Document Laramie_doc_160c8d1cb7

Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 1 Coordinated and prepared By the Albany County Emergency Management Agency P.O. Box C Laramie, WY 82073 [PHONE REDACTED] 02/3/04 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan Table of Contents Introduction Adoption Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………..5 Goals and Definition of Planning Process Documentation of Risk Assessment Hazard Identification……………………………………………………….11 Specific Hazard information in Albany County: Hazardous Materials Winter Wildland Tornadoes, Thunder Storms, and Wind Storms…………………………….25 Mined out Assessing Vulnerability Resources Mitigation Strategy ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 3 MITIGATION ADOPTION PAGE COUNTY COORDINATION Albany County Chairman, County Commissioners (date) Albany County County Commissioner (date) Albany County County Commissioner (date) Albany County County Clerk (date) Albany County Sheriff (date) Albany County Emergency Management (date) Albany County (date) Albany County (date) Albany County (date) Albany County (date) ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 4 INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITIES Laramie Incorporated Municipality Mayor Date Rock River Incorporated Municipality Mayor Date ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 5 Special Thanks and Acknowledgements The plan is a compilation drawn from many sources especially the Wyoming Geological Survey (Jim Case), and Wyoming EMA. The plan is a result of dedicated effort by Erin Denson, Albany County Emergency Management who has labored intensely to meet this deadline to produce a good document to base planning discussions upon. Albany County EMA has also received outstanding assistance and support from the following: Jeff Baxter - Wyoming State Geological Survey Pat Bersie- Wyoming Office of Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency Cheryl Chesebro- Laramie Fire Department, Prevention Dale Stalder-Laramie/Albany County Records and Communications Doug Bryant- Albany County Planning Office Forrest Selmer- University of Wyoming Janice Gahagan- Albany County Chapter of the American Red Cross Mark Ross- Union Pacific Mike Moeller- Albany County School District #1 Rachel N. Toner- Wyoming State Geological Survey Randy Vickers- Laramie Fire Department Robert Juve- City of Laramie Public Works Management Robert Kirkwood- Wyoming State Geological Survey Susan Simpson- Albany County Public Library ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 6 Introduction Albany County is located in the southeastern part of Wyoming. The county has a diverse geographical make-up. Two main mountain ranges in the county are the Laramie Mountains in the eastern part and the Snowy Range Mountains to the west. Grassy plains separate the two mountain ranges. The Laramie River is the major stream in the county. There are six dams located at Rob Roy Reservoir, Lake Owen Reservoir, Lake Hattie Reservoir, Wheatland Reservoir #2 and and Twin Buttes Reservoir. Laramie is the largest incorporated municipality in the county with an approximate population of 27,000(including UW students). Rock River, the other incorporated municipality, has a population of 235. The state’s only four-year university, the University of Wyoming, is located in Laramie and has an approximate student population of 11,000. The Albany County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan includes resources and information to assist county residents, public and private sector organizations, and others interested in participating in planning for hazards. The mitigation plan provides a list of activities that can assist Albany County in reducing risk and preventing loss from future hazardous events. The action items address floods, landslides, severe winter storms, tornadoes, thunder and windstorms, wildfires, earthquake hazards, and hazardous materials spills. Purpose The objective of the Albany County Hazards Mitigation Plan is to protect citizens, critical facilities, infrastructure, private property and the surrounding environment from natural and man made hazards. This objective can be achieved by identifying potential hazards in the county and establishing procedures that will mitigate the effects of the hazards. Scope of the Mitigation Plan The Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan affects unincorporated rural areas, incorporated rural areas, and incorporated urban areas of the county. The plan provides a framework for planning against hazards in the county. The plan can be used as a foundation for local mitigation plans and partnerships for the towns in the county. Authority: Federal and State Support for Hazard Mitigation All mitigation is local, and the primary responsibility for development and implementation of risk reduction strategies and policies lies with local jurisdictions. Local jurisdictions, however, are not alone. Resources exist at the state and federal levels. Numerous state and federal agencies have a role in hazards and hazard mitigation. They include: • Wyoming Emergency Management Agency (WEMA) guidance for County plans. • Wyoming Geological Survey (WGS) • Wyoming Highway Ports of Entry • United States Forest Service ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 7 What are the Plan Goals? The Plan describes the direction Albany County can take to mitigate itself from hazards throughout the area. Protect Life and Property • Execute activities that assist in protecting lives by making homes, businesses, infrastructure, critical facilities, and other property more resistant to losses from hazards. • Improve hazard assessment information to make recommendations for new and for existing developments in areas vulnerable to hazards. Public Awareness • Increase public awareness of the risks associated with hazards in the county. • Provide information on tools, partnerships opportunities, and funding resources to assist in implementing mitigation activities. Partnerships and Implementation • Strengthen communication and coordinate participation among and within public agencies, citizens, nonprofit organizations, business, and industry to gain a vested interest in implementation. • Encourage leadership within public and private sector organizations to prioritize and implement local, county, and regional hazard mitigation activities. Definition of Terms: EDT- Exercise Design Team EMA- Emergency Management Agency EOP- Emergency Operations Plan IBC- International Building Code LARC- Laramie/Albany County Records and Communications LEPC-Local Emergency Planning Committee LFD- Laramie Fire Department NWS- National Weather Service PDM- Pre Disaster Mitigation PDMG-Pre Disaster Mitigation Grant UBC- Uniform Building Code USGS- United States Geologic Survey Planning Process Who Participated in Developing the Plan? The Albany County Hazards Mitigation Plan is the result of combined efforts between, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, the private sectors and regional and state organizations. Various meetings were held throughout 2002-2003 with these organizations to obtain information and input for the plan. Agencies included: Albany County Assessor’s Office ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 8 Albany County Chapter of the American Red Cross Albany County Emergency Management Agency Albany County Local Emergency Planning Committee Albany County Planning Albany County Public Library Amateur Radio Emergency Services City of Laramie Laramie Fire Department Laramie Police Department Rock River Public Health Union Pacific University of Wyoming University of Wyoming Physical Plant Wyoming Department of Transportation Wyoming Emergency Management Agency Wyoming Geological Survey Albany County has an active Local Emergency Planning Committee that meets quarterly to address and work on alleviating or reducing potential hazards in the County. The Albany County LEPC was formed before 1988 and has been active since. The committee is comprised of citizens in the county who have roles in emergency services, law enforcement, business, The University of Wyoming, The City Council, The County Commissioners, volunteer agencies, and public health. The Albany County Exercise Design Team, which consists of representatives from the city, county, business, and volunteer groups meets regularly and carries out an aggressive exercise program that trains emergency responders to manage and control the various hazard situations which can occur in Albany County. The Local Emergency Planning Committee membership includes: Jim Pond, Chairman Albany County Sheriff Harold Colby, Vice Chairman Janice Gahagan, Secretary American Red Cross Ken Beauchene The Salvation Army John Benedik UW Environmental Health & Safety David Blaylock Kinder Morgan Carol Bartholomew Rock River Councilwoman Tim Chesnut Albany County Commissioners Brad Clingman Albany County Fire Warden/ Road and Bridge ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 9 Harold Colby Laramie Street Dept. Paul Curby Union Pacific Railroad Dave Davenport Union Pacific Railroad Erin Denson Albany County EMA Diana Esteve Albany County Public Health Pat Gabriel Albany County Commissioners Judy Gorham Ivinson Memorial Hospital Frank Guffey Western Research Institute Fred Homer Council Member City of Laramie Mike Johnson Wyoming Highway Patrol Kim Keeling UP Chemical Transport Safety Jerry Kennedy Albany County Commissioners Tim McGary Wyoming Dept. of Transportation Mike Moeller Albany County School District #1 Dave O’Malley Laramie Police Chief Jennifer O’Malley Laramie Environmental Health Curt Orde U.S. Forest Service Bob Park Pacific Power Dave Round Quest Communications Bill Sansing Mountain Cement Company Dale Stalder Laramie Police – LARC Bobbi Tenborg WEMA Randy Vickers, Fire Chief EMA Coordinator Sam Vieymara Mayor, City of Rock River Kit Westbrook Wyoming Dept. of Transportation Kevin White UW Police Department Patrick Wilson Sinclair Pipeline Rick Wren Wyoming Dept. of Transportation Bill Wright ARES ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 10 Actions Taken to Complete Plan June 2002 Albany County’s Emergency Management Coordinator met with the Wyoming USGS representative to evaluate needs for the County’s mitigation plan. June 28, 2002 City Engineer, Information Systems Manager, County Assessor, County Planner, and University of Wyoming’s Environmental and Health Personnel and Engineers met to discuss Mitigation Plan. August 19, 2002 County EMA met with WSGS to identify potential hazards in Albany County. September 30, 2002 EMA received PDMG notice. October 24, 2002 EMA, fire, and Red Cross met with local radio stations, topic: warning system issues, NWS and coordination and how to better inform the public of emergency situations. November 2002 County Coordinator attended Mitigation Planning Workshop in Casper (Mapping meetings with Alan Frank and Jim Case). Hazardous Materials in transportation Survey update completed. New City of Laramie Council Orientation about EMA and mitigation. December 6, 2002 County Coordinator attended Mitigation Planning Workshop in Lander WY, developed mapping needs assessment. December 2002 Bioterrorism county plan draft developed (lead is Albany County Public Health). December 12, 2002 Airport disaster and mitigation plan review and table top exercise. December 18, 2002 County Coordinator met with (City of Laramie Community Services). Scheduled City Planning Commission Review of PDM Plan for March. West Nile Virus public hearing planned for Feb 11. January 13, 2003 Local LEPC meeting held. Meeting was advertised to the public with the Mitigation plan on the agenda. The group set a date to review the first draft of the plan in early March. February 6, 2003 EMA Secretary met with County Planner to discuss options for building codes in Albany County as Mitigation actions items. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 11 February 12, 2003 EMA Secretary met with USGS Rep. To discuss Mitigation Plan progress . March 3, 2003 Public, LEPC, EDT Mitigation Plan review. Meeting was publicized to the public through paper, and channel 11. March 18, 2003 EMA County Coordinator met with County Commissioners to approve first draft of the County Mitigation Plan. Hazard Identification Each of the hazards has been identified and documented separately in the document. All hazards affect the entire county, including the jurisdictions of Rock River and Laramie. The hazards are listed in order of priority. Hazardous Material spills being most likely to happen and Mined out Areas being Albany County’s last priority. The document will be submitted for review to the local community, (planning commissions, local emergency preparedness committee), and state and federal emergency management for comment. The resulting discussion will be used to flesh out the draft to its next phase for consideration of the promulgating authorities, (County Commissioners, City Council, and Board of Trustees). The final adopted plan will include a feedback, review and revision component to insure it remains vital and timely. Hazardous Materials The 2002 report of the State Emergency Response Committee, (parent to our LEPC), identifies that there were in excess of 70,000 placarded hazardous materials shipments on Albany County roadways last year. The Union Pacific Railroad reports more than 70,000 placarded containers passed through Albany County and nearly 70,000 placarded railcars. There are hundreds of miles of gas and flammable liquid pipelines in the county and many fixed facilities meeting community right to know trigger requirements filing hazardous materials statements to the local LEPC. Controls in place include federal and state regulation of minimum safety handling and labeling (tier two), City enforcement of Uniform Fire and Building Codes regulating hazardous materials storage and use and Department of Transportation placarding and transport requirements. The University of Wyoming has a regulated materials handling division and the office of safety on campus supervises storage and use. Response to emergencies is certified technician level from LFD. Problem areas include a lack of code enforcement outside municipal limits and a lack of jurisdictional authority to respond for LFD in the northern half of the county. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 12 Weather There are components in the plan addressing tornados, severe thunderstorms, wind storms, and winter storms. The lack of building codes in the county is an addressed issue as well as a lack of adequate warning capability. Wildland Fire The wildland fire problem is historically documented. There were two FEMA qualifying wildland fires in northern Albany County last fire season (Hensal and Reese) the combined total cost of suppression for these two fires exceeded 3 million dollars. There are eight rural fire departments with a total of more than 90 volunteer fire fighters in Albany County. Laramie is served by a paid 39-member department. There are 19 forestry owned trucks in rural Albany County. The highest priority need is identified to be the wildland/urban interface in particular those residential enclaves located within the national forest. Forest management policy has significantly reduced the number of logging roads, which provide both firebreak and emergency evacuation opportunities. The lack of logging also contributes to; beetle kill and an excessive build-up of heavy fuels exposing the interface areas to overwhelming potential to be overrun. Fuels reduction and defensible space development are identified as action items of highest priority. Flood Flood areas along the Laramie River and tributaries are identified, particularly within the corporate limits. Additional work on drainage in south Laramie is identified as an action item need. Planning regulations keeping new construction out of identified flood zones is an action item. The lack of a warning system is again a deficiency, which needs to be addressed. Earthquake Wyoming Geological Survey provides historical information, which documents that Albany County is the most highly active seismic area in the eastern two thirds of the state. Action items identified include a need for better warning system, (earthquake can’t be predicted but the aftermath of large quakes includes a need to deal with ruptured gas and flammable liquid tanks and pipelines as well as a high potential for fire). Building codes as a means to mitigate through adaptive construction are also high priority issues to address. Mined Out, Windblown and Landslide Areas Unstable and unsuitable for building terrain areas are identified. Action item is to seek to create no build zones in these areas. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 13 TABLE 1. ALBANY COUNTY DISASTERS 1948-PRESENT Year Month Event Location Damage/Effects 1985 Avalanche Med. Bow National Forest 1 death 2002 Dec Avalanche Snowy Range 1 death 1949 1 & 2 Blizzard State-wide 21 people dead 6M 1961 05? Blizzard County 1K + stranded on highway and in Laramie 1962 1/6 Blizzard County -36 to –44 ° 1968 4/3 Blizzard Closed roads for 3 days; 6-8' at airport, Schools/UP shut down 1973 * Blizzard National Guard opened roads for emergency vehicles 1990 3/5 Blizzard Laramie 14", shelter set up 1992 Blizzard Shelter set-up for 250 clients roads closed 2000 Blizzard 1 death 2000 Sept Blizzard Albany County SE WY I-80 & I-30 closed shelters opened 2001 April Blizzard Laramie Roads, businesses. Gov't offices closed 1969 10/17 Civic disturbance Black 14 1970 5/6 Civic disturbance flag pole incident—UW 1994 Civic disturbance Candelaria murder trial 1998 Civic disturbance Shepard murder/trials 1990 Collapse Watering Hole Bookstore, S. 2nd Year not certain 1991 10/30 Collapse 1135 S. 1st St. 1992 Derailment Union Pacific 1995 11/17 Derailment 5 miles south 1 killed, evacuation to shelters 2M 1998 7/17 Derailment Bosler area 22 cars off, 2 acres burn 2000 6/30 Derailment Mountain Cement cement ruined 1975 * Derailment/fire Tie Siding Phosphorus 1992 1/6 Derailment/Spill 3000 gal. corrosive herbicide Laramie River banks contaminated 1996 Derailment/Spill south of Bosler Sulfuric acid 1985 Disease Rubella outbreak UW campus quarantined one hospitalized 1954 1/20 Earthquake None 1955 Earthquake None 1984 10/? Earthquake Laramie 4.0, no significant damage ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 14 1980 Explosion Fireworks stand on 287 4 killed 1991 11/12 Explosion Johnson Ranch Propane $100K 2001 Oct Explosion/Fire Rock River Ranchers' Supply Propane Leak Total loss of business 1948 Fire Holliday Furniture 1952 6/16 Fire Old Corral, Centennial bldg destroyed $150K 1952 10/27 Fire 11 m. s. tractor trailer w/ munitions $25K 1952 11/26 Fire Ideal Café, Rock River $1K 1955 3/15 Fire Johnson Hotel, Laramie 6 dead, 4 hospitalized 1960 8/30 Fire Humphrey's Music, Laramie $5K 1960 9/1 Fire Near Keystone 350 acres burned 1960 * Fire Deal Lumber Company downtown 1962 10-? Fire Monolith Ranch $20K 1965 1/30 Fire Kuster Hotel, 108 Ivinson $6K 1965 Fire Laramie Furniture Store Destroyed 1966 Fire Happy Jack Ski Lodge – Destroyed 1967 Fire Forest Products Treating Plant (railroad tie plant) 1968 8/11 Fire Latin American Club lack of water $29K 1968 8/14 Fire Midwest Grocery Store fireman injured $150K 1968 11/25 Fire Flagg Ranch, 6.5 m .se Laramie lack of water $60K 1975 6/25 Fire Big Horn Lumber—west side $15K 1985 6/25 Fire Rocky Mountain Forest Products 1989 Fire Country Woods/Laramie Basin Hardware, 2nd St. 1990 5/3 Fire Big Horn Saw Mill $200K 1991 1/11 Fire Lion's Head Apts. 30 or 75 units lost $650K 1991 2/5 Fire Sawmill $1M 1991 10/18 Fire Taylor-Argus Ranch 400 acres destroyed 1992 5/14 Fire Pat’s Old Corral Centennial $750K 1992 11/26 Fire Poledna Structure 1993 Fire Salvage Yard fire 1994 Fire Small apt. bldg. 1994 Fire Authentic Log Homes 1995 Fire Noslo, Inc. warehouse 1995 Fire Hay bales ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 15 1995 Fire Brush 15th and Bill Nye 1995 Fire Brush near UBC 1996 2/5 Fire Happy Jack Ski Lodge $35K 1996 8/7 Fire Bear Creek, N. Albany County 5K to 7K acres, 6 burned 1996 12/27 Fire C.A. Hitchcock home $3K 1996 Fire Wildlands near Vee Bar 1996 Fire Wildland Roger’s Canyon 2000 Jan Fire Dwelling Fire Unoccupied home Laramie Structure damage $20K 2000 March Fire Electrical Rocky Mtn. Forest Products $150K 2000 June Fire Wildland Med Bow N.F 5 Acres burned 2001 July Fire Grass Fire Bill Nye Rd. Sherman Hills 2001 July Fire Kitchen Fire North 9th Apartment bdlg building evacuated $6K 2001 Aug Fire Forest Fire Eagle Cliff on Pole Mtn. Med Bow 2001 Aug Fire Leroy Forest Fire Med Bow 5600 Acres burned 2001 Sept Fire Lightening Fire Harmony 100 Acres burned 2001 Sept Fire Poor perimeter control on burn W. Curtis St 2001 Oct Fire Kitchen Fire Restaurant S. 3rd St Laramie Damage to electrical 2002 Jan Fire House Fire Skyline Dr. Laramie Property damage $80K 2002 Jan Fire Veterinary clinic Laramie bldg destroyed animals died 2002 April Fire Grass Fire fireworks Laramie several acres destroyed 2002 April Fire Simon ranch east of Hwy 230 25 acres burned 2002 April Fire Storage unit Fire Laramie 2 juveniles burned structure damage $1,500 1971 * Flash flood Highway 30 1960 * Flood Little Laramie River 1965 6/12 Flood Laramie River 1 death 1978 Flood Highway 34 Closed 2-3 weeks 1984 Flood Aspen Square/Indian Hills 200 year rain; dyke topped by water 1986 Flood Rock Creek dam failed, evacuation 1973 8-Sep Hail Albany County 4.5 inches 1978 9-Aug Hail Albany County 1.10 inches 1986 2-Aug Hail Albany County 1.75 inches 1986 2-Sep Hail Albany County 1.75 inches 1994 16-Jul Hail Albany County .75- 1.75 inches $1K ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 16 1982 High water Laramie River 2000 7/19 Human error No KN service 1978 * Plane crash 2 killed 1987 Plane crash no injuries 1993 Plane crash 10 m. NW 1 killed 1998 Plane crash 1 dead 1955 10/6 Plane crash Med. Bow Peak 66 killed 1979 * Spill Insecticide 1980 Spill Insecticide, I-80 west of Laramie 1992 Spill Foster's 1993 Spill Foster's 200 gals of diesel fuel, contaminated river 2000 6/29 Spill High Country Sportsman 150-160 gals diesel fuel 2001 July Spill Bridge collapse, hazmat spill in Laramie river 2001 Aug Spill 5th and Grand Laramie cleaning fluid from dry cleaners 2001 Jan Spill 200 gal. Diesel fuel I-80 mile 317 1960 7/8 Tornado Medicine Bow National Forest—100 mph winds. 15 acres flattened 1991 Tornado north side of Laramie 1998 Tornado Buford 1961 5/13 Winds Laramie—shop and trailer destroyed ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 17 Hazards Profile and Vulnerability Assessment 1. Hazardous Materials Background Interstate 80 is a major transportation route and crosses the southern part of the County. Transportation accidents on Interstate 80 are a significant hazard. Many trucks are now transporting hazardous materials across the county. Additionally, Interstate 80 crosses the Casper Aquifer, which is a major source of drinking water for residents of Laramie and Albany County. Transportation accidents in the vicinity of the Casper Aquifer have the potential to contaminate the drinking water supply. Accidents involving the railroad, pipelines, and other vehicles also have the potential to contaminate the streams, underground water levels, the land, and the air. Several underground pipelines transport various products including natural gas, diesel fuel, fuel oil, gasoline, and crude oil across the county. Companies such as Conoco Pipeline, the Kaneb Pipeline, Kinder Morgan, Sinclair Pipeline, Williams Pipeline, and Colorado Interstate Gas, have pipelines throughout the county (FIGURE Potential leaks could cause problems. All pipelines have markers indicating where the pipelines are, and this is to ensure that pipelines are not damaged by digging or other accidents. Those that live near a pipeline should use sight, smell, and hearing to make sure the pipelines are not leaking. In recent years, there has been an increase in number of hazardous materials spills in the county. Since 1992 Albany County has experienced numerous spills on highways and railroads. Histories of shipments for both Interstate 80 west and eastbound and Hwy 287 from the past three years can be received upon request. Other roads in Albany County did not have significant amounts of hazardous materials transported on them. The Union Pacific is the major railroad that travels through Albany County. Data records show that for year 2001, there were 36,789 placarded railroad cars that traveled through Laramie. There were also 42,779 placarded intermodal loads (truck trailers riding on a flatcar), for a total of 79,568 placarded loads of hazardous material through Laramie in 2001. For 2002, as of October 30, 2002, there has been 29,632 carloads, and 32,013 intermodal loads, for a total of 61,645 placarded loads through Laramie. In the years ranging from 1992 through 2000 there have been at least 7 derailments in the county. Derailments involved spills of Cement, Phosphorus, Sulfuric Acid, and 3000 gallons of corrosive herbicide. In 1995 there was one death due to a derailment. The University of Wyoming has over 400 chemical laboratories that contain many types of chemicals, each in mostly small quantities. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 18 The approximately 30 laboratories using radioactive materials have placards on the doors and signs within the laboratory identifying the location where radioactive materials are used and stored. Radioactive materials are used in small quantities at UW and are considered low risk to emergency responders in the event of unintentional releases. Of the laboratories, approximately 50 also conduct biological research. Few of the biological materials studied at UW are infectious. Biohazard signs mark infectious materials storage areas and waste containers. All wastes are marked as biohazardous contaminated before disposal. One laboratory studies indigenous wildlife diseases and is designated for study of "select agents." The federal government requires all such select-agents laboratories to adopt high security procedures and provide secure facilities. The USDA Arthropod Borne Animal Disease Research Laboratory (ABADRL) biological containment building is used to study certain wildlife diseases that are spread by biting insects. Some disease organisms studied at this facility are considered to have serious consequences in the case of a laboratory infection or if released into the wildlife populations. Therefore the facility, and personnel and experimental procedures used at this facility are designed to minimize uncontrolled release of biological materials. The University is preparing additional security plans and other procedures to meet the new requirements of the new Select Agent Regulation 42 CFR 73. The deadline for implementing these procedures is in June 2003. Another potential risk to Albany County is Coastal Chem Inc., located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It manufactures industrial and agricultural nitrogen based products. These products include Ammonia, Ammonium Nitrate Prill (HiDAN and LoDAN), Ammonium Nitrate Liquid Urea Prill, Urea-Ammonium Nitrate Solution, and Carbon Dioxide. The facility also produces two petrochemical products, Methyl-Tertiary- Butyl-Ether (MTBE) and Methanol. All of these products are shipped from the facility by both truck and rail and have the potential to pass through Albany County. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 19 FIGURE 1. Oil and Natural Gas Fields ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 20 2. Winter Storms: Snow Storms, Ice Storms and Extended Cold Periods Albany County has historically experienced several severe winter storms. Severe weather events in the county from 1950 to the present are included in TABLE 2. The snow, ice, and extended periods of cold associated with winter storms such as these could potentially affect Albany County’s infrastructure. For example, heavy snow and ice precipitation could shut down county transportation systems. Blocked roads and railroads could result in the county being shut off from supplies of food, water, fuel, medical supplies and emergency services. County power and communication systems could also be compromised due to winter storms. Power and phone lines could freeze or be knocked down. Lack of electricity and communication services could further hinder residents’ ability to sustain themselves throughout a storm. Stranded motorists and people unexpectedly caught outside in winter storms risk hypothermia, starvation, and even death without adequate shelter, food, and water supplies. Search and rescue teams and emergency medical services could be strained by attempts to rescue such people. Albany County has large ranching communities and wildlife populations that may also be impacted by severe winter storms. Freezing streams can make water supplies scarce for both livestock and wildlife. Heavy snowfall could hinder both the animals’ ability to find food and ranchers’ attempts to bring food to their livestock. Finally, without adequate shelter, prolonged exposure to cold and wet conditions could ultimately result in loss of life. Winter storms could also cause structural damage to county buildings and residences. Heavy snow loads can collapse roofs and extreme cold temperatures can freeze water pipes. Avalanches may also be a possibility. The two main mountain ranges in Albany County are the Laramie Mountains in the eastern part, and the Snowy Range Mountains to the west. Each receives large amounts of snow, making the County susceptible to avalanches. According to the Colorado Geological Survey, avalanches in Albany County include one person’s death in 1985, and one in 2002 with a snowmobiler buried and killed on the west side of the Snowy Range. The County can educate people about the risks of unstable snow and proper gear to have while in the high country. Finally, flood events may result from winter storms if warm temperatures cause large snow packs to melt quickly. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 21 TABLE 2. ALBANY COUNTY DISASTERS 1948-PRESENT- WINTER STORMS Year Month Event Location Damage/Effects 1985 Avalanche Med. Bow National Forest 1 death 2002 Dec Avalanche Snowy Range 1 death 1949 1 & 2 Blizzard State-wide 21 people dead 6M 1961 05? Blizzard County 1K + stranded on highway and in Laramie 1962 1/6 Blizzard County -36 to –44 ° 1968 4/3 Blizzard Closed roads for 3 days; 6-8' at airport, Schools/UP shut down 1973 * Blizzard National Guard opened roads for emergency vehicles 1990 3/5 Blizzard Laramie 14", shelter set up 1992 Blizzard Shelter set-up for 250 clients roads closed 2000 Blizzard 1 death 2000 Sept Blizzard Albany County SE WY I-80 & I-30 closed shelters opened 2001 April Blizzard Laramie Roads, businesses. Gov't offices closed ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 22 3. Wildland Fire Both the Snowy Range and the Laramie Mountains are included in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Wildland fires often occur in the forest, especially in the summertime. The wildland fire potential increases during years when there are below average amounts of winter snowfall or spring and summer rainfall. In the past Albany County has experienced severe drought conditions making wildland fires even more of a reality. Last year alone, Albany County experienced three wildland fires. All were to the north of the county, causing evacuation of some homes. See FIGURES 2&3 for Albany County’s wildland fire hazard levels. The exposure value for each Census Block in Albany County can be obtained upon request. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 23 FIGURE 2. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 24 FIGURE 3. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 25 4. Tornados, Thunder Storms, and Wind Storms Albany County has the potential to be affected by tornados, high winds, and thunderstorms. Severe weather events in the county from 1950 to the present are included in the TABLE 3. Historically, tornados in this county have been relatively small on the Fujita scale (F0 to F1), but F1 tornados can produce winds up to 112 mph (97 knots). High winds can cause damage to buildings both directly (tearing shingles from roofs, tearing awnings, collapsing structures, etc.) and indirectly (falling trees and power lines, airborne projectiles, etc.). Thunderstorms can produce rain, hail, and lightning. Large amounts of rain and/or hail may create flash flooding events, especially in areas where water is funneled into a restricted channel such as a canyon. Hail can damage cars, windows, roofs, power lines, and trees. Lightning poses a direct threat to humans and animals caught outside and can also cause fires. TABLE 3. Location or County Date Time Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD 1 ALBANY 07/16/1953 1600 Tornado F1 0 0 0K 0 2 ALBANY 07/03/1960 1515 Tornado F1 0 1 0K 0 3 ALBANY 06/15/1962 1520 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 4 ALBANY 06/21/1964 1715 Tstm Wind 60 kts. 0 0 0 0 5 ALBANY 06/15/1965 1700 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0 6 ALBANY 06/23/1965 1440 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0 7 ALBANY 05/30/1968 1520 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0 8 ALBANY 10/02/1969 1445 Tstm Wind 54 kts. 0 0 0 0 9 ALBANY 09/02/1970 1813 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0 10 ALBANY 06/30/1972 1950 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0 11 ALBANY 09/05/1972 1815 Tstm Wind 60 kts. 0 0 0 0 12 ALBANY 08/10/1973 1738 Tstm Wind 52 kts. 0 0 0 0 13 ALBANY 09/08/1973 1520 Hail 4.50in. 0 0 0 0 14 ALBANY 06/15/1974 2308 Tstm Wind 51 kts. 0 0 0 0 15 ALBANY 08/09/1974 1350 Tornado F1 0 0 0K 0 16 ALBANY 08/09/1974 1415 Tornado F1 0 0 0K 0 17 ALBANY 06/05/1977 1857 Tornado F1 0 0 0K 0 18 ALBANY 07/03/1977 2108 Tstm Wind 55 kts. 0 0 0 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 26 19 ALBANY 07/11/1978 1549 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0 20 ALBANY 07/21/1978 1353 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0 21 ALBANY 08/01/1978 1511 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0 22 ALBANY 08/09/1978 1645 Hail 1.10in. 0 0 0 0 23 ALBANY 08/09/1978 1750 Hail 1.00in. 0 0 0 0 24 ALBANY 05/05/1979 2100 Tornado F1 0 0 0K 0 25 ALBANY 06/30/1979 1954 Tstm Wind 54 kts. 0 0 0 0 26 ALBANY 05/24/1980 1933 Tstm Wind 52 kts. 0 0 0 0 27 ALBANY 06/14/1982 1115 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 28 ALBANY 06/14/1982 1320 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 29 ALBANY 06/25/1982 1430 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0 30 ALBANY 06/04/1983 1320 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 31 ALBANY 08/18/1983 1545 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0 32 ALBANY 06/23/1985 1745 Tstm Wind 52 kts. 0 0 0 0 33 ALBANY 06/29/1985 1822 Tstm Wind 50 kts. 0 0 0 0 34 ALBANY 07/13/1986 1727 Tstm Wind 65 kts. 0 0 0 0 35 ALBANY 08/02/1986 1758 Hail 1.75in. 0 0 0 0 36 ALBANY 08/02/1986 1840 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 37 ALBANY 09/02/1986 1758 Hail 1.75in. 0 0 0 0 38 ALBANY 09/04/1987 1312 Tstm Wind 52 kts. 0 0 0 0 39 ALBANY 09/04/1987 1355 Tstm Wind 52 kts. 0 0 0 0 40 ALBANY 07/18/1988 1635 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 41 ALBANY 07/27/1988 1648 Hail 1.00in. 0 0 0 0 42 ALBANY 08/03/1988 1954 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 43 ALBANY 08/03/1988 1958 Tstm Wind 59 kts. 0 0 0 0 44 ALBANY 08/09/1988 1549 Tstm Wind 54 kts. 0 0 0 0 45 ALBANY 04/26/1989 1510 Hail 1.75in. 0 0 0 0 46 ALBANY 05/12/1989 1345 Hail 1.75in. 0 0 0 0 47 ALBANY 06/19/1989 1955 Tstm Wind 56 kts. 0 0 0 0 48 ALBANY 08/03/1990 1629 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 27 49 ALBANY 09/03/1990 1730 Hail 0.75in. 0 0 0 0 50 ALBANY 09/03/1990 1930 Hail 1.50in. 0 0 0 0 51 ALBANY 06/01/1991 1930 Hail 1.00in. 0 0 0 0 52 ALBANY 06/06/1991 1810 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0 53 ALBANY 06/21/1991 1510 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0 Mag: Magnitude Dth: Death Inj: Injuries PrD: Property Damage CrD: Crop Damage WYZ: Wyoming Zone Source: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms 5. Floods When Albany County receives excess moisture, it is susceptible to flooding. According to historical events there have been floods both in the City of Laramie as well as in the County. Actions have been taken to reduce the risk of floods in some parts of the City and County, but due to lack of funds, some repairs are still needed. In the City of Laramie, flood mapping is based on FEMA's work along Spring Creek Channel and the Laramie River. The West Laramie Drainage Study and the North Laramie Drainage Study both reviewed existing scenarios of development and infrastructure and provided calculated rainfall impacts well beyond the FEMA work. Impact is limited, depending on future construction of infrastructure and very little has been done with construction of drainage infrastructure since both of those studies pointed out specific needs. The City of Laramie has never had the funds, and therefore never completed, the South Laramie Drainage Study, which means the City of Laramie may have potential flooding areas that it can not yet address. Albany County regulates development within flood zones utilizing FIRM maps adopted in 1986. The maps show zone A areas and the scale is 1 inch equals 2,000 feet. FIGURES 4-7 display the building expose values for both 100 year and 500 year floods in Albany County. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 28 FIGURE 4. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 29 FIGURE 5. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 30 FIGURE 6. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 31 FIGURE 7. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 32 6. Earthquakes Background Seismological characterizations of an area can range from an analysis of historic seismicity to a long-term probabilistic seismic hazard assessment. A complete characterization usually includes a summary of historic seismicity, an analysis of the Seismic Zone Map of the Uniform Building Code, deterministic analyses on active faults, “floating earthquake” analyses, and short- or long-term probabilistic seismic hazard analyses. Historic Seismicity The enclosed map of “Earthquake Epicenters and Suspected Active Faults with Surficial Expression in Wyoming” (Case and others, 1997) shows the historic distribution of earthquakes in Wyoming. Over thirty magnitude 3.0 and greater earthquakes and hundreds of smaller earthquakes have been recorded in Albany County. Those earthquakes and one from Colorado are discussed below. Two of the first earthquakes to be felt and recorded in southeast and south central Wyoming, occurred between Laramie, Wyoming and Estes Park, Colorado on November 7-8, 1882. The first and largest earthquake, which occurred on November 7, 1882, was estimated to have a magnitude of 6.2 and a maximum intensity of VII. It was felt over most of Colorado, the southern half of Wyoming, and northeastern Utah (Kirkham and Rogers, 1985). The second earthquake, which occurred on November 8, 1882, was only felt from Denver to Laramie. In Laramie, the first event caused considerable concern, and some people ran out into the streets. Clocks were stopped, plaster was cracked, and some glass in windows was broken (Case, 1993). Kirkham and Rogers (1985) documented that the earthquake was felt as an intensity VI event in Laramie. The earliest recorded earthquake that actually originated in Albany County occurred in the Laramie area on January 13, 1898. The intensity IV event shook buildings and rattled dishes, windows, and loose objects in Laramie. Before the shock waves were felt, many Laramie residents reported that they “heard a noise similar to that which a heavy wagon would make moving at a good speed a block or two away” (The Daily Boomerang, January 14, 1898). As the earthquake occurred at 11:45 pm, a number of people were awakened by the shaking of their beds. Three earthquakes occurred in Albany County in the 1930’s. The first two occurred in the Laramie area, and the last occurred in northern Albany County. On September 20, 1931, an earthquake with a maximum intensity of IV was felt in Laramie and at the Summit Tavern, located east-southeast of Laramie in the Laramie Mountains. There were reports from Laramie that windows and dishes rattled, and some residents ran from their homes (The Laramie Republican-Boomerang, September 21, 1931). This event was followed by another intensity IV earthquake on November 10, 1935. This earthquake, thought to have an epicenter in Laramie, was felt in Laramie, Rawlins, and Rock River. In Laramie, buildings shuddered dishes rattled, and a low rumbling sound was heard. The earthquake lasted less than ten seconds (The Laramie Republican-Boomerang, November ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 33 11, 1935). On August 27, 1938, an intensity III earthquake was recorded in northern Albany County. No damage was associated with the event (Neumann, 1940). No earthquakes were recorded in Albany County in the 1940’s, although many occurred in the 1950’s. On January 20, 1954, an intensity V earthquake occurred approximately 12 miles north-northeast of Laramie. In Wyoming, the earthquake was felt in Laramie, Fox Park, Albany, Centennial, Jelm, Tie Siding, and Ryan Park. In Colorado, it was felt near Cowdrey. In fact, Murphy and Cloud (1956) estimated that the earthquake was felt over 2,000 square miles. In Laramie, a roaring noise was heard, and buildings shook and dishes fell from tables. One Laramie resident thought that the earthquake was an explosion, and alerted the local fire department. The local newspaper reported that stories “were getting more colorful by the hour” (The Laramie Republican and Boomerang, January 21, 1954). At Fox Park, a slow motion was observed by all residents. Doors and dishes were rattled, and a post supporting the roof of one house was shifted. At Albany, a rapid motion was felt, with furnishings shifted and windows rattled. The earthquake was reported to have been felt for two minutes at Albany. In Centennial, the earthquake was described as being similar to a heavy dynamite blast (Murphy and Cloud, 1956). In Jelm, a rapid motion that lasted for ten seconds was felt by all residents. An east-to-west motion was described in Jelm. At Tie Siding and Ryan Park, a slow motion was felt for a short period of time. In Cowdrey, Colorado, a rapid motion was felt for fifteen seconds, and hanging objects swung. A few aftershocks were reported in Fox Park and Jelm. The rest of the 1950’s-era earthquakes in Albany County occurred in the Fox Park, Jelm, and Woods Landing area. The first earthquake recorded in that area, an intensity IV event, occurred on January 22, 1954. The earthquake resulted in a very strong but brief shock felt in Jelm (Murphy and Cloud, 1956). On May 22, 1955, an intensity V earthquake near Jelm and Woods Landing caused considerable concern. Many area residents reported hearing a loud rumbling noise, which was then followed by shaking. Dishes, windows, and cupboards were rattled in many cabins in the Woods Landing area. Reflecting the fears of the time, one Jelm resident thought that an atomic bomb had dropped on Denver. A group of fishermen camping near Woods Landing reported that they were rolled around in their tent. The earthquake was not felt in Laramie (The Laramie Republican and Boomerang, May 23, 1955; Murphy and Cloud, 1957). On August 6, 1958, an intensity IV earthquake near Fox Park was felt in Fox Park, Laramie, and Centennial. Windows rattled and dishes shook in Fox Park, and one Laramie resident thought there was an explosion in his basement (The Laramie Daily Boomerang, August 7, 1958). This earthquake was followed on August 15, 1958, by an intensity III event in the same general area. Residents in the Centennial area reported that buildings shook (The Laramie Daily Boomerang, August 15, 1958). In Fox Park, a light tremor was felt (Brazee and Cloud, 1960). The last earthquake recorded in the area occurred near Fox Park and Jelm on December 25, 1959. The magnitude 4.3, intensity V event was felt in Fox Park, Jelm, and Laramie. In Fox Park, slight cracks formed in a concrete block building under construction. Many residents of Fox Park felt the earthquake and described it as a pretty strong jolt. At Jelm, the earthquake was felt by all residents, with many reports of creaking walls (Eppley and Cloud, 1961). Many of the earthquakes in the area have originated in the Laramie Range in northern Albany County and southern Converse County. The first earthquake recorded in the area occurred on August 27, 1938, as discussed previously. The intensity III earthquake, which was located near Marshall, did not cause any damage (Neumann, 1940). On ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 34 August 21, 1952, an intensity IV earthquake occurred approximately 7 miles north- northeast of Esterbrook, in Converse County. It was felt by several people in the area, and was reportedly felt 40 miles to the southwest of Esterbrook (Murphy and Cloud, 1954). Three additional earthquakes have occurred in the same location as the August 21, 1952 event. The first, a small magnitude event with no associated magnitude or intensity, occurred on September 2, 1952. The second, an intensity III event, occurred on January 5, 1957. The most recent, an intensity IV event occurred on March 31, 1964. No damage was reported for any of the events. On January 15, 1978, a magnitude 3.0, intensity III earthquake occurred approximately 3 miles northeast of Esterbrook, in Converse County. No damage was reported. In the 1980’s, there were a series of relatively significant earthquakes in northern Albany County that were felt over a wide area. On February 13, 1983, a magnitude 4.0, intensity IV event occurred approximately 6 miles southwest of Toltec. That non-damaging earthquake was felt in Laramie, Casper, Wheatland, and Medicine Bow (Laramie Daily Boomerang, February 15, 1983). The most significant earthquake to occur in the area, a magnitude 5.5, intensity VI event, occurred on October 18, 1984. That earthquake, with an epicenter located approximately 4 miles west-northwest of Toltec, was felt in Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Kansas. Stover (1985) reports that cracks were found in the exterior brick walls of the Douglas City Hall and as well as a public school in Medicine Bow. Chimneys were cracked at Casper, Douglas, Guernsey, Lusk, and Rock River. A wall in a Laramie-area school was cracked by the earthquake. The earthquake was one of the largest felt in eastern Wyoming. There were a number of aftershocks to the main event, with the most significant being a magnitude 4.5, intensity IV event, and a magnitude 3.8 event occurring on October 18, 1984; a magnitude 3.5 event on October 20, 1984; magnitude 3.3 events on October 19, November 6, and December 17, 1984; a magnitude 3.1 event on October 22, 1984; a magnitude 3.2 event on October 24, 1984; and a magnitude 2.9 event on December 5, 1984. On June 12, 1986, a magnitude 3.0 earthquake occurred in the same general area. In 1993, there were a series of non-damaging earthquakes recorded in Northern Albany and southern Converse Counties. On July 23, 1993, a magnitude 3.7, intensity IV earthquake occurred in southern Converse County, approximately 13 miles north- northwest of Toltec in northern Albany County. This event was felt as far away as Laramie. On October 9, 1993, a magnitude 3.7, intensity IV earthquake occurred approximately 9 miles north of Marshall. The earthquake was felt in Garrett. On December 13, 1993, another earthquake occurred approximately 8 miles east of Toltec. This non-damaging event had a magnitude of 3.5. Only one magnitude 3.0 and greater earthquake has occurred in Albany County in the 2000’s. On April 13, 2000, a magnitude 3.3 earthquake occurred in northern Albany County, approximately 2 miles southwest of Warbonnet Peak. No damage was reported. Uniform Building Code (UBC) The Uniform Building Code is a document prepared by the International Conference of Building Officials. Its stated intent is to “provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property, and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 35 buildings and structures within this jurisdiction and certain equipment specifically regulated herein.” The UBC contains information and guidance on designing buildings and structures to withstand seismic events. With safety in mind, the UBC provides Seismic Zone Maps to help identify which design factors are critical to specific areas of the country. In addition, depending upon the type of building, there is also an “importance factor”. The “importance factor” can, in effect, raise the standards that are applied to a building. The current UBC Seismic Zone Map (FIGURE 8) (1997) has five seismic zones, ranging from Zone 0 to Zone 4, as can be seen on FIGURE 8. The seismic zones are in part defined by the probability of having a certain level of ground shaking (horizontal acceleration) in 50 years. The criteria used for defining boundaries on the Seismic Zone Map were established by the Seismology Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of California (Building Standards, September-October, 1986). The criteria they developed are as follows: ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 36 FIGURE 8. . UBC Seismic Zone Map. Zone Effective Peak Acceleration, % gravity 4 30% and greater 3 20% to less than 30% 2 10% to less than 20% 1 5% to less than 10% 0 less than 5% ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 37 The committee assumed that there was a 90% probability that the above values would not be exceeded in 50 years, or a 100% probability that the values would be exceeded in 475 to 500 years. Albany County is in Seismic Zone 1 of the UBC. Since effective peak accelerations (90% chance of non-exceedance in 50 years) can range from 5%-10%g in Zone 1, and there has been significant historic seismicity in the county, it may be reasonable to assume that an average peak acceleration of 10.0%g could be applied to the design of a non-critical facility located in the County if only the UBC were used. Such acceleration, however, is significantly less than would be suggested through newer building codes. Recently, the UBC has been replaced by the International Building Code (IBC). The IBC is based upon probabilistic analyses, which are described in a following section. Albany County still uses the UBC, as do most Wyoming Counties as of September 2002. Deterministic Analysis of Regional Active Faults with a Surficial Expression There are no known exposed active faults with a surficial expression in Albany County. As a result, no fault-specific analysis can be generated for Albany County. Floating or Random Earthquake Sources Many federal regulations require an analysis of the earthquake potential in areas where active faults are not exposed, and where earthquakes are tied to buried faults with no surface expression. Regions with a uniform potential for the occurrence of such earthquakes are called tectonic provinces. Within a tectonic province, earthquakes associated with buried faults are assumed to occur randomly, and as a result can theoretically occur anywhere within that area of uniform earthquake potential. In reality, that random distribution may not be the case, as all earthquakes are associated with specific faults. If all buried faults have not been identified, the distribution has to be considered random. “Floating earthquakes” are earthquakes that are considered to occur randomly in a tectonic province. It is difficult to accurately define tectonic provinces when there is a limited historic earthquake record. When there are no nearby seismic stations that can detect small- magnitude earthquakes, which occur more frequently than larger events, the problem is compounded. Under these conditions, it is common to delineate larger, rather than smaller, tectonic provinces. The USGS identified tectonic provinces in a report titled “Probabilistic Estimates of Maximum Acceleration and Velocity in Rock in the Contiguous United States” (Algermissen and others, 1982). In that report, Albany County was roughly classified as being in the “Faulted Laramide-Age Mountain Uplift” tectonic province. That province was assigned a “floating earthquake” with a maximum magnitude of 6.1. Geomatrix (1988b) suggested using a more extensive regional tectonic province, called the “Wyoming Foreland Structural Province”, which is approximately defined by the Idaho- Wyoming Thrust Belt on the west, 104° West longitude on the east, 40° North latitude on the south, and 45° North latitude on the north. Geomatrix (1988b) estimated that the largest “floating” earthquake in the “Wyoming Foreland Structural Province” would have a magnitude in the 6.0 – 6.5 range, with an average value of magnitude 6.25. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 38 Federal or state regulations usually specify if a “floating earthquake” or tectonic province analysis is required for a facility. Usually, those regulations also specify at what distance a floating earthquake is to be placed from a facility. For example, for uranium mill tailings sites, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires that a floating earthquake be placed 15 kilometers from the site. That earthquake is then used to determine what horizontal accelerations may occur at the site. A magnitude 6.25 “floating” earthquake, placed 15 kilometers from any structure in Albany County, would generate horizontal accelerations of approximately 15%g at the site. That acceleration would be adequate for designing a uranium mill tailings site, but may be too large for less critical sites, such as a landfill. Critical facilities, such as dams, usually require a more detailed probabilistic analysis of random earthquakes. Based upon probabilistic analyses of random earthquakes in an area distant from exposed active faults (Geomatrix, 1988b), however, placing a magnitude 6.25 earthquake at 15 kilometers from a site will provide a fairly conservative estimate of design ground accelerations. Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analyses The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publishes probabilistic acceleration maps for 500-, 1000-, and 2,500-year time frames. The maps show what accelerations may be met or exceeded in those time frames by expressing the probability that the accelerations will be met or exceeded in a shorter time frame. For example, a 10% probability that acceleration may be met or exceeded in 50 years is roughly equivalent to a 100% probability of exceedance in 500 years. The USGS has recently generated new probabilistic acceleration maps for Wyoming (Case, 2000). Copies of the 500-year (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years), 1000- year probability of exceedance in 50 years), and 2,500-year probability of exceedance in 50 years) maps are attached. Until recently, the 500-year map was often used for planning purposes for average structures, and was the basis of the most current UBC. The new IBC, however, uses a 2,500-year map as the basis for building design. The attached maps reflect current perceptions on seismicity in Wyoming. In many areas of Wyoming, ground accelerations shown on the USGS maps can be increased due to local soil conditions. For example, if fairly soft, saturated sediments are present at the surface, and seismic waves are passed through them, surface ground accelerations will usually be greater than would be experienced if only bedrock was present. In this case, the ground accelerations shown on the USGS maps would underestimate the local hazard, as they are based upon accelerations that would be expected if firm soil or rock were present at the surface. Based upon the 500-year map (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years) (FIGURE the estimated peak horizontal acceleration in Albany County ranges from 3%g in the southeastern corner of the County to approximately 7%g in the northwestern corner of the County. Those accelerations are roughly comparable to intensity IV earthquakes (1.4%g - 3.9%g) to intensity V earthquakes (3.9%g - 9.2%g). These accelerations are comparable to the low end of accelerations to be expected in Seismic Zone 1 of the UBC. Intensity IV earthquakes cause little damage. Intensity V earthquakes may result in cracked plaster and broken dishes. Laramie would be subjected to an acceleration of approximately 5%g or intensity V. Based upon the 1000-year map probability of exceedance in 50 years) (FIGURE 10), the estimated peak horizontal acceleration in Albany County ranges from 6%g in the ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 39 southeastern corner of the County to nearly 13%g in the northwestern corner of the County. Those accelerations are roughly comparable to intensity V earthquakes (3.9%g - 9.2%g) to intensity VI earthquakes (9.2%g -18.0%g). Intensity V earthquakes can result in cracked plaster and broken dishes. Intensity VI earthquakes can result in fallen plaster and damaged chimneys. Laramie would be subjected to an acceleration of approximately 7%g or intensity V. Based upon the 2500-year map probability of exceedance in 50 years) (FIGURE 11), the estimated peak horizontal acceleration in Albany County ranges from 11%g in the southeastern corner of the County to over 21%g in the entire north central part of the County. Those accelerations are roughly comparable to intensity VI earthquakes (9.2%g – 18.0%g) to intensity VII earthquakes (18%g-34%g). Intensity VI earthquakes can result in fallen plaster and damaged chimneys. Intensity VII earthquakes can result in slight to moderate damage in well-built ordinary structures and considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures. Chimneys may be broken. Laramie would be subjected to an acceleration of approximately 12%g or intensity VI. As the historic record is limited, it is nearly impossible to determine when a 2,500-year event last occurred in the County. Because of the uncertainty involved, and based upon the fact that the new IBC utilizes 2,500-year events for building design, it is suggested that the 2,500-year probabilistic maps be used for Albany County analyses. This conservative approach is in the interest of public safety. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 40 FIGURE 9. 500-year probabilistic acceleration map (10% probability of exceedance in 50 years). ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 41 FIGURE 10. 1000-year probabilistic acceleration map probability of exceedance in 50 years). ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 42 FIGURE 11. 2500-year probabilistic acceleration map probability of exceedance in 50 years). ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 43 Summary There have been over thirty historic earthquakes with magnitudes greater than magnitude 3.0 recorded in or near Albany County, with the largest being a magnitude 6.2-6.5 event in 1882 between Laramie and Estes Park, Colorado. Because of the limited historic record, it is possible to underestimate the seismic hazard in Albany County if historic earthquakes are used as the sole basis for analysis. Earthquake and ground motion probability maps give a more reasonable estimate of damage potential in areas without exposed active faults at the surface, such as Albany County. Current earthquake probability maps that are used in the newest building codes suggest a scenario that would result in moderate damage to buildings and their contents, with damage increasing from the southeast to the north-northwest. More specifically, the probability-based worst-case scenario could result in the following damage at points throughout the County: Intensity VII Earthquake Area Toltec area Esterbrook area Marshall Rock River In intensity VII earthquakes, damage is negligible in buildings of good design and construction, slight-to-moderate in well-built ordinary structures, considerable in poorly built or badly designed structures such as un-reinforced masonry buildings. Some chimneys will be broken. Intensity VI Earthquake Areas Laramie area Jelm Fox Park Centennial Albany Woods Landing Bosler Buford Tie Siding In intensity VI earthquakes, some heavy furniture can be moved. There may be some instances of fallen plaster and damaged chimneys. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 44 USE OF HAZUS ANALYSIS The following HAZUS analysis must be used with caution. It was generated using much default data supplied with the program. Some of the supplied data were incomplete or incorrect. The HAZUS database was partially (location) updated for schools, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and emergency management facilities. The default soils and landslide layers in HAZUS were replaced with layers generated by the Wyoming State Geological Survey. The enclosed analysis has been based upon data at the 1990 census tract level. As such, damage estimates may be significantly in error. The analysis in its present form should not be released to the general public unless the data and analysis are qualified. An updated and more precise HAZUS analysis will be generated in mid 2003, assuming the new program and data set (2000 census data) are made available at that time. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 45 Disclaimer: The estimates of social and economic impacts contained in this report were produced using HAZUS loss estimation methodology software which is based on current scientific and engineering knowledge. There are uncertainties inherent in any loss estimation technique. Therefore, there may be significant differences between the modeled results contained in this report and the actual social and economic losses following a specific earthquake. These results can be improved by using enhanced inventory, geotechnical, and observed ground motion data. HAZUS 99-SR2: Earthquake Event Report Region Name: Earthquake Scenario: Albany County 2500 Year Probabilistic Mag 6.5 Event Tuesday, March 25, 2003 Print Date: ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 46 General Description the Region HAZUS is a regional earthquake loss estimation model that was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Institute of Building Sciences. The primary purpose of HAZUS is to provide a methodology and software application to develop earthquake losses at a regional scale. These loss estimates would be used primarily by local, state and regional officials to plan and stimulate efforts to reduce risks from earthquakes and to prepare for emergency response and recovery. The earthquake loss estimates provided in this report was based on a region that includes 1 county (ies) from the following state(s): - Wyoming Note: Appendix A contains a complete listing of the counties contained in the region. The geographical size of the region is 4,308 square miles and contains 14 census tracts. There are over 12 thousand households in the region and has a total population of 30,800 people (1990 Census Bureau data). The distribution of population by State and County is provided in Appendix B. There are an estimated 10 thousand buildings in the region with a total building replacement value (excluding contents) of 1,392 million dollars (1994 dollars). Approximately 97% of the buildings (and 81% of the building value) are associated with residential housing. The replacement value of the transportation and utility lifeline systems is estimated to be 6,309 and 3,936 million dollars (1994 dollars), respectively. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 47 Building and Lifeline Inventory HAZUS estimates that there are 10,000 buildings in the region which have an aggregate total replacement value of 1,392 million dollars (1994 dollars). FIGURE 12 presents the relative distribution of the value with respect to the general occupancies. Appendix A provides a general distribution of the building value by State and County. Building Inventory FIGURE 12: Building Exposure by Occupancy Type (Thousands of dollars) In terms of building construction types found in the region, wood frame construction makes up 73% of the building inventory. The remaining percentage is distributed between the other general building types. Critical Facility Inventory HAZUS breaks critical facilities into two groups: essential facilities and high potential loss (HPL) facilities. Essential facilities include hospitals, medical clinics, schools, fire stations, police stations and emergency operations facilities. High potential loss facilities include dams, levees, military installations, nuclear power plants and hazardous material sites. For essential facilities, there are 7 hospitals and/or emergency care facilities in the region with a total bed capacity of 309 beds. There are 126 schools, 10 fire stations, 5 police stations and 1 emergency operation facilities. With respect to HPL facilities, there are 84 dams identified within the region. Of these, 1 of the dams is classified as ‘high hazard’. The inventory also includes 51 hazardous material sites, 0 military installations and 0 nuclear power plants. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 48 Transportation and Utility Lifeline Inventory Within HAZUS, the lifeline inventory is divided between transportation and utility lifeline systems. There are seven transportation systems that include highways, railways, light rail, bus, ports, ferry and airports. There are six utility systems that include potable water, wastewater, natural gas, crude & refined oil, electric power and communications. The lifeline inventory data is provided in Tables 8 and 9. The total value of the lifeline inventory is over 6,357 million dollars. This inventory includes over 507 kilometers of highways, 130 bridges, 0 kilometers of pipes. System # locations/ Replacement value (millions of dollars) Highway Major Roads Bridges Tunnels Rail Tracks Railways Bridges Tunnels Facilities Light Rail Rail Tracks Tunnels Facilities Bus Facilities Ferry Facilities Port Facilities Airport Facilities Runways 5,070 429 0 518 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 252 6,309 0 0 0 0 4 9 Table 8: Transportation System Lifeline Inventory 129 0 1 0 0 0 1 Bridges 30 183 0 Component Subtotal Subtotal Subtotal Subtotal 5,499 526 0 284 Total # Segments ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 49 System Replacement value (millions of dollars) Potable Water Pipelines Facilities Pipelines Waste Water Facilities Natural Gas Pipelines Facilities Oil Systems Pipelines Electrical Power Facilities Communication Facilities Facilities # Locations / Table 9: Utility System Lifeline inventory Total 0 0 0 0 0 18 3 2 0 0 Subtotal Component Segments Distribution Lines Distribution Lines Distribution Lines Distribution Lines Distribution Lines NA NA NA NA NA 0.0 0.0 1,597.6 0.0 0.0 958.5 0.0 0.0 639.0 0.0 12.1 0.0 479.3 36.0 213.0 1,597.6 958.5 639.0 12.1 479.3 249.0 3,935.5 Subtotal Subtotal Subtotal Subtotal Subtotal Earthquake Scenario HAZUS uses the following set of information to define the earthquake parameters used for the earthquake loss estimate provided in this report. Latitude of Epicenter Earthquake Magnitude Depth (Km) Attenuation Function NA Scenario Name 2500 Year Probabilistic Mag 6.5 Event Type of Earthquake Fault Name Historical Epicenter ID # Longitude of Epicenter Probabilistic Return Period Rupture Length (Km) Rupture Orientation (degrees) NA 6.50 NA NA NA NA 7 Probabiltistic event NA ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 50 HAZUS estimates that about 879 buildings will be moderately or extensively damaged. This is 8.79% of the total number of buildings in the region. There are an estimated 26 buildings that will be completely destroyed. The definition of the ‘damage states’ is provided in Volume 1: Chapter 5 of the HAZUS technical manual. Table 10 below summaries the expected damage by general occupancy for the buildings in the region. Table 11 summaries the expected damage by general building type. Building Damage Agriculture Commercial Education Government Industrial Religion Table 10: Expected Building Damage by Occupancy Residential None Slight Count Count Moderate 7 125 9 0 15 10 6,957 Extensive Count Complete Count Count 0 28 1 0 2 2 1,757 0 25 1 0 2 2 730 0 3 0 0 0 0 116 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 7,123 1,790 760 119 26 Total 0.21 1.75 0.13 0.21 0.14 0.00 97.67 0.00 1.56 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.11 98.16 0.00 3.29 0.13 0.00 0.26 0.26 96.05 0.00 2.52 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 97.48 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Table 11: Expected Building Damage by Building Type (All Design Levels) Extensive Count Complete Count Count Moderate Count Slight Count None 0.0 0.8 0.7 1.3 0.7 1 10 13 53 0 Concrete 76.0 82.2 24.4 54.1 10.0 97 411 436 714 19 Mobile Homes 0.0 0.8 0.4 0.9 0.4 1 7 7 32 0 Precast Concrete 24.0 14.4 4.4 11.1 5.8 17 84 79 416 6 RM* 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.1 0.8 0 8 4 54 0 Steel 0.0 1.7 1.7 2.2 0.8 2 17 30 58 0 URM* 0.0 0.0 68.2 29.3 81.4 0 223 1,221 5,796 0 Wood *Note: RM Reinforced Masonry URM Unreiforced Masonry ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 51 Essential Facility Damage Before the earthquake, the region had 309 hospital beds available for use. On the day of the earthquake, the model estimates that only 201 hospital beds (65%) are available for use by patients already in the hospital and those injured by the earthquake. After one week, 77% of the beds will be back in service. By 30 days, 91% will be operational. Total Hospitals Schools EOCs Police Stations Fire Stations Damage > 50% 7 126 1 10 5 Table 12: Expected Damage to Essential Facilities Least Moderate # Facilities Complete Damage > 50% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Classification Functionality > 50% at day 1 1 7 7 5 121 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 52 Transportation and Utility Lifeline Damage Table 13 provides damage estimates for the transportation system. Roads Bridges Tunnels Tracks Bridges Tunnels With at Least Number of Locations Highway Railways Facilities Tracks Light Rail Bridges Tunnels Facilities Bus Facilities Facilities Ferry Port Airport Facilities Facilities Runways 1 0 0 0 0 4 9 129 0 1 0 0 0 30 0 0 After Day 7 After Day 1 With Functionality > 50 % Damage With Complete 4 9 0 0 129 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 183 0 4 9 0 0 129 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 183 0 System Component Locations/ Mod. Damage Table 13: Expected Damage to the Transportation Systems Segments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tables 14-16 provide information on the damage to the utility lifeline systems. Table 14 provides damage to the utility system facilities. Table 15 provides estimates on the number of leaks and breaks by the pipelines of the utility systems. For electric power and potable water, HAZUS performs a simplified system performance analysis. Table 16 provides a summary of the system performance information. Note: Roadway segments, railroad tracks and light rail tracks are assumed to be damaged by ground failure only. If ground failure maps are not provided, damage estimates to these components will not be computed. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 53 Potable Water Waste Water Natural Gas Oil Systems Electrical Power Communication 0 0 18 0 0 0 with Functionality > 50 % After Day 7 After Day 1 With Complete Damage System # of Locations With at Least Moderate Damage 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 Total Table 14: Expected Utility System Facility Damage 18 4 0 18 18 Total # Potable Water Waste Water Natural Gas Oil Total Pipelines Length (kms) Leaks Number of Number of Breaks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 73 3 1 System Total Table 15: Expected Utility System Pipeline Damage 73 3 1 Potable Water Electric Power Total # of Households At Day 3 At Day 7 At Day 30 Number of Households without Service At Day 1 Table 16: Expected Potable Water and Electric Power System Performance 5,566 5,471 At Day 90 5,275 4,037 493 12,010 12,010 5,061 1,814 326 0 0 (Level 1) ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 54 Induced Earthquake Damage Fire Following Earthquake Fires often occur after an earthquake. Because of the number of fires and the lack of water to fight the fires, they can often burn out of control. HAZUS uses a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate the number of ignitions and the amount of burnt area. For this scenario, the model estimates that there will be 2 ignitions that will burn about 10 sq. mi (0.1% of the region’s total area.) The model also estimates that the fires will displace about 0 people and burn about 0 million dollars of building value. Debris Generation HAZUS estimates the amount of debris that will be generated by the earthquake. The model breaks the debris into two general categories: a) Brick/Wood and b) Reinforced Concrete/Steel. This distinction is made because of the different types of material handling equipment required to handle the debris. The model estimates that a total of 0.04 million tons of debris will be generated. Of the total amount, Brick/Wood comprises 29% of the total, with the remainder being Reinforced Concrete/Steel. If the debris tonnage is converted to an estimated number of truckloads, it will require 1,000 truckloads (@25 tons/truck) to remove the debris generated by the earthquake ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 55 Social Impact Shelter Requirement HAZUS estimates the number of households that are expected to be displaced from their homes due to the earthquake and the number of displaced people that will require accommodations in temporary public shelters. The model estimates 40 households to be displaced due to the earthquake. Of these, 32 people (out of a total population of 30,800) will seek temporary shelter in public shelters. Casualties HAZUS estimates the number of people that will be injured and killed by the earthquake. The casualties are broken down into four severity levels that describe the extent of the injuries. The levels are described as follows; · Severity Level 1: Injuries will require medical attention but hospitalization is not needed. · Severity Level 2: Injuries will require hospitalization but are not considered life threatening · Severity Level 3: Injuries will require hospitalization and can become life threatening if not treated. · Severity Level 4: Victims are killed by the earthquake. The casualty estimates are provided for three times of day: 2:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. These times represent the periods of the day that different sectors of the community are at their peak occupancy loads. The 2:00 AM estimate considers that the residential occupancy load is maximum, the 2:00 PM estimate considers that the educational, commercial and industrial sector loads are maximum and 5:00 PM represents peak commute time. 46 Residential Non-Residential Commute Residential Non-Residential Commute Level 1 2 AM 2 PM Residential 5 PM Non-Residential Commute Table 17: Casualty Estimates Total Total Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Total 15 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 3 0 1 3 0 0 0 44 11 2 3 0 0 0 0 11 2 3 3 1 0 0 16 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 19 5 1 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 56 Economic Loss The total economic loss estimated for the earthquake is 73 million dollars, which represents 1 % of the total replacement value of the region’s buildings. The following three sections provide more detailed information about these losses. Building-Related Losses The building losses are broken into two categories: direct building losses and business interruption losses. The direct building losses are the estimated costs to repair or replace the damage caused to the building and its contents. The business interruption losses are the losses associated with inability to operate a business because of the damage sustained during the earthquake. Business interruption losses also include the temporary living expenses for those people displaced from their homes because of the earthquake. The total building-related losses were 64 million dollars. 25% of the estimated losses were related to the business interruption of the region. By far, the largest loss was sustained by the residential occupancies which made up over 62% of the total loss. Table 18 below provides a summary of the losses associated with the building damage. Others Industrial Commercial Residential Building Structural Non-Structural Content Inventory Total Business Interruption Loss Wage Income Rental Table 18: Building-Related Economic Loss Estimates (Millions of dollars) Subtotal Subtotal Total 10.9 1.2 2.1 33.6 47.7 63.9 20.2 1.4 3.0 39.4 4.0 2.1 0.2 0.4 6.6 1.1 0.5 5.4 20.6 27.6 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 13.3 9.0 3.3 0.4 0.6 3.1 0.4 0.1 0.1 3.7 3.0 0.2 2.8 0.0 0.0 3.8 2.3 1.3 0.0 0.1 N/A 9.3 0.2 0.9 5.8 16.2 Category Loss Relocation 2.9 0.7 0.1 2.1 5.8 Area ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 57 Transportation and Utility Lifeline Losses For the transportation and utility lifeline systems, HAZUS computes the direct repair cost for each component only. There are no losses computed by HAZUS for business interruption due to lifeline outages. Tables 13 & 14 provide a detailed breakdown in the expected lifeline losses. HAZUS estimates the long-term economic impacts to the region for 15 years after the earthquake. The model quantifies this information in terms of income and employment changes within the region. Table 19 presents the results of the region for the given earthquake. Table 19: Transportation System Economic Losses (Millions of dollars) Roads Bridges Tunnels Tracks Bridges Tunnels Inventory Value Highway Railways Facilities Tracks Light Rail Bridges Tunnels Facilities Bus Facilities Facilities Ferry Port Airport Facilities Facilities Runways 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5,070.4 429.0 0.0 517.6 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 32.0 252.0 System Component Economic Loss Loss Ratio Subtotal Subtotal Subtotal Subtotal 3.0 5,499.4 525.6 0.0 284.0 0.0 0.0 3.5 0.0 6,309.0 4.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.7 0.0 7.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.9 0.0 3.5 1.2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 58 Table 20: Utility System Economic Losses (Millions of dollars) Potable Water Waste Water Natural Gas Oil Systems Electrical Power Communication System Component Pipelines Facilities Inventory Value Economic Loss Subtotal Loss Ratio Pipelines Facilities Subtotal Pipelines Facilities Subtotal Pipelines Facilities Subtotal Facilities Facilities Total 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 13.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Distribution Lines Distribution Lines Distribution Lines Distribution Lines Subtotal Distribution Lines Subtotal 0.0 1,597.6 0.0 1,597.6 0.0 0.0 958.5 958.5 0.0 0.0 639.0 639.0 12.1 0.0 12.1 0.0 479.3 479.3 36.0 213.0 249.0 3,935.5 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.0 4.7 0.01 0.0 13.1 1 2 3 4 5 6-15 0 -0.11 0 0.00 -1 -0.33 0 0.00 5 1.33 303 1.98 5 1.33 303 1.98 5 1.33 303 1.98 5 1.33 303 1.98 Income Impact (millions % Income Impact Employment Impact Year(s) % Employment Impact Table 21. Indirect Economic Impact (with outside aid) ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 59 TABLE 22. Total Non-Residential Residential Building Value (millions of dollars) Population County Name State Wyoming Albany 1,120 270 1,390 30,800 1,390 State Total 270 1,120 30,800 1,390 Region Total 270 1,120 30,800 Appendix A: Regional Population and Building Value Data ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 60 TABLE 23. Direct Economic Losses for Buildings March 25, 2003 All values are in thousands of dollars Capital Stock Losses Income Losses Cost Cost Cost Inventory Loss Relocation Capital Wages Rental Total Structural Contents Loss Non-struct. Ratio Loss Related Losses Income Loss Damage Damage Damage % Loss Loss Wyoming 27,576 Albany 6,626 13,307 182 3,751 3,718 3,024 5,762 63,946 2.46 27,576 6,626 13,307 182 Total State 3,751 3,718 3,024 5,762 63,946 2.46 Study Region Total 27,576 182 13,307 6,626 5,762 3,024 3,718 2.46 3,751 63,946 Albany County 2500 Year Probabilistic Mag 6.5 Event Study Region : Scenario : ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 61 7. Landslides Landslides are present in the southwestern, northwestern, and east-central parts of Albany County. Specifically landslides are present on the following Quadrangles: Albany Bengough Hill Centennial Chalk Hills Indian Guide James Lake Jelm Mountain Keystone Lake Owen Medicine Bow Peak Morgan Millbrook Rex Lake Rock Creek Sand Lake Sherman Mountains East Sodergreen Lake Squaw Spring Strouss Hill All Quadrangles were examined by the Wyoming State Geological Survey and Albany County Emergency Management, and the following areas were determined to pose a potential hazard to homes, roads, or other facilities. Albany and Lake Owen Quadrangles: three blockslide and flow complexes are located immediately south, southwest, and east of Albany (Sections 14, 15, 22, and 23, T14N, R78W). If the complexes destabilize, damage could occur in or near Albany. The complexes are currently vegetated with trees, and do not appear to pose an immediate threat to the area. Heavy periods of precipitation or significant development could have an effect on slope stability. Centennial Quadrangle: A rockslide/flow/debris flow complex is present immediately north of the North Fork Subdivision (Section 27, T16N, R78W), with a debris flow complex and a rock slide/flow complex present to the northeast (Sections 26 and 27, T16N, R78W). If the complexes destabilize, damage could occur to nearby homes and roads. The complexes are currently vegetated with grasses, and do not appear to pose an immediate threat to the area. Heavy periods of precipitation or significant development could have an effect on slope stability. Rex Lake Quadrangle: A rockslide/flow complex is present on the north flank of Sheep Mountain (Sections 8, 9, 10, and 15, T15N, R77W). County Highway 11 crosses through the complex in Sections 8 and 9. If the complex destabilizes, the highway would be blocked, although access to the south would still be possible from the west. The complex is currently vegetated with grasses, and does not appear to pose an immediate threat to the area. Heavy periods of precipitation or significant development could have an effect on slope stability. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 62 LANDSLIDE ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FOR ESTIMATING POTENTIAL LOSSES The attached table contains exposure values for those blocks that intersect landslides within Albany County. If a block does not intersect a landslide, that block will not be shown in the table. $0.00 exposure values indicate that no buildings are present in the respective census block (according to the FEMA census block data). The exposure values are calculated by multiplying the percentage of the census block that intersects the landslide by the total building census block value. Therefore, these exposure values may underestimate or overestimate the real value. These will be updated and revised as more specific data is made available. TABLE 24. Census Block Exposure Value 560019639001127 $0.00 560019639001135 $0.00 560019639001137 $0.00 560019639001703 $0.00 560019639001725 $0.00 560019639001726 $6,624.70 560019639001727 $0.00 560019639001728 $0.00 560019639001741 $0.00 560019639001771 $223,914.10 560019639001782 $64,336.70 560019639002191 $54,345.70 560019639002290 $0.00 560019639002291 $971,645.00 560019639002296 $0.00 560019639002747 $0.00 SUM $1,320,866.20 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 63 FIGURE 13. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 64 FIGURE 14. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 65 8. Windblown Deposits There are numerous quadrangles in Albany County with mapped windblown deposits. A detailed summary of the windblown deposit locations is presented in Table 4. below. The names and numbers shown below in red represent dune form deposits present on the 1:24,000 paper maps. Other eolian deposits are designated in black and are also available in digital format. TABLE 25. Quadrangle Name: Township Range Sections: Aurora Lake 22 77 1-4,9-12 23 77 1,2,9-16,21-25,28 Alsop Lake 17 75 6 17 76 1,12 18 75 28-33 Ayres Spring 22 74 4-8,17,18 23 74 17,18,28-33 Bamforth Lake 17 73 31 17 74 36 Big Charlie Lakes 25 76 6,7,18,19 25 77 1,2,11-14 26 76 6,18,19,30,31 26 77 1-4,9-14,22-27,35,36 Big Judson 19 76 24-26 Boot Heel 25 76 4-8,17-20 26 76 18,19,30-32 Boot Heel SE 24 75 6-8,18-20,28-31 25 75 31 Bosler 19 74 16,18-20,29,30 Cannonball Cut 21 74 30,31 21 75 1-11,14-16,18-26,28-36 22 74 18,19,30,31 22 75 13-28,30-36 Chalk Hills 26 76 6 26 77 1-4 27 76 6 27 77 1-4,9-12,16,21,22,27,28,33-36 28 77 25-27,34-36 28 76 31 Cooper Lake North 19 74 6,7,18 19 75 1-18 19 76 1,12 20 74 6,7,18 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 66 20 75 1-7,8-16,22-24,32-34 Quadrangle Name: Township Range Sections: Cooper Lake North 20 76 1,12 21 74 31 21 75 31-36 Cooper Lake South 18 75 28-30 19 74 18,19,30 19 75 13-31,33-36 19 76 24,25 Downey Lakes 13 75 3,4 Foote Creek Lake 21 77 1 22 77 24,25,36 Greasewood Knoll 23 76 1-6 23 77 1 24 75 6,7,30,31 24 76 1-22,25-36 24 77 1,12,13,24,25,36 25 76 19-22,25-36 25 75 30,31 Howell 16 73 6 17 73 31,32 James Lake 18 76 35,36 17 76 1,2,11,12,19,30 Lake Ione 19 73 6 19 74 1-4,6,7,9-12,16,18 20 73 18,19,30,31 20 74 4-15,18,22-28,33-36 21 74 31-34 Laramie SW 15 74 6-8,17,18 16 74 31-33 McGill Lakes 21 74 29-34 22 74 17-20,29-31 Millbrook 16 76 7,18 16 77 13 Miller 15 75 1,2,9-23 16 75 24-34 Pass Creek 28 76 31 27 76 6 Pine Tree Ridge 22 75 6,7,18 22 76 1-4,7-9,12,13,15-18 23 75 6,7,19,30,31 23 76 1-26,28-36 23 77 1,12,13,24,25 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 67 Rock River 20 76 12 Quadrangle Name: Township Range Sections: Seven-mile Spring 22 74 6,7,18 22 75 1-18 23 74 18,19,30,31 23 75 6-9,13,16-21,23-36 Sodergreen Lake 13 75 3,4 14 75 22,23,26-28,33,34 Sybille Springs 20 73 19-21,28-32 Walker Draw SE 23 77 1-3 24 77 1-3,9-16,21-28,34-36 25 76 19,30,31 25 77 24-26,34-36 Wilcox 21 75 7,18,19,30,31 21 76 1,2,5,6,11-13,24,25,36 21 77 1 22 75 30 22 76 15-17,19-23,25-35 22 77 24,25,36 . If these deposits are disturbed, they could potentially destabilize. It is recommended that if the areas are disturbed that they be revegetated. WINDBLOWN ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FOR ESTIMATING POTENTIAL LOSSES ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 68 FIGURE 15. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 69 9. Mined-Out Areas There are a few abandoned and un-reclaimed coal mines in Albany County. The Rock Creek Mine is located approximately 2 miles south of Rock River in Section 18, T20N, R76W. Two unnamed mines are located approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Rock River in Section 16, T20N, R76W. In addition, The Sunshine Mine is located approximately 1.75 miles northwest of Rex Lake in NW Section 22, T16N, R77W. The mines only pose a site-specific hazard, and no facilities, roads, or homes are at risk. No development should be allowed at the mine sites until it can be shown that reclamation has occurred and that the reclamation was successful. There are also a number of hard-rock mines in Medicine Bow National Forest near the Centennial ridge area located west and southwest of Centennial in Sections 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 16, and 17, T15N, R78W and in Section 1, T15N, R79W. All the mines have been reclaimed or sealed except for the Independence Mine in Section 8, T15N, R78W. As such, no significant hazard exists. NO MINED-OUT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FOR ESTIMATING POTENTIAL LOSSES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGY Each Mitigation Action item is listed in order of priority. The mitigation planning team decided priorities were given to events most likely to happen in the county or that could benefit multi aspects. For instance sirens could be used for weather or hazardous materials spills; covering a wide range on hazards. What are the Plan Goals? As stated earlier the plan describes the direction Albany County can take to mitigate itself from hazards throughout the area. Protect Life and Property • Execute activities that assist in protecting lives by making homes, businesses, infrastructure, critical facilities, and other property more resistant to losses from hazards. • Improve hazard assessment information to make recommendations for new and for existing developments in areas vulnerable to hazards. Public Awareness • Increase public awareness of the risks associated with hazards in the county. • Provide information on tools, partnerships opportunities, and funding resources to assist in implementing mitigation activities. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 70 Partnerships and Implementation • Strengthen communication and coordinate participation among and within public agencies, citizens, nonprofit organizations, business, and industry to gain a vested interest in implementation. • Encourage leadership within public and private sector organizations to prioritize and implement local, county, and regional hazard mitigation activities. Mitigation Action Items 1. Purchase better warning systems for entire County to alert the public of a serious hazardous materials spills or severe weather. Ideas for Implementation: • Search out grant money to obtain better warning sirens and Reverse 911 • Educate public about warning sirens Expected Cost For Laramie Sirens $180,000 No estimate for sirens in entire County yet but project would include Rock River also. Reverse 911 estimated at $94,250. Benefits: Sirens can be used for Multi-Hazard use to alert the public of serious events in both Rock River and Laramie. Coordinating Organization: Albany County Emergency Management Agency Timeline: December 2005 Plan Goals Addressed: Protect Life and Property, Public Awareness 2. Develop and implement a more accurate addressing system for residents, outside the municipalities, to provide for efficient emergency response. Ideas for Implementation: • Assess present addressing and road naming system and provide for consistent application to new developments. • Secure funding to comprehensively review existing rural addresses and road names and revise as needed to consistently fit within the existing addressing system. • Study the advantages and disadvantages of converting to a more efficient rural addressing system, possibly using GPS. Benefits: Emergency Services will be able to arrive on scene faster if they have a more accurate addressing system throughout the whole county. Coordinating Organization: Albany County Planning and Zoning Timeline: April 2005 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 71 Plan Goals Addressed: Life and Property, Partnership and Implementation 3. Enforce restriction of ALL homes or home sites from being built with more then 30% slope, within “fire chimneys”, or located by heavy fuels. Ideas for Implementation: • Enforce “Mountain Subdivisions” section of County subdivision regulations • Enact County regulations which would apply subdivision standards of wildfire mitigation to non-subdivision developments. Expected Cost The salary and benefits of one plan reviewer/ inspector would be about $45,000 a year. Operating an office would be about $8,000 a year. Benefits: Reduce Wildland Fire in county Coordinating Organization: County Planning and Zoning Timeline: December 2004 Plan Goals Addressed: Partnerships and Implement, Protect Life and Property 4. Develop effective suppression deployment resources. Ideas for Implementation: • Enforce fuel reduction and defensible space • Develop evacuation plans for residential islands in the forests. • Develop fire breaks in heavy fuel areas. • Benefits: reduce Wildland fires in county Coordinating Organization: County Planning, EMA Timeline: July 2003 Plan Goals Addressed: Partnerships and Implement, Protect Life and Property 5. Increase public awareness of Wild land Fires, severe weather, Hazardous Materials spills, earthquakes, winter storms, mined out areas and wind blown mitigation activities. Ideas for Implementation: • Collect information on public education materials for protecting life, property, and the environment from Albany County’s Hazards. • Distribute educational materials to Albany County residents and public and private sector organizations regarding preparedness for Hazards. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 72 Benefits: Public throughout the county can be responsible to make personal decisions for their homes and families. Coordinating Organization: Albany County Emergency Management Agency Timeline: August 2003 Plan Goals Addressed: Public Awareness 6. Coordinate with private businesses and governmental agencies to address hazardous materials mitigation standards. Ideas for Implementation: • Enter into Memorandums of Understanding between the County/City and Union Pacific Railroad, Mountain Cement, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation. Benefits: This adds a partnership that will be priceless in the event of a hazardous materials spill anywhere in the county. Coordinating Organization: Albany County Emergency Management Agency Timeline: December 2004 Plan Goals Addressed: Protect Life and Property, Partnership and Implementation 7. Create care plans for special needs populations in case of severe storm. Ideas for Implementation: • Locate special needs populations in Albany County • Discuss with health care providers best way to meet needs of special needs population • Discuss with medical suppliers ways to distribute needed supplies for special needs population Benefits: First this will identify who our special populations are in the county, second, we will know how to help them. Coordinating Organization: Albany County EMA, Health Care Providers, Special Care groups. Timeline: Identify by December 2003 Database by June 2004 Plan Goals: Protect Life and Property, Partnership and Implementation. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 73 8. Increase public service announcements on public communication systems (television and radio) promoting winter preparedness. Broadcast road condition reports over state- wide radio stations, especially 1610 AM Ideas for Implementation: • Meet with radio stations and newspapers to discuss distribution of information to the City and County Benefits: Add more places in the county where the public can get information. Coordinating Organization: Albany County Emergency Management Agency Timeline: Ongoing Plan Goals Addressed: Public Awareness 9. Apply building codes that take into account for snow loads estimates. Ideas for Implementation: • Enact building codes for snow loads Expected Cost The salary and benefits of one plan reviewer/ inspector would be about $45,000 a year. Operating an office would be about $8,000 a year. Benefits: Fewer structures will be affected by heavy snow loads in the county. Coordinating Organization: County Planning and Zoning Timeline: City Adoption schedule IBC December 2004 Plan Goals Addressed: Protect Life and Property, Partnerships and Implementation 10. Work on completing drainage study for south Laramie River. Ideas for Implementation: • Obtain grants to complete work on drainage study. Expected Cost 02/13/03 Revised Estimates: A. South Laramie Basin Plan $ 99,925 B. Drainage Criteria Manual 99,925 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 74 Master Planning Total: $199,850 Benefits: Completing the drainage study will increase the awareness of flooding to the area and floods can then be prevented in the city of Laramie. Coordinating Organization: Albany County Emergency Management Agency/City Planning Timeline: Dependent on Grant Support Plan Goals Addressed: Protect Life and Property, Public Awareness 11. Enact and enforce building codes in county to meet earthquake codes. Ideas for Implementation: • Continue to enforce building codes in the City • Adopt a building code and pursue enforcement in the County • Hire inspecting positions Expected Costs The salary and benefits of one plan reviewer/ inspector which having recently completed the analysis for adding a full-time secretary would be about $45,000 a year. Operating an office would be about $8,000 a year. Benefits: Buildings throughout the county will be more stable in case of an earthquake. Coordinating Organization: City and County Timeline: Adoption schedule IBC December 2003 Plan Goals Addressed: Partnerships and Implement, Protect Life and Property 12. Enact regulations which would restrict homes or home sites from being built in designated landslide prone areas Expected Cost The salary and benefits of one plan reviewer/ inspector would be about $45,000 a year. Operating an office would be about $8,000 a year. Benefits: Restrictions of homes on landslide prone areas in the county, will lesson the likelihood of homes being damaged due to landslides. Coordinating Organization: County Planning and Zoning Timeline: Depending on a Funding Stream Plan Goals Addressed: Partnerships and Implement, Protect Life and Property ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 75 13. Restrict building in mined out areas. Ideas for Implementation: • Enact regulations which prohibit developments on such sites if determined to prove a continuing danger. Benefits: People and property in the county will not be damaged by collapsed mines if structures are not built on surrounding area. Coordinating Organization: Albany County Planning and Zoning Timeline: Ongoing Plan Goals Addressed: Protect Life and Property Plan Maintenance Plan Adoption Many different agencies will be responsible for adopting the Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Albany County Commissioners, City of Laramie, and the City of Rock River will have the authority to promote policies regarding hazards. How will the Plan be Implemented, Monitored, and Evaluated? The plan maintenance section of this document details the formal process that will ensure that the Albany County Hazards Mitigation Plan remains an active and relevant document. This process includes a schedule for monitoring and evaluating the plan annually and producing a plan revision every 2 years. The Emergency Management County Coordinator’s office will be responsible for overseeing the plan and contacting the LEPC to organize annual meetings. The Albany County Emergency Management Coordinator will assist in monitoring and implementing the plan. The Coordinator will be the main contact for the plan. Formal Review Process The Local Emergency Planning Committee will evaluate the Albany County Hazards Mitigation Plan and will determine the effectiveness of programs, and reflect changes in programs that may affect mitigation priorities. The LEPC recommendations will then be forwarded to the appropriate elected bodies for action. As more information and HAZUS studies are done, it will be reviewed and added. It is estimated that this process will be completed in April 2 every years. All levels of local government shall incorporate the requirements and proposed projects/measures of the mitigation plan into other planning mechanisms such as comprehensive or capital improvement plans, as appropriate. And in turn, suitable mitigation actions/projects/measures identified in the Comprehensive and Capitol plans ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 76 can be considered for inclusion into the mitigation plan. The county/city planning departments will be involved in scheduled periodic reviews of the plan. Public Involvement The public is encouraged to be involved in the continual updates of the mitigation plan. They will be notified of the annual meeting through Channel 11 news information, and through the local newspaper. The Local Emergency Planning Committee will participate in reviewing the plan. References Algermissen, S.T., Perkins, D.M., Thenhaus, P.C., Hanson, S.L., and Bender, B.L., 1982, Probabilistic estimates of maximum acceleration and velocity in rock in the contiguous United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 82-1033, 99 scale 1:7,500,000. Case, J.C., 2000, Probability of damaging earthquakes in Wyoming: Wyoming State Geological Survey, Wyoming Geo-notes No. 67, p. 50-55. Case, J.C., 1996, Historical seismicity of northeastern and east-central Wyoming: Wyoming State Geological Survey Wyoming Geo-notes Number 51, pp. 50-55. Case, J.C., 1997, Historical seismicity of south-central and southeastern Wyoming: Wyoming State Geological Survey Wyoming Geo-notes Number 56, pp. 54-59. Case, J.C., Larsen L.L., Boyd, C.S., and Cannia, J.C., 1997, Earthquake epicenters and suspected active faults with surficial expression in Wyoming: Wyoming State Geological Survey Geologic Hazards Section Preliminary Hazards Report 97-1, scale 1:1,000,000. Geomatrix Consultants, Inc., 1988a, Seismotectonic evaluation of the northwestern Wind River Basin: Report prepared for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Contract No. 6-CS-81- 07310, 116 p. Geomatrix Consultants, Inc., 1988b, Seismotectonic evaluation of the Wyoming Basin geomorphic province: Report prepared for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Contract No. 6-CS-81-07310, 167 p. McGrew, L.W., 1961, Structure of Cenozoic rocks along the northwestern margin of the Julesburg Basin, southeastern Wyoming (abstract): Geological Society of America, Rocky Mountain Section, Annual Meeting Program, Laramie, Wyoming, May 11-13, 1961, p. 22. Murphy, L.M., and Cloud, W.K., 1954, United States earthquakes 1952: U.S. Department of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey Serial No. 773, 112p. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised: 4/16/2004 Albany County Hazard Mitigation Plan 77 Stover, C.W., 1985, Preliminary isoseismal map and intensity distribution for the Laramie Mountains, Wyoming, earthquake of October 18, 1984: U.S. Geological Survey Open File report 85-137, 9 p. Basic Seismological Characterization For Albany County, Wyoming by James C. Case, Rachel N. Toner, and Robert Kirkwood, Wyoming State Geological Survey September 2002 http://geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche/US_World_stats/2002-03/US2002-03.html