Boundary County
All Hazards Mitigation Plan
Section 11
Past Mitigation Initiatives
Boundary County initiated its first comprehensive pre-disaster mitigation
efforts in September 2001 with the establishment of the Boundary County Local
Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Grant
money for coordination, planning and on-the-ground projects was initially
provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).
In February 2002, LEPC completed a strategic planning workshop that
resulted in the identification of several prioritized mitigation initiatives to
counteract the negative impact of floods, landslides, and wildfire in Boundary
County. These pre-disaster
mitigation projects then acted as catalysts for future planning, more grant
applications and contracts, and additional projects.
In 2003, the county extended the Project Impact initiative by providing
funding for the continued efforts of the Project Impact coordinator and several
other public education projects. In
June 2005, the mission of Project Impact was assumed by LEPC and facilitated by
the County Assistant Emergency Management Director so that pre-disaster
mitigation efforts continue.
PAST MITIGATION PROJECTS
Since September 2001, the following mitigation programs have been put in
place and projects have been completed.
Parcel Mapping
In 2005, Boundary County implemented a mapping project that
digitized county parcel maps. Boundary
County also purchased GIS equipment and computer software that allows the county
to accurately record property and facility locations and layer maps. This work
is still in progress.
Rural Addressing
In 2005, the county started a rural addressing project that
includes assigning names to all county roads and addressing all rural
residences. The project is
scheduled for completion by December 2005.
Public Education The
public can view the All Hazards Mitigation Plan and procedure on the Boundary
County website, through the newspaper in the area, and local radio noon talk
shows.
2004 Local Hazard Mitigation
Booklets A local
booklet was created on landslide, wildfire, and flood.
The booklets have been used by the LEPC at several public education
events. Copies of the booklet
are available at the courthouse, local schools, fire districts and libraries.
2005 Radio Spots
Project Impact efforts were advertised several times on the local
radio station. Between the months
of May through November 2005, natural hazard mitigation techniques and homeowner
emergency preparedness and mitigation were featured on the KBFI noon show,
directly after Paul Harvey, as frequently as possible.
Boundary County Website
Boundary County established a section on pre-disaster mitigation on its
county website in August 2005. The
site highlights local efforts and provides a browser link with other important
pre-disaster mitigation sites. This also was a critical place for citizens to
view and comment on the preparation of this plan.
2003, 2004, and 2005 Boundary
County Fairs The
county hosted an emergency preparedness and pre-disaster mitigation booth at the
local county fair in conjunction with Operation Fire Safe.
Wildfire
Mitigation Projects
2003
Wildland Firefighter Training The
Project Impact Wildfire Committee oversaw a wildfire-training project that
provided “Red Card” Wildland Training to 100 wildland firefighter
volunteers.
Personal
Protective Equipment A
cache of personal protective equipment was established and is held at key points
around Boundary County. The
inventory is entered into a data base where any expiration dates are noted and
can be reviewed as needed.
Fuel
Hazard Risk Assessments The
county contracted with Inland Forest Management, Inc. to conduct wildfire risk
assessments for the community.
Road Signage Forty
new wildfire prevention/mitigation signs were installed by Boundary County Road
and Bridge, U.S. Forest Service; and area fire districts along major roads
within the county.
Local Fire District Brochure
A mitigation brochure was developed that provides locally
specific wildfire information, including a map of fire districts.
Wildland Fire Homeowner Mitigation
Brochures Several
mitigation brochures were purchased and disseminated throughout the county.
Defensible Space Plans
Since 2003, the county has aggressively promoted the
development of Defensible Space (fuel reduction) around homes to decrease losses
associated with wildfire. This
effort has been accomplished through the FireSafe program, which is funded with
Federal Fire Plan monies.
Flood Mitigation
Projects
2003 Watershed Assessment and
Master Plan for Flood Mitigation and Stream Restoration
Weather Station/Stream Gauges
The City of Bonners Ferry installed a weather station in the Myrtle Creek
drainage. Myrtle Creek drainage
suffered a fire in 2003 and is the watershed for Bonners Ferry.
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) has a weather station and
webcam with live weather information broadcast at www.weatherbug.com.
Watershed Education Project Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, in cooperation with the Boundary County School District, conducted an education project for children to re-establish and study the effects of a fire by looking at sample areas from an affected fire zone.