandownersareresponsibleforremovingdeadanddiseasedtreesfromtheirpersonalproperty.
Map2-7:EmeraldAshBorerInfestationMap
Inrecentyears,GrandLakeSt.Maryshasbeenaffectedbymultipleblue-greenalgaeblooms.Thealgae,whichisthoughttobecausedbyincreasedquantitiesofphosphorousandnitrogeninrunoffwater,canproducetoxicbacteriathatisharmfultoplants,animals,andhumans.In2010,thelakewasdeclaredunsafeforcontact,includingboatingandswimming,duetoanalgalbloom.Becauseofthelake’simportancetotheeconomyoftheregion,thishadaseriousimpactonbusinessesintheregion.InOctober2010,theU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationissuedadeclarationofeconomicinjuryforMercerCountyandtheregionsurroundingthelake.
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_̂R O S SR O S S
W O O DW O O D
K N O XK N O X
P I K EP I K E
S T A R KS T A R K
D A R K ED A R K E
A D A M SA D A M S
L I C K I N GL I C K I N G
S C I O T OS C I O T O
W A Y N EW A Y N E
H U R O NH U R O N
M I A M IM I A M I
U N I O NU N I O N
S E N E C AS E N E C A
M E I G SM E I G S
B R O W NB R O W N
L O G A NL O G A N
L O R A I NL O R A I N
A T H E N SA T H E N S
G A L L I AG A L L I A
H E N R YH E N R Y
A L L E NA L L E N
P E R R YP E R R Y
H A R D I NH A R D I N
N O B L EN O B L E
C L A R KC L A R K
B U T L E RB U T L E R
P U T N A MP U T N A M
A S H T A B U L AA S H T A B U L A
T R U M B U L LT R U M B U L L
M E R C E RM E R C E R
B E L M O N TB E L M O N T
V I N T O NV I N T O N
M U S K I N G U MM U S K I N G U M
M E D I N AM E D I N A
E R I EE R I E
H A N C O C KH A N C O C K
S U M M I TS U M M I T
P R E B L EP R E B L EM O N R O EM O N R O E
H I G H L A N DH I G H L A N D
F R A N K L I NF R A N K L I N
P O R T A G EP O R T A G E
F U L T O NF U L T O N L U C A SL U C A S
S H E L B YS H E L B Y
H O L M E SH O L M E S
M A R I O NM A R I O N
G R E E N EG R E E N E
M A D I -M A D I -S O NS O N
M O R G A NM O R G A NP I C K A W A YP I C K A W A Y
G E A U G AG E A U G A
G U E R N S E YG U E R N S E Y
R I C H -R I C H -L A N DL A N D
W A R R E NW A R R E N
F A I R F I E L DF A I R F I E L D
W A S H I N G T O NW A S H I N G T O N
C L I N T O NC L I N T O N
F A Y E T T EF A Y E T T E
H O C K I N GH O C K I N G
M O R R O WM O R R O W
C O S H O C T O NC O S H O C T O N
A S H -A S H -L A N DL A N D
J A C K S O NJ A C K S O N
L A K EL A K E
W I L L I A M SW I L L I A M S
C A R R O L LC A R R O L L
W Y A N D O TW Y A N D O T
D E L A W A R ED E L A W A R E
C U Y A H O G AC U Y A H O G A
L A W R E N C EL A W R E N C E
T U S C A R A -T U S C A R A -W A SW A S
P A U L D I N GP A U L D I N G
D E F I A N C ED E F I A N C E
H A M I L T O NH A M I L T O N
C O L U M B I A N AC O L U M B I A N A
V A N W E R TV A N W E R T
A U G L A I Z EA U G L A I Z E
M A H O N I N GM A H O N I N G
H A R R I S O NH A R R I S O N
S A N D U S K YS A N D U S K Y
C H A M P A I G NC H A M P A I G N
C R A W F O R DC R A W F O R D
M O N T -M O N T -G O M E R YG O M E R Y
O T T A W AO T T A W A
C L E R -C L E R -M O N TM O N T
J E F F E R -J E F F E R -S O NS O N
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Miles
Emerald Ash BorerInfestations in Ohio
February 29, 2016Updates: 1-888-OHIO-EAB
www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab
±
Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer ProgramOhio Department of Agriculture
Division of Plant HealthUSDA/APHIS/PPQU.S. Forest Service
OSU - OARDC/ExtensionOhio Department of Natural Resources
Please Note: All Ohio counties are currently under federal regulation for emerald ash borer
_̂New for 2016
_̂ New for 2015
! EAB Positive
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-41
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
Thisdeclarationmadeloansavailabletosmallbusinessesandnon-profitorganizationsnegativelyimpactedbythealgalbloomonthelake.Whilealgalbloomshaveoccurredonthelakesince2010,nonehavereachedthemagnitudeandeconomicimpactofthisincident.
2.2.6SevereThunderstormAthunderstormisalocalstormproducedbyacumulonimbuscloudaccompaniedbythunder,lightning,and/orhail.Lightningisabrief,naturallyoccurringelectricaldischargethatoccursbetweenacloudandtheground.Hailisfrozenrainpelletsthatcandamagebuildings,vehicles,andotherstructuresastheyfall.Hailformsinthehighercloudsandaccumulatessizeasitfallsasprecipitation.Iftemperaturesclosetothegroundarewarm,thehailcanpartiallymeltorbecomefreezingrain.Mostthunderstormsincludeheavyprecipitationandwind.Thesestormscanproducehail,lightning,flashfloods,tornadoes,anddamagingwindsthatposesignificantrisktopeopleandpropertyinthearea.Athunderstormthatproducesatornado,windsof58mphorgreater,and/orhailwithadiameterofatleast1”,isconsideredaseverethunderstorm.Thesestormstypicallydevelopaspartofalargerstormfrontandareprecededandfollowedbyregularthunderstorms.MercerCountyexperiencesmanythunderstormeventseachyear.Themajorityoftheseeventsincludeheavyprecipitation,wind,andthunder.Hailandlightningarepossible,butoccurmuchlessfrequentlythanwindandheavyprecipitation.Thunderstormsthatincludehailandlightningaremuchlessfrequentbutaregenerallymoresevere.Thunderstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Thesestormsrangefromminortosevere,althoughthemostareminorormoderate.Thunderstormsarerelativelyfrequentbutgenerallyresultinlimitedpropertydamage.AccordingtoNCDCrecordsdatingbackto1950,MercerCountyhasexperienced202thunderstormeventsover161days.Ofthese,95incidentsresultedinpropertydamageand0causedcropdamage.Only60oftheseincidentsincludedhailandoneincludedlightningasreportedhazards.LocalSevereThunderstormHistoryFewthunderstormsinMercerCountyhavecausedsignificantpropertydamage.AccordingtoNCDCrecords,onlythreeincidentshavecausedmorethan$50,000indamage.ThefirstoftheseoccurredonJune25,2002inCelina.Strongthunderstormwindstoppledmorethan100trees.Severaltreesfelloncarsandhomes,causingminordamage.Oneindividualwasinjuredwhenafallingtreestruckhervehicle.Totaldamagesinthecitywere$50,000.OnApril19,2011,aseverethunderstormimpactedtheChattanooganeighborhoodinthenorthwestquadrantofMercerCounty.Thisstormwaspartofalargerstormsystemthatspawnedseveraltornadoes,includingoneinCelina,andcausednearly$1,500,000damageacrosstheregion.Windsofupto60knotscauseddamagetoasilo,severalbarns,farmequipment,andseveralresidentialpropertiestobedamaged.Multipletreesandpowerlinesalsofell.Totaldamagefromthethunderstormwas$90,000.
2-42 2017MercerCountyHazardMitigationPlan
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
ThemostrecentseverethunderstormtocauseseriousdamageinMercerCountyoccurrednJuly10,2013.Astormsystemdevelopedinadvanceofanapproachingcoldfront,leadingtoseveralseverethunderstormswithheavyrainfall,highwinds,andhail.InCelina,aconveniencestoresufferedapartialbuildingcollapseandmultipletreesfell,includingoneontoacar.InthePhilotheaneighborhoodsouthofCelina,awoodenpatiowasdestroyedbywind.Totalpropertydamagesfortheincidentwere$106,000.
Table2-29:MercerCountySevereThunderstormHistory
HazardTotal
IncidentsTotal
PropertyLossTotal
CropLossTotalDeaths
TotalInjuries
AverageLoss/Incident
SevereThunderstorm* 161 $872K 0 0 5 $5.5KHail 44 $17K 0 0 0 <$1KLightning 1 0 0 0 1 0
*Includesallincidentswiththunderstormwind,hail,and/orlightning.
2.2.7TornadoAtornadoisanintense,rotatingcolumnofairthatprotrudesfromacumulonimbuscloudintheshapeofafunnelorropewhosecirculationispresentontheground.Ifthecolumnofairdoesnottouchtheground,itisreferredtoasafunnelcloud.Thiscolumnofaircirculatesaroundanareaofintenselowpressure,almostalwaysinacounterclockwisedirection.Tornadoesusuallyrangefrom300to2,000feetwideandformaheadofadvancingcoldfronts.Theytendtomovefromsouthwesttonortheastbecausetheyaremostoftendrivenbysouthwestwinds.Atornado’slifeprogressesthroughseveralstages:dust-whirl,organizing,mature,shrinking,anddecay.Onceinthematurestage,thetornadogenerallystaysincontactwiththegroundforthedurationofitslifecycle.Whenasinglestormsystemproducesmorethanonedistinctfunnelclouds,itisreferredtoasatornadofamilyoroutbreak.TornadomagnitudeismeasuredusingtheEnhancedFujitascale,abbreviatedasEF.TherankingsrangefromEF-0toEF-5andarebasedondamagescausedbythetornado.Priorto2012,theFujitascalewasusedtomeasuretornadodamageandwasabbreviatedF-1toF-2,dependingonthelevelofimpact.ThefollowingtablewastakenfromFEMA’swebsite,andindicatesthetypeofdamagesperEnhancedFujitaScaletornadoclassification.ThetornadoesinMercerCountyhavehistoricallybeenlimitedtoEF-0andEF-1.
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-43
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
EF-Scale WindSpeed TypicalDamage0 65–85mph Lightdamage.Peelssurfaceoffsomeroofs;somedamagetoguttersor
siding;branchesbrokenofftrees;shallow-rootedtreespushedover,1 86–110mph Moderatedamage.Roofsseverelystripped;mobilehomesoverturnedor
badlydamaged;lossofexteriordoors;windowsandotherglassbroken.2 111–135mph Considerabledamage.Roofstornoffwell-constructedhouses;
foundationsofframehomesshifted;mobilehomescompletelydestroyed;largetreessnappedoruprooted;light-objectmissilesgenerated;carsliftedoffground
3 136–165mph Severedamage.Entirestoriesofwell-constructedhousesdestroyed;severedamagetolargebuildingssuchasshoppingmalls;trainsoverturned;treesdebarked;heavycarsliftedoffthegroundandthrown;structureswithweakfoundationsblownawaysomedistance.
4 166–200mph Devastatingdamage.Wholeframeandwell-constructedhousescompletelyleveled;carsthrownandsmallmissilesgenerated.
5 >200mph Incredibledamage.Strongframehousesleveledofffoundationsandsweptaway;automobile-sizedmissilesflythroughtheairinexcessof100meters;high-risebuildingshavesignificantstructuraldamage;incrediblephenomenawilloccur
Norating Inconceivabledamage.ShouldatornadowiththemaximumwindspeedinexcessofEF-5occur,theextentandtypesofdamagemaynotbeconceived.Anumberofmissilessuchasiceboxes,waterheaters,storagetanks,automobiles,etc.Willcreateserioussecondarydamageonstructures.
Tornadoesarethemostdamagingofallatmosphericphenomena.Whiletheirfrequencyislow,theprobabilityofsignificantdamageishigh.Becausetornadoesoccuraspartofastormsystem,theydonotstrikeasindependentincidents.Emergingoutofastormfrontorsupercell,thetornado,especiallywhenaccompaniedbyheavyrain,straight-linewind,lightning,andhail,canbeextremelydamaging.Effectsofatornadoincludeuprootedtrees,damagedordestroyedbuildings,andsmashedvehicles.Twistingandflyingdebristurnsintoprojectileweapons,whichcancauseinjuriesandfatalities.TornadoesinMercerCountyaregenerallynarrow,anddonotgrowtothewidthofthemega-tornadoesintheplainstates.Theyaregenerally25-500yardswideandstayonthegroundforafewmiles.Thelongestrecentdurationforatornadotostayonthegroundwas56.2milesin1965,andtheshortestrecentonestayedonthegroundfor100yardsin2013.Ohioranksamongthetoptwentystatesininjuries,fatalities,andpropertydamagefromtornadoevents.WhiletornadoesdonotoccurfrequentlyintheMercerCounty,theseverityandimpactwhentheydoisoftensubstantial.MercerCountyhasexperiencedeighteentornadoeventssince1950,accordingtoNDPCrecords,andhassufferedmorethan$6,595,000inpropertydamage.ThemagnitudeofthetornadoeshasrangedfromF/EF0toF/EF4,withthehighestnumberofincidentsclassifiedasEF-0.InMercerCounty,tornadoesareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themapbelowidentifiesthelocationandmagnitudeoftornadoincidentsinthecounty.
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Map2-8:TornadoHistory
LocalTornadoHistoryMercerCountyhasexperiencedtwotornadoeventsthatmorethan$2,500,000eachindamage.ThefirstoftheseoccurredonApril11,1965.CommonlyknownasthePalmSundayTornadoes,thistornadooutbreakisoneofthedeadliestinU.S.history.Theoutbreakspawnedeighteentornado-producingsystemsacrosssixstates.SixofthesesystemsreachedOhio.OneofthesesystemscrossedfromIndianaintoMercerCountyatapproximately8:20pmasanF-4tornado.ThestormcausedwidespreaddestructionbeforemovingintoVanWertCounty.Tworesidentsperishedwhentheirhomewasdestroyed.AcrossOhio,atotalof55peoplewerekilledbytornadoesfromthisoutbreak.Inadditiontotwolocalfatalities,24peoplewereinjuredandMercerCountysuffered$2,500,000inpropertydamage.ThesecondsignificanttornadoeventoccurredintheearlymorninghoursonJune1,1980.AnF1stormimpactedanareasouthofMontezumaandGrandLakeSt.Marys.Thestorminjuredfourpeopleandcauseddamagetotally$2,500,000.ThemostrecenttornadotocausemajordamageinthecountyoccurredApril19,2011inCelina.ThisEF-2stormtravelledthroughtheprimarybusinessdistrictofCelinaalongHavemannRoad.Severallargecommercialbusinesses,includingahomeimprovement
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warehouseandgrocerystore,sufferedseriousroofandHVACdamage.Thegrocerystorewasdestroyed.Multipleresidentialstructuresandbarnsweredamagedandseveralvehiclesweremovedbythestrongwinds.Noinjurieswerereportedbutthecountyexperienced$340,000inpropertydamage.
Table2-30:MercerCountyTornadoHistory
HazardTotal
IncidentsTotal
PropertyLossTotal
CropLossTotalDeaths
TotalInjuries
AverageLoss/Incident
Tornado 18 $6.595M $30K 2 29 $367K
2.2.8WindstormAwindstormisaweathereventwithverystrongwindsbutlittletonoprecipitation.Windspeedinthistypeofeventtypicallyreachesatleast34mphbutcanbeanyspeedthatcauseslightorgreaterdamagetotreesandbuildings.Damagecanbecausedbygusts,whichareshortburstsofhigh-speedwind,orlongerperiodsofsustainedwind.Aderechoisaspecifictypeofwindstormthatiswidespreadandfastmoving.Thesestormscanproducedamagingstraight-linewindsoverextremelylargeareas,sometimesspanninghundredsofmileslongandmorethan100mileswide.Tobedefinedasaderecho,thestormmustproducedamageoveratleast240miles,havewindgustsofatleast58mphacrossmostofthestorm’slength,andmultiplegustsof75mphorgreater.Thedestructionproducedbyaderechocanbeverysimilartothatfromatornado.However,thedamagefromthistypeofstormgenerallyoccursinonedirectionalongastraightpath.ThetopographyofwestcentralOhiocanbevulnerabletodamagesfromhighwindsunaccompaniedbyanykindofprecipitation,makingwindstormsacountywidehazard.Allareasandjurisdictionscanbeaffectedbyseverewind.Thereislimitedchangeinelevationorextensivewoodedcoverareatobreakuptheeffectsofstrongwindstorms.Althoughwindsinexcessof50milesperhourcanoccurindependently,thisisuncommon.Mostofthetime,severewindsarepartofalargerstormsystem.Thewindoccursasprecipitationandunstableairmovesintothearea.Highwindsarefrequentlyaccompaniedbyheavyrain,hail,ice,snow,orthunderstorms.InMercerCounty,wind-onlyincidentsdonotoccurfrequently.NCDChasrecordedonlyninewindeventssince1950,resultingin$4,953,000inpropertydamage.Windstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.LocalWindstormHistoryAlthoughinfrequent,whenwinddoesoccurasanindependenthazard,theimpactcanbesevere.ThemostseverewindstorminMercerCountyhistoryoccurredonSeptember14,2008whentheremnantsofHurricaneIkemovedacrossOhio.DamageacrossOhioexceeded$500,000,000.InMercerCounty,sustainedwindsof50mphandgustsupto60mphcaused
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manydownedtreesandutilitylines.Thewindsalsodamagedbuildingsandcrops.Atotallossof$4,900,000wasrecordedinthecounty.OnMarch9,2002,thecountyexperiencedadamagingwindevent,althoughmuchlessdamagingthanthe2008incident.Windgustsofupto80mphcausedsignificantdamagetoutilitylines,trees,andsmallstructures.Sevenpeoplewereinjuredandmanypeoplelostpowerforseveralhours.TotaldamagesinMercerCountywererecordedas$35,000.ThemostrecenthighwindeventinMercerCountyoccurredApril3,2016whenacoldfrontmovedintotheregion,causingsignificantwindtoimpactthearea.ThedamagewasverylimitedinMercerCounty.Accordingtoreports,severaltreesandpowerlineswereblowndowncausingapproximately$1,000indamage.
Table2-31:MercerCountyWindstormHistory
HazardTotal
IncidentsTotal
PropertyLossTotal
CropLossTotalDeaths
TotalInjuries
AverageLoss/Incident
Windstorm 9 $4.953M 0 0 8 $550K
2.2.9WinterStormAwinterstormisaweathereventthatincludesseveralwinterweatherhazardsandcandevelopanytimebetweenlatefallandearlyspring.Thesestormscanincludeanycombinationofextremelycoldtemperatures,wind,snowfall,sleet,ice,orrainwithtemperatureslowenoughtoformice.Ablizzardisaspecifictypeofwinterstormcharacterizedbysustainedwindsorfrequentgustsof35mphorgreaterandfallingorblowingsnowthatreducesvisibilitytolessthan¼mile;bothoftheseconditionsmustbepresentforatleastthreehourstobeconsideredablizzard.Thegreatestriskassociatedwithwinterstormsisthelossofutilities.Theelderlyandyoungchildrenaremostatrisk.Whenmedications,healthequipment,andfoodsuppliescannotreachdestinations,thesepopulationsendurethegreatesthardship.Winterstormsofthismagnitudearerelativelyrare.Mostwinterstormsareatemporaryinconveniencethatmakesresidentsuncomfortable.Itisextremelyrareforcasualtiestooccur,withtheexceptionoftrafficaccidentsthatresultfromdangerousroadconditions.DuetothelivestockoperationsthatareprevalentinMercerCounty,especiallyinthesouthernhalfofthecounty,blizzardsthatclosecountyroadsandmakeingressandegressimpossibleformorethanafewhourscanbecostly.Duetoindustryregulations,dairyfarmsareunabletostoremilkforextendedperiodsoftimeandtheyarenotatallabletoprocessthemilkgivenitsveryshortshelflife.Otherlivestock,suchasbeefcattle,pigs,andpoultry,requirefeedtobedeliveredtothefarmsfrequently.Closedroadsandinaccessiblebarnscancauseanimalstodieforlackoffreshfood.Utilityoutagesstopautomaticfeedersandotherelectricalequipmenton
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thefarms,furtherextendingthedamagesrelatedtoblizzards.Livestockcanfreezetodeath,dieofdehydrationwhenwatersuppliesarefrozen,andstarvewhenfoodisn’taccessible.SeverewinterweatherisariskacrossOhio.Allareasofthestatearesusceptibletowinterstormsthatbringheavysnow,highwinds,and/orice.Thesestormsrangefromshort,mildburstsofsnowandicetocoldsnapswithsignificantsnowfallthatlastseveraldays.InMercerCounty,winterstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themostcommonwinterstormsincludeacombinationofhazards,suchasiceandsnowfall.Theicebeginstoaccumulateastemperaturesfallbeforeturningtosnow,creatingalayeroficeunderthesnowfall.Sleetandicemakeroadwaysslickanddangerous,increasingthepotentialforvehicularaccidents.Roadcrewsarechallengedtoclearsnowandicefromroadwaysandmaintainsafetransportationroutesforresidents.Icestormscanoccurindependentofotherwinterweatherhazardsbutthisisnotcommon.Iftemperatureshovernearthefreezingpoint,precipitationcanfreezeandaccumulateontreesandpowerlines.Thiscanleadtopoweroutageswhenthebranchesandlinescanbreak.Extremecoldtemperaturescanoccurwithoutotheraccompanyingwinterweatherhazardsbutthisisrelativelyrare.Whenitdoesoccur,theincidentisgenerallyofashortdurationandisaninconveniencetoresidentsandbusinesses.Littlephysicaldamagegenerallyoccurstobuildingsorinfrastructure.MercerCountyexperiencesmultiplewinterweathereventseveryyear.However,theseincidentsarerarelysevereenoughtocausepropertydamage.Thecountyhasexperienced69eventssince1950,perNCDCrecords.Collectively,theseincidentshavecaused$550,000inpropertydamage.Fiveoftheseincidentshavebeenconsideredicestormsandtwowereclassifiedasblizzards;zeroincidentswerecategorizedasextremecoldevens.Althoughlesscommon,theicestormsandblizzardsdidnotcontributetohigherdamagestatisticsthantypicalwinterstorms.NoneoftheseincidentswereidentifiedintheNDCDstatisticstohavecausedanydocumentedpropertyloss.LocalWinterStormHistoryTheonlywinterweathereventrecordedbyNCDCthatcausedsignificantpropertydamageinMercerCountyoccurredonJanuary6,1996.The“Blizzardof‘96”beganintheGulfCoastregionandmovednortheasttowardstheeastcoastoftheUnitedStates.InOhio,thestorm’simpactwasmostsevereinsouthernOhiowhereroofscollapsedduetoexcessivesnowfallandblowinganddriftingsnowandextremelycoldtemperaturescausedtrafficaccidentsandforcedbusinessestocloseforseveraldays.Statewide,damagefromthisstormwasnearly$15,000,000.InMercerCounty,damageswerelimitedto$500,000andtherewerenoinjuriesorfatalities.FormostofOhio,themostsignificanthistoricalwinterweathereventistheBlizzardof1978.MercerCounty,andmostofnorthernOhio,wasseverelyimpactedbythisstorm.OnJanuary26,1978,twolow-pressuresystemscombinedoverOhiotoproducerecord-breakingsnowfall,windsofupto70mph,andextremelylowtemperatures.InMercerCounty,approximatelyfifteeninchesofsnowfellontopofthetwelveinchesalreadyonthegroundfromaprevioussnowfall.Thehighwindscausedblowinganddriftingsoseverethatroadswereimpassableand
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buildingswereburied.Roadswereimpassableforalmostaweekandschoolsremainedclosedforsixdays.Mostbusinesseswereforcedtoclosebecausetransportationwasatastandstilluntilroadscouldbecleared.AsMercerCountyweatheredthestorm,residentsopenedtheirhomestostrandedmotoristsandneighborshelpedoneanotherdigoutfromtheblizzard.Todate,thisremainstheworstwinterweathereventinMercerCounty’shistory.Since2014,MercerCountyhasexperiencesmorethantwentywinterweatherincidents.Noneoftheseincidents,however,ledtoanymeasurablepropertydamage,injuries,orfatalities.Theseincidentshaveinconveniencedresidentswithhazardousroadconditionsandschoolclosingsbuthavehadlittlelong-termimpact.
Table2-32:MercerCountyWinterStormHistory
HazardTotal
IncidentsTotal
PropertyLossTotal
CropLossTotalDeaths
TotalInjuries
AverageLoss/Incident
WinterStorm* 69 $550K 0 0 0 $8KExtremeCold 0 0 0 0 0 0IceStorm 5 0 0 0 0 0
*Includesallincidentswithblizzardconditions,extremecold,icestorm,andwinterstorm.
2.3VULNERABILITYASSESSMENTWhilethecommitteedevelopedacountywideprioritizationthatincludeshazardconsequencesintheunincorporatedareasofthecounty(townshipsandneighborhoods)aswellastheincludingthemunicipalitiesintheirconclusions,themunicipalitiestookintoaccountonlytheirindividualjurisdictionalperspectiveoneachhazard.Thecountymitigationstrategiesthereforewerebaseduponthevulnerabilitiesoftheentirecountyaswellasthoseassociatedwiththeunincorporatedareasliketownshipsandruralneighborhoods.Themunicipalstrategieswerebaseduponthemunicipalityonly.
2.3.1FloodplainMappingandtheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramMercerCountyparticipatedincountywidefloodplainmodernizationwithODNRinFiscalYear2008aspartofFEMA’sMapModernizationprocess.AscopingmeetingwasheldonOctober10,2010andculminatedwithrevisedmapsbecomingeffectiveonMay16,2012.Subsequenttothisprocess,severalwatershedsinMercerCountywereidentifiedforstudyunderFEMA’sRiskMAPprocess.TheAuglaizeandUpperGreatMiamiwatershedsbeganthisprocessinlate2010withDiscoveryReportsfinalizedinJune2011.TheUpperWabashwatershedRiskMAPprocessbeganin2015;thefinalDiscoveryReportwaspublishedinDecember2016.ThetablebelowprovidesinformationonparticipationintheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramforcommunitiesinMercerCountyaccordingtotheFEMACommunityStatusBookReportforOhio.
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Table2-33:NationalFloodInsuranceProgramParticipationCommunity InitFHBM
IdentifiedInitFIRMIdentified
CurrEFFMapDate
Reg-EmerDate
MercerCounty 02/14/1975 09/06/1989 05/16/2012 09/06/1989Celina 04/12/1974 03/18/1974 05/12/2012 03/18/1986Coldwater 06/07/1974 05/16/2012 05/16/2012(M) 02/02/1984FortRecovery 06/07/1974 05/01/1987 05/16/2012 05/01/1987Mendon 06/14/1974 05/16/2012 05/16/2012 11/15/1985Montezuma 08/09/1974 04/15/2002 05/16/2012 02/01/1986Rockford 04/12/1974 02/01/1986 05/16/2012 02/01/1986St.Henry InProcess
St.HenryisintheprocessofjoiningNFIP;thelocalresolutionhasbeenadoptedandthevillageiscurrentlyworkingwithFEMAtofinalizetheirparticipation.BurkettsvilleandChickasawdonotcurrentlyparticipateinNFIPbecausetheyhavenoidentifiedfloodhazardareas.
2.3.2RepetitiveandSevereRepetitiveLossStructuresSomestructuresinMercerCountyareidentifiedasrepetitivelosspropertiesthathaveexperiencemultiplelosses.Thetablebelowliststhestructuresthathavebeenidentifiedthroughrepetitivelossclaims.Therearenosevererepetitivelossstructuresinthecounty.
Table2-34:RepetitiveLossPropertiesCommunity Properties Losses Building
PaymentsContentsPayments
TotalPayment
MercerCounty 6 19 $224,025.53 $23,060.58 $247,086.11FortRecovery 1 2 $5,000.00 $17,422.12 $22,422.12
Additionalrepetitivelossand/orsevererepetitivelossstructuresmaystillexistinMercerCounty,especiallysincechangesoccurredinfloodplainmappingandunidentifiedstructuresmaynowfallinsidethefloodplainduetochanges.
2.3.3MercerCountyMercerCounty’sprimaryconcernisflooding,andflashfloodinginparticular.Thetypeofprecipitatingeventofmostconcernisanextendedperiodofexceptionallyheavyprecipitationthatresultsinacombinationofriverineandflashflooding.ThehighestelevationinMercerCountyisatitsextremesouthwesternboundaryontheMercer-DarkecountylinebetweenUnionCityRoadandJenkinsRoad.ThelowestpointinMercerCountyisalmostdirectlynorthontheMercer-VanWertCountylinejusteastofHillRoad.Thedifferenceinelevationisapproximately270feet.Therefore,runoffnaturallyflowsfromnorthtosouththroughthevarioussub-watersheds.Therearemanywaterwaysthatincludestreams,ditches,andriversandthesewaterwayscarryrunoffeffectivelyawayfromsettledareasandassets.Becausetheterrainissoflat,mostfarm
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fieldsaretiled.Whilethisallowsforrapiddrainagetooccur,itcanoverloadandfloodtheditches,streamsandriversaswaterreachesthewaterwaysfasterthanthewaterwayscantakeitdownstream.Thiscancausebackupintofieldsandfarmsteads,washingoutcropsandstrandingordrowninglivestockatpasture.Duetothelimitedabsorptioncapabilityofthesoilsandtheflatterrainthatlacksdropinelevationtofacilitaterunoff,wateraccumulatesveryrapidlyinstreetsandroadways,low-lyingareas,parkinglots,andinbufferzonesaroundrivers.Stormsewersandwastewatertreatmentfacilitiescanbeoverwhelmedbyfast-fallingheavyprecipitation,backingwaterupintostreets,drivewaysandparkinglots,andhomes.Becausemostofthecountyliesatthetopofawatershed,theriversandstreamsaregenerallyeffectiveincarryingthewaterawayonceitreachesthewaterway;however,theflowofthoseriversisdependentuponthosedownstreamtokeepthedebrisandsettlementoutoftherivertofacilitateflowthroughtheentirewatershedarea.Ifothersdownstreamarenegligentorineffectiveinmaintainingthewaterways,MercerCountycouldincurseveredamageswhenrunoffisnotabletodraininatimelyandeffectivemanner.BecauseMercerCountyisflat,itisalsoopentothewindsthatcomeupfromthesouthwestandacrossfromthewest,blowinghardanddamagingproperties,buildings,andinfrastructure.Farmgrainbins,elevators,andlegstothebinsareespeciallyvulnerable.Ifthewindscomeintheformofstrongstraight-linewindsortornadoes,thedamagetopropertycanbeextensive.Thereisnothingtoprotectit.Noelevationchangebreaksupstorms;noforestedareasprovideawindbreak;nonaturalsanctuaryexiststoprotectMercerCountyfarms,churches,andotherfacilitiesfromstrongOhiowinds.Winterstormspresentaserious,butgenerallyshort-lived,threatforMercerCounty.Livestockisabigpartoftheagriculturalbaseofthecounty.Especiallyinthesouthernhalfofthecounty,farmsproducecattle,pigs,andpoultry.Feedingofthelivestockisanautomatedprocessonmanyfarms,andtheirmechanizationisdependentuponfeeddeliveryonaregularbasisandaworkingpowersystemtopowertheprocess.Whenpowergoesoutandroadsareblockedorclosed,neitherofthosesegmentsoftheprocesscanoccur.Shutdowncanbedeadlyandexpensive.Dairycattleproducemilkthatmustbehauledawayonafrequentscheduletoprocessingplants.Thecattlearemilkedwhethertheproductcanbehauledawayornot,andfarmershaveverylimitedstoragefortheunprocessedmilk.Themilkhasashortshelflifewhenitisrawproduct,solackofopenroadwaysandaccessiblebarnscanbedisastrous.Whenfarmerscannotfeedtheirherdsandmilktheircows,theagri-businesspartnerslikemilkhaulers,processors,andfeedsuppliersareaffectedtoo.Thewinterstormthatclosesroadsforafewdaysisinconvenientforalmosteveryone,butitisexpensiveanddeadlyforfarmers.Severethunderstormscanbedamagingevents.Stormscandevelopsuddenlyandoftenincludeheavyprecipitation,strongwinds,occasionalrotationalwinds,lightning,andsometimeshail.Thunderstormcellscansneakupquicklyandwithlittlewarning.InMercerCounty’sprimarilyrurallandscape,notificationcanbeproblematicbecausethepopulationisnotheavilyconcentratedinmanygeographicareas,makingtheinstallationanduseofoutdoorwarningsirensachallenge.Thunderstormdamagescanincludetoppledbuildings,damagedroofs,anduprootedtrees.Cropdamagesandlivestockinjuriesarenotuncommonwhenhailandhigh
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windsareinvolved.ThesolidagriculturalbaseofMercerCounty’seconomymakesafarmlossintoeveryone’sloss.Lightningcanstrikefarms,andwithheavyloadsofhayandstrawinhaymowsandcorninbins,farmproductscanberuinedquiteeasilybeforetheyreachmarketsorfeedingsystems.Flattenedcorn,wheat,andsoybeansfromseverewind,destroyedstalksandstemsthatfeedthefruitofcropsdeliversasevereblowtotheeconomyinthisfarmingcommunityevenifstructuraldamageandfiresarenotapartofthedestruction.Earlygrowingseasonstormscanfloodgerminatingplants,drowntinysprouts,andsaturatesoilsandwashawayfertilizers,herbicidesandpesticides.Hailcanstripplantsoftheirfruit,anddestroytheplantstructurethatallowsforthematurationoftherestoftheplant.Severestormscanbedevastatingwhentheystrikehardandheavyatthewrongtime.TheinvasionoftheEmeraldAshBorerhastakenoutmanytreesinMercerCounty.Manymoreareweakenedbythebugandwillcomedownattheslightestthreat.Theyendupasdebris,blockingroadsandstreets,fallingonhousesandbuildings,andrequiringextensiveworkbythejurisdictionstoclearthedebris.Thegreatestdifficultywithdownedtreesiswhenthedebrisdamagesutilitypolesandsystems,causingpoweroutagesthataffectlivestockandfarmsaswellasindividualsandbusinesses.MercerCountydoesnothavesignificanthistoryofdroughtorextremeheatincidents,andthewatersupplyisreliableandplentifulenoughtowithstandthetypicaldryspellthatstrikesOhio.Thesearethreatsandarepossible,butranklowontheprobabilityanddamageassessmentscale.Earthquakeissimilar.WhileOhioonoccasionexperiencessomegentlerumbling,thereisnosignificanthistoryofearthquakes,andthereisalmostnorecordeddamage,atleastnotnearMercerCounty.Damfailureispossiblebecausethecountydoeshaveseveraldams.Mostareupgroundreservoirsmaintainedbymunicipalitiesaspartoftheirwatertreatmentsystems.TheotherdamsaremaintainedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,andareconsideredtobeinexcellentrepair.ThereisnoemergencyplanonrecordfortheGrandLakeSt.Marysdamandspillway;theOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesisresponsibleforthisplanandCelinacityofficialsareworkingwiththemtocompleteaplan.Thereisnohistoryofaproblemwithanyofthedams,andthereforetheyranklowonthescaleofthreats.TherearenoleveesinMercerCounty.
2.3.4JurisdictionVulnerabilityWhileMercerCountyhasmanycommonfactorsacrossthecounty,eachmunicipalityhasitsownuniquevulnerabilitiesbaseduponthecharacteristicsofthejurisdiction.Somevillagesarebedroomcommunities,whileothersareahavenofindustrialandcommercialproductivity.Someareasreceivemorerunofffromstorms,andthereforehaveflashfloodingwhenothershavenone.Thefollowingsectiondescribeseachuniquecommunityandhowthehazardswereranked,with1beingthemostdisruptiveand9beingleastconcerning.
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BurkettsvilleThevillageofBurkettsvillesitsonthesoutherncountylinesharedbetweenMercerandDarkeCounties.Thissmallcommunityisaffectedmostseverelybypoweroutagesanddebrisfromwindorflashfloodingofthestreetsandhighway.Theyarenotpronetoflooddamagesbecausethesitveryhighonthewatershedwiththehighestpointinthecountyjustacouplemilestothewest.WaterdrainsintoWardDitchandtheWabashRiver,andunlessthosewaterwaysbecomeblockedbyexcessivedebris,thewatermovesoutquickly.SewersystemsarelinkedtotheSt.HenryVillagesystem.Waterissuppliedbyindividualwells,andthereisnohistoryofsignificantwatersupplyproblems.Inaseverewindincidentorwinterstorm,thevillageisremoteanddistantfromothermunicipalities,andisaborderlinecommunityforbothDarkeandMercerCounty.Therefore,itcouldtakesometimeforpowerrestorationinthemostsevereofincidents,butthosearenotfrequent.TheVillageofBurkettsvillerankedhazardsandthreatsasfollows:
Table2-35:BurkettsvilleHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Flood3 SevereThunderstorm4 Tornado5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 InvasiveSpecie7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure
CelinaTheCityofCelinaiscentrallylocatedontheeastsideofMercerCountyandwrapsaroundthenorthwestsideofGrandLakeSt.Marys.Itismostaffectedbyflashfloodingandsomeriverineflooding;thestreetswillfillwithwaterandexcesswillmoveintobasementsinhomes,parkinglots,andotherlow-lyingareasafteraheavyandrapidoranextendedrainfall.Somecommercialareassitinvulnerablespots,andbecomeinoperableuntilthewaterdrains.ThemajorroadsthatpassthroughCelinawillfloodandoftenareclosedforaperiodoftimeuntilthewaterrecedes.Whiletherehavebeenonlyafewseveresustainedraineventsinthepast,floodingcanpersistforacoupledaysandseverelyhamperbusinessanddailyactivities.Itisrarelylifethreatening.BeaverCreekfloodsattimes,butotherwisethefloodingisallflashflooding.Thecityexercisesextremecareindevelopmentofareasthatflood,especiallyanyareathatareincludedinthefloodplain.Celinahassignificantriskofdamageduetowind,bethatatornadoorastraight-linewindevent,orwindduringasnowstormandiceevent.Thelandisflatacrosstheentirecounty,andthewindandstormscansweepfastandfuriousastheymoveintoOhiofromthesouthwest.Debris,damagedroofsandbuildings,andcommercialstructuresincurdamage.In2011,a
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tornadodidsignificantdamagetoseveralbusinessesinthecity,andtorethroughthemercantilesectionofthecityontheeastandnorthsidesoftown.Treedebrisisacommonnuisance,andrequiresagreatdealofcityefforttomanageafteranywindevent.TheinfestationbytheEmeraldAshBorerhasincreasedthesusceptibilityofthetreestowinddamage.Poweroutagesaremostlikelytobecausedbydownedtrees.Winterstormsposedifficultyinhandlingtheplowedsnowfromstreetsandotherproperties.Ificefallsbeforeorafterthesnow,itaddsalevelofresponsethatcanbecomedifficultforextendedperiodsoftime,orwhenmultipleeventsfollowoneanotherwithoutwarmingbreaksbetween.Whileitisaremotepossibility,thefailureofthedamatthelakecouldcausesignificantlifeandpropertythreat.ThedamismaintainedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,andtherearenosuspectedproblemsinspiteofthefactthatnoemergencyplanhasbeencompleted.Whilethelikelihoodisverylowofanyincident,itispossible,especiallyifcombinedwithaminorearthquakeordeteriorationofthestructureforotherreasons.Celinahasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-36:CelinaHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Tornado3 SevereThunderstorm4 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)5 Flood6 DamFailure7 InvasiveSpecies8 Drought/ExtremeHeat9 Earthquake
ChickasawThissmallvillageispronetowinddamagebecauseitsitsatoneofthehighestpointsinthecounty.Thewindinanykindofstormcanwhiptreesandproperties,doingextensivedamageinashorttime.Becausethecommunityisadistancefromthecenterofthecounty,itcanbecomeisolatedandcutofffromresources.Therefore,anythingthatcausesdebris,blocksroadways,orseparatestheresidentsfromoutsidesourcescanbeacriticalsituation.Treesdamagedbydiseasecausethemtofallandblockroads,damagehomes,andimpededrainage.Theelevationcausesfloodingtobeoflittleconcern,andtheyarenotexposedtoanywatercontrolstructures,highbuildingsthatcouldcausedamageinearthquakes,orcompromisedwatersupply.Therefore,windposesthegreatestthreatinChickasaw.
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Chickasawhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-37:ChickasawHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 SevereThunderstorm3 Tornado4 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)5 InvasiveSpecies6 Flood7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure
ColdwaterThevillageofColdwateristhesecondlargestmunicipalityinthecounty,andthelocalhospitalisinColdwater.Thiscommunityisawell-developedanddiversecollectionofresidentialandbusinessareas,andthatbringswithittheneedforopenroadsandhighqualitystreets.Thecommunityispronetowinddamagebecauseitisrelativelyhighwithoutsignificantwindbreaksorforestedland.Farmfieldssurroundthecommunityandwinddamageincludescropfodderandanimalwasteinsewers,yards,anddrainage.Thevillageiswelllandscaped,andinvasivespecieshavedestroyedmanyofthetrees,causingastormdamagesituationandapublicexpensewhenstormscomethroughtoclearstreetsandroadsofdownedtrees.Thecommunityhasupgroundreservoirs,butthethreatofanyfailureisverylowandnotconsideredtobeverylikely.Coldwaterhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-38:ColdwaterHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Windstorm3 Tornado4 SevereThunderstorm)5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 InvasiveSpecies7 DamFailure8 Drought/ExtremeHeat9 Earthquake
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FortRecoveryFortRecoverysitsatopMercerCountyattheheadwatersoftheWabashRiver.Astheriverracesthroughtownandreachesthecommercialandservicelifebloodfacilities,floodingcancauseaseriousproblem.FortRecoveryhasalreadydemolishedandmovednumeroushomesandcriticalfacilitiestoremovethemfromdangerouslocations.Farmsuppliersandsomeproductionfacilitiesremainclosetotheriver’sedgeandthatmakesfloodingasignificantthreat.Thecommunityispronetowinddamage,havinglittleprotectionfromdamagetoroofs,buildings,andcrops.Anyseverestormsseemtobringlotsofrainandwind,andthereforerankveryhighonthislittlecommunity’slistofthreats.Invasivespecieshavedestroyedmanytreeshere,increasingthethreatofdebrisdamageanddrainageblockagesinriversandstreams.AClassIdamisclosetoFortRecovery,butthereisnoreasontobelievethisisasignificantthreataslongasitismaintainedinthecurrentcondition.Anemergencyplanisinplace.FortRecoverysitsatthejunctureofseveralstatehighways,andasignificantamountoftransportationservicesmovethroughtowneachdayasgoodsarehauledinandoutofMercerCounty.Openroads,freefromdebrisandsnow,areacriticalpartofthatcommercialinfrastructure.Therefore,severestormsareaconcernandareasonforthisvillagetoreactquickly.FortRecoveryhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-39:FortRecoveryHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Windstorm3 Tornado4 SevereThunderstorm5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 DamFailure7 InvasiveSpecies8 Drought/ExtremeHeat9 Earthquake
MendonMendonisabedroomcommunityonthenortheastsideofMercerCounty.Manyresidentsworkoutofthecountyinnearbyfactoriesandservices,anddependupontheroadwaysandstreetstobeabletocomeandgo,astheyneedto.Flashfloodingisaconcernasthegravity-baseddrainagecanbeoverwhelmedquickly.Anyseverestorm,especiallythosethathavesignificantwind,canbeverydamagingtothisvillageanditsproperty.Landscapedwithmanyoldtrees,theEmeraldAshBorerhasdestroyedmanytrees,makingdebrisandremovalofdeadtreesanissueforMendon.Thisvillageisdiligentaboutkeepingthestreetsandtreeswell
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maintained,andworkstokeeputilitiesingoodrepair.However,aseverestormofanykindcouldeasilyoverwhelmthemandcauseaseriouslackofadequateresourcestorespond.Mendonhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-40:MendonHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Tornado3 SevereThunderstorm4 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)5 InvasiveSpecies6 Flood7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure
MontezumaMontezumaliesonthesouthandsouthwestsideofGrandLakeSt.Marys,andishometothemajorityofthetouristtradeinMercerCounty.SharingtheindustrywithCelina,Montezumaispopulatedbypart-timehomes,mobilehomes,cottagesandcabins,andothervacationrentalsusedwhilethesunshinesandtemperaturesclimb.Toservetheseindividuals,therearenumerouslakesidebusinessesthatsellfood,campingsupplies,beerandwine,fishinggear,andotheritemsusedrecreationally.Thisisallatriskwhenthewindkicksup,thewatersbegintoriseduetoheavyrainfalloranortheasterlystrongwindblowsthewaterintootherwisemanageableproperties.Thenatureofsomeofthestructuresismorevulnerablethantypicalhomesthatareoccupiedyear-round,andthefactthattheyareattimevacantincreasesthechanceofpropertydamage.ThedamthatmaintainsthewaterlevelsinGrandLakeSt.Marys,ifbreached,couldcausesignificantdamageandevendeathinMontezuma.Residentsareconstantlyawareofanywaterthreats,includinganykindofproblemwiththedam.ThisdamismaintainedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,anditsoperationmaintainsadequatewaterlevelsinthelake.Whilethereisnoobviousreasontobelievethatathreatexistsorisinanywayimminent,therewouldbeseveredamageifthedamfailedforanyreason.
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Montezumahasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-41:MontezumaHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Tornado3 Flood4 SevereThunderstorm5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 DamFailure7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 InvasiveSpecies9 Earthquake
RockfordRockfordsitsinthefarnorthernpartofMercerCounty,amidseveralreserveareasthatspeakofOhio’sIndianlore.WheretheSt.MarysRiverwindsthroughtown,US33cutsthroughasaroutefortrucksandotherlargehaulerstocarrygoodsintoOhiofromIndiana.Thelandscapeoftreesandfoliagemakesthevillagepronetodamagefromwindofanykind,easilyresultinginthetossing-aboutoflimbsandbranches.TheEmeraldAshBorerhastakenitstollonthetreesthatlinetheriver,thehighways,andtheresidentialareasandtheyfallwithoutmuchpushfromMotherNature.AnykindofsevereweathereventcancauseRockforddifficulty.Winddownstreesanddamagesbuildings.Severeraincancauseflashfloodingandsomeneighborhoodswillfloodintheworststorms,causingresidentstopackupandmovetemporarilywhilewaterdrainsaway.Thetwistsandturnsintheinterstateandthevillagestreetscanbecomecongestedandfloodedwhenwatercomeshardandheavy.Rockfordhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-42:RockfordHazardRankRank Hazard1 Windstorm2 Tornado3 InvasiveSpecies4 Flood5 SevereThunderstorm6 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure
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St.HenrySt.Henryisaneat,tidyandbusyvillageinthesouth-centralareaofMercerCounty.ThiscommunitysitsatthetopofColdwaterCreekandjustsouthoftheWabashRiver.It’swelldesignedanddevelopedneighborhoods,itsnewandrenovatedbusinessesandsmallfactories,anditsserviceandretailbusinessesarealllocatedonwideandwellmaintainedstreets.However,thesestreetsarepronetoflashfloodingwhenraincomesquickly,orwhenrainissustainedovermanydays.Outinthemidstoffarmland,debrisandfodderwashintotownandblockthedrainagesystem,impedingthemovementofrunoffwatersoutofyards,neighborhoods,andparkinglotsorstreetsThevillagesitsoutbyitselfwithoutalotofforestorwindbreaks,andisthereforesusceptibletowinddamagefromhighwind,tornado,orotherseverestorms.Icecanbeacommonpartofstormsthatcomeduringseasonaltransitions,complicatingthemanagementofroadsandutilities.Thevillagehasbeenimpactedbytreedisease,makingthetreesmorevulnerabletofallingwhenwindskickup.Wind,water,andtemperaturearewhatthreatensthisvillagethemost.St.Henryhasrankedthethreatsandhazardsasfollows:
Table2-43:St.HenryHazardRankRank Hazard1 Flood2 Windstorm3 Tornado4 SevereThunderstorm5 SevereWinterStorm(Blizzard)6 InvasiveSpecies7 Drought/ExtremeHeat8 Earthquake9 DamFailure
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Thefollowingchartisasummationofthepreviousrankingsforeaseofuse.
Table2-44:JurisdictionalVulnerability
Hazard MercerC
ounty
Burkettsville
Celin
a
Chickasaw
Coldwater
FortRecov
ery
Men
don
Mon
tezuma
Rockford
St.H
enry
Dam/LeveeFailure 8 9 6 9 7 6 9 6 9 9Drought/ExtremeHeat 7 7 8 7 8 8 7 7 7 7Earthquake 9 8 9 8 9 9 8 9 8 8Flood 3 2 5 6 1 1 6 3 4 1InvasiveSpecies 6 6 7 5 6 7 5 8 3 6SevereThunderstorm 4 3 3 2 4 4 3 4 5 4Tornado 2 4 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 3Windstorm 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2WinterStorm 5 5 4 4 5 5 4 5 6 5
2.4RISKANALYSISToestimatedisasterlosses,adamageprofilethatconsidersthepotentialimpactandlossfromeachhazardisdeveloped.Inthissection,lossestimatesfromfloods,earthquakes,winterstorms,tornadoes,thunderstorms,windstorms,anddroughtareexamined.Whilethelossesfromtheseincidentsareoftenmoreofatemporaryandinconvenientnature,significantdisruptiontobusiness,somepropertydamage,andlossoflifeispossibleunderextremeorunusualcircumstances.ThisinformationwasusedtodetermineMercerCounty’sriskforeachspecifichazard.
2.4.1Dam/LeveeFailureDamageProfileMostofthedamsinMercerCountyareclassifiedas“other”structuresbecausetheyarelowandnarrow,onprivateproperty,anddonotmeetcriteriaforotherwiseclassifieddams.TheonlyClassIdamsinthecountyaretheUpperWabashNumber3PondnearFortRecovery,ownedbytheWabashRiverConservancyDistrict,andtheGrandLakeSt.MarysWestEmbankmentnearthewestsideofCelinaownedbytheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,DivisionofParksandRecreation.ThereisanemergencyplanfortheUpperWabashdambutnoemergencyplanofrecordforthelakedamandspillway.St.HenryandMontezumahavewastewatertreatmentlagoonsanddamsthataremaintainedbythevillages,andhaveemergencyplansinplace.TheUpperWabashNumber2PondisalsoaClassIIIdamandisownedandmaintainedbytheconservancydistrict.Thereareseverallow,shallowstructuresonprivatepropertythatareunclassified.Thereisnohistoryoffailureorcompromiseforanyofthesestructures.
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FailureofaclassIdamasaresultofanaturaleventisveryremote.ThedepthandsizeofGrandLakeSt.Marysmakesmajordamagefromastormunlikely.Thecountyhasnohistoryofnaturalevents,suchasearthquakes,impactingthestabilityofthedamstructure.Ifacatastrophicfailuredidoccur,majordamagewouldoccurdownstreamalongtheBeaverCreek.Agriculturalland,homes,andfarmbuildingsareprevalentinthedownstreamarea.Severalcommercialandresidentialstructuresarelocatedintheareaimmediatelyadjacenttothedam.Theseincludeanapartmentbuilding,medicalcenter,andothercommercialstructures.Atotallossofthesefacilitieswouldbeanticipatedinadamfailureincident,resultinginmorethan$100millioninlosses.
Map2-9:ClassIDamFailureDamageZone
DAMAGE AREA FROM CLASS 1 DAM FAILURE
Beaver Creek Wabash River
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2.4.2Drought/ExtremeHeatDamageProfileMercerCountycanexperienceslightdroughtandregularlyexperiencesperiodsofdecreasedprecipitationduringthegrowingseasonforareafarms.Theclimateismoderateanddoesnotturnaridatanytime.Thereisnohistoryofanextendeddroughtthatwouldcausecasualtiesorpropertydamagemoresignificantthanareductionincropyieldsforasinglegrowingseasonnoristhereanyhistoryofextensivecroplossesinexcessofasinglecropyear.Precipitationpatternscancauseaseriesofyearstohavehigherorloweraverageyieldsduetoslightdryness,lateplantingduetoexcessiverainfall,orlateharvestduetorainfall.Forthepurposeoflossestimates,onlythemajorcashgraincropswereconsideredbecausethosecropsconstitutethemajorityofproductioninMercerCountyandareconsistentlyproducedintheexpressedacreagesfromyeartoyear.Productionlivestockcanbesoldinspiteofdrought;othercashcropssuchascucumbers,tomatoes,andvegetablesareheavilyinsured.Whilemanyfarmerspurchasecropinsuranceforallcrops,includinggrain,datadoesnotexisttodeterminethepercentageofcropsthatareinsuredinMercerCounty.BasedontheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture’s2012CensusofAgriculture,MercerCounty’sagricultureindustryhasatotalmarketvalueof$596,366,000.Ofthistotal,$153,143,000(26%)comesfromcropsand$443,223,000(74%)comesfromlivestock.Inadrought,thesecommoditieswouldallbeexposedtoloss.Table2-46identifiesthequantitiesoftheprimaryagriculturalcommoditiesinthecountythatwouldbeexposedtodrought-relatedloss.
Table2-46:DroughtVulnerabilityAssessmentCommodity CropAcres LivestockCounts
Soybeans 103,534 Corn(forgrain) 94,680 Wheat 17,213 Corn(forsilage) 1,427 Layers 7,948,740Turkeys 1,408,779Pullets(layingstockreplacement) 878,002Hogs/Pigs 261,390Catttle/Calves 66,024
2.4.3EarthquakeDamageProfileEarthquakesaregeologicallypossiblybutnotcommoninMercerCounty.Thecountyhasexperiencedseveralearthquakesinthatpast,althoughthesehaveallbeenveryminorandhavecausednoknowndamage.Assuch,thereislittledatatosupportcommittingextensiveresourcestoearthquake-proofingbuildingsandotherstructures.Becauseofthelowriskandhighcostofimplementingmitigationstrategiesrelatedtoearthquakerisk,theplanningteamdidnotidentifyanysuchactions.Astheyarrivedatthisdecision,theyconsideredhistoricalearthquakedamagedataandHAZUSlossprojectionsfora
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5.4magnitudeearthquakewithanepicenterinCelina.Table2-47isthevulnerabilityanalysismadeavailabletothecommittee.
Table2-47:EarthquakeScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure
Residential 1,749 $269,660,719Non-Residential 973 $150,139,833CriticalFacilities 38 $5,863,632Totals 2,760 $425,664,184
2.4.4FloodDamageProfileMercerCountyisvulnerabletominortomoderatedamagefromfloods.Theareasmostlikelytosustainflooddamagearethoseadjacentorincloseproximitytowaterways,includingsomelow-lyingroadwaysandareasclosetostormsewersthatmaybeundersizedorinadequatetohandlerunofffromheavyprecipitationevents.OneareainButlerTownshipwheretheColdwaterCreekwasartificiallyre-routedtosupplyGrandLakeSt.Maryswithwaterisexceptionallypronetoseriousfloodingwithextensivedamages.IncapacitatingordamagingfloodinginMercerCountyisgenerallytheresultofseveraldaysofheavyprecipitation,andperhapsexacerbatedbysuddenmeltingofsnowandiceorover-saturationofthesoilspriortothestartofrainfall.Asthewateraccumulates,itisunabletogetawayasfastasitcomes,andflashfloodingoccursinthestreets,highways,somelow-lyingproperties,andvulnerablecommercialproperties.Mostresidentialdamageislimitedtofloodedbasementsandaccessissuesingeneral,exceptingforseveralhomestothesouthwestofCelinawhereacreekwasre-routedandwaterseemstoseektheoriginalwatershedwhenprecipitationisexcessive.Thereissomethoughtthattiledfieldsallowtherunofftoreachcommunitiesatafasterpacethaninyearspast,causingstreetandhighwayfloodingtobeworsethanitusedtobe.Someresidentsbelievethis,andothersfeelitisfalselyassigned.Someresidentsfeelthattherainfallismoreintenseandmorefrequentthanitusedtobe.Thereisalsoconcernthatfieldfodderanddebrisfromfallentrees(causedbyasevereinfestationofEmeraldAshBorer)washesintostormdrainsandclogsthestormsewersinmanyofthevillagesanddevelopedportionsoftownshipswheretheyhavestormsewers.Thereisageneralopinionthatwhenculvertsandbridgesarereplaced,thenewstructuresshouldbelargerandhavegreatercapacity.Whateverthecause,flashfloodingandthesewercapacityismorechallengedthaninthepast,andthismakesflashfloodingmoreseriouseventhoughitisstillatemporarycondition.FlooddamageinMercerCountycouldincludedamagetoanddestructionofphysicalbuildings,infrastructure,crops,andlivestock.Withsomuchlivestockinthecounty,pasturedanimalscouldeasilybetrappedawayfromfoodandshelter,causingaseriousthreattotheirwell-being.Residentialstructuraldamagescouldincludedamagetosingleandmulti-familyhomes,grouplivingfacilities,andmulti-familyhousingcomplexes.Commercialandindustrialstructural
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damagescouldincludebuildingsusedformanufacturing,producthandling,transportation,warehousing,retail,business,andindustrial,andthecapitalequipmentassociatedwiththoseuses.Agriculturalstructureswouldincludebarnsusedforlivestock,equipmentstorage,andcommoditystorage,aswellasthecontentsofthosebuildings,whichconstitutebusinessassetssuchasproductionanimals,equipment,andmachinery.Grainbins,transferlegs,andelevatorsystemscouldbedamagedveryeasilybytheforceofwater.Government,nonprofit,andeducationalinstitutionsincludecriticalstructureslikefirestations,policestations,hospitals,offices,schools,andspecialfacilitieslikegaragesandmaintenancebuildings,andthecapitalcontentsofthosestructures.Actualstructuraldamagecouldincludefloodingofbasementsandgroundlevelfloors,compromiseofthefoundationsandutilitysystems,anddestructionofthecontentsofthosestructures.Peopleareatriskfromfloodwaterbecausehouseholdandindustrialchemicalssubstancescancontaminatefloodwaterandresultinhazardouschemicalexposureforrescuers,responders,andvictims.Livestockcouldbesignificantlythreatenedbycontaminatedfloodwaterandhavenowaytoescapeortheabilitytoprotectthemselves.Thisdamagewouldresultinlargeamountsofdebristomanage,includingfinish,structural,andfoundationmaterialsandanimalcarcassesandwaste.ManyroadscanfloodforshortperiodsoftimeinMercerCounty,potentiallyclosingbusinessesandinstitutionsandcripplingcommerceforashortperiodoftime.Thisperiodofbusinessshutdowngenerallyisconfinedtothefloodplainareasandlastsforonlyadayortwooncetherainstops.Withinmunicipalities,someareasexistwherestormsewersareofinsufficientsizeandcapacitytohandlerapidandheavydownfall.Coldwater,St.Henry,andCelinaareparticularlyvulnerabletothis;FortRecoveryandMontezumacanalsoexperienceflashfloodingundertheseconditions.Dependingonexactlywhereprecipitationisheaviest,ifthegroundisfrozen,saturated,ordry,andhowfullwaterwaysareatthetimeoftheevent,significantfloodingcanoccuronroads,streets,bridges,andneighborhoods.Theseflood-proneareasarenothighlypopulatedwithresidentialorcommercialstructuresbutsignificantinconveniencecanresultwhenbusinessesclose,accessiscutoff,anddrainagesystemsareoverwhelmed.Insomecases,suchasFortRecovery,thereareabovegroundtanksofhazardouschemicalsorliquidmanurepitsthatcanbecomeinundatedpotentiallycausethesesubstancestobedispersedinragingfloodwaters.Storedfarmchemicalsareatriskofbeingabsorbedintothefloodwaters,distributedoverfloodedareas,ordamagedan,depositinghazardousrunoffinfloodwater.Insomeareas,livestockinpasturesmaybeatriskinsomeareas,dependingonwhichwaterwaysflood,andcanbecomestrandedorbeinginjuredbeforethefloodwaterrecedes.Agriculturallandthatisheavilytileddrainsquickly,facilitatingrapidandsignificantamountsofrunoffinditches,streams,andrivers.Thiscontributestodownstreamfloodingasthewaterwaysattempttodrainthecounty.CountywidefloodinginMercerCountywouldhappenonlyunderthemostsevereofcircumstances.Asthecountysitshighonthewatershed,therainfallwouldhavetocomein
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copiousamountstofloodtheentirecounty.Thatbeingsaid,amultiple-dayheavyraineventofmorethan10inchesissuspectedtobecapableofwidespreadflooding,especiallyifitcomesearlyinthespringandiscombinedwithsnowmeltandicemelting.FloodingwouldoccuralongtheWabashRiverasitflowsfromthesouthwestcornernearFortRecovery,tothenorthwestthroughtheruralareasandofftowardIndiana.Mostofthispropertyisruralfarmlandandresidentialareasoutsidemunicipalities.TheGrandLakeSt.MaryswatershedareaincludesthevillagesofBurkettsville,St.Henry,andColdwaterandtheresidentialareasinandaroundthosecommunities.Thevariouslargecreeksandstreamsandsub-watershedsinthatareaincludetheColdwaterCreek,GrassyMonroe,Prairie,Beaver,BigChickasaw,andLittleChickasawdrainageareas.Thesewouldfillandbreachtheirbanks,floodinghomesandbusinessesaswellasstreet,roadsandhighways.IntheColdwaterCreeksub-watershed,therearenumeroushomesthatwouldfloodwhenColdwaterCreekfailstocontainitselfataman-madeoutsideturnthatdivertsthewaterintoGrandLakeSt.Marys.Thisfloodwaterwouldverylikelybreachtheearthenstructurethatisintendedtoholditback,raceacrossfieldstogettoBeaverCreekasMotherNatureintendedittodoyearsago,andwouldlikelyinundatethesehomeswithfloodwater.Pastincidentsindicatethatthesestructurescouldbemovedfromthefoundations,significantexteriorandframedamagewouldbedone,andthecontentswouldbedestroyed.Becausethisbreachhappenswhentheforceandpowerofwaterovercomesanon-engineeredearthenstructure,ithappensquicklyandwithoutmuchwarning.Livescouldbeendangeredandlostundertheworstofcircumstances.Itwouldbereasonabletoassumetheindividualsinthishigh-riskareacouldbestrandedandindanger,andrequirerapidwaterspecialrescueservicestobeevacuated.Althoughliveswouldbeintact,therecouldbesevereinjurywithoutextenuatingcircumstances.TheSt.MarysRiverWatershedwouldincludemajormunicipalitieslikeCelina,Rockford,andMendon.Celinawouldbetheworstaffected,andflashfloodingofstreets,parkinglots,low-lyingareas,andbasementsofhomeswouldbesignificant.ThefullandparttimeresidentialareasaroundthelakeinbothCelinaandMontezumacouldbeinundatedwithfloodwater,displacingmanytouristsandgueststothecountyinthewarmermonths.Theselakefronthomescouldbedamagedbecausemanyaremobileandmodularstructures,oldstructuresonconcreteslabs,andonlypartiallyinhabitedthroughouttheyear.Somearerentalandleaseproperties,andownersareremotetothepropertiesandunlikelytotakeimmediateprotectiveactions.Therearemanybusinessesandservice-basedcommercialoperationsinthisarea.Theywouldlikelyemployaggressivesandbaggingeffortstoprotecttheirproperties.Therewouldberoadclosuresandbridge/culvertclosures,aswellasthreatenedwaterplantsandotherinfrastructure.AsBeaverCreekwouldroarthroughCelina,thewaterplantandotherstructureswouldbeprotectedbysandbagsbutcouldincursomedamage.Itisunlikelythatlossoflifewouldbeattributableprimarilyduetoflooding.Ifadeathweretooccur,itwouldlikelybetheresultoftwoormorecombinedthreats,includinglightning,tornado,ordrivingintostandingwater.Extensiveevacuationofthepart-timeresidencesaroundthelakeandthelow-lyinghomesinCelina,Coldwater,St.HenryandFortRecovery
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couldoccur,andwouldlikelyberathershort-lived,lastingadayortworatherthanaweekormore.Powerwouldlikelybeaffected,butagain,outageswouldprobablybeshort-livedandtemporaryduetotheinfrastructureimprovementsdonesincetheseveredamagesin2008.ThelowestamountofflooddamagewouldlikelyoccurintheextremenortheastwheretheAuglaizeWatershedcreepsintoMercerCounty,andthefarsoutheastcornerattheheadwatersoftheUpperGreatMiamiisformedintheLoramieWatershed.Thislandisrural,involvesnomunicipalitiesandfewresidences.Itislikelydamageintheseareaswouldbeminimal.
Table2-48:100-YearFloodScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure
Residential 994 $445,135,000Non-Residential 314 $140,786,000CriticalFacilities 33 $14,603,000Totals 1,340 $600,524,000
2.4.5InvasiveSpeciesDamageProfileMercerCountyispartofwhatwasoriginallytheBlackSwamp.Assuch,therearemanywoodedareasthatnotonlyoccupysomeoftheruralarea,butalsoareincorporatedintoresidentialareasincommunitiesandneighborhoods.OneoftheprimarycharacteristicsoftheBlackSwampwasthatitwascompletelyflat,thustheneedto“draintheswamp”throughcreationofwatermanagementsystems.TheothercomponentofflatterrainisthatthereisnothingtheretobreaktheseverewindsthatblowacrosstheMidwest.Thisstrongwind,oftentimesthroughouttheyearmeasuredatsustainedwindsof30to40milesperhourandgustsover50milesperhour,caneasilydowndiseasedtrees.Thesefallentreesbecomestormdebris,andfallontohomes,carsandtrucks,businesses,andanythingelseintheway.Theyfallintoriversandstreams,impededrainage,andfillwaterwayswithexcessivedeaddebris.OhioisrichwithallkindsoftreesinadditiontothetreesaffectedsoseriouslybytheEmeraldAshBorer.Therearemaplesofeverysort,birch,oak,andashtrees.Thereisalsoothervegetation,alongwaterways,inlandscaping,alongroadwaysandhighways,andinareasofnaturalhabitatlikeparksandrecreationalareas.Anyinfestation,ofinsectsorotherinfectiousagents,willcauseextremedestructionoftheseareas.ThelakesandstreamsthatcarryfishandotheraquaticlifecanbeendangeredbyeitherplantoranimalinfestationssuchasAsiancarporzebramussels.Inthepastdecade,GrandLakeSt.Maryswasinfestedwithalgalbloom,makingthelakeunsuitableforswimmingoranyhumanorpetcontact.ThisseverelyaffectedthetourismindustryinMercerCounty,andtookseveralyearstocontain.Thisdamageisdifficulttoquantifybecauseitdoesnotaffectstructures,ingeneral.Thecostismadeupofremovalanddisposalofcontaminatedtreesandvegetation,repairofpropertywherefallentreesdodamage;cleaninganddredgingofwaterwaysthatarefilledwithdebris;cleaningofbodiesofwater;andrepairofinfrastructuredamagedbytheinfestation.Theseareexpensivetasks,andwhendonebygovernmentprovidersorlargecontractorswhorespondto
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emergentneedsforservice,theresponsecanbeextremelyhigh,totallyhundredsofthousandsofdollarsforeachandeveryjurisdiction.
2.4.6SevereThunderstormDamageProfileThunderstormsarenotuncommoninMercerCounty.Duringsummerswhenheatbuildsupintheafternoon,amuggyandhotdaycaneasilyendwiththunderstormsthatincludehail,lightningandheavyrainandwind.Microburstsoftenaddstrongstraight-linewindsthatdestroystandingcropsreadyforharvest.Thesestormscancomeonquickly,givelittlewarning,andbeverydestructive.Thunderstormsthatincludehailaregenerallyspottyandinconsistent.ThevaryingtemperaturesintheatmosphereneededtocreatehaildonotoftenexistinwesternOhio.Whenhailfalls,damageismostfrequentlydonetovehicles,roofs,andsidingonbuildings.Rarelyistherelossoflifeorsignificantbodilyinjury.Thewindsassociatedwiththunderstormscandamagestandingcrops,andaremostdamagingwhenwheat,soybeans,andcornarereadyforharvest.WheatisharvestedinJuly,butsoybeansandcornarenotharvesteduntilearlyfall.CornisfrequentlyatthepollinationstageinJuly,andanytimeafterstalksaremature,hailandwindcanshredandteartheleaves,flattenthestalks,anddestroytheearsthatareintheformativestages.Thissituationdropscropproductiontodrasticallylowlevels,causinganextremelosstofarmersforthatyear’scrop.ThunderstormsareafrequentbutlowriskhazardinMercerCounty.Thecombinationofhail,lightning,precipitation,andwindcausedbythunderstormscaninflictdamageinanyareaofthecounty.Thunderstormsaresomewhatcommonbutaretypicallyminorandcausemoreinconveniencethanactualdamage.Lightningthatdirectlystrikesstructuresorobjectsispossiblebutinfrequent.Moderatetoseveredamagefromhail,lightning,andthunderstormwind,includinglossoflifeandproperty,ispossiblebutstatisticsindicatethefrequencyisextremelylow.Whenseverethunderstormsareaccompaniedbytornadoes,damagefromthetornadoesislikelytobemoresignificantthanthatcausedbythethunderstorm.Straight-linewinds,theresultofdownburstsandmicrobursts,canbeasdestructiveastornadoandcausedamagessimilartothosedescribedinthetornadoEFscale.
Table2-49:ThunderstormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure
Residential 722 $111,284,000Non-Residential 228 $25,196,000CriticalFacilities 24 $3,651,000Totals 974 $150,131,000
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-67
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
2.4.7TornadoDamageProfileMercerCountyisuniversallyvulnerabletotornadodamage.Thecountyismostlyflatorslightlyrollingandthereislittlechangeinelevationthatwouldcauseatornadotoslowdownorbreakapart.Althoughtornadowarningsareissuedseveraltimeseachyear,tornadoesdonotoccurfrequentlyinthecounty.Theyaremostcommoninthespringalthoughtheycandevelopthroughoutthesummerandfall.Historically,themagnitudeoftornadoesinMercerCountyisbetweenEF-0andEF-1.ThecountyhasexperiencedanEF-4tornadoeventthatcausedsignificantdamagebutitisrareforastormtoreachthatmagnitude.InMercerCounty,thereareseveralthousandmobilehomesthroughoutthecounty.InthevicinityofGrandLakeSt.Marys,therearenumerouscampgrounds,marinas,condominiums,andcottagesthatservepart-timeseasonalresidentsandvisitors.Thesestructuresaremorevulnerabletowinddamagebecausetheyarelesssecuredtothegroundthanbuildingswithfoundations,havenobasementorsub-terrainlevel,andarelighterweightandmadeoflesswindresistantmaterialthantraditionallyconstructedhomes.Themajorityofresidentialstructuresinthecountyareconstructedfromwood,concrete,brick,andstone.Manyhomesareolderandwereconstructedusinglimestoneandothermasonrymaterials;thesehomesarebuiltontraditionalfoundationswithbasementsorcrawlspaces.Somenewerhomesareconcreteslabconstructionwithoutbasementsorcrawlspaces.Thesehomesaremostpronetosuperficialdamage,roofdamage,andfallingtreesduringtornadoesandseverewindstorms.Commercialbuildingsareconstructedofconcrete,brick,concreteblock,stone,andwood.Thesestructuresaregenerallybuiltonconcreteslabswithstructuralsupporttrussesandpitchedroofconstructiontofacilitatesnowandicemeltandrunoff.Flatroofbuildings,suchasshoppingcentersandbig-boxtyperetailstores,aresusceptibletoheavysnowinblizzardconditions;thereisnoidentifiablehistoryofroofcollapseincidentsduetosnoworice.PropertydamagefromtornadoesinMercerCountymostfrequentlyincludesdamagedroofs,gutters,downspouts,trees,and,onoccasion,andentirebuilding.Mobilehomesaredamagedordestroyedinthemostseriousincidents.Outbuildings,barns,andstoragebuildingscanbedamagedbecausethesestructuresarelessresistanttowinddamageandarefrequentlybuiltonconcreteslabsordirtfoundations.
Table2-50:TornadoScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure
Residential 289 $44,514,000Non-Residential 91 $14,079,000CriticalFacilities 10 $1,460,000Totals 389 $60,053,000
2-68 2017MercerCountyHazardMitigationPlan
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
2.4.8WindStormDamageProfileWindincidentsaresomewhatfrequentacrossOhio,includingMercerCounty.Thecountyhasexperiencedseveralhighwindeventsinrecentyears.Thesetypicallydamagetrees,whichleadtoobstructedroadwaysanddownedpowerlines.Cropdamageanddestructionisalsoaconcern.Whenhighwindsdamageyoungandmaturingcrops,yieldscanbesignificantlyreduced,whichnegativelyimpactsthecounty’seconomy.
Table2-51:WindStormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure
Residential 577 $89,027,000Non-Residential 182 $28,158,000CriticalFacilities 19 $2,921,000Totals 779 $120,106,000
2.4.9WinterStormDamageProfileWinterstormdamagescanpotentiallyaffecteveryhome,business,orpropertyinMercerCounty.Thereisnoareathatismoreorlessvulnerabletosnowfallbecausetherearenohillsandvalleysthatinterruptorredirectprecipitation.Theflatterrainandconsistentelevationsallowdriftingandblowingsnowtocauselowvisibilityacrossthecounty.Theareasinthesoutherntownshipscanincurmorelossandmoredisruptionduetoblizzards,ice,andsnowthanothersbecauseofthelivestockoperationsinthissectionofthecounty.Regardlessofweatherconditions,theanimalsmustbefed,cowsmustbemilked,manuremustberemovedfrombarns,andoperationsmustcontinue.Thisrequiresdailyingressandegresstothesefarms,bringinginfoodandsupplies,andhaulingoutrawproductandwaste.Poweroutagesoccuracrosstheentirecountyduringblizzardsorsnowstormsthatincludesignificantice,wind,orheavyamountsofsnow.Residentialelectriclinesaremostlyabovegroundandvulnerabletowindandice,althoughthepowercompanieshaveimprovedthedistributionsystemssincethe2008and2012windstorms.Veryfewresidentialpropertieshaveburiedelectriclines;mostofthesearerecentconstruction.MajorsupplylinesareabovegroundastheyenterMercerCountyfromthegenerationplants;therefore,powertothesubstationsisvulnerabletowindandheavysnowandiceeveniftheresidentiallinesarenot.Therefore,poweroutagesareprobable,frequent,andcanbewidespread.Thefarmswithlivestockareagainmuchmorevulnerabletosignificantloss;thefeedingsystems,milkingandcollectionsystems,andothercriticaloperationsareallbaseduponanelectricalsupplytorunmechanizedequipment.Withoutelectricity,animalsarenotfed,eggsarenotcollected,anddairycowsarenotmilked.Productgoestowaste,animalsgetsick,andfarmslosealotofincome.In2014and2015,MercerCounty,alongwithmuchofOhioandtheMidwest,experiencedanexceptionallylongandcoldwinter.Seasonalsnowfalltotalswerehigh,andtemperatureaveragesweresignificantlylowerthannormal.Inspiteofthefrequentandunusualsnowfallandtemperatures,MercerCountydidnotreportanypropertydamagesorlossoflifeasaresult
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-69
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
ofthewinterstormconditions.Thecountyexperiencedshort-terminconveniencefollowingeachincident,includingclosedschoolsandbusiness,treacheroustravelconditions,extremecold,andblowinganddriftingsnowbutnothingthatimpactedthecountyonmorethanatemporary,short-termbasis.Itwasdifficulttogetfeedtolivestock,toruncriticalfarmoperationsforlivestock,andtooperategraindryingandstorageequipmentduringthattime.Ingressandegresschallengeswereanextremenuisance,butfortunatelydidnotlastlongenoughtocauseextensiveloss.Thelossestimatesforwinterstormsarerelativelylowinspiteoftherecentandmemorablewinterseasons.Thereisnoidentifiablehistoryofpropertylossduetosnowpack,avalanche,orotherwinterstormrelatedcause.Reasonablyanticipatedlossesfromwinterstormswouldincludecontentlosssuchasfoodandperishablesduetopowerinterruptions.Lossesinanythingbutanunusual,unpredictableincidentwouldnotincludestructuresorinfrastructure.
Table2-52:WinterStormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure
Residential 58 $8,903,000Non-Residential 18 $2,817,000CriticalFacilities 2 $293,000Totals 78 $12,013,000
2.4.10CountywideRiskAnalysisBasedontheavailablehazardandvulnerabilityinformation,MercerCountyhasriskfordamagefromavarietyofdisasters.Todeterminethecounty’soveralllevelofrisk,eachhazardwasevaluatedandscoredbasedoncommoncriteria.Thecriteriaincludedfrequency,responseduration,speedofonset,magnitude,andimpactonbusinesses,people,andproperty.Table2-53describestheoverallscaleusedtoscoreeachhazard.Table2-54providesdetailsonscaleusedtomeasuremagnitude.Thecompositescoresforeachhazardandtheirrespectiverankareidentifiedintable2-55.
Table2-53AssessmentScale
Score Frequency ResponseDuration
SpeedofOnset Magnitude Business
ImpactHumanImpact
PropertyImpact
1 None <½Day >24Hours Localized <24Hours Minimum <10%2 Low <1Day 12-24
HoursLimited 1Week Low 10-25%
3 Medium <1Week 6-12Hours
Critical 2Weeks Medium 25-50%
4 High <1Month <6Hours Catastrophic >30Days High >50%5 Excessive >1Month
2-70 2017MercerCountyHazardMitigationPlan
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
FrequencyHazardeventsthatoccurregularlyareahigherriskthanthosethatoccurinfrequently.
• 1=None/Oncein100years• 2=Low/Oncein50years• 3=Medium/Oncein25years• 4=High/Oncein1-3years• 5=Excessive/Morethanannual
ResponseDurationResponsedurationisdefinedastheamounttimetheresponsetoaparticularhazardisanticipatedtolast.
• 1=Lessthan½day• 2=Lessthan1day• 3=Lessthan1week• 4=Lessthan1month• 5=Morethan1month
SpeedofOnsetSpeedofonsetaddressestheamountofadvancewarningacommunityhasbeforeeachhazardoccurs.
• 1=Morethan24hours• 2=12-24hours• 3=6-12hours• 4=Lessthan6hours
MagnitudeMagnitudeisratedusingstandarddamagescalessuchastheEnhancedFujitaScale,orthroughdevelopmentofalocalcomparativescalethatiscomparableindamagesatlikelevelsusingtheestablisheddamagescales.Somescalesfromothergeographicregions,suchastheNorthEastSnowIndexScale,wereusedasmodelstodevelopacomparativetoolinRichlandCounty.
Table2-54:MagnitudeScale
Score Tornado Windstorm Flood Earthquake Drought WinterStorm
1 EF-0/1 <65mph Minor <5.9 D-0VeryDryD-1Moderate
<8”snow
2 EF-2 65-75mph Moderate 6.0-6.9 D-2Severe 8-12”snow3 EF-3 76-85mph Significant 7.0-7.9 D-3Extreme 12-16”snow4 EF-4/5 >86mph Major >8.0 D-4Exceptional >16”snow
BusinessImpactBusinessimpactreferstothepotentialeconomicimpactahazardeventislikelytohaveonacommunity.Thedefinitionofeachscorereferstotheamountoftimecriticalfacilitiesarelikelytobeshutdownintheimpactedcommunity.
2017MercerCountyNaturalMitigationPlan 2-71
DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio
• 1=Lessthan24hours• 2=1week• 3=Atleast2weeks• 4=Morethan30days
HumanImpactHumanimpactisdefinedasthenumberoflivespotentiallylostforaparticularhazard.
• 1=Minimum/Minorinjuries• 2=Low/Someinjuries• 3=Medium/Multiplesevereinjuries• 4=High/Multiplefatalities
PropertyImpactPropertyimpactisdefinedasthenumberamountofpropertypotentiallylostduringagivenhazardevent.
• 1=Lessthan10%damaged• 2=10-25%damaged• 3=25-50%damaged• 4=Morethan50%damaged
Thefactorsidentifiedabovewereassignedvaluesasdescribed,andratedagainstanecdotalanalysisbaseduponhistoryandpastincidents.Thisscoringmechanismresultedinverysimilarassessmentofrisksandvulnerabilitiesforthecountywidevulnerabilityanalysis.Eachcommunityevaluatedtheirhazardsandrisksthesameway,andresultsweredevelopedandconfirmedforeachmunicipality.Thoseresultsareshownineachmunicipalitysection;thosebelowareforthecountyasawholeentity.
Table2-55:RiskAnalysis
Hazard Freq
uency
Respon
se
Duration
Spee
dof
Onset
Magnitude
Busine
ss
Impa
ct
Hum
an
Impa
ct
Prop
erty
Impa
ct
Score RankDam/LeveeFailure 1 5 1 0 1 1 2 11 8Drought/ExtremeHeat 3 2 1 1 3 1 2 13 7Earthquake 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 10 9Flood 3 3 3 3 1 3 2 18 3InvasiveSpecies 3 5 1 1 1 1 2 14 6SevereThunderstorm 5 3 3 3 1 1 1 17 4Tornado 3 3 4 3 3 2 1 19 2Windstorm 5 4 4 1 2 2 2 20 1WinterStorm 4 3 2 3 2 1 1 16 5